The Rules

Ugh… Not really in the mood to make anything, but I hope you enjoy this. It's for a contest: Cheershipping.

Disclaimer: The term 'Fanfiction' speaks for itself, ne?

"I'm gonna lay down the ground rules right now," stated Jounouchi in a voice that did not at all match the glare he had aimed at Ryuuji Otogi.

Ryuuji sat on the opposite couch, sweating bullets and keeping his arm (for once, Jounouchi thought, glowering) from encircling Shizuka. She sat prim in her chair, the picture of perfection in her brother's mind…

And then there was him. He who dared to – to –

Jounouchi didn't want to think about it, but he had to. The culprit sat there, twirling his dice earring out of nervous habit, thinking that he had given permission because he approved. Ha! If it wasn't for Shizuka practically begging him the other night, he would have never allowed it.

A loud slam made Ryuuji jump, and he almost ripped his earring out. Shizuka blinked inquisitively at the long paper her brother had laid out over the table.

"What is this," Ryuuji asked warily; he felt exhausted, all of the sudden, and he could feel an oncoming headache on its way.

"It's the rules," Jounouchi said with a grim smile, "and if you're gonna date my sister, you're gonna follow each and every one."

Shizuka peered over Ryuuji's shoulder as he read them, his brows furrowing more and more as each second passed. "No day trips, no movie dates without supervision, no dining without supervision, no private dates?" He looked up at Jounouchi. "Are you serious?"

"Dead serious," he responded with deadly calm.

Before Ryuuji could respond, a gentle hand was placed on his arm. Shizuka smiled at him. "We accept the terms, big brother," she said. Ryuuji could only nod dumbly. "That means that we can date then, right?"

"U-Uh… right…" Jounouchi had obviously not thought that the two would actually accept his terms; Shizuka, sweet Shizuka, was as accepting as always of course, he thought proudly. More importantly though, he had come out as the winner in the exchange, and he grinned widely at the thought of it.

"I'll speak to him later," Shizuka whispered to Ryuuji quietly, and his traditional smug grin emerged on his face again as he took her hand into his own.

"I'm looking forward to it –"

"NO PHYSICAL CONTACT!"

It was then that Ryuuji realized why he never dated the youngest child in a family.

R.I.P. Manny. Live your life to the fullest, dear readers. That's all I have to say.