Title: Word Games
Summary: Kagura/Okita playing a word game. Shameless fluff. (Note: I know they speak Japanese, but not being a native speaker, using Japanese would not have worked in this fic.)
Rating: K+/T
Up Next: Innocent
~Word Games ~
"Hey, China. What are you doing?"
"What does it look like, Sadist? I'm reading. Hey, give that back!"
"History of the English Language. I'm surprised."
"Shut up and give it to me! I had to beg Gin-Chan for weeks before he gave me enough money to buy it!"
"Tsk, tsk, so impatient. I'm surprised a violent ape like you has the capacity to grasp such a difficult book."
"Oh, yeah? I bet I know more English than you, now, you—"
"Enough with the insults. If you really believe that, then you won't object to a game, will you?"
"No! You're on."
Okita gave the fuming Kagura a sly smile. "And you won't mind raising the stakes? If you lose—"
Kagura was suddenly very still, blue eyes narrowed as she studied the blond boy intently. He stood languidly, the picture of graceful confidence. "What will I have to do?"
Okita smirked. "You'll know by the end of the game. When you lose."
Kagura felt her blood heat as she met his gaze furiously. "We'll see about that."
XXXXXXXXXX
Tournament 1: Linkage
The object of the game is very simple. Don't make mistakes. Make your opponent stumble. The game begins with the word, "Linkage," and the next person must say a word that begins with the last letter and ends with the first letter. So, for example, the first person who goes can say, "Ethereal." Make a mistake or take too long and you lose. (Note: If the game is played right, then each opponent should end up only using the letters "e" and "l," though the order varies depending on who starts the game.)
"Ethical."
"Laze."
"Eel."
"Lone."
"Evil." A smirk.
"Lymphocyte." A glare.
"Big words, China. I'm impressed. Earl."
"One word, Sadist. Lame."
"Empirical."
"Lime."
"Impressive, China. I didn't think you would last so long. Ethanol."
"Shows how smart you are. Lyre."
"Ouch. You have no idea how much that wounds me. Ewell."
"Wait. We can't do names!"
"…rules have to be specified at the beginning of the game."
"You hesitated. You so lost! HAHAHA! I WON!"
"Double or nothing."
"You're so on."
Tournament 2: Riddles
Self-explanatory, really.
"If I say book, and you say balloon, what will I say?" (1)
"Too easy, China-girl. Bookkeeper. If I say crab-cake and you say definition, what will I say?" (2)
"…"
"Give up already?"
"Shut up, Sadist! I'm just thinking."
"The clock is ticking—"
"Got it! Coughing."
"Impressive. For an alien, you're not bad. Hajikata took a week on that one."
"Well, I'm smarter. Name the sister of racecar and kayak." (3)
"Noon. If you're so smart, think of something that takes me longer than two seconds to figure out."
"Just ask me the stupid riddle."
"Ah, you will regret that. What six-letter word begins with an "h," ends with an "n," and has eight words besides itself without shifting any letters around?"
"There's no such thing!"
"Is that your final answer?"
"No! Just, let me think."
"Fiddling with your shirt isn't going to help you find the answer. Unless—are you trying to seduce me?"
"You wish, Sadist. It's hot in here."
"Answer the riddle, or give up then, so we can leave."
"Fine! What's the answer?"
"Herein."
"Whatever. Best two out of three."
Tournament 3: Bobby's World (4)
A game with no explanation unless you are part of Bobby's world.
"Prepare to lose, China."
"You prepare to lose."
"In Bobby's world, there are doors, but no hinges; mirrors, but no reflections; books, but no movies."
Kagura stared in absolute bewilderment, a look at Okita found absolutely adorable. He smirked. "I told you to prepare to lose."
"Who on Earth is Bobby?" the pink-haired girl snapped in frustration, "Is he a friend of yours?"
"Nope. In Bobby's world, there are geeks but no nerds." He let his gaze drop a bit, "Boobs, but no breasts."
Kagura wrapped her arms around herself instinctively, cheeks burning. "Perverts, but no gentlemen?"
"Nope." The heat was really getting to them now, and Okita watched as a trail of sweat dripped down the side of Kagura's face and onto the corner of her mouth. "Sweet, but no salt," he murmured, stepping closer.
Kagura's breath hitched as she tried to back away, only to find herself blocked by a tree. Stupid tree. She pulled her arms behind her, intending to shove the offending article back, and unintentionally straining her breasts against her thin shirt.
Okita was suddenly very close. "Give up?" he asked softly, face inches from hers.
Kagura gulped. "What do I have to do?"
Okita's lips curved. "Well," he said, "In Bobby's world, there is kissing, but no talking." Then, before she could react, his lips were on hers and Kagura found that she didn't really want to talk anyway.
(1): Book has one double letter pair, ("oo"), balloon has two, ("ll," and "oo"), and bookkeeper has three.
(2): Crab-cake includes "abc," definition includes, "def," and coughing includes "ghi."
(3): Racecar, kayak, and noon can are all the same forwards and backwards.
(4): In Bobby's World there are only words with double letters. (boobs, doors, sweet, and, of course, kissing.)