-.=.-.=.-

Chapter 4

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Shinobu's parents had him over for dinner three days out of the month. Today was one of those days.

Only today, he had a mission; find out what the hell was in that manila envelope Miyagi and Kamijou had been discussing. Miyagi had not-so-subtly asked him to find out, and even though Shinobu played it off like it was a trivial, idiotic matter, he took his current mission very seriously.

Because Miyagi had asked him to do it, and because it had to do with Miyagi's work, Shinobu wanted to be involved.

His status as the dean's son had thus far been a hindrance to their relationship. That it could now be used to Miyagi's advantage made him very happy.

If only this whole situation didn't have anything to do with that skank subordinate of his lover's. Oh well.

He would be tactful. He would be cunning.

"Hello, father, how was your day?" Shinobu smiled to the dean when he walked through the door after a late night meeting at one of the other universities.

Perfect. Act casual, act casual.

He could see the manila folder in his father's hold.

"Oh, it went well, Shinobu. It's always so great to come home and get to see your face, just like old times." The dean smiled, ruffling Shinobu's hair affectionately.

Be casual, be casual.

"It's good to see you guys every once in a while. Makes me feel grounded," Shinobu replied.

Tactfully… taaactfuuully…

"What's in the folder?" He pointed curiously.

Takatsuki Shinobu was not a tactful person by nature.

"Ah- this is for work," his father replied nonchalantly.

"Ah. For Miyagi?" Shinobu inquired.

"Why is it always 'Miyagi' this and 'Miyagi' that with you?" Risako asked as she set the kitchen table. "Did you want an older brother so much? Was I not good enough for you?"

"Didn't you want a little sister?" Shinobu glowered at her for interrupting his conversation with his father.

"These aren't for Miyagi. These are merely documents pertaining to a personal issue that was brought to my attention at work recently," the dean replied with a tired sigh.

"Want me to take them to your office so you can have a seat?" Shinobu offered, holding his hand out.

"Thanks, Shinobu, but I have to get changed anyway. I need to get out of these clothes." The dean smiled. "Why don't you help your sister prepare the table?"

"What's for dinner?" Shinobu gave up on determining the contents of the folder…

For now.

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Shinobu glanced over at the manila envelope on his father's office desk after dinner.

His father and mother were arguing about something in the kitchen, so he took this opportunity to sneak into the office and snag the envelope. He stuffed it carefully under his shirt and headed into the bathroom, locking the door.

He opened it and pulled out the documents inside, blinking in shock at its contents.

-.=.-.=.-

"How's this look?" Hiroki snapped, pulling on another sports jacket.

"Too nice, too nice. Risako really likes a sharply dressed man."

For the umpteenth time that night, Kamijou smirked, clearing his throat before repeating:

"So, what'd she like about you?"

"If you say that one more time-!"

"I can't help it!" Kamijou snapped, pulling off the blazer.

"Hang on, there was this one time I rolled the sleeves to my blazer up and left my shirt sleeves long and she wouldn't talk to me for a week after that-"

"With reason," Kamijou stated as Miyagi rolled the sleeves up a bit.

"Wow! That does look ridiculous!" Miyagi commented.

"You think?"

"Alright, alright, we're approaching this all wrong." Miyagi began undressing Kamijou. "If you really want her to find you unattractive-"

"Miyagi!" Shinobu burst into Miyagi's apartment suddenly, panting. "That manila envelope you told me to find out about, I found-! WHAT THE HELL?" he growled, pointing.

Miyagi blinked, still unbuttoning Kamijou's shirt.

"Professor, this looks rather..."

"Mm?" Miyagi glared at Shinobu and went back to what he was doing. "Shinobu, come help me."

Shinobu glowered harder, his whole face etching with red. "I believe in monogamy! Monogamy!"

"So do I," Miyagi snapped. "You know I can't stand cheaters, so when you accuse me of it, it makes me cry a thousand tears- now come help me dress Kamijou to where Risako won't ask him on a second date."

"Ooooooh." Shinobu stared. "…Really?"

"Yes," Miyagi replied. "Hurry up! He can't stay over long."

"Risako hates beige. She thinks it's boring and that men should dress in more color," Shinobu offered.

"Hmmm," Miyagi put back a green shirt he had just been about to try on Kamijou. "That…and definitely wear briefs. She thinks they're stupid."

"How would she find out what underwear I'm wearing?" Kamijou huffed.

Miyagi and Shinobu exchanged looks.

"She'd definitely dump me if we had sex!" Kamijou snapped. "I wouldn't be able to perform! I mean, I could… if I wanted to… maybe…? B-but the whole willingness issue… anyway… Besides-! I can't have sex with her, even if this whole thing is a sham! Nowaki would be crushed!"

"Waaait, I'm getting an idea." Miyagi smirked suddenly. "You don't actually have to have sex with her… a-ll you have to do is try to pressure her into having sex on the first date and she'll get pissed off and dump you! That's it!" The 'brilliant' professor snapped his fingers.

"Don't you dare!" Shinobu snapped, glowering daggers at Kamijou. "Don't lay a finger on her!"

". . ." Both men fell silent.

"He's not really going to, Shinobu."

"You don't pressure a girl! That's not right!" Shinobu snapped up at his lover.

"That's the point, Shinobu-chin," Miyagi snapped.

"What is it with you and thinking that doing things wrong will work? It never does!"

"When the outcome we're aiming for is-"

"How many times did you aim for the outcome of turning me off?" Shinobu snapped. "Did it work?"

"He's right!" Kamijou threw off the oversized blazer Miyagi had put on him. "You can't do anything right! What am I doing putting my trust in you, anyway? This is probably some elaborate plan to embarrass me! I bet inside, you're just laughing at me, aren't you?"

"A little, but I'm mostly trying to help."

"I KNEW IT!"

"Actually…" Shinobu frowned, folding his arms. "Mm."

"What is it?" Kamijou snapped at him.

"Nothing." He averted his gaze.

"Didn't you have something to say before?" Miyagi asked. "About finding something at your parents' house? That manila folder I asked you to snag?"

"I've decided I want to see how this plays out," Shinobu stated, glancing away smugly.

Both men glowered at the cryptic teen, watching as he headed off- probably to study in his apartment.

"Look, Professor… I think I can do it just fine on my own. I'm pretty good at arguing with people, so I'm sure-"

"She loves to debate."

"Well, I'm good at pissing people off, in any case. I can figure out how she feels about certain things we don't agree on and I'll push her buttons."

"Alright, alright," Miyagi sighed. "You really don't want my help?"

"If push comes to shove, I'll just tell her, very politely, that I don't date cheaters."

"THAT'LL MAKE IT LOOK LIKE I TALKED BAD ABOUT HER BEHIND HER BACK!"

"You did! You whined about it for a week!"

"Everyone already knew though!"

"Because you whined about it!"

"NOOO! They knew, anyhow!"

"ANYHOW, I'm leaving," Kamijou snapped, heading off. "Thanks for trying to help, in your twisted, idiot way."

"Hmpf." Miyagi threw the door closed after him, turning and heading to his sofa, plopping down and folding his arms. After a moment, Kamijou came back in.

"The buses and trains aren't running anymore… give me a ride."

"Oh, right..."

-.=.-.=.-

AN: Short chapter is short… sorry about that. OK, so Shinobu now knows what is inside the manila folder- but rather than divulging this seemingly interesting information, he's chosen to keep it to himself. Now it seems both Shinobu as well as I will watch this little farce play out. Hahahaha.

Reviews are appreciated- constructive and negative criticism are welcome. I prefer to grow as an author, not just sit on top of 1000 'good job!' reviews when I know there is room for me to blossom ::heart::