~ Seven ~

Niou wanted to go camping.

They couldn't travel, so Niou set up a tent in his living room. He dragged Marui with him, "I won the challenge", he had said, but it really wouldn't have mattered either way. The tent was cosy; they had blankets, pillows, teddy bears and a small portable television. Neither of them were interested in the programmes on the television, but they kept it there for the homely-feel.

"What's on your mind?"

Marui wrapped himself up in one of the blankets. It wasn't cold, but he liked the feeling of it. "About why I'm spending my Saturday in your house."

"But you don't hate it."

"You must be blind." Marui hid the twitch at the corner of his lips by burying his head in the woolly blanket.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not."

"You'd better go for a check-up." Marui lifted up his head and his eyes widened at the close distance between him and Niou, his heart nearly shooting out of his chest. "What are you doing?" Niou lifted up a finger and poked Marui's cheek. "W-what?" Marui furrowed his eyebrows.

"You're red."

"No I'm not!" Marui quickly shoved Niou away and covered his head with the blanket.

He could hear Niou laughing on the other side and a tiny smile rose up onto his face, one that disappeared within a few seconds.

"Marui~" Niou said in a teasing manner. The Trickster poked the figure wrapped up in the blue woolly blanket softly.

When there wasn't any response, he poked again. The figure shook and laughter erupted from underneath the material. Niou grinned his signature grin. He raised his fingers up in the air and wiggled them, before diving back down and poking Marui more aggressively this time. Marui yelped and the blanket dropped down onto the floor beside the rolling teenager.

"Niou! Stop it!" Marui said through laughter.

Niou didn't listen to his demand. "You're ticklish," he said instead. He barely avoided a kick to the face. "Woah."

Seems like Marui is prone to kicking when tickled.

"Seriously, stop it Niou!"

Niou started cackling like a wicked witch and continued to relentlessly attack the squirming boy. By the time Niou finally released Marui, Marui was panting and his face was flushed red from the lack of air and continuous laughter. Niou grinned wider and leaned over Marui, placing his hands on both sides of the red head.

"You look like we just had rough sex."

One would be able to imagine an animated vein popping on Marui's forehead when he balled his fist and punched Niou in the chest, however, a bit weak as he still hadn't recovered his energy.

"You punch like a girl," Niou commented, unmoving.

One side of Marui's lips twitched angrily and he lifted up his knee, hitting Niou hard in the place where men would like to keep intact, for the sake of future population growth – the balls. Niou, of course, like many other men would, recoiled immediately and groaned in pain. "Dammit," he swore.

Marui sat up and crossed his legs. "That, was for tickling me." He moved closer to the groaning Trickster and punched him in the chest again – harder this time. "And that, was for saying that I look like we had sex."

Then he slapped Niou across the cheek. They were all used to Sanada's daily bitch (Tarundoru) slap, sometimes not one, but multiple. However, Niou had to admit, damn, Marui could slap.

"And that, was for comparing me to a girl. Which of course, with all my manliness, deserve the most punishment. So…" Marui slapped Niou on the other cheek. "That makes it even." Marui crossed his arms and nodded, looking satisfied.

Niou removed his hands from his crotch and rubbed his cheeks, which were turning a nice reddish-pink colour, much like a medium-cooked steak. "Ouch. Didn't know that you were fond of abusive relationships."

Marui's eye twitched wildly; he should perhaps consult a doctor about it. "Sometimes you're just asking to be smacked."

"Kinky." Niou licked his lips seductively, his eyes held that mischievous glint.

Marui opened and closed his mouth like a flabbergasted goldfish before he closed his eyes with a sigh. He also placed his palm on his face; much like the well-known action, 'Facepalm'.

"You're unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head.

"Only for you."

"Shut up."

"I won't."

"You will," Marui huffed. "I'll make you."

Niou tilted his head teasingly. "How so?"

Marui shut his eyes and pretended that he was a witch by making his voice as croaky as he could and moving his hands in a circular motion as if stirring a broth in a cauldron. "By dumping you into this fiery, piping hot cauldron of – "

He never got to finish his sentence as lips covered his own and Marui's eyes sprung open. Niou pulled back with a cheeky grin, very much similar to his signature sly grin, if not for the visible row of teeth.

"Well, I shut you up." Silence followed those few words and Niou seemed to be waiting for a particular type of reaction from the red head. When Marui did nothing, Niou asked, "You're not going to start swearing and going into bitch-mode?"

Marui shot a glare, which vanished within moments, at the Trickster. "I do not go into bitch-mode. What the hell is that anyway? And why would I do such a thing?"

"You did exactly that the last time I kissed you."

"I was not being bitchy," Marui folded his arms across his chest, turning away from Niou. "I was just angry, and anger does not equal to bitchiness. I know it's just a kiss and I overreacted and I've already apologised for it!"

"So you're saying that you won't get mad if I kiss you again?"

"Only because we're going out and that's what couples do right?" Marui seemed to be scrapping for excuses. He refused to look at Niou, lest the other boy realises something. "I'll just allow you to for now. Since you're just doing this for the fun of it. Nothing to overreact about kissing."

Niou won't know. He couldn't know. That was what Marui firmly thought to himself as Niou hummed and grabbed the blanket from the floor and wrapped it around the two of them, snuggling under the warmness.


A/N: Yes, so I skipped the part where Marui rips his hair apart trying to sort out his feelings. I'm sorry? I didn't think that I would portray uh, whatever he would be feeling properly.

mcangel1976: I know right! Who wouldn't fall in love with Niou? I know I would :D (I already do haha)

Kagami Luna: Yes, I know I know, I skipped the part (as written in my author's note). But at least he...realises it now? :D

Thanks for reviewing! I love you two! :D Keep them coming? Am I asking too much? xD