My sincerest apolgies to all my readers for taking SO long to post this next chapter. In all honesty, I started reading Fruits Basket and spent the last few weeks working on those stories! I hope you all can forgive me! ::drops to her knees and begs for your forgiveness:: If you guys have any ideas for questions you'd like to see appear on this show let me know and I'll try and put them in k? ::hugs:: Thanks for reading and reviewing! I love you all!! :)
" Come on Shuichi! If you don't get your ass in gear we are going to be late!" cried Kai from the doorway of Yuki's house. The day of the game show had finally come and neither Kai nor Shuichi could hide their excitement. Yuki and Tohma however, were far from excited. The two of them made idle chatter at the door as they waited for their finally traveler to join them.
" I'm coming!" yelled Shuichi from the bedroom. He ran into the living room to grab his jacket and threw it on as he headed towards the front door. " Don't just stand there Kai, let's go!"
The four contestants climbed into the waiting limo to find Suguru and Hiro ready and waiting.
" I know we needed a third couple, but this is ridiculous," commented Kai as she seated herself next to Hiro. " I mean you guys know next to nothing about each other!"
" That's what you think," replied Hiro with a coy smile. " Suguru and I have been spending many late nights studying up on each other."
Tohma shot Hiro a threatening glance then looked over at Suguru. He thought back to the night that he had been looking for Kai. He had called Hiro's house only to hear Suguru's voice on the other end of the phone. At the time, he had more pressing matters to attend to, and hadn't given it much thought. Now however, his mind was reeling with thoughts of what had occurred that night between his precious cousin and the attractive guitar player.
As the limo weaved it's way in and out of traffic on its way to the television studio, Shuichi and Kai were on their best behaviour. Both of them knew that neither Yuki nor Tohma was actually looking forward to today. Even though they had agreed to do it, they were both still a little reluctant about appearing on television. Hiro and Suguru marveled in the fact that the two friends had gone so long without fighting. They welcomed the relaxing change.
The limo pulled up to its stop and the six contestants filed out of the limo. They walked into the large television studio and found their way to Studio B.
" Ah! Welcome!" cried Kazuki Togashi, the host of the game show, bowing deeply. " Mr. Seguchi, it is an honour and a pleasure to meet you. You as well Mr. Yuki."
" Yes well, how long do we have then?" asked Tohma.
" Well, the show starts in about twenty minutes, but we request that our guests take the stage five minutes early," replied the host.
" Fine then."
Shuichi and Kai were busy picking out which couch they would be sitting in, as Hiro and Suguru decided to go over their notes. Tohma followed Yuki outside as he went for a cigarette.
" We're doing the right thing Eiri," said Tohma as he noticed the clear frustration in his friend's eyes.
" Hmph, this better be over soon."
" Look Eiri, whichever one of us wins this-"
" I couldn't give a shit about the trip, I just don't want to have to hear that damn brat whine any longer."
" Well…we should probably head in, yes?"
Yuki followed Tohma back inside the studio to find everyone else already ready to go. Yuki sat down next to Shuichi as Tohma slid himself in next to Kai. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
" I can hardly wait to go to Paris," whispered Kai.
" We have to win first pumpkin," Tohma replied.
Shuichi reached over and slid his hand into Yuki's. Yuki wriggled his hand out of the young boys grasp and rested his arm on the back of the couch. Seeing an opening, Shuichi leaned in and rested his head against his lover's shoulder.
" Get off," said Yuki sternly.
" But Yuki, we have to look like a couple!" protested the pink haired singer.
" We're sitting on the same couch okay? People aren't morons; I think they'll figure it out. Now get off!"
" Alright everyone! We're on in 1 minute!"
Kazuki walked behind his podium and organized his cards methodically. Hiro and Suguru slid their notes underneath their beige couch and gave each other a thumbs up and a smile.
" Alright, here we go! In 3! 2! 1! And go!" said the cameraman.
" Good evening everyone! I'm your host, Kazuki Togashi and this is Know! Your! Mate!" cried the host as the in studio audience chimed in.
" Tonight we've got an incredible line up! So, without further delay let's meet our guests! Our first couple has been dating on and off for just over a year and a half now. Please welcome world famous romance novelist, Eiri Yuki, and his partner the lead singer of Japan's biggest musical newcomer Bad Luck, Shuichi Shindou!"
The audience cheered and screamed. Girls in the audience were holding up signs reading ' Shuichi, I love you!' and ' Marry me Eiri!' Shuichi waved like a lunatic as Yuki glared at the camera.
" Our next couple has only been together a short time. Please welcome former Nittle Grasper keyboardist and president of NG Records, Tohma Seguchi and his lovely girlfriend, the keyboardist for Bad Luck, Kai Fukuhara!"
After the loud cheering and clapping died down, the host continued.
" And finally, our last couple for today has only been dating for about a month now, but they've told us that doesn't mean they won't be strong contenders! Please join me in welcoming keyboardist for Bad Luck, Suguru Fujisaki, and guitar player for Bad Luck, Hiroshi Nakano! So, without further ado, lets find out which one of our three couples knows each other best! But first, let's find out exactly what these contestants will be playing for, Haru!"
" Thanks Kazuki!" said the man standing off to the side. " Today, our three couples will be playing for an all expense paid, 4 day, 3 night trip to Paris, France! Back to you Kazuki!"
" Thanks, Haru. Okay for our first round, we're going to send Eiri, Tohma and Hiro into our isolation booths. So if you three will please make your way there now."
The three contestants got up from their couches and headed towards the isolations booths. They were small grey cubicles with a pair of black headphones resting on a small hook inside. The three men walked inside and closed the doors behind them as they slowly placed the headphones over their ears.
" Okay, so Shuichi, Kai and Suguru, you're first question is: What would your partner say is their favourite nickname for you? Shuichi?"
Shuichi blurted out his answer without even taking a second to think about it. " Damn brat!"
The audience erupted into laughter. Shuichi felt his face grow warm as he forced a small giggle.
" Kai?'
" I'll uh, I'll say pumpkin."
" Okay and Suguru?"
Suguru shifted uneasily on his couch. He and Hiro had gone over mostly factually things about each other, but they had never thought about answers to couple type questions. He racked his brain trying to think of what Hiro would say to this question. " I guess I would say…umm…old fart."
The audience again erupted into laughter. It was the only nickname Suguru could think of. K had called him that a million times over the past year, and he was hoping that Hiro would remember it.
" Okay, our next question! How often would your partner say, in the course of a week, you are sexually intimate? Kai?"
" Over the whole week?" asked Kai as she began to figure it out in her head.
" Uh…yes the week," replied the host with a laugh.
" Well, normally, I guess about 3 times a day...so what's that like 21 times over the week?" replied Kai appearing as if she was still trying to do the math in her head. Shuichi and Suguru snapped their heads over to look at her with gaping mouths. The audience cheered wildly as Kazuki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
" Well then, that could be a show record! How about you Suguru?"
Suguru's face flushed pink. He was given yet another question that neither he nor Hiro had expected. " I guess…um…over a week, about 4 or 5 times?"
" Shuichi?"
" Whenever Yuki feels like it? Can I use that for an answer?" asked Shuichi.
" Um…well I guess so," replied Kazuki. " Alright, and our last question for this round is: How would your partner rate your culinary abilities? Suguru?"
" Umm…I'll say 7, Kazuki," replied the young boy trying to remember his notes. He was more then thankful for a question that they had at least studied.
" Shuichi?"
" Zero," said Shuichi as he looked down at his hands.
" Well, I'll stay away from the kitchen when you're cooking then!" said the host with a laugh. " Kai?"
" Well, since Tohma usually does all the cooking, I'll agree with Shuichi and say zero."
" Alright folks! That's it for the first round! After this commercial break, we'll find out just how well our contestants Know! Their! Mates!"