Disclaimer: Not ours. We'd like our own personal Hiros any day.

Strawberry Shuichi

Authors' note: Italics, as usual, are thoughts. And 'thank you's in mega tons for the reviews. Warning: the usual dose of weirdness.

Operation 3: I'm Too Sexy For the Syrup

"Umm." Fujisaki was first to recover, becoming ever uncomfortable with the growing silence and akwardness. "Yeah, sure." He gave in.

"Shoot me now." Sakano muttered under his breath as the urge to plunge himself in front of a speeding truck on the Pulaski Skyway was becoming stronger and stronger by the second. "I'd rather be dead than get fired by Seguchi-san for this ludicrous act." He spoke to himself in hushed tones.

The producer-man's mumbles couldn't escape the demon-esque sense of hearing the tall blonde possessed. 'Not a bad idea…' K thought and raised his gun to Sakano's head, ready to fulfill the drama queen's wishes.

"Wait! K!" Shuichi to the rescue! He quickly situated himself between Sakano and the American. Being under gun point whenever he was with K had trained his mind well in sensing when K was getting ready to fire. "We need all the help we can get!" He exclaimed, hoping to avoid any gunshots. "I need all of you to drench me in strawberry syrup!"

"Uhh...no" Hiro finally said, as Shuichi's plan finally sank in. "I refuse to see that again..." He trailed off thoughtfully, and then added, "not like it was visible anyway..."

"Hey wait a minute!" Shuichi was rapidly on the defensive. "Last I remember, in camp, I was bigger."

Sanity fled the minds of the rest of the people present in the room as they stood dumbstruck in the wake of the conversation taking place.

"Well that was—what?—six years ago? From what I saw last time I had to dress you in my pajamas—which was only a few months ago--you're no where near my size." Hiro said smugly, puffing out his chest. "If you have any doubts, let's measure. Right here, right now!" He challenged as he smirked triumphantly.

"Well! It's the not size that matters; it's how you use it!" Shuichi screamed at the other boy's face, his face resembling the ripest of tomatoes. "And how many years has it been since you've used yours, other than when you're by yourself?" He folded his arms across his chest and held his nose up in the air as if victorious. "At least I use mine."

"Arrr…" Surprisingly, Hiro had no witty comeback, because, frankly, what Shuichi had just said, was the truth—the truth and nothing but the truth. Dammit, if only he had the guts to tell Ayaka-chan…

Involuntarily, before he could think, Hiro's fist flew and made contact with Shuichi's cheek and the pink haired teen, too shocked to think—well, not that he actually thinks when he's not shocked at all—sent one of his own flying to the other boy's midriff. Soon the room transformed into a wrestling arena, minus the cheesy commentary. Sakano defenestrated himself.

Punches flew, accompanied by burning insults of the highest degree.

"You jerk!"

"Baka! I'm not helping you!"

"Who wants your help, moron?"

"You're the one who begged me, stupid!"

"Stop calling me stupid!"

"Then stop acting stupid, stupid!"

"Guys! Break it up!" Sakano entered the room, with coffee in hand, appearing to be in a much calmer state than he was previously. Apparently, he was in top conditions; no harm had come to him. After all, it was only the first floor window that he had jumped out of, and he was quite skilled at it too, what with having done it quite a few times already; he was a seasoned veteran at this; he was a pro at defenestration! "We have to help Shindou-kun." Everyone stared at him as he calmly settled himself in his seat and sipped his coffee peacefully.

Pulling out two .44 magnums, K stalked over to the dueling duo. Pointing the guns at the boys, he emphasized what Sakano had already said. "Break it up. NOW!"

Both boys stopped their mouths from hurling whatever insult was at the tip of their tongues. They withdrew any punches or kicks that were about to be launched. Like good little kids, they sat themselves in their respective seats and were only short of halos above their heads in imitating little angels.

"Much better." K proclaimed, returning his guns to their holsters.

"Now, can we get some sensible ideas for Shindou-kun's night with Yuki-san?" Fujisaki asked, sensing another awkward silence coming on.

"I've got an idea…" a reluctant Hiro mumbled. Everyone in the room turned their attention to the all knowing Nakano Hiroshi, genius guitarist of Bad Luck, for guidance. "But I'm not telling!" Seemed like Mr. Genius Guitarist had a bad case of brat-itis.

"Come on Hiro! We've known each other forever… since way before camp we've been friends. Is this little fight going to break up our wonderful, blossoming friendship!" Shuichi tried to persuade his best friend to no avail.

"Screw you."

"Come on! I'll get you a date with Ayaka-chan."

"R-really?" Hiro's eyes shone with hope for a better future.

"Yeah." Shuichi promised, without thinking about the consequences. "Now tellmetellmetellmetellmeTELLME!"

"Fine." Hiro relented. "Instead of having us drench (he grimaced) you in strawberry syrup, we can give Yuki-san a life size version of you made out of strawberry shortcake." Hiro finished, hoping Shuichi would not want to go through with this whole drenching business.

The room was-- yes, again-- enclosed in utter silence.

"Oh my Sakuma! That's a great idea!" burst Shuichi, grabbing Hiro's hands in a death grip.

"I know…it is..." Hiro replied, though he seemed unsure.

"I love you, Hiro." Shuichi hugged his best friend and latched himself on to him like a parasite.

"I know you do." Hiro winked. "Now, Shuichi! What are you going to give me as a 'thank you' present?"

"Uh... tickets to Disney World with Ayaka-chan?"

"Hmm… I was thinking more along the lines of dinner, then a 'show,' if you know what I mean… "

"Why, Hiro! I never knew you felt that way about me!" Shuichi finally released Hiro from his arms and looked taken aback.

"NOT YOU, you moron!" Hiro's left eye twitched as a vein popped on his forehead. "I was talking about Ayaka-chan!" Hiro said, exasperated.

"...Oh...Ok! I'll pay for your dinner..." Shuichi offered happily.

"You better! Now let's get to work." Hiro turned to face the others. "Anybody know a good bakery?"

Saturn's notes: Ugh, about time we updated...waaaah Kyou's hitting me!

Rheyne says: :looks at Saturn with shifty eyes: Yeah...ok. So there it is, chapter three. Sorry for the delay; life got in the way. Hope you've enjoyed. Feedback of praise, criticism, death threats, all are welcome; just let us know what you think!