Section Three - Getting to know your target of affection
The first step in courting any male/female is to know about your target of affection. In fact, before any proper courtship can begin, it is advisable to have some background information about your target. Any nasty misunderstandings that may sprout from not knowing enough about the male/female you are courting can result in arguments, bumps, bruises, fractures, broken bones, broken egos, loss of limbs and even death.
XX
Gathered around the fire, Sakura lay covered in Fai's heavy coat, fast asleep. The flames merrily devoured loose twigs and branches, flames and smoke ascending into the night's sky.
The other three companions huddled around the flames for warmth, listening to the fire crackle.
Between them, several empty bottles of sake and cheap wine littered their camp and more surrounded their fire. Bottles lay discarded by the feet of the three companions. Bottles were piled next to more bottles and the promise of a splitting hangover escalated with each empty bottle.
They had waited for Sakura to sleep before starting their game, as her lack of memories would prevent her from playing.
Now, as the full moon was just ascending its throne in the sky, those left awake raised their bottles, ready to begin.
"Mokona wants to go first! Let Mokona go!"
Jumping around the campfire, the white manjuu bun hoped over everything in sight, hiccuping merrily.
"What does a stupid steamed bun know about this stuff?" Kurogane growled and took a swig of his sake.
"Mokona knows everything! Mokona used to play this game with the other Mokona."
Kurogane mumbled something under his breath, something that sounded suspiciously like a string of profanity but Syaoran smiled and came between the disgruntle ninja and the bouncing manjuu.
"Just let him go first," he gently calmed Kurogane's nerves.
Taking the ninja's silence as a grudging acquiescence, the white manjuu cleared his throat and began.
"I know! Mokona has never been hated by anyone ever!"
Aside from the slight twitch of Kurogane's eyebrow, the three companions swallowed the remaining contents of their bottles in silence.
"Aren't you going to argue?" Fai took his mouth from the rim of his wine bottle just long enough to ask.
"I'm not even going to bother," Kurogane huffed and took a swig of his sake.
"I have another one! Mokona always has lots of girlfriends," the white manjuu chirped merrily.
A hand shot for Mokona's ears, grabbing them and lifting Mokona off of the ground.
"That isn't how the game goes!" Kurogane shook the crying manjuu. "And it's not your turn!"
"This game is no fun!" Mokona wailed, plucking himself free of Kurogane's grip.
"Then don't play!" Kurogane roared. Spinning round, he targeted Fai with a finger, rounding on the passive wizard tasting his fourth bottle of wine. "And you! Stop taking prissy little sips. Gulp it down like a real man!"
A bottle later, Mokona had fallen asleep on Sakura, and after a further three had been emptied Syaoran too muttered something indistinguishable, burst into a fit of yelling and flailing, the likes of which his companions had never seen, and passed out.
"Kuro-rin, are you sure that you don't want to give up? You do look a little woozy," despite his words, Fai wavered, teetering dangerously near to the fire.
"Shuddup, damn…damn wizard," the ninja rubbed his eyes with the butt of his palm. "I hope that the tengu torture you in the seventh level of hell."
"And may the firbolgs chop off your manhood," Fai slurred, raising his glass in a toast.
"I've never heard of a firbolg."
Taking the statement as part of the game, Fai swung the bottle near his mouth, most of its contents splashing across his clothes instead of passing down his throat.
Tossing the bottle away, Fai took his turn. "I've never been sent away by a princess," he hiccuped.
"That's cheating!" Kurogane swung a fist at the drunken wizard, missing only by a few inches and collapsing in a jumbled heap. He was a mean drunk but that did not deter Fai from continuing to tease the frustrated ninja.
"No, it's simply the truth," Fai cast him a wry smile. "Drink up, Kuro-chan!" he cried cheerily, patting the ninja's back until an irritated arm waved him away.
They sat there in silence for a moment, waiting for the other to sober up a little, which, after the gallons they felt that they had drunk, seemed almost impossible.
"Well, I've never run away from my world."
"True, true." Saturated in alcohol, Fai's defensive smile lay crooked on his face. He tried to hide it by lifting the bottle and drinking. "I never glower at perfectly innocent people."
"I never walk around with a stupid fake smile plastered to my face."
"Well, that's true, you always seem to be grumpy, striding around like a grumpy doggy."
Kurogane glared at the wizard, whose bottle remained lowered. "Aren't you going to drink?"
"There's nothing fake about my smiles. See!" Fai offered an even wider grin as proof, a grin as fake as his previous smile.
"Liar."
It was getting dangerous now.
Through the mists of alcohol that veiled his mind and stopped his thinking properly, the vague sensation that he had alter the flow of their conversation was like a light in the darkness of Fai's mind.
"I've never drowned a baby before."
Kurogane almost choked on his drink. "What? Where is this all coming from all of a sudden?" he asked after he had stopped spluttering and coughing.
"Have you?" Fai stared accusingly at Kurogane.
"N- no! Of course not!" Kurogane coughed, recomposing himself, ready for his turn.
"Yes you have," Fai slurred and peered at the ninja through his now empty bottle. "I recognise you now. You killed my baby, you bastard! Kuro-tan's a baby killer!" he wailed, launching his body into the surprised ninja. Fai gripped onto Kurogane's arm; yelling unintelligible things that Kurogane was sure would wake the two children up.
With much prying, he managed to free himself from the wizard. Scooting to the other side of the dying fire, Kurogane chucked his bottle aside and resumed their game.
"I've never gotten drunk and made a total ass of myself before."
"That, I'm sure, is a lie," Fai grinned and dodged the swipe aimed at his head. "I've never gotten drunk enough to throw up," he said, disappointed to see that Kurogane's bottle remained by his side.
Fai sloshed the contents of his drink across the grass. Looking up, he crawled over to Kurogane, who was hoping to keep him back with a glare, though without much success.
Upon arriving at arm's length from the ninja, Fai swiped at Kurogane's sake bottle and took another long swig.
Kurogane glared at the wizard across the dim firelight. "I've never gotten drunk and woken up sharing a bed with someone else." He watched Fai take a rather large gulp in disbelief. "You have?"
Fai smiled. "Well, no, not really, but I intend to," throwing Kurogane's sake bottle to the wind, he pounced upon Kurogane, knocking him flat.
A surprised yelp escaped Kurogane's throat. He tried pushing the wizard off but Fai had tightly wrapped himself around Kurogane's torso.
While Kurogane was yelling and cursing beneath him, Fai's free hand groped in search of the last bottle of sake they had. Flipping off the cap, he stuck the neck into the ninja's mouth, silencing him immediately.
Sake freely flowed down Kurogane's throat. Whilst he was aware of Fai's laughter, he let his limbs go limp and was awarded with a triumphant smile as Fai removed the bottle and swept in.
Perhaps the morning's hangover would not be so bad.
XX
So comes to close another section. Those two are really incredible to be able to handle so much wine and sake. Thanks to all reviewers, you really brighten up my days of boring school life.
Next Section - Perfect Innocence (the rating will go up for this one, I think)