Why is it that at a party, there are millions of hot, single guys to choose from, and yet you always manage to choose the one that's related to you?
Even Nanako Meino had to admit that the best thing about college was the parties. They were always loud and crowded, and chances were that half of the people there didn't even who you were. It was the perfect opportunity to let loose, especially when it was after exams.
Nanako inched her way through the crowd, finally reaching her friends gathered on an arrangement of couches and chairs. They offered her a beer, but she didn't take it. It was most likely that she would have a drunken uncle waiting for her at home. She wouldn't be making the situation any better by getting drunk herself.
As the group started talking about the difficulty of the exams, her mind exited the conversation long enough to focus on a particular guy from across the room, catching her eye with a small smile. She made eye contact with him for a few seconds, then turned back to her friends.
"Hey, do we know that guy?" she asked one of her friends sitting next to her. Her friend stretched her neck to get a better look.
"Which one?"
"The one in the grey jacket."
"Oh, that one," her friend said, spotting him. "I think I heard someone talking about him. Apparently he's an advanced tennis player that plays on this cruise, and he's in Tokyo for a few weeks to visit some relatives."
"He's kind of cute," Nanako admitted, giving him one more glance. The guy winked back in return, to which Nanako gave a light giggle and rolled her eyes. Later, as she was exploring the snack bar, the guy approached her, wearing a confident expression.
"Alright, why don't we just skip the small talk, and I'll go straight to asking you for your name?"
"It's Nanako," she answered. "And you?"
His smile twisted into a small smirk. "Just call me Ryoga."
The next time Nanako was seen, she was coming out of one of the unoccupied rooms, hair completely a mess and clothes thoroughly disheveled. Her face carried a rather dazed appearance, looking utterly love-struck. Fixing herself up, she was about to make her way back to her friends, who seemed to be looking for her, when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Ah, Ryoma-kun. How did you find me?"
"One of your friends told me where you were. I need you to come home now. Oyaji's drunk again, and okaa-san isn't home yet."
Nanako took out her cell phone and checked the time.
"He's earlier than usual. Look, do you think you can handle it by yourself tonight? I'm a little busy."
"What? No way am I being left alone with that baka!"
She let out a sigh.
"Okay fine, I'll come with you."
As she said this, Ryoma's eyes narrowed at a particular figure just a little way behind Nanako, recognizing the person as the guy that just left the room with her. Ryoma slightly twitched when he realized who it was.
"Um Nanako-san, were you just with a guy?"
"Yes," Nanako said with a blush, knowing that she would be unable to hide this simple fact.
"And what was his name?"
"Ryoga-kun. Why? Do you know him or something?" Nanako asked, figuring since they both were pretty renowned in the tennis world.
"Yeah, I know him," Ryoma said rather stiffly. "His name's Echizen Ryoga…and he's my brother."
Nanako's eyes widened. "Wait, he's your brother? But then that means—"
"He's your cousin."
Nanako was never much of a drinker, but when she heard this, she grabbed the first cup of beer she could find and drank it in one gulp.
Nanako and Ryoma arrived at home to find Nanjiroh already collapsed on the floor. With combined effort, they both lifted him onto the living room couch and covered him with a blanket. Nanako had just finished placing a glass of tea ready for him on the table when a knock was heard at their door. Ryoma went to answer it.
"Hey chibisuke! Sorry I'm late, but I stopped by a party with one of my friends, and I kind of lost track of time."
Ryoma winced as the elder Echizen gave him a powerful noogie. Nanako could only stand off to the side quietly, afraid of bringing any attention to herself. When Ryoga saw her, he seemed rather stunned at first.
"Oi chibisuke, I didn't know you had company over."
"She's not company. She lives here."
Ryoga cocked an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"She's our cousin," Ryoma stated, almost laughing inwardly. A sadistic side of him (most likely inherited from Fuji) was actually pretty amused with the situation.
"Our cousin? But…I…we…you," Ryoga stammered, clearly at a lost for words and ultimately giving up on trying to find them. Not knowing what to say, the three of them merely stood awkwardly in silence.
"Well at least you were a good kisser."
Nanako smacked Ryoga hard across the cheek.
This is for Shuu, who requested this pairing, and I have to say that even though I've never thought of them before, I kind of liked them together in a sick and twisted kind of way. Now I know Nanako and Ryoga are not technically related, but it's really the thought that counts. It's like the same reason why you wouldn't date your stepbrother or something like that. And when Charmane commented on how funny it would if Nanako slapped him, I just had to add that in. And this is what I got. And just so you know, Nanako and Ryoga will be seen later on in this story, but not as a couple for obvious reason. They'll be paired together in more of a family relationship (and Nanako will end up with someone). Oops, don't want to reveal too much. All of this chapters will relate to one another and connect. I promise. Just be a little patient. And if you're asking what happened between Nanako and Ryoga in the room, I'll let it vary depending on how twisted your mind is.
Oh, just in case you haven't noticed, I kind of added the author's notes at the end of each chapter for formatting purposes so it would help to actually read these. Only if the information is so extremely important that you need to know beforehand will I put them in the beginning, but so far, that problem hasn't really come up yet.