An- Warning. Contains epic cheezyness.

Ten: Deal
Sometimes inside jokes have the most special of meanings

It all started with a joke about an anime. But how many times can you re-use a joke before it loses it's meaning?

1. When Rin invited her best friend Len over to hang out they ended up watching Naruto out of boredom. As they talked about the series and how it was clearly marked for being extremely soft-core yaoi Len began to chuckle and boldly stated: "I'll be your Sasuke if you'll be my Naruto." and winked. It only made the blonde female beside him burst into a fit of giggles before extending her hand out to him and exclaiming "Deal!"

2. When Len attended one of Rin's many sports clubs, he sat in the back and only watched as she worked her magic with a bow and arrow in archery club. Hitting every mark set before her, she drew the bow with a grace that no other girl on the team seemed to posses. When practice finally dismissed Len approached Rin, telling her that she looked as if she had more skill than the infamous undead priestess Kikyou. Rin only huffed.

"Don't compare me to Kikyou, Len, you know I don't like her. Inu totally belongs with Kagome." Len only shrugged and raised his brow at the sudden grin his friend had.

"What's with that face?" He asked.

"Hey, Len?"

"What?"

"I'll be your Kagome if you'll be my Inuyasha." She said with a laugh. He only grinned and shook his head with a laugh.

"Deal..."

3. Rin had a habit of going shopping every three weeks. Len had a habit of tagging along. Both had a habit of taking shortcuts to get to different places.

Passing a gaming store with a huge poster of the latest Legend of Zelda game, the two began to debate on which game in the series was the best. Rin thought Twilight Princess. Len argued Ocarina of Time, and as they turned into an alley way (one of their many shortcuts) he stated that Link must be "effin' tired of saving princess Zelda all the time." Rin opened her mouth to agree, but all that came out was a scream as someone grabbed her. The strange man twisted her arm around her back, and lifted a rusted knife to her throat.

"Gimme all ya got 'r the girl dies." He said in a gruff voice.

"You better let Rin go, old man." Len growled. The stranger only gave a laugh and brought the knife closer against her neck.

"The money for your girlfriend, blondie."

Without hesitation Len reached into his back pocket and withdrew his wallet. Locking eyes with the assailant he held up the item and held it out for the man to grab. Giving a grin full of rotting teeth the man released the whimpering blonde in his hold and shoved her toward the waiting arms of a more trusted male. Without a second thought the man turned and dashed in the opposite direction, giggling like a mad man.

"Rin, are you alright?" Len asked, his eyes full of concern.

"I'm ok." Rin sighed as she calmed herself, then smiled warmly, "Thanks Len...you really came through for me. Like a knight protecting his princess!"

"Hey, I'll always be your Link if you'll be my Princess." Len said with a bow. Rin giggled.

"Deal, my fair swordsman."

"Great...Now uh...let's get out of here before Gannondorf figures out that my wallet's empty."

4. Len liked to challenge Rin to various video games. Including one-player games.
This time it was a challenge of who could defeat Seymour the fastest on Final Fantasy X. Currently Len held the record at 10 minutes and now it was Rin's turn. As she casted elemental protection on her party she swore as Seymour began to summon the dreaded Anima. Shiva time!

As Rin summoned the ice aeon, Len slumped on the couch and stuffed his mouth with a chip.

"You should have used Grand Summon so her Overdrive was ready." He said.

"Hush you." Rin snapped, her eyes glued to the screen.

"Dude, I love this game..."

"Me too. Don't get chip crumbs on the couch."

"How awesome would it be to travel around as a guardian?"

"I dunno...I'd rather be a summoner. "

"You just want to be able to summon the electric unicorn."

"Guilty!" Rin grinned. "I can't help it. It's all cute n' stuff."

"Well then if you're a summoner, I'll be your guardian and we'll go and be effin' awesome and kick Sin's ass." Len crossed his arms and nodded, as if this were really going to happen.

"Hey, I'll be your Yuna anytime, Tidus." Rin gave the boy a wink before looking back at the television. Len chuckled and facepalmed.

5. Len had a secret. So did Rin.
Len loved Rin. Rin loved Len.
Len decided it was high time he manned up and told her. So he called her and told her he wanted to hang out for awhile. Always happy to be in his presence, Rin agreed.

So here they were now, walking in the park, people watching, and talking about video games, and anime, hugging their jackets to themselves to keep warm in the winter evening. The cold even kept the moths from gathering around the light posts lining the sidewalk walkway. Finally Len suggested they sit for a moment as they neared the fountain. More than willing to get off her feet, Rin happily plopped onto the side of the fountain, taking a moment to count how much change had been tossed into it.

"Uh...Hey, Rin can I tell you something...a little serious?" Len asked, as he fumbled with his hoodie's zipper. Rin, who had been playing around with how her breath appeared in the cold weather, turned to her friend and cocked her head to the side.

"Sure, Lenny. What's up?"

The male rolled his eyes at the nickname but flushed as his heart began to race.

"Ok well...the thing is I-...Um...I...I kind of...I mean I li- Well no I mean I lo-...Er...I...uh..." As Len stumbled over his words, a brow slowly rose on Rin's face. Even with the obvious flustered state of her companion, she didn't know what was wrong with him.

"C'mon Len, spit it out!" She said encouragingly patting him on the back. Len took a deep breath before turning to face her. She raised her brows at the serious expresion he suddenly wore.

"Rin...I guess what I'm trying to say i-is..." Len paused as he searched for the words, "I'll be yours...if you'll be mine."

Rin blinked.

"Serious?"

"...Yeah."

Long pause. A sigh from Len as he turned away and mumbled something like "forget it."

"Deal."

"Wha?" He quickly snapped his gaze back to the blonde with a beet red colour splashed across her face. Not to mention the wide grin. She reached over and threaded her fingers with his.

"Deal." She repeated before planting a kiss against his cheek.

So how many times before it loses it's meaning?

When a joke holds a secret, the meaning lasts forever.