Okay, I know I need to update Russian Roulette and about a billion other things, but I'm awfully busy with school, and I'm not even done with the next chapter, so I'm kind of screwed at the moment. If I haven't replied to your review yet, I'm really sorry; I promise I'll get to it as soon as I can.

Fortunately, the manager was a bit horrified by the idea of a twenty-threesome on his magnificent work of art, and Yukimura was forced to think of another alternative.

His guests appeared to be more than entertained, however. Fuji, for example, was laughing maniacally and searching up various poisons and acids on the laptop that appeared to be attached to his hip.

Tezuka sat, more than a little frustrated. "Fuji, what in the world are you doing?"

"I'm planning my revenge on the manager," came the cheery reply. "Although, I can't decide between cyanide poisoning or hydrochloric acid poisoning. The hydrochloric acid is so much more painful, which is why I'd prefer it, but cyanide seems more classy, in a way. What do you think?"

"I think you should stop trying to kill people," Tezuka said bluntly.

In another corner of the room, Atobe Keigo was sipping red wine while listening to Gakuto complain.

". . . And he just had to buy me a cat decorated mug instead of a dog decorated mug. I mean, I like dogs better, isn't that totally obvious? Cats remind me of that horrible Kikumaru Eiji, and I don't get why people think cats represent him anyway, because cats are stretchy and bendy, but he's not half as good as I am at acrobatics—do you see him doing a moonsault? No, it's always me! It's stupid that people think he's even close to being on the same level as me, because . . ."

"Shut up, Gakuto."

Before Gakuto could come at him with a flurry of colorful swear words, Choutaro hurriedly pulled Shishido away. "Ah, Shishido-san, let's go try the sushi."

And of course, Akaya was busy interrogating Yagyuu. "Uh, what exactly are you doing here?"

"Yukimura and I went to the same university. We were roommates for a while, in fact. Niou-kun was supposed to come too, but he said he was feeling lazy." Yagyuu would have rolled his eyes, had it not been an un-gentlemanly gesture. "In fact, he's quite close with Yukimura as well."

Akaya peered at him suspiciously. "Is he, now? Then why did he send me on this stupid mission?"

Yagyuu smiled and lied easily, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Akaya wasn't fooled.

"But if I did know," Yagyuu continued, "I'd say Niou probably did it for his own entertainment. Except I don't know."

"For someone famous for pulling off a switch with Niou-san in high school, you're a really bad liar," Akaya commented, frowning. "No offense."

"Or maybe I'm bad at telling the truth. Who knows?" Just then, his cell phone rang. "I apologize, Kirihara-kun. This is one of my business associates. Enjoy the party." With that, he drifted off to an isolated corner of the room, talking about percentages and decimals and other mathematical things that Akaya didn't want to think about.

But Yagyuu had left him with a valuable bit of information.

Niou and Yukimura were friends.

Why in the world would he want Akaya to take scandalous photos of him, then? Although, Yagyuu had summed it up very well—his own entertainment, no doubt.

What a—!

Although, it was rather ingenious of him.

"So he did it on purpose." Marui seemed extremely amused. "I love that guy. Do you know how many laughs I got out of this?"

"He did it for entertainment!" Akaya fumed. "I can't believe this! What if I actually got photos, and they got published or something? Then Yukimura would kill him and . . ." He trailed off. "Maybe I should try that."

"Don't. It's suicide."

"But he wouldn't have an excuse! I'd say that I worked so hard to take those photos that he just has to publish them, and then it'd all be worth it."

"Niou's not as stupid as you are," Marui snorted. "Don't risk anything. Isn't he practically giving you the company when he retires?" He nodded to himself, answering his own question. "See, because I'm such a genius, you should listen to my genius advice and maybe some of my genius will rub off on you because I'm such a genius, and . . ."

But Akaya had already run off, taking his cell phone with him.

Niou picked up after the first ring. "What's up, brat?"

It never ceased to amaze him how Niou managed to sound so authoritative while drawling like a drunk.

"I got the photos. Took them at the twenty-threesome today." He paused for the inevitable burst of laughter. "In fact, I heard you were invited."

Instead of being surprised, however, Niou seemed more mirthful than anything. "I was. But you know, work and all that." Akaya resisted the urge to scoff. The only thing Niou really did at work was boss people around and find excuses to scar employees for life. He'd have a fine time working with Yagyuu. "How'd you like the party? That Yukimura's some party-thrower, eh?"

"Sure is," Akaya said tightly. "So what's my next job? Since I've gotten the photos, and all."

"What're you talking about?"

"The job's over. I took the stupid photos and now it's done with."

"Not so fast, brat. There's something else."

"What do you mean? I got the damn photos already, didn't I?"

"Language, Aka-chan. You're in too deep now, don't you see? Hey, I don't care if you ditch it now; I just needed the photos. But wouldn't you be breaking Yukimura's darling little heart if you left him?"

Akaya cringed at the thought. Yukimura's heart wouldn't necessarily be broken, but something told him that Akaya's neck might be, instead. His mind flashed back to the threat Sanada had given him—the threat that ultimately resulted in the photo-shoot, the acquaintance with Fuji, and the horrific not-quite-twenty-threesome that followed after.

He could just hear the mockery in his boss's voice, and hated him—not for the first time—for being right. "Yeah, well…"

"Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

"You don't want to know."

"I do, actually." Niou was definitely leaning back in his chair and grinning; his voice always rose a few notches when he did that.

"Of course you do," Akaya grumbled. "Has it ever occurred to you that I don't want to kill myself?"

"Of course you do," Niou said frivolously. "Otherwise you wouldn't be working for me. How bad can it be? You're helping a friend out, no?" Akaya couldn't tell if he meant himself or Yukimura, but decided that it sucked for him either way.

"This is just like that time you got me to pretend I was lost at the mall so you could flirt with the security woman."

Niou openly laughed this time. "Come on, that wasn't so bad. I got a hot date, you got a hot pretzel. Win-win situation, right?"

"I was seventeen! Getting lost at that age means you're either mentally challenged or you have a really sadistic boss."

"Both of which apply to you," Niou said dismissively. "So everything adds up." Before Akaya could start ranting, he added, "Yukimura texted me a few hours ago and asked about seeing you again. Did you tell him you were moving to Antarctica?"

"I said a city in Antarctica."

"Antarctica has no cities. Next time you lie, make it more believable, or people will think I'm a bad mentor or something."

"You are."

"Not the point," Niou sang. "Sanada, Yagyuu, Yukimura and everybody else are going to the next tennis game. It's by the Tokyo Stadium; you want to come? Bring Marui, okay?"

"Wait, I don't want to go!"

"Yes, you do." There was a hint of menace in his voice now, and Akaya sulked.

"Why'd you ask if you don't care what I think?"

"It makes it seem more polite."

Like hell.

But Niou hung up before Akaya could reply. Marui barged inside, then. "You know there's no point in locking yourself in a room when I know how to pick locks, right?"

"No, you don't."

"I learned how yesterday," he said with a shrug. "Anyway, I could hear you screaming from outside. Niou told me about the tennis thing yesterday. Won't it be fun?" He wagged his eyebrows suggestively. "You get to sit next to your hot boyfriend, I get to sit next to his hot fan girls . . ."

"Don't even mention the B-word right now," Akaya ordered, frowning. "Just don't."

"You know, you could just kind of erase this entire chapter from your life. Just kind of forget about the whole thing."

Akaya blinked. That actually wasn't a bad idea.

Pretending to be gay? What?

Who's Yukimura Seiichi?

What are you talking about?

What the hell are you on?

That wasn't a bad idea at all.

"Or," Marui continued, "you could keep playing charades and turn this into a game of stamina. Niou's a pretty powerful guy. I doubt you could beat him in something like this, anyway." He chuckled at the possibility.

He did not notice Akaya's suddenly determined glare. "Yeah," the reporter was saying, slowly. "Yeah, let's go with that."

Marui fixed Akaya with a long stare, then looked him over from head to toe, and up again. He nodded. "It's official," he said seriously. "You're an idiot."

Akaya was wearing a tight black tank top and leather pants. Pointed boots completed the look, and even he had to admit, the look made him look a bit like a cowboy. Literally.

"You do know Yukimura's going to be there, right?" Marui asked. "And he may or may not rape you after seeing you like this."

Akaya simply smiled smugly. He was going to win Niou's little game.

Marui, however, seemed a bit worried, and placed a hand on Akaya's forehead. He drew back, frowning. "You don't have a fever. Maybe food poisoning, then."

He scowled. "You were the one who suggested this. Beating Niou at his own game, remember?

There was a lengthy pause, then Marui blurted, "You thought I was serious?"

"You weren't?" Akaya shrugged. "I'm already into it now, so there's no point in stopping, right?"

"Wrong," he replied firmly. "You are going to kill yourself, and even though it's going to be hilarious for me to watch, I'd prefer watching you humiliate yourself mildly over a long period of time."

"You're a bad colleague."

"I'm watching out for you," Marui insisted, but brought a camera along, just in case.

I got my iPhone confiscated for the first time ever! Yay! The preview's very short this time:

"So what do you suggest, Fuji?" Yukimura smiled at the brunette. "Sanada's offered to assist me in this one, so we've got to include him in it too."

"I think we should make this big. The biggest yet." Fuji paused dramatically. "I suggest . . ."