Truth or Dare (chapter 2) [FIC]

[dd]

The combined chatter of a room full of girls was rather dramatic.

Sousuke found himself sweating, struggling with his Fight or Flight response. Worse, it was like showing fear in front of a dog or a more seasoned Arm Slave adversary.

When he had made his unexpected entrance, many of the girls had run from the room, slid deep inside their sleeping bags, or jumped under blankets. Now, like wary predators sensing an easy kill, they had crept out to form a ring around the besieged soldier.

“Just the toenails,” Maya offered, a wicked gleam in her eyes. “The hot pink would look so cute on you.” At the moment, it was her turn to hold the Bonta-Kun doll. “If you like, we can try it on Bonta-Kun first, and see which color you like best.”

“Maya!” Kaname grabbed the stuffed animal, cradling it in her arms. For a moment, she looked over at a pistol that Sousuke had placed on her end table. If it had rubber bullets, maybe he would let her borrow it. Frowning, she tried to purge her mind of that kind of thought.

She had definitely spent too much time around Sousuke.

“Cute is not a word used by Sp-…” Sousuke clamped his mouth shut. To this pack of females, he was simply a student. He most definitely was not a Sergeant or a Specialist. “Negative. My toenails are effective in their current condition.”

“But, I have glitter!” Ryo almost began giggling, seeing the expression on Sousuke’s face. The girls were beginning to realize just how uncomfortable Sousuke was feeling. That was fun. It held so much promise.

“Negative,” Sousuke said, sitting cross-legged, feet beneath him. He kept a close eye on the group of girls, all of whom seemed to be migrating nearer to him by the minute. All seemed to be holding beauty accoutrements of one type or another. That worried him more than a gang of street toughs armed with switchblades and saps. “I fail to see how this would contribute to the game you described.”

“It’s about making everyone feel comfortable together,” Kyouko said, her eyes sparkling. She watched as a hamster ball rolled across the blanket-strewn floor, the furry little inhabitant working overtime. “You can’t be one of the girls; but, this will make everyone feel safe.” If she could get pictures of Sousuke undergoing a make-over, she would be set for life. Nothing could ever top that.

“I won’t feel safe as long as Sousuke is here…” Kaname scowled and tossed her hair. Deep inside, however, she was more concerned for him than she had been for the Bonta-Kun doll. For some reason, she also felt anxious, seeing how much attention the other girls were giving a certain misplaced military miscreant.

That response had a number of girls striking Kaname with pillows. Even the partygoers who had originally been adamant about excluding boys were watching breathlessly, wondering if the group of them could stage a coup like this.

“I know you care about Kaname’s safety,” Mizuki said to Sousuke. She smiled, seeing the look on Kaname’s face. “Why should we be any different? We’re girls too. And, some of the others are your classmates.” She winked at a number of girls. “That is… unless you protect Kaname for a different reason…” She smiled, like a cat sizing up a canary. Sousuke’s eyes had widened ever so slightly. “Maybe because you love her…”

“No!” Sousuke answered ‘No’ as much to contradict the unasked question about his being a soldier, as he did to deny his feelings for Kaname. After all, he didn’t love her, right? He didn’t even know what love is. That didn’t explain why he felt so uneasy, however. “I do not love Kaname Chidori.”

“Of course he doesn’t. Ah hah hah hah hah ha-a-a-a-a-h.” Kaname’s classic laugh had the girls smiling. “Why would someone like that big idiot love me? And why would I even want someone like that to feel that way about me?” Kaname tried to convince herself as much as anyone else. Nevertheless, she whispered to herself: “Big stupid head.”

“I see…” Sousuke sat very stiff and still. “I will take note of that.” He nodded his head. “Perhaps I will learn useful intelligence here tonight.”

“But…” Kaname went pale, briefly. Then, she put on a disinterested look and said “That’s supposing it’s possible for someone like you to learn anything.”

Instinctively, the girls crowded Sousuke even more, causing him to scoot backwards some, blocked from further retreat by the side of Kaname’s couch. He felt like a missionary surrounded by cannibals, or a lone wildebeest being stalked by a group of hyenas. For a moment, he was tempted to mention that latter observation. His unconscious desire for self-preservation stopped him at the last instant.

“Just the nails, then.” One girl said, pursing her lips. Her voice was a low purr. It sent chills up and down Sousuke’s spine.

“Or some lip gloss,” another girl added, on her hands and knees. She ran a tongue over her teeth.

Kaname clenched her fists for a moment, and then stopped. It didn’t matter that she could see down the one girl’s blouse. It pretty much didn’t matter that Sousuke must be able to do the same. It was Sousuke’s turn to be distracted to the point of mental breakdown. That was good. He caused her to feel the same way more often than any sane person could stand.

Still, she found herself looking over at Sousuke’s pistol again.

“Eye shadow,” Ryo offered, holding up an applicator. “Or some nice toner.”

“She’s right. Mascara.” Mizkuki studied Sousuke’s troubled face. “We should probably work on your foundation, too.” Sweat it, mister. This will teach you to kiss me without any invitation!

Sousuke reached out his hand automatically, as if he was in Arbalest. In the ARX-7, he would have toggled a communications switch, radioing for back up or air support. He swallowed hard, seeing that his hand was actually stretching out near the one girl’s neckline. That had the two of them blushing, and the girl falling flat on her stomach, legs in the air, pretending that she hadn’t been bothered.

Kaname growled quietly in her throat. She stopped, reminding herself that this was all OK. Right?

“We could put a concealer on over that scar,” Ren offered, giving Sousuke a polite apologetic look. She smiled, seeing how well he was taking things. “We all brought cream and powder blushes, too.”

“I’ve got a number of shadow pencils,” one girl said, feeling somewhat eager. “I also brought a selection of hair gels.” On her knees, she shuffled closer and closer to Sousuke.

Sousuke struggled to find a solution. What would he do, trapped behind enemy lines, hounded by a numerically superior force? What alternatives would he have, encircled by a force of less capable Arm Slaves? How had he survived in some of his earliest training sessions, amongst men that saw him as an infidel and a source of amusement? The sweat falling off of his chin and brow was leaving countless wet spots on his borrowed pajama top.

“In the Edo era, most women did not make up their faces. If anything, women made up their faces with white face powder. That was the image of beauty in that period.” Sousuke looked at a number of lipstick containers rolling across the floor. Light glinting off of them, they reminded him of spent cartridges. “Many Japanese forget about this. Also, in the Edo era, a woman's standard characteristic was to be still.” That didn’t stop the girls from sliding nearer. “Women who spoke in a loud voice were considered bad. “

“You mean like Kaname?” Kyouko asked.

“Uhhh…” Sousuke knew better than to answer that one. Just the same, as he didn’t quickly answer ‘no’, he was effectively damned.

“Loser,” Kaname said under her breath. She cracked her knuckles without knowing she did so. Someday, there would be pay back.

“What kind of lipstick should we use,” Maya asked, ignoring Sousuke’s history lesson. Her eyes seemed to glow with a demonic light, much the way the eyes of the rugby team had when they were annihilating their long time rivals.

“Moisturizing!” Ryo asserted. “It will make his lips soft. That might be important later…” That had a number of the girls looking at one another, hands coming to their mouths. Who knows what might happen in Truth or Dare.

“Uhhh…” Sousuke wondered just what that meant.

“Hey… that’s…” Kaname began to see the full weight of the issue and hand. Her pride might have gotten her much more than she had bargained for.

“I think he would do well with a satin or sheer lipstick,” one girl put in, wondering if she would have the courage to take any ‘Dares’ during the upcoming game.

“Frosted,” Maya said. “I think Sousuke would be the bomb, with beautiful, shimmering lips.”

All of the girls laughed, and began talking loudly together. Many of them had been teased, harassed, or just plain bothered by the boys at school. No small number of them had been peripherally caught up in some of Sousuke’s escapades. This was a wonderful way to get revenge for any number of injustices.

“Kaname?” Sousuke looked intense. “Bomb?”

“It…” Kaname hid her face behind the stuffed animal. “How can someone be so clueless?” Her words were muffled. She thought back to the time when that Mardukas guy had come to the school, berating Sousuke for not knowing any of the popular music groups. “Moron.”

“Thinner or smaller lips look best with brighter, more vivid colors,” Ren added, helpfully. She held up a couple of her favorite lipsticks.

“Uh huh. No dark colors. That would make his mouth look severe and harsh.” Kyouko took a few pictures of the girls advancing on Sousuke. The look on his face was priceless. After that, she took a few of Kaname. Those were priceless too.

“Like Kaname,” Mizuki said, causing the girls around her to laugh. She ducked when the Bonta-kun came sailing towards her head.

The girls crowded closer and closer to Sousuke. They called out types of cosmetics, followed by color choices and brand names. To the cornered soldier, it was as if an advancing enemy front had gotten close enough so that he could see the whites of their eyes. Any moment now, they would fix bayonets and charge.

Kaname began to grow more irritated by the moment.

It shouldn’t really bother her that Sousuke had become the center of attention at her party, but it did. Likewise, there was no reason for her to feel her temper wearing thin, just because a number of her friends were leaning closer and closer to Sousuke. No. None of that was really important. The problem was Sousuke. Right. That’s it. Sousuke. The big jerk would probably do something otaku or dangerous soon. She just knew it. That was the only reason to nip things in the bud.

“I think that’s enough…” Kaname stood with one foot up on an old worn ottoman. She spoke as if she were the captain of an old time sailing ship. “We’re wasting too much time on that idiot. It’s getting late…”

She was clouted with pillows again. Before she knew it, a half dozen girls were sitting on her. “Hey… let me up… what are you doing?” She tried to lift herself off the ground but couldn’t. “There’s no time for this. We should mrblfbgl brglmrphlbr grblmrbrlgrph” Someone had rolled up a long woolen sock and placed it in her mouth.

Sousuke put his hand on the TMP. He took it off, trying to remain calm. It would be difficult to make an effective apology after shooting someone with a short burst of 9x19mm Parabellum. He put his hand in one pocket, brushing a finger against the pull ring on a concussion grenade. Closing his eyes, he shook his head. That was out too. In this enclosed area, the shock waves produced by this grenade would be greater than those produced by a fragmentation grenade.

Kaname would not appreciate the damage such a device might cause to her furnishings.

“Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you happy to see Mizuki?” Sousuke movement had caught one girl's eye. She grinned as Mizuki turned bright pink. A number of the other girls couldn’t help themselves. They peered at the asymmetric bulge in Sousuke’s pajama bottoms, before looking away.

“Mrblgrbl mrphllgrb frblgrb!” Kaname couldn’t get the sock out of her mouth.

“Kaname?” Sousuke arched one eyebrow. Just what kind of party game was this? He sighed. Girls were definitely more difficult to understand than the hydraulic system of an M9 or the ARX-7. “Are you saying I should take it out and show them?”

That had most of the pajama-wrapped young ladies imagining something rather risque. A couple of them teetered, and then fell over.

“NRBL!” Kaname almost managed to escape from her confinement.

“Well, at Kaname’s insistence, then.” Sousuke slowly reached inside of his pocket. “I realize that it is larger than the situation might warrant. However, the size it not what matters. It is how one uses such a thing.”

Most of the girls turned away. Some, however, shocked themselves by looking on. Mizuki had gone as white as a sheet. Kyouko had aimed the camera, and was taking pictures with her eyes closed. Maya was looking out through a crack in her fingers, hands covering her eyes. Ryo was looking to see if Maya was peeking.

There was a concerted sigh of relief when Sousuke held out the U.S. model MK3A2 grenade. “We are comrades here, tonight.” He nodded affably. “As such, I will let anyone handle it who wishes, as long as they do not cause it to explode.” He wondered why most of the girls turned red hearing that.

“I… well… ahem…” Maya cleared her throat. She took the grenade in hand after it had been passed around the room. Somehow, she felt very dirty. Putting her finger through the ring, she smirked. “Now that I have this, will you surrender?”

“I will do whatever you wish,” Sousuke said, not wanting things to escalate. He had fought his way through many hostage situations, never quite understanding how the captives must feel. Now, at a slumber party, he got his first inkling of the psychological terror and oppression. “However… I have one stipulation.”

“OK,” Ryo said, acting as if she had the right to speak for the others.

“If it’s nothing perverted.” Mizuki looked down her blouse, and then drew the lapels closet together with her hand.

“Unless it involves Kaname.” Maya smirked at her trapped friend.

A number of the other girls rushed to give their consent.

“I think we should hear what his stipulation is, first.” Ren was the voice of reason. “We might not want to accept it.” She could only wonder what kind of thing Sousuke might come up with. It amazed her no end, seeing how her fellow girls were reacting. It was like someone had spilled some blood in a shark tank. She had seen her father’s enforcers get worked up into this kind of frenzy, just before a raid on a rival gang’s territory. But, that was their job.

“That is wise council,” Sousuke said. “The time you spend around his Excellency has done you well.” His words had Ren blushing and lowering her eyes, thinking of the Student Council President. “It is reassuring, seeing that girls can actually think in a rational and logical manner.” That had a number of the girl’s narrowing their eyes. “Perhaps you should take note, Kaname.”

Kaname managed to push off of the ground, dislodging the people sitting on her. She threw the wet sock over her shoulder, unconcerned that she knocked over a large flower-filled vase with it. “S-S-Sousuke…”

“I can understand how you all might wish to have me conform to your group. Miss Tokiwa mentioned comfort. To be fair, I should be made to feel more comfortable myself.” Sousuke swallowed hard. It was difficult for a trained operative to admit he was feeling uneasy in this kind of setting. “So, if I should be made to look like those that you are used to…” He reached over and opened a small satchel he had brought with him. He took out a number of jars and began unscrewing them. “You will need to apply these to your faces.”

“What is it?” Maya asked, arching one eyebrow.

“All of us?” Kyouko put her camera down. Suddenly, things weren’t quite as much fun.

“No way,” one girl said. “”Who knows what that is.” Other girls began piping up as well.

“I see,” Sousuke said, cocking his head. “I man is expected to be heroic, but women are free to hide behind cowardice and double standards. Disappointing. I doubt that Kaname would be so craven. She has shown great courage in the past.” He held the jars out to Kaname.

“Don’t be stupid, Sousuke!” Kaname was about to dress him down, but stopped. She rubbed the back of her neck for a moment. She was a Class rep. She was the highest ranking member of the Student Council present. If the duty of defending the honor of womankind fell on anyone, it was her. “I mean… what is that stuff?”

“Camouflage paint,” Sousuke answered. “Historically, in the Edo era, ninja were masters of camouflage, concealment, horsemanship, explosives, and poisons. Today, some of those methods remain useful to the modern commando.”

“Just a different kind of make-up,” Mizuki said, turning her nose up. “Right girls?” The other girls all nodded their heads, some of them feeling a bit annoyed at Sousuke’s comments. This was an issue of pride now.

“If that is the case, then you will not mind using it?” Sousuke stared at Mizuki. As the girl stammered, he turned to Kaname. “Well? Kaname?”

“Oh… just give me that stuff…” Kaname grabbed the jars from Sousuke. She looked around the room, meeting the eyes of the other partygoers. The message was clear. If she put some on, everybody would. “I don’t know how I got talked into doing this…” Sticking her fingers into grey paint, she smeared it on her cheeks, wrinkling her nose at the smell. “Next!”

Maya and Ryo sighed. There would be a price to making Sousuke up. Well, it was all for a good cause! They put on the camouflage paint with good graces, and then worked on a squirming Mizuki who was pinned to the ground by a bevy of other girls. The other pajama-clad ladies painted their faces one by one.

“OK. Now for Sousuke.” One of the girls stood up, joined by a dozen more. They looked like a squad of female commandos, as much as a group of girls in night clothes could.

“Not yet,” Sousuke said. “You made me dress in clothing of and embarrassing nature.” She scratched his head. “The pants and shirt clash. That is inexcusable in a standard issue uniform.” He wondered what made him say that. A number of the girls grinned and began snickering. “You all look very professional in your face paint. I applaud you. But, there is more you will need to do to balance our tally sheet.”

“Huh?” Maya frowned. “What more?”

“It better not be something weird.” Ryo put in.

“Or dangerous,” Ren added primly.

“I will need for you to act like the people that I work with on various occasions.” Sousuke looked over at Kaname. She should be able to place the references easily enough. “First, one of my comrades has a habit of bragging on a routine basis.” He was thinking of Kurz. “He always commends himself over his frequent… and fictional… conquests over women.” He nodded. “You must talk about your victories over boys, real or confabulated.”

“We were going to do that anyway, more or less.” One girl shrugged. If anything, this would make it easier.

“Good,” Sousuke said. “Kaname, as you seem to show a distinct lack of interest in boys, you may wish to embellish your meeting with Fuwa-sempai. Or, you might consider Satoru Sirai.”

“Oooo-ooo-oo-oh…” The girls were eager for anything they could use in gossip.

“Sousuke…” Kaname began clenching her fists again. Of course she didn’t show any interest in boys. How could she, when she had a Mithril albatross hanging around her neck! Her anger gave way to discomfort. Truth be told, that might not matter, seeing how most of the guys she came across tended to see her as some kind of idol. She found herself staring at Sousuke for a moment, before she felt her anger growing again. “You know I don’t…”

“If you and Kaname cannot both speak about Shirai, you might choose Tsubaki Issei.” Sousuke looked over at Mizuki. “You can disregard the fact that he calls you ‘that clinging leech’ when you are not around.”

“Aaaaaa-aaa-aa-ah…” Gossip was great. In some ways, nicknames were even better.

“For you, I would recommend OnoD,” Sousuke said to Kyouko, disregarding the murderous look on Mizuki’s face. “Kaname has told me that you think Onodera is cute. Shinji, in his nerdish way, might also be a good choice, or so she has implied.” He didn’t understand why Kyouko looked ready to faint, or why she turned to look at Kaname as if she had just flushed out an enemy operative.

“Mmm-mmm-mm-m…” Crushes. Betrayal. Tension. Great stuff!

“Sousuke…” Kaname began flexing her fingers. Making a decision, she picked up a pillow and began dropping nearby heavy objects into its case.

“Miss Kojima. Miss Mukai. The choices for you should be simple, since it seems you are interested in the same boys. However, you may be unaware of that fact, if Kaname is correct.” Sousuke went on to rattle off a pair of names. Maya and Ryo shot daggers at each other, before glaring over at Kaname.

Ohhh-hhhh-hhh-hh-h…” Things kept getting better and better. Viva Sousuke! Sagara for Class Representative!

“Sousuke…” Kaname swung the pillow back and forth. It was now misshapen, and metal objects jangled inside of it. A number of girls quickly moved away from Sousuke.

“And Miss Mikihara, your choice should also be straightforward. Atsunobu Hayashimizu is a good man. I do not understand why Kaname says that you are interested in keeping such information secret.” Sousuke looked puzzled. “You should be proud of your choice. He is a fine example for all of us. And, since she told me, it is by definition no longer a secret…”

None of previously chatty girls made a sound this time. Ren was so quiet and so universally loved, that no one could take any pleasure from her discomfort.

“SOUSUKE!” Kaname swung the pillow with all her might. It sent a seated Sousuke tumbling end over end, leaving him with legs akimbo, upside down against the far wall. She turned to face her friends, expecting their gratitude and admiration. Instead, a number of the other girls picked up pillows.

“K-A-N-A-M-E-!” The girls all called out at once and charged. Before Kaname knew it, she was being pummeled by pillows and rolled up blankets. “How could you tell Sousuke our secrets?!”

The room erupted into a storm of pillows. Each of the girls who had their secrets told to the others got in on the action, and feathers were flying everywhere. But, most of the girls were left speechless, their eyes wide and their tongues protruding.

Something moved in a great flash. Pillows were knocked from hands or sliced apart with a knife. A somersaulting form crouched, grabbed Kaname, and pulled her out of the swirling melee. Carrying her in his arms, Sousuke tripped over a girl who was walking out of an adjacent room to see what the commotion was all about. He ended up sprawled on top of Kaname in a very awkward and compromising position.

“Get off of me, you molester pervert!” Kaname kneed Sousuke where a guy should never be kneed. Cross-eyed, he rolled off of her, once again wounded in the line of fire.

“Oooph… Kaname… it was nothing like that.” Sousuke groaned. “Just like in Khanka, when I jumped on top of you while you were in your undergarments.”

“S-…” Kaname couldn’t get a word out. “S-…” Yes, she remembered that whole adventure. How could anyone forget such a thing? But, the way that Sousuke put it sounded really bad. “S-…”

“Omigosh,” Maya said, grinning. “So this wasn’t the first time.”

“I guess that explains why Kaname and Sousuke were gone so long, and why they didn’t fly back with the rest of us.” Mizuki’s remarked.

“Maybe that’s why Kaname ended up in the hospital, too.” Ryo nudged her Maya with her elbow. It was fun seeing the usually unflappable Kaname Chidori in a situation like this. “Sousuke must be an animal…”

“Mmmmmm-mmm-mm-m…” The girls all chuckled. No one had ever seen anyone sweat like Sousuke was. It was like he just walked in from the rain.

Kaname didn’t know whether to be angry or mortified. She also didn’t like the way that some of the girls had started to look at Sousuke. Most of them had been upset when he arrived. They had thought poorly of him, since all they knew of him was rumors, and what they saw of him at school. But now, his status was growing by leaps and bounds. At her expense! Oooh!

“It was nothing like that!” Kaname stomped her foot. “I was kidnapped. They had me strapped down to a stupid machine in my underwear. If Sousuke didn’t show up with a gun, they would have done all sorts of experiments on me.” Her need to exonerate herself clouded her thinking. “Then, when the big otaku idiot got into an Arm Slave and grblmrph flrbl grphmrgl.”

Sousuke put his hand over Kaname’s mouth. If she was going to talk about Arm Slaves, she might well mention Mithril. “Eee-oww…” His finger was being bitten. “Kaname. That hurt.”

“Good!” Kaname pushed her hair out of her face. Sensing that everyone was looking at her, she glared at everyone in turn. “WHAT?!”

“Kaname, I believe that your shouting at this hour of the night would be considered rude, if your neighbors are indeed attempting to sleep.” Sousuke used the sleeve of his pajama top to dab at the moisture on his forehead. He took a step back, seeing the look on Kaname’s face. “Also, your attack on me with the pillow served as an interruption to the official proceedings. My rescue of you has also prolonged things. You need not waste additional time by thanking me for saving you.”

“I… you…” Kaname began turning red for a different reason.

“You are welcome, Kaname.” Sousuke turned to face the knot of girls, unaware of the fact that a number of partygoers were restraining Kaname. “We were in the middle of negotiations. There is a person I was once very anxious around, but learned to be comfortable in her presence. As a result, I would want all of you with long hair to put it up in a ponytail. Having done so, you should play with in continuously. You should also speak in a sweet and somewhat timid voice, different than Kaname’s sporadic shouts and bellows.”

“Bellows…” Kaname almost managed to break free. Kyouko’s flash was going off repeatedly.

“Hey, I think I know who you’re talking about.” Ryo snapped her fingers. She looked at the girls from her homeroom. “Tessa. Remember, the girl who came to visit the school?”

“That’s right,” Maya said, eyes filled with mischief. “The one who has a special relationship with Sousuke.” She looked over at Kaname. “Or so we were told, out by the pool…”

Each of the girls who had met Tessa spoke up, telling their fond memories of her. That was one more thing that didn’t sit well with Kaname.

“I remember thinking that Kaname had a rival,” Kyouko said impishly.

“Kyouko!” Kaname looked aghast at her pig-tailed friend.

“Maybe Sousuke is some kind of gigolo, or something.” One girl said. That had everyone whispering again.

“Negative,” Sousuke said. “This is not the Edo period. And, I am not a feudal lord. Some of them had many concubines. One Shogun had more than sixty children. Although, he did have one favorite woman. It was because he won every battle that he fought in, when she was near.”

“Like when you’re around Kaname?” Mizuki made a face at Kaname. Sousuke’s mention of Shirai still didn’t sit well with her, even though she knew that Kaname never had any interest in the creep.

“Affirmative,” Sousuke said. “And Tessa as well.” He was merely answering the question. He did not make a connection between that and the topic of concubines. Naturally, it was the subject of battle that had his attention.

“Ahhhhh-hhh-hh-h…”

Kaname bit her lip. Then, she grew angry at herself. Why was she getting all worked up over this nonsense?

“Really?” Maya asked. “Sousuke, did you ever fall on top of Tessa the way you did on Kaname?”

“Negative,” Sousuke answered without thinking. “She fell on me and wouldn’t let me up. At the beach.” He rubbed his chin, remembering another stressful situation involving the diminutive Captain. “She also got into my bed when she and Kaname were sleeping over.” He sighed. “The reason for such behavior escapes me.”

“Both of them were sleeping over… at your place…” A girl began fanning herself with her pillow.

“It wasn’t like you think…” Kaname broke free. “I only stayed over so that nothing happened between the two of them. It was a favor to Sousuke!”

“I bet it was,” Ryo said, winking at one of her friends.

“Sounds like she was worried,” Maya said. “Maybe even jealous.”

“We’re certainly going to have a lot of things to ask about during the game,” Kyouko said.

“How is that?” Sousuke asked. “If I follow your thoughts correctly, you are all mistaken. Neither Kaname nor Cap-… Miss Testarossa… are like the women from the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter that was established in the Edo period.”

“That is true,” Ren said, well versed in Japanese history and tradition.

“Huh?” Maya made a face.

“Pleasure quarter?” Ryo said.

“The training and regulating of ladies as professionals in the art of… uhhh…pleasing men is an old tradition in Japan, dating at least from the early 17th century.” Sousuke watched the various facial expressions of the girls. “The best classes among these women of pleasure were the oiran. An oiran could pick her lovers among the wealthiest citizens. Because of that, they dressed in fancy and expensive clothing. You have all noticed that is not true with Kaname.”

“What…” Kaname froze. She began to stew when she heard some of her friends start to giggle.

“A different class was the geisha, originally an entertainer who played and sang for the oiran and her customers; eventually, however, the more quietly dressed, more variously talented geisha came to be more popular with the men of Edo than the oiran themselves were.” Sousuke looked over at Kaname. “While Kaname’s athelrtic abilities may aid her in dancing, I have heard her singing and attempts at playing instruments in music class. She would never have been accepted as a maiko… a geisha apprentice.”

“What…” Kaname’s face grew taut. First, the big jerk commented on the way she dressed? Now, he was putting down her singing?

“Kaname?” Sousuke thought a moment, wondering why she seemed so upset again. He thought about asking if it was her circulatory problem. Perhaps she was dealing with irregularity, from eating too many party foods. No. He knew what it might be. “I apologize. I was unaware that you had aspirations to become a modern day geisha. Things such as singing and skill with musical devices can be improved with professional tutelage.”

“W-h-a-t…” Kaname looked like she was ready to explode.

“Kaname, a geisha?” Mizuki began chuckling.

“I can see it,” Maya said, a broad smile on her face.

“Wait until the boys in class hear,” Ryo added, rubbing her hands together.

“Rrrrrrrrr-rrrrr-rrrr-rrr-rr-r…” Kaname nearly shattered the glass she had picked up. She was squeezing it so tightly, that her fingers blanched.

“I would suggest that everyone retreat to a safe distance, or arrange yourselves in pairs, back to back.” Sousuke said. “Kaname can be quite violent during one of her tantrums. Bushi women during the Edo period were also expected to be strong. But, they were also expected to be subservient. It was their job to endure troubles, not to cause conflicts.”

“Endure?” Kaname clenched her fists. That’s what she was forced to do around a certain moron! More than any girl should have to! “Subservient?” Her voice went up a couple of octaves. If she had been a cartoon bull, steam would be coming out of her ears and nostrils. “Tantrums?” Her eyes narrowed. She almost pawed at the ground.

Everyone was staring at Kaname, awaiting the inevitable explosion. They were surprised to see her take a deep breath… let it out… smile… and shake her head.

“There won’t be any tantrum,” Kaname said, waving her hand in dismissive fashion. “I mean, who cares what some idiot has to say, right?”

“Kaname?” Sousuke looked hopeful. “Is this change in habit going to be permanent?” He rubbed to top of his head, remembering each of the incidents that had earned him a bump there. “If so, that is very admirable. In the Edo period, your usual reaction would be a cause of great shame and dishonor for a woman. She would be expected to commit jigai as opposed to seppuku. Women had a method in which death would occur relatively quickly. The nature of the wound was not likely to cause an ugly distortion of the features or disarrangement of the limbs that would offend the woman's dignity after death.

“I see,” Kaname said, sweetly, aware of all the stares focused on her. “Shame.” She walked over to the table, which held a number of glasses in various states of fullness. She chose one that had not been touched. “Dishonor.” She walked over to Sousuke. “I can live with that.” She poured the drink slowly over his head. “Hmmmpppfff.”

“It’s love,” one girl said.

“No doubt about it,” another replied. “Gotta be.”

Most of the other girls sighed. That had Kaname gritting her teeth.

“Love?” Sousuke looked over at Kaname. “Is that true?” He looked like a wet dog, with red punch dripping off of his soaked hair. “If so, why have you not informed me of this before?” He swallowed hard.

“No,” Kaname said. “Never.” She turned her back on Sousuke. “Not with someone like you.” At the moment, she almost believed what she said. Almost. “No one could ever love someone like you!”

“That was harsh,” Mizuki said, making a face. “Even for someone like Sousuke.”

“Maybe we should forget about the make-over,” a girl said, looking at Sousuke with a sympathetic look. She had been hurt recently by a boy that she had a crush on.

“I don’t know…” Maya said, shrugging. “It’s all part of the fun.”

“Sure!” Ryo chimed in. “We can all pay attention to Sousuke that way, and let Kaname sit there and grumble.”

“I am not injured in any fashion. One such as me gets used to harshness in life.” Sousuke worked one arm for a moment, and then the other. He tasted some of the punch that ran down into the corner of his mouth. “To be honest, it is sometimes difficult to operate under circumstances where things are peaceful and pleasant.” There was a catch in his voice, one that he was unaware of. The girls all caught it though. They all looked at him in a different light. “If it is part of a necessary ritual, I will continue with the pre-game preparations. However, I have not mentioned my final requirement.”

“What’s that, Sousuke?” Ren smiled. Sousuke was such a valiant and thoughtful person in his own way. She wasn’t the only girl smiling at him at that moment. “Here…” She handed him a towel, so he could dry his hair.

“Thank you,” Sousuke said. “My one companion is a braggart, and a womanizer. Another person I spend time with is somewhat timid and needy. There is a third person I am very close to.” He thought of Melissa Mao. “As I do not wish to endorse bad health habits… and Kaname would not like her apartment befouled… it will not be necessary for you to smoke cigarettes at a prodigious rate. If there is alcohol present…” He looked around the room. The guilty look on some of the girl’s faces suggested that there were indeed illicit drinks present. “…You should all make it a point to drink heavily. Beer is the preferred liquid.” Further thoughts of his fellow SRT member had Sousuke’s eyes going wide. He began to sweat profusely again.

“What else?” Kyouko asked, curious. “There’s more, right?”

“There must be,” Mizuki said. “Look at his face.” She blinked rapidly for a moment. Why did Sousuke’s description remind her of someone?

“Uhhh…” Sousuke wondered if it would be simpler to live through the application of cosmetics than it would to follow through on his plan to be left untouched.

“Sousuke, you better not be thinking what I’m thinking.” Kaname shook her fist at him.

“Uhhh…” Sousuke slowly looked at each of the girls. Unable to help himself, he found himself looking for any sign of cleavage. “It’s…”

“Out with it!” Maya folded her arms across her chest.

“Uhhh…” Sousuke put a hand behind his neck. “It’s… you should…”

“Now! That’s an order!” Ryo spoke in a very deep and firm voice. “Do it, mister!”

“Sir, yes sir!” Sousuke reacted out of habit. “You will need to swear like a dock worker. You will also need to… uhhh… dress in a fashion that enhances… uhhh… your female… uhhh…” Sousuke had to cough to clear his throat. “You will need to enhance your anatomy, showing a considerable amount of cl-…” The final word clung to the roof of his mouth. It wasn’t necessary to speak it. The girls caught his drift.

“Oh my…” Ren lowered her eyes, folding her hands together in her lap.

“Wh-… Wh-… What?” Mizuke stammered. Then, things clicked into place. “Miss Melissa…”

“She…” Kyouko looked down at her chest. She had gone on the hot springs trip with Kaname, Tessa, Mizuki, and Melissa. She was well aware of Melissa Mao’s tendencies when it came to clothing. “But we can’t…”

Baka!” Kaname picked up an uneaten slice of pizza and pushed it up against Sousuke’s face. Not satisfied with that, she upended the pizza box over his head. “Pervert!”

“Those are my terms,” Sousuke said sternly, after the pizza slid off of his face, leaving long streamers of cheese attached to his chin. He accepted another towel from Ren. “I am not a pervert. I am a Spec-…” He clamped his mouth shut.

Some of the girls actually began to open up their blouses more. That had Sousuke’s eyes going wide. It also had Kaname throwing blankets over the girls. The other young ladies quickly disavowed doing any of the things that Sousuke required. That had him looking relieved.

“Ah well,” Maya said, sounding dejected. “I guess we have to forget about the make-over. Let’s get started with the game, then.”

“It’s OK,” Ryo said, thinking of something. “Sousuke still might choose ‘Dare’. And, if he refuses to answer anything or complete a ‘Dare’, we’ll have need for a punishment… right?”

“Yes,” Mizuki nodded her head. “Don’t put your cosmetics away yet, girls.”

“But…” One girl looked over at Sousuke. “The things that he could ask us to do…” That was followed by massed whispering. Everyone was thinking about the danger of playing Truth or Dare in this company.

Kaname sat down heavily with an audible thump. She put her face in her hands. This wasn’t happening. None of this was happening.

Sousuke sat quietly, borrowed shirt stained with punch and pizza sauce. He had managed to jump out of the frying pan. Had he landed in the fire?

“This has been such a memorable night,” Ren said with a melodic voice.