MARCH CONTEST 06
TITLE: You're Only As Good As Your Last Word
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Hardcore word games and manly exchanges! It’s based in the PIKANCHI time-line.
NOTE: If you know the rules of shiritori, you know that you can't say words that end with "n."
It was an hour into the next day, and 3 hours after Chu had shown up at Takuma's doorstep after his wife once again kicked him out for shouting manly euphemisms at their child. Takuma was used to the random drop-ins and took it in stride. What struck Takuma as different this time was when he let Chu in, he didn't stink of a barrel of shochu and looked quite sober.
The formula that had progressed was that Chu would drink himself stupid, text Takuma a series of garbled distress calls, and arrive to his apartment half out of his mind. The night usually ended with dead weight Chu asleep on Takuma's thigh, until Takuma's leg fell asleep or he had to pee - whichever happened first. Takuma would manage to roll Chu over onto an extra futon and took rest next to him, to make sure he was around when Chu woke up with another violent hangover.
This night proved different however, as they were both fully alert and 2 hours into an intense game of shiritori.
"Sake."
"Errand."
"Dinner."
"Rat."
"Mouse."
Takuma threw his head back in laughter and shouted, "That's word association, again! What the hell." Much to Chu's chagrin, as this game had not been going without punishment. The benefit of winning this game was that you didn't have to be subject to drink the pair's poison of choice - a nice tall glass of aojiru. The green, "healthy" substance was hated by most and therefore a perfect device of legal torture.
Chu growled in disgust, but grabbed the glass with quickness. Even if he hated the pond scum of a drink, he was a man, and being a man meant taking punishment minus complaints. Takuma sat, with his mouth partly covered to suppress the urge to let out a huge burst of laughter as he watched the man intently. This was Chu's 12th glass of aojiru and Takuma's winning streak didn't seem to be letting up anytime soon. Into the glass and down the hatch went Chu's liquid punishment. A series of twitching convulsions and cat-like screeches were emitted from the former yankee's mouth, and it amused the hell out of Takuma who was now grasping his side after laughing at his friend's reaction.
In between breaths, Takuma managed, "I don't see how you keep mistaking the game rules here! You say a word that starts with the last letter of the word I just said!" Chu stared at Takuma quite pitifully with one arm wrapped around his stomach, and the other hand cupping his mouth as a wave of nausea passed. When he felt okay to speak, he retorted "We ain't stopping until I win!" and soon after straightened his back and displayed a face of seriousness.
At this point, Takuma had nothing to lose, but was not looking forward to Chu loosing the contents of his stomach onto his tatami flooring. Takuma stood up from his fixed position and smoothed out his jeans. "You uh, sure you don't want to call it a night? You look like crap. There will be other chances for me to beat you in some game."
What was that? A questioning of his skills, from a friend no less? Chu took Takuma's snide remark to heart, as he was now snarling and no longer looked nauseous but pissed. "The hell's that, huh? You sayin' I can't beat you, no way?"
"Pretty much. And if you don't believe me, there's the evidence." He pointed at the floor surrounding Chu, where emptied bottles of aojiru were littered. Takuma began to lay down the final word on the matter, until he felt his feet being swept from under him.
His back met the floor at an alarming rate, resulting in widespread pain and was followed by a sharp yank of his left leg. It was then cradled, and his ankle was twisted into a submission hold. Chu was shaking his ankle, with no intention of letting go until the game progressed. Takuma scrambled, trying to grab something to through at his assailant's head so he could free himself, but he couldn't even lift off his stomach to aim properly. Chu shouted, "Say it! I ain't letting up until you do!" Takuma, panicked and feeling a steady amount of pain now grow throughout his leg began to scream, "Uncle!" as best as his body allowed him.
“That your first word then?” Chu questioned. Takuma stopped thrashing about, on account that he was now gravely confused. Was Chu that into the game, and once more- how long was he going to have to withstand his leg being yanked about like taffy. Takuma let out a stammered, “S-sure…” in hopes that this would be over with the sooner he played along.
Chu beamed a self-satisfied grin, as he had no plans to lose 13 times. Still not releasing his friend’s leg, he took a sit so he could think clearer. It had to be a glorious, rule abiding word that would leave millions (Read: the residents of Yashio) in awe whenever he repeated the tale to anyone he possibly could. Finally, the paint on the figurative wall had dried and Chu had his record-breaking word locked in.
At this point, Takuma had not only grown accustomed to the previously uncomfortable position, but was on the verge on dozing off. Chu stood up abruptly, pulling Takuma’s leg up along with him. Takuma reacted in pain, still half out of it from being tired. Chu proclaimed gruffly, “Okay! I’m ready now.” The voice didn’t match the face, as he was cheesing like an elementary student. Takuma waved his hand in a less than enthused manner, signaling his friend to go ahead with his turn.
With much pride in his voice, he shouted gruffly, “Futon!” Checkmate! Chu was fully satisfied. He even prepared a riveting analogy, regarding how he ‘put his opponent to sleep’ with his initial word choice. All was perfect until…
“Futon ends with n. You lost, again.” Takuma interjected Chu’s celebration. Chu stood mouth agape as his party dissolved in front of him. He released Takuma’s leg, on account of shock, allowing him to escape. Takuma stood, now walking with a slight limp from the extended strain, but still had a smirk on his face. “Next time, huh?” he stated snidely while patting his defeated friend on the shoulder. He entered his bedroom and shut the sliding doors with force, hoping to now properly rest.
Chu refused to sleep through the night, on account that he didn’t trust futons anymore.