Hi all, sorry it took so long in coming:)

Title: The Game of You
Authors: Epeeblade and Shinri
Part: Chapter 1 of Part 1
Rating: PG for now
Summary: In an alternate Universe, Subaru seeks to subdue the 
Sakurazukamori...by marrying him...
Website: http://www.geocities.com/epeeblade/fanfics (will be posted 
soon:)

The Game of You
By Epeeblade and Shinri

Part 1: Courtship
Chapter 1: The book
 
Subaru carefully unwrapped the brown paper from the package that had
arrived only moments ago. The return address was Paris, France, so he 
knew
it had to be from his twin, Hokuto, who had been abroad studying 
fashion
for as long as he could remember. Dismally, he wondered what she could
have sent him, the last package had contained a rather awful set of
orange pants.
 
This time, he was surprised to see a book under all that wrapping. A
letter was taped to the front and he recognized his twin's scrawled
calligraphy.

"Subaru, I thought you might need this. Keep me posted!
-Hokuto-chan."
 
He pulled the letter off and gasped at the book's title.
 
"How to get a man, 7 surefire rules to your heart's desire."
 
His cheeks began to redden immediately, and he quickly looked around 
to
make sure no one was around, although he was alone in his own
apartment. How had his sister known? Then again, for as long as he 
could
remember, she had been trying to fix him up with one guy or another.
 
Why she had never attempted to do so with a girl had missed him
completely, perhaps his sister had a better sense of these things 
than he
did.
 
He cracked open the book, and read the chapter on the first rule:
 
"Rule number 1, Play hard to get. Under no circumstances must you 
make it
easy for the guy. If you're too easy, you become a doormat, something 
he
knows will always be there and therefore ignores.
 
If he calls, do not call him back. If you are meeting for a date, be 
a few
minutes late, and make no excuses, as if he isn't worth your time. Be
aloof."
 
Subaru snorted, "If I played any more hard to get, I'd be in another
country. This is ridiculous..." Still, curious, he turned to the next
chapter.
 
"Rule number 2, Dress well. Men do notice a well-dressed lady. Never 
let
him see you ruffled or unkempt. Hair and makeup must always be 
perfect,
however, don't preen. Don't redo make-up in his presence, make it seem
that you are naturally perfect."

Subaru frowned, clothes were his sister's department, although he 
couldn't
consider any of her clothes, well, normal. Ever since she left, his
wardrobe had been pared down to jeans and tee-shirts, in various 
shades of
gray and black.
 
He moved to his closet, and threw open the doors. He imagined he could
hear crickets from the empty chasm that gazed back at him. There was 
no
doubt about it, he would need to go shopping.
 
And before he did that, he needed someone who knew clothes. 
Unfortunately, Hokuto was thousands of miles away. On impulse, he 
grabed his wallet and trench coat and scooted to the apartment next 
door. He knocked and the door revealed a teenager with sleepy violet 
eyes.
 
"Subaru!" Kamui gasped, "W-what are you doing here?"

"I need some help." Subaru told him.
 
"Anything!" Kamui blinked his long feminine eyelashes at him.
 
"Um, is Fuuma in?"
 
"What?"
 
"I mean, I need to go shopping, and I figured maybe the two of you, 
might,
you know, help. I need some nice clothes."
 
Kamui snorted, "Then why are you asking us? Haven't you noticed that 
we
never wear anything but our school uniforms?"
 
"Oh, ok, then, I'll leave you.."
 
"NO!" Kamui grabbed the Sumeragi's arm before he could leave. "Maybe, 
I
think Fuuma has a friend who might be able to help...
 
***

Subaru often wondered how he got himself into these situations. All 
he wanted to do was marry the Sakurazukamori like his grandmother 
said and end the assassin's reign of terror. Was that too much to ask?

But instead, here he was, taking the advice of some book Hokuto sent 
him, probably as a joke. Kamui and Fuuma had gone off the meet 
this "friend" of Fuuma's, leaving him alone in this creepy department 
store. Creepy because all his memories of shopping included Hokuto 
dragging him around, and throwing horrendous clothes at him to try on 
later.

He shuddered in memory, and began looking through the stacks of 
sweaters on the table. He saw a gray one that caught his eye and he 
reached for it, accidentally brushing his hands against those of 
someone who had walked up behind him, "Oh, I'm sorry…" he began, but 
faltered as he turned and saw who the wandering hand belonged to.

Seishirou Sakurazuka stood there, smiling down at him, "I really 
think gray is not your color, the green would bring out the emerald 
of your eyes." 

"Um, thank you," Subaru squeaked out.

The older man held out his hand invitingly, "Sakurazuka Seishirou, I 
believe we met briefly yesterday?"

Ok, now what did the book say? Be aloof, crap how was he supposed to 
be aloof? "Sumeragi Subaru?" Subaru answered, cursing himself for the 
sudden uncertainty in his voice. He shook Seishirou's hand quickly, 
pulling back as if he'd been burned.

"Are you certain?" Seishirou laughed kindly,  his amber eyes 
twinkling with humor..

Subaru turned away, his cheeks reddening. "Yes."

"Of the Sumeragi's?" there was a sudden darkness in Seishirou's 
voice, and Subaru turned surprised to hear it.

"If you know of my family, you are educated indeed," Subaru flirted 
shyly, wondering if the book covered encounters like this.

"Perhaps we should discuss just how educated I am? How about dinner 
tonight, at the restaurant in the park? My treat?"

Ok, here it was his chance to play hard to get. "I don't think that 
would be a good idea, I hardly know you." Subaru blinked rapidly, 
trying his best to look sweet and sexy and confident.

"Do you have something in your eye?" Seishirou asked concerned.

"Um, no…" Subaru turned away again, his cheeks burning once more.

"You are very cute, Subaru-kun, may I call you that?"

As Subaru nodded he thought, ` you can call me whatever you like.' 
The man exuded a powerful presence, reeking of sheer masculinity. 
Subaru found himself going weak in the knees and was certain he would 
melt into a puddle any moment now.

That's when Kamui and Fuuma finally returned, "Hey, Seishirou, there 
you are! I thought we were supposed to meet outside." Fuuma called, 
and once he approached them wedged himself between Subaru and 
Seishirou.

"This is your friend?" Subaru gasped. How did his teenage neighbor 
know this sexy, confident man?

"Yes, we met at the ice cream shop where I work. " Fuuma said 
adoringly. "I think he has the best fashion sense of any man, the 
perfect choice to help you Subaru." As he spoke, Fuuma kept his gaze 
firmly trained on the man before him.

Seishirou looked irritated, "Why thank you , Fuuma, and shouldn't we 
get shopping? I don't have all day…"

It was eerily reminiscent of shopping with Hokuto, Seishirou picked 
out various pieces of clothing for Subaru to try on, however, unlike 
his sister's choices, these clothes lacked anything pink, rubber or 
with feathers. He took the bundle into the fitting room, asking all 
three friends to wait outside.

Once there, Subaru whipped the copy of the Book out of his back 
pocket, "What's rule 3?" he murmured.

"Rule 3, the best way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Don't 
take him to a restaurant, cook a good homemade meal for him. This 
shows your dedication to your man, that you'd spend a whole day 
slaving over a hot stove. Plus, you get the chance to exhibit your 
cooking skills. All men want a wife who can cook. Use this 
opportunity to show this marketable skill."

"Well that didn't help much," Subaru shoved the book back into his 
pocket, realizing if he stood there reading any longer, it would look 
suspicious.  He turned to the first outfit, a set of tailored black 
trousers, a green silk button down skirt, with a matching metallic 
green tie. 

When he exited the fitting room, all three clapped. "You look simply 
wonderful Subaru, almost good enough to eat," Seishirou told him, 
causing Subaru to blush and squeak before he retreated back into the 
fitting room.

"I don't think the book meant he should eat me," Subaru thought 
giddily to himself as he changed back into his original outfit. He 
wasn't about to parade any more outfits in front of that trio.

He exited saying, "Well, if that one fit, the others should too, 
since they're all the same size. I'm going to pay for these, bye…" 
Subaru retreated to the cashier's desk, his credit card in hand.

"Subaru-kun, wait," A deep voice came from behind, and Subaru found 
himself whirled around, the heavy hand gripping his shoulder 
firmly. "Please say you'll have dinner with me tonight."

"I'm sorry Seishirou-san, but no." Subaru replied firmly. At the 
dejected look in the man's eyes he sighed and said, "however, would 
you like to dine with me tomorrow, a home cooked meal at my place?"

Seishirou smiled at him, his golden eyes glowing like a wolf's. "I 
would like that very much, Subaru-kun. I will see you then." He 
lifted one of Subaru's hands and kissed the palm gently, dipping his 
tongue within the indentation.

Subaru felt he was going to melt from just that one touch, and nearly 
swooned. He kept his feelings in check though, and remained 
(hopefully) aloof. 

***

Subaru hardly slept that night and spent the morning purchasing 
ingredients at his local supermarket. He even called Hokuto in France 
to ask for special recipes.

"Don't you watch Iron chef, Subaru?" Her high pitched voice teased 
through the phone and Subaru had to hold his away from his ear to 
avoid the horrible feedback.

"Hokuto-chan, please! This is serious!" he wailed.

"Why, do you have a hot date coming over?'

Subaru remained silent.

"Oh-ho-ho, you DO! My little brother, finally getting some!"

"Hokuto-chan!" he screeched appalled, "Please, I'm not that kind of 
guy…If you can't help, I'm going to hang up right now."

"Sheesh, ok, there's this one recipe I know…"

He spent the rest of the afternoon at the stove, hoping that at least 
some of Hokuto's cooking skills had rubbed off on him. Finally, it 
was all done and he placed the pots on warmers, set the table, 
complete with two candles. All he needed now was for Seishirou to 
arrive.

He sat in the living room a bit restless. In final preparation for 
his dinner, Subaru decided to read the fourth rule, which startled 
him.

"Rule number 4, DO NOT PUT OUT. Under no circumstances should you 
sleep with a guy unless the ring is on your finger. Girls, you know 
the saying, why should a man buy the cow when he can get the milk for 
free? Plus, it's another incentive to marriage, if the man is so 
riled up for sex he'd promise you anything. Now get out there and 
keep your legs together!"

"I guess this goes with that whole, play hard to get thing," he 
murmured, then nearly dropped the book as the doorbell rang. He 
shoved it underneath the cushions of his sofa, then stood and took 
several deep breaths. Now, he could open the door.

tbc