warning: death, language, the usual

disclaimer: if I owned KH there'd probably be a claim that Olette is Aerith's daughter, which she evidently isn't--

You bring the board and the dice; she brings the fake money and the cards and the little metal people.

You start playing, mainly because you have nothing to do but maybe also because you're too proud to refuse this challenge from her, and you think you can top her—you've never underestimated yourself.

But after a few rounds it turns out that maybe it's not really going your way, pick up a card past GO 200. So you start putting more effort in, because you don't want to lose this one---

But it turns out that she's matching your wits evenly, and maybe just even a little more, because you're losing and right now your reputation as a winner is the least of your worries because shit, you're losing and right now your life's on the line.

So it's roll the dice, make a move, draw a card—your luck might improve with the next turn, space, chance, but inside you kind of not really— know that it's not going to happen, today's just not your lucky day. Shame, really, since today you need your luck the most.

So eventually the inevitable happens and you're running out of time because you're running out of cards and bills and choices, turn left or right or up or down? You can't really tell because she's leading you 'round and 'round in circles, loop and loop, and you're falling into her carefully laid out trap just the way she wants you to.

And then all of a sudden you're out, out of cards and time and pieces and she puts her cards down triumphantly, and reaches for the gun by the playing board not-so-triumphantly, you're both having second thoughts about this.

She pauses for a while once it's in her hand, and she's thinking—you think she's thinking of saying something, aren't you?

You break the silence, you figure that you don't want your last words to be 'Shit, I lost.'

'Good game, Olette.'

She blinks surprisedly at you but then she smiles too, and holds her hand out.

'You too, Riku.'

And then she pulls the trigger on you, because as much as she likes you and you like her, you lost the game and it's as simple as that, because the stakes are way too high for you to have taken on this time.

But you couldn't refuse a challenge, so maybe it's your fault anyways,

You're glad your last words were something meaningful, though—

- - - t o p l a y a g a i n, p l e a s e p r e s s s t a r t

another day, another crap ending. (:

part four of seven of the ANIME NORTH COUNTDOWN, which is as posted:

May 19, Saturday: storytime (posted)

May 20, Sunday: on repeat (posted)

May 21, Monday: true love (posted)

May 22, Tuesday: existence (posted, this fic)

May 23, Wednesday: relapse

May 24, Thursday: space

May 25, Friday (final day): Sakuline vol. II

I'd be happy if you'd stick around for the rest of the countdown! X3

Next up is relapse, a Roxiku fic. (:

The game in this fic seems oddly monopoly-like. xD

Olette is my hero. (:

-namikun