A/N: It's short. Oh well. I'm sleepy. My wife's sleepy. It's bed time around here, and this bit is done, and you've reviewed like good little readers so take it.

Enjoy

"Have you ever had a near death experience, Naruto-Kun?"

The blond frowned, and looked down at his feet. A near death experience? Hmm.. "Not that I can consciously remember." He answered, offering a meek smile.

The lady interviewing him smiled back for a moment, but it was instantly gone. It wasn't a real smile. It was the kind that people get for only a few seconds because they feel like they have to smile. Naruto himself was an expert at smiles and smiling, so he was sure that his conclusions were correct – this woman wasn't kind at all.

"Do you believe that one life can be more valuable than another?"

Naruto shrugged. "Not to me, but I understand why other people think that way. I mean, if a political leader dies, then a country can fall into chaos. But really, I try to treat everyone the same way, you know?"

She snorted to herself and scribbled a note on her clipboard before looking up again and offering another unauthentic smile.

"So then, what's the worst thing you've ever done to anyone else?"

"Uh, I kind of try to be nice to people."

"I see." She taunted disbelievingly.

For a moment, Naruto wanted to say that the worst thing he'd done to anyone else was the time he was getting questioned by an annoying interviewer and he was struck with the impulse to smack her across the face. But, he wouldn't say that. He really was a nice guy; and even if this woman was a total asshole, he had his reasons for being here and she wasn't going to get in the way of that.

"If you had to choose between your life and the life of a total stranger, who would you allow to live?"

Now the boy smiled. "No such thing as a total stranger! I can take one look at someone and tell if they're a good person right away! Seriously! It's a gift! So, I guess if it looks like they're a better person than I am, I'd let 'em live. Right? Because the world would be full of good people. If everyone thought that way."

The woman gave Naruto an incredulous glare, and scribbled on her clipboard some more.

"Okay, that's it for the opinionated questions. Now I have to ask you some stuff for legal purposes, okay?"

Naruto nodded, wondering why he was being asked so many questions that seemed completely unrelated to his reason for being here. He'd already been through stuff like his favourite way to spend his time, his likes and dislikes, things that annoyed him, and the like. All to see if he qualified for a silly game? What the hell was this about anyway?

"Are you eighteen or older?"

He chuckled bashfully and scratched at the back of his head. "Uhhh… I'll be eighteen in October!"

The woman wasn't amused. "It's November now."

"Yeah, well, I'm not eighteen."

She seemed to think that over for a moment, before Naruto could have sworn that he could make out the words: nineteen years of age appearing on her clipboard papers.

"Are you chronically allergic to anything?"

"Nope!"

She nodded. "Well, Naruto-Kun – you're definitely going to be a contestant. You can go on and get the next person, now."

Naruto nodded, and rose. He opened the door and only got one peek of the dark-haired boy in the waiting room before the woman called out to him again.

"Yes?"

"Just for my own curiosity, I have another question."

"Go on."

"You're… not the typical player of this particular game."

"Yeah, I noticed." Naruto commented, thinking of the depressed yet somehow desperate and determined look that he'd spied on the face of that boy in the waiting room. Most people heard of The Winning Game on the radio, or TV, and came because they needed the money. That was ridiculous to Naruto. A million yen was barely anything long-term. It wouldn't solve any actual financial issue unless it was invested excruciatingly wisely.

If not for the money, people hoped for success with their career. The last two winners of the game had gotten jobs as cut-throat corporate lawyers. Although, it did seem a bit odd that winning a silly little game got you more creditability as a sneaky money-grubbing bastard than a college degree – Naruto never thought to question it.

Everyone had their reasons.

"So," The woman continued. "Why are you playing?"

XxBxExLxOxVxExDxX

The bus ride back home was cold. It was as if even the government knew that people living in this area of japan were too poor to complain. The damn thing had more windows missing than actual windows in place. Sasuke sighed, and yanked his coat closer around himself.

After he exited the bus, Sasuke walked to his house. It was a long-ish walk, nearly a full forty five minutes, but he was so used to it that he barely felt the cold air whipping against his face. He was lost in thought. He'd been accepted as a player. After the world's strangest interview with some icy bitch that he hoped he never had to see again, he'd been accepted.

She'd seemed a little shaky about his age, but he knew she'd probably just lie about it. They were clearly having to do a little cradle-robbing this year in order to get a full thousand people. Most civilians who were poor enough to be desperate for the money couldn't afford to miss work for a full month over a one in a thousand chance at success. But Sasuke was playing to win. That's why it was called The Winning Game after all, right? He had to win the game. There was no alternative option. Itachi was sicker and sicker with every passing minute, and Mikoto wasn't exactly in the best of shape, either. Although she wasn't even one tenth as bad as Itachi was.

Sasuke frowned, as he opened his front door. He could hear the familiar tune of Kidnap The Sandy Claws from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Oh, right. It was getting into the holiday season. Actually… two days ago was thanksgiving, huh? Whatever. It wasn't like they could ever afford that much food anyway.

In the process of taking off his shoes, Sasuke was glomped by his mother. He laughed lightly, and shrugged her off of him.

"You're home early, Okaasan. It's good to see you."

She frowned. "I was so worried! I'm not early, you're late! It's nearly midnight!"

Sasuke's eyes widened. That wasn't possible… he'd had an appointment with the interviewer at eight… he'd timed it perfectly to be home before his mother returned at eleven. Oh. He quickly realized the error. That blonde kid. His interview had run overtime. That guy clearly wasn't too mindful of other people's needs…

"Otouto?"

Sasuke took a deep breath as he heard the radio clicking off. He smiled apologetically at his mother before rushing to Itachi's side, fearing that if he wasn't fast enough the elder would try to get up.

"Hey, Nii-San."

"Where have you been all day?" Itachi asked tiredly.

"I uh… I went to sign up. I'm gonna be in that winners game thing. You know, the one you called the sinners game?"

If Itachi looked bad before, he doubled on the spot. For a moment his mouth hung open and his eyes widened, but then his lips pressed firmly together, and he gave Sasuke a long hard stare. Only two emotions were visible in those eyes: fear, and disappointment.

"Don't look at me like that, Itachi. I'm gonna win. And I won't kill anyone, okay?"

"Oh? And has everyone else also promised not to kill you?"

"Well what the hell else am I supposed to do, Itachi? You're withering away like a dead tree, Okaasan can't even breath through the night, much less sleep! The roof over our heads keeps out about as much rain as a collider, and I'm not of legal working age. So what? What's your grand plan? Obviously you're against mine." Sasuke hissed.

"Even dead trees can stand, Otouto. At least I'm stable enough to accept what life's given to me. You're leaving Okaasan and myself here alone for a month for money? You've done fine taking care of us up till now, and leaving us here without you isn't going to help anything. If you come back with all the money in the world, the foundation will already have crumpled without you. You're a part of this family, Sasuke – and that comes with a lot of responsibility. I may be sick, and I may be weak, but my mind is well, and I'm telling you right now that yours is not."

"You two can survive for thirty days! Okaasan can take that time off of work, I'll get back with enough money for her to afford it."

"So we're gambling your life with money we don't have in order to gain money that we don't need." Itachi replied, raising an eyebrow.

"We're gambling my life for your life you asshole, I'd think you'd be more pleased!"

"I'm not. If you do this, everything that we're barely holding on to now will fall apart before you even begin to grasp how to pick up the pieces. And what then? How is that fair to-"

"Itachi… let him go." Mikoto cut in.

And so it was decided.

Sasuke would play the game.

A/N: Review? Please? You've earned this chapter. Earn the next!

Love you guys!

-Beloved