Two: Penalty Games

Tap tap*

*Tap tap tap*

KO!

"Damn it…one more try. I swear I'll beat you."

"Relax, it's a game."

"No! I will not accept this!"

*Clink*

FIGHT!

*Tap tap tap tap*

*tap tap*

*ASTRAL FINISH*

"No…freaking way…" Junpei Iori, junior and class clown of Gekkoukan High School's 2-F, pulled his signature baseball cap over his face in shame.

"I WON!" Ryoji threw his arms in the air in victory. It was his first time in a gaming arcade as Junpei had brought him along to hang out. Ryoji's parents were very busy and often travelled, leaving him alone. So when Junpei invited him out with the other guys, he was ecstatic. It never occurred to Junpei that a newbie fighting game player like Ryoji could…

"…utterly trash the living crap out of you," Minato pointed out matter-of-fact like, "by the newcomer transfer student no less."

"Congratulations Ryoji," Hamuko clapped lightly, "I heard the Junpei was really good at this game, you must be a pro at these!"

"No, no Hamuko-san! I could not lose at something like this in front of a fair maiden like you…"

"You, back off her, now."

The younger Arisato looked between the two other…uniquely hair styled boys, trying to figure out what all the commotion was about. Utterly unsure how to break the tension, she started waving her hands to get their attention,"Oh! Me next, I wanna play against Junpei!"

Oh gosh, Minato mentally face palmed as her heard his sister speak those words, I don't want Junpei to lose anymore pride than he already has. Junpei, however, turned to face her, completely forgetting about his previous loss.

"You sure, Hamu-tan? Ryoji's different but you, might not be able to handle this."

"It's ok," she smiled sweetly, "I just play for the fun of it."

"God help Junpei," Minato muttered as Ryoji stared at him quizzically, "if there's any ego left at all, I'll help him flush it down the drain…"

Slotting in a coin, Hamuko sat down on the machine directly across Junpei, drumming her fingers against the machine as the character selection screen popped up.

"I warn ya, just because you're a girl doesn't mean I'll go easy on you!"

"Don't worry, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

As the two second years selected their characters, the in-game announcer begin to speak. Minato could only look away, already predicting the outcome.

Some thirty seconds later…

"Unbelievable…"

"Good job too sis."

"Hamuko-chan, you were great!"

"Got your ass whipped aga-"

"Go away Minato, go the hell away," Junpei placed his capped head down on the machine, personally humiliated beyond words and self pride. Ryoji was beaming with pride, complimenting Hamuko on her awesome gaming skills. The bluenette merely looked at Junpei, and squat down to his face to meet eye level, "Many men have tried Junpei, there have only been a few who've lived to tell the tale bro."

"And, in case you still couldn't take a hint, you may wanna look at the high score board."

Indeed, the young Junpei Iori looked up ahead where a high score chart was placed, and up on the first and second high score positions were.

"First place, Hamuko Arisato…second place, Minato Arisato…oh gosh I think I'm gonna get a heart attack," Junpei stared agape at the chart, "since WHEN THE HECK do you two come to the arcade and play these things?"

"Well, it looked fun…"

"Technically she dragged me along," Minato raised his thumb at Hamuko, "however, it was pretty interesting. The two of us duked it out for the highest score and well, I managed to get it in the end. Hamuko was pretty near me though…"

"Uh, dude?" Junpei tugged at his best friends sleeve, "you may wanna check that again."

"Junpei is right," Ryoji himself nodded towards the score board, "it says here that Hamuko-chan beat you by a single point."

…

…

"Holy shi-" Minato's jaw dropped, and then turned his finger accusingly at Hamuko, "No way! When did that happen!"

"You know how I kinda…might have stayed out a little after my part time job…?" Hamuko smiled innocently at him, "I decided to give it a go and hey, I guess I did it."

"Then, Hamuko. You do know what this means don't you?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I do."

Ryoji and Junpei could do nothing more than step away from the twins, their eye power practically causing sparks to buzz and fly by just STARING at each other. In fact, a few more regulars of the arcade had actually crowded around to watch the commotion.

"Wow," Ryoji whistled as he looked around, "does this happen often?"

"I really hope it doesn't, man," Junpei ducked low and hid himself in his cap, "because when these guys get competitive…shit happens."

Moving back to Hamuko and Minato, the slightly older one had already stretched his hand to the side, "Junpei, give me a coin."

"Hah? Why?"

"I'm gonna show her who's better."

"Oh come on, Minato," the younger twin sneered at him, "it's just a game, right? So, what're the perks and stakes? I'll accept anything, brother dear."

"Of course, Hamuko. Winner does whatever the loser wants for the rest of today?"

"Oh, I am going to have SO much fun kicking your sore little ass!"

By this point, the crowd that had gathered around the four had already started whispering and shaking their fists excitedly. Some were eager to watch the two best players go head to head against each other, while others simply thought it was a waste of time. Wanting to get this mess done and over with, Junpei quickly passed each twin his excess coins.

"Now Ryoji, stand back," Junpei motioned for Ryoji to move, "and watch them transform into freaks."

"This is actually pretty exciting!"

The crowd watched in anticipation as the two competitors quickly chose their characters as fast as the game started.

"So, brother," Hamuko looked over, "are you ready to serve your queen for a day?"

"Please, sister," Minato shot back, "we'll see who's the last one laughing, AND who the more superior one is."

*The Wheel of Fate is Turning*

"Heh, I'll make you eat those words, so hard."

*Rebel 1*

"Bring it on."

*ACTION!*

Evening

Dorm, Minato Arisato's room

"…oh god, why."

"The best will always remain the best, as I said."

"No you didn't, idiot…"

"Oh come on, quit being sore over it. Remember, it was just a game? The prizes were awesome for me though!"

"Minato," Hamuko rolled over on his bed and faced the ceiling, "you have no idea how much I wanna strangle you right now, I'm controlling now and am just THIS close to jumping up and strangling you."

Hamuko pulled out her seemingly feather-light wallet, opened it, and dumped it onto her own face, "Ugh…you made me spend way too much on just ramen and a new Lotus Juice soundtrack CD. I only have enough money tomorrow to last me one meal, one freaking meal!"

"Well, the stakes were high after all," Minato threw of his school jacket and placed his MP3 down on the table, "plus you agreed to my extreme rules, and thou art must pay thy price."

"Can I strangle you?"

"If that was a question, then I'd go for no."

Hamuko did her best to supress that scream she'd been wanting to do ever since she lost the arcade match. Wanting to act all "fair and composed" (as how Minato had put it), she gracefully accepted the lost in front of everyone else who was watching. And the fact that Minato had claimed it was a 'two-part punishment' on her end really made her feel less comfortable about the whole thing.

Well, Minato knew better, so that was fine with him, honestly.

"Alright," Hamuko stood up and stretched, "so what's the second part of the punishment?"

"Oh, why so eager, sister?" Minato smirked, "do you want to get punished that bad?"

"Please, I just wanna go back to my room and drown in my humiliation."

"I don't think you have to, sister dear."

The younger twin let out a small yelp as the bluenette slammed her back down onto his bed, melding her lips together with his own. Drained from the day, Hamuko could not find the strength in herself to push him away even as he ran that one hand up her body.

"Really…" she gasped for air as the broke apart their kiss, "this is your idea of a punishment? How cliché."

"Hey, I could honestly have made you parade around town with those battle panties on," Minato grinned as undid the first button on her blouse, "sides, I did tell you I'll get you back at this someday, didn't I? Anyways, treat this more like our little game."

"With our little, stakes…perks and losing penalties."

As the their lips crashed again, each really couldn't help but think that if this was penalty for losing every time…

Neither of them honestly minded.

Aaaand here was the 'original' first chapter before I found the other one XD

Virtual cookies if you can guess I adapted this a little from the manga-oh crud, never mind XD

R and R, yo.