A Monster's Pet


AN: Love in blooms and Void Bladeworks update coming soon 3

disclaimer: I don't own any character nor do i profit from saki and her author's work


Three days since the great Saki Miyanaga joined our team, she already made it so that I will never forget her presence. We… or rather I, had to establish a rule that to divide our bed in two. Fifty- fifty! We used a body pillow to act as our divider but even that idea was easily corrupted into an awkward image because for some reason, she had a dakimakura looked like a twenty-one year old female. I didn't recognize that character from any anime or anyone until I looked in the mirror and gasped. To make matters worse, that character on that pillow had her tight shorts stripped off while her shirt was being pulled up by some unknown force and she had a helpless and embarrassed look on her face. I didn't bother to ask her who that was…. It was obvious.

But, setting the awkwardness aside, that wasn't my main concern at all. Even with the dakimakura between us, I would notice a dark shadow loom over me as if there was someone leaning on top of me every night. I usually wear a blouse themed pajama-top but since the last two days, every time I wake up I find the top three buttons always undone. The logical decision is obviously to accuse that girl beside me but it was almost impossible to pin everything on her since she always faces the opposite direction every time I turn. She seems genuinely asleep when I check too so I'm left with the sad option of letting everything go as if it never happened.

Today is our first tournament together. It's going to be in a local tournament, nothing big, but we're hoping to get the cash prize in this competition to further fund our growing team. We have sponsors but it's always good to be able to stand with one's own resources. The tournament will be held inside Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo and we'll be spending our days there too. It's a four star hotel so it's not going to be cheap but the captain made sure that we had the proper cash for it. If all goes well our money would've multiplied ten times if we claim the first place.

I went with some of my old clothes, a collared shirt with two buttons and short sleeves. I made sure to close the buttons and used a red string ribbon as make shift bow to finish. As usual I felt the need to wear cycling shorts instead of skirts, more so now that I'm with someone who willingly confessed her intentions to violate me the first day she moved in.

Saki, on the other hand, chose a rather peculiar set of clothes. It was a long sleeved dress shirt with sleeves rolled up to the length of her upper arm. She matched these with a three fourth split seamed black running shorts which stretched only a few inches below where her bum cheeks should be. Another peculiar thing is the clips that she wore, separating her bangs, and creating a leaf shaped extension at the middle.

"So Saki and Senoo how does it feel to finally come with us in an official tournament?" Sera asked. Because of her Kansai accent everything she said sounded more cheerful than how a normal person would've said it.

"It's thrilling!" Saki made a 'half-fist –pump' and returned Sera's smile. It's the smile that I will never see when we're alone….

"It feels nostalgic." Senoo replied immediately after Saki. Nostalgic? That's not a word someone who's supposed to be still in college should be using. But I get what she meant! Travelling like this and staying in hotels is what my team did before back in the High-School-Nationals.

"Captain! Are you done with our positions?" Nagi Shinmen asked excitedly. Speaking of Nagi Shinmen let me talk about this girl for a minute. This girl had been acting strange since Saki joined our team. I would catch her stealing glimpses at Saki like the world's most introverted stalker and I'm beginning to think that Saki's 'playboy' mode struck a critical hit. She would blush every time I bring Saki's name but would talk non-stop about her when we really start our conversation.

"I'll do it later when we get there!" Sera replied in a happy-go-lucky manner.

"I disagree captain! You must do it now!" Nagi raised her hands and arms to her chest. She was doing this subtly but I saw her eyes twitch towards Kanbara as if she was warning Sera about something.

"A-Ah! Oh right how lazy of me! I'll do it right now!" Sera looked very eager to comply after she looked at Kanbara for a split second. I understand what they were at… nobody normal would be able to do anything an hour after experiencing Kanbara's driving.

"Eh?" Kanbara didn't hear of the conversation but it looks like she noticed them.

"F-For our vanguard, Hanada Kirame!" Sera cheered.

"Oh! Marvelous!" Hanada cheered back.

"W-Wait a minute aren't I the van ugh…" I heard Yae attempt to complain but she suddenly dropped on her knees and collapsed in the hands of someone who caught her from behind.

"Oh my gosh Yae-san, you've been too excited that you couldn't sleep all night? That's not good… you will really collapse if you do that. Senoo-chan help me tuck her in the van please." Saki asked the aid of her fellow new comer who cheerfully replied 'haii~'. I could see sweat trickle on everyone else's cheek but no one protested.

"It seems Yae-san won't be able to play in today's match so Hanada please do your best." It looks like Sera won't mind what happened… so I guess let's move on….

"M-Marvelous?" Hanada looked troubled about it but she accepted it anyway.

"For our sergeant we'll have… Senoo!"

Oh this is a good choice. Senoo looks shocked but it's a good experience for her. After all, this is only a small tournament compared to the national ones that we will be joining soon so she needs to delve into the world of professionals while the stakes are low.

"For our lieutenant we'll be going with Kozue!" Kozue looks surprised about this decision just like Senoo. For me it's another good decision since Kozue didn't join in the line-up in the last tournament. Also if I remember correctly, she's also the lieutenant in her previous team so this should give her a more comfortable feeling.

"I- I'll do my best!" This girl shows a lot more confidence than that other one. Then again, Senoo's a newer newbie so I can see why she'll feel that way.

"For our vice-captain it it'll be Kyouko Suehara!"

"Eh?! Wait how come Kyouko gets to play again and I don't?!" The expression on Nagi's face looks jealous. Nagi is someone whom I have always known to be extremely competitive and I don't hate that.

"Well… that's because the sponsors loved what Kyouko did last tournament. They requested that she appears again."

After hearing this from Sera I'm beginning to doubt if I'm really an official player in this team or the team's mascot. But then again a little popularity isn't too bad… at least I'm helping my team.

"Of course lastly, for our captain it's going to be no other than one of our newest members, Miyanaga Saki!" Looks like I was right. It's of course always a good idea to put your ace as the general to stand as the team's anchor. Basically the purpose of this is so that whatever the lesser members lose will be redeemed in the last round of the match. I like this because this way I won't feel too much pressure when I play in my match.

"I object!"

Saki stepped forward, raising her hand.

"Kyouko should be the general in this tournament." Shit! Now the pressure's back on me. Why did this girl feel the need to put me in the spotlight like this?

"Eh?"

"If the sponsors requested for Kyouko we should give them her in her best form in the best light! If she's the anchor who will decide whether our team will simply drop out and lose our money it will be more exciting for her fans!" This girl just had to emphasize on the 'lose our money part' now I feel double the pressure!

"You- have a valid point."

Eh? S-She's not standing her ground? No Sera! You're supposed to be the captain! Save me from this bitch!

"Kyouko would it be fine for you if you take the lead?"

"A-Actually…"

"Kyouko, opportunities like this don't come very often. I really suggest you accept it." From behind Saki I could see a purple object that she's waving. Fuck I recognize that object! She showed it to me two days ago even though I didn't ask to see it. The thickness of that object just isn't meant to… ah what am I thinking?! At any case it seems that 'no' is now a no go unless I want to forcefully bleed for the first time..

"T-Thanks for the concern captain but Saki's right. This is my chance to train myself and I won't let it go!" I can cry just about now.

"Is everybody ready?!" Like a child about to ride the roller-coaster, Kanbara called to us. I think I had the same feelings shared with everyone else, like a child about to go to the dentist for the first time.

There is at least one thing I am looking forward to about allowing Kanbara to drive and that is… Saki's reaction! Since she joined she always displayed that 'poker smile' and perhaps its Kanbara's legendary driving skills that would break that for the first time. I can't wait to see the fear on her face the first time she experiences those rough turns… oh I feel so mischievous right now! I sat in the middle row of the van at the left door's side. Saki, as I predicted, is happily sitting beside me enjoying the cramp atmosphere. Senou is sitting at her right and at Senou's right is Nagi who was holding her katana tight.

At the back of the van is Kozue who has the unconscious Yae's head resting on her lap. I wonder if Yae will be able to stay asleep while Kanbara is driving… I'm sure as hell I won't.

"Buckle up please, safety first!" Sera warns us with a smile but I can see the dread in her eyes. I can remember the first time I saw this look and it was when she apologized to me for losing.

"Gosh it's really kind of cramped." Saki says, with a smile? Why is she smiling? As soon as I ask myself that I feel a strong grasp caress the left side of my waist.

Now what? She has her hand around my waist so what is she planning?

"Okay we're leaving. Make sure you have everything you need." After one last check it's finally go time. I wanted to check behind me if we had all our provisions but Saki's hand restricted me of that.

We took off the way all of us expected we would… like a rocket. I swear everyone gasped, almost falling forward. It was only me and Saki who didn't get tossed forward. Saki's arm around my waist supported me and I guess I should thank her for that… I would but I fear that she has more plans for that arm than just support me.

"Shall we begin?" She whispers really gently to my ear.

The first thing that came into my mind was 'begin what?' But now that I feel her lift the left side of my shirt I don't have to ask.

"Nnngyah!" An embarrassing moan escapes my mouth because of someone's pinch. I can feel everyone staring at me. Did Saki plan to do this all along?

"Are you okay Kyouko?" Sera turned around to ask and from the expression on her face it was obvious to me that I really sounded weird.

"I- I'm fine I guess it's just the usual." I know Sera understands what the 'usual' means. For those who don't know… I call it the 'Kanbara's Driving Sucks So Much That I Want to Hurl- Syndrome'.

"I heard blankets are good for car sickness." Saki suggests.

"Here I have one" Kozue tossed us an average-sized blanket. It had a plain color but Kozue doesn't seem to be the cutesy type so it's not surprising.

It's hot but I admit the blanket made it cozy, too bad Kanbara's driving or I'd be sleeping now. We aren't too far from the mansion and it felt like we already reached turbulence on land. Every time she turns I risk falling to my side and that's something I want to really avoid because like a Venus Fly Trap someone was eagerly spreading her arms waiting for that to happen.

"A-Are we there yet?" I know this is a stupid question but I feel trapped in between Ms. DrivingSucksALoT and the Sakiroth right here.

"Two more hours." Kanbara turned to me with a reply. That's a really depressing answer and a really lethal one too! Keep your attention on the road please! Just as she did that our van zigzagged in a horrible trashing everyone to the corners of the vehicle.

"Gotcha little kitty." Saki whispers to me as she catches me her arms.

"I don't need your help!"

My pride pushed her away but her insistence and somehow stronger arm strength pulled me back.

"S-Stop it I- nyahh!" I tried to cover my mouth but another embarrassing sound came off it.

Shit because of Kanbara I completely forgot where Saki's hand was. Inside the blanket I felt her left hand intrude my shorts. Now that I'm facing her I forgot how unguarded my rear is… t-this is bad. Should I try to crush her hand by leaning back on the seat? Yes I think I'm going to do just-…

"G-Ghh!" Why? As soon as I move my muscle to lean down she squeezes tightly with her hand and all my strength disappears.

"If you lean back you might get thrown around again. Just stay like this." She whispered while I feel hand easing up playfully.

"S-Saki please stop I-…"

"Once you catch a stray cat you shouldn't let it go because it might mess up your living room." She says.

I can feel her hand creep further down playfully having its way around my crack.

"They say the moon looks smooth but it's actually rough. From this feel I say they're wrong." She says, with a big smile on her face.

Please, trip, end now before I end. Did Kanbara really say two hours? Can I really take this much punishment for that long? Without realizing it I found myself resting my head on someone's welcoming chest. Then, as soon as I got used to her teasing I remembered something important a little too late. In history we learned that humans discovered that it's possible to reach the east and it's also possible to head north by going south. Using that same principle this means... crap I just felt her hand pass under my legs!

"N-No not here please." I whispered to her ear, raising my head only to have it pulled gently down again to her chest.

"Stop? There's no reason to stop. When a little cat looks like it wants to play there's no cruel master who won't play with it is there?" Again, she whispers to me like I'm some sort of child… or… yeah… a kitten. I just wish she'd stop doing that.

I can feel my knees shake under her caress but the more I close my legs to stop her the better it seems to feel. If that happens I'm not sure I can continue hiding this from my teammates.

"H-Hey Kyouko are you sure you're really okay? You sound weird." Sera turned to me again but I dared not answer or look at her face.

"It's okay I'm used to this when I went with Tsuruga before. I'll take care of her." Saki is apparently used to Kanbara's driving while I'm not… shit.

"Oh yeah I remember that! You got left out by your team accidentally and we found you!" Kanbara laughed as she turns to us again completely forgetting about the road.

"W-Watch out for that truck!" I heard Sera scream and the Van sway. Thanks to Saki I was safe and didn't fall off my seat but I'm more in trouble of Saki than getting in a car accident right now.

Her hands are getting more comfortable finding their mark. Without getting inside the silk she's slowly learning of my weak spots like modern laser-guided-missiles. I remember a term used for this… it's a bittersweet moment or something near that. I'm obviously being violated by this girl but my body can't respond properly, in other words, it feels so good. I find myself unable to win against her touch as I succumb on her chest with my hands tucked in against my own. Each touch brings me closer and closer to that bar I don't want to cross. I want to moan and yell but I shouldn't! The fact that I'm loving each touch feels more torture than pleasure as I bit my own lips to stop myself from exploding.

Everything suddenly becomes dark; Saki covered me entirely with the blanket from Kozue. Inside that blanket I felt something push against my lips it was her finger.

"I can't let you injure yourself. Nibble on this instead." Again she whispers to me with that commanding and condescending tone.

"W-Who do you think you are to slck to order me around slrp?" Oh no this is too much. What I'm saying is now the complete opposite of what I'm feeling and doing. Like that Ice-cream-popsicle-stick I can't stop sucking, licking and gently biting unto Saki's finger. At first I started out with her point finger but then I found myself slowly biting two of them and then three and long before I knew it I was licking her hand as if it's some incredibly delicious piece of meat.

"That's a good kitty. Purr for me will you?" She whispers. At that statement I felt a switch flip inside my head and everything turned to white noise.

"Nya~" I heard this come out of my mouth while everything was blurry.

"Good girl."

"Munyah~" I remember rubbing my cheeks against her lower arm when she rubbed my chin playfully with her finger like how a pet-owner would do with her puppy.

Can my teammates hear me? At this point I don't care anymore, as long as it feels good. I can feel her caress the surface of the thin silk that separated her hands from that forbidden place. I remember the few seconds when it felt painfully degrading but now each stroke she makes is just blissful delight. I ask myself how it would feel if she did it directly. Why must I wear this cursed cloth when I already had my shorts anyway? I'm now begging for her just to tear it off and have her way with me as she always promised.

"You're now gushing, you're asking for more, what a greedy kitty." Again she whispers. Is she disappointed at me?

"I'm sorry goshujinsama. Please punish this dirty cat." Oh my god I hope my teammates didn't just hear that. My voice is muffled by the blanket but even then I sound like I was speaking through a megaphone.

"Silly kitty we can't do that now, when we go back after the tournament I'll have your tail prepared for you so look forward to it okay?" Eh? What tail? I can't think anymore all I know is that for some reason I have to lick this hand clean like I was waiting for some kind of reward. Was I waiting for her to finally invade that last piece of barrier? Was I waiting for her to penetrate that precious thin wall of flesh that separates the innocent from the perverted?

"Thank you very much goshujinsama. I'm looking forward to it." I replied as I continued to lap on her hand as a good pet would.

"We're here!"

What?! We're here? That's two hours? That's no fair, just when I was finally getting my master's love too. I want her to feel me more! I want her to break me! Crush me inside her arms and make me crazy with her touch!

"Everyone come down now! We still need to enter our team in the competition." God someone please shut that noisy bitch up! Let me stay in my master's arms for a little more while.

"Everyone has gone down Kyouko. We need to go to." No don't pull your hands away. I haven't licked it enough yet! You haven't loved me enough yet!

"I want to stay here goshujinsama!"

"Nope, that's not possible. Now come."

"No, I want to… ouch!"

Oh… my head… what happened? It feels like I've been asleep for hours and now there's this searing pain on my forehead. Have I been dreaming? From how I feel it's like I was in heaven just a few moments ago.

"Where am I? Are we there yet?" I asked, obliviously looking around me.

"D'aww and I worked so hard to…." Saki sounds disappointed for some reason. Did something happen?

"What do you…?"

"We're here. Hurry up everyone's waiting for us. I'm sure I can redo the treatment later. Nothing to worry about." She sounds spirited and motivated now.

"Okay… what treatment? Saki wait!" I chased after her after.

In a few seconds we finally managed to reach our teammates. They were all blushing when they noticed that I was now with them.

"K-Kanbara can I ask you to take care of the procedures, I think I'm also a little car sick." Sera requests looking at Kanbara with a pink face. Kanbara nods casually and as soon as she saw the application

"Is there something wrong?" I asked the person nearest to me, Nagi.

"W-Well it's just that you were sleeping in the van and… you were moaning pretty seductively. Were you having a nightmare?" She asks this with an awkward and embarrassed face.

"Eh?! W-Well I was dreaming but I can't really remember about what." What can I say? All I remember is white noise. It was as if something broke inside me that my brain had to shut everything out as a failsafe.

"It's normal; ninety percent of the total world population will never remember their dreams or nightmares five seconds after they wake up." Saki interrupted.

"So are we going to talk about a game plan captain?" I turned to Sera and asked. It's only a small tournament. This is the time when we usually talk about stuff we need for the matches.

"W-Well we don't know who we are facing yet so that will be pointless." She says this rather reluctantly.

"Eh, but we can still-…!"

"I- I have to go to the bathroom! Free time for everyone." The captain says this with a flushed facial expression. Now I really wonder what happened back there…

"Okay then… I guess that's that. Saki do you want to-…!" Since Saki always makes it obvious about how much she wants to stick to me I thought about asking her to tour the hotel together but for some reason she once again displays her unparalleled skill of disappearing like batman in his prime. This is a new hotel I have never stepped into and I am eager to explore it. This Keio Plaza Hotel is quite popular here in Shinjuku, or so I heard.

"Free time! Marvelous! I'm going to help Kanbara-sempai with the check-in." Just like that Hanada disappears from the group as quickly as Sera did.

"I'm going to tuck Yae in our rooms." Kozue still has Yae on her back in a piggy back position and I feel a little sorry for her so I nodded in approval.

"W-Wait please let me help you! What kind of person in a samurai lineage doesn't help with these kinds of task?" For a minute there I thought Nagi sounded too eager to help Kozue with Yae. Hmm… they all left with flustered faces… now I am really curious about what happened.

Well I guess I'm going to tour this place by myself. The hotel is indeed grand. It's fitting to be a four star hotel. There are amazing swimming pools that have their own wave generators, the halls were littered with fountains, and an amazing food court that sells nothing but the finest delicacies known in the world. The people working in the hotel also look so dignified. They talk very politely and they are also very helpful. It was actually a little embarrassing when one of them asked me if I was lost and I told him that I was only touring the place for I will be staying here for a few days.

Now I find myself walking this rather peculiar hall. One of the staff told me that this was supposed to be some sort of 'rest room' not the kind where you pee and stuff but where you actually rest. It's different from your normal hotel rooms because this is where you only rest for a while, like when you're in a hurry and you don't have time to go back to your room when you're finished resting. They said this is usually used for events and this will also probably be the rooms our teams will be using for this one tournament.

Let's see, how does one of these rooms really look like inside? Peeping a bit won't hurt besides it's free to use for customers. Hwoah everything looks absolutely amazing. The room is colored green and I suppose it's to help people who rest here relax their eyes. There is a small chandelier hanging over two leather couches and everything is on a fine red and clean carpet. The green walls, though made in concrete doesn't look too rough, actually it really looks smooth. The room has proper conditioning thanks to the AC that hangs overhead above the bed. The bed itself wasn't too big, that's a given since this is only a rest room not an actual live-in room. It has a bathroom and television and some desks in multiple corners.

"So this how our team's locker would look like." Now I'm more pumped up for the tournament. I mean, what's not to like? Clean floors, clean carpets, perfect lighting, desks for working, television for watching enemies' match videos, a large bed, a cute girl sleeping on the large bed, a- a cute girl sleeping on a large bed?!

Oh no I entered an occupied room! C-Calm down it's her fault that she didn't lock the door! Oh well I'll just tiptoe out before she wakes up and realize that-…!

"Nngh…"

"I-I'm sorry I entered without knocking!" I bowed and apologized without actually checking. I felt I would get arrested if I didn't. To my surprise nobody answered my apology. I looked up to see that the girl was still asleep groaning as if she is having a nightmare.

I suppose I need to at least check if she's fine. I mean, if she suddenly turns up dead tomorrow and someone saw me go in here I'll probably be cuffed faster than I can say tsumo. Now that I look at this girl closer she looks rather familiar. I know I've seen that face somewhere before but the pink hair is completely different. Frankly she looks like Saki but she's not Saki so she'd be… Oh my god this is Miyanaga Teru! Why is she here? Is that monster team competing in this tournament?!

"Nngh, gyyhh, ggnggh…" She starts moaning again, rolling back and forth on the bed. It's easy to tell now that this girl is having a nightmare. Her face is completely drenched in sweat even though it's so cold in here thanks to the AC.

Should I wake her up? I know it's superstitious but I heard that some people can actually die from having incredibly bad nightmares. Death in mind is death in body is what they say after all. But then again, this is Miyanaga Teru, maybe if I let her go through this nightmare we won't have to… No Kyouko! Don't even think of going through that line!

"Hey, Miyanaga-san are you alright? Wake up." I reach out for her shoulder. My plan was to shake her awake.

As soon as my hand touched her skin everything went black and I fell into vertigo. Oh god what's happening now? I remember this feeling, a combination of fear, excite, anxiety, doubt and hesitation; this is the feeling I get whenever I dream of Saki before.

"Oneechan look I made this for you!" I hear a little girl call out but who? She was wearing floral designed shirt, has pigtails and a miniskirt. We were on something that looked like a small hill filled with flowers, I suppose this is somewhere in Nagano.

"Saki! Is that a ring?" A new girl appears! She looks like someone in middle-school. Did this girl just call that little girl Saki? Hwoah! That cute and innocent little girl is Saki?! So if Saki called this other one 'oneechan' then that would mean that this girl is.

"This is for you Teru-neechan!" I saw little Saki eagerly give her sister the ring she made from flower petals.

"This is so cute! I will cherish this forever!"

Aww that's so cute. It's so heartwarming to see Teru play with Saki like this. This is such a far-cry from how they are now….

"But I want to make something for Saki too! Hmm… let's see."

Teru gestured for Saki to sit on her lap and little Saki was eager to comply. After that, Teru gathered a handful of flower petals and started braiding them on top of Saki's head.

"I shall make our little princess a fitting crown!" Teru says this really cheerfully. What an ideal big-sister, I'm getting jealous!

"But that will take long oneechan. I don't want to trouble you." How considerate! Why isn't my teammate version of Saki like this?!

"Non-sense. Flowers suit you extremely well."

"I know, it's my name right?"

"Not only that. You're as cute as one too."

"Geez nee-chan you're embarrassing me." D'aww little Saki blushed.

"Remember that flower I told you about Saki?"

"Rinshan Kaihou?"

"Yes, it's an incredibly beautiful flower that blooms on the top of the tallest mountains. Do well to become that flower and grow up strong and beautiful Saki." She says this as she gives her little sister a warm embrace. This scene just makes my heart melt. I wish I can look at them like this all day long and… now what.

Just when everything's going awesome I'm now feeling a large tremor underneath us. The two girls I was watching fell off-balance and got separated from each other. They were shouting and groaning as ground shook and a peculiar crack started to appear in between them. This never happened before even in my weirdest dreams!

"Saki!" Teru shouts and tries to run for her sister. Before she could reach the little girl I saw her fall down on her back thanks to another huge tremor. The small crack in between them widens and turns to a gaping fissure that encompassed miles that they couldn't walk around of.

"Teru, it's time to go." I hear another voice. Whose is it this time?

Behind Teru I see a silhouette of another girl. She has a striking resemblance to both Teru and Saki. She placed her hands on the back of Teru's shoulder urging her to come.

"W-Wait Saki is still… Saki, come here, jump, oneechan will catch you." Teru moved closer to the fissure with her arms stretched. Gosh that fissure isn't as big as the Grand Canyon but that's still scary….

"Oneechan…." I can see puddle of tears form inside little Saki's eyes. Of course she's scared! I would be too if I was that little and I had to jump that gaping hole!

"Saki…." This time, it wasn't Teru's voice I hear but that of a man. I turn to check and see that just behind Saki the silhouette of a man was beginning to take shape.

"Otosan…." Saki turns to the man and it's revealed to me that the man is actually the father of both the girls. Oh so now the whole family is here!

"No, Saki! Don't go with that man, jump here I'll catch you!" Teru urges the little girl. This is the first time I see sincere tears flow out of this girl's eyes and even if I know that this is only a dream it's still touching.

"But otosan…" Little Saki looks hesitant. Is she torn choosing between her sister and mother or her father? This is a difficult thing to happen for such a little girl.

"Saki! No! Saki! Oneechan needs you! Come with us!" Teru begs and even kneels as she stretches her arm, desperately urging Saki to come over.

"Sorry oneechan…" With tears in her eyes, I saw little Saki disappear with her dad in a void leaving Teru and her mother. The last thing I heard was Teru shouting her sister's name over and over again until the blue skies turned black and everything was gone.

Is it over? Is this dream over? As soon as I asked that a new scenery envelops the entire background. This time it was of an urban place. I recognize this; it's Tokyo, residential districts. I recognize two figures it was the older woman who I learned that was Saki and Teru's mom and a girl who looks like she's in high-school. No, I shouldn't say that, the face of this girl is incredibly familiar to me, it's Saki without her clips. She still sported her short hair look! This is nostalgic….

Why does she look so sad? Did something happen? Maybe I'll find out soon enough since the door is opening. Ah that's….

"What is that girl doing here?" I cannot believe that these harsh words were uttered by the same person who was lovingly hugging her sister a moment ago. Teru who just came from the opposite side of that door now looks like how she always looked back in high-school. Her eyes, they do not gleam, and she has that cold expression on her face.

"O-Oneechan…" Saki can barely look her sister in the eyes.

"I believe your name is Saki? Am I correct? Congratulations on taking the individual championships and the team championships. If you came here to gloat then let me tell you that I do not care." Teru! Why would say that? That's just cruel! I can feel my heart break looking at the older sister punish her little sister with these words.

"Oneechan I-…." Saki tries to reach out for her sister and hug her but….

"I don't have a little sister! You're mistaking me for someone…." I gasped as I tried to catch the falling Saki who was pushed away by her sister just now. She phased through my hands and arms, I guess I'm a stranger and outsider to this world who cannot touch anything, an observer if you will.

"Teru! What are you saying?"

"Why are you asking me to welcome a stranger into our house mom?" Why are you doing this Teru? That's your little sister and you know it! Did you not wish for this? To live with her? Why are you… I just don't understand!

"Teru don't-….!"

"No, mom, she's right… I- I'm sorry for intruding in your life Teru-san. You will never have to see me in front of you again. Goodbye, please take care and have a good life!" Saki… why are you still smiling when tears are running down your cheek. Please let this end, this is too much to bear. I can't watch this anymore!

Saki stormed out of the gate and quickly disappeared from the scene. I want to chase her but….

"Teru! Why have you-…!"

"Mom she chose that man over us she can just live with that failure of a father for the rest of her life. She doesn't need us and I'm hell sure that we don't need her!" You're not sincerely saying that are you, Teru?

"Your father is dead Teru! Since last month your sister has been living alone! Do you understand?! You just banished your sister who has nowhere else to go!"

Teru's mouth dropped wide open. Her eyes opened wide, in shock and her body froze deadly still. I can see her hands shaking… did she really just find out about this? She slowly walks back inside with a dazed look on her face. I followed her to her room where she sat in front of the mirror looking extremely exhausted. She rested her head against her hands as she slumped on the desk like a cram student in project week. She opened the drawer of that desk and her hands froze once again when she saw something peculiar in it.

"T-This is…"

I saw her take out a flower ring from the desk. I recognize that ring… that's the ring little Saki gave her….

"Oneechan! Thank you for teaching me mahjong!"

"I made you this oneechan!"

"Oneechan what's Rinshan Kaihou?"

"Oneechan you're my most important person! I love you oneechan!"

I hear voices out of nowhere and I suppose Teru can hear these too. I can now see her face distort into frowns and tears. It's only a matter of time….

"Saki… Saki!" A switch was flicked and the cold uncaring façade of this stubborn girl was destroyed by that ring. She passed through me as she dashed out of that door and down the stairs, almost falling down in the process.

I ran too to catch up with her and because I was rather athletic I managed to get to her. We passed by her mother who looked troubled by the gate and crashed through the gate.

"Saki I'm sorry! Where are you!? Saki!" Teru's cries are heard by everybody. Some people are looking out through their windows and opening their gates as Teru noisily shouted, running on the streets.

As if the skies mourned for this sad day, droplets of rain covered the scenery. But Teru didn't mind that, she just continued to shout her sister's name looking in every corner for that girl she just exiled. It's no use…. Saki was running when she came out of the house, in that time before you realized your mistake she could've…. Oh Teru what have you done? If you only realized your true feelings sooner….

In one corner of the street, the only thing she found, broke her heart more. There, wet in a puddle of rain, was a crown of flowers she clearly recognized. Her knees looked like they lost their strength as I saw her drop on the floor, slowly reaching for the thrown up floral crown.

"Saki… I'm so sorry… please come back!" She shouted to the heavens but even then, the little sister who was now probably miles away, could not hear her.

"Saki!" I hear Teru's voice again but this time she was beside me, on a bed, looking extremely frantic.

"Ah, y-you're awake!" I quickly recognized that the dream was over and that this was now the real world.

"Ugh and you're?" Teru wipes the droplets of tears around her eyes as she turns to me.

"I'm Kyouko Suehara I'm…"

"At that girl back in my last year in the high-school nationals." Oh good she remembers me.

"I'm sorry I didn't notice this room was occupied and the room wasn't locked so…"

"It's fine. I'm sorry too. It became a bad habit for me to leave the door unlocked like that." I thought she was going to get angry but this is a surprise. She's certainly not the heartless Teru I faced once before anymore.

"It's because of Saki isn't it?" Oh no what am I saying in front of this girl?!

"What?" Yes it seems she doesn't understand me. Just let it slide like that Kyouko before you dig yourself deeper.

"You keep your door unlocked like that hoping that when you wake up Saki will be beside you. Am I wrong?" No! I said it! I really said!

"…"

Eh? Why is she being silent?

"That's true…. I know I don't have the right anymore to be her sister. But deep within, I guess I am still stubbornly hoping that the day comes when I can reverse everything I've done."

So she's a good sister after all. I'm glad!

"But… how did you know I was dreaming of Saki?" Oh shit!

"I didn't know really I was just eek!" What am I going to do? She has me up by collar and has the same eyes that terrify me with Saki.

"Now Suehara-san, if you're not going to tell me how you found out in ten seconds I will have you feel all the pain in this world in one swift go!"

"B-But I'm telling the truth!"

Ten seconds later…

"T-That's just completely over the top! I see now that the Miyanaga lineage is full of sadists." I now find myself sitting on a 'Seiza' position after confessing everything to Teru. I'm glad this girl isn't on our team, because a tag-team of she and Saki would kill me in a day.

"T-that's… that's incredible. The ability to invade other people's dreams in a touch… that should be illegal!" She accuses me.

"N-No please don't say it like I meant to do it. I never displayed this ability before. Somehow it happened when I tried to wake you up! I didn't plan on this nor did I mean to!" I try to explain. Hopefully this Miyanaga is more reasonable than the other one.

"If you just experienced doing this today, this ability must've been awakened by being close to someone who's a powerful psychic or someone near the sort. Is there someone that good in your team?" Crap, she asks me now of a delicate team secret and Saki told me never to tell anyone too!

"N-No one in particular." Gulp…

"Suehara-san…"

"Yes?"

"In ten seconds if…"

Ten seconds later…

"P-Please forget about this conversation Miyanaga-san! Saki will kill me or worse" From Seiza I'm now in Dogeza… it just keeps getting worse.

"So… she joined your team, I expected she'd be with that Haramura girl." She says this while drinking a cup of tea she conjured out of somewhere. I was too busy throwing myself on the ground to see where she got that tea from.

"You're not alone in thinking that." It was relief for me just to be out of that position.

"But I'm glad she's finally away from that tramp. That girl is dangerous! I can see the lust in her eyes every time she gazed on my sister."…Okay why is her fist shaking and why does it seem like she has an unreasonable contempt for Nodoka Haramura? Being an over-protective big sister maybe? But why do I feel that it's something deeper than that?

"This tournament would be her big debut back in the mahjong world. Too bad you guys are in it too." I can't help but scratch my head in this situation.

"Oh our team won't join." She says, drinking right after.

"Come again?"

"I was invited to help with the commentary. Extra income is always good right?" This is good news! Even though it's improbable that there won't be any strong teams in this tournament, at least we don't have to worry about the deadliest of them all! That definitely relieves some of the pressure!

"It's good that your err… boss allowed you to." I remember that little conversation she had with Saki not too long ago.

"Oh that bastard won't let an opportunity to advertise pass by. Of course he allowed me to." Teru looks mad every time she utters something about her team's owner.

"This man, he isn't as bad as many people make him sound is he?" I cringe thinking about this guy. What kind of ass is he that many people hate him so much?

"You're right…"

"Oh that's great…"

"He's much worse."

"Uwah?!" Certainly not the answer I was hoping for.

"He does everything in his power to get what he wants. Once there was a promising mahjong player who did not want to join his team because she could not leave the shop her family owned for generations. He made sure that shop closed prematurely with force…." Teru says this with a normal expression but there's grim in the tone of her voice.

"T-That bad? Has he umm…"

"Touched me or any of his players?" On the point, this one. I even couldn't bring myself to complete my sentence but she seems quite open and frank about it.

"Y-Yeah…"

"You have a dirty mind Suehara now I'm not sure if it's alright to leave my sister in your care."

"No! I'm not letting you tell me that in that disappointed tone! It's my neck that's on the line here not hers!" I felt that I had the right to complain…. Saki's not the one on guard every night from me!

"To answer your question I'll say that man is indeed a cruel human being but he's also incredibly superstitious." She takes a zip of her tea.

"Superstitious?" How has that got anything to do with my question I wonder.

"He believes that his players' abilities come from divine goddesses and that they must stay pure to have them preserved. Every single one of us is still untouched."

"Oh I see."

"Does that disappoint you?"

"Of course not!" Okay I'm beginning to think that this girl has something against me.

"Why did you have to ask then?" A good question. If I was to answer that, it's because…

"It's because if Saki finds out herself I'm not sure how she will react. Good thing to know there's nothing to worry about." This is my sincere reply. From what I saw in her dream, if that's really what happened in that house, then I believe that Saki hasn't completely thrown away her bonds with Teru. After all, the last things she said before going away was 'Please take care and have a good life' and that's not something someone who's filled with hatred would say.

"I… I don't think she'd care if that was to happen."

"I think she'd break if that was to happen." I immediately fixed her misguided words. I don't want Teru to feel helpless about her situation with Saki because for some reason I just can't let it go that two sisters who used to love each other are now so broken apart like this. Besides, it might get Saki off my back.

"What makes you think that?" Teru slightly changes her tone to a lighter and more hopeful tone, that's good.

"I just know. Please let me help you patch things with her!" I don't want to have to explain my feelings to her so let's just leave it as that.

"U-Um!" She nods to me with traces of pink around her cheeks. This girl has a cute side after all; I shouldn't let Saki hear me say that.

"Ah! I've been gone too long I think I need to go back to my team!"

It seems the time I spent snooping around in Teru's dream was longer than I thought. An hour has already passed since I came into this room and yet it felt as if that dream lasted only for twenty minutes.

I try to dash out of the room but a powerful tug almost swept me off my feet. Ow, ow, ouchies only one person pulls me that hard and this person who just did that is related so I guess it's not surprising.

"W-What's the matter?" I turn to her, still breathing a little heavily from my surprise.

"I-I have to go to…"

'And?"

"I don't know the way back…"

"Eh?" Okay I admit that for a split second there I saw an older version of Little Saki there. The way she flusters when she's embarrassed is just so adorable! I wonder if Saki was the same before she turned… dark.

There's no choice but to let the ultimate team's ace tag along with me. My main concern is Saki's reaction if she sees us together. Would she be mad? Would she ignore me? Would see greet her sister? I wanted to take the scenic route but I know I'm running late so there's no choice but to go straight there. This hotel is so big that it actually took us twenty minutes to get back to the front desk and from there go to the event place.

The event area is quite huge. They cleared out quite a huge patch of the hotel and it will serve as some sort of stage? Or maybe just the platform for the games? I'm not sure how this will work out.

"We who have gathered together here are brought together by our passion for the game!" I heard this part of the speech by some woman who looks like she's in her thirties.

"Do you see your teammates?" Teru asks me, walking in front of me for the first time after twenty minutes staying behind me.

"Not yet but I… oh wait there they are!" From a far I can see the figure of my teammate Saki standing beside Senou in the middle of the crowd who were all standing to hear the opening speech of this tournament's holder. Great it doesn't seem like she noticed me with Teru yet! If I part with Teru here I'll come out unscathed-….

"Oh look there's our guest of honor and half of our tournament's official commentators! Miyanaga Teru!"

"Ah that's me…"

"Okay I'll leave you here and w-what are you-… why are you dragging me with you!?" Suddenly I feel myself get closer and closer to the stage because of some idiot dragging me by the back of my collar.

"Miyanaga Teru! Welcome to this tournament and… who's that?" The spokesperson looks confused when she noticed me behind Teru… who won't look that way after seeing this?

"A-Ah! This is my friend, for some reason I just dragged her up here out of instinct." Teru replies, scratching her head innocently. Quite honest this girl….

"Oh I understand that feeling. It's your first time to commentate right?" I understand its part of the program but… can you let me go first?!

"Yes, sorry, to be honest I'm a little nervous." She says this. If you're nervous how about me?

"Ouhh I recognize this girl, this is Kyouko Suehara! She's the former Himematsu general from three years ago!"

Oh great, she knows me…. Everybody in the crowd were smiling awkwardly at me. These people are 'newer' mahjong players so I do not really recognize any of them in the front.

"We were really saddened when we thought you left the mahjong world for good Suehara-san! Two years? It has been too long! Your debut in the last tournament even for just one match was spectacular!" I heard tons of laughter after she said this. Everyone was gawking at me, sneering, smirking and whatever synonym of laughing you can think of. I hate you Teru! Now I really want to cry.

"Thanks…" I reply weakly but this is mostly sarcasm at this point. Then, when I thought everything can't get worse, I remembered the most important person in the crowd. I spanned to look for Saki and indeed I saw her. The leaf like extension was covering parts of her eyes but I could see a glimpse of her right eye. Oh no, that look, that's the stare of death she's giving me and I can see it glow in azure flame… she's mad.

"You're all sweaty Suehara-san! Are you nervous to be in this tournament?" She asks. No I am not nervous of this tournament, I am nervous about what will happen to me after this tournament or if my luck is really bad, tonight!

"N-not at all, I'm quite excited to be a part of this competition. It's just that we had to run a bit to get here." Half-truth and half-lie, yes I did jog a bit with Teru going here, no I am not excited to play because now someone might just punish me because of this imbecile!

"Of course! I apologize that the location is located so far deep in the hotel. But we made sure that every minute of playing here will be as comfortable as possible." She says, and I don't care, just save me from that avatar of vengeance whose eyes are burning with blue flames of deliverance.

"Thank you again."

"I won't hold everyone here for much longer! We have assigned locker-rooms for each team that joined this competition! Here Suehara-san I'm supposed to give this to the captains but I'll give this to you. The room with that number is your locker room!" She gives me a rectangular piece of plastic with a number engraved on it.

Hmm… let's see, I'm not someone who's usually superstitious but I hope it's a good number that might actually change my luck. Oh… great… a big fat number thirteen engraved in crimson red letters. You know for a small tournament I am surprised that they're able to hold it in this grand manner. Sure the venue isn't a coliseum unlike most National Tournaments but still.

Not long after the plastic cut-outs were given out to the captains the crowd began to disperse as the holders of the tournament prepare the venue for the actual battles. It took me five seconds more before moving my feet because I couldn't make my mind up between just running away or going back to my teammates where someone is waiting for me eagerly.

"Kyouko!" Shouts a familiar voice, sealing my escape route.

"Captain please don't be so loud I've had enough of the spotlight for just one day." I requested while looking exhaustedly at her.

"You never told us you were friends with Miyanaga Teru." Sera asks

"I'm not-…!"

"Thank you for everything today friend."

"Ah! T-Teru!"

"I'll count on you, you know, about that." She says this with a cute shade of pink on her face before turning away then dashing off.

"…"

"So…"

"P-Please be quiet for a moment and let me breath." I raise my hand and wave it in a no gesture at Sera.

"Let me guess. That girl got lost somewhere in this hotel and you merely bumped into her. Then like a lost lamb that needs a shepherd she attached herself to you since you're the only familiar face and you had to bring her here. Wahaha, am I correct?" What a clever deduction!

"Yes! That's absolutely right! Thank you Kanbara! Thank you so much!" I nod my head while bowing ever so gratefully. She's didn't hit the nail right on the spot but she was three-fourths correct without the dream thing.

"Hoeh? How did you know, Kanbara?" Sera asks.

"Well, getting lost is the main specialty of the Miyana- ah my foot!" Kanbara squeals in pain with a surprised look on her face. Beside her was a flustered younger Miyanaga. Incredible, so her embarrassed look is on par, no, even cuter than that of Teru. Without that sadistic smile, when it's replaced with that innocent blushing face, she's really a sight to behold. Oh no I think I'm blushing too, calm down, calm down.

After that little conversation we decided to check our 'locker rooms'. I was right; it was one of those rooms I've seen before I got here. Not like the one Teru was sleeping in though, the bed is round here instead of rectangular and the chandelier was much bigger. Overall design is quite similar though.

"Hey!" Someone calls out to me, tapping me from the back of my shoulder.

"Ye- S-Saki?! W-What is it?" What was I thinking? Of course she'd want to talk to me.

"Y-You really aren't friends with that woman are you?" Incredibly flustered face, stuttering, puppy eyes… damn it Saki is this one of your sadistic plots or did something happen while I was stuck in that dream world?

"No, it was our first time talking, we're mere acquaintances." I reply. I seriously want to pat her head right now while she's in her 'Little Saki Mode' before she turns back to 'Dark Sadistic Saki' but I'm a little skeptical. Is this what they call synchronity? When the older sister starts acting cute the little sister is affected as well?

"Okay…" She replies meekly. Oh god Saki! Why can't you be like this forever? If that happens I won't have troubles letting you stay beside me at night!

"Hey Saki! Why don't you try talking to Teru for once, as sisters?" I gently tap her shoulder before she can walk away.

"No!" She turns to me with a cold and sharp stare. T-That's Dark Saki right there. I guess from now on I'll call her 'Yami' when she's in that state. I wish she could've stayed in that other cute mode longer but alas….

Saki walks outside leaving me feeling awkward with the others who were still eagerly checking every corner of the locker room. I suppose if the trigger that made her react cutely was something about Teru it's only logical to say that something about Teru can unfortunately reverse the process. Either way that was such a powerful rejection she did, now I'm beginning to think if it's really possible to bring the two sisters back together again.

"Wahaha it's not going to be that easy." Kanbara speaks to me softly from behind me.

"Kanbara? You know something about them?" Because Kanbara was from the same prefecture maybe she heard rumors about the two or better yet, spoke to Saki or one of her previous teammates about it.

"Not much. All I know is that one day Saki returned from a month's worth of leave from her school and she was uhm… different." She says this, vaguely.

"Different?" I ask for more information than just a single word. Different how exactly?

"She didn't talk to anyone and she didn't come to her mahjong club's room for an entire week. I heard Nodoka tried to talk to her but Saki was always nowhere to be found outside of class. Then, when she did start to come to the club she would only minimally speak to them. Mako told me before that there were times when Saki would only utter one word for the entire day while there were days when she would not speak at all. Even when her teammates were playing she would not mind reading a book and sit in a corner. It was as if she lost something." Kanbara explains, this time very vividly.

"She did not practice at all? Then that must've…"

"Wahaha, one would think so right? Her mahjong skills must've dropped!? But… contrary to that, her skills seemed to multiply a thousand times more than how she was when she first beat Shiraitodai in the championships." Kanbara's face looks calm but her words hold incredible meaning! How can someone not practice at all and yet still improve?

"Did she train somewhere in secret?" I wondered. If people did not see her for a whole month maybe she went somewhere to improve her skills in that duration.

"I don't know, but let me share with something that our friend Amae Koromo told everybody."

"Ah! That child!" I remember that blonde little girl that fetched Awaii in that last tournament.

"Wahaha she's not a child she's actually probably just as old as us." Kanbara corrects me. Really? I really cannot imagine that someone with such kiddy charms be a 'teenager' or much less an 'adult'.

"I'll try to remember that." No I won't….

"Anyway, on their second year of clashing in the nationals, she's the person who really felt the wrath of the new Saki. Koromo is a special girl. She says her abilities stem from the blessings given to her by the moon. She broke the wills and hearts of many players with her flow control ability and her famous 'haitei'." I recognize the term 'haitei' is the short version of Haitei Raoyue. It's a yaku like Rinshan Kaihou which adds another fan to someone who wins with the last tile to be drawn.

"So what happened?" I am extremely excited to hear about this. Since I lost myself after graduating high-school I deprived myself from watching high level mahjong matches because I was afraid I'll see myself on the seats of the losing teams.

"Koromo… did not manage to get one single Haitei and to make matters worse nobody in that game scored a single had."

"A- A perfect game?!" It was quite surprising to hear this. In National Competitions it's quite rare to see 'perfect games' because of multiple factors: the amazing quality of the opponents, the pressure of playing in it, and the strict rules that will not allow the possibility to cheat

"In that match Koromo was dead serious about winning. She was so serious that the power was snuffed out from the grid and the clouds that day were blown away. The moon shined brightly in its full glory and she says that on this state it's virtually impossible for her to lose."

"T-That's scary…" I take a gulp of my own saliva while imagining this monster so powerful that she's able to control the winds to blow the clouds away and crash the town's electricity. Yet… why do I feel that she's not the real monster in this story?

"When the lights came back up Koromo had a triumphant smile, so sure of her victory and everybody else had fear imprinted on their faces but one. I remember she said something after that, something like 'let's really play now Saki!'" Kanbara has a curious look on her face as if she was trying to really relay her experience of that even to me and I really appreciate it.

"Someone who's brave enough to challenge the champion like that. Incredible!" I have to say that I know really few people who have the guts to even stand in front of Teru when she was still the champion but I know even less who can stand in front of Saki after that onslaught that continued on for three years.

"You think? I personally thought it was a mistake." Kanbara shows me a disappointed look on her face as she reminisces about that day.

"Eh?"

"Right after she said that, the whole place started to tremor as if an earthquake of magnitude nine just hit the land. It was so strong that we thought the event would be cancelled but there was something odd. Everything was shaking so badly but the tiles on the mahjong table and the players around it were sitting perfectly fine. Two of the players were in distraught and they even tried going under the table to protect themselves but there were two who just sat there. In the north position was Koromo whose eyes were bloodshot as she looked at the girl directly beside her. That girl in front of her of course was Saki." Kanbara continues.

"Did the earthquake stop?"

"Yes it did and it was very strange. It stopped as soon as Saki drew a tile. Then, after that she said something, three words that hold no meaning but sent chill down everybody's spine: 'shall we begin?'".

"Are you telling me that Saki purposely conjured an earthquake that time?" This story is beginning to go overblown. Can I really believe that there's someone who exists in this world who can freely summon earthquakes with her own freewill?

"I wouldn't say that. I think it was a mere 'manifestation' of whatever she was feeling inside that time. Whatever the case Koromo lost that battle and when her friends asked what happened she said 'the moon could never hold authority over someone like her'". Kanbara finally finishes her story.

"Wow… I never knew…" Even though it's quite scary to hear of someone able to do that somehow I feel… sad. How great was the loneliness she must've felt after that event I experienced inside Teru's dream? I'm not sure how great it was but it was strong enough to shake the foundations of reality itself it seems.

"But for some reason, Saki started speaking to people again. She did not change back to how she was during her first year but she's as you see now."

"What could've caused it?" Was there someone who managed to speak to her and heal her heart a bit at that time?

"Wahaha, who knows? Nodoka showed me something though. Here I have a picture of it in my mobile phone." She does?

Kanbara shows me her mobile phone, doesn't look too expensive but it is still state of the art touchscreen so and so but anyway. The picture on the phone was that of an article of a tournament held in Tokyo. Ah I remember this. I didn't play in this tournament but Konue invited me to watch hoping to rekindle my love for mahjong that time. I can see a big picture of the stage and the audience. Yep it looked exactly like a year ago. But what's in here that could've possibly pulled Saki out of her shell?

"I- I don't get it…" I honestly say.

"I didn't get it either but when Saki asked to join their team it became clear to me." For the first time ever I see Kanbara grin mischievously like a hunter stalking its prey.

"Hmm?" She says that but I still don't get it.

"Look at the audience's seats. Third row." She requests.

I span my attention to that part of the picture and saw a peculiar image of a girl who looked bored wearing cat ears beside a blue haired inconsiderate girl w-wait… this is me!

"Eh?! I didn't know I had my picture taken!" It's definitely shocking. If I knew I would get caught in that big picture I wouldn't have allowed Konue to put those cat ears on me. Now that I see myself there it's quite embarrassing.

"Wahaha, that girl there is probably whom Saki saw when she looked at this picture. Kyouko without even being beside her you managed to pull her out of the darkness by this much." Please don't say that so calmly Kanbara….

"That's impossible! I have never met Saki other than that time in the nationals!" I waved my head stubbornly.

"There's no doubt. The moment she heard you will be joining this team she made up her mind to join too." I-It can just be a coincidence right?

"I don't get it I- I'm not even into that thing!" By 'that thing' I meant… w-well its obvious right?

"Really?"

With a flick of her finger she switches slides to another picture.

"What do you think?"

The picture was that of a schoolgirl wearing a frilly blue dominant maid costume. I feel my heart race a bit. The girl on this photo has such an innocent smile as she clumsily holds that tray filled with bowls of ramen. The way she naively tries to balance herself reveals her adroit hips and that sweet skin on those cunning legs! Those unblemished shoulders and awawawa ugh I was almost dragged to that side! This picture is dangerous!

"Saki's cute in a café's maid costume huh?" Great, now she asks me this.

"…" This is unfair how can I say no to that? I turned away from her after giving her phone back.

"Hey guys what are you talking about? Our games are about to start!" Sera came from behind us and placed her arms around our shoulders.

"Wahaha nothing of grave importance. Are we ready?" Kanbara replies. I'm thankful that she did not reveal to Sera anything about her conversation.

"I'm just marvelous! I'm ready to take them on in the first match!" Hanada looks pretty thrilled. For someone whose main ability is 'not to go bankrupt' she's pretty sure of herself. Then again it's an awesome quality so I'm not complaining.

"Okay then Hanada we're counting on you Hanada Kirame-sempai!" Senoo cheers for her new senior.

"Where's Saki?" Nagi asks while spanning her surroundings for that girl.

"I'm here, sorry I had to take a breather." Replies the girl in question. She looks happy and normal but I had no doubt that the cute 'Little Saki' mode she showed minutes ago is already asleep.

"…"

"What's wrong Kyouko?"

"N-Nothing…" I turn away, avoiding eye contact with her. Darn, that story Kanbara told me is beginning to get to me. Did she really join this team just because of me? Did I really save Saki from that darkness that enveloped her heart two years ago without knowing it? If those are all true then she's… and I… awawawa!

Now that I look at her, even if it's true that she's somehow returned a bit to her normal self, she's still a far cry from how she was as Little Saki. Thinking that, it makes me want to help Teru more! I want to drop a life line to the little girl who is still hips deep in the darkness that Teru unknowingly threw her into.

"Saki!" Out of sheer reflex I walk to Saki, take her hand then lead her outside.

"What's wrong Kyouko? Finally realized your rightful place as my cute pet?"

"Yes, I mean no! Gah! Stop it!" Damn this idiot! I led her to the nearest corner away from the vision of the people inside the room unless they purposely follow us.

"What is it then?" She asks, tilting her head curiously.

"I challenge you to a deal. What do you say?" Just now I have made up my resolve to help the two sisters patch things up and I have a plan that might just work.

"A deal? What are the stakes?" Quick to the point, this one.

"If you win, you may remove that dakimakura between us at night. I'll be your personal dakimakura if that's what you really want." T-This is a big risk I'm taking, it really is.

"… You make a good bargain Kyouko." Don't look away while covering your nose like you have a nosebleed! It's ruining my picture of Little Saki damn it!

"And if I win in this deal… you have to start addressing Teru as your sister again!" I say this out boldly.

"… Why are you… that girl has nothing to do with…"

"I'll even let you dress me up however you want me to. Cat ears, Miku dress, whatever you want but only at night."

"… How do I win this deal?" I really got her attention didn't I?

"If I manage to win by yakuman in one of this next match, then I win."

"And if you don't, I'll make sure you keep to your promise Kyouko." S-She just had a really nasty grin just now. I think I asked more than what I was bargaining for!

A yakuman is not enough, but it's the biggest thing that will properly symbolize my resolve to draw Little Saki out. Exiled and alone for all those years, she must still be hurting deep inside. I don't know but I just feel like I have to help her out! I can't understand these feelings myself but I feel that I'll also be helping myself this way. It feels like somehow, my fate is connected to these two sisters especially to this girl. This tournament is her debut but I feel like it's also my debut, my debut into these sisters' lives and that's something I can say I'll be proud of. To my enemies in this first round, sorry but, I'll have to take you all in one clean sweep.

"Just one clarification Kyouko."

"Hmm?" What are you doing interrupting me in my one chance of a cool internal monologue?!

"The deal is that you have to win by yakuman. Meaning the instant you score a yakuman must also be the instant where the game ends." She says this with a cheerful and innocent looking smile.

"…"

"I'll go call my personal dealer who sells the best cat ears and costumes in the country. Tralala…" Oh crap….


Next Chapter Preview:

"Y-You why are you here?"

"I go to wherever the south wind brings me."

"But if someone of your caliber is to be my opponent… whatever am I going to do with that deal?!"

"Ahaha, Kyouko this guy on the phone is telling me I can get an extra cute tail for half the price!"

"I hate you monsters!"