"Your move." The dry voice carried over to Haou's side of the board. He was never one that was fond of chess, but it was a game everyone could understand, and that masters could control. He was decent at it, he supposed, for someone who had never put that much time into these sorts of childish things.

Neither did he hesitate, as he moved one of his pawns forward. His opponent was one of his dark soldiers, clearly, though it was odd that HE was the one who had requested this game. Haou was not particularly fond of him, as he had hinted at insubordination a few times before, but he had no proof.

Normally Haou would just easily take him out, but this one had many-unspoken-supporters. Plus, it wouldn't do to just start killing some of his top officers.

"I noticed you have taken in a new visitor." He made his move.

Haou moved his knight forward to guard his queen, and hissed when it was promptly taken. He only had one left now, so he pressed forward aggressively. There was no way he was taking any more of his important pieces.

"He is none of your business," Haou snarled, focusing on the board.

"Oh really? I'm just rather curious as to why he's still alive. It is not like the King of Gentle Darkness to keep someone like him around." The tone was flat, but he noticed the tiny, tiny taunt to those words.

He struggled to maintain all of his composure.

"As I said, what I am doing with him is NONE of my business."

"My, my, the boy can burn down your throne room and goes unpunished, whereas many of us only speak a word and you have us hung."

Haou knocked his rook off table. "Check."

He could see where the battle was headed, and he smiled. There was no way he was going to lose this fight.

"Are you sure about that? I'm curious about your…reaction to him."

A few more moves were made in silence before it dawned on Haou what exactly he was implying.

"You-" His opponent slammed down a piece next to his remaining knight, tipping it over. Underneath the white piece was a a lock of shredded black hair. Black human hair.

"I believe that's checkmate, Your Majesty."

Haou let out an incomprehensible yell and knocked the table over, cascading black and white pieces over. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM?"

The question proved to be fruitless though as a few seconds later he lay dead on the floor, blood slowly forming patterns in the stone.

The guards rushed in, hearing the 'struggle'. "Master Haou, what is wrong?"

He did not answer, but none of them were stupid enough to get in his way as he was leaving.