A/N: If you've never played The Game of Life, you really should. I guarantee much fun. Very obviously, The Game of Life was my inspiration for this one.

And while we're on the topic of games, let's play one now! It's called, I Spy the Symbolism!

Can you spy the symbolism? It's ok if you can't, I'm still trying to find it, and I'm the writer of this abomination.

Life

Fingers wrapped themselves loosely around the white plastic and turned.

The wheel spun quickly but lost speed and eventually… stopped.

"10."

A tiny blue plastic car moved forward ten spaces.

"It says to collect one thousand dollars from any player."

He smirked and she frowned.

There was a flutter of paper as the fake money exchanged hands.

"Thank you," he murmured.

"My turn," she said."

Hinata spun the spinner, willing it to land on a high number.

10, 10, 10, 10, 10…

1

She sighed and moved her white piece one space forward. Peering down to read it aloud, she said, "Crashed your car. Pay $500 dollars for repair."

This game did not like her.

Which was rather sad because it had been she who had wanted to buy the game in the first place.

She remembered it like it was yesterday… probably because it had been yesterday when she bought it.

They had been shopping at the store for everyday necessities when they had passed by the toy aisles. Hinata had been walking a step behind Sasuke, sneaking peeks into the aisles. Sasuke mostly just pushed the cart full of items, looking bored as usual and trying to finish the shopping as soon as possible. He didn't understand the joy of shopping.

Then, before he knew it, he sensed her light steps had stopped somewhere behind him. A glance over his shoulder showed he was correct.

Standing behind him, look completely hypnotized as she gazed almost unseeingly into one of the aisles stood Hinata.

"Something wrong," he asked.

She ignored him and walked straight in.

Confused, he followed after her.

"What are you looking at," he asked again, mildly curious as to why she had stopped responding.

"Board games. Can we get one?" she asked, finally coming back to reality, her eyes shining brightly.

Unable to refuse, he said, "Sure…" He didn't particularly understand why she wanted a board game (they seemed so childish to him) but he went along with it anyway.

Now was the first time they were playing it. And Hinata was losing. Badly.

She blamed Sasuke's innate skills in absolutely everything. He had claimed he had never played this game before (or any board game) and was only following the rules she herself had read aloud at the beginning of the game.

He would give a single amused chuckle when she pouted, claiming the spinner was cursed, and her white car was unlucky, and he had the whole game jinxed.

The game had progressed, with him growing increasingly richer and she gaining very little.

Sasuke had gotten the best payday and Hinata one of the lowest.

How is it that he keeps landing on the LIFE tile spaces, Hinata wondered, growing slightly frustrated. This wasn't as fun as she thought it would be.

On the other hand, Sasuke was having a blast. He now understood how people could like these things. And contrary to his previous thoughts, this game wasn't boring. It required strategy and cunning, intelligence and skills.

He smirked.

Just like in real life… how very funny.

Eventually, the time came to purchase houses. Hinata managed to get lucky (or so she thought.) In her hands she held the cards for the mansion and the trailer.

With a smile on her face, she flashed her luck at Sasuke.

"Look! I got the mansion! Even you didn't get the mansion," she exclaimed gleefully.

It's turning around for me! I can still win!

Sasuke just raised his eyebrow at this. He had gotten a bungalow.

"Are you going to get the mansion," he asked her. Was it just him, or did she seem to be just a little competitive today?

"Yes, I like the mansion."

Reaching for the money, she began picking out the thin paper for the precise amount.

And slowly, ever so slowly, her face fell as the realization hit her.

She didn't have enough money.

There was a long moment of silence as she sat gazing at her paper money with a crease between her brows.

Sasuke just sat and stared at her.

The board game is making her competitive. She really wants to win…

A sigh later, she said in a small defeated voice, "I don't have enough money."

"You could borrow some," said Sasuke, gesturing at the money in the "bank."

"No thanks," she said. "I'll just take the trailer."

She was visibly upset, but refused to say anything about it.

It's just a game…

I have to win!

Maybe I should let her win…

Come on, Hinata, you can beat him! He can't be so good at everything!

"Your turn," she said, attempting to sound as if she wasn't plotting ways of winning.

He gave a nod and spun.

7

The little blue car moved 7 spaces.

- - - - - - -

"I…. I think you cheated…"

The corners of his mouth turned up.

"No, I didn't cheat."

"B-but you m-must have. Nobody is that good at LIFE." Uncomfortable with voicing her opinion, she relapsed into stuttering.

"You were right there. You never took your eyes off the board. Did you ever see me take extra LIFE tiles?"

"N-noooo but-"

"Did I ever go further any more spaces than I was supposed to?"

"No… but Sasuke-"

"Could I have stolen any money from the bank? It was right next to you."

"Well… th-that's not the point-"

Sasuke leaned back, smirking in satisfaction. He hadn't cheated and Hinata knew it.

So why was she still going on about it?

"Sorry but… I-I still th-think you cheated."

This touched a nerve.

"Why don't you believe me?" he asked. It was irritating that she didn't believe him.

"I-I don't kn-know," she murmured.

"No," he said roughly. "You must have a reason. Would I lie to you?"

"No…"

"Would I cheat?"

She remained silent at this.

"Hinata," he muttered. How annoying.

He stood up and walked away.

Hinata was taken aback by this, and also guilty. She had upset him. All over a stupid board game.

She hid her face in her hands and mumbled, "I'm so stupid."

Something came up from behind her and wrapped itself around her.

Hinata jumped about a foot in the air, trying to escape from her attacker's clutches.

Then she heard familiar shushing noises from the area of her ear.

"Calm down. And don't ever say that again."

She relaxed, now ashamed of herself. First she had messed up by accusing him of being a cheater, then she'd try to run away. Couldn't she do anything right?

And worse still, he was acting nice about it all. After she had been such a jerk.

"I'm s-sorry," she said, slumping like a rag doll in his hold.

"Don't apologize," he said quietly. "Just don't ever say that again."

"I won't ever call you a cheater again. I promise," she said, resigned.

A rumbling laugh behind her and then, "I didn't mean that, but you shouldn't ever call me cheater either. I meant don't call yourself stupid."

"Oh," she said. It seemed insubstantial, but she had no idea what else to say.

Sasuke flipped her around so she was facing him. He was smirking slightly, but it didn't quite touch his eyes.

"Don't ever call me a cheater. I would never cheat. Never," he said seriously.

Hinata couldn't understand why he'd suddenly turned so solemn.

I guess he just really likes to play by the rules…

"I won't ever call you a cheater. B-because you would never cheat. Never," she repeated in a tiny voice.

"Remember that," he said as he stood up.

"Now," he said as he extended his hand to help her up. "Play again?"