"Okay, so just hold your fingers out like so…." Sarah said, her pointer fingers extended, elbows resting on her knees as she sat cross-legged across from Shiro. "Yea, and then I hit one…" She tapped his finger with her own. "so now that hand has two. Get it?"
"Yea I think so. If I hit your hand with this one, you then have three?" he asked, tapping one her extended fingers with his two.
"Yes, exactly." she said happily, bringing her middle and ring finger to join her pointer.
"But wait, I'm at a disadvantage!"
"What do you mean?"
"You hit my two with your three and then I'm down to one hand!"
Sarah tapped his nose. "That's why I like going first." she giggled mischievously.
Shiro gasped playfully. "You little sneak!" He reached over and pulled her into his lap, lightly tickling her.
"Shirooo, stooop-!" Sarah said between laughs.
"Oh my god will you two just get a room?" Krisox said irritably from the opposite side of the couch.
"There are other lounges." Sarah said as she stuck her tongue out at her brother.
"Yea, but I'm already sitting here and you know how I don't like to move once I'm comfy."
Sarah sighed and rolled her eyes. "What are you watching anyway?"
"I'll let you know when it comes back."
She made to reply, but an odd, distressing sensation washed over her. She felt the echos of pain, fear, hopelessness….all with a familiar twinge.
"Sarah, what's wrong?" Shiro said, his voice serious and concerned; she just noticed she had gone completely rigid.
"I think…." Krisox said, his voice strained. The sensation passed and her body relaxed of its own accord. Looking over, she saw her brother leaning forward, his head resting in his hands. "I think….Haggar is…hurting Kayla." he said, his voice cracking.
Her heart froze. Of course that's what it was. She didn't know why it hadn't clicked with her. Her mind felt totally blank, as if she didn't know how to process the information. Her little sister was in pain, agonising pain, and here Sarah was playing little games with her fiance and having a good time.
"Oh my god…" she whimpered, as tears sprung to her eyes. "What am I doing? I should be…I should be…..and she's…" Sarah stood up and began pacing. She quickly became incoherent as her words became mixed with sobs. Shiro stood and pulled her into a hug. "I'm horrible, I'm a horrible sister, I've waited so long." she cried, sobbing into his chest.
"No, no you aren't. You wanted an army at your back to eliminate the chance of failure." He raised her chin to look in her eyes. "You formed a solid war strategy and were prepared to take on the entire empire within minutes of hearing she had been captured. You're an amazing sister. Things are just taking longer than you had expected." He gave her a reassuring smile before kissing her forehead.
"Okay, well you two have fun with that sentiment, I'm gonna actually go do something." Krisox said as he made to leave the room.
"Krisox, I'm coming with you." Sarah said quickly.
"The hell you are!"
"No, she's right, you can't go alone. I'll go, too, it'll just be the three of us." Shiro said firmly.
"Fine! Whatever!" her brother said, throwing his hands up in annoyance. "Let's get going!"
"Without a plan?"
"Don't worry, I'll think one up on the way." Sarah said, grabbing her fiance's hand. "Now let's go, I don't want to leave her alone a moment longer."
