Putting all her anger into the move, Sina kicks away the empty bottle as she rushes through the glass door. The bottle bursts into a thousand pieces, like her heart every time Chishiya plays around with it, but at least she won't stumble over it anymore. She even kicks away some of the shards because she just doesn't know where to put all those emotions.

Walking in circles, ruffling her hair, trying to shake off her thoughts – none of it helps. There has rarely been an occasion before this day leaving Sina that emotionally troubled, and she just wants to scream.

In the end she manages to sit down on the rim of the roof, letting her feet dangle down the stone wall. It really is a long way down, and what she's doing is not harmless at all. Down in the pools, Sina can see someone swimming, and it has to be Kuina since there has been no one else when she left the area just a couple minutes ago.

It would have been all fine, if she hadn't caught sight of Chishiya in the last moment. Kuina had managed to calm her down remarkably, but a single look into those condescending brown orbs is all it takes to stir Sina up again.

"Damn you, Chishiya…" she mumbles as she adopts her favorite position. At least the burning sky is wonderful and watching the sun slowly rise as it gets brighter around her somewhat has the effect Sina was hoping for.

While she still can't fully understand the world of the Borderlands, there are some things that are no different from home. The sunrise is one of them, and Sina eventually manages to chase away the thoughts about Chishiya. At least the stirring ones. She instead thinks about her life before the Borderlands, about the family and friend she's had there.

Like many times before, Sina wonders what happened to them and if she's really going to die if she fails a game – or if she will ever see them again. But that's something no one can answer her, and she'll have to find out herself by getting out of this.

Though she doesn't know how much longer she'll be able to hold on. It's hard for Sina to pretend living a normal life at the Beach when she sees her friends die every couple of nights. The hearts games are the worst, because they could even force one to kill others themselves.

Sina hasn't participated in a hearts game yet, and she's grateful for it. But there is always a first time, and it is said never say never with good reason…

"Watch out, this could be dangerous."

It takes a familiar voice to wake Sina with a start, and only as she sees the chasm right beneath her feet she realizes that she has fallen asleep. She startles and crawls backwards so she won't fall down, and stares at the origin of the voice with her eyes wide open.

"You!" She doesn't understand a single thing anymore. How can he approach her here now? So calm and casual as if nothing had ever happened? At least the anger that Sina feels helps her not to cry, and she tries to glare at him with all her fury.

"What the hell was that down there? You almost killed me!"

This wonderful and cruel man really has the audacity to sit down next to her. So close next to her.

"Calm down. If I wanted to see you dead, you'd be dead already."

That doesn't help at all. Sina punches him in his side, but it's so weak that he barely notices. Chishiya only chuckles instead, and to her complete astonishment, he pulls his arm around her. What does this man think he's doing, taking his carrot-and-stick approach in the worst moment ever?

Sina wants to punch him away, shout at him, hurt him. But this man knows exactly how he can prey on her, and she's too mesmerized by his touch to fight back, so she takes the carrot.

"I think it was a fun game." He mentions, and Sina stares at him in disbelief. But she also remembers Kuina's words, that he has to be in control at any time. And it somehow makes sense to her now. Though it doesn't change the fact that she's absolutely mad at him. Or wants to be.

"I don't want to play any more silly games. I have learned my lesson." She whispers as she finally gives in to his touch. She leans against him, and she is almost ready to forgive. Almost.

"If you did, you wouldn't still look at me like that."

"Told you it's not that easy. And you're not helping at all." Sina sighs and punches him again, this time even more halfheartedly.

She can still smell the chlorine through his hoodie, but his own scent is getting stronger again. And as the sun starts to warm her face, they both sit in silence and watch how the hotel plaza slowly fills with the first people. There are already some couples inside the pool, not knowing they are being watched as they flirt with each other.

But Sina can't completely enjoy the closeness that Chishiya has offered, because she can't stop but wonder why. She already knows that he is a master of manipulation and that every single move he makes is planned ten steps ahead. And yet she wonders how he benefits from doing this. How he benefits from, well – her.

Sina raises her upper body a bit so she can look him in his eyes. There's no way to understand this man. With everything he does and every word he says, Chishiya becomes even more a mystery.

As she lifts her hand and touches the strand of blonde hair that hangs loose around his face, he slightly flinches back, rewarding her with a glimpse of surprise.

Sina tries to tuck the strand behind Chishiya's ear, but it's too short and falls back immediately. Yet her hand stays on his immaculate skin a heartbeat longer than necessary, and she lets it streak down the shape of his cheekbone.

"I want to hate you sometimes, you know that?"

His lips are slightly parted as he smirks at her. "That would be better for you with no doubt."

Sina sighs. Being so close to him, it would be easy to plant a kiss onto his lips just like that…

"I've tried, believe me. But there's something on you that makes it impossible for me." And she hates herself more for that than she wants to hate him.

"Even though you cried like a baby because of me just a mere couple of hours ago." Chishiya mocks her with those raised brows of his, and it painfully reminds Sina of the fact that he overheard the full conversation she's had with Kuina. He doesn't move his head aside. Instead, his eyes lock with hers, and Sina is sure he enjoys how it drives her crazy.

"That's because you almost drowned me! And besides it's not nice to eavesdrop other people talking."

"It's not my fault that you weep so easily. And move your wailings to your hotel room if you want privacy."

He deserves a hard punch so much right now, and it doesn't help that seeing her pout seems to entertain Chishiya even more. But Sina is not able to hurt him, and instead she just leans her head against his shoulder again.

"Alright, I get it. Can we at least agree that there won't be any near-murders anymore?"

"Fine." Chishiya sighs and chuckles all in one. "But no unauthorized kisses either."

Bam. Oh, the magical power of words. He could've just said no more kisses, but this? He definitely leaves the option open that there could be a kiss in the future, if he allows it – and he is fully aware of his choice of words. Sina feels the smile appear on her face and there's no way to stop it, even though the chaos inside of her still rampages stronger than ever, fighting a massive battle against the butterflies that she was trying to suppress so badly.

"Something stupid is happening in your brain again. I can see it in your grin."

Sina just snuggles her face into Chishiya's shoulder, letting the scent and warmth of his lull her in. "Ahh, it's nothing."