Chapter 4: Game of Shadows

"I swear… I GONNA KILL YOU SOME DAY SORA!" I find myself standing on a man-sized chessboard. Of course being suckered into another one of Sora's damn schemes. 'How was he able to convince me to take part in this thing.' Above me on a balcony over looking the board was of course… Wait it's the girl from before. 'And why am I on her side of all things?'

-1 hour earlier-

I shake the sibling in an attempt to wake them. "Sora. Shiro. Wake up you two, your game… match… whatever you want to call it here, is about to start and you two are just sitting in bed like you've already won."

Shiro, of all people, pats my head. "That's because we have Tatsu-nii. There's nothing to worry about. Ok?" She tilts her head trying to be adorable, of course she is, but that's besides the point.

I pick her up. "That's not gonna happen if you don't show up you know. Let's at least get you dressed and brush your hair so you'll be a pretty Queen when you two win."

"With a pretty bow?"

I grin at the childish question. "Hai hai. With a pretty bow." Even though she's a super genius she's still a little girl, for some reason even her adoptive parents would treat her as a grown up when her abilities were discovered. She's just a little girl and she wants to be treated like one if not just every once in a while. It seems that it's only ever me who treats her as such, even Sora just treats her as a direct equal so she never gets to act like a child unless she's with me. It's the little things I get to enjoy, seeing her like this. "This is going to make Sora freak when he does get up and you're not beside him." I tease her.

"Then don't leave the room." She instructs me playing the innocent little sister card again.

"Hai hai, whatever you command. What color dress do you want to try on? Stephani is letting you use the clothing that she grew out of."

Shiro actually thinks for a moment. "Hmm, yellow!" She has a very satisfied smile on her face.

"I think I see just the one." I carry her into the closet, then put her down to pick out the dress. It's a bright yellow dress with white frills along the trim and a big red bow on the front. "How this?"

Her eyes glisten. "Yes." She raises her arms and just leaves them there.

"What are you-?"

"Dress me Tatsu-nii." She gives her innocent look.

I can't help but sigh. "Alright alright, but you'll eventually get too old for me to do this confortably you know. Maybe I'll start having Stephani dress-" She gives me a death stare with a tear in her eye.

"NO! Only Tatsu-nii, you're the only one who can treat me like this, as the future Queen this is my first decree." She seem dead set.

So of course I concede. "Alright, you win." I remove her pajamas and put the dress she chose on her. "Oh look at you, you're so cute in that dress. Now to give your hair it's due." I chuckle at my own pun. I couldn't see her face but I was certain she was unimpressed with me.

"Hahahaha! Oh, man Tatsuya that physically hurt me." Sora stands at the entrance of the closet laughing at my expense, he must have woken up when SHiro yelled at me. "How long did it take for you to come up with that-" He gets distracted by a jacket hitting him in the face. "What's this for?"

"If you are to become king you better dress the part. I won't allow the two of you to go around being slobs. King or no king, Queen or no queen, you two are always going to be just Sora and Shiro to me. I'm always going to keep you two presentable, oh and I won't be taking any orders from you Sora." Brushing Shiro's hair as I tell them, tying in a red bow to match the one on her dress.

Sora pulls the jacket down. "Oh speaking of which, there's something else that that Kurumi-girl and I decided yesterday when she came by. Probably should have said this earlier." His face was devious.

I get a cold sweat, even stopped brushing Shiro's hair. "I don't like the face you're making Sora. What did you decide?"

-Now-

So APPARENTLY as a show of good faith I've been made into a living chess piece for the enemy of my friends. Using the logic that "I'm just a mindless drone that will follow her orders without question." Supposedly she was considering rejecting their conditions in fact, but Sora offering me as collateral convinced this girl to keep with the match. Placed as a Knight I found myself as the vanguard of this Kurumi girl. She's so blood thirsty. I noticed that no matter how many pieces I took out my position kept moving forward until I was "Behind enemy lines" as it were. Not only that but Shiro would purposefully leave me be. Over the course of the game Kurumi's side somehow managed to convert several of Shiro's which I didn't think was part of chess I must admit. But when that happened I felt a great chill down my spine. 'what is this feeling? It's coming from the ceiling. Looking up I swear I see a motion: in the rafters. Soon all that remained in Shiro's pieces were the king, three pawns and both rooks. Kurumi sent her Queen to take out Shiro and Sora's King but just before the strike Sora did something completely wreckless, but just what was needed. He stood before the piece and pleaded with it and before long through nothing but words alone the piece changed colors, and turned toward Kurumi. 'So that's his game, this is no longer Chess but in fact a War between two great kingdoms. Did Sora do this just so I can participate or would it have ended the same regardless of my involvement?' Being so far on Shiro's side I as a knight had two options, turn Traitor or attempt to assassinate Shiro's King. Turning traitor would be easy, but putting the pressure on Shiro might turn out to be fun for me as well. Not like Shiro and Sora haven't thought of that as a turn of event anyway. 'I'm guessing that this'll be over within 30 seconds. Better do something fun while I can.' I get the same chill as before. "This again?"

Suddenly Kurumi's voice raises, while I was busy examining the board Kurumi gave an order. "All pawns advance and kill the traitors! Kill them like the dogs they are!"

"5… 4… 3…" As I'm counting down the pieces that were about to attack the former queen drop their weapons. I B-line for Shiro's King. "2… 1…" Using the prop sword I was given I slash at her kings throat.

"And that's the match. Winner Blank!" Stopping just short of the king I look to Kurumi's side. Her king was stabbed through the back. By a pawn that had apparently slipped behind the lines.

"Right on time, looks like I was too slow, this time." Leaving the board I join Stephani on the sideline.

Stephani's eyes were lit up. "My word Tatsuya, the way you moved out there. I've never seen anything like it.

Unable to act causal I blush and rub my head. "It's nothing really, I still have a long way to go." I watch as Sora crosses the room to approach Kurumi.

"No no, you fight like a warbeast. So cool." She insists.

"You're too much Miss Stephani." I can't help but feel bashful. Before long it seems that Sora with nothing but words caused the previously collected Kurumi to start crying. "Hold that thought Miss Stephani… I gotta go give Sora a lesson in manners again." Leaving her side I head up the stairs to Sora, Shiro and Kurumi.

"Sora…" He visibly flinches at my voice.

"Tatsu, no it's not what you think, I didn't say anything that should have made her cry. I swear." He prostrates in front of me. "All I did was pull up her little veil and she suddenly lost all composure."

"I didn't underestimate anyone. I was trying so hard." Kurumi is still balling her eyes out.

Sora raises his head slightly. "But it really looked like you were gunning to make us lose there."

I approach Kurumi. "Because I was you idiot." I pat Kurumi's head, when I do I feel a malicious aura directed at me. 'let's see what happens when...' "My my, did the big bad Sora treat you badly miss? Here." I pull her veil back over her face. "Better?"

Kurumi looks me in the eyes seemingly regaining at least a little composure nodding, her eyes still puffy from the crying.

"Now then…" I look up at the ceiling. "Hey you, watching in secret, come out now and retrieve your comrade, if you do not I will decide to take this young lady as a prisoner!" The entire room gasps.

"Someone's watching in secret? How does this kid know?"

"Did that boy just say, he intended to take Kurumi prisoner? For what purpose?"

I grab Kurumi by the arm and pull her up. "Guess they weren't that interested."

"How?" A soft voice rings in my head.

I looked puzzled. "What's this?"

"How can you tell that I'm watching?" The voice rings again.

I look around and realize that no one else can hear this voice. "Hmm… alright let's go Miss Kurumi. Seems you'll be our prisoner for the time being." I begin to escort Kurumi out of the game room.

"Oh, Sora, Shiro." I call to them. "Make sure you dress appropriately for your coronation. I'll be indisposed for the time being."

Sora stands up. "Tatsu what are you talking about?" For once, he, didn't know what was happening and I wasn't gonna let that opportunity slip through my fingers just yet.

"I just have a lot on my plate with my lessons from Miss Stephani. I won't have time to look after you two the next few days. Ok, so be good and eat right. Stephani, would you care to join me?" I flat out lied to them.

Stephani followed without a word and we left the room.

-In the hall-

I felt horrible at the time, but I felt this was for the better. While leading Kurumi to the room where I would hold her prisoner we were met by a young looking girl with pointy ears and an elegant dress. "If you value your well being you will let my Kurumi go."

"An elf?" Stephani was in shock. "Gu-"

I hold up my arm to stop Stephani. "No, Stephani. Not yet." I examine the woman before me. "That voice…" I manage to make the connection, but didn't not release Kurumi. "So it was you that I heard in my head… How were you doing that?"

Kurumi tries to break free, but is unable to break my grip. "With magic you idiot, nearly all the races above warbeasts can use at least some form of it. And Elves are in the top half of that.

"Magic huh? I wondered why I felt so weird." I nod my head realizing the situation. "You used magic to brainwash Shiro's pieces there was no choice in the matter, am I right?"

"I said, let Kurumi go." The elf was close to yelling.

"Tsk" I can't help but feel a little annoyed that I was ignored like that. "I'm afraid I cannot comply with that demand Miss- I'm sorry I didn't get your name." I lower my head in apology. "I gave you the option to retrieve her earlier. You did not take it, so I cannot allow this prisoner to escape."

"She belongs to me."

"Based on those words alone, as your slave it would seem. I know I gave you an ultimatum, either get her then and out the elves as conspiring to take control of the last of the human countries, or break her out later further proving that, now that I've seen you, the elves want the human territory for themselves, thus the human's would seek retribution, but the only way you'll be able to do so is to take her by force which is forbidden."

"Kurumi isn't my slave anymore, she is my precious friend, I challenge you to a game for her." The elf is starting to lose her composure.

"Fi…" Kurumi is clearly touched by her words.

"I refuse." I bluntly state.

"What, why?"

"You have nothing that I want to put up for Kurumi's return to you. I'm sorry but you will have to wait for her sentence to be up." I tell her.

The elf is positively steaming mad at me. "How long is that?"

"A day." The three girls around me are dumbstruck by my straight forwardness.

"Then why bother at all?" All three of them asked inunison.

"Simple, I just wanted to confirm something. And the fact that you're here means that I was right… I can sense magic for some reason. As for why I'm taking her prisoner, it was merely for show. Sora and Shiro are sharp. They knew that you two were cheating, but instead of calling you out, they decided to show you that there was no way to beat them even with the cheating methods you used… Miss Fi was it? I'll let you know this now, those two are the only ones that can unite this fractured world that you live in."

Fi's eyes widen. "How can you be so sure of that when no one has been able to conquer a single race in the millennia since God made the world like this?"

I give a big smile. "Simple. Because I believe they can." I start laughing unable to hold back my tears.

"What's so funny?" Kurumi glared at me like she wanted to stab me.

I wipe away a tear from my eye. "Oh man, because there was no way I could say that with a straight face. No the real reason is because they've apparently beat your god once before."

"Those two faced the one true God Tet and won?" Fi was unconvinced and Kurumi flat thought I was lying by the look on her face. "I know sounds ridiculous right? But it's true. It's how the three of us are here in the first place. I think this Tet kid wants a rematch against them." I continue to explain.

"Hold on a minute, something keeps bugging me. Why do you keep saying things like "the world you live in" and "Your god"? The God Tet is everyone's God." Kurumi reasons.

"Isn't it obvious? It's the reason that no one has heard of Sora and Shiro before now and why I, a young human, know things like combat in a world where fighting is forbidden. We are from another world, heck I'm only here because I look after those two. But now it seems my role, as caretaker, is almost all but a thing of the past, even if they deny the fact it's quite apparent to me now. I have to find something to do from now on." I pause for a moment. "So Miss Fi, what will you do now that your goal to claim humanity for the elves has fallen flat? Do you intend to go home or will you go elsewhere?"

Fi is taken back by my sudden inquiry. "Why would a human, like you, care what I do?"

"Humor me."

She crosses her arms. "Well first I want to take Kurumi back. After that is not something that you need to know."

"Fair enough, but how about a trade?" I hold out my hand and point at two staircases behind Fi: one goes up the other down. "If you tell me just the first thing after you take Kurumi back, I'll give Kurumi a nice room to sleep in tonight while she serves under house arrest, refuse and she'll get a cold, damp and wet dungeon. How's that sound?"

Fi is yet again angry, I'm certain that in a world were violence was allowed I'd be dead 5 times over, but knowing otherwise gives me the edge I need for this. "There's no way I can tell you something like that."

"Hmm… Ok, DOWN we go Miss Kurumi." Walking her by Fi I head towards the stairs that head down. Kurumi appears to have accepted the light sentence, but...

"Wait!" Fi shouts. "I'll tell you but only if you promise not to tell 'those two' anything."

I turn my head slightly. "Depends if the info will truly impede you or not. I'll determine that once you tell me." All those times I tried out the debate team really payed off. I hold back a grin keeping my pokerface.

Fi take s a deep breath. "After taking back Kurumi, my instructions were, should we fail in winning the king's tournament we were to monitor the new king and determine a weak point to exploit."

I scanned her face to see any lying ticks. "Hmm… Say Miss Kurumi, do you prefer which direction your balcony faces?"

Kurumi blushes having never been asked that before. "I-I don't really mind, either way is fine."

"How about north then?" I lead her up stairs, Fi sighs in relief. "Stephani please do come with me."

Fi gasps in shock, she clearly had forgotten that Stephani was with me the whole time.

I decide to give a gesture of good faith. "Don't tell Sora or Shiro what you've witnessed here. And don't challenge them to any games, they'll only try and use that against you. Oh, I do hope our paths cross again Miss Fi, there are a plethora of things I'd like to ask you about the elves." I glance back at Stephani who now has a pouty face. "Platonically speaking, of course." I smile as the three of us are finally out of physical sight from Fi. Upon reaching the room I lead Kurumi in and see myself to the door. "Enjoy you night Miss Kurumi, I'll have the staff bring you dinner later tonight. Then I'll come to retrieve you in the morning." I close the doors behind me and lock them from the outside.

Turning to Stephani. "Let's go get some dinner." Offering her my hand.

She blushes, taking the hand I offered. "R-right."

-Near the kitchen-

Stephani and I stroll toward the kitchen, but not a single word was spoken between us. 'This is so weird, it's just the two of us yet neither of us want to start the conversation. Is this my fault?' We periodically exchange glances only to quickly turn away when our eye meet. 'I have to say something.' "So-"

"Um-" We had decided to say something at the same time breaking the awkward silence. We chuckled and Stephani speaks up. " You first."

"No no, you've been through a lot these last few days. By all means, you first." I insist.

"Oh, uh ok…" She paused looking down and even stopped walking, blushing hard. Whatever she wants to say is making her redder than I've ever seen her so far. It takes a few minutes, but she finally manages to say... "Well, um, I don't want to be rude by asking this."

"It's ok, ask me anything you want, I will answer you to the best of my abilities." She lifts her head and I smile to assure her that it is ok.

"Ok, well, you told me that you didn't want me to fall in love with Sora because of the rules. Why is it you were interested in me in the first place? I'm nothing special, I couldn't even win one game against anyone." She fidgets a lot while speaking trying to use some of the extra adrenaline that she was creating asking such a question.

I can feel my face heat up I knew I was blushing, thinking of how to answer the question. "That's just it though, no matter how many times you lose you never give up on yourself and strive to win the next time. If you've noticed I kinda go out of my way not to play any games myself, no matter what it was I'd always be on the losing team, it's probably why Sora let Kurumi use me that time. I only seem reliable but in truth I can't compete with someone like that, I'd be far to nervous. In my world, at school I avoided joining team sports because I knew I'd mess things up for them. As for you, I won't care if you lose every game you play for the rest of your life, my feelings of admiration will never subside. That's why I didn't want you to fall for Sora, watching you play against Kurumi then against Sora… I just couldn't bare the thought of you being forced to fall for someone who would only use you for his own personal gains. You deserve better than that." I place my hand on her lowered head. "So just keep being yourself, and never give up hope. Alright?"

She remains silent for a while, a silence that makes me question if I said something wrong. I could tell one thing though. She was definitely crying right then.

Hold on I need to go vomit rainbows. That was sickeningly over the top, I've never written something so sappy before. But it just felt right for the moment. TERRIBLY SORRY for the long overdue chapter. School, work, life, relationships have all gotten in the way as of late, I will try my best to at least get to chapter 7 by the end of the year, but knowing my life I'll be lucky to get you guys to 6. Chapter 5 will involve the coronation and Jibril so hope you'll all enjoy it when the time comes. Not sure if I'll have Tatsuya participate in Jibril game or just run around protecting Stephani. As always don't forget to comment/correct/rant and follow for more content. Until next time Shi-oon Yi signing off.