AUGUST




The golden eyes flashed as the white pawn replaced the black bishop
on the mismatched board, and I knew what you were thinking again.

Sometimes I get so tired of you, Seishirou. It's easy to know what a
person uncomplicated by emotions is thinking. Believe it, Sei-chan,
we are both simple creatures compared to Subaru-chan. Nii-chan is
always so sad and complicated.. but you and me..

So effortless for us to second guess each other, isn't it?

The black clandestinely picked off another gleaming white, Seishirou's
smile totally calm as he pretended to pay more attention to her than
the board, to his careful facial expressions and body language in her
presence. She knew that the meticulousness wasn't just for both of
their amusement.. If she hadn't been playing the game –-if any normal
person, say Subaru, had played against him—- the pieces would have
likely gone totally unnoticed as they slipped away from the board.
However.. in her case, it just didn't do him any good to be as
beautiful as he was.

Suspicious, all along.

Hokuto Sumeragi took another sip of her tea.

"Hokuto-chan.."

The man smiled up at her seductively -–as if naturally—- over his own
cup. She wondered idly, if she had been her brother.. wouldn't she have
noticed the death in those gorgeous eyes?

Well, of course not.

"I do believe I've got you cornered, dear sister in law."

I've only just begun to show you what I can do, Sei-chan. I've decided
that I really like you, already. Usually all the people Subaru takes
home are boring, shy little sweethearts. Your something of a cultural
ambiguity, don't you think? Too intelligent, too clever.. feeling like
the world is a raindrop, lately?

So easy to dry up and wipe away.

"Whatever do you mean, Sei-chan?" His face was surprised for a moment,
glancing down at the gray world that was the checkered board to see the
stately queen closer to his king than he had fathomed.

Oh, how careless.

The expression relaxed into the more suitable and passive appearance of
worthy defeat. He did smile, his usual, forever smile that she knew so
well. Hokuto thought of a lie, the taint of the knowledge teaching her
to smile back, as they smiled together at further dishonesty and at
each other's sour, counterfeit happiness.

Your easier said than done, Seishirou.

"Why, here's my piece, right next to yours."

I love this challenge of you, Sei-chan. What you might call a "game"
with my brother is different from what we've been playing all along. No
doubt it might hurt little nii-chan.. but, we're grown-ups, aren't we?
I might trust you with one small thing..

Her pale painted lips curved in a exhalant grin.

"Check."

We played your game of chance. I win, Sei-chan. I can see the real
collapse in those pretty charismatic eyes of yours, but don't be
unhappy.. I think I might be falling for you.

So this time.. I'll let you go.





FINIS




For the longest time, I have always thought that Hokuto-chan had some
kind of wicked heart in there not completely giving Sei-chan up to
Subaru-kun. Somehow, I had to make her more evil than Seishirou in some
respects. And somehow.. it worked.

There may be a follow-up. Continue to watch.




YUZURIHA.NU