Chapter 6: Esdeath's Game
"So, what do you guys want to do, today?" Ieyasu asked as he tossed a small rock into the air and caught it before tossing it back into the air again.
It was the middle of the day as Tatsumi, Sayo, and Ieyasu were lounging around in the grass by the lake. The three had finished their chores early and any additional work they usually did after was already completed leaving them slightly off schedule and with nothing to do.
"I dunno, but we've got to do something, I don't want the rest of the day to go to waste." Tatsumi responded as he watched the clouds float by.
Ieyasu sighed as he caught the rock once more only to skip it across the lake, making three circles atop the water's surface before sinking into its depths.
"We could see who can skip the most rocks?" Ieyasu suggested picking up another stone.
"Nah, last time we did that, you accidentally threw a rock behind you and hit one of the children." Tatsumi reminded him.
"Oh right, how could I forget?" Ieyasu uncomfortably smiled.
"We could always read?" Sayo happily suggested.
Both Tatsumi and Ieyasu looked at one another before breaking out into laughter.
"Sorry Sayo, but I would rather play one of Esdeath's games than read!" Ieyasu laughed, holding his stomach.
Suddenly, a look of inspiration sprawled across Sayo's face as the young girl gave the two a wide grin.
"Then let's do that!" She excitedly sounded.
Both Tatsumi and Ieyasu looked at Sayo slightly confused.
"Do what exactly?" Ieyasu finally asked.
Sayo smiled. "Let's ask Esdeath to have us play one of her games!" She winked.
Both Tatsumi and Ieyasu gave a displeasing look at their friend; both thinking the idea was not only horrible but incredibly dangerous.
"Do you not remember the first and last time we asked Esdeath to play a game?" Ieyasu asked as Tatsumi could feel the repressed memories resurging.
When they were all around the age of six, Esdeath had decided it was time for her to finally play with the three of them. From hide-and-seek to rock-paper-scissors, Esdeath would take the games to a whole new level to the point where all three of them refused to even play the simple children's games again. The first game the blue-haired woman ever invented and played with them was a game similar to hide-and-seek with a mixture of tag and hunting. The purpose of the game was for the three of them to be considered danger beasts and Esdeath a hunter. While Esdeath would hunt them, the three of them would try to find each other and team up together, if all three grouped up then they would win. However, if Esdeath managed to find at least two of them, she would win. She won every single game.
"So, let's just ask her to pick a normal, non-traumatizing game then." Sayo suggested. "And she would have to stick to the rules and not over do it."
"I don't know." Tatsumi spoke. "She does like to take games seriously."
"Why is that?" Sayo asked.
Tatsumi shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure, I think it's probably how she was raised. You know how Nikolas is."
Both Sayo and Ieyasu nodded their heads in agreement.
"So, what's it going to be guys?" Sayo asked, "We can either sit around bored all day or we can play one of Esdeath's games?"
Both Tatsumi and Ieyasu looked at one another. With a collective sigh, the two nodded their heads, much to Sayo's delight.
"Alright then!" Sayo excitedly cheered.
\_/\_/\_/
"And that's the situation." Tatsumi said as he finished explaining their predicament to Esdeath. "Think you can help us?"
The three were surrounded by several Partas clan members armed to the teeth as they had interrupted Esdeath's current practice session. Tatsumi knew Esdeath did things like this once a week to stay on top of her game, especially during the offseason when hunting for food isn't as required. Regardless, he felt uneasy asking her right away, but Sayo insisted.
"So, let me get this straight." Esdeath spoke as she managed to dodge a spear being thrusted as her. "You want to play one of the many fun, exciting games I created when we were younger because you're all bored?"
The three nodded their heads as Ieyasu felt the sharp blade of a sword cut the tips of his hair off.
"But I thought you all hated my games?" Esdeath questioned as she grabbed one of the clan member's arms and flipped him over her, slamming him brutally into the ground.
"Well… we do." Tatsumi tried to politely say. "But that doesn't mean you don't have great ideas!"
"Yeah, Whack-An-Ieyasu was a smash hit… mostly for the women here." Ieyasu said before remembering the beatings he received from the hammer.
"Plus, you're very creative and the ways you combine your games is…. inventive?" Sayo tried adding, unsure if what she was saying made any sense or was acceptable.
"All we ask is that you tone it down with how competitive you get." Tatsumi added. "That is the only condition that we require of you."
Suddenly, Esdeath pushed the three out of the way, knocking them to the ground, as two clan members both simultaneously made a wide swing with their spears, nearly cutting Tatsumi and his friends in half. Luckily, Esdeath was already a step ahead of them as she redirected their blades back at them, knocking the men to the ground.
"Ok! I'll do it!" She grinned as the rest of the clan members surrendered, not wanting to meet the same fate as their friends. "But, on a condition of my own." She slyly smiled.
"I suppose that's fair." Tatsumi nodded as he stood up. "What's your condition."
Keeping her grin, Esdeath's eye focused solely on Tatsumi. "You must kiss me, in front of everyone if I win the game."
"What?" Tatsumi exclaimed as both Sayo and Ieyasu had a disturbed look on their faces.
"Yup, it's very simple. If I win, you have to kiss me in front of me and you have to be the one who initiates is." Esdeath explained.
"We agree!" Sayo said, shaking Esdeath's hand before Tatsumi could even get a word in.
"Great!" Esdeath excitedly jumped for joy. "Good job you guys! You all did great!" She told the clan members as some slowly stood up from the ground, groaning from the beatings they just received. "Now then, I have the perfect game we all can play."
Sayo and Ieyasu looked at Esdeath attentively as Tatsumi began to tear up, knowing that Esdeath would win.
"The game is simple." Esdeath went on to explain. "Hide-and-Seek! The rules are as follows: one, I will be the seeker and you three hide; two, if you are found you must return here until the end of the game; and three, the game ends by the time the sun begins to set. If I do not find you all by then, you win. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!" Both Sayo and Ieyasu saluted before running off to hide.
Esdeath smiled and was about to close her eyes to start counting before she noticed Tatsumi still standing there.
"Tatsumi, you should probably go hide." She warned. "I'm about to start counting and I don't want my man to be the first one out." She softly smiled at him with a slight blush on her cheeks.
"I know but why do you want me to kiss you in front of everyone?" Tatsumi asked.
Esdeath seemed a little surprised by his questioned but gave him a warm smile before turning around and began counting.
"Guess I'm not going to get my answer." Tatsumi thought as he sighed before running off in the same direction as Sayo and Ieyasu.
\_/\_/\_/
It didn't take Tatsumi long to find himself in the forest as he began looking for a secluded spot Esdeath would never find him in. But he knew better than that as Esdeath is probably the greatest hunter he will ever know.
As he looked around, he soon found a small, carved-out hole in the side of a tree that seemed perfect to hide in. With a quick glance around the area, he dove straight into the hole, only to find himself butting heads with Sayo.
"Tatsumi?" Sayo questioned as she rubbed her forehead. "Get out of here! This is my spot!"
"Sorry, I didn't know you were here!" Tatsumi quietly yelled back.
As he began making his way out of the hole, Tatsumi stopped and turned back to his friend.
"By the way, thanks for agreeing on this bet!" He said annoyed. "Why would you even agree to a bet like that?"
Sayo sighed. "You both are engaged! When are you going to start acting like it?"
"What do you mean?" Tatsumi asked.
"You and Esdeath have been dating for years and just recently got engaged! So far, she's been the only one committing herself to you while you've done the bare minimum to return that affection!"
"I've done plenty to return her affection!" Tatsumi argued.
"Just because you both shared a romantic kiss during the night celebrating your engagement and won Nicolas' approval doesn't mean squat!" Sayo hissed.
"Who told you about our kiss?" Tatsumi questioned. He clearly remembered how it was just him and Esdeath while everyone else partied during the night they got engaged.
"Esdeath! Who else do you think it could have been?" Sayo rolled her eyes. "Honestly, you act as if I only hang out with you and Ieyasu! I have a life too you know?"
"That may be true but that was supposed to be between Esdeath and myself!"
"Did you tell her that?"
"Well…no…I thought it was implied." Tatsumi sheepishly answered.
"Tatsumi, you're a great guy and one of my best friends but like I said that same night you need to start returning the same affection she's giving you." Sayo explained. "Or else you might lose her."
Tatsumi's eyes opened a little wider at the sound of Sayo's words. Once again, just like that night they were engaged, Tatsumi had to hear it from one of his friends that he wasn't owning up to his relationship with Esdeath.
"You're right." Tatsumi sighed. "I do need to get my act together."
Sayo smiled as the revelation was coming to Tatsumi.
"Maybe you could throw the game?" Sayo suggested. "That way, you can make honest with the bet you agreed to."
Tatsumi quickly eyed Sayo.
"Don't think I've forgotten both you and Ieyasu agreed to this bet." He glared at her.
Sayo chuckled before pushing him out of her hiding spot.
"Get out of here you dork!" She spoke.
Tatsumi could feel the immense force of Sayo pushing him out as he found himself flying out of the hole and into a nearby tree. Taking a moment to regain his composure, Tatsumi quickly darted off to find a new hiding spot. While searching, he thought for a second, he could hear screaming in the distance.
"Was… was that Sayo? No, it couldn't have been, she's hiding somewhere behind me. Then… was it Ieyasu?" He thought as a small smile formed on his face. "He sounds like a little girl!" He chuckled while still running to hide.
It didn't take Tatsumi too long as he managed to find another spot, this time, checking to make sure no one was inside as he slipped in and held still.
Hours went by as the sun began to start setting. During that time, Tatsumi was sure he heard Sayo yell, meaning she was definitely discovered which made Tatsumi the last player standing.
"Okay, just need to hold out a little bit longer and I win!" He cheerfully thought.
Thoughts of finally beating Esdeath at one of her games were going to come true until he started to think back to what Sayo had told him twice.
"Maybe she's right?" Tatsumi thought as the smile on his face slowly disappeared. "Maybe I should man up and become the person I'm sure Esdeath is hoping I'll become?"
Without warning, Esdeath suddenly appeared as she slipped into Tatsumi's hiding spot. Tatsumi had zero time to react as Esdeath placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Found you, Tatsumi." She blushed.
Tatsumi sat frozen for a second before realizing the game had ended.
"And just when I thought I was finally going to win." He sighed as Esdeath giggled.
"You should know better than anyone else, dear, that I will always win." She winked. "I even held myself back this time too!"
"Are… Are you sure?" he asked in disbelief, recalling the yells from his friends.
"Don't worry, they're fine." She said before leaning in close. "Now then, I believe you owe me a kiss in front of everyone." She seductively said, teasing his lips with hers.
Tatsumi's face began to turn red from how close Esdeath was before maintaining his composure after remembering that he needed to start doing better.
"I guess I do." He chuckled with a smile.
Esdeath seemed confused at his reaction as she began eyeing him curiously.
"Are you feeling alright, dear?" She asked. "Usually, you're red hot in the face when I tease you like that."
"Well," Tatsumi began to explain. "I thought maybe it's best I stop responding like that since we're engaged and all."
"Okay?" Esdeath is still eyeing him. "But I like overwhelming you like this; it makes my heart flutter!"
"Huh?" Tatsumi looked at Esdeath surprised as the woman held her hand to her chest.
"Well, it's being able to put those indecent thoughts in your head and making you overwhelmed with nervousness and embarrassment that makes me love you more and more each day. It tells me that no matter what, you'll still be the same innocent boy I fell in love with all those years ago." She slightly blushed as she romantically looked at him.
"But, what about you talks with Sayo?" Tatsumi asked. "And how I'm not pulling my weight?"
"Talks with Sayo?" Esdeath questioned. "Sayo and I have never talked about you. She mainly comes to me to learn how to fight like I do."
"She does?" Tatsumi exclaimed as he can picture in his mind Sayo blowing a raspberry at him as a taunt.
Esdeath nodded her head. "How else do you think she got ridiculously strong?"
"I just assumed it was a girl thing!" Tatsumi answered before realizing that none of the other woman in the village are capable of flinging Ieyasu into the side of a building with ease. "Oh my god, I feel so stupid right now." He began to laugh.
Esdeath looked at him once more with a questioning look. Before she could ask what was funny, Tatsumi grabbed her head and pulled her in for a kiss.
Esdeath's face immediately turned blush red from the unexpected romantic maneuver as she looked around embarrassed to make sure no one else saw.
"T-Tatsumi, what has gotten into you?" She began throwing her arms in front of her waving them to push Tatsumi away.
"Just a good friend's advise is all." He warmly smiled as he held out his hand. "So, shall we honor your bet?"
Esdeath looked away from him, her face completely red, before slowly turning back to meet his eyes. She took a moment to calm herself before nodding her head and gracefully accepting his hand as the two exited the hiding spot.
\_/\_/\_/
Later that night, all of the villager's and Partas clan members had gathered around the village center, per Tatsumi's request as he walked up to Esdeath and honored his bet by kissing her in front of everyone. Several of the children, and Nikolas, had disgusting looks on their faces before walking off while most of the adults, mainly the girls, awed in the sweet romantic gesture. Even Sayo and Ieyasu began to happily clap and whistled causing several more villagers and clan members to join in.
Author's Note:
Hey guys, thank you for reading and if you haven't already, I've posted the first chapter for the reboot of Empire High called Empire High Echoes. I know I've just posted three chapters for this story in one week and as much as I would like to keep doing that I want to post a chapter a week, if possible, to make sure there are not any grammar mistakes or anything that doesn't make the story flow and the same will be said for Empire High Echoes as well. Other than that, thank you all for reading and I will see you next chapter!
