Precious

Author: Seth

"No matter how powerful they may be, precious things must still be protected." 

 
Games generally didn't pose much of a problem to him. In fact, the only one that actually gave him pause was shogi, and that was only because it forced him to decide how he wanted to win. Put in some effort now so he could return to his comfortable spot in the shade quickly, or take it easy, lure them into a trap, and take little catnaps in-between turns.

Oddly enough his most common opponent wasn't the tactically inclined prince Taiki, nor even the calm and intelligent Senma, but his own brother.

Haru invariably lost, and it didn't take long for Ryuu to catch on to the fact that his elder sibling wasn't playing for the game. Time and again Ryuu would look up from one piece or another only to find his brother studying not the board, but his face.

The polearm specialist never questioned what Haru was doing, or why he was doing it. If it was important, Haru would bring it up sooner or later.

Years passed, the games dragged on, and despite himself Ryuu started to grow curious as to the method behind his brothers… maybe not madness, but fervent devotion to playing a game to which they both knew the outcome.

Finally, one day Ryuu found Haru sitting in front of their pre-prepared shogi board, quietly fingering the ring hung about his neck.

"Ryuu." The Commander of the Militia asked. "What shogi piece would you say you are?"

Ryuu raised his eyebrow, wondering where Haru is taking this, before reaching forward and flipping a rook onto its back, revealing a dragon king.

"That's a rather fitting pick." Haru laughs before stopping abruptly. "If wrong. You don't play shogi like a dragon king. You don't play it like a general, or a lancer, or any kind of soldier for that matter." He sighs, putting two fingers to his forehead. "No, you play it like a shrewd monarch, dispensing cold and calculating commands to his troops." The Commander puts his finger on the King and pushes it forward. 'This is your piece."

Ryuu just looked at Haru oddly, picking up the small wooden tile and turning it over in his fingers. He could see his brother's point, but there was still something that didn't add up…

"The game ends when the King is taken." Ryuu looked up, his words more of a question than a statement.

Haru nodded.

"Remember that, ok little bro?"