#ty for asking me also :) i like the opportunity to talk about kt

[yj-98]

Summer of last year ago I wrote an oc very similar to city boy inspired by both my religious experiences w genus loci & dark knight/dark city, & now dc is writing both city boy & old school barbathos and sometimes I wonder if someone from editorial was reading my headcanons blog and stole them bc it's toooo similar... fucks w my head a lot actually. Are the city boy comics good? I'm low-key afraid to read them incase it freaks me out more <3 dc stop stealing my ideas challenge...

oh help its always so weird when you recognize a character from your own head in a character thats in published media. your oc sounds so cool tho! they should be paying u dividends rn

the city boy comics are, and i mean it, SO good. greg pak and minkyu jung did phenomenally honestly! i Really want cameron to have a solo :) hes got a really intriguing backstory and i enjoy that hes sort of morally neutral. very much "not nice, but kind" personality, where hes pragmatic but wants to be nicer despite internalizing that hes inherently bad. hes also just had. really fun dynamics with other established characters so far! nightwing, clark, and swamp thing :)

he first shows up in a short story in the wildstorm 30th anniversary special, then gets an introductory teaser one shot in lazarus planet: legends reborn. his mini has 5 (of 6) issues out rn!! i would recommend his stuff bc ultimately its very short and i think that its important to show support for the creators :]

to cite a friends experience who recently read the mini: if youve sort of lost faith in dc's storytelling in modern comics, give city boy 2023 a try :)

sorry this turned into an advert but i dont want to spoil things and i also just. love cameron kim. i think everyone should take the time to read the 7 issues that are out rn!!!!!

anyway. i hope u like it!! im sorry it freaks you out tho because i understand 😭 but i really do think youll like it!!!!!!!

[sagara-megumi]

SasuSaku Month - Day 9: On Opposite Sides || [Fanfic] Playing Games

Title: Playing Games

Rating: K/G

Notes: Sorry for the new delay, I’m trying to catch up but this week I’ve been really busy. I hope to do it during the weekend. Let’s see... This one is quite light compared to the drama in prompt 8. Enjoy! ^^

Words: 2670

Glossary:

karuta: a Japanese game of cards. It’s very interesting to watch, so if you have time, you can check Youtube, there are plenty of videos

Akamon (Gate): one of the doors of the University of Tokyo (Todai). It’s really old and beautiful. here’s a link if you want to see it: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/whyutokyo/hongo_hi_007.html

tokonoma: a built-in recessed space in a Japanese style reception room, in which items for artistic appreciation are displayed.

tatami: traditional Japanese floor

.

PLAYING GAMES

Leaning on the door frame of the office, Uchiha Itachi smiled softly as he watched his little brother. Sasuke had some documents in his hand that he obviously had been revising and the smartphone on the other. And the smile that appeared on his face upon seeing whatever was on the screen was one he had not seen in a long time. He left it on the table again and typed something on his laptop, not realising he was there. However, Itachi could see that his shoulders were a bit more relaxed than some seconds before, and that he seemed to have renewed strength.

He had been admired at the dedication that Sasuke had demonstrated during the last weeks. Sometimes, he felt guilty about him inheriting everything in the clan: their hopes, their wealth and their patrimony. Sasuke would always be the second son, in his shadow since the moment of his birth and with a difficult position: he was not as important as Itachi so he was less valued, but also, he had to carry on his shoulders the responsibilities of the name and meet the expectations of everybody while being compared to his brilliant older brother. He had to give them his life without receiving the praises he deserved, just because it was his duty to the clan and the future head of the family.

He had been one of the few against arranging a marriage for him. Sasuke was only twenty-four and had been most of his life dedicated to his studies and the company, to please the elders. He still had so much to see and experience. Their mother thought the same, but they had been pressuring her till she had given in and had started to try to match her younger son to a fine young lady who could bring even more honour to the name of one of the oldest and most powerful families in the country. He had been glad when he had seen him reject one candidate after the other alleging stupid excuses. However, he did not know why, he had accepted the last one. And though thinking that finally the family had realised his plan and had compelled him to it, he had seen a new gleam in his Sasuke's eyes, one that told him that something was different regarding that girl. Had it been love at first? He doubted it. His brother was too rational to fall for someone just seeing a picture. But...

Sasuke lifted his face and saw his brother on the threshold, watching him, and frowned. It was one of Itachi's habits that irked him the most.

“You should have told me you were there.”

His older brother laughed lightly and walked into the office.

“I suppose so... But sometimes, I like to watch you.”

His only reply was an annoyed expression, and then, he went back to his report. The older man sat down on one of the big comfortable chairs opposite his brother. He crossed his legs and put his elbow on the armrest, leaning his chin on his hand. After a few seconds, Sasuke furrowed his brows and looked up again.

“What now?”

“Was that her?” Sasuke seemed puzzled for a moment, but then, he lifted an eyebrow, questioning him in silence. “You've just received a message.”

He regarded him with a neutral expression.

“How long have you been there?”

He pressed his lips, irritated. Itachi was one of the very few people that could get on his nerves since he was a child. Even though his first memories of them together were warm and happy, with Itachi watching protectively over him, as soon as he had reached an age where he wanted to be with boys of his age, he promised once and again to play with him but he never fulfilled it.

A mischievous glint sparked in Itachi's black eyes as he uncrossed his legs. Suddenly, in a swift movement, he leant over, picking up the smartphone before Sasuke could do anything.

“Brother, give it back” he had stood up and extended his hand, asking impatiently for the device.

“A university karuta exhibition tournament... Oh, and she's participating...” he gave him back his phone and smiled. “You should go.”

“I can't” Sasuke replied, putting his smartphone inside a drawer on his left, a much safer place, and trying to regain his composure as he sat down. “That day we have a meeting with AH Enterprise and a business lunch appointment with the manager from MK Industries.”

“You know, it's been a bit more than a month and a half since you two were introduced and you've only had one date...”

'Not even that' he thought, thinking about the call he had received before inviting her for lunch after the exhibition.

“Thank our 'dear' uncle for that.”

“When was the last time you saw her?”

Sasuke remembered the hotel where they had met by chance, the ill feelings, her hurt eyes... and a promise to take her to the restaurant they had not been able to go the last time. He still felt bad about the words he had said to her. Alone in his flat that night, he had realised that it was a miracle that they were still... 'something'. He had risked losing her for a stupid reason and even though it that situation had taught him one or two things, he knew that if he had the opportunity to go back in time, he would not do it again.

“A week ago, at the TY hotel by chance” Itachi tilted his head, puzzled. “When I went to the meeting with KT Investments. She was there, in the opening ceremony of a Medical Symposium.”

“Hum” at that moment, Itachi's phone started ringing and he looked at the screen, forgetting whatever he was going to say.

He stood up from the chair and made his way to the door of the office with a small smile to Sasuke. But before going away, he turned and pointed at him with a finger.

“Go. I'll talk to father about the lunch. Maybe you'll be able to skip it.”

. And Itachi always managed to have his way.

Sasuke stopped at the Akamon Gate and looked around, feeling out of place with his expensive suit and collected presence. Around him, people who clearly belonged to that place went in and out of the great door or chatted excitedly in small groups nearby. He looked at his watch. The tournament had started more than three hours ago, and he did not even know if she was still among the participants, or if it had already finished.

He went through the antique red door and looked around. The place was enormous, and he did not know where to start looking for the place she had told him when he had messaged her saying that there was a very small chance that he could go to see her. The best thing he could do was ask for directions, so he approached a group of students a few metres ahead.

“Excuse me” he called, and when they turned, the girl nearest him eyed him appreciatively and he felt the need to sigh tiredly. “Could you tell me where the karuta tournament is being held, please?”

Those words seemed to cool the girl's feelings, maybe thinking he had the taste of an old man. Another gave him directions, pointing at the end of the path he had ahead of him. With a light bow, he thanked them and went on his way.

“What a pity” he heard the woman say. “So hot and with such boring tastes...”

He rolled his eyes.

A few minutes later, he arrived at a small building where some students wearing credentials over their jackets were talking. He bought a ticket under their perplexed looks.

“Excuse me, but...” a young man told him. “... the tournament is almost in the final...”

“I suppose so” he replied. “I've just come to see someone.”

“I knew it” he heard one girl whisper to another. “He's taken... Lucky woman...”

He sighed. Did female students really study in that place?

He entered and left his shoes in a small locker. Taking his coat off, he went to the main room at the back, where the students had told him he could find the participants.

The sliding doors were open and he entered with utmost care to avoid disturbing the deep silence that there was in the place. He found a place to sit and kneeled there, watching the participants. It was easy to spot her since there were only four people in the centre of the room. Sakura was a few metres away from his position. She was wearing a pink kimono with small white flowers scattered along the sleeves and one shoulder, and a forest green hakama, and her hair tied in a bun at the top of her head.. Her posture was proud as she leant over her cards, ready to take them before her opponent. She had just a few left on her territory while the man opposite her had quite a lot yet. In a few minutes, she had won. The other game still lasted a bit more, and she waited patiently, with her hands on her lap, graceful like a statue.

Sasuke studied her serene profile. It was difficult not to admire her beauty. It was true that she was not an outstanding woman, like many entrepreneurs’ daughters, models and actresses who spend part of their time taking care of their physical assessments, but she possessed a unique charm in her soft features, eyes whose shade of green changed according to the light and her feelings, from the colour of the new leaves of a bamboo tree to that of the emeralds under the sunlight, and a natural elegance, noticeable in each gesture, that hid her strength of body and spirit. And those were only her visible qualities.

The final started after some minutes of rest for the two participants. Sakura and another woman took cards one after the other upon hearing the poems start being recited by the reader, probably a professor, with a characteristic singing voice. Both women moved around, picking up the cards that flew away with the speed of their touch, rearranging the cards once and again in their original position and adjusting their posture or their way of sitting during the fast game. In the end, Sakura lost for just one card. Even though she smiled and greeted the winner, he could see her disappointment in her pupils, especially when they fell on him. She seemed surprised to see him, most likely because he had insisted on the idea that he would not probably be able to go.

As soon as the ritual finished, she made him a gesture to wait for her and went to leave her second-place trophy, a commemorative plaque, with one of her club mates.

“Sasuke-kun!” she approached him, who had gone to stand near the door, and was leaning on one of the walls. “I'm glad that you could make it.”

“Thank my brother” he replied in a composed tone. “I had a lunch appointment, but in the end, Itachi convinced my father that both of them were more than enough to deal with the client.”

What he remained silent about, was the fact that Uchiha Fugaku had been convinced with a slightly different excuse. Itachi had argued that if he kept on neglecting Sakura, the possibilities of her marrying into the clan would be almost none. Not wanting to hear another long ranting about how his younger son was not able to fulfil his responsibilities, courtesy of the elders and the most traditional members of the family, he had agreed.

“I'll keep that in mind” she smiled softly, and both of them moved to the door. Most of the people who had been watching the tournament had already gone, there were just some participants and their relatives and the people responsible for cleaning the main room.

“I'm sorry that you came to see me lose,on” she said after a few seconds of silence, a bit embarrassed.

“But you won the previous game” he stopped and turned to her in a corridor that led to the hall and the shoe lockers.

“You were here?”

“For the final minutes only” he put his handinthe pockets of his trousers. “You're really good.”

“”But not enough, it seems. After my exams, I'll have to practise harder.

“You mean you didn't finish them yet? And you're here?” he asked a bit bewildered.

She smiled.

“I've been studying for a long time, so there is no problem. Also, we students need a break once in a while, don't you think?” she laced her fingers behind her. “I would go mad if I were studying for hours every day.”

He smirked lightly as he shook his head slowly. He should have expected  something like that.

She looked at the tatami room that they had left behind for a moment and then turned to him.

“Sasuke-kun, have you got any appointments or plans for the afternoon?” He looked at his watch.

“I have some matters to take care of, so I had thought to come back to the company when the tournamente finished. But I can spare some time... I can invite you to lunch, if you haven't had it yet.”

She shook her head.

“We had a lunch break after the second round...” her eyes sparkled with an slightly michievous glint. “I was thinking of something funnier.”

She took him by the arm and lead him along the corridor to a small room scarcely decorated. There were only a vase and a scroll in the tokonoma and a bookcase on the right side.

She let him go and went to the shelf, taking a dark box.

“How about a game of karuta?” he lifted an eyebrow, looking at her intently. “I suppose you have played before, right Sasuke-kun?”

“Yes,” he said putting a hand on his waist and shifting the weight of his body to one foot. “But only in New Year with my cousins and my brother.”

“Good.”

She smiled and took two cushions from a corner, putting them on the tatami; then, she kneeled on one of them and opened the box, revealing a set of slightly worn cards.

“You're not expecting me to play against you, aren't you?” she lifted her face to him. “It's obvious who's going to win, and I have my pride, you know...”

“Oh, come on, Sasuke-kun, don't be grouchy” she pursed her lips slightly, trying to contain her mirth. “It's going to be a friendly game, no more...”

“Right...”

“I'll even give you a five-second head start.”

He stared at her with half-closed eyes, as if she were mocking him.

“You're being too annoying today...” was his only response.

However, a moment later, he approached slowly and saw her take the second-part cards, leaving the others in the box and setting them aside. Then, she stood up again and went to the bookcase again to take a CD player.

“Our reader”, she said lifting it slightly.

He was not really convinced so he stayed  on his feet, watching her hands as they shuffled the cards. They were small, with thin fingers and really quick. Then, after she set them on the tatami again, he found her pleading eyes, and after a moment, with a defeated sigh, he left his coat on the floor and took off his jacket and his tie, putting them on top of it, and kneeled on the cushion, opposite her. She gave him the pile of cards.

“You chose.”

THE END