Elsewhere and Nowhere by Vonne

Of Oranges and Shogi

The 14 Symbol Challenge: Oranges

In a distant part of her mind, Kagome was sure there was something wrong with this picture.

Around the kotasu, five individuals sat in concentration, tension riveting through the air. It was so strangely quiet someone (meaning a human) could hear a pin drop. The only sense of movement between the members was blinking, breathing, and a small twitch that had developed early on with Inuyasha’s ear.

With an unknown stiffness, Kagome gulped down her saliva in her abnormally dry throat and reached slightly forward to move her piece. She couldn’t read a single expression on Miroku’s neutral face, but he had always been good at that. His eyes skimmed the board, as if searching for something. Eyebrows slightly furrowing with movement that could only be read by close friends, he seemed to silently sigh. 

“I concede defeat, Kagome-sama.”

A grunt of ‘finally,’ came from Inuyasha, who was quickly hit on the head by his half-brother.

 “Shogi cannot be won without strategy, Inuyasha, and a good strategy needs time.” Sesshoumaru stated blandly, raising his eyebrow slightly as he heard the hanyou growl.

Sango shook her head and then peeled another orange, promptly throwing a slice over to her best friend slash sister-in-law, who caught it by the mouth. She then proceeded to lightly toss a slice towards Sesshoumaru and then plopped one into her mouth.

Kagome rolled her eyes whilst her youkai boyfriend licked the side of her lip, searching for the citrus-after taste after devouring his own fruit.

Somehow, she suddenly felt betting with oranges in a game of shogi on New Year’s Eve was just a bit less strange.

In case you didn’t know:

Shogi: usually referred to as Japanese Chess

Kotasu: a certain type of low-table that has a heating element; usually used in the winter.

Word count: 271