THE MUKAMI BROTHERS PLAY MONOPOLY

Once during every eclipse, when vampire's lose their godlike power, the Mukami brothers do what any sane bunch of vampires do.

They play Monopoly.

"Kou! Hurry up and choose a playing piece already!"

For the umpteenth time, Kou skimmed through the eight metallic tokens again. It was all a tease, really. They all knew he would go with the shiny cat.

"Yuma-kun, patience~ hm, since you like playing garden, why don't you be the wheelbarrow?" Kou teasingly brought the silver token and waved it over Yuma's face. "You could pretend there are some metal tomatoes in this thing, or something."

"Fuck your logic," spat Yuma. "And quit it with the vegetable talk. The plants I'm growin' are feedin' your ungrateful ass."

Yuma roughly wacks the piece out of Kou's hand, and reaches for another piece on the table. "I'm bein' the Scottish Terrier! Scare away that damn cat of yours."

"Eh~ how do you know I want the cat."

Please Kou, everyone knows you want the cat.

"Ne, Kou . . . If you don't want the cat, I'll take it . . ." Azusa spoke up. He took the piece off the table and held it up to the dim light. "It's cute . . ."

"Wha—Azusa-kun!!" Lunging forward, Kou snatched the cat out of his brother's hand. "I call the cat!"

Ruki sighed. "Don't tempt him, Azusa," and picked up the top hat token for himself, before setting it down on the playing board.

"Hai . . ." Azusa, too, picked up the thimble and set it down on the board.

"Hai, hai~ who's going to go first?"

"Beats me." Yuma said. " Roll the dice. Biggest number goes first."

Yuma rolled the die. 4

He handed the die to Azusa, who rolled. 3

Then Ruki. 5

"Watch! I'm gonna get a 6!" Kou gloated before tossing the die into the air. 1

"Pfft, riiiiiight."

"Wait! That was unfair!! This way of deciding is unfair! I demand a re-throw—"

"Yeah, yeah." Ignoring him, Yuma tossed the die over to Ruki, who gave an appreciative nod.

"I know we're all brothers, but I'm going to leave you all bankrupt."

『kin-skip.』

"Ruki-kuuuuuuuun," whined Kou. "Stop buying up all the property!!"

"Yeah, Ruki. We're growin' kinda poor here."

Ruki ignored the two and rolled the die, which landed on another 6. "You all should have been more careful with your game plans."

"IT'S JUST A GAME!"

"A game that I will win."

"You're takin' this way too seriously." Yuma complained, mindlessly giving the die a toss. "FUCK YES. A 6."

Yuma grabbed his token and began arrogantly moving it around the game board. "1, in your face Kou. 2, in your face Kou. 3, in your face Kou. 4, in your face Kou. 5, in your face Kou. 6— wAIT FUCK."

"Sucks to be you, Yuma-kun," Kou piped up, his eyes glowing with mirth as his little brother landed on a piece of property. That belonged to Ruki.

"Shit. Ruki, overlook it this time—"

"Pay up, Yuma."

"I'm yOUR BROTHER."

"Pay up, brother."

In the next turn, Azusa wound up in jail.

Maybe it was for the best. Azusa didn't mind, only asking what happens in jail. "Do I get . . . hurt in jail . . .?"

Ruki sighed. "Yes. In real jail. But stay put, and wait until you're out."

"Kou! Roll already!" Yuma hollered.

"Be quiet, Yuma-kun! I'm trying to pray to the Monopoly Gods." Kou retorted, going back to whispering incoherent prayers underneath his breath.

"Are you fucking serious?"

"If I get a 2,3,4,6, then it's Ruki-kun's. I have no choice."

"GO!" The die flew into the air.

"A 5!!" Kou rejoiced. "It's a miracle!"

"You ass . . ." Yuma muttered. "Oi, Ruki! Roll! Wipe that smirk off his face!"

"Gladly."

"You guys are teaming up on me!" Kou whined. "Azusa-kun! Team up with me!"

"Eh . . .?" Azusa cocked his head to the side. "If I mess up, will you hurt me . . .?"

"Don't worry about that! But you're on my team now." Kou said. "Team Kou!"

" . . . What a lame and degrading name."

"Shut up, Yuma-kun."

"Tch, whatever." Yuma passed the die to Azusa. "Roll."

He rolled a 5.

Taking his piece, Azusa moved 5 spaces up. He coincidentally lands on a CHANCE card. Picking it up, he read it out loud.

"Get . . . in jail."

"A-Azusa-kun . . ." Kou tried holding his laughter.

"I dunno if you're lucky or unlucky, to be honest." Yuma commented.

"Don't worry, Azusa-kun. I'll take us to victory! Just watch!" After saying that, Kou hastily threw the die into the air.

Or, maybe a little too hastily.

In the Mukami living room, a die flew gracefully through the air and under the antique sofa. The echoing clatters of plastic on ceramic soon ended, leaving the Mukami's sitting in awkward silence.

" . . ."

"Kou . . ." Three voices muttered in unison.

"Wah~ sorry, sorry!"

"You bastard! You did that on purpose 'coz you were losin', didn't you?" Yuma pointed out.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Yuma-kun~" The idol stuck out his tongue, and gave a quick, cunning wink.

". . . Do I stay in jail . . .?"

"Get out of jail, Azusa."

『 end.』