Lying is a Sin, A Sin Hanagaki Takemichi Commits Too Often

They're Just Cards - The Twentieth Promise

June 28th, 2017

Takemichi watched Hanma's tattooed hands shuffle the tarot cards and split them into three equal height stacks. He had always been intrigued by Hanma's hands, they were slender and big, knuckles adorned with old scars and of course, those 'sin' and 'punishment' tattoos. The tarot cards were a nice gift, a gimmick. Of course, both he and Hanma didn't really believe that these cards could tell the future, but it was a fun idea.

Hanma had explained how the game worked briefly. One player grabs one card at random from each deck and places them down face up in front of the other player. Hanma said he had looked up the meanings of every card and had them memorised. Takemichi really appreciated the effort, even if he didn't really believe they could tell the future. Apparently, every card had two meanings, one good and one bad.

"I'll go first, if you don't mind," Hanma offered.

Takemichi nodded and reached forward, grabbing three cards. He flipped them over and read them aloud as he placed them in front of Hanma.

"Strength...The Hermit...and The Lovers. What are their meanings?"

Hanma felt depressed as he stared at the cards. At first, he thought these cards were just some gimmick, but why do they fit so well?

"Strength means either inner strength and bravery or self-doubt and insecurity...The Hermit means either search for truth and inner guidance or um loneliness and isolation...And The Lovers...that one...it means either partnerships and union or one-sidedness, loss of balance and disharmony."

Takemichi tried to offer a reassuring smile, but he was sure it looked as bad as it felt, "Hey, Shuji, they're just cards. And if they are true, I'm sure only the good meanings will apply."

Hanma wished he could agree, but he already knew that Takemichi was going to unintentionally make him feel the bad meanings of the The Lovers card.

"Ah, you're right. Sorry, I've made this so depressing. This was supposed to be fun."

"It still can be. C'mon, it's my turn."

Hanma nodded and shuffled the cards once more before selecting one from each card to read aloud for Takemichi.

"The Sun...The Star...and Death?"

Takemichi gulped when he heard the last one, there was no way, it was just a coincidence, the cards know nothing, "Wh-what do they mean?"

"The Sun means joy, success and celebration or depression and sadness. Uh, The Star means hope, faith and rejuvenation or faithlessness, discouragement and insecurity."

Hanma paused, his golden eyes fluttering between the death card and Takemichi's frail shaking figure. He shook the thought from his mind. These were just cards. Just cards.

"And the Death card? It is as self explanatory as it sounds?"

"Well...it could mean the end of a cycle, change, beginnings or holding on, stagnation and decay."

The room filled with an awkward silence. Takemichi cleared his throat and collected his and Hanma's cards, putting them back with the decks.

"They're just cards, yeah? Ah there's no need to be so glum."

" Isn't there? " Hanma whispered.

If Takemichi heard, he didn't react.

.

June 29th, 2017

Inui woke to a gentle caress against his cheek, he opened his eyes. Draken was staring at him so sweetly, they had been waking up like this a lot lately.