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Challenge: [124] Traditions
Title: Family Games
Word Count: 461
Spoilers: None
Notes: Trying to write from Rai's POV is harder than it looks, y'know? Big thanks to

crimsoncookie for helping beta this one.

"Hey, Fuu, you home? Seifer’s wonderin’ where you’ve been, y’know?"

Rai looked away from Fuu’s unanswering window, pressing the doorbell again. "C’mon, open up! You said you’d come home after school, y’know."

The house remained silent. Rai reached for the doorbell a third time before giving up, balling his hand into a fist, and pounding on the door. Still nothin’? Maybe I should just go back, y’know? He turned to leave, stopping when he heard a faint slam behind the house. Or maybe she’s in the backyard?

After a quick run down the street and back up the alley, Rai stopped behind the fence surrounding Fuu’s backyard. He stooped down, peeking through the wooden slats to where Fuu stood, holding something long and blue in her hand. A struggle bat? What’s she doin’ with that? Behind her, a taller woman stepped through the back door, carrying another bat and a cardboard box. Oh, crud – that’s her mom. I hope she didn’t hear me making that racket, y’know?

Fuu was reaching inside the cardboard box, bringing out a vest covered in blue spheres. Her mother waited for her to finish before bringing out another, larger one in red. Rai’s mouth fell open as he watched. Wuh? Fuu has struggle matches against her mom?

The two finished fastening their vests. Fuu looked up.

"Deal?"

"Deal." Her mom pulled a munny pouch out of her pocket, holding it out. "Ready?"

"Ready."

Fuu’s mother tucked the pouch inside her vest. "Come."

Fuu raised her bat and charged. Her blows were amateurish compared to Seifer or (Rai grudgingly admitted) Hayner, but her mother looked like she had a lot of practice. They traded swats, neither making a sound, until they were each down to their last few balls.

Man, bet they’d scare a crowd, y’know?

The two squared off, preparing to deliver a final blow. Mother and daughter both lunged, but Fuu was faster, her bat managing to catch the final balls attached to the side of her mom’s vest. The match was over.

Rai watched as they unstrapped their gear. Fuu’s mom paused – he though she might have smiled – and tossed her daughter the munny pouch. He stood up as Fuu ran for the gate, backing up as she entered the alley. "Fuu! Where’re you goin’? Seifer’s…"

"Toy store."

"Oh." He though a moment longer, watching her run off, before realizing he still didn’t understand. "Huh?" Glancing back to the fence, he froze, caught in the stern glare of Fuu’s mother.

"Rude."

Guess she heard me knocking. He watched as she silently approached him, bat still in hand, then turned, and ran.

He caught up with Fuu down the street. "Wait up! Your mom’s scary, y’know? What was that about?"

"Wager."

"Huh?"

"Weekly."

"Huh?"

"...Fool."