It was the famous Takaishi grin. Reserved for special occasions and delivered to special people, the giver carefully evaluated the situation before flashing the weapon to obtain the desired effect. After doing so, the smile-r always ended up having both the full interest and consent of the smile-e. It never failed.

Though sometimes, Yagami Hikari very much wished it did.

One would think that being aquatinted with such a person as long as she had would help in developing a strong resistance to it. On the contrary, it was just worse for her. If Takaishi Takeru wanted to do something, all he had to do was smile pleadingly and Hikari would find herself his accomplice. It worked not only on her, but also won him the assistance of several others such as his friends at school, his brother, and both his mother and father.

And Takeru knew it.

He knew his power and he tried not to take advantage of it.

Not too much anyway.

But it was devilish fun.

At the moment, Hikari found herself slowly collapsing under his powerful persuasion as he cheerfully discussed his plans for the evening. He wanted to go to the winter school carnival, which took place every year with the help of the students and faculty, as well as other partnerships in the community. They went every year, mostly because they had to, being assigned as the staff in most occasions. But this year they got out of it (with grace from above) and neither of them had revealed the slightest interest in attending the carnival. Until now.

"Come on, Hikari, it'll be fun. You know it will," he added, remembering the other times they had went.

"I know, I just want to have a break this year." She knew it would never work, and though she loved the carnivals, it really was the one time in ages she would have the apartment to herself, without having to do any work. She had been looking forward to sleeping and working on her scrapbook for her photos. She wanted some time at home. Tomorrow was last day of term and then winter vacation, and exams had finished today. She wanted to relax with her cat.

"You can have plenty of breaks. It's only one night."

"But there's a movie coming on…."

"Are you really going to make me go alone?" Aha. He had her. It was then that he chose to place his Takaishi Smile into the argument, knowing it would grab immediate results in his favour.

She hated it when he did that.

"Oh, fine. Why not."

He grinned.

"Great! Want me to pick you up?"

Hikari smiled.

"It's okay. I can meet you at the entrance."

"Whatever you want," he looked thrilled. "You'll be glad I talked you into it, Hikari. Just wait." He waved as he turned the corner to his apartment.

More like smiled her into it. Still, hanging out with Takeru was fun. She couldn't say she was disappointed about agreeing to join him.

She shivered, pulling her scarf around her neck closer to keep her warm. She quickened her pace; the sooner she got home, the sooner she could regain feeling in her legs.

Her brother was sprawled on the living room floor when she came home. He was lying on his back, arms spread out and looking like the very definition of misery. His schoolbag had been dropped by his feet, his uniform unbuttoned to allow oxygen and his brown hair even messier than usual. The radio was on, depressing slow songs crooning from the speakers in haunting, soft melodies. Craning his neck a little to see who had wandered into his claimed territory, his head feel back on with a thud after discovering it was his sister.

"Hi. You came back early," she noticed, puling off her gloves.

Yagami Taichi tried to shrug, but found it took too much of his energy and gave up. He yawned instead.

"How were exams?" she asked.

"Kill me."

"That bad?"

"Kill me, please."

"It can't be worth your death."

"Yes, it can. Mom's going to kill me. Then Dad will dig me up and kill me again. Save them the trouble and kill me now, as a last favour to your dear brother."

"What happened?"

"I blanked. Completely. I swear I flunked. I don't need a calculator to prove that." He moaned. "I am so dead."

"You're not being fair to yourself. How can you just go blank?"

"Who knows how the mind works? Ah, don't answer—that was one of the questions…. Somebody shoot me…."

"I'm sure it's not as bad as you're making it seem."

"It's much, much worse," Taichi assured in a whimper, shutting his eyes.

The doorbell rang, and Hikari turned around to answer it, saving her reply for later. Taichi's childhood friend, Takenouchi Sora, stood in the doorway, rubbing her hands to keep them warm even though they had gloves to cover them. The redhead smiled at her.

"Hey. I hoped you were home."

"Hi, Sora. Come on in," she held the door open while the girl scurried inside, slipping off her shoes. "How were exams?"

"Great. At least I hope I did well," she admitted. "Is Taichi here?"

"Well—,"

His sorrowful words proved his existence: "Kill me."

Sora winced.

"Exams?" she whispered to Hikari who nodded. She straightened, peering into the living room to see her friend slowly dying on the floor. "Hey, Taichi."

A mumbled reply sounded, "Kill me, please."

"You can't hide in here forever," Sora said wisely. "Come on, let's go out."

"Good idea. Maybe I'll throw myself into the river."

Hikari shook her head.

"I think it would be best if you guys went where he didn't have to think about school."

"But I've only got tickets to your school carnival. I thought we could all go together before tomorrow- like Last Day of Term Eve or something. Come on, Taichi, we can go anyway." Sora tried, "We'll find Koushiro and Yamato, too."

"I don't wanna…."

"If it's going to be your last night alive, don't you want to make it exciting?"

"No."

"Taichi—,"

"You think I'll get food poisoned?"

"It's possible."

"I'll get my coat."

Sora rolled her eyes, but shared a grin with Hikari. At least he was up.

"You want to come with us?"

"I'll come half-way; I want to stop by the store. Let me change into something else. I'll be right back."

Hikari hurried to her room, choosing jeans a light pink turtleneck. She fastened on her bracelet, combing her hair and re-clipping her bangs to keep them out of her eyes. Throwing on her camera around her neck, she checked herself in the mirror again, debating on whether or not to redo anything.

"Come on, Hikari. Who're you trying to impress?" Taichi sounded rather irritated, desperate for a chance to fake his death so his parents wouldn't have to make it into reality.

"I'm coming," she applied some light lipstick and rushed back into the hallway. "Okay, I'm ready."

Thankfully, Taichi didn't realise the make-up. "About time…" he muttered, opening the door for the girls. "Planning my death is hard enough without you two trying to delay it. Have some consideration. These are my last hours."

"So sorry," Sora said.

-

Ishida Yamato leaned against the railing, looking very bored.

"Where are they?" he demanded of his friend, who shrugged in reply. "We even got here before them, and they're the ones who called us."

Izumi Koushiro sighed, looking up and down the street. He nodded a hello to some friends from school, still on the lookout for the others. He recognised one, finally, and waved the young blonde over.

Takeru grinned at them, brightening immediately after seeing the two, "Didn't expect to see you two here."

"There's supposed to be two more of us," Koushiro said.

"Where they are is a different issue," Yamato added, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Why are you here, anyway? I thought you said you wanted a break from the carnival this year."

"I did. But something came up."

"Like what?" his brother raised an eyebrow suspiciously. Takeru avoided Yamato's gaze.

"Nothing important."

"What is it?"

"Who is it?" Koushiro corrected, guessing the motive.

Yamato grinned.

"Ah, I see. Little brother's got himself a girlfriend, has he?"

Takeru flushed.

"No." He paused. "Not yet."

Koushiro laughed.

"Like brother, like brother," he observed, ignoring the look on the older blonde's face. "Careful, Takeru. Yamato has a certain reputation you've got to live up to now."

The youngest of the three glowed redder.

"I'm not going to do anything."

"Famous last words," a new voice joined the group. They looked up to see Taichi walking towards them, a sly look on his face. His smirk widened. "You heartbreaker, you. I've taught you well."

"This from the guy who can't land himself with a girl longer than a week," Yamato said.

Taichi shot him a look.

"Where's Sora?" Yamato asked, looking around. "I thought she was with you."

"She was. She and Hikari were stopped by some of their giggling girl friends. I had to get away. I want to die a man."

Koushiro snorted.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Taichi demanded. "And what isn't Takeru going to do?"

"He isn't going to be caught hanging around you guys," Takeru stated.

"What's wrong with us?"

"Takeru's trying to hit on a girl," Yamato explained bluntly. His brother's eyes widened in shock.

"I am not!"

"Yeah, you are. That's what you just got through telling Koushiro and me."

"That is not what I said—,"

"No, he's just going to flirt with her," Taichi decided.

"Huge difference, you know," Koushiro added, smiling.

Takeru stared at them.

"You wouldn't embarrass me."

"Would we?" Taichi asked his best friend, who shrugged and turned to repeat the question to Koushiro.

"I don't know," Koushiro admitted, "it could be fun."

"You wouldn't dare. Please don't."

"Why, what's so important?" Yamato asked, grinning.

"Who is this girl anyway?" Koushiro wanted to know.

"Nobody."

"Strange name."

"It's just a girl from my homeroom."

"It?" Yamato asked. "You mean she's not even a girl? Or a guy?"

"I meant she!" Takeru looked frustrated, his ears a bright pink.

"That's right, defend your woman," Taichi grinned. "Any questions before we unleash you to the public?"

"Please don't follow me—,"

"Some advice, little brother," Yamato interrupted him. "Stay calm. You have to make it seem like you really don't care what she says. Be casual. Be cool."

"Not too cool, though. It's freezing enough as it is," Taichi added.

"When in doubt, use your secret weapon," Yamato reminded.

Takeru stopped and looked at him, a slow grin appearing on his face.

"The Takaishi Smile," the brothers chorused in unison, understanding (Yamato's version- the Ishida Smile- produced the same effect).

Taichi sighed.

"I wish I had that."