LIKE RAINDROPS
Synopsis: A storm, a meeting and memories. What had been forgotten is remembered, what had been held onto fades as new bonds are made and game will be played in the calm of the storm.
AN: This is completely written. I wrote it one day while trying to get inspiration for CoM and was surprised how well it turned out. I'll update it every couple of days until the whole thing is out. Also, CoM will be updated soon and another story was published! Go and enjoy!
PART ONE
Earlier that morning the sky had been a soft blue with no sign of white clouds to be seen. The trees had been still, indicating there was no wind. While the weather forecasted a spring storm, the beautiful morning sky had shown no sign of the coming rain and the umbrella stayed in its place, right beside the door.
Now, looking up at the dark, dark skies and torrents of water whipped around by the gale-like wind, Hikaru regretted leaving the umbrella at home. While he didn't dislike the rain - he like the small spring showers and getting wet well enough - this storm was not one he wished to get caught in.
The doors of the school slammed open suddenly, startling Hikaru out of his thoughts. He rushed to close them but they seemed held open by the wind. It was only as Hikaru forced one of the two doors closed and turned towards the other door that he saw the dripping wet figure who had come inside.
The boy looked the same age as Hikaru, dark wet hair plastered to his forehead. A long beige coat had been forced open by the wind and revealed a line of wet clothing across the school uniform that the rain had soaked. In the boy's hand was an umbrella, top turned upside down with spokes sticking through the canopy, obviously broken.
The boy frowned at Hikaru. "Shouldn't you be in class?" His voice was uncertain as he surveyed the otherwise deserted coat and shoe room.
Hikaru laughed. "They cancelled classes. A typhoon is coming and they wanted everyone to get home safe."
The boy turned again, as if searching for proof that Hikaru's words were the truth. Hikaru took this time to study the boy, wondering why he recognized him. He knew the boy was in a different class than him, knew the rumours followed him like an almost tangible cloud, but there was something about the boy Hikaru couldn't remember.
Hikaru shook the thoughts out of his head. It didn't matter, if it was important then he would remember in his own time.
"What are you doing, coming to school in the afternoon?" Hikaru asked as the thought came to him.
Not even turning, the boy's response was short. "I had a match."
"A match? Like a soccer match?" Hikaru knew this guy wasn't on the soccer team, or even looked like he played any sport.
"A Go match." The response was short and Hikaru found himself mad at being brushed off before the words sunk in.
"Go? Like the old man's game?" He spoke with sincerity, just honest curiosity, but the boy turned suddenly, his expression fierce.
"Go is not just 'an old man's game!' It is a game that has been played for centuries; it is a game of grace and strategy! It is…"
He would have gone on had Hikaru not raised his hands and waved them in the other boy's face. "No, no. I know what go is. I used to play it a lot. I'm just surprised someone else my age played it."
The other boy stilled, as if frozen. Even as a drop of water fell off his hair and slowly trickled down his nose, he just stared at Hikaru. "You used to play it a lot? And, you're surprised someone else my age plays it?" He parroted.
As the drop on his nose fell to the ground, the boy grabbed Hikaru's hand. Not seeing the hands he was looking for, though he was surprised at how well kept the nails of the soccer player was, the boy studied Hikaru's face for a moment. "What is your name?"
"Isn't it polite to introduce yourself first?" Hikaru asked, ripping his hand out of the boy's grasp.
Seeing the still staring boy's expression, Hikaru gave up. "Shindou Hikaru."
"Touya Akira" Was the instant response. "Play a game with me."
Hikaru suddenly remembered where he knew Akira from. The memories he had tried to forget came back.
Age eleven, looking for something to sell in his grandfather's shed.
The ghost that followed him, insistent chatter as it wouldn't shut up.
The game where he met Akira, where he let the ghost play to its full potential.
Learning the game that had made someone he didn't know cry with frustration.
Finding out how to play go online, so the ghost could play without Hikaru facing strangers.
The blond who was sure that Hikaru was the ghost, convincing him to play a game with his teacher who ended up convincing the Hikaru to take the pro exam, years before he would have been ready.
The first day of the exam, when someone he met in a go salon looked betrayed and suddenly, Hikaru didn't want to finish the game, jumping up and leaving the exam, failing after being absent every day except the first, while Ogata hadn't even known his real name, and Hikaru didn't want Sai to hurt people's feelings by beating them so Hikaru stopped playing go…
"Oh no…" was all Hikaru managed to say to the fifteen-year-old Akira in front of him, before falling into the other boy's arms in a faint.
TBC
- REW