01. Fujiwara no Sai: Goody-two-shoes.

7-9-10

edit: 28 – 10 - 10

Shindou Hikaru is a nice kid. He likes saying jokes and relaying funny stories though he can't really contain his chortles which tend to spoil the punchline. He eats with his mouth open, but he closes it if you whup him on the head once. He's never mean or cruel on purpose (except if he thinks it's deserved) and when he realizes he might be, he immediately regrets it. He never assumes things based on appearances something that surprises Kaga who's used to people being scared of the tiniest movement of his eyebrow.

Shindou Hikaru's also a bit weird. He regularly fails math and science tests but excels on social studies and literature and he was in the soccer team at elementary school. He is popular among his classmates but he doesn't seem to have any close friends except for that little brunette that follows him around. He is very smart at some things, like memory games or shogi, but he's unbelievably dense at other things. And though he likes to pretend that he isn't adventurous or mischievous or strange, Kaga has caught him more than once in weird places he wasn't suppose to be or talking to himself.

Shindou Hikaru is a total brat. He has the trying-to-be-blank-but-failing eyes of someone who's keeping a secret. You can tell when he's lying because he refuses to look at you when he talks either by lowering the head, tilting it to the side and gazing sideways, or just turning his back at you. When Kaga tries to delve deeper, Shindou is brat-ish enough to shout something incomprehensible and leave with no explanations. He has no manners and he definitely doesn't think before he talks. He's brash and loud and Kaga has to restrain himself from killing him on several occasions.

But otherwise Kaga just loves the kid.

The first time he sees him it's at the Haze school festival. Shindou is still a sixth-grader and he's standing by Tsutsui's go-booth looking vaguely interested in the proceedings with his hands in his pockets. Kaga comes by just as he hears Shindou (though he doesn't know -or care about- his name at the time) comment on go in general being deceptively simple. Kaga jumps in the opportunity to be an ass and shoves his cigarette on the board saying some smart-assery about shogi. Tsutsui squeaks indignantly and Shindou yells in surprise. In less time than you'd expect for chaos to ensue, it all boils down to this: Shindou claiming he has a friend who can totally beat Honinbo Shusaku, Kaga making a bet with him, and the Haze Go-club participating in the national go-tournament. Apparently.

0000

When Kaga arrives at the random, snobby, high-class school that the tournament takes place in Tsutsui and the squirt are already there. The squirt has brought along a Haze male student that could have been Tsutsui's more unfashionable twin: he has black hair jelled in the most tasteless way possible, big, thick glasses and a shamelessly excited expression plastered on his face.

"So... this is the guy that can beat Honinbo Shousaku..." Kaga drawls, declaring with every bit of his body language what complete bullshit he thinks the idea is.

"Yes! I, Fujiwara no Sai, attest to that" the boy exclaims not seeming to notice the distinct irony in Kaga's tone which surprises him. He has expected that Shindou had been bragging and that the poor go-player he brought along would be mediocre at most. Not that the excitable boy changes his opinion, mind you. He's just bemused that he's clueless enough to agree with Shindou.

Shindou watches the proceedings with interest, hands in pockets and seems to avoid looking at his alleged friend, who despite any notions Kaga has about him, is very confident and wins his first game. Even though he's first chair (that being the agreement of the bet) the win is against some unknown school whose go-club members thought that being smart-ass would elevate their game. So it's hardly a win at all. Kaga is positive Tsutsui could have beaten their first-chair.

That doesn't discourage Fujiwarano though. He gushes endlessly about the game, is moved to tears by the sight of 'so many young minds playing the esteemed ancient game of Go'(his words, not Kaga's), and tries, with minimum success, to get Shindou hooked with Go.

Kaga watches all these between their first and second game with bemused interest and piqued curiosity. Fujiwarano has something extremely awkward about him. From the way he clumsily makes noise with his every movement to how he talks; Long inexplicable pauses, stutters every now and then (especially when excited), wrong use of slang and jerky upward movements near the chin as if a fly is bothering him and he means to capture it. In a few words; weird.

But more interesting than that, Kaga finds the younger sixth grader. Shindou has something magnetic about him. His smile is wide and honest and his responses funny (though the joke is usually on him). When Fujiwarano explains Go to him he raises his eyebrows and nods. When he forms some beginner tsumego for Shindou to solve, Shindou's eyebrows furrow in concentration. He finds the answers rather easily for a person who has just heard the rules for the first time. Kaga's manipulative senses are tingling.

Now, you must not get him wrong. People think that Kaga is a bully because he does whatever he wants. And he is a bully to some extent. He has no compunctions over using other people's weaknesses and good manners to achieve his goal. And he has many goals, but one goal above all else.

The difference is, he knows how to bide his time. Kaga is a master strategist in all the ways that matter; both the board and life are his for the taking.

They win their second match as well and this time Kaga finishes first and has time to check out if Fujiwarano is the real deal. After a brief once-over of the board Kaga looks away a bit flustered. He is no fool and begins to prepare himself mentally for the pool diving. A man must have pride but he must also have honor, he preps himself up. At least Tsutsui will be happy, he thinks but slyly looks at Shindou next to him also looking at Fujiwarano's game. Shindou has a concentrated look on his face, his eyes move around the board erratically not following the hands. Kaga grins. His is going to win one way or another.

Haze ends up winning the tournament. Tsutsui is ecstatic and glowing. Fujiwarano is cheerfully pointing out his opponents mistakes and offers suggestions while they look ready to cry. Shindou smiles gleefully at Kaga mimicking a person diving, then suffering from something that looks like severe electrocution caused by embarrassment. The kid is hilarious. In a really annoying way.

But even as Kaga tricks his way out of the bet by making another bet (this time, a full-proof one) he is making plans. Plans of the King of Shogi variety.

0000

There is one thing Akira is more obsessed with than Go (and recently, Fujiwara no Sai who isn't in any of the phone books Akira has managed to procure); Perfection in his obligations and responsibilities.

One could say that Go is part of that. As the spawn of the most successful and talented professional go-player in all of Japan, Akira has a responsibility to his father, the Go community and his gene pool to play and be perfect at Go. Until very recently if Akira was to be perfectly honest as well as drunk and depressed he would agree that, though he loved Go, his love had been nurtured, it didn't come unbidden. But now Akira can be as honest and as drunk and depressed as he wants. Go has surpassed love in his mind. It has become pure, unadulterated obsession. And it all starts with the blasted guy who had the gal to enter his shop, play with him the most beautiful game Akira has the capacity to play and then disappear. Just. Like. That.

But of course Akira is responsible so despite his sudden wish to do nothing but study Go and search through phone books(Fujiwara must be somewhere!) he visits Kaio Middle School.

The building is large and imposing, a bit too posh and modern for Akira's outdated sensitivities. The Headmaster doesn't seem to pick up on Akira's disinterest and instead is intent on making the school sound even grander than it is. Akira tries as politely as he possibly can to decline the man's enthusiastic suggestions for him to visit (and become member of) the Kaio's "honorable, undefeated" Go Club.

He fails of course, which makes him wonder why subtlety isn't appreciated, or in fact respected anywhere in this country anymore. He glances around the room trying to look interested. The Go Club appears to be in the middle of some sort of end-of-tournament ceremony with an other school, if the different uniforms are anything to go by.

"I can't believe we lost!" Akira overhears a Kaio student mumble to the one standing next to him.

"And to some newcomers as well! How shameful!" the other student agrees grimacing.

Akira raises his eyebrows. He might not be interested in middle-school Go tournaments but even he knows that the Headmaster isn't bragging (too much) when he describes his school's Go-Club's prowess. Some random club beating them is surprising.

Hope does indeed spring eternal, because instead of simply dismissing the issue or being glad that the world of Go isn't as stale to the young generation as previously feared, Akira raises to the tips of his shoes to see the winners. Shocking happiness fills him. Fujiwara no Sai, the blackboard says, first chair of Haze Middle School. Akira has to shove a bunch of people he doesn't know before he is able to reach the front of the room where the winners are subjected to a long winded speech of some severe looking official. But though Akira looks wide-eyed at the Haze Go Club members he doesn't see him. Instead...

What!

The grade-schooler from before is sitting with the club hair is still dyed in that outrageous color, though he isn't scowling like the last time Akira's saw him. Instead he is talking quickly and discreetly to the first chair, who is not Fujiwara no Sai. It's a scrawny, nerdy looking boy with sleeked-back black hair and large framed glasses.

As the speech of the official ends with grouching, sporadic clapping, Akira steps forward to the fake Fujiwara and shakes him.

His tone is rather desperate, though he's too intent to notice, as he asks him who he is.

"Oh! Akira-kun, what a pleasure!" the nerdy boy says stuttering slightly. Then, before Akira's shocked eyes, he squeaks and tries to clap his mouth with his had, missing and instead hitting his nose. "I mean, I'm such a fan of your honorable father, finally I meet you!" he says nervously, too quickly, rubbing his nose.

Akira is gaping. He can't move, he simply stares as the boy when suddenly the grade-schooler explodes into action. He grabs the nerdy boy's - Fujiwarano's other arm and practically tows him to the exit shouting all the way that they have to be somewhere else, really sorry, maybe next time!

Akira stays silent and unmoving for exactly 7 seconds. Then he yells at the them (though he can't see them anymore through the crowd) a weak and confused 'hey...'. Then he scratches his head. Then he rubs his eyes with one hand, sighing.

What just happened? He asks himself praying for some sort of explanation that makes sense.

0000

"Why do you keep doing that?" the boy asks.

"Doing what?" whines the ghost.

"Getting me in trouble! How stupid can you be? Talking to that girly-guy like you've met him! What part of low-profile do you not get?" the boy shrieks indignantly.

"I said I'm sorry! I usually don't have to worry about things like that!"

"Ts, you're the most troublesome ghost I've ever met."

"Hikaruuuu~~~!"

0000

A/N. I'm going by the manga, so no gum-chewing Kaga here.

Thank you for all your reviews! This is my first fic so it really means the world to me. If you find any mistakes in continuity or grammar please tell me so I can fix it. Also, um, review. If you'd like to that is.

(I didn't know what a Goa'uld was... now that I do I can safely say that Sai isn't one. :) )

Next Chapter: Fujiwara no Sai: Random Bimbo