Ch. 2

            It hadn't taken Akira long to get into Hikaru's father's clothes and though they were a bit big on his frame, they were comfortable and very warm. Which was what he was thanking his lucky stars for at the moment, the blessed warmth that the clothes gave him.

He shook his head, sending his shoulder length hair flying behind him. Hikaru was crazy to want to go to the beach in this weather. Crazy.

            Akira had to admit though, as he buried his hands deeper into his coat pocket, that the beach was a lot prettier at this time of the year than it was in the summer time. The sand wasn't littered with trash or huge masses of people. The water was a blue gray color and the horizon line was visible for once without the presence of many boats clouding the picture. Hikaru was at his side, gently warming that one side of him, chatting of everything and nothing at all. Akira only half listened as he contented himself to relax and just be with the other boy for once. By some unspoken agreement, they kept the conversation away from Go, Sai, or China, both of them knowing that either topic would either upset one of them or irritate both of them into one of those very known verbal wars that they still shared in his father's Go Salon.

            "Ever built a sand castle?" Hikaru suddenly asked quite randomly causing Akira to look at him.

            "Uhm… I think so. When I was younger, why?" Hikaru shook his head at the answer, a grin on his face.

            "'Cause Idiot… I feel like building one. Want to?" He nodded, feeling some apprehension at the task that now faced them. But he hid it all as he continued to follow Hikaru who was walking closer to where the water was so that the sand would be of the proper texture to build this sand castle. Without much warning the shorter Go player plopped down on the sand. He patted at the sand beside him once he realized that Akira hadn't already sat down. "It'll be hard building a sand castle standing, Akira." Hikaru teased him.

            "I know that, baka. But your father's clothes…" Akira started only to have his words be brushed aside by Hikaru.

            "Eh. No worries. They'll be washed and in his closet before he even realizes they've been missing."

            "You mean, you didn't even ask him before hand if it was all right?" Akira asked aghast, now more sure than ever that he was not going to sit down on the wet and cold sand.

            "Oh 'Kira. Don't worry so much. My dad never gets out of his suits anyway. He's kinda like you in that respect." Hikaru muttered, wrinkling his nose. He reached and grabbed Akira's one hand with own, tugging at it until the taller boy sat down beside him, looking at him with a funny look. "What is it now?" Hikaru blinked as he asked.

            "'Kira?" Akira repeated faintly.

            "Oh! Oops." The young man turned bright red and chuckled nervously as he passed a hand through his half bleached hair. "Nickname for you? Hope you don't mind." Akira smiled, surprised and shook his head before verbally answering him.

            "I don't mind. 'Kira it is then." Hikaru's smile grew and their eyes caught for a minute. "So how do we build this sand castle of yours, Hikaru? We don't have anything but our hands…" He looked away first, his eyes training themselves on the sand.

            "That's all we need." Hikaru said knowingly, starting to dig out a trench.

…

            Their castle built and destroyed when the water level had started to rise, Hikaru had had no better idea than to start what at first had been a water fight that had too soon turned into a tickle fight when he'd realized how ticklish his 'Kira was. And that was why they were now sopping wet, covered with sand from head to toe, utterly freezing and getting weird looks from the other bus passengers. Hikaru was outright chuckling at some of the stares they were getting while Akira tried to avoid the stares all together, desperately trying to keep a straight face. He nudged the shorter young man with his elbow but that did little to stop the other. In fact, it nearly did the opposite and Akira found himself being weighed down on one side, as Hikaru was hanging on his right arm, leaning into him, laughing.

            "Oh god." Akira shook his head, one hand coming up to touch his temple. He sighed in relief when he realized that they had finally arrived at their bus stop. "Excuse me." He politely muttered as he got off, bringing Hikaru with him. The people on the bus sighed their own sigh of relief as the two boys left. "Never again, Hikaru. You hear me… never again." Akira was sure that the blush that stained his cheeks was permanent and would never ever leave his face again. He quickly unlocked his apartment door with his cold fingers. The nineteen year old pouted, his laughter finished.

            "Whys that? We had fun didn't we?" At the silence that answered his question, he caught the dark haired man's elbow, making him turn around and face him. "You did have fun, didn't you?" The usually serious green eyes caught hold of his and took in the worry that was in Hikaru's own grey-green ones before nodding.

            "Yes. I did." Akira muttered. "But once in a life time is quite enough, thank you." His answer brought a smile that warmed his insides like nothing else could. It was times like that, times when Hikaru made him laugh out loud even when he didn't want to… that he never even remembered to regret the fact that he wasn't with his parents in China. He didn't think he ever would regret having stayed. "Let's get changed." He said quietly, jarring himself out of his own thoughts. He pressed hard the button for the elevator, watching quietly as Hikaru brought his hands to his mouth blowing on them to bring them warmth. "You better not get sick again, baka." He muttered with dry affection and was greeted with another one of Hikaru's smiles.

            "We'll try to remember that." Then the boy tilted his head to one side as if considering something. "But while we wait for dry clothes and your nice warm apartment… You can help me keep warm." His eyes twinkled with mischievousness and with a comfortable air around him that had only appeared a few days ago, Hikaru wrapped Akira's arms around him without bothering to wait for the other's permission.

            "B-baka!" Akira muttered. That blush was definitely going to be permanent. Dear gods. The elevator made a little ringing sound letting them know it had arrived and the door slid open. The two made their way in breaking the contact for only a minute before Hikaru, starting to shiver a little made his way back into Akira's arms.

            "Hmmm…" Hikaru muttered more to himself than Akira. "Maybe Waya is right. Scary thought…"

            "Waya? Right about what?" Came Akira's quiet question. He moved slightly, jabbing at the elevator button that would bring them to the second floor.

            "Something about me falling." He shook his head, spraying Akira with droplets of sandy and salty water. "Sorry!" Hikaru muttered contritely. Akira sighed half heartedly. The cold water splashing him had made him forget the question all together. He was only too happy to arrive to his floor and he made his way to his apartment, quite awkwardly as Hikaru refused to let him unwrap his arms around the other boy.

            "Am I your coat?" He asked finally, glaring at the top of Hikaru's head. The black and blond hair was thrown into the air as Hikaru nodded.

            "Yep." Hikaru grinned and elbowed the young man behind him. "Fancy coat you make, 'Kira."

            "Baka…" He managed to get one arm free long enough to be able to dig out his keys. "You don't make anything easy, do you?"
            "That would be boring." Hikaru huffed in Akira's arms. He leaned back, letting most of his weight be in the solid strength that was Akira. He half closed his eyes. Too think he almost hadn't realized. He shivered but it wasn't because of the cold this time. The door was opened in front of him and he stepped away from Akira to enter the cozy apartment. It was still a bit empty and lacking in the decoration department such as posters and things but Hikaru hadn't said anything yet and he wasn't planning on it at the moment. He felt and heard as Akira closed the door behind them and then went in search for some dry clothes. Like a flash back or a déjà vu, Akira came walking back, handing the clothes to Hikaru. This time though, there was a towel in the pile as well.

            "Go take a warm shower, Hikaru." The taller go player, gave Hikaru a little push towards the bathroom. "You stink of sea water…" Hikaru turned to glare at the other, sticking his tongue out at him at the same time.

            "Mou. Slave driver." The blond dyed banged boy snorted. Akira just raised an eyebrow but refused to comment. He watched with that same expression on his pale but still flushed face until the bathroom door closed. Once it was closed he sighed.

An interesting day. Just like he had known it would be. Akira ran the towel that he'd wrapped around his neck and started to dry his hair.

And to think… it wasn't even over.

A/N…

Oh dear. This fic was originally supposed to be short and cute. But now it seems my brain wants to make this really long (Author makes a face as she realizes that she's been writing a very long future scene for this fic). I hope you've enjoyed what I've written so far. I'll try to update as soon as I can but if it takes me awhile, be patient with me. Its exam time once again and I'm working on multiple fics at once. Again… hope you enjoyed.