Well, thank you for one of my reviewers for the KH tip. That took me a while…haha. But anyways, no pairings. No, not even Akari and Hikaru, their just really, really good friends. And if any of you have a best guy friend, you'll understand.

Stay Awake is by All Time Low. And is the theme. Hence the chapter names as lyrics.

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Akira wasn't sure what Sai had meant when he said that he wanted him to 'show him'. But in the end, he had a sneaking suspicion that he didn't show Sai what the man had wanted at all, if the look on his face was anything to go by. He didn't seem upset, maybe vaguely disappointed in his performance, but that was to be expected. Sai could pretty much be the God of Go, and there really wasn't anyone who could live up to that sheer dominating strength that Sai had.

Not even his father. But maybe Hikaru?

Sai regarded Hikaru in a higher light then he did anyone else. Akira could tell in the way he spoke of him. Truthfully, Akira thought that Hikaru was definitely an amazing player, but not amazing enough-not like Sai. He did have lots of room to grow though, and he would only continue to get better the more games he played. However, Sai seemed to think of Hikaru as an equal—Sai, who crushed all his opponents mercilessly, who usually won by fifteen to twenty moku or more—and the only person who would be able to defeat him one day.

"I resign." He sighed, defeated. The black and white stones were a swirl of colors on the Goban, but everything pointed to black winning. Every move he made had a perfect counter.

"Thanks for the game." He didn't sound very thankful at all though.

However, Sai's eyes never left the Goban. Even as he said those words. It was as if he was searching for something, and Akira lowered his eyes as he realized what it was. He was trying to look for whatever Hikaru saw in him that made him his rival. But compared to this boy in front of him, he was nothing. He was just another mediocre player who couldn't stand up to Sai. Just one of the many, who reached for something great, but fell too short...

He was cut out of his musings by a twisted smile forming on the blue-eyed boy's face.

"You have potential."

Akira blinked.

"That's what Hikaru sees in you." Sai elaborated, already beginning to pick up the stones. "But Hikaru has potential too. He's only played for three years now, and I know he's always getting stronger."

The younger Touya listened to these words carefully, avoiding eye contact—he still couldn't get over how blue those eyes were, how wrong they looked on Hikaru—and picking up his Go stones instead.

"And one day," Plik. Plik. Sai's hands softly dropped stones into the Go Ke, and even then it was with grace. "He'll beat you, Touya."

Akira looked up, startled, and meeting the eyes he had desperately tried to avoid. They were creepy—disturbingly blue. Haunting.

"And we'll be rivals once again."

With that, held in the same elegance and grace he had come in with, Sai left the Go Salon.

((before you ask which way to go))

The next time he saw Sai he was chatting with Waya in a way that seemed downright weird, especially after what had happened. Of course it was Hikaru, he noticed shortly afterward, from the way his eyes sparkled emerald in the Go Institute's lighting, his mannerisms, and the way he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. They didn't speak, Hikaru merely walking past him with Isumi after Waya had left to get to his game. But truthfully, he didn't want to talk either.

He couldn't concentrate on his game.

Thankfully, it was only a relatively easy 4-Dan. He hadn't even bothered to remember the guy's name when he introduced himself, scared stiff and in awe of playing Touya Akira. But Touya wasn't paying any attention to the man who was stuttering and bowing, and now playing pitifully against him even when he wasn't concentrating on the game. He was too busy reviewing what he knew of Hikaru, and what he knew of Sai. Their contrasts; and their similarities.

Oddly-or maybe not so oddly- the only thing the two had in common was go.

Sai reminded him of his father, a bit. The way they held themselves in elegance and grace, they were the two strongest players in all of go. Sai was deadly and cutthroat. Akira was fairly sure-from the few internet games Sai played; and the games he had played personally-that Sai never spared mercy to anyone. Sai didn't seem to care for anyone's feelings, especially the way he easily cut through Akira, in both Go and mentality. Breaking people seemed to come naturally.

Hikaru was so different from his split. He was a caring people person, as seen from the many friends he had made on the road to becoming a pro. Although he didn't give wins away when playing in Go, he made sure to congratulate his opponent on a good game, even if they didn't win. It was his sincerity that made him different than Sai. His smiles and his laughter, and his ability to make friends so easily and smoothly.

"I—I resign." The 4-Dan in front of him muttered, and Akira blinked. He hadn't even noticed he was winning by so much.

"Thanks for the game." He smiled politely, and his opponent tried to mimic it, even if he was clearly upset by his poor performance.

Akira got up swiftly, trying to leave as quickly as possible to find Hikaru.

From the way the 3-Dan Hikaru was playing walked out of their game—with his head hung and a droop in his walk, eyes downcast to the floor in what only could have been a clear loss—Hikaru must have won his match with ease, but Akira was still wondering where the boy was. He watched the 3-Dan pass him glumly in the hallway, watching the man's sorrow filled form as he pressed the button for the elevator. He was so distraught, Akira wondered if it was Hikaru or Sai who had played that match.

"Yeah, okay…"

Akira swiveled around abruptly, seeing Hikaru and Isumi somewhere down the length of the hallway.

"See you later than, Isumi." Hikaru waved casually, even though he was facing away from Akira he could see.

"Shindou!" He called out, watching with intrigued eyes as Hikaru's form stiffened before turning around. Definitely Hikaru.

"Touya." He greeted, looking casual if it wasn't for the fact his eyes spoke nervousness.

Akira looked around the hallway. No one was there. "I want to speak to him."

"Eh?" Hikaru blinked in surprise before he understood. 'Touya…I don't—

"Hikaru-kun!"

The two of them jumped, startled. They turned around to see Akari walking up to them, her heels clacking against the tiled floor with soft clicks as she hurried over. She was pretty, with her hair down and straightened, framing her face, eyes smoky and lips shiny and pink. Even Hikaru had to admit it. She looked too dressed though, with her sparkling gold heels and sleek black dress, for the Go Institute, and as people filed into the once deserted hallway they stopped to stare. Akari didn't seem to mind though.

"Jeez…" She groaned. "You're not even dressed yet."

That's right! Since he missed their get together on Thursday she was making him take her out to some fancy restaurant. As friends of course, or Mitani may have his head on a platter.

Thank god for Akari, because now he didn't have to answer to Touya.

"Sorry." He smiled sheepishly. "I just got done with a game. It's not my fault."

Akari grumbled, and then looked at her matching gold watch, glossed lips forming into a pout and one hand on her hip. "Well, we're going to be late, so I'll drive you home and then you have to get dressed quickly!"

"You drove here?" Hikaru's eyebrows shot up.

"Shh!" Apparently, Akari was not supposed to be driving.

Hikaru turned back to Touya, who was still a bit confused as to what was happening. "See ya, Touya."

He could barely nod.

Akari, as it turned to be, was an excellent driver for a fifteen year old that barely just got her permit. She followed the speed limit to perfection, remembered to turn on her signal when she turned, and she drove in a straight line, never swerving around like most new drivers (AN:I know this from experience X/) did. However, you'd think with her docile personality, she'd be the perfectly behaved young driver who would never hurt a soul on the road. That was apparently wrong.

Akari was a very, very, aggressive driver. As Hikaru just found out.

"Auugh! Flipping…Ugh…MOVE!" Honk. Hikaru tried his best to mesh himself into the seat. But it was futile. "It's a freakin' GREEN light! Why the fuck—

Hikaru whimpered, and grabbed harder onto his seatbelt. Akari floored the gas pedal.

"A-Akari-chan…" Hikaru stuttered. "Don't you think you should uh…slow down?"

Akari waved him-and his concerns-off with a flippant hand. "I'm a perfect driver Hikaru, I just don't like stupid people on the road."

"I can tell." He muttered lowly.

"Anyways," She shot a look at herself in the rearview mirror, checking to make sure her lip gloss was still in place. "We're almost there, we just take a turn on Mitarashi Street—

Brake. "Gah!" Hikaru jolted forward, but was caught by his seatbelt. "God Akari-chan who taught you how to drive?! A grandma?!"

"Shut up Hikaru, you don't bother the driver when she's driving." Akari hunched over the wheel, with perfect precision she flung them around a car parked in the intersection and pretty much nose dived into the next street.

The only think Hikaru could do was pray to God that he'd be saved.

Luckily, there was vale parking at the restaurant, so Hikaru didn't have to suffer through Akari…parking. He shivered subconsciously, and the lady who was taking their coats asked if he'd like to keep his. He shook his head with a smile and followed Akari and their hostess over to a secluded dining table set for two. Listening to the soft piano and chatter in the background, Hikaru wished Akari hadn't dragged him over to this fancy place like a dead rat.

"I'm you're only sense of normality these days." She had sighed. "Be lucky you have a friend like me."

Whatever. Hikaru grumbled to himself.

With a smile, the waitress placed down their menus, and as she walked away Hikaru whistled at the pricey menu.

"This place is expensive."

Akari only smiled. "You've got a job."

"And empty pockets." Hikaru grinned. He didn't mind though. Oteai matches and league matches actually filled his account a lot. Not to mention the teaching games.

Akari's chocolate eyes softened, and underneath the perfectly done expensive makeup Hikaru could see his friend worrying over him. She pursed her lips, and he glowered instinctively. He knew she was going to say something, and if there was anything he hated, it was when people worried about him. Guilt ate away at his stomach like a glutton, and he felt the need to melt into the nicely clothed table.

"Hikaru," She began, and he noticed it sounded familiarly like the 'Welcome to hell speech'. At least in his head. "I—we—are worried."

"We?" That was a bit unexpected.

"Me, you mother, Mitani-kun…" She elaborated. "Anyways, you just…you're not acting yourself lately. I know, I know, Go's your life—can't live without it—if what happened last year was anything to go by."

He cringed. She had to bring up May 5th, didn't she? Come one…that was personal, nothing to do with Go! Of course, if he told her why she'd probably think he was insane.

"But sometimes…" As the salad was placed on their table, she fiddled around with her crisp lettuce dipped in raspberry vinnagrette. "…sometimes I think that there's more to you than, this." She motioned to the way he was now.

He felt sweat start to form on his forehead. The room was getting hot. "What do you mean, 'this'?"

Her eyes softened. "Happy."

"Akari—

"No, no, I know. Everyone gets sad at some points. I mean though, is when you're depressed over something Go related and your mother is worried sick—she almost had the flu Hikaru!—over you and all you're thinking about is Go, and Touya-kun, and games. And sometimes, sometimes Hikaru, I think it's almost like there's a different person to you!" She smiled sadly. "When you're looking at the board and your eyes are steely, when you mercilessly defeat an opponent."

He froze. Watching her mocha accented eyes as they bore into his, probing, studying for anything to go by.

She waited.

He sighed. "What if…there is more? If there is another person?"

"Hikaru…" Luckily, Akari had been speaking metaphorically and she figured so was Hikaru. "Then that's okay. I just, want to make sure that you're still happy, and that you know that your mother and I worry for you. Even Mitani-kun! Mitani-kun."

They laughed treacherously at that. If said boy was here to see them he'd be in a furious rage, but it only fueled their laughter.

"Hikaru." Her smile was heartbreakingly beautiful. "Don't change."

((remember where you've been))

It was raining by the time Hikaru got there. It had been two days since his little so called 'date' with Akari, which ended up with him scared to death and vowing never to get in a car with her again and never miss another get together in his lifetime.. And also two days since he last spoke to Touya, not that he wanted to in the least though. Now, as he trudged down the sidewalk, he could only hope that silence held. If it was possible, he clutched his umbrella even more, watching the sky as the clouds rolled around in the deep blue sky, ashen and gray and angrily spouting water droplets.

Sai mulled around in his head, apparently awake from his sleep—or whatever it was called when they didn't speak to each other—and nervously moving. Hikaru hoped he enjoyed this, because he was doing this for his split. As he walked up the stairs to the front door, he knocked twice. His emerald eyes flickered, before they turned the same shade as where the sky met the ocean, a deep and tranquil delphinium blue.

The door opened and Touya Akiko, which Hikaru could only assume was Akira's mother, smiled at him.

"Can I help you—?"

"Shindou." Sai filled in with a charming smile. "Shindou Hikaru."

Akiko blushed and giggled, a bit like the way his mother did when Isumi was charming and polite. He and Waya never let the guy live it down, but now Hikaru realized that maybe Isumi and Sai shared the same trait, just Sai went about it with a more aloof manner than Isumi did. Sai strode through the house, after Akiko had patiently gave him directions to where the Meijin was.

He apparently was studying kifu, and wouldn't mind if Hikaru—Sai if it was technicalities—asked for a game. As his luck would have it, Akira wasn't here.

Sai knocked twice, before he silently slid the screen door.

The Meijin looked up, eying the confident stance that Hikaru was standing in and placed the Kifu down softly.

"Ah," He bowed his head politely. "Shindou-kun, what can I do for you?"

Sai returned the bow, but his eyes were steeled and intense. "I'd like to play a game."

As Sai walked to sit on the other side of the Goban, helping the Meijin clean up the unfinished game he was recreating from the Kifu, the Meijin eyed him wisely. Taking in how Hikaru now held himself…differently. It reminded him subtly of the intense pressure in the Yuugen no Ma. The way the boy's eyes—they were a deep blue, he noted and he almost remembered them being green—hardened in a mix of both confidence and concentration, a good blend for a player with his strength.

"Of course." Touya nodded.

"With no handicaps." Sai added, eyes never leaving the stones he cleaned up.

The elder man blinked, but did not say anything to oppose the request. If Hikaru wanted a game with no handicaps, then so be it.

The board was clean.

"Nigiri?"

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You should call me Mistress Cliffie. But until I get enough reviews, then you will continue to have: cliffies. :) the clock is ticking! YES! this is flat out bribery!