This is it, what you people having been waiting for. Touya is in this one, both of them. And Sai does a little manuvering. Once again some characters are borrowed, you will recognize them if you ever read the soccer manga Whistle! This chapter is my nod to the series, if Hikaru is going to do it, he's going to do it with style.
Pochi a common name given to a dog. Here in this context when applied to a person, the other is being described as equivalent of a puppy
Title: Light of a Beautiful Stranger 07
Summary: Sai comes back, but not for the Go world and no ever for Go. SaiHikaru.
"Who's the kid?" A lighting consultant asked the clean-up crew.
The other man turned from propping up the stands to see where his co-worker was gesturing. "That's Fujiwara's tagalong. He comes often these days. He stays out of trouble so no one complains too much so far."
He looked around the beautiful scenery, "Man, I can't believe you guys were filming here. I was stuck inside the whole time in the other studio."
The senior laughed, "That's how it goes. Life as a stage crew: following where the actors and drama seasons take us. It has its quirks. But this is the last time. It's indoors and fake scenery again for us."
He hefted the ladder and walked towards the equipment. "Such optimism," he commented dryly. "Speaking of which, have you noticed how…happier Fujiwara has been, since the kid showed up?"
The co-worker's smile was wry. "You're not the only one. Sometimes it startles even us," referring to the crew which had been together for a longer period of time. The lighting consultant was a fairly new addition, only hired six months ago, and wasn't always with them, "that the distant Fujiwara…"
A flurry of trailing white robes, tall black hat, shimmering purple highlights raced across the set.
"…could have that kind of expression…"
Beaming indigo eyes and arms waved in frantic pinwheels of excitement.
"He was always kind and polite…"
A teenage boy reading a shonen manga with earphones plugged into a latest state-of-the-art music player was unexpectedly besieged in a fury of jubilant babble and billowing cloth.
"But it was a common kindness, he was kind to everyone, he never let down his guard. But now…"
"Hikaru, I'm done, I'm done! We can go now! Fooooooood! Plaaaaay!"
"S-ai! Ai-r!"
"…he…does seem a lot happier, don't you think?"
Touya Akira stood on the podium giving the introductory speech to the match between two upper Dan pros. Yashiro, who he had kept friendly terms with ever since the first Hokuto Cup, was on the other side of the stage, finishing the commentary.
Waya Yoshitaka, the other Go Pro from Tokyo, was seated in the audience tutoring some of the sponsors. Touya was disappointed that Shindou couldn't make the demonstation, it would have been more enjoyable. Yashiro had looked forward to seeing the cheerful Go professional as well, until Touya had taken him aside in the beginning to explain that the blond banged boy wasn't showing up.
The Osaka Go Institute had originally asked for Touya and Shindou for the demonstration, but Shindou had begged off, excusing himself with previous engagements. The demonstration was a prelude to the children's amateur tournament and they had thought that having two of the youngest rising Go prodigies would inspire the participants. The dichotomy of Touya and Shindou was always interesting to watch: Touya was quiet and serious while Shindou had the obvious flare of the new age popular culture. The younger generation held Touya in awe as the cultivated genius, but Shindou came from a non-Go background and they related to more.
Waya was asked to fill in the vacant spot when Shindou's was unavailable. Everyone who had been in on the original planning knew he was a replacement, but everyone was discreet enough not to mention it, and knew better to speak of the matter to the young Pro.
When Shindou had told Touya of his unavailability at his father's go salon, Touya had spared a moment to wonder if the precious engagement had something to do with the stranger. Touya wasn't stupid. What kind of unexpected return of a mere friend sparked that kind of reaction, even if he had been gone overseas for the past few years? They must have still kept in contact; email and long distance phone calls were perfectly viable options. It was how he kept in touch with his own parents now whenever they traveled. And if they hadn't kept in contact for years then they probably weren't good friends, and the scene on the street shouldn't have happened.
When the stubborn chin went up, accompanied by the emerald eyes hardened with obstinacy, Touya knew he wasn't going to get an answer. Over the years Touya had learned not to press the other boy about all the mysteries of Shindou. Pressure only made Shindou nervous and more defiant. He would insist on his cover story and pretend he didn't know what you were talking about until the other gave up out of sheer frustration.
Maybe Touya was wrong, maybe there had been circumstances and perfectly good reasons why Shindou and the stranger Fujiwara hadn't been able to keep contact. But if that was the case, Shindou didn't need to lie to him about it.
Touya was familiar with Shindou's habits now and simply accepted Shindou's explanation at face value, and let the rival know with subtle words that Touya knew there was more to the story and he would be there to listen when the time came, but he would not push his unpredictable rival.
There had a moment of nervousness and relief, glowing green eyes full of hope, fear, trepidation, and excitement before Shindou pressed it down. That was all the serious conversation Touya had gotten out of the boy, because Shindou followed it with a smart aleck response about the game of Go they had just played, insulting one of Touya's decisions in yose, and the conversation degenerate into a fight with flying Go stones, tipped over chairs, and Shindou's back as he huffed out of the Salon.
Shindou's Go had become more confident in the recent days. While Shindou's Go had always been strong, it was now more steady. Like a hole in his Go had been filled in. He was less fearful to jump into a dubious position and to try out more chaotic plays. He had grown to believe in his talent, arguing that he could pull off more dangerous plays then those he did before.
The Go board had never before looked so deep and infinite between Touya and Shindou as it did now. That effect happened every time one of the two boys grew in talent and the other had to catch up. Every time they thought they grasped it, every time they thought they sank as deep as they could into the waters, every time they thought they could understand the 19 by 19 lines – it always took them by surprise.
The board seemed to taunt them: I am the universe, open and whole before you, yet you will never grasp all that I am, for I can be far more then you could ever imagine.
It always excited them.
Sai sat with Hikaru on the green grass overlooking the local High School's soccer field, where the team was playing a practice match. Hoshi Tokyo High School was a private school for those of a middle class background. The children came from well off families and though the academic requirements weren't too strict, the school had a good reputation for outstanding staff and curriculum.
The defense of the blue team intercepted the ball and kicked it back out to the middle field. A collection of teenage heads amassed themselves to the open centre, aiming for possession of the unclaimed ball.
Hikaru sat leaning back on his arms, watching the game with interested eyes. The school was close to the filming studio and on a sunny day, or during breaks between shoots, they would sit and laze about on the grass. Ruma often had business with the administration, and Sara as an alumnus would drop in to inspire the drama department.
The wind was a pleasant cooling breeze, and Sai looked to the side as blond bangs rustled. "Would you like to play, Hikaru?"
Green eyes turned to his direction and blinked, "We don't have a board and stones."
Sai smiled softly. "Not Go," he motioned towards the moving figures, "Soccer."
Hikaru turned back at the unconventional twist, stared as the Green Forward ran past two Blue Middle Fielders. "I don't think the coach would let me play, it is a team practice after all."
He had not denied the desire and his tone was nostalgic. Sai pushed up and walked down the slope towards the supervising adult.
"Sai?" Hikaru asked, pushing off his arms, "Sai, where are you going?"
Sai motioned for him to stay, approached the coach, and had a short conversation which Hikaru couldn't hear. The visor on the sport cap prevented Hikaru from being able to see the coach's expression, but the two of them turned to his direction, still on top of the hill, and Sai waved him down.
Hikaru hesitated for a moment and made his way carefully down. His palms were getting sweaty, nervous at the prospect of speaking to a dignified adult.
"Here, Coach-san." Sai said placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hikaru is in good shape, he won't let you down."
Hikaru wanted to shrink back as the taller man bent down to scrutinize him with piercing eyes. "Fujiwara-san said you wanted to play?"
Hikaru gaped. "But it's a team practice! And I haven't played formal soccer since Elementary!"
The Coach looked at him with a speculative gleam. "How old are you, Hikaru-kun?"
Hikaru tried not to fidget. "Seventeen." But not really because closer then that, as Sara had picked up, three months from now he would be "Eighteen in September."
The corner of the Coach's lips curled. "That's fine. And it's a practice game now, so how would you like to play?"
"Really?!" Hikaru shouted.
The Coach laughed. "Some of the players are getting exhausted anyways, and most of the subs have already played for some period. I won't begrudge you a short game."
"This is great!" Hikaru chirped. "I missed soccer so much!" He looked sheepishly to the side, "not that Go isn't great, and makes up more than enough."
"That's fine." Sai replied gently and tugged at Hikaru's jacket.
The teen quickly shrugged the layer off, and leaving it in his older friend's hands, ran eagerly onto the field as the Coach waved him over.
Later Katoruma and Sara joined Sai on the grass, the celebrity sitting with Hikaru's jacket draped over his lap. They looked from Sai's contented expression to the boy's rough and tumble on the field, Hikaru joining the game with zealous fervor.
A sweaty Hikaru faked a left and hooked the ball up on top of his shoes, throwing it over the head of the opposing boy, slipping past to the left as the Defense looked to the right when he realized it was a fake. The blond banged boy zigzagged around 2 more players, almost to the goal, when unexpectedly his legs were kicked from out under him, ball still hanging in the air. Sara gasped at the physical impact but Hikaru's face was not resigned, instead a deep, fierce determination shone on his face and before he hit the dirt, he head butted the ball towards the goal.
The Goalkeeper, only momentarily surprised, showed that he gained his position through skill by diving to the side, bouncing the black and white ball away from the net with his fist. But Hikaru's team wasn't lacking either, a Forward suddenly appeared in the open space, shouts from the opposing team tried to warn the Goalkeeper but the Forward scored the point before he could block it.
Two whistles rang signaling the end of the game and Hikaru pushed up on his knees, mud and grass stains all over his clothes and skin, pumping up a hand in triumph. All the boys descended upon the new member, clapping his back and punching his shoulder in the masculine way of saying 'good job'.
Hikaru made to look bashful but he was so young and carefree in the middle of the huddle, being pushed mockingly left and right, questioned on what class form he was in.
This, Sai now knew, the past three years finally giving him the understanding of the modern ways of the era he had resurfaced in, this – rough and tumble, grass and dirt, laughter and jeers, mockery and camaraderie, joy and innocence, youth and light – was what Hikaru had missed out on when Sai forced him into Go. Sai opened up a whole new world for him, but he also took Hikaru away from another, one where he had been loud and happy and celebrated.
"Oh, I don't go here." Hikaru said abashed, waving a hand in front of his face, as Sai and the others made their way over. "I'd love to play with you guys again but I don't attend this school."
"You could." Katoruma's voice was firm and solid, a tone he used in the board rooms, cutting through the clamor and commanding attention.
20-odd so teenage boys turned to the business man.
"Daito-sama." The boy with a blue jersey numbered 10 greeted.
"What do you mean?" Hikaru asked, dispensing all pleasantries.
"A lot of our up-and-coming stars are admitted at this school. We have an understanding with the administration, that selected students will be unavailable for certain times and days. Allowances are made, and as long as you can keep up work in the courses to the satisfaction of the teacher, you will pass the courses like everyone else." Ruma did not need to turn to see the approval Sai was emitting. The star had subtly been hinting at this, why else would the celebrity take Shindou to the school, insisting on the boy getting involved with the student life. "If you would like, we could enroll you."
Hikaru gawked.
A wild looking blond slapped the speechless boy on the back. "Whoot! Then you can join the team and play with us all the time!"
"Shige," the brunette number 10 said, "it's not guaranteed he will make the team. We've already started a roaster."
Shige snorted, "Come on, Tatsuya. With that performance just now, you honesty don't think he's skilled enough? Sho agrees with me, don't you Pochi?" He nudged a shorter brunette by this side.
One of the shortest on their team, who had been staring at Hikaru since the game ended, blinked at the motion. "Yeah," he said automatically agreeing, then it sank in and a light seemed to shine from behind his eyes, a wide smile breaking out over his face, "definitely! I want to play more games with you!"
With those words something seemed to settle over the rest of the team, the other players trading looks behind the short brunette's back. The Goalkeeper stepped up. "I'm the Captain Shibusawa Katsurou, once you register, you can try out for the team. We'll be glad to have you…"
"Shindou Hikaru." The boy said almost numb.
"Hikaru-kun." Shibusawa finished.
A lanky boy with short chopped black hair and a beauty mark below the right eye basically vibrated with energy. "Oh, this is going to be so cool!"
An airplane ride away in China, Touya Kouyo opened his email account, the way he kept in touch with his many acquaintances now. There was an email sent from an unfamiliar address, but did not look like a junk mail.
The subject line read: I would like another game.
Intrigued, he couldn't always remember all his challengers, he clinked on the link and waited for it to load. He assumed it would give a clue to the identity of the sender.
The mail loaded a graphic of a Japanese magazine, specifically to an interview article of an actor. The picture on top featured a delicately shaped face, long dark hair flowing from underneath a tall black hat; half lidded shining indigo eyes facing downwards, pale unblemished skin, purple tinted lips slightly opened, large white sleeves fell in front of the figure as he sat on a wide tree branch with a flute lifted to his lips. Flowers hung from the tree in the background and a fan laid half open on the left.
The caption overlaying the color picture read: FROM THE MOST SUCCESSFUL DRAMA, AN INTERVIEW WITH FUJIWARA HIKARI.
Fujiwara Hikari is a newcomer to the scene of drama, only having started in 'Moonlit Wisteria' a year ago originally as a guest actor, is now a regular on the show due to his success. Fujiwara Hikari, sharing a surname with his character, plays Fujiwara no Sai, a Heian courtier from 1000 years ago…
He read no more.
Fujiwara Hikari, sharing a surname with his character, plays Fujiwara no Sai…
Touya Kouyo's hands were trembling as they fisted inside his sleeves.
. : end chapter : .