Disclaimer: Sadly not mine
AN/ Sorry had the bad case of writers block. :) Anyway hope you enjoy this, its short hopefully the next one is longer.
For those wondering its not totally a Waya/Hikaru fic. As for Toya/Hikaru its not set in stone either. They're children growing up. Nothing is very set, too many emotions flying around.
Chapter 8
Saturday
"Toya-kun, Ogata-sensei I haven't seen you in ages." Ichikawa smiled at the older man.
"Please Ichikawa-san call me Ogata or Seiji if you like." He gave a toothy grin making the woman blush.
"Nee-chan, how are you?" Hikaru wrapped her arms around Ichikawa glaring at Ogata.
"I'm great Ru-chan. Are you playing with Toya-kun again?"
"Nope, I'm playing against him." Hikaru pointed at Ogata. "I'm surprised you brought us here. I was thinking we would end up at some ritzy condo."
"Only certain people can go back to my place." Ogata casually walked towards the back of the salon.
"I bet they're all women." Hikaru snickered.
"Ru-chan!"
"Hikaru!"
"You know for calling me a pervert, you've been doing all the talking." Ogata smirk sitting down watching the girl blush instantly. Embarrassingly Hikaru sat mumbling about idiots and perverts.
"I'll fetch some tea." Ichikawa mentioned as the three started setting up.
"Nigiri," Ogata placed several white stones. Sorting out who was beginning, he smiled when he noticed she would. "I expect a good game princess."
"Stuff it, I'll beat you." Hikaru slammed her first stone, causing Toya some surprise at her intensity.
"Losers always speak the loudest." Ogata calmly countered.
"You should stop talking and start concentrating." Toya watched Hikaru as her face turned sour.
"I can handle doing both. Can't you?" Ogata smirked noticing Toya bite his lip from trying not to speak.
Hikaru ignored him concentrating on the game. It became apparent this game was a major turning point in all their lives.
She was physically shaking. Toya didn't know if he should speak or not. He had expected her to lose. He lost all the time to Ogata-san. Of course there were close games, but he still had some time before he would actually believe they were equals. Yet he had secretly hoped that Hikaru would win. Toya had placed her on a pedestal when he discovered her relations with Sai. Sai his idol had easily won against Ogata-san on line. Sai beat his father who was like the unmoving mountain. Sai was a legend.
"I thought you would be more of a challenge. I guess I was wrong." Ogata adjusted his glasses scrutinizing Hikaru. "Sai was great and you're no where near him."
Slamming her hands down, Hikaru glared at the Judan titleholder. "I never said I was as good as Sai." Her whispering voice carried a strong statement of how much respect she had for Sai.
"You never will be if you keep at your level. You'll never grow just mucking around. You will always be chasing after Sai's ghost." Ogata spoke making Toya wonder if he could hear Hikaru gasp as well.
Throwing stones at the man, Hikaru shouted unable to hold back her tears. "If I want to chase his ghost that's my business." She then proceeded to run out the quiet salon followed by many concerned faces.
"Was that really necessary Ogata-san?" Toya watched as the older man ignored the concern faces turning in to heated ones.
"Just because she lost doesn't mean I'll be nice. Besides your right, she is good. She has the potential to be better. But she never will with her uninterested attitude." Ogata slipped his jacket on preparing to leave. "If she's serious, she'll be fine. And maybe someday she'll beat me."
"Don't forget about me." Toya curled his fists. "She's not the only one you need to worry about." Patting the younger boy's head Ogata gave a rare smile.
"You keep moving forward because I'm not stopping either."
Friday
"Why so down Ru-chan?" Kagome leaned against the locker near Hikaru's.
"You've been out of it for a few days." Saya agreed slipping on her shoes.
"Its nothing." Hikaru moved through the wandering students while ignoring the concern looks from her friends.
"Toya-kun was wondering where you've been eating lunch." Reiko walked besides Hikaru, "He was asking in class."
"It's a big school I don't have to eat in the courtyard." Hikaru huffed keeping her quick pace she almost missed the eagerly patient person at the school gate.
"Shindo-chan!" Waya called out dressed in brown dress pants and a light blue shirt.
"Waya-kun why are you here?" His smile flattered.
"Remember, the musical?" He waved two tickets.
"I almost forgot!" Hikaru laced her hands through Waya's arm. "Do we have time for me to change at home?"
"We have plenty of time." Waya almost melted from the warm feeling.
"Ru-chan?" Eri timidly asked.
"Sorry guys, see you later." Hikaru dragged Waya before her friends could stop her.
"Figures, she runs away before we can ask questions." Reiko muttered miffed from the situation.
"Just let her be. She'll come around." Saya spoke adamantly.
"Oh that was great." Hikaru cooed along the street. "All those beautiful costumes and the dancing. The dancing was great." Her smile seemed bright and cheery.
"I'm surprised the prince dropped his sword." Waya answered watching her.
"Yeah that was pretty funny." Hikaru bounced.
"Shindo-chan," Waya stopped staring deep in to her eyes. "There wasn't even a prince in the story." He observed as her eyes dulled. "What's wrong? You've been out of it since I met with you."
Giving a reluctantly sigh, Hikaru continued towards the empty park. "Its nothing." She sat on the bench, gazing above the scattered stars.
"Have you ever been really happy?" Waya jolted her from silence. Sensing her confusion, he continued. "Since I've met you, I've seen you annoyed, mad, even content. But I don't think I've ever seen you smile with out sadness." Waya leaned into the bench rather then stare at her perplexed eyes. "My grandma use to say that someone never really feels unless their eyes can tell us their stories as well."
"Are you saying I don't have a story to tell?" Hikaru glanced at the boy.
"No, I know you felt all these emotions. But when was the last time you really experienced it?" From his earnest tone, it caused Hikaru to wonder. When was the last time she felt really happy?
As the stars lazily blink, she recalled her memories. She remembered her first vanilla ice cream. Her first family trip to the beach. Her father's marathon of horrible jokes. Her cousin's first concert. Her grandparents 50th anniversary. Hikaru remembered many things. Each had an important impact on her. Yet the one she could remember the most, was winning her first go game. Through the hours of practice against Sai, knee numbing positions, and piles of money spent it meant nothing to just winning. And that's when Waya saw the most beautiful smile appear.
"Thank you," Hikaru whispered, abruptly standing. Following her lead, he watched her skip along the stone path. " Do you have a favorite go player?"
"Sai," Hikaru tripped. "Becareful!" Waya quickly helped her to stand. Smiling sheepishly, she scratched behind her ear.
"Seems like Sai is still a big name."
"You know Sai." Waya face brightened. "Sai's a genius. Unbeatable on the Internet." His joyfully grin couldn't be contained in his face. "I hope to be as good as Sai some day."
"I'm sure in time you will." Hikaru smiled.
Later as they neared the Shindo household Waya felt like a bulb suddenly clicked. "You know you play a lot like Sai." His eyes bulged at the idea. "Do you know Sai? Wait! Are you Sai's student?" Waya's screeched caused neighboring dogs to bark.
"Everyone knows Sai," Hikaru stopped in her front gate. "And weren't we all Sai students?" Hikaru mischievously smiled patting Waya's cheek. "Good night," with a quick peak she flew into the house.
Waya didn't notice the sly escape because his cheek was to busy tingling.
Monday
Ring Ring Ring Ring
"Hello Toya Akira speaking," he answered his phone automatically.
"You need to loosen up." Hikaru spoke through the cell phone.
"Are you done pouting?" Toya leaned against his bedroom wall placing his book aside.
"Maybe," he could still hear her pouting. "I didn't see you at school today?"
"I had a game."
"Oh," Hikaru wondered why phone calls were so awkward. "I'm sorry about running out." She twirled her hair gazing out the window. "But I still don't like Ogata." Hearing Toya chuckle she felt the tension slide off her. "How was your game?"
"Fine, I was playing a 6th Dan. He wasn't too hard." Hikaru could picture Toya's bored expression.
"Are pro games stressful?"
"Well they're not too stressful. But sometimes the pressure is pretty high." Toya shifted on his bed relaxing comfortably.
"I just can't imagining being a room with so many other pro players. It just seems stuffy." Her voiced raised at the idea.
"Every thing seems stuffy to you." Toya laughed as she retorted an unfriendly name.
"Do you think I'm chasing Sai's ghost?"
"No," she relieved a wistful sigh at his comment. "But what are you playing for Hikaru? Do you do things for Sai or are you playing in honor of Sai?"
"I don't know." She opened her window letting in night air filtered her room. "But I had a dream where I lost against Sai and it didn't seem as bad as losing to Ogata."
"That's understandable. Sai's been the only real challenge for you. Everyone else you have played is either below you or your equal. There's never been anyone fitting into the gap between you and Sai." Toya's calm voice seem to smooth over her pounding heart.
"Thank you Akira."
"Your welcome," Toya smiled.
"By the way, do you think I can borrow your math notes?" Toya felt his headache returning again.
Saturday
There were several lounge areas in the Japan Go Association building. The public and biggest one in the first floor. The smallest one near the room of profound darkness. The tidy administration one on the upper level floor. And the busiest one on the 6th floor, which was where many of the tournaments, Insei classes, and regular games were held. Yet these different lounges all had one thing in common, they were peacefully. Go players kept the atmosphere respectful, not wanting to bother people studying or discussing games. So when the sudden norm was broken, it shocked. Furthermore they weren't expecting a petite high school girl barging into their lives.
"Hikaru what are you doing here?" Toya followed her from the hallway. Surprised from her appearance as she left the elevator. Ignoring Toya, she pointed and glared at the smoking figure.
"Next time I play you, I will win."
Crushing his cigarette, Ogata glanced up. "Did you bulldoze your way in here just to tell me that."
"Yes!" She huffed. "After I win, I'm coming after your title."
"That's your prerogative," Ogata adjusted his glasses hiding his smirk. Stomping over towards a shock Morishita, Hikaru held a stack of papers.
"Can you sponsor me Sensei? The person downstairs said I need one." Bewildered looks followed as Morishita laughed joyfully.
"Of course, come on Shindo-chan," he spoke enjoying the curious and envious stares.
"Who is she?"
"You've played her Ogata Judan?"
"Is she Morishita's student?"
"Is she good?"
"Toya-san are you friends?"
Not bothering to chat, Ogata fled the room with Toya close on his heels. "I can't believe she did that." Toya spoke watching his sempai's shoulder shake. Soon a chuckle escaped his lips, breaking his cool exterior.
"Keep us on our toes Toya," Ogata leaned against the wall. "Your generation is about to start crashing throw."
Up next
The Shindo family be prepared!
