Chapter 10

Akira's Bad Day

Hikaru made his way back to where the concert was being held. He needed to get his bag and change out of the outfit he was in and into his own clothes. He didn't dare go home like this. He didn't want anyone else to run after him and he certainly didn't want to explain to his parents why he was dressed up looking like Shuichi.

He made it past the guards with ease and tried to remember where K took him when they got here earlier that day. It took him about ten minutes of wandering around to find the room where his bag was. It was awfully quiet. Hikaru hadn't run into very many people as he was wandering around back stage. "I wonder if the concert is about to start." Hikaru muttered to himself as he found his bag.

'Click'

"I didn't think I would see you back here, but I guess you did have to get your bag, didn't you?" K held his gun to Hikaru's head while Hikaru remained frozen where he was.

"I'm very disappointed in you." K was pissed off. He pressed his gun against Hikaru's head. "Perhaps I should dispose of you now."

"Please!" Hikaru begged. "Don't kill me! I'll do whatever you say!"

"Really now. Why couldn't you have had that attitude before? Then you wouldn't be in this little predicament with me."

Hikaru began to shake.

"Is there something wrong?" K asked.

"Of course there's something wrong! You have a gun pointed at my head!"

"How observant of you."

"Could you please take it away from me? I don't want you accidentally shooting me."

"I am not so careless as to 'accidentally' shoot someone I don't intend on shooting in the first place. Right now, we need to clear up a misunderstanding that has somehow come between us."

Hikaru didn't say a word. He was afraid of provoking K any further and of what he might do to him.

"The next time I come for you, and believe me there will be a next time, I expect you to do everything I tell you to do. Running away like you did today almost ruined Bad Luck. Fortunately, I was able to locate Shuichi in time. However, if that were not the case, Shuichi's career would have ended tonight all because you got scared."

Is this guy serious? He's blaming me for what could've happened?

"Then again" K finally pulled his gun away from Hikaru's head. "I was somewhat at fault for not instructing you better at being Shuichi's double. In the future I will endeavor to teach you what you need to know."

"What makes you think there will be a next time?" Hikaru rubbed the spot on his head K held his gun against.

"You owe me for what you did today."

"That makes no sense." Hikaru couldn't take it anymore. "You're the one who dragged me away from my game today and dressed me up like this! I then had to get chased around town by Shuichi's fans!"

"That was your fault for leaving. But it also was good to know that you can pull off making people believe that you are Shuichi." K began to think to himself out loud. "I hadn't planned on throwing you into that particular situation just yet."

"I have a life too you know!" Hikaru crossed his arms. He was now the one getting pissed off.

"I know. But on top of playing Go, you get to work for me now."

"What?" Hikaru couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Don't get me wrong. I like Shuichi. He's my cousin, but Shuichi isn't everything."

"To me he is. The things I do for him is to make him the most successful person in his field."

"And my success is nothing?"

"If being a successful Go player is what makes you happy, then I will do what I can so that you will be in a better position to help me."

"Today didn't seem like you were helping me."

"Didn't I?"

"You rushed me."

"I gave you the motivation to win that game."

Hikaru was getting tired of arguing with K.

"I'm sure Akira will be very proud of you."

This unexpected comment made Hikaru blush. He really couldn't wait to show Akira this game. He couldn't believe it himself that he was able to wrap up the game in ten minutes.

"Do you want to see him?"

"What?"

"Your cousin. He started performing twenty minutes ago."

Hikaru followed K. As they got closer to the stage, they began to hear the music getting louder and louder. They reached the stage. Hikaru watched from off stage his cousin singing and dancing around. As they ended a song, the crowd cheered loudly. He remembered being at the TV station and the crowd there was nothing compared to the people here. There must be thousands of people here. All to see Shuichi.

They really do love him don't they?

Hikaru watched as Shuichi played with the crowd getting them more riled up.

"Next time you should watch from the audience." K said to Hikaru.

"Yeah, next time."

Hikaru watched for a while longer, but ended up going back to the green room before the concert ended. It was still strange for him to see his cousin like this. Shuichi was famous. Everyone who came to this concert came to see Shuichi perform. It was all surreal to Hikaru.

Hikaru sat on the couch. He closed his eyes for just a moment or at least that is what he intended to do. Hikaru ended up falling asleep.

"Congratulations." K said as Bad Luck walked off stage.

Shuichi, Hiro and Fujisaki offered their thanks. They were all still full of adrenaline, happy with how their concert went. They could still hear the crowd cheering for more even though they had already sung two encores.

"You have successfully completed your tour of Japan. I am very proud of you." K praised Shuichi, Hiro and Fujisaki for their hard work.

Everyone began walking back to the green room. "You guys certainly deserve the break you are getting." Sakano said.

"We definitely must celebrate tonight! What do you say guys?" Shuichi asked Hiro and Fujisaki.

"I thought we were going to play Shuichi." Ryuichi came up behind the band. Shuichi stopped and turned around.

"Ryuichi?"

"You promised."

"I did? When?"

"Before the concert. Don't tell me you forgot already?"

"I believe your answer is in here." K said from the doorway to the green room.

Everyone began walking and entered the room. Shuichi looked over at the couch. He jumped back and pointed at the person who looked just like him lying down. "What the hell is going on here?"

Ryuichi came in to see what Shuichi was freaking out about. "What? There's two Shuichi's?"

"Meet your double Shuichi." K walked over to Hikaru who was still sound asleep.

"Huh?"

"Don't you recognize him?"

"He looks just like me." Shuichi proceeded cautiously over to the couch to get a better look. He wore his clothes and even had the same exact hair style as himself. ""Who is it?"

"Your cousin. Hikaru." K answered.

"Hikaru? Really?" Shuichi knelt down in front of Hikaru. "People have always said we look alike, but this is a little scary." Shuichi examined him a little more and then began poking him with his finger as if he didn't believe that this person sleeping in front of him was real. "K, you did this?"

"I didn't want anyone knowing that you were missing so I needed someone to play your part for a while until you came back. He's the perfect double for you, don't you think?"

"Well, yes but I never thought he would come here of his own accord."

"I had to convince him a little to come here."

"K, what did you do to Hikaru?" Shuichi asked as he shot K a menacing look.

"Don't worry Shuichi I didn't harm him. How could I? I'm sure he'll come in handy in the future."

"I don't think he'll like that very much." Shuichi turned back to Hikaru.

"We already discussed it while you were on stage."

"And he agreed?" Shuichi said surprised.

"We came to an understanding."

Shuichi was amazed that Hikaru actually looked just like him dressed up like that. Yes, he is asleep but Hikaru could still pass for Shuichi. He had this sudden urge to wake Hikaru and take him to see his sister, Maiko. I'm sure she would love to see this! She'd probably torture him and make fun of him. Shuichi laughed to himself. Maybe next time.

"We should take him home." K said. "He has had a long day."

"Don't wake him." Shuichi said suddenly.

"Huh?"

"I'll catch up with you guys. I'm going to go with K to bring Hikaru home."

"But Shuichi, you promised to play with me!" Ryuichi whined.

"Don't worry Ryuichi I'll come play with you just as soon as I'm finished here."

"YEAAAHHHHH!!!"

"Oh my, is Hikaru ok?" Hikaru's mother panicked when she saw Hikaru passed out. K was holding Hikaru in his arms as she answered the door.

"Hikaru is fine, aunty. He's just sleeping." It was after midnight when K and Shuichi rang the doorbell to Hikaru's home.

"May we come in?" K asked.

"Oh yes, please come in." Hikaru's mother let K and Shuichi pass by her. "I didn't know Hikaru was going to stay out so late."

"I don't think he did either. We'll bring him upstairs and put him in bed." Shuichi told his aunt.

"Yes of course." Hikaru's mother shut the door. "Thank you Mr. K. I'm sorry for all the trouble he's caused you."

K stopped in the middle of the stair well. "Not at all. I'm happy to do this." K and Shuichi proceeded up the stairs to Hikaru's room.

Shuichi opened the door and turned on the light. Shuichi and K entered Hikaru's room. Shuichi put Hikaru's bag down on the floor. Then he pulled down the blankets to Hikaru's bed and carefully removed his shoes. K then put Hikaru down gently on his bed and covered him with his blankets. Hikaru still wore Shuichi's clothes but the wig was removed. The two of them stood there looking at Hikaru as if they were waiting for something to happen.

"Today must have been very exhausting for him to be asleep like this." Shuichi said quietly.

"He did have a very busy day."

Shuichi waited another moment, then him and K walked to the bedroom door and shut off the lights. When they left the room they closed the door behind them.

"I'm leaving." Akira said as he shut the door to his house. He made his way down the short path to the entrance to his yard. He opened the wooden door, walked through and as he closed the door behind him, he heard someone say, "There he is!"

Akira looked around to see where that was coming from. He didn't expect to find several people running towards him with cameras, microphones and tape recorders being shoved in his face and people getting ready to take notes. They began speaking to him at the same time. There were so many of them talking at once he couldn't distinguish what they were saying to him, but one reporter spoke louder than the rest.

"Toya Akira, is it true about you and Shindo?" The crowd went silent, waiting for a response from Akira. Akira had a blank look on his face. After only a few seconds, another question was thrown at him.

"How long have you been seeing each other?"

"I'm sorry, but what is this all about?" Akira finally spoke.

"So you're denying you're involvement with Shindo?"

"How can I deny something when I don't even know what you're talking about?"

One of the reporters took out a photo from his coat pocket. "This was taken two days ago." Akira took the picture from the reporter and looked at it.

What!? What is this? Akira was horrified by what he saw. The crowd of reporters started asking questions again, hoping he would answer.

"Does this mean Yuki and Shindo have broken up?"

"How did the two of you meet?"

"A Go player and a Pop star. That's an interesting pair!"

They're all here because of this picture? What do they think is going on? Akira began to sweat. He lifted his head from staring at the picture and looked at all the reporters standing around him. The man who gave Akira the picture snatched it back from him and placed it in his pocket. I have no idea what's happening!

Akira saw one of the reporters changing the film in his camera. Akira saw this as an opportunity to get out of there. He pushed the man aside and ran down the street. He kept running, not taking a moment to look back, hoping no one would be following after him.

Akira turned a corner and stopped, trying to catch his breath. He leaned up against the wooden fence that was nearby. He turned back around and looked down the street he came running from. No one was there. Thank God they didn't follow. I'm not sure what that was all about, but I don't have time for that. I need to get to school.

He opened the door to his classroom and entered. The class fell silent the moment they saw Akira. He shut the door behind him. They began to whisper to each other, stealing glances at him as he walked by.

I wonder what's going on. Akira thought as he made his way to his seat. As he walked he felt his classmates' eyes following him. Why are they looking at me? He tried ignoring them. Akira made it to his seat. He sat down and put his bag on his desk. He began pulling out books. The light in the room got darker. Akira wondered. He felt someone was near. He looked up to find three girls standing around is desk, glaring at him.

"Toya Akira, you have some explaining to do." One of the girls said.

"W-what's wrong?" Akira asked, confused and nervous. What did he do wrong? He's never done anything to offend anyone. At least he couldn't think of any instances at that moment.

A newspaper was dropped right in front of him. Akira looked at it. His eyes grew wide. No way! It was the same picture that was handed to him this morning by one of the reporters, but now it was on the cover of a tabloid newspaper. This is not happening! This is not real!

"Care to explain this one, Toya?" Another girl said, anger seething from her voice.

Akira didn't respond to her question. He just looked at the newspaper that was sitting in front of him. He read the headline of the tabloid that was typed in big red, bold faced letters:

Is there a new love for Bad Luck's lead singer Shindo Shuichi?

Akira opened the newspaper to read the article inside:

'Two days ago, the lead singer of Bad Luck, Shindo Shuichi was seen with Professional Go Player Toya Akira, age 14, hours before Bad Luck's final concert of their tour (see photo, front cover).

Trying to remain discrete, Shindo met with Toya in an alley downtown. The photograph clearly shows that there is something going on between Shindo and Toya.

Does this mean that novelist Eri Yuki is out of the picture?

There has been no indication that Yuki and Shindo were having any problems. They seemed like the fairytale couple. What could have led Shindo to cheat, and with all people, a young Go player? This begs the question, how did they meet? And, how long have they been seeing each other?

Sources say that Yuki has gotten too old for Shindo so he has turned his sights to someone a lot younger that appeal to his particular tastes….'

The newspaper was suddenly ripped out of Akira's hands. His mind was blank. He couldn't process what he just read.

"Well, Toya? I can't believe someone like you would have the nerve to break up one of Japan's most famous couples!"

"B-but I didn't! It's not true!" Akira pleaded with his classmate.

"Always the quiet ones. You make everyone think you're so innocent. I knew you were hiding something. Did you even think about Yuki's feelings?" The girl put her hands on Akira's desk and leaned forward with a stern expression. She stared into Akira's eyes. He stared right back.

"Tell me Toya, are you having fun with your new boyfriend?"

Shocked by the question, Akira tried to defend himself. "I give you my word there is nothing going on between me and Shindo." At least not that Shindo. "Besides, that isn't even him in the picture."

"Hah!" The girl stood up and crossed her arms. "Really Toya, if you're going to lie, try to at least make the lie believable. I expected better out of you."

"Please believe me….."

The door to the classroom opened. It was the teacher. Everyone stopped what they were doing and went to their seats. The teacher walked in, closed the door and proceeded to the podium at the front of the classroom. The class representative spoke, "Stand. Bow. Sit."

The teacher took attendance and then started the lesson. Akira couldn't concentrate on class. He kept rereading the tabloid article in his mind over and over trying to comprehend what was going on.

Akira couldn't walk anywhere within school without people looking at him and talking about him. He usually didn't care what people thought of him, but this was different. People had the wrong idea about him. He wasn't involved with Shindo Shuichi. He's not even friends with him. He only knows him through his cousin, Hikaru. Hikaru. I wonder what's happening with him. Did he read the article? What's going through his mind?

The school bell rang to indicate the end of the day. Akira gathered his things and proceeded to his shoe locker as soon as he could. He didn't want to be confronted by anyone else at school regarding the recent events surrounding the tabloid article. As he was about to grab his shoes he heard the announcement chime.

'Attention, please. Toya Akira please report to the main office. I repeat, Toya Akira please report to the main office.'

What now? Akira took his hands away from his shoes and turned around to head for the main office. He hesitated. All he wanted to do at that moment was leave school and go home. It is the end of the day. I could just walk out right now and they would just think that I left before hearing the announcement.

Something inside of him made him start walking.

As he approached the office he could only imagine what he was being called there for. Did the principle see the article? Is that what this is all about? He dreaded having to explain that tabloid article to the principle, especially this close to graduation. Is this how he will be remembered at this school? Not for his Go but for a scandal?

He reached the office door. Trying hard to prepare himself for the worst, he opened the door and went inside.

"Good. I'm glad you didn't leave yet."

"Ogata, what are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd give you a ride home today."

"That's very kind of you but I can get home on my own."

"I wouldn't advise that."

Akira read Ogata's eyes and immediately knew that Ogata was well aware of Akira's situation.

"I just need to get my shoes."

Ogata and Akira headed towards the back of the school. I wonder why we're going out this way. Are there more reporters waiting for me outside the school? They made it to Ogata's car safely and drove away without incident.

"You certainly got yourself into a mess." Ogata stated insensitively

"This is all just a big misunderstanding." Akira began defending himself.

"That newspaper article has caused quite a commotion."

"Don't tell me you believe it?" Akira kept his eyes on his hands that were on his lap.

Ogata looked out the corner of his eye at Akira before answering.

"No. Tabloid newspapers are full of garbage."

Ogata let a moment pass before continuing.

"But that picture…"

Ogata peered at Akira out of the corner of his eye once more. Akira had turned away and was now looking out the passenger window.

This is strange. Akira was taken away from his thoughts as he paid more attention to the scenery as they drove. I thought Ogata was taking me home. Going this way, we'll end up…..

"Ogata, where are you taking me?"

Ogata pulled over to the side of the road and shut off the engine.

"Why did we stop outside my father's Go salon?"

"Because your father wants to speak to you."

Ogata opened the car door and got out. Akira sat frozen in the car.

"Father is here?"

Akira followed Ogata inside. This is not what I want to do right now. I haven't even had a chance to let everything that's been happening sink in yet. How am I supposed to explain this to my father? I don't even know if I can face him.

Ogata and Akira walked past the entrance to the Go salon. Further down the hall they stopped in front of a door. Ogata knocked on the door and walked in. Akira stayed behind Ogata. It was a small room. Toya Meijin was the only person in the room. He was looking out the window.

"I brought Akira, Sensei."

"Thank you Ogata." Toya Mejin slowly turned around. "You may leave now."

Ogata was about to protest. He wanted more than anything to stay and hear Akira's explanations about the tabloid article. But once he looked into the eyes of Toya Meijin, he knew better than to argue. Ogata bowed slightly and left the room. The door shut behind him leaving Akira standing before his father. Silence lingered, but Toya Meijin spoke before the silence became uncomfortable.

"I see that you have become the topic of discussion in the news lately." Toya looked at his son. Akira remained silent. "I'm curious how this happened, Akira. For you to get involved in such a scandal as this, I find it very hard to digest."

Toya kept his tone even. He remained composed. He waited for his son to speak which he noticed Akira was not looking at him. Akira could not bring himself to look at his father. He was having a hard enough time standing in front of him like this.

"Your mother is quite concerned about you."

"M-mother knows about this!?" Akira finally looked at his father.

Even his mother? I guess she was bound to find out sooner or later. I just wish it was later rather than sooner.

"I wanted to talk to you first before going home. Tell me, Akira what's going on?"

Akira took a deep breath in and let it out.

"I'm not sure how or why this happened. I just happened to run into Mr. Shindo and this is the result of that meeting."

"Shindo?"

"Shindo Shuichi. He's Hikaru's cousin."

"Hikaru's cousin? You've met him before?"

"Yes. The day I went to the TV station for an interview a few months back. Hikaru was there to see his cousin Shuichi perform on a TV show."

"I see."

"I swear to you father, everything they say is false! I am in no way involved with Shindo Shuichi!"

"Of course you're not."

"What?"

"I would have been the first to notice anything out of the ordinary with you."

Akira was confused.

"I know that you're passion in life is Go. Your game would have suffered if what the media says is true. Why you had to get wrapped up in this is quite unfortunate.

Akira was pleased that his father was so understanding.

"What the media will do to get a story." Toya looked at his son and approached him. "Don't worry. Those that know you will believe in you and support you through this. I will pray that this will go away quickly for you."

"Father."

"Don't let this affect you or your game."

"I won't. Thank you father."

I'm glad father was so understanding. Part of me feels that it was too easy, but he did say that those who know me will support me.

Akira left the Go salon a few minutes earlier. He wanted some time to himself. He was on his way to the train station.

Two days. I can't believe it's only been two days and the story has already spread this far.

Hikaru.

How could I tell father that it was you and not Shuichi that I was with? It would've just made things more complicated to explain. Knowing that father is supporting me has made things somewhat easier to deal with.

Akira smiled to himself.

"What are you smiling for?"

Akira looked up. The smile quickly faded from his expression. This was the last person he wanted to see. Or maybe this was the perfect time to explain things. The expression on Yuki's face as he smoked his cigarette told Akira that if he said the wrong thing, he would be facing serious consequences.

"Don't tell me you believed that article?"

Yuki took his time inhaling the smoke from his cigarette. He removed the cigarette from his mouth and slowly exhaled the smoke from his lungs.

"And what if I did?"

"You should already be aware of my intentions."

"I've learned that there is always some truth in everything." Yuki's cold, harsh eyes remained locked with Akira's.

"You should know better than anyone that it's Hikaru I love. Not Shuichi." Akira locked his eyes with Yuki's. Yuki looked like he was on the edge. He was suppressing his anger. One wrong move on Akira's part and he felt he would become victim to Yuki's wrath.

Yuki finished the cigarette he had been smoking, dropped it on the ground and stepped on it.

"That picture." Yuki grabbed another cigarette and lit it. "The way you were looking at Shuichi is the same way you look at Hikaru."

Yuki walked toward Akira as if to pass him. He stopped when he came alongside Akira.

"I just want to make sure you aren't getting confused with what Shindo you are after."

Yuki exhaled the smoke from his cigarette which filled the area around Akira. Akira did not flinch but remained still.

"If Hikaru is truly your objective I won't stand in your way. Shuichi, on the other hand is off limits."

Akira was getting angry. He was being accused of something he didn't even do or even consider doing.

"That was Hikaru in the picture. Not Shuichi." Akira turned to face Yuki.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"Hikaru was made to look like Shuichi to distract his fans. I happened to run into him that day and I helped him out."

Yuki turned his head to look at Akira's face. He studied Akira's expression in silence for a while.

"He said the same thing." Yuki walked past Akira and stopped again. "How will you convince everyone that you're not involved with Shuichi, I wonder?"

"I take that to mean that you believe me?"

Yuki grunted and continued on his way.

That evening, Akira sat with his parents for dinner. Neither one of his parents brought up the scandalous newspaper article. They spoke about other things, but mainly about Go. Akira was happy with how things were going right now. This is what he needed all day. He wondered what his mother thought about all of this but he put it out of his head. He didn't want to spoil such a nice dinner. He was glad his parents were so understanding of him.

'Ding. Dong.'

The doorbell startled everyone. Akira's father was about to get up.

"I'll get it father."

"Akira are you sure?"

"Yes. Don't worry."

Akira went to the door and slid it open.

"What the hell, Toya!?"

A newspaper was shoved in Akira's face.

"Hikaru? What's wrong?"

"What's wrong? This is what's wrong!" Hikaru shook the newspaper in Akira's face.

Hikaru read the article as well I see.

"So?"

Hikaru stopped what he was doing and stared shocked at Akira. "So? "So? Is that all you have to say? I think I deserve more of an explanation than so!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I should've realized earlier that you were just using me to get to Shuichi!"

"What?" Akira couldn't contain his anger anymore. He couldn't believe what he was hearing from Hikaru. "What in the world is wrong with you Hikaru!?"

Akira grabbed the newspaper away from Hikaru. He folded it back to the front page and held it in front of Hikaru.

"Did you even look at the picture on the cover?" Akira said angrily.

"It's you and Shuichi!"

"No, you idiot, that's you!" Akira pointed at the picture.

Hikaru examined the picture more closely.

"Ah! Wait! I remember. That's when we were in the alley together." Hikaru's mood changed instantly. "Man, I really do look like Shuichi in this picture don't I? I didn't even realize it was me. Oh, so now everyone thinks that you and Shuichi are going out just like what I thought."

Akira's hands were now tightly gripping the sides of the newspaper.

"Boy, Toya I guess you're in a real mess now…"

"Get out." Akira said shaking with anger.

"Huh? What did you say?"

"I said get out!" Akira finally shouted.

"Toya?" Hikaru took a couple of steps back from Akira. Akira threw the newspaper back at him and slammed the door closed.

Akira leaned his head up against the door, breathing heavily from that sudden outburst of anger.

Hikaru, you idiot!

After a few minutes, he finally got himself to calm down.

"Will this day never end?"