Here is chapter 14! Thanks to Frequency for partially beta-ing it. Sadly, she can´t do it anylonger, so would anyone else be interested?
14
Ogata stared at the goban, still struggling to wrap his mind around what had just happened. A single sweat drop ran down his temple. He was barely paying attention to anything around him right now, all his attentiveness fixed on the board and the game. Unconsciously he had his hands balled into tight fist, digging his nails so hard into his palm that it should have hurt like hell, but he didn´t care.
Right now, to say that he was elated beyond reasoning (or so it seemed at least for any non-go player) was an exorbitant understatement. Though, in the beginning, everything had started out rather harmless. Ogata had summoned his most innocent and trustworthy smile, and let the other man place stones on the board. And now he had to admit that Sai had first done a really good job at misguiding him, as he really had played awful. Placing the stones on the board with clumsy fingers and chatting about unimportant things, Ogata had held up his façade too, albeit he had grown more and more disappointed with every stone Sai had placed.
During the beginning he even had started to have doubts concerning his suspicions for the mans identity, because his stones held no consequences whatsoever. Laughing sheepishly, Sai had apologized every time Ogata had taken one of his stones, sighing that he was no good at all. The blond had bitten his teeth, but smoothly replied that, no, it was indeed a pleasure to play against him, continuing his aggressive attacks and giving random comments on Sai's play, as they were technically playing shidougo. Eventually, he had managed to draw Sai out of his shell. It had started with Sai looking more and more like he was fighting an inner battle, his moves becoming more and more reluctant, his somewhat desperate, almost pleading glances at Hikaru becoming more frequent. The conversation had almost ceased.
From out of the corner of his eye, Ogata had noticed Hikaru tensing with every minute that passed, staring at the go board and nowhere else.
At one point, Sai had stopped his stone halfway to the board, his face devoid of any emotion. Ogata had tried to calm his beating heart down and asked with a slightly concerned voice, if there was a problem. Sai had looked up at him, and for a moment it had seemed as if he was searching for something in his face.
All Ogata had been able to do was looking back calmly but his own eyes had sent a silent, pleading message.
Then Sai had shaken his head a little, suddenly looking determined. "No." He had said quietly in a voice so serious that it seemed so untypical for the chirpy young man. Something about his whole aura had changed instantly. He couldn´t exactly put his finger on it, but Sai's almond eyes had become a somewhat deeper shade, a challenging, sly one that let him look somewhat unearthly.
And with that everything had changed. The stones were placed with confidence and a precision that make Ogata almost forget to breathe. No words had been spoken afterwards and Ogata had been too busy on the board to take another look, but he could almost feel the strength and experience that oozed from his adversary. Maybe it was his excitement or the shock that he indeed, truly and without a doubt was playing against Sai, who somehow had made his play less powerful then it usually was. Maybe it had been the sheer presence of the person who was Sai that nearly overwhelmed him, but the other managed to make a breath taking comeback on the board, despite the fact that he had been as good as finished. In the end it was Ogata who lost by half a moku.
And that was were they were right now.
"I knew it." The blonds voice cracked uncharacteristically at the end. Sai had been staring at the board as well, but Ogata's harsh whisper seemed to have broken a spell that had been cast over the other man, as he suddenly looked very uncertain again, and stuttered "E-eh, I really-"
"Don´t you dare telling me now that it was 'only a luck streak' or something!" the blond hissed threateningly, a piercing gaze boring into Sai's eyes, so that the man unconsciously flinched and cast his gaze downwards.
Relaxing his almost hostile expression, Ogata forced himself to calm down, as it wouldn´t do any good to scare Sai now, and put the tips of his fingers together. "I´m sorry." He tried in a soothing voice, inwardly sighing in relief when Sai looked up at him again, a small, unsure smile at his lips.
"I was just… I mean I have seen so very few with your talent, and probably no one who would have been able to do what you did just down." He waved at the board, still looking as if he couldn´t believe what he had experienced. Shacking his head Ogata continued. "To think that such talent had been gone to waste until now and certainly still would´ve if we hadn´t met… With your skill you can easily become a pro, one of the top league even. What am I saying, you might be very much able to obtain the Hand of God-"
He was suddenly interrupted when a screeching sound echoed through the café, as Hikaru abruptly stood from the table with his lips pressed into a thin line. Grabbing his bag and with the other hand a stunned Sais wrist, he pressed a "Thanks for the tea" through his teeth and attempted to make his escape. Unfortunately for the boy, though, Ogata quick-wittedly wrapped his hand around Sais other arm and held him in place.
He´d let him go once already, he wouldn´t submit to Hikarus selfish monopolizing of Sai again. "Hold it right there Shindou." Ogata therefore ordered icyly, not loosening his grip from the slender mans arm.
Hikaru made an exasperated noise, tugging at poor Sai, who looked uncertainly from his friend to Ogata and back.
"I´m sorry, but we really have to go now!" the boy hissed, glaring at the other man, who, rather unimpressed, adjusted his glasses.
"Don´t you know that it is quite impolite to just suddenly jump from the table and leave the host all by himself?" Ogata remarked sarcastically but apparently he had struck a chord with Sai, who looked slightly reproachfull at Hikaru, nodding his silent agreement.
"Not to mention interrupting someone who was about to say something important," Ogata added, noticing the even more enthusiastical nodding of Sai that made his hair just brush against Ogatas bare hand ever so slightly. One should have thought that, with looking all shiny and slick, Sai´s long strands would be cold and silky, but instead they felt very soft and warm, just like a kittens fur.
Now, this really wasn´t the time to marvel on the great go players hair texture, Ogata decided awkwardly, blinking the thought away. He had to fight a battle here first, and regarding Shindous unflinching glare, a fierce battle it would be. Damn the kid and his stubborness. Just as expected, the boy didn´t submit to his accusations but got that cocky look on his face, lifting his chin a little and remarking coldly. "Oh yeah? But it´s even more impolite to impose on busy people."
Sai looked thoughtful at that, but seemed to decide that Hikaru had a point and expectantly focused his attention back on Ogata.
"Suddenly you are busy? That´s quite strange, since before you seemed to have enough time for your little shopping trip…" lifting an elegant eyebrow, Ogata sipped calmly at his coffee while still holding on to Sai.
"But now we don´t have time anymore! Besides, Sai is cold and still has to recover from his injury and you already have strained him enough! Let´s go back Sai," Hikaru declared, pulling at his friends sleeve, but had to meet very unwelcome resistance as Ogata didn´t give up on Sai either. The man in question seemed uncertain too, for he couldn´t decide where to go, being pushed back and forth into two different directions.
"Is that so?" Ogata wondered aloud, inwardly dancing his mental victory dance. Finally Hikaru had admitted that the person he had just played with was indeed Sai. Not that the blond man had harboured any doubts anymore, but still; it was so enticing to hear the name spoken.
"To me it seems more and more that it is you that this is all about, not your friend here… You seem quite eager to get him away from me. What are you afraid of? Loosing your monopoly over him maybe? That´s quite selfish, you know…"
Biting his bottom lip hard, Hikarus grip became almost crushing, as he narrowed his eyes at Sai´s wavering gaze. "Don´t be stupid! I don´t care about monopoles and stuff, I just want him to get away from you because you´re just about to take advantage of him! He doesn´t want to hear your stuff anyway!!"
Unbothered by the insult, Ogata stared down at the boy for a minute, but finally let go of Sai´s abused arm and instead began to slowly polish his glasses with the hem of his sleeve. Casting a mischievous sideglance towards Hikaru, he focused his attention back at his glasses and calmly replied. "Now, that´s interesting. I´m wondering if Sai shares your thoughts on this too."
"Of course he does!" Hikaru snorted, turning around and attempting to finally get Sai out of the café since Ogata had let go of the mans arm. But this time, the resistance did come from another source, as Sai remained glued to the spot. Uncertainly and almost guiltily hiding behind his hair, the former spirit cleared his troath and asked quietly: "Hikaru… can´t we just… at least listen to what Mr. Ogata has to say? I mean it really is impolie to interrupt someone during his speech and Mr. Ogata just so kindly provided us with drinks…"
Looking disbelieving at his friend, Hikaru let go of his wrist too, but more because of the shock than from actually really wanting to release him. It suddenly dawned on him that, maybe, Sai had insisted on following the man to the café for ulterior motives that were very different from only trying to be polite.
"What are you saying? He only wants to use you! Don´t fall for it!"
"Now that´s overdoing it a bit, don´t you think?" Ogata remarked coldly. The boy sounded like he was some maneating ogre or something. Honestly…
"Besides, all I´m offering is what he deserves. With that skill of his, it would be a crime to keep his abilities hidden from the wold," he added nonchalantly, enthusiastically observing Sai who nervously fidgeted with his sleeve.
"Hikaru… Please?" throwing a desperate look at his friend, Sai had a very hard time to not burst into tears. He really wanted to listen to what Ogata had to say, but he didn´t want to betray his stubborn friend either… Just why had things turned out so complicated?!
Seeing Sais pained expression, Hikaru inwardly writhed and wished, really, that he could give in and let the man have his will. He knew it was cruel, but instead of granting Sai´s wish, Hikaru´s face became hard and he decided with in an authoritative fashion"No."
Crestfallen, Sais eyes went wide. But instead of obeying and leaving the café, a stubborn gleam appeared in the mans eyes, as his lips curled into a little pout and he demanded to know "Why not?"
"Because I say so!" Hikaru hissed angrily, making the other flinch, but it only seemed to further the others agitation.
"You are mean, Hikaru! I always have to do like you say and you never let me play go with anyone else besides you!" With his cheeks flushed, Sai indignantly stomped with his foot on the floor, and shaking his arms, he looked very much like a sulky, albeit very cute, little child. "It´s not like before anymore, I can decide for myself now! I don´t need you to tell me what I can do and can not! Maybe Mr. Ogata is right, maybe you are just selfishly trying to-" Horrified by his own words and the effect they had on Hikaru as the boys determined expression turned to one of hurt and betrayal, Sai stopped mid-sentence and let his arms drop to the side, looking very miserable. "I-I´m sorry… I didn´t mean it like that…"
The pained expression vanished on Hikarus face, as the boy suddenly looked very distanced and said with a somewhat husky voice. "So that´s what you think… Well, if you don´t need me anyway, then just do what you want, I don´t care anymore! Just go with him or whatever, I don´t give a damn! But don´t you dare come crying to me if anything goes wrong!" With that he turned on his heels and stormed out of the room, ignoring the strange looks of the concerned waitress.
"Hikaru…" Forlornly Sai stood in the almost empty room, a hand still outstretched as if to reach after his friend.
"What a brat," Ogata snorted, holding a lighter to his cigarette, that was dangling from the corner of his mouth.
He didn´t have the time to enjoy his drag however, as the long haired man suddenly sank to the floor sobbing, and the blond go player hurried to console his precious Sai, mumbling consoling words and stroking soothingly over his back. Deciding to take the flustered young man back to his appartment, Ogata placed the money for their drinks on the counter and then lead his once again guest back to his car.
I´m sorry to announce that it might take some time for me to update this story. It just so happens that I have to restructure the plotline and I don´t know how long it will take. To top it off, I´ve been struck with a fairly bad case of writers block...
Anyway on to the reviews (which are quiet few this time, what´s wrong I wonder?)
soontobeonfanfiction: I think you spelled 'congrats' right, but thanks anyways!! The next chapter would be exclusively dedicated to Sai and Ogata, it just don´t want to come out sigh I´m glad you enjoyed it so far, though!
Pure Shikon: Thanks for pointing that out, I´ll take it to heart for the next time! To tell the truth, I have absolutely no clue about go and try to avoid any details as much as I can and as it seems, that was the right decision ;) I try to include the whole drinking thingy into the next chapter, we need some after all the drama, don´t we? Thanks for reviewing!
lynixe: Don´t bother, I´m happy you reviewed anyway! As it turne out, Sai didn´t really want to hide his true identity, maybe. It´s too late now though :D Glad you liked it!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed!