Warning : male x male - you have been warned!

Chapter 56

Hikaru slid into his shoes, couldn't wait to leave the Go Institute. He was in a special good mood today; he had just won an Oteai match against a Five-Dan with eightteen and a half moku. Ko Yong Ha's provokation had miraculously brought his determination to play and to win back. And now he was heading to see his Akira again.

"Well I'm sorry but I'm afraid you'll…" The sudden motion off to his left caught the employee's eye, and turning to see what it was, found his voice fading away as Hikaru came into his view. His jaw dropping for a moment before he remembered himself, the employee turned to Hikaru and began, "Sh-Shindo-sensei I-"

"What's going on here?" Hikaru interrupted, his eyes focused on the young man in front of him. The boy glared back up at him with a mix of superiority and frustration in his eyes. Either he had no idea who Hikaru was, didn't care, or Hikaru thought with a silent laugh, both.

"Sensei," the employee said with a fluster in his voice, "this boy wishes to take the insei test for next month, but as I tried to explain to him the deadline has passed and-"

"Who recommended him?" Hikaru interjected again.

"No one did Sensei, he just showed up, no introduction, no game records, nothing. I was just about to-"

"Is he strong?"

"Um, I don't know, I have no way of-"

"Of course I'm strong!" the boy interrupted, the fire in his eyes flaring, "I can pass that test, and I'll turn pro no matter what it takes! I don't care about what he's saying, I just want to take the test!"

It took a bit of effort to keep himself from chuckling at this boy, but he wasn't about to show anything but seriousness to him; he knew what this was like. "You're strong huh? Show me."

"What?"

"There're tables on the next floor where we can play; show me how good you are."

As he turned to leave the boy shouted back, "Why should I show you how strong I am?!"

Turning back to gaze at the boy levelly, Hikaru answered calmly, "Who I am doesn't matter, what does matter is that if you want to take the exam, you'll have to play me first. Now let's go."

With that Hikaru turned and moved for the door, leaving the boy frozen momentarily until at last he begrudgingly moved to follow. Grimacing as he stared at Hikaru's back, he had to push back the urge to jump out and give Hikaru a good right hook. The idea certainly had a nice sound to it, but if what this person had told him was true, that he couldn't take the insei test unless he played him, then he dared not risk it. There was too much on the line for that, not if he wanted to keep his promise.

Making their way into the main lobby and around to the stairs leading to the 2nd floor, a fire that matched his hair began to burn within the boy. Who did this guy think he was anyway? The man at the counter had called him sensei, so it seemed likely that the person in front of him was a young pro. If so, this was the first time he'd ever encountered a pro in person, although his older brother had once taken him to see a pro match being played.

Sadly there were very few pros whose names the boy knew, and this guy, Hikaru he thought the man at the counter had called him, he did not recognize. Of course, of the younger pros there was only one name that he did know, a player his brother had once described as being a talent beyond the ability of words to describe. Well, perhaps this was a good thing after all, beating this pro would be his first step toward greatness; if this Shindo wanted to know how strong he was, he'd just have to demonstrate.

Reaching the top of the stairs and turning to make a beeline for the playing tables, Hikaru turned his gaze to the woman at the desk and said, "We're going to play over in the corner."

Raising his gaze to meet his opponent, Hikaru observed the defiant fire in front of him then smiled coyly and replied, "You don't think you need a handicap? I'm sure you don't, but why not humor me this one time huh?"

The boy lost, of course. But Hikaru found the match to be quite satisfying. Though the boy was not particularly strong, he definitely made some surprising good moves.

"Thank you for the game." With that, Hikaru began to sort the stones on the board into groups, clearing them back into their bowls. Normally he'd discuss the game a bit and make pointers on where he had gone wrong, but he'd glanced up at the clock and seen the time, and thus had no time for reviews. Placing the lid back on his bowl, Hikaru then said, "I have to be somewhere now, but the next time we play, I promise you we'll discuss it afterwards. Now let's go."

"Shindo-sensei, you're back, what can I-"

"I would like to give this young player my recommendation, so I'd appreciate it if you'd see to it that he's allowed to take the insei exam."

The man behind the counter gave a dumbstruck look, and fidgeted slightly as he seemed to be in a mental debate between appeasement and trying to explain to Hikaru Shindo 2 – Dan how the rules worked. "Shindo-sensei, as I said, the deadline-"

"I understand that," Hikaru interrupted, "but it would really mean a lot to me if you'd kindly make an exception and take care of everything for Sakamoto here."

Pausing a moment, the man then exhaled and said, "Very well then, if that's what Shindou-sensei said, then I'll see to it."

"Thank you." Hikaru replied, then turning to leave glanced at the little boy and said, "I'm looking forward to our rematch."

With those words Hikaru exited the room, his back watched closely by Sakamoto even after he left his view. Turning his gaze then to the man across the counter who was eyeing him contemptuously, Sakamoto said, "Who… who was that guy?"

"G-guy!? You don't know Hikaru Shindo 2 – Dan?"

Hikaru Shindo 2 – Dan, so that was his rank. Was that really the strength of a 2 – Dan? But then why would this man be getting worked up over a 2 – Dan? "I didn't know his rank, but he told me his name. Is he like, famous or something?"

The man was even more dumbstruck than he was by Hikaru's request. How in the world had this boy gotten Shindou Hikaru to recommend him?

###

"Good evening, Shindou-kun!" it was Hirumi, breaking in on his thoughts with her habitual cheerfulness.

"Good evening," he said, taking off his bag and handing it to her. "Is Akira here?"

"He's in the back, waiting for you."

Hikaru nodded and left her desk, heading towards their usual table.

"Hikaru, how was your game today?"

"Was great. I won by eighteen moku an a half". Hikaru beamed.

"Did the game take very long?" Akira asked, a slight annoyance note in his tone.

"Not at all. But I got something to do after the match. Sort of paying back a debt, you know."

The pair then set down the stones to start a game. Their fingers sometimes brushed lightly over the goban while collecting stone, causing a flash of heat running through Hikaru's body. Akira however seemed unaffected; he was as calm as ever.

There were some patrons standing aroud their table, watching their play and making comments. Hikaru tried not to feel resentful, but he couldn't help it: how could those geezers just listen in on private conversations? How could they just shamelessly stand around and discuss his and Akira's games? Couldn't they see they were not wanted? He wanted to touch Akira more, but it was not possible… not like this, not with people constantly staring at them. The irritation got too much and Hikaru sometimes felt like he'd like to start a fight.

However, Hikaru found out soon enough that Akira was not as unaffected as he seemed. The two had been playing for some hours, there had been a lot of green tea, and Hikaru felt a certain degree of pressure on his bladder.

"I need the toilet," he said, getting to his feet. Akira nodded, and then an expression Hikaru couldn't quite interpret flashed over his face.

"I'll come with you," he said, getting up.

"I thought only girls did that," Hikaru said, heading towards the toilets; Akira didn't say anything until they were at their destination. Hikaru walked towards the nearest stall; the place seemed empty.

"Hikaru, wait." A hand was at his shoulder, and he turned, surprised.

"What is it?"

"I..." Akira seemed at a loss, his expression confused. Abruptly, without warning, he stepped closer, throwing both arms around Hikaru's shoulders, in an awkward hug. "I miss you."

"Oh." He didn't quite know what to say, so he said nothing, returning the hug with at least as much clumsiness as Akira had displayed. He had missed touching him, too. Akira adjusted his grasp, slipping closer into their embrace, leaning against him and resting his head on Hikaru's shoulder.

Neither of them said anything. The moment was too fragile, and the potential for pitfalls too great. Closing his eyes, Hikaru concentrated on breathing slowly, on not panicking.
A hand was stroking Hikaru's back. He wasn't sure if it was in response to the tight tension in his muscles or not, but it did help him relax. He breathed, shakily, hugging Akira tighter, inhaling the scent of freshly-washed cotton and clean hair. Akira's body was warm and oddly familiar against his own. He had yearned to touch Akira. And Akira, he realised, had yearned to touch him, too. He took his courage and cup Akira's chin in his palm, and raised Akira's face to kiss him. Hikaru's body grew hot, and something inside fimlally meleted free. Akira lightly cried out at the tickling sweetnes. When their eyes met, Hikaru gave a shy smile, and pressed the tip of his nose against Akira's nose in a playful way.

"I miss you too, Akira! I missed you more!"

"Did not" – Akira laughed, broke the tension down a bit.

"Did too!" Hikaru cried back while nestling his face on Akira's soft hair. God it felt good...

"Idiot!" Akira lightly smacked on Hikaru's shoulder. He remember Weekly Go once compared Hikaru to a tiger and the Go board his hunting field, but whenever he's with Akira, the tiger disappeared – in fact, he acted no less silly than a monkey.

"Come to my house tomorrow, Hikaru! My parents are still in China." Akira said with the softest voice Hikaru'd ever heard, looking deep into Hikaru's jade green eyes.

"No, I won't…" Silence. "Why can't I come…tonight?"

There was the sound of a door opening, and they looked up as the door to another stall closed. Then there was a steady trickling sound, and a deep elderly sigh of relief, followed by a few rumbly coughs. Their eyes met, and Hikaru saw his amusement reflected in Akira's eyes. They opened the door and left the room as quietly as they could.

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Credits to: Leitbur (The never-ending road) and stirring-still (Preliminaries)