HI . MI . TSU

by Hikari, AkA Machi no Tenshi

email: usagi_san1540@hotmail.com

Rated NC-17

Started on 02/18/03

Author's Note: Many thanks to those of you that reviewed or emailed me. Here's your reward! Now, for a little clearing up of misunderstandings. This story is NOT a sequel to 'Stolen Sunday.' I repeat, NOT a sequel!! It is a stand alone as are my other two stories... and should be enjoyed for the smut, I mean plot ^_~ Remember to tell me what you think, ok?

Chapter 2:

Thursdays at the go center were like always -facing a battle in front of the goban. A never ending fight in order to advance, to catch up... Yes, he was still just a beginner Dan but as Shindo placed the deciding stone in place he knew this game was his. Three more winning matches and he'd finally get to play in the third round of the Meijin Tournament.

"I resign," he heard his opponent say. Hikaru rested the fan on his hand and squeezed it once gently. "Thank you for the game."

He began to clean up his stones. It wasn't just him that was trying to catch up. Isumi and Asumi were doing well on Wednesdays... Waya was playing strong go... and Ochi, well... Ochi was Ochi.

He got to his feet and went to write down his victory. Just for old- time's sake he stamped the red-inked seal on the palm of his hand... 'Next time would be a victory also.'

"Could I have that when you're done?"

His face snapped to the side. "Touya," he whispered. "Did you win?"

Yes, the question was stupid and they both knew it, but it had managed to cut the room's tension. For some reason, Hikaru had sensed that something had not been right when Touya had given him the cold shoulder that morning. It had been like an unspoken lash of anger... quite reminiscing of times past.

Akira lowered his lashes and allowed a small smile to shape his lips. "Hai." He said, and that was all it had taken... just one long hard look into that innocent face and Touya had forgotten what his problem had been.

'How simple was life,' he thought while he accepted the stamp from his rival. He wrote down his win and upon turning around saw that Shindo was still there... waiting. 'Moments like these could be held in such esteem...'

As they walked towards the lunch room, Hikaru stopped at one of the vending machines and got himself a drink. "Hey Touya," he said almost absent mindedly as he snapped open the lid. "What are you doing after this?"

In his head, he began to look over his schedule. He had a tutoring job later that night, but for the next couple of hours he was pretty much free. "Nothing," he answered. "Why? Did you want to head over with me to the salon and play a game?"

"No." Hikaru pouted.

Touya smiled. "I think Kitajima-san won't be showing up today."

That fired up his ire. "You think I don't show up as often because of that old guy?!" The irritated boy took a swig of his drink and slammed in on a table once they entered the lunch room. "I have a life too, you know!" He sat down. "I've just been busy."

Akira's eyes squinted as a jealous nerve began to twitch. "Not busy enough to see Waya," he muttered through gritted teeth.

Hikaru looked up. "Did you say something?"

He looked to the side as he sat across from Shindo. "Nothing," he said, but the tone in his voice threatened to expose him... and one glance from underneath his lashes proved it. Hikaru was not buying it, so Touya rested his head on both of his hands and let out a heavy sigh. "Don't mind me, I'm just tired."

Concern showed in the boy's features. "Are things alright at home?"

He looked up -blue eyes wide. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

Hikaru played with the nearly empty can, twirling it back and forth with the palms of his hands. "I don't know. With your dad in China..." he paused his train of thought. 'What was he trying to get at?'

On Touya's face, a smile began to break out. "I-"

"I'm just being stupid." Hikaru ran his fingers through his bangs, as he hid his face in hopes that his embarrassment was not evident. "So, how is your dad?"

"Father is well." His eyes wandered over to the outside terrace and its inviting atmosphere -illuminated by the afternoon sun. "Truthfully, I've never seen him better."

"Shindo!"

Green eyes looked past Touya's suddenly tense body to the door frame. "Waya!" he yelled back as a bright smile lit up his face.

The brown haired boy stomped inside the room. "BAKA!" he began as he hit his friend's head. "Did you forget about our meeting today?"

Touya's ears perked up at that.

"Hey..." he whined as he rubbed the sore spot. "I was just on my way over there."

Waya's ochre eye clashed with blue ones. 'Why was it that every time anything dealing with Touya came up, anger just surged through his system?' He looked away at the same time he let out his breath. "Well," he crossed his hands over his chest. "You coming or not?"

"Didn't I say I was?!" Touya heard him say as the boy pushed back his chair. Hikaru's eyes were now on him, and Akira tried to calm his breathing. 'Now he remembered why he'd been angry that morning.'

Shindo grabbed the empty soda can. "Do you want to come with us?" he began to ask and when he saw Touya's hesitation begin to set in, he quickly added, "I'd been meaning to invite you earlier but... we got a little side tracked on our conversation, ne?"

Truthfully, Touya didn't want to go to what ever it was that Hikaru was inviting him to, but that look that Waya was giving him... His fists tightened. "Alright," he said, fully aware that since his return from his trip his emotions were getting the better of him. 'But that angry look in Waya's eyes, as if a plan had been foiled, had been too good to miss.'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

It seemed that it really *was* all in his head. 'And how stupid of him to misinterpret everyone's intentions when they had anything to do with Shindo.' Touya shifted in his seat over his own discomfort. Looking around the small group of friends, he felt like the outsider -maybe because he really was.

Hikaru's friends had apparently planned a little get-together and while he knew some of them, like Waya and Ochi, he was still not close enough to be able to join in conversation. He lowered his head and looked at his drink. 'He really shouldn't have come.'

Asumi looked to the side and caught Touya's reluctant expression. "You know," she began in hopes to lighten the mood. "This is the first time since the Insei days that I've gotten the chance to spend time with you guys outside of go. I feel like I doing something different." Her eyes met with Touya's. "How about we all go karaoke?"

Akira swallowed... hard.

"Actually," Isumi set down his hamburger. "I've never done karaoke..." He lowered his head slightly. "I'd like to try it though."

Her eyes lit up. "You should! Maybe we could see if they have some songs in Chinese."

"No." Isumi nearly shouted -a light blush on his cheeks. "Although I did hear some songs I'd be no good."

Hikaru leaned closer to Waya. "Maybe you should try singing in Chinese," he whispered -a Cheshire cat's grin on his face.

Waya glared in Shindo's direction and in a low voice, said into his friend's ear, "You swore to me..."

While he hadn't been able to catch a word that they'd said... the suspicion was still there. Jealousy: alive and kicking. Touya's sharp eyes hadn't missed a single action, and his knuckles bled white due to the strength with which he squeezed his fists.

Shindo let out a loud laugh before he publicly admitted to having a good voice. Waya laughed at him as his hand hit the back of his head, knowing fully well that he was changing the topics. "Then maybe you should prove it to us!" he challenged playfully.

"I will!"

Suddenly, Touya placed both hands firmly on the table and stood up. "I'm sorry," He bowed his head respectfully. "I won't be able to join you." Though he thought he wouldn't be missed. 'Yes, it was in times like these that he realized just how unsociable he really was.' Always looking from the outside in... 'When had he started to desire being able to deal properly with people his own age?'

"Are you sure?" Hikaru asked, his standing up causing the hand that Waya had had draped over his shoulder to slide off.

Akira picked up his tray. "I'm sure. Besides, I have work tonight." And with that said, he headed towards the trash can, ending the conversation. This little meeting had brought back awkward memories from school. Touya looked up at the cityscape as he exited the establishment. He still had a lot of catching up to do.

To be continued...