Sorry it took me so long! I already had a pretty good idea about how I wanted to end this but....... I graduated last week *squeals with joy* and my family came down from all over! There were tons of preparations, celebrations etc. and it was just very hectic these past few days. Anyway! This is the last chapter *smile* I hope you like it! Thanks to everyone who took their time and sent in reviews! I LOVED READING THEM!!! Hehehe. I probably wouldn't have written this much without them! Some of those reviews really REALLY helped me out too! Thank you guys SO MUCH! Ok I'm done ranting here it is:

Oh! P.S. I didn't do this before but I guess I should: "Hikaru No Go" is in no way mine.*sigh* (thanks for reminding me) I love it, I read it, and now I write crappy fanfics about it, but other than that I'm not involved at all.

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Hikaru stiffened in surprise as he felt the soft lips awkwardly press against his

own. All thoughts of Sai were violently driven from his mind as his entire being focused

on that one point of contact. In fact, all thoughts were swept from his mind entirely,

except for one:

//What the hell?!?//

But even this small flicker was erased as the other boy suddenly pulled away as

unexpectedly as he had leaned in. Sitting back on his heels with a jolt, the wide eyed

Touya Akira looked even more startled than the tear streaked Shindo. The two sat there in

utter silence, looking at each other for a long moment.

"I - -- I'm sorry," Akira whispered hoarsely, breaking the awkward silence. "I

didn't mean to - --" his voice faltered. Akira stared at his rival in alarm while Hikaru in

turn gaped at him blankly, too surprised to say anything. "I won't bother you again. I

should go," he managed to stammer after a long moment. Quickly, he got up to leave,

visibly shaken.

Hikaru raised his hand to his mouth, absently tracing his fingers over his lips

where his rival had kissed him. A light blush tinged his cheeks as he remembered the

encounter. The sound of the door as it slammed shut knocked Hikaru from his stupor.

"Touya?" he asked weakly, still kneeling on the floor. //Where did he go?// he

thought to himself as he lowered his head stare at the floor.

~ I won't bother you again.~

Hikaru lifted his head suddenly. //What did he mean by that?// he wondered anxiously as

he swiftly made to get up, an act that took three attempts by the slightly disturbed pro

with the very numb legs.

************************************************************************

Akira leaned against the door to the room heavily, remembering the look on his

rival's face. He knew what it was that had marked Hikaru's smooth, innocent features. It

was shock; it was disgust. Akira swallowed hard as he felt his chest tighten. What had

possessed him to do that?!?! In an instant he had managed to ruin the longest real

friendship he'd ever have. The ONLY real friendship he'd ever had.

He suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to get away from the room. Pushing off

the door quickly he began to walk down the long and lonely hallway. He had lost the

person who mattered most to him in the entire world; the only person whose brilliance

and passion for go rivaled his own. Touya stopped dead, a look of sheer terror painted

across his face.

//What if he won't play me anymore?//

The thought was even more painful than the idea of losing his best friend. He

remembered his life before the blonde entered it. Go hadn't been boring but Shindo gave

it a light, an energy all its own that engulfed Akira and excited him. It wasn't as

satisfying or, he had to admit, as fun without a rival, an equal, to experience it with.

Hikaru was the only person who understood the way his mind worked well enough to

really answer him on a goban. //Oh God!// he thought, his vision beginning to blur as hot

tears stung his eyes. //Please, PLEASE let him at least play me again!// The idea of never

speaking to Shindo again was painful enough, he didn't know if he could bear it if the

other boy refused to battle him. It was only when he was playing against Shindo that he

ever felt at peace. It was only against Shindo that he ever felt complete. Only Shindo

could make him feel that way. And he might never feel that way again. Akira felt his

heart beating against his chest, he was starting to panic.

The long haired pro was so engrossed in his own thoughts and despair that he

didn't even hear it as a hotel room door opened and closed.

"Touya?" Akira jumped, startled. He knew that voice and he felt a wave of dread

wash over him. He should have left more quickly, but he honestly hadn't expected

Shindo to come after him so soon. Or ever for that matter. Akira turned around to look at

his rival.

Looking at Shindo's smooth face, his hair matted down against his damp cheeks,

Touya felt his heart begin to throb. Even red and swollen his grey eyes were

beautiful. The green haired pro swallowed hard, willing his voice to remain cold and

unfeeling.

"I apologize," Akira said formally after a moment, pressing his arms close to his

sides as he bowed. "It was inappropriate and it will never happen again." He said coolly.

"Touya - --" the blonde began, but his words were quickly cut off.

"I promise."

Hikaru felt his chest tighten at these words and his friend's distant demeanor.

"Why?" He couldn't help but ask. He wanted to know. He needed to know.

Akira sighed as he tried valiantly to ignore the sharp pain in his chest. Shindo

deserved an answer and knowing how stubborn the boy could be, Akira was sure that he

wouldn't quit until he got one either. The sooner he gave it to him the sooner this would

be over.

"I don't know," Akira answered truthfully, looking down at the floor. "You just

seemed so sad." He continued, apparently fascinated by his shoes.

"Oh, is that all?" Hikaru whispered; Touya looked up, startled by the note of

disappointment in the other boy's voice.

"Did you want me say something else?" he probed, trying to quash the feeling of

hope that had begun to grow madly in his chest. Shindo's cheeks turned a soft shade of

pink.

"N - --no! I was just wondering." He answered, now also apparently fascinated

by his shoes. There was a long pause. // Why does it have to be so damn quite!// Hikaru

wondered in agitation, forgetting that it was now well after midnight. When it became

apparent that the blonde was not going to say anything more Akira sighed, feeling the

hope in his chest begin to die.

"I'm very sorry Shindo. I didn't mean to upset you." He paused. "It won't happen

again. I promise," he said and turned to walk away as quickly as he could without

actually running. A fierce cold was beginning to seep into his stomach, numbing him.

//Just keep moving// he told himself, determined not to betray any emotion on his face.

"Touya, wait!" Hikaru called after him, realizing the other boy was trying to end

their conversation. But the green haired pro ignored him and continued to make his way

swiftly down the deserted corridor. Hikaru ran after him; reaching out he caught his rival

by the wrist.

"Akira," he said tightening his grip around the other boy's hand. The green haired

pro stopped. Shindo had never called him by his given name before. His breath caught in

his throat.

"You didn't - -- I'm not upset," Hikaru whispered self consciously. Slowly Touya

turned around to face his rival, hope and confusion warring inside him for dominance.

His gaze lowered to where the blonde was gripping him. Shindo dropped the hand

quickly as he realized what he was doing.

"Sorry. I was just... surprised, that's all. I mean ... I

haven't... not really- --" his voice died and Hikaru began scratching his

head nervously, looking anywhere but at the boy in front of him.

"Was that your first kiss?" Touya asked hesitantly, his tone laced with a hint of

mild surprise.

"What?! No!" the other boy shot back indignantly, blushing fiercely. It wasn't as

if he had never been kissed before. Hikaru frowned slightly remembering how his first

kiss had been stolen from him. It had felt, strangely enough, like he was kissing his aunt;

it wasn't pleasant. Hikaru shook his head. That had been six months ago and Touya

already knew all about it.

"That girl at the Wakasi convention doesn't count!" Touya replied with irritation,

seeming to read his friend's thoughts. Hikaru's blush deepened.

"It's none of your damn business!" he shouted heatedly.

"It was just a question!"

"It's a personal question, and it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!" Hikaru

bellowed.

"Don't get so defensive!" came the loud reply.

"How am I supposed to get?!?! I don't have much practice with this kind of

thing!" the blonde yelled quite defensively.

"Well it's not like I've had a lot of practice either!" Akira shouted in response,

forgetting the people asleep in the rooms on either side of the hallway. Both boys were

abruptly reminded, however, when the door to their right swung open widely, revealing a

bleary eyed and slightly agitated Isumi.

"Oh God!" he groaned seeing the two rivals arguing in the hallway. Last year had

been bad enough, couldn't they let him at least rest in peace this time? "They've started

bringing their discussions out into the hallway." He mumbled sadly to himself. Both boys

had the grace to blush. They hadn't meant to wake anyone up. The door down the hall

opened wide too, slamming loudly as it smacked against the wall.

"Shindo! Touya! Shut the hell up and go to bed!" the drowsy form of Waya, his

hair tousled from sleep, yelled out loudly in fierce irritation. He glared angrily at the two

friends, his eyes resting on Touya far longer than on Hikaru. Akira shifted his feet in mild

discomfort.

"Please, PLEASE go back to your room." Isumi begged. Akira and Hikaru passed

each other a quick glance and nodded.

"I apologize for disturbing you," the green haired pro replied politely.

"Stop pretending to be so f***king polite all the time!" Waya growled. "If you

were half as proper as you think you are you wouldn't be waking people up at all hours of

the night!" Isumi gave the red head a pained look as Shindo stood there, mouth gaping

open at a loss for words. "Yeah, yeah, yeah" the sleepy, irritable pro mumbled seeing his

two friends' expressions. "Apology accepted," he said waving his hand dismissively at

the troublesome pair. And with that he slammed his door shut.

"I don't think Waya-kun likes me very much," the prodigy mumbled to himself.

"He's just tired," Isumi said as he flashed him a forced smile, although truthfully

the older pro didn't like him very much at the moment either.

"Sorry Isumi," Hikaru said sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'll forgive you if you'll just go to bed," his friend replied, exhausted.

"Oh, yeah! Sure!" Hikaru said with a start, suddenly remembering how late it was

as he took his rival by the wrist and led him gently back towards their room. "Good night,

Isumi!" he said, waving cheerfully. Akira didn't say a word, formalities forgotten as he

stared at Hikaru's hand closed around his own. But Isumi didn't notice because he had

already given a half hearted wave in return and entered his room, where he promptly fell

back asleep.

"Geeze, why did you have to be so loud Touya?" Hikaru asked in annoyance as

he gracelessly plopped down on his bed. Akira gave him a hard glare.

"You were the one who was being loud, Shindo," he replied coolly. Hikaru lifted

his head to look at him, a slight scowl on his face.

"It was your fault to begin with! Asking a guy a personal question like that!" he

said indignantly, raising his voice as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed. There was an

awkward pause as they remembered why they had been fighting in the first place. Hikaru

blushed slightly as he became aware of where they were. Akira looked towards the

window, although the shades were still tightly drawn. Neither one said anything.

"Yes," the blonde whispered after a long moment, slicing through the oppressive

stillness of the room. If it weren't for the intense silence Akira, who stood no more than

five feet away from the boy on the bed, would not have even heard him.

"Huh?" he asked, turning his head to look at Shindo. He seemed slightly puzzled

by the statement.

"Yes. It was - -- That was my first... I mean, I've never - -- I've never

been kissed before," he mumbled staring at the hands clasped on his lap. "If you don't

count the girl at the Wakasi convention I mean," he said, raising his pearly gray eyes to

meet Akira's emerald ones almost defiantly.

"Oh," the other boy answered. Hikaru thought he saw a small smile flicker across

his rival's face, but he might have been wrong because it was quickly replaced by an

intensely pensive expression that Shindo had never seen except across a goban. "What

did you think? I mean about the - --" he paused awkwardly. "About the kiss?" Touya

continued, his tongue struggling as it formed the last word. Hikaru turned away as he felt

the heat of embarrassment rising to his cheeks.

What was he supposed to say? That he liked it? That he hated it? What answer did

Touya want? Hikaru didn't want to lose their friendship, and he didn't think he could

handle losing their rivalry. Some where along the way he had come to need Touya, to see

him and to be near him. And Hikaru was never as close to the other boy as when a goban

was between them. It was there that he exposed his soul, his true self. It was

there that Akira knew Sai's presence in Hikaru's life. Only Akira knew it. Only him.

Hikaru didn't wasn't sure he could stand it if Akira didn't want to be his friend anymore.

But he KNEW he couldn't bear it if Touya didn't like his answer and decided not to play

him again. Not being able to share Sai with him, or see the boy's complex and

methodically beautiful answers to Shindo's stones... it was too much. But the truth

was that he didn't know what he thought about the... kiss. His blush deepened.

"I - -- I'm not sure what I think," he replied carefully after a long pause. "I was

really surprised. I mean before I even knew what was happening it was over." He

mentally hit himself. Hikaru had a tendency to ramble when he was nervous. And he was

definitely nervous. Hell, he thought he might throw up any minute now. But with Touya

he wanted to be extremely careful with his words. //What now?// he thought to himself

anxiously.

A long stream of air escaped Akira's mouth. Touya blinked, surprised to realize

he had been holding his breath. //What now?// the green haired pro wondered as he

looked at his rival.

"What did you think?" the blonde asked after a moment, trying to fill the

awkward pause in the conversation. "A- about the kiss I mean?"

"I don't know, either," Akira answered truthfully. After all, It wasn't like he

had planned on kissing Shindo. He may have idly wondered what it would be like at

times but...

//Damn it!// Touya thought angrily as he mentally slapped himself. This was

getting them no where and it couldn't be as easily ignored as a confession that may or

may not have taken place. They were both completely sober, and the kiss had definitely

happened.

"I really wasn't planning on it," he continued after a moment. "As soon as I

realized what was going on I stopped."

"Oh"

There was another awkward silence. Touya shrugged to himself haphazardly.

The damage had already been done. He might as well ask.

"Do you want to - -- I mean maybe try it again, just to see?" Akira looked at

Hikaru, surprised that the other boy had beaten him to the question. Touya lifted his gaze,

startled to see the attentive and, maybe hopeful? stare of his rival.

"Maybe just to see," the other boy agreed immediately. He cursed himself for

sounding too eager, but Shindo didn't seem to notice. He had already stood up from the

bed to meet him. Akira blinked, slightly surprised by his rival speed. The blonde grinned

sheepishly at his own impatience.

"Ok?" Shindo asked, uncertainly.

"Hai," came the response. The two leaned in closer to one another, awkwardly

tilting their heads as their noses and foreheads collided.

"Ouch!! Touya, watch what you're doing!" Hikaru scolded, rubbing his nose.

"You really haven't had a lot of practice with this either, huh?" he said, his lips twitching

as he tried, with only marginal success, to suppress a grin. Akira blushed.

"Well, excuse me Mr. 'Yuck -some -weird -girl -tried -to -swallow -my -

tongue'!" Touya shot back causing his friend's cheeks to turn crimson.

"I can't tell you anything without you using it against me!" the blonde shouted

angrily, pointing a finger at his rival. Akira sighed.

"Just stand still, ok?" Touya said, he was becoming impatient and the small

argument had allowed him to let off some nervous tension. Hikaru gulped, he was

growing less and less certain about this. But he had been the one to suggest it, he

reminded himself. He couldn't back out now. He cursed silently.

"Alright," he said, glad to hear his voice didn't betray his uncertainty.

Akira studied his friend. Shindo was obviously nervous. In fact he might go so far

to say that the other boy was terrified. Touya swallowed. That wasn't a good sign.

"Are you sure?" he asked gently. Hikaru gave a stiff nod. "Ok," came the green

haired pro's response and he put one hand on his rival's waist and rested the other on his

shoulder. He felt Shindo's body go rigid under his hands.

"This won't hurt. Trust me," Akira purred as he tried to comfort the nervous boy

who faced him. Hikaru felt a strange shiver of desire run down his spine at the sound

Touya's husky voice as it resounded softly in his ear. Shindo placed his hands around

the other boy's waist in response, surprised to find the hard muscular body under the polo

shirt even as he noted how soft and warm Akira still managed to feel beneath his finger

tips.

Hikaru sucked in his breath lightly as he closed his eyes, preparing for the kiss. It

seemed as though an eternity passed before anything happened. He was about to take a

step back and open his eyes when Shindo felt his rival's breath on his cheek, just before

their mouths made contact.

Hikaru was surprised to find how soft Akira's lips were as they pressed against

his own. He parted his mouth slightly as he felt the other boy's tongue gently caress his

lips and let it slip into the opening. Akira flicked his tongue against the roof of Hikaru's

mouth as he explored the foreign terrain. //This is kinda nice.// the blonde thought to

himself as he allowed the other boy to press against him more closely. //Very nice.//

A soft moan of pleasure caught in Shindo's throat as the other boy's tongue

tentatively began to massage his own.

Gently, Akira pulled out of the kiss.

"How was that?" he asked, hesitantly. He had heard Hikaru's groan and afraid

that he was hurting the other boy or that Shindo simply wanted him to stop Akira decided

to end the kiss there, although it took every ounce of his self control to make his body

obey.

Hikaru's eyes fluttered open, glazed over in pleasure. The blonde haired pro

licked his lips softly, savoring the sweet taste his rival left lingering in his mouth. He

made no reply but his gaze never wavered from Akira's mouth. Without a word Shindo

closed the small gap between their faces and pressed himself against the other boy once

more.

It was Akira's turn to be surprised as he felt his rival's tongue brushing against his

lips a moment before it entered his mouth. It was hard to believe Shindo had never done

this before. The smooth, rhythmic motions the other boy's tongue made as it massaged

his own sent waves of warmth rippling down his spine. Hikaru leaned deeper into the

embrace, lowering Akira onto the bed. He ran his hand through Touya's silky hair.

"I think," the blonde said breathing heavily as he fumbled with the other boy's

belt. "I think I like it." Akira looked up at him and grinned evilly.

"I've had better," he said nonchalantly.

"What?!?!" came the predictably loud and annoyed reply. The green haired

boy's smile widened.

"Baka," he breathed as he tugged on Hikaru's shirt, pulling him into another kiss.

"Akira?"

"Hmmm?" he moaned, slightly irritated by absence of his partner's warm and

deliciously soft lips.

"Call me Hikaru, Ok?" Akira smiled as his friend, his rival, his equal,

his ... everything looked down at him softly.

"Hai, Hikaru." came the answer as he captured the other boy's lips hungrily in

his mouth and they embraced each other again.

~The End~

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ummm.. How was that for an ending? Like I've said about a million and two times I've never done this before (just incase you forgot *rolls eyes*) so I wasn't sure how to end it. Tell me what you think so I can fix it in future fics. Oh and if you think I should be FINED if I decide to write any future fics, let me know that too. So I can SMACK you. (just kidding.. Mostly ^_^) Just tell me why. Ok? Thanks! Bye!