2
After having called Waya and being teased mercilessly by the redhead over the phone, a red faced Hikaru had made his way into the kitchen without getting lost on the way because a delicious smell was wafting in the air, telling him exactly where to go. He blushed harder as Touya looked up from mixing a sauce of something.
"Everything go ok?" He asked, his tone as quiet as usual.
"Yeah… Waya's being a jerk that's all." As if that explained anything at all.
"Oh?" Akira looked away. "It'll be done soon." He muttered, wondering what exactly it was that had made Shindo say that particular thing about his best friend. He sighed inwardly, guessing that it was probably due to the unexplainable hatred that Waya-san held for him. The redhead just couldn't stand his sight… or his name for that matter. He pulled the spoon out of the quick sauce he had pulled together, blowing on it softly before bringing it to his lips.
Hikaru just watched him, a bit lost. So maybe there was a grain of truth in Waya's words… maybe. Perhaps… but such a tiny grain… it was nothing. Nothing. He looked away, feeling his blush intensify.
"It's ready." Touya muttered. "Sorry…it's nothing fancy. Just a quick home cooked meal." He smiled as he made his way to the small kitchen table and placed the pot on a mat so to not burn the wood. He then went back to the stove, taking another pot and emptying it out in a strainer to drain the water from the pasta.
"I'm sorry I took so long on the phone… I didn't even get to help you." Touya shrugged.
"You're my guest Shindo. It's fine." He brought the pasta over and filled Hikaru's plate with some until Hikaru said with a slightly panicked voice, "that's good! That's good! Arigato." He placed the rest in his own plate and then pushed the pot with sauce towards his guest. "Eat up Shindo. I promise it's not poisoned." Hikaru smiled at that, and helped himself to the sauce before gathering up his courage and lightly saying something he'd wanted to say for years before.
"You could call me Hikaru, you know. We've known each other for how long now? 6 years?" Akira looked startled to say the least before smiling that soft polite smile that Hikaru had grown used to not seeing.
"Akira." The nineteen year old then muttered. "Is it good Hikaru?" Hikaru nodded enthusiastically.
"Very." And with that said, the two continued eating in companionable silence that was only broken with a slight slurp here and there coming from Hikaru's side of the table.
…
"Thank you for the meal."
"You're welcome." Akira answered, taking the dishes and putting them in the sink. Hikaru stood up and walked to the sink and grabbed a dish towel.
"I can help… if that's ok with you? I promise not to break anything."
"That's reassuring."
…
"What do you mean… Friday is the last time we'll see each other for awhile? Don't you have games to go to? I mean… where the heck are you gonna be?" Hikaru asked curiously, trying to stop the sudden frantic beat of his heart. He didn't understand where Akira was getting at. The black haired youth put one of the dried dishes away and looked at Hikaru with a larger smile than Hikaru had ever thought would be possible to see on his face.
"I'm going to go to China. My plane leaves on Saturday. Father is moving there with mother and they need help. They also would like me to consider about living there… but… well I'm going there to see how I'd like it." The soft spoken words were met with a horrified expression.
"But… but what about Go?" 'What about me?' "I mean… you're a Japanese pro. You have responsibilities here!" Akira blinked.
"I know that." He said a bit frustrated. "I wouldn't be leaving them at all. There is something called an airplane Shindo."
"Hikaru."
"Hikaru." Akira amended his tone softening once more. "Think of the possibilities. I could be training with some of the greatest Chinese pros." 'You'll be so far away…'
"Is Go all you can ever think of?" Hikaru snapped, shocking Akira.
"No but…" 'I'm the one who brought it up.' "…you asked…" He trailed off. "Are you all right Hikaru? Why is this upsetting you?"
"You're leaving me behind!" He said angrily. "How else am I supposed to react?" Akira's eyes flashed.
"I'm not leaving anyone behind! What is wrong with you? Don't you see that with me learning new moves and then coming back here and playing you-- will only make both of us stronger?" He laid his towel back on the side of the sink, letting it dry. "How do you expect us to reach the hand of god with just…" Whatever he said next, Hikaru didn't hear. He couldn't hear it. He didn't want to.
"Whatever. Thank you for dinner." He bowed his head and made his way out of the apartment, lost in thought. Akira was leaving… Akira was leaving…
…
Tbc… Poor Hikaru… huggles the Go player and than huggles Akira cause he's her favorite and anyway, its not his fault he's clueless!!! Lol. The next ch. Will be up as soon as possible. I promise!!!
