…This is the chapter that actually started this whole story. And guess what? This is the chapter that gave me the most trouble in writing it! Maa… Glares at chapter and then sighs. It's done now. I hope you still enjoy the story!
I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU!!! To Karen for giving me support with this story!!!
Disclaimer—The song 'Distance' is not of my own creation. I just borrowed it. Smiles. Evan and Jaron are the ones who sing this song so that's where you can find it if you like the lyrics. Again… these characters are not my own… I just love them too much to leave them alone. They belong to Hikaru no Go's author!!!
5.
Akira gave a soft smile, thankful that the plane ride had finally come to an end. He got up, stretching his legs and at the same time reaching for his bag that was in the overhead compartment. With the still determined and controlled movements that he had always possessed, Touya Akira moved out of the plane, ready to face whatever China would give him and ready… to find an answer to a question he didn't quite know the wording to.
With a last thought towards his eternal rival, the nineteen year old moved forward.
In Japan,
A week. A week… a whole damn week without him there. Without the random meetings in Go salons or games. Hikaru brooded, glaring at the sky as he continued to sit near the window. There was nothing to do but wait. Wait for the time to pass, for the days to start and end, and for the distance between them to disappear, as seven days would eclipse away. He sighed and ran a hand almost carelessly through his hair. He was being foolish--more than any lovesick girl he had ever met had been. Worse than even Akari had been when she'd finally figured out that she was in love with Mitani. He closed his eyes and let his head fall forward so that his forehead was pressed into the cold windowpane. His breath clouded the window, leaving its mark. He didn't even know what answer Akira would bring with him when he returned from his trip. Perhaps that was the main reason Hikaru felt like he couldn't cope… felt like he couldn't live another day without his rival there with him.
The sky
has lost its color
the sun has turned to grey
At least that's how it feels to me
whenever you're away
His eyes fixed themselves on the clock on the wall, ignoring Waya's loud bantering and teasing. He knew his friend was trying to get him to relax, to think of other things. But it wasn't working. He just wanted Akira to come home. There was a dull pain in his chest where his heart lay. He gave an odd little smile as the minute hand moved down and then he shook his head. How the hell had he not noticed how hard he'd fallen for the other boy? How could he have missed the signs? And why did he have to realize them now that Akira was so far away? It wasn't fair. Akira would laugh at him if he saw how he was acting like right now. Not that he'd ever seen Akira laugh for that matter but still… Hikaru bit off a sigh and moved away from the clock, going instead to the door to reach for his coat. In a couple days… only a couple more days and then he'd know… and then Akira would be back… and it wouldn't really matter one way or another.
I crawl
up in the corner
To watch the minutes pass
Each one brings me closer to
The time you're coming back
He walked out of his apartment, closing his coat as he realized how fresh and cool the wind had become. Winter was coming. He turned his face towards the sky and let a smile tug at his lips. He wondered idly if Touya Akira had ever let himself play in the snow before. "Hey Shindo… wait up you baka." Waya's voice called out from behind. Hikaru turned to see him and Isumi, surprised and was given an understanding smile. "Come on… We haven't been to see Kawai-san in ages." The redhead placed an arm over his friend's shoulder and promptly started to drag him over in the direction of the Go salon where years before Isumi, Waya, and he had played against three old fogies… dispelling his fear of older go players. The smile that had been tugging at his lips minutes before left only because Hikaru felt that he should at least protest a bit at being handled like a sack of potatoes. The smile though stayed in his eyes, for once all thoughts of distance pushed a bit further away. The shouts of the two professional go players did nothing to scare the crowd around them and Isumi sighed, a hand coming to touch the side of his head as if a small headache was starting to throb there.
As night came and the games of Go filled with laughter and petty insults died away, Hikaru was left once again to his thoughts. His grey green eyes darkened with emotion as he once again went back to staring out the window. "Goodnight Akira…" He whispered to himself.
I can't
take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until I next see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That with every breath I take
I'm calling your name
But I can't take the distance
He marked a day off the calendar with a barely suppressed grin, down two days…only five more to go. Hikaru ignored quite pointedly the desperate sigh that came from Waya's direction and sat down for a quick breakfast that thank the god, had been cooked by Isumi and not Waya. Hikaru already knew what was the cause of Waya's sigh and he really didn't want to go through the endless teasing that he knew would come if he made even one comment about it. Between mouthfuls he was saved by Isumi who gently asked if he had a match today or a go tutoring lesson planned that day. Shaking his head to the first yet nodding to the next, Hikaru managed to swallow what he had been chewing on.
"Akari…" He muttered at Waya's questioning look. The other boy nodded after he reminded himself who it was, a grin on his face. "…dunno know why she wants to continue." Hikaru continued slowly, knowing he was distracting himself but reassuring the others with his usual mindless chatter. "She sucks at Go. Always has, always will." Waya rolled his eyes and gave a little snort. "What?!"
"Well look at her teacher…" The redhead ducked, missing being punched by mere inches.
I still
believe my feelings
But sometimes I feel too much
I make believe you're close to me
But it ain't close enough
Not nearly close enough
Another day was gone and over. Hikaru stretched, pausing in his movement when his arms were over his head, clasped together with his hands. How many days were left? He closed his eyes. Three? Something like that. A sigh passed through his lips and he let his body relax, falling onto the makeshift bed on the couch that Waya and Isumi had made for him during his short stay. After having made himself comfortable, the half bleached blond boy let his mind wander. He wondered what China was like and if Akira was going to meet up with any of their adversaries that he knew of. A wry grin came to his face as he imagined further the tall pale boy fighting over a Go board. That determined look on his face that Hikaru knew so well…
The image stayed with him throughout the night and the next day as well, bringing a soft comfort as Hikaru tried to wait as patiently as he could.
I can't
take the distance
I can't take the miles
I can't take the time
Until I next see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That with every breath I take
I'm calling your name
Next day…
"I just don't get it…" Waya muttered softly, carefully trying to not be overheard by the boy he knew was resting on the couch. He turned to Isumi, who was preparing the ingredients that would be needed to make dinner on the kitchen counter, his amber eyes serious. "What the heck does he see in that arrogant…" He waved a hand, assuming that Isumi knew whom he was talking about. Isumi gave a small smile and shrugged.
"I don't know Waya. I could only guess… if you wanted an exact answer you'd have to ask Shindo yourself." To that Waya made a face and huffed a sigh. The last thing he wanted was to hear somebody, who was obviously head over heels, list off the reasons of why they were that way. He shook his head trying to rid himself of the most bizarre mental image of Shindo with eyes the shape of hearts, sighing blissfully as he spoke of Touya, Akira. The thought made him shiver with disgust and amusement.
"I'll pass… thanks." He muttered, scowling at his best friend and lover who in return just chuckled softly. They stayed comfortable in the silence, sharing each other's company. It was Waya who broke the silence, his amber eyes full of an emotion that took Isumi a moment or two to figure out what it was. Pained understanding. "…I thought… you'd never come back either." The younger man continued, washing the vegetables like he'd been doing before, carefully avoiding looking in the dark blue eyes he knew were watching him. "I would have done anything… anything at all to have you back home…" He trailed off, shaking the last of the water off the vegetables and dumping them ungraciously into the awaiting pot. "Seeing Shindo… makes me relive every moment I waited to get news from you." Waya gave a little startled sigh as the taller boy came from behind him, wrapping warm and strong arms around him, his head dropping to rest on Waya's shoulder.
"I came back…"
"Aa…you came back." The redhead smiled, his own arms coming to entangle with those that were wrapped around him.
I'd
brave fire and I'd brave rain
To be by your side
I'd do anything
I can't take the distance
There was only a day left. One day left and it was killing him. He just couldn't sit still. He asked again for Waya to retrieve the e-mail Akira had sent them. The redhead snarled something that was not understandable in the least making Hikaru harass him further. After a few minutes of heated shouting, Isumi came in a frown on his face.
"If you two keep this up, the neighbors will start to complain." He snapped, surprising both of them. "What is going on anyway?" The situation was explained and the look of exasperation on Isumi's face was priceless. "Waya… stop torturing Shindo, print the e-mail out for him if you're so sick of repeating it to him and Shindo… leave Waya alone for god's sake. You know how he gets when it concerns Touya. So don't push it." He turned to leave, not taking any notice to the two open mouthed and blinking boys he left behind. Hikaru was the one who first came back from his surprise.
"I didn't know Isumi-kun got angry!" He hissed out, making sure to keep his voice low. Waya continued to blink.
"Oh no…" He moaned. "A bitchy boyfriend…help! This is all your fault Shindo!"
"Hey, don't you start! All I asked for was…" And on and on it continued, making the minutes tick away gently as the day continued to fade away.
I will
go the distance
I will go the miles
That's how much you mean to me
I can't take the distance
I can't take these miles
I can't take the time
Until I next see you smile
I can't take the distance
And I'm not ashamed
That with every breath
I take I'm calling your name
I can't take the distance
Day of Akira's arrival…
Hikaru ran to where Akira's apartment building lay, ignoring the rain as he let his excitement over any rational thought. There were only a couple more hours and then Akira would be back… he would be back. The thought made his heart skip a bit and a wild grin made its way on his face. The waiting would soon be over.
A/N… oh my god!!! This chapter is done. Does a little dance. Smiles. I just couldn't resist the little Waya and Isumi cuteness… grins.
So how was it??? Was it bad, good…??? Lol. Hope you enjoyed it. I'm gonna run off to continue writing.
