* * *
Akira had found a good apartment. It was only a few blocks away from an igo solon, and a very good ramen restaurant. Nothing had been left to chance. It was small enough to be intimate but big enough to allow some privacy for Hikaru. It was exactly what Akira needed.
Akira was waiting outside. He'd already given the address to Hikaru over the phone and they had both agreed to move their stuff in today.
A smile crept across the corners of Akira's mouth. The infinite possibilities made his hands tremble in anticipation.
Oh yes this was a very good idea.
"Touya!"
Hikaru's voice always brought a strange feeling to Akira. It was a feeling of fulfillment and joy, and he could feel it all the way down to his bones.
"Shind... What are you doing here?" Joy had evaporated into jealousy and rage.
"Good morning." Akari-chan was so bright and cheerful. Akira just wanted to go dump her in Tokyo bay.
"I'm here to help!" She held out the box filled with cleaning supplies. "Where should we start?"
"Wait a sec..."
"I've got the cleaning supplies, so we can get the place spotless before you guys move in."
"But..."
"Sorry. Akari-chan really wanted to help. Touya are you all right?" Akira's face had turned pale, and his fists were clenched. "You don't look to good."
Akira took a deep breath to try to become calmer. Just the fact that Hikaru cared enough about him to worry about his health gave Akira strength. It also fueled his desire to have him as his own. Hikaru was brash, quick tempered, and the two would fight over the smallest differences in their playing philosophies, but the sincerity Hikaru felt for life and his straight forward honesty always seemed to draw Akira in like a fish on a hook.
"I'm fine." There really wasn't anything Akira could do about Akari right now. Patience was probably going to be the key. "The apartment is on the second floor. Come on, I'll show it to you. I've already moved in all of my stuff earlier this morning. We've each got our own room, the main room is 16 tatami so it should be pretty comfortable, but the kitchen is pretty small."
"Tatami?" Hikaru really looked oblivious. If only Akira had a camera handy.
"You measure traditional Japanese styled rooms by how many tatami fit in there."
"So that's what..."
Akira just nodded. Hikaru could be amazingly dense over the smallest things, still that naivety was incredibly charming and sweet in its own way.
"Cleaning tatami is a real chore." Akari chimed in.
"Yeah how would you know? I bet you didn't know what they were either." Hikaru just couldn't resist poking fun at her.
"Of course I do." She stood facing them both, her free hand akimbo on her hip. She was facing them both as proudly as a general would face her subordinates. "Tatami need periodic cleaning and mending. Dust likes to get caught inside so you have to clean them and clean under them too. Grandma used to have me help her with them."
"Yes, dear." Hikaru's voice was so dry it was obvious he was mocking her but Akira could feel something wrench at his heart. That stupid woman. Something in the way she was acting was making Akira nervous. It couldn't be that, maybe? No, they wouldn't... she wouldn't dare!
"I'll help you clean them up."
She did dare.
"I can come by and help with the laundry, tatami and other stuff you need help with. It won't be any trouble. Besides since your helping me with igo anyway Hikaru-kun it's the least I can do."
Akira just couldn't take it anymore. She was moving in on His territory. There had to be a way to shut her down before things got any worse.
"No really it's alright, Shindou and I can..."
"Thanks a lot!" Hikaru gave her a big boyish grin, which made her blush with pleasure. "I hate cleaning. It definitely beats us having to do it!"
"Hold on a second, I'll help out but I'm not your personal maid. Hikaru!" Akari looked like she had been caught in an unexpected trap.
"Don't worry I know you'll do a great job!"
"It's not that!" She knew she was caught, and it didn't help that she'd never been able to deny Hikaru anything. "I'll come by later to help with everything. I've got a few things left to do this morning, so I'll see you later." Akari pushed the box of cleaning supplies at Akira, before she ran down the street.
Akira just stared down at his hands clutching the box that Akari had shoved at him. Things were getting a little too complicated. Something had to be done, and fast. Before she managed to destroy his new found happiness.
Akira had found a good apartment. It was only a few blocks away from an igo solon, and a very good ramen restaurant. Nothing had been left to chance. It was small enough to be intimate but big enough to allow some privacy for Hikaru. It was exactly what Akira needed.
Akira was waiting outside. He'd already given the address to Hikaru over the phone and they had both agreed to move their stuff in today.
A smile crept across the corners of Akira's mouth. The infinite possibilities made his hands tremble in anticipation.
Oh yes this was a very good idea.
"Touya!"
Hikaru's voice always brought a strange feeling to Akira. It was a feeling of fulfillment and joy, and he could feel it all the way down to his bones.
"Shind... What are you doing here?" Joy had evaporated into jealousy and rage.
"Good morning." Akari-chan was so bright and cheerful. Akira just wanted to go dump her in Tokyo bay.
"I'm here to help!" She held out the box filled with cleaning supplies. "Where should we start?"
"Wait a sec..."
"I've got the cleaning supplies, so we can get the place spotless before you guys move in."
"But..."
"Sorry. Akari-chan really wanted to help. Touya are you all right?" Akira's face had turned pale, and his fists were clenched. "You don't look to good."
Akira took a deep breath to try to become calmer. Just the fact that Hikaru cared enough about him to worry about his health gave Akira strength. It also fueled his desire to have him as his own. Hikaru was brash, quick tempered, and the two would fight over the smallest differences in their playing philosophies, but the sincerity Hikaru felt for life and his straight forward honesty always seemed to draw Akira in like a fish on a hook.
"I'm fine." There really wasn't anything Akira could do about Akari right now. Patience was probably going to be the key. "The apartment is on the second floor. Come on, I'll show it to you. I've already moved in all of my stuff earlier this morning. We've each got our own room, the main room is 16 tatami so it should be pretty comfortable, but the kitchen is pretty small."
"Tatami?" Hikaru really looked oblivious. If only Akira had a camera handy.
"You measure traditional Japanese styled rooms by how many tatami fit in there."
"So that's what..."
Akira just nodded. Hikaru could be amazingly dense over the smallest things, still that naivety was incredibly charming and sweet in its own way.
"Cleaning tatami is a real chore." Akari chimed in.
"Yeah how would you know? I bet you didn't know what they were either." Hikaru just couldn't resist poking fun at her.
"Of course I do." She stood facing them both, her free hand akimbo on her hip. She was facing them both as proudly as a general would face her subordinates. "Tatami need periodic cleaning and mending. Dust likes to get caught inside so you have to clean them and clean under them too. Grandma used to have me help her with them."
"Yes, dear." Hikaru's voice was so dry it was obvious he was mocking her but Akira could feel something wrench at his heart. That stupid woman. Something in the way she was acting was making Akira nervous. It couldn't be that, maybe? No, they wouldn't... she wouldn't dare!
"I'll help you clean them up."
She did dare.
"I can come by and help with the laundry, tatami and other stuff you need help with. It won't be any trouble. Besides since your helping me with igo anyway Hikaru-kun it's the least I can do."
Akira just couldn't take it anymore. She was moving in on His territory. There had to be a way to shut her down before things got any worse.
"No really it's alright, Shindou and I can..."
"Thanks a lot!" Hikaru gave her a big boyish grin, which made her blush with pleasure. "I hate cleaning. It definitely beats us having to do it!"
"Hold on a second, I'll help out but I'm not your personal maid. Hikaru!" Akari looked like she had been caught in an unexpected trap.
"Don't worry I know you'll do a great job!"
"It's not that!" She knew she was caught, and it didn't help that she'd never been able to deny Hikaru anything. "I'll come by later to help with everything. I've got a few things left to do this morning, so I'll see you later." Akari pushed the box of cleaning supplies at Akira, before she ran down the street.
Akira just stared down at his hands clutching the box that Akari had shoved at him. Things were getting a little too complicated. Something had to be done, and fast. Before she managed to destroy his new found happiness.