a/n: Because it had to happen.
Part 10. Go Should Not Be Used This Way, beginning
"Where's Shindou?" Nase asked Waya as she joined him and Isumi in the go institute's elevator. Touya followed her, and they held the door for him, for all that he was not exactly one of their usual friends.
"Gone," Waya sighed. "Said something about going for a drive."
"Did he...?" Nase's question had the hesitant worry that had become de rigeur when gossiping about Shindou these days.
"Third straight loss this week," her friend confirmed. Nase shook her head, Isumi pursed his lips. "What? Do you know something?" For a moment, Isumi looked conflicted about answering, but then:
"It's Akari." They all sighed. This was no surprise. "No, something new; she's been offered a job in America." That was news. Touya, still ostensibly ignoring the conversation, was quick to catch the deeper significance. Of the others, Nase was the first to realize.
"She's taking their daughter with her?" she gasped, holding a hand to her mouth. She had a daughter of her own, and clearly the thought of losing her resonated. The elevator doors opened and they all exited. Touya walked somewhat slower than the rest, for all that they were headed in the same direction. He wasn't really part of this conversation. Even so, he listened as they made their way to the doors.
"Apparently she told him that she'd let Kinume stay when the girl could win an even match with him."
Nase gave a slight whistle. "That's a bit harsh. It's not like that's the only thing he ever thinks about."
"That bitch is ruining his life! No wonder he can't play." Waya's asperity was met with both agreement and admonishment, but any further comments were lost as the three passed through the glass doors. Touya rearranged a few papers in his briefcase, then opened the door and headed down the street in the direction of his train stop.
The young man caught his train in plenty of time, and was even lucky enough to get a seat. The fact failed to please him. He sighed. The trend in Shindou's game was irritating. The way his rival had been avoiding social contact almost entirely was annoying. The fact that Hikaru apparently had yet to file the paperwork to divorce his wife was confusing, and the truth that Akira had actually spent so much time wondering about the entire situation was downright alarming. Beyond the window, city lights flashed past almost hypnotically. By the time he reached his stop, the young professional still had not put the issue behind him.
It would not do for both of them to fall to pieces. Shindou's life was as unpredictable as his play, and how he chose to handle both was entirely up to him. His moves tended to be deep and far thinking, and in the end often worked out well for him. With any luck, that strategy would prove successful in life as well. As to the strange aching sympathy and distracting concern Akira held for his friend... well there were more important things to concentrate on.
One of them was, in fact, sleeping on his doorstep.
Touya glanced at his watch: almost nine o'clock. He had no idea how long Kinume had been sitting there, but noting the way her breath caught even in sleep, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to wake her. Even so, it was cold out, and the neighbors would no doubt think poorly of him were he to leave a child on his doorstep all night.
"Do your parents know you're here?" At the sound of his voice, she jerked awake, startled. For an instant, her eyes registered confusion, while her brain attempted to catch up. Then, the usual sure demeanor reasserted itself. She tucked a few purple strands behind her ear and stood.
"I told Ka-san I'd be staying with a friend." Something in her voice was not quite right, but he unlocked the door and ushered her in anyway.
"Did she give you permission?" He set down his briefcase and slipped off his loafers while the girl tossed her backpack into the hallway and tugged her sneakers roughly from her feet.
"She wants to take me to America!" Clearly maternal permission had not been an issue when Kinume left. "She wants me to leave my friends and my father and MY LIFE!" The girl stormed past her teacher in the direction of the living room, not waiting for a response. "She never even ASKED me what I might want. She doesn't CARE!" He heard her sniffle slightly on this last statement, and stopped in the kitchen to collect a packet of tissues before following her. By the time he reached the living room, Kinume was leaning into his closet, presumably to drag out the goban. "I don't want to go live in some foreign country," she tugged on something hidden by the shoji screen door, "and I don't want to speak English all the time," a harder tug, "and I..." but at this point, the goban pulled free of whatever had been hindering it, and the girl stumbled backwards, landing hard on her derrière while the board landed on her left shin with a thud. "I just don't want her to leave," she sobbed, although whether entirely from emotion or from the fall, Touya couldn't tell. He bent to lift the goban off her leg and carried it to its usual place beside the window. Returning, he handed her the packet of tissues, and withdrew the two go ke's from the closet. She blew her nose noisily, then stood and limped over to the board.
"There is ice in the freezer and plastic bags are in the second drawer down, to the right of the sink. Make use of both, please, while I change." She nodded and headed back to the kitchen, while Touya disappeared into his bedroom. He emerged several minutes later in a comfortable, if almost painfully matching ensemble of light-blue sweat pants and zippered pullover, bearing a hand towel. Kinume was sitting beside the board, left leg outstretched and bag of ice pressed against the already-forming bruise. One benefit of being clumsy her entire life was that she did know her first aid. Touya handed her the towel, and she wrapped the bag before reapplying it.
"So, why are you here?" he asked, sitting on the other side of the board.
"I need you to show me how to beat my father." Her voice wavered slightly, but her eyes were dead serious. He noticed that she had yet to place the usual three stones of her handicap.
"In time, I'm sure you could become a formidable opponent for him, Kinume, but--"
"Thursday. I need to beat him on Thursday." Angry tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes, and Touya decided not to chide her for interrupting.
"Impossible," he murmured, instantly wishing he had even slightly more of what his mother called people skills. "In a year, maybe two, I could--"
"It's the only way she'll STAY!" The girl all but screamed. This time, he did raise an eyebrow at her impoliteness, and she immediately subsided, weeping softly. Before he could stop her, she pulled herself to the side of the board to face him directly, and tucking both legs beneath her, bowed her head to the tatami. "Please, Touya Akira-sensei. Help me." He sighed and reached down to raise her chin. She did not smile, but got up and re-situated herself before the board, replacing the ice pack.
"Have you tried simply talking to her?" he asked. "Staking her daughter's future on a game of go does not seem like your mother's style." Kinume blew her nose again before replying.
"She wasn't going to give me any option. I overheard her fighting with Tou-san, and when she said that I could stay if I beat him, I stepped in and told her I accepted before she could take it back."
"Kinume, even I only defeat your father about sixty percent of the time." He looked up at her small, bitter laugh, and raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"He says he wins sixty percent of the time, too." Her pride was obvious, even through the remnants of her earlier outburst. The go master bit back a retort, choosing instead to demonstrate his point.
He withdrew a handful of white stones from the go ke at his right knee, placing them on the board. Surprised, Kinume extracted a single black stone from hers. She'd guessed wrong. They traded coffers and he placed an opening move. "Have you discussed this competition with him?"
"He had to leave for a game." That certainly explained the loss to Waya.
"I'm certain, given the circumstances, that he will happily throw the game for you," mused Touya. Strange that part of him was disappointed at this thought. For all the unfairness of stakes, he was rather looking forward to the day his student surprised his rival.
"And have Ka-san say he cheated and she doesn't have to honor the agreement?" She began a strong opening sequence. "Anyway, once she figured out I was serious, Ka-san and I talked terms," she gave a loud sigh. "I'm pretty sure she was trying to talk me out of it."
"So what are the terms?" She was doing well, but already, Touya could see the inroads he would exploit to win this game. She never played her best while talking. He placed a stone.
"I'm black, but there's a half-point komi, so no ties." Her next move was better than her last, but still not spectacular or surprising. "Oji-san's bringing the board, and we're playing at his house so that nobody can get mad." Touya could see the wisdom of utilizing an elder family member's home. It would give all concerned a reason to remain civil, and provide some distance from the troubled confines of the family's own house. He played, and she continued. "Other than that, I'm allowed to invite one friend, if I want – anyone I want. Ka-san has to watch the whole game, no matter what happens, and she can't move anything out of her room until it's over. If I win, she doesn't move to America. If Tou-san wins, I go without complaining. Oji-san will be there for Tou-san, and because he said a game like this should only be played on his board..." Her eyes focused on the game in front of her, and he could see her beginning to realize her peril. Placing her next move, Kinume's fingers were less certain than usual, the tiniest tremor betraying her. Touya's response was immediate. He watched as she scanned the board.
"Will it make any difference if you only lose by a small margin?" Surely Akari would grant her daughter, and herself, some concession. She had to know how thoroughly the holder of two professional titles was likely to defeat an amateur. She had to realize how this game could devastate both her husband and her child. Did she care that the latter would hold herself responsible for her mother's leaving if she lost? Was she pleased that her husband would never be able to take joy in the game again if he won with such stakes as these? Her daughter was concentrating on the game, now, and could not answer. For the next forty minutes, the only sound was of clicking stones.
Touya faced the child across from him, his eyes boring into hers. She saw it, and he could see that she saw it. Kinume bowed. "I resign." It had been a surprisingly decent game, given the circumstances, but Touya had still defeated her mercilessly. "Oh God, it's hopeless," she whispered. They cleared the board in silence, while she struggled not to cry again. He was about to suggest that he take her home, when she raised her face and set her jaw. "It's hopeless, but it's all I've got." She sat up a little straighter, wincing at the motion of her leg. "I'm not leaving until Thursday." She smacked a handful of white stones down on the board in challenge. He'd heard that tone of voice before.
"Very well." I owe Shindou this, and so much more... "Perhaps before we play again, you should study a few kifu." He stood, heading to his office to print out the ones he had in mind. He heard her running water in the kitchen.
"Thank you, Touya-san," she called down the hall. "Oh, and do you have any aspirin?"