Okay people let me clear something up about this wonderful, wonderful story. It is NOT a Shonen-ai, NOT A SHONEN-AI! Okay, well now that you understand Shindou and Akira AREN'T gonna get it on any time soon either leave if you are disappointed or sit back, smile, think happy pure thoughts and say to yourself, 'What a swell story!'

The morning air was soft and slightly chilly. Children ran and played on the swings and slides completely carefree. Three teenage boys sat on a bench watching all of this without really watching being too busy having intelligent conversations of their own…

"And then he said, 'If I beat him will you pretend we never met him' and then I was like 'Take your meds Touya' and then I left him there. I seriously believe something's wrong with that guy," Hikaru concluded gulping the rest of the soda he had just bought.

Waya and Isumi watched him wearily, occasionally sipping their own drinks.

"And then?" Waya prodded impatiently.

Hikaru burrowed his brow in concentration, "And then…my mom made me ramen and I went to sleep."

Waya rolled his eyes, "Did someone hit you over the head with a Go board are you that dense? I meant what happened after that with Touya. Did he call you or go over to your house again?"

"Oh…no, but when I went up to my room to leave my stuff he was still standing out there."

"Creepy…"

"Whatever the case, you lost against that boy, Rei. When did you say the rematch was?" Isumi asked tossing his empty can to a nearby trash landing perfectly. Waya imitated him but the can went sailing farther than intended hitting a passing old lady. They watched horrified as the elderly woman yelled herself hoarse calling them names that made even Hikaru's ears burn. She also made a rude gesture before turning stiffly and going her way.

"Creepy…"

"Yeah…the rematch is the day after tomorrow, Friday I think," Hikaru continued as if there had been no interruption whatsoever.

"Hikaru, we have the North Star tournament on Friday," Isumi protested scandalized.

Hikaru's eyes widened, his stomach clenching, "No we don't."

"Yes we do."

"No!"

"Yes!"

"Damn…"

Waya snorted thumping Hikaru lightly in the back, "Wow, you are dense. Ask your mom if she dropped you on your head when you were born."

"Are you sure you want to do this Akira?" Touya senior asked his son whose eyes were glued to his hands on his lap. Akira nodded slowly then stopped, no, he wasn't sure. Touya Kouyo halted the vehicle before Sekai High. Students poured out smiling and joking, school was over.

He turned off the car and turned to look at Akira. Silence filled the compact space with laughter and catcalls filtering through the closed windows.

"Akira, ask yourself why you are doing this, then everything will become easier," it was a suggestion not a command. More time passed in which father and son sat with their complicated thoughts and emotions.

"He doesn't want me to do this," Akira finally said resignedly avoiding his father's piercing stare, "Let's go."

"Hikaru doesn't, that's right…but you do right? You don't want to prove Hikaru you are better than that boy, you never did. What you really wanted…what you really needed was to convince yourself."

Akira clenched his hands until the knuckles had become ghostly white, his dark hair fell to cover his expression, "I lost by seven moku! To-to him," he whispered, "And then Shindou had to go out and ask for a match, it made me so mad. I know I would've done the same thing but still…"

His father sighed rubbing his temples with his right hand, "Go, go and get the answers Shindou can't give you, go!" that had certainly been a command.

Startled Akira turned to his father who gazed at him with tired yet strong ebony eyes. He nodded speechless and unlatched his door. His father made soft shooing gestures until Akira had slammed the door shut smiling softly. To think his father would be on his way to China if it hadn't been for this.

Last night Akira had gotten home in a thunderous mood, angered by Hikaru's insolent attitude. His father had been packing hastily for a trip next day at noon but he had sensed something wrong. He had grilled Akira to the point of breaking so that Akira ended telling his retired father everything.

"I will take you to the school; you'll decide what to do then," his father had said early in the morning while Akira emerged from the covers. It didn't matter how much Akira assured him he would be fine, Touya senior had made up his mind, which was widely known, was made out of steel.

Akira crossed the street not bothering to look behind at least once. He knew he was still back there, hoping for the best.

He crossed the hoard of emerging students wondering how in the world he was suppose to find Rei; like a needle in a hay stack. He was about to stop someone at random when he saw the long haired boy laughing his head off at something one of his friends had said.

"Rei!"

The cold blue eyes fixated themselves on him seeming more amused than surprised at Akira's sudden appearance.

"The Famous Akira Touya!" Rei exclaimed for his friends to hear. Most of them sniggered at the disdainful tone in his voice. "What brings you to this neck of the woods?"

"A rematch."

"Ah, I see," he said nodding solemnly, "It's too bad I can't give it to you…"

Akira's eyes widened, his anger spiking up a notch, "Why not?"

Rei scratched his head pretending to be in deep thought, "Well…for one thing I hate spending my free afternoon playing Go. It's stupid to play a game for so long, why don't you get yourself a girl? It'll loosen you up Akira-kun."

"Don't call me that like you know me."

"Touya-san, another reason is that I just don't want to play you, it wouldn't be fun…well maybe if you accept the handicap."

"I want to play you evenly," Akira said through clenched teeth.

"No can do," Rei said shrugging his shoulders melodramatically, "Go play Shindou, he's game is trash just like yours—."

Rei didn't see the fist coming, not until it crashed with his left eye. Surprised by the sudden blow he lost his balance and toppled over. Akira Touya towered over him looking oddly calm. Rei's friends stood of to the side unsure of what to do.

"Fine, I now see that to play you would be a waste of time too," Akira said softly staring him down, "I just hope Shindou hurries and realizes it too, we have the preliminaries for the Meijin title coming up. Shindou's head will have to clear his head of pointless worries to beat me."

Rei remained on the ground as Akira turned and left in a relaxed stride. He touched his eye tentatively wincing, feeling it swell by the second. Damn Akira Touya, damn him to hell!

"How did it go?" Touya senior asked astonished at how fast Akira had returned.

Akira shrugged flexing his right hand carefully, Rei's eye socket would leave a bruise on his knuckles, "It went fine, I got my answer."

"Well, I guess I'll be of," Waya said stretching and stifling a yawn.

"Why don't you come to the practice with us," Isumi offered, opening the door for the Go salon.

Waya shook his head yawning widely, "Nah, I'll just be in the way and besides; I have a study session with my master tonight, see ya'."

"Bye," Hikaru said glumly watching stubbornly until Waya had gone out of view.

"Shindou, let's go in," Isumi said sternly holding the door open for him. Hikaru nodded and went in. Kurata was already there setting a bag of goods by the table he was going to play on.

"Hey you two are late," Kurata scolded, "Have you seen Akira? He's usually here before me."

Hikaru and Isumi exchanged looks but didn't say anything.

Hikaru went to the bathroom while the others prepared. So he had gone after all, to play the rematch and 'prove he was better.' Typical Touya, Hikaru was confused at Touya's sudden attitude but then again he could never read Touya completely, he was just a too complicated.

"Okay let's get started," Kurata ordered once Hikaru had emerged from the restroom.

"Sorry I'm late," Akira Touya strolled in, the doors sliding behind him. Hikaru glowered after Akira walked in without giving him as much as a look. "Let's get started Isumi."

That made several eyebrows to be raised but no one said anything.

'Silence treatment Touya?' Hikaru thought fuming, 'Fine, I can play that game too you immature—.'

"Nigiri," Kurata said to Hikaru who obeyed refusing to turn and glare at his stupid rival.

But he had to admit he hadn't expected Akira to show up at all, this was so unlike him.

"Touya, what happened to your hand?" Isumi asked at the beginning of their game staring at the now black and blue forefingers as Akira placed a stone.

"Oh, I slammed it on the cupboard by accident this morning," he replied airily looking at Hikaru from the corner of his eye. Hikaru had turned to look at the hand but thought better of it returning to his game.

. Kurata turned from Hikaru's last move to analyze the injured hand frowning, "Does it hurt? Why don't you go get an ice pack?"

Hikaru glanced quickly at him and their eyes met. Akira knew Shindou was shocked he had shown to the practice. He had probably thought Akira would go and ask Rei for a rematch, skipping the study session even though he had told him no.

Akira turned back to his game and grinned at his colorful hand, how well his rival knew him.

I'm done for the day people. I bet none of you expected this stuff. Well, whatever, you know the usual; write if you want it changed and whatnot. I'm not done with the story in generalby the way so sit tight and wait for more. Do you guys want a fist fight with Akira and Shindou? Yes? No? Okay, I guess not...