An Act of Chance

Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru no Go or any of the characters presented in the story with the exception of Mimiru. I claim no rights to it and the characters in this story are used without permission (and I'm also not being paid).

-~-~-~-

Mimiru knocked on the door of the Akari and Hikaru's apartment. She still wasn't sure exactly why her friend was staying here, but she couldn't deny that Akari had been much happier since she had come. Before she had moved in three months ago, she talked very little at school, and if she did talk, it was only with Mimiru or a teacher. Now she was becoming more lively, and just the day before she had been asked out on a date (which she had politely declined).

The door opened and Mimiru was greeted by the faces of both Hikaru and Akari, as well as Waya. "Hey, thanks for agreeing to drive us!" Waya thanked Mimiru and she stared at him for a moment as if he were retarded.

"She's coming with us, Waya," Akari stated as Hikaru snickered behind his hand. Mimiru shook her head as Waya ("I knew that!") and Hikaru followed Akari and her.

"By the way, where are we going?" Waya asked, trying to hide his blush.

"Oh yeah, we didn't tell you, did we?" Hikaru replied. "We're gonna go out to eat and then we're gonna stop at that cafe that the girls like so much. Or something like that."

They grabbed a bite at the local burger joint before heading off to a cafe by the name of "Coffee Haus."

"So we headed down to the desk, and who should be there but the old oaf himself!" Waya said with a grin. "He almost pissed his pants when he saw Shindo coming. He ran outta the place." There was a collective laugh around the table as the tale came to a close. When the laughter finally died away, they there was an awkward silence as the girls stared at the boys.

"Hey, you guys should go get the drinks," Mimiru said sweetly to Waya, who blushed and stood up right away. Hikaru grinned at this and followed the brunette's lead.

When the two boys were out of earshot, Mimiru turned to Akari. "So???" she asked hungrily.

Akari looked at her as though she were a madwoman and replied, "So what?"

"About Hikaru! What exactly is going on between you two?" Mimiru asked again, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world... Which it was.

Akari blushed and began making circles on the table with her finger, "Nothing's there Mimiru. You're imagining things..."

"Yeah right! I see the way you've been looking at him. And the way you've changed since you two moved in together in February. Everyone's noticed," Mimiru said seriously.

Akari would admit to that, though for a different reason, "That's because I don't have to go to a job. That's it!"

"But you would still be in total stress mode if it weren't for Hikaru letting you live with him for no cost what so ever," Mimiru pointed out.

"That doesn't mean anything. I mean, we've been friends since we were born! I wouldn't expect him to turn his back on me... and I won't turn on him either," she added as an afterthought.

Mimiru could've easily pointed out that Akari hadn't thought that her family would turn on her either. However, that was not the thing to bring up. So instead she sat quietly as Waya set her drink in front of her.

~-~

"Sooooo? Is Akari fair game?" Waya asked as he leaned against the counter.

"No, not quite yet," Hikaru replied as he rolled his eyes.

"So I was right then. You do like her?" Waya said.

Hikaru shook his head fervently, "We've been best friends since we were born. I don't quite see it that way."

"Then how come I'm not allowed to date her?"

Hikaru sighed, "She's been under a lot of stress for a while now. I don't think she should be dating yet."

"Protective much? I thought that would be her decision to make," Waya said with a grin as he lifted two of the coffees that had been set before him.

"Shut up," Hikaru replied in annoyance as he lifted two coffees as well and began walking towards the girls.

~-~

Akira stood in front of the door to Hikaru's apartment trying to sort out what he should do. Ichikawa's words came back to him. He had to talk to Hikaru.

He could hear the laughter of several people, at least two of them female. This didn't surprise him in the least, the the fact that it sounded so joyous while he was so miserable severely irked him.

Ever since several months earlier...

He knocked rapidly on the door, though he had always had a quiet knock. His anger boiled as he realized that the knock hadn't been heard, so he resorted to turning the knob.

Hikaru would leave it unlocked.

~-~

Hikaru turned as the door to his apartment opened unexpectedly. He glowered as the face of Akira appeared before him. "What are you doing here?" he asked calmly.

"I came to talk to you. I knocked, but apparently you didn't hear me. I take it you're having a lot of fun," Akira replied dryly.

"Yeah, as a matter of fact, I am. And I told you, I don't have those feelings for you any more. I thought you'd give up by now," Hikaru replied icily.

Waya watched in silence and held up a hand when Akari was about to speak. She looked over at him and he shook his head. "Don't interupt them," he whispered to both she and Mimiru.

"I know, I know, you've told me several thousand times. That's not why I'm here," Akira returned.

"Then what do you want from me?"

"I want to know why you disappeared. You up and left and when we saw each other, you acted as though we'd never met," Akari yelled angrily.

"I don't want to be around you anymore because you keep trying to revive something that was never there!" Hikaru hurled back.

"Or maybe you're hiding from something that was!" Akira stated calmly.

Hikaru glared without so much as a grunt. Then he stood up and walked over to the balcony.

Between the couch and the wall, he had stored his go set. Often times, he would get this out and play a game with Waya or Akari or another of his friends, or perhaps help Akari teach Mimiru how to play.

Now it was going to get a use that was much more important.

~-~

Akari couldn't believe what she was hearing. What were these feelings they were talking about.

Had she been watching this sort of situation on TV or even been an outsider who happened to witness it by accident, she would've known immediately what those words meant. But in this instance, the definition illuded her somehow. No... she refused to understand it.

She was affraid of what this event meant. Hikaru couldn't be.. No, that wouldn't be right! She'd known him forever!

No, not anymore. She watched in silent fear of what would happen.

~-~

The two pros sat down across from each other and chose for color. Naturally, Hikaru chose for black, and the game immediately got underway.

For Mimiru the moves didn't mean much. Sure, she had expressed and interest in the game, but it was more of a passing thing. But the way the moves were carried out- with such passion and intensity- was beautiful. It was graceful and practiced, as if they'd played this game out before, every move was so precise.

Hikaru set a stone down so furiously that Mimiru almost thought it would break in half. Akira did the same, possible even harder.

And Mimiru looked on at the two and their passion for this game and the events that had caused this game to happen. And she looked at Akari and Waya who were both awestruck by the moves as well as fluid motions.

And she noticed a mingled look of disbelief and despair on Akari's otherwise beautiful features.

~-~

Black won by six and half moku without the komi.

"I see," Akira said morosely as he stood up, not bothering to help put away the stones. "I shouldn't have tried to force you."

"And I shouldn't have ignored the entire situation. I guess that makes us even," Hikaru replied with exhaustion.

"You should've told me that it was bothering you, Hikaru. You should keep that in mind for future endeavors," Akira said, and he glanced at Akari almost meaningfully. She was still staring at the floor trying to figure out what all of it meant.

And as Akira left, Hikaru stood up and opted to sit on the couch where it was more comfortable. "Could you guys leave?" he asked Waya and Mimiru. They glanced at eachother, then at Akari (who was still oblivious) and nodded.

"I'll see you tomorrow Akari," Mimiru said.

No response.

As the pair left, Hikaru looked down at Akari, waiting for her to come sit on the couch next to him. When she didn't, he moved to sit down next to her. "Akari..." he tried to begin, but he honestly didn't know what to say to her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, not turning to face him.

"I... I was.. I was going to but I didn't know how to... get it out," he replied lamely. Her eyes closed and tears trickled out.

Here I was thinking "maybe somethings gonna finally happen." It's my luck that the only person who I could have a concievable interest in would be gay, she thought, and her tears intensified.

"Akari, iIf you're thinking I'm gay, you'd be wrong. I'm not gay," he said forcefully, frantically.

Suddenly, Akari's own vow came back to her, "Hikaru, it's ok." The words were feeble, as if she didn't have the ability to actually back them up, true or not. "I don't care. I won't leave you."

Hikaru's face visibly loosened despite the fact that Akari couldn't see it. Her words alone had been enough to calm him.

-~-~-~-

::squirms:: Yeah yeah, I know I shouldn't have taken so long to get out the one measley little chapter. And the ending leaves you hanging doesn't it :). Sorry kids, it'll take a little while to finish this thing up.

It ain't over yet. A couple more chapters.