--------(7)--------
Shindou's third game with Ochi, the current Tengen title-holder, was well-attended. The younger pros, who had been too young to know Shindou, now exchanged ever wilder rumours about the newly-returning pro: why he had left, the reasons for his return, and the various games he had played with foreign Go pros while abroad. There were speculations that Shindou Hikaru, who had once won the titles of Meijin, Kisei and Juudan in the same year before he abruptly left Japan, was planning to take Japan's Go world by storm again.
Touya was grimly amused to note that his rivalry with Shindou Hikaru came under the heading of 'that can't be true, you're insane', though the looks on the pros' faces, when Touya looked at them, was worth treasuring.
He turned his attention to the Go board. Shindou had won the first game, lost the second, and if Touya read the situation on the Go board right, he was going to win this third one by five-and-a-half moku. Shindou's knack, many knew, was his ability to come out with hands that looked innocuous at first, but later turned out to be perfectly positioned for taking over what was previously unassailable territory.
"That was amazing!" one of the watchers exclaimed, as Shindou made an unexpected attack for Ochi's territory in the corner, and captured it within six hands while Ochi was still wondering how to counter the first attack.
"I don't know how he did it," another person said, when Ochi finally bowed to indicate his resignation. The post-game discussion was full of similar questions; Touya tuned them out. The crux of it, Touya and his father had discussed, was in the timing. Shindou's Go was not merely the result of superb analytical skills, but also impeccably timed hands. The years abroad had sharpened Shindou's skill, but it was still recognizably his, and he was still the person with whom Touya most wanted to play.
It had been one week since Touya came out with that accusation, and he did not want to stay away from Shindou anymore. He only waited until most of the crowd had left, before he went to the main room.
Shindou was talking to his students, who had turned up to watch his game. Sakurai and Kurada, both of whom, considering their talents and skills, would shortly become his-their-rivals, were bantering with Shindou.
"I still think you should let Kenichi take the pro exams, Sensei," Sakurai, who was more assertive, was saying. "It's a good way to pick up girls, being a pro."
"And you would know this how? All you ever do is pick up boys," Shindou enquired with a lift of his eyebrows. "At least, before you and Fujitaka got together."
"Well, how do you think I found Hiro?"
"I introduced you to him." Shindou smiled, his eyes mischievous. "If I remember right, you blushed like a tomato, tried to bow but tripped over your own feet, and ended up hugging a table."
"Sensei!" Sakurai growled, looking around. "You promised never to repeat that. What if someone else... Oh. Touya-sensei!"
Kuroda looked up at her exclamation, his eyes widening. "Touya-sensei!" he said.
Shindou blinked at him, and his expression turned sober. "Touya," he said. "I didn't expect to see you here."
That hurt; they had used to make a habit out of attending each other's games a long time ago, and had even come to expect each other's presence. "Sakurai-san, Kuroda-san, good afternoon," he greeted. "I thought I'd come and see you play," he said to Shindou.
Shindou's eyes revealed nothing, but he glanced at his students. "The two of you," he said. "Go back first, and tell Kenichi and Kenji that I'll be back soon, all right? I need to talk to Touya first."
Kuroda opened his mouth as though to say something; a wince came over his face where Sakurai had kicked his leg. "Of course, Sensei!" she said, as cheerfully as ever. "See you later, Touya-sensei." She dragged Kuroda out of the room.
It was only the two of them now. Shindou was still watching him. Touya, not knowing what to say, found himself asking, "Is Kenichi going to take the pro exams?"
A moment's puzzlement flashed on Shindou's face, before he answered, "He's only eleven. I don't want him to turn pro so early."
"Oh."
Silence fell between the two of them once more.
"Shindou..."
"Touya..."
They stopped talking at the same time, staring at each other.
"I..."
"You..."
They stopped again. Then Shindou shook his head, and raised his right hand like a child in a schoolroom. "I'll go first," he said, his lips twitching, it seemed, in spite of himself. "I'm glad to see you, you know. Even though I'm still pissed off at you."
That was not really the opening he was going for, but Touya didn't want to lapse into silence again. "I shouldn't have said... what I said." He looked away for a second.
"Damn right," Shindou muttered, and mumbled something else under his breath.
"What?"
Shindou shook his head, before he stepped forward to stand in front of Touya. "I'm worried about you, Touya," he said, his eyes serious. "It's been years, but I still remember what it was like to miss someone so much that you'd move heaven and earth to get him back." He looked down for a second, and Touya could see Shindou's lip tremble, just for a second. "In my case, I quit Go... but Touya, you need a break."
Touya shook his head. "I appreciate your concern, Shindou, but..."
"But you're determined to be an ass about this, aren't you?"
Shindou's resigned tone was tinged with affection, and the sound made Touya feel warm. "I promise you, Shindou, I'm fine." At Shindou's dubious look, he added, "Or I will be. But I can't stop playing. It feels wrong, somehow."
Shindou crossed his arms. "I've said it then, I've said it before: you and your father are the most stubborn people I've come across."
There was nothing he could say to that.
----
They drove to Shindou's Go salon, Shindou declaring that his own sons would disown him if he did not bring their 'Haku-nii-san' down for a visit. "Hey, I didn't realize your boyfriend was an acquaintance of Akari's," Shindou said as they walked in the direction of the Go salon.
Touya tried to keep up with the unexpected topic. "Ex-boyfriend," he said without thinking.
"What?" With a wave at the counter receptionist-Inoue Kaori, who worked Saturdays-Shindou led the way into the kitchenette, declaring that he wanted tea.
"Takeshi," Touya said, collecting his thoughts. "We broke up last year, actually."
"Last year?"
Shindou seemed to be deep in thought, so Touya asked, "Fujisaki-san knows him?"
"Yeah. Akari's working at that publisher, you remember? She said she's met Ueyama-san a few times because of work."
Touya paused to think. "Yes. Takeshi works part-time as a freelance writer for Weekly Go. You talked about him with Fujisaki-san... at the funeral?" he guessed uneasily.
"Yeah," Shindou gave him an apologetic look. "People do that, you know. Talk. And gossip. At funerals."
Touya nodded, trying to keep his composure. "And class reunions," he added, trying to sound as though he didn't mind. "Birthday celebrations. Weddings."
"Yeah." Shindou's voice was quieter. Touya glanced at him, noting the frown on his face, before he realized what he had just said. "Shindou, I'm sorry."
"What for?" Shindou asked, blunt as always. "You were probably the only one who didn't gossip about my Go skills during my own wedding reception."
"They were wrong to say such things. I know you. I know your Go. You were strong enough to take the titles at the time."
"Yeah. But you know who were the only ones to believe that I could do it?" Shindou said. "You, your father, Waya, Isumi and Kuwabara-sensei. Even Ogata was giving me some strange looks at one point." He shook his head.
"Only the people who have truly played with you know your strength, Shindou," Touya said.
"That doesn't explain Kuwabara-sensei," Shindou pointed out.
"Sensei!"
Sakurai and Fujitaka entered the kitchenette, which was not meant for four adults. Shindou scowled. "What are you doing... ow!" he said as he banged his elbow on the refrigerator. "What happened? The kids..."
"They are fine," Sakurai said immediately. "They are playing a game in the private room, that's why you didn't see them. Sensei, Touya-sensei, this is serious."
"What?"
"This!" Sakurai switched on the monitor attached to the wall, turning it to the channel dedicated to Go news. "We just saw it on the way here."
Touya's breath caught in this throat as he began to make sense of what he was seeing.
Shindou Hikaru, related to legendary NetGo player Sai? was the least speculative of the headlines.
Touya could feel his jaw dropping in sheer disbelief. Beside him, Shindou cursed.
--------to be continued--------