Disclaimer: I am becoming really long winded here, anyways I don't own Hikaru No Go

Before I start my chapter I wanna thank all those who took the time to review, Kickkid3, Coiling Death, Loveling, Jamfase, DarkPortAtreides, Kari55, Xiar and Fudge Cake la Mode. Thanks all of you for your constant supports and also to all those who read this fiction of course...

Hope everyone enjoy this chapter

Chapter 10

"You've got to be kidding me!"

Kuniko shouted so loudly that caught everyone's attention in the supermarket. Akari looked around with slight tint of pink on her cheeks, before she turned back to Kuniko rather agitatedly that her friend drew all eyes on them. They were shopping for groceries and each of them pushed a shopping cart getting what they needed, walking down the aisle of shelves together.

"Could you keep it down?" Akari hissed.

"Sorry…" Kuniko mumbled.

"Well it is only temporary until I get a new place." Akari said matter a factly, stopping on her stride and fishing out a box of muesli bars on the shelves, studying the contents of box before she put it into the shopping cart and resume walking again.

"But staying with a single guy, that is not what you'll do Akari-chan!" Kuniko protested her voice leveling back to normal. "And besides if Mitani-kun finds out about this he will not like it!"

"Hey, who says I am telling Yuuki?" Akari turned back to Kuniko in a stern expression. "And I trust you not to tell him either! He is worried enough about my café, if he finds out about me losing my apartment too, he will freak!"

"I think he will drag you to marry him immediately!" Kuniko giggled.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Akari rolled her eyes and without halting in her steps, grab a box of cookies on the shelves this time, not even looking at it, dump it into her shopping cart. "He will practically behead Touya-kun personally."

They continued to push their shopping carts down the rows of shelves side by side, looking up and down the shelves to see anything on the way they want to buy.

"You know, Touya-kun seemed to everywhere you go, are you sure there is nothing between you guys? I mean, you are not hiding anything from me are you?"

"NO!" Akari stared at her friend wide eye blood rushing to her face. "Of course not, we are hundred percent positively only friends!"

"Are you sure?" Kuniko narrowed her eyes and looking at Akari's anxious attitude suspiciously. "You are pretty frantic about this, which means there is something about it, isn't it?"

"Gosh, why you and Yuuki seem to have the same mind! Kuniko-chan, believe me, Touya-kun and I are just friends!" Akari pressed on her voice slightly edgy. "Now quit it, will you?"

"Fine, whatever you say princess…." Kuniko shrugged but still unconvinced.

"So, you will help me get a new apartment?" Akari asked quickly changing the subject, just in case Kuniko didn't let it go.

"I'm on it," Kuniko gave her closest friend a reassuring smile. "Don't worry alright?"

"Make sure you tell me immediately when you get one!" Akari said anxiously.

"I will…"

Akari was unsure why she was so anxious to move out of Touya's place immediately. But she had a feeling that the longer she stays with him, her heart will not hold the shield she made to protect herself any longer. Besides that, she had the strangest dream that Touya gave her a kiss on Valentine's night, just the thought of it gave her butterflies feeling in her stomach. Blood rushed to her face and she quickly shove that thought away. Oh gosh, she really needs to think of something else… anyways, it was only a dream.

Days had passed into a week and Akari and Kuniko still didn't have much luck in looking for a new apartment. Her café was still under renovations and occasionally she will be there to see how the things had progressed. Other than that, she was pretty bored in Touya's overly huge traditional house. He was barely at home and only comes home late in the evening or night. She had a feeling that Touya seemed to be avoiding her but shove the idea away. Why must he avoid her anyways?

Most of the time Akari would be in his library reading his old GO kifu and learned a few new techniques that she never even knew existed, or just watch some television. Today it was a beautiful clear morning; Akari couldn't help herself but remained outdoors at Touya's side porch over looking his well kept garden, which surrounds his house. There was an uncharacteristic western like wooden 'bench swing' hung on to the ceiling of the side porch. It was something very out of place in the traditional atmosphere, but Akari found that 'swing' rather comfy. Touya did mention to her before that it was his mother's favourite place and if she liked it very much, she could spent her time there. He wouldn't mind.

Akari had used that wooden 'swing' many times, to read books, magazine, most of the time every morning to finish the crossword puzzle in the papers. Consequently, in this beautiful clear morning it was the best time to spend her whole morning there. She just stretched herself out on the 'swing' with the papers that Touya had already read very early every morning, trying to finish a crossword puzzle that was on the papers everyday. Since her café is close temporary, might as well take it as a vacation and try to relax.

Touya stood by the opened side shoji doors of the library over looking to where Akari lay, with the papers spread out on her lap, chewing on the bottom of her lip and a pen held in her hand. She did that every morning and without her knowing, Touya watched her every morning before he leaves the house to meet Hikaru in his salon during his matchless days.

She looked rather comfortable in a light blue knitted sweater and a pair of loose dark green cargos. Her legs stretched out towards the other side of the 'swing' handle, resting her feet on it, balancing the papers carefully with her legs and her back leaning on the handle of the 'swing' with a fluffy pillow behind her. With the morning sunshine, gleaming down on her, she practically looked like a wingless angel glowing in the light.

Now that Akari was in the house, Touya was going out of his mind. Since what happened that Valentine's night, he felt his feelings in turmoil. It was obvious that Akari couldn't remember anything, but he remembered that night clearly in his head and that was the most distressing part was, the feeling of wanting her to except his feeling was eating inside him, though he know better than to confess to her and make her run the other direction.

Tearing his eyes away from the scene he walked off, he had to get out of the house before he goes insane by replaying the thoughts in his head. He grabbed his coat and was reaching for the front door when the door bell rang. One of his eyebrows shot up wonderingly. He reached for the door and slid it opened to see Hikaru standing there with his hands shoved in his pockets casually. Touya could only stare at his rival rather lost for words.

"Yo, by the look on your face I think you forgot." Hikaru said matter of factly. "I thought we arranged this weeks ago, because we both are free today to go through some kifu in your father's library."

Touya still remained speechless. He had totally forgotten about that arrangement he made with Hikaru. That was because this arrangement was made before Akari moved in with him and Akari had been sort of a distraction these few days.

"Are you just going to stand there or let me in?" Hikaru said rather irritably and stepped inside anyways without waiting for Touya to answer. "Ok which way to the library. You know I had been here a couple of times to play GO with you and still I couldn't get use to this creepy house! I wonder how you can stand it!"

"I grow up in it." Touya retorted, finally finding his tongue.

They made their way to the library rather quietly with Touya deep in his thoughts. He was now rather lost for ideas since he had not told Hikaru, Akari his old best friend and ex neighbour was staying with him. He couldn't imagine what kind of reaction Hikaru was about to give him but he had a feeling that he was about to find out.

"Shindou I think I should tell you something first before you…." Touya started when they reached his father's library but was cut off abruptly.

"HOLLY SHIT!" Hikaru shouted staring out the side shoji sliding doors overlooking the side porch of the house. He could see Hikaru fumbled in his steps and fell outright flat on his face. Touya strangled back his laughter and watched him getting up quickly to look out the shoji doors again, to see whether he was dreaming earlier.

He sighed. Hikaru already spotted Akari at his side porch. Unfortunately for him, Hikaru had stalked into the library before he did and with the sliding door of the library opened, over looking to the other side of the porch, Hikaru could see Akari without difficulty.

Touya walked up towards him and gaze out to see Akari still on the swing, but this time with both hands crossed in front of her, the pen she held earlier in her hand was now between her lips moving up and down in a rapid speed. She had one of her eyebrows raised, giving her a rather cute expression, thinking hard. She was still oblivion to everything even now that two young men were actually watching her from a distance.

Touya could sense Hikaru turning to him. He moved his eyes side ways to see his reaction. He was in shock as he stared at Touya. There was a short silence, as Hikaru tried to register what was actually happening and ran his hand over his hair before he glared at his rival.

"What the hell are you doing Touya?" Hikaru hissed. "Akari is a good person, if this is some kind of a joke…?"

"Shindou you know me for a long time, do you ever think possible I would joke around with relationship?"

"So are you both going out?"

"No…."

"WHAT?" Hikaru shouted again. "At least you tell me that Akari is your girlfriend now, I wouldn't have anything to say but what do you mean…."

"Don't jump into any conclusions Shindou." Touya answered in a calm manner his eyes turning back to watch Akari who was now writing something on the papers. She must have figure out a word for the puzzle. "Akari and I are friends…. I was just doing her a favour…"

"A favour?" Hikaru frowned at his rival.

"You didn't know did you?" Touya finally tore his gaze from Akari and turned to look at his seething rival. "Fujisaki-san lost her apartment a week ago. She didn't want to go back to her parents place because she didn't want them to worry about her. I was there at the moment when that happened. So I offered her a place to stay."

"That's all?" Hikaru stared at him suspiciously.

"That's all." Touya confirmed it.

Hikaru sucked in a breath deeply before he turned to stare at Akari worriedly. He had a feeling there was more than what had happened since he read about her café in the papers a week ago. He tried calling her in her apartment and there was an operator telling him that the line was no longer in service. When he tried her mobile, she never answered it and never called him back either, which means she wants this as discrete as possible. Akari used to be his best friend. He knew everything about her since they were kids because Akari always confide in him, even though he pretended that he wasn't interested but he cares about her all the time. However, ever since he has gotten married she just changed and no longer kept in touch and now she confides her problems to his rival? It was just weird.

"I thought we are here to study kifu and not to spy on Fujisaki-san…." Touya said snapping Hikaru out of his worried thoughts.

"Right, yeah…." Hikaru mumbled looking away from Akari, a best friend he once had.

For the whole morning, library was envelope in a very uncomfortable silence, as they started looking through old Go manuals and Kifu. Touya was in the edge of snapping at Hikaru for throwing him peeping glances for the hundredth time. Finally clasp the book he held in his hand shut loudly, he turned to glare at his two tone hair adversary.

"What is it Shindou?"

"You like her don't you…" Hikaru just said it in his usual casual tone, reading through a manual he was holding in his hand without looking at his irritated rival.

That statement totally shoved Touya off his course. He didn't expect that to come so abruptly and not from Hikaru. He could only stare at Hikaru in a faze manner he never thought possesses. Finally Hikaru close his book slowly and turned to Touya wonderingly.

"I had never in my life since I met you witness you doing something like this for any girl." Hikaru said casually. "Not even that stupid hag you nearly married."

"Yuii was different when I met her…." Touya answered softly turning away from Hikaru's intense stare.

"Yeah that two headed witch is sure an actress that got me fool too…." Hikaru rolled his eyes. "But Touya, Akari is no actress…"

Hikaru's voice was soft and understanding when he spoke of his best friend.

"She still is my best friend even though we lost contact with each other for a long time…." Hikaru said softly. "But Touya I swear I'll kill you if you hurt her!"

"Look who is talking!" Touya flared back at him, turning to face him in a glare Hikaru remembered he had seen only once when he told Touya that he never wanted to play GO ever again in Haze Junior High Library.

"Touya-kun…." Both the young men held their tongues when they heard Akari's voice in a distance.

Damn how much did she hear? Touya wondered panicking.

Akari could hear voices in the library but she couldn't make out what they were talking about. She was sure one of them was Touya and the other seemed distinctively familiar.

"It's almost lunch," Akari appeared at the doorway. "I was thinking if you and your friend want me to cook some…"

Her voice totally trail off when she saw the other person in the room with Touya. She sucked in her breath staring at Hikaru who stared back at her with a small smirk that was always saved up only for her.

"Yo Akari, I never thought you became Touya's housewife…." Hikaru joked.

Touya nearly threw the book he was holding at his rival's face but caught the sight of Akari's face flashing crimson and stopped, a new found hope gathered in his heart. Akari do have feelings for him or Hikaru's words won't affect her so much.

"I have something I want to talk to you Akari," Hikaru smiled when Akari couldn't find anything to throw back at Hikaru's face. He got up to his feet and went to Akari. "Outside…."

Touya watched them walked away leaving him feeling rather alone and yearning to follow them to hear what was going on, but thought better than to eavesdrop on someone's conversation, which was extremely rude, and something Touya would never do; he got up to his feet and went to another room which his father used to hold their Go discussion meetings to lay out some strategy on the goban. At least that will distract his thoughts away from Hikaru and Akari for a moment, hoping that their conversation wouldn't take too long.

"What do you want Hikaru…?" Akari asked when they stood outside Touya's tidily trimmed garden.

"Akari, it's very unlike you to agree with whatever Touya had offered you. Is there something you would like to share?"

"He offered me a place to stay that's all…." Akari rolled her eyes.

"Akari," Hikaru smiled softly moving closer to her. He held up his hand and raised his index finger wagging it in front of her face. "Don't lie to me. You know that you cannot lie to me because it shows all over your face…"

Akari took a deep breath. "I don't know what you're talking about." She quickly looked away from Hikaru knowing that he could always read her emotions easily.

Hikaru remained silent, step back from her and crossed his hands in front of him. He looked at Akari with a raised eyebrows waiting for her to say more.

"It's not like you to accept Touya's offer…." Hikaru argued when Akari refused to speak.

"I guess I really needed a place to stay!" Akari protested. "Why are you so suspicious about this?"

"Alright firstly, at the summer festival you greeted him like you know him and defended him like your friend, then you invited him to the gathering…." Hikaru said trying to remember the past events that intrigued him. "And that day in the supermarket when you met him, it looks like you both knew each other more than just friends!"

Akari's raised her eyebrows staring at Hikaru disbelievingly that this Hikaru she knew remembered those things and actually noticed them?

"Most important of all this, you actually asked me about Touya's tragic past." Hikaru continued. "Then called me early in the morning to ask when his birthday is? Akari I may not be that smart but I am not an idiot! You are doing way too much for someone you think is only a friend."

"I don't know what you're talking about?" Akari argued. "I was just trying to make him happy that's all. He seemed really sad when I first saw him at my café… so I…"

"Akari," Hikaru cut her off gently. "Don't do this to Touya if you are not serious!"

"What? OF COURSE I AM SERIOUS! I REALLY LIKE HIM!" Akari yelled and then gasped. She clasped her hand over her mouth and Hikaru smirked.

"Finally got you to tell the truth." He said satisfied with himself.

Akari was speechless at her outburst could only stare at Hikaru. She still could not believe that those words came out of her mouth.

"You are after still the Akari I know for many years." Hikaru smiled gently. "I can tell when you are lying and I can always make you tell me the truth."

"Hikaru that's not fair…." Akari frowned slightly at him, uncovering her mouth slowly.

"You think you are being fair to Touya for playing around with his heart?" Hikaru asked.

"I am not!" Akari cried. "I really do like him! It is just that…"

Her sentence was cut short when Hikaru pulled her towards him into a tight hug. Akari eyes widened and she remained still on the spot, both her hands on her sides.

"I am sorry I hurt you a long time ago Akari, but doing this to yourself and to Touya is just unfair! Try, Akari, try to accept someone else again!"

Slowly, Hikaru let Akari go staring deep into her eyes. She was rather motionless as she stared back at him still in slight shock.

"Do you think you have something to tell Touya?" Hikaru asked seriously. Something Akari never thought possible for Hikaru except when he was playing GO. "Believe me, Touya will be more eager than to hear something from you."

Akari was rather amazed that Hikaru had somehow changed over the years.

It was extremely quiet in the room alone. Touya could only hear 'pachi' whenever he placed a stone on the goban. He tried not looking at the time, so he wouldn't how long Akari and Hikaru had their little conversation. After not knowing how long he had spend by himself and the stones he had placed on the goban was almost completed, only then he heard a soft knock.

"Come in…"

Akari slid opened the shoji door and looked in to see Touya in a rather large empty room, knelt in front of the goban with a complicated set up he laid on it. She got over to him slowly and knelt down the other side of the goban facing him. She was very nervous as she stared down at the plan Touya had set out, twisting her hands on her lap.

"Ano, Touya-kun I want to thank you for whatever you had done for me…" Akari began.

"You don't have to thank me Fujisaki-san," Touya said softly watching Akari gently. "I am glad I am able to help you."

"Touya-kun, I'm sorry if I had been making you upset…." Akari began.

"Fujisaki-san what makes you says that?" Touya was rather surprised at her confrontation.

"I am really sorry I had been confusing you all this time Touya-kun…" Akari said slowly and rather softly her eyes still on the goban. "I really like you but I am still very unsure about…."

"Fujisaki-san, don't try to force yourself into something that you are not ready for…." Touya said comfortingly. "I will always be patiently waiting…"

Touya beyond happy at what Akari was trying to tell him. She had confessed that she really liked him and he supposed to tell her how he felt too but he thought that Akari may need a little more space before she could truly accept anyone. So Touya remained silent.

Akari finally looked up and smiled gratefully, lost in the pools of his kind emerald eyes, she leaned forward over the goban towards Touya slowly. Gradually her right hand raise, reaching out towards him. Touya could see her hand coming closer and held his breath. It was like on Valentine's night Akari reached out to touch his cheek gently. She was going to do the same thing but this time she was conscious of want she was doing. His heart started to beat rapidly just watching her movements. If only he could tell her how much he cared about her, how much he wanted her… but he couldn't, his feelings were far too deep for Akari to accept yet.

"Touya-kun, you always make me feel at ease…" Akari whispered. "I don't know why but your presence seemed so comforting…."

Her hand was only an inch away from his face and finally he felt her fingers…

"Hey, I'm hungry! Could you both hurry up?"

CRASH!

When Akari heard Hikaru's voice by the door she slipped and fell on the goban pushing all the stones off their original placing. She stared at them in horror and embarrassment stain her cheeks. She looked up at Touya apprehensively to see Touya was trying not to laugh.

"Sorry, your 'set up'… I…" Akari stammered.

"Don't worry," Touya managed to say, choking down his laughter. "I can remember it in my head…"

Touya was pretty irritated that Hikaru came in on the most crucial time of his life but Akari was really cute and funny when she slipped. She was almost as surprised as he was at Hikaru's appearance but he had no idea she would fumbled like that.

"So, hungry?" Akari asked with a nervous grin after helping Touya cleaning up the stones.

"Yeah…"

Touya smiled and they both got up headed for the door where Hikaru stood waiting for them. All three of them left the house to get something to eat and for the first time that week Touya felt like he was the luckiest person on earth, though he knows that he had to give Akari space and not to rush her into anything.

"So let's go have ramen…" Hikaru suggested, interrupting Touya's thoughts.

"Ramen?" Akari frowned. "Over the years and you are still fond of ramen!"

"Hey, sometimes people don't change!" Hikaru argued.

"Oh really," Akari rolled her eyes. "I can see why that is so true!"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Hikaru yelled.

"You didn't change much did you?" Akari shouted back.

Touya who was between them, blinked watching them both who had walked on slightly ahead of him, as they quarreled. Were they always like this when they were younger? Always in a debate, a shouting match? Somehow he was rather envy of Hikaru for sharing an understanding bond with Akari. Something that he was sure he will never have with her, but in his heart, he knew that Hikaru brought Akari to see her true feelings and that was something he had to thank Hikaru for, though he knew that he will never ever tell his rival that.

"Now I understand why I could never stand you!" Hikaru's voice brought Touya out of his thoughts.

"Likewise!" Akari snapped in returned.

"You know, I think I don't mind ramen…." Touya spoke rather softly behind them.

"Eh?" Akari and Hikaru turned to him in surprised.

There was a short pause as Hikaru and Akari stared daggers at each other, before Akari turned away from him with a huff, crossing her hands in front of her angrily.

"Fine, that is because Touya-kun said so…." She mumbled softly.

Hikaru snickered and turned to Touya with a wink.

"You owe me that much…." Hikaru whispered to Touya softly so that Akari couldn't hear. "Even though I know you rather die than to thank me…"

Touya only smiled in returned. He was happy enough that Akari was finally slowly accepting him.

TBC

I know it is quite a surprise that Hikaru made Akari see her true feelings! Of all people why him? Right? Well, it was just an idea that Hikaru knew Akari for such a long time since childhood... so I assume that he should know about Akari more than anyone else! Anyways, now that Akari had finally admitted her feelings for Touya though still very stubborn to submitting to it, don't you think finally their relationship is getting somewhere? LOL

Another thing to clarify if anyone is confused. The part where Akari couldn't remember about the 'kiss'. Well she recalled it, but only as a dream so she didn't think much about it. Touya on the other hand, was sober enough to realize it wasn't a dream and couldn't stop thinking about it and with Akari going about like nothing had happen, he assumed that she had no knowledge about it.