A/N: here we go. Wow I loved this chapter. Tell me all what you thought. There will be more out. I just don't know when. I'm not done with this fic by far. Tell me if you think if I should go on or if I should stop it here. Anywho, I apologize if any of the characters are ooc. I tried my hardest to keep them in character.

Disclaimer: No I don't own Hikaru no Go. Boo on me. –sniffle- Life's just not fair.

Welcome Back

Chapter six: Of Questions, Answers and Confessions

They stepped off the train and Hikaru looked around. They were at a ritzy part of the town. No one spoke as they made their way down the streets. When they'd walked for ten minutes, Hikaru ventured to say something.

"So, where are we going?" The expression on Touya's face never changed.

"My house. It's convenient and quiet."

"Oh. I've never been to your house before."

Touya sniffed. "I know that. This way. Don't fall behind."

Hikaru stamped his foot in frustration and picked up his pace. Really, Touya was sometime just too much. At the end of one street, they turned right and Hikaru found himself standing in front of a huge house. The nameplate said Touya Household and there was a huge iron gate baring the front.

Touya unlocked the gate and pushed it open. Hikaru followed timidly, Sai right behind him. Touya closed and locked the gate. He then led them to the front of the house and held open the door for them to walk into.

Hikaru found himself in a huge entryway. There were pegs along the wall to hold coats and a nice decorative basket to hold umbrellas. The place was shining so much that he thought he might have to shield his eyes from the glare. Everything in the house spoke of money and order. Everything he didn't have.

Hikaru started to feel really sorry for Touya if he had to grow up in a house like this. His dad was bad enough being as intense as he was but a house this clean was unhealthy for a child. He took off his shoes when he noticed that his host had already done so and laid them next to the other pair. He made sure to line them up neatly so he wouldn't give Touya a reason to yell at him. When Touya glared at Sai, Hikaru looked at him and then realized the reason.

"Trust me Touya, he can't take off his shoes." He hoped Touya would believe him.

Touya turned his head and walked down the hallway. A woman was just leaving the kitchen when they passed by. Hikaru recognized her as Touya's mother. He'd met her once when the elder Touya was in the hospital. She smiled warmly at her son and then turned to him. Her eyes grew wide but she gave him a smile.

"I see you brought your friend home with you." She commented.

"I ran into him downtown." Touya replied.

"Ah. Will you two be in your bedroom?" She asked kindly.

"Yes. We will." Touya replied shortly.

She laughed. "Well I'll bring some tea up for you two. Perhaps some snacks as well." With that, she turned around and walked back into the kitchen.

Hikaru looked at Touya's mom and then looked at Touya to discover him gone. Touya had already gone ahead.

"Hey! Wait for me." He ran to catch up with the smaller boy.

Touya gave him a look Hikaru decided to translate into his I-told-you-to-keep-up look. That got Hikaru more frustrated.

Calm down Hikaru. He's probably just as frustrated as you are. Remember how he looked this morning.

That doesn't matter. He doesn't need to treat me this way. Sheesh. When I thought I figured this guy out, he goes and does something different. It's annoying.

They walked into what Hikaru figured was Touya's room and the first word that popped into his head was 'neat'. Very neat. He had a computer on his desk by the bed, which was made up very neatly. The books he owned were stacked by height in the bookcase. The kifu's he had were piled in a nice pile on his desk and labeled in case he needed to find one fast.

If Hikaru had known nothing else but Touya's name, walking into his room would have told him that Touya was a Go fanatic. In the middle of the floor was an expensive looking goban. Touya walked around it and sat down. Hikaru followed his example.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Hikaru asked after a moments silence.

Touya glared at Sai. "Him. Who is he? Where did he come from? How old is he? What does he mean to you? And, last but not least, how long have you two known each other?" He pursed his lips and leaned back against the bed as if waiting.

"Wow. That's a lot of questions. Um…" Hikaru hesitated and looked at Sai who nodded.

Tell him. He sounds very jealous of me. There was laughter in Sai's eyes.

Hikaru sighed and opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Touya's mother knocked and walked in. She held a tray with two steaming cups of tea on it.

"I see you two are already in some sort of debate." She said nicely.

She set one cup of tea down on the ground next to Hikaru but, because Hikaru was blocking the way to Touya, she had to go the other way around to give her son the other cup. Sai was sitting between her and Touya. Before she walked through him, Touya yelled out.

"Watch out, Mom!"

She missteped and halted half way through Sai's body. Touya gapped.

"Why did you yell out like that Akira? I nearly spilled your tea." She admonished.

She walked the rest of the way through Sai and set the other cup down on the ground. With that, she turned and left.

Hikaru sighed. "I didn't mean for it to get out like that." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Your questions and where to start. This is Fujiwara no Sai. I'm not really sure where he came from but I first met him at my grandpa's house when he popped out of an old goban. He's over a thousand years old and he's my old Go teacher. We've known each other since I was twelve. Was that all the questions? Did I miss any?"

Mouth still gapping, Touya shook his head. "So you're telling me that Sai is a ghost?"

Hikaru, frustrated, pursed his lips. "You saw that yourself didn't you?"

Touya glared at Hikaru. "I did, I think. So you're trying to tell me that this ghost taught you how to play Go. Was it you I played first or was it him?"

"Him. You've always been chasing my 'shadow'. You've never chased me. I was so angry that you wouldn't look at me and didn't want to play me that I learned how to play from watching Sai. I didn't let Sai play his beloved Go so the god's took him away from me."

"May 5th." Touya murmured.

Hikaru nodded. "For two full years I'd had Sai with me 24/7 that the sudden loss was like dumping ice water over me. I could play anymore when I didn't have Sai there cheering for me. It was like the death of a family member only worse because for 2 years he'd been part of me. Always in my mind."

"So, you were cheating. If you had someone this skilled then you had to be cheating."

"NO!" Hikaru slammed down his hands on the goban. "You haven't been listening to me. The two times I played you and beat you, those were Sai. Those two times with your dad, those were also Sai. The rest was me. I told you I didn't let Sai play. If I didn't let Sai play then how could I be cheating!"

The fire in Hikaru's eyes made Touya back down. "Alright, you have a point. You weren't cheating." Hikaru nodded his forgiveness. "I'm just a little stunned is all. Why is it that I can see him?"

Hikaru felt like his face was on fire. "I, uh, can't answer that one for you." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously again.

If you won't, I will. Sai threatened.

Hikaru was about to ask Sai how when Touya spoke up. "How do you do that? You don't talk aloud; it's almost as if I can hear you in my mind."

Both Hikaru and Sai gapped at Touya. "You can hear him?"

Touya nodded. "I can." He frowned for a moment. "It's like a whisper though."

There're only two possibilities I can come up with for this to be happening.

"Oh?" Hikaru asked. Touya didn't say anything but waited for Sai to answer.

Yes. Hikaru, the reason Touya can see me in the first place is because you're in love with him. Hikaru jumped and was sure the blush spread all over his body. No one had time to say anything because Sai went on. The only reason why Touya can hear me is either Hikaru's love for Touya is getting stronger, or… Touya returns the sentiments. Now Touya's face flamed red in embarrassment. But which one it is, I don't know.

Hikaru gulped and looked at Touya. They stared long and hard at each other. Hikaru didn't think things would be like this. But didn't Sai say that perhaps Touya returned his feelings.

"Is it true, Shindou?" Touya asked.

Hikaru winced. "Yes. I've been in love with you for years now."

"I'm glad." Touya admitted. "I only found out today that the feelings I have for you are greater then rivalry. I thought you'd be disgusted at me and hate me."

Hikaru reached out and gently cupped Touya's face. "I could never hate you."

The obvious relief in Touya's eyes made Hikaru's heart throb. He felt himself being lost in those stormy blue eyes. Touya was strong, in will as well as being. Hikaru had felt that strength even at the age of twelve and, like any butterfly toward a light, ran toward him. Only when he'd lost his heart so many years ago did he realize the danger he was in. But now, here was Touya saying he had the same feelings as Hikaru had for him. He felt like he was in heaven.

That was before he felt his lips brush Touya's. The softness threatening to become addiction for him. Then he felt the true meaning of heaven as Touya leaned forward, firmly pressing his lips against Hikaru's. It was as if lightning decided to strike him, the jolt going all the way down his body.

Hungry for more, he opened his mouth and brushed his tongue against the entrance of Touya's lips. Touya obliged, opening his mouth to Hikaru's demanding tongue. They were so into the tongue war they were having that they didn't notice the knock at the door. They certainly didn't notice the door being opened but they did notice the voice that was strong in their heads.

Um, Hikaru? Touya? I hate to break this up but did you know that Touya's mom is watching you both with a very interesting look on her face.

Both boys' eyes flew open and they shoved against each other to get away. Their faces were twin mirrors of red.

"I, uh, knocked." Touya's mother informed the boys.

"We… didn't hear." Hikaru stammered out. This was so embarrassing. To be caught like that and on the first day. This was so not good.

Touya was glaring at the floor, refusing to look at anyone.

"So, I see you two have figured out your feelings for each other. I'd best go tell your father so that he won't come in here unannounced. I'll mention for him to yell before he comes in." She blushed. "I'll just leave these snacks on the desk."

Only then did Hikaru notice that she'd brought in some snacks. From her actions, she also knew that Touya had a thing for Hikaru. That was interesting to note. He noticed that Sai was busy trying to stifle the laughter. Touya was glaring at him. Hikaru knew exactly how he felt. Sometimes the ghost really was too much.

"Ok then. I think I'm going to go. Have a… nice visit." She left, closing the door behind her.

Oh that was good. You two should have seen your faces when I said something. That was priceless. I wish I had a camera. That was just priceless.

"Be glad you're already dead Sai. If you were alive, I'd kill you right now." Hikaru growled.

"Oh, but Hikaru, don't go grabbing all the fun for yourself. I would have liked to join in on the fun." Touya growled.

Oh really? Sai asked the boys, spreading his fan so it hid half of his face. Only his eyes were visible and it made him look a bit evil. If I were alive… The sadness came quick to his eyes and Hikaru felt a pang of guilt.

"Sorry Sai. I forgot how much you hated not being alive." Hikaru whispered.

It's ok Hikaru. This is my punishment for my suicide. To never be able to pick up a Go stone ever again with these two hands. But don't worry about me. Did you just hear Touya? He called you by your first name. He grinned evilly at Hikaru.

"He did?" Hikaru reviewed what had been said and realized that he did. "You did." That had the desired effect that Sai had been hoping for. Hikaru went all lovey dovey and Touya blushed.

"I figured that we're now closer then friends so I thought it would be alright for me to call you by your first name." Touya grabbed the stones and took one out and began fiddling with it.

"It's more then just alright. I'm happy that you called me 'Hikaru'. Would it be ok for me to call you Akira?" This shy, hesitant Hikaru was getting on Hikaru's nerves. He wasn't used to feeling like this all the time. He was more used to being outgoing and loud.

"Fine. I don't mind."

Hikaru grinned cheekily. "Then, Akira," he pronounced every syllable in the name, "would it be possible for me to steal another kiss?" He cupped Akira's face again. Akira came willingly.

"I don't know about steal but you can have." Akira informed the devilish Hikaru.

With that, Hikaru fit his lips over Akira's, sighing at how right it felt. He heard Sai sigh.

I'm going to have to live with this the rest of your lives? But I wanna play! Hikaru? Akira? Hey! I want to play! I helped you two now I want to play a game of Go. Are you two even listening to me? Hikaruuuu! Akiraaaaaa!

That's how it went the rest of the night. Hikaru and Akira finally agreed to let Sai play them and they spent the night playing each other in endless games. Once and while they'd take breaks just to cuddle or to marvel at how good Sai was. They were content that night with just each other and the ghost. The world felt so right that each wanted time to just stop. They fell asleep with that thought in their heads.