Title: Future
Rating: Restricted/Mature
Genre: Romance
Author's notes: Honestly, I never thought that I would be writing this down. After all, I'm not even sure how I'm going to finish it with all my fics on hand. But after reading so many Akira+Hikaru fics, I simply can't resist the urge to write something down. And no, Hikaru no Go does not belong to me!
Additional notes: Special thanks to O'Neill for helping me beta-read this fic despite the hectic schoolwork. I'd decided to tell this chapter directly from Hikaru's POV.
Summary: What actually happened after the Hokuto Cup tournament, and what else have life in store for our favorite Kishi? MxM relationships implied(Akira/Hikaru) with a little of (Waya/Isumi)
Spoilers: Throughout the manga series.
Chapter 1- New Beginnings!
Shindou Hikaru stared at the board feeling utterly devastated. He couldn't believe that he'd lost. He had been so confident that he would be able to win and defend Sai's honor as Shuusaku, yet he'd lost by half a moku. He was so lost in his own world that he didn't even hear his rival's approach.
"Come on, Shindou, it's time to leave for the closing ceremony," said Touya. "It's okay to lose. There will be other chances."
He knew Touya was waiting for him to make a move and would not leave him alone, and Touya always made a point to leave only after he did. He stood up without a word, feeling Touya's eyes on him with every step he took.
The closing ceremony to the Hokuto Cup was a speech given by the sponsors, but the content was lost on Hikaru as remorse and guilt clouded his mind. Applause sounded from the audiences, alerting him that the closing ceremony was over and the players were free to go. The Japan Go team were discussing plans for dinner with the other Go professionals that came to support them. He broke into their discussion, saying, "You guys go ahead, I'll be back in the hotel."
He left immediately after dropping this bit of information on them, and so he didn't notice the frown on Yashiro's face nor the slight shake of Touya's head as Waya started to go after him.
Shindou stepped out of the elevator and headed towards the room which he shared with Touya, his heart heavy. Closing the door behind, he slumped down by the side of his bed without bothering to switch on the lights.
I'm sorry Sai, I've let you down...
Shindou sighed and let his eyes slip shut as memories of Sai flooded through his mind. When Touya flipped on a light switch, jerking him back into reality, he had no idea how long he'd been sitting in the dark.
"Oh, you're back!" Shindou said, forcing a grin that turned out as a grimace instead.
For a moment neither spoke, and it wasn't until Touya picked up a book from the nightstand and settled down on the couch to read that he uttered a muffled "Sorry".
"You don't have to apologize. You played your best, and you lost. No one can judge you for that." Touya observed him for a moment before adding, "Get some rest. It's late, and we can continue this conversation in the morning."
For the first time, he resigned himself to taking Touya's advice without a word. But even though Touya couldn't have been expecting an argument given his current state of mind, the complete lack of protest seemed to catch the latter off-guard. He left Touya staring at him as he hid himself under the covers, trying to sleep.
Fifteen minutes later, he heard the lights being switched off and knew that Touya had crawled into bed as well.
to be continued
date completed: 17/02/05
date revised: 31/03/05