Chapter 14: It's Complicated
Suyon couldn't help the smile from his face when his eyes finally found the scowling figure of Yongha standing next to a pillar. A place, Suyon noticed, that was as far away as possible from the crowd at the arrival gate and yet still near enough for Suyon to see him. Suyon laughed lightly as an apprehensive look came upon Yongha's face as he warily glared at a woman coming his way who was more intend on scolding her wayward son than steering her trolley.
Suyon quickly made his way up to Yongha. Before long, Yongha caught a sight of him but instead of a smile that Suyon was expecting, he was presented with a scowl. Amused, Suyon sped up and stopped right in front of Yongha, grinning widely all the way. To his increasing amusement, Yongha's scowl got even fiercer.
"My, my… someone is definitely very anti-social today," Suyon finally remarked cheekily.
"Shut it, you brat. Tell me again why did I agree to pick you up?"
"You did not agree, my dear friend. You offered."
Yongha gave Suyon a death glare, something he had picked up from Akira from the countless hours they had spent antagonizing each other. Yongha crossed his arms and looked away, scoffing at the same time.
"Same thing."
Suyon blinked at Yongha, unable to believe how Yongha had managed to sound like a spoilt brat even when he was acting haughty and regal. Suyon soon shrugged it off, deciding that teasing Yongha further will not be that much of a good idea.
"Right… so anyway, where's Shindou?"
Looking about the terminal, Suyon missed the shadow in Yongha's eyes at the mentioned of Hikaru. When Suyon turned back to Yongha, Yongha was back to his egoistic manner again.
"Shindou had a game today. He sends his regards though. Don't worry, you'll see him soon."
"A Dan-series game?"
"Yes."
Suyon grinned happily. "Then let's go to the Go association! I have always wanted to see how their association looks like."
Yongha shrugged. "Nothing special. Looks more or less like ours."
Suyon scoffed. "Normally, everything looks the same to you, so I'll just have to see it for myself. Your opinions are not trust-worthy."
"Brat. And to think I actually got you a souvenir. I'll just give it to someone else then."
Suyon laughed at that, knowing that it was just an empty threat. He had lost count of how many similar threats he had gotten from the elder boy that somehow never came true.
Not that he ever wanted them to.
"Come on! Let's go to the association now!" Suyon exclaimed eagerly, turning to the exit even before he finished his sentence.
Yongha smiled bemusedly at Suyon before shaking his head and following the younger boy at a more leisure pace that earned him a scowl. Before long, Suyon marched back to him and latched onto his wrist, dragging him all the way to the exit.
"You know, Suyon, don't you have to make an appearance at your uncle's place first?"
At the curious question, Suyon stopped dead in his tracks, looking horrified. Whirling around suddenly, Suyon's panicky face only amused Yongha even further.
"Why didn't you remind me earlier! Now we can't go to the association. Shindou might have already finished his game by then. I can't believe I won't be able to see the association!"
Yongha shrugged. "I have Shindou's cell number. I can always give him a call or text him and ask him to wait for us or something."
"But I want to surprise him!" Suyon whined, effectively sounding like a child of five.
As Suyon stood there forlornly, Yongha could only wonder what had happened to the level-headed boy he normally knew. Maybe all the flying had messed his head up badly. Then again, they had travelled together before and Suyon had never displayed such behaviour before. Unless…
"Suyon, how much sugar intake did you had?"
"Sugar? None, all I had in the plane was sodas. They do have an infinite amount of them… never seemed to run out. Had nothing to do, so drinking a variety of sodas seemed like a great idea."
Yongha stared at his friend blankly before sighing in defeat. Suyon was on sugar-high after all, overdosing on sodas of all things. He really hated dealing with a sugar-high Suyon that never seemed to run out of energy or overactive antics. Yongha groaned, realizing for sure that he would be run ragged by the time the day was over.
"Let's just get this day over with." Yongha mumbled. Out loud Yongha told Suyon to call his uncle informing him of his arrival and that Suyon would come by later.
"Why?" Suyon asked, sounding a tad bewildered.
"Do you or do you not want to go to the association?" Yongha asked more sharply than he intended, though it didn't have the desired effect on Suyon, who just lit up like a Christmas tree and proceeded to do as Yongha instructed, paying no mind to the glare Yongha was favouring him with.
As Suyon began to chat happily on the cell phone with his uncle, Yongha found his mind going back to Hikaru. He hadn't seen the boy since the Hiroshima trip. True that Hikaru had school, games and meetings to go to, but Yongha didn't try very hard to meet with Hikaru either. There was just too much on his mind right now that he needed to sort out.
Thinking back to the trip, Yongha gritted his teeth almost painfully. Ever since that day in the hotel room, Yongha, for the first time, found himself resentful of Shuusaku. If it wasn't for Akira's raised and agitated voice, he would've never woken up and would've probably remained ignorant. How blessedly ignorant he would have been if it were so. Yongha could only curse himself for being a light sleeper. It was not his intention to eavesdrop, but what could one do when he woke up in the middle of an argument, except feign ignorance?
Touya Akira he can hope to fight and win… but how could he fight a ghost?
Bitterness coursed through him again. Again he had come here thinking that Touya Akira was his only rival for his goal. Back then his goal was Go and instead of facing his supposed rival, he had ended up facing Shindou Hikaru, an amazing player that had had Yongha panicking a few times, even though in the end Hikaru had lost. Now his goal was Hikaru, and though initially his rival was Akira again, it seemed to end up with both of the stale mates losing to a ghost.
Back then, Hikaru had challenged him because of Shuusaku.
…
"Why do you play Go?"
"…To link the far past with the far future."
…
Yongha had first thought, when he'd heard that phrase from Hikaru, that Hikaru was aiming for the strength of those legendary players, Shuusaku in particular, which explained why he was attacked so fiercely during their game. He had never thought that the reason could be something so close to Hikaru's heart.
…
"The only reason I can give you is that to me, you had not only insulted a great figure of Go in Japan. I suppose, you could say you had dishonoured my master's image."
"Shuusaku is my master. You would do well not to speak ill of my master."
…
Without knowing how or why, he found out that he sympathized with Akira. It's truly a painful thing to think that you are someone's most important person only to find out that you're actually not. He remembered Akira telling him that Hikaru played like Shuusaku more often lately during one of their rare companionable moments. He remembered clearly even now how Akira's tone bespoke of respect, awe, sadness and even slight bitterness. He hadn't understood those emotions then but he definitely could give a guess now.
Suddenly he yearned to have a game with Hikaru. Hikaru had been a strong player when they played during the Hokuto Cup. Yongha wanted to know Hikaru's strength now. He wanted to know if the rumours he had been hearing were true. He wanted to see if he could find out how much Shuusaku meant to Hikaru.
…
"Shindou-kun is playing more and more like Shuusaku. I'm waiting for the day when I can finally play a game against him."
"I lost to Shindou 1-Dan. Even though I lost, the game was amazing… there were moves that you'd never thought you'd ever see in front of your eyes on a goban, instead in a kifu. All the same I would rather not play him again."
"Shindou has grown stronger again."
…
"YONGHA!"
Jerking in surprise, Yongha scowled at the culprit, though his frown faltered when he saw Suyon's worried features.
"What's wrong?"
Suyon glared, losing his worried look instantly. "What's wrong? What's wrong! I should be the one asking you that, not the other way around. You have been staring into space for the past five minutes. Short of yelling into your ear, there was nothing that could make you snap out of it!"
Yongha grimaced apologetically. "Sorry, I had something on my mind."
"Obviously. Are you going to tell me?"
At the silence Suyon had more or less expected as an answer, he sighed and turned towards the exit once more.
"Its fine, you don't have to tell me. Come on then, we're going--"
"I want to play Shindou."
Though spoken quietly, the statement was louder than any sound system to Suyon's ears, stopping him efficiently to his feet. Turning around, Suyon's surprised eyes stared at Yongha, taking in the determined stance Yongha was holding himself in. Staring harder, Suyon was shocked to find desperation mixing within the depths of Yongha's haughty eyes.
Not knowing what to say, Suyon said the first thing that came to his mind. "Haven't you had a game with him since you came?"
Yongha shook his head in negative. "We just hung out and tour around. He did bring me to a few of his Go study groups… but we never played against each other."
Suyon's puzzled eyes sparkled at Yongha. "I thought you wanted to? That was the reason you came, isn't it?"
Suyon watched with bated breath as Yongha struggled with his answer. Yongha hardly struggled for anything. In fact, Suyon could not remember the last time he had seen Yongha in such state. Eyes narrowing, Suyon turned away form Yongha for the third time.
"Let's go."
Yongha watched Suyon as he walked away before running after him.
"Suyon?"
"You wanted to play Shindou, right? Let's find him then."
Just as suddenly as he had started to walk away, Suyon stopped again. Yongha, who had been trailing behind Suyon, watched him warily, not knowing what to expect now.
"I don't know what the hell is wrong. But it seems to centre around Shindou… doesn't it? Or am I wrong?" Suddenly Suyon spun around and glared at Yongha, continuing heatedly. "I'll be damned if I let you continue like this. This indecisive person is not the Yongha I know. If having a game with Shindou will help, I'll damn well make sure you have that stupid game!"
With that Suyon turned back again, this time stalking almost angrily towards the taxi stand. Yongha could only gape at Suyon's back before regaining his senses and hurrying after him. Catching up with Suyon, one of Hikaru's many parting words echoed through Yongha's mind.
…
"I will show you why I am Shuusaku's pupil."
…
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Hikaru smiled with satisfaction as he swept his white stones back into the container before doing the same for his opponent's black stones. His opponent had resigned and walked away immediately after when he had realized that he couldn't beat Hikaru.
"Morning! Oh, looks like you won again, right?"
Startled, Hikaru looked up to the speaker to find a grinning Hamano Kariudo. Smiling brightly, Hikaru nodded his head in answer before getting up and pulling Kariudo along with him. Once Hikaru marked down his winning, he dragged a willing Kariudo out of the hall and into the corridor. As Hikaru exchanged his indoor slippers to his shoes he mock-scolded Kariudo.
"Hamano! You know better than to talk in the hall. You're just begging to be scolded by Sensei."
Kariudo only grinned cheekily in reply, knowing his friend was only repeating what he had been saying for weeks now. Hikaru tried to glare warningly at Kariudo before giving up. The guy's expression was too much like Sai's for him to get angry at him for any length of time.
"Hey Shindou, where's that Korean guy who had been shadowing you all the time?"
Hikaru scowled playfully at Kariudo even as Sai sniggered beside him. "That Korean guy's name is Ko Yongha. Try to remember that at least. And he does not 'shadow' me as you so eloquently put it."
'Besides, if anyone is doing the shadowing, it would be Sai.' Hikaru thought absently, ignoring Sai's affronted yell beside his ear.
Kariudo shrugged, still grinning all the while. "Sure looks like it to me. I hardly see you without him waiting for you somewhere anymore."
"Yeah, sure… whatever." Hikaru replied off-handedly, turning away.
"Hey – HEY! Shindou! Don't you turn away from me. Wait for me, you brat."
Hikaru smirked as he could hear Kariudo change his shoes in a rush before running after him. But before Kariudo could even open his mouth, someone yelled Hikaru's name out loud, causing the said boy to wince painfully. Hikaru turned around and promptly sighed.
"You idiot, where are you going without me?"
Watching the glaring person a tad nervously, Hikaru smiled shakily.
"Come on, Waya. I didn't know you were here today."
If it was even possible, Waya upped his glare a notch. "Oh, really?"
"Of course! Would I ever lie to you, Waya?" Hikaru asked earnestly with puppy eyes, taking a leaf out of Sai's book.
Kariudo and Sai were watching the two boys with amusement, Sai sniggering all the way. Before Waya could get another word in, Hikaru clamped onto Kariudo's hand and dragged him forward.
"Waya! Have you met my friend, Hamano Kariudo? Hamano, this is one of my close friends, Waya Yoshitaka."
As the two newly re-introduced friends greeted each other with mocking playful pleasantries, Hikaru gave a sigh of relieve. He had totally forgotten about Waya's game today.
"You should really get something to help you remember dates and stuff like that. Something like that book you showed me the other day." Sai remarked cheerfully.
'I know… but I don't think I'll be able to remember having an organizer in order to use it, Sai.'
"True… can't help you there."
'I know. You're as forgetful as me. Sometimes I think it's all because of you I'm so forgetful.'
"Hey! Don't put the blame on me just because you pissed off Waya again."
'No, I'm blaming you for my forgetfulness. After all I was stuck with you for three years everyday in my head. Who knows what else you shipped over to my head apart from Go and forgetfulness.'
"Hey Shindou! Where were you heading?"
Smiling, Hikaru turned to face Waya, ignoring the whining and babbling of Sai. "Oh, I was thinking of getting some lunch, like always. Interested, both of you?"
Kariudo smiled and nodded happily while Waya grinned widely. "Of course, my dear Shindou. Would I ever say no to food?"
Hikaru mock-glared at Waya. "Like that is even worth answering."
"The elevator is here, Shindou, Waya-san. Come on."
"Waya-san! I'm not my father and neither am I old! Please, Hamano, leave it at Waya, will ya?" Waya whined as the three of them walked up to an arriving elevator.
Hikaru, who was laughing along with Kariudo at Waya's whining, stopped abruptly when he saw who was coming out of the elevator.
"Touya…" Hikaru whispered softly but nevertheless caught the sharp ears of Akira.
Hikaru and Akira stared at each other warily, before simultaneously looking away. They hadn't truly spoken since that evening in Hiroshima. Even Yongha seemed to sense their unease and was quite amiable to both of them for the rest of the trip. Realizing that their tiff couldn't last forever, Hikaru turned back to Akira.
"Touya." Hikaru called out louder, catching both Waya's and Kariudo's attention.
"Shindou?" Waya questioned.
"Guys, I need to talk with Touya for a while. Could you both wait for me at the lobby? I'll be down in a minute." Hikaru asked, all the while keeping his eyes trained on Akira, who was still facing away from him, resolutely refusing to even glance at Hikaru.
Waya looked back and forth between the two shrewdly before shrugging. "Sure. Come on, Hamano-san, let's go see if there are any opponents in the public hall worth watching. And hurry up Shindou, or else we leave without you."
Hikaru didn't bother to answer as his two lunch partners walked away, all the while watching Akira. Hikaru called out Akira's name again, louder this time and still Akira didn't look at him though he didn't move away either.
'Sai, I…'
"Go talk to him, Hikaru. I'll be here waiting for you." Sai cut in, understandingly. When neither boy moved, Sai pushed Hikaru slightly.
"You have to clear up your misunderstanding, Hikaru. Surely you don't want your friendship with Touya-kun to end like that."
Hikaru nodded sharply before walking over to Akira, a determined glint in his eyes. Grabbing a hold of Akira's hand, Hikaru proceeded to haul Akira to a secluded place.
"Wa-wait, Shindou! What are you doing?" Akira managed to yell out after getting over his surprise.
Hikaru glanced back with a fierce glare. "We need to talk, Touya. Now, come on!"
Though resentful of the treatment, Akira allowed Hikaru to pull him away, silently thankful that he didn't have to make the first move to reconcile with Hikaru. When Hikaru finally found a place he was satisfied with, he turned to face Akira. For a long time both boys glared heatedly at each other before all energy seemed to rush out of them. Slumping against the wall, Hikaru covered his eyes with a free hand.
"…Touya, we really made a mess of things, huh?"
Akira shrugged. "I guess…"
Hikaru opened his eyes and smiled lightly at Akira. "What can I say to make you forgive me?"
Akira's eyes saddened slightly. "There's nothing to forgive, Shindou. I shouldn't have pressed you when it was obvious that you're not willing to talk about it."
"That's true, but I shouldn't have snapped at you either."
"Yeah, well… then again, maybe I deserved it…" replied Akira sadly.
"And both of us should stop trying to take the blame. Let's just leave it with both of us at fault and forget about it." Hikaru said softly, his eyes clouding slightly. "Truce, Touya?"
"Nothing I would want more." Akira replied sincerely after a while, sticking his hand out in good gesture which Hikaru clasped heartily. Even as he agreed to sweep everything under the carpet, a part of his mind was protesting. It refused to be left in ignorance but Akira ruthlessly suppressed it. After all, he knew Hikaru well, and Hikaru could be very stubborn, and he guarded his privacy fiercely. There was nothing he could do unless Hikaru was first willing to give.
"Hey, how about joining me and the others for lunch. You do have to eat, right?" Hikaru asked, already dragging Akira back to the elevators regardless of Akira's answer.
Akira glowered at the back of Hikaru's head, not bothering to grace Hikaru with an answer. Ever since Hikaru found out that he hardly took lunches between games, Hikaru formed a habit of dragging him along for lunch whenever they were in the same vicinity. And then he would practically force-feed Akira. Needless to say, Akira had grown accustomed to McDonald's and ramen.
So intent was Akira in making a hole in Hikaru's head that he failed to notice the two foreigners standing hesitantly in front of the elevators. He did notice Hikaru slowing down before speeding up almost immediately, almost yanking him off-balanced.
"Shindou! Careful, will you? I still want my arm."
Hikaru didn't appear to hear him as he sprinted with Akira in tow towards the elevators. When Akira finally noticed just who had gotten Hikaru's attention, he couldn't help but to feeling resentful.
For standing there in front of the elevators was none other than Ko Yongha and Hong Suyon.
-TBC-
