DISCLAIMER: Hikaru no Go and its characters belong to Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi.

WARNINGS: Sequel to "The Long Awaited Confession". No spoilers per se, but might be a bit difficult to understand if you didn't read the manga or didn't see the anime. Language – from our dear Hikaru, maybe others – possible underage drinking again and mild boy on boy theme. Or maybe not so mild, depending on my mood.

A/N: I apologize for any errors, discrepancies, inaccuracies or mistakes for they are all mine, as this work is unbeta'd. Reviews are really appreciated. Cookies, anyone?

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The Return to Tokyo

We board the train for Tokyo in silence. I can see Touya is feeling self-conscious and dispirited. He has promised me he doesn't remember a thing about what happened after he left the Ishikiri graveyard. Furthermore, he has assured me he doesn't harbour secret feelings for me and doesn't consider me as boyfriend material. Because he is not into boys. That conversation has been for the most part awkward and painful. I know I am not the most tactful person in the world; but witnessing the hurt on Touya's face as I asked him questions has made me think I am thoughtless and inconsiderate.

I get my magnetic goban out of my backpack.

"A game?" I suggest. Go is a neutral ground. Go is not about feelings or emotions. Go is the anchor of our rivalry and nothing else.

"Sure." He gives me a small lopsided smile.

"Can I be black? I want to try something out…" It has been a long time since I did anything original or groundbreaking against Touya. I want to use the occasion to improve and to refine my techniques against someone who knows how to fight against them. I play the first move at tengen.

"Are you doing me the honour of one of Yashirou's move?" It is more a teasing than a gibe. Yashirou has been the third board on our team in the Hokuto Cup, more than two years ago. During the preliminaries and the qualifying matches, he had the propensity to come up with some weird moves which could work like a wonder – or to be frank, be a total disaster.

"Indeed I am." I answer with a mock formality which makes him chortle.

We play for an hour. We are so concentrated upon the goban that the world around us doesn't exist anymore. The game is the only fad we focus on. I steal a glance at Touya every so often. I am comforted and thankful to find him unchanged from his old self. 'This is a good thing; I like it better when he smiles.' Of course, him smiling means me getting creamed. Not that I care today.

"I resign. Thanks for the game. Do you mind if I am black again and try out something else?" I ask.

"Another of Yashirou's opening moves? Fine. But this time, can I ask questions while we play? I want to know more about Sai…"

We begin to play slowly, as I describe at the same time my life with Sai and narrate various incidents or funny anecdotes about our life together. Touya is a bit dubious when I explain that Sai could be at the same time an excellent mentor, a loyal friend, an angry sound-alike shrew when provoked and a childish, whiny, clinging fellow. I tell him there was so much to Sai that a return trip from the Hiroshima area wasn't going to cover it all.

"We'll talk at length later, I swear…" I say when our train arrives in Tokyo. "I don't know where or when yet, but we'll figure it out, right?"

"Why don't we go to your house now, Shindou? I mean, you've met my parents, but I've never met yours. That's the perfect circumstance and we can talk without fear of being overheard." I suddenly imagine polite, perfect Touya meeting my mother and grins widely.

"You know what? That's a brilliant idea!" I reply.

We take the underground railway to the suburbs of Tokyo, dragging our luggage behind us and arriving unexpectedly at my parents' house's door. My mother is baffled to meet the 'famous' Touya Akira and a little frazzled. I suspect she has made the most of my absence to clean the whole house with a very thorough method: picking up everything I left behind me and throwing it in my bedroom without looking inside. I admit that my bedroom can be considered a bit of a pandemonium. I pile up Jump magazines, old kifu, video games and, well, everything I own without putting it into order. 'Please, don't let him mind the mess.'

"Show your guest to your room, Hikaru. I'll bring you both some tea and snacks shortly." My mother is still the same old practical mother I know.

Touya blushes and bows. "I thank you for welcoming me in your house. I appreciate your hospitality and for putting up with me at such short notice." My mother flushes at the formality she isn't accustomed to.

"Mom, we're going now." I say, walking briskly to the staircase.

"Shindou, don't be rude to your mother! You have no manners…" I snigger at that repetitive comment and motion for him to follow me. He shakes his head to hide a cute beaming grin. 'Cute?'

Once in my bedroom, Touya makes the expected statement of my lack of orderliness. We make ourselves comfortable and talk about go, about Sai and about upcoming games until it is time for him to go home. The previous uneasiness is forgotten and I am glad about it. As I walk him back to the door, I clear my throat.

"Touya…"

"Don't worry, Shindou. I'll keep your secret well." His uncanny ability to read my mind amazes me. But then, that's why we are best friends.