Hikaru no Monogatari Chapter 9, a hikaru no go fanfic

Please note this chapter begin at the start of the week, which mean it's Akira's POV of his inclusion to Go club as Yun-sensei's assistant.

Chapter 9: Existence

The idea sounded wonderful, becoming Yun-sensei's assistant to Go club as some sort of pro training as well. The ideal idea was for he and Hikaru to assist Yun-sensei to teach the club members, and it also served to give them experience in tutoring. Unfortunately reality was not as sweet, because neither he nor Hikaru needed the experience. Both of them played shidougo almost all the time in Shindou's study group and his father's Go salon. They had people from all age group to tutor, and addition of one gigantic club was just an unnecessary burden.

Not to mention majority of Go club was wary of him and Hikaru because of their prodigy status.

But…

"It's a wonderful opportunity for us all." Kochou-sensei continued, "Of course we should keep Shindou-kun's schedule with Classic club in mind, but I am sure we can negotiate with Fubuki-sensei to give Shindou-kun spare time for Go club."

He would be fine refusing this offer, because Kochou-sensei respected his father and he had no obligation to the school. Hikaru in the other hand would be in unfavorable situation if he refused, he was a scholarship student and he almost lost the scholarship because of the stunt he pulled last winter. If Kochou-sensei asked, Akira was sure his friend would be obligated to accept it. Hikaru was already so busy with the Classic club, and he tried his hardest to make time for Akira and Go. There was no way he would let his friend to be subjected to another obligation, and an unpleasant one to boot!

"Kochou-sensei." Akira began, "My apologies, but would it be possible if you don't mention this to Shindou?" It felt a little odd shifting back to calling his friend by his surname. "Lately he is very busy… I don't want him to get too tired, in the other hand I am pretty free afterschool so I can make time for Go club." He offered politely, a benign smile firmly in place.

The headmaster looked skeptical, "But… he should be free once after their next publication, right?"

"Actually… Shindou also take aikido lesson, he also has a Go class at home." Akira listed on.

Yun-sensei rubbed his chin, "He has his own Go class at home?"

"It's nothing formal, it's more like an unofficial study group and he is not paid for it…" Akira corrected. "He also tutored four children for free…" Not really free as their parents kept bringing gift like groceries for Shindou because the young teacher refused to be paid. "Sometimes he also played shidougo with patrons at my father's Go salon…"

Yun-sensei looked impressed, "No wonder he has good teaching method."

Akira nodded, "It's not an exaggeration to say Shidougo is Shindou's specialty, I don't think he need more experience at it… I even learn how to play shidougo from him." Then he turned to Kochou-sensei. "In the other hand I need as much as experience as I could… so I hope Kochou-sensei didn't mind it's only me."

Kochou-sensei looked flustered, "Of course not! I should thank you Touya-kun! I guess Shindou-kun didn't have to come along if he is that busy." He murmured, "We're looking forward for your guidance in our Go club."

Akira was relieved that he managed to get his friend out of it. As for him… well, he had told Hikaru he could take care of himself just fine! Beside… weren't they hostile because they were worried he and Hikaru were going to take their top placers' place? If he became Yun-sensei's assistant they didn't have to fear that. He didn't expect them to be more welcome to his presence but at least not as bad as if he barged in to their club as a member.

Few days later, Go clubroom

Hikaru was getting suspicious of why Akira stayed so long afterschool to the point they could go home together as usual in spite of Hikaru's hectic schedule in Classic Club. However his long haired friend was someone who had deep respect for privacy so he didn't pry. However it didn't stop Hikaru from shooting him worried look from time to time. It made Akira happy but he was also a little annoyed his friend didn't trust him to take care of himself.

Sure, his time in Go club was not exactly peachy. They didn't glare at him openly but the hostility and awkwardness were still there but more subdued. And also a minority of the club, ironically the top placers in both boy and girl team were pretty supportive with the idea of him tutoring them. Aoki-senpai in particular was very friendly to him, the plump senior reminded him a little of Ashiwara-san. Aoki-senpai was more mature and composed compared to Ashiwara-san though.

"Thank you very much, Touya-sensei." Aoki-senpai said after the post-game discussion ended.

He still felt a little awkward to be called that though. In his father's Go salon he had been called sensei for so long but to be called that by people close to his age was unnerving. However he couldn't refuse as it was proper to be treated with respect by people they taught, if not the lesson won't sink in.

Although…

'Look at that, senpais called him sensei'

'Show off.'

'Che, just because he tutor us for free…'

It didn't help at all with the hostility. Oh well, he had learned it was impossible to please all sides when a Go game was concerned.

"Will you play me next?" An orange haired boy asked.

Akira briefly recalled this boy was also a freshman as he was from class B they shared lab with. Akira remembered because this boy made a ruckus because he mixed wrong chemicals and the whole lab was full of pink smoke that thankfully was harmless. His name was Oku… something?

"Sure." He accepted, "How many stones you wanted?"

The orange haired boy grinned, "I am fine without handicap but may I have black?"

Akira blinked owlishly at the request, but knew better to question it. "Sure."

The game began with the first hand Tengen of all things. At first his interest was piqued a little by the unconventional first hand but soon his interest dampened to nonexistent as all his opponent did was mirroring his hand. Did this person seriously think that way he could deflect his own power on him? Go didn't work that way unfortunately.

"If that's the way you want to play it…" He murmured with an amused smile then he placed a stone right below the Tengen.

'Tsuke on Tengen?!'

He knew this boy was not a good player, as his strategy was so naïve. Anyone who reached decent level would have known this kind of strategy won't work. The boy persistently continued mirroring him, which just made him even dumber.

Pachi

Ten hands later he captured a handful of stone including the Tengen with surrounding the center area. Of course at this point the boy smarted up enough to give up.

"Makemashita." The boy declared, rubbing the back of his head nervously.

Locker Shoes

"Why not? Isn't he said to be the future Meijin?" Itou murmured in saccharine tone.

Okumura groaned, "Are you saying I should ask for an autograph now? Or perhaps I have to ask that other friend of his too?"

Kojima laughed, "You mean Shindou Hikaru? Nah… I think we should ask for a game, and later if they manage to be title holders we can say something like…I played with the Meijin once."

Itou rolled his eyes, "So you will brag you played them once?"

"What a low aim, senpai!" Okumura exclaimed but stopped when he saw his senpai for some reason froze in front of the entrance. "Senpai?" He poked his head to the side so he could see who they were staring at and quickly regretted it.

A few feet away from them Shindou Hikaru stood, leaning against the pillar and he was eyeing them with unreadable eyes. As one all of them took a few steps back, wary of the long haired boy. It was understandable though, with Touya they only had to fear him on goban but this one…

Rumors had circulated that Shindou Hikaru sometimes joined Aikido club morning practice, he was not part of their club and the advisor was more than happy to let the boy to borrow their dojo for warm up. The Aikido club had odd number so his presence evened the number for sparring partner. According to their coach Shindou could have gotten 1-dan at least.

One time there was a classmate who wanted to prank Touya, putting an eraser on the top of the door, hoping when Touya opened the door the chalk eraser would dirtied his dark silky hair. It was a pretty harmless prank in, but Shindou caught the eraser before it reached Touya and snapped the wooden eraser in two barehanded. Then with an innocent smile on his face apologized for breaking school property and politely told them it was for erasing chalk and not supposed to be up there in the first place.

In short, he was not someone you wanted to mess with and you shouldn't mess with his best friend either.

"That's a pretty interesting conversation." Shindou Hikaru commented with benign smile that didn't reach his eyes and Okumura was eerily reminded of Touya's smile when the Go prodigy told him it was his turn, when the game was clearly a foregone conclusion.

Crap.

"Hikaru!" A cheerful voice that for some reason sounded like Touya called.

However the owner of that voice was indeed Touya Akira, and the Go prodigy was walking pass them without so much of a glance as if the trio didn't exist and made a beeline towards his best friend.

"Akira." Hikaru greeted his friend.

Touya Akira opened his umbrella and said, "You should have checked your umbrella before you bring it with you. I can't believe you bring an umbrella that already had a tear on it."

Shindou Hikaru shrugged, "I was in hurry this morning, let's go already…"

"Whatever you say, Hikaru…" He said as he grabbed Shindou's hand and dragged the long haired boy under his umbrella.

The trio's eyebrows twitched at the sight, Did Touya just blatantly ignoring our existence?

The two Go prodigies started to walk away, sharing Touya's blue umbrella. Touya was talking about something while Shindou listened. However they didn't expect Shindou sparing a glance at them, his eyes looked murderous when it narrowed at them.

"That is one dangerous guy." Kojima murmured in shock. "At least Touya is just a dangerous Go player, but Shindou…"

Okumura nodded frantically, "He is scary!" Itou scowled, "That's not the part you should get scared of! That Touya! He didn't even greet us when he walked pass! We are his seniors!"

"I don't think he even notice we're exist~" Kojima droned, "To Touya, everyone but Shindou is beneath him."

Okumura sighed exasperatedly, "And the suckiest part is he is right about that." There was no contest.

They were snapped out of their conversation by the sound of car, and cheerful feminine voice. "Akira-kun! Hikaru-kun!"

Then they saw a pretty young woman driving a small yellow car and on the passenger seat was an equally cute red haired girl, dressing in Haze sailor uniform. "Hi, Hikaru! Touya-kun."

"Ah, Ichikawa-san, what's going on?" Touya queried. "Fujisaki-san too."

"We come to pick you up!" The older girl informed them cheerfully. "You two promised us a shidougo today, ne?"

"Ne?" The younger girl echoed cutely.

Shindou Hikaru leaned in so he was face to face with the red haired girl. "Yes, but really… our manly pride is a little hurt, the fair ladies are the one who pick us up when it should be the other way around." He said suavely.

"Hikaru!" Touya chastised his friend, while the girls were blushing as red as tomato.

"Unfortunately we don't have license yet." He added as an afterthought. "Touya, I am just joking."

Touya sighed, "This is why I told you that your sense of humor is bad."

"Fair lady…" The red haired girl repeated dreamily.

Ichikawa-san sweat-dropped. "Hikaru-kun is as smooth as ever." She opened the backseat door for them. "Get inside boys, before you get wet." She instructed, "Why did you guys share an umbrella anyway?"

Akira went inside first as Hikaru held the umbrella for him, "Hikaru's umbrella has a tear on it, and he didn't notice until he opened it."

"My!"

"I was in hurry this morning so I didn't check." Hikaru added in his defense as he went inside the car and closed the umbrella in the same time.

Ichikawa-san laughed at that, "Well, at any rate we're looking forward for the lesson, sensei!"

"Hai." Touya and Shindou answered in amused voice.

"Ne Hikaru! I bake cookies and scones for you, almond ones… your favorite." She chimed in.

Ichikawa winked, "And Akira-kun, I will serve cake and coffee for you~ although there's not as much as love as it's store bought! Unlike Akari-chan's cookies and scones for Hikaru-kun!"

"Ichikawa-san!" Fujisaki Akari blushed a deep red.

The car sped up and left the premise of Kaio Middle School. The trio gaped openly at the retreating yellow car.

"Homemade cookies and scones? Your Favorite?" Okumura echoed with twitching eyebrow, "Serve cake and coffee… serve?" Then he blew up, "I can't stand it! Those two!"

Kojima sighed, "Well… you should see how many girls pining for them, but it's no wonder… they have looks, grades and… personality." He listed on, although he was not sure about the last part. "At least girls think they're dreamy, and they're best friends are a bonus…"

Itou sweat-dropped, "Well… they're indeed annoying, and that Shindou in a sense is ten times even more annoying than Touya."

"If you want to have a go with Shindou, count me out." Kojima declared, "At least with Touya I am sure no bodily harm is involved."

Itou smartly didn't enlighten his friend about how if they try anything on Touya, there was no way Shindou would stay quiet and bodily harm would be involved.

Touya Meijin's Go salon

"There." Ichikawa placed her stone.

Akira smiled and responded.

Ichikawa averted her eyes for a moment from the board and Akira to Hikaru and Akari. She sighed inwardly, why the boys chose to play shidougo this close with each other? Apparently even though Hikaru-kun was a perfect gentleman and good at dealing with girls, it didn't mean he wasn't as dense as any boys his age. Or perhaps… he knew Akari-chan's feeling but didn't want to lead the girl on so he avoided being alone with her on purpose? But…

Akari-chan looked so happy even though Ichikawa and Akira-kun were nearby, it seemed she didn't care too much as long as Hikaru-kun was spending time with her. Then again…

Pachi

These two boys were Go idiots, and Ichikawa didn't need to know their schedule to know they spent most of their time together. In a sense…

"Ichikawa-san? It's your turn." Akira-kun reminded her.

"Ah! Here." She placed her stone, and then looked up at the dark haired boy in front of her. In a sense, Akari-chan's greatest rival was Akira-kun… she sweat-dropped at the thought.

"Oh." She said in wondering tone. "So if I go here, I can open one more path for black."

Hikaru-kun nodded, "Yes, and it will force white to respond like this."

"Uhm… then I have to respond with nobi here?" She asked as she placed her stone.

He shook his head, "Actually…. You should use hane here." Hikaru corrected, "When you play shidougo without komi it would be fine, but it's disadvantageous for black to use nobi there."

She blinked at that, "But Hikaru used it on Tsutsui-san before?" She had joined Tsutsui's budding club and asked her friends to join in, it seemed Tsutsui's meek persona was charming for girls. He still had trouble looking for male members though.

"That's because my play style is mixing old and new joseki… in my personal opinion old joseki has more balance, while newer one is more aggressive in gaining territory…" Hikaru explained, "However you need more experience for it to work against modern joseki when playing with present set of rules."

Akari-chan nodded at that, "I see… hum… it's really hard to get the logic of joseki, so far no girls in our club can beat Tsutsui-san yet… and majority of pro are males." She murmured. "Is boys in general better than girls in Go?"

Akira-kun smiled at that, "There is that kind of preconception, but I personally disagree… gender have nothing to do with skill." Although Go in professional world, intimidation factor was involved, so people thought girls were easier to be intimidated.

Then Akari-chan looked at Hikaru-kun expectantly, the boy didn't seem to notice as he looked thoughtful. "Actually since the origin of Go theorized to be for practicing an art of war in ancient China, it's a given majority of players since ancient time are male… but… do you know Murasaki Shikibu and Seishou Naban?"

Akari-chan nodded, "They are famous female figures from Heian era."

"They played go too, and according to history record they were exceptional players… " Hikaru drawled softly, "In fact there are historians who believe that Oda Nobunaga fell in love with Lady Nou because of her skill in Go… aside from literature and music skill… Go is a mark of ideal ladies of nobility."

Ichikawa should feel happy to hear that but with Shindou-kun you couldn't tell he was just enlightening you with his history trivia, or he was encouraging Akari-chan to get better.

Time passed quickly and it was time for these kids to go home, Akira-kun was the first to go home because his mother asked him to go home soon. After a few round of Shidougo, Hikaru-kun encouraged Akari-chan to play with Hirose-san so she could get a taste of a real game. Hikaru-kun was gentleman so he waited for Akari-chan to finish so he can walk her home.

"Ichikawa-san." Hikaru-kun called her, "May I borrow the phone to call Akari-san's home, it's not late yet but I think I should inform them she would be coming how a bit later than her curfew."

Ichikawa never thought the presence of another surrogate little brother could make her this happy. "My! Of course, Hikaru-kun!" She said as she gave him the cordless phone.

He made a quick call to Akari-chan's house and politely informed her mother. They talked a little longer as it seemed Akari-chan's mother missed Hikaru-kun. "Uhm… my apologies, baa-san but my grandfather expect me to be home at seven so you don't have to prepare my share of dinner."

It seemed Akari-chan had her parent's approval for Shindou-kun.

"Thank you, Ichikawa-san." Hikaru-kun returned the phone.

"You're welcome, Hikaru-kun!" Mou, why he and Akira-kun this polite?

Hikaru-kun cleared his throat, "Ichikawa-san… I would like to ask whether Akira is spending more time in Go salon lately."

Ichikawa blinked owlishly at that, "Hum… no, not really… "

Hikaru-kun had this solemn look on his face at that, "I see… did Akira tell you anything? He seems to be waiting for me a lot lately, usually if I am late from club he would wait for me here instead of school."

"Is that so?" She drawled, "But why you're worried Hikaru-kun? He used to stay extra hours at school to finish his homework so he has more time to play Go." Of course Hikaru-kun knew this too, so why he was worried?

Hikaru-kun looked uneasy, "Please keep this a secret from Akira, he think I didn't notice but… he is doing something and he don't want me to know what. I am worried he is going to get in trouble…"

That was so vague… "Uhm… I don't think you should worry, Akira-kun is not a troublemaker and he definitely is not the type who looks for trouble!" Ichikawa assured the young boy.

Hikaru-kun didn't look convinced and Ichikawa somehow had a feeling the look he shot her said, 'Exactly, problem found him.'

Shindou's residence

Hikaru placed the white stone to where his mentor's fan pointed it.

Pachi

Sai frowned and took the fan he had placed on tatami mat and put it on his lap. "Let's wrap it up, we will continue this game tomorrow." He decided.

Hikaru blinked, "But… we're almost reaching yose."

"There's no point, you're not concentrating." Sai said pointedly, "I don't think you're up to any game as long as you haven't solved your problem with Akira-kun."

Hikaru sighed at that, "Yes, ani-ue…"

"Hikaru…" Sai began, "Akira-kun was a lonely child… although I suspect before he met you he didn't know it."

"… Maybe that's true…" Perhaps that was why Akira was chasing him so persistently back then. "No, I know it's true."

"That's why… whatever he get himself into is…"

Hikaru sighed, "He is so clueless… and so single minded in his pursuit I can't help but be worried." He murmured, "Hirose-san… said Akira bolt out of the salon just because I might be in that Go tournament, I mean… who would bet on that small chance… and he brood in that same spot, waiting for me for weeks…"

Sai sweat-dropped, "Well… he is a smart boy but when you're concerned he seems to do a lot of thing on impulse."

"It's stupid."

"But adorable…" Sai added, grinning at his disciple.

Hikaru sighed again, "But still… even though I know Akira will wait, I can't help but scared if I will fail him anyway… "He murmured. "I am glad to be his friend but I… I also want to be his rival, I want to play with my everything against him… I want… I want to give him the rival he sees in me but I can't… and I…"

"Hikaru." Sai stopped his rant, "May I ask you a question?" Hikaru gave him a curt nod, "Why you play go?" Hikaru opened his mouth, "I know your Go at first is for pleasing Heihachi-dono, and then it's for me… but Hikaru regardless of everything I believe the main reason is because you love this game as much as I do."

"Yes… I do…"

"However…" Sai trailed off, "I believe Go is not a game you can play on your own, there has to be someone else too… I believe that each person in this world exist for someone else."

"Each person exists…" Hikaru recited in dazed tone. "For someone else."

Sai nodded, "Rival you want to be for Touya… rivals in my opinion is two persons existing for each other to reach a new height." He murmured. "And that way… I don't think Hikaru need to fear anything else, you're never alone… your go is not to crush your opponent's spirit."

"…Ani-ue…"

He took a deep breath, "I have wanted to tell you this for a long time…"

"Then why you didn't?" Hikaru asked hesitantly.

He laughed softly as he patted his brother gently on his shoulder, "Because… this is the first time you admit to me that there is something you want for yourself, you want to be Akira-kun's rival."

"But that's…"

"I know partly you want it for Akira-kun." Sai drawled softly, "But in the same time, you want to be his rival for yourself…"

Hikaru's eyes widened at that, "I want it for myself…"

Sai nodded, "Maybe now you don't really grasp it yet, but I believe… Hikaru, it's just about time. Be patient… you have been waiting for so long. I am sure… that someday is not long…"

The day you could break free from your past, and ran towards the future without fear.

The next day

Hikaru was watching him closely, which was nothing new since the last few days. His friend was suspecting something and Akira feared he couldn't keep his teaching job in Go club any longer. They chatted and had lunch as usual, nothing off and Hikaru didn't ask anything. However Akira still had this nagging feeling it was just about time his friend found out about the teaching job, and they would start a shouting match over it.

He just hoped Hikaru could follow his own advice on picking location before they started that.

So that day he had stayed in class longer than usual to make sure Hikaru was not going to wait and caught him going to Go clubroom. After over fifteen minutes he rushed to the clubroom and gave a polite apology to Kishimoto.

It seemed today Yun-sensei had an appointment so it was up to Kishimoto-senpai and Tsuruga-senpai in charge of the club today. Then he went to his corner, or rather the unoccupied goban where he spent most of his time when no one came for shidougo. He recalled Hidaka-senpai asked for one today, but she was not here yet.

"Hey, Touya." Akira looked up from his book when he heard his name was called.

It was a senior he didn't know, he had red hair and dark eyes. "Yes?"

"Come with me." He craned his neck, "Yun-sensei needs us to do some errand."

That was odd, technically since he was an assistant it didn't make sense for Yun-sensei to not tell the club president to tell him about an errand. However he had no reason to refuse especially since this person seemed to have a bad temper. It would be bad if he start yelling about Akira being defiant to a senpai or something.

So he followed them to the old record room and told to clean it up. So this person was bullying him? Then again he was the kouhai and he didn't want to argue with this person. Beside Kishimoto-senpai would notice his absence, and found out about this anyway.

However he didn't expect them to ask for a game, and a blind Go game to boot.

"What, can't you do it?" Itou challenged. "Sure you can, after all you're the best player in our generation…"

"…"

He grunted, "Why a guy like you have to come here? Teaching?! More like flaunting your skill on us! Do you want to show off? That you're the best of the best?" He went on, "Why don't you just go pro already and take four or five titles?"

This person… what did he want from provoking him like this? Akira saw no point to dignify him with a response, a reaction was what he wanted and Akira had no inclination to give him that pleasure.

Itou fumed, wondering why this boy didn't even flinch when provoked. He smirked, he knew exactly what he should say to get a reaction. "Or… you'd rather I try to get your friend, Shindou Hikaru instead?" Itou tried again.

"What?!"

Itou smirked, that was the most emotional face he had ever seen of the stoic Touya Akira. "Isn't he also a prodigy? He can beat Kishimoto-senpai so easily after all… although… it seems he has a health problem." He couldn't help but enjoyed visible tremor on Touya Akira's body. "My father is a doctor, you know… and I watched that tournament… I can easily tell a panic attack when I saw it… at first I thought it was asthma because of that inhaler you gave him."

Akira swallowed, "You…"

"But he is good at PE ne? I don't see him having breathing problem at all… so it's easy to know it's a panic attack, and a bad one…" He murmured, "I wonder… what trigger it?"

Akira couldn't take it anymore, "Fine! I will play you! Just… don't you dare to harm him!"

"Hmph." Itou smirked, "I know you're going to see my way, Touya…"

He bristled as he turned around, organizing the scattered book as ordered. He had never felt this angry, this person dared to use his friend to attack him! No, calm down! No matter what he had to win this game. Don't let his provocation get to your head and clouding your judgment.

"16-4, Hoshi." Itou announced, followed by soft sound of stone hitting the goban.

Akira pictured a goban on his head and filled the called spot with a black stone. "4-16, Hoshi."

"16-17, Komoku."

Pachi

"4-4, Hoshi."

Pachi

Akira took a deep breath, blind Go was difficult even for pro but the key was memorizing the shape and using logical calculation for each hand to keep track of it.

"It would be interesting if I beat you like this, after all it's an even game." Itou said in amused voice. "So please be careful so it won't end too quickly.

Akira frowned at that, "So that's it? You can show off all you want once you win, senpai." He returned smoothly. In the first place he didn't think he would lose at all, after all…

And the game continued.

Go clubroom

Kishimoto was startled when the door of their clubroom was opened and revealed a familiar long haired boy, or to be precise he was startled by the murderous look Shindou Hikaru wore on his face. "My apologies for interrupting, but I want to know where I can find Akira?"

Kishimoto swallowed, it seemed Shindou found out about Touya after all. "Uhm…" His respond must be the smartest he ever could come with. He honestly had no idea where Touya was, and he had a feeling if he answered wrong blood would spill.

Shindou's patience seemed to be thinning rapidly. "Where is Akira?" He gritted out.

Honoe-san, the second board of girl team stood up abruptly. "Uhm… Hidaka went to look for them." She answered nervously, "Touya-kun… I don't know where he is but… three of our members are missing too so perhaps…"

"Who are they?" At this point Kishimoto realized Shindou Hikaru had foregone all politeness, he was furious.

"Itou, Kojima and Okumura." Kishimoto answered promptly.

Shindou took a deep breath and Kishimoto desperately hoped that was a sign Shindou was regaining his composure. "Two seniors, a red head and a brunette and an orange haired freshman?"

How did he know?!

"Hai!" Honoe-san squeaked.

Shindou's eyes narrowed and if eyes alone could kill, they would have melted on the spot by his glare alone. "And where I can find those three?"

"We don't know." Kishimoto said pleading tone. "Hidaka went to look but she hasn't returned either."

"Then excuse me." He said in clipped tone and closed the door. That must be the rudest exit Shindou Hikaru had ever made.

Hallway

Hikaru didn't like wasting his time in a goose chase, Kaio was big and he was not going to find Akira the normal way.

'Hikaru! Hikaru calm down!'

'I can't!' Hikari hissed, 'I can't calm down until I find Akira safe and sound!'

"Fukube-senpai." He called the senior by phone.

"Shindou-kun? Uhm… I hope you haven't killed anyone yet…"

Hikaru growled, "Hopefully not, but… give me a list of location Go club members are familiar with… a place only they can enter! A place rarely used and not a lot of people coming around, like a storage room? Do you know if there is any kind of place like that?!"

Fukube paused, deep in thought. "Uhm… you will not have a list because there's only one place like that~ Yep, it's a storage room. It's a little far from Go club room, on West wing same floor…" What a coincidence, he was walking to that direction already. "It's a tiny room near the emergency exit… there is a locker in front of it so you will not miss it."

"Thank you Fukube-senpai, I owe you."

"Just don't kill anyone, please."

He smiled at that and said, "I will try my best."

It didn't take long for him to reach that secluded room however he didn't expect to hear a loud feminine voice shouting and the door was open. 'Hidaka-senpai?' He was relieved, as Hidaka-senpai won't let Akira bullied even if she didn't like them. However it was still a girl and Akira against three boys, so he quickly reached the open door but stopped when he heard Akira's voice.

"I am the one who agreed to this game, let me continue." Akira said firmly, his voice was determined and leaving no room for discussion.

What game he got himself into?

"Shut up!" Hidaka snapped, "They're bullying you, and I will not let them to continue!" She said sternly with a tone of finality.

Akira was stubborn so he pressed on, "But this is something I have to do!"

"What kind of reason is that? Why you have to do this?" Hidaka queried before he glared at Itou. "Oi! How did you get Touya to agree to this ridiculous game?!" Itou didn't answer so Hidaka moved her attention to Okumura.

Intimidated by the stern senior Okumura blurted out. "I… Itou-senpai threatened to hurt Shindou! He… has panic attack last time and… that is like a sickness uhm…" He babbled on, "So it can come back if what trigger it happen…"

Hidaka growled, "You're mad Itou! How dare you! I can't believe you threaten Touya like that!" She snapped and turned her attention to Touya, " You too! Why did you try to solve this problem by yourself! You could have called for help! In the end… " She trailed off, "If only you weren't here, they won't do something like this in the first place!"

Akira froze on his track, 'But I just want… I just want to protect my friend but…'

"If only you're not here…" She repeated.

"That's enough." Cold voice stopped her from saying more.

All occupants in the room turned as one to the door to see Shindou Hikaru by the door frame. His green eyes looked paler as he glared at them with eyes as cold as ice.

"Hikaru?" Touya called his friend, "Why are you…" He stammered in shock.

Shindou didn't say a word in respond before his hand shot out and grabbed Touya's hand. Touya didn't even have time to comprehend the gesture when suddenly he was pulled behind Shindou.

Hidaka knew she was a little overboard just now, but Touya was getting on her nerves with encouraging these three to bully him. Shindou was a smart guy, but it seemed now he was furious enough that Hidaka didn't dare to reason with him. "So…" He began, "Correct me if I am wrong… but it seems you're planning to beat Akira with forcing him to play blind Go?" He murmured, eyeing the goban and the lack of chair on the other side of two Okumura and Kojima occupied. "Am I wrong?" He asked again.

Itou swallowed, Kojima averted his eyes but Okumura who received the full dose of Shindou Hikaru's glare caved in. "Hai!"

Hikaru was really trying his best to control his temper, but he could feel he was failing at it. "It seems our presences cause nothing but trouble to you…" He stated coldly even though he wanted to sound neutral. "If that's the case why don't you bring it up to Yun-sensei because I really doubt Akira is in Go club out of his own free will in the first place."

"That's…"

"Hidaka-senpai," He cut her off, "I am really disappointed in you, I thought you're pretty reasonable person even though you don't like us… " Hikaru hissed, meaning every word in his sentence. He couldn't believe she cornered Akira when he was bullied. "So here is my offer, I will continue those games… blind and all in exchange you go and openly complain about Akira's presence in your club to Yun-sensei, to Headmaster if needed so he doesn't have to attend your club anymore."

"Hikaru!" Akira was appalled by the prospect. "Stop it!"

Hikaru didn't care, "They also have problem with me so I think it's a given for me to finish what you started." He said pointedly. "So let's get this over with!"

"NO!" Akira blocked him stubbornly, gripping his hand st tightly. "You're not going to play them! I am!"

"But you…" Hikaru began but he was stopped when he saw the look Akira shot him. That was the same look Akira had when he demanded their second game, unyielding determination that made his caved in.

'Hikaru…' His brother's ghostly voice whispered to him. 'I know you want to protect him but in the same time… he also want to protect you.'

'But I…'

'Set aside your own desire, Akira-kun is a strong boy and he desired your acknowledgement more than anything…'

Hikaru gritted his teeth. 'But I do!'

'He is your friend, not just your rival… what he wants is not just an acknowledgement as a Go player but also as a person and a friend who could stand up for you.' Sai corrected in solemn voice, 'Do you want to take this chance away from him?'

Hikaru took a deep breath, and said. "Very well…"

"Wait! Shindou!" Hidaka protested.

"Would you rather I hunt them down and use physical force?" He queried coldly and as one the four Go club members stiffened. "No? Then let's solve this now." He said as he walked closer to the goban, eyeing both of it with narrowed eyes. "But still…"

Hidaka groaned, "Fine! Don't beat anyone up Shindou! God know you can get away with it, you Fubuki-sensei's golden boy!"

Hikaru snorted, apparently his dyed hair made people think Fubuki-sensei could get him out of any trouble. "Is that so?"

"However!" Hidaka added, "I want this game stop to be a blind game! It's disgraceful! All of us here are Kaio students! We play with respect and honor!" She reminded them with solemn tone. "Continue the game all you want but Touya have to sit and see the board! A fair match!"

Akira wanted to protest but he knew better than to irk Hidaka-senpai more than his friend already did. So he gave the female senior a curt nod and said. "I am sorry for all the trouble." Then he turned to Hikaru and said. "Watch me, it should be over in five minutes."

Hikaru chuckled softly, "Hh… that's if they didn't waste time thinking of escape route."

As for the three bullies they knew there was no escape the moment Akira sat in front of them and said. "Let's finish this."

Pachi!

As Akira expected, it only took roughly five minutes for both Okumura and Kojima to resign. However Akira didn't expect when he turned around to see his friend, Hikaru had this determined look on his face. "Hikaru?"

"Akira, let's play a game…" He said loud and clear. "I want to play you."

It took almost a full minute for Akira to process the challenge, because Hikaru never ever issued a challenge. He made people challenged him, Akira, Ogata-san even the Meijin.

Akira always wanted this but when it really happened his answer was stuck on his throat.

Apparently Hikaru took Akira's silence as an acceptable approval, and began to clear the board Akira and Okumura used.

"Wait a minute!" Hidaka protested, "You're going to play here?! In this storeroom?"

Hikaru raised an eyebrow at Hidaka, "What's wrong with playing here? We already did."

"No! I mean… you guys want to play here?! You must be kidding me! You should play in our club room!"

"Why? I don't really care where, I just want to play." Hikaru said pointedly as he dropped black stones back to its goke.

Hidaka blew up, "WHY?! We're already dying to watch your game with Touya but you guys never ever did! And when you ask Touya for a game you want to do it in this tiny storeroom where we can't watch it?!"

"What?" Akira and Hikaru chorused in confusion.

"Of course you don't care! After all this trouble! At least you owe us a game! Play it in our club room!" She demanded.

Hikaru wanted to remind her that the problem was the club's fault in the first place, so by right they couldn't demanded to do anything for the Go club. However when Hidaka-senpai almost grab Hikaru's wrist but Akira was faster to grab him by hand. "We will go to the club room! We will play there!" He assured her, he was so afraid she would grab Hikaru carelessly.

Hikaru never threw a girl before but Akira didn't want to find out whether he made exception for girls or not.

Go Clubroom

Akira didn't know why he found the general expression of club members when they entered the room was hilarious with morbid fascination. It seemed Hikaru dropped in here first before he found Akira in that storage room, and scared the hell out of the whole club. Kishimoto-senpai looked very close to shaking when he asked where the three bullies were, and he looked very tempted to know about their fate but too scared to ask.

Hidaka-senpai was kind enough to assure him that Itou, Kojima and Okumura were very much alive, only their pride was ruined beyond repair. Then she asked to prepare a board for them to play, but fortunately she was considerate enough to request a secluded place and limited the audience to top members of the club with a promise they could keep the kifu of the game.

Neither he nor Hikaru minded that in exchange of not hoarded by too many people around when they played.

Suddenly after they sat across each other, separated only by a goban in between, Akira rapidly lose his nerve. It was not the game, not the win or lose, but… Hikaru…

They nigiri-ed, Hikaru won black and he got white.

"Akira." His friend called him. "Your guidance please."

That was just a standard game courtesy but Akira found himself relieved, that Hikaru was assuring him this was a Go game they loved not a life and death match. He was going to be okay with this game, it was the game they were waiting for.

The game began with Hikaru claiming upper right komoku.

Pachi

Akira didn't waste his time to choose 4-4, hoshi

Pachi

Hikaru tapped the clock, his eyes narrowed at the board. There were five stones on the board and he could already read Akira's emotion laid out so clearly.

Impatience and excitement, it seemed all feelings he was holding back was flooding out in this game.

Pachi

The battle had started in the corner and for the first time since the game began Hikaru took a long while to reconsider his move. He read the board, his eyes narrowing as he could foresee a great disadvantage he would get if he let Akira to connect.

(2-7) An attack to cut Akira's future shape.

Akira glanced up from the board to Hikaru who tapped the clock after that move. Hikaru was reading the board ahead again, as usual his skill at this was beyond Akira's. In fact even high dan players would be hard pressed to match Hikaru when it came to reading ahead.

But…

Pachi!

No one knew Hikaru's Go better than him and Hikaru's master, Sai.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes at the latest move.

Pachi!

Their audiences grimaced, the game was already so complex it was hard to keep up with them. Tsuruga was very frantic as he tried his best to keep up recording the game.

'They responded correctly to each other moves in instant, just like pro player…' Hidaka and Kishimoto thought.

They slowed down their pace and started to give their game more thought, impatience was replaced by caution and contemplation.

Hikaru had a big enough cluster on the bottom right, and he had defended it well against Akira's assault. However the other part of the board was still unclaimed, and the battle was slowly spreading to the top part of the board. The game so far was still even but neither of them could afford to be idle for long.

Pachi

Akira realized while he wanted the battle to spread to the top part Hikaru wanted to claim the left territory. Should he follow or should they withdraw from each other territory to spread more influence first? No, of course not.

Pachi!

He wanted a battle!

As expected Akira wouldn't want that kind of calm game. On top of the goban Akira was never one to back out from a battle, he would push you to the corner and cut your escape route so you had no choice but to face him. Hikaru didn't want to do anything else but that, he was done running away!

Pachi!

The game was getting erratic as it was almost the end of chuugen. It was still even and sooner or later, responding correctly to each other's moves was not enough to win.

Hikaru knew he could go above Akira any time when it came to take big risk on top of goban.

Pachi! (8-5) Hiraki

Akira paused and his fingers hover on top of his goke. It was a bad move from Hikaru, and of course he wouldn't believe it even for a moment there was no meaning on it. Hikaru's greatest strength was not in his vicious play, unique mix of old and new joseki or unpredictability. It was his deep strategy, so complex to the point you couldn't make head and tails out of it if you only saw his finished game.

Outreading Hikaru was not impossible, but doing it correctly was difficult and a dangerous bet.

Pachi!

Hikaru narrowed his eyes, he was blocked, however…

Pachi!

Akira smiled inwardly, he got that one correct. But he would be a fool to let his guard down.

Pachi.

Pachi

Hidaka squinted, she couldn't make sense of the last ten hands. Shindou was making a risky move just now but Touya didn't even deigned to exploit it, he went somewhere unexpected instead. These two, what did they saw?

Pachi!

Akira paused again and this time he had to spend three minutes before he decided where to place his next stone.

The game somehow gained a slow pace, and each move played so cautiously with intensity that almost choking.

The game reached yose and Akira panicked when he realized the last three suspicious moves that were also hidden trap he managed to dodge was actually a large trap together and his white stone on the center was dying. Now Hikaru was leading the game, and in yose Hikaru was at his strongest.

Pachi!

Akira was trying to save his stones, as he had no other choice or he had to resign.

Hikaru knew there was no way Akira would resign as long as he still had a chance so he pushed on. It was like a dance of monochrome on top of the goban, neither of them wanted to give in and as hard as they tried to keep track of the territory as the game reached the end, neither of them could tell who had won the game.

Whoever won, it was not by much as they couldn't tell just from looking at the end result. So impatiently Akira and Hikaru rearranged their stones so they could count their territory accurately.

Pachi

Clack Clack

Sound of stones grazing the wooden surface as two hands shifted each stones, stone clacking against agehama for dead stones, they echoed through the room. The audiences were watching the territory count with bated breath.

Pachi!

Then they stared at the board, silently counting the territory.

"Ah… " Kishimoto broke the silence and said, "One and half moku… for black… it's Shindou-san's win."

They almost jumped in fright when Akira stood up abruptly, there was no sadness on his face but plain anxiety as he looked at his friend's face. Hikaru in the other hand blinked at the board, before he looked back and forth between Akira's face, the goban, and the empty air on his left.

"I won?"

Akira nodded. "Yes."

Then all of a sudden a string of helpless giggle flowed from his lips, then followed by tears. "Ha ha ha… so that's how it is…"

"Hikaru?!" Akira yelped before he moved towards his friend, holding his shoulders firmly as if he was afraid his friend was going to fall over from the crying and laughter. "Are you alright? No pain? You can breathe?" Akira was ranting and frantic with worry.

"I am fine! I am fine!" Hikaru said cheerfully. "I just… can't believe how blind I was all this time! The solution is so simple." He said in a whisper so only Akira who was close could hear him. "I just have to remember what is the meaning of my Go in the first place… why did I play Go? My go… myself… I exist for someone else… but someone else also existed for mine too…"

"Eh?"

Hikaru smiled at his friend and said one line he wanted to say more than anything to Akira, "I am fine now Akira, so let's play hundreds and thousands of games from now on… you and I…"

"Eh?" Akira blinked owlishly again before slowly but steadily he began to comprehend what Hikaru just told him. "From now one we can…"

"As much as we wanted…" Hikaru assured him.

"We… "

"We also going to take that pro exam you wanted to take together this year." Hikaru added with a grin.

The next thing Hikaru knew, Akira was crying to his chest.

"Aa… Akira! I am not going to collapse! I am fine! Don't cry! You know I hate it when you…" He said frantically, blushing furiously when he realized they still had their audience gaping at them.

"I am just… hic! So happy!" Akira cried, "I am so happy for you."

"I get it! I get it! But can we… argh! Stop staring!" He yelled at their dumbstruck audience.

Hidaka's camera phone flashed a couple of times.

"Hey!" Hikaru cried, "That's… "

Hidaka grinned, "I will keep this for free shidougo session, after this it would be hard to get some tutoring session from you so I want some leverage."

"That's blackmailing!" He cried and he was about to say something more but couldn't because Akira dragged him away by his hand. "A… Akira?!"

Akira still had tears on his eyes, but he was beaming with happiness. "Come on! Let's go home! We have to play loads to make up for the lost time!"

Hikaru blinked owlishly at that, "Ah sure?" He answered dumbly.

"Beside! The pro exam is in three months and five days!" Akira informed him hastily.

"EH? You even keep track of the day? It's on August, now is May!"

"You don't think we will pass easily, do you?" Akira asked with a raised eyebrow.

"No, but…"

"We need practice!"

"Yes of course! But Akira, calm down a little!"

"I can't!"

Then the door slammed shut, and Kishimoto and his clubmates stared bewilderedly at the whirlwind called Shindou Hikaru and Touya Akira that just left their club room.

"Is that… Touya?" Tsuruga sputtered.

Kishimoto nodded hesitantly, "He is like different person around Shindou-san, and… I can't believe he dragged Shindou-san around as he please."

Hidaka groaned, "And that's… the future of Japan's go world, man… are we lucky or doomed?"

Kishimoto shrugged, "Who knows… but one thing for sure, I am looking forward for summer to come… they're going to take the pro world by the storm." He said as he walked to the nearest window where he could watch Touya Akira and Shindou Hikaru running across the school yard, or rather Touya dragged him out of the school.

Now... that's a long way and at last Hikaru overcome his fear, I hope it's not anti-climatic or anything... at first I want Hikaru to replace Akira playing the three bullies but in the end I think it's Akira's job to show his determination. Which make Hikaru realized Akira is playing for him and he should be able to do the same...

HOpe you like this chapter and your long wait is worthwhile. I am working on third chapter of Honinbou but I think that one will be delayed long because I want to make it very different from Monogatari.