Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go or Loveless.

"blahblahblah" Character's dialogue

blahblahblah Character's thought

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Chapter 4: Happiness for the Blank Fighter

There was still some time left before the Oteai game would commence. Next to a vending machine, Shindou Hikaru leaned against a wall, drinking Pepsi.

"Good morning, Shindou." Touya greeted him.

"Morning."

"You're playing against Toriyama-5-Dans today, aren't you?" the 4-Dans asked.

"Yeah, and you have a match with Gokizo, right?" Hikaru took a sip of his drink before he continued, "I'll tell you now, it'll be an easy win for you."

"No one knows what will happen in front of a Go board." Touya stated in his annoyingly academic tone, as if he were lecturing the amateurs-which Hikaru was not. "Maybe he'd slaughter me into half."

"Trust me," Hikaru emphasized, "I know the man. He's not even counted as a Go player. You will win." he fixed his eyes at the Pepsi can before turning to his rival for advice, "Ne, Touya, can I ask you a question?"

"That is a question, Shindou." Touya jested.

But as Hikaru wasn't in the mood for jokes, he just snorted. "Very funny, Touya."

"What do you want to ask me?"

"Do you believe in destiny?" he wondered.

"Destiny?"

"You know, like what some chick say about a couple being tied by a red thread...that sort of thing-" Man, this is so embarrassing!

Touya bent over. One hand was on the wall for support, the other covered his mouth, and his body was trembling slightly. He was laughing...hard.

"Hey! Don't you dare laugh at me!" Hikaru exclaimed.

"Sor, sorry," Touya tried to suppress his laughter, "But, haha!" He failed miserably.

"Stop it!" Hikaru cried out, "You're not even supposed to know how to laugh!"

"Excuse me?" Touya frowned, his tone darkened, "What do you mean by that?"

"You are Touya Akira! You don't laugh!"

"Yes, I do!" Touya retorted.

And so, their famous bicker had started.

"No, you don't!"

"I do!"

"You don't"

"Do!"

"Don't!"

"Do!"

"Don-" Wait a minute, Hikaru... Don't you have something to ask him? Hikaru refrained himself from biting his rival's head off. He took a deep breath before getting back to the topic. "Ne, Touya, I really mean it. Do you believe in destiny?" he repeated the question.

Touya raised his eyebrow. The Meijin's son knew him well; he must have sensed the seriousness in his tone. He straightened himself and leaned against the wall, "Destiny, huh?"

"Yeah," Hikaru confirmed and elucidated further, "You know, about how God or someone up there have already designed who we should be with...that kind of thing."

Touya contemplated about it for a moment and stated. "I don't know if there is such a thing as a soul mate… but I do believe that… every Go player has his fated rival – like you and I."

There was a short silence before Hikaru burst out laughing madly, "Hahaha, You… you…Tou-Touya… Man, you're too obsessed about Go!" He patted Touya's shoulder. "You poor little thing. You need a life, you know, a real one." He threw himself at the other boy and gave him a bear hug. "Don't worry! You have me! I'll be your friend!"

"Shindou, Stop it this instant! This is disgusting!" Touya struggled free from his tight hold. He combed his hair, brushed his shirt to make sure that he looked presentable before glaring at him threateningly. "For your information, I'm not obsessed. I simply love Go."

"I ask you about soul mate and you said that every Go player has his own opponent." Hikaru retold. "I love Go. But you, you are obsessed."

"Is there even a point to this conversation?" Touya demanded.

A point? Ah! Yes. "So you do believe that some people aremeant to be?"

His friend thought about it before giving him a nod, "Yes."

"What if God forgets someone?" Hikaru kept on questioning. "What if there's no one for him?"

"It's like a Go player without a rival – it's sad."

"And you said you're not obsessed," he smirked at the answer and shook his head in mock despair, "Man, you're hopeless."

"Shindou!"

A Go player with no rival, huh. If I don't have Touya… Hikaru glanced at the other pro who was threatening him with a fierce and menacing look. If I don't have anyone "Yes, it's sad." he agreed. "Let's go, they're about to start." he urged.

As they were heading towards the game room, Touya questioned. "Will you come around to my salon after the game?"

"Hmmm, don't know..." Hikaru shrugged.

"Are you going with that man?" Touya inquired.

"What man?"

"That tall man with long blond hair." he clarified.

"Jealous?" Hikaru teased.

"Curious." Touya corrected dryly and entered the game room without waiting for him.

Three hours later, at the lobby of the Japanese Go Association

An elevator opened. The one who was waiting for Hikaru was none other but…

"Why am I not surprised?" He said it with a sigh, and turned to the boy next to him. "Sorry, Touya. I've something to clear up with that guy. See ya!" he waved him goodbye and sprinted towards Soubi.

"Let's have a talk." Hikaru said once he reached Soubi.

The mysterious blond replied with a smile."I know a perfect place."

Said perfect place was Soubi's apartment. Last night, Hikaru was too shocked to observe the room. Now, he saw that all of the furniture was made from a light-color wood; even the floor was covered with light-brown parquet, matching with the other furnishings. It was a big room for only one occupant. It looked almost empty, and there was no decoration in this room. It was just a simple room with a bed, a big wardrobe, a table and a kitchen area. If not for the paintings lying on the floor at a corner of the room, Hikaru would think that no one lived there.

The room showed no life.

"You painted them?" Checking out the paintings, Hikaru noted that all of the paintings were pictures of butterflies.

"Yes," Soubi replied, "I'm an art student."

"Hmm, I see." He is very good at this. "I like them."

At that, Soubi sneaked his arm around his waist, embracing him from behind. "This is the first time you said you like me."

"I said I like your paintings." Hikaru looked at the paintings before saying. "I still don't wanna believe it." he muttered.

"But it's true." Soubi whispered into his ears. "You know it too, don't you? Since the first time we met, when I mentioned your true name."

He's right.

I've got a feeling that it might be true all along, yet I was in denial since it's so… unreal. So I keep telling myself not to believe until I've seen the truth with my own eyes…

Now, I've seen it already……

I can't run away anymore…

I am a Sacrifice…

"Please, Hikaru, let me be yours." Soubi begged.

His voice is like a chant…

"I will protect you from everything… from everyone. I'll do anything for you…"

Like I'm getting lost in a maze…

"This body, this life, this soul, I give them all to you."

I'm falling under his spell again…

"You will be the only one for me."

Before that… there's something I have to know…

"Didn't you say that you hate being a replacement?"

Soubi tensed up before speaking. "I didn't ask to be a Blank Fighter." His voice was filled with heartbreaking agony. "I don't want to be with any person." he tightened his embrace. It started getting uncomfortable for Hikaru. "I just want to be with someone, just one is enough. And Ritsu-Ritsu is a coward. He's afraid to mark me an-and Seimei," He was crushing the boy now. It hurt but Hikaru still stayed quiet, listening to his sobs, "I obeyed every word he said. I devoted myself to him but he...Nisei… he chose Nisei… I just don't get it… why? Am I not a good servant? I am stronger! Then… why?"

"Soubi-san."

"And Ritsuka," Soubi didn't hear Hikaru though. He was lost in his depression. "He said he would never forsake me… that we'll be together forever but he... What did I do wrong?! Why does everybody have to leave me all alone!? "

"Arrgh!" Hikaru cried, wondering if any of his bones were broken or not.

But Soubi still wouldn't release him. On the contrary, he held onto him as if his life depended on it. "Please, Hikaru! I swear I'll never betray or disobey you! So… please!" he pleaded desperately.

Ahhh, this must be why…

Hikaru had been asking himself something for a while now.

Why couldn't he leave him?

Sai's smile was warm and kind. But he found Soubi's disconcerting and suspicious.

Soubi's smile was fake and could not be trusted.

Yet, he couldn't leave him.

Sai and Soubi-san… they're different… but at the same time, they are alike….

They just want to be loved.

Hikaru gently pushed Soubi's arms away. Once he was free, he turned around to face the older man. "Look at me, Soubi." he ordered. Soubi looked up from the floor in a blink.

Are you sure what you're doing? This guy is even worse than Sai.

Sai was a bit clingy but Soubi was aimless. He had no reason to live.

"Soubi," Hikaru began.

Are you sure this is the right thing to do? You're doing it out of sympathy!

"I accept."

Are you sure that you can take responsibility for his life? Being the meaning of his life like this…

"You are my Fighter now."

There is no turning back anymore…

"Look at me, Soubi." Soubi snapped his head up.

Did he just...?

"Soubi,"

Not 'Soubi-san'… just Soubi

"I accept."

Accept…

"You are my Fighter now."

My Fighter now…

He snatched Hikaru's arm and pulled him close.

"Whaaa!" Losing his balance, Hikaru exclaimed. "So... hmmp!"

Soubi crushed his lips onto his newly master's. With Ritsuka, it was just pressing lips together. He couldn't go far more than that since Ritsuka was only a boy, a twelve year-old boy.

But this kiss, it was different, more intimate, more demanding.

"Sou-chan!" Kio shrieked. "What the hell are you doing?"

He reluctantly ended the kiss. "Oh, hi, Kio," he greeted.

"Who is this kid?" Kio hollered. "What are you doing with him?"

"This is Hikaru." Soubi introduced. "Hikaru, this annoying loudmouth is Kio." He's shivering? Why? Is he cold or something?

"Soou-biii,"

"Yes?"

"You," Hikaru was trembling.

Soubi wondered what was wrong with him. "Yes?"

"Pervert!" his Sacrifice exploded. He then stood up, took his bag and went to the entrance.

"Hikaru, wait!" Soubi run after the boy, "Wait a minute!"

"I'm leaving! Goodbye, pervert!" At that, Hikaru slammed the door to his face.

Soubi's shoulder fell down. He felt so disappointed. He walked back to the living area. Kio was standing there, with his hands on his hips.

"Sou-channnnnn,"

Next evening, Soubi's apartment

Just like the day before, Soubi went to the Association to pick up Hikaru again. Hikaru was still angry at him. He didn't utter a word or even glance at him. He completely refused to acknowledge him, yet, he followed him to his place.

"I don't understand why you're so mad at me." Soubi sat on the floor beside his master. "It's just a kiss."

"It's not just a kiss!" Hikaru answered back sharply. "It's my first!"

Soubi grinned, satisfied to be Hikaru's first (kiss). "Really?" he crawled closer to him.

Hikaru tried to shove him away."Don't put your face too close to mine! Stay away!"

"It's not my fault." Soubi stated while they were struggling.

"So, it's my fault that you kissed me?" the Go pro demanded angrily.

"Since you haven't marked me as yours, I have to find another way to strengthen our bond, a physical intimacy." Soubi reasoned.

"What?"

Backing away, he leaned against his bed and gave the explanation to the fuming boy. "As I told you before, I have no real name, so you have to write your name on me then I will completely be yours."

"Write my name, huh?" Hikaru mused. "Wait a second!" he cried out, "Doesn't that mean that both Seimei and Ritsuka had marked you too?"

"Yes," Soubi pointed at his earrings, "These are from Ritsuka." he then took off his bandages, "This... from Seimei."

Hikaru stared at his scars, terrified. Under his collarbone, there was the word "Beloved" carved onto his flesh. Around his neck, there were hideous deep knife cuts looking like a dog collar.

A dog – that was what Soubi had been for three years.

Hikaru gently caressed those cuts as if he were afraid that he would break him apart. "How cruel, how could he?" he whispered in disbelief.

"If those who have different names become a pair. Their power will decrease by half, and they will suffer the consequences of it." Soubi informed him.

"Eh? What about you? Back then, when you fought that girl!" Hikaru panicked.

Soubi fingered the Beloved mark. "Since I finished them fast, it bled a little. No harm done."

"No harm done, my ass!" Hikaru cursed, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You're worried about me? How cute," Soubi made a move on him again. He leaned close to the boy to kiss.

"Arrz! Stay away from me, you sexual harasser!" Hikaru shouted.

"And I agree with him!" Standing over them was Kio, with a predatory look on his face.

After Kio had successfully dragged Soubi away from Hikaru, his interrogation began. Kio observed the teenage boy. Hikaru was wearing his usual outfit: a casual yellow t-shirt and jeans. Soubi couldn't help but notice the similarity between the two of them. "So, you're Hikaru, huh?"

"Hai. Shindou Hikaru, nice to meet you," Hikaru nodded in greeting, "And you are...?"

"Kio Kaidou, I'm like Sou-chan's wife." Kio always presented himself like this.

"Wi-wife?" Hikaru stuttered.

"No, just a meddling lonely man who loves to interfere the lives of others." Soubi grabbed Hikaru's hands and held them firmly. "I have only you, Hikaru."

"That's enough!" Kio struck his head with his fist before he started his questioning again. "So, this boy is the reason why you've been skipping classes?"

"What? You skipped your classes?" Hikaru demanded.

"Yes." The answer was simple, maybe too simple.

"This is not good, Soubi." Hikaru furrowed his eyebrows in disapproval and gazed into his blue eyes. "If you really like painting, I suggest that you take it seriously."

To Soubi, Hikaru was always an enigma. The boy dressed like a punk and behaved like a noisy brat but he had proved to him many times that he was neither of those. Since they had met, Hikaru had been anything but careless. Unlike Ritsuka who had followed him to a deserted park without hesitation after hearing that he was Seimei's friend, Hikaru had refused to be alone with him and tried to find a way to remain in the public eye all the time while they had been chatting. Just five minutes ago, he had been whining about his stolen first kiss. Now, he was lecturing him on the importance of education and pursuit of his dream.

Shindou Hikaru truly was an enigma.

"I like you, kid!" Kio slapped Hikaru's back, making him nearly fall down to the floor, "Now, tell me what's going on between you and my Sou-chan!"

"Err," Then, Hikaru's stomach rumbled loudly.

"Hahahaha!" Kio guffawed while Soubi just smiled.

"Sorry." Hikaru gave them a sheepish grin.

"You must be hungry. Kio, you go buy something for Hikaru to eat." Soubi instructed. Normally, he was the one carrying orders but Kio was a special case.

"What? Why me?" Kio protested.

Soubi said nothing; he simply gave him the do-or-die look.

Seeing that, his friend gave in. "Okay! Okay!"

Kio reluctantly went to the nearest Lawson. He came back to the room with three bento-boxes, three cups of pudding and many cans of beer. After they finished their dinner, Kio began asking Hikaru questions.

"Go pro?" a confused expression showed on Kio's face. Truth be told, Soubi didn't quite understand what it was as well, "Like a professional baseball player?"

Hikaru hesitated. "Yeah, except that I play Go for a living while they play baseball."

"How do you become a Go pro anyway?" Kio kept on prying. In fact, Soubi was curious about that too. He didn't know much about Hikaru's career.

"Well, you gotta take the Pro exam," Hikaru explained, "During the preliminary round, you gotta win three games out of five. Then you will play in the all-play-all tournament. When I took the exam, there were about thirty participants left in this round, I think. The top three with the best record become a Pro."

Kio drank his beer and asked bluntly. "So, you actually get money from playing a board game?"

"Well, yes but that's not all. We teach people Go too. We teach them at a seminar. Some of them request for a private lesson and we go teach them at their homes." Hikaru added, "And titles, errr, there are many big leagues, and if you win, you get a title."

"Like Sumo?"

"Err, yeah."

Suddenly, a bizarre image popped up in Soubi's mind. It was a picture of a baseball player playing Go against a Sumo wrestler on a Sumo field. I must be drinking too much. "Have you won any title?"

Hikaru laughed and shook his head. "No, not yet, but one day I will." he promised with determination. "Right now, I'm just a 2-Dans."

"Dan?" Kio repeated.

"It means 'Level'." Hikaru put it in plain words. "I'm at level 2."

"I see, you're just a beginner then." Kio marked.

Taking a sip of his beer, Soubi warned. "Kio."

Hikaru waved dismissively. "Nah, it's okay, Soubi."

Soubi..not Soubi-san… "If you say so." Soubi smiled in reply.

Kio looked back and forth between them. "Okay, just tell me what the hell is going on between you two?"

"Hikaru is my master now." Soubi answered.

Hikaru nearly choked on his Pepsi to death. "Soubi!" he scolded.

"Master?! Again?" Kio cried and gulped down his beer like he was trying to get drunk to get rid of that forbidden word from his memory.

"Eh?" Now, Hikaru was confused instead, "Kio-san, you know about th-the-"

"All I know is that Sou-chan is a real masochist, pervert, pedophile and BDSM lover!"

Again, Soubi only smiled in response. He admitted nothing, yet he didn't deny it as well. He sniggered as he saw Hikaru look at him as if he were questioning his sanity to take Soubi as his Fighter. "Don't worry, Hikaru. I'll be a good boy." he said while attempting to embrace Hikaru.

"Pervert!" the boy hit his head… and he liked it.

Maybe I am a masochist.

Hikaru turned to Kio. "So, you are an art student, like Soubi too?"

"Yup, we study at Tama Art University together. We're top students in the Japanese Painting Department, you know," Kio boasted.

Hikaru wowed. Then he studied them, looking unconvinced, "Really? Japanese painting?"

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Kio demanded. "You yourself don't look like a Go pro either!"

"Kio!" Soubi spoke in a hard tone.

"But, Sou-chan!" Kio whined.

"Sorry, sorry," Hikaru cut in, "You're right though. Shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?" he held his can up high.

"Right!" Kio then did the same, "Cheers!"

They seemed to get along well-too well and Soubi didn't like that at all.

"Soubi? Hello?" Hikaru leaned close to him, waving his hand in front of his face to get his attention. "Earth to Soubi, earth to Soubi!"

"Hikaru."

"Hmm? Whaaaa!" he exclaimed as Soubi hastily tugged him closer, "What the!" But he didn't get a chance to finish the question as Soubi's lips pressed on his.

Kio split out his beer, "Sou-chan!" he cried.

"Soubi! You, pervert!" Hikaru cursed, hitting him on the head.

This was the second time of the night his master had knocked him.

This is wonderful. Soubi thought with a contented smile.

Words: 3430

AN: I'm quite surprise, seeing the the previous chapter is the first fight scene, I expected at least 10 reviews but got 9 reviews from 244 visitors. To those who give me comment, I thank you. To those who hasn't given any review yet, comment me, pleaseeee.

Oh, I crossposted this fic under the name "XXless" in Loveless's section too.

Special Thank: sany, my beta.

Important Announcement: "Turn back time" has been betaed by rebecca.

Important Announcement II: I definitely need more beta readers, anyone interested? The more beta readers I have, the sooner I post a new fic :D

For those who don't know Loveless: I'm telling you the truth! Soubi is such a masochist - -" I tried my best to describe Loveless's characters and the figthing system, I hope you get some idea about Loveless now :)

Glossary:

Lawson: a convenient store like 7/11

BDSM is a complex acronym derived from the terms bondage and discipline (B&D, B/D, or BD), dominance and submission (D&S, D/S, or DS), sadism and masochism (S&M, S/M, or SM).

For more detail about Go tournament: Feel free to visit: http(colon)(slash)(slash)mewmeow(dot)hostrocket(dot)com(slash)

"unknown": "pơor Waya he got jealous so he ran away" Actually Waya run away beoz he's shock, he thought that Hikaru and Soubi are together. "the fighting scene was gơod" Thank you xD

zeynel: "I loved the bit about cann, with the Sai-ghost, it was hilarious!" You're the only one who mentioned it! Thank you! I almost thought that no one noticed it.

Kat_Sakura: Here, as request, a new chapter. Hope you like it

Japanesenut: "is akira jealous?" Yes, but he's in denial, lol.

henge!locker: "I like this fic and most of your other ones" Really? Thank you!

Eos-hime: I hope my explanation that I gave you a couple week ago satified you :D