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

"blahblahblah" Character's dialogue

blahblahblah Character's thought

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Chapter 5: Getting to know you

Early June 2002,

The following Saturday, Japanese Go Association

"Sooou-channnn." Kio whined at him, evidently displeased.

"Yes, Kio?"

"I follow you here because you said you're going to somewhere interesting." he stated.

"Ah-ha, and?"

"Is this what you call interesting?!" he shrieked, pointing at a hanging signboard at the entrance. "Go Association! Go Association!"

"I'm aware of that." Soubi said in a bored tone. "I'm the one who led you here, remember?"

"What are we doing at the Go Association then?" Kio waved his hands in the air dramatically. "It's Saturday! Hikaru won't—"

"Hikaru is here." Soubi cut in and breathed out puff of cigarette smoke. "There's some sort of a youth tournament today."

Kio sighed in defeat. "So this is the reason, huh? Bye, bye, my precious Saturday." he wept, his shoulders slumped in disappointment.

Soubi, knowing that the tears were fake, simply ignored him and entered the building.

Kio then immediately ran after him in a hurry, yelling. "Hey! Sou-chan, wait for me!"

A big board at the lobby was quickly noticed by the two guys, and they read out, "The 11th Young Lion Tournament: 2th Floor".

"So, Hikaru is your master now?" Hands in his back pockets, Kio asked bluntly while they waited for an elevator.

"Yes." I'm with Hikaru now.

"And Ritsuka?"

Soubi's answer was short and firm. "He's history."

"You dumped Ritsuka? My, my, what a heartless man you are!" Kio joked.

I'm not the heartless one.

Once the elevator had finally arrived, Soubi hurried inside. Seeing that they were the only two occupants, Kio spoke up. "Well, maybe it's not good to say this but," he rubbed the back of his neck and confessed meekly, "I like Hikaru better."

At that, Soubi glared at him as if saying 'Don't you dare, I'll kill you!'

"No, no, it's not like that!" Kio held his hands up. "Let's see, Seimei is a sadist and Ritsuka is mature for a boy his age but he's sometimes too emotional." he elaborated. "Not that it's his fault, he's only twelve after all. Clearly, Hikaru is the best choice here!"

"Good, but don't get too close to Hikaru." Soubi warned. "He's mine." Mine and mine alone.

"Geez, you're such a—" Kio started but he was interrupted by the elevator's bell.

Soubi didn't wait for Kio to finish his rant. The moment they arrived on the second floor, he (almost) dashed out the elevator. He looked around, searching for a poster, a signboard, a notice— anything that would guide him to where his master was. He saw many stalls selling books and paper fans and a large area with many sets of tables and chairs, with a wooden board on each table. However, there was no one playing the game there. Where is everybody?

"What a schedule! Shindou-kun and Touya-kun will play against each other in the second round!" a short man grumbled in frustration. "It'll be like a final round!"

A middle-aged man who was walking with him chuckled. "Don't be so disappointed, there're many other good players, like, Isumi-kun, for example."

Soubi and Kio eavesdropped on them quietly. Kio glanced up. "Well? Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Sou-chan?"

Soubi nodded in agreement. "Let's follow them."

11th Young Lion Tournament,

"Where the hell are we?" Kio whispered once they had reached the room. Soubi realized that his friend was feeling a bit out of place here. Most people here dressed in a suit; though some wore a casual suit, it's still a suit nevertheless. It was natural for Kio, who had dyed his hair green and had fourteen earrings, to feel alienated. Some old people was peeking at them and gossiping about their inappropriate outfits but Soubi cared not a whit. He cared for only one person, and that person was Shindou Hikaru.

He immediately spotted the said boy. No matter how full the room was and no matter where he was, he would always find his master. Hikaru, in a black-yellow long sleeved shirt and jeans, was surrounded by a group of teenagers, along with the complaining short man they saw earlier. "Hikaru." he called out in a whisper.

Hikaru jumped as if he had been shocked by a zap of electricity before slowly turning around. The moment their eyes met, the clocks stopped ticking and the world stopped spinning. It was like they were the only two people in this universe. Hikaru looked at him with surprise but Soubi knew that it wasn't his presence that surprised him; he was surprised because he was able to hear his silent call across the room, crammed full of people.

A Sacrifice's and a Fighter's voice would always reach each other, no matter how far they're apart.

Hikaru went through the crowd to join them. "You came!" he beamed.

"Of course. I won't miss it for sure." Soubi said with a smile while running his fingers through Hikaru's hair.

"Right, we're so eager to be here." Kio said sarcastically.

"Kio."

"Shindou." a deep voice chimed in. It was Touya. "Hello, we meet again." Touya bowed a little.

Soubi didn't respond. His eyes narrowed as he noticed how close Touya was standing next to his Hikaru. Their shoulders are almost touching.

It was at this moment when Soubi decided that he didn't like Touya Akira at all.

"The Young Lion Tournament will begin soon. All participants, please take your seat." a loud announcement boomed out of the speakers.

"Let's go, Shindou, it's time." Touya tugged Hikaru's arm and led him away. This was the second time he stole his Sacrifice away from him. First was when they had met at the seminar.

And now this…

How dare he take Hikaru away?

This was the moment that Touya Akira had just made himself an enemy–unintentionally.

"Errr, ano, Sou-chan," Kio spoke nervously, "Can you please not look at that kid like you're about to kill him? And can you stop acting like a jealous housewife for a second?"

But Soubi didn't hear him – he was too busy glaring at his latest enemy.

"Gezz, you're hopeless." Kio shook his head. "Let's go." With that, he dragged him to Hikaru's table.

At Hikaru's table

They stood in the front row since Soubi wanted to be close to his lord as much as he could. Hikaru's face showed nothing but calmness. With his eyes closed, he slowly breathed in and out. Soubi turned to study Hikaru's opponent who was sweating and shifting uneasily. He was a boy around Ritsuka's age. From what the board said, his name was Oga.

Soubi knew nothing about Go. He didn't know how to play it nor its rules but he did know that there was no way that his Hikaru would lose to a nervous opponent like this.

Once the signal rang, a voice declared. "Now the 11th Young Lion Tournament officially starts!"

"Please give me your guidance." said the participants in unison.

So, the game began.

And Hikaru eventually opened his eyes…

As if he had just initialized a magical fight, a surge of pressure spread around the area. The air was so tense it suffocated him.

Even the slow Kio felt it too. "Ne, Sou-chan, is it just me or does Hikaru look really, really scary?" he whispered.

Soubi observed Hikaru. The Hikaru he knew was a cheerful boy who was always smiling and laughing.

But this Hikaru was different.

I've never seen him this serious before.

His normal bright green eyes darkened, and its coldness sent a chilly shiver running through him. His playfulness was gone, and his face was set with determination. Even the way Hikaru held the stone was amazingly graceful. It was so different from that jumpy boy.

His fingers… long and a little tanned… so beautiful

The Pachi sound rang as Hikaru placed a white stone on a board, waking Soubi from his trance.

Like a cold blade that pierces through the air… this is Shindou Hikaru – Shindou Pro.

Both players took turns laying the stones; one stone, two stones, three stones, black and white stones gradually expanding on the wooden board. The match went on for another hour before Oga started shaking uncontrollably, "I-I resign." he stuttered.

Hikaru bowed and said. "Thank you for the game."

After the two boys had finished getting the stones back into their jars, Oga got up and left the room with haste.

Hikaru got up and stretched his arms. "So? How about having lunch together?" He asked Soubi with a grin, back to his old self again.

"Sure." Soubi smiled.

"Okay, let me get my friends first."

"Wait, Hikaru—"

Without hearing his protest, the boy ran off, shouting and waving his hand at his friend. "Hey, Waya!"

Soubi sighed. That wasn't what he meant.

Kio seemed to know what was on his mind so he said, "C'mon, Sou-chan, you can have him yourself anytime. Why don't you use this chance to get to know his friends?"

"Hmm, you've got a point there." Soubi agreed. I want to know everything about you, Hikaru.

McDonalds,

"Hey, didn't we eat here last year?" a tall boy whom Soubi hadn't seen before pouted as they settled themselves around a table.

The sole girl in the group put down her tray and sat down. "Yup, it's becoming a tradition."

"A tradition to eat at McDonalds?" a short boy with glasses snorted, "What a pathetic tradition we're forming here."

"So, Shindou, who are your friends?" questioned a boy with orange hair.

"Right, guys, this is Soubi and Kio." Hikaru pointed them with his thumb.

"Yo boys and girl, I'm Kio Kaidou!" Kio spoke gleefully. "This is my friend, Agatsuma Soubi!"

"Let me introduce you to my friends," Hikaru gestured to his left to Touya who sat next to him, "This is Touya Akira, you've already met him. That's Isumi-san, Soubi, you met him once, remember?" He pointed at the man whom Soubi had briefly met at the seminar a while ago and continued in clockwise.

From what Soubi had gathered, Hikaru's group consisted of seven people, including Hikaru himself. First was Touya who was surprisingly close to Hikaru, considering that they were rivals; second was Waya who studied in the same private Go tutoring group with Hikaru; third was Isumi whom everyone labeled as the voice of reason of the gang; fourth was, the tall nerd-looking boy, Honda, who had just passed the exam; fifth was Ochi, who Waya described as a joy killer; the last two were Nase and Komiya, who were Insei (Hikaru explained that they were like pre-med students of the Go world).

"So, how do you know Shindou?" Nase inquired and took a small bite of her French-fry.

"Do you play Go too?" Touya posed a questioned but before Soubi or Kio could open their mouth, Hikaru retorted.

"Unlike you, Touya, being able to play Go isn't a quality that I require from my friends."

Touya answered back. "For your information, I do know people who don't play Go too."

"Oh, really? Then tell me who the lucky one is." Hikaru challenged.

"Err," Touya thought for a moment before saying, "Ichikawa-san."

"That is sad, Touya." Hikaru shook his head in mock disappointment. "I told you before and I'll tell you again: you are obsessed with Go." he emphasized. "You need a life – a real life."

"I told you before and I'll tell you again." Touya recited Hikaru's words. "I'm not obsessed with Go. And I do have a life."

"Boys, boys," Isumi spoke up, "Don't start a fight here. If you want to fight, do it on the Goban."

Hikaru smirked. "Fine, I'm gonna kick your ass!"

"Like that would ever happen." Touya sipped his drink.

"Seriously, I don't know what possessed me to invite you here with us." Hikaru said to no one in particular.

"That's what I asked you too." Waya muttered and bit into his hamburger.

Hmm, sounds like he doesn't like Touya much either. Soubi noted. And he's like Hikaru's sempai, maybe he's worth to be acquainted with.

"Boys," Nase made an annoyed face, "Back to the topic – Shindou, how do you know Agatsuma-san and Kaidou-san?"

"Errr, " Hikaru hesitated, probably trying to find the right word to explain their relationship, "Soubi is a friend of my friend." he finally said it.

"Kio is my friend." Soubi added.

"So, Kaidou-san is a friend of a friend of a friend of Shindou?" Pointing at Kio with a piece of chicken McNugget, Komiya joked, "Sounds freaking complicated to me!"

Everybody laughed (except Soubi).

Lunch went on peacefully without any bickering. After that, they all went back to the game room.

Soubi found out that Hikaru's next opponent wasn't a stranger. It was Touya Akira, who he had just had lunch with less than twenty minutes ago.

The crowd gathering around their seats was so much thicker than Hikaru's first match that Soubi couldn't get through them to be at the front, like the previous round. Fortunately since he was tall, he was still able to see Hikaru from afar.

None of Hikaru's friends was here since they had their own game to play. However, the short man and his middle-aged friend were there, as well asOga, the boy who had just lost to Hikaru .

"What do you think of this game, Shinoda-Sensei?" the whiny man who stood in front of them inquired.

"It's hard to tell, Kosemura-kun." the man called Shinoda-Sensei answered. "You see, Touya-kun's style is aggressive, as we had often witnessed how he strikes his opponents and make them fall to pieces. Shindou-kun, however, is what we call the manipulative type. Rather than attacking the opponent, he tends to set a trap first before attacking the opponent's stones when the right time comes. They are both very determined and equal in reading the game, yet, their Go are completely different. This is why it's hard to predict the outcome." he analyzed.

Now that he heard all this, Soubi was able to understand Hikaru much better. His assumption was right all along.

Hikaru was no fool.

When the signal rang, Touya played his first move.

It's happening again.

The overwhelming intensity from both boys was smashing against each other, suffocating him. Soubi knew this feeling; it was like when two territories of two Fighters overlapped.

Each Fighter has his own magical territory. The stronger a Fighter is, the wider his territory. If another Fighter enters his territory, their magical aura would collide, making both of them realize that there is another Fighter in the same area.

Soubi had thought that the first game was very intense but it was nothing compared to this one. Like the pressure has been magnified ten times.

The game went on. As strange as it may sound, Soubi felt as if he were watching the two of them fighting with swords when, in fact, they were simply putting stones on a board.

Unlike the first match which had ended in no time, this game carried on for nearly two hours (Kio hadn't stopped whining for even a minute about getting his feet stiff ). Then Soubi felt a gentle pat on his shoulder. If it wasn't Isumi, who was one of his master's friends, Soubi would have knocked him out for having the guts to touch him.

"So, how's it going?" Isumi questioned.

"I don't even know what they are doing!" Kio managed to complain in a low voice.

"Hikaru told me about the basics though." Soubi informed both of them,."The one who gains more territory wins, right?"

"Yup." Waya, who suddenly appeared at Kio's side, voiced out.

Maybe it's time to learn more about my Sacrifice.

"So, how long have you known him?" Soubi asked.

"Shindou, you mean?" Waya asked.

"Yes." Of course I meant Hikaru.

"About two years ago when he joined the Insei class." Waya replied. "Hey, Isumi-san, remember when Shindou bragged about being Touya's rival?"

"No one believed him back then." Isumi chuckled at the memory. "In the end, it turnedout to be true."

"Why didn't anyone believe him?" Kio seemed interested in the story as well; perhaps because it was more interesting than the game he knew nothing about.

"Well, you see, Touya is a very well-known and very strong player. He's even better than some Higher-Dan, err, I mean, Higher-Level players." Waya explained. "And Shindou? He's a just newbie who didn't know how many titles there were. But he said about being the rival of the strongest pro in our generation."

"And then?" Kio urged him to go on.

"He passed the exam with no losses. No one but Touya managed to achieve that." Isumi supplied. "Then Touya Meijin, Touya's father, requested to play a game with him in the Beginner Dan Series." he paused before adding. "It's a welcoming game for new pros."

"Did he win?" Soubi wondered, hoping that his Hikaru did.

"Nope, he didn't. You don't get it. This is Touya Meijin we're talking about. He's one of the best players in the world." Waya continued on. "However, just the fact that Touya Meijin wanted to play against a twelve-year-old brat was more than enough to make the public keep their eyes on him."

"And then?" Kio pressed on.

"He started his career as a Go pro. He won his two first games then." Turning his head away, Isumi refused to tell the story any further.

"Then what?" Kio continued pushing them.

"Suddenly he stopped coming to the Association. He just disappeared. He skipped his games in that summer." Recalling the past, Waya frowned. "Then one day, he came back."

"Later, after we ganged up on him." Isumi flushed pink, ashamed by their behavior, "He finally told us that he skipped the tournament because his friend has just passed away and he was too depressed to play."

Fujiwara.

"Stupid Shindou," Waya cursed, "If only he had told us." he clenched his fist irately.

"Well, sometimes we have to solve the problem by ourselves." Isumi shrugged. "It doesn't matter now – he's back."

"Yeah – oh!" Waya exclaimed, "It ended! Who's the winner?"

Touya and Hikaru gazed at each other and begun counting the stones. With his eyes shut, Hikaru leaned back in his chair. Sighing, he rested his hand on his forehead, "You win, by a moku."

Immediately, the room was filled with voices – both Hikaru's and Touya's supporters had started talking and discussing about the game.

"See? Touya-kun is better."

"Just a moku, what a pity."

"Touya Akira is our hope."

"Did you see the cut Shindou made in the Chuban?"

"When the next round will start?" Hikaru asked Touya while they were picking the stones back in the jars.

Touya replied. "In twenty minutes."

"We'll discuss about this game the next time I drop by your salon then." Hikaru suggested.

"Sounds good to me."

"Hey," he leaned forward, "Why don't you buy me a drink?"

"Why should I?" Still clearing the board, Touya demanded without looking up.

"Don't be so mean, Touya." Hikaru pouted. "You've just beaten me. Can't you just buy me a drink to cheer me up?"

"Fine." Touya stood up and went outside the room.

Getting a drink for Hikaru, I guess.

Hikaru stood up and said to Waya. "Oh man, I lost."

Waya was grinning like a mad man, he didn't seem sad for his best friend's loss at all. "Morishita-Sensei's gonna be sooo mad!"

"Thank for reminding me that, geez!" Hikaru swore.

"You did your best, Shindou." Isumi comforted him. "It was a very impressive game."

"Thanks, Isumi-san," Hikaru turned to Soubi, "I invited you here to see me losing, how embarrassing! But next time, I'm gonna win for sure!"

"You should stop saying that, you know." Touya's dry voice came from behind them, in his hands there were two cans of black coffee. "It's getting lame."

"Tsk!" Hikaru snatched one of the cans. He opened it and took a large gulp. "I hate coffee, you know it."

"You're welcome." With that, Touya walked away from the group.

"So what's next?" Kio spoke up.

"Huh?"

"Now that you lost, can we go home already?"

"Kio." Soubi scolded.

"I'm sorry, Kio-san." Hikaru rubbed the back of his head, showing guilt. "You must be very tired. It's Saturday, and you should have been going out, not standing, watching me play for hours like this –doesn't help that I lost a game too."

"Don't mind him." Soubi patted his head gently. "He's being rude like always."

"Hey!" Kio protested, "I'm not rude!"

But Soubi ignored him. "I'll stay here with you."

"But it could be very late. I'm intending to stay until they finish the final round. That means three more games to go before going home."

"I'll st— "

"Oh! There you are, Shindou-kun!" Kosemura jogged towards them.

"Yes, Kosemura-san?" Hikaru asked.

Kosemura panted heavily. "Can, can you give me a short interview after the closing ceremony?"

"Eh?" Hikaru looked confused at first before frowningwith disapproval. "Do you think it's a good idea? I lost in the second round. Aren't you supposed to interview those who play in the final round?"

"Well, actually, yes." Kosemura admitted it, "But I wanna interview you and Touya-kun!"

"Touya too?"

"Yup! And he's already said yes!" the short man said enthusiastically, he reminded Soubi of a child asking his father to go out to play with his friends.

"Well, in that case, okay then."

"Good, see ya!" With that, Kosemura left their group.

He's a journalist? And he wants to interview Hikaru?

"He is pretty famous in this world." Ritsu had told him when he had first mentioned Hikaru.

Looks like Ritsu-Sensei's news is true. My Hikaru is quite a celebrity.

"Ohhh, I don't know you were a star, Hikaru!" Kio beamed. "Cool!"

"Touya is." Hikaru corrected him and shrugged. "I'm just a tag-along."

"I don't think so." Soubi disagreed. If he wasn't any good, why would that journalist want to interview him, he knew that the boy was just trying to be modest. "He seemedso eager to interview you."

"Wait a minute!" a sudden thought hit Kio, "Does it mean that we're gonna stay here even longer?!" he cried out frantically.

"You can go back if you want." Soubi spoke coldly.

"Are you kicking me away, Sou-chan?" Kio's usual whine came out.

Soubi did throw Kio out. Although Kio was quite angry that his Sou-chan had dismissed him, he was glad to leave as he could do something more entertaining than standing and watching a game he had no idea about. Soubi continued to observe game after game with Hikaru.

And Hikaru tried his best to be a good host. Every now and then, he would explain a game to Soubi but mostly he just stood in silence, captivated by the game.

The tournament ended with Touya Akira as a winner. Soubi heard that this was his third time winning the tournament. Some even said that the champion had already been decided after the second round, when he and Hikaru had faced each other. The closing ceremony was short. Touya received a certificate and the prize money for 200,000 Yen. It was a large amount for a fifteen-year-old boy, considering that he gained it by merely playing a board game for a day.

As promised, while other players and the audience had gone home already, Touya and Hikaru stayed behind to give an interview to Kosemura. Kosemura congratulated Touya as he had managed to win the tournament three years in a row. He asked them what they thought about the game they had played in the second round and, consoled Hikaru (who didn't look sad from the defeat at all). His last questions were about their tournaments. Apparently, both of them competed in other tournaments as well. After the interview, much too Hikaru's annoyance, Soubi walked him home.

"Maybe I should learn Go too." Soubi said it to himself.

Hikaru caught what he had said. "If that's what Soubi wants, then I'm willing to teach." he said with a gentle smile.

To say that Soubi was taken aback would be an understatement. Forget Seimei, not even Ritsuka had ever said that to him.

It was wrong.

A Fighter did what his Sacrifice wanted, not the other way round.

Yet a part of his traitorous heart was overjoyed that Hikaru cared for him.

But it was still wrong.

I must fix this. Soubi stopped walking and call out. "Hikaru."

"I know what you're gonna say." the boy cut him off, still walking. "A master shouldn't care what his dog wants, right?" he looked up to the sky as if questioning God himself.

Soubi kept quiet in response. If Hikaru already knew about that, then… why?

Then Hikaru stopped, turningback to face him and said. "You're always smiling but I know you're faking it. You may be smiling but your eyes tell me that you're crying. I want you to be happy."

Me? Happy?

"I don't care what you think. You may think that as a servant you don't deserve it but I want you to be happy."

Hikaru…

"If there's anything I can do, I'll do it! I want you to be happy."

"Hikaru…" Soubi whispered.

Such a kind heart...

Such straightforward eyes…

If only those eyes would look at no one but me – me alone.

Words: 4225

AN: Yeah, Soubi is possessive.

Kat_sakura : Wow, you regard my Hikaru highly. Hikaru should be proud :D

Japanesenut: Lol, sorry, no Akira's jealousy here, just Soubi.

Nen: Such a long review, thank you.