Ch.3
Idleness…
Waya woke up feeling ok if not content. He wasn't at his best but then again… he wasn't expecting to be rid of his black mood just like that with a snap of his fingers and Hikaru's cheerful spirit. Still he had to admit in all honesty that he was feeling better and not feeling as if he was all alone. He stayed in bed for a moment, watching the shadows playing on the ceiling of his room and waiting for all of the heaviness of sleep to leave him. In his mind, he made a mental checklist of what he needed to do and found that the list wasn't that long, thankfully. Just get the mail, do some shopping, practice Go… the usual. But there were no real games… The new pros that had entered the competitive Go world were getting a slight break from their exams… just a small break. They would soon be getting a letter in the mail or a phone call telling them who they would be playing in the Beginner Dan series.
Lazily, the redhead shifted, one leg dangling off his bed. He listed the possible pros that he might face and a determined glare came into his eyes. No matter who it was… he'd try his best. He wouldn't let them intimidate him. So what if they had more experience? He'd take everything that he could out of that one game and finally understand what was needed to be at the top.
A grin came on his face, erasing the serious look in his eyes. "Tch… and Shindo who wants Touya-Meijin to play him. Wonder if that will ever happen." With that last though he decided it was high time to get out of bed and start facing the day.
It was around twenty minutes later that Waya came back into his room, clean clothes on his back and his hair still dripping water. He brushed away some invading strands and sat with one leg underneath him on the chair that was near his computer. Laundry and mail could wait… He wanted to check his e-mail just in case Isumi had written to give him some sign of life. And he wanted to check if Sai was on. At that thought he frowned, remembering the fact that Shindo had mentioned Sai when he had been not even half awake. He tapped mindlessly the keyboard wondering once more what was the connection between Sai and Shindo. If there even was one…
And yet there had to be… He gave a sigh and tried to push the thought aside. Sai had been at pro level during the time that Shindo had been pathetically weak. Weaker than the usual insei they let in. Of course, Shindo had learned fast and his improvement in the game had rendered Waya breathless many a times but still … That didn't make anything connect in his mind. Ah well…He clicked himself onto the internet, watching the little window pop up as it told him that it was dialing. After watching it for a minute or two, he pushed himself away, walking into the other room that was his kitchen. His apartment was small but comfortable and more than enough for him. He opened a cupboard and looked at its contents with a blah look on his face. Nothing there seemed to spark his stomach's interest so he closed the door and turned to look instead at his small kitchen. Sighing, he grabbed the remaining fruit that was sitting on the table. That would hold him till lunch. For lunch he'd go out or something.
Or something…
He glared at the fruit as if it was its fault for not having reminded him that he needed to go shopping.
Waya went back to his computer, munching half heartedly into the fruit. He was online… at least something was going right. He huffed a sigh and clicked on his mailbox, the mouse moving to where his hand pushed it to. It was sadly empty and Waya stared it was small hope. He minimized, not wanting to believe that Isumi wouldn't write to him and then went to type in the web address for the internet Go games.
The name of that one boy or girl he had played yesterday was there. That person had been decent… not spectacular but not bad either. He let his eyes continue down the list. No Sai. Oh well. He was about to click off when a challenge box appeared on his screen. A small smile made its way on his face. So that kid was back and asking for another game! Well that was fine with him.
…
An hour or two later, Waya found himself explaining the game that he had won and starting a conversation with this Bombay character.
SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT
Bombay: Thank you for playing me again
Zelda: No problem… (pauses and thinks) Would you be interested in tutorial games Bombay? You're an okay player and with the right training…
Bombay: Oh… but I wouldn't want to waste your time! I only do this for fun. Thank you though…
Zelda: It wouldn't be a waste of time. Every game played is more experience…If you ever change your mind, let me know. Since I'm new in the Go world, I have too much free time still…
Waya didn't quite know why he was pushing his invitation at being a Go tutor to this stranger so much. Sure it made sense economically… It never hurt anyone to get extra cash. But that wasn't why he was doing it. He passed a hand through his hair, making a face when his fingers got caught in some of the damp tangles. He supposed as he tapped the wooden surface of his desk, that it was to keep himself busy on the days he didn't have any games. Or just because… he was simply like that. If his older brother had still been alive… Waya was sure that he'd mention something about him being such a mother hen. In a way, he grudgingly guessed it was true. After all, it was he who had taken Shindo under his wing, taking pity on him since the boy obviously hadn't had a clue as to what he was getting himself into. He still didn't… But at least, Shindo had proved to him yesterday that he wasn't quite as oblivious as they all thought he was. The boy just… wasn't aware of half the things that went on in the Go world or the real world at that.
He was about to say goodbye when Bombay suddenly wrote back, asking if Waya was sure that he didn't mind and if it was okay if the schedule they would decide upon could be loosely based. He agreed, not needing or wanting to ask why. There was a mention of fees but Waya told Bombay shortly that they would discuss it after the first tutorial lesson if he thought it was worth it. First lessons with him would always be free…
Unless he was completely broke. But that was a whole different ball game. The plans were made and finally agreed on. Tomorrow was a good day for them to meet and the kid wasn't really a kid at all. He was eighteen! Waya clicked off after saying goodbye. Hopefully this Bombay character wouldn't give him a hard time because he was younger. He chewed his bottom lip thoughtfully and then shrugged. What was done was done. And tomorrow was a different day to worry about. He stood up and walked towards his doorway, grabbing his wallet from where he'd thrown it last time. Slipping the wallet in his back pocket, he stuffed his feet in his shoes and then walked out. Now he needed to worry about groceries…groceries…
…
Not too far away from Waya's apartment, Hikaru was running down the stairs at break neck speed to answer the phone since his mom wasn't home and his dad was at work as usual. What he didn't know, as he grumbled to Sai about answering the phone, was that this phone call was for him. An important one at that. The confusion that he wore as the person he spoke to asked to speak to him changed to outright glowing surprise as the call was explained. Hanging up after he was sure the conversation was done and had really taken place, Hikaru turned to Sai his excitement bringing a light in the room that just hadn't been there before. "You hear that Sai?! I get to play Touya-Meijin! You know in the Beginner Dan series!"
The ghost's eyes seemed to freeze as they stared at the young boy he had come to live with. This was his chance… this one chance to achieve the Hand of God before his time was gone. Sai hardly heard as Hikaru continued wondering out loud if Touya would come and see him and his father play against each other, his excitement growing unbearable because Sai knew it would soon break.
'Hikaru…' The ghost interrupted, his eyes still very serious as he continued to gaze onto the boy who had given him this one chance.
"What?" Hikaru asked, still not quite believing his good luck. He wanted to call Waya up and tell him the news! He wanted someone to be there so he could just let all of these emotions that were running through him out! Share them and … and…. Wait… what had Sai just said…?
'Please let me play…'
…
Omi looked around, a tad nervous at doing something like this. It had seemed like an ok idea yesterday but now… He shook his head. He could just see his cell phone beeping in the middle of the game because Manx needed them for a new mission. He should have stuck to the same answer but Ken had told him it was a good idea and so he had found himself arguing about these tutorial lessons not only with Zelda but Ken-kun as well.
'You need something normal in your life!' Ken-kun had pointed out. To that Omi had said he had school but Ken had just glared at him until Omi had just given in. He did want to get better at Go… not because he had any potential for it… he didn't, he knew that. But simply because it was a fun game. He gave up trying to waste time and rung the one buzzer that held the name Yoshitaka, Waya. A young voice answered him to Omi's surprise but he pushed it back as he introduced him.
"Ah… Bombay… come up." There was another buzz and the front door to the apartment complex was unlocked. He made his way in and took the stairs until he was greeted by redheaded boy whose appearance for a moment muted him to the spot. It was Ken-kun with wild hair and amber eyes but still there was no mistaking that open and welcome grin. It was Ken-kun… younger and without the dark shadows in his eyes.
It was…impossible.
"Yoshitaka, Waya?" Omi asked, finally finding his voice. He knew his blues eyes were wide as a slightly tanned hand was stuck out in his direction as a welcoming. The boy in front of him nodded, the grin on his face widening.
"Tsukiyono, Omi or Bombay… you don't look old enough to be eighteen." The grasp of his hand was firm but not too tight as they shook hands. The grin was contagious and Omi couldn't help but respond to it.
"You don't look old enough to be a professional Go player, so I guess that makes us even." That made the redhead laugh and he nodded before replying in a bit more serious tone.
"There are pros who are younger than me though… Shindo being one example or a more known one being…" He made a face at the name as if the word itself tasted sour. "Touya, Akira." Omi nodded, knowing who the second person was.
"Point taken, Yoshitaka-sensei." Waya made another face and shook his head.
"Waya by itself is fine, Tsu--"
"Omi." The Weiss assassin responded in turn.
"All right then… guess we should start playing Go now instead of staying in the hallway."
…
It was a couple hours later that the smiles returned on both of the boy's faces. Waya felt more relaxed than he had in days. This Omi was fun to be around. He was serious when he played and he actually listened--meaning that he would actually learn something the first time around instead of making Waya repeat himself constantly. It was easy to forget about their age difference and some of Omi's easy going mannerisms made him think of Isumi though the two boys couldn't have been more different in their physical aspects.
While Isumi was tall with dark hair, Omi was still a bit short for his age and had longish blond hair that surrounded his face. Both had gentle blue eyes that seemed to invoke trust and instant friendship if you wanted it though. It was hard to believe that Omi was older than Isumi by a year…
"I can't believe you're fifteen and living on your own already…" Omi remarked carefully, the game and its explanations had been finished and they had been more or less talking about who they were. "Isn't it a bit tough?" Waya shrugged, starting to remove the white Go stones from the board. Right as he did, Omi started, carefully picking the black stones and putting them back in their proper container.
"After my parents kicked me out… I didn't really have a choice." The redhead answered carefully making sure that his voice betrayed none of his emotions on the topic. He'd never kept it a secret that his parents had kicked him out… he just had never mentioned the reasons why, afraid that others would leave him as well. Plus he hated pity. Omi regarded the younger boy for a minute, his hands stilling for the barest second before they started to move again. "They helped pay… they had to with me being underage and everything. The last thing they wanted was for people to start talking bad about them. Now it doesn't really matter. I'll be able to pay for this place on my own." He decided that he wouldn't exactly go into the details of why it didn't matter anyway. That subject would break any control over his emotions he still had that worked for him.
"…I'm sorry." Omi shook his head. "I didn't mean t--" The blond looked like he was in pain.
"You didn't know." Waya muttered. "And if I truly felt uncomfortable with it, I wouldn't have mentioned it." He stated bluntly. "How about you though? What's your family like?" The blond looked at Waya with a weird expression.
"I'm an orphan. You could say that the three guys that I work with are my family but… I don't know if they all would agree with that term." He gave a wry grin.
"Well… so we both have screwed up families. Guess we're even again."
"Guess so." Omi gave a small smile.
"Are you up to another game?" Then Waya paused. "Are you even interested in having me continue as a tutor or…?" He trailed off seeing Omi's answer clearly on his face before the blond could even say his answer a loud.
"I'd love to continue." Answering both questions with that simple phrase. A friendship was started and neither could have said that they expected anything more or less from what the future would throw at them.
It was rather late when Omi finally excused himself and made his way back to the flower shop. When he did arrive he was surprised to find it lit though closed. Yoji was standing in the store, waiting. Since Omi figured that Yoji couldn't possibly be waiting for him, he felt rather safe to enter the building without any of the other Weiss members in sight for protection if things got nasty… which it usually did when Yoji was involved. That man was just impossible. He was a tease and he loved getting any kind of reaction from anyone. Getting someone to break from their shell… to lose their control… Yoji loved that. He wasn't mean… he was just playful. Still, just because Omi knew that didn't mean he wasn't tempted once or twice to break Yoji's arm when the taller man playfully trapped him to the spot under that very arm to tease him about girls, porn, the lack of his love life and etc…
But that wasn't going to happen tonight. Yoji seemed to be waiting for someone and when that happened, it definitely meant a woman was about to arrive and then all the little games that Yoji liked to play would stop. Women were his top priority. That made the smaller blond grin as he entered the store after having opened the side door.
"Hi Yoji-kun." He greeted the older man politely.
"Hey bishonen…. You came home late. Did you have a date?" The eyes searched his for any possible evidence of a blush or something else.
"No." Omi sighed, so much for skipping being teased. "I didn't. I had Go tutorial."
"A what?!" This was going to be a long night, Omi thought as he made his way up the stairs with Yoji trailing behind him.
"A Go tutorial."
"I'm not deaf bishonen. I heard you the first time…" Oh yeah… a really long, drawn out night. He gave another sigh. "What the hell is that?" Omi closed his eyes.
"Please tell me you weren't waiting downstairs the whole time just so you could tease me again Yoji-kun. You couldn't have been that bored."
"That's ignoring my question. And for your information I was not waiting for you, I was hiding from that great big oaf Ken who's been on a rampage since lunch because I…" The older man faltered. "I… don't know why. You know Ken…" Yes, yes Omi did know Ken which was why he stopped in his footing to turn around and glare at the older man.
"What did you do?"
"Hey!" Yoji gave his best attempt at looking wounded. It did nothing to lessen the suspicion in those big wide eyes that were looking at him sternly. "Why is it always me?"
"Because," Omi started very carefully, his arms coming to cross against his chest. "It is always you."
"Bah." Yoji waved his hands in the air, a sour look coming onto his face. "I didn't do anything bishonen… just asked him some questions which he didn't want to answer. Then I took a break." Omi groaned. He knew about Yoji's little 'breaks' during work time. And Aya hadn't been there today. He'd been visiting Aya-chan. God no wonder Ken-kun was pissed. Omi sighed a third time, shaking his head and resuming going back up the stairs. Yoji would never learn.
"Don't expect me to protect him from you, Yoji-kun." He warned as they reached the top. As expected, the older man started to whine. And as further expected, the noise grew the angry Ken-kun from wherever he had been, stomping towards them with the darkest look on his face.
"Don't you dare hide behind Omi, Yoji! You're such an ass… I can't believe that you just got back from your fucking 'break' now!" The brunette was furious and Omi couldn't quite blame him for the emotion. Still though, he couldn't exactly allow murder to occur in this house… Manx would just not be pleased.
"Maa… Ken-kun," He started in a soothing manner. "Yoji-kun will never learn." Ken blinked at the words and shook his head stubbornly.
"No!" He shook a finger in Omi's face. "That's not fair. Don't protect him Omi. He deserves
wha--" He trailed off with a slight groan as Omi started to pout, looking as usual way too adorable and just making it impossible to even maintain a semblance of anger towards anyone. "That's not fair." He muttered again and then sighed loudly. "I give up." Ken stuck his hands in his jean pockets. "But Yoji… I'd take a look at the schedule board for this week. Aya approved it. So change it and die. Aya's exact words." The older man who had started standing straight with a smug look on his face suddenly paled.
"You didn't…"
"Oh…" Ken smiled. "I didn't… Aya did. When he got home… and had to help me close the shop because you had been gone since lunch. He was pissed to say the least." He turned away but not before grabbing Omi's hands and pulling him into the other room where they could be alone. "Jerk." He hissed before pulling the younger boy into a hug. "Why'd you always have to play the peacemaker?" Omi squirmed into the grip until he was facing Ken and able to hug him back, a smile on his face.
"Mou." He tried to quell the smile so that he could make a hurt face at being called a jerk. Ken smiled, knowing exactly what the eighteen year old was up to and knowing that if Omi was able to do it, he'd be complete prey to those big eyes. He shook his head, tightening his grip before letting the boy go totally.
"How was your game?" Ken asked instead. "What was it called again?"
"Go. It's called Go. And it was really fun."
"…Go…" Ken shook his head and gave a sheepish smile. "I told you it would be a good thing to start, ne Omi?"
"Hai… Thanks Ken-kun."
"No prob." There was a pause as some tension started to come in between them, neither knowing quite why but both lost in some thoughts. Omi was suddenly thinking about Waya's strange resemblance to Ken, not only physically but in mannerisms as well while Ken was thinking about how he should bring up the subject of Yoji's annoying questions… concerning Omi that he had to deal with all morning. They both sighed and the silence broke.
"Ken, Omi…. Dinner." Aya's voice called out.
"Dinner? You mean…" Omi asked in a curious and disbelieving voice as he turned to Ken for confirmation.
"Aya-chan is still here."
"Oh." The two made their way into the kitchen to be greeted quite enthusiastically by Aya-chan and the sweet smelling aroma of an actual, home cooked dinner.
"Am I still allowed to have dinner with you people… or am I in the doghouse?" Yoji called out from where he was leaning against the wall. Ken and Aya glared at him while Aya-chan gave him a warm smile and pointed out quite calmly that there was a plate set for him on the table as well. "Why thank you. At least one decent person in this lunatic house." Omi had to bite his lip to keep himself from rolling his eyes.
"Yoji… you are impossible." He repeated more to himself than anyone else. But the taller man just turned to grin at him.
"I know, its part of my charm."
"Good grief." Ken groaned. "I did not just hear that! If that's your charm—I pity the girls that you date." Though the tall redhead agreed he did not say anything. He just went to his side of the table and started to serve the dinner. Omi chuckled though at the little verbal wars that was now raging beside him and gave Aya-chan a reassuring grin that said 'don't worry… they won't kill each other. Yet.'