RIVALRIES
by ladyaddiction

DISCLAIMER: Hikaru no Go, etc., doesn't belong to me.

NOTES: This is part of the blind-go challenge.

WARNINGS: Angst, possible OOC

WWW

They were finished. The Room of Profound Darkness was still, each breath of the gathered witnesses held suspended as stones slid against wood. Making slight ticking sounds as they hit each other.

His breath was caught in his throat, sweat dripping from his hair down to the side of his face. His nails were digging so hard into his palms that it had gone beyond pain and into numbness.

Finally, they were done.

Ogata's face was like carved marble as he bowed to the new Jyuudan title-holder, the judge announcing the win by one-and-a-half moku in solemn tones. Touya Akira sat there, still in seiza, his face pale but his eyes a deep verdant fire.

Then the room exploded into noise as cameras went off, journalists asked questions, watchers whispered comments to one another. He could already read the next article in 'From the desk of Amano…', detailing and praising Touya's most significant win.

It seemed to take all his strength to get up, his knees aching as if he had run up and down a hundred ladders. He somehow managed to give a half-hearted smile as he came up to Touya to give his congratulations. As always, Touya's eyes flickered to his but he was already looking away, turning back to the exit. He could feel the weighted stare at his back as others eagerly rushed to take his place.

His steps rang in the quiet corridors of the Institute, but he didn't hurry. He neither looked to the right nor the left and eventually, he found himself back on the slush-filled streets.

CRUNCH!

Red-hot agony ran up his right arm, fading into dull, pulsating pain. He didn't know he was going to do it until his knuckles were crushed against the unyielding stonewall. He would have cursed if he hadn't been biting his lip so hard that blood slipped down his chin. His friends were going to kill him because he had a Honinbou League match coming up next week---not long enough for his now broken knuckles to heal even a little.

That didn't matter to him at the moment. The only thing that did was the knowledge that once again, Touya Akira surpassed him. He was once again looking at Touya's back.

Will the bitterness of it all ever go away? The knowledge that if he had only won that match, that if he had somehow gained a half-moku more he would have been the one facing Ogata in a title showdown was almost enough to curdle his soul. Was this what Sai felt during that battle---this absolute crushing sense of hopelessness, of despair?

His right hand dangled haplessly along his side as he ran his left through his hair. Empty eyes looked up at the evening sky morosely. He slipped his hands through his pocket and began to walk forward, now wincing at the shooting pains the movement caused him. The crinkling of paper suddenly brought him up short and he pulled it out of his pants pocket.

It was an invitation to Korea. To join some of the international tournaments there.

He had meant to refuse the offer since he was competing in the Honinbou League, but now…now, he wondered if distance would be a good idea.

He crumpled the invitation. He would call Yeong-ha tomorrow to let him know he'll take the invitation. Then he'll call the Institute to forfeit his matches. This would be a complete scandal, possibly wrecking his name and reputation beyond repair, but he didn't give a damn at the moment.

His Go had reached a rut here in Japan and he knew with complete certainty that he would not be the one facing Kuwabara-Honinbou for the title defence this year. Touya had gone beyond him once more and Hikaru needed to find a way to close that gap again.

His feet moved, but couldn't resist one last look at the Go Institute. He may have been defeated but he was not crushed.

His and Touya's paths will merge again one day.

-END-