WR: Thank you for your patience. I know it sucks waiting for a fic that is good. But I have had some of my own issues to work out as well. Yes, life throws you hurdles that is why you have to jump over them. Oh and before I forget a few things. I love the reviews really but, I am NOT killing off any of the characters. Stop saying that sort of thing. I will not even go into reasons why. Anyway without further adieu, please enjoy.

Chapter 14

Touya Akira had always been considered to be a patient person off the Go board. However, once he sat in front of the board, he was Go. Plain. Simple. Just like all the pros before him. It was the thing he did best. Yes, it was incredibly difficult but after so many years of non stop practice and dedication, it made sense. Now, he sat down in his corner at his father's Go Salon. However, unlike the numerous times before, he just sat and stared at the black lines on a wooden surface. There was no pattern for him to study, there was only polished tree lines painted with black ink.

Silently, he wondered when had been the last time he had actually looked at the board and not at the pattern of stones. Each line was drawn carefully perfectly straight even with the possible bumpy surface from the tree. When you focused only on one object at some point, you are able to no longer focus on it. The environment around you does not come into view. All that there is -- are black lines on a wooden surface.

"Akira-san?" an all too familiar soft voice jolted him from nothingness.

"Ah, gomen Ichikawa-san," he gave a smile.

"Are you feeling all right?" she said with concern. "Would you like some tea?"

"Yes, please," he replied with a smile, "I am just a little tired."

"Hm," she gave him a face showing that she knew better. However, she walked away leaving the teenager in solitude. Once she had disappeared from view, he went back to his blank goban.

XXXX

Waya was annoyed. Honestly, it had been a while since Shindo had been a menace. Furthermore, he would not answer his cell phone. The calm voice repeatedly answered this phone is not available and would go straight to voice mail. Waya did not want to leave a fifth message. Therefore, he resorted to visiting the pro himself, Isumi was just along for the ride.

"To keep you in line," the taller teenager claimed as they marched up the stairs. That had been two hours ago.

Now, he was camped out in front of his friend's apartment door and still knocking. His hand was red. The first hour had passed quickly. Waya resorted to sitting on his rear and banging his head against the wood. This did not last as long. Presently on the two hour mark, he was kicking the door shouting, "Shindo! Come on! Get rid of this hobo in front of your apartment." Oh wait, he corrected himself, that is what the neighbors thought. He glared at the old woman from the peep hole across the hall. He knew the entire complex was watching him from their comfortable couches, 'The Life of Yoshitaka Waya, the latest reality TV show."

"Touya Akira owes me big time," the redhead muttered, he hit the back of his head against the front door.

"Waya?" Isumi asked, in his hand was a bag from a convenient store.

"Isumi welcome back. You did not miss a thing," he growled in response. Isumi sighed and slide down the door next to him.

"Sorry, it's not the best," Isumi apologized as he handed out a bento of sushi.

"Who cares, I'm starving," Waya shrugged, "thanks for the food." Instantly, he dug in, rice flying in all directions. "Honestly, I don't know who to be more mad at.

"I don't think that you should blame either of them," Isumi.

"I know," Waya became quiet, red hair hooded his bright eyes. "I know that it's not their fault they're are nuts. However, it has been two hours and a half. You know he has to be in there."

"Do you think we should come back tomorrow?" Isumi asked.

"No," Waya growled, swallowing his food and stood up. His determination renewed. "I couldn't help him last time. You were only here at the end. You did not know how it was. Waiting for him to come back. He ran away from everyone, Isumi. It was maddening. There is no way I am letting that happen again. You hear me, SHINDO! I know you are in there." Instinctively, Isumi sighed and covered his ears, wincing as each knock became like the sound of a cannon firing.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG! BANG!

"Come out! There is no way I am letting you quit a second time!"

BANG!

Isumi pulled at his pant legs, "Isumi, let go. I am not leaving until you COME," (BANG) "OUT" (BANG). "SHINDO HIKARU!"

Then Isumi really pulled his pants. The fabric slipped down his bottom. Waya's eyes jumped out of their sockets. His tall companion's face turned a bright red. The redhead's pants were at his ankles revealing red boxers with black and white dots on them. "WHAT THE HELL! Isumi! Not here!" he shouted whirling around to come face to face with Shindo Hikaru. "Shindo!"

"Waya, I am not quitting. Now, will you please stop harassing my neighbors and land lord? I have been blinded, please pull up your pants." Bleach bangs covered green eyes as their companion stood in front of him. Waya's jaw hit the ground as he looked at the crowd of angry people at each end of the hall. The pro could only laugh nervously. Shindo could only sigh as he let the two in and again apologize for his broken cell phone.

XXXX

Akira had been invited home for the first time in a while. His parents were back from one of their many trips overseas. Once dinner was finished, his father invited him to play a game. They completed the usual formalities, taking their bows and his father placed the first stone down. Akira could only resort to going full out. This was his mentor. His father. Why he loved and studied Go. At first it had been to make his father proud and take notice of him. To walk down the same path and become a good man. He admired his father. He loved his father. However, his father could never be enough in Go after meeting Shindo Hikaru. For Shindo he only had Akira now, and Akira had to make sure he would always have Hikaru.

His father studied him. "Is there something on your mind, Akira?" his father asked. "We have already finished."

"Father," he stated calmly. The finished game lay in front of them. "Shindo informed me of Sai's condition." Touya Koyo became still and waited. His facial expression was hard but his eyes drifted back to many years ago. "I understand why you did not betray Shindo or Sai's trust now."

"I see, and what have you come to learn?" his father asked with a smile.

Akira bowed his head, "I want to believe Shindo but…"

"It is difficult to believe," the late Meijin replied glancing out into the garden, "even I do not have all the facts. However, when Shindo did come and tell me that Sai could no longer play. I understood." A gentle breeze blew over the fence and made small ripples on the pound. The grass was slowly growing in. Buds were peaking out from the tips of branches. Within a matter of weeks, the garden that had been so silent in winter would come alive.

"Hai," Akira looked out into the garden. It was very different from the snow covered day so many months ago. It felt like it had been forever but it was only four months.

"You have waited long to receive your answer. Now that you have it," his father gave him a glance. The finished game was still fresh.

"Is that all there is to it?" Akira asked after a moment. "Just believe him."

"Shindo may have a sense of humor," the late Meijin stated chuckling, "however, about his friend, it is impossible. After all, Shindo is a pro as are you, Go is the one thing we don't joke about. Especially, our teachers."

Akira nodded, looking at his father. He could not remember when the man had become slightly smaller and was beginning to hobble. However, his father's mannerisms never changed. He was the same man but different.

"Akira," the softer tone startled him. "Waiting is just part of making the choice. Once you have all the facts you can make the next move. After all this time you finally have all the facts. I think you already know the answer."

"Hai," the young man slowly nodded, processing the new information. Shindo had fulfilled his part of the deal. Now it was Akira's turn.

"Now that your head is cleared, would you like to discuss the game?" his father smiled as he watched relief spread across his successor's young face.

"Hai," Akira smiled for the first time in what felt like a really long time.

XXXX

"Explain it to me again," Waya snarled as he soaked his hands in ice water. They were now a shade of cherry red but the throbbing had stopped. Hikaru sighed as he took a seat across from his two friends.

"How many times? I threw my cell phone in the river," Shindo shrugged.

"And what in all that is holy in Go possessed you to throw your phone into the river?" Waya's eyes were turning red. Isumi was ready to jump between Waya and Shindo if it came down to murder.

"I couldn't stop myself," Shindo stated, "I was calling the Go Association about canceling my matches for Golden Week and the lady was giving me a hard time."

"Canceling?" Waya's head shot up, "Matches? But, you said."

"I am going on a trip during Golden Week," Hikaru replied. "I have to give a two week notice. Otherwise I will be eliminated from any tournaments." He headed into his fridge and pulled out a bottle of sake.

"It's good to see you have learned from your mistakes," Isumi nodded in agreement. His eyes showed worry as the bottle was unscrewed.

"How could I forget last year?" Hikaru groaned, pouring himself a cup.

"That's why you got kicked out of the Hoinbou tournament! What a load of…" Waya jumped up, slamming his hand against the table top. "Ow."

Isumi sighed and Shindo chuckled.

"Hey, I am in this condition because of you and your stupid rival boyfriend," Waya snapped. "Kiss and make it better! I demand compensation!"

"No way," Hikaru snapped, "besides, Isumi is here, make him do it." With a clank the cup hit the table.

"But, it is not his fault," the redhead replied. Isumi had turned a brilliant red boxer color.

"Actually, it's your own fault," Isumi replied, "we could have just waited quietly, you insisted that we break down the door with our fists."

"Because we are men!" Waya pumped the air with his red fist, "Shindo you are drinking."

"Oh please," Hikaru rolled his eyes, "Would you like some?"

"Hell yeah," Waya smirked pouring himself a glass.

"So did you get permission for Golden Week?" Isumi changed the subject, as he eyed the two. The cups hit the surface again.

"I was able to, but if Akira wants to come with me he has to fill out a form himself," Hikaru replied.

"Akira...Wait you mean Touya. Touya is going too!" Waya stared. "You invited Touya! Are you sure this is not a love love honeymoon trip?" His eyebrows moving up and down.

"Nani! It's not like that!" Hikaru's face turned bright red. "We aren't going to do anything like that."

"Like what?" Isumi asked, not understanding why blood was trickling out of his friend's nose.

"Ho ho so this has nothing to do with Go," Waya chuckled, a dangerous gleam. "Akira and Hikaru sitting in a tree…"

"Shut up!" Hikaru shouted, throwing everything in sight at the dancing red head. Isumi could only sigh but smile, it had been a while since Hikaru had been himself. This was good, even if he was intoxicated. Isumi winced as the two acted like monkeys

XXX

It was late when Akira returned home and stood in front of the telephone. He had tried Hikaru's cell phone, it only went to voice mail. Now, he was calling his home line. Praying, the teenager would pick up. In his head, he had gone thru what he wanted to say. However as the phone rang on the other side his mind went blank.

"Moshi Moshi," a familiar voice cheerful voice.

"Hikaru?"

"Akira?"

"Waya-san?" Akira blinked, "You are still there?"

"It is A-Kir-a," a sing song voice came from the other end. In the background there was a brawl for the phone. "I bet you want the phone you minx. Well, I'm not giving it to you." Waya's frolicsome tone echoed through the receiver.

"Give it to me!" Hikaru's distress erupted. "Waya! I am going to kill you!"

"Hello, Touya?" Isumi's angelic voice hide the sound of war in the background. "Is everything all right?"

"Shouldn't I be asking that question?" Akira asked. A loud crash in the background followed by a war cry from his rival boyfriend. "What is going on?"

"Hikaru is trying to get to the phone while Waya is keeping him in a chair," Isumi reported dutifully.

"You are helping Waya," Akira dryly stated.

"Hai," Isumi joyfully replied, "You would understand if you were here."

"I am going to regret this, why," his heart rate had calmed but now his head ached.

"He is currently in distress," Isumi replied with a smile. "He really would like to see you. It is safe to return so you can come by anytime now."

"Akira, save me!" Hikaru announced.

"Shindo! Get back here," Waya thundered, "Get off my Isumi!"

"Gomen nasi Touya-kun," Isumi smiled and the phone went dead. Akira stared at the phone in shock and a chill ran down his spine. Within seconds he was running to the train station, a light spring coat in hand.

XXXX

Instantly, Akira was tackled by a doting Hikaru. The bleach blonde reeked of cheap sake, and was attempting to suffocate him with affection. Waya and Isumi watched from the kitchen table, clearly amused. Especially, the redhead who was livid at his arrival.

"Finally decided to join us," Waya smirked as Akira tried to squeeze out of Hikaru's death-grip.

"Don't want Akira-chan to go," Hikaru nuzzled into his arm. "You just got here."

"I wish I hadn't come," Akira muttered, holding his nose.

"You mean that," Hikaru's large green eyes began to water.

"No, no," Akira corrected as his rival's behavior did a 180. He tried to look amused at the pout.

"YAY!" Hikaru threw his arms up and ran over to the board. "Let's play Akira!" His rival's eyes popped out of his sockets.

"Dear god, what did you do to him?" Akira whispered to Isumi. The apartment was a mess.

"It was all Waya," Isumi sighed throwing back another cup of sake. "In reality, Hikaru was like this before he came home. However, he had a few more bottles of sake within the hour."

"You mean he was running around town drunk," Akira blinked in shock as Hikaru sat at the goban picking up stones and stacking them on top of each other. "Dear god. How many did he drink?"

"Who knows, who cares. This is now your mess," Waya slapped Akira on the shoulder, "I was expecting to torture you but, I figured this is much better. Have fun Hikaru-chan, Isumi and I are going home."

"Have a nice time making out!" Hikaru waved from his seat. The white and black stones scattering in all directions. "Aw, my castle fell down."

"Wait you are leaving me with him," Akira twirled in shock. Waya gave him a wink and chuckled as the apartment door closed with a click.

"A-Ki-Ra," Hikaru pouted from the goban, "I wanna play Go!"

"Hai," Akira sighed as he took the seat opposite. "We can only play one game, it's really late."

"You better not fall asleep," Hikaru smiled as he carefully cleared the board. "Otherwise I'll doodle on you." He placed the stone bowls on the surface, glaring as Akira began to reach for the white stones. "Matte, first, we pay our respects to Sai." For a moment, Hikaru paused and clapped his hands in front of the board, "Yosh! Sai grant us a great game!"

"Anno, Hikaru," Akira became uneasy.

"This is Sai's board you have to pay your respects, especially if you are going to play on it," Hikaru snapped, glaring daggers. Akira's eyes widen in realization. He was going to play a game on the board that Sai had been trapped in for many years. Hikaru was still testing him.

Touya Akira closed his eyes and took a deep breathe. Clapping his hands he announced, "Sai grant us a great game."

"Yosh! Now we play!" Hikaru pumped his hands into the air. The first stone hit the surface glowing as it landed in a classic Shusaku opening. Akira answered the challenge in total seriousness. It was another rumor he could test, a drunk Shindo Hikaru was never to be taken lightly. By the end of the night, Touya Akira quickly learned this was to be absolutely true.

WR: I have a few more chapters before I can really end this fic. I am going to apologize since I don't know I will be inspired to get the rest out. I have already begun the epilogue but I need a few things before that. So thank you for your support and patience. I will get back to this ASAP (thought it may take a while).