Fic: Just a Komi 2/?
Title: Just a Komi 2/? (ETA: part 1 here)
Series: Hikaru no Go
Disclaimer: Characters are the creations of Hotta and Obata
Summary: Hikaru and Akira move out. Separately.
-----------
Yet another thing he would miss: playing Go late into the night with Shindou, letting their Go speak to each other without the presence of outside observers, and feeling unrestrained in every way, be it strategy, taunts or heated looks over the goban.
But even that was nothing compared to the thrill of engaging a mind that was truly his match--no, his rival--and before whom he could play his utmost and be sure, that on the very next reply, he was going to find the Hand of God.
He had not lost that. No, Touya amended silently as he glanced at Shindou's preoccupied face, not him. They had not lost that.
It was their third game in public after the move, and it almost felt like nothing had changed. Except that he now knew the way Shindou's fingertips would press on his fan, one after another, like a musician, when he was working out a strategy to attack territory that would take his opponent unawares about thirty hands on, while stealthily winnowing away at his opponent's gains.
Luckily, Touya was prepared to forestall him before things went that far. Just as Shindou knew he would need to go all out against Touya, so did Touya know that his advantage was in moving even faster than Shindou, and in reading more deeply before Shindou could do so.
Shindou used to say that there were times when Touya's intensity overwhelmed him. Touya had always thought on such occasions that Shindou himself had no idea of the way his presence had swept through Touya's Go, a storm that let winds whistle through every one of his preconceptions about the game, rearranging them so that nothing was ever the same any more.
The crowd of observers had increased again, Touya sensed. The air heaved with sighs and hums of consideration with each hand either of them made. But he did not spare any energy to look up and see for himself. The goban was more important. Just a little bit more-
Then Shindou raised his hand, and dropped the stone he was holding back into the go-ke. "I have nothing," he said, and bowed.
More sighs from their audience.
Touya bowed as well. "Thank you for the game." When he finally looked up, he saw that Shindou was moping sweat from his brow with a hand. Touya fought the urge to hand him his own handkerchief.
"See!" Shindou huffed, then pointed to the upper corner of the goban. "I had thought you would fix your advantage here, but you went over and punched through my defences. I should have thought you'd do that."
Touya stared at the pointing finger, its tip still slightly damp, then shook his head. "You were too preoccupied with the centre, and I saw an opportunity to move in," he said. "You were even more aggressive than I thought. I nearly couldn't hold my advantage at the sides."
"But you did. And how about..."
It was more than an hour before they finished discussing the game. Shindou shook his head once when they had gone over most of it--the most superficial of it. The rest, the underlying strategic aspect, would take more study when they both had leisure.
"Congratulations on wining the third game, Touya-sensei," Sumon Yuki, the game official, said to Touya.
"Yeah, this makes it what, two games won by me, and one by Touya-sensei," Shindou said with an air of studied nonchalance. "It still means I'll get his title if I win just one more game. Isn't that right, Sumon-san?"
The game official's cheeks reddened as she glanced at Touya. "As for that-" she hesitated, obviously sorting through her mind for the most diplomatic reply.
"If," Touya stated calmly.
There was a titter from their audience; they ignored that, but only looked at each other, acknowledging the challenge.
Then Shindou made a face and began to clear the goban.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sumon-san," Touya said, ignoring Shindou. "Please let me know when the next game will be."
"Of course, Touya-sensei!"
***
Shindou had waved off invitations from friends to go for a celebratory dinner. He and Touya walked towards the lift together, after taking their leave of the game officials, ignoring the looks exchanged by members of their audience who, it was likely, had wind of their relationship and breakup from mere rumour and no doubt were at that very moment, still speculating on those details rather than on the game.
"How's the research?" Touya asked in the lift.
Shindou raised his eyebrows. "So eager to scoop out my strategies?" he teased. "Don't forget it's your job to get the new komi adopted."
"That will be done, don't you worry," Touya said. "I'm just wondering if you're prepared for it."
"Oh, and I suppose you are?" Shindou retorted, at once put on the defensive by Touya's doubting tone--he was predictable that way.
Touya shrugged, knowing it was likely to rile Shindou even more. "I've been studying Korean and Chinese games," he said. "They've had more than enough time to get used to the new komi."
"Many of the other players are doing that," Shindou said, nodding. There was a cautious note in his voice, the tone of a new-found diplomacy that Shindou didn't often display.
Touya glanced at him curiously. The lift doors opened, and they walked out together. "It doesn't sound like you like that," Touya said.
Shindou shrugged, not seeming the least surprised at Touya's words. "It's just that... hey," he looked up as they walked out of the Go Institute, "where are we going?"
"Dinner at my place. When was the last time you had a proper meal?"
"I had-" Shindou thought about it, "Last week. I went home for a visit."
Touya waited.
Shindou stuck out his tongue at him. "Yeah, you're right. I could use a good meal," he admitted, then shook his head, half-teasing. "I don't get it. How can you spend so much time cooking?"
"It doesn't take that long, Shindou. It takes me about thirty minutes in the morning to get it ready. I just have to heat it up later."
"But-"
But it's thirty minutes you can take to play Go. Touya had no problem reading Shindou's mind on such things. Shindou's passion for Go had only grown through the years.
They reached Touya's home and assembled a quick meal with rice from the timed rice cooker, reheating the miso soup, grilling the eggplant and setting out the pickles. Touya's parents were still in China but on their previous trip, they had brought back premium oolong tea leaves, so Touya made Chinese tea while Shindou did the dishes.
"When is Touya-sensei coming back?" Shindou asked, setting down the newly washed bowls and plates by the dish rack beside the sink. For all that Shindou disliked 'wasting' time cooking, if someone else made the meal he would always volunteer to help clean up.
It was something Touya was used to, but he couldn't help but wonder if Shindou's actions stemmed from the ordinary Japanese need for cooperation or from his innate sense of fairness, which permeated his competitive spirit, which on some days seemed so much a part of him that it was impossible to tell where Go began and Shindou ended.
He had never stopping wondering about Shindou since the first time he met, in all things Go and mundane.
"Father and Mother decided to go sightseeing in Tibet," he said, "and they're visiting friends after that. Probably next month." He placed the tea cups on a tray and brought it to the dining room.
"Oh." The washing-up done, Shindou came to join Touya at the now-cleared dining table, sitting down cross-legged rather than in seiza. "When are they going to switch to the new komi?" he asked after a moment of staring curiously at his tea.
This was a familiar topic. "Soon, Shindou. Be patient," he said.
"It's been months!"
"If you wanted them to move faster, you should have joined the committee the first time they asked," Touya chided. "You know that most of the others on the committee are-" he paused, searching for a suitable phrase.
"-are old farts who would rather die than adopt a 'foreign' innovation." Shindou made a face. "Y'know, just because China and Korea did it first, doesn't mean Japan can't follow."
"I know," Touya said. He and Shindou had had this conversation before, but luckily unlike all the other topics on which they had conversed before, this particular one had no history to trip them up. He narrowed his eyes at Shindou. "I'm trying to get them to see sense, but I'm outnumbered. If I'm too persistent, they'd just dismiss my words as-"
"-the posturing of 'Touya-sensei's son'?" Shindou guessed, then sat up in outrage. "It's been years since you became a pro. You're Touya Meijin!"
"Yes, exactly."
Shindou paused at that. "Oh, right. That is unfortunate." He waggled his eyebrows. "You know what, as soon as I win that title off you, they won't think that anymore."
"In your dreams."
Shindou laughed. "I missed the game you played with Ogata-sensei in Kyoto last week. Maybe you can take his title."
"It's only the first game, it's too early to tell," Touya said.
Shindou pointed at him. "Hah. Don't try that with me. You want that title, I know it."
"So do you." Touya sat back on his heels. "Too bad you lost to me," he smirked.
What answer could Shindou make to that except demand a game?
---tbc---
Series: Hikaru no Go
Disclaimer: Characters are the creations of Hotta and Obata
Summary: Hikaru and Akira move out. Separately.
-----------
Yet another thing he would miss: playing Go late into the night with Shindou, letting their Go speak to each other without the presence of outside observers, and feeling unrestrained in every way, be it strategy, taunts or heated looks over the goban.
But even that was nothing compared to the thrill of engaging a mind that was truly his match--no, his rival--and before whom he could play his utmost and be sure, that on the very next reply, he was going to find the Hand of God.
He had not lost that. No, Touya amended silently as he glanced at Shindou's preoccupied face, not him. They had not lost that.
It was their third game in public after the move, and it almost felt like nothing had changed. Except that he now knew the way Shindou's fingertips would press on his fan, one after another, like a musician, when he was working out a strategy to attack territory that would take his opponent unawares about thirty hands on, while stealthily winnowing away at his opponent's gains.
Luckily, Touya was prepared to forestall him before things went that far. Just as Shindou knew he would need to go all out against Touya, so did Touya know that his advantage was in moving even faster than Shindou, and in reading more deeply before Shindou could do so.
Shindou used to say that there were times when Touya's intensity overwhelmed him. Touya had always thought on such occasions that Shindou himself had no idea of the way his presence had swept through Touya's Go, a storm that let winds whistle through every one of his preconceptions about the game, rearranging them so that nothing was ever the same any more.
The crowd of observers had increased again, Touya sensed. The air heaved with sighs and hums of consideration with each hand either of them made. But he did not spare any energy to look up and see for himself. The goban was more important. Just a little bit more-
Then Shindou raised his hand, and dropped the stone he was holding back into the go-ke. "I have nothing," he said, and bowed.
More sighs from their audience.
Touya bowed as well. "Thank you for the game." When he finally looked up, he saw that Shindou was moping sweat from his brow with a hand. Touya fought the urge to hand him his own handkerchief.
"See!" Shindou huffed, then pointed to the upper corner of the goban. "I had thought you would fix your advantage here, but you went over and punched through my defences. I should have thought you'd do that."
Touya stared at the pointing finger, its tip still slightly damp, then shook his head. "You were too preoccupied with the centre, and I saw an opportunity to move in," he said. "You were even more aggressive than I thought. I nearly couldn't hold my advantage at the sides."
"But you did. And how about..."
It was more than an hour before they finished discussing the game. Shindou shook his head once when they had gone over most of it--the most superficial of it. The rest, the underlying strategic aspect, would take more study when they both had leisure.
"Congratulations on wining the third game, Touya-sensei," Sumon Yuki, the game official, said to Touya.
"Yeah, this makes it what, two games won by me, and one by Touya-sensei," Shindou said with an air of studied nonchalance. "It still means I'll get his title if I win just one more game. Isn't that right, Sumon-san?"
The game official's cheeks reddened as she glanced at Touya. "As for that-" she hesitated, obviously sorting through her mind for the most diplomatic reply.
"If," Touya stated calmly.
There was a titter from their audience; they ignored that, but only looked at each other, acknowledging the challenge.
Then Shindou made a face and began to clear the goban.
"Thank you for your hard work, Sumon-san," Touya said, ignoring Shindou. "Please let me know when the next game will be."
"Of course, Touya-sensei!"
***
Shindou had waved off invitations from friends to go for a celebratory dinner. He and Touya walked towards the lift together, after taking their leave of the game officials, ignoring the looks exchanged by members of their audience who, it was likely, had wind of their relationship and breakup from mere rumour and no doubt were at that very moment, still speculating on those details rather than on the game.
"How's the research?" Touya asked in the lift.
Shindou raised his eyebrows. "So eager to scoop out my strategies?" he teased. "Don't forget it's your job to get the new komi adopted."
"That will be done, don't you worry," Touya said. "I'm just wondering if you're prepared for it."
"Oh, and I suppose you are?" Shindou retorted, at once put on the defensive by Touya's doubting tone--he was predictable that way.
Touya shrugged, knowing it was likely to rile Shindou even more. "I've been studying Korean and Chinese games," he said. "They've had more than enough time to get used to the new komi."
"Many of the other players are doing that," Shindou said, nodding. There was a cautious note in his voice, the tone of a new-found diplomacy that Shindou didn't often display.
Touya glanced at him curiously. The lift doors opened, and they walked out together. "It doesn't sound like you like that," Touya said.
Shindou shrugged, not seeming the least surprised at Touya's words. "It's just that... hey," he looked up as they walked out of the Go Institute, "where are we going?"
"Dinner at my place. When was the last time you had a proper meal?"
"I had-" Shindou thought about it, "Last week. I went home for a visit."
Touya waited.
Shindou stuck out his tongue at him. "Yeah, you're right. I could use a good meal," he admitted, then shook his head, half-teasing. "I don't get it. How can you spend so much time cooking?"
"It doesn't take that long, Shindou. It takes me about thirty minutes in the morning to get it ready. I just have to heat it up later."
"But-"
But it's thirty minutes you can take to play Go. Touya had no problem reading Shindou's mind on such things. Shindou's passion for Go had only grown through the years.
They reached Touya's home and assembled a quick meal with rice from the timed rice cooker, reheating the miso soup, grilling the eggplant and setting out the pickles. Touya's parents were still in China but on their previous trip, they had brought back premium oolong tea leaves, so Touya made Chinese tea while Shindou did the dishes.
"When is Touya-sensei coming back?" Shindou asked, setting down the newly washed bowls and plates by the dish rack beside the sink. For all that Shindou disliked 'wasting' time cooking, if someone else made the meal he would always volunteer to help clean up.
It was something Touya was used to, but he couldn't help but wonder if Shindou's actions stemmed from the ordinary Japanese need for cooperation or from his innate sense of fairness, which permeated his competitive spirit, which on some days seemed so much a part of him that it was impossible to tell where Go began and Shindou ended.
He had never stopping wondering about Shindou since the first time he met, in all things Go and mundane.
"Father and Mother decided to go sightseeing in Tibet," he said, "and they're visiting friends after that. Probably next month." He placed the tea cups on a tray and brought it to the dining room.
"Oh." The washing-up done, Shindou came to join Touya at the now-cleared dining table, sitting down cross-legged rather than in seiza. "When are they going to switch to the new komi?" he asked after a moment of staring curiously at his tea.
This was a familiar topic. "Soon, Shindou. Be patient," he said.
"It's been months!"
"If you wanted them to move faster, you should have joined the committee the first time they asked," Touya chided. "You know that most of the others on the committee are-" he paused, searching for a suitable phrase.
"-are old farts who would rather die than adopt a 'foreign' innovation." Shindou made a face. "Y'know, just because China and Korea did it first, doesn't mean Japan can't follow."
"I know," Touya said. He and Shindou had had this conversation before, but luckily unlike all the other topics on which they had conversed before, this particular one had no history to trip them up. He narrowed his eyes at Shindou. "I'm trying to get them to see sense, but I'm outnumbered. If I'm too persistent, they'd just dismiss my words as-"
"-the posturing of 'Touya-sensei's son'?" Shindou guessed, then sat up in outrage. "It's been years since you became a pro. You're Touya Meijin!"
"Yes, exactly."
Shindou paused at that. "Oh, right. That is unfortunate." He waggled his eyebrows. "You know what, as soon as I win that title off you, they won't think that anymore."
"In your dreams."
Shindou laughed. "I missed the game you played with Ogata-sensei in Kyoto last week. Maybe you can take his title."
"It's only the first game, it's too early to tell," Touya said.
Shindou pointed at him. "Hah. Don't try that with me. You want that title, I know it."
"So do you." Touya sat back on his heels. "Too bad you lost to me," he smirked.
What answer could Shindou make to that except demand a game?
---tbc---