Disconnect (3/4) [Yeong-ha/Yashiro, Shindou/Touya, Hong Su-yeong ; NC-17]
Title: Disconnect (3/4)
Author: stillskies
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: NC-17 because of Part 1
Genre: Dark, twisted Romance
Characters/Pairing: Yeong-ha/Yashiro, Shindou/Touya, Hong Su-yeong
Wordcount: 4,269
Disclaimer: Not mine. Obata-sensei and Hotta-sensei own all. I'm just playing with them. ♥
A/N: This was originally supposed to be a short one-shot. Once I reached 10,000 words, the idea of a one-shot kind of got thrown out the window. It is now a four-shot which is all being posted at once because my writing doesn't have a chaptered feel to it. There is porn within, so be warned.
In this section, Yashiro goes to another international tournament. Yeong-ha sleeps around. Yashiro starts dating and takes the Bar exam. Shindou and Touya figure out their issues. Also, Prince of Tennis cameo. Su-yeong thinks Yashiro and Yeong-ha are being ridiculous.
"We are holding an international exhibition match for up and coming pros from China, Japan and Korea," Tsuzuki-sensei tells him. "We would like you to play in it, Yashiro-kun."
"Thank you for the honor," Kiyoharu says, head bowed. "I would love to."
"Wonderful," Tsuzuki-sensei says. He picks up a piece of paper and hands it to Kiyoharu. "These are the people who have been invited to play from China and Korea. They have all accepted."
Kiyoharu looks at the list and isn't surprised to see Ko Yeong-ha's name.
•
He's in the middle of a paper when someone starts pounding on his door. He sighs and sets his laptop on the couch.
Shindou's face appears through the peephole, and Kiyoharu entertains the idea of pretending he's not home.
"I saw your eye, Yashiro," Shindou calls through the door. "Now open up."
Kiyoharu shoots his laptop a remorseful glance and opens the door. "What do you want, Shindou?"
Shindou pushes into Kiyoharu's apartment and starts pacing. "What do you think of Touya?"
Kiyoharu blinks. When Shindou's face remains serious, he decides that maybe he needs some beer. He has the feeling it's going to be a long night.
•
"So," Kiyoharu says, setting his beer down on the table and looking up from his Korean paper, "what you're telling me is that you think that you're attracted to Touya?"
Shindou nods.
"And you're just figuring this out?"
Another nod.
"And you think that Touya is attracted to you because he didn't punch you when you kissed him?"
"Yes."
Kiyoharu rubs his hand over his face. The Korean characters are melting together and he's glad he decided to start the paper a few days before it was due. He looks at Shindou, who is sitting across from him with a dejected look on his face. "How is this a bad thing?"
"It just is!" Shindou insists.
Kiyoharu sighs. "How?"
"I don't know," Shindou says, putting his head in his hands. "I mean, it's Touya."
"And?"
"And Touya is supposed to be all traditional and this wasn't supposed to happen."
Kiyoharu types a few more sentences. "Who says?"
"Touya and Go are all I have," Shindou says quietly. "I can't screw them up."
"And you think that pretending nothing happened isn't going to screw it up?"
Shindou sighs and shakes his head.
•
Kiyoharu volunteers to be part of the welcoming party. When Shindou asks why, Kiyoharu shrugs and asks, why not? He doesn't say that it's because Ogata Jyuudan is also on the welcoming committee, and that he wants Ko to remember that he's there, too. Shindou doesn't have an answer to that, so Kiyoharu heads towards the airport.
The first person that walks into the terminal is Ko Yeong-ha. Kiyoharu nods and Ko nods back before heading towards Ogata Jyuudan. Kiyoharu grinds his teeth together and watches as the rest of the Korean team appears.
Hong sees him and waves, and Kiyoharu waits until Hong gets to him.
"How was the flight?" Kiyoharu asks.
"Long," Hong says, rolling his eyes. "Irufhan snores, and Yeong-ha is in a bad mood."
Kiyoharu looks over his shoulder and catches Ko staring at him. Kiyoharu stares back for a moment before turning back to Hong. "He seems to be fine to me."
Hong shrugs. "Who knows?"
•
The Ki-in is sponsoring a welcome dinner, and all of the Japanese representatives are expected to attend. Kiyoharu is waiting for Shindou and Touya when Ko comes up behind him and places a hand on Kiyoharu's hip.
"I was wondering if you knew any good bars," Ko's lips are on Kiyoharu's ear and Kiyoharu leans back against Ko's chest for a moment before jerking away. Ko keeps his grip on Kiyoharu's hip, however, and Kiyoharu doesn't put any real distance between them.
He wants to tell Ko no, he doesn't know of any good bars. But he's beginning to realize that Ko Yeong-ha is an addiction, one that he's not strong enough to beat. "There's a good one down the street, next to the train station."
Ko smiles into Kiyoharu's neck. "Perhaps I'll try it, then."
He sees Shindou enter the hotel lobby and, just as quickly as Ko arrived, he disappears. Kiyoharu can see the frown on Shindou's face before they reach him.
"Everything okay?" Shindou asks, eyes narrowed in the direction Ko must have gone.
"Yeah," Kiyoharu says distractedly. "Everything's fine."
•
Somehow, he ends up at the bar against his better judgment. He orders a beer and sits down.
He doesn't wait long.
•
Ko's mouth is against Kiyoharu's ear, and the breathy noises are driving Kiyoharu mad.
He thrusts back against Ko hard and grunts in satisfaction. Ko takes the hint and picks up the pace.
•
Kiyoharu collapses on his bed and stares up at the ceiling. His legs are going to be killing him in the morning because he missed the last train and had to walk home from Ko's hotel room, and he's pretty sure that Ko left a mark on his neck.
His alarm clock is going to go off in a few hours and Kiyoharu decides that he'll worry about it in the morning.
•
His first exhibition game is against Hong Su-yeong.
Kiyoharu nods to Hong, who watches him quietly.
They nigiri, and Kiyoharu can feel hundreds of eyes on him. He tries to concentrate on the board, but his mind keeps wandering. He looks out at the crowd and spots Ko immediately.
Ko is watching.
Suddenly, the other gazes fall away, and the only one that matters is the one he can feel like a brand. He catches Hong frowning at him a few times, but there isn't any time to worry about that.
Kiyoharu wins by half a moku.
•
The announcers are discussing the game when Hong pulls him aside.
"Are you all right?"
Kiyoharu nods. His lower back is on fire from sitting for so long, but he has some painkillers in his bag. He just needs to get away to take them.
"You look like crap," Hong says bluntly. "Does this have to do with Yeong-ha?"
Kiyoharu freezes.
Hong sighs. "Damn him," he mutters.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kiyoharu manages to say.
"Look," Hong says, running a hand through his hair. "Yeong-ha's not a bad guy. He's just childish. He wants what he can't have."
Kiyoharu nods. He doesn't say that he's pretty sure that Ko already has him.
•
Ko doesn't show up at the bar that night.
Kiyoharu downs four beers while he waits.
"You don't look too good," a guy tells him. "Mind if I sit with you?"
Kiyoharu looks up. The man is smiling at him.
Kiyoharu nods and smiles back.
•
Kiyoharu manages to avoid Ko until the end of the exhibition.
He's waiting to go on stage when Ko appears beside him.
"You weren't there last night," Ko tells him conversationally.
"Missed me?" Kiyoharu replies, rolling his eyes.
Ko doesn't reply, so Kiyoharu takes advantage of the situation to lean forward and put his hand on Ko's shoulder. Slowly, he places his lips against Ko's ear and whispers, "I'm sure your bed won't be cold for long."
The announcer is introducing them right now and Kiyoharu pulls away. He thinks he sees something like anger in Ko's eyes before it blinks out and Ko heads towards the stage.
Kiyoharu follows.
•
"So," Daisuke says the next morning, "you play go?"
Kiyoharu nods and tries not to think about how weird it is to have someone that isn't Shindou in his apartment.
"That's cool. I've never played." Daisuke's foot is trailing up Kiyoharu's leg under the table. "Maybe you can teach me?"
•
He's well into his second year at Chuo. The classes are getting harder and he's sort of starting to regret minoring in Korean. He has the practice bar coming up as well as a presentation on international trade law between Korea and Japan.
Hong has been e-mailing him weekly since Kiyoharu's game with Ko. Hong doesn't mention anything, but he knows that Hong knows and somehow that makes things different.
He would try to talk to Shindou about it, but ever since Shindou and Touya fixed whatever the hell was wrong with them, Shindou has gone back to his very firm anti-Ko stance. Not to mention that Kiyoharu has been dating - can he even really call it that? - Daisuke for the last six months.
Daisuke is waiting in Kiyoharu's apartment when he gets home. Kiyoharu bites back a sigh and gives Daisuke a weak smile.
"I figured I'd make you dinner for a change," Daisuke says, and as soon as he mentions it, Kiyoharu can smell something good from his kitchen.
"Thanks," Kiyoharu says and sets his backpack on the ground. Daisuke moves forward and wraps his arms around Kiyoharu's waist, lowering his face for a kiss.
Kiyoharu threads his hands through Daisuke's dark hair and closes his eyes. If he can't see, he can pretend that Daisuke is someone else.
•
Kiyoharu isn't really surprised to find Ko sitting on his couch. Daisuke is sitting in the armchair, silently staring at Kiyoharu with an accusing glare.
"You'll have to excuse me," Ko says with a smile. "I was in the neighborhood."
"In the neighborhood, my ass," Kiyoharu retorts before turning to Daisuke. "Look, I'll call you later, okay?"
"I want to know what's going on, Yashiro," Daisuke demands, standing up and striding over to Kiyoharu. "Who is he?"
He's not sure how to answer so he doesn't. Daisuke shakes his head after a moment and heads toward the door.
"Somehow," Ko says into the silence, "I don't think he's going to be answering your calls."
Kiyoharu shakes his head and turns around.
•
Kiyoharu hates himself.
Ko is laying beneath him and Kiyoharu is raising himself up and plunging down, over and over and over and all he can see is the way that Ko is looking at him. All he's focusing on is the way that Ko's hands are running up and down his body.
Ko's fingers graze Kiyoharu's nipples and Kiyoharu moans.
•
Ko is gone when Kiyoharu wakes up the next morning. He's almost convinced himself it's a dream until he goes into the bathroom.
There are red scratches scattered across Kiyoharu's sides. A deep purple bruise rests next to Kiyoharu's left nipple.
•
He tries calling Daisuke once.
Unsurprisingly, Daisuke doesn't answer. Kiyoharu doesn't leave a message.
•
Shindou is flopped on Kiyoharu's couch, reading JUMP, when Kiyoharu comes home.
"I never should have given you a key," Kiyoharu grouses.
Shindou just grins and puts the magazine on Kiyoharu's coffee table. "I just wanted to come over and see if you were all right."
Kiyoharu frowns. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I haven't seen Daisuke around lately."
Ah. Kiyoharu shrugs. "It didn't work out. I'm fine."
Shindou doesn't seem convinced.
"It hadn't been working for a while," Kiyoharu tells him honestly. "He figured it was better to end it than to let it drag out." He doesn't mention Ko.
"Does it have anything to do with Su-yeong?"
Kiyoharu blinks. "Hong?"
Shindou nods and doesn't say anything.
"What could it possibly have to do with Hong?"
Shindou shrugs. "Well, Daisuke seemed to appear after that argument you had with Su-yeong, so I just kind of assumed."
He's trying to think of any argument he's ever had with Hong and can't think of any. "What argument?"
Shindou is starting to look uncomfortable. "After your guys' game at the exhibition."
It suddenly dawns on him that Shindou is talking about Kiyoharu's and Hong's conversation about Ko. Kiyoharu laughs. "There is nothing going on with me and Hong."
"You know we'd be okay with it if there was," Shindou informs him.
Kiyoharu nods. "Yeah, I know."
•
He's pretty sure Hong already knows that Daisuke is a non-factor now, mostly because he's almost as sure that it was Hong who told Ko about Daisuke in the first place. He still isn't too sure why Ko even cared, but he leaves it be. There's no point in trying to figure out anything that Ko does.
Instead, he throws himself into go and school. He's in three title leagues, including the Meijin league, which is still pretty shocking when he thinks about it.
He's entering his last year of college and knows that he'll have to sign up for the bar exam soon.
With everything going on, he almost manages to forget about Ko.
•
He receives an invitation to an international exhibition game in China, but it’s the week before the bar exam, so Kiyoharu has to decline.
Hong doesn’t seem to understand why Kiyoharu says no, and Kiyoharu doesn’t have the energy to explain that the bar is important to his parents, and pleasing his parents is important to him. Instead, he says that his workload at school is a bit heavier than usual and he needs to concentrate on it so that he doesn’t fail out.
He gets the feeling that Hong doesn’t buy the excuse, but Hong doesn’t ask anything else after that.
•
"We're all going out after the first part of the bar exam," Kitazawa tells him. "You should come with us."
Kiyoharu smiles weakly. He's exhausted and he's not sure how he's even going to manage to take this test. "I don't know," he says.
Kitazawa puts an arm around Kiyoharu's shoulders. "Come on," he cajoles, "there will be plenty of girls."
He doesn't bother to mention that he has no interest in girls, but in the end he agrees to go anyway.
•
He's not sure how he does. It's why he likes go - he always knows how he's doing, regardless of where he is in the game.
Kitazawa is waiting for him at the gates with a group of people Kiyoharu only vaguely recognizes.
"Let's go."
Kiyoharu nods.
•
Somehow, they end up near nii-chome. Everyone except Kiyoharu is wasted and Kitazawa is daring Fuji to go into one of the gay bars. Fuji rolls his eyes before declaring that he's not afraid and walking towards a bar named Adam.
Kitazawa and the rest of the group are giggling. Twenty minutes pass and Kiyoharu is getting cold.
He tells the rest of the group to go on ahead and he'll get Fuji and catch up with them later. Kitazawa agrees and Kiyoharu watches as the rest of them head towards the train station.
•
The bar is just like any other bar, except that men are straddling other men instead of women straddling men. He spots Fuji in a corner booth, sipping a glass of alcohol. There is a man sitting next to Fuji and Fuji doesn't seem to mind at all.
Kiyoharu crosses the bar and takes the seat across from Fuji. He eyes Fuji's suitor before turning his attention back to Fuji. "Everyone else went ahead."
Fuji smiles. "Is that so?"
There's something about Fuji's eyes that makes Kiyoharu think of Ko and he has to shake his head. "Yeah. I told them we'd catch up."
Fuji's suitor disappears after a while, clearly annoyed that Fuji's attention is no longer on him. Kiyoharu realizes that he's glad.
"Would you care to have a drink, Yashiro?"
•
They end up at Fuji's place. Fuji tastes like vodka and something sweet.
They don't waste any time getting their clothes off. Fuji is watching him with half closed eyes and Kiyoharu is suddenly uncomfortable. The way Fuji is watching him makes him think of Ko and that's the last thing he wants to be doing right now.
Fuji is lying on his bed, stroking himself. "There a problem?"
Kiyoharu shakes his head and crawls across the bed. "No."
•
Fuji is nothing like Daisuke - where Daisuke wanted commitment, Fuji expects nothing. Fuji reminds him of Ko in a lot of ways, and he knows that's a recipe for disaster.
They are studying for the next part of bar exam when Fuji leans over and kisses him. Kiyoharu kisses back and moves his books out of the way.
Fuji pulls back slowly and smiles. "Now, now," he says in a chiding tone, "we're supposed to be studying."
Kiyoharu rolls his eyes and moves forward.
•
He falls out in the second round of the Meijin league against Ashiwara 8-dan.
Shindou, who has just beaten Ichiryuu-sensei, pats him on the shoulder. "Man, your game was all over the place. Were you even paying attention?"
Kiyoharu sighs. "I was distracted."
Shindou looks skeptical. "Distracted."
Kiyoharu nods.
"What were you thinking about?"
Kiyoharu shakes his head. "My head just wasn't here. That's all."
"I can see that," Shindou retorts. "Where was it? In Korea?"
He's starting to get annoyed. "Look, we all have bad days, okay? I just had a bad day."
•
Fuji is staying over the night before the final part of the bar exam. Neither of them are particularly tired, but Kiyoharu has a game after the test and Fuji is meeting with a few high school classmates afterwards, so they both agree that tonight is not a good night.
"Who are you trying to forget?" Fuji's voice is conversational and light, but the question makes Kiyoharu squirm.
"Why do you think I'm trying to forget someone?" Kiyoharu asks.
Fuji laughs in the darkness. "We're all trying to forget someone, Yashiro."
•
He doesn't wait for Fuji after the test. He knows that Fuji will understand.
It seems that Fuji understands more than Kiyoharu had thought.
•
He qualifies for the Kisei finals the same day he is informed that he's passed the bar exam.
Shindou and Waya offer to take him out for soba, and Kiyoharu isn't foolish enough to turn it down. After all, Waya and Shindou don't particularly like soba, and it's been a while since Kiyoharu's had it.
"You're officially an 8-dan now," Waya says enviously after they order. "Man, I have got to catch up or Morishita-sensei is going to kill me."
Shindou grins and takes a sip of his Coke. "Don't worry, Waya. You're a 6-dan. What's another few years?"
Waya elbows Shindou in the stomach and Kiyoharu laughs. He feels his phone vibrate and he frowns, excusing himself from the table.
He doesn't look at his phone until he is outside of the restaurant, and when he does, he considers not answering. In the end, filial duty wins out and he presses 'accept.'
"Hello?"
"Kiyoharu."
Kiyoharu hasn't heard his dad's voice in two years - he's only talked to his mom since he moved out, and even then, the conversations are brief and to the point.
"Father."
He hears his father clear his throat and Kiyoharu suddenly wishes he hadn't picked up. "Your mother and I heard you passed the bar exam."
"Yes."
He can imagine his father nodding. "Yes, well. We wanted to know what firms you were considering joining."
Kiyoharu closes his eyes. "I'm not."
There is silence on the other end for a moment before his father resumes speaking. "We had hoped that you would be over this ridiculous phase, Kiyoharu. We sent you to school so that you may prepare to get a real job."
The disappointment in his father's voice comes across the phone and slams into Kiyoharu's gut. He grinds his teeth together and replies, "This is a real job, Father."
"This is a hobby, Kiyoharu," his father says dismissively. "It is time for you to grow up. We will permit you to continue this… path of yours until you graduate. Then, you are expected to join the real world. Is that clear?"
His father doesn't wait for an answer and hangs up.
•
When he gets home, Hong is sitting on his doorstep.
Kiyoharu frowns.
"Some guy offered to let me in, but I figured I'd just wait for you outside." Hong informs him as Kiyoharu unlocks the front door.
"Fuji," Kiyoharu says and Hong shrugs.
"Not sure," Hong tells him as he takes his shoes off. "He kept looking at me."
Kiyoharu remembers Fuji's question and smiles slightly. "He probably thinks you’re the one I'm trying to forget."
Hong snorts. "Not likely."
"Tea?"
"Yes, please."
Kiyoharu goes into the kitchen while Hong makes himself comfortable on the couch. He's out of everything except black tea, so that's what he makes.
"So," Kiyoharu starts, switching back to Japanese, "What brings you to Japan?"
Hong shrugs. "Just felt like getting away, you know?"
Kiyoharu does, so he stays silent. Hong takes this for what it is and continues.
"Yeong-ha has been in a bad mood since the last international tournament, and Irufhan is more interested in winning than in playing."
"What happened at the last tournament?"
Hong rolls his eyes. "He won't tell me. But he kept looking for someone and obviously didn't find them."
Kiyoharu tenses.
"It would be easier on both of you if you'd both just admit it."
The kettle goes off and Kiyoharu pours the tea into the cups. He tosses three spoons of sugar in his and none in Hong's. He picks both cups up and hands one to Hong, who takes it with a nod of thanks.
"I don’t know what you're talking about," Kiyoharu says before sipping his tea.
Hong snorts. "Bull. You know exactly what I'm talking about; you're just pretending not to. Just like Yeong-ha."
Kiyoharu doesn't say anything.
•
Fuji is a sadist, Kiyoharu decides. People are staring at his neck and he knows they can see the mark. He knows this because he doesn't own anything with a collar high enough to hide it, which Fuji knows, what with all the time that Fuji spends in Kiyoharu's apartment.
Ko is watching him from across the room and Kiyoharu is doing a pretty good job of avoiding him. He can't escape Ko's eyes, but that's something he can't control. At the very least, he can keep fifty meters between them at all times.
Of course, it's difficult to keep fifty meters between anyone in the Ki-in's bathroom. Kiyoharu is splashing his face with water when he hears the door lock. He doesn't even bother to look up when Ko puts a possessive hand on Kiyoharu's waist.
"You look cheap," Ko tells him, running his lips down Kiyoharu's neck.
"What do you want?" Kiyoharu doesn't have the energy to fight tonight.
Ko smiles. "I want to play a game."
•
He's not sure why he brings Ko back to his apartment. After all, Ko has a perfectly good hotel room, and it's not like he has to share with anyone. It almost feels like breaking the rules, except this isn't the first time that Ko's been here and he really doesn't need to think about that right now. Regardless, they are already there by the time Kiyoharu thinks to suggest using Ko's hotel room and by then it's too late.
Ko is already running his hand down the front of Kiyoharu's pants by the time Kiyoharu gets the door open. He barely has time to close it before Ko has him pinned to the door and is kissing him senseless.
Kiyoharu digs his fingers into the front of Ko's shirt and starts to pull. He hears the faint pop of one of the buttons coming off and applies more pressure. Either Ko doesn't notice or he doesn't care, which suits Kiyoharu just fine.
A moment later, Kiyoharu has his hand down the front of Ko's pants and is panting into Ko's neck.
"This isn't a good idea," Kiyoharu says between breaths. He's going to say more when Ko nips Kiyoharu's collar bone and speeds up his stroke on Kiyoharu's cock. Whatever Kiyoharu was going to say comes out as a moan.
"Is it ever?" Ko says, spreading his legs so Kiyoharu can get a better grip.
Kiyoharu closes his eyes and thrusts into Ko's hand, trying his best to match his pace to Ko's.
He uses his free hand to guide Ko's mouth back to his. "I don't know," Kiyoharu whispers against Ko's lips. Ko takes it as an invitation.
•
When he wakes up, Ko is lying next to him. He stares for a moment before getting out of bed and going into the kitchen.
Fuji is sitting at the table, sipping tea and reading a book.
Kiyoharu is about to turn around, partly because he's not sure he can deal with this, but mostly because he's not wearing any pants, when Fuji looks up and smiles.
"Your tea is on the counter," Fuji informs him and goes back to his book.
Kiyoharu stops by the bathroom and shrugs on his yukata. He picks up his tea, sits at the table, and waits.
"I take it he's the one you're trying to forget?"
Kiyoharu glances back toward his room to make sure that Ko isn't suddenly going to appear. "Yeah."
Fuji nods as if he's known it all along. Which, Kiyoharu thinks, he apparently has.
Fuji places his cup on the table and stands. Kiyoharu walks him to the door.
"When he leaves again," Fuji says, looking towards Kiyoharu's room, "you have my number."
Kiyoharu shakes his head. Before he can say anything, Fuji leans forward and kisses him.
A minute passes before Fuji pulls away and smirks. "See you later, Kiyoharu."
Kiyoharu doesn't need to turn around to know that Ko is standing behind him.
"I take it he's the one who gave you that bruise on your neck." Ko says.
Kiyoharu glares at the closed door. Fuji is definitely a sadist.
Part 1 │ Part 2 │ Part 4
Author: stillskies
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: NC-17 because of Part 1
Genre: Dark, twisted Romance
Characters/Pairing: Yeong-ha/Yashiro, Shindou/Touya, Hong Su-yeong
Wordcount: 4,269
Disclaimer: Not mine. Obata-sensei and Hotta-sensei own all. I'm just playing with them. ♥
A/N: This was originally supposed to be a short one-shot. Once I reached 10,000 words, the idea of a one-shot kind of got thrown out the window. It is now a four-shot which is all being posted at once because my writing doesn't have a chaptered feel to it. There is porn within, so be warned.
In this section, Yashiro goes to another international tournament. Yeong-ha sleeps around. Yashiro starts dating and takes the Bar exam. Shindou and Touya figure out their issues. Also, Prince of Tennis cameo. Su-yeong thinks Yashiro and Yeong-ha are being ridiculous.
"We are holding an international exhibition match for up and coming pros from China, Japan and Korea," Tsuzuki-sensei tells him. "We would like you to play in it, Yashiro-kun."
"Thank you for the honor," Kiyoharu says, head bowed. "I would love to."
"Wonderful," Tsuzuki-sensei says. He picks up a piece of paper and hands it to Kiyoharu. "These are the people who have been invited to play from China and Korea. They have all accepted."
Kiyoharu looks at the list and isn't surprised to see Ko Yeong-ha's name.
•
He's in the middle of a paper when someone starts pounding on his door. He sighs and sets his laptop on the couch.
Shindou's face appears through the peephole, and Kiyoharu entertains the idea of pretending he's not home.
"I saw your eye, Yashiro," Shindou calls through the door. "Now open up."
Kiyoharu shoots his laptop a remorseful glance and opens the door. "What do you want, Shindou?"
Shindou pushes into Kiyoharu's apartment and starts pacing. "What do you think of Touya?"
Kiyoharu blinks. When Shindou's face remains serious, he decides that maybe he needs some beer. He has the feeling it's going to be a long night.
•
"So," Kiyoharu says, setting his beer down on the table and looking up from his Korean paper, "what you're telling me is that you think that you're attracted to Touya?"
Shindou nods.
"And you're just figuring this out?"
Another nod.
"And you think that Touya is attracted to you because he didn't punch you when you kissed him?"
"Yes."
Kiyoharu rubs his hand over his face. The Korean characters are melting together and he's glad he decided to start the paper a few days before it was due. He looks at Shindou, who is sitting across from him with a dejected look on his face. "How is this a bad thing?"
"It just is!" Shindou insists.
Kiyoharu sighs. "How?"
"I don't know," Shindou says, putting his head in his hands. "I mean, it's Touya."
"And?"
"And Touya is supposed to be all traditional and this wasn't supposed to happen."
Kiyoharu types a few more sentences. "Who says?"
"Touya and Go are all I have," Shindou says quietly. "I can't screw them up."
"And you think that pretending nothing happened isn't going to screw it up?"
Shindou sighs and shakes his head.
•
Kiyoharu volunteers to be part of the welcoming party. When Shindou asks why, Kiyoharu shrugs and asks, why not? He doesn't say that it's because Ogata Jyuudan is also on the welcoming committee, and that he wants Ko to remember that he's there, too. Shindou doesn't have an answer to that, so Kiyoharu heads towards the airport.
The first person that walks into the terminal is Ko Yeong-ha. Kiyoharu nods and Ko nods back before heading towards Ogata Jyuudan. Kiyoharu grinds his teeth together and watches as the rest of the Korean team appears.
Hong sees him and waves, and Kiyoharu waits until Hong gets to him.
"How was the flight?" Kiyoharu asks.
"Long," Hong says, rolling his eyes. "Irufhan snores, and Yeong-ha is in a bad mood."
Kiyoharu looks over his shoulder and catches Ko staring at him. Kiyoharu stares back for a moment before turning back to Hong. "He seems to be fine to me."
Hong shrugs. "Who knows?"
•
The Ki-in is sponsoring a welcome dinner, and all of the Japanese representatives are expected to attend. Kiyoharu is waiting for Shindou and Touya when Ko comes up behind him and places a hand on Kiyoharu's hip.
"I was wondering if you knew any good bars," Ko's lips are on Kiyoharu's ear and Kiyoharu leans back against Ko's chest for a moment before jerking away. Ko keeps his grip on Kiyoharu's hip, however, and Kiyoharu doesn't put any real distance between them.
He wants to tell Ko no, he doesn't know of any good bars. But he's beginning to realize that Ko Yeong-ha is an addiction, one that he's not strong enough to beat. "There's a good one down the street, next to the train station."
Ko smiles into Kiyoharu's neck. "Perhaps I'll try it, then."
He sees Shindou enter the hotel lobby and, just as quickly as Ko arrived, he disappears. Kiyoharu can see the frown on Shindou's face before they reach him.
"Everything okay?" Shindou asks, eyes narrowed in the direction Ko must have gone.
"Yeah," Kiyoharu says distractedly. "Everything's fine."
•
Somehow, he ends up at the bar against his better judgment. He orders a beer and sits down.
He doesn't wait long.
•
Ko's mouth is against Kiyoharu's ear, and the breathy noises are driving Kiyoharu mad.
He thrusts back against Ko hard and grunts in satisfaction. Ko takes the hint and picks up the pace.
•
Kiyoharu collapses on his bed and stares up at the ceiling. His legs are going to be killing him in the morning because he missed the last train and had to walk home from Ko's hotel room, and he's pretty sure that Ko left a mark on his neck.
His alarm clock is going to go off in a few hours and Kiyoharu decides that he'll worry about it in the morning.
•
His first exhibition game is against Hong Su-yeong.
Kiyoharu nods to Hong, who watches him quietly.
They nigiri, and Kiyoharu can feel hundreds of eyes on him. He tries to concentrate on the board, but his mind keeps wandering. He looks out at the crowd and spots Ko immediately.
Ko is watching.
Suddenly, the other gazes fall away, and the only one that matters is the one he can feel like a brand. He catches Hong frowning at him a few times, but there isn't any time to worry about that.
Kiyoharu wins by half a moku.
•
The announcers are discussing the game when Hong pulls him aside.
"Are you all right?"
Kiyoharu nods. His lower back is on fire from sitting for so long, but he has some painkillers in his bag. He just needs to get away to take them.
"You look like crap," Hong says bluntly. "Does this have to do with Yeong-ha?"
Kiyoharu freezes.
Hong sighs. "Damn him," he mutters.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Kiyoharu manages to say.
"Look," Hong says, running a hand through his hair. "Yeong-ha's not a bad guy. He's just childish. He wants what he can't have."
Kiyoharu nods. He doesn't say that he's pretty sure that Ko already has him.
•
Ko doesn't show up at the bar that night.
Kiyoharu downs four beers while he waits.
"You don't look too good," a guy tells him. "Mind if I sit with you?"
Kiyoharu looks up. The man is smiling at him.
Kiyoharu nods and smiles back.
•
Kiyoharu manages to avoid Ko until the end of the exhibition.
He's waiting to go on stage when Ko appears beside him.
"You weren't there last night," Ko tells him conversationally.
"Missed me?" Kiyoharu replies, rolling his eyes.
Ko doesn't reply, so Kiyoharu takes advantage of the situation to lean forward and put his hand on Ko's shoulder. Slowly, he places his lips against Ko's ear and whispers, "I'm sure your bed won't be cold for long."
The announcer is introducing them right now and Kiyoharu pulls away. He thinks he sees something like anger in Ko's eyes before it blinks out and Ko heads towards the stage.
Kiyoharu follows.
•
"So," Daisuke says the next morning, "you play go?"
Kiyoharu nods and tries not to think about how weird it is to have someone that isn't Shindou in his apartment.
"That's cool. I've never played." Daisuke's foot is trailing up Kiyoharu's leg under the table. "Maybe you can teach me?"
•
He's well into his second year at Chuo. The classes are getting harder and he's sort of starting to regret minoring in Korean. He has the practice bar coming up as well as a presentation on international trade law between Korea and Japan.
Hong has been e-mailing him weekly since Kiyoharu's game with Ko. Hong doesn't mention anything, but he knows that Hong knows and somehow that makes things different.
He would try to talk to Shindou about it, but ever since Shindou and Touya fixed whatever the hell was wrong with them, Shindou has gone back to his very firm anti-Ko stance. Not to mention that Kiyoharu has been dating - can he even really call it that? - Daisuke for the last six months.
Daisuke is waiting in Kiyoharu's apartment when he gets home. Kiyoharu bites back a sigh and gives Daisuke a weak smile.
"I figured I'd make you dinner for a change," Daisuke says, and as soon as he mentions it, Kiyoharu can smell something good from his kitchen.
"Thanks," Kiyoharu says and sets his backpack on the ground. Daisuke moves forward and wraps his arms around Kiyoharu's waist, lowering his face for a kiss.
Kiyoharu threads his hands through Daisuke's dark hair and closes his eyes. If he can't see, he can pretend that Daisuke is someone else.
•
Kiyoharu isn't really surprised to find Ko sitting on his couch. Daisuke is sitting in the armchair, silently staring at Kiyoharu with an accusing glare.
"You'll have to excuse me," Ko says with a smile. "I was in the neighborhood."
"In the neighborhood, my ass," Kiyoharu retorts before turning to Daisuke. "Look, I'll call you later, okay?"
"I want to know what's going on, Yashiro," Daisuke demands, standing up and striding over to Kiyoharu. "Who is he?"
He's not sure how to answer so he doesn't. Daisuke shakes his head after a moment and heads toward the door.
"Somehow," Ko says into the silence, "I don't think he's going to be answering your calls."
Kiyoharu shakes his head and turns around.
•
Kiyoharu hates himself.
Ko is laying beneath him and Kiyoharu is raising himself up and plunging down, over and over and over and all he can see is the way that Ko is looking at him. All he's focusing on is the way that Ko's hands are running up and down his body.
Ko's fingers graze Kiyoharu's nipples and Kiyoharu moans.
•
Ko is gone when Kiyoharu wakes up the next morning. He's almost convinced himself it's a dream until he goes into the bathroom.
There are red scratches scattered across Kiyoharu's sides. A deep purple bruise rests next to Kiyoharu's left nipple.
•
He tries calling Daisuke once.
Unsurprisingly, Daisuke doesn't answer. Kiyoharu doesn't leave a message.
•
Shindou is flopped on Kiyoharu's couch, reading JUMP, when Kiyoharu comes home.
"I never should have given you a key," Kiyoharu grouses.
Shindou just grins and puts the magazine on Kiyoharu's coffee table. "I just wanted to come over and see if you were all right."
Kiyoharu frowns. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"I haven't seen Daisuke around lately."
Ah. Kiyoharu shrugs. "It didn't work out. I'm fine."
Shindou doesn't seem convinced.
"It hadn't been working for a while," Kiyoharu tells him honestly. "He figured it was better to end it than to let it drag out." He doesn't mention Ko.
"Does it have anything to do with Su-yeong?"
Kiyoharu blinks. "Hong?"
Shindou nods and doesn't say anything.
"What could it possibly have to do with Hong?"
Shindou shrugs. "Well, Daisuke seemed to appear after that argument you had with Su-yeong, so I just kind of assumed."
He's trying to think of any argument he's ever had with Hong and can't think of any. "What argument?"
Shindou is starting to look uncomfortable. "After your guys' game at the exhibition."
It suddenly dawns on him that Shindou is talking about Kiyoharu's and Hong's conversation about Ko. Kiyoharu laughs. "There is nothing going on with me and Hong."
"You know we'd be okay with it if there was," Shindou informs him.
Kiyoharu nods. "Yeah, I know."
•
He's pretty sure Hong already knows that Daisuke is a non-factor now, mostly because he's almost as sure that it was Hong who told Ko about Daisuke in the first place. He still isn't too sure why Ko even cared, but he leaves it be. There's no point in trying to figure out anything that Ko does.
Instead, he throws himself into go and school. He's in three title leagues, including the Meijin league, which is still pretty shocking when he thinks about it.
He's entering his last year of college and knows that he'll have to sign up for the bar exam soon.
With everything going on, he almost manages to forget about Ko.
•
He receives an invitation to an international exhibition game in China, but it’s the week before the bar exam, so Kiyoharu has to decline.
Hong doesn’t seem to understand why Kiyoharu says no, and Kiyoharu doesn’t have the energy to explain that the bar is important to his parents, and pleasing his parents is important to him. Instead, he says that his workload at school is a bit heavier than usual and he needs to concentrate on it so that he doesn’t fail out.
He gets the feeling that Hong doesn’t buy the excuse, but Hong doesn’t ask anything else after that.
•
"We're all going out after the first part of the bar exam," Kitazawa tells him. "You should come with us."
Kiyoharu smiles weakly. He's exhausted and he's not sure how he's even going to manage to take this test. "I don't know," he says.
Kitazawa puts an arm around Kiyoharu's shoulders. "Come on," he cajoles, "there will be plenty of girls."
He doesn't bother to mention that he has no interest in girls, but in the end he agrees to go anyway.
•
He's not sure how he does. It's why he likes go - he always knows how he's doing, regardless of where he is in the game.
Kitazawa is waiting for him at the gates with a group of people Kiyoharu only vaguely recognizes.
"Let's go."
Kiyoharu nods.
•
Somehow, they end up near nii-chome. Everyone except Kiyoharu is wasted and Kitazawa is daring Fuji to go into one of the gay bars. Fuji rolls his eyes before declaring that he's not afraid and walking towards a bar named Adam.
Kitazawa and the rest of the group are giggling. Twenty minutes pass and Kiyoharu is getting cold.
He tells the rest of the group to go on ahead and he'll get Fuji and catch up with them later. Kitazawa agrees and Kiyoharu watches as the rest of them head towards the train station.
•
The bar is just like any other bar, except that men are straddling other men instead of women straddling men. He spots Fuji in a corner booth, sipping a glass of alcohol. There is a man sitting next to Fuji and Fuji doesn't seem to mind at all.
Kiyoharu crosses the bar and takes the seat across from Fuji. He eyes Fuji's suitor before turning his attention back to Fuji. "Everyone else went ahead."
Fuji smiles. "Is that so?"
There's something about Fuji's eyes that makes Kiyoharu think of Ko and he has to shake his head. "Yeah. I told them we'd catch up."
Fuji's suitor disappears after a while, clearly annoyed that Fuji's attention is no longer on him. Kiyoharu realizes that he's glad.
"Would you care to have a drink, Yashiro?"
•
They end up at Fuji's place. Fuji tastes like vodka and something sweet.
They don't waste any time getting their clothes off. Fuji is watching him with half closed eyes and Kiyoharu is suddenly uncomfortable. The way Fuji is watching him makes him think of Ko and that's the last thing he wants to be doing right now.
Fuji is lying on his bed, stroking himself. "There a problem?"
Kiyoharu shakes his head and crawls across the bed. "No."
•
Fuji is nothing like Daisuke - where Daisuke wanted commitment, Fuji expects nothing. Fuji reminds him of Ko in a lot of ways, and he knows that's a recipe for disaster.
They are studying for the next part of bar exam when Fuji leans over and kisses him. Kiyoharu kisses back and moves his books out of the way.
Fuji pulls back slowly and smiles. "Now, now," he says in a chiding tone, "we're supposed to be studying."
Kiyoharu rolls his eyes and moves forward.
•
He falls out in the second round of the Meijin league against Ashiwara 8-dan.
Shindou, who has just beaten Ichiryuu-sensei, pats him on the shoulder. "Man, your game was all over the place. Were you even paying attention?"
Kiyoharu sighs. "I was distracted."
Shindou looks skeptical. "Distracted."
Kiyoharu nods.
"What were you thinking about?"
Kiyoharu shakes his head. "My head just wasn't here. That's all."
"I can see that," Shindou retorts. "Where was it? In Korea?"
He's starting to get annoyed. "Look, we all have bad days, okay? I just had a bad day."
•
Fuji is staying over the night before the final part of the bar exam. Neither of them are particularly tired, but Kiyoharu has a game after the test and Fuji is meeting with a few high school classmates afterwards, so they both agree that tonight is not a good night.
"Who are you trying to forget?" Fuji's voice is conversational and light, but the question makes Kiyoharu squirm.
"Why do you think I'm trying to forget someone?" Kiyoharu asks.
Fuji laughs in the darkness. "We're all trying to forget someone, Yashiro."
•
He doesn't wait for Fuji after the test. He knows that Fuji will understand.
It seems that Fuji understands more than Kiyoharu had thought.
•
He qualifies for the Kisei finals the same day he is informed that he's passed the bar exam.
Shindou and Waya offer to take him out for soba, and Kiyoharu isn't foolish enough to turn it down. After all, Waya and Shindou don't particularly like soba, and it's been a while since Kiyoharu's had it.
"You're officially an 8-dan now," Waya says enviously after they order. "Man, I have got to catch up or Morishita-sensei is going to kill me."
Shindou grins and takes a sip of his Coke. "Don't worry, Waya. You're a 6-dan. What's another few years?"
Waya elbows Shindou in the stomach and Kiyoharu laughs. He feels his phone vibrate and he frowns, excusing himself from the table.
He doesn't look at his phone until he is outside of the restaurant, and when he does, he considers not answering. In the end, filial duty wins out and he presses 'accept.'
"Hello?"
"Kiyoharu."
Kiyoharu hasn't heard his dad's voice in two years - he's only talked to his mom since he moved out, and even then, the conversations are brief and to the point.
"Father."
He hears his father clear his throat and Kiyoharu suddenly wishes he hadn't picked up. "Your mother and I heard you passed the bar exam."
"Yes."
He can imagine his father nodding. "Yes, well. We wanted to know what firms you were considering joining."
Kiyoharu closes his eyes. "I'm not."
There is silence on the other end for a moment before his father resumes speaking. "We had hoped that you would be over this ridiculous phase, Kiyoharu. We sent you to school so that you may prepare to get a real job."
The disappointment in his father's voice comes across the phone and slams into Kiyoharu's gut. He grinds his teeth together and replies, "This is a real job, Father."
"This is a hobby, Kiyoharu," his father says dismissively. "It is time for you to grow up. We will permit you to continue this… path of yours until you graduate. Then, you are expected to join the real world. Is that clear?"
His father doesn't wait for an answer and hangs up.
•
When he gets home, Hong is sitting on his doorstep.
Kiyoharu frowns.
"Some guy offered to let me in, but I figured I'd just wait for you outside." Hong informs him as Kiyoharu unlocks the front door.
"Fuji," Kiyoharu says and Hong shrugs.
"Not sure," Hong tells him as he takes his shoes off. "He kept looking at me."
Kiyoharu remembers Fuji's question and smiles slightly. "He probably thinks you’re the one I'm trying to forget."
Hong snorts. "Not likely."
"Tea?"
"Yes, please."
Kiyoharu goes into the kitchen while Hong makes himself comfortable on the couch. He's out of everything except black tea, so that's what he makes.
"So," Kiyoharu starts, switching back to Japanese, "What brings you to Japan?"
Hong shrugs. "Just felt like getting away, you know?"
Kiyoharu does, so he stays silent. Hong takes this for what it is and continues.
"Yeong-ha has been in a bad mood since the last international tournament, and Irufhan is more interested in winning than in playing."
"What happened at the last tournament?"
Hong rolls his eyes. "He won't tell me. But he kept looking for someone and obviously didn't find them."
Kiyoharu tenses.
"It would be easier on both of you if you'd both just admit it."
The kettle goes off and Kiyoharu pours the tea into the cups. He tosses three spoons of sugar in his and none in Hong's. He picks both cups up and hands one to Hong, who takes it with a nod of thanks.
"I don’t know what you're talking about," Kiyoharu says before sipping his tea.
Hong snorts. "Bull. You know exactly what I'm talking about; you're just pretending not to. Just like Yeong-ha."
Kiyoharu doesn't say anything.
•
Fuji is a sadist, Kiyoharu decides. People are staring at his neck and he knows they can see the mark. He knows this because he doesn't own anything with a collar high enough to hide it, which Fuji knows, what with all the time that Fuji spends in Kiyoharu's apartment.
Ko is watching him from across the room and Kiyoharu is doing a pretty good job of avoiding him. He can't escape Ko's eyes, but that's something he can't control. At the very least, he can keep fifty meters between them at all times.
Of course, it's difficult to keep fifty meters between anyone in the Ki-in's bathroom. Kiyoharu is splashing his face with water when he hears the door lock. He doesn't even bother to look up when Ko puts a possessive hand on Kiyoharu's waist.
"You look cheap," Ko tells him, running his lips down Kiyoharu's neck.
"What do you want?" Kiyoharu doesn't have the energy to fight tonight.
Ko smiles. "I want to play a game."
•
He's not sure why he brings Ko back to his apartment. After all, Ko has a perfectly good hotel room, and it's not like he has to share with anyone. It almost feels like breaking the rules, except this isn't the first time that Ko's been here and he really doesn't need to think about that right now. Regardless, they are already there by the time Kiyoharu thinks to suggest using Ko's hotel room and by then it's too late.
Ko is already running his hand down the front of Kiyoharu's pants by the time Kiyoharu gets the door open. He barely has time to close it before Ko has him pinned to the door and is kissing him senseless.
Kiyoharu digs his fingers into the front of Ko's shirt and starts to pull. He hears the faint pop of one of the buttons coming off and applies more pressure. Either Ko doesn't notice or he doesn't care, which suits Kiyoharu just fine.
A moment later, Kiyoharu has his hand down the front of Ko's pants and is panting into Ko's neck.
"This isn't a good idea," Kiyoharu says between breaths. He's going to say more when Ko nips Kiyoharu's collar bone and speeds up his stroke on Kiyoharu's cock. Whatever Kiyoharu was going to say comes out as a moan.
"Is it ever?" Ko says, spreading his legs so Kiyoharu can get a better grip.
Kiyoharu closes his eyes and thrusts into Ko's hand, trying his best to match his pace to Ko's.
He uses his free hand to guide Ko's mouth back to his. "I don't know," Kiyoharu whispers against Ko's lips. Ko takes it as an invitation.
•
When he wakes up, Ko is lying next to him. He stares for a moment before getting out of bed and going into the kitchen.
Fuji is sitting at the table, sipping tea and reading a book.
Kiyoharu is about to turn around, partly because he's not sure he can deal with this, but mostly because he's not wearing any pants, when Fuji looks up and smiles.
"Your tea is on the counter," Fuji informs him and goes back to his book.
Kiyoharu stops by the bathroom and shrugs on his yukata. He picks up his tea, sits at the table, and waits.
"I take it he's the one you're trying to forget?"
Kiyoharu glances back toward his room to make sure that Ko isn't suddenly going to appear. "Yeah."
Fuji nods as if he's known it all along. Which, Kiyoharu thinks, he apparently has.
Fuji places his cup on the table and stands. Kiyoharu walks him to the door.
"When he leaves again," Fuji says, looking towards Kiyoharu's room, "you have my number."
Kiyoharu shakes his head. Before he can say anything, Fuji leans forward and kisses him.
A minute passes before Fuji pulls away and smirks. "See you later, Kiyoharu."
Kiyoharu doesn't need to turn around to know that Ko is standing behind him.
"I take it he's the one who gave you that bruise on your neck." Ko says.
Kiyoharu glares at the closed door. Fuji is definitely a sadist.
Part 1 │ Part 2 │ Part 4