Atari, Hamete, A Life Once Lived [Various; G-PG]
So, hng_deathmatch is over, and I, against all odds, won. THE HAREM IS MINE MUHAHAHAHAHAH~! I was Mariposa.
Title: Atari
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: G
Genre: Fluff
Characters/Pairing: Isumi, Le Ping, Waya, Zhao Shi, Yang Hai
Wordcount: 1,280
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Trust me, if I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 001 of hng_deathmatch.
It starts out innocently enough - lunch. There isn't anything wrong with the occasional lunch, or two, or sometimes even three.
A week.
But he ignores this and continues on.
So, when Le Ping invites him to dinner, Isumi accepts it without pause, which, it turns out, is mistake number two.
Mistake number one being, Yang Hai-san later tells him, accepting lunch in the first place.
Isumi, of course, thinks that Yang Hai-san is joking with him and brushes it aside. There is nothing wrong with having lunch or dinner with a friend. After all, he does it all the time with Waya. (He almost uses Shindou and Touya-kun as an example, but after the fiasco at the last Hokuto Hai in Seoul, he doubts they will help his case.)
The point is, of course, that he and Le Ping are friends - nothing more, nothing less - which suits Isumi just fine.
(Although, he will admit that Le Ping has grown up very nicely, and is quite attractive, but that is neither here nor there.)
He goes to dinner and tells Le Ping that he had a nice time; the next day, Yang Hai-san takes him to the airport, and Isumi goes back to Japan.
+++
His phone is placed neatly next to his shoes in the cubby. Waya is congratulating Isumi on his win and grousing about his own loss (Sensei is going to kill me for losing to Touya. Again. Waya laments, while Shindou leans against the wall and snickers, adding that you had no chance against Touya - even sensei knows that. Isumi has to to dodge the shoe that comes flying towards Shindou's head.) when he gets the message.
He excuses himself and finds an empty room before listening to it. There is a brief moment of silence before Le Ping's voice echoes in his ear.
Yes, is Isumi-kun? Is Le Ping. Just wanted make sure you got back, because Isumi-kun not call. Not even tell Le Ping Isumi-kun leave.
Isumi can hear another voice in the background, telling Le Ping to calm down - Yang Hai-san.
Isumi-kun very rude. Date so bad Isumi-kun need leave country? Isumi-kun should just tell Le Ping!
Yang Hai-san's voice is getting more insistent, and Isumi can make out the words mine and don't you dare throw that before there is a sudden crack and the phone cuts out.
+++
Waya, Isumi begins, but doesn't continue. He isn't sure how to phrase his question, nor is he even sure he wants to know the answer. There is something hovering at the back of his throat - a tight, breath-catching sensation - that he doesn't dare acknowledge. But Waya is looking at him now, stone in hand, waiting for him to continue.
So he does. Would you be upset if I left without saying goodbye? He doesn't even have to watch Waya's face to know that this is a stupid question to ask, because of course Waya would be mad; in fact, he was livid when Isumi finally came back from China the first time.
Waya places the stone decisively on the board. Isumi doesn't look at the formation of the stones - they haven't changed since Waya's match against Touya-kun the week before. Waya is determined to prove that he would have been able to play through his last move if he'd had more time to think.
Depends, Waya says slowly. Did I know you were leaving?
Isumi puts his cup on the coffee table and thinks. He knows that he had never told Le Ping when he was leaving - he had assumed that Yang-hai-san or Zhao-kun would have mentioned something.
No.
Waya rolls his eyes. Then, yeah. I'd be pissed. He places another stone down and grins. I knew that it was possible!
While Waya is congratulating himself and calling Shindou - apparently, they had a bet, and now Shindou owes him lunch for the next week - Isumi feels something prickle along the nape of his neck.
+++
He broke my phone, Yang Hai-san grouses when Isumi can finally get a hold of him. And the brat won't even pay to replace it!
I apologize, Isumi says. I'll pay for the damages.
Che, Yang Hai-san replies, though he sounds a bit mollified. It's not your fault. Besides, Li-sensei said he'd replace it by taking it out of Le-ping's earnings. Yang Hai-san chuckles over the line.
Isumi sits down and stares out his window. There are cars zipping by outside. I didn't tell him I was leaving.
He hears Yang Hai-san sigh. I got that. But the brat could have asked when you were leaving.
But-
Yang Hai-san cuts him off. He's gotten used to you being here, Isumi. He's starting to think that you'll just show up one day and never leave.
There isn't much that Isumi can say to that - he's in China as often as he's in Japan, though he's justified the reasoning as to further his go. He wonders when it became something different.
How do I-
Dunno, Yang Hai-san informs him.
+++
Zhao-kun is surrounded by several Japanese and Korean pros when Isumi finally finds him. Zhao-kun latches on gratefully, and Isumi apologizes to the other pros before leading the younger boy away. Not that Zhao-kun hasn't grown - in fact, Zhao-kun is as tall as Le Ping, and soon he'll have to look up to them both.
You do not seem happy, Isumi-san, Zhao-kun comments after Isumi hands him a carton of strawberry milk. Is this to do with Le Ping?
Isumi sighs. I don't know what to do, he confesses, but leaves it at that. He doesn't want to burden someone else with his problems, especially someone who is younger and about to play against Yashiro-kun in mere minutes.
He will be coming to Japan, Zhao-kun tells him. He says it's to study, but Yang Hai and I know it's to see you, Isumi-san.
He walks Zhao-kun back to the main hall, and Zhao-kun promises to send him Le Ping's itinerary. Isumi thanks him and wishes him luck. Zhao-shi-kun wishes him the same.
It has been three months, and he has still not heard from Le Ping. Isumi hopes that luck is enough.
+++
Le Ping steps into the airport, and Isumi waves uncertainly. Le Ping scowls, but walks over to him, which Isumi considers a minor victory. He holds out his hand for Le Ping's carry on, but Le Ping continues to walk, and Isumi is left to follow.
They do not say anything as they navigate their way through the airport, and Le Ping hardly even glances at him. Isumi is proud, in a twisted way, of how Le Ping has grown - a year ago, the younger man would have been yelling and throwing things if he were this upset.
Isumi silently takes the lead as they exit the airport, heading in the direction of the train station. A quick glance behind him reveals that Le Ping is still following behind him. Isumi smiles at the sullen look on Le Ping's face, but continues walking.
He pays for Le Ping's ticket when they reach the station, and allows Le Ping to pick his seat when they board the train. It isn't until they pass the stop closest to Le Ping's hotel that the younger man turns to Isumi and says, Where we go?
Isumi smiles hesitantly. I thought you'd be more comfortable staying at my apartment.
He sees a flash of confusion - followed closely by happiness - pass over Le Ping's face before he turns away and leaves Isumi to stare at the blurry scenery.
Title: Hamete
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff
Characters/Pairing: Saeki, Ashiwara, Ogata, OC
Wordcount: 1,666
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. If I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 002 of hng_deathmatch.
nigiri.
He's always been fairly popular - not everyone in school knows me popular, but there are people he doesn't know who say hi in the hallway, and he's had his fair share of notes stuffed into his shoe cubby - so it doesn't come as a surprise when, two sessions after he starts as an Insei, he's made friends with the entire second group and most of the first. By his second week, he's lost three games, been invited out by seven different people, and talked to everyone, including the proctor.
So, it's a bit of a shock when he looks up and sees someone he doesn't know quietly watching his and Kitani's game. The boy stays until the opening of yose, then leaves. Kouji is so distracted by this unknown person that he inadvertantly places a stone that kills the entire upper corner. To make matters worse, he ends up losing to Kitani by seven moku - seven - and has to use the money he'd been saving for the newest import issue of Batman to buy Kitani lunch for a week.
Kitani is pointing out formations on the board, but Kouji is only half-following. He's so busy looking around, trying to spot the other boy, that when Kitani tosses a black stone at him, it hits Kouji in the shoulder.
"Ow," Kouji says, rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"
Kitani rolls his eyes. "What happened? You were totally winning until that move." He points at the stone in the center.
"I don't know," he replies. "Hey. That kid who was watching-"
"Ashiwara?" Kitani cuts in, frowning.
"Yeah," Kouji says. So that's his name.
"Oh. You probably didn't meet him. He went to Hokkaido last week with his family. Apparently it's a family tradition or something," Kitani adds dismissively. "Anyway, he's number three in group one."
Kouji is already standing. "I'm gonna go say hi."
Kitani smirks. "Right. Don't forget you owe me lunch."
"Yeah, yeah," he mumbles as he makes his way across the room. Ashiwara is watching Ushio and Yamagawa's game now.
Quietly, Kouji sits next to him and looks at the board. Ushio is winning.
He watches in silence as they play out the end of their game - Ushio wins by one moku - and turns to Ashiwara as soon as Ushio stands to go record the results.
"Hi," he says, smiling. "I'm Saeki."
Ashiwara smiles back. Absently, he notes the way Ashiwara's eyes crinkle. "I'm Ashiwara Hiroyuki," he replies politely. "Nice to meet you."
fuseki.
Kitani finds him just as he enters the building. "Oi, Saeki."
Kouji drops his bag on the floor and toes off his shoes. "What's up?" He places his shoes neatly in the cubby. He glances down and notices that Ashiwara-san's aren't there. Weird, he thinks, shoving his backpack on top of his shoes.
"Ashiwara just tore through here a couple of minutes ago and locked himself in the bathroom," Kitani tells him quietly. "I didn't get a good look, but his eyes were red."
Kouji's slippers are on his feet and he's moving quickly through the lobby. He knocks quietly on the door and listens intently. He can't hear anything from the other side. He knocks again. And again. And keeps knocking until he is practically pounding on the door.
Suddenly, the door opens and Ashiwara-san is standing there. His face looks a little wet, as if he's just splashed water on it. His eyes are puffy.
"Are you okay?"
Ashiwara-san smiles. "I'm fine."
There aren't any crinkles at the sides of his eyes. "Are you sure? Because you can always talk to me if-"
"I'm fine, Saeki-kun," Ashiwara-san cuts him off with a laugh. The laugh sounds forced to Kouji's ears.
They begin walking toward the lobby. Kouji glances at Ashiwara-san every so often, trying to read his expression, but the pleasant mask is back. He looks completely okay, and Kouji is beginning to wonder if maybe Ashiwara-san just had something in his eye.
The obvious answer is to leave it - if something happened, Ashiwara-san obviously doesn't want to talk about it.
They reach the cubbies, and Ashiwara-san takes off his shoes, replacing them with his indoor slippers. Kouji catches a glimpse of Ashiwara-san's face as he places his shoes in the compartment.
By the time Kouji can breathe again, Ashiwara-san is walking toward the match room. Kouji grabs his wrist and pulls him back.
He pulls a bit too hard, though, and Ashiwara-san crashes into him, and they fall to the floor. Kouji hits his head against the floor, and Ashiwara-san quickly stands, pulling Kouji with him. There is a small smile on Ashiwara-san's face, and Kouji doesn't think - he just reacts.
He cups Ashiwara-san's cheek.
Ashiwara-san stills.
Kouji licks his lips. "If something was wrong," he says quietly, "you'd tell me, right?"
Ashiwara-san nods slowly.
It seems like he's going to say something else when Kitani clears his throat. Whatever has come over them disappears, and they slowly step away from each other.
"Just letting you know that the games are about to start," Kitani says, looking at them curiously.
"Thanks," Kouji says, "we'll be right there."
Ashiwara-san is looking at him with a guarded expression. "Let's go, Saeki-kun," he says. "You're facing Mitsuko-chan for third ranking, aren't you?"
Kouji rolls his eyes and smiles. "Yeah. I'll challenge you soon enough," he warns.
Ashiwara-san says nothing and smiles. They walk toward the game room together.
chuuban.
Only two insei pass the exam the year he turns pro - Ashiwara-san and himself.
"It's about time," Kouji mutters, smiling for the Go Weekly photographers. "It only took me three years."
Ashiwara-san turns and grins at him. "It took me four," he says, and Kouji thinks that he's trying to be comforting. "Ogata-san said that if I didn't pass this year, Touya-sensei was going to kick me out."
He has a sudden flash of Ashiwara-san's red rimmed eyes and shakes the image away. He passed, he tells himself. Undefeated, even. There's no reason for him to make that face.
Kouji smiles weakly. "You're lucky - Morishita-sensei was going to kill me."
Ashiwara-san places his hand on Kouji's shoulder. "I'm glad you passed, then."
For some reason he can't quite explain, his cheeks start to heat up. He's pretty sure that it's because of the heat - they're standing outside in the heat in suits - so he moves a little closer to Ashiwara-san. He figures this way, if he passes out, Ashiwara-san can catch him before he cracks his head open on the cement.
The corners of Ashiwara-san's eyes are crinkling. Kouji wants to ask why the other boy is so happy, but Amano-san has pushed the photographers out of the way and is leading them inside for the interview portion. Ashiwara-san's hand drops, and Kouji is suddenly cold.
He frowns, looks up at the sky, and shrugs.
"Weird," he mutters.
"Saeki-kun?"
He turns and sees Ashiwara-san waiting for him on the steps. Kouji shakes his head again and runs to meet him.
yose.
"You're pretty close to Ashiwara," Ogata-san says, blowing smoke into the sky.
Kouji grimaces at the smell and moves a little further away. "We're friends," he replies, wondering what Ogata-san is getting at. Psyching an opponent out isn't Ogata-san's way, from what he hears, not that Kouji needs to be psyched out. He's doing a spectacular job of losing all on his own.
Ogata-san looks at him for a while. "He talks about you a lot," he finally says and takes another drag of his cigarette.
Kouji shrugs awkwardly and doesn't say anything, because, really, what is there to say to that?
"You could have ignored him, you know."
He doesn't have to ask when. "I could have."
Ogata-san raises an eyebrow at him. "It would have been easier."
They don't say anything, just stare at the street. Ogata-san's cigarette smoke drifts lazily through the air.
Kouji closes his eyes and sees Ashiwara-san's smiling face. He smiles to himself.
When he loses the match by three moku, he doesn't worry. He's suddenly realized that he's just won a more important game.
sechi.
He's so close to graduating to seventh dan he can taste it. His opponent is looking at him over the goban and grinning. Kouji smiles back.
"Sorry, Ashiwara," he says apologetically. "If I don't move up before you, Morishita-sensei will-"
"Kill you?" Ashiwara cuts in innocently. "Unfortunately, I have my own reasons for wanting to win this."
Kouji raises an eyebrow. "And they are?"
Ashiwara smiles guilelessly. "I'll tell you when I win."
Kouji places the first stone.
The game moves quickly in a series of familiar patterns and he only stumbles once, but finds the answer quickly. By the time they enter chuuban, they are evenly matched.
Ashiwara places a stone, and suddenly they are in yose, and a large chunk of stones is dead. He looks up at Ashiwara incredulously and places another stone, trying in vain to revive the group.
In the end, he loses by three moku.
"Hamete," Kouji says in disbelief. "You actually pulled hamete on me."
Ashiwara grins.
He points at a star point. "If I'd gone there?"
"You might have won," Ashiwara replies with a shrug.
Kouji clears the board while Ashiwara records the result. When he leaves the game room, Ashiwara is waiting for him.
"So," Kouji starts. "What were your reasons?"
"If I beat you in the next ranking, you said I could call you Kouji. In public."
Kouji turns red. "I thought you didn't remember anything about that night," he says accusingly.
Ashiwara smiles. "I remember that, Kouji." He walks out of the building and starts down the stairs.
Kouji watches him and wonders if this is another sort of hamete, and, if he had made the right choice, if he'd have won.
When Ashiwara stops and turns toward him with a huge smile, Kouji decides that maybe, just maybe, he didn't lose at all.
Title: A Life Once Lived
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama-llama
Characters/Pairing: Kouyo, Sai, Akiko, Hikaru, Ashiwara, Ogata, Akira
Wordcount: 826
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Trust me, if I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 003 [aka FINALS OMG] of hng_deathmatch.
Touya Kouyo dies the night his son takes the Meijin title. He realizes it the moment he opens his eyes - he's standing in the middle of a room that is graduatly fading from black to blue rather than laying in bed with Akiko's warmth against him.
(Akiko wakes up in a panic and turns to her husband, only to find him laying motionless on this side. "Dear," she says quietly, tears gathering in her eyes. She refuses to believe what she knows is true. "Kouyo-san?" She places a hand on his bare shoulder and grasps for the phone.
His skin is cold.)
He takes a step forward, and he is suddenly wearing his hakama. It is light against his skin, but he can't feel the familiar fabric. He shrugs off the realization and continues walking. There is somewhere he needs to be, someone he needs to meet, though he's not sure where to go, only trusts his feet to lead the way.
(The phone is ringing. Hikaru rolls over and buries his head under the pillow. A quick glance at the clock tells him that it is three fourty two am.
The phone keeps ringing.
He feels Touya stir next to him and quickly grabs the phone. No sense in them both getting no sleep.
"Hello?" he mumbles into the phone. This had better be an emergency, he thinks.
"Shindou-kun?" a familiar voice says softly.
Hikaru immediately straightens. "Touya-san, what's wrong?"
He listens numbly as she explains. Distantly, he hears himself tell her to wait while he wakes Touya.
"What is it, Shindou?" Touya grumbles once Hikaru starts shaking him.
He hands over the phone. "It's your mom.")
He's not sure how long he's been walking - it feels like years and minutes at the same time. He stops now, though, and stares at the person before him.
Would you like to play a game? the stranger asks, motioning to a goban that appears as suddenly as the man.
Kouyo nods, and they take their places.
(The house is crowded with people coming to pay their respects. He sees Akiko-san and Akira-kun, though it's only for a moment before they're swallowed by well-wishers.
Saeki-kun is standing next to him, awkwardly looking around. It occurs to Hiroyuki that Saeki-kun's never been here before.
He touches Saeki-kun's hand and offers him a weak smile. "I'm going to see Akiko-san and Akira-kun, see if there's anything else I can do to..." He trails off, and Saeki-kun squeezes his hand.
"I'll go with you," Saeki-kun says.)
They have only placed three stones each, but he is certain the man before him is Sai. He places his next stone - tsuke in the upper right corner - and Kouyo responds.
(Seiji takes over study group, though he's not sure whether or not it's a good idea. He pushes past his uncertainty, however, and recreates his last game with Touya-sensei.
The group watches in silence as the stones are placed. When Seiji places the last move, Shirakawa smiles sadly.)
Chuuban goes quickly, yet each move seems to take an eternity. They are tied - every time Kouyo takes the lead, Sai makes up the lost ground with breathtaking ability, while Kouyo catches up with cunning skill he has only recently acquired.
The patterns on the board glow, and Kouyo nows that this is the best game he has ever, and will ever, play. He wishes Akira could see it.
(It's been a month, and Akira is still numb. Shindou has been doing everything he can to help - taking tutoring sessions, running study group, completing all of the chores - and he can see that it's taking its toll.
Shindou is asleep on the couch when Akira leaves.
He wanders around Shinjuku for a while until he finds a small store that sells American band t-shirts. He picks up a My Chemical Romance and a Fall Out Boy shirt, pays the cashier, and heads home.
He's barely two feet into the apartment before Shindou has his arms wrapped around him. Akira closes the door and looks at Shindou - beautiful, frightened Shindou - and drops the bag in his hand. He lets himself be engulfed in Shindou's embrace.
"I thought you weren't coming back," Shindou whispers against his neck.
Akira can hear the underlying like Sai. He adds his own like Father, and clings to Shindou.)
There are no more moves to make - adding even one more stone would destroy the beauty of the game just played. They agree to call it a draw.
Is this it? Kouyo asks, running a finger reverently along the edge of the goban.
Sai shakes his head. This is close, he says.
Kouyo nods. We'll reach it.
So will they.
(It occurs to Hikaru a year later after rereading an article in which someone quoted him asking, "I wonder if the God of go is lonely?" that, no, he isn't.
At least, not anymore.)
Title: Atari
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: G
Genre: Fluff
Characters/Pairing: Isumi, Le Ping, Waya, Zhao Shi, Yang Hai
Wordcount: 1,280
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Trust me, if I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 001 of hng_deathmatch.
It starts out innocently enough - lunch. There isn't anything wrong with the occasional lunch, or two, or sometimes even three.
A week.
But he ignores this and continues on.
So, when Le Ping invites him to dinner, Isumi accepts it without pause, which, it turns out, is mistake number two.
Mistake number one being, Yang Hai-san later tells him, accepting lunch in the first place.
Isumi, of course, thinks that Yang Hai-san is joking with him and brushes it aside. There is nothing wrong with having lunch or dinner with a friend. After all, he does it all the time with Waya. (He almost uses Shindou and Touya-kun as an example, but after the fiasco at the last Hokuto Hai in Seoul, he doubts they will help his case.)
The point is, of course, that he and Le Ping are friends - nothing more, nothing less - which suits Isumi just fine.
(Although, he will admit that Le Ping has grown up very nicely, and is quite attractive, but that is neither here nor there.)
He goes to dinner and tells Le Ping that he had a nice time; the next day, Yang Hai-san takes him to the airport, and Isumi goes back to Japan.
+++
His phone is placed neatly next to his shoes in the cubby. Waya is congratulating Isumi on his win and grousing about his own loss (Sensei is going to kill me for losing to Touya. Again. Waya laments, while Shindou leans against the wall and snickers, adding that you had no chance against Touya - even sensei knows that. Isumi has to to dodge the shoe that comes flying towards Shindou's head.) when he gets the message.
He excuses himself and finds an empty room before listening to it. There is a brief moment of silence before Le Ping's voice echoes in his ear.
Yes, is Isumi-kun? Is Le Ping. Just wanted make sure you got back, because Isumi-kun not call. Not even tell Le Ping Isumi-kun leave.
Isumi can hear another voice in the background, telling Le Ping to calm down - Yang Hai-san.
Isumi-kun very rude. Date so bad Isumi-kun need leave country? Isumi-kun should just tell Le Ping!
Yang Hai-san's voice is getting more insistent, and Isumi can make out the words mine and don't you dare throw that before there is a sudden crack and the phone cuts out.
+++
Waya, Isumi begins, but doesn't continue. He isn't sure how to phrase his question, nor is he even sure he wants to know the answer. There is something hovering at the back of his throat - a tight, breath-catching sensation - that he doesn't dare acknowledge. But Waya is looking at him now, stone in hand, waiting for him to continue.
So he does. Would you be upset if I left without saying goodbye? He doesn't even have to watch Waya's face to know that this is a stupid question to ask, because of course Waya would be mad; in fact, he was livid when Isumi finally came back from China the first time.
Waya places the stone decisively on the board. Isumi doesn't look at the formation of the stones - they haven't changed since Waya's match against Touya-kun the week before. Waya is determined to prove that he would have been able to play through his last move if he'd had more time to think.
Depends, Waya says slowly. Did I know you were leaving?
Isumi puts his cup on the coffee table and thinks. He knows that he had never told Le Ping when he was leaving - he had assumed that Yang-hai-san or Zhao-kun would have mentioned something.
No.
Waya rolls his eyes. Then, yeah. I'd be pissed. He places another stone down and grins. I knew that it was possible!
While Waya is congratulating himself and calling Shindou - apparently, they had a bet, and now Shindou owes him lunch for the next week - Isumi feels something prickle along the nape of his neck.
+++
He broke my phone, Yang Hai-san grouses when Isumi can finally get a hold of him. And the brat won't even pay to replace it!
I apologize, Isumi says. I'll pay for the damages.
Che, Yang Hai-san replies, though he sounds a bit mollified. It's not your fault. Besides, Li-sensei said he'd replace it by taking it out of Le-ping's earnings. Yang Hai-san chuckles over the line.
Isumi sits down and stares out his window. There are cars zipping by outside. I didn't tell him I was leaving.
He hears Yang Hai-san sigh. I got that. But the brat could have asked when you were leaving.
But-
Yang Hai-san cuts him off. He's gotten used to you being here, Isumi. He's starting to think that you'll just show up one day and never leave.
There isn't much that Isumi can say to that - he's in China as often as he's in Japan, though he's justified the reasoning as to further his go. He wonders when it became something different.
How do I-
Dunno, Yang Hai-san informs him.
+++
Zhao-kun is surrounded by several Japanese and Korean pros when Isumi finally finds him. Zhao-kun latches on gratefully, and Isumi apologizes to the other pros before leading the younger boy away. Not that Zhao-kun hasn't grown - in fact, Zhao-kun is as tall as Le Ping, and soon he'll have to look up to them both.
You do not seem happy, Isumi-san, Zhao-kun comments after Isumi hands him a carton of strawberry milk. Is this to do with Le Ping?
Isumi sighs. I don't know what to do, he confesses, but leaves it at that. He doesn't want to burden someone else with his problems, especially someone who is younger and about to play against Yashiro-kun in mere minutes.
He will be coming to Japan, Zhao-kun tells him. He says it's to study, but Yang Hai and I know it's to see you, Isumi-san.
He walks Zhao-kun back to the main hall, and Zhao-kun promises to send him Le Ping's itinerary. Isumi thanks him and wishes him luck. Zhao-shi-kun wishes him the same.
It has been three months, and he has still not heard from Le Ping. Isumi hopes that luck is enough.
+++
Le Ping steps into the airport, and Isumi waves uncertainly. Le Ping scowls, but walks over to him, which Isumi considers a minor victory. He holds out his hand for Le Ping's carry on, but Le Ping continues to walk, and Isumi is left to follow.
They do not say anything as they navigate their way through the airport, and Le Ping hardly even glances at him. Isumi is proud, in a twisted way, of how Le Ping has grown - a year ago, the younger man would have been yelling and throwing things if he were this upset.
Isumi silently takes the lead as they exit the airport, heading in the direction of the train station. A quick glance behind him reveals that Le Ping is still following behind him. Isumi smiles at the sullen look on Le Ping's face, but continues walking.
He pays for Le Ping's ticket when they reach the station, and allows Le Ping to pick his seat when they board the train. It isn't until they pass the stop closest to Le Ping's hotel that the younger man turns to Isumi and says, Where we go?
Isumi smiles hesitantly. I thought you'd be more comfortable staying at my apartment.
He sees a flash of confusion - followed closely by happiness - pass over Le Ping's face before he turns away and leaves Isumi to stare at the blurry scenery.
Title: Hamete
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: PG
Genre: Fluff
Characters/Pairing: Saeki, Ashiwara, Ogata, OC
Wordcount: 1,666
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. If I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 002 of hng_deathmatch.
nigiri.
He's always been fairly popular - not everyone in school knows me popular, but there are people he doesn't know who say hi in the hallway, and he's had his fair share of notes stuffed into his shoe cubby - so it doesn't come as a surprise when, two sessions after he starts as an Insei, he's made friends with the entire second group and most of the first. By his second week, he's lost three games, been invited out by seven different people, and talked to everyone, including the proctor.
So, it's a bit of a shock when he looks up and sees someone he doesn't know quietly watching his and Kitani's game. The boy stays until the opening of yose, then leaves. Kouji is so distracted by this unknown person that he inadvertantly places a stone that kills the entire upper corner. To make matters worse, he ends up losing to Kitani by seven moku - seven - and has to use the money he'd been saving for the newest import issue of Batman to buy Kitani lunch for a week.
Kitani is pointing out formations on the board, but Kouji is only half-following. He's so busy looking around, trying to spot the other boy, that when Kitani tosses a black stone at him, it hits Kouji in the shoulder.
"Ow," Kouji says, rubbing the spot. "What was that for?"
Kitani rolls his eyes. "What happened? You were totally winning until that move." He points at the stone in the center.
"I don't know," he replies. "Hey. That kid who was watching-"
"Ashiwara?" Kitani cuts in, frowning.
"Yeah," Kouji says. So that's his name.
"Oh. You probably didn't meet him. He went to Hokkaido last week with his family. Apparently it's a family tradition or something," Kitani adds dismissively. "Anyway, he's number three in group one."
Kouji is already standing. "I'm gonna go say hi."
Kitani smirks. "Right. Don't forget you owe me lunch."
"Yeah, yeah," he mumbles as he makes his way across the room. Ashiwara is watching Ushio and Yamagawa's game now.
Quietly, Kouji sits next to him and looks at the board. Ushio is winning.
He watches in silence as they play out the end of their game - Ushio wins by one moku - and turns to Ashiwara as soon as Ushio stands to go record the results.
"Hi," he says, smiling. "I'm Saeki."
Ashiwara smiles back. Absently, he notes the way Ashiwara's eyes crinkle. "I'm Ashiwara Hiroyuki," he replies politely. "Nice to meet you."
fuseki.
Kitani finds him just as he enters the building. "Oi, Saeki."
Kouji drops his bag on the floor and toes off his shoes. "What's up?" He places his shoes neatly in the cubby. He glances down and notices that Ashiwara-san's aren't there. Weird, he thinks, shoving his backpack on top of his shoes.
"Ashiwara just tore through here a couple of minutes ago and locked himself in the bathroom," Kitani tells him quietly. "I didn't get a good look, but his eyes were red."
Kouji's slippers are on his feet and he's moving quickly through the lobby. He knocks quietly on the door and listens intently. He can't hear anything from the other side. He knocks again. And again. And keeps knocking until he is practically pounding on the door.
Suddenly, the door opens and Ashiwara-san is standing there. His face looks a little wet, as if he's just splashed water on it. His eyes are puffy.
"Are you okay?"
Ashiwara-san smiles. "I'm fine."
There aren't any crinkles at the sides of his eyes. "Are you sure? Because you can always talk to me if-"
"I'm fine, Saeki-kun," Ashiwara-san cuts him off with a laugh. The laugh sounds forced to Kouji's ears.
They begin walking toward the lobby. Kouji glances at Ashiwara-san every so often, trying to read his expression, but the pleasant mask is back. He looks completely okay, and Kouji is beginning to wonder if maybe Ashiwara-san just had something in his eye.
The obvious answer is to leave it - if something happened, Ashiwara-san obviously doesn't want to talk about it.
They reach the cubbies, and Ashiwara-san takes off his shoes, replacing them with his indoor slippers. Kouji catches a glimpse of Ashiwara-san's face as he places his shoes in the compartment.
By the time Kouji can breathe again, Ashiwara-san is walking toward the match room. Kouji grabs his wrist and pulls him back.
He pulls a bit too hard, though, and Ashiwara-san crashes into him, and they fall to the floor. Kouji hits his head against the floor, and Ashiwara-san quickly stands, pulling Kouji with him. There is a small smile on Ashiwara-san's face, and Kouji doesn't think - he just reacts.
He cups Ashiwara-san's cheek.
Ashiwara-san stills.
Kouji licks his lips. "If something was wrong," he says quietly, "you'd tell me, right?"
Ashiwara-san nods slowly.
It seems like he's going to say something else when Kitani clears his throat. Whatever has come over them disappears, and they slowly step away from each other.
"Just letting you know that the games are about to start," Kitani says, looking at them curiously.
"Thanks," Kouji says, "we'll be right there."
Ashiwara-san is looking at him with a guarded expression. "Let's go, Saeki-kun," he says. "You're facing Mitsuko-chan for third ranking, aren't you?"
Kouji rolls his eyes and smiles. "Yeah. I'll challenge you soon enough," he warns.
Ashiwara-san says nothing and smiles. They walk toward the game room together.
chuuban.
Only two insei pass the exam the year he turns pro - Ashiwara-san and himself.
"It's about time," Kouji mutters, smiling for the Go Weekly photographers. "It only took me three years."
Ashiwara-san turns and grins at him. "It took me four," he says, and Kouji thinks that he's trying to be comforting. "Ogata-san said that if I didn't pass this year, Touya-sensei was going to kick me out."
He has a sudden flash of Ashiwara-san's red rimmed eyes and shakes the image away. He passed, he tells himself. Undefeated, even. There's no reason for him to make that face.
Kouji smiles weakly. "You're lucky - Morishita-sensei was going to kill me."
Ashiwara-san places his hand on Kouji's shoulder. "I'm glad you passed, then."
For some reason he can't quite explain, his cheeks start to heat up. He's pretty sure that it's because of the heat - they're standing outside in the heat in suits - so he moves a little closer to Ashiwara-san. He figures this way, if he passes out, Ashiwara-san can catch him before he cracks his head open on the cement.
The corners of Ashiwara-san's eyes are crinkling. Kouji wants to ask why the other boy is so happy, but Amano-san has pushed the photographers out of the way and is leading them inside for the interview portion. Ashiwara-san's hand drops, and Kouji is suddenly cold.
He frowns, looks up at the sky, and shrugs.
"Weird," he mutters.
"Saeki-kun?"
He turns and sees Ashiwara-san waiting for him on the steps. Kouji shakes his head again and runs to meet him.
yose.
"You're pretty close to Ashiwara," Ogata-san says, blowing smoke into the sky.
Kouji grimaces at the smell and moves a little further away. "We're friends," he replies, wondering what Ogata-san is getting at. Psyching an opponent out isn't Ogata-san's way, from what he hears, not that Kouji needs to be psyched out. He's doing a spectacular job of losing all on his own.
Ogata-san looks at him for a while. "He talks about you a lot," he finally says and takes another drag of his cigarette.
Kouji shrugs awkwardly and doesn't say anything, because, really, what is there to say to that?
"You could have ignored him, you know."
He doesn't have to ask when. "I could have."
Ogata-san raises an eyebrow at him. "It would have been easier."
They don't say anything, just stare at the street. Ogata-san's cigarette smoke drifts lazily through the air.
Kouji closes his eyes and sees Ashiwara-san's smiling face. He smiles to himself.
When he loses the match by three moku, he doesn't worry. He's suddenly realized that he's just won a more important game.
sechi.
He's so close to graduating to seventh dan he can taste it. His opponent is looking at him over the goban and grinning. Kouji smiles back.
"Sorry, Ashiwara," he says apologetically. "If I don't move up before you, Morishita-sensei will-"
"Kill you?" Ashiwara cuts in innocently. "Unfortunately, I have my own reasons for wanting to win this."
Kouji raises an eyebrow. "And they are?"
Ashiwara smiles guilelessly. "I'll tell you when I win."
Kouji places the first stone.
The game moves quickly in a series of familiar patterns and he only stumbles once, but finds the answer quickly. By the time they enter chuuban, they are evenly matched.
Ashiwara places a stone, and suddenly they are in yose, and a large chunk of stones is dead. He looks up at Ashiwara incredulously and places another stone, trying in vain to revive the group.
In the end, he loses by three moku.
"Hamete," Kouji says in disbelief. "You actually pulled hamete on me."
Ashiwara grins.
He points at a star point. "If I'd gone there?"
"You might have won," Ashiwara replies with a shrug.
Kouji clears the board while Ashiwara records the result. When he leaves the game room, Ashiwara is waiting for him.
"So," Kouji starts. "What were your reasons?"
"If I beat you in the next ranking, you said I could call you Kouji. In public."
Kouji turns red. "I thought you didn't remember anything about that night," he says accusingly.
Ashiwara smiles. "I remember that, Kouji." He walks out of the building and starts down the stairs.
Kouji watches him and wonders if this is another sort of hamete, and, if he had made the right choice, if he'd have won.
When Ashiwara stops and turns toward him with a huge smile, Kouji decides that maybe, just maybe, he didn't lose at all.
Title: A Life Once Lived
Author: doumeki
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama-llama
Characters/Pairing: Kouyo, Sai, Akiko, Hikaru, Ashiwara, Ogata, Akira
Wordcount: 826
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Trust me, if I did? You'd know.
Author’s Notes: Written for Round 003 [aka FINALS OMG] of hng_deathmatch.
Touya Kouyo dies the night his son takes the Meijin title. He realizes it the moment he opens his eyes - he's standing in the middle of a room that is graduatly fading from black to blue rather than laying in bed with Akiko's warmth against him.
(Akiko wakes up in a panic and turns to her husband, only to find him laying motionless on this side. "Dear," she says quietly, tears gathering in her eyes. She refuses to believe what she knows is true. "Kouyo-san?" She places a hand on his bare shoulder and grasps for the phone.
His skin is cold.)
He takes a step forward, and he is suddenly wearing his hakama. It is light against his skin, but he can't feel the familiar fabric. He shrugs off the realization and continues walking. There is somewhere he needs to be, someone he needs to meet, though he's not sure where to go, only trusts his feet to lead the way.
(The phone is ringing. Hikaru rolls over and buries his head under the pillow. A quick glance at the clock tells him that it is three fourty two am.
The phone keeps ringing.
He feels Touya stir next to him and quickly grabs the phone. No sense in them both getting no sleep.
"Hello?" he mumbles into the phone. This had better be an emergency, he thinks.
"Shindou-kun?" a familiar voice says softly.
Hikaru immediately straightens. "Touya-san, what's wrong?"
He listens numbly as she explains. Distantly, he hears himself tell her to wait while he wakes Touya.
"What is it, Shindou?" Touya grumbles once Hikaru starts shaking him.
He hands over the phone. "It's your mom.")
He's not sure how long he's been walking - it feels like years and minutes at the same time. He stops now, though, and stares at the person before him.
Would you like to play a game? the stranger asks, motioning to a goban that appears as suddenly as the man.
Kouyo nods, and they take their places.
(The house is crowded with people coming to pay their respects. He sees Akiko-san and Akira-kun, though it's only for a moment before they're swallowed by well-wishers.
Saeki-kun is standing next to him, awkwardly looking around. It occurs to Hiroyuki that Saeki-kun's never been here before.
He touches Saeki-kun's hand and offers him a weak smile. "I'm going to see Akiko-san and Akira-kun, see if there's anything else I can do to..." He trails off, and Saeki-kun squeezes his hand.
"I'll go with you," Saeki-kun says.)
They have only placed three stones each, but he is certain the man before him is Sai. He places his next stone - tsuke in the upper right corner - and Kouyo responds.
(Seiji takes over study group, though he's not sure whether or not it's a good idea. He pushes past his uncertainty, however, and recreates his last game with Touya-sensei.
The group watches in silence as the stones are placed. When Seiji places the last move, Shirakawa smiles sadly.)
Chuuban goes quickly, yet each move seems to take an eternity. They are tied - every time Kouyo takes the lead, Sai makes up the lost ground with breathtaking ability, while Kouyo catches up with cunning skill he has only recently acquired.
The patterns on the board glow, and Kouyo nows that this is the best game he has ever, and will ever, play. He wishes Akira could see it.
(It's been a month, and Akira is still numb. Shindou has been doing everything he can to help - taking tutoring sessions, running study group, completing all of the chores - and he can see that it's taking its toll.
Shindou is asleep on the couch when Akira leaves.
He wanders around Shinjuku for a while until he finds a small store that sells American band t-shirts. He picks up a My Chemical Romance and a Fall Out Boy shirt, pays the cashier, and heads home.
He's barely two feet into the apartment before Shindou has his arms wrapped around him. Akira closes the door and looks at Shindou - beautiful, frightened Shindou - and drops the bag in his hand. He lets himself be engulfed in Shindou's embrace.
"I thought you weren't coming back," Shindou whispers against his neck.
Akira can hear the underlying like Sai. He adds his own like Father, and clings to Shindou.)
There are no more moves to make - adding even one more stone would destroy the beauty of the game just played. They agree to call it a draw.
Is this it? Kouyo asks, running a finger reverently along the edge of the goban.
Sai shakes his head. This is close, he says.
Kouyo nods. We'll reach it.
So will they.
(It occurs to Hikaru a year later after rereading an article in which someone quoted him asking, "I wonder if the God of go is lonely?" that, no, he isn't.
At least, not anymore.)