Positional Play

AN: First ever go at Hikago fic(let)Level of crappiness to match, alas. Written for maryl_z's drabble request of Hikaru/Akira and the phrase 'doesn't suit you at all'

"Hello, Ms. Ichikawa!"

She faced the balding man with a smile. "Oh - hello, Mr. Hirose. How are you today?"

He gave a quick chuckle. "Oh, fine, fine." Suddenly serious, he looked past her and to a reserved table at the back of the go salon. "Is it over yet? I was hoping to ask young master Toya for a teaching game..."

Harumi shook her head. "They called a truce and took a break for lunch half an hour ago. They were arguing where to go on their way out." She snickered briefly. "But don't worry - I'm sure they'll reach critical mass when they've returned and played a few minutes. You know how their games always end."

He nodded sagely. "All too well - always in a burst of youthful passion."

"Or childish tantrums."

Mr. Hirose shrugged pragmatically, smiling faintly. "At that age, is there so much of a difference?" Not giving her a chance to answer, he pushed on, reaching for his wallet. "Okay, today's fee..."

---

"I didn't see that coming..." Hikaru muttered.

"What do you mean?"

"Your cheeseburger," he told Akira. "I didn't think you'd want to go to a fastfood joint. I've always figured you for being more... traditional."

Akira huffed. "Says the one whose style of play has always been inspired by Hon'inbo Shusaku..."

Hikaru bit his lip. There were some things he could still not tell Akira, despite what they'd shared, especially lately. Akira had found Sai within him, after a fashion - but Hikaru had never dared speak the whole truth of the matter.

Then again, would Akira even believe him, if he told he'd picked up an interest for go from a ghost, a ghost that had possessed him as much as the game did now? As much as his opponents?

As much as Akira himself did now?

"I thought you'd have gone for a salad at least, or insisted we go someplace serving okonomiyaki, or ramen, whatever - something closer to home..."

Akira frowned as they turned down the last alleyway on their way back to the go salon. "Then you thought wrong," he snapped. Hikaru seemed to have a knack for finding little things which with to poke at him, provoke him. It happened in their games - all their games.

Hikaru shook his head, a dim smile on his lips. Most of the time, Akira's short fuse was a fun thing to play with - but sometimes, it was more of an annoyance. "I don't think I'll ever figure you out..." he said. "But I'm trying to."

"Then know I make my own choices, whenever I feel like it." Including the big ones; one of which had occupied a corner of his mind for a while. "Perhaps I'll even get an apartment of my own soon. I can certainly afford it now."

Scowling briefly, Hikaru glanced away. "...doesn't suit you at all," he mumbled.

"What?"

"Living alone, I mean."

At which Akira's brows closed together, the anger clear on his face, tainted with a touch of resentment. He stopped, faced Hikaru. "Are you implying I'm still so much of a child I need to stay in my parents' care forever?!"

"Well, no, but-"

"Didn't you say one of your friends moved out when he was our age?"

"Yeah, but-"

His hands went skyward, as did his look, for a moment. "Then what's the big problem with me living alone?!"

Nostrils flaring, Hikaru gave his adversary a very determined look - then went on the offensive, shoving Akira back against the wall, barely restraining himself from being overly rough about it.

And he kissed him - soundly, sloppily, with all the clumsiness of inexperience - but with the great eagerness from the same source.

Akira's bag slipped from his shoulder, off his arm, landing on the pavement as he recovered enough to return the assault. This was hardly their first confrontation, of this sort included, but he'd been caught off guard and now moved to make up. His hand went up to grab the hair at the back of Hikaru's head, digging in, keeping him from retreating - as if Hikaru showed any sign of wanting to do so.

Time seemed to suspend itself for the longest of heartbeats.

Ever so slowly, they parted, panting, eyes not leaving their match. It took a moment for Hikaru's still disgruntled expression to register with Akira's mind - and yet, he never got to ask; Hikaru's answer to his earlier question answered his new one as well.

"Because I want to be there with you, you idiot..."

"Oh..." he managed to speak through his impression of a guppy fish.

Their shared look lingered for a short while before Hikaru broke off, his cheeks flushed. He shoved his hands deep in his pockets and started walking, kicking a large pebble that got in his way, ricocheting against the brick walls and barely missing two garbage cans and a stray cat. "...can be so damn thick-headed sometimes..." he muttered to himself.

Akira watched him go, baffled at first, but not for long. Growing a slight smirk, he picked up his bag and hurried to catch up.

Indeed, it was a thought worth considering. Sharing rent and other living expenses would certainly be cheaper than going it alone, and by pooling their assets, they could probably go for someplace more spacious.

And of course, with their new privacy, perhaps their still budding relationship would grow into them playing other games than just go.

On occasion at least, he amended, wondering what his father would think if he lived even a moment without the divine move in mind. But, there were probably more than one such to find - and with Hikaru, perhaps he'd find them all.

-end-