31_days | [8 Sept] [Hikaru no Go] And the Waves Crashed on the Goban 8/?

Title: And the Waves Crashed on the Goban 8/?
Day/Theme: 8 Sept/ Dovetailed solution of your heart
Series: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: Hikaru/Akira, Isumi/Le Ping
Rating: General

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"Are you feeling better?" Touya asked.

Shindou nodded, though Touya could see that his chest was still rising and falling rapidly--too rapidly for his comfort--and his face looked flushed. "I've never heard you-" he paused to gather breath, "speak like that before."

"I-"

"And to Ogata!" Shindou finished.

"Shindou!" he admonished. "Any more shouting and you'll have the nurses in. You're lucky they didn't come rushing in just now."

A snort answered him, accompanied by rolling eyes. "Please," Shindou said, using his most dignified voice, "they're used to us shouting by now. Why do you think they gave me this room?"

Touya could be dignified too. "If you hadn't insisted on playing Go..." he began, indicated the notebook computer which lay on the beside table, "I wouldn't need to yell at you."

"I was bored!" Shindou complained.

"You're supposed to be resting."

Shindou gave him a look, then pushed the buttons beside his bed to raise it, and started to struggle up from his prone position.

"What are you doing?" Touya asked, perplexed, but he helped Shindou to sit up.

Shindou finally got settled, sitting up with a pillow behind up, and narrowed his eyes at Touya. "I'm sitting up. I can't feel angry at you properly unless I'm sitting--or standing." He looked flushed again, but he took a deep breath and crossed his arms.

Touya didn't want to tell him that he looked ridiculous. "Broken ribs, Shindou," he said. "They need to heal."

"My ribs are fine," Shindou said, though he did uncross his arms. The moment of friction evaporated as though it had never happened. He studied Touya closely. "What has Waya been saying?" he asked.

Touya answered without a beat. "What do you mean?"

Shindou's eyes narrowed, and he raised a hand long enough to point a finger at Touya. Only for a second, he dropped it when his hand started to tremble. "Well, there must be a reason why Ogata thought I had to be Sai just because I was playing Net Go."

Damn. He knew Shindou was going to ask about this, but it didn't mean he was going to enjoy talking about it.

"And Waya hasn't come to see me even once."

Because I throw him out whenever he comes, Touya thought.

"I knew he got mad at me because he accused me of being Sai, and I denied it, but I didn't think-" Shindou paused, and real worry filled his eyes. "Touya, what has Waya been saying?"

"It's not important," Touya said. "It'll blow over soon enough," he went on, "people don't care about whether you were Sai, they care about-"

"Touya Akira."

Touya looked down at the floor, his eyes drawn to the tiled floor as though it were a giant goban. Yesterday Shindou had tried to walk, and had promptly fallen on that very spot. "He's said a few things," he said. "But it's too incredible for people to believe."

"Huh?"

Touya looked up at him, staring into those eyes. When Sai disappeared, Shindou's heart had been broken. Only time, and a renewed devotion to Go had helped him to recover. He was loathed to say anything that would hurt Shindou.

But his logical mind went on, and the words left his mouth as though he were talking of everyday things. "I should say, it's too incredible for most people to believe. Sai's Go, and your Go--especially your Go ten years ago--are very different."

"Oh." It was very soft.

"But there are a few who have known you long enough, and who remember some of the things you've done-"

"And for them, it adds up, huh?"

Touya said, "To them, it all fits." Like the pain in Shindou's voice.

"Like Ogata, you mean. And Waya."

Touya nodded. And the loss in Shindou's heart. "And Waya."

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