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31_days2007-09-23 11:58 pm
issen4.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2007-09-23 11:58 pm
[23 Sept] [Hikaru no Go] And the Waves Crashed on the Goban 23/?
Title: And the Waves Crashed on the Goban 23/?
Day/Theme: 23 Sept/If you find yourself caught in love
Series: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: Hikaru/Akira, Isumi/Le Ping
Rating: General
(Three years ago.)
The doorbell buzzed. Isumi opened it to find a familiar, longed-for face. His heart began to race, and memories of his search two months ago came flooding back: the sweat-soaked body clinging to him, the exchange of kisses....
Le Ping had a smile that told Isumi he was thinking of the exact same encounter. "About that night," Le Ping began in Japanese, then said, with a faintly worried look, "Guess what?"
"W-what?"
"I-I think I'm pregnant."
Isumi did not realize that his mouth had dropped open, even as Le Ping began to laugh like a hyena.
Someone else said in Chinese, "Stop that!" and accompanied that with a cuff at Le Ping's head.
Le Ping ducked, and clung to the wall, still laughing. "But his face!" he answered in the same language, pointing at Isumi.
Yang Hai came into view. Isumi hadn't noticed him because all this attention was on Le Ping, but now he saw that Yang Hai was dragging a suitcase after him. "Oi, get your own suitcase. It's still outside the lift," he said to Le Ping, who made a face at him but went off, still laughing. "Isumi, good to see you. Sorry we didn't call before dropping in."
Isumi helped Yang Hai with his suitcase, as it turned out that Yang Hai had a backpacker's rucksack strapped behind him as well, and could hardly bend down. They could still hear Le Ping's whoops of laughter echoing down from the direction of the lift lobby. Luckily it was afternoon; Isumi's neighbours were all out at work and not at home to be curious about him.
"I told him he was insane," Yang Hai remarked in Japanese as he took off his shoes. "But he insisted on surprising you like this."
"Y-you a-and him..." Isumi stuttered.
"Ah, he speaks," Yang Hai said, pushing his shoes into a corner and padding into the living room on socked feet. He looked around. "You know, Tokyo has everything that's good and modern--except a decent-size apartment. In Beijing, you could buy a house with the money you're making, but here..." he shook his head. "Two tiny bedrooms."
Isumi finally regained his senses. "W-what?"
"It's good that Le Ping's sharing your room. More space for me in your spare room," Yang Hai said, before turning around to the door. "Ah... he'll need some help with his bags," he said meaningfully, and gave Isumi a push towards the door for good measure.
Stumbling a little--from the push or from his nervousness?--Isumi reached the doorway just in time to see Le Ping struggling with a suitcase, a bag about as large as himself, and what was obviously a goban in a cardboard box.
"Yang Hai," he was grumbling under his breath. "You bastard, come and help me!"
Isumi went forward instead, taking the goban from his hands. "I'll help," he said, running his gaze eagerly over Le Ping, as though afraid to find that he was an illusion.
Surprisingly, Le Ping held on to it, refusing to let him take it. He stared into Isumi's eyes, all serious now. "Let go," he said.
"No," Isumi said, holding on just as tightly.
"I play Go too, Isumi," Le Ping said. "And I play Go for keeps."
Isumi found himself answering, "So do I."
Le Ping studied him for a second more, before a smile broke out over his face, and he grinned. "Okay. But you better take my suitcase instead," he said, all practical again. "I'll carry the bag and this."
Isumi managed to wrestle the suitcase into the living room to find Yang Hai grumbling at Le Ping, and found that he understood enough Chinese to know what they were saying. All that studying was paying off.
"We could hear that deranged laughter from in here," Yang Hai said. "Don't forget, I wrote that recommendation letter to the Japanese Go Institute for you. I told them you were law-abiding and sane. You owe me big-"
Le Ping stuck out his tongue.
"Er," Isumi interrupted. "Your suitcase-" he stopped, and frowned, "What letter?"
"The letter that recommended him," Yang Hai jabbed a thumb at Le Ping, "for a cultural exchange, so he can come to Japan and play as a pro here."
"Yeah," Le Ping said. "I have the invitation of the Go Institute. But why are you here?" he asked, pointing at Yang Hai.
Yang Hai made as though to cuff him again, and this time Le Ping ran and ducked behind Isumi.
"Firstly," Yang Hai said with exaggerated patience, "your parents told me to make sure you got here and settled down safely. You should be grateful to me. If it weren't for the fact that we're from the same province, I wouldn't even have bothered."
Isumi turned to Le Ping, still clinging to his side. "You mean your parents-"
Le Ping nodded, and squeezed Isumi's arm.
"They're not thrilled," Yang Hai said bluntly, "but seeing that Le Ping has been on his own since he was eleven, they know they can't really do anything else. Secondly," he went on, "the Japanese Go Institute invited me to promote inter-country friendship and cooperation, especially cultural exchanges like this one-" he eyed Le Ping grimly, "may very well turn out to be permanent. And thirdly-"
" 'Thirdly'?" Le Ping piped up. "You never said there was a 'thirdly'!"
Yang Hai glared. "Do I have to report everything to you? I have a personal mission. I'll talk to Isumi about that later."
It was revealed over dinner that Yang Hai's third objective was to find out as much about Net Go player 'Sai' as possible. Isumi seldom played Net Go, but he had heard about Sai too. Mostly from Waya, but he knew that a number of pros also studied Sai's Go, especially Sai's game with Touya Kouyo. That put Sai's level on par with the high-ranking pros.
"Quite a number of Chinese pros played with Sai too," Yang Hai had said. "I've managed to obtain all of their kifu, and a large number of kifu of Sai's other games. But there are a few games where I couldn't get the records. Then I'll also need to find out more about Sai, if possible."
"But why are you so interested in Sai?" Isumi had asked, half-wondering if Yang Hai's fascination was like Waya's, a mixture of worship and wanting to know exactly who had taunted him.
Yang Hai had looked up at that. "Remember I told you about searching for the Hand of God? I think using Sai's data will be my first step towards it." He looked as serious as Isumi had ever known him, and there was a look in his eyes that awed him. It was the look of a man who, for lack of better word, was in love.
The Hand of God, Isumi thought, his thoughts torn between nervousness and happiness. Le Ping's things had been hastily crammed into the bedroom, and a Chinese Go magazine on a pillow indicated that Le Ping had already staked out his 'side' of the bed.
Yang Hai had given them a wry look after dinner, and had disappeared into the spare room to set up his computer. He had commandeered Isumi's table and chair too, remarking that they wouldn't need it.
Le Ping flopped into bed, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, removed the Go magazine from the pillow and placed it on the bedside table.
Isumi turned to him instantly.
"Yang Hai is insane. Hand of God!" Le Ping rolled his eyes.
"Don't you want to find it?" Isumi asked.
"Of course," Le Ping said. "But I think you find it by playing... and studying. Not by making a computer program!"
"Ah."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Le Ping said, almost nonchalantly, "Are you mad I teased you this afternoon?"
"Huh? Of course not!"
"Oh, good." Le Ping gave a chuckle. "Because your face was priceless. Just seeing it made me laugh and laugh."
"Uh-"
"In fact," Le Ping went on, "I laughed so much that my belly started to hurt."
"Le Ping?" Isumi was startled to find Le Ping's hand curling into his.
"Wanna feel?" And Isumi's hand found itself on Le Ping's stomach. His bare stomach.
He would have never expected a reconciliation like this, but the notion was settling inside him--he would not have exchanged this for the world.
There were pros, he knew, who would move heaven and earth to find the Hand of Go. As a Go player, Isumi's ambition was similar, but he couldn't help feeling that if the Hand of Go meant that one could play the perfect game--he already had it.
"Yes," he whispered, and kissed Le Ping's belly button.
Day/Theme: 23 Sept/If you find yourself caught in love
Series: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: Hikaru/Akira, Isumi/Le Ping
Rating: General
(Three years ago.)
The doorbell buzzed. Isumi opened it to find a familiar, longed-for face. His heart began to race, and memories of his search two months ago came flooding back: the sweat-soaked body clinging to him, the exchange of kisses....
Le Ping had a smile that told Isumi he was thinking of the exact same encounter. "About that night," Le Ping began in Japanese, then said, with a faintly worried look, "Guess what?"
"W-what?"
"I-I think I'm pregnant."
Isumi did not realize that his mouth had dropped open, even as Le Ping began to laugh like a hyena.
Someone else said in Chinese, "Stop that!" and accompanied that with a cuff at Le Ping's head.
Le Ping ducked, and clung to the wall, still laughing. "But his face!" he answered in the same language, pointing at Isumi.
Yang Hai came into view. Isumi hadn't noticed him because all this attention was on Le Ping, but now he saw that Yang Hai was dragging a suitcase after him. "Oi, get your own suitcase. It's still outside the lift," he said to Le Ping, who made a face at him but went off, still laughing. "Isumi, good to see you. Sorry we didn't call before dropping in."
Isumi helped Yang Hai with his suitcase, as it turned out that Yang Hai had a backpacker's rucksack strapped behind him as well, and could hardly bend down. They could still hear Le Ping's whoops of laughter echoing down from the direction of the lift lobby. Luckily it was afternoon; Isumi's neighbours were all out at work and not at home to be curious about him.
"I told him he was insane," Yang Hai remarked in Japanese as he took off his shoes. "But he insisted on surprising you like this."
"Y-you a-and him..." Isumi stuttered.
"Ah, he speaks," Yang Hai said, pushing his shoes into a corner and padding into the living room on socked feet. He looked around. "You know, Tokyo has everything that's good and modern--except a decent-size apartment. In Beijing, you could buy a house with the money you're making, but here..." he shook his head. "Two tiny bedrooms."
Isumi finally regained his senses. "W-what?"
"It's good that Le Ping's sharing your room. More space for me in your spare room," Yang Hai said, before turning around to the door. "Ah... he'll need some help with his bags," he said meaningfully, and gave Isumi a push towards the door for good measure.
Stumbling a little--from the push or from his nervousness?--Isumi reached the doorway just in time to see Le Ping struggling with a suitcase, a bag about as large as himself, and what was obviously a goban in a cardboard box.
"Yang Hai," he was grumbling under his breath. "You bastard, come and help me!"
Isumi went forward instead, taking the goban from his hands. "I'll help," he said, running his gaze eagerly over Le Ping, as though afraid to find that he was an illusion.
Surprisingly, Le Ping held on to it, refusing to let him take it. He stared into Isumi's eyes, all serious now. "Let go," he said.
"No," Isumi said, holding on just as tightly.
"I play Go too, Isumi," Le Ping said. "And I play Go for keeps."
Isumi found himself answering, "So do I."
Le Ping studied him for a second more, before a smile broke out over his face, and he grinned. "Okay. But you better take my suitcase instead," he said, all practical again. "I'll carry the bag and this."
Isumi managed to wrestle the suitcase into the living room to find Yang Hai grumbling at Le Ping, and found that he understood enough Chinese to know what they were saying. All that studying was paying off.
"We could hear that deranged laughter from in here," Yang Hai said. "Don't forget, I wrote that recommendation letter to the Japanese Go Institute for you. I told them you were law-abiding and sane. You owe me big-"
Le Ping stuck out his tongue.
"Er," Isumi interrupted. "Your suitcase-" he stopped, and frowned, "What letter?"
"The letter that recommended him," Yang Hai jabbed a thumb at Le Ping, "for a cultural exchange, so he can come to Japan and play as a pro here."
"Yeah," Le Ping said. "I have the invitation of the Go Institute. But why are you here?" he asked, pointing at Yang Hai.
Yang Hai made as though to cuff him again, and this time Le Ping ran and ducked behind Isumi.
"Firstly," Yang Hai said with exaggerated patience, "your parents told me to make sure you got here and settled down safely. You should be grateful to me. If it weren't for the fact that we're from the same province, I wouldn't even have bothered."
Isumi turned to Le Ping, still clinging to his side. "You mean your parents-"
Le Ping nodded, and squeezed Isumi's arm.
"They're not thrilled," Yang Hai said bluntly, "but seeing that Le Ping has been on his own since he was eleven, they know they can't really do anything else. Secondly," he went on, "the Japanese Go Institute invited me to promote inter-country friendship and cooperation, especially cultural exchanges like this one-" he eyed Le Ping grimly, "may very well turn out to be permanent. And thirdly-"
" 'Thirdly'?" Le Ping piped up. "You never said there was a 'thirdly'!"
Yang Hai glared. "Do I have to report everything to you? I have a personal mission. I'll talk to Isumi about that later."
It was revealed over dinner that Yang Hai's third objective was to find out as much about Net Go player 'Sai' as possible. Isumi seldom played Net Go, but he had heard about Sai too. Mostly from Waya, but he knew that a number of pros also studied Sai's Go, especially Sai's game with Touya Kouyo. That put Sai's level on par with the high-ranking pros.
"Quite a number of Chinese pros played with Sai too," Yang Hai had said. "I've managed to obtain all of their kifu, and a large number of kifu of Sai's other games. But there are a few games where I couldn't get the records. Then I'll also need to find out more about Sai, if possible."
"But why are you so interested in Sai?" Isumi had asked, half-wondering if Yang Hai's fascination was like Waya's, a mixture of worship and wanting to know exactly who had taunted him.
Yang Hai had looked up at that. "Remember I told you about searching for the Hand of God? I think using Sai's data will be my first step towards it." He looked as serious as Isumi had ever known him, and there was a look in his eyes that awed him. It was the look of a man who, for lack of better word, was in love.
The Hand of God, Isumi thought, his thoughts torn between nervousness and happiness. Le Ping's things had been hastily crammed into the bedroom, and a Chinese Go magazine on a pillow indicated that Le Ping had already staked out his 'side' of the bed.
Yang Hai had given them a wry look after dinner, and had disappeared into the spare room to set up his computer. He had commandeered Isumi's table and chair too, remarking that they wouldn't need it.
Le Ping flopped into bed, wearing only a T-shirt and shorts, removed the Go magazine from the pillow and placed it on the bedside table.
Isumi turned to him instantly.
"Yang Hai is insane. Hand of God!" Le Ping rolled his eyes.
"Don't you want to find it?" Isumi asked.
"Of course," Le Ping said. "But I think you find it by playing... and studying. Not by making a computer program!"
"Ah."
They sat in silence for a moment.
Le Ping said, almost nonchalantly, "Are you mad I teased you this afternoon?"
"Huh? Of course not!"
"Oh, good." Le Ping gave a chuckle. "Because your face was priceless. Just seeing it made me laugh and laugh."
"Uh-"
"In fact," Le Ping went on, "I laughed so much that my belly started to hurt."
"Le Ping?" Isumi was startled to find Le Ping's hand curling into his.
"Wanna feel?" And Isumi's hand found itself on Le Ping's stomach. His bare stomach.
He would have never expected a reconciliation like this, but the notion was settling inside him--he would not have exchanged this for the world.
There were pros, he knew, who would move heaven and earth to find the Hand of Go. As a Go player, Isumi's ambition was similar, but he couldn't help feeling that if the Hand of Go meant that one could play the perfect game--he already had it.
"Yes," he whispered, and kissed Le Ping's belly button.