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31_days2008-05-11 11:59 pm
issen4.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2008-05-11 11:59 pm
[May 11] [Hikaru no Go] Stones in Narrow Spaces 11/?
Title: Stones in Narrow Spaces 11/?
Day/Theme: May 11 - These are the days of miracle and wonder
Series: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: none
Rating: General
-----------
They rounded the corner and nearly ran into Iijima, who was leaning on the brick wall beside a large convenient store, his arms crossed.
"Uh-"
Touya could see the exact moment Shindou decided to try denial, and inwardly groaned. Shindou was a brilliant man in Go and one who sincerely and wrongly believed that he could actually tell a convincing lie.
"W-what a surprise to bump into you, Iijima!" was Shindou's greeting.
The ex-insei turned police detective regarded them over the top of his glasses, the lenses of which were glinting in the failing afternoon light, so that it was impossible to see his expression. Touya was sure it was unfriendly, though.
"I-isn't it a surprise, Touya?" Shindou appealed to him when there was no reaction. "It's such a small world, haha-"
"Why were you following me?" Iijima's voice cut short Shindou's nervous laughter.
Shindou said, "Following you?" His eyes were opened very wide in order to create a look of innocence. It was amusing, the way Shindou stopped being capable of subterfuge whenever he was away from the goban. "Iijima-san, that's impossible. This is just a coincidence-"
"Don't deny it," Iijima said. "You've been made. I've been aware of you for the last fifteen minutes. You're definitely following me." His belligerence grew with each word, until he was no longer leaning on the wall, and had shifted his body to face Shindou.
"Er," Shindou said intelligently.
"We know you're working on the case of the missing gobans," Touya said, deciding not to play games. Though he had never been introduced to Iijima, they had in connection Shindou and the friendship he shared with his fellow inseis, even those who had not made the ranks of Go professionals.
Iijima looked uncertain for a moment, as though he had not expected Touya to speak to him, before his annoyance reappeared. "Yes, I'm in charge of this case," he said, and addressed Shindou. "I know you're anxious about your goban, Shindou, but that doesn't mean you can follow me around. You're Go pros, not detectives. Frankly, you're obstructing my work."
"...sorry?"
Iijima looked as though he would have liked to shake Shindou.
"We didn't plan to follow you," Touya said before he could become witness to a case of police brutality. "But we overheard you talking about this person you're planning to see, and we were concerned. You see, Shindou knows him, too."
"Tsutsui-san has nothing to do with the thefts!" Shindou said at that point.
"And how would you know that?" Iijima asked.
Shindou's jaw dropped.
Iijima started to speak, then stopped and shook his head. "Never mind. I'm not supposed to discuss the case with outsiders. Shindou, Touya-san, please stay here, or go home. This is my work. The department will keep you updated on the case."
"But-"
Touya pulled Shindou back as Iijima turned without further ado, walking down the pavement towards a row of houses. "Wait," Touya said.
Shindou stilled, but protested, "We have to-"
"I know," Touya said. "But wait first. After all, you know the address, right?"
They waited until Iijima was only a speck on the horizon, before continuing down the path after him.
They reached Tsutsui's home just as the sun was starting to set, its large yellow beams seeming to make the windows of the small house look as though it was glowing. The door was open, and Touya could hear sounds of dispute. He and Shindou exchanged a look and entered without hesitation.
Iijima looked up from where he was talking on the phone as they entered. "I might have guessed," he said, his eyes unfriendly.
"What's happening?" Shindou asked.
Iijima ended the call and said, "He was like this when I arrived. The door wasn't even locked. He doesn't respond when I talk to him."
"But-"
Iijima's expression grew malicious for a second. "Shindou, I think you will recognise something?" He nodded towards the centre of the living room.
The word 'something' made Touya frown. He looked around; it was a simply furnished room, with a sofa set on the far end and a TV mounted on the wall. Then he looked more carefully at the person sitting on the sofa.
He was tall, with a serious-looking face and dressed in a white buttoned shirt and black slacks--too formal for someone simply spending an afternoon at home--as well as a pair of glasses that was perched on the tip of his nose.
Touya had been introduced to Tsutsui Kimihiro before. Shindou's senpai from middle high, he had struck Touya as someone who was fanatical about Go despite not having much talent for it. Now, he watched as Tsutsui slowly wiped the goban before him, and swallowed shock. Surely this was a miracle...
"Tsutsui-san?" Beside him, Shindou raised a hand, his voice thin with wonder. "I-I think that's my goban."
Day/Theme: May 11 - These are the days of miracle and wonder
Series: Hikaru no Go
Character/Pairing: none
Rating: General
-----------
They rounded the corner and nearly ran into Iijima, who was leaning on the brick wall beside a large convenient store, his arms crossed.
"Uh-"
Touya could see the exact moment Shindou decided to try denial, and inwardly groaned. Shindou was a brilliant man in Go and one who sincerely and wrongly believed that he could actually tell a convincing lie.
"W-what a surprise to bump into you, Iijima!" was Shindou's greeting.
The ex-insei turned police detective regarded them over the top of his glasses, the lenses of which were glinting in the failing afternoon light, so that it was impossible to see his expression. Touya was sure it was unfriendly, though.
"I-isn't it a surprise, Touya?" Shindou appealed to him when there was no reaction. "It's such a small world, haha-"
"Why were you following me?" Iijima's voice cut short Shindou's nervous laughter.
Shindou said, "Following you?" His eyes were opened very wide in order to create a look of innocence. It was amusing, the way Shindou stopped being capable of subterfuge whenever he was away from the goban. "Iijima-san, that's impossible. This is just a coincidence-"
"Don't deny it," Iijima said. "You've been made. I've been aware of you for the last fifteen minutes. You're definitely following me." His belligerence grew with each word, until he was no longer leaning on the wall, and had shifted his body to face Shindou.
"Er," Shindou said intelligently.
"We know you're working on the case of the missing gobans," Touya said, deciding not to play games. Though he had never been introduced to Iijima, they had in connection Shindou and the friendship he shared with his fellow inseis, even those who had not made the ranks of Go professionals.
Iijima looked uncertain for a moment, as though he had not expected Touya to speak to him, before his annoyance reappeared. "Yes, I'm in charge of this case," he said, and addressed Shindou. "I know you're anxious about your goban, Shindou, but that doesn't mean you can follow me around. You're Go pros, not detectives. Frankly, you're obstructing my work."
"...sorry?"
Iijima looked as though he would have liked to shake Shindou.
"We didn't plan to follow you," Touya said before he could become witness to a case of police brutality. "But we overheard you talking about this person you're planning to see, and we were concerned. You see, Shindou knows him, too."
"Tsutsui-san has nothing to do with the thefts!" Shindou said at that point.
"And how would you know that?" Iijima asked.
Shindou's jaw dropped.
Iijima started to speak, then stopped and shook his head. "Never mind. I'm not supposed to discuss the case with outsiders. Shindou, Touya-san, please stay here, or go home. This is my work. The department will keep you updated on the case."
"But-"
Touya pulled Shindou back as Iijima turned without further ado, walking down the pavement towards a row of houses. "Wait," Touya said.
Shindou stilled, but protested, "We have to-"
"I know," Touya said. "But wait first. After all, you know the address, right?"
They waited until Iijima was only a speck on the horizon, before continuing down the path after him.
They reached Tsutsui's home just as the sun was starting to set, its large yellow beams seeming to make the windows of the small house look as though it was glowing. The door was open, and Touya could hear sounds of dispute. He and Shindou exchanged a look and entered without hesitation.
Iijima looked up from where he was talking on the phone as they entered. "I might have guessed," he said, his eyes unfriendly.
"What's happening?" Shindou asked.
Iijima ended the call and said, "He was like this when I arrived. The door wasn't even locked. He doesn't respond when I talk to him."
"But-"
Iijima's expression grew malicious for a second. "Shindou, I think you will recognise something?" He nodded towards the centre of the living room.
The word 'something' made Touya frown. He looked around; it was a simply furnished room, with a sofa set on the far end and a TV mounted on the wall. Then he looked more carefully at the person sitting on the sofa.
He was tall, with a serious-looking face and dressed in a white buttoned shirt and black slacks--too formal for someone simply spending an afternoon at home--as well as a pair of glasses that was perched on the tip of his nose.
Touya had been introduced to Tsutsui Kimihiro before. Shindou's senpai from middle high, he had struck Touya as someone who was fanatical about Go despite not having much talent for it. Now, he watched as Tsutsui slowly wiped the goban before him, and swallowed shock. Surely this was a miracle...
"Tsutsui-san?" Beside him, Shindou raised a hand, his voice thin with wonder. "I-I think that's my goban."