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31_days2010-03-03 11:58 pm
issen4.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2010-03-03 11:58 pm
3 March/Hikaru no Go/Spirited Away crossover/Twice the River 3/?
Title: Twice the River 3/?
Series: Hikaru no Go/Spirited Away crossover
Day/Theme: 03 March/This is just a secret that happens to involve you
Touya pushed open the door to the hospital room and entered. As one, the two seated figures turned around, noted his presence, and turned back again, returning without a word to their mutual (but not shared) vigil over the patient lying on the bed.
Though Shindou did look up once more when Touya came to stand beside him. "I told you to go back, Touya," he said, a grumpy tone entering his voice.
"Not until you tell me what this is about," Touya repeated, as he had done so for the last four days. It has been as long since he finally tracked Shindou down to this small hospital, and found him claiming to know the unconscious patient--the mysterious man from a muddy pond whose appearance had been reported on television more than a week ago. What was more surprising was the fact that Shindou had identified the man as Fujiwara no Sai.
Shindou started to open his mouth, glanced at the patient, and shook his head. "I can't, Touya. Not until-" He seemed to brace himself visibly. "Not until Sai wakes up."
"But is he really Sai?" Touya asked, unable to help himself from asking the question again, despite the lack of answer. He had been thunderstruck when he heard the name that Shindou gave the man, but other than warning not to tell anybody else, Shindou had not said anything else.
It seemed incredible to think that this man on the bed was the Sai, rumours of whom had dogged Shindou so many years ago, and whose reputation among certain Go players still ran high. For one thing, he seemed far too young to have had the Go skills that had won the game again Touya's father. And if there was indeed such an accomplished young player, why had nobody heard of him before?
"Shindou," he said, determined to get an answer. He, like Shindou, had asked for a leave of absence from his games, but his responsibilities weighed on him. He couldn't stay here indefinitely. "Shindou!"
"Shh!"
"Shh!"
The second admonishment was from the other occupant in the room, Shindou's co-watcher. Shindou had not introduced her, but Touya had figured out from her interactions with the staff that her given name was Chihiro--family unknown. There was an aura about her that made the hairs on the back of Touya's neck stand up.
Then there had been her reaction when she saw Touya. For a moment, it was as though she had seen a ghost, but that passed and she ignored him thoroughly now. She seemed related neither to Shindou nor to Sai, but for reasons known to herself she was just as eager to speak to Sai as Shindou was.
It was apparently her who found the unconscious Sai.
Touya inclined his head politely in apology, but both of them had already turned back to the patient, watchful for any sign that he was stirring, as though they could force him to awake by sheer willpower. For a moment, Touya wondered if they even took the time to blink.
He waited with them as long as he could, until the nurse came and told them visiting hours were over. Chihiro-san always took herself off, but Touya had the feeling that she managed to sneak back after visiting hours. But he didn't tell Shindou that.
It was tough enough to deal with a preoccupied Shindou as it was. This was his opportunity to usher Shindou away, force him to eat something and try to probe him for more details about Sai.
Shindou seemed a lot more tired when Touya sat him down in a little restaurant near the hospital--the prolonged waiting was exhausting him, Touya could tell. When their food was served, Shindou stared at it, as though wondering what it was, before Touya said "Itadakimasu" and picked up his chopsticks. Shindou copied his actions, and only at that moment seemed to realize that he was hungry.
"You should go back, Touya," Shindou said when they were each nursing a cup of tea. "I’ll be all right here."
Touya wanted to laugh at that. Already Shindou looked grey from the strain of the past few days. Touya had thought at first that it was important to be able to find out more about Sai, but he was starting to think that Shindou was going to collapse before Sai even woke up. "No. Not until you tell me," he said.
Shindou shook his head. "It's my secret, Touya. It doesn't concern you."
"If that is Sai, then it concerns me too."
"It--" Shindou made a growling sound. "No, I don't know why you're all so interested in Sai, he--"
"I know he's someone important to you," Touya interrupted. "And anyone who is that important to you, I care about, too."
Series: Hikaru no Go/Spirited Away crossover
Day/Theme: 03 March/This is just a secret that happens to involve you
Touya pushed open the door to the hospital room and entered. As one, the two seated figures turned around, noted his presence, and turned back again, returning without a word to their mutual (but not shared) vigil over the patient lying on the bed.
Though Shindou did look up once more when Touya came to stand beside him. "I told you to go back, Touya," he said, a grumpy tone entering his voice.
"Not until you tell me what this is about," Touya repeated, as he had done so for the last four days. It has been as long since he finally tracked Shindou down to this small hospital, and found him claiming to know the unconscious patient--the mysterious man from a muddy pond whose appearance had been reported on television more than a week ago. What was more surprising was the fact that Shindou had identified the man as Fujiwara no Sai.
Shindou started to open his mouth, glanced at the patient, and shook his head. "I can't, Touya. Not until-" He seemed to brace himself visibly. "Not until Sai wakes up."
"But is he really Sai?" Touya asked, unable to help himself from asking the question again, despite the lack of answer. He had been thunderstruck when he heard the name that Shindou gave the man, but other than warning not to tell anybody else, Shindou had not said anything else.
It seemed incredible to think that this man on the bed was the Sai, rumours of whom had dogged Shindou so many years ago, and whose reputation among certain Go players still ran high. For one thing, he seemed far too young to have had the Go skills that had won the game again Touya's father. And if there was indeed such an accomplished young player, why had nobody heard of him before?
"Shindou," he said, determined to get an answer. He, like Shindou, had asked for a leave of absence from his games, but his responsibilities weighed on him. He couldn't stay here indefinitely. "Shindou!"
"Shh!"
"Shh!"
The second admonishment was from the other occupant in the room, Shindou's co-watcher. Shindou had not introduced her, but Touya had figured out from her interactions with the staff that her given name was Chihiro--family unknown. There was an aura about her that made the hairs on the back of Touya's neck stand up.
Then there had been her reaction when she saw Touya. For a moment, it was as though she had seen a ghost, but that passed and she ignored him thoroughly now. She seemed related neither to Shindou nor to Sai, but for reasons known to herself she was just as eager to speak to Sai as Shindou was.
It was apparently her who found the unconscious Sai.
Touya inclined his head politely in apology, but both of them had already turned back to the patient, watchful for any sign that he was stirring, as though they could force him to awake by sheer willpower. For a moment, Touya wondered if they even took the time to blink.
He waited with them as long as he could, until the nurse came and told them visiting hours were over. Chihiro-san always took herself off, but Touya had the feeling that she managed to sneak back after visiting hours. But he didn't tell Shindou that.
It was tough enough to deal with a preoccupied Shindou as it was. This was his opportunity to usher Shindou away, force him to eat something and try to probe him for more details about Sai.
Shindou seemed a lot more tired when Touya sat him down in a little restaurant near the hospital--the prolonged waiting was exhausting him, Touya could tell. When their food was served, Shindou stared at it, as though wondering what it was, before Touya said "Itadakimasu" and picked up his chopsticks. Shindou copied his actions, and only at that moment seemed to realize that he was hungry.
"You should go back, Touya," Shindou said when they were each nursing a cup of tea. "I’ll be all right here."
Touya wanted to laugh at that. Already Shindou looked grey from the strain of the past few days. Touya had thought at first that it was important to be able to find out more about Sai, but he was starting to think that Shindou was going to collapse before Sai even woke up. "No. Not until you tell me," he said.
Shindou shook his head. "It's my secret, Touya. It doesn't concern you."
"If that is Sai, then it concerns me too."
"It--" Shindou made a growling sound. "No, I don't know why you're all so interested in Sai, he--"
"I know he's someone important to you," Touya interrupted. "And anyone who is that important to you, I care about, too."