The Kiss(2)


Shindo poked his food listlessly with a scowl on his handsome features as his mind churned a mile-a-minute. He couldn’t understand it. How could Akira think his kisses were…bad?? And not even that – he had been compared to Saeki of all people!

“Grr…how dare he?” came the angry mutter. “How dare he say that I am not as good if not better than that…that…”

“What’s with the face, Shindo?” Waya asked with a bemused frown as he made his way towards the table. Sitting down across the perplexed blonde, he opened up his lunch and began to chew hungrily. Popping a piece of chicken into his mouth, he asked quickly. “Didn’t the book help you after all?”

Shindo made a face. “Oh, it helped me alright, Waya. It more than helped me.”

“So why are you frowning? Shouldn’t you be jumping for joy and congratulating yourself?” He leaned forward to whisper softly with a teasing glint in his eye. “Next thing you know, you and Touya will be doing a whole lot more than just…”

“Forget it, Waya!” Shindo bit back coldly, even though his face had flooded with heat again. “We are not going to be doing anything anytime soon, so just forget it.”

“Eh?”

The blonde rose to his feet and was just about to make his way out of the room, when he stopped and turned back to face the red head. “Uuum…may…may I ask you a question, Waya?”

The red head gave a curt nod even though he kept on eyeing the other warily. Shindo shifted from one foot to the other before taking a deep breath to ask rather quickly. “What is Saeki-san really like?”

The chicken that Waya had been ready to put into his mouth again fell back to the plate as he choked in surprise. Reaching for his can of soda, he gulped it quickly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before turning to stare at the flushed blonde in disbelief.

“Why are you asking me about Saeki-san all of a sudden? Heeeeeeey….”

“Hey, hey what?!” Shindo replied with slight panic. “It’s not what you are thinking, Waya!”

The red head smirked and folded his arms across his chest. He was clearly enjoying this. “And what would I be thinking, hmm, Shindo-kun?”

Cursing beneath his breath, Shindo spun around to make his way out of the room when Waya’s words sent the blood rushing out of his face.

“Saeki-san is a nice guy. He is friendly and easy-going. I hear that he hangs out with Ashiwara-san and the others from Touya-Meijin’s group sometimes, but it could just be a rumor. Hehe…if Morishita-san found that out, he will be dead meat for sure. But there…that’s all I know about him. Happy now?”

Shindo gulped and nodded weakly. He hangs out with Touya-Meijin’s group. No wonder…

“Shindo?” Waya asked with a concerned frown on his features as he stared at the pale-faced blonde.

“I…I am fine. I just need to go get ready for the second half of my match.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

He almost lost his match and it was all due to the stolen glances he had given to both Akira and Saeki the entire time. Although both boys weren’t playing each other, Shindo’s over imaginative mind had been racing with images of both of them engaged in passionate kisses that nearly had him playing like a beginner all over again.

He licked his lips slowly and then gave a light smack, wondering what he had done wrong in the first place. He had gone according to the directions of the book. He hadn’t rushed Touya. Okay, so it had been a little bit…rough at first – their lips had met at a rather awkward angle, but it was his first time, damn it! Touya didn’t have to make it look as if he was such a…

“I resign.”

“Huh? Oh…eh…thank you for the game.” He gave the customary bow and remained seated until he noticed that Saeki had finished with his match.

~ Yatta! This is my chance! ~

But as he was about to get to his feet, he saw that Touya had finished as well and now both boys were heading out of the room and towards the main lobby. Cursing softly, he dashed after them, hoping he didn’t look too obvious. What was he hoping to see? Touya and Saeki making out? Highly unlikely, but as he came to a screeching halt in the main lobby, he could only see the white-haired boy picking out a drink from the vending machine. Touya was nowhere in sight.

“Aah! Shindo-kun! You won your match, ne? No surprise there,” came the jovial greeting that had the blonde blushing lightly.

“Eh…ahahahaha…yes, I did. And I am guessing that you won too, eh?”

“Hehe…it was an easy match, thank God. I don’t think I could deal with Morishita’s yelling this evening.”

Shindo watched with acute fascination as Saeki raised the can of soda to his lips. He watched them part to accept the cold liquid and for a moment, Shindo forgot himself as he began to lick his lips again slowly, wondering…just wondering if…

“May I ask you for a favor, Saeki-san?” He blurted out in a rush.

The pro raised a brow in surprise. “Uh…I guess so. What is it, Shindo?”

The blonde smiled softly and motioned for the other to follow him. “Could you come this way with me, please?”

Blinking in surprise, Saeki shrugged lightly and tossed the finished drink into a trashcan. Shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans, he began to follow the blonde towards the other rooms that usually held old kifu. It was a relatively quiet area and for a moment Saeki wondered just what the blonde had in mind. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he failed to notice that Shindo had stopped. He bumped into the strong back gently with a light ‘ooff’ only to gasp in shock as he felt himself pressed against the wall and the feel of warm lips cover his in a clumsy kiss.

Not sure of how to react or rather shocked by the sudden movement, Saeki remained passive until Shindo pulled back with an embarrassed look on his reddened features.

“Don’t tell me…I can’t kiss, can I?” Shindo muttered softly. “Touya was right. I am not very good at this.” And feeling even more humiliated, he spun around and began to make his way back. “I am sorry for doing this to you, but…”

“Slow down, Shindo. Just give me a moment to think here, will you?”

“What’s to think about? It’s obvious that I will never be as good as you. Touya said so himself.”

Saeki scratched his head in confusion. “Touya said…that….”

“Kissing, Saeki-san! Geez…are you that slow?!”

Allowing the insult to slide, the white-haired boy chuckled. “Ahh...so you want to be able to kiss Touya like I do, hmm?”

Shindo gripped his hands into tight fists refusing to ask just when he and Touya had locked lips. Besides, even if they were getting friendlier, Shindo knew that he had no business prying into Touya’s personal affairs…yet.

Saeki, of course, was happily oblivious to Shindo’s feelings as he drawled out lazily. “Well, for starters, you are too tense, Shindo. You have to learn how to relax. You looked as if you were about to attack me.”

So much for smooth moves and going in for the kill.

With a resigned sigh, Shindo asked softly. “So are you going to teach me or not?”

Saeki gave a feral grin that sent the blonde squeaking a bit breathlessly as he watched the white-haired boy come towards him. And hoping to goodness that no sensei walked by, Shindo swallowed tightly and prepared himself for his lesson.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile….

“Have you seen Shindo anywhere?”

“Nope! Although he did ask me about Saeki-san earlier. See ya!”

Touya gaped after the disappearing red head as he tightened his grip on his bag. Shindo…and Saeki?! What on earth…?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“Shindoooo, would you please relax?! I am not going to bite you.”

“I can’t help it! You are not…”

“Then just imagine I am Touya, okay?”

Nodding quickly, Shindo took another deep breath and opened up the eyes that he had squeezed shut. “Ah…I…I am ready now…”

Saeki gave an inward sigh and placed his hand against Shindo’s chin gently. “Alright, Shindo, now close your eyes and just…feel, okay?”

“Oh…oh…okay…”

And this time, Shindo made sure he paid very close attention to his teacher.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Meanwhile (yet again)…

“Why are you still here, Touya?”

“I am waiting for Shindo.”

“Oh.”

Silence.

“Well, where is he?”

“I have no idea, Ogata-sensei.”

“Ah. Well…good luck waiting for him.”

“Th…thank you…” ~ I think. ~

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Twenty loooooooong minutes later….

The elevator doors opened up and Saeki walked out with a satisfied grin on his features as he noticed the dark-haired boy sitting in the lobby.

“Ah, ohayo, Touya-kun. Looking for someone?”

Akira rose to his feet and grit his teeth. “Where is he?”

“He is coming, don’t worry.” And leaning closer to the angry young man, Saeki whispered into his ear. “And this time, I think you will be very surprised.”

Not giving Touya a chance to find out what he meant, he gave a light wave and stepped out of the building. Moments later, the elevators opened up to reveal a smirking Shindo and it didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened.

“It took you long enough,” Touya spat out coldly as he began to make his way out of the building as well, not caring if Shindo followed him or not. “Dare I ask what kept you?”

“Oh…nothing,” came the flippant response that had Akira blistering. But being stubborn, he refused to inquire about it any further as they continued walking towards the train station.

Shindo couldn’t help grinning at how flustered Touya looked. If he knew the dark-haired boy well enough, that tough shell was going to break in …

~ One…two…three! ~

“I know you did something with Saeki-san, so stop acting like you have such a huge secret. What happened?”

Shindo shrugged and then spun on his heels to make a quick detour towards a familiar place. Cursing beneath his breath, Akira had no other option but to follow.

“Talk to me, Shindo! What did you two do?!”

They had now reached the park again and this time, the playground was empty, giving them a sense of solitude. Akira took a much needed deep breath and tried again.

“Shindo…what did you do…mmmpfff!!”

Surprise and shock caused him to part his lips and without further ado, Shindo accepted the welcome invitation. Tongues met and clashed in heated battle – tentative touches forgotten as a passion none knew they possessed flared within them. Akira felt as if he was melting and he knew his legs would have given way soon if Hikaru hadn’t been holding him so tightly.

~ Don’t stop…don’t ever stop… ~

A loud smack ended the communion as Shindo pulled back with a satisfied grin on his features. “Well? How did I do now, Touya? Was that good enough? Was it even better than Saeki-san’s?” He asked almost desperately as a light blush tinged his cheeks.

Akira’s flushed and dazed countenance was soon replaced by one of genuine surprise. He hadn’t thought that Shindo would have actually…

“You mean you actually went to Saeki-san for…help?” came the incredulous question.

Shindo scowled and went on the defensive. “I didn’t go for help, Touya! I don’t need anyone’s help to kiss you!”

With a smirk, Touya pushed Shindo away gently with a light laugh. “Sure, Shindo. So you were actually talking about old games and recreating them back there, right?”

The blonde pouted and followed the already striding figure. “So? You didn’t answer my question. Was that good enough?”

Touya hid a small smile. Shindo would never know just how much the kiss had really affected him, but for now…

“You still need more practice, Shindo.” He finally replied in a bored tone. “I suggest that this time, you ask someone with more expertise.”

“But I thought you said that…you and….Saeki-san had…that he was better than…?”

“Did I say Saeki-san? I actually meant…” A rare mischievous glint came into Akira’s eyes as he finished up loudly.

“Ogata-sensei.”

The color drained from Shindo’s face at the name and just as an image of Touya and the bespectacled man locking lips filled his mind, the sound of someone laughing erased it quickly.

Blinking stupidly, he gaped at the boy that was now doubled over in mirth. “What’s so funny?”

“Your…your face…the expression on your face!” Akira managed to gasp out as he watched the dawning comprehension in the other’s eyes. He tried to continue but the mortified expression that had been on the blonde’s visage earlier was more than he could bear.

As for Shindo, realizing that he was now being ridiculed, he pushed up the sleeves of his shirt and gave a mock growl of fury. “Touya Akira!! I am going to kill yo~u!!”

And in a rare moment of spontaneity that would have surprised anyone who was familiar with the genius Go player, he began to run back towards the train station with happy laughter on his lips…

Lips that still burned with the memory of a friend’s kiss.

~ OWARI ~