#clumsy seduction

“Shindou-sensei! Touya-sensei!” The head of the committee exclaimed. “We weren’t expecting you! Whatever brought you here?” He turned to one of his assistants to have him bring some tea. “Go on, everyone, there is no need to stop playing!” He motioned his hands at the staring crowd.

“We’re just visiting.” Shindou shrugged, glancing over at the event-goers as they turned back to their games. He didn’t want to reveal to the stranger that they were on vacation together.

“Well, it’s an honor,” said the Committee Head. “Congratulations on defending your title fifth time in a row, Shindou-sensei. And Touya-sensei, too, for the seventh time!”

“Thank you.” Hikaru and Akira both said. Then some people approached with their pen and paper. They asked Hikaru for his autograph, but he declined, mostly because he was too embarrassed to show his horrible handwriting. He deferred the requests to Akira, who signs with a beautiful hand. He really ought to ask Akira to teach him calligraphy one of these days.

“Why don’t you come with us to the back?” The Committee Head pointed to the inner part of the venue. “You might find something interesting. We have exhibitions for Go boards and Go history.” He led the way, turning his head back as he said so. “I hate to intrude on your personal time, but may we ask you to possibly play a few teaching games later? I understand if you don’t want to, but I’m sure the event-goers would love to play you.”

“Sure.” Hikaru said. As they walked with the committee members towards the exhibition booths, they passed by someone that Hikaru recognized almost immediately. The man recognized him, too. It was that vendor from years ago, when Sai was still here, who was counterfeiting Shin-Kaya Go boards as genuine Kaya boards and swindling people out of their money under the direction of Gokiso. If Hikaru remembered correctly, he also tried to sell a Go board with a fake Shuusaku autograph.

“Oh, Shindou-sensei!” The man was sycophantic, ready to please with his disgusting toadish face. It may be hard to swallow, but the man never thought that teenage kid from years ago would end up becoming a 5-time Honinbou titleholder. He was hoping Hikaru would be a forgiving person, because defending a title five times consecutively means that he must be loaded. Oh, he would like even just a small bite of that money; it must be just spare change for the champion! “What can I do for you today? I’ve got real Kaya boards and nice Go stones made from top quality oyster shells from Europe! All genuine, I promise!”

“Don’t. Talk. To. Me,” were the four words that Hikaru said back to him. They were uttered with seething anger, while his eyes shone with an unforgiving disdain that can rival the cold light of a sword’s sharpened edge. The man could feel a literal chill run down his spine. 

“Shindou?” Akira was alarmed at Hikaru’s reaction. Shindou turned away from the man and spoke to the Committee Head.

“If I were you I would be careful about letting unscrupulous vendors into my events.” He said succinctly, then turned to his husband. “Come on, Touya. I think they want us to play a few teaching games.” He pulled Akira’s arm and tugged him back into the open hall, where most people sat playing their games.

The two of them were generous enough to play five teaching games each against different people for free. But even as he played Go, Akira’s mind lingered on Hikaru’s burst of wrath. Something must’ve happened in the past between Hikaru and that vendor. Perchance it might have something to do with Sai as well.

They left after finishing their games, and Akira decided to follow Hikaru’s wishes for the rest of the afternoon, whatever they may be. They were on their honeymoon, and Akira wanted Hikaru to be happy, seeing how upset he was. They came across a bike shop along a touristy street, and Hikaru wanted to rent two bicycles so they could ride together as they go sightseeing.

So they did, and for the first time Akira realized how much of a difference in physical strength they had. Never having an athletic streak in him, Akira ran out of breath pretty quickly, heaving in sweat as he struggled to peddle fast enough to catch up to Shindou. Hikaru, of course, cruised easily at a moderate pace; physical education was, after all, his strongest suit before he discovered Go. They biked through the idyllic town, following the curvy roads that bent down to the lake. The view by the water was beautiful, and they rested there for a while, enjoying the downtime. Then an idea came to Hikaru's mind.

"Akira, wanna race?” He asked, grinning.

"What?” Akira asked. "Why?”

"Because it'll be fun; come on!” Hikaru said, hopping onto his bicycle and taking off. 

"Wait, Shindou!” Akira yelled after him. He scrambled to get onto his bike, already struggling to catch Hikaru. "Where are we going?!” He yelled.

"Back to the bike shop!” Hikaru shouted ahead. "Whoever gets there last has to treat ice cream!”

"Are you a kid...?” Akira mumbled to himself, chasing after Hikaru despite his exasperation. His lungs were tight in his chest and his throat burned; he has never exercised so much in his life. "Shindou, wait for me!” Akira said, a phrase that he rarely ever got to say to Hikaru. And he was sure that Hikaru heard him as well, because instead of slowing down, Hikaru sped up, going faster even as they biked uphill. "Shindou!” Akira was getting angry. 

Hikaru was having a blast. The wind whipped against his face and it felt great. It was almost like he was flying, soaring through the wind. He could take it just a little further...

As Akira struggled through his heavy breathing, he looked ahead and was sent into a panic by what he saw: Hikaru had let go of the handles of his bicycle, his eyes closed and his arms outstretched as though he was catching the wind. He kept peddling forward blindly, trusting nothing but his own instincts, as if he was lifted and led by a spirit in the air. It would have been an awesome sight to see, if not for the fact that they were coming to the top of the hill where the sidewalk ends at the bend of the road, and Hikaru was headed straight into traffic.

"Shindou!!” Akira shouted, fear seizing his heart as he peddled faster, trying to catch Hikaru. He was so close, just a little bit more, but Hikaru was still out of his reach...

Hikaru's eyes snapped open and he braked hard, stopping right at the edge of the curb. The suddenness of his stop was out of Akira's expectation, and Akira was not able to brake in time, his fast speed now hurling him towards Hikaru. In the split second that followed, Akira jumped out of his bike, unable to overcome his fear of being unable to stop, and he reached for Hikaru, who caught him. Akira's bike tossed itself off into the road, barely missing the car that passed by. For the longest moment, they both stared at Akira's bike lying on the ground, its wheels still spinning, whining sadly.

"Are you out of your mind?!” Akira whipped his head back to Hikaru, yelling angrily.

Hikaru grinned, looking very sheepish indeed. "Sorry...”

"It's not funny!” Akira pinched Hikaru's elbow, then pushed him off. "You're impossible!” He scowled as he found the opportunity to go grab his fallen bicycle before it becomes a road hazard.

"Sorry!” Hikaru said again. "Touya!”

Akira huffed and ignored him, walking his bicycle down the side of the road in the direction of the bike shop. His heart was still thumping in his chest, and he felt like he had to swallow it down to calm himself.

So in the end Hikaru bought the ice creams, and they ate in silence as they walked back towards the onsen resort they stayed at, after returning the bikes and paying for the damage. Akira was still angry, silent even as they took their first bath in the large hot spring.

They had dinner in their room, and Akira was drinking a lot faster than usual. He downed his first glass of beer in one gulp, then quickly continued onto his second glass. It made Hikaru nervous.

"Touya, I'm sorry...” Hikaru said, and sighed. "I know that was kinda stupid... but I just thought... Well, I felt...” He went silent, not sure if he wanted to explain what he was feeling at the time. 

"You felt what?” For the first time, Akira responded. He looked intently at Hikaru, waiting for him to reveal his inner thoughts again. 

"I thought I felt Sai’s presence for a moment.” He said. "I thought I felt his hand holding my bike, and leading it telling me to close my eyes and trust him.”

"But you said Sai disappeared...”

"Yes, and that’s still true...” Hikaru mused. "I don't know. It's not possible anyway because he can't hold anything. Maybe there's just too much going on in my head, with what happened this morning and all.”

Akira was thinking, and took another drink of his beer. "Yeah, what happened this morning? Do you know that vendor? What did he do?”

"Oh, I know him alright.” Hikaru said, his nose scrunching in disgust as the memory resurfaced. "He used to pass off Shin-Kaya Go boards as real Kaya boards trying to make a quick buck.” He said. "He even tried to sell a Go board with a fake Shuusaku signature!” Hikaru exclaimed. "Using Sai’s and Torajirou’s names in vain... I can't forgive him!”

"...” Akira felt like he heard something about this before. "Oh, is that what Kurata-san means when he says you're the authority on Shuusaku’s signature’s genuineness?” That must have been where Kurata-san met Shindou.

"Uh... yeah.” Hikaru scratched the back of his head. "Because Sai was so upset when he saw that bastard defrauding innocent people who didn't know better!”

"I see...” Akira said, and smiled gently. "Sai really was a kind person, wasn't he?” He remarked, finishing his beer. A Go player who can tell Shin-Kaya apart from real Kaya, and feel injustice even for people who are less knowledgeable about Go, must be a genuine and respectable character. 

"Yeah, of course he was!” Hikaru said, and drank some of his own beer. He eyed Akira, who was eating a fresh piece of sashimi from his plate, and felt a little relieved. It seemed like Akira wasn't mad at him anymore. 

"The food is good, huh?” He tried, untangling his legs under the table and inching them closer to Akira's. Akira didn't get mad; he nodded, chewing silently and pouring himself yet another glass of beer. "Aren't you drinking a little fast?” 

"Leave me be.” Akira said, and took another sip. Hikaru watched; at the rate he's going, he’ll pass out before they have a chance to do anything tonight. Even at his normal pace, Akira isn't the strongest when it comes to alcohol. His face was already starting to glow. Hikaru wondered what he was playing at. 

"Don't drink too much; you're gonna regret it when you get a hangover.” He said. 

"But I never get hangovers.” Akira said, challenging. "Nice try, Shindou.”

"Pffft, that's only ‘cause you've never drank enough to have one.” Shindou mocked, because he had that experience. They get pretty crazy at Waya’s place sometimes. 

"You don't believe me?” Akira rebutted, now finishing his third glass. Is that a challenge Shindou heard in his tone?

"Are you gonna try to prove me wrong?” Shindou straightened up, sounding defiant himself. 

"I will.” Akira said as he poured himself another glass. He poured some more into Hikaru's glass too. "Should we see who will go down first?”

"Don't, Akira.” Shindou said. He simply knew that on this matter, he was stronger than Akira. He had already tested his own limits when hanging out with Waya and Isumi and knew exactly where they were. Akira never went anywhere even close to that. If Akira drank as much as it took for Hikaru to pass out... he'll never make it. It'll get dangerous. "You'll never win.”

"Try me.” Akira said, and starting downing his glass. This is way more than he is used to, but he was surprised at the pleasant buzzing feeling, like his head was floating. This may be more fun than he had expected.

"Okay, that's enough.” Hikaru said, trying to grab the glass from Akira's hand, but Akira smacked his hand away, gulping down the rest of it. "Touya! That's your fourth glass!” He's never had this many before. Hikaru was usually around to make sure he didn't overdo it, because he knew Akira wasn't very good at holding his liquor. 

"Don't underestimate me.” Akira said, though it was obvious he was losing his composure. "I can still go...” He was ready to pour himself another glass, the bottle still having its last third. But Hikaru wouldn't let him, and took the bottle out of his hand. Then Akira tried to fight him for it, and Hikaru decided to gulp its contents all in one go in order to stop him. 

"There, no more.” He waved the empty bottle in front of Akira.

"Shindou!” Akira complained, frowning, but his body was wavering unsteadily, so Hikaru knew he made the right choice. He wondered what's gotten into Akira tonight.

"Shh, keep it down.” Hikaru said. Akira pouted (yes, he actually pouted), a childish frown across his face as he tried to glare at Hikaru. It didn’t quite work, his face and lips all pink from the alcohol, his mouth slightly agape. Hikaru felt heat rising to his head. “I'm gonna go take a second bath.” He quickly said, straightening his yukata to get up. 

"Wait, I'll come with you.”

"No, you stay here.” He said to Akira. He's had too much to drink and going into a hot spring in his state will only make the alcohol run around faster and make it worse. "And don't go outside.” He added; he didn't want Akira hurting himself or running into someone. He went to the closet and grabbed the futon prepared by the resort, laying it out so Akira can rest in it. Akira sat still by the table, watching Hikaru, his head getting heavy in his palm. When Hikaru was done, he turned to Akira only to find that the man had dozed off, somehow managing to keep sitting exactly in that position. Hikaru sighed, but did not try to wake him up, feeling responsible for not stopping Akira earlier. Then finally for the first time today, he reached for Akira’s face and kissed his forehead softly.

"I'll be right back.” He whispered inaudibly. "Wait for me.”

By the time Shindou came back from his second bath, Akira was laying in the futon, barely coherent. Worried, Hikaru sat by his husband, sliding a hand up his forehead to feel for his temperature. Akira’s skin was warm to the touch, and he smelled like hops.

“Touya, are you okay?” Hikaru asked when Akira mumbled under his touch, shifting to face Hikaru.

“Shindou…” His voice was catlike, and his hand reached up Hikaru’s arm by instinct. “My head hurts…”

“Yeah, what did you think was gonna happen?” Hikaru said, a little angrily. “I told you not to drink so much.”

“It’s hot…” Akira said, his voice now whining, his hand squeezing Hikaru’s arms.

“Well let go of me, then! You’ll just make it worse!” Hikaru said as he pried Akira’s hands from his arms, putting them down by his side. Akira didn’t fight it, but continued to mumble in discomfort. Hikaru could see he was red through his neck, down to his chest. Sighing, he untied the obi around Akira’s waist, hoping to loosen his yukata and give him some breathing space to cool down. But precisely as he opened the lapel of Akira’s robe, he got a glimpse down and discovered (perhaps to his doom) that his husband was, indeed, very much aroused.

“Oi, Touya…” Shindou felt challenged for the nth time tonight. “Do you have any idea what kind of dangerous position you’ve left yourself in…?”

“Hm…? What danger?” Akira asked, not truly comprehending anything at the moment. His eyes slid open thinly and he gazed at Shindou. “You’re here, aren’t you?” His hands once again reached up to Shindou to pull him down, wrapping his arms trustingly around him.

“Why, you…” Shindou gritted his teeth. Akira can be very trying at times. “Is this an invitation?” He asked as Akira continue to wrap himself around Shindou like ivy growing on a tree trunk. Hikaru could feel his own sanity slipping.

“Shindou…” Akira said softly, and then he went quiet. Hikaru blinked, wondering what happened, before he heard soft snores from the man who was now solidly locked around him. Hikaru felt something snap, then either out of his frustration or his anger, he reached down without hesitation and made contact with Akira’s arousal.

Akira let out a soft yelp, suddenly awake now. His breathing was quick, hitching as he shut his legs together, his toes curling around the sheets. His hands gripped Hikaru’s shoulder tightly, leaving angry red marks on the skin through the fabric of his yukata. “Shindou…!”

“Do you want me to stop?” Hikaru asked, his voice getting husky. Akira shook his head against Hikaru’s shoulder. Hikaru pressed a hand against the back of Akira’s waist. “Then relax.”

Slowly, Akira let go of the tenseness in his muscles, and then he was a pool of weak limbs under Hikaru’s hands, defenseless and open. Hikaru lowered themselves so they were both laying on the futon, softly kissing Akira in the process.

It didn’t take very long for Akira to lose it. He moaned against Hikaru’s lips, his hips bucking up into Hikaru’s hand. Blood was pumping fast through his body, pounding in his head. His arms held onto Hikaru still.

“Touya… this is bad. We should stop; you’re drunk.” Hikaru said as he tried to pull himself away. Where did they put that box of tissue?

"No…” Akira refused, his arms closing around Hikaru. "Don’t go! Don’t leave again…” His voice cracked, and he sounded like he was about to cry.

"Okay, okay, okay…” Hikaru cooed as he was pulled into a suffocating hug. "I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here. Don’t start crying…” He said, and only then did Akira calm down and loosen his grip a little. Hikaru sighed; it feels like he’s babysitting a big adult, and it is tiring.

"Shindou…” Akira looked at Hikaru expectantly. "Are you gonna…?”

Hikaru gave Akira a discerning look, and shook his head, kissing Akira’s forehead. "No. You’re too drunk. You’ll hate me for it when you sober up.”

"No I won’t…” Akira said softly. He would never hate Shindou, drunk or sober.

"That’s the alcohol talking.” Hikaru said. When Akira said nothing in return, but continued to gaze at him, Hikaru smirked. "Or are you inviting…?”

“…” Akira frowned. He didn’t like being put on the spot. If this is how Shindou wants to play… “If you’re not gonna do it then I will do it myself. It’s either your hands or mine, so which is it, Shindou Hikaru?” He sounded incredibly sober when he said that, so much so that it surprised Hikaru.

”…Damn it, Touya…” Hikaru groaned, getting onto his knees and pulling Akira with him. “Just my hands and nothing more, mind you!”

Akira supposed that he should be grateful that Hikaru was so proper about this. He was partly hoping to make inviting easier when he chose to down all that beer, but it seemed like a bad idea now that it’s backfiring and making Hikaru hold back.

"Just a second…” Hikaru said as he went to find their lube. Akira laid flat on his stomach, his eyes downcast as he waited with a pounding heart. He heard the sound of the bottle opening, and glanced back at Hikaru as the latter poured some of the stuff onto his hands. Akira waited with anticipation as Hikaru lifted the edge of his yukata, his eyes never wavering as they looked into Shindou’s, and it was enough to make Hikaru blush nearly as red as Akira was.

To hide his embarrassment, Hikaru leaned forward to kiss Akira, sliding his hand under Akira’s yukata at the same time to make his move. Akira gasped, feeling the cold digit sliding in. He folded his arms together and rested them on the pillow, dropping his forehead against them. He sighed, his body relaxing.

Hikaru watched closely as he worked his finger around; it was almost like giving a massage, just a different kind. He slipped in a second finger after a while, and Akira didn’t even notice, while his other hand found its way to the front, massaging the other part. Low moans escaped from Akira’s throat intermittently as he indulged in the comfortable gratification of Hikaru’s administrations.

“Touya…” Hikaru whispered, and increased his speed, pressing harder with his fingers. He knew he’s found the spot when Akira’s noises got louder. It was getting harder for Hikaru to hold his own.

“Ah…” Akira drawled, inhaling sharply as his body went rigid.

“Keep breathing, Touya.” Hikaru said, shifting so he could bend his body over Akira’s, allowing him to lean closer and his fingers to get deeper in. Akira obliged, but knew that his limit was near again. Hikaru got a face full of the remaining faint boozy smell from Akira’s skin, reminding him of just how much Akira had to drink tonight. “Touya… I don’t think I can do this anymore…”

Akira glanced back, and saw that Hikaru looked nearly as intoxicated as he was, but not from alcohol; rather, from the way Akira was behaving. “Then just do it…” He said.

Hikaru frowned, and, though grumbling, removed his hands and knelt up to take off his yukata. It felt like the whole night was going at Akira’s pace, and Hikaru had been completely led on by him. “Are you sure about this?” He asked one more time.

At this point, Akira was inclined to glare at Shindou. “Yes.” He said simply, his eyes audacious and daring as he held Hikaru in his gaze. Hikaru had made him wait long enough. Sighing, Hikaru leaned forward to kiss Akira once again, his hands pushing Akira’s yukata off, tossing it aside. Their bodies connected, quietly, as they shared their kiss. Hikaru started moving after they pulled apart, and Akira was back to muffling his cries with the pillow.

Hikaru pinned Akira’s wrists to the sheets to give himself some leverage when moving. In turn, Akira’s fingers instinctively wrapped around Hikaru’s wrists. Their movement felt like sailing on the open sea, pulling and pushing, pulling and pushing. The rise took longer than usual, as though they were on a journey together, moving forward at the same pace slowly so that they can savor the best of it.

“Shindou…” Akira whimpered, all of his senses heightened because of his intoxication. He might be closer to the end than he’d thought, a simmering need for release bubbling along all of his nerves.

“Just a moment, Akira…” Shindou said, then his eyes cracked open to look at his husband. Akira had been staring at him, his head pressed against the pillow, his eyes looking sultry and getting more erotic every moment. It was as if Akira had been waiting, like he did all those years ago, and then suddenly Hikaru felt sorry to have kept him waiting. He picked up his pace, lowering his body so that he can encircle Akira with his arms. Akira sighed appreciatively, finding solace in Hikaru’s presence.

It was an unusual type of orgasm they had together, a mellow, quiet, and smooth one, marked by a gradual rising wave and lasting duration. Heat radiated from the tangle that was their bodies as they breathed, with nothing but the sound of their beating hearts to accompany them. When they opened their eyes, and looked into each other, on the same breath they said, “That wasn’t enough.”