Here it is.

First off, I want to thank you all for the amazing feedback. I was surprised how many of you voted and the PMs I received with great ideas and just wonderful messages which made my day. Not to forget the fanart. You guys are all amazing and sweet and talented!

I'm awestruck.

And at the same time, I want to warn you! You know me and my style now thanks to 'Egoistical'! I'm terribly slow, the pace isn't fast, I'm a sucker for drawn out moments and interactions, fluff and the lack of drama. I hope I won't disappoint anyone. If I ever dare to write a moment where a canon character gets OOC tell me immediately! Every new character is new territory for me and I want to get them right no matter what, too.

Grammar, spelling stuff? Point it out! English isn't my native language and I want to improve, German grammar rules do differ quite a bit here and there, so I tend to mix it up. My bad.

My KnB stories are supposed to have the perfect partner for the chosen character. I've taken everything into account you readers have mentioned in your reviews and have talked a lot with Osthrite (a wonderful human being I'm being married to in rainbow cookie land.) who has shared her headcanons and perfect mind with me because I'm not confident in creating OCs on my own. A lot of credit goes to her. And you readers. Heck, everyone can pat themselves on their shoulder here.

Thank you for reading all of my rant, and for encouraging me to write more for KnB and for being such lovely and sweet readers! I hope you'll enjoy 'Lionheart' for the winner of the poll, Akashi Seijūrō. (that guy is so popular, like, seriously, what has he done, hahaha.)

One

"Ōte."

His voice was firm. A quiet and soft hum in the calm room which was filled with the sound of little wooden pieces clicking against boards, it was creating a rhythm. Loud and still breathless because none of the men spoke too much in between their moves - well, maybe. There was an exception in form of an elderly man who now blinked at the little battlefield in front of him.

A pair of eyes, the colors burning in the afternoon light, watched him. The way the man in front of him brushed his short grey beard, the way his warm eyes crinkled as he smiled. Somehow amused even though he was losing once more, like the many times before this match - but he was still smiling nonetheless...

The teenager felt his muscles relax as his opponent started to laugh quietly.

"That was indeed clever of you, Seijūrō-kun."

The old man leaned forward, reaching for a little piece to determine his next move. Akashi's gaze immediately fell to the board in front of them, his mind already calculating which possible moves were left now. How he'd react to every single one of them, naturally. It was nearly a shame that this match would be over soon. It had lasted quite some time, unlike the other ones he had played that day.

But before the knight landed on the wooden surface, his opponent came to a halt, the shōgi piece was hovering above its destination. And with a calm movement, the teenager looked up to see what had interrupted the flow of their match.

"Oh my, is it already this late?" The old man mumbled to himself as he glanced at the clock on the wall. "I'm afraid I have to leave."

Akashi didn't even bat an eyelash. It was something to be expected, on every single day the elderly man left around this time. Every time pointing out how his granddaughter awaited him, his little girl which always cooked their dinner when he returned from the shōgi club. An activity which the red haired teen attended more or less because of his father's wishes, there were some important men who came here to play - it never hurt to get in touch with them through such activities early.

But this man in front of him was different.

He brushed with his thumb over the wooden piece in his hand, obviously regretting to break their match just like that. However, with another smile he looked up at the young teenager.

"Do you like curry, Seijūrō-kun?"

"Excuse me?"

"My granddaughter is cooking curry today, I'd promised to buy the meat on my way home. If you wouldn't mind - we could continue our match at my place over a cup of tea and curry."

That was new.

Even though Akashi had already often played with this man - Iijima Hotaka - his opponent had never once offered something like that before. It was a strange invitation to receive. But at the same time flattering, he thought, as he actually considered to not return home just yet. The teenager rarely stayed at the traditional club any longer after Hotaka left, the black expensive car rolling soon after towards the entrance of the building.

Although maybe not today.

"We should."

Hotaka glanced at him in delight, the warm air he gave off only spreading further and further until he leaned forward. Marking off where their pawns and knights and other figures were lying, a polite gesture any player would do if it was decided to postpone the match. Akashi found himself pulling out his mobile phone, texting his driver to not come and pick him up because he decided to change his plans.

He'd always prefer such company over the personnel at his father's residence in Kyoto.

Akashi had never lost once, ever. But that didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a match nevertheless. Something which reminded him of his old days in his middle school, the countless times he had played against Shintarō. That guy had never once considered giving up either, just like Hotaka who only saw the good in his losses. Strange, not comprehensible for him, but Akashi couldn't deny the calm evenings he was able to spent here. Away from his school and home.

Hotaka led him out eventually. The elderly man was setting a slow pace with his weak legs, taking them down the road and away from the old fashioned building. They could have maybe driven; Akashi could have easily demanded his driver to take them to Hotaka's home. But the old man made it quickly clear that he enjoyed the walk, his hands folded behind his back as he mused over the warm spring they had.

"It is rather nice to enjoy the weather like this. It's not too warm yet." The grey haired man murmured with his deep voice. "Youngsters rarely have time to just go out and enjoy such things, right?"

"Maybe."

Hotaka laughed quietly at the teenager's curt reply.

"You're probably busy with school; you must be in the same grade as my granddaughter. You're around the same age."

That was something the elder often mentioned. His home and granddaughter. The weather and change of seasons. It were various things, often travelling from one topic to another flawlessly because he was able to connect all of them through a red string. But Akashi never minded that, it was a change of pace from what he was used to from school. His classmates didn't really offer entertainment on that level.

"The second year started not long ago." The redhead stated. "Many say it is the most long lasting one."

Hotaka merely smiled, musing over his own younger years where he had attended a high school not far from here. Kyoto was a calm piece of Japan. Time was slipping through their hands a lot slower, the air just a bit lighter than it was in Tokyo.

The red haired teen rarely bothered to walk around like this. Obediently stopping by a supermarket on their way where the old man bought a few ingredients for the so called curry. But it was kind of nice to not need the dark car, too expensive to be called normal, driving him around. It always caught attention. Heads would turn and gazes would follow him.

However, no one bothered to look now as he walked down the street with the elderly man beside him. With the trees of the alley reaching above their heads, offering enough shade to not feel annoyed by the sun's gleaming rays. And the air was filled with scents of spores and flowers and spring. If anything, Kyoto was always filled with a certain smell which changed from season to season.

"Ah. Just a second, Seijūrō-kun." Hotaka suddenly said, his slightly taller form leaving the side of the teenager as he approached a small open shop at the side of the street.

Akashi came to a halt, watching the grey haired man look at all the different kinds of flowers the store sold. The colors full of bloom. The petals differed from kind to kind. Each was unique and after only a few moments, Hotaka returned with a few cradled in his arms.

"I always bring my granddaughter a little present." He explained, even though he didn't have to.

For the teenager it was yet another detail he didn't really care about. But if it meant that the elderly man kept this relaxed expression on his face, it didn't hurt to just nod and continue following his lead down the alley and street until they reached the corner of the neighborhood where a few family houses stood. Every single one of them was already old - the structure something which fit in every picture book of Kyoto it seemed. It was no surprise that Hotaka lived in one of those as well, Akashi noted.

The older man easily stepped towards the entrance of his home, lifting his hand to open the door which had been apparently not locked before. He slid it to the side, offering a sight to a spacey entry area. Dark parquet spreading across the floor, a few pairs of shoes neatly set aside in the corner and before either of the males could have said anything a new voice resounded throughout the house.

"Welcome back, grandpa. I already prepared...oh."

The sound of flat steps stopped, the second a girl reached the entry area. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise at the sight of an unexpected guest although quickly she found the strength to smile and bow her head in greeting. It was causing her black hair to sway with her movement, letting a few strands of it fall into her face.

"Kozue, dear. I brought a friend to dinner today." Hotaka exclaimed as he approached his granddaughter with the ingredients and flowers in his hand.

Quickly she walked up to the older man, her face brightening at the sight of the little present. "Oh, you remembered." She breathed. "The Marigolds from the park yesterday. Those are just as pretty..." With a light laugh she cradled the flowers close to her chest; she had nearly forgotten their guest for a second before she glanced back towards the red haired teen in the doorway.

"Welcome. My name is Iijima Kozue."

It was the final nudge Akashi needed for his long taught manners to kick in. He sent her a light nod, his feet still glued to the spot as he spoke. "Akashi Seijūrō."

"Ah, you're Akashi-kun?" Kozue wondered softly. "Grandpa always mentions you."

It was nothing but genuine surprise in her voice. She had often heard the older man mention the name of the young teenager in front of her. But in truth she had never expected someone so young to attend the traditional shōgi club like her grandfather did. The friends she had met before were always around the same age as Hotaka - the teen in front of her was the greatest exception up until now.

"I already prepared tea if you two won't mind a cup?"

"It'd be lovely, dear." Hotaka replied, signaling Akashi to follow him. "I'd love to continue our game in the meantime."

Kozue's slim form walked down the hall. Still cradling the plastic bag and flowers in her arms while the older man showed the red haired teenager where their living room was supposed to be.

This house was definitely not comparable to the mansion he was familiar with. The residence in Kyoto his father owned was already smaller than the one in Tokyo. Although there was something about this building here, the old fashioned flair and doors you had to slide to the side to reveal the room behind it. The warm colored floor beneath his feet and atmosphere which had every single thing you'd imagine in such a traditional building.

It was rare when Akashi decided to let his guard down. But when Hotaka turned to him with a smile, it wasn't hard to return the gesture politely. It wouldn't hurt to stay here a bit and play another game or two. He had enough time later on to prepare for his upcoming tests.

"Really?"

"I'm being honest." Hotaka chuckled. "I have never won against Seijūrō-kun."

Kozue had chosen to sit with them for a while, at least as long the rice and curry was still cooking back in the kitchen. Time was the key until their meal would be ready and the girl would lie if she wasn't curious about her grandfather's rather young friend. It was hard to believe that the red haired teen had never lost before. But the longer she watched their match, the more she saw the skill Akashi possessed.

"That's amazing." She laughed softly, blinking at their guest. "Akashi-kun, you must be popular at the shōgi club."

His mismatched eyes glanced at her calmly before he reached for his cup. The scent of black tea rose into his nose, a smell which fitted their rather quiet home perfectly - just like the taste which left nothing but a nice herb note on his tongue.

"I am often challenged by others. That is indeed true."

"All the time more likely." Her grandfather stated with a smile. "Every time I arrive, he has beaten yet another challenger."

His granddaughter laughed, obviously amused by the obvious and still unusual friendship in front of her. And while she carefully gathered their empty cups in order to refill them in the kitchen, she found the last one handed to her by a pale hand. Kozue looked up, slightly surprised that their guest had noticed her intent and with a light smile she accepted the little object before she stood up to leave.

It was strange how different the atmosphere inside this house was, Akashi noted absent-minded.

At home he'd be already pursued by the staff. Their countless questions and offerings what could be cooked that evening. The same blank faces which greeted his demands with the same stoic smile and look in their eyes. Although all he saw here was the face of the older man on the other side of the broad shōgi board. Hotaka rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he reached for one of the small wooden pieces. Slowly and carefully setting it further forward to indicate an aggressive attack...

It was just strangely quiet here.

The red haired teen started to smile as he glanced down at the board game.

"That was a nice try, Hotaka-san. Although it was truly a bit too bold..."

Akashi reached for his knight and set it further forward, easily smothering the right flank of his opponent with pressure. An action Kozue's grandfather watched quietly before he laughed to himself. He hadn't even seen his mistake before the teen had easily spotted it.

"Kozue always tells me, I do not watch my right flank enough..." The old man chuckled into his hand, the wrinkles in his face increasing with the smile which graced his lips. "I guess, she's right after all."

"I'm right about what?" The girl asked as she returned with their tea.

"Everything, dear."

"Of course. I'm always afraid you'd forget that, grandpa." Kozue pointed out as she sat down beside the males once more, handing them their new cups of tea.

"I wouldn't even dare." Hotaka smiled.

His granddaughter easily let a smile grow on her lips as she handed their guest another cup of black tea. Her pale blue gaze was catching his as he accepted the warm drink with care; it was rare for him to meet someone who looked into his eyes without hesitation. His classmates always averted theirs after a moment - although Kozue did not seem to share that habit.

Instead she only looked away as both of their attention got caught by Hotaka who finally made his next turn. She watched the little wooden piece of her grandfather move forward, tackling one of Akashi's pawns and successfully getting rid of it. This decision made the red haired teenager lean forward, his calm expression not revealing if he had seen that move coming or not.

All what he did was take a sip of his tea.

The taste was familiar yet different from what he was used to from his usual afternoon drink. Just like the scent the cozy building carried. The note changing with the smell of the meat and curry which was slowly getting ready and Akashi could honestly not recall when it had been his last time to eat something as simple as that. Neither a meal which was cooked by the personnel his father had hired nor something the special school's cafeteria in Rakuzan produced.

Although the teen found himself not minding it in the slightest surprisingly as his focus returned to the shōgi board in front of him.

It was a rather nice change of pace.

Warning! Slow start ahead! Sorry! Bear with me, haha.