Game, Set and Match
Summary: It is never good to play the Goblin King and win. What if the wish that Hikaru wants can't be granted? What if he is given the wish he needs?
A/N: Frau hates when I do this. She isn't much of an anime fan like I am, but she has agreed to beta/edit any story I write as long as it has a decent plot to it. This is one of those – I hated the canon ending of this anime and thought about writing something I would enjoy reading. So there!
Frau sighs.
I had hoped to make this a one shot but it ended up being a couple of chapters. – GF
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Disclaimer: Hikaru No Go and the movie "Labyrinth" belongs to their writers, creators, and producers. Although Garion is our own creation he based off of Harry Potter, by J. K. Rowlings. We don't own anything but a couple of worn out laptops.
Please note that since this chapter will be taking place in the USA, we are forgoing Japanese style writing unless Garion decides to use it. Please note: Spoken Japanese will be italicized.
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Chapter 1
Hikaru Shindou wasn't your normal Japanese teenager. He never finished high school much to his parent's dismay. He also wasn't planning on a career path that his parents approved of, but his grandfather did.
His looks were also not those of your 'normal', everyday Japanese teenager either. He had bleached blond bangs that hung down into his green eyes. All in all, Hikaru Shindou looked and acted like a typical street brat.
The last thing that wasn't 'normal' was the fact that he became a Professional Go Player at the tender age of 14. In fact, at the ripe old age of 17, he was making more money than his workaholic father who was never home.
Hikaru had been asked to compete in an International Young Go Players Tournament hosted in the United States.
There were representatives from several different countries, and the United States, as well as Germany, Korea, China and Switzerland.
It was the last night of the competition. Everyone was gathered in a huge ball/conference room for one last celebration party. It was noisy, crowded and the alcohol was flowing freely.
Hikaru had done well during the day, taking home the first prize for Japan. He had won the final match against some loud, obnoxious American teen who thought he was the next Shusaku Honinbo. Hikaru hated to tell the braggart that he had played Shusaku personally, and no, the braggart wasn't even close.
When Hikaru was twelve he'd met a ghost who loved Go. The ghost was Fujiwara no Sai and he lived and died in the Heien Period. He'd haunted his grandfather's old 'goban' (or as the Americans would say: Go Board) for over a thousand years.
Some time during the Edo Period Sai had haunted someone else – Torajiro Kuwahara who later became Shusake Honinbo. Torajiro allowed Sai to possess him, and through his benign possession played Go. Torajiro never really learned how to play, he just did what Sai told him to do.
When Shusake Honinbo died at the age of 33, he was hailed as the strongest player to have ever lived. His games were legendary to this day.
When Hikaru was 14, Sai left without saying good-bye. The young Go Pro never really got over the disappearance, but later realized that Sai had left him a powerful legacy.
For Hikaru Go was his all. His connection left to Sai, someone he missed terribly. They say time heals all wounds, they were wrong.
He turned his thoughts away from the pain of his loss and forward, to the game ahead.
Later a publicity stunt for this event would take place. The winner of the Competition would be playing against the President and CEO of Tautha Enterprises, who sponsored and hosted the event. As the winner Hikaru had the unfortunate position of playing against the elusive mogul.
'I just hope he knows how to play a decent game," Hikaru thought and prayed to the Kami no Go. He didn't know if he should play a teaching game, or go for the kill.
A bored Hikaru made his way around the party that the hotel was hosting. He couldn't even speak the language well. He'd never finished school after junior high, and did poorly at that. Plus his interpreter had disappeared on him, and there really wasn't anyone interesting to talk to.
Suddenly guitar music caught his attention. Making his way over to where the sound was coming from, he discovered a teen about his age tucked in an alcove playing quietly.
Making himself comfortable, Hikaru allowed the music to wash over him.
All too soon Hikaru had to tear himself away from the calm oasis the guitarist had created. He could hear the announcer calling his name.
He gave the other teen a smile and a bow to show he appreciated the music before he headed back to the Ball room and the game waiting for him.
"A word of advice, Shindou-san," came the teen's voice in Japanese which caused Hikaru to pause and turn his head. "King-sama will want you to do your best to beat him. To play less than your best is an insult to him, you and the game."
Hikaru gave a slight bow again before leaving.
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Garion Williams hated parties like this. Gossip and back-stabbing, disguised as small talk, disgusted him, but as a true bard he had to put up with it.
He sighed as he placed his guitar away. With his talent of being able to direct and create magic through his music it seemed his work was never done. Magic demanded no less than his complete and absolute dedication as a bard of old. Until Garion there hadn't been a True Bard since Taliesin.
Tonight, he would perform one of his many duties. He would referee the match between the Go Winner Hikaru Shindou and his Father – The Goblin King.
He just hoped the Japanese teen heeded his warning. Father hated condescension, unless he was cheating. However, not to do your best was an insult to him and usually found the person hip deep in the Bog.
Garion wondered if he should tell his father what he had discovered in the few minutes Shindou-san had graced him with. To find one so young and carrying so much pain and grief around was very heart-breaking, especially for a magical empath as himself. That teen lived to play Go, hoping to see his departed mentor and best friend again. Sad really.
He frowned. Garion was certain that his adopted father would pick up on it. Shindou-san was still under age, even if he held an adult position. It was well known among magicals that the Goblin King had a weak spot for children, even bratty teenagers on the cusp of adulthood.
The young bard walked up on stage as Shindou-san and his father sat at the goban. Garion winced at the announcer's mangling of Shindou-san's name. He saw that the Japanese teen was trying to be a good sport about it, but even he was starting to feel insulted.
"Allow me," Garion said, taking the mic from the heavily accented New Yorker. "I wish to apologize Shindou-san. I am sure we can do better. I am Garion Williams, your MC for tonight. Sorry, but gaming isn't my best subject. Give me a character out of Shakespeare to act out any day of the week."
Several people laughed. The previous speaker scowled when Garion took over. 'Honestly, who hired this guy? Wasn't he told that I was the official spokesperson for Tautha Enterprises when the elusive Mr. King is in the building?' Garion mused as the other man stomped off stage.
Garion was thankful for his talent for languages. He had learned Japanese at the age of twelve along with German and Troll.
He exchanged a look with his Father, who was well aware of his son's talents and duties, having raised him from infancy. The look said it all. He was to be on his best behavior and no craziness tonight. Garion sighed, but where was the fun in that?
What the audience didn't know, or care, was that a being of ancient of tremendous power was in the building. The Goblin King was well known in the Magical Realms for being a trickster, a lover of games. Nor was anyone foolish enough to forget His realm – the Labyrinth, and the collection of unwanted children.
Tonight it was the lover of games coming out to play.
His father had been looking forward to this since Sarah, his queen and lady wife, had suggested it. At first the suggestion was for chess but a seer came to Jareth once the plans were started. She'd said that he would meet someone that will give him a game worthy of his talents but that someone carried a heavy burden that needed to be exorcised.
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Hikaru tried not to wince, or even show a bit of temper, as the person announcing the game had mangled and dishonored his name over and over again. Americans just didn't understand the proper way to speak.
Then that crazy-haired teen that had the guitar took over and finally, someone that knew how to speak was in charge.
He looked over at his opponent. So this was Jared King, CEO of Tautha Enterprises. He looked somewhat like the teen with his blonde hair defying gravity. What? Are his eyes two different colors?'Why does he feel like Sai used to?'
Both were studying each other as the announcing teen spoke to the audience, explaining that it would be one match with the same rules as the tournament. They would nigiri* for color before beginning.
"Hikaru-san," King-san spoke quietly and in Japanese. "I hope you will give me a good game. I haven't had a decent opponent in a long time."
"King-san, I hope I will not disappoint. I don't know your skill level, forgive me for asking, but what are the terms you wish to play under?" he replied in Japanese.
"As I understand it, we will play even with no handicap," Jareth replied.
"Black still carries komi, though. White is usually given 5.5 points to off set Black having the first move, King-san," Hikaru said, wondering yet again why was he doing this. However, as instructed, he would do his best. Sai would've wanted him to.
"It is agreeable."
When they drew stones for color, King-san would play white. So Hikaru played first.
In the background, Hikaru tuned out the person calling out the moves. After the fifth placement of stones Hikaru's focus and vision narrowed to the goban before him and his need to win. He would always try to win, for Sai's sake. His concentration was so deep he was unaware of his audience's reactions, or that he was rising the hairs on the back of the MC's neck.
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Garion blinked. What just happened? Was this an undiscovered bard? This Hikaru Shindou was radiating low level magic! His very being was so focused on the board in front of him he was unaware of the world around him. Garion realized Hikaru's fingers were glowing softly as the game went on.
His father was also noticing and from the looks of things, he is well pleased with it. All Fae seek challenges like this. If Shindou pulls off a win, Father will probably offer something for playing against him.
'Hmm. . . I'm having a hard time calling the game, without showing off my magical skills,' he thought. 'Hmm. . . Father is sure pleased with the outcome. It isn't often that he plays against an untrained magic user. He isn't a bard. He isn't into the arts as most bards are. Wonder if this is the person the seer was talking about? Better pay attention and worry about it later.'
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Hikaru could tell that he was losing. His opponent was better than anyone he had known. It was like playing his eternal rival Touya Akira or worse Touya's father.
'I need to turn this around. I have to look further into the game.' He scanned the board, looking, testing out theories in his mind, looking deep into the game as Sai had taught him. 'Can I win? No. . . Wait . . yes . . . yes I can!. . . There. . . wonder if he saw that?'
Hikaru played a move that he was famous for. He picked up a black stone with his two fingers and placed it in the spot that he was sure would give him a win. As the stone hit the wooden goban, a faint glow sparkled for a brief second.
For those watching who understood the game, all they saw was Hikaru playing a mistake. He didn't hear the whispers from the audience as he was too focused on the goban.
Hikaru's opponent, too, had paused in his play as he studied the board. Did he see what I saw? Will he just continue to play?
The sound of a stone hitting the board answered Hikaru's challenge.
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nigiri – the equivalent of flipping a coin to determine who kicks off a game of football. One player grabs a handful of white stones while the other tries to predict odd or even. Who wins gets black which plays first.
Komi – is bonus points given to white as compensation for playing second. There is no agreement on what Komi ought to be, but is commonly in the range of 4.5 to 7.5 points. Komi almost always includes a half point for breaking ties.