A/N: I do hope you like this chapter and will continue reading.

2604 words previous, 3495 words

Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go, nor do I want to. it would be terrible if I did.

Chapter One: Ghost From the Past

Hikaru's POV

It started raining so Akari and I started running. "My grandfather's place is just up ahead Akari" I smiled really glad grandpa is letting me take anything I want from the attic. "I told you we should've gone straight home Hikaru!" Akari complained. I rolled my eyes at this. The rain feels good so I have no idea why she's complaining about it.

Upon reaching the house I knocked on the door calling grandpa's name. "I'm coming in grandfather!" I called out wondering if he's home or not. I think he is but I have no idea. "I brought Akari with me so I hope that's okay" I spoke when I closed the door.

"Are you sure this is okay?" she asked making me smile. "It's fine Akari" I smiled walking up the stairs that lead to the attic. "Grandfather gave me permission to look around" I elaborated when we reached the top. "This place is creepy Hikaru, can we leave?" she sounded nervous and scared. I don't think this place is creepy at all. I like anything to do with literature and history, even if I remember it all.

Opening a chest I heard Akari ask if I should be doing this. "It's fine Akari," I started annoyed now. "Grandfather said if I find something I like I can have it or sell it. I don't want to sell any of it anyway" I told her. Looking through the chest I was shocked to find something. "It's a Go Board, why is it up here?" I whispered/wondered aloud picking it up. Putting it down as gently as possible, to not damage it, I placed it on the floor. It was covered in dust making me frown.

"Oh look! It's an old five-in-a-row board" she sounded excited making me sigh. "It's an old Go Board Akari. My grandfather still plays but I wonder why he hasn't taken care of this one" I corrected her. I don't like the idea of a Go Board being treated badly. Grabbing a cloth I started getting the dust off.

Lightning crashed and thunder rolled in the background worrying me. I worried even more when I saw blood and tear stains on the board. I could barely look at it and it wasn't coming off either. Voicing my frustration without meaning to Akari spoke. She asked what I was talking about because there wasn't a stain. "It's right there" I spoke pointing to it.

Hearing a familiar voice I frowned. You can see it? That can't be him. I thought I was hallucinating because of all the dust in here so I ignored it. "That's what I've been trying to tell you" I told Akari. You can hear me?! The voice sounded excited now making my heart skip a few beats. Looking up and around he spoke again. You can really hear what I'm saying!

Third Person POV

Hikaru couldn't ignore the sound anymore and stood up. "Sai?" the boy asked in confusion and with a tinge of hope. Lightning crashed and Akari was terrified when Hikaru asked that. She had no idea who he was talking about or what was going on.

"How do you know my name? That doesn't matter right now. At last I can return" the owner of the disembodied voice sounded excited. Hikaru felt the same with just the idea that it could be Sai Fugiwara. Akari was so freaked out she ran to the stairs but fell on the way down.

"I offer my gratitude to the gods for this opportunity" the man spoke. The Go Board glowed a bright blue green as the man continued speaking. Hikaru was surprised when a gust of green wind and energy burst from behind him. "I can finally, finally return to this world!" the voice said enthused at the prospect of returning. A man with long purple hair and sharp silver/grey eyes appeared. He looked nothing like the voice made him out to be. Hikaru recognized the man anyway.

'I never thought I'd see him again after so long. I didn't think I ever could' Hikaru thought, heart filled with happiness at seeing this man again. Hikaru may have looked different back then but he always felt bad for doing that to Sai. For taking away his Go Instructor position for the emperor at the time. Hikaru was so excited and scared that he fainted from all the feelings rushing at him. He could still hear Sai's voice through his unconscious state of mind though.

"What happened Hikaru? Are you okay? Hikaru!" Akari yelled frantically. She was worried about the boy but so was Sai.

Hikaru's POV

"You know my name but it is polite to introduce yourself. My full name is Fugiwara no Sai" he told me. 'My name is Hikaru Shindo, you can call me Hikaru' I told the man. He started explaining the circumstances of his death where one of my former lives cheated in a game.

Back then he didn't know the reason for my cheating. I was going to tell him, but it was too late to do so. He killed himself by walking into a river, two days after the event. It was a Go match that would determine who would become the Emperor's Go Instructor during the Heian Era.

Thinking back on the times I had to listen to kids tell me I had to tell everyone they knew, face-to-face, the reason for their disappearance was because they lost to me. The guilt I felt right now hearing Sai explain what was going on with him, what he went through because I was too late. When I compare those two things the first one can't compare to the latter.

"Because I was unable to find peace my soul was trapped inside the Go Board. For what felt like an eternity, one day on the Island of Enoshima on the Seto Sea, I heard a child's voice" Sai explained. He continued saying that the boy, Torajiro, set him free. Torajiro was an aspiring Go player and allowed Sai the ability to enter his body. At the age of twenty Torajiro had surpassed his teacher and became known as Honninbo Shusaku the Fourteenth. At the age of 34 however, he fell victim to an epidemic.

'So they were the blood stains of the board's previous owner. Are you here because you still want to play Go Sai?' I asked wondering when I'll wake up. "Yes, that is correct. I have yet to play the Divine Move" he answered. Why does every Go player want to play that? So many are after it and no pair has achieved it.

Scene Change: Room 6-1

Walking into class I heard someone call my name. "Did you really ride in an ambulance yesterday?!" the boy sounded excited. "Yes, don't really know how it was though so please don't ask" I answered smiling slightly. He was surprised and didn't say anything else.

When I reached my seat I took my bag off setting it on my desk. "Hikaru?! Are you okay? What happened to you?" Akari asked. "Sorry Akari, it was normal two years ago so I don't know why it started again" I smiled sadly. The teacher came in telling us we were having a test today. Many groaned and complained but I didn't mind. I like tests, I finish them quickly to. She handed a stack of the quizzes to each person in the front row telling them to pass them back. When I got the quiz I sat up straight before she told us to flip it over.

"Ooh a history test!" jumping slightly from the scare I smiled at Sai. He sounded really excited about the fact it was a history test. As I smiled I answered the questions with ease in fifteen minutes. 'You want to play Go again really badly, huh Sai?' I asked him in my head. "Oh yes! More than anything!" he answered sounding really happy. I didn't want to say no but I have to.

'I can't play Go for you Sai, I'm sorry' I apologized immediately regretting it. As soon as I said it a wave of nausea hit me as I felt a large amount of sorrow enter my head. Running out of the room and down the stairs to the sinks I crouched down. What I ate at the hospital rose up my throat and into the sink.

'What was that for Sai?' was annoyed but I get the feeling. Teetering a bit on my feet when everything started to spin I sunk to the ground. "Are you okay Hikaru?!" I heard Akari yell as footsteps got closer. "Do you need to see the school nurse Hikaru? You worried me" my teacher asked when I felt a hand on my shoulder. "That's not necessary, I'm fine" I told her using the edge of the sinks to lift myself up. The world wasn't spinning anymore so I felt relieved. The rushing water of the faucet stopped so I think Akari turned it off.

"You must have felt my intense sorrow at the thought of not being able to play Go again" Sai suggested. 'I already know that Sai, please control your emotions' I told the man. I stumbled a bit before I felt two bodies on my sides. Akari and my teacher were still worried that something was wrong.

When we got to the classroom I sat down at my desk again. 'As long as it doesn't bother my parents I'll play Go for you Sai. When it starts to bother them too much I'm stopping' I warned the man. "What? Why? Nevermind, I get to play Go again!" he sounded confused but he was excited none the less. The teacher told us that there was ten minutes left to class. If we're done we should go over our work. I was done but I don't need to look it over.

"I think there's a Go Salon in front of the station we can play at when school ends, okay?" I whispered. "Are you done Hikaru?" the teacher asked and I nodded. "Finished before I left, sorry for causing you worry" I told her feeling bad about it. I'm used to falling unconscious and being comatose but throwing up is new. "You can still check your work. So long as you tell me if something's wrong it's fine" she commented making me nod. She smiled a small smile before walking away, right through Sai.

"Your teacher is so rude! Walking right through me with no manners what-so-ever" Sai complained. It made me cover my mouth to stifle a chuckle. 'She can't see you Sai so can you excuse her for now?' I asked smiling at the ghost. Taking out an old Go Book that I got when I was little I opened it to start reading.

Time Skip: After School

I know there's a Go Salon this way. I haven't gone inside but I have stopped to look at it. "Your city sure has a lot of people Hikaru!" Sai exclaimed when we were crossing the street. His excitement was contagious apparently because I felt myself smile. 'Tokyo's a big place Sai' I smiled at him opening my eyes.

"So where are we going to play Go?" he sounds really anxious now. "The closest Go Salon is Touya Meijin's. It's a medium sized place that's halfway popular" I whispered. He was confused when I said that so I elaborated. 'Kouyou Touya is a high level Go player and has a Go Salon named after him. My grandfather goes there sometimes but I haven't went inside yet' I finished.

"So people still enjoy Go like they did in my time?" Sai sounded surprised and elated at the same time. "Yes they do, it's really popular all across the world. Not as popular in Japan because, with the exception of a few people, there aren't many good players" I answered with a frown. I don't know why people don't like Go. It's a good strategy game with many ways to attack, defend, win, lose, tie. You can do so many things in a game of Go and can play multiple people at once.

Reaching the Go Salon I was amazed by it. I've never been in one before but I know I have to pay an entrance fee. "Welcome" a woman greeted so I looked to her. "Are you new here?" she asked making me nod. "Yes, it is. My grandpa comes here sometimes though" I smiled looking at the people playing. "Anyone can play in this Go Salon right? No requirements?" I asked and she nodded. "Just write your name here," she started showing me a clipboard. I signed my name in old Japanese, very neatly, surprising her.

"What's your skill level?" she asked making me frown. "I don't really know. I stopped playing it two years ago so I don't remember. Decent… maybe" I shrugged shocking her again. I'm actually past Honninbo level but I'm not saying that. "Since it's my first time playing here is there someone my age," looking around I saw my answer.

"Like him? Is it fine if I ask him to play me?" I asked gesturing to the green-haired boy. "I know he's your age but I don't think that's a good idea" she told me as the boy got up. My heart skipped a few beats when I saw him walk towards me. He's beautiful and looks really kind. I could tell from looking at him that he's a really good player to.

I didn't realize how close to me he was till he said something. "Are you looking for someone to play against?" he asked making me shake my head before smiling. I nodded with a smile telling him I was. "But this boy…" the green-haired male interrupted her when she was about to tell him something. It made it seem like I never played before.

"Let's go back there" the male said but I took my wallet out instead. "Since it's his first time it should be free for now" the male told the woman. It made her blush and I put my wallet back in my pocket. "If you say so Akira" the woman told the male. I knew I recognized him from somewhere. Akira Touya, Kouyou Touya's son and a Go prodigy since he was young.

Following Akira we reached the table he was sitting at when I came in. We both sat down, me in a chair, him in a booth. "My name is Akira Touya, what is your name?" he asked making me smile. "Hikaru Shindou, sixth grade, it's a pleasure to meet you Akira-san" bowing my head in greeting. "I'm also in sixth grade" he was really excited about that making me smile, just a bit, wider.

"This is going to be a lot more fun than playing against older guys! Their moves are easy to figure out" I smiled happily. "What skill level are you?" he asked making me frown as I shrugged. "No clue, never had to answer that before" I answered. He looked confused before I sighed. "I consider myself a really great player" I answered honestly. He laughed at that making my heart skip again. "Why don't you put four or five stones down for now?" I frowned at this. "I don't really like being placed on handicaps Akira, it seems rude to ask someone that in general. Can we not use them?" I asked. "No handicap against Akira Touya?" "Who does he think he is?" some elders asked. "You can go first" Akira suggested making me nod.

Picking up the stone I put it between my middle and pointer finger. I smiled at the feel of the stone before a saw tears fall in front of it. Looking up I saw that Sai was crying. Is he that happy to play again? Or is he sad he can't hold the stone? Even though we share a mind and soul I can't tell why he feels certain ways.

"Let's play Hikaru" Sai said when he stopped crying. "Upper right corner 4-17, one point left of the top right Star Point" he ordered. Akira placed his stone so Sai told me where to place the next one. He said 3-4 or 16 across and 17 down. Akira placed his and Sai told me to place another at 3-16. Akira placed his again and I put mine at 16-5. I knew it! Sai was playing one of his favorite moves, the Shuusaku Diagonal.

14-4

Placing the stones where Sai told me to it was like I was on autopilot. It has been ten moves so I know how Akira plays now. He really is good and will be even better later on in life. "It's your turn Akira-san" I smiled when he didn't go yet. He seemed out of it. "Ah… gomen" he apologized before playing.

14-11

I didn't like how Akira keeps playing. I could easily beat him the way his mind is now but I'm not playing how I used to. Anytime I played my style of Go someone got hurt somehow. I know Sai wouldn't lose easily so I continued playing as if I was someone else. As if I wasn't playing but observing.

Sai had me place a stone completing the form of a capture. Taking the lone white stone I placed it in the inside cover of the Go Bowl. Akira placed another stone.

19-15

Akira placed a stone where Sai had taken one. Sai told me to place a stone at 18-14 before I took the stone on the edge. It was surrounded on top, on the bottom, and on the left. I noticed a while ago that Akira was sacrificing the white stones near the one Sai just took.

I didn't ask Sai about it and I think that confused him. I continued following Sai's orders not sure if he can achieve what he came for. He can't play Go himself, the stones go right through him. I didn't let Sai know what I thought about it though.

4-13

Placing the stone started another battle. "8-5" that order made me growl inside my head. 'Sai that is a bad idea! Don't play with Akira like that' I told the man. "Why not?" he sounded proud but also like he was feigning ignorance. I didn't bother answering since I know he won't heed my advice.

Third Person's POV

"Finished with your game?" Ichikawa asked Hikaru when he was heading out. "Yes, I did" the young man smiled placing money on the counter. "I'd feel bad if I didn't pay the fee" he told her making her nod.

"There's a Go tournament for young players coming up. You should be there" Ichikawa told the boy handing him the flyer. "I'll think about it, I've never really been to one. Thanks for today, see ya later" the young man commented/waved before leaving. She liked the kid for his kindness and honesty.

On the other side of the room, with Akira, a crowd had gathered. They were asking if the boy had really won against Akira. The crowd's conversation had Akira frozen in shock and disappointment. 'It's more than just two stones' Akira thought looking at the board. 'He was playing on a way higher level than me. The young man was playing Teaching Go with me. Even with Komi I would've lost and he played for real' Akira thought in frustration.

Ichikawa rushed to the middle of the crowd in confusion. "Did you really lose to that boy Akira?" she asked really shocked and confused. She couldn't understand how Akira could lose. "That can't be. He said he quit playing Go two years ago, how could someone who quit playing win against you?" Ichikawa asked. This surprised and confused Akira. 'Why? Why would he quit playing Go and start again after two years? It makes no sense' the young man wondered. 'I need to know more about Hikaru Shindou, regardless of what I find out' Akira decided.

Hikaru's POV

Walking down a path leading to my house I had my hands behind my head. I wonder if playing Akira how I used to would be okay? If it is then I might play even after Sai leaves. "Not playing after two years is tiring. Did you have fun Sai?" I smiled looking over my shoulder at him. I stopped walking when I saw the huge smile on his face. He looked really happy for a ghost.

"It was really fun to play again" he sounds really happy, that made me happy to. "When we get home don't bug me, I want to read one of my books" I warned the ghost. When he nodded I told him I would race him home. I started counting down from three before running when I got to zero.

A/N: Hello, I finished writing this at 1:04 A.M. on August 12, 2016.

I finished rewriting this at 1:25 P.M. on March 22, 2018.

I do hope you like this chapter and story, see you whenever.