Disclaimer: "I don't own any of the Hikaru no Go characters or anything related to them. I'm just using them in my story."
Hikaru was sitting on the floor, his go board just two inches before him. He reached for a white stone and placed it on the board.
Pachi.
He smiled by himself, satisfied with his move. He always couldn't help smiling when he played a move that was so close to the one Sai would've played. It was just a year ago Sai vanished, but it felt like yesterday. As he reached for a new stone, a black one, he thought of the last Hokoto Cup, a few months in the past. Even though he hadn't been able to beat Ko Yeongha he was convinced he would beat him the next time they played.
As he was thinking about his past few months of playing, he had to say he played fairly well. He had made it past the 1st prelims of the Honinbo title and was currently in the 2nd prelims of the Kisei and the Gosei titles. This was of course nothing compared to Akira, who'd made it into the 3rd prelims of the Oza tournament and was already seeded for the 3rd prelim of the Honinbo title. He noticed a weak spot in black's defence on the lower left so he attacked with a white stone. Akira… he must say he wasn't chasing with all his heart towards him any more. It seemed like he had another goal now: surpassing Sai.
He smiled once again towards himself as he realised what he just thought. Like that was possible. But then, lately he was becoming more passionate about go, if there was any way to be more passionate. He played an extension on the upper right and left it at that. It was time to go to Morishita 9-dan's study session. Waya would be there and he really had to ask when the Young Lions Tournament would be. He knew it was within two weeks, but didn't know when exactly. When he finished cleaning up the stones and the go board, he grabbed his fan tightly and went downstairs. He yelled a goodbye to his mom and made his way to the bus.
"So there you are, Shindo," Waya yelled. "What took you so long?"
"Sorry Waya, I was just practicing my skills. By the way, how went your last match against Honda in de 1st round of the 1st Gosei prelims.?" Shindo answered.
"He won, of course," Morishita answered in Waya's place. "Although it took you long enough to win by just 2.5 points." He added.
Waya grimaced by the look of his sensei and continued. "Shindo, are you ready for the Young Lions Tournament?"
"Sure am! Oh yeah, when did you say it was exactly?"
"It is five days from now, and will continue the next 2 Sundays. Do you want me to write it down for you?"
Hikaru smiled hearing that comment and sat down before the go board. Shirikawa-sensei and Seaki 5-dan sat down too and the began to discuss the game between Morishita 9-dan and Ichiryu 9-dan from last week.
Akira's face was getting warmer and he knew it. Normally, he wouldn't get angry this quickly but this one person on the opposite of the table had just made such an ridiculous move, that he couldn't hold back.
"A knight's move? You actually think that would work? And it's a small one too! Try at least a large knight's move if you really want to improve!!" He yelled angrily towards the person next to him.
Hikaru wasn't impressed. In fact, he wasn't impressed at all.
"You know, young go prodigy! This move has got thought behind it. So just sit down and play!"
"Thought? Thought?! You say you read over 20 moves ahead before playing it? Because if you did, you know it wouldn't have worked." Akira shouted after the continuation. "And when do you ever get past the 2nd prelims? You know I'm waiting!"
"I will, I will, but those higher dans really won't give in." Shindo replied.
"Yeah right, that's the spirit!" Akira added sarcastically. "Keep holding it and you'll become my rival."
Hikaru didn't reply directly, because he knew there was a sign of truth behind it. He had to work harder, but it was hard without Sai. He had grown of course, but it wasn't quite as much as he'd hoped for. His silence was seen by Akira however, who asked: "What's going on Shindo? Didn't you want to chase after me with all you've got."
"Yes I want that, but actually, I have some sort of other goal…"
"Continue."
"Well I want to become stronger than someone who is…" He stopped again, mostly because he didn't want to say in front of Akira that there was someone stronger than him. Another part was that saying it would make it official.
"Who is…?" Akira asked again.
"Well, actually he was my old teacher but I can't really say who he was. I hope you can understand."
Akira nodded and replied. "Well even if this is this hard on you, I can only say that you have to face it. Because that's the only way you can get stronger."
"Have you ever faced such a wall then?" Hikaru said, because he couldn't imagine it.
As Akira stared to somewhere in the back of the salon, he thought back about the time he'd faced Hikaru the second time. That was the time Sai had beaten him hard, but he didn't know that.
"Yes, kinda."
Hikaru, who was quite shocked to hear this smiled by this comment. So this was what he had to do: Face it! He began to tremble with excitement and said "Thanks Toya, that helped a lot!"
Toya saw his firing look reflected in his rival's eyes.
"Well I guess I can see a new Shindo by the Young Lions Tournament, can't I?
"You bet!" Answered Shindo and he placed a white stone fierce on the board, not afraid anymore.
Pachi!
Hikaru sat back in his room and placed a single black stone in the upper-right corner. With the conversation with Toya he had once again found his pleasure in his go. As he placed a white stone in the lower-right, on the 3-4 point, he closed his eyes. In his mind he pictured his way to get to Sai's level and surpass him. It was a long, hard way but he felt ready for it. He slid his fan open and waved. The cold air was refreshing and made him think straight. If only he had known this when he played Tsubaki in the Pro Exam prelims. He smiled when he realised he was still inexperienced back then.
"Well, this is it! I've gotta make it!" Hikaru said to himself as he ran away from the station. "Man, I can't believe I overslept again. Gotta hurry, gotta hurry!"
He took the next bus and quickly made his way to the go association. When he came there he glanced at the board outside to see he had to be on the 3rd floor. He checked the clock in front of the counter and saw he had just 5 minutes left. The moment he stepped through the doorway he was stopped by Waya and Isumi.
"Well, look who's there." Isumi began. "Wanted to show up at the last moment?"
"I kind off overslept, sorry guys." Hikaru replied. "So, who do I play?"
"Check the board in the corner, you slowpoke." Waya answered. "Everyone else is ready so we should begin soon."
Hikaru made his way to the board that was listing the pairings and saw he was playing Fuku in his first match. Grinning, he moved to the fourth table on the right side and waited for his opponent to come.
"So you made it on time! Took you long enough, didn't it?" A voice, familiar to Hikaru came from his left. "I assume you trained enough to beat me?"
Toya Akira made his way past Hikaru's table and sat down on the first table to the left. Hikaru wasn't the only one who got his eyes fixed on him. He was, after all, last year's winner and did have the best record of all the pro's who were here today. Hikaru snapped out of his thoughts as he heard another familiar voice in front of him.
"Shindo! Where've you been all this time?" Fuku asked.
"I overslept. But you weren't here until now, so why are you so late?"
"Oh, I just helped sensei to place the go boards we aren't using in the back. Are you nervous to play me?" He added.
"Mmm… Maybe, we'll just have to see until we play, don't we?" Hikaru answered.
With that last thing being said the buzzer announcing the beginning of the matches went off. Hikaru placed the fan at the left side of the board and grabbed two black stones from his go bowl. Fuku placed eight white stones on the board so Hikaru was black.
"Onegaishimasu."
"Onegaishimasu."
Hikaru placed a stone on the 16-3 spot.
Pachi.
Fuku played an immediate response on the lower left star point and after that Hikaru answered with 3-16. He liked playing the komoku, mostly because it was his old master's favourite opening. Of course Sai had later also been playing on both star points, but this felt nostalgic.
Pachi. Pachi.
Pachi.
Pachi.
Pachi. Pachi.
Pachi. Pachi,
Fuku was playing as fast as he always did, but Hikaru wasn't thrown off his rhythm. He played solidly and knew his opponent's weakness very well. As he slowly made the game more complicated Fuku began to sweat. Hikaru placed a few stones on the upper-left, then to the lower-right and with the last move he had succeeded in invading the lower-left area. Fuku was struggling and was falling apart. Hikaru waited a few moves and when he felt the time had come he slid his fan open and covered his mouth.
Fuku was shocked by the cold, harsh look on the eyes of Hikaru. It was like he was playing again on the Pro Exam prelims, against Akira. When he played him he thought he would never see that look in someone's eyes again, but here it was, being reflected by Hikaru's eyes. Fuku knew from experience there was only one thing more to do. He bowed and said.
"I resign."
As Hikaru closed his fan again, Fuku saw the look of pure concentration slipping away from his face and it was being replaced by a smile.
"Wow, you really have improved Fuku. I didn't think it would be this hard for me."
Fuku smiled hearing the comment, but he had seen something the others hadn't. This boy could be on his way to winning the tournament.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It's been a while since I've written a story, but I just want to see if this is appreciated. I really want to make this story a long story, figuring Hikaru's pro career. Tell me if you enjoyed it by reviewing and I'll bring the next chapter out as soon as possible.