Traveling a Chinese Road: Chapter 1 – A Drive to Train
By Leitbur
Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go, or any of the characters in it. Yumi Hotta is the brain behind this story, I'm just borrowing them.
Rated T I suppose. For me, it's PG13. There might be some suggestive language, but nothing you can't find on TV.
Just so those of you reading this know, this is a side story/omake from my story, The Never-Ending Road, which takes place after the series ends, so some events mentioned may seem strange to you if you have not been following my other story. This chapter takes place after Chapter 51 in my story, so if you have not gotten that far in my story yet I suggest you do that before continuing on. Enjoy.
Note: indicates the person is speaking in Chinese.
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Staring out the backseat window of the taxicab into the heart of Beijing, Yoshitaka Waya sighed audibly. So far, China seemed boring to him. Sure he'd seen almost nothing of it, but it just seemed like a lot of buildings to him so far. Thankfully sightseeing was not the reason he'd come to China; his reason was their destination.
Turning his head, Waya glanced over at his friend Shinchiro Isumi seated next to him, eyes forward, a sober expression on his face. This was Isumi's second time to China; he at least had an inkling of what was ahead of them, the strength of the opponents they would train with and what it would take to overcome. Maybe that was why he appeared so calm now. "Hey Isumi, how long is it going to take to get there?"
Glancing over at Waya, Isumi answered, "About another twenty minutes or so. It's a thirty-minute drive from the airport if we're lucky and don't hit too much traffic. Can't you wait that long?"
"Sure, but it was already a four hour flight. I just want to get there and start playing some games."
Grunting in amusement, Isumi then replied, "Well then let's just hope we don't hit a traffic jam."
"Traffic jam?"
"Yeah," Isumi answered with a grin, "rush hour in Beijing can last up to eleven hours."
His eyes bugging out at that statement, Waya replied, "E-eleven hours!? Are you playing with me, I mean, eleven hours, what if we have to go to the bathroom? Or… what kind of place is this!?"
Breaking out into laughter as he watched his friend panic, Isumi swiped his fingernails at an itch on the side of his face, then said, "Why are you in such a hurry to get there anyway? I mean sure we came here to study with the Chinese pros, but you're usually not in such a hurry to get down to that. I thought we'd get settled in at our hotel room before heading over."
A somber expression appearing on Waya's face, the young pro exhaled and returned his gaze to the window. What Isumi had said was true, normally rushing to study at the Chinese Go building would have been unheard of for him. Sure he wanted to study there, to learn from some of the best young minds in China, but his laid back mindset normally would have told him that they would get there when they did, and that the learning process would start soon enough. There was no need to rush it, to push for an early arrival when an on time arrival would do just fine, that was, until he had gone to Hikaru Shindo's house earlier today.
It was there that he'd seen the passion within his friend rekindled by the brazen words of Ko Yeong Ha, been touched by the fiery intensity that could make a lesser player gasp for breath. Hikaru's intensity was of a contagious sort this time, and it had infected Waya's heart as well. For now Waya found that he too could not stand by and allow such words to pass, even if his own strength right now likely could not compete with those that Korea would send to the Hokuto Cup.
More than that though was the other piece of news that Waya had received at Hikaru's house that drove him on now; the news that Hikaru Shindo and Akira Toya had both been pre-selected as participants in that tournament. Not that it was overly shocking when he thought about it, if the Honinbo League had qualified Akira last year for it then the Kisei League certainly qualified Hikaru for it. No, the problem arose not in the reasoning behind Hikaru's inclusion with Akira for the tournament, but rather what that inclusion meant; that there was now only one more spot open for the tournament.
In some ways it didn't change the conditions much since even if he hadn't been chosen in advance there was no doubt in Waya's mind that Hikaru would have gotten through the qualifier. No, the issue arose that Hikaru would not be there to eliminate some of the competition for him, perhaps even players like Yashiro whose skill likely surpassed Waya's at the moment. Unfortunately that was likely what the Go Association had been thinking too, that there was no reason to make an almost certain participant knock off a deserving third player from the final spot, not to mention the slight possibility that Hikaru might actually have a bad day and not make it in at all.
Then again, it also meant there was no chance for Hikaru to knock Waya out either but the lack of protection was of concern as well. This feeling of missing Hikaru's protection though, Waya couldn't put words to it just now but he was certain that he didn't like it one bit. It ate away at his gut, grinding like a millstone upon his stomach.
The competition, even without Hikaru, was going to be fierce. Though Honda was now nineteen and ineligible, Ochi, Yamada, and Yashiro would all be returning along with anyone else the Kansai Go Association and Central Branch sent. They would be joined by the new pros, Nase, Komiya, and Sato to form what was now basically a single elimination tournament with only the winner moving on. All of them would be strong and hungry to take their spot on the team, the chance to gain international recognition as well as to test themselves against the world.
That was why he wanted to get to the Chinese Go Association building so badly, to begin to push the limits of his game, to prepare himself for the challenges ahead of him. And, on a slightly more long-term thought, to begin to familiarize himself with the Chinese pros he might very well be facing.
Isumi of course knew none of this yet as Waya had not had the time to tell him what he had learned at Hikaru's place, since Isumi had slept through most of the flight. To him this was just a trip to see his friends at the Chinese Go Institute, to enjoy himself and get a little study time in as well. Should he tell him now, explain to him why he was so determined to improve his skills? No, not yet. If he knew Isumi would likely start to take this trip more seriously, push himself and lose part of the reason he had for coming. He'd tell him tonight at the hotel, after they'd spent the day at the institute and Isumi had time to reminisce with his friends.
"I'm looking forward… to testing my strength is all."
Grunting in amusement once more, Isumi replied, "Test your strength? I would think that playing Shindo as much as you do would be a good enough test of your strength."
Shaking his head, eyes staring forward into the future, Waya answered, "No, it's different and you know it. Playing Shindo at the study group is not the same as playing him for real, and having done that last month I can tell you there's definitely a difference. The Chinese players, they're like Shindo, played and matched him at the Hokuto Cup. From them I might be able to get more of a challenge than from practicing against Shindo since he doesn't play all out then. I need more games like I had against Shindo in the Tengen tournament, that's how I'll improve."
Eyeing his friend with interest now, Isumi inhaled and exhaled softly. Though Waya was struggling to hide it, Isumi could see the determination and anxiousness in his friend clearly. Something had pumped him up, focused him to push his game. What it was he didn't know, or for that matter was it his business to inquire; Waya would tell him when he wanted to. "Ok then, it's your trip, I'm just here for the ride. We'll go to the Institute building first." And were they ever going to get a load out of Waya. Chuckling to himself as he glanced at Waya once more, Isumi couldn't help but think that this trip was going to be far more interesting than he might have initially planned.
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"How much longer Isumi?" Waya muttered for the hundredth time.
Sighing, Isumi answered, "We're almost there Waya, just a couple more minutes, so would you stop asking me already! I mean, come on, you're worse than Chi-chan at times."
Grinning slyly back at Isumi, Waya replied, "Ooooooh, Chi-chan huh? You and Sakarano getting cozy I see, huh Shin-chan?"
Frowning a moment, Isumi quickly replaced it with a grin and shot back, "Well at least I don't need to get a promotion in Dan ranking to get a girl to go out with me Waya."
"HEY, THAT IS NOT MY IDEA! She blackmails me into it, then tells me about her wedding plans and wants to go places her parents used to go for dates!"
Bursting out in laughter, Isumi grabbed his stomach in an attempt to contain himself and stuttered back, "Oh my, you're… just like Shindo…priceless face… hahahahaha."
Scowling angrily, Waya turned his gaze back to the window, spotting a large building that they were fast approaching. That must be it, the Zhonnguo Qi-Yuan, the building where the young Chinese pros lived and studied. It was about time too as the drive had been torturous. Not only was he anxious to begin playing, but for the last twenty minutes or so Isumi had continued to glance over at him and then snicker to himself, as if he was aware of some inside joke that Waya was not. Regardless though, Waya was just glad to be here now, that was what mattered, not the hidden joke.
Opening the door and stepping out as the taxi pulled up to the entrance, Waya stared up at the building before him with a look of both wonder and eager anticipation. This was it, the reason they'd come here, and soon he'd be playing some of the best in the world, training to raise his game. Shindo, here I come.
Glancing back to see Isumi paying the taxi driver as unlike Waya Isumi had some understanding of Chinese currency, Waya waited a few moments longer for Isumi to reach him before saying, "Well, shall we?"
Chuckling to himself once more, Isumi nodded. "Yes, let's get going."
Falling back behind Isumi as they began to make their way toward the entrance, Waya inhaled deeply as he began to rub his fingers together. Thinking back on it now it was likely a good thing that he'd relented to Isumi and had them stop at the hotel to drop off their luggage first, as it would have been a pain to carry it around. Perhaps he was getting a little too anxious after all. It would be best if he reserved himself, as he didn't want to appear rude or worse, immature, to the players here.
Making there way in, Waya watched as Isumi went to the person by the front desk and began to inquire to him in Chinese about something, likely explaining who they were and their reasons for coming. It seemed that taking those Chinese classes in his spare time were paying off after all for Isumi, something Waya was partially responsible for actually as if he hadn't eliminated Isumi from the Meijin Tournament he never would have had so much free time.
As the man at the front desk looked beyond Isumi to Waya however, Waya couldn't help but notice that the man's eyes nearly shot out, as if he were shocked to see him here. It made no sense really since Waya was certainly not famous, especially on an international level. The only other way would be… wait, hadn't Isumi mentioned something after his last trip, that he…
" Hey look, it's Isumi! He's come back again! "
Turning to look off toward a stairway where the loud voice had come from, Waya spotted a pair of Chinese youths who he assumed must have been pro players walking toward Isumi, bright smiles on their faces. Isumi meanwhile turned to face them and smiling replied, " Hello you two! How are you doing? "
The pair halted as they stared at Isumi, then the shorter one responded, " Isumi… you can speak Chinese now? "
" A little. I started learning a short time ago, thought it would be… useful? "
Chuckling, the pair nodded, although what they were nodding to Waya had no clue. In fact, not knowing what they were saying seemed kind of… annoying. The tall one then responded, " Well we're all doing well here. Man, Le Ping is going to just go nuts when he sees you. Ever since you left he… "
The man's voice trailed off as his eyes passed over Waya, then flying back in a double take as his eyes widened and his jaw went slack. His shorter friend then followed his line of sight until he too spotted Waya and his face went into the same dumbfounded expression. It was then that Waya fully recalled what Isumi had said, that he looked like a large version of some kid here, some kid that was named…
" Le Ping!? " the two young pros bellowed. Frowning, Waya glared over at Isumi who was once more laughing nearly to the point of tears. He'd known this was going to happen, damn him. Well, this was certainly shaping up to be an… interesting trip indeed.
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Author's Notes:
And so Waya and Isumi's adventures in China begin. In case you're wondering about Isumi learning Chinese, it was hinted at slightly in the main story. Go reread Chapter 33 if you want to know where. I wouldn't be too surprised if it slipped by you though, as more intriguing things were taking place in that chapter, and that's why it's there, since I find the best place to hide clues to future events are in places where the reader isn't looking for them. I had considered writing the Chinese dialog in Chinese to give the reader the same sensation that Waya is having, but decided to use this way instead to save time and confusion. Note that Isumi, when speaking in Chinese, will hesitate before a word or phrase. This is to show that he is still learning the language, and I will be trying to keep his Chinese statements simple as a result.
I was delayed from finishing this chapter due to the mental and emotional breakdown my girlfriend deciding to break up with me caused. Hopefully I'll get through this and get back on track shortly. This side story is going to be focusing, as you may have guessed, on Waya as he tries to find that next level of play that Morishita and others have told him that he still can achieve. Whether or not it will be achieved is another matter, but as Waya and Isumi have both stated, it will certainly be an interesting experience. Also, this will be a three week trip for Isumi and Waya, so this side story will be much shorter than the previous one, likely four chapters. To help avoid further confusion between the main story and this one I'll be posting the chapter this takes place after in the main story for each side story chapter. Hopefully that will help you to see where everything is supposed to go chronologically.
Terms:
I won't be doing many of these in this side story, but I thought I'd cover a few points.
Beijing: This is the capital of the People's Republic of China, and one of two cities in China with a Go Association building located in it, the other being Shanghai. Unlike Shanghai however Beijing has many people in it who are politically tied to a point that having a limited driver's license lottery to keep traffic down is not possible, and thus the traffic issues mentioned do occur. This is supposedly going to be fixed in time for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, but many believe China will simply ban people from driving during the games.
Zhongguo Qi-Yuan: This is the name of the Chinese Go Building in Beijing, located in the Congwen District, located at No.80, East Road of Temple of Heaven. Young pro and amateur players board here and practice constantly, it is a place for only the elite. It actually handles many types of games both board and card games including chess, bridge, Chinese chess, and so on.
Note, in China Go is known as Weiqi.
The next chapter will be coming soon, as Waya finally gets to start playing the Chinese pros, but can he concentrate and win with his clone bouncing around?