Sai? What a unique name. How old are you?" Akira asked.
"12." Akira looked happy.
"I am also 12 years old." I smiled, understanding why he seemed excited with a kid same age as him.
"It must be boring playing with the old people, right?" I opened the pot and found that it is full of black stones very much like the stones in the dream that Sai showed me. I absentmindedly ran my fingers though the stones, relishing in the feel of it.
"How strong are you?" I stopped for a second. Why does everybody ask that question?
"Well, I am not so sure. I think that I am pretty strong…" I lightly laugh.
He laughed along as well. "You are not so sure but you think that you are strong?" Then, he opened the Goke that contained white stones. "Then, why don't you place 4 or 5 stones for a handicap?" Handicap?
"I don't need a handicap!" 'However, since he is playing against a 1000 years old ghost, not a 12 years old kid, I think he is the one who needs handicap… Considering that Sai is as strong as he said.' The old man who was sitting on top of us exclaimed loudly.
"No handicap against Touya Akira? That's crazy!" I was about to retort back but Sai was at the back whining about starting the game quickly.
"Sure, you may start first."
I picked up a black stone and looked at it for a while before seeing a drop of water coming from above. At first, I thought that it was a malfunction from the air-con but when I looked up, I saw Sai hiding his face behind his fan.
Sai, are you really that happy? Sai did not answer for a while.
"Hikaru, I am going to start now." I nodded. "17-4, komoku!" 17-4 oh, it's here. I place the black stone on the intersection that I had seen my grandpa done before. I heard Akira stifling a gasp for a moment before placing a white stone on the board.
"16-17, komoku," 16-17 I place another black stone on the board. Akira places another white stone on the board.
"3-16" I place another stone on the board. The game progressed with little trouble. Surprisingly, the customers did not interrupt us considering that I am playing a Mejin's son. Oh well, Sai will give them a shock…
I sighed and got out of my seat, stretching my stiff body. Touya Akira was staring at the board, disbelief written on his face. I gave the board a glance, wondering if his loss is really bad, before heading to the front door. The door opened and an old man wearing a green yutaka came in. He stepped to one side to allow me through the door. I nodded my thanks, noting that Sai became quiet. I looked at him out if the corner of my right eye and saw a different Sai. His posture is straighter and his grasp on his fan was tight. However, the most noticeable change was his now trembling body. Can ghost feel the cold?
Sai? Are you alright? Sai nodded and smiled at me brightly but I can't help but to notice that his movements are a bit forced and the quick glances through the door at that old man.
"Hikaru, that man has a strong aura around him. He is strong, I'm sure of it." Sai spoke in a strangely wistful tone. We reached the ground floor in a grave atmosphere. Wanting to change the mood, I asked Sai how was Akira.
"He's about as good as a pro. But I am better!" Sai said proudly, the atmosphere gone. I was glad for that. 'Now, time to change his childishness…'
Wanting to do some exercise to clear my mind on that game, I told Sai that we would be running home. Before he could protest, I ran ahead, leaving him to complain to thin air. I laugh out loud, my cap lost somewhere and my hair waving in the air. Too bad, if I had stayed longer, I could have seen Touya's anxious looks along with his father's interested look.
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That night, while surfing the net, I found an interesting advertisement.
"Sai, take a look at this." Sai walked, I mean floated, towards me from his perch at the bed behind me.
"Hikaru! What is this box?" Sai tapped the laptop with his fan from every angles possible.
"It is a laptop, Sai. Anyway, read this. It's about a Go tournament for children between the ages of 7-13." I scrolled down. "Seems like it's going to be at the exhibition hall just 5 blocks down. Do you want to-"
"Hikaru! I want to go! I want to go!" Sai shook my shoulders so hard that I am sure it is not possible for a mere ghost. I managed to get out an 'okay' before Sai released me and started dancing around my apartment. I heaved a sigh and shut down my laptop with a soft snap.
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The next morning, with my disguise on, I went towards the place where the children Go tournament was held.
"Wow, the air is so tense I bet that you could slice a knife though it." Sai jumped about a foot in the air.
"Hikaru? You brought a knife?" I rolled my eyes.
"No, Sai. It is just a figure of speech." I walked around the table, looking at the board that the little kids are playing. Walking around, I could see kids younger than me actively playing the game. Well, maybe not that active considering that they are sitting down. I swear, kids should get out in the sun and play otherwise they would turn into a geezer soon. Akira is the perfect example of that. I held in a yawn while Sai brought, dragged, me around. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at one of the boards. I looked over, wondering what is so interesting about it.
"Hikaru, try this 'life and death' puzzle at the upper right hand corner." I observed the situation. The night before, Sai gave me a brief run-through of Go, so I mildly understood the concept.
"Let me see, how about 16-8?" Sai smiled proudly and nodded. We went around like that, asking and answering 'life and death' puzzles.
"Hm, how about this one, Hikaru? It's going to be tough." Looking at the board, I answered a 1-2. Sai nodded just as the boy who was playing at that turn places a whilte stone at 1-3.
"Aw, he should have went one space above." I said to Sai. But the boys heard what I said and let out a surprised sound. 'Opps, I think I said it too loud.' One of the administrator stormed over and dragged me to a back door where they proceed to scold me for interrupting the tournament. Then, they let me go back. Rather, they literally kicked me out of the hall! Talk about being rude!
Sai, where do you want to go now? I asked after keeping my cap and jacket.
"Let's play Go!" I thought so. Go is always on his mind 24/7.
Hai Hai. Tell you what, why don't we go to my granddad's house to play? Sai nodded happily. Then again, when you mix Sai and Go, the result is always happy.
A/N: Hihi Thank heavens I am still alive and able to write Anyway, next chapter would be about… (let me think) ah! The festival I might be changing several things but will be following the main plot though… With some extras I was thinking of adding If I have time, I will add more words. So, review and tell me your thoughts
