Rivals and Friends 2
This chapter changes the mood and takes place soon after the end of the tournament, late in the afternoon of the same day.
ceo
Hikaru gets into the cab first and Akira follows. Akira sighs as he shuts the door of the cab, he gives his address and flops back in the seat.
"What a long day." Sighs Akira.
"You're not going to make it through our matches if you're too tired." Teased Hikaru.
"I'll be fine. I just need a cup of coffee."
"You can drink that stuff?"
"It isn't bad with some cream, want to try it?"
"Nah, I'll stick to tea."
"Sure, I have some of the 'English Breakfast' you like."
"Good."
They sat in silence for a few minutes and Hikaru remembered his promise to Waya.
"Touya?"
"Yeah?"
"The guys wished to see your house and maybe have some matches."
"Yeah? Sounds like fun. I would like to get to know your friends better. I know you and Ochi but the others, not that much."
"Great, I know you will enjoy being with kids your own age."
"Yeah, sometimes I wished I could have been an insei. It must have been fun."
"It was, but now you can make up for lost time."
"Sure…There is a girl in your group?"
"Nase? Yeah, she's cool and pretty. She and Fuku should pass the pro test this year."
"Maybe they can come over and train?"
"Yeah, maybe."
"My parents will be traveling for a long while, so they are all welcome. Just give them my phone number and we can make arrangements."
"You bet."
They stayed silent for a few minutes and as they neared the Touya residence, Hikaru remembered a promise to himself and Akira. He didn't know how to bring it up. Soon they were at the house and the boys split the cab fare. Akira invited Hikaru in and he set his backpack down in the living room. Akira left to make the drinks. Hikaru felt restless and stood staring at the view until Akira walked in.
"What are you doing? Come sit." Akira laughed a little. From the window Hikaru turned and said:
"Touya you remember the promise I made to you?"
Akira was surprised Hikaru wanted to talk about that.
"If you mean your surprising, if irregular strength, then yes."
"I'm ready to talk about it now."
"Why now?"
"How often are we alone?"
"…"
"Besides the anniversary of his 'death' has passed. I feel ready now."
"Shindou?" Akira was startled by the word 'death' and felt for his friend. Hikaru walked over to his backpack and pulled out his fan. With his back turned, he said:
"Touya will you do me one favor. Will you listen to me until the end? No matter how fantastic it may sound, will you listen?"
"Of course."
Sighing Hikaru turned and sat opposite of Akira and said:
"I'm worried you might still toss me out even after I tell you."
"I promise to keep an open mind." Said Akira with a sip of coffee.
Hikaru gripped his fan tightly and Akira asked:
"That fan has a meaning, doesn't it?"
Hikaru took a sip of his tea and nodded.
"It's just like Sai's."
Akira felt his world tilt and said:
"Sai! So you do know him…"
"I did, remember I just mentioned a death anniversary."
"When did he die?"
"May fifth, last year."
Akira recalled that was when Hikaru almost quit Go.
"Is that why you forfeited so many games? Your master passed on?"
"Yeah but technically he was already dead."
"What?" Akira's shock and confusion was written all over his face. Hikaru took another sip of tea to give himself strength. This was going to be a hard conversation. But he owed Akira this much at least.
"You see three years ago I was in my grandpa's shed…"
Hikaru began to tell his story and after he explained how Sai came out of the Go board as a ghost, Akira got mad.
"Shindou! You big liar! A ghost! What do you take me for?"
"I'm serious. Sai was very important to me. He was my friend and mentor."
Hikaru looked so serious, Akira began to falter. Many people in Japan believed in ghosts but he did not. He held his head and groaned.
"Touya you promised to listen to the end."
Akira looked up. One of the things he learned from his father is to always keep his promises.
"I did promise, very well continue your story." Said Akira.
"Ok, but unless you can accept Sai really lived and came back to this world as a ghost…"
"I'll do my best." Akira sat up to listen seriously.
"Ok, because I know many people have wondered at my incredible strength. You remember the tournament when my Go suddenly changed from pro level to amateur?"
"Yes."
"Well, the first half of the match was Sai telling me what to do. The second half was me and my strength at that time."
If there was any one event concerning Hikaru that puzzled Akira, it was this tournament. He just had to believe he played two different people that day and it made sense. It would also explain why Hikaru laid stones like an amateur when they first met and also played such old fashioned moves. If he could just accept this ghost story, it would explain so much.
"Just who was Sai?"
"He was a Go master who worked in the Edo court a thousand years ago."
Hikaru told Sai's story of betrayal, false accusations and suicide.
"And he was languishing in a Go board until three years ago?"
"No, he first shared a mind with Shusaku."
"No way." Said Akira and he was shaken again, he thought:
"Is this why Shindou is so attached to Shusaku's memory?"
"When they first met, Shusaku was already a strong player so (unlike me) no one questioned his increased strength. He let Sai play Go all he wanted. Together they blazed a trail and traveled all over Japan. It must to have been wonderful." Said Hikaru with a smile.
"I see."
"But Shusaku died leaving behind the blood stain on the board. And before Sai could achieve the Divine Move. He begged the gods for another chance but I think the gods said 'no'."
"What do you mean?"
"I've had more than a year to think things over. I think the gods decided he was unworthy."
"If such a man is unworthy, who is?"
"Who knows?"
"But then why did he come to you?"
"I don't know. To train me? Set me on the path? He did disappear after I became a pro."
"Maybe."
Hikaru sat quietly and sipped cold tea as Akira thought things over.
"Let me see if I got this straight. Sai was a Go master from a thousand years ago. He died before attaining the Divine Move. He next joined Shusaku's mind and again failed to achieve the Divine Move. You believe the gods found him unworthy and sent him to be your teacher. And to set in motion events that had to happen, like meeting me."
"I had no interest in Go before Sai. My grandfather was even a top amateur player and I still I wasn't interested. Of course meeting you and your father also influenced me."
"I get that, many people have said your existence has been a good influence on me. My Go certainly has sharpened since you and Sai showed up."
"So you believe in Sai?"
"I have to. It is the only thing that makes sense. I went back and forth believing you were Sai and not believing. I also thought Sai must have been your teacher. I thought perhaps he was sickly and that is why he only appeared online. I considered all kinds of things. The truth turned out to be much stranger than I could have imagined. Forgive me Shindou, I'm going to need some time to fully accept it."
"Take all the time you need. I'm just glad you are willing to try. I didn't want our friendship to end." Said Hikaru.
"Yeah, I'm glad we're friends." Said Akira with a smile.
"How about some dinner? I'm starved." Said Hikaru.
"Let's walk to the shops. I need some air." Said Akira.
"Agreed."
The ramen shop and sushi restaurant were near to each other and the boys were able to get their food and return to the house. The walk was good for them as they felt revived.
While they ate Hikaru clarified for Akira which times Sai played and when he did.
"You swear all your games as an insei and as a pro were entirely your own strength?"
"All but one."
"Shindou!" To Akira, letting Sai play for Hikaru as a pro would be like cheating. He was a little mad Hikaru let Sai play in that tournament.
"It was that time I played your father during the Shinshodan Tournament. In fact all of the times I faced him it was actually Sai. I want to face him as myself."
"But you made such a fool of yourself. That ridiculous handicap."
"You know about the fifteen point handicap? Your father knew what I was doing."
"It wasn't Father who told me, Kunabara-sensei said it. He is one of your fans."
"I see."
"Why did you allow Sai to do it?"
"You don't understand how badly Sai wanted to play your father."
Akira decided to let that go, Hikaru knew Sai the person, he and his father knew only the player.
"Father wants to play Sai again. May I tell him he passed away? I think Father is still waiting for Sai to show up."
"You may say he was my teacher and he was sick and died or whatever you think his right."
"I will. Father will be disappointed."
"I'm sorry. Perhaps you should tell Ogata-sensei too. Or maybe it would be best if Sai fades from memory."
"Let's wait and see."
The boys finished their dinner and talked more about Sai and Akira's father. Finally Hikaru asked:
"Maybe we should have our matches?"
"Let's not, it's getting late and I only said it in the heat of battle." Admitted Akira.
"How about an hour of speed Go. Then I should go home as I have an early match."
"Alright."
The boys played for an hour and Hikaru said his goodbyes. Both boys felt satisfied that their friendship is stronger now. Their Go was also stronger. Hikaru felt relieved he told Akira the truth at last. Akira knew it would take time to fully accept what Hikaru told him but he already felt peace. The various puzzling things about Hikaru was finally falling into place. All he had to believe in was a thousand year old Go master came out of a battered old Go board. Akira laughed as he fell asleep.
ceo
I feel like writing one more chapter. Akira's father needs to come home and the guys need to play at his house.
Please review.