Disclaimers: Refer to the first page.

A/N: Please review. If there are any mistakes (spellings, grammar,etc), please tell me. Thanks. And enjoy yourself.

Once again, the few people who knew Sai, the mysterious Internet Go player, gasped in disbelief. Questions started to form in their heads: is this the same Sai? What does this mean? How come Shindo Hikaru knows him? What is their relationship?

Hikaru watched as Sai walked closer and closer to him. Subconsciously, he saw Yamato-san bowed in respect. Before long, Sai was within arm's reach. Hikaru was still too shocked to react. It had been a long time since he last saw Sai and he had always missed him. Now, he was standing in front of him. He was afraid to move in case it was just a figment of his imagination.

"Ne, Hikaru, isn't there a welcome? Hikaru?" Sai asked softly. When there was still no response, Sai whined, "Hikaru…Hikaruuuu…Hidoi!" Abruptly, Sai was in tears.

The audience was amazed and confused. The man who appeared suddenly in front of them that had been so angelic was now bursting into tears like a child. The abrupt change was amazing, yet it was confusing as they did not understand what was there to cry over.

Hikaru snapped out of his shock as he heard Sai crying. "Sai?" Hikaru sweat-dropped as Sai continued wailing that he was cruel. An idea appeared. "Ne, Sai, let's discuss the game."

As quickly as Sai burst into tears, he stopped crying and was smiling happily again. In fact, he was barely containing his excitement. It was obvious to the audience that he loved Go very much.

Once he stood behind Hikaru, looking at the Goban, all present were once again stunned. His personality had changed again. Now, he was wearing a serious and thoughtful expression. All the professional Go players, even the most oblivious ones, felt a chill down their spines – for they know that the person standing in front of them was a master at the game. Those who had played or heard of Sai before was even surer that this Sai and the Internet Sai was the same person.

Touya Akira could only stand there, his mind full of questions.

Ogata-10-dan was barely able to prevent himself from demanding a game with Sai.

Touya Koyo was staring calculatingly at the man that he had waited for more than a year now. Finally, the empty space at the opposite side of his Goban would be filled.

After he had finally finished gathering the black and white stones into their respective Goke, Hikaru placed both of them on his right side and started replaying the game before. Occasionally, Sai would stop him and gave an advice or two. It was obvious that he was a master of the game and very knowledgeable. The audience held their breaths and kept silence lest they missed something. However, it was nearly at the end of the game when he finally pointed out a move none of the others had realized possible before then.

Hikaru, if you had moved here first, you could have attacked his left territory and block his attack as well. You would gain more territory and after five moves, you would have won by three moku."

"I did not see it before," Hikaru admitted regretfully.

"It was obvious from this game that you have improved a lot. But your games also show that your strategies are still immature. You are not seeing ahead enough nor are you considering every angle of the game. You still have a far way to go, Hikaru," Sai said sternly.

Hikaru was still looking at the Goban, but he nodded slightly, showing that he heard what Sai had said. "But still, I have improved and will keep on improving." Hikaru's gaze finally broke away from the Goban and gave Sai a cheeky smile.

"Ne, Hikaru. Let's play. One game….onegai," Sai pleaded.

"Sai, this is an official tournament. We cannot hold them up any longer than we had."

Sai burst into tears again. "Hikaru, hidoi…"

Hikaru sweat-dropped. Inward, he was glad that Sai had come. He had missed him a lot. Now that Sai was here, he was once again reminded why he was always feeling annoyed around him. "Sai, we can go to my room to play."

Sai immediately brightened up and running circles around Hikaru excitedly. "Hontou? Hontou? Let's go, Hikaru." He grabbed hold of Hikaru's arm and dragged him along with him but was interrupted.

"Sai-sama, you have an appointment in half an hour time. There won't be enough time for a game. Perhaps Shindo-san can come with us so that both of you can have that game after the appointment? Besides, isn't there something you want to ask him?" the man who had appeared with Sai said.

"Of course you're right, Fuji-san. How, Hikaru? Before you answer, I want to ask you something," Sai said seriously.

Hikaru was curious. "Yes?"

"I was planning to stay in this city permanently. Afterwards I have an appointment with a real estate agent about a new apartment I wanted to buy, Sai explained. "Hikaru, I want you to come live with me."

Hikaru was stunned. Although he had thought of moving out like Waya, but they were never serious thoughts. He knew his mother would be very lonely and probably wouldn't agree. But since Sai had asked, he couldn't refuse, could he? Now he saw what Yamato-san meant earlier. Sai had become even more important to him compared to his own family. "Sure." He would just have to make sure that he went home for dinner every Sunday.

"Hikaru?"

Hikaru stood frozen. His mother stood near the entrance, stunned and from her hurt expression, she had definitely heard the last bit.