Note: As you all know, Hikaru no go belongs to Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi. This fanfic is just based on my thoughts and if there is any similarity to other fanfics of hng, it is purely coincidental.
Chapter 4: The Go Convention
That question caught Hikaru off guard and rendered him speechless. His reaction and expression did not escape Akira's eyes.
"Do you?" Akira repeated, more firmly this time.
Hikaru stared at him, in his eyes for a few second before turning it away and spoke after another few seconds later of silence. "Why do you suddenly ask that?" Hikaru asked evasively.
"What did you promise me just now?" Akira replied back coolly as he had already expected this.
Hikaru sighed defeatedly. "Touya, can you not be so smart and sharp for once?"
"Shindo." This time, there was a slight hint of threatening.
Hikaru knew that Touya was losing patience. "I've tell you almost everything about me, including Sai and you are still not satisfied," Hikaru grumbled.
"Yes, almost but not everything."
Hikaru looked up and straight into Akira eyes and answered definitely, "No."
Akira gave a sigh of relief. For a moment, he thought Hikaru regretted.
"Last time, I can't imagine my life with Go. Now is the exact opposite, I can't imagine my life without Go," added Hikaru as he stared at the streets ahead, observing the activities going on. Some back from grocery shopping and some in a working suit, walking towards the bus stop. While Touya and him was standing here, talking leisurely. How amazing how life can be so different, the different pathways people walked. Yet for him one thing never changed - his goal to reach the hands of God. This was what Sai wanted to fulfill and since he was unable to finish it, Hikaru would continue it for him.
Akira hesitated for a few minutes before he spoke again. "Then don't you ever think if you don't play Go, Sai might not disappear and you won't have to suffer the pain of losing him?"
Hikaru smiled. "Touya, this is one occasion when I hate you for knowing me too well."
He confessed, "Well I did think about it, more than once. There are times I ask myself, if only I didn't play Go, will Sai be back?
Akira wanted to say something but Hikaru stopped him. "Let me finish."
"I know that was just a naïve thought. Sai will never be back even if I give up Go. I tried it once before, remember?"
Akira nodded. Since the moment he met Hikaru, he never forgot anything related to him, especially that particular period of time when Hikaru stopped had been absent from his games. He was so angry with him at that time that he went to his school and interrogated him about it. Many years had passed since then but somewhere in his mind, he was still afraid it might resurface because he knew never a day Hikaru did not miss Sai. It was in his games. Akira played with him almost daily for years, so he knew.
"So even if I give up or whatever I tried, Sai will not return. However, if I really give up on Go, I know Sai will be angry with me for wasting the efforts and time he spend on me to guide me. Only by playing Go, I am able to spread what Sai teach me to the rest, and only by Go, I feel that Sai was with me. So I will not give up Go," Hikaru said firmly.
Akira grinned broadly.
"I must find the hand of God, after all I'm Sai last disciple," Hikaru said proudly. "And I'm the only one so far that play with him most frequently," he added much to Akira's annoyance.
"Humph." Akira turned around and walked away.
"Hey!" Hikaru ran after him. "Let's have a bowl of ramen and then go to the Go Conference together. Kurata would be there too."
They stopped at the entrance of the Go Convention watching people going in and out. "What's with the disguise?" Akira asked as he looked at the black wig that Hikaru wore and with spectacles while he, himself wore a cap and a t-shirt and Bermudas, a dressing style very different from his usual.
Hikaru grinned impishly. He was already in his thirties but his playful, mischief nature was in him and that would not change no matter how many years had passed. "Isn't it more fun this way? Enter without being recognised or being pestered by fans or public asking for advice, asking what are you doing etc? We get the freedom to browse around in peace for once, don't you just miss this freedom?"
Ever since that fateful day, when Hikaru made his decision, he began to practice Go often and wanted to rise the ranks up as fast as possible to play with better players, to improve and sharpened his skills but it came with a price. He began to gain a reputation and as years passed, more and more people began to recognise him. Thus, whenever he go to any Go-related areas, such as Go Salon, people would start crowding around him and talked to him about his latest game, the way he play and asked him to play teaching Go. Not that he got any complains, he loved to help and glad to see people enjoyed playing Go but sometimes he wanted some freedom too.
Akira was tempted, especially when he thought of seeing whatever he wanted without being interrupted halfway. It had been ages since he enjoyed such freedom.
Getting impatient, without waiting for Akira to say anything, Hikaru grabbed his hand and pulled him in.
Akira was surprised that no one recognised them. People just walked past him and Hikaru.
"See, I told you," Hikaru said smirkly as he saw Akira shocked expression. "So let's go enjoy. I'll meet you here later and don't try to show off your skills before you are exposed," Hikaru advised and with a wave of his hands, he disappeared into the crowd.
Akira looked around the wide range of activities at the Go Convention. This was not the first time he came but it was the first time people did not recognised him. With the new sense of freedom found, Akira decided to make full use of it and next second, he too disappeared into the crowd.
Hikaru saw Kurata at the stage, having a match with another Pro and his fans sitting, supporting him. He smiled and walked away. Whenever he came here, it would remind him of Sai. The memories were still so vivid, so clear and fresh in his head, just like the memories of Sai disappearance. As usual, there was a store that sold Go board and it reminded him of the occasion when one unethical seller tried to lie to the buyers about the kind of wood used but Sai managed to expose him.
As Hikaru walked passed, a salesman approached him. "Mister, currently we have a storewide 10% discount sale, do you want to browse around? We got a wide variety of Go board on good offers too."
"No thanks, I've one already," Hikaru rejected politely and left.
He walked passed the teaching Go section. He stood behind one of the table and watched the game. Both were average players, Hikaru concluded silently after watching them played a few steps. Half an hour later, the game ended. Hikaru decided to have a game too.
Hikaru was white.
"Please give me your guidance," Hikaru bowed. The player bowed back too and then the game started. Naturally, Hikaru did not play with his true skill level unless he want to be exposed. He controlled his play till it made him seemed like an amateur. Purposely made some mistakes here and there and occasionally put some good steps. Surprisingly, he found it fun and relaxing, for the first time, he played not to win, not to hone his skill. As he was not playing with his all, he was able to observer and analysis his players skill and in his head, he would think if he put this way, what would the player put next. It was a different form of leisure.
Twenty minutes later, the game ended. He lost by two mokus.
"For this step, if you put your seed here, you will be able to…" the guy explained patiently while moving the seeds so he could understand better. Hikaru listened attentively.
Finished with his teaching Go, Hikaru explored the convention further. There were one corner with a few stations of computers, where people were free to play online Go, another with Go-related products such as guide books and strategies book and CDs on the various Go games played by pros with explanation. Another corner just tables and chairs with Go board, free for public to use and play with anyone as long as there were available place. Expectantly, the most popular one was the Go game on the stage, played by two pros and one of them was Kurata.
Hikaru walked where the public played freely on the Go board. The players range from kids as young as six years old to elderly. It was always comforting to see a wide range of people in different age groups to be interested in Go. There was no age boundaries in the game, people from all walks of life, from all age groups came together with just one common interest – Go.
Hikaru was always glad to see such a sight. It would remind him of Sai and that the game Sai dedicated for hundreds of years still passed on. It was amazing, thousands of years had passed but the game continued on, people improving their skills, coming up with new strategies and new rules such as the handicap rules to make the game more challenging.
He walked over to the corner where people had a game of Go and spotted Akira watching one of the game attentively.
"Hey," Hikaru patted on Akira shoulder lightly.
Akira jumped and then turned around to see who the idiot was. "Gosh, you almost give me a fright."
Hikaru smiled sheepishly and then peered over Akira's shoulder. "What's so interesting about the game till you watch until so intensely?"
"I always watch intensely whether it is a good game or not, unlike you."
Hikaru retorted hotly. "Since when? It is you, not me. Who is the one that never give a damn about other people games? At that time, your eyes were on your head, only care about the upper level dan pros!"
Hikaru could still remember so clearly during his insei days, how his friends say that Akira did not even treat them as his rivals, how he played and won games after games with a cool attitude, climbing up the ladder in the pro world so quickly. People called him a genius and why would a genius even care about ordinary players? In his eyes, only the higher dan pros matter.
"That was like hundreds of years ago," Akira shot back.
"Which doesn't change the fact that you care only about good games," Hikaru answered.
Some of the spectators gave them death glare due to their noise. Hikaru and Akira smiled apologetically.
"All your fault," Akira hissed.
"Let's concentrate on the game," Hikaru reminded and then his eyes were fixed on the game that Akira watched earlier.
Twenty minutes later, Hikaru decided to go to another table. "Hey, I'm going to go to another one, joining me?"
"Sure." The game had more or less ending in another ten more moves, Akira concluded and followed Hikaru. After watching a few games, they explored the rest of the convention together, trying online Go, looked through the Go strategy books etc. They greatly enjoyed the freedom of going anywhere without being interrupted.
By the time they finished, it was dusk.
"Hey, let's go have ramen together," Hikaru suggested excitedly. After half a day of walking, the best thing to have was naturally ramen.
Akira rolled his eyes. "No, this time is sushi."
"What? I just want to go to this very nice ramen store…"
"Too bad."
"How can you be so cruel to your rival? This ramen store I tried yesterday, it is very nice and I want to introduce it to you."
"What a coincidence. This sushi store is a new one opened last weekend. I tried it and it is very nice too."
Hikaru frowned thoughtfully, knowing that this meaningless debate would continue endlessly if nothing was done. By then, they might as well forgo their dinner because it would be closed by the time they arrived to a decision.
A few minutes later, Hikaru suggested, "Okay, we will decide by flipping a coin. Head will be sushi or ramen, you choose."
Akira agreed. "Deal. Ramen."
"Then tail will be sushi."
Akira nodded. Hikaru flipped the coin and then caught it with both his hands closed tightly. Both of them waited nervously, as if like some lucky draw for the first prize and slowly, Hikaru lifted one of his hands.
Tail.
Akira grinned while Hikaru groaned. Today was not his day, Hikaru muttered silently.
His ramen would have to be postponed. Hikaru sighed at the thought of it.
Yes, I know you all must be super duper surprise or shock that I actually update. Well, I never say I'm giving up in the first place, so if you assumed otherwise, it is not my fault. =P
Anyway, just a simple chapter to tell you all I'm not giving up this fic. Still got some writer's block but I'll try my best to update and complete this fic. Just be patient okay? And really grateful to all the readers who commented this fic of mine. =)) And a side note, this story MIGHT be longer than I originally intended. My initial goal was 5 chapters.
Now my reply to those reviews…
Leitbur: Yes, I'm well aware of that. Thanks, just that the preliminaries of those title matches are in matches form, according to how many wins you have right? Like those dan-series games. I know my grammar and tenses are not perfect, will try to improve it. And thanks for the reminder that those high level games, it is only on Thursday. Will keep in mind.
Alaska water: Thanks for the review. Keep on supporting the story. =)
sally-wu-99: Thank you and update soon? Haha, that might be a bit difficult to keep. Will update it and complete the fic though.
AlchemyOtaku: Thanks for the information. =)
Rev: Ya, this fic is set more than ten years after. I think about twenty and above. Is my comments at the end of the chapter is misleading I guess. But be assured, it is decades after. Don't ask me the age, I can't give the answer because I decide not to give myself headache over the numbers. =P
Kikio Shiroshi: Thank you and hope you will continue reading. =)
FloriaCharms: Thanks for the encouragement. Yah, practice makes perfect. =) At least I believe in that. Lolz glad you enjoy this story and continue supporting k? I try my best to be as close to the manga/anime as possible to retain some originality. If I change too much, I won't feel it is a HNG fic anymore.
Dreamweaver: Yes, I agree with you and ya, I think the biggest regret is not going to the team competition. I believe so because on one episode of the anime, he returned back to Haze Junior High Go club.
Pure Shikon: Thank you and yes, I FINALLY update. =P
seienryu: There it is, an update. ^_^
Khelc-sul Renai: Okay, this is more than ten years after. To me after ten years, can be twenty years etc. It is just that I'm too lazy with the calculations. I guess I better go edit my chp 1 at the author notes. Lolz