Part 4

"This should be put here! No, no, not over there! I want it closer to the door!"

"That looks bad! Hikaru, you have no interior design potential at all!"

"Oh really? I don't think so. You are the one without any taste, Akira! "

The situation in the small apartment could only be described as chaotic. Boxes and furniture were scattered around the place. In the middle of the room, two teenagers about the same height were shooting daggers at each other. Their arms were crossed tightly over their chests and neither was willing to back down in the heated argument, regarding where on the kitchen wall the wall clock should be displayed.

"Good gosh! Are you guys quarrelling again?" someone poked his head into the apartment.

"Waya, you're here! Tell Akira my decision is better," Hikaru waved his friend into the house. "Don't you think this clock is just perfect for this spot?"

"I won't barge in between you guys," Waya handed Hikaru a package of take-out sushi he bought for them and tried to find a spot on the floor to sit down.

"By the way, I think that clock looks really ugly. Who bought it anyway?"

"It's a house warming gift from me," a voice spoke quietly from behind.

"Isumi? When did you get here?" Waya jumped at the comment and turned around to see his good friend's slightly hurt face.

"Eh… The clock actually looks pretty good. I was just trying to help those two to cease the fire by changing their focus, you know…"

Waya could hear Hikaru snickering behind him.

"Hikaru! This is entirely your fault! You shouldn't have left the front door open like that, just about anybody could walk in! Don't you know the first rule of living by yourself is to be aware of safety?" Waya pointed his finger at Hikaru, who continued to snicker.

"Akira, I think you should totally put the clock wherever you want. I support your decision!"

Akira smiled and proceeded to hang up the clock. Hikaru made a small whimpering noise, but didn't disagree. In fact, he wasn't paying much attention to the clock at the moment. His eyes were unconsciously checking out Akira's bodyline as the other stood on the stool, both hands reaching high, trying to hang up the clock.

Very, very nice line. It would be even better if Akira would be wearing a shorter shirt that will leave more skin exposed when his hands reach up high like that…

Waya and Isumi looked at each other and shook their heads discreetly. The dreamy expression on Hikaru's face was as plain as a day, yet the Go genius still believed that his feelings for the other Go prodigy were well hidden. However, neither Waya nor Isumi were willing to point that out to them. It was quite funny to watch how both of them tried to suppress their feelings!

With Waya's and Isumi's help, the apartment appeared to be a lot tidier after a few hours. Finally, they all sat down on the floor, each of them grabbing a beer and enjoying the sushi Waya brought.

"Congratulations, Hikaru! You are now independent! Cheers!" Waya raised his can of beer.

"Cheers!"

Taking a big gulp, Hikaru grinned sheepishly.

"I couldn't have afforded the apartment by myself. It's a good thing that I found myself a roommate."

"I was a bit surprised when I heard that Akira is going to be your roommate," Isumi said.

"Well, with both of my parents staying in China almost all year round, it's getting a bit too quiet staying alone in the big house," Akira answered. Giving Hikaru a glance, he continued.

"Besides, Hikaru needs someone wiser to live with him. I'm afraid that, if he would be living alone, he would miss the tournament date."

"Wow that's so sweet, Akira, moving in with Hikaru to 'take care' of him, eh?" Waya teased.

Akira blushed, but quickly regained his composure.

"I just didn't want him to start missing out on the competitions again like he did that one spring season before."

Immediately all three of them realized Akira had said the wrong thing. No one knew what had happened during that few months of spring, but they knew Hikaru well enough to know that the quickest way to get the normally hyperactive and cheerful guy to sombre down was to mention that incident.

"Er… Hikaru… I didn't…"

"Don't worry about it!" Hikaru forced a smile onto his face, "Hey, maybe I forget some unimportant due dates once in a while, but I will never miss a game date! Akira, you're just afraid of me and hope that I will forget, aren't you?"

"Who's afraid of you here?" Akira was glad Hikaru didn't seem too upset.

"Why don't we play a game now?" Waya and Isumi were just as relieved.

"I'm going to be the one who will win for sure! Hahaha!"

The merry mood was restored and the celebration of the move continued until late into the night.

Standing at the door, Hikaru watched as Isumi and Waya took their leave. Waving goodbye to his friends, he couldn't help but think about the one person that meant so much to him, yet he would never see him again. The smile froze on his face. Sadness came crushing down on his chest. Tears threatened to fall. Sai, I miss you… I miss you…

However, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him.

"Hikaru, goodnight," Akira yawned and walked into his bedroom.

"Goodnight, Akira," a small smile appeared on Hikaru's face as he closed the front door. He was not alone. Akira would be sleeping just next door and he wouldn't disappear until the morning.

Goodnight, Sai…

X X X X X

"I think I'm fine," Sai insisted.

"You are not well enough to travel yet," Ogata was losing his patience. Why was this guy so stubborn? Yes, he knew Sai really wanted to see Hikaru. He would be more than happy to deliver Sai to Hikaru and be rid of this mysterious man. However, the doctor had ordered Sai to stay in bed for another day. Besides, the man looked too pale. The welfare of this man shouldn't bother him, but somehow, it did.

"I really want to go to Tokyo. Now. Please!" Sai begged with his puppy eyes. Hikaru needed him, now! He could sense it!

"No, the doctor said you're to rest for another day."

Sai opened his mouth to protest, but Ogata beat him to it.

"That's the end of the argument- or you can always find your own way to Tokyo."

"Alright, I can't win this argument. I will stay for another night, since it is for my own good. Thank you for being so concerned about my well-being," sarcasm laced the tone.

"You're welcome," Ogata answered, completely unmoved.

"You remind me so much of my old lov… er… a friend of mine," Sai sulked.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah…" Sai was slightly distracted. Those memories should have been long since forgotten… It had been a thousand years, after all…

X X X X X

1000 AC.

The city of Heian Kyo was bustling with life. Two teenagers were walking down the busy streets side by side.

"It feels good to be out of the palace walls sometimes, don't you think?" the younger of the two, around 14-15 years old, said. He sighed in content as he felt the gentle wind flip against his face, swirling through his shoulder-length purple hair.

In a contrast to his relaxed state, the older boy standing beside him looked nervous and jumpy.

"Yeah, I'm sure you're enjoying yourself, but if the General finds out that you sneaked out of the palace without him knowing, he won't be happy, Sai" he warned.

"He just can't be allowed to find out then, right, Kimihiro?" Sai winked. It had been 5 years since he had started living in the palace as a Go expert. He was now one of the top Go players despite his young age. He had also developed a friendship with General Ogata, the 2nd most powerful person next to the Emperor, who had saved him during his first day on palace grounds

"I appreciate his concern for my welfare and safety, you know," Sai said, "But he overreacts sometimes. He is like a mother hen; hovering over me, trying to protect me or something. I'm not a prince or a princess. I won't break. I am a normal teenager who would very much like to play Go with someone else than the opponents I found in the palace. I want to achieve the hand of god and the only way to do that is to keep playing Go with different people."

Kimihiro looked at Sai in admiration. This wasn't the first time the young prodigy had expressed his desire to attend the hand of god. Kimihiro himself was also a Go player, whom Sai had beaten countless times. He admired Sai's ability and ambition as he himself was lacking in both. This was the main reason for him to help Sai to sneak out under the eyes of the watchful servants despite his fear of being punishedby the General.

"Well then, where should we go to?"

"You wouldn't be able to guess," Sai grinned.

"I heard a rumour that there's a fantastic Go playerwho appears at the deserted temple by the river just outside of the city wall."

Kimihiro was quiet for a few minutes.

"You are out of your mind, Sai That is just a rumour and more importantly, that wasn't the only rumour. From what I have heard, that place is not safe. Some people disappeared around that area and were never found again."

"Yeah, yeah, those were nonsense, rumours without any base" Sai dismissed Kimihiro's concern and quickened his pace.

"As if the rumour of the good Go player has solid proof" Kimihiro muttered but he knew that the Go genius wouldn't be listening to him.

By the time they reached the deserted temple, the daylight was dim and the night was settling in. The whole place radiated a sense of eeriness.

"This place is creepy" Kimihiro murmured.

"Well… Let's hope the Go player is here…" Sai had to agree this place was a bit too creepy, even for him. But as long as he got to play Go, everything would be worth it.

The two teenagers entered the temple ruin. They could barely make out the inside of the temple, but one thing they were sure of was that it didn't look like anyone was here.

"I worked so hard to sneak out and I don't even get to play Go! Gosh I'm mad!" Sai was extremely upset. He had been looking forward to this.

"Well, next time you shouldn't believe unreliable rumours!" Kimihiro advised.

"This is so unfair!" Sai kicked the stone statue beside him.

"Tsk tsk, what do we have here?"

Both of them jumped as a voice appeared out of nowhere.

"Two teenagers… Didn't anyone warn you that this is not a place for the youth to be wondering around…?" the voice was closer this time, as if whoever was speaking had moved nearer soundlessly.

"I'm merely looking for a worthy Go opponent" Sai found the courage to speak of the reason he was here.

"Oh? Go…?" the voice seemed intrigued. A shadowy figure slowly formed in front of them. Sai could only see two yellow eyes staring at him. He couldn't quite make out the rest of the form of the thing in front of him.

"This… isn't human" Kimihiro murmured against Sai's ears.

The thing smiled. Sai and Kimihiro couldn't even see its face, but they both felt the laughter.

"You got that right, boys! I'm no human; too bad you two chose to wander into my territory You will be my food…"

Hundreds of folk tales rushed through Sai's mind. The stories he had heard about when he was living at the countryside with his parents, as well as the scary tales exchanged during late hours of boredom behind the palace walls. There was fear, but instead of succumbing to panic, he found himself asking the most important question to him.

"Are you as good a Go player as they say you are?"

"Yes" the answer came after a few seconds, as if it was surprised by the question.

"Play. Let's play Go" Sai challenged, "If you win, eat me, do whatever you want with me, I don't care. If I win, let us go."

"Ah, but I can eat both of you right now What makes you think I will have a game with you?" the voice drew closer. Sai could feel hot breath against his face.

"Are you afraid of a challenge? Perhaps you fear to be beaten by your 'food'."

"Interesting boy"

The shape of a man slowly materialized in front of them. He looked like a normal young, handsome man. The only thing that gave away that he wasn't quite human was the pair of yellow eyes.

"Alright, let's play. If you win, I will let both of you go. If I win, I get to do whatever I want with you."

"Deal"

TBC…