Chapter 4

Realization

Sun embraced St. Peter Academy, now when Hikaru was here for half of a year it was like home – pain run the corners of his heart. Hikaru was 5-dan now, it was hard to get promotion when his matches were cut in half, but still better than nothing. Shelly idea of playing them by Internet was great. That was a way to keep his cover. Russel and David proposed him to change his name, so even if someone looked for him here he wouldn't be found.

There, in school he was Hikaru, but in any case of outside visit he was Akira Sai.

"Don't drown in your own mind" Deryl hit his back and handed him can of cola "What's got into you, bro?"

"It's nothing." Hikaru smiled at his friend. "I wonder what would became of me without you all?" seeing shock on other face he explained "Day by day you stop me from remembering."

"We are happy to do so, for you and for Shelly." one named Deryl smiled softly, his eyes couldn't see nothing accept Hikaru ever since they met.

"I have wondered for so long... who is Shelly to all of you? You would obey her words at the highest extant, why?" Hikaru played with his 'Student Council' emblem "Even now as part of Student Council I wasn't told the reason."

"Well, let's put it that way... you weren't the only one who she helped."

"Huh?" Hikaru looked at his friend.

"Gosh you are slow sometimes." Deryl pocked Hikaru head "You are being here for so long and still... you don't see much accept of Go, do you? Reasons of being here are different for each one of us, as you already know." he looked at Hikaru with a very serious face "I'm son of a gangster." Hikaru nodded calmly on a fact that he already knew "Shelly is too from such family, but what's her biggest trouble lies in different matter. She was born with a great gift."

"Gift?" asked Hikaru

"Yeah, she can read other people emotions very well – rather useful for a gangster, don't you think?" Deryl put his hand on Hikaru's "Same for many of kids here – gifts of wisdom or ability to move thing without touching them, read emotions or body language. Also martial arts masters or special skilled with gun's. On the other hand rich kids who didn't want to obey parents and live unwanted lives or marry people that they never saw."

"That school..." Hikaru "Why?"

"Headmaster was also running from something, but he was stopped... saved by someone." Deryl looked at Hikaru with smile "You... you are not different. You have talent for Go – you were chased 'cos of it, taken away from your world. Above that all person you have chosen, who dragged you into it all..." Hikaru stood up on that, memory of Akira face crossed his mind.

"Stop, I don't want to hear this. There is no importance in it now." but Deryl knew it wasn't true, Hikaru hand was shaking, his eyes flushed in pain – whoever was causing it was...

"You are right, I'm sorry." Deryl stood up

"I will see you at club room" said Hikaru "I will be late."

When other one left Hikaru drowned in his memories of past half of the year, each and every person here lived to the fullest. There were lesson of course, but after they were free to to do anything... many club and activities only waited. It was Special School indeed – but in other way, each talent could grow here.

Hikaru smiled to himself, everyone here had such freedom – they learned how to live despite of who they were before. Here as long as it wasn't bother to the rest you could do anything – what's more not alone.

Flashback

He was replaying game in his room when someone entered his room, boy with green orb looked at him with sad eyes

"Why are you avoiding us? Shelly will be worried again." he looked at game "Wouldn't it be more fun to play for real?"

"Probably." answered Shindou "But..."

"Teach me. I will play as long as you teach me." said other boy, his voice recalled treasured memory from Hikaru mind, the day that he himself wanted to play.

"I will." Hikaru looked at boy with fired up eyes

"I'm Deryl" other introduced himself

Not long after that they sat in classroom with many others.

"Gosh Mary, would you hurry... I want to play too!" Johan looked at Hikaru

"That's not good. Don't hurry her like this... Go is a game of honour."

"Smile Hikaru!" Shelly took his photo and run, twins laughed at his expression for weeks

End of the Flashback

Hikaru entered the classroom to see everyone observing Shelly and Deryl match, hearing his steps they turned to say hello to him. He was no longer alone...

In Japan

Akira sat beside Goban in his father Salon, by last few weeks he finally managed to play good enough to win – but feeling of being incomplete didn't leave him at all. Why was that, he couldn't focus at anything – accept that games with Shindou.

"I'm stupid." he bit his lip "I know I shouldn't have scream at him like that, but..." image of Shindou being there crossed his mind "What would I do I you were here? What would I say?" Akira felt cold tear slipping down from his face "Do you still remember me? Did you found another rival?" sudden pain rushed by his body, Hikaru smiling at someone else by the Go board.

"You really are stupid." Isumi sat on chair in place of Hikaru "I don't know why he stick around you for so long." he cleared the Goban "Let me show you, Hikaru first game after that long departure years ago. Game that you should have played with him."

Akira looked at Isumi "Why are you doing this to me?"

"So you would understand." in Isumi voice was only calmness, there was no anger at all "I want you to realize, it wasn't Hikaru who left you – you have left him long ago." seeing that Akira tried to protest Isumi continued "Where you in his house, in room filled with kifu scent? You were not, since for you it wasn't wasn't important were are you playing. Did you thought at least a bit about Hikaru feelings? No, you did not since his Go was only interesting matter to you... accept of Sai matter of course."

"You... know of Sai?" asked Akira

"You would to if you only let him tell you. I may not know much, but I know that he is dead and..." Isumi placed stone in spot that broke Hikaru spirit back then "It was 'cos of his death that Hikaru run last time."

"Dead." once more word that he throw at Hikaru returned "For so long..."

"Sai is only person that he treasure more that you." said Isumi "I envied you, we all did. Even during Insei days Hikaru could only think of playing you."

Akira looked at game before him, it was clearly game played by Sai, without a doubt...

"Sai."

"No, Shindou." said Isumi "That's the reason he left. You cannot see him behind Sai power. In Go that is fine since for him Sai is best player ever, but..." Isumi focused his eyes on Akira "Hikaru wanted to be you rival, only one in your eyes – since Sai was to far."

"He is only..." started Akira

"Really? I couldn't tell..." Isumi stood up "Whenever he needed advice or help he would come to me or Waya. It was me who was always collecting pieces of him back to normal after your stupid words." Isumi forced to smile "You were his everything, no matter what you did or said. I don't know why, but you were. At least until half year ago."

"Isumi, its enough." This time it was Waya to calm down Isumi, Akira thought it was strange. Maybe it was, strong and calm Isumi and childish Waya...

"How? Why it seams that you know each other better than anyone else? How...?" Akira looked at game, Shindou returned after it, was it 'cos of older friend support.

"He cried during it." said Isumi "That boy who is always happy cried. Sai who was lost..."

"Returned in his game." whispered Akira, his eyes froze – time returned to that day, here in this Salon

Flashback

"It was you who said that I'm the game I play. Last time asked you to never return to this. I will tell you at some point, when it won't hurt so much." Hikaru was trembling, now Akira wandered why he didn't see it

"You are not only one who..." he such cold words could be spoken by him

"I'm the only one. Sai had chosen me, me alone! He left me with his will..." Hikaru rushed to doors, I shouldn't have said anything then.

"You? You cannot even play them right, His extraordinary moves are just a fake when you play them. That Sai is probably toying with you."

End of the Flashback

"No, I didn't mean that. I was just... just..." Akira covered his face in hands "Return, Kami-sama let me see him at least once, so I could tell him... Kami-sama!"

A/N: another chapter wonderfully helpfully written by Eos-hime!! I would write more but at the moment I am terribly ill with a major sore throat and ear ache. I also don't have heath insurance so I cant go to the doctor to see if its anything worse than a bad cold. Until next time minna!!! Remember to Review and tell me what u think ^_~

Jap terms:

Kami-sama= Higher beings, God(s) depending on which of the Japanese religions your thinking of.

Minna= Everyone