The Love that Transcends a Thousand Years

--By sukishippo

Disclaimer: I'm disclaiming it!!! OK! Hikaru no Go is not mine! It's Yumi Hotta's!

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Chapter 9: The letter

A girl stood in front of the door of her room. She put out her hand towards the doorknob, but hesitated halfway. She then gave her head a little shook; her long hair moving elegantly like gentle waves and immediately after, reached for the doorknob and twisted it open.

The door swung opened to reveal the interior of the room. The girl's eyes, swept anxiously across the room, and finally, her heavy expression softened.

She walked into the room and gave a little sigh as she tiredly slumped down onto a chair in front of a desk, and dumped her enormous bag onto the floor.

Her eyes then slowly take in the sight of her room as she once again surveyed her room.

'Well…there's not much of a change.' The girl thought to herself, as she took in the sight of a rather boyish kind of a room.

The furniture was of a different design of what Hikaru had last time (his past, or I shall say his previous part of his life), but the taste was almost the same. There was a shelf, which was mostly occupied by mangas, and the rest of the space; by school books and some Japanese literature novels. The wall was plastered with light blue wallpaper, and the ceiling, with white paint. The bedspread was of a dark green colour, and the blanket had the army kind of pattern; with the mixture of dark, light green and brown patches. There were a few boxes littering the floor of the room; some were opened halfway, which suggested that the family had just shifted here not too long ago. There were also some clothes and papers lying around the room.

'Well, at least the previous owner wasn't too much of a girl.'(Am I being too sexist? Hope not :p.) Thought Hikaru, as a grateful smile played across his…or I shall say her face.

'O wait, that owner should be the previous (as in this current universe) me.' Hikaru stuck out her tongue playfully as she realized her mistake. Hikaru had actually expected to find the room to be like a princess-fairy tale kind of a room, with plenty of laces and pink colouration, (due to his limited understanding of females), he had initially thought that all females are well…very feminine. (That's stereotyping Hikaru kun!). That was why she was nervous or rather, afraid to get into her room in the first place and see a sea of pink and doom.

"Pheew!" Hikaru heaved a sigh of relief as she let herself fell onto the unused bed, when she shifted from the chair to the bed.

'At least I could still act like myself (like a boy) and not give myself away……that I've something possessing me or having a spilt personality, or that's what people will think when I suddenly have a great change in character.' Hikaru thought as she stared at the white ceiling, her long hair fanning out onto the bed, framing her pretty face.

'It's a good thing that characteristics of people do not change that much.' Hikaru thought as she deduced from the tomboyish characteristic of the room.

She suddenly turned her head to her left, her hair moving with the motion and froze, as she spotted a Goban at the corner of the room, which could only be seen from a certain angle as it was partially hidden behind a box.

Hikaru quickly jumped out of her bed, disregarding the tiredness of her body, and made her way to the Goban.

She pushed the box blocking the Goban aside and kneeled down beside it. She then laid her palms onto the Goban and strokes it tenderly.

'This Goban is the Goban that grandpa gave me when I started learning Go!' Hikaru thought in wonder.

'Seriously, my character and hobbies does not change that much isn't it?' Hikaru asked herself silently with a small smile, as she continued touching the Goban. Hikaru was sorely tempted to play out a game on the Goban as she felt that it seemed like an eternity since she had played Go, but she decided against it as the Goban had reminded her of something important that she would rather not face.

She pushed herself up from the floor and walked towards her casually placed bag, and took out a wooden box from it.

She placed the box on the desk and then again sat back onto the chair. The box was made out of sandal wood, which gives it a deep rosy red kind of a colour. One could see that the box have an age to it as it looked like an antique.

Hikaru undid the red rope that was tied around the box, opened the box and placed the lid onto the desk. Inside was a letter, but Hikaru did not open the letter to read because 1) she had already knew the content in it, and 2) her attention was not with her as it had drifted off with her thoughts as she reminisced about the time in the hospital yesterday.

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Yesterday (Saturday), in the hospital room

As the doctor examines Hikaru's health condition, Hikaru's eyes followed a figure around the room.

Akari was pacing anxiously along the length of the hospital room. Her eyebrows were knitted with worry, and her face was filled with concern. If this happened in a normal situation, Hikaru would have found it to be relatively funny and would have laugh at Akari's expression. But this was not one; in fact, this was quite a serious situation.

Hikaru grimaced as she comprehended her current situation. She turned her eyes from Akari and onto the bedspread she was currently sitting on as she continued thinking.

He or rather she now, had awakened from nearly a week of sleep (or dream) and only to find himself to undergo a change of gender and became a she. This kind of experience would have rendered some people to undergo a state of panic, but Hikaru here, had managed to pull off a state of calmness and normality on the outside; even though her thoughts and feelings were in turmoil, which was very unlike his usual character. This might had attributed from the fact that Hikaru had already undergone through an unexplainable, supernatural case like Sai. This was simply not enough to faze her into a state of hysteria, or maybe if she would admit, she was just close enough to do that.

When the doctor finished Hikaru's check-up, he smiled and said to Akari and especially to Hikaru:

"Well it seems that young Shindo san here is quite physically alright. She is fully healed from the fever although she will be quite weak for the time being. She would have to eat and rest more to gain back her strength."

Hikaru smiled back and said "thankyou" to the doctor with a small nod of her head as she couldn't really give a bow at her current state.

"But I heard from Fujisaki san here that you err…denied quite intensively that you're a female?" The doctor raised his eyebrows in curiosity as he questioned Hikaru.

There was a period of silent as Akari stopped pacing and stared at Hikaru. While Hikaru on the other hand tried to avoid Akari's inquisitive eyes, nor the doctor's ones for that matter.

"Ahahaha……"

Hikaru then laughed sheepishly and nervously, while thinking furiously to cover up her previous abnormal actions.

"I err…was just playing a prank on Akari, yeah, how could I have forgotten my own gender?" Hikaru lied while trying not to be obvious, while thinking in her mind, 'Of course not! I am a male! Or initially was…'

"I was only trying to lighten up the atmosphere at that time as Akari looks as she would cry then, who knows that she would take it so seriously." Hikaru said as calmly as she could, and continued to lie as she shrugged her shoulders causally, although her feelings and thoughts inside her were quite in a mess.

She could not fathom as to how on earth that a he could have become a she just after a dream, or maybe she was still in a dream after all? She was also worried about how this change would affect his/her current life.

Akari looked with suspicion at Hikaru, as that time, as Akari had remembered, Hikaru's genuinely shocked face when Hikaru had learned that she was indeed a female. But Akari immediately cast her doubt aside as other feelings rose, when she caught Hikaru's nonchalant looks after her confession in pulling a prank on her.

"Mo…! How could you do such thing!!!" Akari punched Hikaru not so lightly on the shoulder as she got to Hikaru.

"Oompf!" came Hikaru as she fell sideways onto the bed.

"What you do that for!" Hikaru cried in a not too ladylike manner at Akari as she feebly pulled herself up into a sitting position. "I'm the patient here!"

"Well, that's what you deserved for playing the prank on me. You got me worried for nothing!" said Akari as she stared angrily at Hikaru.

Hikaru could only act innocent, as she tried to look away from Akari's "daggers shooting" eyes.

Hikaru then sighed to herself, even if she had told the truth; that she was male in the first place, and it was only after a weird dream, that she had managed to change into a female for some don't-know-what reason, no one would have believed what she had said as it was too ludicrous an idea. Also, she did not have the slightest idea on what was going on, so how was she going to convince people into believing her story?

"Bang!" the door suddenly opened with great force startling the group of people in the room as a middle aged woman rushed through it.

"Hikaru! Akari called me and said that you have amnesia, do you recognize who I am?!" Hikaru's mother asked anxiously as she rushed towards Hikaru, dropping the bag of essentials on the way towards the bed.

"I err…mother, well err…" Hikaru don't know what to say, and was grateful that Akari had interrupted.

"Well, Hikaru here decided to play a prank on us when she woke up, so very childish." Akari spat out as she stared darkly at Hikaru and continued to explain what had happened to Mrs Shindo. And after the explanation, Mrs Shindo had decided to join Akari in staring darkly at Hikaru.

'Well maybe not so grateful after all' Hikaru thought as she tried not to throw the blanket over her head and hide away from their deadly glares.

Suddenly an idea came into Hikaru's mind and she used some time to consolidate her plan before speaking.

"Well to tell the truth," Hikaru paused and bravely faced the pair of angry women, "it wasn't exactly a lie though, I……really do have a slight case of amnesia…" Hikaru ironically contradict herself as she lied.

"What!" Both Akari and Hikaru's mother shouted in shock while the doctor who was just listening interestingly to their interaction stood up to attention at Hikaru's words.

"I err…believed that I couldn't remember anything about the past recent years…" Hikaru continued as she bowed her head down, her long hair covering her face. If one did not see Hikaru's face, one might think that Hikaru was about to cry, but in actual fact Hikaru was just trying to hid her guilty expression.

Hikaru felt bad at lying at them, but this was a sure way to help herself in this weird situation which she knew nothing about, as she could pushed the blame on amnesia when she could not relate with friends or relatives when they talked about their shared past. She was not a good or rather, tricky player of Go for nothing, as she had strategize out this plan to deal with the problem in a short period of time.

"O my poor child!" Hikaru mother smothered Hikaru into a tight hug. Hikaru tried to break free from the embarrassing hug but was too weak to do so, so she just stopped struggling and think, 'This is just so weird! When did mother become so emotional and clingy? Is it because I'm a girl now?'

"Knock. Knock."

They where interrupted again by the knocks on the door; Hikaru took this opportunity to break away from the uncomfortable hug, as a nurse wearing pink uniform walked in, while holding a bouquet of beautiful flowers.

"This is for Miss Shindo Hikaru." The nurse said as she handed Hikaru the flowers. Akari and Mrs Shindo stared quizzingly at Hikaru, while Hikaru hesitantly accepted the flowers.

"And here is a box along with the flowers." The nurse then handed a wooden box which was hidden behind the large bouquet of flowers over to Hikaru.

Hikaru checked the bouquet for any cards but there where none. So she turned towards the retreating nurse and asked, "Do you know who sent me these?"

The nurse unmistakably blushed and said "Well, these were from a very handsome man, but I don't know his name as he just asked me to pass these to you."

After hearing what the nurse said, Hikaru blush for apparently no reason at all, while Akari's and Mrs Shindo's stares turned more intensed.

"Well…err…Thankyou." Hikaru said to the nurse. The nurse gave a nod in reply and walked out of the room.

Hikaru tried to avoid the inquisitive stares from the pair of ladies and started to work on the red wooden box, while the bouquet of flowers lay forgotten beside Hikaru.

The box was made from sandal wood which was a rare type of wood; there was a lingering natural sweet scent of sandal wood, as Hikaru brought it near to her face. Hikaru admire the great craftsmanship on the box, it was simple yet elegant.

Hikaru then pulled on the red string that was tied around the box. The knot gave and the string fluttered down onto Hikaru's lap.

Hikaru then took off the lid and was surprised to see a letter in it. She then placed both the lid and the box on the bed beside her and opened up the letter. The letter was written using a brush, and Hikaru had a hard time understanding the calligraphy as she was not used to it.

"WHAT!!!"

Hikaru suddenly shouted after reading the letter as she hyperventilated and fainted. Thus giving Akari and Mrs Shindo their third shock in the day.

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Back in Hikaru's room (Sunday)

Hikaru scoffed at her weakness as she remembered her fainting incident yesterday, although she was unconscious for only about a minute, it was still well…fainting nonetheless.

Her mother and Akari went into a frantic mode when Hikaru had fainted, only when Hikaru had came around, did they then calm themselves down, and started to pester Hikaru about the letter.

Hikaru had said that the letter wasn't important, and it was just her tiredness catching up to her that had made her fainted, but Mrs Shindo and Akari did not buy it. It was only when the doctor interrupted and said that it was essential to know how bad Hikaru's amnesia was, did they then stopped bothering her and continued on to a question and answer session (for the testing of amnesia).

Hikaru had found out from the little question and answer session (given mostly by Mrs Shindo and Akari) that the history of this life (as a female) was slightly different from his previous one (as a male).

She had found out that her family had just recently shifted back to Tokyo from the Kansai region, and was currently staying back at their Tokyo house (the same house Hikaru had always lived in), which was rented out during their five years stay in Kansai due to her father's job.

Hikaru had also learned that she was also a professional Go player there in Kansai, but she did not know her ranking as her mother and Akari didn't know too; her mother was usually not concerned by such stuff and it was five years since Hikaru had been in contact with Akari. Hikaru and Akari were best friends and neighbours when Hikaru was still living in Tokyo when they were young.

Hikaru was also currently enrolled into Kaio High School. She was supposed to attend school on the first day of school, but she had fainted in her room due to fever and was hospitalised until yesterday as was told by her mother.

She was discharged today as the doctor saw her fit enough to go home after a good night rest. The doctor had also said that it would be better if Hikaru was more exposed to familiar places to help in her recovery (of amnesia).

Thus right now, Hikaru was right back at home, sitting in a chair thinking about the recent events, when the grandfather clock struck two in the afternoon.

Hikaru was jolted out from her memory lane, and was thrown into a panic state as she remembered that she was going to be late.

Hikaru snatched the letter out from the box and roughly opened it to check again for the timing of the meeting.

"O God! I've only have thirty minutes left!!" Hikaru shrieked as she threw the letter onto the table and rushed to the closet to grab a fresh set of clothing.

Most of the clothes that were in the closet were of the unisexual kind. Skirts and dresses were almost none existing, and if there were any, it will be chucked at the far back of the closet.

After grabbing the clothes, Hikaru when straight for the bathroom to change. She did not notice that her actions had caused the letter; due to the wind produced, to fall onto the floor.

The writing on the letter was very beautiful even if the letter was a short one; one can see that the writer was a master at calligraphy. It was indeed worth the time to admire it if one did not read the content, as it would spoil the mood to enjoy, which clearly says that the letter did not include any glad tidings.

If one was interested in the letter, this was what it says:

Dear Shindo san,

You must be wondering what had happened to you, to have let you undergo some unique changes. The dream that you had, could also be explain to you. If you would like to know, please be at XXX shrine at two thirty in the afternoon tomorrow.

And here is a fact that you should know, Shindo san, you have only got three months more to live from now.

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The letter on the floor was blown across the room as wind from the opened window blew in. Accompanying the movements of the letter was curses yelled by Hikaru as she battled with the bra in the bathroom.

"Darn it!"

"How do you wear a bra!!!!!"

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Author's note

Important:

Hikaru: "What! Sai is coming back?!"

Sukishippo: "Yup."

Hikaru: "Yeah!! I can now show my beautiful long hair off to Sai!" squeal!! "And I could consult him on whether I should pierce both my ears to get earrings just like him!" squeal again

Hikaru got knocked down by Akira.

Akira: "Stop your bimbotic nonsense! It's serious matter here!" ( Akira still glaring at the unconscious Hikaru on the floor.)

Sukishippo: "Ahem!" "Well back to business, Sai will be coming back and I need your help. Do you want him dead or alive?"

Akira: "She means do you want Sai to be in a real physically human form in the story or still as a spirit?"

Sukishippo and Akira: "Please tell us your preference. Thankyou very much :)" (gave a bow)………(Hikaru's still dead on the floor)

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So yep, please tell me what you prefer, Sai in physical form where everyone can see him or in his spirit form.

I hope you like this chapter; it is a pretty long one. Hope this made up for the long break in between the updates.

And please review. Thanks:)