Author's note: Yay! The holidays are here. Just came back from a one week trip to Fuzhou China last Thursday; went there on a school trip to teach some students from a village school English. It wasn't an easy task. It was very hard to correct their pronunciation due to their natural accent so we gave up on that but we tried to correct their grammar and spelling. I've learnt that I have no skill what-so-ever in teaching… except when it came to teaching them how to play Frisbee. Yeah. They picked up to sport so fast. Anyway, I'm back now to continue my fiction. Still looking out for a beta yeah. I have 3 wks to my promotional end year exams…. And I should be studying. But I felt bad for making you guys wait for so long.

Ok… the above paragraph was written like 3 months ago I think… eek. I'm soooo sorry guys. But, good news, promos are over! Hope I pass… And, holidays are starting soon! Whee! So that give me more time to write ff unless I get bogged down with EE, TOK essay, SYF prep, overdue IAs… gah.

Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru no Go.

"Blah" represents speech

'Blah' represents thoughts

Blah represents everything Sai says/ thinks

Chapter 10:

Tuesday, Touya Go Saloon.

Hikaru fidgeted nervously just outside the door of the famous go saloon. She had been dreading this moment for the past three days of her confinement. Last Friday after returning home with Sai, she received a through scolding from her parents and a punishment of three days worth of grounding. She wasn't allowed to use the computer nor even the phone. With nothing else to distract her, she had spent the last three days dividing her time between playing go with Sai, learning go from Sai, talking things though with Sai and discussing with Sai about how she was going to do this; this being the act of explaining to Touya-san why she could not be his rival as he so wished.

'I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do it Sai! Ahhh! What to do what to do what to do!' Hikaru screamed mentally as she paced up and down the corridor just outside the saloon.

Sai watched as his sister vented her agitation. They had been here for almost one hour now. Every time Hikaru placed her hand on the door, she'd get cold feet then she'd fidget. Sai decided; it was time to put an end to this. Gliding up to her, he placed his hands on her shoulders and gripped firmly preventing her from taking another step. The sudden halt jerked Hikaru out of her rants and so she raised her head to meet Sai's eyes.

'I can't do this.'

You can Hikaru, just take a deep breath and calm down. I'll be right beside you. So don't worry alright?

Nodding her head along with Sai's words, Hikaru followed his instructions and sucked in a big gulp of air. Closing her eyes, she released it slowly. At the end of the stream of air, her eyes snapped open and she gave Sai a decisive nod. Practically marching up to the door with determination in her air, Hikaru swung it open with a bang. Then she froze. The bang of the door had drawn everyone's attention to her. Feeling the people's stares, Hikaru quickly lost her nerve and immediately blushed and bowed mumbling her apologies before she turned to escape the embarrassment.

However, Sai, who was now more attuned to the quirks of his little sister, had predicted this would happen and thus placed himself in front of her preventing her from leaving. While Sai may be intangible to practically everything, Hikaru was the only thing that he could touch.

With Sai before her as a ghostly barrier, Hikaru gulped and turned back to the saloon. Willing herself to ignore the stares that some of the people were still giving her; she walked up to the counter.

"Eh, Good afternoon, er… I'm looking for Touya Akira-san. Is… is he here?" Hikaru asked nervously.

"Oh, Akira-kun! He's by the back, just walk past here and turn left. He should be around there somewhere."

Hikaru barely managed a "Thank you" before she began her slow walk to the back. For some reason, Hikaru found herself starting to feel rather cold despite the jacket she had on. Pulling it tighter around her, she also started to feel her heart beating faster and faster. Spotting Akira, who was engrossed in a game with another old man, she crept up towards them not wanting to disturb the game. From her spot somewhere behind Akira, Hikaru watched the game proceed. The old man was no match for Akira, she decided.

Walking up a little closer to them, she continued to study the game. Despite her refusals to become a go pro, Hikaru couldn't deny that the game intrigued her and was fast in becoming her newest love; through dance would always be her first.

At the game's end, Akira bowed and thanked the old man before keeping the stones. Once done, he arched his back and stretched out the kinks he got from seating too long. In mid-stretch, he felt his hand hit against something. Tilting his head back, he could only gasp in surprise when he saw the face of his dream rival staring down at him.

"Shindo!" he called out before jerking upright and twisting in his seat to face her. Then, remembering himself and her rejection, he paused and slowed his movements, now being a little weary of her motives for standing there in his father's saloon. Slowly rising up from his seat, he stood upright.

"Good afternoon, Shindo-san."

"Good afternoon Touya-san…"

Frowning at the nervousness clearly evident in her voice, he continued to ask, "Can I help you?"

Fidgeting more than ever before, Hikaru tore her eyes from Akira's gaze and stared at the floor shuffling her feet as she tried to find her voice. 'Come on Hikaru,' she mentally encouraged herself, 'you've planned everything out nicely. You can do this…' Yet somehow, she found herself unable to verbalize the script that she had carefully modified and re-modified again and again in the past few days.

Annoyed by Hikaru's unforthcoming behavior, Akira finally snapped at her.

"Well, what is it?"

Shocked by the harsh tones, Hikaru jumped a little before blurting out. "I want to talk to you. Somewhere else. Please."

Akira was taken aback by her request. Still suspicious, he searched her eyes with a furrowed brow, looking out for any sign at all that would prompt him to deny her her requests. Finding none, he nodded his head solemnly and turned to push his chair in. Then, he took quick strides towards the reception and politely asked for his bag explaining to the girl that he would be out for an unforeseen amount of time. Once outside the saloon, he immediately turned to face Hikaru posting the silent question.

Hikaru didn't really want to talk out here in the corridor so she asked, "walk with me please."

And Akira complied.

As they walked through the bustling city of Tokyo, neither child spoke to one another each consumed in their own thoughts. But as they neared a park and their footsteps slowed, Hikaru took it upon herself to start the conversation.

"I wanted to talk about what I said to you last time. Don't interrupt me, please." She said as she turned to face him, holding up a hand to stop the words when his mouth begun to open. Then, turning away from him, she continued to walk down the path lined by the barren trees of winter.

"I'd like to apologise for my vehement refusal towards your request. It was rude of me. But this doesn't mean that I will agree to it. You told me that until you defeated me in a fair game, you will not take your pro exams."

Stopping her monologue, Hikaru turned to face Akira again as she sat herself down on one of the swings. Looking up into his eyes, she continued.

"I would advise you to end this nonsense vow of yours now. Firstly, because I could never be the rival you want me to be. Secondly, it is because you can definitely beat me in a fair game but that would not be the person you are hoping to defeat."

Akira didn't know what to think or how to feel about this. At first when Hikaru told him that she was sorry about her refusal, he was hopeful. But that was quickly destroyed. Then when she told him to give up on his vow, he was furious, yet when Hikaru continued her explanations, he got more and more confused. 'What does she mean? She has all the qualities that could make her the perfect rival. She is skilled and insightful in go and father said she was worthy and she… and she does not love go.'

Looking back into Hikaru's eyes, he stepped through the windows of her soul and was dismayed. Hikaru's soul was a flurry of motion, perfectly coordinated sparkling, yet muted in tones of black white and grey. Akira could see it now. For though she loved Go, she loved dance more. And that was why she could never be a rival. She knew it, and now, so did he.

"You don't love Go," he whispered, watching his feet kick up the sand below the swing.

"Not the way you do. No." Hikaru whispered back.

Then, Akira remembered the game between her and his father. The atmosphere that night was so thick. And he could have sworn that she loved go just from the feel of her aura. Then remembering her second reason for asking him to forget his vow, he asked.

"Wait, what did you mean when you said I could definitely beat you in a fair game but that won't be the one I'm hoping to defeat? How can you not be the person I want to defeat? And you make it sound like defeating you will be an easy task when you know as well as I that you're about as skilled as the higher dans."

Hikaru stopped and contemplated about this. 'Should I tell him about Sai?' She had been thinking about this problem the whole of the past few days. She really wanted to be honest with him but she didn't want to risk him thinking her weird or crazy. Sai was of no use in this matter because the lousy ghost was so passive in the issue. Do whatever you think is best. he had said. 'Goodness Sai, whatever I think is best. What great advice from a Go genius.' In the end, she came up with a lie that was as close to the truth as possible.

"It's not easy to explain. But in the most basic sense, it's like I have MPD or rather multi personality disorder. I don't understand it either but apparently one side loves Go and the other loves Dance."

As soon as the words spilled out from her mouth Hikaru wanted to slap herself. 'That was the worst lie I have ever heard. I'm going to regret this later aren't I? What was I thinking? Clearly, I wasn't.'

"Oh, so you DO love Go! Well, one side at least! That's wonderful! Can I play a game with that side?"

And as soon as those words spilled from Akira's mouth, she wanted to slap him. 'What on earth? Is Go ALL he EVER thinks about? Okay, that's it. This guy NEEDS a life and I'm going to help him get one or die trying… ok, maybe not the dying part.'

Ne, Hikaru-chan. I think you've forgotten your purpose of today's meeting. The pro examinations remember?

Sai's timely interruption stopped the stream of "Get Touya a life" activities that was running though her head. 'Oh! Right! Back to business; thanks Sai.'

"Well, Touya-san. Since you are so adamant about playing Go with me, how about a deal. If you go and take your pro exams, the deadline for signing up is not closed yet (I checked), and if, and only if you pass them, my dear Go loving half will play a game with you. How about that?"

Akira considered the offer. The offer was tempting but he couldn't help but wonder, if he passed the pro examinations, he'd have a whole new pool of professionals to play with, so then why bother playing with Hikaru's other half at all? Suddenly, a thought came to mind.

"Wait! Why are you doing this? Why are you so insistent on me taking my professional examinations?"

Hikaru mulled over his question for a little while. She hadn't been expecting this. Yet she guessed he did indeed have a right to ask. After all, their past engagements had been anything but pleasant, what with him interrupting her dance and her nearly breaking his toe, there was plenty of ill-will floating around. Logically, she shouldn't even be caring about his problems. Yet here she was using any means necessary to get him to take the next step on the road to his dreams.

Finally, she had her answer.

"Because although you almost became the reason why I cannot fulfill my dreams of becoming a professional dancer, I don't want to be the reason why you cannot fulfill your dreams of becoming a Go pro. I mean, don't get me wrong, I still hate you but I don't want your failure to become my fault."

Seeing Akira's somewhat blank and confused face, she elaborated. "Just like how the chances of me becoming the next Anna Pavlova should solely be dependent on my dance skills and not some sprained ankle caused by an idiot, (Akira gave an indignant face) the chances of you becoming the next Shusaku should depend solely on your skills in the game of Go and not some ridiculous vow, involving me, that you made when you were obviously drunk."

Akira's reaction was immediate. "I do not drink!"

As was Hikaru's; "Okay, you really need a life"

Akira was once more shocked speechless by the girl on the swing next to him. What's wrong with this girl? Shaking his head, he got himself to focus about what she had said before the drinking part. It made sense that his success should be the result of his own skill and not the interference of others. Akira resigned himself to accept her advice because even though her reason was a selfish one designed to remove her from ever receiving any blame or resentment should she fail, she was right.

"Well? What's the verdict? Deal or no deal? Yes? No?" said Hikaru as she jumped off her still moving swing to turn and land in front of Akira.

Akira thought about it and decided. Becoming a Go pro had always been one of his goals and the only reason why he couldn't take it was due to his own vow. So if he got a chance to fulfill his dreams and take on his, still self-proclaimed and one-sided rival, then why not?

"Yes. I accept your deal; but only if I get to play with you at least twice a week."

"What? That was NOT part of the deal! It was you pass and one game that's it! There wasn't any twice a week nonsense!"

Now Sai liked the idea of the twice a week arrangement so he did is best o persuade Hikaru to accept. And by persuade, we mean whine and beg.

Hikaru!! Please say yes! Please! Please! Please!!

"I don't have time! I have school and dance class! I can't play go with you twice a week!" Hikaru said, addressing both the go obsessed freaks in her presence.

Awwwww!! Please Hikaru! Please Hikaru! Hikaru I love you please!!

Looking at Sai's pathetic posture and puppy dog eyes shining with tears, as well as Akira's disappointed and dejected look, she really had no choice for she was never the kind of person who liked to see others unhappy.

With a groan, she conceded. "Fine, once a week but that's final."

A considerably much happier and hyper Sai immediately glomped her, all the while going Thank you! Thank you! Thank youuuu!! and a more cheerful Akira replied with a simple "Deal." while offering his hand for her to shake on it.

The two not-quite-acquaintances-yet agreed to meet each other on Saturdays at the Go saloon for a game. And that, was that.

AN: OMG…. That was a lousy ending to a chapter if I ever saw one. I'm sooo sorry about it but I've been typing this chapter for to long that I just wanted to end it. Now I can finally get the story moving along.

Right then, here's the chapter, nothing too interesting happened but it was a chapter that I had to put in to get things going. Now that Akira's going back into the Go pro world proper and Hikaru's going to interact with Akira more, I can start putting Hikaru and Go together…

Well, that's all I've got to say. Still think I need a beta-reader (any volunteers?) and thanks for reading! Hope you've enjoyed this long awaited chapter (please don't kill me).

Until next time! (I wonder when that will be…..hm…..)