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Down the hallway and to the right Hikaru kneeled before the goban, eyes closed. Across the way at the far end of the L-shaped table used by the score keeper and other observers sat Akira. His gaze was focused down at the table in front of him, lost in his own thoughts. Neither had even looked at the other when Hikaru had arrived, something that remained true even now.

Minutes ticked by and at last another person arrived. Honda stopped in the middle of the entrance, shocked by what he saw in the room. He had been tapped to keep the game record for today's match, something that he was quite willing to do since it would be a great match to observe. It wasn't Hikaru's early arrival that surprised him though, that was actually quite common. What surprised him was the other occupant of the room.

Akira's eyes shot up to observe Honda standing there and a slight sharpness hit Honda. The look in those eyes, it was almost as if Akira was about to play the game, but whatever that force had been it had certainly snapped Honda back into reality. Making his way into the room now, Honda passed by Hikaru and took his seat at the game recorder's table. From the entrance, and even from his seat now Honda would have thought that Hikaru looked calm and still, yet as he had walked by he had noticed it; the slight shaking. Hmm, must be nervous. Not that I blame him, this game is huge for him. I'd probably be shaking too. Just one thing Hikaru, please PLEASE don't play at the pace you did at the Young Lions Tournament. I don't think I could keep up with that.

Another few minutes passed, and at last Hikaru's opponent arrived. Entering the room, Hagiwara looked down at Hikaru. So this was his opponent, the young upstart 2 – Dan that had made it this far. The rumors he had heard, about the boy's lack of a mentor, his quick rise to the pro level, even one saying he was Akira Toya's rival. Not that he believed the last one, it was probably just a result of his recent success. It was what the Go world wanted, a powerful young rival for Toya, one that would push him higher, as if Toya wasn't enough himself. It was time to see if the rumors were true.

Glancing away, Hagiwara did a double take as his eyes fell upon Akira who was now watching him. Memories of that game almost a year ago flooded back, the game where he had faced Akira for the right to enter the Honinbo League. That loss had been painful, and it had pushed him to improve his Go even more. Now here Akira was again, this time the observer, already a member of the Kisei League. But why would Akira be here unless…

Hagiwara's eyes shot down to Hikaru, whose eyes still remained closed as if waiting for a sign. Could the rumors have been true? Taking his seat before the goban, Hagiwara watched his opponent. If the rumors were true, if this was someone who could go head to head with Akira Toya, then not only would he have to be serious, as he would have been anyway, but careful as well. This boy may not be as weak as I had thought. Still, the weight of this match must be weighing on him. He's shaking; he must be trying to calm himself by closing his eyes like that. Well this game means a lot for me too, but this is his first chance to enter the Kisei League. Will he have the fortitude?

Just then more movement appeared at the door and Amano entered, followed closely by Nase. Looking around nervously as she entered the room, Nase spotted Honda who looked up at her quizzically. Averting her eyes away from him, red with embarrassment, her eyes came to fix on the other person already seated at the table and she gasped. Akira Toya was here to watch the game, just as she was, and right now, he was staring right at her, confusion beginning to appear on his face as well.

She then looked down at the two players before the board, Hagiwara already watching her. Then Hikaru's eyes opened and his head turned to face her. As his gaze fixed on her, Hikaru's face lit up in a friendly smile. "Nice of you come."

He gave her one last look and then returned to his previous position, his eyes remaining open now and staring down at the board. Hesitating a moment longer, Nase exhaled and walked over to a spot next to the scorer's table and took a seat next to Akira. As she sat down, Akira turned and looked at her, though his lips remained closed. It was obvious that he was quite curious why she had come, and to be honest Nase was beginning to wonder that herself. She had wanted to come and support Hikaru, to repay him in some sense for all of his help over the last month. Originally she had not planned on coming, but her desire to see Hikaru play this game, not to mention her curiosity of what such a big match actually looked like, had brought her here. Still, if she ended up distracting him…

Finally Akira's gaze left Nase and came to rest on his rival. That girl… he was pretty sure that she was an insei, having a vague memory of playing her in the Pro Exam. Hikaru had been trembling since he had sat down, but had stopped the moment he had seen the girl. Who was she? The tremble though was now back, and that was good. Unlike the others, Akira had recognized it for what it truly was; the Warrior's Tremble. It was not fear, but anticipation for the approaching battle that caused Hikaru to tremble like that. The last thing Akira wanted was to see Hikaru distracted, not when he was so close to joining him in the League. Come Hikaru, show me your strength, show me you are capable.

Reaching into the bowl, Hikaru pulled out and dropped a single black stone as Hagiwara dropped a small handful of white stones onto the board. Several seconds of counting revealed twelve stones, Hagiwara would be black. Exchanging bowls, the players' eyes met as they both said, "Onegaishimasu."

Klak.

As Hikaru's finger left the stone, Hagiwara blinked. That move… it was brilliant. Not only was it hard to take, but it was going to make holding the lower left corner difficult. He had played it so casually too. Glancing at his clock time, Hagiwara looked up at his opponent and nearly gasped. Hikaru's face was calm, devoid of emotion as he stared down at the board, but this was not what had hit Hagiwara so forcefully.

Those eyes, the fire in them, the power, it was amazing. This was not just a boy, but rather a dangerous beast, a lion whose fangs were now being bared at him with a hungry glee. The pressure wasn't phasing him at all; he was enjoying this. Grunting as he placed his own stone down in an attempt to block the plan the previous move had set up so well, Hagiwara returned his focus to the board. It was impressive, but he too was not just a human now, he was a demon, and he would give no ground, show no kindness.

Klak.

Klak.

Klak.

Klak. Klak.

As Hikaru's finger left the stone the buzzer sounded announcing the arrival of lunch. Hagiwara exhaled and rose, happy to be able to escape the atmosphere for a bit.

Amano, Akira, Honda and Nase too also rose from their seats and began to make their way to the door. As they did so however everyone realized that Hikaru had not yet risen, but was motionless, eyes scanning over the board. Akira too had moved not with the rest of the group but to the board, and standing above it now looked down in deep thought. Nase sighed and turned to leave. She had seen that look in Hikaru's eyes before; he wouldn't be going anywhere for at least another minute or two. Best to get something to eat.

###

Sitting off by herself in the lunch area, Nase took a bite out of her cheeseburger. It didn't feel right being here, amongst all these high level pros. She was merely an insei after all; she was nothing to all the players around her. It had been best to sit alone.

Chewing and swallowing, she followed it up with a sip of her drink. Her mind though was not on her lunch, but on the game she had just seen. This was the second time she'd seen this other side of Hikaru, and it was hard to comprehend. Normally he was all smiles and laughter, so carefree and fun to be around. Sure he could put on that calm, serious face when he played, but then so could she. That intensity though, to be able to bend the game and the physical reaction of an opponent with an act of will, that was something she was not accustomed to seeing Hikaru do.

It was suffocating, the very energy in the air giving all a good hint on just what effect it was having on the players. Nase sighed. Could I ever be able to play a game like that? All that intensity and power? Hikaru's a genius, so of course he can do it. But me…

"Mind if I join you?"

Looking up from her meal, Nase gasped. Akira Toya was standing there looking down at her. Her face once again flushing in embarrassment, Nase hastily nodded. "Umm, yeah sure uh… Toya-sensei…umm, I mean…"

Letting out a slight smirk as he sat down, Akira replied, "Toya is fine. I don't mind."

Nodding, Nase looked over at Akira nervously. What could he possibly want to sit with me for?

Taking a slight breath, Akira looked squarely at Nase and said, "You're an insei correct?" Nase again nodded. His expression turning serious now, Akira continued, "I thought so. Your name was…?"

"Nase. Asumi Nase."

Akira nodded. "Nase huh? Forgive me, but I would like to know your connection to Hika… to Shindo."

Blinking at the question, Nase suddenly fought to withhold a giggle. So she wasn't the only person who struggled at times with how to address Hikaru. This made sense now, Akira was inquiring about her as Hikaru's rival. Now if only she had a truly solid answer. "Well, I guess I'm sort of his student."

Surprise covered Akira's face. This was obviously not what he'd expected. His mouth beginning to hang open slightly, Akira regained himself and said, "H-his student? Shindou has a student?"

Nase nodded, noting that in his surprise he had reverted to his more informal reference to Hikaru. "Yeah, it's kind of weird though, he's very informal. He's helping me prepare for the Pro Exam, and he's been teaching me for the last month now."

Raising his hand to his chin as he looked down and contemplated this answer, Akira replied, "I see." After a long moment that had given Nase a chance to eat some more of her burger Akira looked back up at her and said, "Why though? What is it about you that would make Hikaru agree to take you on as a student?"

Shaking her head, Nase took another sip from her drink. "I don't know. After we played at the Young Lions Tournament he complimented me on my play, and then a month ago I talked to him again and he volunteered to teach me. I don't know why though."

Eyes fixed on her, seriousness stretched across his face, Akira sounded thougtfully, "There must be something about you that intrigues him. Shindou is not just anyone, he wouldn't take on a student without a reason."

Sliding her lunch tray aside, Nase lowered her chin down onto her folded arms on the table counter and replied, "I don't know. I thought before he was playing me seriously, but now I'm beginning to wonder if he's not taking it easy on me despite his claims to the contrary."

Cocking his eyebrow, Akira responded, "Why do you say that?"

Nase sighed. "Because I watch him play you like at the Young Lions Tournament, or just now, and I see the intensity and passion he puts into the game and realize that he doesn't play like that with me. Maybe he doesn't think I can handle it… and he might be right too."

At that remark a grin cracked through Akira's serious complexion and he began to chuckle. Looking up at him as he did so, Nase began to wonder what was so funny about that. Finally Akira answered, "It has nothing to do with taking you seriously. That kind of intensity can never be created in a mere pick up game. If Hikaru says he's taking you seriously then I'm sure he is."

Raising her head up out of her arms, Nase blinked in comprehension. "So you mean that…"

"When faced in a real battle, a player can transform from his usual self into a more frightening figure. It can't be invoked at will; it's something that is brought out of each player by the game itself. Shindou is focused on victory, and that desire to win is what you are seeing. It has nothing to do with going easy on you."

Nase exhaled and smiled. So Hikaru did take her seriously. She still might not know the answer to why he was teaching her, but then it didn't really matter right now. What was important was that she was getting stronger thanks to his help, and if all went well, she'd join him as a pro by the end of the year.

"We should get going. The game should be starting up again about now."

Nase rose and took her tray to the trashcan. She then began to follow Akira back down the hallway towards the game room, staying several feet behind. He was right, she still had some time to think about why she played Go, and in the meantime she could support Hikaru in his game.

As they approached the door to the room where Hikaru and Hagiwara were playing, the sound of stone on wood indicating that the game had started up again, Akira stopped. Then without looking back he said, "After this game is over, I would very much like to play a game against you, if you don't mind that is."

With that, not even waiting for an answer, Akira walked into the room leaving Nase standing there in shock. Akira Toya wants to play… me? Taking a deep breath, Nase allowed her nerves to calm. Yes, he would after hearing all she had told him. Well, she'd just have to show him what kind of Go she could play. After all, this wasn't something that happened every day.