Hiyaa all...

Wuahh... I haven't updated the story for 2 months full! Really-really-really sorry for that (^_^")

For this past 2 months I'm having trouble with my health, that's what made me delayed on updating. I hope u will understand and bear with me in this one. I'm recuperating right now and getting better each day. That's why I can update the story.

Okay, on with the story. There will be 2 parts of the epilogue. Yes, guys. This story has reach its ending. My longest story that will be finish... But there will be still an omake... Or I feel like to add it, there will be some of it. No promises. Just look forward to it.

I will post the omake with the epilogue part 2.

So... I hope u will like this chapter. And thank u so much for all of u that had been read, gave review n favorite this story. Stay tune folks :)

Miyuu

Epilogue - I

He sat on his usual place, facing the goban. He reached one of the open goke, the one that contain the black stone. He picked one stone, and with fingers that skillfully had played for many years since he's a child, the stone was placed on the goban with such grace moved.

Pachi

The sound echoed in an empty room. He gazed straight in front of him, waiting for his opponent to place the second move.

But... There's no one.

He remembered seeing his father like this once when he was still young. His father placed one stone in the goban and then he just waited. And like what's happening with him, his father also was alone. No one, the supposed rival that his father had waited in all his time that should be faced against him... No one.

The rival had long gone, even before his father was born. Their era was different. And for that he once again gave his deepest gratitude to Kami-sama. He's fortunate enough to find his rival.

His long gone rival... That was also his first friend... And also his best friend... And of course, also his brother...

30 years had passed since that fateful day. And to this day, only him that remained in the living world. The other people that we knew had gone to the after life. In his late age, Touya Akira, still as sharp and as manner a man he would ever be.

His wife, Mizuki, had gone 5 years ago. He's living with his second son, Sou, right now. Sou and his family.

Like in his active days as Go player, he still played the game everyday, to whomever that wanted to play with him. But mostly he would play with Sou, or his daughter, Sara, one of his grandchildren that pursued the same career as him. He loved all his grandchildren, but Sara would also had a special place in his heart.

And that same granddaughter was the person that found him, sat at the study room, facing the goban with serious face that only reserved for when her jii-san play Go.

Sara entered the room quietly and sat beside her jii-san. She respected and loved Akira so much.

"You do it again, jii-san." She said flatly.

Akira didn't moved to acknowledge Sara, but she knew Akira was aware of her when she came and sat beside him. He took one stone from the other goke, a white stone, and placed it on the goban. Sara followed where her jii-san placed the stone and she immediately knew that the game Akira was constructing was one of the many games that he played with Shindo Hikaru. His grandfather ever eternal rival. Oh yeah. She had heard enough story, the infamous one, of both of them . Everytime she remembered about that thing, her eyeball just rolled by itself while she shook her head and sighing.

Sara watched the game quietly until finished. She already saw the game before. Akira showed it to her. And she still amazed by how complicated and deep the game was.

Akira placed the last stone... And he sighed. "What do you want? It's already midnight and you still awake at this hour." He turned his head to her, his first words since she came.

"Jii-san, next week I'll turn 20. Please don't treat me like I'm a little girl anymore." She pouted, feel annoyed.

"But to me you'll always be a little girl." Akira gave her his rare small smile. The said girl only rolled her eyes. "Don't you think I don't know that you're rolling your eyes, young lady."

"Yeah, yeah." She dismissed his word, indifferent.

"And you haven't answer my question. What are you doing?"

She didn't answer his question right away. There's this feeling that she couldn't say or describe, and she really wanted to meet with Akira at the moment.

"If I say that I miss you, will you believe me?" She asked uncertain.

"We live under one roof and meet everyday. Why will you miss me under that situation? In fact we just had dinner together."

"I... I don't know. I just want to see and meet you. And the urge is strong enough for me to find you this night." Sara looked to Akira straight on the face. "You tell me jii-san."

Akira stilled for awhile, before he motioned Sara to get near him, and after Sara was near enough, he hugged her. Tight.

"Jii-san?" She asked confused.

"Know I now how he felt at that time." He whispered softly to her. "This is really not a good feeling."

"Jii-san, what are you talking about? Who's he?"

Akira released the hug and he moved back to see the confused look on Sara's face.

"My dear. Looks like it'll be you that will accompany me in my last moment."

And with that words, the feeling that she couldn't describe became clear as crystal. "You... You're... Leaving?" She whispered the words, her strength evaporated to somewhere.

"Yes."

"Right...now?"

"Soon."

"How soon?" Her voice began to shake and he could feel the pool of tears that gathered in her eyes.

"Just soon."

Sara then lunged toward Akira, and now she's the one that hugged Akira tightly.

"Jii-san... Please don't go." She began to sob a little.

He chuckled a bit. "I have lived long enough than my friends and fellow Go players, dear. I think if I ask for a longer time in the world, they will come and drag me to the after life to join them."

"But you will join them soon." Now the tears had poured out freely, cascading Sara's white cheek. "How do you know about this, jii-san?"

"Two days ago, for the first time in my life... I met Sai."

Sara leaned back a little to see Akira, felt surprised, "The Heian ghost that only Hikaru-jii-san could see?"

Akira nodded, "I knew it was him. Hikaru had described him detail enough for me to guess how he would like. Beside... The aura... I won't ever forget about it. Even when I die." He said assured.

"Wh-what did he told you?"

"The same sentence he told Hikaru in his last dream before he's gone."

"Hello Touya-kun. My name is Fujiwara no Sai. I bet you already know enough about me from Hikaru. This will be the first and last time I meet you like this, in your dream. Because you know? We will meet and can play again together. Soon." Sai smiled serenely and spoke in lighthearted tone. "I can't wait to play with you again. See you soon."

That's what Sai told Akira in his dream, two day ago. He waited until today. And he just knew this day was the day he mention about.

Akira drew Sara to his arm again, "Don't cry Sara. Really, I have lived long enough. And honestly I was asking myself for quiet long-time of when will I join the others.

"I really miss them."

Sara looked to Akira face and eyes. She knew then that his jii-san really meant what he said. She tried to smile, and she gave a weak watery smile to him.

"But I bet the most person you truly miss is Hikaru-jii-san. Your father then Mizuki-baa-chan next."

"You knew me to well."

Sara hugged Akira for the last time. "I will miss you, Akira-jii-san."

"You'll have enough people to distract you of thinking about me. Like Shiraishi-kun for example." Akira teased his granddaughter a little. He learned to let loose for sometimes, mostly if he was with his family and closed one. Times had made him to learn how to loose his tension, even just in front of his closed relatives and family. Well... Hikaru also had a part in this thing.

"Mou! Jii-san! Enough about you match-make me and that guy!" Her mood was changed in a heartbeat, from very deeply sad to very annoyed and irritated.

"Sara." He spoke in serious tone that Sara knew, she had to listen or be reprimanded. "This is my last advice to you. I'm not expert in romance area. That's really out of my league. Asked your mother or Kotoko or your cousin Kotomi about all of this things, they will give you enough ammo for you until many years ahead. But, about Shiraishi-kun, give him a chance and don't close your heart. Don't ever judge a book by it's cover. I met Hikaru, thought that he was a mere kid and not suitable to play Go. But you knew the rest of the story."

She was quiet for a moment but nodded in the end, although unwillingly.

"Good girl. Even you're unwilling to do this, but believe me. I know you'll not regret this."

"Whatever." She mumbled, but Akira heard this. He just shook his head. Then he looked to the goban.

"Let's have a match. Play a game with me." Sara also looked to the goban. Then the sadness was came back full force. "Is this a goodbye game?"

"Just play, Sara. And don't let your mind wander off. I will know if you're not playing serious."

She stared at Akira, no, the former Meijin, Touya Akira, one of the most formidable Go player in the world. Right now the one who were in front of her was not her grandfather. But a Go player that she couldn't let her guard to drop down. A challenge had been sent.

And she would accept that challenge.

"Hai, Akira-sensei." She always called him that when they were opposing each other as a Go player in a serious game.

They played through the night. The pachi sound could be heard in the study room.

Pachi

Pachi

Pachi

They played speed Go once. Then the play the longer one for the other. Until morning came they played twice.

The sun barely shone its ray, but the sky had indicated that the morning had come. They just finished a very intense and mindful game. Akira just sat in his seat. They bowed to each other then Sara began to count for the territory. But in the middle of it, suddenly she turned her gaze to Akira...

...and knew that her beloved jii-san had gone.

Akira closed his eyes while his posture was straight in his seiza position. His head bowed to the ground. His hands were folded in his lap.

Touya Akira was no longer in the living world.

She became still for a moment. Before finally she could muster a little strength to stand and went to Akira. She would let her father the one that moved Akira from his position. Tears were poured freely to her cheeks.

The only comfort that she felt at the moment was when she saw her jii-san's face. Akira face was so serene and peaceful. Even she dared to say that a little smile was tugged at his lip.

"Goodbye, Akira-jii-san. Hope you'll meet Hikaru-jii-san and your other Go player friend in the afterlife. Don't forget about me, okay?"

She observed Akira face for sometime, looking intently at it, carved his beloved jii-san face into her mind, and then she went to search her father, to break the sad news to the family.

That day was May 5th. The same day Sai had disappeared... Also the same day Shindo Hikaru had gone from the living world to the afterlife.

...

'I'm coming, Hikaru.'

to be continued