The Never-ending Road: Chapter 29 – Wisdom from an Old Dragon

By Leitbur


Moving to take a seat across from Hikaru, Koyo Toya settled himself and gazed across the table at the young man before him. Hikaru just sat there looking back, unsure of what to do. All he could think about was to do his best to not show how much his body seemed to be trembling, or was it a tingling he felt? Those eyes, they just penetrated him so deeply, he could feel them even now probing him as if searching for some answer within his soul.

Finally, after what seemed like a short eternity had past, Koyo said calmly, "Thank you for being a friend to Akira. I know this life, this world of Go, can be difficult on someone like him who is different, special. To have someone like you to call his friend and to relate with is good for him, and as his father to see it brings me much joy."

Relaxing ever so slightly, Hikaru began to breathe easier. He had been somewhat afraid that Koyo would have requested another match against Sai, something that Hikaru would have loved to grant if it was within his power. Sadly, it was not, as Sai was now gone. Still, talking to him about himself and Akira, it just seemed… "Well Sensei, umm… I appreciate that and all, but I don't know if I'd say that Akira and I are friends."

Cocking an eyebrow as an amused expression slid over his face, Koyo replied, "Really? Why would you say that? You spend much time at my Go salon together, and I know that Akira enjoys your company. So what would you call the two of you then?"

His shoulders scrunching in slightly as a sense of diminutive size came over him, Hikaru answered, "Well, I guess we're rivals."

A light chuckle escaped Koyo's lips, transforming into a warm smile moments later. "Rivals you say? Well, the two of you are most certainly that. However I believe that you are also friends. I myself have known many rivals in my time, Kuwabara, Ichiryu, So Chan Wan, Shigeo, even if that rivalry is more between our students these days. I'm sure you can understand that."

Hikaru nodded. He had wondered for some time now if the rivalry between the Toya and Morishita groups had been a one-sided affair, but now Koyo Toya was saying that there was some validity to it. Wait until he told Waya.

Koyo continued. "However, in addition to being my rivals, I consider all of them to be my friends. Akira and you are the same Shindo, rivals in the game, but friends outside of the Go board."

Staring up at Koyo Toya in awe, Hikaru blinked his wide-eyed eyelids. Now that he thought about it that way, it sort of made sense. True, he had always thought of Akira as his rival, the person in the Go world he had the most respect for as he chased after him with all he had. The time spent together, their discussions, opinions, arguments even, was it truly possible that out of that rivalry friendship had been born?

And if that were the case, was it such a bad thing? What was scary in a way was that Hikaru wasn't sure if it was or not. He had always associated Akira with Go, with a passion for the game, a cool, proficient challenge to chase and likewise push onward against for the betterment of both their games. The idea of going out to a ramen shop and having a normal conversation… it just seemed weird. Was this something that just happened, a rival transforming into something more? Did people just wake up one day to discover such things? And not just friendship, but love too. Was this how people discovered love for one another, just waking up and saying, "Oh, wow, I just realized that I actually love that person." Goodness, he certainly hoped not, it was all too confusing.

Why hadn't he noticed it sooner though? From the sound of it Akira seemed at least somewhat aware of this situation. Perhaps he'd spent too much time listening to Morishita's rivalry/friendship to realize it. After all, his relationship with Akira seemed totally different to the rather harsh attitudes of Morishita. Maybe that did make him and Akira friends then, they certainly got along better. "Um… Sensei, I was just thinking… what is the nature of your friendship with Morishita-sensei? From what I've seen he doesn't act like you two are friends."

Chuckling at this, Koyo answered, "Well, as you may know, Shigeo and I became pros the same year. In our youth we were much closer, much friendlier. I think though that over time he began to notice the widening gap beginning to develop between us, and began to despair. His game began to decline around then, and while we both shared respect for one another, he likely began to feel left behind, that he could never reach where I had gone. So now he tries to pit his students against mine, just another way of trying to even out the levels between us. I've never discouraged this; it was good for all involved, making everyone strive to improve.

"Lately though, as I'm sure you've noticed, Shigeo's Go has returned to the form I remember. Whether it was my retirement or something else that brought on this newfound strength I don't know, but as his friend I am very happy to see him as he once was. He is quite resilient, something I admire in him."

Hikaru nodded again. He'd never quite thought about it that way before. But then, he was barely out of the gates himself. Still, there were symptoms of this already appearing. Was this how things would one day be, would Waya or Isumi be sitting down in a room with their young students pointing their fingers menacingly and screaming, "BEAT SHINDO'S GROUP!" and pushing their students to defeat his own? He really hoped not, it seemed so… sad.

Seeing Hikaru's expression change, Koyo added, "Is something bothering you? Don't worry, just because Shigeo and I ended up like that does not mean you and your friends will share the same fate, even if you and I are much alike."

Cocking his eyebrow at this, Hikaru just sat there in silence. Sure, he'd thought about the idea of being comparable to Toya Meijin at times, but never would he have imagined hearing the former Meijin say it himself, at least not yet.

Continuing as he sensed Hikaru's surprise, Koyo elaborated, "You and I, Shindo, are both seeking the same thing are we not? You seek a strength like that of Sai?"

His jaw slacking open somewhat, Hikaru quickly closed it as he felt his nervousness returning. The conversation, it was shifting in a direction that had him worried. What if Koyo began to interrogate him on Sai, or asked for him to arrange another match? Could he explain here, with all these other players around? No, this was not good at all; he'd have to change the path of this conversation or else…

"I saw your match against Ko Yeong Ha. I watched it in the team discussion room."

Exhaling, Hikaru closed his eyes and then a long moment later reopened them. Perhaps it was all right, the conversation was moving away. So Koyo had been there after all, he'd watched that match. His eyes moving down to the table between them, Hikaru felt his fists tightening as memories of that match slid back into his head. "Yes, that was a very… frustrating match."

"Because you could not defend Shusaku?" Looking back up now in surprise, Hikaru just nodded, unable to really answer. Noticing this, Koyo responded, "I heard about how Ko Yeong Ha insulted Shusaku from Kurata. Having seen other game records from your more recent games, I can see your study of Shusaku is as passionate as Kurata described it. I'm sure it hurt not being able to rise to the challenge that day against someone such as that boy. It is the same way I felt when I was unable to defeat Sai, that for all my struggles and study I was unable to rise to the challenge I had given myself."

Hikaru nodded. "Yeah, you retired after that, I remember. Toya-sensei, I never wanted you to do that you know. I just…"

"You wanted me to take Sai seriously. I know, and I'm glad you were so passionate about it. From that game I have begun to find a new vitality, a new kind of Go that I had never known before. You have been a very good influence on my family it seems, and when the gods arranged for you to enter our lives, it was truly a good day."

Blushing slightly, Hikaru replied, "Umm, thank you Sensei. I don't… I don't really think I did all that much but…"

"Oh, but you did" Koyo interjected. "I have also played against Ko Yeong Ha you know. After playing against him, and seeing his game, his soul before me, it was then I realized how fortunate my family has been to know you. Ko Yeong Ha is much like Akira you see; their talents and skills are comparable. The difference though is that Ko Yeong Ha has never known the challenge, the terror, that Akira has known from losing his match to you three and a half years ago. He is cocky, brazen, constantly seeking amusement because he can find no true challenge before him on the Go board, at least amongst his peers. My son may not have become like this even if you had not appeared before him, but back then I could sense his immense sorrow at having no one like himself to play, no rival to call his own.

"Then you appeared and he changed. Never before had I seen Akira so frightened yet determined to improve, to face someone. He has never changed, and it's because he met you. He does not have the time to be arrogant or brash, to sit back and allow his ego to grow, because he knows that if he does-"

"I'll surpass him." Hikaru interrupted. A moment passed before Hikaru suddenly realized what he'd done, that he'd interrupted Koyo Toya.

Before he could apologize however, Koyo with a warm smile replied, "Yes, exactly. You should also know that I have heard from So Chan Wan that Ko Yeong Ha was quite distraught for a month or so after the Hokuto Cup. Apparently you left an impression on him that he did not enjoy, despite his victory."

Hikaru nodded. "He left an impression on me too. That's why next time I'll…"

"Surpass him? For that you'll need to improve some first, get closer to your master's level."

Cocking an eyebrow, Hikaru replied, "Master? Do you mean Morishita-sensei?"

Shaking his head, Koyo leaned in and answered softly, "No, I mean Sai."

His eyes widening, Hikaru replied, "Sensei I-"

"I do not know who, why, or even how," Koyo interrupted, "but I do know from what I have seen of your matches that it is Sai who taught you how to play. Do not worry though, I will not tell anyone else, including Akira. While I do not understand it completely, I will honor your secrecy on this."

Smiling, Hikaru nodded. "Thank you Sensei."

Leaning back some now, Koyo then said, "Still, regardless of who or how you learned to play, there is certainly no denying what you have. Do you remember the first game we played? The one back at the Go Salon?"

Hikaru nodded. It had actually been Sai that had played, it had always been Sai that had played Koyo Toya, something that Hikaru had found rather irksome. Still he did remember that game quite well, despite its brevity, or perhaps even, due to the reason for its brevity.

Koyo continued, "That day I had talked about how hard I found it to believe that someone of my son's age and skill existed, and yet now here you sit. That last move you played, I still get goose bumps thinking about the depth to it. I do not know if you saw the true strength of that move or not, but there was something about it that stuck with me."

Hikaru just nodded. Come to think of it, he really didn't remember where he'd placed that last stone. Sai had been calling all the moves out, and at the time his own lack of understanding of the game had made it hard for him to recall. What he did remember though was the sensation of placing that stone followed by the realization of what he'd done. It had seemed so strange, so surreal, that he'd refused to believe that he had placed that stone. It had to have been Sai, or at least, that's what he'd thought then.

"The next time we played was at the Shinshodan match, another strange game. I do not know why you placed a handicap of that size on yourself, but I must say that few players have ever played so deeply while appearing to be playing wildly. Not to mention that your presence during that game was quite… powerful."

Again Hikaru nodded. That had been Sai playing, Sai's strength. That was why this praise he was receiving now was so painful, it wasn't about him but Sai. Koyo Toya did not know his Go, not really. If he did…

"But what has impressed me the most were your valiant struggles during the Hokuto Cup, and more recently your game against Kuwabara, especially against Kuwabara. You were afraid in that game, but during the course of it you were able to overcome that fear and push forward. That was just as impressive as the move you made to turn the game around. You are truly a fine young player. I want you to know that I was wrong back then, you are an equal to my son, and I look forward to seeing the two of you play again."

A swelling of pride, humility and joy mixed with shock and awe as Hikaru stared up at the great pillar of Go strength. He was truly amazing, Koyo Toya was. Not only had he seen through to Sai, but through that as well to the real him, the player he was now. And to that diminished player Koyo Toya was acknowledging him, not Sai, but him. Of all the people and players to ever acknowledge him, no player's opinion had meant more than this had, save perhaps for his son. Perhaps then it would be all right to inquire something from the former Meijin.

"Thank you Toya-sensei. May I ask you something?"

Nodding with a warm grin, Koyo replied, "Certainly."

Taking a deep breath, Hikaru then asked, "Sensei, what do you think about today's match so far between Akira and Ogata?"

Smiling coyly, Koyo replied, "What do you think of the match so far Shindo?"

Gulping slightly, Hikaru found himself inhaling deeply. Koyo Toya wanted to know what he thought, it was truly an honor to be given such respect. "Well… I guess some of Akira's moves seem to be timid and territory based. Not that it's a bad strategy, it just…"

Smiling, Koyo coaxed, "Go on."

Exhaling, Hikaru continued, "I guess Akira just seems afraid to go after Ogata. I don't quite understand it, Ogata looks pretty tired at the moment, but Akira's not pushing his attacks home, making Ogata work."

"Yes," Koyo commented, "that's certainly true. Likely it is due in part to the long relationship Akira has shared with Ogata, the numerous games they've played and the amount of time that Akira has spent looking up to Ogata."

Glancing at the clock and noticing that the lunch break was about to end, Hikaru cut in, "I'm sorry Sensei, but I think the game will be starting up again soon."

Glancing up at the clock himself now, Koyo responded, "It doesn't matter. Our presence will not be missed as long as we return before it's all over."

"I guess." Frowning as he thought over the former Meijin's words, Hikaru then added, "Still, I look up to a lot of players too, but I don't freak out when I play against them. Maybe I haven't been playing Go as long as Akira has, but it just seems… I don't know."

Nodding his head in understanding, Koyo replied, "Yes, but you and Akira have different ways of playing. Akira is a very detailed and meticulous player and at the moment he's over-thinking the situation. He still has a chance of course to turn it around, Ogata's fatigue is showing itself at times, but it won't be easy at this point. You however don't concentrate on the details of the game like my son does, you… play from your gut I believe, sensing the true flow of the game. This is the Sai I see in you, your natural insight into the game."

Smiling weakly, Hikaru responded, "Thank you Sensei, but I don't think that I-"

"Don't sell yourself short young man." Koyo interrupted. "After my retirement was announced Shigeo came over to visit me and during our discussions he mentioned that you had made a comment on my match against Sai. He said that you saw a path to victory that I had not seen. He was very impressed with you, and even if I were to write off that path as a lucky fluke, Shigeo's opinion of you, not to mention Akira's, carries great weight with me."

Once again Hikaru felt his jaw begin to drop. Morishita had talked to Koyo Toya about him, complimented him? Sure, Morishita had praised him on several occasions, but to talk about him like that to someone like the former Meijin, to the man Sai called rival? It was…

"That match against Sai was truly exquisite" Koyo went on. "Never have I desired a rematch against someone as I do against him. It was like… heh, it was as if Shusaku's ghost had returned to this world and challenged me to a match. Yes, that was exactly what it was like, as if I was facing a modern Shusaku, returned from the afterlife filled with the understanding of modern joseki, don't you agree?"

Hikaru could do nothing but sit there with his breath held. He'd done it, he'd solved the mystery of Sai, found him and seen what he truly was. Koyo Toya, listening to him talk about Go as he did was so much like listening to Sai, that depth of intuitiveness mixed with joy and sorrow. Perhaps he deserved to know, to be vindicated by learning the truth. He could certainly keep a secret.

As Hikaru began to speak however, Koyo began to laugh softly and said, "Heh, what am I saying? I shouldn't talk like that or else people might start to think I've lost my senses. Still, it is an intriguing notion. It's something my students have brought up to me on occasion, what it would be like if Shusaku were to return and knew modern joseki, quite amusing." Turning his gaze to view Hikaru fully Koyo then added, "Come Shindo, we had best make our way back to the game. After all, we wouldn't want Akira to think that we'd abandoned him. Who knows how that thought might drive him in his play."

Chuckling at that comment, Hikaru nodded and rose from his seat. So that was it, if Akira thought that they'd given up on him by not returning after lunch, then he'd try to prove them wrong. Well, that was what Hikaru had gotten out of it anyway. Regardless, he was eager to see how the match ended up.

As they walked out of the room and down the hallway together, Koyo said with eyes still forward, "One other thing Shindo. As I told you after our last match at the Shinshodan series, the next match between us will be an even one. I'll look forward to the day you come to play me, so don't forget all right."

His eyes glancing over to the man next to him for a moment, Hikaru returned his vision forward as he began to focus his mind on what lay before him and nodded. "I won't Sensei."


This was not good at all. Taking a towel and wiping the sweat from his brow, Akira scanned over the board one last time. He'd known after returning from lunch what he'd needed to do, spent all of lunch planning out what he needed to do, yet he had not allowed himself to do it once the game had begun again. He had sat back and secured his territory, allowing Ogata to do the same. Unfortunately, Ogata's territory was larger than his own was. All that left then was the center of the board.

If Ogata were to take half of the center, or even cut away at the amount of territory that remained, Akira would lose. There were possibilities, many paths to take, but his mind was shooting down all of them. His opponent would not allow most of them, and even the ones that couldn't entirely be stopped; it was hard to read ahead into the murky waters that arose from that position. He had to make that territory his, but how could he do it? The only route was to enter into the center at that point, to force his way in and survive the encounter without being deflected too far out.

But the question of whether he could do it was not as uncertain whether or not that path even existed at all. If it was there, he was not seeing it at the moment. Glancing at the time clock, Akira took a deep breath and then exhaled. He had plenty of time still, no need to panic. If he took his time and thought this out, he had a chance, panic and it was over. He had seen and played too many games in the past where a player panicked and overlooked a path to victory, and he could not allow that now, not as things were, with his father present, with Hikaru watching. But did the path even exist?

There was a path. Sitting off to the side watching as Akira searched over the board, Hikaru waited impatiently. The path was not an easy one to see, in fact the first several moves after entering the center looked rather foolish at first, but in the end that path would appear. It would ask much from Akira though; forcing him to abandon the timid and defensive play of earlier, not to mention several of his beliefs on what Ogata would or would not see, but it was there for him.

The only problem was that given all of that information, would Akira even consider that path long enough to see the outcome at the end? Hikaru had to admit, the strategy favored his own playing style far more than it did Akira's style, and that was really the big difference. While perhaps 95% of the moves available in a Go match both Akira and Hikaru agreed upon, it was the last 5% that made each of them who they were. Each of them struggled to understand and see the overall value of the others' 5%, and it defined at times the entire outcome of their games. Studying and playing against one another as they did at Akira's Go Salon helped them to reduce the size of that 5%, and for Akira's sake Hikaru hoped that his rival… his friend, had gained new insights, because this path was squarely in Hikaru's 5%.

Closing his eyes, Akira lowered his head and let out a long sigh. It didn't exist, there was no path to salvation. If there was, he didn't see it. He had lost, hesitated against his opponent, and been cut down as a result. It was over.

Opening his eyes, Akira felt the words of resignation begin to choke in his throat, unable to arise. Hikaru, he had helped him so much, offered him advice and yet Akira had failed his rival's expectations, he'd allowed himself to feel fear and doubt and failed. He'd failed to keep up with Hikaru.

Turning his head slowly, Akira moved his eyes to find Hikaru. He had to tell him, if only in silence, that he had failed and to apologize. As his eyes locked onto his rival however, Akira saw something else, something that caused the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. Hikaru was staring back at him with a fire in his eyes. Not an angry fire, but one of determination. It could only mean…

The weight that seemed to press down upon Akira suddenly vanished as his spirit began to rise. Hikaru saw it, the path to victory. He had seen that look in his rival's eyes before, the look of a wounded predator who had not given in, but rather was encouraged by the sheer impossibility of it all. He was undeterred, the path open to his eyes.

His eyes returning to the board before him, Akira once more began to look ahead into the depths of the board. The path he sought, he knew how to look now. If it was Hikaru, then there was a means by which he would respond. When down and cornered, Hikaru resorted to one thing, attack. The path would be strong and bold, striking deeply at his opponent and forcing them to reel back in defense while he took the time to secure the position. Whether it was a thrust, a ko threat or an endgame maneuver, Hikaru would call to push and attack, allowing no time to breathe. That was his Go.

Then suddenly Akira's eyes froze over the board. There, that spot, it was everything that Hikaru would look for, and it was just unexpected enough to force his opponent to think for a moment. First though…

Ka-Chi.

First he needed to enter. Ogata would respond by playing the approach to keep him from playing there himself, and then…

Ka-Chi. Ka-Chi.

Hikaru grinned as several people around him began to sit up more attentively. They might think that move seemed wrong, a clear mistake, but in four moves from now they ought to begin to see the purpose behind it. As those moves began to play out across the board Hikaru sat back contently and began to calculate out the final score after all was said and done. It would be close, and though it could easily vary depending on the exact order of the endgame placements, Akira ought to come out ahead by about a point and a half. All that was left now was to…

Ka-Chi.

Hikaru's eyes froze on the board as his house of cards began to crumble at this new vibration. That wasn't the correct order, Akira was deviating, playing something else. No, this wasn't happening, he had been certain that Akira had seen it, but then he…

Ka-Chi.

Yes, Ogata would play there and then there and there and after it was all said and done Akira would lose by a good eight points. As long as Ogata was careful and made sure to respond to… what was he thinking, he was figuring out how Ogata would win now?

Shaking himself in an attempt to relieve his frustration and failing poorly, Hikaru returned to watching the game. He'd been so sure, and yet now his rival was blowing it, playing a variation that would only lead to…

Ka-Chi.

Hikaru's mind suddenly went blank. That move… he hadn't considered that play. With that position Ogata would respond there, then Akira would play the ko off to that side forcing Ogata to react to it there, and then…

Could he still pull this off? Playing out the exchange in his mind at an alarming pace, Hikaru stared down at the board dumbfounded. It should work, he should win by half a point. Granted his own variation gave a little more room for comfort, but this game ought to fall down to a half point victory for Akira.

Ka-Chi. Ka-Chi.

Ka-Chi. Ka-Chi.

It was almost over, he was almost there. A few more moves and his position would be affirmed and the center taken. Ogata's last move actually had placed an extra dead stone to that group, giving Akira an even greater margin of victory once he took that territory. By now Ogata had to have seen what was going on himself, but for some reason he had not backed down. It was a complicated situation, so perhaps he was waiting for a mistake on Akira's part, but that wouldn't happen and he had to know it.

It was stubborn pride, that refusal to believe that a lower Dan could overcome and outthink him, something that so many higher Dans shared in their traits. Well, it was Ogata's problem, not Hikaru's to worry about. So once Ogata played there then Akira would extend and then…

Ka-Chi.

Both Hikaru and Akira froze. That move, it was… how could they have not seen it? By playing there they'd have to go around on the other side or else… it wasn't going to work. That stone forced them to come down on the wrong side, and more importantly cost about four points in the process.

Hikaru began to recalculate but he knew there was no point. The game was over now, Akira would lose by a good four or five points. He could try and play it out of course, but there was no point and Hikaru knew it. Unless Akira took all the ko battles remaining in his own favor, something that at this point it was unlikely that even someone like Akari would allow to happen let alone a titleholder like Ogata, he had no more chance. It was all over. The only possible reason to play it out would be to force Ogata to keep playing to the end, to say that he won by points rather than resignation.

It seemed stupid, pointless even, but then Akira was nothing if not stubborn, even if it was purely for stubbornness' sake. So it was likely that they'd have to wait until the end before-

"…I resign."

At those words the tension in the room seemed to vanish, although Hikaru was unable to recall when the tension had appeared in the first place. He had just been so focused on the game, and only now as it disappeared did he even realize it.

Letting out a sigh of disappointment as Ogata removed his glasses and began to clean the lenses, Hikaru began to make his way over to the board to discuss. That last move of Ogata's had been a surprise, and even now Hikaru was beginning to factor that move into his original path. As he did so a slight grunt escaped his lips. He was right, his path had bypassed that sequence all together, it would have still worked. The question now was, did he point it out in the after-game discussion now, or later back at the Go Salon? He supposed it was possible that someone else here had seen the move, such as Koyo Toya, but it was still a question he didn't like. After all, Akira's pride could be tarnished if he did.

"So", Ogata commented with a sneer as he finished wiping his lenses, "you've grown a little Akira, but you're still quite below me."

As Akira's head lowered in shame, tears beginning to well up in his eyes, he sensed a sudden surge of aggression off to one side. Turning to view it, he saw Hikaru scraping his teeth together in anger. Before anyone could respond or say anything else, Hikaru shot back, "He is not below you Ogata-sensei! A couple of moves played differently and he would have beaten you!"

Turning to view Hikaru fully as he put his glasses back on, Ogata grinned and with a mocking voice replied, "Maybe, but he failed to make those moves now didn't he? Before you boast about Akira's skill, perhaps you should think things through.'

Frowning as a slight growl entered his voice, Hikaru shot back, "I wouldn't have said that if I didn't believe in what I said. I could have beaten you, and if I can, then so can Akira!"

Cocking an eyebrow at this, Ogata replied calmly, "Defeat me? Hmmm, now that sounds interesting. Perhaps then, since I am your next opponent in the Kisei League, you will show me where your confidence comes from then?"

His anger rising as the Judan titleholder gave him that smug, superior grin, Hikaru responded, "Of course! I won't lose to you, no matter what!"

Chuckling to himself as he pressed his glasses back up his nose, Ogata replied, "Fine then, it's a bet. If you defeat me I will acknowledge that both you and Akira are at my level. However, if you can't then you will agree to my terms."

Giving a mock grunt, Hikaru shot back, "Fine, whatever."

At those words a devilish grin slid across Ogata's face. "Good, then if I win Shindo…" Ogata leaned closer to Hikaru and said softly, "you will let me play Sai."

Hikaru jerked back, shock and dread covering his face. Play Sai, but that was impossible, Sai wasn't… and yet if he lost… Ogata then rose to his feet and brushing off his white jacket added, "I'll be looking forward to our match Shindo. I've wanted to face you like this for a long time now, and in two weeks time, I will get my wish. At that time, I will show you the true strength of Ogata Judan Gosei."

With that Ogata turned and with a broad grin left the room, leaving a bewildered group of onlookers along with a dumbfounded and worried Hikaru.


Author's Notes:

Well now, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I have to say, it's been quite a few chapters since a scene just flowed out of me the way the conversation between Hikaru and Koyo Toya did. It felt really good to write. If only every scene gave me the same feeling, I'd have a chapter a day done. Oh well.

So yes, Akira lost the match. Hopefully I was able to keep you guessing at the outcome until the end. Ogata is quite the opponent, and of course Hikaru has him next. If it weren't bad enough, as you can see I have raised the stakes a little bit. Anyone see that coming? If not, then good, I don't like everything to be predictable. Now I suppose the question becomes, what if Hikaru loses? Well, hopefully he won't, but either way it is certainly an interesting development.

Terms:

Koyo Toya Meijin: You may have noticed that sometimes I refer to Koyo Toya as Toya Meijin. Though the former was more common after his retirement, the latter is also acceptable since during the series Toya Meijin defended the Meijin title for the sixth straight time. What this is called then is an honorary Meijin. If a player holds a title six or more times, they are given that title even if they were to lose it. A player may choose not to have the title added to their name of course, but they are still considered an honorary titleholder.

Ko Threat: This is basically a move played after an opponent captures a ko has a big kick for the next move. Thus the opponent must respond to it allowing that player to recapture the ko. Should the opponent not respond but rather resolve the ko then the threat is acted upon to gain compensation or even advantage for losing the ko. Confusing, think of it this way, it's a move where the player basically says, "If you don't allow me to recapture that ko I'll take out your stones over there." Opponent moves to stop it, and ko is recaptured on the next move.

Extension: This is a very basic Go move in which a stone is placed directly next to another stone of the same color, often used to add liberties or to increase territory, block opposing invasions, and so on. There are quite a few different types of extensions, and there is a Japanese name for each type.

Now, onto the questions. Well I suppose I don't hate homophones on principle, I just hate them in my story while I'm in the process of proofreading as it's something I can easily overlook. Since I don't have the time to read over and check this story five or six times it's easy for something like that to slip through.

It's possible that part of his fear is subconscious, but Akira is somewhat aware of it, especially by the end of the match. How he will react to this and grow is yet to be seen however.

Well, as you can see, he was indeed able to work up the courage to talk to Koyo Toya about the match. Hope you enjoyed that conversation. Yes, you did spell Koyo Toya correctly, well done.

Note: In case you're wondering, this is now the longest chapter in this story.

As a note, I'd like to thank all my readers, and there are quite a few, since the members count on the yahoo group has now gone over 100 members. I am truly touched and honored that so many people enjoy this story. When I set out to write it, I had hoped for a lot of readers, but had not expected half the number of reviews or readers as I have gotten. So to you, my readers, I say thank you.

The next chapter will not be out for a little while since I will be releasing the next two chapters of the Nase Side Story first. It fits in chronologically and the events are winding down in it, so I apologize. Luckily those chapters don't take too long to write, so perhaps I'll get the next chapter of this story out shortly anyway. When that does happen, expect some more reaction on the bet, and a little Akari.

Again, thank you all for the reviews, I enjoy reading them all. The support really does help me keep the story going. Hope to read more from you shortly. R&R!