Disclaimer: Hikaru no Go does not belong to me. I just like to have fun with them! ^ ^

Dedication: This is dedicated to Da Evil One once again because it was because of her threats that I got this chapter out this fast. I'm such a lazy bum…[sigh] This is also dedicated to all that reviewed and showed me support. Thanks so very much and I hope you like the way this fic turns out!

A/N: Remind me never to do an author's note when I'm half-asleep…[yawn] Anyways, I can honestly say that I can't believe I got this chapter out. I'm so not committed when it comes to finishing fan fiction. I just wanted to clear some things up. Yes, Akira did swear but let's be realistic--he's a thirty something year old who really hates this girl for taking Hikaru away--it's understandable, ne? On another note, just half fun and enjoy this chapter. It's not one of my best but I hope the chapters after this will make up for it. Later! ^ ^

Another Chance

Chapter 1: Nostalgic

Akira woke up unwillingly, not to the sweet tunes of songbirds, but to the incessant buzz of his alarm clock. He groaned as he pushed the snooze button and opened his eyes to only close it again against the sunlight that streamed through the window. He soon became aware of the piercing pangs of pain that hit him mercilessly and realized with a groan that he had another hangover.

It was Saturday, a week after the Meijin tournament, and the night before, he had gone drinking with some of the Go pros on a quote on quote victory celebration. He sat up, knowing that he had a study group to attend to later on in the day. He would have to mask his hangover as best as he can and that could take a while, as he learned through past experiences.

Akira stood up unsteadily, as the world spun around him, and it took him a few moments to get a firm footing. All of a sudden, he realized something. He was naked. He blinked in surprise. Last time he checked, he wasn't prone to sleeping nude. His eyes moved quickly to his bed and widened in shock as he saw a body concealed under the covers.

"Aw crap…" Akira said disbelievingly.

The figure stirred within the covers and sat up, blinking sleepily at Akira. She smothered her yawn almost gracefully and stretched, revealing that she too sported no clothes.

"Good morning to you too sweetie," a slight smile adorning her features, despite the sarcasm in her voice.

She stood up; with a sheet wrapped around her and made her way towards Akira. It took him a while to register the situation and the hangover didn't help one bit. His head was throbbing; the world was spinning and now this? In his bewilderment, he didn't realize when the woman (yes, it was a woman) wrapped her arms around him and spoke against his neck.

"You're not happy to see me Akira-chan?"

"Yukiru…How…Why…?"

"You and your questions…" she murmured, and Akira distinctly felt her warm voice against his skin. "You looked so miserable and I wanted to comfort you…" She pulled away and faced Akira.

Akira looked at her with worry clearly in his eyes and asked unsurely, "Tell me…tell me we didn't…" He bit his lip and turned away, unable to face her any longer.

A huge smile appeared instantly on Yukiru's face as she slapped his back reassuringly, "Don't worry Akira-chan, I didn't take advantage of you…As much as you wanted me too," she said playfully.

She continued in a more serious tone, "Trust me, nothing happened. You know I would never do anything like that to you, right?" She brushed the dark green hair that fell in his eyes— which made him seem years younger— affectionately, waiting for an answer.

Through the haze, he managed to formulate an answer. Gathering his courage, he looked up, into the expecting face of Yukiru— a fellow Go pro, a close friend— someone he could count on since the day they had met. She was the one who comforted him after his divorce, the one who patiently listened to him talk about Hikaru, the one who stayed with him during his really low days. He would have been lost without her.

He let a small smirk adorn his features, "albeit the fact we're naked?"

"Hey!" she exclaimed defensively, "I'm not that kind of girl! It's not my fault you wanted me in your drunken desire, not that I blame you of course…." she winked suggestively at him.

He gave an exasperated sigh, "My God, Yukiru…You are always like this, aren't you?"

"Oh but of course!" she laughed and somehow, she managed to look regal as she walked towards the bathroom. "You don't mind if I use the bathroom first, do you?" Before Akira could say anything, she answered her own question, "Thanks! You're such a sweetheart!" before she promptly shut the door.

Akira closed his eyes and fell back into bed. He didn't realize how exhausted he was and dealing with Yukiru first thing in the morning didn't help much. That, and the throbbing headache that simply refused to go away didn't help matters. He heard Yukiru start the shower, the water sounding like rain as it hit the ceramic floor, and groaned in acceptance as he resolved himself to his fate. This was going to be a long day…

= * = * = * = * =

Akira left the Go Institute later that evening from his study group, strangely placated. One of his more promising students was improving dramatically and Akira was sure that he would pass the pro exam this year. He was glad that his hangover had slowly dissipated throughout the course of the day and didn't hamper his concentration. After the morning he had, a bout of Go had done some good, although, like always, it had seemed rather mechanical.

It was winter and the air was crisp and cool. There was a slight breeze that brought a deep chill as it ruffled through Akira's hair and he couldn't help but shiver. Usually, he would have driven home but he hadn't thought it was safe for him to drive in the condition he was in. He walked along the sidewalk, through the bustle of downtown Tokyo, lost in his own thoughts.

It was weird that he seemed to grow younger in his mind as he grew older. When he was a teenager, everyone had said that he seemed so mature for his age, so ready to be an adult. He had wanted to be older and wiser and gain the experience that came with age. He had wanted to be recognized for not only something he loved to do, but for beating Hikaru, fair and square on their home turf. Twenty years later, he would do anything to go back to that time, where he had everything he had ever wanted. His passion for Go, his dreams, his rival…Oh how he missed those days…

Throughout all of this, he wasn't conscious of where his feet took him until he stopped and looked up to meet an unexpected sight. It was a Go club— but just not any Go club. He bit his lip in consideration, debating to himself if he should go in or not. He reached a tentative decision and he pushed the door in, the sound of the door chime meeting his ears.

It had been so long since he had came here. He remembered when he set eyes upon Hikaru here, looking wide-eyed and utterly clueless. He had been surprised that a kid his age had wanted to challenge him and he clearly remembered the feeling of annoyance that came at his cocky attitude. Who did this kid think he was?

It had shocked him that Hikaru had wanted no handicap and for a minute, he had been scared. Then, when he had seen the way Hikaru held his stone, Akira had laughed to himself. This kid was crazy…He didn't even know how to even hold the stones properly nevertheless beat him in an even game.

He had no chance— Hikaru had led the board since the beginning, despite his unusual playing style. By the end, he was so thoroughly dominated that it shocked him beyond belief. It had shaken his foundations that Hikaru was so strong— it was like playing his father. This kid was playing Shidougo with him

After that, he had subconsciously chased Hikaru and had tried to keep out of his grasp at the same time. Hikaru had been an enigma to him. Half of the time he was shocked by the other's strength and the other half, he was utterly disappointed. It was like there were two sides to Hikaru.

"Ah Touya-meijin! What are you doing here? We haven't seen you around in a while!"

Akira felt like a cat caught in the spotlight and he looked at the young cashier. It took him a while to recognize her.

"Kawara-san! You had grown since I last saw you. How is your mother doing anyway?"

"I'm honoured that you remember me Touya-meijin," she said cheerily. "Mother talks about you all the time— Touya this, Touya that— Dad is getting quite jealous."

Akira couldn't but laugh at the young woman's words. "That sounds like her…I do miss Ishikawa-san."

"Ooo…" she raised her head quickly as if a thought had struck her. "You came at the perfect time! There's this interesting new player that has been coming in here recently and has become quite popular with the crowd. I heard he has the strength of at least the strongest Insei but to honestly tell you, I've never seen him anywhere else before."

He raised a sceptical eyebrow at Kawara's words. An unknown player that strong…that doesn't make any sense.

Kawara caught the gist of his thoughts and said sheepishly. "Of course I'm not an expert as you are, so I don't have a right to judge…" She pointed towards the far corner of the room where a group of people had gathered. "You can see for yourself Touya-meijin. He's playing right over there."

His heart started to beat rapidly. He didn't know why he was getting his hopes up. Why should he care anyway? Probably some wannabe pro who didn't have enough to make it…But, in Akira's mind, a vivid memory of a 11 year-old Hikaru came to his mind, standing before him and asking for a game.

It was a fanciful wish, an unrequited desire and even though he knew it was unreasonable, he felt himself head towards the crowd, a sudden need to see the player arising within him. He had difficulty breathing as he reached craned his neck to see to player, to catch a glance. His eyes quickly spotted a gap and he moved quickly to fill it and he heard his heartbeat resounding in his ears.

He noted offhandedly that the two players were still playing for his eyes were drawn instantly to the game. The game was clearly in yose and by his calculations; it was black's game. It was not a formation that Akira usually saw and he felt himself frown in thought.

It seemed awkward to the casual observer but Akira could see the thought that black put in his moves. Each stone had a purpose and although it seemed like white had the upper advantage, black had beaten the other in yose through strategy the player had used since the beginning of the game. He was immersed in the game so much that the words "I have lost" barely reached his ears.

"About time…" Akira commented to himself and looked up to see the white player give up.

"Thank you for the game, Kenji-san," the black player answered back gracefully. The voice had startled Akira— the soft tone rang clearly in his ears. His felt his breath hitch as he turned to the player who sat poised, with a natural grace.

The player looked no more than eighteen with a slight, lean figure fitted simply with jeans and a sweatshirt. His pale skin contrasted with the dark colours he wore and the fingers he used to hold the stones were long and elegant. Wisps of pale blue hair blew in an invisible breeze as fine locks framed his face. Akira couldn't help but notice these details but it wasn't that which had drawn him in.

There was an aura to the boy; something that emanated from him that seemed to call to Akira. The way he held the stones, the way he laid them, the way he played them— the Go board had been singing with every one of his moves. It was like the boy had been born to play the game— his talent had been exuded with every move that he had played.

Akira felt his heart flutter at the prospect of playing him. When will he have his chance?

He hadn't felt like this in a long time— since the last time he played against Hikaru. The prospect of playing an unknown opponent, someone who was this strong, made him feel so alive! He felt his emotions surge back with new life inside of him. They raised their voices and Akira's excitement rose with them. He hadn't realized he was staring at the boy until the latter turned, and stared right back.

It was only for a moment. But it was as if time had frozen for that one second as eyes the colour of the ocean depths— a deep, pure blue— filled his vision. He noticed the shock that also registered on the face of the boy at this connection before he was overwhelmed. The boy before him slowly lost his realism as Akira felt he was blinded by it all. Images of Hikaru and all the confrontations he had with him flooded his senses and he couldn't find a way out. Why was he thinking about Hikaru at a time like this?

He couldn't handle this anymore! He closed his eyes and he was engulfed in black rather than blue. He backed away slowly as he headed towards the doorway, and then made a hasty departure.

Akira took shaky breaths as he walked swiftly back to his apartment. The cold air brought him back to his senses and his thoughts freely drifted to the mysterious boy. Who was he anyway?

Only time can tell.