Chapter 3: Not Just a Game

            Shindou had clearly grown, but not nearly as much as Sai had.  While almost inconceivable to think, the greatest player in history had gotten even greater.  It was for this reason that Shindou lost so horribly for now the third time in a row.  "Sai, you weren't kidding about how much Go you have played over the past few years.  If I didn't know any better I would say that you obtained the Hand of God!"  Hikaru said while clearing the Goban once again.

            It had now been several hours since Shindou first arrived home, and while he wished he could stay up all night and play with Sai, Hikaru needed to go to sleep.  He had an important match against Ogata the next morning, and couldn't afford to be tired at all.  This match would put him in the semifinals of the Mejin tournament taking place this year.  "Goodnight, Sai!"  Shindou closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.  The only thoughts on his mind were about Go, except for a nagging feeling he had forgotten to do something today.

            The next morning did not start off the way Shindou would have wanted it to.  Hikaru had slept from midnight to eight in the morning, but it had felt like he hadn't slept at all.  "I feel like crap.  I was dreaming so vividly about Go all night that it's like I didn't sleep at all."  When Sai heard these words he instantly knew what happened, but was scared to tell Shindou.  Eventually he managed to gather the courage and speak his thoughts.  "It may be my fault.  Since you are helping to anchor me in this world, I am linked to your subconscious.  When you went to bed I did not need sleep, so I stayed up and played Go with myself.  This must have transferred over and kept you from getting actual sleep.  Tonight I promise I will go to bed with you."

            Shindou made a weird face at the going to bed with him comment, but let it pass as just one of those miscommunications that Sai has from time to time.  "It's okay Sai, I forgive you.  Now let's start getting ready, I need to be at the train station in less than an hour."  Sai was relieved to hear that Hikaru accepted his apology, and waited in the main room while Shindou took a shower and got dressed.  They made it to the train station in plenty of time, and soon entered the Go Center at which many of the top matches were played.  Ogata was considered to be one of the top Japanese players and Shindou was considered to be one of those players that people should keep an eye out for.  The match between the two would both be televised and heavily watched.

            "Shindou, you're here.  Come this way."  One of the Go League representatives called Shindou over and pointed him in the direction of the game.  After walking down a short hallway and hanging a left, Shindou was now looking in on a room with many cameras, a Goban, and of course, his opponent.  With fifteen minutes remaining before the match, Hikaru did the usual rounds of handshakes and autographs, then took a seat.  Ogata followed suit and the two determined who would get the starting color.  With a quick bow and "Good Luck", Ogata lifted the first black stone and placed it.

            Shindou grabbed a white stone in his hand and prepared to place it.  "Wait, Shindou.  Let me play please.  I haven't gotten to play Go with any modern players in a long time, and your skill level is high enough that I can win without raising suspicion.  Please let me play."  Hikaru considered Sai's request, and then remembering the promise to let Sai play that he made when Sai disappeared, Shindou relented.  "Okay Sai, you can play.  Let me see how you can fare against him.  I have to warn you though, Ogata has gotten better as well, be careful."  With that, Shindou placed the stone where Sai told him to.

            The next few minutes almost seemed like a blur.  Sai responded to Ogata's moves so quickly that Hikaru had trouble placing the stones fast enough.  What should have been a close struggle between the near equal players Shindou and Ogata became the complete humiliation of the top pro.  Sai's moves were flawless, their brilliance shining across the Goban.  Within ten minutes Sai had completely dominated the match.  Another ten minutes passed and Sai had already captured six stones and had an incredible lead.  Five minutes after that Ogata resigned with eleven of his stones captured and all his territory in jeopardy.  It was as if a pro had played a new beginner player at full strength.

            The room was almost silent after the first few moves of the match.  No one could have imagined that the almost guaranteed victor, Ogata, would be totally obliterated by the up and coming Shindou Hikaru.  While Shindou had always been a wildcard, this kind of play was well beyond his level.  Once the game had ended, Ogata still sat there staring at the board, wondering what the hell had happened.  Not only had he been completely outplayed, but it seemed almost like Shindou was toying with him.

            Hikaru often did stupid things on a whim that in hindsight he would have wished he hadn't done.  This would probably go down as one of the dumbest of those actions.  Shindou let out a huge yawn, stood up, walked over to Ogata, and whispered in his ear.  "Back then you asked me to let you play Sai just once.  You wanted to test your strength against someone who defeated Touya Kouyo at his best, a player who could be considered the best of all time.  Well now you have gotten your wish.  Congratulations, I hope you now know just how far away from the greatness of Sai you are."

            With that Hikaru walked away and through the crowd of stunned reporters for the exit.  If he had turned and looked back he would have seen Ogata's eyes go wide and skin go white.  It took Ogata a month in an asylum to recover from the mental shock of the game and Hikaru's words.  Afterwards Ogata still played Go for a living, but not with the enthusiasm he had done so with before.  It would be a long time before he fully recovered.  As for Hikaru, he left the center, got some ramen, and went home.  He noticed Sai hadn't said anything and therefore decided to question the spirit.

            "What's wrong Sai?  I let you play, didn't I?"  Sai's face made a big frown.  "Yes, but that isn't what I am angry about.  What you said to Ogata afterwards was wrong.  Something like that could hurt a man like him.  It reminds me of what you said to Touya all those years ago about playing just for money.  This incident has proved what I was worried about with you.  You may be a great Go player and having fun, but you aren't a kind, caring person.  You haven't had the social interaction a normal boy like you should have.  I do take the blame for this, so I will help you fix it.  As bad as what you did to Ogata, there is someone else who has been hurt for many years by your actions.  There will be time for Go later, for now we must focus on something else.  Get your shoes on; we are heading out to get someone a gift."  With this lecture Hikaru was again rendered speechless and did as he was told.  Half an hour and one train ride later, Shindou and Sai found themselves outside Tokyo Mall.

End Chapter 3

Author Notes: Wow, lots of reviews.  I love reviews, and because of them I decided to take the time and finish another chapter immediately.  I decided to also add a review responses section to answer questions and comments.  The story is progressing nicely, but I do have a confession to make, I am making it up as I go.  I have a very basic idea of what I want to happen, but most of it I just get inspired and write.  This means any input you give me could go right into the story itself.  Anyways, I am having fun with this story and hope to write the next chapter or two over the weekend.  If you want to be notified if this story is updated, just email me or give your email in a review or something.  Thanks for reading!!!

Review Responses (in order):

Aeris – I agree there aren't enough and I will continue this one the whole way through.  Then maybe start another one.  Also, I agree that the manga shows no Yaoi at all and therefore seems out of place.  This story will revolve around Sai and Hikaru's mostly until the graduation, where the romance part begins.

Mai – I am a male and I am not gay, so the whole male/male romance thing doesn't sit well with me.  I don't even try to understand what some girls see in Yaoi, it just doesn't make sense why a girl would be into it.  But from what I have seen it's pretty common.

Yukata – Well, different characters call him different things.  While you are correct about Sai calling him only his first name, I like to give some variety to my story by switching it up.  Also, remember that this Sai is somewhat different than the Sai of before.

Lita of Jupiter – I like Akari/Hikaru fics too, but there are very few unfortunately.  I will keep updating this and try to update often as well.