A/N: Sorry for the long wait. I have started working now, so I don't have as much time. Hopefully I can get the next chapter out soon, though.
Chapter 5: The Game of Life
The trip back from the mall to his apartment was a complete blur to Shindou. Sai had to basically push him every step until they finally made up to his bedroom. Hikaru's eyes took on an eerie look as though he was staring into nothingness, a look which had scared several children on the trip home. Seeing that Shindou had still not snapped out of his shocked state, Sai jumped into Hikaru's subconscious and screamed as loud as possible. For Shindou, it was enough to startle him from his thoughts long enough for Sai to convince him to go to bed.
Knowing that talking to Hikaru normally would be ineffective at this point, Sai remained in Shindou's subconscious until dreams started to form. Using a special technique he learned from another ghost, Sai took complete control of the dream in order to speak directly with Shindou. "Hikaru, can you hear me?" Sai let out a testing phrase to see if he had successfully merged with Shindou's subconscious.
"Yes, I can. Where are you Sai?" A clueless looking image of Shindou Hikaru formed in the middle of a void, which soon became a large forest. "I am right here Hikaru, right behind you." Upon turning around, Shindou saw the large form of Sai towering over him, and for the first time fear struck his heart at the sight of his friend. Normally Sai had a translucent quality to him, this time he did not. Somehow, it appeared Sai was alive.
"Welcome to my home, Hikaru. Why don't we go inside and play a game of Go?" To Shindou's surprise, a small cabin appeared in the background of the woods. He was certain that it was not there just a minute ago. "Sai, what is this place?" Sai looked at Shindou and gave him a big smile. "I will explain everything once we go inside. You will be much more comfortable in there." While he was hesitant to do so, Shindou trusted Sai and followed him into the cabin. Somehow, the cabin was much bigger on the inside than on the outside. There was a Goban in the middle of the cabin, with two cups of steaming tea beside it. The two slowly walked to the Goban and took seats.
"This place is the world within your subconscious. At this level of your mind, I can influence you directly as though I were still alive. I am in complete control of this type of reality. What you are seeing around you is a replica of my childhood home in which I lived a millennia ago. An added side effect of our mental connection is the ability to share memories, so this area should give you the same comfort it gives me. This memory share will also allow me to see your past and present with Akari. Now, place your first stone and the battle will begin." With this Hikaru placed a black stone on the Goban.
'Does Akari really love me?' Quickly Sai placed his own stone on the board. 'That does not matter at this point. What matters is if you have feelings for her.' Hikaru followed Sai's attack with his own. 'How am I supposed to know if I have feelings for her or not? I haven't even seen her for a long time.' Sai quickly responded. 'Search your heart, not your mind. In this place, only the truth can appear.' Hikaru picked up another stone and continued the battle.
'She was my childhood friend. We spent all our time together until fifth grade.'
'But you are no longer a child. Did your feelings change over time?'
'She was always there to support me. Helping me build up the Go Club, helping me with schoolwork, helping me be happy.'
'At the time you did not show much appreciation for the help. Showing emotions wasn't your style. How did you really feel?'
'I don't know. I may have acted rude, but the two of us knew we were great friends. Her happiness came from seeing me happy, and vice versa. Therefore, we made each other happy.'
'So she makes you happy. Why does she make you happy? Why is her happiness important to you?'
'I would walk with her to school, normally a few steps in front. She would support me in everything. She made me feel like I was her protector. She felt happy knowing she could help support me, and I felt happy knowing I had someone behind me.'
'So why did you stop being with her? Why did you stop making her happy?'
'Go made me happy. Within the game I found a different happiness, one that comes from playing the game and becoming a great player.'
'But it isn't the same type of happiness, is it?'
'No. While Go makes me happy, it was a different feeling with Akari. Go made my mind happy, but Akari made my heart happy.'
'If you had to choose between the two, which would you choose.'
'…'
'Is this not the true question? It is not a question of whether you have feelings for Akari or not. It is a question of which you like more. You know that if you are to be with Akari, you must love her more than Go. Otherwise, Go will take over your life and make you both miserable. So, which do you choose? To live on with Go and let your old feelings die peacefully? Or do you risk everything and put Akari in front of you? Which will be your source of happiness?'
'I don't know. I can't decide between them. I love them both.'
'But you must decide. Listen to your heart. Remember how you felt the last time you were with Akari. You know how you felt deep inside. Let it out. Which do you want more, the Hand of God or Akari's Love?'
'I still don't know. They both seem equal. Sai, help me.'
'Listen to the beating of your heart. In this plane of existence, your heart will speak to you. What does it say?'
'I can hear it. I understand now. I can love Go, but Go will never love me. In the end, Go is just a game, but Akari is my life. She can give me love, companionship, and even children to pass the game of Go to. At the end of my life, when I look back, I don't want to see the memories of games I've already played. I want to see memories that never get old, ones I can cherish forever. I have made my decision, I choose Akari!!' With that, Hikaru placed the final stone and finished the game. Amazingly, he had actually won.
End Chapter
Chapter 6 and/or 7 Previews: The newly reborn Hikaru is ready to find the perfect gift now, but what to get? Also, could Sai make another online appearance with Hikaru's laptop?
Review Responses
Akujunkan – Actually, I found that there is pretty much absolutely no romantic element of any kind in the manga at all (with minor exceptions of minor characters like Touya Kouyo's wife during the hospital visit and such). Some believe there is a Shonen-Ai feeling to the manga, which may be true, but I think that it just seems that way since almost all the characters are male and they are all very passionate about the game. The only semblance of romance we actually see is the semi-crush that Akari has on Shindou. Whether it is a real crush or just their closeness as best friends, Akari's actions in the beginning of the manga are very much like a girlfriend's actions would be.
