The Fun of Playing Go (part 3)

(disclaimers and stuff : see part 1)


Hikaru glanced at the board and realized instantly that Akira's stone laid on a vital spot for one of his left side groups, a small one fortunately. Akira had been keeping this hand for a more appropriate moment but there was no point postponing any further.

Hikaru gritted his teeth.
"It won't be enough, I'm afraid. Take this !" and he slammed a white stone on the opposite side of the goban, tightening the grip on a black cluster.

Thus the resuming battle got into a ruthless deathmatch. Both players were fighting with more determination than ever, each one resolute not to let the other gain a single moku.

Hikaru had still Akira's words resounding in his ears. He felt betrayed and humiliated.

That Touya, I'll beat the crap out of him on this goban, now I really mean it !

Once, his mother had asked him why he was getting himself involved so much in Go. His answer had been that he wanted to see Touya's shaken look again, as he would be sure then that he'd have won back his esteem. Touya's present face was certainly upset, but all he could read in it was utter scorn.

Yet his opponent was obviously deploying his whole strength, something that he would show only when playing against 9-dan pros. The young dragon had awaken and his intensity in the game was litteraly breathtaking. Had the room been full of yakuza, the absolute terror field spreading around him would have kept them all at bay. But the current spectators were much too hypnotised by the evolving shapes on the goban to bother the players.

Hikaru was confident, but Akira's relentless attacks had not remained ineffective. Moku after moku, he was slowly catching up, and Hikaru couldn't help but feel a shiver going up his spine as his excitement was raising higher and higher. He knew perfectly well the feeling of chasing someone like Touya, but he had not experienced yet the feeling of being chased himself by an outsider. That outsider being the same Touya just added more piquancy to the situation. However, he had no intention at all to let him come back.

They were now entering yose, and the atmosphere became even more electric. The black and white strings were so intertwined on the board that nobody could make out a clear count of the points, except for the two fighters who were focusing entirely on it.

He won't... he won't... he won't... he might...

Akira was struggling desperately to reach the right amount of moku. He didn't expect Shindo to let him come back in the yose, but kept on fighting nonetheless. And slowly, his efforts were paying off. But wasn't it too short, too late ?

"It's over now." Doumoto whispered. "Can you see who wins ?"

Soga was scratching the bare skin of his head.

"I'd say Shindo-kun, but I'm not sure..."

Both players were frantically rearranging their territories, so the count would be easier. Doumoto was carefully adding together the intersections surrounded by black.

"... 66 ...67... 68 ... 69-"

"DAMMIT !" Hikaru roared, banging his fist on the table.

Soga was finishing the counting of white's territory.

"... 68 ... 69... Sixty-nine !"

Akira let out a faint sigh. Everybody in the salon shared the same startled look.

"A tie !"


All the watchers leaned towards the goban, counting and re-counting the territories.

"69 for black, 69 for white, no komi, that's really a tie." Soga confirmed.

A man with thick eyebrows and a thin mustache let himself drop onto a chair.

"Jeez, what a fight ! I'm so frazzled that my legs are all shaky."

The owner laughed.

"I can understand that, Niimi-san. It is often said that the youth of today is in love with speed, but it's a truth that covers even the serene field of Igo. Which doesn't stop me from saying this is one of the best game ever played here."

Doumoto grumbled.

"It's not the best for me, nor it is for Soga-san, owner. We both are losers in the story since they ended with a draw. I hope they didn't make it on purpose..."

Soga looked at the young players. Akira had his eyelids closed and was visibly releasing the strain on his shoulders. Hikaru was staring at the goban, his arms folded in a Mitani-like sulkiness.

"I don't think so." the bald man replied, lighting a cigarette.

"Who gets the stake then ?"

"The kids, of course !" Kawai bawled. "What d'you expect ? They're pros, they earn their money from games they won't give you a free show just for your good looks !"

"You're kidding, Kawai-san, they don't pay the fee already..." Doumoto retorted.

"Don't be so stingy, Doumoto-san." the owner interjected. "I'll say drinks for everyone ! These young men first, they deserve it most !"

"Hear ! Hear !" the taxi driver cheered. He nudged Hikaru.
"Will you stop with the grumpy face ? You don't pay, you don't lose, you don't get dry and you're still not satisfied ?"

"You can't be satisfied with just a 'no loss' when you're a pro. You don't rise if you don't win !" the young pro answered sharply.

He was glaring at Akira, whose eyes had returned to their normal glint.
Kawai gave him a pinch on the cheek.

"Ha ! Just because you have a big mouth, you think you can swallow the big fish ? Well, next time, turn your tongue seven times in it to check if there's room enough !"

Everybody guffawed as Hikaru was getting sulkier.

"Kawai-san's right." Domouto said. "You were a bit too overconfident earlier. And the most superstitious man I am can tell you it backfires nine times out of ten."

"However" the owner said, bringing the drinks "his mouth excepted, Shindo-kun has little to be ashamed of. Of course, Touya-kun, you're in better position to tell, but I really think his level is not too far behind yours, am I wrong ?"

Akira remained silent a few seconds. He could almost feel Hikaru's burning glare.

"You're not." he answered softly.

"Just as I thought !" the taxi driver shouted, clenching Hikaru's neck in his right arm and rubbing again the blond hair. "We'll make something of you, boy !"

As the boy was struggling to escape his rugged embrace, Kawai winked impishly at Akira.

"Has he ever told you how much he owes me ?"

Akira didn't know what to answer, nor what to think of the boisterous man. At first, he had been tempted to label him "dork", but judging from his antics, the guy didn't lack wit. Moreover, he was obviously fond of Shindo. But Hikaru was not so fond of the way he had to express it. He finally managed to free himself and stand up.

"That's enough, Kawai-san ! I already told you, I don't owe you more than anyone else in this room, so stop bugging me like that !"

Kawai jumped.

"Ha, you forget things easily ! What about jogging your memory a bit, then ?"

"What d'you mean ?" asked a suspicious Hikaru.

"I mean you exactly owe me TEN THOUSAND YEN, forgetful little punk !"

"What ?! Oh-" Hikaru blushed. Carefree as he was, he had completely forgotten about it.

"Now, you remember ! So he didn't tell you ?" the man asked Akira with an inviting grin.

"That he won back that money from a cheater and a thief ? Yes he did." the dark-haired boy retorted coldly, a lethal gleam back in his eyes. He couldn't bear more than Sai anyone who would defile their common passion.

Both Hikaru and Kawai remained flabbergasted, as well as the whole salon. Then the second picked the first by the collar.

"WHAT ?! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TELL HIM ?" he bellowed.

"Argh ! Touya ! You're gettin' it all mixed up !" Hikaru cried in panic. "I've told you about another guy, another guy ! He has nothing to do with Kawai-san !"

"Huh, really ?" Akira made, getting all confused.

"Yeah idiot !" Hikaru whined, once again struggling to free himself from Kawai's claws.

"Don't know that fellow but he sure has nothing to do with me if he's to be given such names !" the other barked.

"Oh ! Sumimasen !"

Akira, redder than ever, quickly stood up and bowed deeply to the outraged man, who was nearly as red, but for the opposite reason. The whole scene had left the audience speechless, but its denouement made everybody chortle.

The bearded man let go of Hikaru but was still fuming. "A cheater and a thief, indeed !"

"I guess he did give you these names because of the good looks of yours, Kawai-san !" Doumoto said with a revengeful smirk.

"Oh no, not at all, I assure..." Akira stammered.

"Don't worry, I nearly told him the same the first time we played and he crushed me. I couldn't believe he was just pretty good at the game."

"Ha ! Served you right then !" Kawai sniggered.

"I'm much less surprised now that I know he always ditches his car to spend half his workaday here..."

Everybody laughed again as Kawai was now directing his wrath against Doumoto. But the merry atmosphere and the young pro's humble apologies eventually calmed Kawai down.

"It's ok. I've already been called a kidnapper by this brat's father after all..." he said nodding in Hikaru's direction.

"Oh, wasn't it when you both had this trip to Hiroshima ?" the owner asked with interest.

"Exactly ! The Shusaku Tour !" Kawai gloated. "A great time we had, nee ?"

Hikaru didn't answer. His face turned grim again.

"We know, Kawai-san, you've boasted enough about your fingers touching Shusaku's goban and holding Shusaku's stones." Niimi sighed. "Well I guess I'd do the same..."

"You never told us about it though, Shindo-kun. You had a good time too ?" Domouto asked.

Hikaru was even less keen on answering but Kawai was only too happy to talk.

"That little puck ? I still wonder. He had the fidgets during the whole trip : we had barely arrived at one place that he was already bugging me to leave. What were you looking for at last ?"

"Nothing, skip it." Hikaru moaned. He obviously did not want to talk about it, especially with Touya listening. "I didn't ask you to come in the first place, Kawai-san."

"Listen to that ungrateful kid again. You were happy that someone lent you enough to stay one night and visit the other sites ! For what it was worth to you... And that's for the ¥10,000 !" he added, pointing threateningly at Akira.

"Uh, yes." Akira acknowledged sheepishly. But that interesting talk had brought back in his mind the whole puzzle of Shindo, Sai, Shusaku and their mysterious connections.

"And that's also for the kidnapper, I guess ?" Soga asked.

"Yeah, his dad gave him a telling-off on the phone that night, and when he heard his prodigal son was in such a good company, he jumped to conclusions... Lucky he didn't see my face or I'd have been treated with additional names." Kawai said with a quick glance at Akira.

Hikaru wanted to put this conversation to an end as soon as possible.

"Listen, Kawai-san, I'm very sorry for the delay, I promise I pay you back next time I come."

"When that will be ?" Kawai asked ironically. "Cos last time is quite some months behind, you know..."

"Er...I dunno, but don't worry, I keep my promises !" Hikaru answered proudly.

"As long as you remember them... You know what ?" the little man asked with an inquisitive look. "I may forget about this debt if you tell us all why on earth you ditched your first pro games just after the trip !"

"What ?" Hikaru cried.

"Yeah, tell us !" Doumoto asked eagerly. "We were all dying here, reading about your forfeits ! And when I say reading, I speak for others..." he added with a glare at the taxi driver. "I couldn't read Weekly Go for a month as Kawai-san would tear it up because of your default losses."

Hikaru was sweating under the intense gazes. He suddenly grabbed his backpack.

"NO WAY ! I'm fed up now ! See you everyone."

Then he dashed to the exit before anyone could make a move, leaving everybody startled.

Akira shook his head. Even here, he will run away...


Kawai was first to react.

"What's with him again ! See ? Coming after months, already gone !"

But the lady at the counter stood up for the now vanished boy.

"That's your fault !" she scolded. "You're really a bunch of insensitive clods, all of you. Don't you see that he doesn't want to speak about that ?"

Doumoto shrugged.

"We don't even know what's going on. How do you want us to tell whether he wants to speak or not ?"

"That's why I call you insensitive." she flung back.

"Any idea about that, Touya-kun ?" Soga asked.

Akira wished he had the beginning of the smallest one on the matter.

"I don't know either. I guess it must be something personal, because he looked really down at the time."

"And he won't talk to you ?"

Akira blushed.

"I don't know if he even spoke to his closest friends, of whom I am not." he said simply.

"Huh ? You mean you two hate each other or something ?" Doumoto asked in amazement.

"Oh no, no ! We always have those little fights when playing, but it's just because we're long time rivals." Akira explained, slightly embarrassed.

"Little fights..." Soga repeated. "That's not what I'd have said seeing those two killing machines run into each other. Are all pros always this frightening ?"

"No, it's just the youth..." Domouto said with a knowing wink.

"Anyway, you gave us a wonderful show." the owner said earnestly. He looked at the goban, smiling. "A tie ! It sure brings back great memories."

"Yeah, we had a great time with Shindo-kun then." Soga agreed. As Akira looked unaware, the owner explained.

"It was back when Shindo-kun was still an insei, shortly before he entered the main pro exams. He would come here every day to play and grow a backbone."

"Which he had already, as well as his big mouth." Kawai snorted.

"Don't start, Kawai-san !"

The owner continued. "I noticed once that Shindo had difficulties calculating the territories during the game. So I suggested he should try ending a handicap game with a tie, as a training. He did so well that we increased the number of opponents. We made him play and tie two games at a time, then three, then up to four. He had so much fun, it was like a child's game for him."

"And he succeeded ?" Akira asked briskly.

"Almost." Soga said with a smile. "He missed by a moku on mine, but he made ties of the three other boards. We were all amazed."

So was Akira. Not because of Shindo's performance, though it was certainly remarkable for a yet-to-be pro, but because it reminded him some shidougo session he had himself that same summer with an obnoxious councilman and three of his followers. He was supposed to let the VIP win, but so loathsome was the guy he'd rather have crushed him savagely. He had thought better of it and had managed instead to make draws on the four gobans. It had been hard but he had succeeded, increasing his own legend by the way. That Shindo had a similar experience at nearly the same time made him wonder about the bond between them two.

"Does it surprise you, Touya-kun ?" the owner asked, noticeing Akira's daydreaming.

"Uh ? Oh... " He smiled. "No, not really."

"You said you know him from long, didn't you ?" Doumoto asked.

"A few years now, yes. But..." Akira paused. "There are many things I still don't know nor I understand about him."

"Join in the club then !" Kawai said with a slap on the boy's back. "That kid will drive me crazy too."

Akira swayed under the unexpected blow, but he kept his smile nevertheless as the others were laughing. He couldn't help but find that the taxi driver and Shindo matched well.

Maybe Shindo is his natural child, he thought roguishly.

Then they told him about Hikaru's first coming with his friends Waya and Isumi. They depicted Waya as an even bigger mouth than Shindo if it was possible - surely it is, Akira thought - and Isumi as an awkward tall guy, yet the best of the threesome.

Listening to their story, Akira was assailed by a sudden feeling of emptiness that he couldn't explain himself at once. It was like he was being told by someone else how he had missed the time of his life. That was ridiculous, he just couldn't imagine himself goofing around with Shindo's gang. But the feeling of something lacking remained. More than ever he was longing for... For what he didn't know exactly. Friends ?

I have friends. Ogata-san, Ichikawa-san, Ashiwara-san...

Ashiwara, his friend, had told him something long ago : how boring it was for Akira to stay without partners of his level and age. He was so right.

I don't need friends. I need peers.

The peers he could not find since even the insei were no match for him.

Then Shindo had come, bringing turmoil in his life, but excitement and passion too. Akira was reminded all at once how he had been marvelled by Hikaru's first games, disappointed by his next ones, excited when he was chasing him, and desperate when his new rival was on the verge of quitting Go for whatever reason.
Akira couldn't hide the truth to himself any longer.

I need...

"You need to keep your stories short, Kawai-san." Doumoto said. "Always going off on a tangent, you're wearing us all out."

"Oh yeah ?" the other snapped.

"Oh yeah ! I'm pretty sure Touya-kun doesn't give a damn about your petty rows with Hiroshima base-ball fans."

"You asked him ? I have not talked yet about the local amateur champion who-"

"Who Shindo-kun finished off since you were unable to do it properly." the owner concluded. "And it's true you're boring our prominent guest, although he's too polite to say it."

"Oh not at all." Akira lied. "I had a very good time with you all. But it's true I have to go soon, it's getting late."

"We won't keep you, then." the owner said. "But please come any day, you're welcome, especially to play such games !"

"Thank you very much, sir. It will be a pleasure." Akira turned to the taximan. "Sorry again, Kawai-san, I behaved stupidly earlier, please forgive me." And he bowed.

As bad-tempered as he was, Kawai could not really keep a grudge against the boy. Plus it was not every day he was bowed to twice by a famous 3-dan Go pro.

"I'll forgive you if you come back soon with the snotty-nosed little punk you took on as a rival !"

Akira smiled.

He really does like him.


(to be continued)

[NOTES :]

This part is a bit longer than the previous. To tell the truth, the game conclusion was initially planned at the end of part 2, but I thought it was better this way for the suspense. ^^ Some may find it a bit short (was it the right moment, Mewmeow ? ^^), but I'm not an experienced Go player at all, so it's better to end it soon before writing any big blunder... which I may have already written all the same !

Thanks again for your renewed support (especially panatlantic :) and your constructive comments !

To Darke Angel, about Akira's "OOCness" : I wondered the same when writing that part, but I definitely think that kind of public outburst is not alien to Akira's character (remember the Jr High tournament in the manga), though you're right to say it doesn't happen very often. But Akira usually behaves unusually when Hikaru's around ;) Maybe I should have put a more stinging dig in Hikaru's mouth... I wish I had some kind of Touya Akira Piss Off Manual to find an accurate line. Any volunteer to write one ? :)

You may have noticed that I always write "the owner" and "the fat lady at the counter", but never give them names. The reason is they are never named in the manga AFAIK (please correct me if I'm wrong). We don't even know if they're related (husband/wife) or not. I'm not too keen on forging names to characters I don't own - actually I'm not keen on finding names at all, that's why fanfiction is so convenient ! so they will stay owner and lady in this story.

Next installment is almost completed. To make a break with all the humor stuff, I made it full angst ! (That doesn't mean Hikaru gets run over by a truck, so don't panic ;)

Valerien