AN: wow, my first Hikaru no Go fanfic! This is a rival fic, and can also be taken as a friendship fic. Please read and review! ^_^

Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go, and sadly, I do not own Akira.. T_T

I'll be ready

"I resign"

I sighed. The young boy sitting opposite me bowed his head, his hair was covering over his eyes, but I could see the little reflections of light.

Unshed tears.

I concentrated on clearing the goban instead, pretending not to notice. The boy would have been embarrassed if I asked, I had been through it before, and so had everyone else in this room. It's good to win, but sometimes losing is necessary for improvement.

Losing… huh?

I mused. I have not lost to many people, but I wasn't a sore loser. I took losing a game as an opportunity to learn from my opponent. There was an exception, however…

I turned my head towards the opposite side of the room.

You sat there, with your bleached hair standing out amongst the others and your face in deep concentration.

Yes, you were the exception. For winning a game I should have won many years ago, for being an obstacle I had to cross in order to continue my path towards my father.

The obstacle of losing…

I had been so angry…

How could I have lost to someone who couldn't even hold a stone properly…

I forced myself to conceal an oncoming urge to smile, hey, I did have a reputation to keep.

I found myself wanting to see your game; it wasn't necessary, of cause. We would be playing each other again tonight, at my father's salon. If you won today, you would definitely replay the game to show me, trying to impress me, with your skill. And I would point out your weaker moves, and start poking holes through your pride, picking an argument.

Then we would fight, our voices getting louder until you finally had enough and stomp your way home.

I approached the goban and kneeled beside it, between the two players. The opposition, a 5 dan jerked with surprise at seeing me, but you didn't move.

You weren't surprised? I guess not…

The game was impressive; you have improved so much, in such a short amount of time.

But so had I…

The older player bowed his head, a sign of resignation. Perhaps it was my presence that frightened him?

But we both knew you would have won anyway…

I stand up. Now that the game was finished, there was no reason for me to stay.

"Touya"

I turn around; your eyes never left the goban.

"I'm getting stronger everyday."

A clear statement, to some people it might have sounded proud and maybe even absurd…

But we both knew it was true…

I could hear people around us start to whisper but you ignore them.

"I'm catching up Touya, I'm right behind you"

"I'll be waiting" was my equally clear reply.

"And when I finally catch up with you…" you slowly lift your eyes from the goban, focusing them on mine.

The noise had died down now; everyone was waiting for my reply.

I smiled, my rare small.

"I'll be ready"

END!

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