T_T exams are sooooo near…just a few more days and crap! I haven't continued this at all! If it weren't for that constant nagging voice in my head then this wouldn't be here – not that anybody cares.
My apologies to those who are reading this crap. I just didn't have the time to update and our computer was broken and I had to do FOUR covers for the school paper even though it originally wasn't my job (they were just never contented T_T) and I had to do my projects and…
I don't think I should continue ranting like this anymore. What are my problems to you anyway? You can't do anything about it. Only I can do something.
Anyway, I hope some miracle will fall upon unfortunate li'l 'ol me and make me wanna write – er, type!
Disclaimer: Hikaru no Go ain't mine, mind you.
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CHAPTER FIVE
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Hikaru opened his eyes, groggy from sleep, and turned to the alarm clock beside his bed; ten o' clock in the morning.
"Oh shoot!!!!!" he exclaimed, jumping out of his bed right away. Damn clock…., He cursed. He had set the clock to alarm at seven in the morning but…it seemed that it wasn't enough to wake him up.
He rushed to the bathroom and took a quick shower; dressed in the first clothes he laid his eyes on, and then dashed downstairs, jumping over the last three steps. Crap…. I hope I can find Sai easily. , he reached for the doorknob but he stopped short. Where am I supposed to find Sai anyway? He can be anywhere in the town! He could even be lost! , He flinched at the thought of his closest friend being lost and hurt just because he shooed him away. No. , He shook his head. This isn't the time to think about that.
Then, the door swung open. Hikaru looked up. Then, his eyes opened wide. Damn it…why does he have to be here now?????
"Where are you going, Hikaru?" asked the cold voice of his angry grandfather. "If you think you can get away from this, then you are wrong!!!!!" Hikaru's grandfather pulled the back of his collar inside the house before Hikaru could make an escape
"But this is important!!!!!!" Hikaru whined, struggling away from his persistent grandfather with no avail.
The old man shook his head. "This is more important! If you don't do this now, you will be grounded for a month! Understand?!" he scolded his grandson.
"But-!"
"No buts! You will be grounded whether you like it or not – EVEN DURING YOUR GAME DAYS!!!!" with those words, Hikaru's lips were sealed. He stomped towards his room, letting off an obvious sulking aura.
Sai took one step forward, paused for a minute then stepped backwards once again.
Ooh…what am I supposed to do? Will I just stand here and hope that Hikaru will find me?, He looked around him but nobody was there except for frequent cars passing by.
Again, he took another step then recoiled back to his place. But…what if Hikaru doesn't find me???? How can I play Touya Meijin???? Maybe…maybe…I should go find him.
Now, he took a couple steps and proceeded through the streets, going through all the places he could remember during his stay with Hikaru. He rampaged the town for hours yet there was still no sign of his former host.
Sai stopped to catch his breath but then noticed that he wasn't tired anymore. He wasn't feeling human at all. Instinctively, he waved his hand in front of his face and stared. It was still solid.
Being left with no choice, he scanned the area for an internet café and finally spotted one. He approached the shop and held the knob but his hand slipped through the steel handle, which just made him hit his head on the door, flatting his face on the glass. He fell on his bottom, rubbing his red cheek.
"What happened…?" he muttered, standing up again. He swayed a bit then regained his balance and proceeded inside the store with staring and suspicious eyes following him.
Hikaru wiped a sleeve across his sweating forehead. He let out a sigh then took a deep breath. He'd been working on that accursed goban since 10:35 in the morning and, after hours of hard work and trying all sorts of ways to remove the stain. The only thing he hadn't tried was licking the stain but, good thing, the stain has already vanished before he could resort to such a pathetic way.
He stood up, stretched his arms a bit and snatched a shirt from his closet. His current top was bleached in one spot and another as though he had been repainting his room or something.
He smiled then turned to his alarm clock. His jaw dropped.
It was already 2:05 in the afternoon!
Long gone was his time to search for Sai and he didn't think that the Meijin would neither be the kind of person willing to wait for such a long time nor someone who would be tardy in this kind of event.
"I guess I'll be substituting for Sai. I just hope Touya Meijin won't notice!" he muttered to himself as he rushed outside the house to the internet café where Mitani's sister was working.
Hikaru entered 'sai' on the user's name but the server wouldn't accept it. Left with no choice, he entered a different name. He quickly scanned the list of people on-line and found Touya Meijin. To his great surprise, he was already playing a game…with Sai.
The blonde pro hastily clicked on the game; Touya Meijin was black and Sai, white. It was already on the 18th move and from those moves; Hikaru could readily determine that it was truly Sai who was playing the game.
Questions invaded his thoughts. How could this be Sai? How could Sai have known about this game? Does this mean that both of them were on the hospital on the same day and time? Or does it mean that Sai could still read his thoughts even though they are separated now?
He threw those questions away and concentrated on the match. Soon, he was deeply engrossed in the game that his hand was moving the mouse and clicking here and there on the board as though he was the one playing for Sai, just like before.
Minutes passed and finally, the game had come to an end.
Hikaru pushed his back on the chair's backrest and sighed.
Sai relaxed his shoulders and smiled, looking at his greatest game yet. Somehow, he felt so close to the Hand of God that he could reach it with his outstretched hands.
A sudden piercing pain in his head caused him to stop his reverie. He bit his lip and looked at the game once again.
Hikaru's eyes narrowed at the game.
Wait…, He put his face closer to the screen. "If black moved here, then it would've won by a couple of moku or so."
"If black moved here, then it would've won by a couple of moku or so." Sai turned his head behind him. That was…Hikaru's voice! , he turned his head around, scanning for a sign of his young friend but there was none. He looked back at the screen and a vague hand pointed at one part of the board.
"Hikaru…." He muttered eyes wide open.
Then, it suddenly hit him. He was turning back into a ghost…and…he was disappearing.
He stood up and faced the door. Without further a due, he raced outside…
But…
He never got there….
Fujiwarano Sai vanished.
The name of Sai disappeared from the screen.
In that instant, Hikaru stood up and raced out of the café, waving a small goodbye and thank you at Mitani's sister.
Damn it…where could Sai be? , The young pro thought, running through the streets. Soon, he realized he wasn't really angry at Sai. He was angry at himself; angry that he couldn't fulfill the friendship they had; angry at the truth laid in front of him. He knew he wasn't a good friend; he knew Sai would probably like somebody else because he didn't let him play…he knew Sai had all the reason to get mad at him but…
"I'm sorry." He muttered.
Hikaru entered every possible internet café, asking for Sai and describing his best friend.
Hours passed by and finally, he came to the last café in the town.
This should be it. , he took one deep breath then entered. He approached the counter and slammed his hands on the desk, which caused all the customers and employees to turn their heads at him. He looked at them, nervously. A goofy grin entered his face as he waved his hands to make the attention focused on him leave. "Gomen, gomen!"
The pairs of eyes slowly turned away from him, one after another. Hikaru look back at the lady behind the counter. "Uh…well…have you…uh…." He stuttered; feeling very choked by the stare the lady was giving him. He gulped, swallowing all the fear was holding, "Have you seen a man with purplish-black hair, pale skin, standing this tall," he indicated the height with his hands, "and is pretty childish?" he asked with hopeful eyes.
The lady raised her eyebrows in disbelief, she sighed then smiled. "Yes, someone with that description is here." She went out of the counter and waved her hand to follow her.
A bright smile entered his face as he punched the air in relief. "YES!" he breathed. Sai's still here!!!!
"Is he a friend of yours?" the registrar asked, breaking Hikaru's moment of joy.
Hikaru nodded his head vigorously.
"Oh, is that so?" she said in dismay.
The tone of her voice made the young pro stop. "W-w-why?"
"No, it's nothing." She smiled, "But if I were you, I wouldn't befriend someone as crazy as that."
Hikaru felt his temper rise at what the lady said. His eyes narrowed at the girl. How could you call Sai crazy?! You don't even know him!
"It was weird. When he came to our café, he was pressing his face on the glass door!" She continued on, not aware of the anger forming on her customer's emotions. "Did he come from the mental hospital or something?" she asked, turning to Hikaru.
The blonde put on a fake smile and shook his head. "Not actually…" he muttered. Pressing his face on the glass door???? , Hikaru tightened his jaw. What the heck was Sai doing?!?!?!
"Well, anyway, it's such a miss that you are connected to that weird man. And you look too cute to hang out with someone like that." She stopped and turned to one unit. "Huh?" she looked at the empty chair, "That person was just here a while ago!"
The go pro felt himself stop breathing. "Wha-what do you mean?" he asked awkwardly.
"Well, I never saw him leave so I presumed he would still be here!" she explained, shocked at the event.
Hikaru bit his lip in disappointment. "Thanks anyway. I'll be going now." He said in almost a whisper.
Hikaru sighed as he exited the store.
"Shindo!" he heard a familiar voice call. He looked up and saw Touya Akira running towards him.
Touya put one strong hand on his rival's shoulder. "Were you just playing go in the internet?! Tell me! And don't even think about lying to me about this!!!" he demanded.
The blonde shook his head stiffly. "I told you! I'm not Sai!" he wailed, shrugging off the tight grip on his shoulder.
Touya let go and looked at him with his cold dark eyes. "Then…tell me…who is Sai?" he asked. "Who was the Sai who was playing with my father?"
Touya Koyo! Why didn't I think of him?! , he slapped his forehead, completely ignoring the fact that Touya was there in front of him, asking the question he didn't want to answer. Sai would've gone to him! He would've wanted to go and discuss the game with him! , he turned to Touya and walked briskly pass him.
"Shindo! Answer me!" the dark-haired pro, followed the other but he was ignored the whole way.
Hikaru raced up the stairs and right into Touya Koyo's room.
He put his hands on his knees and took a series of deep inhaling to catch up with his breath. Then he lifted his head. "Ano…did…uh…Sai…"
A smile formed on the Meijin's face. "That game was one in a million. Nothing can be compared to it." He started, looking at the younger pro, "Thank you for arranging it."
Hikaru shook his head, "No, thank you for taking up the challenge."
"If I cannot beat an anonymous player, then what chance do I have with the Hand of God?"
The blonde looked at the Meijin with curious eyes, unable to respond to the question laid in front of him. Anonymous…it means Sai didn't come here. , he thought with disappointment.
"I will step off all the titles I hold and will retire from go." Touya Koyo came to his conclusion.
"IYADA!!!" Hikaru shouted but then recoiled and covered his mouth. "You can't retire from go! They…uh…Touya…he…"
"Akira can take care of himself. Would not it be better if one of your obstacles are removed?" Touya Koyo's voice was solid, which signified that no matter what Hikaru does, he would never change his mind.
"But-"
"I have decided." The Meijin emphasized. "Shindo, I am tired of being bound to recorded games and interviews. I want to rest." He added, looking at the other with eyes like his rival.
Hikaru bowed his head low and gave a nod. He turned away from the Meijin. He turned the doorknob and went out of the room, closing the door behind him. Now, I made Touya's dad resign from go!!! , he looked up. Where in the whole damn world are you, Sai?!
In front of him was Ogata Seiji, approaching quickly.
Like Touya, he gripped Hikaru's shoulder tightly…tighter than Touya.
"Tell me! You were the one who arranged the game between Sai and Touya Koyo, right?!?!?!" he demanded, pressing the young pro to the wall. He was losing control of himself and more Hikaru stayed silent, the more he became persuasive.
Hikaru shook his head, remaining silent still. He had one of eyes closed, showing the pain Ogata was inflicting on him.
"Don't lie to me! I know you know who Sai is! If so, then let me play him too!!!!!" he shouted and at that same time, the elevator door opened. He turned to the elevator, loosing his grip on Hikaru for a second and the blonde pro took that chance to escape.
Touya ran out of the elevator, seeing Hikaru and Ogata nearby.
"Shindo!" Both Touya and Ogata shouted.
The young go pro bumped into his rival on his way to the elevator but he didn't stop to apologize.
The doors closed before the 9-dan could catch up with Hikaru. "Damn…" he muttered, turning to Touya.
"What was…Shindo doing here?" the dark-haired pro asked, standing up.
"He was talking with the Meijin."
Hikaru landed on his bed. He had spent all his remaining hours trying to find Sai in the town, asking everybody he passed by. He was tired and he hadn't had anything to eat since today's breakfast – and Sai had his wallet. But that wasn't what worried him the most. It was Sai's current condition. Was he safe?
Sleep slowly covered him like a blanket, his hunger forgotten.
Tomorrow…yes…I should…. I'll look for Sai once again. I won't stop until I find him.
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Okay, another chappie down – shorter than the previous ones, forgive me T_T. Just one last (might be a short one) chap and this fic is finished! Whew!
Oh, crap…I think I made Hikaru's gramps really OOC. I don't know his character so…unlucky me.
Raise your hand if you want that lady who was insulting Sai DEAD!!!! *raises hand up high*
Forgive me if it sucks or thoroughly OOC…this chapter, I mean. I was listening to soundtracks from Mankin (Oversoul [Yomigaere!], Trust You [Why are more and more people dreaming of the other world laugh all the way?], Northern Lights [Ai mo tsumi mo yume mo yami mo!], Omokage [My heart is breaking!], Ryuro [Mae e to taore you!], Chimi Chimi Moryo and Kirameku Kakera [Futari muchuu de kakedashita!]), Weiss Kreuz (Beautiful Alone, Velvet Underworld, Magic Mirror and Piece of Heaven) and Houshin Engi (Will, Friends, Kaze no Tabibito and some background music [I think]) while doing this chapter so forgive me if I have included some insanity in here XD.
PLEASE! Correct me if I'm wrong! I REALLY don't know which color is who's in the match between Sai and Touya Meijin! I just presumed it was what I put up there but I'm not really sure! Tell me if I'm wrong and – if you would please – tell me the scores too! (Forgive me if I'm too demanding XD)
And the dialogue? It's not exact because I don't have a copy of the manga. If you have a problem with it, then say so.
Anybody willing to complain about the grammatical errors are extremely welcome. I know there are some there but I'm just too lazy to change it; maybe, your complaints will force me to actually correct the mistakes.
All kinds of criticism are invited (flames are included too!)
Reviews are much appreciated ^_^
