Sorry but I like the version of Torajirou find the goban at the beach. I don't know if the goban would be effected by the seawater or not but I'll resume it did not after all it is my story.
In this story Torajirou meet Sai somewhere in November 1834.
Chapter 5: The GobanI was half awake and dream while waiting for another game to play on the Goban I haunts. The players never seen me but it is enough to watch the games. The Goban passed around for century to different owners until it came to a small island in the sea of Seto.
It was a week ago when the late owner of goban pass away. He is strong Go player and he love for Go, as much as I have but it is a pity he did not see me. I often cried because I could not play but just stand by to watch. May be it is enough for a while but nearly a thousand years have passed and no one has seen me. Is this my punishment for not moving on?
I was snapped awake when my goban is thrown out to the sea. I recognised it was the owner daughter, she hate Go but to throw it away. Geez! I wanted to reach out and shaking her. It was not her fault to hate Go, her father has neglected the family and spent his entire life at the goban. I sighed and give up. The goban would not last long in the sea and then where would I be? It was drifting further outward and I knew I was doom.
Suddenly I feel warm touches and open my eyes from my sleep. I look upon a young boy, he was wiped the goban to clean off the seaweed that attached to it. My heart lift up and knew that I had found a new owner. The board now is clean but he kept wiping it. Surprise at the behaviour I appear behind him to see what he is doing.
Amazing he hand is on the tears stain that I have shredded many times over the year. Could it be? No, God would not granted my wish, as I am being so selfishly remanning on earth. I open my mouth afraid to speak but the word excites slip out.
"Child, if you see my tears of resentment. Allows me to settle down in a small part of your heart."
He turned around and sees me. He was clearly shocked but immediately control himself, his eyes gaze at me as if searching for something and what ever he is searched he had found it because his lip spread a little smile.
I was astonished too! I have never met someone like this, he is fearless and he eyes it almost seeing through my soul.
"Who are you?" he asked,
Take aback at his attitude for a small boy; I give him a bright smile that people used to compliment me when I was alive.
"My name is Fujiwara no Sai. I am a Go's instructor for the sovereign in the Heina era." I said,
"You're a ghost." It was a statement and not a question, the small boy accepted me without question. I look at him closer and there is something about him that me feels warmth even through my body is cold as ice.
"My name is Kuwahara Torajirou." He voice sound so serious like an adult that made me wince. I'm much more an outgoing person and being a ghost I was no longer care for tradition convention customs that is being reserves and politeness. Life is short to be on guard all the times.
I promise myself that I will help him to loosen up and enjoyed life in returned he would let me to play Go. I grinned at the thought and notice he wait for me to explain. I hate to remember that time, the reason why I died. However, I knew I must told Torajirou the story because it is a way of establishing friendship as I am going to stayed with him and I needs his help.
~~~~~~~(Flash back)
Tsuyujima Hi was left a few days ago. I missed him already; he is the only one I spent time with when I am not played Go. We are both alike in views of life that there was a little surprise when we become inseparable. However, I knew his father hate me but it all right as long Hi is by my side I do not care if the world turns against me.
"Fujiwara-san, I challenge you to a duel of Go game. The winner will be the only instructor to the Emperor." Hi's father voice snapped me back to present. I almost miss the challenge that he has issue being daydream. So he is formally challenges me, it is a surprise but why after all this time? With out further thinking I agreed, this may be the way to end of the silent feudal he is waging at me.
We played an even game. He has years of experienced but I have the ability to read ahead. I was busy to think of my next move when I noticed he slipped a stone from his sleeve on the winning tray. I was shocked at such behaviour. I have never imagined someone would do such a dishonourable act. I was about to say out loud but Hi's face appears before my eyes. I could not bring myself to ashamed his father. However, the voice shakes me back to reality.
"You just dropped a black stone onto your tray as a stone you won."
"What?" still dazed from being accused but recovered enough to said
"That was what you just did." I defence myself began to stand up,
"While everyone's attention on the goban you mixing the stone into your Go cash and placed it as a stone you had won." He called out angrily. He such a good actor I thought.
I could not believe it and the only words that came out is, "You're the one that's bluffing."
We both stopped when the Emperor voice rang out the Chamber, and whole room silent at once.
"What a distasteful accusation! Be silent." He continues, "I don't even want to think such as disgraceful act was committed before me. Continue the match."
There is nothing else I can do but sitting down and continue the game. Trying as I might, I knew I was losing. Losing means that I lied, it such an unfair world that I wanted to cried but managed to hold my tears. I turned to see my family who was at present. They eyes averted from me looking ashamed. How could they believe I done such a thing? I wanted to scream at them but I look down at the goban instead and await for everyone to leave.
The last words the Emperor said when he left was, "Fujiwara no Sai, from this day onward you will never set foot onto Kyoto or before me again." I saw my uncle walk after him and stared accusingly at me for being act shameful to our family name.
I sat there tried to come in term of what happening. At last I stood up walked out the Chamber when I see he waiting for me, his voice started me.
"Fujiwara, don't bother to finds my son. If you think you can make him to believe what has happened then you mistaken. Would you think he would believe your word over of his father? His own flesh and blood." He gave a low evil chuckled and I knew he was right. My own family did not even believe me, how Hi would when the cheater is his father?
I walked out the capital kept wandered on the road for two days until I reached a lake. My sorrows and shames has droved me to the edge. No one believes me. I have no one. My existence is no longer matter. The next I knew I walked further into the river and drowning myself from such sad cruel world.
I felt my soul is floating on the air moving onward outside this realm to a place that it calling me to return.
~~~~~ (Present)
"Yet I still want to play Go. I turn back to earth because I was unable to rest in peace and my soul linger on a goban." I finished tell him the story but left out Hi because I cannot bear to think of those I loves who had turn their back on me.
"I been lingered on the goban and watched many matches but unable to play because no one has seen me." I finished off sadly seeing that my companion is quiet. He looks poignant after listened to the story and finally give a nodded as if come to a decision.
"Fujiwara san, would you like to play Go? I'll let you played instead of me." His question jolt me, I looks at him uncertainty. Obvious he loves Go, it shows through the way how he has carefully cleaned it like a treasure. I wanted to ask why but too afraid that he will change his mind. I immediately nodded in agreement. God is so good to me!
TBC.
What do you think? Did Sai sound out of character? I repeat a bit from the anime but that is what happens at the duel so no point of changing it. Thanks for reading it. Please review! I would like to improve on Sai character.