Author Note: I really have a hard time tried to match the Hikaru no Go characters with history figures, the choice of who would be the best to be Akira…ahhh! Thinking about it given me nightmare! Thanks for reading.
For this chapter the incarnations during Edo era are the same as the following characters in Hikaru no Go:
Ishigaya Kosaku Waya Yoshitaka
Tsuchiya Shuwa Touya Akira
Nakagawa Inari Akari
Nakagawa Jowa Kuwabara Honinbo
Honinbo Josaku Touya Koyo
Sato Shuseki Honda Toshinori
Kato Ryuwa Fukui Yuta
Tsuruoka Saburosuke Iijima Ryo
Kishimoto Saichiro Tsubaki Toshiro
Yoshida Etsu (the only female disciple) Nase Asumi
Koizumi Fujimatsu Kishimoto Kaoru
Disclaimer: This story is fiction; I mean no disrespect to history Go players and their family. So don't sue me.
History states that in November 1837, Shusaku was sent to Edo to become a disciple of the Honinbo School. On 28 November 1839, Shusaku was awarded a shodan diploma, and in 1840 he went back to Hiroshima and stayed home for one-year.
Chapter 7:Honinbo school
Torajirou did not last well on board. He face is still pale from seasick and pleased to find his feet on the land again. I watch amused at the fuss Senji made over Torajirou. I was worried over Torajirou but seeing him now I knew the worse is over.
There was no point of making a ruckus about it and it would further embarrass him like Senji did. Senji is Kuwahara's household servant; he was order to accompany Torajirou to Honinbo School and return home after deliver Torajirou to safely.
Right now Senji is argued with the driver over the price, while both Torajirou and I gasping the sight with awes.
"So this is the new capital." I murmured, suddenly I heard Torajirou scream (Edo is the old name for Tokyo)
"Thief, thief…gives back my bag. Someone stop him." When I turn around to see that Torajirou already ahead chasing after a small boy. The thief boy ran toward the crowd and disappears.
I hear a crash come next and then Torajirou moaning from pain. Torajirou is on top of a young man, he must have hurdle the man over when he smash into into him. The young man groan but unhurt laying on the floor, he eyes is adjusting to Torajirou. For that second I notice the way he looks at Torajirou, it almost akin to love. I must have imagined it because there is no way he could look at Torajirou that way at the first glance.
"Sorry." Torajirou apologise after getting off him.
"You're in hurry?" the man queried
"Yes, a thief just stole my bag. I am so sorry about the accident." Torajirou bow his head (I wonder if they ever tired of bowing because I'm tired just writing it).
"I see. I'll helps you in searched for him." The stranger offers a hand
"Properly he has long gone from here." Torajirou sigh,
"We just have a look around here, usually the thief is from this area." He smiles sadly at the knowledge,
We walk around but there was no sign of the thief. Out of the corner Torajirou spot him. He was bend over Torajirou's bag and searching. The young man immediately seize the thief collar, I was surprise to see he was about Torajirou age. His hair was messy and his clothes were dirty. There little cinder spread on his face and his eyes glaring at the man who caught him.
The man handed over Torajirou his bag but his eyes did not leave the little thief face.
"You're knows that stealing is crime right?" he scolded at the boy,
"Please sir, I won't do it again." The boy plead for mercy,
"I don't think this is your first time. I better called the police over to handle this." Immediately the word police made the boy struggle to break free. I find the decision is a bit too harsh but before I spoke to Torajirou when a voice interrupts us,
"Hey, Tsuchiya-san! We have a meeting remember." The young man turn and nodded after put the boy down,
"You'll behave yourself." He warned before waving goodbye to Torajirou,
"Torajirou, he tried to sneak off." Torajirou turned around catch the boy hand to stop him.
"Hey, where do you think you going?" He eyes brow rise up.
"Let me go. You've your bag back." The other boy sneer,
"Tell me why you did that…stealing." Torajirou asked curiously, he has never witnessed such act before. The boy clearly sees the shock in Torajirou eyes so he said,
"You'll know when you gone hungry for days." The boy snipped at Torajirou ignorant,
"I'm sorry." Torajirou looks the boy with a new awareness, Torajirou gaze cause the boy to stare down at his feet and embarrass his outburst.
"Where do you live?" Torajirou asked,
"Why?" the boy is obvious offence but the look into Torajirou eyes only brought the boy to flush further
"I'm homeless and I don't need one." He said quietly but there still some of pride and loneliness behind his words.
"I'm sorry to hear that. My name is Kuwahara Torajirou and what is your?"
"Koizumi Fujimatsu."
I proud of Torajirou, he manages to bring the boy out of his shell. They are talking and it shows that Koizumi life was not a picnic. Both of his parents died last summer when they move to Edo to find worked. Koizumi Fujimatsu was left alone and did not know how to returned to his old village. He been survived through pick up scarf food and learned how to steal. There is no doubt that there are other children in the same circumstance but I wonder how we will solve this one.
"Sai!" I look down at Torajirou and asked what he wants,
"Could he stay with us, Sai? I mean I'll have room for myself in Honinbo School, I don't think he will bother anyone."
I give him a smile and knew it solve the problem for now anyway. Torajirou is like that, that why have come I love him.
~~~~~
"Fujimatsu!" Torajirou cried tried to pull the goban off his friend bottom. While I stand there raving about how could anyone inconsiderate as to sat on a goban?
Torajirou is trying to explain Fujimatsu about Go, who only shrug his shoulder and said
"It is only a game, no big deal." leaving Torajirou to sigh and get back to his packing.
A knock on the door and some one called out,
"Kuwahara-san, you're request to see the honourable head school Honinbo Josaku."
Torajirou slide the door open to find one of servant,
"Please lead the way."
We walk a few blocks until he reach a room, inside it was simple decorate but it stylish. There was a group of people gather around an old man. He face was gentle and his wrinkle only shows of determination and wisdom of old age. However one young man stood out the most, I looks down to see that Torajirou also recognise him.
After the formal greeting, Honinbo Josaku smile pleasing at the new disciple of his school, Torajirou name have been spread to Edo now.
"This is Shuwa my heir, you will study under him." The young man they met come forward and beam at Torajirou,
"If I has known you is Kuwahara-san then we would arrive here together."
"You've met." Josaku surprised at the greeting. They all have good laughs after the explanation.
"Just never imagine anyone could top Shuwa." A voice teases and walk forward to greet Torajirou, his hair is messy that remind me of Shoto sensei.
"My name is Ishigaya Kosaku. I'm also from Hiroshima, I glad that some here is from the same region." Torajirou delight with the news, they will have something common to chat about.
The other disciples were Sato Shuseki, Kato Ryuwa, Tsuruoka Saburosuke, Kishimoto Saichiro, and Yoshida Etsu. However, all of them are professional Go players. (Of course there are other disciples but these are the inner circle from my point of view.)
As I watch over the scene I'm glad that Torajirou find new friends but why do I feel this loneliness in my heart?
~~~~~~ 1 month later
I was looking over the recreate game that Shuwa and I have played yesterday. My skills is not there yet but I knew he is not far ahead of me either. Shuwa skill is better than Ito-san, no wonder that he is the top four Tempo. My fan tapping slightly at the goban, I knew where did I go wrong. I did not notice that Torajirou have moved aside me, he was silent but his present comfort me. The words are unspoken and I smile brightly at him.
"Let go outside. Sai." Torajirou said, notice the room is gloomy compare to the sunshine outdoor.
We walk silently each in their own thought. I wonder if Torajirou has regretted of coming here. My selfishness had led him here. I watched him slept every night as he cried out for his mother. I have asked in the morning but he ignored the question as if I did not mention it at all. It pained me now and yet my selfishness I still wanted to play Go. My passions for Go game. Is it a curse or a gift from god? Whatever the answer, I have a new objective now; it is to reach the Hand of God.
"Lets her go!" Torajirou commanding voice jerks me back and I see that Torajirou was stand ahead shoving some other children off the little girl. She was cried and her wrist was bruised from the strong hold. The group of bully ran off, leaving the girl on the ground sniffing,
"Are you Ok?" Torajirou pick her up and give his handkerchief to the girl,
"It not hurt is it?" He look worried, examined her hand
"I'm alright now." She said hiccup at the same time, quickly she face flush as turn away from Torajirou. I give a groan, not another one.
"I'm glad you're fine. My name is Kuwahara Torajirou and nice to meet you." He said politely, stare at the girl. She is pretty, with eyes wide and shinning tears that would touch anyone heart. There was no doubt Torajirou feel that too and he is human after all. Torajirou flushed when he notices that he is staring,
"My name is Nakagawa Inari, please called me Inari." She stammers a bit but rather cute,
"Oh, there is my dad." Inari said, called out for her father.
We both turn to see a man walked forward and surprisingly he is with Shuwa. My eyes are accessing him, a Go player. After Shuwa introduced the stranger, I knew I would like to play a game with the late Honinbo titleholder, Jowa. However, I did not jumped for joy at the prospect of playing. My eyes still on the little girl who eyes barely leave Torajirou face.
~~~~~ 28 November 1839
I stood there watched Torajirou taking the award shodan diploma. He smiles at me,
"Are you happy Sai?" He asks and I only nodded. My skills have passed a shodan when I joined Honinbo School but for political reason, I did not receive my award until now. I did not care for the little piece of paper. I love Go and there will never be a paper that wills shows how much.
"Let us go home, Torajirou." I said suddenly it must have surprise him but he nodded as always. I need more times to be with him. Here, I was too distracted with Go and I afraid I might loose him.
TBC.
What going on? Well you can see Sai feeling is insecure and he have the reason to be. I really hate that feeling but when you loved someone….
Thank you for reading it. Oh! I've to make up Inari name because I could find out what Jowa's daughter name is.
The reason why I match Kaoru character with Koizumi Fujimatsu go player is that Kaoru helps Hikaru to realize that Akira won't wait for him forever...this may be a way to paid back the kindness in his past life. Karma?