"Hikaru, hurry! You're going to be late. You know that Isawa-san doesn't like his aids to be tardy."

"All right, already! I'm on my way, okaa-san!" Hikaru replied, rushing out the door. He had to hurry to the electronic company where he helped out with programming. He had taken the offer of helping in exchange for money.

The reason for his near-tardiness was his reflection on past times, and how much had changed since then.

Three years ago: "Doushite?!!"

"Gomen nasai, Shindou Hikaru. If there were some other way, I would have already considered it, but there isn't."

"Don't you dare say that! After all this time we've been chasing each other, pushing each other towards higher in go, you're just going to abandon me now?!"

"We have been through this numerous times, and I've tried explaining it to the best of my ability. After everything that's happened, I've changed too much."

"Have you really? Were you just looking for an excuse to back out, and the opportunity conveniently came with what happened to Touya Meijin and onward?"

Hikaru paused, shocked by his own words. They stung Akira sharply, and it showed through the deeply anguished gleam in his eyes.

"Shindou, how can you say that? After everything Touya Kouyo did to me, how do you expect me to continue with go? He forced that path upon me. It was never something that I wanted to begin with."

"I'm sorry. I really shouldn't have said that. But please! Have the courage to continue. Continue climbing through the world of go with me."

"Shindou, please don't remind me of it all. The one you are chasing isn't me. It was never me. It was only a false image, a shadow and lie that was created through my cowardice and self-deception."

"Do you truly believe that these three years have been for nothing? That it was all a lie, that it was never real?"

"...Please, don't. Do you think this was an easy decision for me to make. Until recently, as long as I could remember, go was my entire life. Do you think I was eager to completely give up the comfort and security of the life I had known? That I would wish to abandon myself to the instability of a blank road whose destination has yet to be determined and all the obstacles that will inevitably arise? However painful it is for you, it is even more so for me. I no longer have the ability or even the desire to advance in the world of the pros, not after everything that's passed this last year."

Hikaru was about to say something else when another acquaintance of his sauntered into the room uninvited.

"Well, well, look how the mighty have fallen," Fuji sneered, "You always thought you were better than the rest of us pros. How does it feel to be down at our level, Touya? Or should I say even lower? Now you're giving up on go all together."

Akira's face was strained, as if he were struggling to hold back tears. Hikaru tried to intervene.

"Fuji, stop it! Just go."

Fuji ignored Hikaru and continued to taunt Akira maliciously.

Fuji leaned in closer to Akira and said in a quite voice, "You know what? You lorded it over all of us. You had everything. Now you've lost your talent, your will to play go, even the true circumstances of your birth. Now you have nothing, and everyone will see you for what you are, an arrogant hypocrite hiding his dirtiness. You deserved it all."

The words struck Akira to his very core, like knives thrust into his heart. The wounds that had just begun to heal were completely ripped open again, forcing Akira to relive the pain and agony of losing the pattern of his entire life, of losing everything, and worst of all feeling that he deserved it. Unable to hold back any longer, he collapsed to his knees, the tears running ceaselessly down his face as massive sobs wracked his body, which had become much thinner over the past year.

Hikaru was too shocked for words. In all the three years, he had known Fuji to be many things. His classmate, his opponent. He had known that Fuji didn't like Akira, but he never knew Fuji could be so cruel and hateful, especially at a time when Akira was still trying to recover from one of the most harrowing experiences in his life.

Apparently, they weren't the only ones who had heard the conversation.

"Kisama!!!" shouted a new voice.

Fuji turned around to look, and the next thing he knew a strong fist had smashed straight into his nose, causing it to bleed profusely. Before he could react, the other person punched Fuji in the mouth, eyes, and the rest of his face, bruising his complexion badly. Fuji tried to fight back, but it was a pitiful attempt. His opponent was very strong and an excellent fighter. The other person proceeded to throw Fuji to the ground and started kicking and punching him mercilessly, all the while ignoring Fuji's cries of pain.

"Otouto-san, please, that's enough." Said a quiet, gentle voice.

"Aniki, this yaro hurt Akira! I won't forgive him! I'm going to beat this piece of worthless shit to a bloody pulp!!"

A slender hand elegantly grasped Shiro's broader shoulder, tenderly but firmly making him calm down. Finally, Shiro drew a deep breath, sighed, and gave Fuji one more sharp kick in the ribs before returning to the side of his twin, Sanro, a beautiful youth with willowy, graceful features, skin like porcelain, and black hair like velvet.

Another young man, somewhat older with a straight, serious face, entered next.

"Otoutou, you should really work on controlling your temper."

"Ichiro-nii-san, this bastard hurt Akira! Did you expect me to just stand by and let him bully our own family member, our brother?"

"Of course not, but violence is not the solution. There are other ways to resolve these matters."

Shiro looked like he was about to argue, but Sanro clasped his hand and shook his head lightly. Shiro thought better and held his tongue. Then the twins proceeded to help Akira sit down and whispered comforting words to him while Ichiro proceeded to examine Fuji.

"You were lucky, young man, to have no serious injuries. Were it not for the fact that I am first and foremost bound to my duty as a future doctor, I would not even bother examining the damage on your behalf. A broken arm and mouth would have been a fair return for all this ridicule. You dishonor the memories of the pros that came before you, and you disgrace your family. You are not welcome here. Now leave while you can."

Fuji got up unsteadily and limped out of the room laboriously.

Ichiro's expression softened somewhat as he helped his brothers comfort Akira.

"Daijoubu daiyo, otouto."

"Iie, aniki. It isn't all right. It hasn't been for a very long time. I was a fool to run from the truth all those years ago. I brought it all on myself! I don't deserve your concern and love, not after the way I forgot you all so selfishly!" Akira gasped out between his sobs.

"Enough of that, otouto. We've been through it before. We are all brothers. We are family. We have to work through it together."

Akira lapsed into silence as Ichiro steadily rubbed his back. The tears trickled to a stop, and his breathing became more even and collected.

Just then, Ashiwara entered.

"Oi, I've finished getting the bag into the car. That is the last of the luggage. It's all set."

Ichiro nodded and bowed formally to Ashiwara.

"Thank you, Ashiwara-san. It was not necessary for you to help us with the packing. We're sorry to have inconvenienced you."

"I've told you before, Kuramoto-san, there's no need to be so proper with me. Besides, what are friends for?"

"Well, then, it's all set." Ichiro stated, "Sanro, Shiro, come with me and make one final check. Then we can all leave."

The brothers gave Akira a reassuring glance and left the room.

Left alone, Akira sat quietly with his hands folded in his lap. Hikaru and Ashiwara found some empty chairs and sat next to him.

Ashiwara abruptly broke the melancholic silence pervading the room.

"Akira, here's my number. Be sure to keep in touch."

"Wakarimashita, Ashiwara-san."

Shindou spoke next. "Tou-, Kuramoto, please reconsider. Can't you give go another try?"

"Shindou, I'm sorry. I tried my hardest. I truly tried to find a new love and passion for go, but it just is not there anymore. I'm a different person now, the person I was in the very beginning. I must find a new path, perhaps the path I was meant to walk all along."

"Kuramoto, please –"

"That's enough!" Ashiwara cut Hikaru off sharply.

Hikaru fell silent. Then he spoke again with Akira for the last time in what would be three long years.

"Kuramoto, where will you go next? What are going to do with your life now?"

Akira rubbed his eyes wearily before putting his glasses back on and then leaned forward, resting his head in one hand, causing his bangs to obscure his eyes.

"I don't know. It's still too soon to say. I need time to recover. I need to find myself again, find who I truly am, the person I was before Touya Kouyo forced me to change so much. My old life has been completely shattered. Difficult though it will be, I must forge a new one."

"...Will you be all right?"

"Eventually. The pain is still fresh, but all scars and wounds, if not heal, then at least fade with time. I never could have made it this far alone. I would have collapsed if it weren't for my brothers. I have been a bloody fool, forgetting them all that time and-"

"Akira, it's all right. Don't blame yourself. You were frightened and confused, helpless and being severely hurt. How else could you have reacted?"

Hikaru spoke again.

"How can I go on without you? It takes two to create a great game of go. I can't reach the kami no itte without you."

"You have strength that even you may not be aware of, Shindou. You are far stronger than I. You will find a way. Just as I leave, another will take my place, one who is worthy to be called your rival, one who has the passion and determination to reach the kami no itte, the passion and drive that I have lost, the false passion I created to hide behind."

"...And if I also choose to give up go because I changed from this experience and can no longer live in that world and return to a normal life?"

Akira paused in shock for a moment, then composed himself.

"You alone can make that choice. No one can control your life. You must make the decision that seems right. I did not want to put you in this position, but how could I do otherwise? Even if I had chosen to remain the world of go, I would not be the same as before. You would have become even more angry and upset playing against me as I am now. You would not see that brilliance and inspiration that you longed for. You would be frustrated, and I would be upset about making you feel that way."

Hikaru thought long and hard. Finally, he spoke.

"You're right, Kuramoto. I'm sorry. It's just that this is all so sudden, it's difficult to accept."

"I know. How can I not know? However, we will all learn to move on eventually."

"Otouto! We're ready. It's time to go."

Ashiwara ushered Akira out the door and helped him into the car.

"Try to rest, okay? Remember, just take it one day at a time. Perhaps someday you will return to Japan, to Tokyo."

"Arigato gozaimasu, Ashiwara-san."

Hikaru desperately spoke to Akira.

"Kuramoto, will I ever see you again?"

"We both still have very long paths to walk, Shindou. Those paths may change for both of us, and even cross in the future. Have faith. One day, I hope to see you again."

"I'll wait for you, Kuramoto Akira. No matter how long it takes, I will see you again."

Akira paused, trying to stop his eyes from watering.

"Then, for now, sayonara, Shindou Hikaru."

The car started and drove away. Akira looked back, waving to Shindou as long as he could. For some reason, Shindou's stomach was in a knot, and he felt like he was going to burst into tears. That was the last time he would see Akira for a long while.

Modern day:

"Shindou, you've arrived. I thought you were going to be late."

"I always try my best to be punctual, Isawa-san. You know that."

"Hai. Are you ready to start?"

"Yes. What's the assignment?"

"We can't get these bugs out of the program. Could you test run it and check the code? Otherwise, we'll never get the game out in time."

"All right. This shouldn't take long."

"Not for you, anyway, Shindou."

"I'm flattered."

"You know that I never offer hollow praise. I'll leave you to it then."

Hikaru sat down at the console and got busy rewriting the program. Since that time three years ago, he had also stepped back, taken a long look at his life, and reevaluated. During that horrible period three years ago, he had watched Akira suffer mentally, emotionally, and psychologically. He had found himself inevitably drawn into the circumstances surrounding Akira's hidden and turbulent past. It had taken a toll on him, but it had taken an even greater one on his once-rival.

After three years, Hikaru finally understood why Akira couldn't live in the world of go anymore, after much meditation and reflection. They had both been exposed to the vastness and horrors of the darker parts of the human psyche, Akira more than he. Go was an excellent game of strategy. Hikaru could still agree with go pros on that point. However, not everyone was meant for that world. After everything he had seen, Hikaru could no longer pretend to be ignorant of the outside world. There was a very large world outside of go.

Hikaru had tried to persevere for a year, perhaps a year and a half at most. He had even met another pro his own age. The other boy had talent and fiery passion, much like Akira once did. The two made good rivals. Hikaru could have easily continued on if he wanted to.

However, Akira's words from their last conversation continued ringing through his mind. He remembered them, and he remembered Akira's eyes. Akira's eyes had changed so much. Once they burned like the solar flames, a bright green filled with intense ferocity. That last time, however, they had seemed to take on a light, pale shade. The element was not fire, but more like water perhaps. The eyes had contained great sorrow, but also a rediscovered compassion and gentleness, and the hope to continue on no matter how cruel life could be.

After that, Hikaru finally made his choice. He had changed as much as Akira had. He couldn't continue professional go any longer. After everything, he knew he eventually had to face the real world, and he couldn't remain focused only on go. He had a lengthy discussion with his mother about it. She supported his choice, wanting to be sure he made the choice because he wanted to and for the right reasons.

After that, Hikaru had quietly withdrawn from the go world and returned his full efforts to school. To his surprise, he found that once he got into it, he really liked research. Along the way, he discovered that he seemed to possess a keen knack for computer programming. He had graduated from high school with excellent grades. Now he was in college, majoring in computer science and programming. He also took a side job along the way to start earning money, perhaps as a personal allowance.

All in all, he was happy with the new path he was walking. He was more or less satisfied with his new life. He eventually planned to work for a large corporation. Sometimes, he may have been somewhat wistful about leaving go behind, but he never regretted his choice. To be honest, go was once again becoming increasingly foreign to him. It was harder to relate to the people who had been his insei friends, Waya and Isumi-san perhaps being an exception, since they had been peripherally involved in the matter concerning Akira. His friendship with all the others had cooled considerably. He only met them occasionally, and even then it was only by chance. At most, he indulged in a little small talk. However, the strained silences that followed led all parties to feeling uncomfortable. After that, they would just mutter brief excuses and be on their separate ways.

'Such is the way of life. Friends meet and part. Those once friends become distant. New relationships form to take their place. Such is the way with every single person.'

Still, there was the matter of Akira.

'I haven't seen him in over three long years. I wonder how he's doing now. I hope he's all right, and that he's forged a new life for himself. Wherever he is, I hope that I can see him again soon.'