Chapter 1

"Hikaru? It's time to get up now, you'll be late for school" Mrs. Shindo said worriedly.

In a quiet, emotionless voice Hikaru answered, "I'm not going"

"Are you sick? Do you want me to call the school, Hikaru?" The worried mother asked. Not hearing any response, she quickly decided. "I'll call the school, Hikaru, why don't you come down for breakfast."

Mrs. Shindo cast one last worried glance at her strangely quiet son before closing the door, and going to make breakfast.

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Akari stared blankly at the go board before her. Her position was pretty bad. She had defended well on the lower right corner but had lost the fight for the upper left and was steadily losing ground on the upper right. Her stones in the lower left were to sparse to have any strength, and there was no hope for the center.

Biting her lip, she bowed her head. "I lose," She said politely.

"You should have pulled back here, and instead strengthen your hold on this corner, but overall not a bad game." Kanako advised.

"Hmm, I see! I probably could have come back if I had just fought a little harder here, and strengthen here." Akari mused.

"You've been getting a lot better Fujisaki, have you been playing Shindo lately?" Kanako asked.

"Sometimes, but mostly he's busy with pro matches." Akari answered. "He's probably playing a pro match today too."

"Don't they only have pro matches for the lower dans only two days a week?" Kanako asked, confused.

"Yes, although now that I think of it, I thought that Hikaru had his pro match yesterday." Akari said.

"But Shindo wasn't here yesterday or today." Kanako stated, "I think sensei said that he was sick or something, though."

There was a soft rap on the window. Turning to see the source, they saw a young man dressed in the school uniform of Kaio Junior High.

"Um, excuse me, do you know where Shindo Hikaru is?" Said the longhaired boy.

"Touya-kun right? I think Hikaru is sick today…" Akari started.

"He is? Do you know where he lives?" Touya interrupted.

"Um, he lives in my neighborhood, I could take you there when I go home today." Akari offered, a little flustered.

"Thank you." Touya replied, glancing over at the go board, he offered "Would you like a tutoring game?"

"Yes, please!"

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Hikaru toyed with piece of grass and stared up into the sky. He saw an airplane and then felt a trickle of wetness slide down his face.

Sai was so amazed at the sight of airplanes, he didn't believe at first the people were in them. He thought that it was a strange kind of bird. It was odd, in such a modern world, so much reminded Hikaru of his ancient teacher.

Hikaru did not want to get up that day, if it was not for his mother nagging him to at least eat something, he would not have bothered getting out of bed.

His life was so empty without Sai. When he woke up that morning, some part of him convinced himself that Sai was still there. That somehow he would just appear out of nowhere and beg to play a game, and when he glanced at his go board, the room did not feel right without Sai's presence. Even though he was ravenously hungry, the food was tasteless and stuck in the back of his throat. When he swallowed, it fell like a lump in his stomach. After only a few bites, he pushed his food away and excused himself.

He was about to head back to his room, when his mother told him to get outside and do something. Before he had time to protest he was already out the door. Sighing to himself, he aimlessly wandered about, trying to keep his mind off of Sai.

Impossible.

Everything reminded him of Sai; the vending machines, the Go salon signs, the antique store, even the falling Sakura petals. Hikaru had spent every waking moment with Sai, even breathing without him felt strange.

Sighing, he headed back home, his mother should be satisfied. She had sent him out to get some "fresh air" as she put it, so mission accomplished.

Walking into the foyer, he shouted his usual greeting of "I'm home!" After hearing no immediate response, he headed up to his room. Halfway up the stairs, he heard movement in his room.

He was practically leaping up the stairs, and he burst though the door. He yelled. "SAI!"

The three people in the room jumped a little, startled by their friend's sudden appearance, but quickly recovered.

"Hikaru!" Akari greeted warmly.

Touya and Waya simply nodded and greeted him with "Shindo"

Hikaru was crushed. "Oh, um Hi." He greeted his friends half-heartedly.

Akari looked at him curiously, "Hikaru, who is Sai?"

Touya and Waya both jumped a little at that, and hung on Hikaru's every word. This was the mystery that had eluded them the entire time they had known Hikaru.

"I dunno know." He mumbled.

"But, you just said..." Akari started.

"I SAID I DON'T KNOW!" He roared. "LEAVE ME ALONE, I'M NEVER PLAYING GO AGAIN!" With that he fled the house, ignoring the cries of his friends.

He did not return until well after dark. His confused friends had gone home. Hikaru returned to an empty room. Not since he was twelve, could he remember ever being alone in his room. The room felt so cold and empty, it echoed the hole in his heart.