A/N: Ok, this one took a little longer to pull off...it seems I momentarily lost my interest in dear Hikaru and Co....sigh
By the way, I'm sorry for the short length of that last chapter...I usually average about 3 pages of apple works, but I guess there was more review responses than anything.

Amasaki Reyoko: I have no idea what was up with the BRs...they were sickening!!! Well, sorry about the shortness..I guess...maybe I was rushed. Haha...allrighty then...now getting into the more interesting bits of the plot I think...

Shaman-queen89: Thanks for reviewing again! I'm sorry about how short it was. Hopefully this one makes up for it? It's not that much longer...but still. It's not a bad lenght I think.

Chapter 3

Tsukiyama Rui awoke one Saturday morning to the startling realization that she had not played any go for nearly a week. This was strange considering she had fallen in love with the game almost immediately. She lay in bed for a moment and reflected upon her feelings for the people in the Go Salon. They were all wonderful people, and she missed being around them. Why then had she discontinued to frequent the salon? The short answer was that she had got busy with her music, and as usual, she forgot about anything else. She still felt badly for abandoning her friends at the salon and decided she would go there and play some more go. It was good that Saturday she had no work to go to.

The girl lay in bed for a few more moments, and tried to remember if she had to do anything else that day. This was really just an excuse to continue lying under the warm covers for as long as possible. When she couldn't think of any more excuses to remain lazily staring at the ceiling, she grudgingly got up and readied herself for the day. Ordinarily this was an easy task, except for the fact that she had forgotten to go to the laundromat yesterday, so it was somewhat of a challenge to scrounge together a decent looking outfit. She put all her dirty clothes in a bag, fully intending to take them to the laundromat later in the day, and then left the building.

As soon as she left, she noticed Akira standing further down on the street. She hoped he did not see her leave the building. Rather, she hoped he did not even suspect that she lived on this street. Her feet and his feet were closing the gap between them, and Rui had still not thought of a reasonable excuse for being on this street.

Rui-san, ohayo gozaimasu!Ohayo gozaimasu!Rui-san...surely you don't live here?

At that comment she looked down towards the chewing gum covered pavement. What was she to say? She did not want to tell the truth, because she was perfectly fine living in a place like this. Besides, she did not want anyone's pity. She must not look into his eyes, and then she would be able to say anything. Must not look...She did. His eyes were so confident, so overpowering that she felt she was forced to tell him exactly what she was doing.

Yeah...but....it's not so bad as it looks.Yes it is Rui-san, and you know it.

She looked back at the ground again, and then back up to his face. She felt ashamed, but why should she feel ashamed? She could afford a better place if she did not spend so much money on her music.

It was my choice to live here...It allows me to spend more money on my music rather than spending on my living situation.

He looked at her sharply, and again she felt ashamed.

Are you going to the Go Salon?

This was spoken much more quietly, and Rui was glad of the change in subject.

As a matter of fact, yes I was planning on going.Allow me to accompany you.

The two of them set off in silence towards the Go Salon.

Irasshaimase! Ah Rui-chan! I'm so glad you've come back! Ohayo Akira-kun!

Rui smiled and was very glad she had decided to return to the salon. She and Akira sat down in the back of the place and set up a board. She was again put to shame, as she had forgotten almost everything she had ever learned.

I'm making so many silly mistakes!That's allright...just concentrate harder. Try to look a step ahead of the present move. You're doing fine.

She was glad of her teacher's patience, for she felt that she was having less and less patience for herself. They ended the game, and Akira went over it with her and explained what she had done wrong, and what she had done well.

Oh, I see. I ought to have gone there instead of there.

He smiled at her, and she felt good about herself for the first time that day.

See? You're catching on!

She smiled again, and soon it was time for her to go. As she gathered up her things and prepared to go back to her flat, Akira stopped ? I can talk to my father about giving you a guest room in our house.

Rui started. She had not expected this. It was very generous of him, and yet, she felt she did not want to intrude on family matters.

Akira-sensei...I...I couldn't. It would be too....I don't know...too something. I'd make too much noise practicing my guitar, and your father wouldn't like it.

He paused, thinking things over slowly.

Let me talk to him about it. I will tell him about your guitar, and then we'll see what he says.How long?As long as you need.

She looked down at the ground again. She felt extremely awkward and wished a tiny bit that she had never come to the salon. Why did she feel this way? He was just being generous. It's because I don't like being pitied. I'm too proud to accept his generosity.

she sighed, and supposed she must now accept. Thank you very much. Please tell your father and your mother that I really do not want to intrude on your family, and they are in no way whatsoever obliged to say yes.

He nodded and they went their separate ways. She left the go salon after a few more words to Michiru, and went back home.

In her flat, she found herself organizing things and putting them into a suitcase. Once she realized what she was doing, she stopped herself. Why pack when she didn't even know if she was going? She would wait.

The next day Rui woke up unusually early. She did not have work today, so she wondered why she was awake. Ordinarily she was one to roll over and sleep again upon an early awakening, however her eyes remained as if fixed open. Sighing, she left her bed and got ready for the day.

Rui left her flat, and walked around the city. She had never simply walked around it before; there had always been a purpose for her to go where she would. It seemed quiet, and serene, although noisy and chaotic at the same time. She felt now that she had all the time in the world and that she could go anywhere and do anything. She started humming a new tune, and tried to make a mental note to remember it when she got home. As usually happened when she thought up a new tune, she forgot it almost instantly.

Before she knew it, after a long lazy amble through the park and the city, it was lunch time, and she forced herself to go back to her flat and eat something. She lounged around there for a few more hours, and then set out for the Go Salon.

Akira was not there yet, so she chatted amiably with Michiru while waiting for her teacher. Soon after, he entered the salon with a broad grin in his eyes.

Otoosan says that you can stay with us!

She smiled, and half wished that he had said she couldn't.

He says you may come today. Would you like any help packing?No that's allright Akira. I can manage.I'll meet you back here then, when you are ready.

She nodded.

Ja mata!

She then walked back towards her flat, and finished the packing that she had done earlier. There was not much to pack, mainly some clothes, and things like that. She did not buy much to decorate her room, but she had a lot of guitar accessories, and gigging equipment. Packing it all up, she made her way back towards the Go Salon, wondering what this next chapter in her life would have in store for her.

A/N: Hopefully this is an appropriate length for you guys to be pleased with. It's about a page and a bit longer or something. Enjoy! :A/N