Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go
Chapter 6: The rivals unite!
"Tou... Touya sen...sei, are you su...sure you are well enough to pl...play, after all, you... just had an operation" Hikaru managed to say after a period of stunned silence.
"Oh, you're worried about that? It's not a problem. Look, I'm in great spirits! I never felt more energetic than now!" Touya Kouyo replied confidently.
"Well, I... it's just..."
"Perhaps... Sai doesn't want to play with me?"
"No of course not!" Hikaru became agitated all of a sudden "Sai has always wanted to play against you! Sai has always treated you as his greatest rival, the person that he wants to beat!"
"That's great! So I gather there will be no problems to my request?"
"Actually, Sai... Sai has... Sai..." Hikaru was suddenly interrupted by a sharp tug on his arm. Akira quickly led him out of the room.
"Hikaru! So my suspicions were right all along! You were the one who arranged the game with Father!" Akira began as soon as he closed the door.
"Please, Akira... now is not the time for questions." Hikaru seemed at a loss for words.
"Alright, I'll get my answers another day. So you know Sai! As you said, Sai is also very eager to play with my father! Why can't you just agree to my father's request."
"It is not as easy as it sounds..."
"Hikaru... please. I have never ask anyone for any favor before, but now I ask you to do me this favor. Arrange this match. And as soon as possible..." Akira's voice trailed off as he said those words
When Hikaru did not reply for a while, Akira continued, "Nobody knows what father is thinking, or what he wants. Everybody see him as a holder of 5 titles. They respect him. Admire him. Even envy him. They all want to be him. But do they really understand him? I can sense that father was getting jaded... he did not seem to be looking forward to his matches as much as before, not even the title matches. I sense an intense loneliness inside him... a strong desire to find an opponent that can match him and challenge him to greater heights."
"Really... I never realized Touya-sensei could have felt like that." Hikaru was genuinely surprised.
"As a kid, my father prevented me from playing Go with other kids. He said I would demoralize them." Akira was starting to get emotional "So I played with older pros. Ogata-sensei. Kurata-sensei. People in my father's study group. Even though I learnt a lot from them, and the games were a lot of fun, I still yearned for an opponent of my age. Then I found you."
"That's right. We shall be eternal rivals."
"But what about father? Just 2 years ago, he crushed Zama-Ouza without really trying very hard... What has he got to look forward to? And then he met Sai... Hikaru, that game, it changed father's life forever..."
"I know that. I know that more than anyone else."
"You know very well how important this match is to father. So, Hikaru, no matter how difficult it is, can you try to arrange this match?"
"Alright, Akira... I will try my best... I shall go to the lobby to make a call to Sai. Please wait for me here."
"Very well. I'll await your good news."
Instead of the lobby, however, Hikaru made his way to the garden.
"Akira didn't understand what I meant by 'trying my best'. I'm going to have to try my best to play like Sai! In fact, this is my greatest dream. I continue to play Go so that, one day, I can play an even game against Touya-sensei as Sai. I sense that I'm getting closer, but why does it have to be so soon? I'm not ready yet! But if I don't try now, I'll never get the chance. And Touya-sensei will be so disappointed. Sai, tell me what I should do? If only you can come back right now! Sai! Sai..."
"What took you so long..." Akira asked when Hikaru finally returned. He noticed that Hikaru's eyes were red.
"Sai has agreed to the match."
"Well that's great! Let's go tell father the good news!"
They reentered the room. "So how was it, Hikaru?" asked Touya Kouyo.
"Sai can play tomorrow. 10 am. 3 hours per person, Komi of 5.5 moku. Is that fine with you, Touya-sensei?" replied Hikaru.
"That's excellent! I have no problems at all. Akira, can you bring my laptop later today? I shall hook it up and play some warm up matches."
"No problem, father."
"Oh, and help me tell the nurse to put up the 'No visitors' sign. I don't want to be disturbed."
"Why the sudden urge to play with me, Hikaru?" asked Akari. They were seated in Hikaru's room, next to the goban.
"I've got an important match tomorrow, and I'm feeling quite nervous. Playing with you helps me to relax." Hikaru managed a smile.
Playing with Akari helps me to relax...
I'll make sure the game goes fine at 9 stones, Hikaru...
"Ha ha. Alright, let's begin then."
Half an hour later, Akari resigned. "I lost again! But this time I've got closer! Soon I will only need a 8-stone handicap!"
"That's right, you're improving." said Hikaru, encouragingly.
"Hikaru, you still look troubled. Are you thinking about tomorrow's game? Who's your opponent?"
"Touya-sensei"
"Well, that's an important game indeed. But haven't you been playing him for the past week? You don't seem as nervous then."
"This game is different. I can't lose this game..."
"Wow... that's tough. Hey, why don't you ask Touya for help? He knows his father so well, perhaps he can give you some advice."
"Ask Akira for help? Hey, I've got an idea... Will it work? Well, I just have to try... Akari, thanks for the game! I feel better already!"
"Hello, this is the Touya residence." Akira picked up the phone.
"Akira, this is Hikaru. There is something I need to tell you."
"What is it? I just got home, after sending the laptop to father."
"Akira... Sai is gone. Sai can't play the game tomorrow."
"What? Wait you're kidding, right?"
"No, I'm serious, Akira."
"Oh... oh my god... why didn't you say so earlier? Father... father is going to be so disappointed..."
"Akira get a hold on yourself! Hear me out!"
"OK I'm listening..."
"Sai may be gone, but we shall replace him! We will play together against your father tomorrow!"
Two minutes of silence. Then... "Are... are you sure that will work?"
"As you said, my game resembles Sai. You've also been studying Sai's and Shuusaku's games. We have to give it a try, Akira!"
"Well, I guess there is no other choice..."
"Cool. Come over to my place tomorrow. You know the time."
"See you tomorrow. Goodbye"
End of chapter 6
Author's note: This is a rather emotional chapter. I hope it did not end up as a soap opera!
dragon shadows: I like cliffies. HnG was full of them :-)
kathy: I'm sure you did better in that exam than you thought. Cheer up!
:)( ): Please don't cry! I hope you are happy with this arrangement.
VKempf: I know they seem kind of rushed... I am still quite inexperienced with fanfics. Have to learn how to build up the atmosphere, etc... Anyway I've modified the title. Oh, Oka is a girl. Refer to the 2nd one-shot, volume 23 of HnG.
