An XXXHolic/Hikaru no Go X-over
By Lady Addiction
WWWW
INTERLUDE: MAKING CONTACT
In his anxiety and excitement, that slow, calm, meditative state was hard to achieve for Shindou. And it turned out to be harder to stay in that state. Every time he managed it, the moment he tried to do something active, he broke free.
Finally, he decided to approach it as if he was deep underwater and each action he took must be done as slowly and sluggishly as he could. One thought came after another, separated by a period of enforced, relaxed emptiness. Sai. Sai. Sai.
Hikaru?
At that faintest of responses, Hikaru's heart began to beat faster, but as aware as he was in this state, he refused to hurry and accidentally break free. After a long period of silence, he sent another thought. I'm here, Sai.
Hikaru?
Where are you, Hikaru?
I'm here, Sai.
Sai, where are you?
I, I don't quite know.
I remember the game with the River-God.
I remember the promise.
I came on the eve of Setsubon.
I came from the river into a forest.
I remember…Kyuusei-san!
Tell me about the river, Sai.
The river?
The river is only half as big as it was when I drowned myself there.
There are bamboo trees along the side.
The rocks on the banks cut my feet.
I bled on the ground.
I could see an old well from the distance.
It had a small shrine next to it.
Do you know what happened to you, Sai?
I, I remember…
Hikaru! Kyuusei-san, he--!
Sai!
And with that, Hikaru came out of the meditative state screaming Sai's name. Around the room, his companions came awake.
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On to Chapter 6…
