"What? Fujiwara-sensei had a kid? His own child?" Ogata Seiji almost dropped his cell phone at the unanticipated news. If someone had told him that Fujiwara no Sai had won another title, it was nothing new, but Fujiwara no Sai having a child would certainly shook the whole world of Go.
He could even see the headlines sneaking up onto him, as he foresaw that the world of Go is going to have a very interesting twist to it. Shall he be shocked, or shall he be joyful that he would have the chance to beat his self-proclaimed rival? He was still wondering.
"So you are saying that he would have a social gathering tonight, at his mansion?" he questioned, while the 7-dan on the line affirmed his thoughts. He really wanted to have a match with the highly reputed Go player to know where he stands in the world of Go.
"Yes, I'll go. Thank you for the information," he replied politely, and hung up. He strode to his closet and picked out a formal suit. 'Not only will I be present at the gathering, someone like Touya Kouyo will also be there…' Ogata thought, his eyes narrowing.
Sai was having fun, he was busy placing out the Go boards Go stones and the mats halfheartedly while concentrating on playing with adoring, endearing little Hikaru who was fidgeting in his arms. It had been two weeks since baby Hikaru had moved in into his little den and his life had been rather entertaining. It was easier for him to shop in the superstore while those middle aged women would comment on how cute Hikaru was and those young female shopkeepers would give him discount on baby products (whether if it was for his charming smile, or for lovable Hikaru).
"Bwa, bwa?" The child questioned, his large green orbs gazing upwards onto his father. His father's hair no longer serve as a toy for him, the black stones that was used in playing Go was his new toy, while Sai has to be very careful that he does not swallow it when Hikaru played around with it.
"No, Chibi-chan, no," he rejected, shaking his head. The baby's tearful eyes were pleading for the shining, sparking Go stone. However, with Sai busy, he will not allow his precious to be in any sort of danger, be it if he was just playing with a tiny Go stone.
As if knowing that his father rejected him, the child kicked his legs, punched his arms in Sai's grasp, and bawled loudly.
"Nooo! You can't cry, Chibi-chan!" Sai whined, for the child to stop. Rather than a scene of father and son, it looked more like two child fighting for a drumstick, crying for it. He placed the last Go board, stones and the mat; he laid baby Hikaru over to the makeshift playpen.
Being curious at what his father was doing, he followed his father by walking (wobbly) and entered the kitchen. Sai was dicing the bananas, peaches and he grinded them. He broiled the apples and grinded it. Serving them in the baby bowl and taking a step back, it was then he noticed baby Hikaru who was sitting by the door.
"Chibi-chan!" Sai exclaimed, smiling. He put the bowl of baby food by the end table, throwing all the unwashed dishes into the basin; he carried Hikaru in his arms who wrapped his arms around Sai's neck. With one arm carrying Hikaru and the other arm taking the bowl of food, he placed Hikaru onto the baby walker, tucked the hanky and making sure that no food will drip, he continued to feed him the baby food.
"Come on, ahhh!" Sai cooed gently, trying to convince baby Hikaru to eat. Hikaru just pouted, and refused to eat. Sai gave a little frown and thought of an idea.
"Woooooo-!" Sai made an airplane-like sound and swung the spoon of food causing Hikaru to be fascinated with it. Hikaru giggled and shook his fists in enjoyment and opened his mouth while the food reaches his mouth. Seeing that Hikaru takes his food, Sai smirked.
'Project: Airplane, success!' he thought, smiling.
Only then, the doorbell rang. Distracted, Sai placed the bowl of food on the coffee table nearby and gave a little pat on Hikaru's head, with a tuft of brown. Seeing that Hikaru was busy playing with the shaker attached to the walker, he went to fetch the door. He glanced at the clock on the wall and noticed that it was 6:54 PM, close to 7:00 PM.
'It must be the guests,' he thought, thanking God silently that he had already prepared the guest's room, the Go board and the stones. He opened the door and saw the crowds with gifts in their hands. Giving a smile, he thanked them and gestured them to head into the room.
As the guests settled down, he brought them to the guests' room and excused himself, while hearing Hikaru's snivel as he went towards Sai in his walker.
"Chibi-chan!" he called, while the baby looked up, hearing his pet name. The baby gave a toothy grin while Sai caressed him and carried him. He tapped Hikaru's nose softly and murmured.
"Now now, I'll feed you in awhile. Meet the guests, okay?" He spoke tenderly. Hikaru 'guu-guu'ed and Sai smiled. Sai opened the door, and met the professionals who were settling down for a game.
"Is that Hikaru-chan?" A woman questioned, commenting on how appealing Hikaru looked. The other guests played with Hikaru before starting on the game.
"Ah, Ogata-san!" Sai greeted with a slight smile, who just gave a curt nod in return. Sai walked over to Ogata and introduced Hikaru to him. Ogata asked Sai for a game, while Sai told him that he had to feed Hikaru before playing Go. Excusing himself, he left the room.
"Maa, Chibi-chan, stop pulling my hair!" Hikaru posed himself for a tug of war with his father, and chuckled merrily. Sai laughed, put Hikaru onto the spacious marble floor while walking quickly to the food that was getting cold.
He chased Hikaru around the living room and thanking God that the guests were in another room, he tried to stop that mischievous Hikaru from crawling under the sofa.
"Hikaru!" Sai cried, sternly. He put the bowl of food onto the end table with a loud 'thud' and sat on the sofa. "I'm not going to care about you anymore!" he snapped. Hikaru, knowing that his father was angry, crawled out and tugged his father's loose pants.
"Paa-paa…" Hikaru called, buzzing around his father while standing unsteadily. Sai peered at the child and 'pretended' to be angry. Seeing that the child was on the verge of tears, he picked him up like an abandoned puppy, put him on his lap and fed him.
The child, tearfully, ate the food and leaned back on his papa's body.
"Good boy," Sai praised, smiling.
When Sai finished settling Hikaru in his crib, he went back to the guest's room. He offered tea and saw the game that Touya Kouyo and Ogata Seiji played. Ogata had placed the wrong stone, he noticed. If he were to place by the black stone, he would have overturned the situation. 'He would lose, by two and a half moku,' Sai anticipated. He hid a smile and went off, being proposed for a game with Morishita Shigeo, the 9-dan. He accepted, gladly, and went over to the empty seat.
"Please," both chorused and settled down.
Pa-chi.
Sai laid a stone, waiting for his opponent's move. Calmly, he picked up the cup of tea lying beside the Go board and took a sip.
Pa-chi.
The opponent's placed his move.
Pa-chi.
Sai placed a stone, pushing the white stone to a corner. The 9-dan hesitated for a while, and placed another stone beside the black stone.
Pa-chi.
Sai was cornering the white stone, mercilessly. He picked up several white stones that he has gained.
Pa-chi.
'The game was coming to an end,' Sai thought, his unnerving demeanor was causing Goosebumps to rise in the opponent's skin, 'If he does not give up like a wise man will do, I will crush him.' Sai's eyes narrowed, like a predator reaching cautiously towards the prey.
"I give up," the 9-dan murmured, standing up and giving a bow. Sai stood up and bowed back.
"Thank you for the game." He said, politely. As the 9-dan walked away, he placed the stones into the container.
In the corner of his eyes, he saw that Ogata Seiji had resigned from the game with Touya Kouyo. He stood up and saw the game that Ogata Seiji played, he lost by two and a half moku, just like he thought.
Noticing the time, Touya Kouyo stood up and excused himself from the gathering.
"I'm sorry, but I have to meet my family for dinner," he said, politely while Sai gave a smile.
"Yes, sure. Let me send you to the door," he offered, and Touya Kouyo gave a brisk nod.
When Touya Kouyo left, Sai narrowed his piercing violet orbs. 'If I have the chance, I would like to have a game against him, someday…' he thought, smiling and hurrying to attend to the guests.
A/N: Well, I hope that you like the Sai and baby Hikaru scenes and the fact that rivals, Sai and Touya Kouyo met. The social gathering wasn't part of my plan, but I think that it's quite a hectic choice that I placed it there. I hope it doesn't confuse you… Comment on the story if you like it. : )
Thank you very much.
Finis –Chapter 1