Ok, I know it's been months, I thought it best to hang on until after that university semester finished, then I thought I'd hang on until the New Year. I've also been working a lot recently but enough excuses it's time to finish this, this is the final chapter, I hope everyone likes it.

(Of course I don't own HNG, but considering how long it's taken me to update this that may be a good thing)

Hikaru strolled up the hall to his room. He had to check which one he was in but that was nothing out of the ordinary he couldn't remember the last time he'd stayed in a hotel and managed to remember the room number. The key-card dropped smoothly into its scanner and a soft click signaled that he was free to enter. Hikaru walked over a small hold all lying on a couch against the opposite wall, he unzipped it and started rummaging through it's contents, reaching down to the bottom of the bag he found what he was looking for, a small, portable, travel alarm clock. He chuckled to himself as he set it for eight o'clock the next morning, imaging Akira no doubt springing bolt upright in bed come the correct time by sheer willpower. Whatever, he'd take a little insurance any day - he thought to himself as he placed the clock on the top of a small chest of draws next to the bed. He briefly debated about flicking the TV on again but decided against it, he was tired, why fight it. He kicked off his trainers, hauled off his t-shirt, collapse into bed and was asleep in seconds, the whisky he'd drank earlier in the evening helping to send him off all the faster.

Akira Walked to his room in his usual careful gate. Sure what he'd just been told was weird, sure it was, when looked at objectively totally unbelievable, especially for the usually logical Akira but the evidence mounted up. If truth be told he was just glad the whole story was out finally out, he'd never admit it but he had lost none of the desire to know it, whatever it would turn out to be. The fact that it had turned out to be the fault of a ghost living in Hikaru's brain didn't make much difference to him, at least he knew, and that would make him sleep easier. He approaching the door to his room now he slipped the key-card out of the inside pocket of his jacket and slipped it into the lock. It was only when he got into the room that he realised how tired he was, that surprised him, it hadn't been a particularly long or strenuous day but he was ready for some sleep none the less. He didn't need an alarm, he knew his internal clock was pretty good at this - he'd never missed a match yet. He lay down and was asleep in seconds.

Hikaru opened his eyes, he appeared to be standing on, well, air. He looked down and registered that he had shoes on. A vague memory, he looked around, swirling mist, points of light in a sky a couple of shades shy of night. Remembering the last time he had seen Sai he smiled.

"So it's another lucid dream is it." He turned around and saw exactly what he had expected to, his old friend and mentor stand on just as much nothing as he was.

"well, I told him, that's what you wanted isn't it?" Sai just smiled but didn't say anything.

"Ha, I've grown." Hikaru said looking at his extended limbs as if for the first time.

"You're still exactly the same, I guess spirits don't age." The smile stayed fixed on Sai's face.

"Well, I'll bet that it was probably for the best." Sai grinned wider, then opened his mouth.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP."

And with that Hikaru was snapped back in to the present, he rolled over and switched of his alarm clock. Well, he's nothing if not consistent, Hikaru thought to himself and began to prepare for his match.

Akira awoke, uncomfortable and with an ache in his joints, he looked around him, he was stretched out on an uncomfortable row of seats in what looked like a hospital waiting room. He remembered when his father had died, the endless waiting, the feeling that any news would do, the feeling of just wanting to know sick of being kept in the dark. Of course he had only been told that his father had died when all hope was lost, after all, any doctor would tell you not to deliver the worst unless you absolutely have to. He wondered what he was doing there, didn't he have to be somewhere, somewhere important. A door opened, Akira got to his feet, ready to inquire as to just what the hell was going on. He sat back down again quickly when he saw a figure approaching, a familiar figure.

"Father." He stammered. "What, what's happening, you're dead."

"Gone form this world yes, but quite comfortable in another."

"What."

"I wanted to wish you luck, I know you'll make me proud son. And tell Hikaru his mentor plays a first class game."

"So it's all true then."

"That depends on weather you choose to take this as a sign or a dream. And while we may be fine, neither of us have found peace yet, but it can't be far off now. Play well son, you're going to produce something special."

The figure turned around and closed the door, it shut with a thunderous bang, Akira sat up in his bed In the hotel room and looked at his watch, he smiled, his internal clock had done him proud once again.

The hotel had a conference facility, although that morning they were using it as a staging post, pictures were being taken of the players and questions asked of them. Soon enough though it was time to go, each had a car with a driver to take them to the venue. One last chance for the press to take pictures as they walked through the door and they were gone.

Sitting across form one another the familiar go board between them they each felt the old feelings of rivalry well up, they each, after all wanted to win despite there friendship. Hikaru won the right to play the first stone and brought it down to the board with an authoritative click, Akira responded and the battle was underway…

The day's session was long over, but the adjudicator still sat at his table, looking at the game record. The players had long since gone, they had only played one game before the days session was over and afterwards had left laughing like the oldest of friends. They looked for all the world like they didn't have a care in the world anymore, they probably didn't. The adjudicator just couldn't tear his eyes away from the sheet, it had happened, finally it had been done, and he had say there and watched it. The players had both shown remarkable changes in there playing styles. Hikaru played as if he was no longer chained to some deep truth, his play was, more invigorated, almost carefree. As for Akira, his play was almost the opposite - he played like a man who had been let into the secret of the universe. A knowing look on his face the entire time his play was both ancient and ageless. The results were unmistakenable if you knew what you were looking at and the adjudicator had seen enough games to know exactly what he was looking at.

"It's, it's the divine move." He stammered aloud again despite the room being empty.

Somewhere behind this world, two old souls found peace.

And that's it, the end of the story, as usual feedback is appreciated and thanks to everyone who has reviewed already.