The characters Yumi Ishiyama, Mr. & Mrs. Ishiyama, Ulrich Stern, and others are based on characters from the cartoon 'Code Lyoko.' I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

The characters Koyo Toya, Akiko Toya, Akira Toya and Hikaru Shindo are based on characters from the manga 'Hikaru No Go' by Yumi Hotta and Takeshi Obata. I do not own, nor do I claim, any copyright to these characters.

"Koyo Toya," his father called in his dreams.

"Yes, otōsan," Koyo replied.

"Prepare, for the Great Lady comes today."

"I will, otōsan."

Yumi was actually nervous when the day came to visit Akira Toya. Aunt Sayuri spent the morning baking cookies for Yumi to take as a gift to the family, and Yumi fretted over what she would wear.

She finally settled on one of the kimonos that her aunt bought her when they went shopping, after they went to see the finishing school. She had thought about wearing the very nice and formal outfit they had bought, but her aunt said that it was too much for the occasion. Her aunt recommended a more informal kimono, a white one with flowers on it.

Kichi and Yumi arrived at the Toya's home at 3pm. They walked into the vestibule, and Kichi called out, "Gomen kudasi(1)!"

Akiko Toya, Akira's mother, quickly came and greeted them. The girls removed their shoes, and stepped into the slippers Mrs. Toya offered to them. Yumi then presented her with the cookies that her aunt baked earlier that day and Akiko thanked her for her thoughtfulness. She was about to escort the guests back to where Akira held his study group, when Koyo Toya, Akira's father, appeared.

Koya Toya was a tall man. Even for his age, he had a commanding presence. The years may have taken a toll on him, but you could not tell it from the way he carried himself.

"Hello, Kichi," he said to her, "and you must be her cousin, Yumi. Welcome to my home." He bowed low.

Yumi and Kichi returned his bow. "Thank you for having me, Toya-sama," Yumi replied. Kichi remained silent and had a troubled look on her face.

"I understand that my son will be sitting with you for a while this afternoon," Koyo went on to Yumi, "but I wonder if you would mind sitting with me instead, at least while Akira conducts his study group."

Yumi's eyes went wide at that remark. Sitting with Akira Toya was privilege enough, but Koyo Toya? Meijin(2) Toya?

"I certainly do not want to disturb you or take you away from something important," Yumi replied, bowing.

"It's no bother, please, join me," Koyo replied.

"Oh no, I certainly couldn't," Yumi said.

"Please, join me for some tea," Koyo asked again.

"I could not, would it not be rude to your son?" Yumi replied.

"Please, indulge an foolish old man," Koyo said.

"Well..."

"Good, come with me please. Kichi, go ahead to the group and let Akira know that I will be entertaining Miss Ishiyama for a while."

"Yes, Toya-sama," Kichi said as she bowed and left.

Mrs. Toya led Yumi and Koyo back into the house, to an area away from the place Akira was with his study group. As they walked, Yumi heard the buzz of conversation coming from the group, but it soon faded.

Akiko led them to a room, then opened the door. The room was covered with tatamis. They removed their slippers and entered.

The room was Koyo Toya's study. Against the left wall were Western style book cases, filled with books. Directly across from the entrance was a window that looked out on a beautiful view of the garden in the back of the house. On the right wall was the to-ko-ma, and alcove in the room used to display items significant to the owner. In the alcove was a scroll with calligraphy on it, and two fans. When Yumi saw the fans, she almost gasped out loud.

She had seen these fans before. She had held those fans before.

Catching herself, she turned her attention back to her host. He was guiding her to a seat directly in front of the to-ko-ma, the place of honor. She politely refused the seat.

"Please, sit," Koyo told her.

"I could not, that is certainly your place," Yumi replied.

"No, no, please sit here," he said again.

"I cannot, I don't deserve such consideration," she replied.

"Please, humor an old man in his home," Koyo said.

Reluctantly, Yumi took the place of honor.

Koyo seated himself across from her. Akiko served them tea.

"Kichi has said that you are visiting from France," he began, "it must be very strange, being surrounded by gaijin all the time."

"Yes, Toya-sama, it is, but it is also very interesting. I've had quite a good time, but it does feel good to be in Japan again," Yumi replied.

"Have you had the opportunity to play go in France? I have heard that Europe has a fairly active go community."

"No, I haven't. Most of the time I just play with my father. Or sometimes with a guest, when we have visitors who play."

"That is a shame. Kichi told Akira that she took you to the Nihon Ki-in the other day. Did you bring some game records for review?"

"Yes, sir, I did," Yumi replied, handing him the sheets.

Koyo quickly perused the game records, then set them aside.

"Well, let's play a game and see what you can do," Koyo said, giving Yumi a bowl of white stones.

Yumi's jaw just about hit the floor. White? The stronger player always played white! Unless...

Yumi's mind started racing. The only time a stronger player would let a weaker player take white was if the stronger player was honoring that person for some reason.

Seating her in the place of honor? Letting her play white? What's going on here? Yumi's mind was spinning, but no answer was forthcoming.

While Yumi was thinking, Koyo had taken a black stone and played it on Yumi's side of the board, at the left-hand star point(3). The stone made a soft click! as it hit the surface.

She regarded the empty board for a moment, then took a white stone. It felt different in her hand from the stones she played with at home, and with Kichi at her aunt's.

This stone was made from clam shell. The lines of clam layers was very fine across the surface of the stone. It felt wonderful in her fingers. It was the finest go stone she had ever seen or felt. She was almost afraid to place it on the board, for fear of breaking it or marring its beauty.

But she placed the stone on the opposite side of the board, on the right-hand star point, diagonally opposite the stone Koyo played.

The game began.

Koyo would stop sometimes after she played a stone, and would ask her what she thought if the stone had been played in this place, or this location. He would then move the stone there, and place a sequence of black and white stones that would show a potential result of playing the moved stone. Once he had finished his demonstration, he would remove the example stones he played, and replaced her stone in its original position, and the game would continue.

When the game was over, she lost by 3 and a half points, even with the 6 and a half point advantage she was given for playing white.

Yumi was again amazed by Koyo Toya's ability. She had no doubt in her mind that he could have totally defeated her at any time he wanted to, but he played at a level just a little bit beyond her, and in doing so, guided her to a little more knowledge of the game.

As they reviewed the game just completed, Mrs. Toya came back in with more tea and some finger foods. They ate and drank, and Yumi's eyes were drawn back to the to-ko-ma.

The material of the fan was a white silk, with reddish pink flowers printed on it. The fans looked exactly like the ones she used in the virtual world of Lyoko, except those fans were weapons.

Koyo saw her looking at the fans, and said, "would you like to look closer?"

She turned back to him and replied, "yes I would, if I may."

He nodded, and she stood up and went over to the alcove.

She first looked at the scroll at the back of the alcove, behind the fans. It was a haiku:

Morning sun shining

Cherry blossoms floating free

Falcon's folded wings

She then looked closer at the fans, and started to pick one up. She stopped, turned her head back to Koyo, silently asking for permission. He again nodded his head, and she picked the fan up.

It was a lot heavier than she anticipated. The ribs weren't made of wood, but of iron. She looked closer. These were not ordinary fans, they were tessen fans, used by the samurai as defensive weapons in places where they could not carry their swords. She used tessen fans in Lyoko to defend herself, and her friends, from the dangers they encountered there.

Almost unconsciously, she snapped the fan closed, then snapped it open. She then snapped it shut and snapped the closed fan upright, as if blocking an invisible attacker. She then reversed her position, snapping the arm holding the fan outwards, snapping the fan open, holding one edge of it, and flipping it like she was driving the ribs into another attacker. With a flick of her wrist, she closed it again, snapped a turn ninety degrees to her rear, and brought the closed fan downwards against yet another invisible enemy.

All the while, Koyo Toya watched her.

She finally realized what she was doing, and stopped, embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry, Toya-sama, I just got carried away," she told him as she carefully replaced the fan in the alcove.

"It was nothing. No, it was beautiful," he replied, "I didn't know anybody studied tessen-jitsu anymore."

"I've never studied it," she said, "it just... happened."

"Spoken like a true warrior."

That morning, when Koyo Toya awoke, he set about preparing for The Great Lady's visit.

He made sure the house was especially clean for her arrival. He had his wife prepare special treats for them while she was here. He even thought about conducting a cha-no-yu, or tea ceremony, but decided against it.

One thing he did do was put two old fans he had in is possession into the alcove of his study, where he would entertain her. He didn't know why he did that because they weren't all that special, except for the fact they were tessen fans, but he didn't question it too closely.

His guests arrived at 3pm. He heard his wife scurry to the entrance to invite them in, and he followed. When he got to the entrance, he immediately recognized The Great Lady.

She had come with Akira's pupil, Kichi Sato. The girl herself wasn't all that different from other young girls. She had worn a nice kimono, recently purchased no doubt, and was polite. It was what one couldn't see that tipped Koyo off though.

The young girl had the soul of a warrior. Even if he were a much younger man, Koyo would have noticed it. Now, with him so close to death, he could see it much more clearly. It was almost like an ancient samurai lady was superimposed over the girl. The lady behind the girl held power and confidence. She stood like a finely forged blade of steel, tested and tried to its purpose.

He deeply bowed in respect to The Great Lady.

He escorted her back to his study, and gave her the place of honor. She politely refused just long enough to be courteous, then accepted. When he gave her the white stones for their first game, the girl's eyes got wide for a moment, but The Lady bowed her head in thanks.

Kichi had told Akira that Yumi was about a 3-kyu. Koyo agreed with that assessment, but estimated she could easily achieve 2-dan with just a little study. He geared his play to a 2-dan.

Now, show me your skill, he thought to The Great Lady.

After the game and review, she noticed the fans. He let her go and examine them, and she did. The girl marveled at the fans themselves, for some reason. The Lady evaluated them as the tools and weapons they were. She took one and wielded it, and demonstrated a familiarity that surprised Koyo. He didn't think anyone practiced tessen-jitsu anymore. The girl didn't understand what had happened. The Lady explained it away.

"I've never studied it," She said, "it just... happened."

"Spoken like a true warrior," he replied.

Yumi sat back down, thoroughly embarrassed by her little display with the fans. Koyo Toya sat across from her like nothing had happened. He simply placed another black stone on the goban and said, "tell me of your life."

Yumi played a white stone, and started talking about her childhood. He would nod and and acknowledge her words, then ask a question. she would respond, and the game would continue.

She then began telling of her life in France. She started with her friends, trying as hard as she could to downplay Ulrich's role in her life.

All the while, black and white stones grew on the board.

She then spoke of the virtual world of Lyoko. When the words came out of her mouth, her mind shrieked no! but she kept talking. She told him everything. The supercomputer, Lyoko, XANA. Even the trial they just emerged from before she came here.

Koyo Toya regarded The Great Lady before him. To have endured what she had endured, and triumph over it! He had never before encountered a Spirit so near to his own. He made a decision, and quickly finished the game.

Yumi lost by one and half points this time. Koyo quickly cleared the board, then started another game.

He told her, "now, show me your Spirit!" and brought the stone down on the board.

Click!

Even though it was no different than any other time he placed a stone, Yumi felt as if he had just dropped an atom bomb on the board.

Something deep inside of her stirred.

Click! She responded to his challenge.

This game was different from the prior ones. In this one, the Master was calling out the tyro, demanding surrender, submission, on pain of total annihilation and humiliation. Each move he made said, you are beaten, surrender!

Her response to each move was, I will not!

The battle of Spirits raged over the universe of the goban. Skirmishes were won and lost. Great armies clashed. Each time, He would rage, Surrender! Bow Down Before Me Or I Will Crush You!

And She would reply, I Will Not!

The conflict continued for an eternity, it seemed. Each time he would move to totally crush her resistance, she would respond at the precise moment and deflect his attack. And each time, The Great Lady regarded Her Opponent and prepared Herself for His next assault.

At last, Koyo realized that he could easily win the game by making use of most of his skill and knowledge of go. He could defeat The Lady by crushing the girl...

Koyo stopped.

Yumi was tensed, fearing that he would leap at her over the board and do God-knows-what. He then exhaled slowly, bowed his head low, and spoke.

"I resign. I can only win this game, I cannot defeat you."

Akira Toya and Kichi went back to Koyo's private study looking for Yumi. It was well past time for the girls to be going home and Kichi was starting to get concerned.

Akira felt, more than heard, the battle raging in his father's study. He had not felt anything like it in years, when his father still played professionally.

What could have brought that out in him? Akira wondered as he softly knocked on the door.

"Otōsan, is everything alright? Kichi is looking for her cousin. They really need to be going home now."

"Yes, everything is fine, son. Come in," was the response from the study.

Akira opened the door. There was his father and Yumi sitting at his goban. From the looks of the board, they had just finished a game. Akira couldn't tell, but the game looked close. Then he looked at Yumi Ishiyama.

She was rigid, like she was afraid of something. Her eyes were wide, like something just happened that shocked her. Akira looked towards his mother, who was also in the room. She too had a look of surprise on her face.

"Otōsan, okāsan, what has happened here? Miss Ishiyama, are you alright?"

Yumi seemed to snap out of whatever spell was holding her and said, "yes, I'm okay. I was just surprised, that's all."

"Of what?" Akira asked.

"Nothing, it was nothing," was her only reply.

Yumi and Kichi left soon after Akira and Kichi came back to Koyo's study. Yumi bowed deeply and thanked Koyo for his time, and that she would always remember and treasure it. He bowed deeply to her in return and wished her great joy and happiness in life.

After the guests left, Akira confronted his father, "otōsan, what really happened just now."

"Nothing, my son. Just a friendly game of go. But remember Miss Ishiyama well, Akira. If you ever meet her again, do not come between her and whatever her objective is. You will regret it if you do."

Koyo Toya spent the rest of the day making telephone calls to the Nihon Ki-in, and to his attorney. After completing his business with them, he sat down with the game records that Yumi had brought with her and wrote commentaries for them. He then took out blank gokeishi(4) and recreated the games he had played with her that day, and commented on those as well.

Then, with his Work Complete, he went to say Goodbye.

He found his wife in their bedroom, getting ready for bed. He went over, knelt down, and kissed her at the base of her neck, wrapping his arms around her and cupping her breasts.

She giggled, "you horny old goat, haven't you had enough excitement for one day?"

He just kissed her behind her ear, bleated softly like a goat, then lightly bit her earlobe.

She turned away from the mirror into his arms, and they kissed passionately. They spent the rest of the evening together in each other's embrace.

Koyo Toya passed away in his sleep later that night.

Notes:

(1) Gomen kudasi: literally, "Excuse me." Used when entering someone's home, like saying, "hello, is anybody home?"

(2) Meijin Toya: the winner of the Meijin League is called 'Meijin' in honor of his victory.

(3) star point: on a go board, there are nine spots, called star points, marked. Frequently, play will begin at one or more of the corner star points.

(4) gokeishi: blank forms for recording games of go.