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.

"Hey, Sato! How about going out for a few drinks," one of Yoshi Sato's coworkers asked him.

"Sounds like a good idea, let's go," he replied.

Yoshi and his friends left the office and headed for their usual nightspot. Yoshi made a mental note to pick up more sake(1) before he went home tonight. Fate had smiled upon him and he would get his answers tonight.

Yumi and Kichi sat in the bath and relaxed. Yumi was still unwinding from their visit to the Toyas today. Right there, at the end, she was half afraid he was going to jump up and kill her, he was so intense! If he was that way when he was playing professionally, no wonder he held all the titles he did!

"Yumi, you still haven't told me what happened back there. I was almost afraid I would find your bloody corpse when Toya-sensei opened that door!"

"Let's say Toya-sama put his 'game face' on for that last game," was Yumi's reply. Kichi's eyes went wide.

"Wow, what brought that on?"

"I have no idea. He just said, 'now, show me your spirit,' and had at me. You would have thought he was playing for the Meijin title again, he was so fierce."

"What happened next?"

"Nothing. We played the game and he ultimately resigned, just before you walked in."

"No! You're kidding!"

"Truthfully. The last thing he said was, 'I can only win this game, I cannot defeat you.'"

Kichi whistled, "I don't think he's ever said that to anybody! That's scary!"

"You're right, it was scary."

It was late when Yoshi got home. He was pleasantly drunk and life was good. He had remembered to buy extra sake on the way home, and called to his wife to warm the it up. While she did that, he went to the living room to prepare.

Sayuri brought him the first bottle of warm sake, and he quickly downed it, calling for another. She brought it out and he quickly downed it too. She went to get the next bottle.

"Yumi! Would you come in here, please!"

"Yes, ojisan(2), right away," was her reply. So far, so good.

Yumi appeared in the living room, dressed for bed.

"Come over here and sit down, I wish to speak to you," Yoshi told her.

Sayuri had returned by this time with his next bottle of sake.

"Here, let me pour you a cup," Yoshi told Yumi, pouring some liquid in a small cup.

"Ojisan, I really shouldn't. I've never had sake before," Yumi told him.

"Sato-san please, the girl is too young," Sayuri added.

"Nonsense! I'll bet you've had plenty stronger to drink back in France," Yoshi declared, "please, have a drink with me."

"Sir, I really shouldn't..."

"Please, indulge your ojisan for once..."

Yumi reluctantly took the cup of warm sake and took a sip. It burned as it went down her throat, but it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. She had taken cough syrup stronger than this tasted. She took another small sip.

"See, no harm done! otāsan, leave us alone for a while."

Sayuri got a strange look on her face, but left the room.

"So, niece, how do you like it here?"

"It's been wonderful, ojisan. I've really enjoyed myself. You all have been so kind to me, I don't know how I could repay you."

"You could stay with us, you know."

"But what about my family, my father and mother?"

"I have been speaking to them. If you want, they will allow you to stay. I could even arrange it so you could attend that school your aunt showed you."

Yumi took another sip of sake.

"I would really rather return to France, ojisan."

"Your father and mother are concerned for you, Yumi. They aren't sure that being around gaijin is good for you. And, I must admit, it was disheartening seeing you when you first arrived here. But since you've settled in, you've been a wonderful child. Your father is so proud of what you have achieved these past few days. It would truly bless him if you were to stay and complete what you have begun."

"You are correct, ojisan, I must complete what I have started. But what I have started began in France. My father would be proud of me if I remained here, but I would be ashamed of myself if I did."

"Are you pregnant? Is that what this is all about?"

Yumi was shocked at that question. "No, I am not. If you must know, my period started the day after I arrived here." What she didn't tell her uncle was she was how relieved she was when it did.

"I apologize. Forgive this drunken boor. But I must tell you though that I am going to enroll you in that school in the morning."

"Sato-san, if you do that, you had better lock me in my room right now, for I swear by the Creator of All Things and before the Hosts of Heaven that nothing or no one will prevent me from going home."

And there it was, Yoshi thought, the Truth. Home. France was Home to her. By the look on her face, he had no doubts that Yumi would swim from Japan all the way to France if that was what it took to get there.

"I see. Pack your things, Miss Ishiyama, for you shall have your wish. As soon as it can be arranged, I will send you back."

"Thank you, ojisan."

Sayuri wept when he informed her of his decision. She tried everything she could to get him to change his mind. In the end, he told her, "she has more than likely gone and slept with the first boy that smiled at her, just like her father did with that woman he married. That apple definitely fell close to the tree, and your brother will just have to live with the consequences."

Notes:

(1) sake: rice wine.

(2) ojisan: "Uncle."