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.

The first thing next morning, Kichi received a phone call.

"Toya-sensei just called! Toya-sama is dead!"

She then told them that Koyo Toyo had died in his sleep last night. They all were shocked at the suddenness of his passing. As far as Kichi knew, Koyo had been as healthy as a horse, and Yumi said that he didn't look sick at all when she spent the afternoon with him. On the contrary, he acted like a man years younger than his age.

The funeral was to be held a few days later and the Sato family and Yumi were invited to attend. Yumi, having never been to funeral before, asked her aunt what she should do. She told Yumi and they went out that day to prepare.

The funeral was packed. It seemed that people from all around Japan, all around the world, had come to pay their last respects to Koyo Toya.

Yumi and the Satos arrived at the temple, all wearing black. For once, Yumi's normal attire was appropriate for the occasion, except she didn't own a black dress or skirt. Sayuri loaned one of hers to Yumi.

They entered and went to the reception table. There, Mr. Sato signed the guest register, and presented the family with an envelope with some money in it. "Go-reizen ni dōzo(1)," was what he said to them.

Kichi also gave a small envelope with some money in it and said the same thing.

Yumi then stepped up, signed the book, and presented her envelope to the family.

"Go-reizen ni dōzo."

Aunt Sayuri explained that money was a small offering to the family, to help them in their time of grief. It was customary, even if the family was wealthy as the Toya's were, as a token of respect.

They then entered the temple proper, and sat towards the back. Kichi was asked to sit with Akira Toya's other students in the front, so she joined them.

Soon everybody was seated, and the priest began the service.

Yumi wasn't a Buddhist, so she couldn't follow what was going on. She just sat silently, thinking about that day at his home. She prayed in the only way she could think of, that the Creator Of All Things would welcome Koyo into the afterlife and give him rest.

The priest finally finished his chanting, and the family approached the altar. Each member took a pinch of incense and threw it in a censor, adding fragrance to the room. After the family paid their respects, the other relatives and friends did the same. Lastly came the rest of the attendees.

When Yumi got to the altar, she took a pinch of incense and threw it in the censor, bowed and again prayed that the Creator Of All Things would welcome Koyo.

Thank you, Great Lady. You are very kind.

Yumi almost screamed when she heard his voice in her head.

Don't worry. You are the only one here that can hear me. The Veil Between The Worlds is Thin around you, and your friends too, I see. I just wanted to thank you for your kind thoughts towards me. We shall meet again, soon.

With that, Koyo's voice vanished from her mind.

When they got back from the services, Kichi made an announcement.

"Toya-sensei told me after the service that he is scheduled to play a Meijin League(2) match on Wednesday. He had asked that it be postponed because of the funeral, but they told him no, that it was one of his father's final requests that the game go on as scheduled."

"He also told me that they changed the venue for the match to the Nihon Ki-in. In the Yugen No Ma."

That got everybody's attention.

She continued, "not only that, but Toya-sensei wants me to record the match. And, he invited Yumi to attend as a spectator in the room during the match."

Yumi's jaw almost dropped to the floor.

"Who is Toya-sensei playing against?" Yoshi asked.

"Hikaru Shindo, his rival."

Notes:

(1) Go-reizen ni dōzo: "something for the departed."

(2) Meijin League: a major go tournament in Japan.