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.
About a month after returning from Japan, a man came to see Yumi. School had started by that time, and she was called to the Principal's Office. When she arrived, Principal Delmas introduced the man, led them both to a conference room and left them alone.
The man began by saying, "I am a courier for the Japanese Consulate and I was asked to deliver a package to you. May I please see some identification so I can be sure I have the right person?"
Yumi got her passport out and handed it to the man. He examined it for a moment, then her, then the document again. Then, satisfied, he returned her passport to her and handed her some envelopes and a box.
"I was instructed to place these directly into your hands, Miss Ishiyama. The only other information I can give you is that these are from Mr. Akira Toya of Tokyo, representing the estate of Mr. Koyo Toya. If you would please sign this receipt, I'll be on my way."
Yumi signed the form he gave her and thanked the man for delivering the package to her. He wished her good day and left.
Yumi looked at what she was given. There were two envelopes, one a normal, business letter sized envelope, and the other one was a much larger one, like one used to send a book or something like that. The last thing was a box, about the size of a shoe box.
She opened the small envelope first. Inside was a letter from Akira Toya:
Miss Ishiyama,
My father passed away before he could return these game records to you. He left instructions for me to see that you received them.
I was also instructed, as part of my father's Last Will And Testament, to send you the contents of the box. My father hopes that "The Great Lady" will be pleased.
He also wanted me to tell you to "Remember that The Veil Between the Worlds is Thin around You and Your Friends." I have no idea what he meant by that.
Thank you for visiting us that day. I only wish I could have met with you myself.
Akira Toya
Yumi then opened the large envelope. Inside, were the game records she took with her that day she visited the Toyas. With each sheet, Koyo had written commentary. He even drew alternate responses to certain moves that would have improved the outcome for Yumi.
There was more. There were also three game records she never saw before. It took a moment, but she realized that he had recorded the games that they played together that day, and provided commentary.
The first one was titled, "Show Me Your Skill." As she browsed the commentary, she noted that it was no different than the game records she gave to him.
The second one was titled, "Tell Me Of Your Life." This commentary was different. It had nothing to do with the game that was recorded, it commented on the conversation they had while playing. One passage stuck in her mind:
"You may think that I thought you insane when you told me of your battles in the place you called Lyoko, and of the nightmares you and your friends experienced. You would be wrong. For the last few weeks, my ancestors have called to me, telling me to prepare for your coming, and that you were a great warrior. So you see, even though I have never laid eyes on this world you spoke of, I too have tread beyond what foolish men call the 'Real World.' Never doubt for a moment that the worlds that you may walk in are just as real as the one we exist in."
Tears welled up in Yumi's eyes at that, and the memory of him in Yugen No Ma.
The third game was titled, "Show Me Your Spirit." Yumi was afraid of reading the commentary of that game, remembering its intensity, and its ending. But the text was simply:
"Neither Heaven or Earth can ever stop you. If God or Buddha himself confronted you, you would prevail. Use this Wisely."
She sat and stared at his words for a moment. She then set the games aside because she couldn't adequately process their wisdom now. She turned her attention to the box.
Inside it was a scroll. She unrolled and read it. It was the haiku from Koyo's to-ko-ma:
Morning sun shining
Cherry blossoms floating free
Falcon's folded wings
Also in the box were two fans. Her eyes widened when she saw these. She picked one out of the box an examined it closely.
It was one of the tessen fans he had set out that day. She carefully opened and closed the fan, remembering the last time she held one.
She replaced the fan and the scroll in the box, gathered up the papers, and left the conference room. She went back to the Principal's Office and asked Mr. Delmas if she could go home early. Seeing the tears on her face, he agreed.
Yumi took the things that Koyo Toya gave her and put them in a place of honor and reverence in her room at home. As years past, and she married and had a family, she had her own to-ko-ma wherever she and Ulrich lived. No matter what else they agreed to put in that place of honor, the two tessen fans and the scroll were always there to honor Meijin Koyo Toya's memory.