CHAPTER 10
By id62000
Akira could almost feel the intensity radiating from his opponent. The goban hardly seemed to absorb any of it. Akira placed a stone at 11-5 and watched his opponent's hand place a black stone at the 14- 6 position perfectly countering his move. Akira shot a glance at the top corner group, which was presumably dead. But Akira knew - his rival had the power to bring immobile groups to life and then send them as his most powerful soldiers to cause the downfall of his empire. He could not allow that. He placed the white stone in the corner, ready to destroy the dark enemies if they ever rose from their graves.
Satisfied, Akira raised triumphant dark eyes to meet his rival's eternal green ones. The brightness did not dim in them or falter like he expected. On the other hand it returned the challenge as the owner started on a back up from behind plan and placed a black stone on the tengan. Akira glanced at the move and dove right into the middle – overpowering the blacks there. The blacks rebelled and jumped into his territory damaging as much as they could. Akira countered it by attaching another stone to the victim area. A black soldier jumped in and placed a time bomb right next to his largest territory. Akira glanced up to find his opponent watching him with a self satisfied smile. Akira diverted his attention back to the game. He weighed each move and found them useless against the bomb. Frantically, He searched for a way to stop it – red wire, red wire, where is it? He could nearly hear the screaming of the bomb as it set itself off…boom, boom, boom! Akira watched his rival pull out a wooden fan and cover the lower half of his face before the white smoke completely covered the goban and blocked him from view…the noise got louder…bring, bring, bring, BRRRING!
"AAH!" Akira sat up straight in his bed and glanced at the source of the noise – the hotel alarm clock! He sighed in relief as he switched it off.
"This had to happen on the day of my test." Akira muttered as he got out of bed and headed for the closet. He got out a neat button down shirt and trousers and continued to muse over his dream. On the way to the dressing room he checked the temperature at the wall thermometer. 28 degrees! No wonder he was having these weird dreams! He paused to look at his reflection as he washed his face. No sign of having got up from a time bomb dream. Good! Now, that test- he'll need his concentration and his presence of mind to qualify for this.
"Ah! Touya san! Good Morning." The middle aged Japanese man got up to bow.
An elderly Spaniard rose from the hotel hall sofa and bowed.
"Buenos días.(Good Morning)" Akira bowed to them.
"Ah! You know Spanish?" The Spaniard asked delighted.
"A little." admitted Akira smiling his formal smile.
"Ah! There are very few who know both Spanish and Japanese nowadays." The Spaniard smiled back at him.
"Touya Akira san." the Japanese said introducing the younger boy.
"And he's your examiner – Luz Llama san." he gestured at the elderly man.
"Are you ready for the test?" Llama asked smiling.
"Preparado.(Prepared)" replied Akira.
"Let's get this over with then."
Llama san went to return the coffee cup.
"Touya san" the Japanese said as he picked up a handy bag, "The roads here are not bad, but if you're asked to enter the main roads be careful-and watch out for traffic signals and Police Officers – You do know the uniform colour they wear, don't you?"
"Yes and thank you for the instructions." Akira bowed and followed Llama san out of the hotel.