Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go.

Chapter 5 : A Short visit

January 2000, on the way to the Association

January is the first month of the year, this was why Hikaru always considered it as a new beginning. She believed that if something good happened to her in this month, she would be lucky through the whole year.

If her belief was correct, it seemed that this year wouldn't be her good year. She still kept her losing record, she lost 6 straight games.

She sighed in the depths of depression every times she thought about it. "All my friends are in the 1st class. Nase-chan is on rank 8th, Waya-kun 5th, Ochi 2nd and Isumi-san is the top insei but I'm still in the 2nd group…I'm such a loser,"

" What are you talking? Hikaru," Sai strongly opposed the idea," You're making a remarkable improvement! Compare to last year, you're much much stronger,"

" But not good enough to be in the 1st class," Feeling the loss of all hope, Hikaru heaved another despairing sigh, " Even a elementary school boy can get in but I can't. How come you've never told me I'm this bad?"

" Because you're not!" Raising his voice, the purple-haired ghost confirmed persistently, " Besides, Go is an intellectual game, everybody is equal in front of the Goban; men, women, adults and kids. It's not unusual for young players to be better than old players, I'm not surprised if Ochi-kun can enter the 1st group while some older kids can't," he went into a long lecture again, " On the other hand, if Ochi-kun can get in the 1st class, you should think that you can too,"

" ….That's right, if that kid can, why can't I?"

" Hikaru-chan…n," It was Nase calling her from behind.

" Oh! Nase-chan," Turning around, Hikaru greeted pleasantly, " 'Morning,"

" Good morning," So did Sai.

" Hi," Nase grinned back, " Ne, let's walk to the Association together," she proposed.

" Sure," The duet said.

" You're early today," the older girl mentioned since she noticed that her friend had never arrived at the class before time before, she was always in time.

Shrugging her shoulders, Hikaru answered openly, " Well, my friend suggests that I should come early so I can have some time to relax before the game starts," that friend was Sai, of course, " So I don't have to run hurriedly into the room and play the game while I am worn out like always,"

" Sounds like a good strategy," Nase admitted, " So, how's the record?"

Sighing again for the 3rd time, the bleached bangs girl looked down to the ground, " 6 straight losses," she felt as if she was shrinking, "Please, don't ask me again,"

" Don't worry, this is just your 2nd month," Giving the 14-year-old insei a considerate look, Nase tried to brightened her up, " There's still time,"

" Thanks,"

" She is right, Hikaru," Sai agreed, " You'll be in the 1st class soon, I'll help you!"

" Right, that helps a lot," Hikaru said sarcastically in silence.

" What?" the childish ghost burst out in tears right away, " You're saying that I'm useless? You're so mean! Hohoho, where is my little Hikaru who used to run after me trying to catch me while we were playing Tag?" he wailed nosily. He was acting like a crazy father who couldn't handle the change in his teenage daughter, " Hohoho, I still remember those old days when you used to call me from behind 'Wait! Wait! Sai-niichan, wait for me!' Yes, you used to call me like that! "

" ? I've never called you ' Sai-niichan'," the chic girl in a green long-sleeved shirt and vintage medium blue boot cut jeans retorted,"Besides, I've never played Tag with you either! We met when I was 12, I was too old to play that game," She let out a sigh of mocking defeat. My worst nightmare comes true, my mentor finally has a mental broke down!

" Never?" Stopping sobbing, Sai tilted his head to the side, " Never,"

" Never," Hikaru was 100 percent sure. Great, now, I've to spend the rest of my life with this crazy ghost.

" Speaking of time," Nase talked to herself, " Isumi-san will be 18 this year,"

" So what?"

" This year will be his last year as an insei," she informed her, " If he doesn't pass the pro exam this year, he has to leave the insei class,"

" But he still can take the pro exam as an outsiders," the sociable blonde knew some simple rules, " Right?"

" Yes, that's true but he said he might quit Go if he couldn't become the pro this year," Nase told her the secret.

" What? Why?" the teacher and the student exclaimed in harmony.

" Well, he's been a top-insei for 2 years now," the dark-brown haired girl stated, " If he can't make it this time, he's afraid that he'll be too depressed to continue playing,"

"…….."

" That's why he desperately wants to pass it this year," she chatted jadedly, " Waya too,"

" What about him?"

" Well, if he passes the exam, his mom will let him drop his studies," she narrated, " If not, he has to enter high school,"

" How many the pro pass each year?" Hikaru asked inquisitively.

" 3" Nase answered calmly.

" 3!" It's so few!

" only 3?"

" It's a long road," Looking up to the cloudy sky, the 15-year-old girl spoke softly, " And we all keep fighting to the death,"

"………"

" Ne, ne, your friend will play in the Beginner Dan Series," Trying to lighten up the atmosphere, Nase changed the topic, " Have you heard of it?"

" My friend? Who?" the in blonde had tons of friends, how was she supposed to know which one they were talking about?

" Touya,"

" Ah," She nodded indicating she got it, " The Beginner Dan Series?"

" What is it? Hikaru?" Sai asked questioningly.

" It's a game between a rookie pro and a top pro," Nase threw the light on her unworldly friend, " It's the way they introduce the new pro to the public,"

" Really? That's great!" Getting excited, Hikaru smiled widely, " Then we can play with a strong pro even we're only a 1-Dan, isn't that great? Sai?"

" Definitely!" her mentor thought so. Maybe, maybe I can play with him again!

" If you want, I can show you the room where they're going to play in," the experienced insei proposed, " It's called the Yugen no Ma room,"

" Really? Please, I wanna see it!" the green-eyed girl said eagerly. The Yugen no Ma room?

" Me too! me too!" Shouting like a child, the 1000-year-old ghost raised his hand up, " Take us there!"

When the three of them arrived at the Association, they went up to the 6th floor where the insei class was located.

Nase didn't directly lead them to the Yugen no Ma room, first they dropped by a room next to it. That room had a large wooden table, a small table with a Goban on it, many chairs, a long sofa and two TV.

" They set a TV camera in the Yugen no Ma room, so we can watch the game in this room," she explained.

" Okay," " We'll watch it in this room then,"

" This way," Nase went to the next room. When she found that the door didn't lock, she slid the paper door, " Come in,"

Although Hikaru wasn't sure if it was proper to invade the room like this, she followed her friend's lead.

" …Hikaru, this room," Sai almost forgot to take breaths.

The Yugen no Ma room was a room decorated in Traditional Japanese Style. Doors and windows were made from fine wood and white paper, the floor was covered by first-rate Tatami. There was a beautiful written scroll hanging on the wall and a small Japanese rock garden by the window. At the center of the room, there was a top quality Goban and comfortable seats for both players.

Maybe it's because I don't have a body, I can feel it. The air here is so electric, it hurts enough to make me smile in anticipation. Sai smiled cooly , his smile sent a chill down to Hikaru's spine. It was such an unreadable strange smile.

" Sai,"

" Let's go," Nase spoke, " The class is about to start,"

" Aaa," Nodding, Hikaru strolled off the room. Turning around, she made a silent promise to herself. Don't worry, Sai, one day I'll take you here.

That day Hikaru broke her own record and got the " White stamp" for the first time.

A/N: If I'm not mistaken, the insei stamp " the white stamp" when they win, right? Since Hikaru is a girl here, so I've a hard time choosing her clothes, I try to make her to be...trendy all the time.

Nase is the same age as Waya, Nase's birthday is on May 10th, and Waya's is on August 12th. In fact, it's Waya who shows Hikaru the room but since Nase is Hikaru's closest insei friend here, so it's her job now.

P.S. : It seems that some of you can't log in FFnet, in that case, you can send me an e-mail instead:)

Kathy : Again? FFnet is frustrating sometimes don't you think?Thanks for your review and your e-mail:)I love you! "...when Waya sits beside hikaru, I thought he was going to offer some practice matchs or anything like that..." Haha, not so fast!

Ady : Thank you, I've already fixed it. Sometimes I just...missed it. If I make any mistake, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?

Nina-b : Hey! Welcome back! It's been a long time, ne? Glad you like it :)