Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru no Go.

Chapter 24 : The Beginner Dan Series I

January 2001, Japanese Go Association

Ogata-9 Dans was walking to the observation room on the 6th floor. The reason that brought him here today was the game between his Sensei and the cute new pro. Yes, Shindou Hikaru's Beginner Dan Series was held today. As he reached the said room, he turned the door knob and idly opened the door.

" !"

He froze when he saw another man in the room. There were 127, 417, 22 people living in Japan for God's sake, and it had to be him who he loathed the most, " Kuwabara-Sensei," he greeted unfeelingly.

" Ah-hah, Welcome, welcome," the Honinbo in a casual dress invited him, " Oh, isn't that Ogata-kun? Long time no see,"

Just seeing this man alive frustrated him. What in the world he's doing here? The 9-Dans inactively closed the door and indolently walked towards his rival.

" This is the 1st time we meet after the Honinbo game, right? Those 7 games were surely fun! Hahaha!" Kuwabara laughed evilly.

" …..I learn a lot," the man in a black jacket coldly replied.

" I heard that you defeated Kurata-kun, right?" the skinny old man posed, " You seem to be on a roll lately, huh?" his voice was mocking.

Sitting opposite the title holder, Ogata retorted sarcastically, " I wish I could say the same to you,"

" Haha, I'm old, no need to be greedy," With a lighted cigarette in his mouth, the tricky old pro in his late seventies joked, " But I won't give up the Honinbo title to anyone though, Hahaha,"

Taking out his Lark, the bronze-haired man demanded, " Then why Kuwabara-Honinbo is here?"

Offering the young man his cigarette, Kuwabara said, " Try these one, instead of those candy sticks,"

" No, thank you," With no doubt, Ogata declined.

" Hahaha," the sly aged man laughed annoyingly, " Why am I here? Well, let me return that question to you. It's just a Beginner Dan Series, though the Meijin plays in it but why this insignificant game interests someone like you? Ogata-kun," he smirked, " Or it is because of the sweet new wave?"

" You know Shindou?" the spine-chilling 9-Dans asked inquiringly, " Did you see her game?"

" Haha, I knew it! The 1st time I laid eyes on her, my 6th sense acted up!"

" 6th sense?"

" It's intuition," he inhaled deeply on the cigarette, " I've walked by Shindou once,"

" Just walked by?" Hearing the ludicrous reason, Ogata exclaimed, " That's it? That's ridiculous!"

" Shindou plays first, then you play the next 2 weeks?" A boy's voice came from the outside, " That's nice,"

" Haven't they contacted you yet?" another voice questioned.

" Nope, not yet," Waya opened the door, he was the 1st owner of the unidentified voice, " I wanna play too, Eh?" he and Ochi, the owner of another strange voice, gasped with surprise as they saw 2 celebrated pros here, " Goo…Good morning, sir!" Scared a little bit, the red-headed boy quickly bowed.

Ogata-9 Dans and Kuwabara-Honinbo? Ochi screamed silently. What the!

" Hey, Com'on," the older boy urged.. They sat at the same small table which Waya, Isumi and Hikaru used to sit last year, it was a small wooden table farthest away from the TV but nearest to the door.

…………..

Isumi-san used to sit on that chair. Waya thought sadly as the short boy took his seat opposite him.

" Why are they here?" he secretly whispered to his friend, " It's just a Beginner Dan Series,"

"…They come to see Shindou, I guess," Answering uninterestedly, Ochi shrugged his shoulders, " The rumor flies out widely, maybe they want to know how good Touya Akira's girlfriend is,"

" !"

/ Click/ the door opened,another spectator walked into the room.

" Hi," Ogata greeted.

" Ogata-san? Kuwabara-Sensei?" the blue-eyed boy uttered with wonder.

" Hello," Ochi spoke frigidly.

Just realizing that his failed student existed, the new comer said back, " Oh, Ochi-kun, Hello,"

" What?" Waya exclaimed quietly, " You know Touya?"

That was correct, the mysterious observer couldn't be others but Touya Akira.

" You are the son of the Meijin, right?" Kuwabara asked merrily.

" Hai," Akira bowed before saying with a respectful tone, " Touya Akira, it's a pleasure to meet you, sir, Kuwabara-Sensei,"

" So, you're here to cheer your daddy?" the Honinbo wondered, " Or you're here to cheer your girl?" he teased mischievously.

" Eh? No!...I…," Flushing in red with embarrassment, Touya Jr. stuttered. Oh! No, He heard of it too?. If he had had eyes on his back, he would have seen Waya glaring murderously at him from behind. Luckily, he didn't have.

" Hahahaha, sound interesting," Kuwabara guffawed noisily, " This is why he keeps his eyes on her! Even with 5 titles,"

" Kuwabara-Sensei," Akira called with a pleading tone. I have to tell him, I have to tell him that the gossip isn't true!

" This game surely sounds like fun, well, Ogata-kun," the cunning old pro talked to the young 9-Dans, " Shall we wager on who will win?" he challenged.

On the way to the Yugen no Ma room,

Touya-Meijin in a dark olive green Kimono was heading to the Yugen no Ma room, Hikaru was following behind him with Sai by her side, of course. Today, she ( Sai) was going to play against one of the greatest players ever, so she chose her clothes carefully. She dressed up tidily than normal, she buttoned her white long-sleeved shirt up to her neck and put on a green knitted sleeveless vest over it, her dark grey knee-length skirt was well pleated too.

" Akira's here today," the Meijin spoke up.

" Eh?"

" I know that he's interested in you," Kouyo spilt it out, " Not only him, Ogata-kun too,"

" !" I hope he's talking about my Go, Hikaru made a voiceless wish. Ogata- 9 Dans? That scary man with glasses? Aew!

"Actually, I'm the one who asked them to play with you," the serene man came clean.

" !"

" Show me your strength,"

" …Yes, sir," Sweat dropped, the newly pro nervously replied. Sorry, Touya-kun, this game is really important to Sai. It seems that I can't show you my true ability until our game comes….The Yugen no Ma room, the room that Nase-chan and I sneaked into last year…and now Sai and I will play in that room…but…. Then she thought about what Sai had told her last week, on the night that they had received the call from the Association.

" What? 15 moku?" she had exclaimed when her mentor had proposed the idea.

" Yes! I'll play like I am in 15 moku handicap," Sai had insisted, " It should even the game up,"

Well, if Sai wanna play it that way, I'd better let him to. She convinced herself to concede. Besides, it's maybe better this way, if he plays under those rules, he will easily crush Touya-Sensei then I'll be the center of the attention again. Hmm, I've to thank Shirakawa-Sensei for lending me those old issues of Weekly Go too.

Hikaru glanced at Sai with the corner of her eyes before asking, " Are you ready?"

The gorgeous ghost slowly opened his blue-sapphire eyes, they shone with absolute brave determination, " Yes, I am,"

The observation room,

" A wager?" Ogata repeated, " Interesting,"

A wager! The three young pro mentally shouted loudly.

" Though, she has the advantage but he is Touya Kouyo," Kuwabara mentioned, " It's still a tough game for her,"

" That's right," the man with glasses agreed.

" Unless he lets that little girl win,"

" I don't think he will," he had known his Sensei for 15 years, Touya Kouyo always mercilessly struck his opponent into pieces, no matter who they were…his right hand man…his friends, even his own fresh and blood.

" Agreed," Nodding in agreement, the Honinbo shared the same thought.

" Well, then," Placing down a 10,000 bill on the table, Ogata declared, " I bet on her,"

" What? That girl?" Kuwabara cried. To everyone's surprise, the young man didn't put money onthe Meijin, " Shouldn't you bet on you own Sensei?"

" He maybe my Sensei," the scary man in black sniggered with pleasure, " But what's fun in siding with the man? I'd rather be on a pretty girl's side," he gave the other pro his bone-chilling smile, " Or you want to lay a bet on her too?"

" Okay, then, I'll put my wager on the Meijin," Kuwabara reluctantly bet on Kouyo. Honestly, he wanted bet on Hikaru too but if both of them wagered on the same person, it couldn't called as a bet, right? He knows I wanna take her side, he did it on purpose! You brat!

Ogata smirked naughtily as he lit another cigarette. Of course, he intentionally did it, he knew what was on his rival's mind. It was so clear, why did Kuwabara-Honinbo even bother to come here, if he wasn't interested in the girl? He would do anything just to irritate him... anything. Oh he hated him so much. Besides, he himself was interested in the blonde too.

Shindou…Akira thought deeply…She's going to play against Father while Ogata-san and Kuwabara-Sensei are watching her…He clenched his fist nervously. She's finally come up this high, I've been waiting for this moment…What kind of Go will she play? What kind of Go will she show us?

A/N : Japan's population in July 2005was 127, 417, 22 people. To me, this chapter isn't quite interesting 'coz it practically copy from the Anime, so, Lucky you! I'll put 2 chapters today :) Enjoy!

Mira-hime: As I told you, girl is more considerate.

thuyhy-thuyhy: "I always hope the authors of Hikaru no go manga 'll draw part 2" I bet every fan around the world hope so too.

Kireshai-chan837: "why don't you just call them flat shoes?" I don't know, I looked for this term from fashion. so blame it on them :) I know I'm bad at grammar, I'm really bad at it since I was in...grade 3? Believe me, I myself try to fix it too - -"

Rebbi: Now, you know why I put 2 chapter today.

Xiar : " please do write a good parting for both Hikaru-gal and Sai," Heehee

Kathy and Kinlin: Let's forget about Sai leaving and enjoy reading this chapter :)

Eadha Ohn: " When Hikaru playing, he use his right hand to placing stone, But when he playing for Sai, he use his left hand" You mean like Ryoma from PoT?

Yami no Kaze: "I hope hikaru doesn't skip half a year like he did in the anime" No spoiler :)

karin1004: "Will Akira be there too?" Here he is.

Lilac-Blossom-Neko: "2 chapters?you don't need to" Haha, don't worry, I put 2 chapter today because I don't quite like this chapter, that's all.

GiftFromBelow: Can't wait, huh? Let's read one more chapter then :D