Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go.

Advice: Just wanna add some excitement, why don't you listen to " End of all hope" by Nightwish or " Liberi Fatali" From Final Fantasy VIII?

Chapter 30 : Touya Kouyo vs Sai

The said Sunday, 10 minutes before the appointed time

Hikaru and Sai arrived at the internet café where she used to spend the whole summer vacation playing a NetGo here, yes, this place was where Mitani's sister worked at.

Ah, she's not here, Lucky. The 1-Dan sighed with relief as she noticed that the stuff wasn't her friend's sister. It was kinda awkward to face her again, especially when she broke her little brother's heart.

She led Sai to the unoccupied PC. Glancing at her quiet mentor with the corner of her eyes, she questioned, " Are you ready? Sai," she asked with concern, she was well aware that her big brother was very serious about this game. After saying good morning to her, he hadn't spilt out a word to her again, and that worried her.

Taking a deep breath, Sai slowly opened his resolute blue eyes, " I'm ready," With a solemn expression on his usual stress-free face, he answered unwaveringly.

" Okay, then," Hikaru clicked the icon, " Let's log in,"

Tokyo Hospital, room 432

" Here, he is, Sai, " Kouyo uttered as he thought back on the day when the blonde visited him.

...Flashback started...

" Ah, by the way, his name is Sai," Hikaru had told him before she walked out the room.

" Sai?" the Meijin had echoed, Sai was quite a strange name.

" Yes, sir, Sai, he's a worthy opponent, I tell you again, " the girl declared boldly and shut the door as she left.

...Flashback ended...

" Now, we will see if she overstated or not," he spoke firmly as he accepted the challenge from the unknown player called Sai.

Then the game between Touya Kouyo and Sai began.

Germany, Berlin

" Hello?" A fat dozy guy had just woken up by an unexpected phone call in the middle of the night, " Ah, it's you, thank you about yesterday," Yawning, he said sleepily, " But why do you call me at this hour?...What? Touya Kouyo and Sai?" He got up immediately as soon as he heard the celebrated names, he was now fully awake.

United State, Washington D.C

" I can not believe it!" Michael, an American Go pro exclaimed with disbelief, " Sai comes back!"

" Not only that, he's playing with Touya Kouyo right now," Aaron, his friend, added, " That's why I'm here, I want you to look at this game…Want a coffee?"

China, Beijing

" It's Touya Meijin," Lee Lin Jin, China's amateur Go champion spoke to himself, " I remember his Go…and this is the real Sai too, Touya Kouyo is playing against Sai…who will be the winner?"

Japan, Tokyo, the Wayas's residence

" Ahh," Waya stretched his arms lazily, he had just come back from Saeki's apartment where he had stayed a night last night, " Maybe I should get myself an apartment too," he talked to himself when he thought of his mother's long moody nosy complaint which she always made it whenever he came home late. He was willing to do anything in order to escape from it, even if it meant that he had to pay the rent, he would do it, he would do anything…anything, " Aaa, Let's see who is on the net now," Rising, he went to his desk, turned on his PC and connected the internet. His eyes opened wide in shock when he saw the 2 familiar names, " Touya-Sensei and Sai?"

Tokyo Hospital, room 432

" He's a worthy opponent," Hikaru's word echoed in Kouyo's mind again.

She is right…This man is certainly worth to be my rival. The Meijin thought quietly while he was waiting for Sai to play his next hand. The strange thing was, although he was playing a NetGo through the net, he felt as if he was actually playing a real game with a fresh and blood opponent in front of a real Goban. In his imaginary world, there was only him sitting before a shiny Goban in the middle of the endless darkness facing a faceless opponent. He is not an amateur….yet, he is not a pro who I acknowledge.

Somewhere in Tokyo,

" Oh, so, maybe he's online at this moment?" Hanada, a young Go pro with glasses, posed.

" Maybe," Akira replied composedly as always. Last week he had promised Hanada to join his study group this week, it was the reason why he was here, at a stranger's small apartment somewhere in Tokyo, instead of staying home to keep his mother company on Sunday while his father was recovering at the hospital. He was here as a special guest.

" Let's check out," Kubo, a pro with red hair, who was one of Hanada's friends suggested.

Hanada nodded in agreement and quickly logged in IgoNet," Hey, he's here!" he exclaimed with bliss, " He is playing with ….Sai? Who is Sai? Do you guys know him?"

Another 4 young men shook their heads in denial, unfortunately, it seemed that none of the quintet had ever heard of the legendary Sai before. However, there was another young boy in this room who knew about the enigmatic player, in fact, he knew very well how strong the man was since he had played and lost to him twice!

" What about you? Touya-kun," Kubo asked questioningly.

But Akira didn't hear him, his eyes fixed on the screen, his ears were shut, he couldn't hear a thing but his own confused thought. Sai! Father is playing against Sai!

Tokyo Hospital, along the hall way

3 days ago, Ogata had competed with his own Sensei in the 4th game of the Jyudan Challenge, unluckily, he had lost. So, now the score settled at 2-2. Touya Kouyo, the defender of Jyudan title, won the first and the fourth game while he, Ogata Seiji, the challenger, got the second and the third game. It meant that this game, the last game, would be a decisive game, the one who gained the victory in this game would be the Jyudan.

Ogata had been prepared well for his last bloody battle, he had studied both his kifu and the Meijin's. He had done everything he could already, the only thing left to be done was to check on his opponent's condition.

He walked with his steady pace to the room 432 where his Sensei was. For a second, his heart almost missed a beat, his body froze in fright as he saw a small sign hanging on the door.

" No visitor" It said.

/Click/ the door opened, a chubby nurse came out with a tray in her hands.

" Ano..excuse-me, Touya-Sensei, is he….is he…," the 9-Dans stammered, fearing for the worst, he didn't dare to speak it out.

" Oh, about the sign, isn't it?" the middle-aged nurse had been a nurse long enough to notice that panicky look, " Don't worry, sir, he's fine," she gave him an assuring smile.

" Then, why…"

" Touya-San asked us to put it on, he said he didn't want to be disturbed today," she explained clearly, " He's having fun playing NetGo right now,"

" What? NetGo?"

" Yes," Nodding, she confirmed confidently, " Look at this," she dropped her eyes to the food tray, the food remained untouched, hadn't been eaten, not even a single bite, " He even forgot to have his lunch, is he always be like this?" she posed with a light sigh before walking off.

" NetGo? Who is he playing with?" he muttered noiselessly.

Ogata hurriedly left the hospital and drove back to his fancy condominium with high speed. As he reached there, he dashed into his working room to his laptop.

" He asked them to put the sign on, this game is that important?" He brought out a page of Lark, took out a cigarette and lit it with his silver lighter while he was waiting. So, it's not a coincidence then, they've planned this game ahead. Inhaling the fuming smoke, he almost choked when he saw the name of his Sensei's opponent, " Sai?"

The Wayas' residence, Waya's room

" Touya-Sensei! You are so cool!" Eyes filled with amazement, Waya praised with great admiration. Sai had played a daring move, tempting, challenging his rival to counter back, so Kouyo confronted him boldly. As the game continued, the Heian ghost played aggressively and attacked hard…too hard. Maybe, he had forgotten that it was Touya Kouyo whom he was fighting with, simply hitting hard wasn't enough, as the result of that, now the game belonged to the his opponent while the ghost himself was captured.

Tokyo Hospital, room 432

As the game went on, Kouyo felt that the unreal Goban became brighter and brighter. Yet, no matter how shiny it was, the face of his rival still hid secretly in the dark, " This is my Go, this is Touya Kouyo's Go," he told his concealed player, " No mercy, No holding back, If I lose, I won't ask for anything, but if I win, reveal yourself!"

Hanada's apartment,

Sai! Father is playing with Sai! Akira shouted crazily in his mind, then he thought back about what his mother had told him this morning.

" Your father said he didn't want to meet anyone today," Akiko had informed him, " He said he wanted to have a peaceful day playing NetGo today,"

So, it means that this game has been arranged? How? Does Father know Sai? He's been staying at the hospital for weeks, he only went out once to play his 4th Jyudan game at the New Otani Hotel. Akira thought logically, he was definitely a clever boy with good memory without a doubt. Did they meet there? At the hotel? If not, they had to meet at the hospital…Did Sai go to see Father at the hospital? Eh!

...Flashback started...

" Ne, ne, Akira-kun, I met Hikaru-chan today!" Ichikawa had enthusiastically told him last week when she had arrived at the Salon after visiting his father.

" Shindou? You met her?" He had exclaimed as he hadn't thought that she would be worried enough to drop into the hospital just to pay his father a visit.

" Yes! She comes to see your father," she had keenly replied, " She is so cute, and so nice too!"

...Flashback ended...

Shindou! Or Shindou is… Trying to solve the mystery, Akira analyzed rationally. No, she can't be Sai, if she is Sai, how could she lose to Ochiai-Pro in the Young Lion Tournament? Sai is as good as Father, he would never lose to a lower-Dan player like that…!

Out of the blue, the 2 games that he had lost to Hikaru abruptly emerged from the dark into his head.

But why? Why when I look at this game, I think of the old-Shindou? The Shindou whom I met 2 years ago! What is happening here? Someone please tell me!

Ogata's condominium,

Suffering from perplexity overload, Akira's head was about to explode, Ogata too was totally absorbed deep in his thought thinking attentively about the same subject. How did they get in touch? Sensei doesn't even know how to send an e-mail. Then…Maybe…Maybe he has already met the real Sai… he theorized prudently. When? At the hospital? ….! " Shindou!" The bronze-haired man who loved wearing a white suit uttered sharply as the face of the pretty blonde suddenly flashed in his thought.

…………..

…………..

No, Shindou isn't Sai. Looking back on the day he had witnessed the girl's game against Ochiai-Pro, he concluded. Her style isn't the same as Sai's…But…. Taking his glasses off, he stared at the masterly game in the screen. However, one of the visitors must know Sai…Sai…Who are you?

Tokyo Hospital, room 432

This person…He sends out a strong threatening pressure which only I, the one who is playing against him, can feel it. As the result of his life-long devotion for the game, Kouyo, being a great player, could even sense the ghost's piercing intimidating aura through the net. I know this feeling, this menacing air… His eyes widened as the picture of his mysterious rival began to fade away, replaced by the figure of the known adorable young girl. You! It's you!

/ Pachi/ Sai played his next move.

Kouyo studied the game, unconsciously, he clenched his knee tightly.

Hanada's apartment,

" Unbelievable," Kubo whispered inaudibly with astonishment.

" He completely cuts Touya-Sensei's stone," the other pro pointed out.

" If he didn't show us, we would have never come up with such a brilliant move," Hanada stated tranquilly, " Who is he? Who is Sai?"

Poor Akira, he was still trapped in his own crazy baffled thought. Why? Why I keep thinking of her? Shindou…Sai…Who are you?

Tokyo Hospital, room 432

The fierce battle carried on for another 20 minutes, at the moment, they were now in Yose.

Looking at the board watchfully, Kouyo cautiously observed the game and the pattern of the stone. This man is very similar to me, he can read the game as far as I can. I'm sure that he sees the end of it by now. Yose may be complicated but there is the only way to play it right. His body shook emotionally, until today he had never been forced to… to…Finally, he came to a decision, it was the only way left, he had no other choice but…

/ Touya Kouyo resigns/ a small window popped up on many screens.

Today would be the day everyone remembered as the day that Touya Kouyo, one of the world's greatest Go players ever, the best among the best, the one who gained Ouza, Gosei, Tengen, Jyudan and Meijin title, was forced to resign by somebody called…Sai.

Hanada's apartment,

" What? He resigns? Touya-Sensei resigns?" The quintet exclaimed in disbelief in unision.

Father…

US, Washington D.C

" Hey! Don't do that! Don't give up!" Michael shouted vociferously in disagreement.

Thinking the same as his friend, Aaron yelled loudly, " Yeah! There's still the way!"

Tokyo, Ogata's condominium,

Ogata stared intensely at the game, he forcefully clutched his cigarette pack, " Sai," With a shooting pain of jealousy, he muttered irritably under his breath.

At the internet café,

With a smile of satisfaction on his face, Sai beamed with pure happiness, he had just finished the most challenging game of his life, moreover, he had won too!

Looking up, the satisfied gorgeous dead man felt as if he was glowing in the dark. Touya Kouyo , you answered me greatly. From each of your hand, I felt greater ecstasy than the memory of past battles. Being able to answer you has given me great pride in myself. Thank you, Touya Kouyo. He thanked his rival in silence before lowering his sparkling eyes to give his beloved Hikaru an affectionate smile, " Thank you to you too, Hikaru,"

"…………." But the said girl said nothing in reply, she didn't even move. Without blinking, she gazed fixedly at the game with absolute concentration as if someone cast a spell on her.

" Hikaru?" Sai called her again, why didn't his little sister say a word? He had just beaten his greatest rival, but she didn't even congratulate him.

" Here," Pointing at Kouyo's black stone, Hikaru eventually opened her mouth at last, " It was a fatal spot, everyone thought that Black had to connect here," she commented with a peaceful tone of voice, " But before that…," she pointed at another corner.

" !"

" If Black had played in this corner, White would have been pushed to defense here," she marked wisely.

" !"

" This is better than what actually happened,"

" !"

" So, if Touya-Sensei had played here, you would have had to respond there," Still staring at the game, the bleach-bangs girl showed her stunned mentor the alternative, " Then the flow would change!" she exclaimed victoriously.

It's true! She is correct! Sai trembled with shock, so, it meant that in fact…he….he…

" Sai, you lost! Ne?" In the end, Hikaru finally turned around to meet Sai's bewildered gaze. With a sheer realization in her vivid green eyes, Hikaru now looked luminous than ever as if the sun only shone down to her…to her only. It was then Sai had come to a sudden recognition.

Now I understand it all… He looked at the bright smiling girl before him. God gave me 1000 years of time to show Hikaru this game.

Kathy: Yeah, this chapter is all about the game.

kage.exe : I got it! I like her hair, the way you curl it a bit, she looks cute. Her shoes has wing too, it reminds me of Card Capture Sakura.

Rebbi: "if Hikaru and Akira would be the last two on earth to realize their relationship" Maybe, you're right, God, they're so slow - - " "if it is then it's very unlikely that you'll get it online." That sucks :(

jaz7: Really? Thank you :D

sess : "Hikaru should have left a screen name" She did, right before she walked out the room :)

sendoh11: Thank you :)

xiar : Yeah, no bet. Kouyo turned kind when Hikaru is a girl.

Kireshai-chan837: Easy, be patient!

Kinlin: See?She did tell him that he was going to play with Sai.

Giftfrombelow : " I never thought that Touya-kun even HAD a taste in girls" Hey! That hurts!

karin1004 : "My friend she opened her closet and bunch of clothes fell on me!" Haha, well, actually, that is exactly the way it happened to my mom, she was buried alive by my clothes too! She's like..." Hey! Little! Are you trying to kill me?"

Lilac-Blossom-Neko: "does Akira even have a taste?" Hey! Don't be so mean!