Title : A game of lost and found
Warnings : I am not sure where the story is gonna head, and I do not know which pairing I'm putting or if there's even a pairing… though I did receive suggestions… I'm just writing according to my flow and mood. And plz review, whether to insult me or whatever. Will love you if you do :) Domo!!
Summary : Set after the Hokuto Cup, where Hikaru still trying to go on. This time around though, he has Sai back with him. But life isn't that easy, not when another Go genius other than Akira had his sights set on him. Life is definitely not easy nor simple for him.
Disclaimer : I do not own Hikaru No Go, its characters, and what-so-ever I used in this fic that associates with HnG. It's solely for my own entertainment... and yours if you enjoy it. :)
---------------------------------
Chapter 3: Lost times
The sharp call of birds woke Hikaru up from his sleep. His first peaceful sleep in a long time. As he lay wondering what could have given him such peace when the memories from last night came back in a rush. He immediately sat up straight, succeeding with flying colours in unbalancing himself and then proceeds with him falling down on his butt, hard.
'Ite…'
"Hikaru!! Are you all right?"
Hikaru froze, not daring to believe, heart and time suddenly seem to be at a standstill as he slowly turns around. Sai was starring at him worriedly, for the sudden movement of Hikaru, not to mention his spectacular fall, had surprise the gentle ghost. Hikaru just starred at the ghost, his mind blank, then he realized his 'dream' was real after all.
"SAI!" shouted Hikaru happily "It is you! It was not a dream after all. You are back! You really are back…" said Hikaru happily, his voice trailing as he starred at Sai, his expressive eyes full with emotions, "Yokata…"
"Hai. I'm back Hikaru," confirmed the ghost, knowing Hikaru still haven't got over his happiness, just he was when he realized he was coming back. Hikaru just slumped in happiness, closing his eyes and the two old friends was content enough just to sit side by side greeting the new day.
"Hikaru," curiosity finally getting better of Sai, after all he did have the whole night to brood about it. "Who did you play this game with?" Sai asked, pointing at the goban in front of them.
Hikaru knew what game Sai was asking about, for he recalled that he had not cleared the board yesterday night after finish recreating the game. His eyes remaining closed as he waited for the same anger and sorrow to come, flowing through his veins like raging fire, and was caught faintly surprise for there was none. For he no longer felt the intensity of the past feelings when it comes to that game, instead he felt a new rush of determination and slight anger. He smiles slightly, understanding that now he had Sai back together with him, the game no longer holds such importance.
"That was the game I played against Ko Yongha, a Korean pro Go player, in the Hokuto Cup. I've lost by half moku." Explain Hikaru.
"Ko Yongha? Hokuto Cup? Korean?"
"Oh yes, I forgot you wasn't here. Hokuto Cup is a new Go tournament where pros under 18 years old from China, Japan and Korea fight against each other in a group tournament to gain victory for their respective country. Korea won."
"You played against other countries?! Wow… I didn't know that you can play against other countries… oh!! You went to another country?? Wah!! I wasn't around!!! Did you sit on that big bird thing? What is it called again? Hikaru!! I wanna sit on that bird…!"
"An airplane, Sai, airplane. Besides, China and Korean players came over. The tournament was held in Japan. These days the world is connected, playing against other countries is just a matter of time for us new pros."
"I see… and you were upset because Japan lost?"
Hikaru's eyelids snapped open, showing fiery green eyes, which intensity almost frighten the gentle ghost as he had never seen Hikaru like this.
"NO! I was upset because I lost to Ko Yongha by half a moku. Half a moku!! I wanted to crush him! That arrogant boy dare to insult you! And I've lost! I couldn't avenge you. I am too weak, but I'll get stronger. I'll never forgive him, I shall crush him come next year."
Sai sweatdrop, wondering whether he should reach out to Hikaru. Suddenly he is glad he is already dead, for the look in Hikaru's eyes can surely kill. Then what Hikaru had said hit him.
"He insulted me? How could he have know me to insult me?"
"Er… well, he insulted Shusaku, and I took it a bit too personally I suppose." Hikaru looked a bit awkward, looking down on the floor, missing the smile that came to Sai, "I will not tolerate people who dare to insult my best friend! Well, ar… the--" Hikaru looked at Sai then, wondering how to explain that he was trying to crush the person insulted a person who died hundreds of years ago and yet still sitting in front of him.
Sai was smiling, understanding in his gentle purple eyes. And Hikaru just gave a grin back, knowing that he do not have to explain as Sai understood after all, seeing that they were connected through the heart and mind. They are after a part of each other and of one.
"Hikaru!" Mrs. Shindou voice can be heard shouting from downstairs, "Stop your racket up there! Obviously you're more than awake. Are you attending school today or do you have a match?"
"No, I don't have a match today, I'm going to school. I'll be right down, okaasan!" answered Hikaru through the door. He then turned to Sai, grinning, "Come on Sai, lets go to school. You'll get to see Akari again. In fact, you'll be seeing Touya also. I'm meeting him in the afternoon at his father's salon to play Go. Maybe later we can take a walk around town or anywhere you wanna go."
Sai smiled and nodded as he watch Hikaru get ready for school. Words cannot be used to describe how it feel now to be back again with this loud-mouth, brash boy, his other-half. He remember Hikaru saying 'yokata' when he says he back for real and his smile grew wider, 'Yes, I'm glad to be back also.' He then stood up and followed Hikaru out of his room, all the while smiling happily.
'Hai…honto ni yokata…'
----------------------------
The morning routine is a norm for the Go prodigy. He wakes up, clean himself up and then get dressed, play a game of Go with his father before eating breakfast and then go to school. But today, like so many other days since his father, Touya Koyo, announce his retirement, Akira did not have a game of Go before breakfast. His father has left a fortnight ago to Korea again, together with his mother. Instead, Akira made his own breakfast and then sat down to eat.
'I'll be meeting Shindou at the salon today for another game. I wonder how he is now. Since the Hokuto Cup, he seems… different. Like he has withdrawn or something. Again I wonder, what, rather than who, is Shuusaku to him. After all he can't be related to him as the world of Go will surely know if it is so, damn I really hate the paparazzi. But, then again, he way he played, so much like Shuusaku, even more so lately. It's like as if Shindou is connected to Shuusaku and using moves that is both of the modern Shindou and the ancient Shuusaku, creating quite a powerful combination, although still unpolished. It's frustrating and confusing me.' Akira sigh deeply, his breakfast long forgotten as he ponders on about his rival and friend. 'Although we argue all the time, I can't help worrying about him. And still he won't tell me what is wrong.'
Akira finally got up, no longer able to swallow another bite. Tossing his cold and unfinished breakfast into the bin, he washes the utensils he used and then leaves the house to school. He knew deep inside, that to him, Hikaru have ceased being just a rival. He had started to look at the boy as a friend. A true friend in every sense and not just in Go. But he couldn't help wondering if Hikaru felt the same for him, whether had Akira become a friend to him or still remain the rival and the goal that Hikaru must surpass.
'Lately I feel that Shindou's goal has change. I know he is still reaching towards the Hand of God, like all the other pros… but somehow this is what I feel.'
'Honk! Honk!'
"Akira-kun!"
Startled, Akira snapped out of his reverie and spotted the small car just right outside his gate. Inside, waving cheerfully at him was Ichikawa Harumi.
"Ichikawa-san! What are you doing here?"
"Well, I thought I'll give you a ride to school. After all with your parents not around, you do need someone to take care of you, ne? Besides, I need to go open up the salon later."
"Sou ka… Ano, Ichikawa-san, you do not have to go out of your way to help me. I'll just be fine on own. Even so, arigato gozaimasu for thinking about me."
Ichikawa Harumi blushed upon hearing those words and the sweet and gentle smile Akira gave her. Nervously, she just laugh it off and asked Akira to hop in, all the while thinking that the little boy she had once doted on had grown up to be a fine young man. Not only that he has become more good-looking and even more courteous and gentlemanly. One that has girls falling all over him. Even Ichikawa's heart went doki doki whenever Akira smiles towards her.
"So you'll be coming later to the salon as usual?"
"Aa… Shindou promised me a match today."
"Promised? I thought you and him had an unspoken pact to play at least few times a week? It's funny to hear you use the word promise when there's a game of Go between you and him is concerned."
"… True." Again, Akira is plague by the eccentric Go genius. They do have a standing pact of playing games every once a while… well, accurately, every once in two or three days. But lately…
"Ah! Come to think of it, Shindou-kun haven't been to the salon for a long time. In fact I think it was almost a week ago since I last saw him."
Startled again by Ichikawa-san, Akira only bows down his head, silently agreeing with her. Since they had started playing together in the Salon, Shindou had never missed a game with him for more than three days. He couldn't help fearing that the same thing was happening to Shindou again, the time when he stop Go for almost half a year with no explanations or such. Then he thought he had lost his rival when it hasn't even started. Now, if the same case would happen again, he would not only lose a rival, he would lose someone very dear to him. Suddenly it become very clear to this Go prodigy that Go is, after all, not everything in life. It had taken a boy with blond bangs to make him realize that.
'When did Shindou taught me that? During one of our games? Or during all those times we spent together?'
"Ne, Akira-kun. You're not listening to a single word I say. Well, anyway we have reach Kaio already."
For the third time that morning, Akira was startled, and by the same person to boot. Feeling embarrassed and slightly guilty, Akira stammers out an apology and quickly thanks Ichikawa-san again for the ride. As he got out of the car, he felt even more guilty as he realize that he's glad to leave the car.
"Thanks again, Ichikawa-san. Ja, matte ne."
"Ja, Akira-kun." But instead of a genki smile that always accompanies Ichikawa's lips, it a smile of understanding that was facing Akira. Akira, fascinated by the rare smile, stare at her.
"Akira-kun, don't think too much, okay? I'm sure everything will be alright. Just give Shindou-kun some time to straighten out his stuff. I'm sure we'll see the old Shindou-kun soon."
Surprise showing in every line of his face, Akira only stare at Ichikawa as she gave him a wink before driving off. Then a smile slowly appear on his face.
'Just like Ichikawa-san to see through me. Maybe she's right, I am thinking too much. Shindou will come back soon, he always does, doesn't he?'
With that thought, he finally put down his dilemma and went into school. But then, somehow he can't put down this feeling that some things big are going to happen, which will change everything familiar to him. Why he had such feelings he could not guess, but somehow, he knows it is true. And it gave him a foreboding feeling throughout the whole day.
-owari-
-------------------------------
yup yup!! Chapter 3 up! I finally added Akira into the story!! After all, a HnG fic without Akira seems odd… And of course, Sai as well. Btw, if any of you happen to read until here, thank you for reading my story!! Hehe…
