To Succeed Sai Chapter 3, a hikaru no go fanfic

Disclaimer: "I don't own any of the Hikaru no Go characters or anything related to them. I DO own the story and the thought behind it (you can't steel my thoughts, you may try =D)."

Sorry if anyone had thought this stroy ended without ever being updated again…. I would understand…. But lots of things have been going on in my life, and I only have a computer during weekends, so I try to use that time wisely. I now feel the need to write more, however and not in the least place because I also learned to play better go (9th Kyu now =D). I hope you to stick to my story, I will try to write as much as time permits…

Hikaru stepped into the living room and his mother yelled: "Hikaru, we have dinner at six."
Hikaru sighed, she apparently thought he'd gone straight to his room. He did that a lot lately, so he couldn't blame her.
"I'm here mom, in the living room!" He yelled back.
"What's with all that yelling, son?" An older man came from the hallway.
"Grandpa!" Hikaru yelled. "So you've come back from China!"
His grandfather gave him a hug and sat down in front of the television.
"So, how's your pro go career going, young man?" He asked. "Care to play a game sometime?'
"Anytime, but I'm going to beat you, regardless of your handicap." Hikaru replied. "And I did won two games today."
"That's good to hear, but was it a tournament day? I didn't read it somewhere and why were you playing two games at one day?"
"It's the Young Lions Tournament and it's a tournament between new pros and insei. Remember I was in it when I just became insei?"
"Not really, but you know, back then you didn't tell me so much about yourself playing go. I remember Akari coming by and telling all about you, but that was about it." He added.
"Well I did win two games today, one was against Fuku, an old friend from my insei days and the other was against the opponent I lost to last year." Hikaru told.
"It looks like you have improved then, if you were able to beat someone you weren't able before. Maybe I should try harder against you." He grinned.
"Yeah, I think I have. It's hard, though. It just seems like everyone is getting stronger too."
"Well, I'm sure you will make your dreams come true." Grandpa said, winking. "But I really have to go now, my bus is leaving in 5 minutes."
Grandpa raised from his chair and waved Hikaru's mom goodbye. He put on his jacket and walked outside.
Hikaru heard his mother saying dinner was ready and went to the kitchen.
"I made you your favourite dinner, enjoy." She added with a smile.
"I will! Thanks, mom!"

Hikaru opened the curtains and let the bright sunlight come into the room.
"It sure is a great day to play go, I must be at my best today." He said, more to himself than to somebody else. He was used to it when Sai was still there, but now it just seemed like the words were empty and didn't have a meaning. He tried to hold back the negative feelings coming with this thought by breathing slowly in and out. There were still moments he wished Sai was here, but he wasn't and he realised that. That, however didn't make things any easier. He put on his usual game clothes and walked downstairs.

Hikaru took the bus from 7.20 a.m. and smiled. He was a lot earlier than the previous time, but it did make sense. This match was very important to him, mostly because it was a way to beat Toya for the first time in his pro career (not counting the forfeit match) and one step towards his goal of succeeding Sai. He was kind of nervous that Toya had noticed something back then in the go salon, but he hadn't asked yet. Then again it was probably pressuring Toya that his father, the former go leader in the Japanese go-world was asked to play as an amateur in the upcoming Toyoto Cup by the Japanese go association. He knew Toya had actually always wanted to be the best and since his father was gone, he had slowly made his way further into the tournaments. He had been able to make it into the Kisei league and would be playing in the Tengen tournament soon. Man, it was going to be hard to beat him today if he kept racing ahead like that.

He stepped out of the bus and stepped into the building where the matches were held. He just had to do his best today. No, he should be doing better than just his best. Doing his best wasn't going to be enough. When he came into the match room he found Toya already sitting behind the second table on the right. So that was were he had to play. He noticed Isumi and Ochi sitting on his left and then looked directly to his opponent.

The moment he looked his opponent in the eyes he the mental pre-match fight was flowing in the air. The eyes met, trying to pierce another trough the wall. As they continued staring to each other, he could feel the tension in the air rise to a level he hadn't felt before. All what was around Toya and him didn't matter anymore. It was just the two of them and the game they would play. He walked towards his place and seated. He felt his back shivering in excitement and knew Toya must feel the same.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt!

The buzzer announcing the beginning of the match went off and Hikaru grabbed his go bowl and placed 13 white stones on the board. Toya had chosen 1 black stone, so Hikaru would be white.

"Onegaishimasu." Hikaru said.

"Onegaishimasu." Akira replied.

Akira placed his first stone on the star point, an opening he was the most familiar with. He saw Hikaru playing his first move on the 3-4 point. It did make sense, since that opening had always been the one that Hikaru preferred the most. As the other two stones went too on a star point and on a 3-4 point, the fight had just begon. Akira played the knight's move on the lower right and Hikaru responded by playing another knight's move to the other side. Akira played an extension to the bottom side and stated to build out some territory. Hikaru used his moves to attack the lower left, because he didn't want to let Akira get a hold of the bottom side so easily. A fight began on the bottom side of the board to get hold of the most territory. Akira got the most, but Hikaru got sente in the meantime. He used it to secure his corner on the upper left, but Akira responded by building some more territory on the right side of the board.

Pachi.

Pachi. Pachi. Pachi.

Pachi.

The opening had just ended and Hikaru saw he was behind by a few points. Given the 6.5 point komi, he had to say it was quite even. Akira had been working well on the right side, but Hikaru did use his stones to work towards getting a large corner territory on the upper left. But with the last few moves, it seemed like Akira had a plan to invade on the left but he couldn't figure it out immediately. He just had to see it, so he used a few minutes of his time. At last he found it and he placed his stone to block an incoming attack.

Pachi.

Akira had to say, Hikaru had improved since his play in the Hokoto Cup. There were few high dans who would actually see that trap and would anticipate so quickly. But Hikaru wasn't at his level yet and the next move should make that clear.

Pachi!

Hikaru looked at the spot where Akira had just slammed his stone on the board. It was a good move, but it did seem so.. off. He tried again to see through the move but it wasn't easy. He had used a lot of his time already and since this wasn't a title match he didn't have much left until he would be in byo-yomi. He just had to deal with this move and hope for the best.

Pachi. Pachi.

Pachi. Pachi!

There it was, he saw it immediately as Akira placed the last stone on the board. The attack was well-organised and it was hard to avoid it. He could use his thickness to defend a little but he would still be behind by 10 points or even more. He took another few moments to reorganise his thoughts and noticed he had just five minutes left on the clock. He chose the to him best response and placed the stone done.

Pachi. Pachi.

Pachi.

The last few moves played by Akira gave him the opportunity to improve his position on the left side of the board and make his way to controlling the center. As an experienced player he knew he should resign at this point and he took a last glance on the board. There really didn't seem to be anything left and he felt tears coming up. Then he felt the old feeling again. The feeling that Sai was on the other side on the board and placed his fan on one of the intersections. Hikaru began to figure out a path but it was hard with only 2 minutes left on the clock. As the clock went into byo-yomi he placed a stone down at last at the spot he felt comfortable with.

Pachi.

Akira frowned at the last move played by Hikaru. He had considered playing there before but moments ago it just didn't seem right. Now that Hikaru placed the stone there however, Akira felt Sai once again in that move. It hadn't been there in the rest of the match but to Akira it seemed like Hikaru had just taken another step. It didn't make a huge difference in the game now, mostly because he was ahead by over 15 points. But he must learn to watch out for this kind of moves. He had to see what Hikaru's plan was by placing his stone so he played a tenuki on the right.

Pachi. Pachi.

Pachi.

Akira gasped. That last move! It made the game completely different and not in a good way. It was an all out attack from Hikaru. If he could kill Hikaru's group of stones, he would win for sure. If Hikaru could live in this place, however, the game would be in Hikaru's control. Akira had about half an hour left so he took his time. It was a move he surely had to respond to, but it must be the right response. Hikaru noticed Akira's long thinking time but wasn't surprised. After a few more minutes, he saw the look on his opponent's face and knew he had seen the right response. He sat back and waited for the move.

Pachi.

Pachi. Pachi.

There, he'd been cut off. It was impossible to live now and he knew he should resign. It didn't feel like an overwhelming loss, though. He had again learned from this game and knew it was well played. He did notice the gap between them was getting smaller. And the most important thing was he felt like he played like Sai, even if it was for a few moves. He smiled and bowed to his opponent.

"I resign."