Disclaimer: "I don't own any of the Hikaru no Go characters or anything related to them. I'm just using them in my story."
"I resign." Hikaru said the words, but the tension wasn't completely out of his face yet. The gazing eyes were fixed upon the go board.
"You really had me thinking there, about that move. I was short on time, so I couldn't find the answer, but it gave you the lead anyway." Hikaru started the aftermatch discussion he was used having with Akira after one of their matches. He slowed down when he saw the look on Akira's face. It was not fixed at the go board but at him. He stared back, trying to get a response from him.
"You played well today," Akira began. "I was little behind in the opening, but that move gave me a firm lead."
Hikaru waited, as it sounded Akira wasn't done yet.
"But that move at the endgame, it was brilliantly played. It certainly was beautiful and it took me quite a while to see through it."
Hikaru waited again.
"Well, I can only hope you give me an answer this time, so I will ask once again: What is your connection with Sai?" Akira asked.
Hikaru saw the battle in Akira's mind, he couldn't understand, but he was close too. The fact that Sai and Hikaru were once one body was not easy to tell, but maybe it was about time Akira heard about it. He may be the only one ever to understand, Hikaru thought. He made up his mind one more time and made his decision.
"Are you free this Friday?" He asked.
"Yes, why?" Akira was confused, not getting why Hikaru would ask that? Still, if he would finally tell him…
"Come to this place in Tokyo." He just said, passing Akira a note. Akira froze as he read the location, what was Hikaru doing?
"I'll be there." He answered, trying to figure out why a graveyard would help solve the mystery between Hikaru and Sai.
"Okay, I really have to go now, good luck in your next match against Ochi." He smiled weekly, then left off to the elevator, still trying to comprehend his mind. It would certainly help if Akira knew about Sai, maybe he could even help him finding the answer to the question of how to succeed his master. But should he tell him?
"WHY DID YOU LOSE TO TOYA AKIRA?" Hikaru could hear Morishita's angry voice even though he had tried to put in earplugs. Morishita's rivalry with the Toyo group hadn't died down with the retirement of Koyo Toya at all, it had actually made it worse. Hikaru wondered if Morishita-sensei was trying to get the Meijin title? He made it into the league anyway and it would be nice if sensei was called Morishita-Meijin. It would be nice for Morishita-sensei at least, Hikaru didn't know if he would appreciate a Meijin as a tutor of the study group, it would only get Morishita-sensei more passionate. Morishita-sensei was not done with him, he saw from the look on his face. He stared back "uh, sensei?" Morishita watched him carefully and asked him for a game. This question came as a surprise to Waya and even Saeki, because Morishita usually only played the higher dans in the study group. As they sat in front of the goban Hikaru placed his fan in his hand. This was an opportunity to play against a strong opponent, he shouldn't let this pass by. He would be giving his all. Morishita hummed at the powerful expression that was now on Hikaru's face. Well, if he was trying, he should be too. He placed a black stone down at the upper-right star point and starting the game. Hikaru placed directly a stone on the upper-left star point.
Pachi. Pachi.
Pachi.
Pachi.
The game progressed evenly, both players securing a side, while Hikaru had placed a white stone below the right side star point, trying to break the two black stones on the star points apart.
Pachi.
Pachi.
Pachi.
Hikaru had managed to make life with his stones and at the same time cut two black groups apart. It had come with a price: black controlled now a large part of the center. Morishita saw the progress in Hikaru's game, it had certainly been helpful, the Hokoto Cup, he thought.
Pachi. Pachi. Pachi.
Pachi. Pachi.
The fight now spread over the board, both players trying to hold their centre groups alive. It seemed like Morishita-sensei controlled it and Hikaru's facial expression grew significantly worse.
Pachi.
Pachi.
Pachi. Pachi.
That last move played by Hikaru earned a gasp from Serikawa and Morishita had seen it too. It was an all-out attack, but it was difficult to capture that stone, and it gave Hikaru more influence where Morishita thought he couldn't have made anymore. The game was even now again and it seemed that the endgame would make the difference. As Serikawa 7-dan watched the concentrated look on Hikaru's face, he almost couldn't believe he played such a good match against one of the top pros nowadays: Morishita 9-dan. It didn't seem right, but it was happening here: a mere 2-dan could play equal to a 9-dan? How would that be explained 50 years later? His mind went to the discussion he'd overheard at one of the pro-match days. It would indeed be right to switch from ranking system, especially if it wasn't only for this young boy in front of him. But to completely stop the Oteai? Shifting his attention back to the game, Serikawa saw that the game was not yet over, but soon was to be. At that moment a flash seemed to come off from Hikaru's fan, which he hold tightly in his hand, the move that followed was, yes it was simply brilliant, it completely secured the game. How could it be, that there was still such a spot left? And that this Shindo Hikaru noticed first. From the looks on Morishita's face he could tell he himself was asking that same question, but in this complicated endgame, it somehow turned out to be Hikaru who found it. The move was worth 10 points at least, and Morishita-sensei had to respond as well, while losing more points in sente. Now there was only one thing left to do, so Morishita lowered his head and resigned. Hikaru let out a deep sigh, the calm look on his face didn't show the effort which was needed for this game. He enjoyed it, it made him stronger and that one move, it seemed like he played at least like Sai. He grimaced to Morishita-sensei and said "Now sensei, don't get frustrated over your loss, it wasn't someone of the Toya group." Morishita-sensei looked at him carefully and a small smile came onto his face. He was frustrated over his loss indeed, but at the same time it was exciting. That such a young player was among the lower dans didn't seem right, but if he was right, it wouldn't be long before he and Toya Akira were playing for the top. He smiled at Hikaru and responded: "And you shouldn't be bragging about this win either, it is about time that you'll be entering a main tournament itself, so don't stop here, but continue on." It appeared the young genius had understand. Hikaru grabbed the fan again tightly in his hand and asked Serikawa: "Care for a match, sensei?"
Serikawa-sensei couldn't resist smiling, seeing the concentrated look on his opponent's face return as he placed a stone on the 3-4 point. "Onegaishimasu."
Hikaru took the bus to the gravestone of Honinbo Shusaku at Tokyo, his eyes looked outside the window, but his mind was somewhere else. He couldn't figure out how Akira would react if he would try to tell him Sai wasn't real, at least not touchable. He had been real of course in Hikaru's mind and on the internet. He smiled at the thoughts of all those matches Sai had played with him on the computers in Mitani's sister's computer place. It was truly a nice thought, thinking about all the crushed people on the net. He remembered most of the matches, if not all, but he didn't understand the flow quite well back then. Now however, he sometimes played one out on the goban in his room, seeing how the joseki of the 1000-year old master would improved. As the bus stopped, Hikaru walked a few minutes around trying to organize his thoughts. He saw Akira seated on a bench in front of the go-master's stone. He smiled, knowing Akira couldn't have waited to hear about his mystery. He approached the boy and sat down right next to him.
"Hi."
And with that another chapter comes to an end. Merry Christmas to all of you and have an even more happy 2010. Good luck to all fellow go-players too, as they understand how hard it is to play. I'm trying to bring chapter 5 as soon as possible, we'll see if Akira takes Hikaru's story for real.