Ogata shook his head for the thousandth time that afternoon, convinced that he was going nuts. Currently, he was standing outside a medium-sized go salon that Sai had directed them to. Apparently, it was the one that Hikaru usually visit.

As soon as he opened the door, a few customers stopped whatever they were doing and instead stared the man dressed in white suit. Adjusting his glasses, he walked up to the lady at the reception and rested both of his arms on the counter, ignoring the fact that she looked a little but puzzled by his presence.

"Has Shindou Hikaru been here lately?" He asked.

Before the lady could answer, a man emerged and called him. "Good afternoon, Ogata-sensei. If you're looking for Shindou-pro, he hasn't been here for a few weeks."

"Hm," Ogata looked at the man who he assumed was the owner of the salon. "I heard a man named Kawai met him a few days ago."

"Yes, actually he went with Shindou-pro to Kyoto. Visiting Honinbo Shusaku's grave, apparently."

"Shusaku's grave?" The blond pondered the fact that he just heard, ignoring Sai's cries from behind him. "What business could he possibly have over there?"

"I'm not too sure myself." The owner shrugged, a smile plastered on his face. "All I know was that he seemed like he was in a rush, like he was looking for something."

"Now, Ogata-sensei! We have to find Hikaru now!" Sai was pretty much in tears at that point as he clenched Ogata's shoulders tightly.

Growing a little bit more accustomed to the so-called spirit's childlike attitude, Ogata brushed it off with a mildly uncomfortable look on his face. "I see. Thank you for your help." He said before leaving.

Once he got back into his car, he rested his arms on the steering wheel and sighed, looking at Sai who seemed restless. "Honinbo Shusaku?" He queried.

"Torajiro, such a lovely man." Sai smiled. "Before Hikaru, I was with him. All of his games had been mine."

Hearing that, Ogata opened his eyes wide and grabbed Sai's shoulder with such force that he almost fell backwards. "You? You played all of his games?" The other male stammered for a moment, taken aback by the sudden movement. In that timespan, Ogata chuckled to himself and released his grip on Sai. "Look at me talking as if I've accepted the fact that you're a ghost."

"I think it's going to be so much better on you if you do accept that fact." Sai huffed impatiently with that childlike tone of his.

"Alright, we're going to Shindou's place." He turned the key and the car hummed to life. The spirit seemed to be excited at the concept of being inside a car, something that Ogata found quite endearing.

"Endearing?" He repeated his thought in a mocking tone, as if trying to stop himself from growing a crush on a ghost.

The drive wasn't too bad. Sai had remembered where Hikaru live, thankfully, so he didn't have to ask around for his address. As soon as he parked, he saw the boy with bleached bangs opening the front door of his house with a dejected expression.

"Hikaru!" Sai yelled out when Ogata lowered the window. "Hikaru, I'm over here! Hikaru!" He screamed out again and again. However, the addressed boy didn't react. He kept walking, head projected to the ground.

"Shindou," The man in suit walked out of the car, grabbing the kid's attention while Sai scrambled towards him, only to not be noticed. "Can I talk to you for a bit?"

Hikaru visibly winced and bit his lower lip before turning heel and prepared himself to run. Before that could happen, Ogata grabbed his arm and by force, dragged him kicking and screaming before throwing him into his car.

"This is going to sound absolutely insane and I would like you to tell me that I am." The older man said with his face so close to the boy's, hands still gripped tightly on his wrists.

"You're insane!" Hikaru screamed out right away without any hint of remorse. "Let go of me or I'll scream!"

"It's about Sai." It worked like a charm. Hikaru seemed to be stunned. He then jerked his head upwards, so his eyes met Ogata's.

Then he frowned. "I keep telling you I know nothing about him."

"Shindou, is Sai… was Sai, a spirit?"

Hikaru paled in an instant, eyes wide open. "W-what?" He stuttered, looking at the man with uncertainty. Ogata didn't miss it, however. Hope flashed across his eyes.

"Now, please tell me that I am out of my mind." Ogata adjusted his glasses, nervously waiting for an answer that unfortunately didn't come. Or perhaps Hikaru was too gobsmacked by how deranged he sounded that he ran out of insult to spout. At the silence, he covered his nose and mouth using both of his hands and sighed. "Shindou, your Sai is in tears right now. It's a view almost as embarrassing as the idea of me believing in spirits."

"Sai is here?!" Hikaru yelled out before proceeding to looked around but failed to spot anyone who remotely looked like his best friend. "Where is he?" He grabbed Ogata's suit so tight he feared he might tear a hole. "You better not be lying to me."

It was rather entertaining to see Hikaru was the one pretty much nearly choking him to death by the way he gripped his clothes. How the table has turned.

"He's behind you."

Hikaru immediately loosened his grip on Ogata before turning around to face nothingness. "Sai?" He called out, reaching for something that he couldn't see. "Sai are you really there?"

"Yes, Hikaru. I'm here." The spirit replied, extending his hand to hover above Hikaru's. "I haven't left you."

"Ogata-san! Is he saying anything?" The boy turned to face the bespectacled man, tears falling from his eyes down to his chin.

"He said he's here and that he hasn't left you." Ogata repeated, realising the fact that from now one he was going to be a messenger for the two. Everything still felt so surreal to him. "He said he wants you to stop forfeiting your matches."

"I will, Sai! I will." Hikaru promised. "I thought I've lost you forever..." His entire body shook with happiness as he lowered his hands. "You know, I went to Kyoto, to Torajiro's grave hoping that you'd be there. What do I know? You've been here all along. Silly of me, huh?"

"Yes, very silly!" Sai reprimanded, waving his arms about on the air, making those ridiculously long sleeves of his flap around like wings. "Even if I truly disappear, I don't want you to ever stop playing go. You have such talent." He replied, which was repeated by Ogata.

Hikaru wiped his tears using the sleeves of his shirt before replying, "Well, I feel like if I play without you, you'd be truly gone. It's so final... I didn't want that."

Sai attempted to hit Hikaru on the head only for his fist to go right through the boy. "You have to promise you will never stop playing go as long as you are still enjoying it!"

"We'll have to see." He grinned, stains of tears still clear on his cheeks. "How do you end up being with the creep anyway?"

"Excuse me?" Ogata cut in, ignoring what Sai said.

"I mean... Ogata-san." Hikaru rectified, noticing the fact that from now on 'the creep' was his only way of communicating with Sai. He shuddered at the thought of having to be buddy-buddy with him.

"I'm not too sure myself. I just found myself suddenly sitting in front of Ogata-sensei's goban. It was very strange for me! I even tried to look for you at your place, but you couldn't seem to see me." Sai flailed while his every word was being repeated by Ogata.

"What?" The younger boy laughed. "You know how to get to my place? That's pretty impressive, Sai."

"Sorry to cut your conversation short but I have somewhere I need to go to." Ogata tapped his fingers impatiently on the backrest of the front chair while still leaning into the car. He'd planned to go to Hikaru in order to confirm that he indeed, was mental. But apparently that didn't go as planned.

"Wait!" The boy with bleached bang quickly raised, grabbing his arm. "I'll join you. I want to talk more to Sai."

Ogata let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "Buckle up, then." As soon as he turned his back, he could somewhat hear Hikaru whispering "Yes!" in the background. It made him smile a little bit. Like teacher like student it seemed.

"You know," The boy grinned, resting both of his arms around the headrest of the front seat. "You're actually pretty nice, Ogata-san."

"You're just saying that because you need me." He muttered, hitting the bull's eye it seemed. He took one long whiff of his cigarette and exhaled it outside through the open window. The car was moving steadily towards the pet shop that he wanted to visit that day. "I think I should know the full story, Shindou."

"I guess." He shrugged. "I met Sai over a couple of years ago when I was in elementary school. Back then I wasn't interested in go in the slightest."

"If I recall correctly, 6th grade was when you first beat Touya." He said as he took a right turn.

"That was Sai's go, not mine. Gradually, all this go I've played for him made me interested too. That was when my skill suddenly seemed to fall. Though I'm a quick learner, isn't that right Sai?" Hikaru beamed.

In which Sai merely said, "Because you have a wonderful teacher, after all!"

Ogata relayed his words to Hikaru, slightly shaking his head while smiling. The dynamic between the two was rather endearing, not like the one he had imagined prior to meeting Sai. "So, what you're saying is that the go that I have been searching in you all this time was Sai's?"

Hikaru scratched the back of his head and pursed his lips. "I suppose so."

"I can't believe I'm actually taking in this farfetched story." Ogata let go of the steering wheel for a split second just to adjust his glasses, cigarette still dangling from his right hand.

"Now you know why I can't tell anyone about Sai! Not even when you pin me against the wall. You'll just think I was crazy."

"He has a point." The older man nodded lightly. "So, you said something about disappearing." He glanced over to the seat next to him, empty in Hikaru's eyes.

"I knew it was coming." Sai calmly explained. "It was shortly after the match against Touya-sensei that I felt so enlightened, so free. I regretted the fact that I never did get to play you seriously, Ogata-sensei."

"Are you saying that we've played before?" Ogata raised one of his eyebrows.

"Yes, through Hikaru. Right after you won against Touya-sensei. You were intoxicated, I believe." He let out a soft chuckle.

"So that was you who played. Not Shindou." Nodding in understanding, Ogata started to make sense of the whole situation and the mystery surrounding Shindou Hikaru. "Well, I suppose now we have time to play." The car came to a complete stop before he turned the engine off, grabbed the key and walked out. Hikaru followed suit.

Hikaru was surprised that pet shop was the destination Ogata had in mind. That man didn't strike him as someone who would own pets. He was so serious all the time, after all. He had assumed he didn't want anything to do with another living being inside his apartment.

Ogata completed his purchase of fish feeds before they hopped back into the car. Sai had explained more about his past inside the store, telling him about his past, how we got accused of cheating and how he had drowned himself out of shame. It was a tragic story. As a go player, being accused of cheating was the highest form of humiliation.

Hikaru only heard what Ogata said and not Sai but he knew that they were talking about what happened to Sai and how he couldn't rest. He silently wished that he would be able to see his friend once more. Because even though Ogata could relay his messages, it was different. It sucked just talking to emptiness.

"Shindou, I'm grabbing lunch now. Did you want me to drop you off somewhere or did you want to join me?"

"I'll join you!" He replied immediately.

Ogata found it extremely amusing to see Hikaru, who seemed to borderline hate him, now excited at the prospect of spending time with him. Well, it was because of Sai, but still. To innocent passer-by's, it would seem like the kid actually liked him.

They made their next stop at an Italian restaurant. Both men and one spirit sat down on the seat near the big window pane overlooking the street. They made their order.

Ogata decided it was a little bit too warm to be wearing his suit, so he took it off, leaving him only with the trademark blue shirt and tie of his.

"I trust you will attend your next match in 5 days?" He confirmed.

"I will." Hikaru promised, his hands clasped around the glass of water in front of him, fingers drumming nervously on it.

"Something in your mind?" Asked Ogata who now rested both of his arms on the table and leaned forward to inspect the boy's facial expression.

"Does it bother you that it wasn't my go that you were looking for?"

He spotted the insecurity in his tone and immediately realised the supressed emotion that he must've been swallowing. All this time when people seemed to be taken by him, he probably thought that they were only interested in Sai's go, not his. They overlooked his own growth and ability in favour of a polished go, forged through hundreds of years.

"It doesn't change the fact that the speed in which you improve is rather frightening as it is fascinating." He replied without any intention of comforting him, he was merely telling the truth. "Your go isn't bad. It just isn't as good as Sai's." Continued Ogata as he leaned back onto the seat. "I will still keep an eye on you, Shindou."

The boy tried to supress it, but Ogata could tell he was satisfied with the answer. He relaxed his grip on the glass of water. "Ogata-san, is it okay if I play Sai after this?" Asked Hikaru hesitantly.

"Only if you promise you'll be a good boy." He teased.

"I'm always good." The boy crossed his arms.

"After my game." Ogata looked at Sai who had been sitting next to Hikaru, observing their conversation. The spirit nodded in excitement at the thought of playing both of them one after the other.

.

Sai was strong. Everyone was right to admire him. He was everything that Ogata had hoped he would be and more.

Counting black and white's territories in a blink of an eye, he once again could visualise himself losing by 4 and a half moku. Sai's go was efficient—every move was there for a purpose and he didn't make mistake. In fact, when he did seem to make one, it had always been a trap. Just how far ahead can that guy read the game?

At that point, he was over trying to deny Sai's claims that he was a spirit. He found himself no longer cared for such trivial matter. All he cared about was playing against such a strong opponent and how much he would improve.

"I resign." Ogata bowed in defeat, in admiration, in awe. When he looked up at Sai, he had his fan covering his lips, mulling over the moves on the board.

"Your go is very cold, Ogata-sensei." He commented. "You rely too much on logic."

"And tell me how that's a bad thing." The bespectacled blond glanced at Hikaru who frowned at the board, seemingly thinking the exact same thing as Sai.

"Go is a game about both intuition and logic. You shouldn't focus too much on one thing." The man with long hair said. "Your go is like a lion that is chained and caged. It is terrifying to face, but it is not able to reign."

Ogata said nothing. He understood that analogy perfectly. When playing Sai's hand, he could feel something resonate within him. He wasn't sure what exactly it was, but he was keen to find out.

After they reviewed the game, it was Hikaru's turn to play. It was a wonderful game, Ogata had concluded. Hikaru had improved. Those weeks of not playing a single game somehow, someway, empowered him. It felt strange, however, to be playing someone while it wasn't him who actually played.

The game ended with Hikaru's resignation, but it was a game to be remembered.

A smile bloomed on the boy's lips and tears threatened to drop from his shiny eyes. "It's really you, Sai."

Still in seiza, Ogata started to wonder just how close the two had been. Gauging from Hikaru's sudden disappearance from the go world, they must've been joined at the hips. He didn't really understand the significance of emotional attachment so tried as he might, he couldn't sympathise with the boy. No matter who was going to leave, Ogata would never dream of giving up go.

He wasn't sure what to do when Hikaru started sobbing in front of him, hands clenched his shorts and head tilted downwards. This had never been his forte and wasn't about to be any time soon. He awkward sat there, wondering if he should stay or leave.

"I thought I've lost you, I really did." He whispered softly.

Ogata glanced at Sai who had a comforting smile on his face as he shuffled next to Hikaru and looked at the boy with eyes that weren't short of affection. After a few seconds of silence and sobs, Ogata stood up and approached Hikaru only to sat next to him on the left side whereas Sai on the right. He placed his hand on Hikaru's back in a sorry attempt to comfort the boy.

Hikaru tensed under him and looked at him for a moment before he smiled and chuckled. "What? This doesn't suit you at all, Ogata-san." Said the younger male amidst the sobs.

He couldn't help but smirk. "Brat." Without pulling his hand back, Ogata said. "I can't claim to understand what you're feeling, but if this will help you to regain your footing then you should let it out." It would be a shame to waste a talent like Hikaru's, after all.

And let it out he did. His sobs grew louder, and body started shaking to the point where Ogata felt the need to round his arm around the boy, pulling him into an embrace. It felt odd to indulge someone in their emotional breakdown. Ogata had always find such outburst unnecessary. He silently wondered what changed his mind at that very moment.

.

Hikaru was fast asleep. His eyes swollen and nose red from the emotion that spilled out. He wasn't sure how, but they ended up on the couch in his living room, the boy's head resting on his lap. Ogata just hoped that he wouldn't drool.

Sai was sitting next to Ogata, looking at his student, his best friend before switching his glance at the man in front of him. "You are surprisingly gentle, Ogata-sensei. I have to admit, I made you out to be an ice cold statue. Guess I was wrong."

"Trust me, I'm not usually like this."

Sai smiled gently and Ogata found his cheeks heating up involuntarily. "You should be more like this, then. It's very charming."

He shrugged, not knowing what he could say without unceremoniously stuttering. Instead, he looked at the sleeping 15 years old on his lap, expression nothing like how it was a few minutes ago. He silently thought about how nice it would be to develop a human connection like the one Hikaru and Sai had, or something even more.

Perhaps that was the key to step up his go.

Hikaru stirred in his sleep and Ogata couldn't resist a small smile.