Hikaru no Monogatari Chapter 2, a hikaru no go fanfic

Chapter 2: Their Fangs

The train ride was borderline suffocating and Hikaru couldn't help but noticed his companion had gone weird. Touya was mumbling and tapping the glass window, undoubtedly reviewing his strategy. Touya seemed to be prim and proper child who was raised in strict family, so to see him acting like a man possessed was pretty unnerving.

The fact that it was him who made Touya behave like this… it made him felt terribly guilty.

Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, "Touya."

Akira tensed before turning to face him. "Yes?" He replied stiffly. The boy who stood across him had resigned look on his face. It made Akira felt frustrated because Shindou accepted his challenge not because the other boy wanted to play against him again but because Shindou felt obligated.

"Listen." Hikaru began, "It's up to you to believe it or not but I didn't play like that because I disrespect you." Akira eyed him skeptically. "My reason to play that way… like I said, because I didn't play to win."

The dark haired boy gritted his teeth. "It's a shidougo, of course you didn't."

"For the shidougo, you have no right to talk." Hikaru said pointedly. "I am sure you realize until halfway we're both playing it." Akira looked flustered, and Hikaru could tell the other boy was as ashamed as he was. "Never mind that part…" He said dismissively, "As for why I forced the game to end in a tie, simply because I am a coward."

Akira blinked owlishly at him, "What?" That was as vague as any answer Shindou Hikaru gave in his short time knowing the other go player. It as if the long haired boy had natural disposition in being secretive and vague.

"I am afraid to win in real game." He elaborated stiffly. "That's why I am holding back…"

Suddenly all of his anger dissipated, and it was replaced by confusion. "You're afraid… to win?" Akira repeated in incredulous tone.

"In the same time I hate to lose." Hikaru added as he looked up, "It's not like I want to be this way…"

Akira was getting even more confused, "You're afraid to win but you don't want to lose either so you tie… what kind of logic is that?!"

Hikaru let out a string of mirthless laugh, "It's not logic… but this is me." He closed his eyes. "With the way I am now I can't give you what you want."

"…"

"A game yes, an opponent who play with all his strength to win?" Hikaru shook his head, "No… I can't, and even so you still want to play me?"

There was nothing but plain sincerity and sadness in his voice, so Akira couldn't accuse Hikaru for lying. "Yes." Akira gritted out, "I… until last month I felt something was missing in my go." Hikaru looked at him in the eye, silently demanding an explanation. "I was taught to play go since I was two, and everyone said… I am to be my father's legacy, which will follow his step."

"…"

"I am proud of that, but… after last month game against you… I…" Akira trailed off hesitantly. "I think I found it and I don't want to let it go!"

Hikaru could hear desperation in his voice, and the taller boy understood this was what Sai wanted too. "I understand."

"Heh?" Akira looked up in shock.

"I am not used to be like this." Hikaru wondered why he told this to a stranger he just met a month ago. "And like I said… I hate to lose; I have a pretty strong winner mentality in my opinion… so…" Hikaru looked at Akira in the eyes as he stepped forward so he was just a feet away from the other boy who gulped nervously at sudden proximity. "If you corner me to the wall… perhaps you could force me to play for real."

Sai who had been quiet since they entered the train gaped at HIkaru. "But! Hikaru! I am happy you want to play for real, but… don't get people to make you! This is bound to be a disaster! Hikaru!"

"However." Hikaru cut Akira off before he could voice a response. "If you manage to do that, please once again ask yourself…" The door of the train slid open and they had arrived in the station near Meijin's go salon. "Whether I am really the one you're looking for, Touya Akira…"

Meijin's Go Salon

As expected the salon was in uproar when he and Touya came in. Sai was silent, too silent by the standard of the ghost tutor. The chatters erupted like merciless tsunami as they walked further inside the salon, to the same corner they used to play last month . It seemed to be Touya's favorite spot.

"It's that kid from last month!"

"The one who tied with Akira-kun?"

"For real."

He hated commotion, people crowding and making lots of noise when he was sitting in front of a goban. It reminded him of unpleasant memory. Why did he let Touya drag him to this place again? Because he felt obligated to play with Touya? Or perhaps…

"Nigiri." Touya had black goke so he was the one who guessed, and he placed two stones.

Hikaru grabbed a handful and placed it on the goban, and began to separate two stones from the pile. "Six, you won black."

Perhaps in the deepest of his heart he wanted to be back to the way he used to be.

His musing was stopped when he realized Touya had not made his first move, and was staring at the empty goban intently. The game had just begun and Touya was already trying to read him? Unbelievable, Touya was so determined and focused in defeating him. Hikaru felt really sorry for Touya who wanted a rival and of all people Touya found someone like him.

If only Touya found him three years ago…

Pachi

The sound of stone cut his musing off, and he narrowed his eyes. 'That was a pretty orthodox opening, what he is up to?'

Hikaru placed his first stone in top left corner 4.3, Komoku.

Akira responded, claiming 16-3 on the bottom right side.

Hikaru claimed another Komoku without second thought.

Dark grey eyes eyed the second komoku Hikaru claimed, 'As expected… his joseki is really tinted by Shuusaku.' He thought as he placed his next stone.

The long haired boy narrowed his eyes before he placed his stone on 15-3.

Akira's next move made Hikaru pause, it was very near with his first komoku. 'Sai and I usually would use kosumi for this… but there is another way for me to respond to this but…' Hikaru could feel Touya's eyes on him, expectant and unyielding. 'Well, I did ask him ask him to make me play seriously… so…'

Sai slapped his forehead in exasperation when he saw Hikaru went for 15-6, kosumi. 'Hikaru! You're playing to his hand, didn't you?!'

The game went on and Sai was getting nervous at the way Hikaru play, it was so him but in the same time it wasn't. Hikaru played all signature moves he made in his last game from Akira, in short he made himself completely predictable to Akira's strategy. He blatantly exposed his Shuusaku like style to Akira and it made Sai sweat.

Touya Akira was not inferior player Hikaru could underestimate, but in this case Hikaru didn't underestimate Touya, Hikaru let him to expose his fang. It scared Sai that Hikaru was willing to let Touya to do this to him. He had a really bad feeling about this.

The last time Hikaru let himself loose, he was an innocent child who had no idea of his own strength in go. And now…

Pachi

Akira was really tempted to shout at his opponent who was pretty much playing so pathetically predictable. It was not like his play was sloppy; it was as solid and powerful as ever. However Akira was not a fool to think Shindou Hikaru as someone who would move predictably. He was doing it on purpose. Shindou would pay dearly for this and then… he would…

He was angry but in the same time he was thrilled of what he would see if he managed to force Shindou to play for real to win. That was why… 'I will gladly take your exposed neck you offered, Shindou!'

Pachi

Looking at tenseness and how Shindou stopped rigidly on his track, Akira knew that last move really hurt. His vital formation was in danger from both sides and soon his other formation would start crumbling too if he didn't do something.

Pachi

Akira didn't ease up, ignoring the false formation Hikaru formed to bait him. 'I admit you're really strong even though you're not playing for real… but! What I want is the you who fight me back with all your strength!'

Hikaru for the first time for so long felt all his blood rushing to his head, and his heart was beating wildly against his ribcage. 'No good, he didn't buy that bait! At this rate…if I... I have to…' He thought as he gripped his fan.

Pachi

"…"

Akira tensed when he realized ithad been too long for his opponent to pause, it had been five? No, ten minutes. Shindou couldn't be considering resigning now, could he? No, if there was one thing Shindou stated clearly to him, it was that the long haired boy hated to lose. What he was thinking now? Shindou was already cornered and the game was not even half-way, it was already a situation where if he didn't use fatal attack he would really lose the game.

Thud

For the first time since the game began there was a sound of an object hitting something, and it was not go stone. Akira blinked when he saw Shindou's fan had fallen from his hand and landed beside white stone goke. In spite of the crowd around their goban, the only noise in the background was rain. So when Shindou took a long deep breath, Akira could hear it. That was also when Akira noticed Shindou's eyes were closed and when it fluttered open he was faced by fierceness in those green orbs. He almost jump from shock but quickly regained his composure and stayed still.

Pachi

Akira's eyes widened, 'That… that's a horrible move! What is he thinking?!'

Pachi

'Shouldn't he play for real now?! He is going to lose!'

Pachi

Akira tensed when he saw the formation had changed and even though he was still leading in territory it was obvious Shindou had opened a new path for himself. 'That horrible move back then? He… He is preparing for this?! If I stay idle I won't be able to hold my lead!'

Pachi

Shindou's residence

Heihachi traced the wood grain of the antique goban, the one Sai used to reside in. Just looking at it gave him some sort of unexplainable ease. He often sat in front of it for hours and babbled endlessly about his days, grandson and Fujiwara-sensei.

It as if Honinbou Shusaku could hear him.

"My grandson is a bright child…. Shusaku-sensei." Heihachi said as nodding sagely. "I have no doubt he is going to the next legend, a legend just like you and Fujiwara-sensei."

Of course even though the ghost box was on, no voice came out.

"I wish… back then, his first taste of serious game wasn't like that." Heihachi murmured sadly, "And now as much as I want him to play the way he used to be, I am afraid… if he do, he will feel… bad again."

He chuckled mirthlessly

"People would kill to have his skill… you know, he could read the flow of the game better and faster than any player I have ever seen."

Tears started to leak from his eyes, "He has everything… talent, magnificent tutor, determination to work hard and love for go but… it's so unfair! What my grandson did to deserve this? The path laid out for him to greatness is perfect! And yet… and yet…

"Monster!"

"Watch your mouth young man! What are you saying to my grandson?!" Heihachi shouted hoarsely.

"I… but… that's! He is not normal!"

"But I… I am just…" Hikaru stuttered in fear.

"Hikaru! Go back to your room!" Heihachi ordered.

Hikaru didn't move, all he could think was haunted look on his opponent's face and fear that etched forever in his mind.

Meijin's go salon

Silence had fell since the game began but for some reason the silence as the game was reaching the end was even more deafening. Akira stared at the board, where swirl of monochrome danced. He almost couldn't breathe, his eyes scanned the board, fingers reached for his go stones but for the life of him he couldn't find the way out of this.

Majority of his formation was crumbling and there was not much territory left to fight.

Strong! So strong! Not only that, the move he thought was a useless move, a mistake even became a perfect move that turned the game around to Shindou's favor. It was as if he was looking at… no, he was reading the game so far away it was like as if he was looking twenty steps ahead. Not only that, his play was unpredictable, an unique hybrid of old and modern style.

He had lost, and painfully so. He had 5.5 moku lead since the game began but he lost before the game even reached yose. Shindou attacked him fiercely after he fell to Shindou's elaborate trap. It was like walking in even ground and suddenly that ground was gone and replaced by a deep ravine you had no hope to get out from.

"Arimasen." He choked out, as tears he couldn't stop started to fall from his eyes. 'Father… I lost, I did my best but it's not enough… I… I want this person to acknowledge me but I am not good enough! Why?'

He was his father's pride, and he was proud for his hard work and love for the game he and his father shared. And yet… He clenched his fist in frustration, in the end I am not good enough, Shindou must be disappointed too… I am…

Sound of chair's legs scrapping the floor snapped him out of his thought, and sound of something heavy crashed on the floor echoed through the room. Akira's eyes widened when he saw Shindou was hunching on the floor with trembling body. The long haired boy also gasping for air and looked like he was in pain.

"Shindou?!"

One of salon patrons, a bald man in his forties with frameless glasses started to yell as he tried to push other patron out of his way. "Out my way!"

"Yasuda-san?!"

"I am a doctor! Out of my way and give that boy some space!" Yasuda-san shouted at them. "He has panic attack!" They quickly vacated the space around Shindou and Yasuda started to check the boy. Yasuda forced the boy to sit up straight and looked up. He checked the pupil, pulse, and uneven breath. "Panic attack!" He announced. "Kid! Listen! Calm down! Look up! Breathe slower!"

"Haah haah… no… no…" Hikaru shook his head, trying to clear his mind. "Aah…" He looked to the side, and he could barely make out Sai who was holding his trembling hand and cried. 'Sai! It's hurt!' Then he saw Touya, he was crying and really scared. "Tou… ya…"

"Kid! Stop talking! Breathe! Don't talk!" Yasuda-san ordered, but Hikaru didn't listen. "Akira-kun! Your friend is not listening! I don't know why he is in panic like this! DO you know why?"

Akira's eyes widened as his mind replayed Shindou's words back in train.

"I am afraid to win in real game."

That's why I am holding back…"

"I am a coward…"

It was his fault? Because he forced Shindou to play even though he was afraid?

"Akira-kun!" Yasuda's voice snapped him out of his thought, "He wants to talk to you! Come over here and listen! So he can stop trying to talk and breathe!"

Akira rushed to Shindou's side, and he was really scared by how bad Shindou was shaking and hyperventilating. "I am sorry! I am so sorry Shindou! I didn't mean to!"

"Haah… haah… you… play…" Hikaru gasped the words out, "Go? Keep Playing? Haa aah? Will… you uh?"

He was asking whether Akira will keep playing go?

"Don't… stop… "

What he was talking about? What was that supposed to mean? Akira wanted to ask but instead he said. "Yes! Of course!" He didn't even know what he was agreeing on, anything to stop Shindou from hyperventilating and dying.

Something foreign he couldn't understand glinted in Shindou's green eyes and suddenly the other boy stopped trembling and the color of his face gradually returned. His breathing evened out but he coughed a couple of times because his throat must be hurt. "Hh… haah…"

Yasuda checked Shindou's pulse. "Oh… you're getting well, kid." The gruff man said. "I will call a cab, come with me so I can check you up in my hospital."

"No." The refusal was quick and sharp, "Thank you… but I want to go home …" Shindou was looking down, his bangs shadowing his face. Akira opened his mouth to say something but Shindou stood up abruptly. "I am going back now." Shindou announced with a deep bow. "Thank you for today, and I am sorry for making a commotion." Then he quickly walked away before Akira could stop him.

"Shindou! Wait!"

Hikaru sighed, his back was facing the other boy. "I… I have to go now. I am not… feeling well… at all."

In his extremely short time knowing the other boy Akira could tell he was not a person who would willingly show weakness. For this person to openly admitting not feeling well…. He had pushed Shindou too far.

Akira stopped on his track and he could do nothing but watched Shindou Hikaru walked out of the go salon.

Few days later…

He was the worse.

"Hikaru… uhm… it's not your fault."Sai tried to console his surrogate brother who had been brooding and sulking for days since that match.

Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, "Sai ani-ue… I bait him to push me to the corner, and after he did I proceed to play so brutally to the point our game didn't even reach yose, he cried, I panicked to the point I can't control my body and showed myself at my weakest… as if telling him it's his fault." He listed on.

Sai opened his mouth then closed it again. "I… uh…"

"And I believe you did say it's a bad idea for me to bait Touya in the first place."

Sometimes he really hated Hikaru had such a smart mouth that could put courtier of Heian era to shame.

Okay, it was pointless to change Hikaru's mind because Sai indeed said so. "But Hikaru… are you really going to let him be? If you feel sorry for Touya-kun, you should try to talk to him again…"

Hikaru sighed again. "I am so ashamed of myself… I played him as if I am going to die if I lose that game!"

Sai didn't say anything because he understood Hikaru and Touya Akira. When he saw that boy's skill, Sai could see Touya Akira was going to be a powerful player. In fact after witnessing his play few days ago, that boy undoubtedly had the same potential as Hikaru.

They could be his equal and even surpass him.

At this point of time… the reason Touya Akira to lose against Hikaru was not because he was inferior in talent, experience or skill. It was simply because Hikaru was the type who could read the game ahead and as Sai's disciple he had pride that he was undefeated by no one but his master. In spite of what happened three years ago, Hikaru still had that pride.

Touya Akira had a strong will to win, but in the end Hikaru prevail. It was not something Hikaru would be proud of though. Sai had always seen Hikaru as a brilliant child that was brimming in potential and he wondered if he would grow up to be a dragon or lion but in the end Hikaru was unique and he reminded Sai of a Kirin, peaceful and gentle creature that feared for its wrath.

Hikaru was still very much a child though, and in that game Hikaru let Akira's fang to bite him but in the end he overestimate his self-control and the pain made Hikaru lashed out to Akira and went to kill. Akira himself was a little lulled by Hikaru's submissiveness at the start of the game and was caught off guard.

It was not a magnificent game at all, in Sai's opinion. All he could see was two children with talent who had no idea how dangerous it was to be controlled by their emotion in mental game like go.

Touya's residence

He was the worse…

"Akira-san?" His mother called him. "Is something wrong?"

Akira looked down and noticed he barely touched his food. "Uhm I…" It was fortunate his father was not at home now. He had no idea what to say to his father if the Meijin saw his son spacing out and asked the reason.

Akiko smiled to her only son. "I don't know the detail… but Ichikawa-san told me she is worried about you, that you… perhaps… did you have a fight with your friend?"

Friend? Shindou Hikaru was?

"I… I am not sure he considers me a friend…" Akira murmured. "I don't think so… I think I have hurt him."

That was new, usually Akira wouldn't care ofwhat other children thought of him for being a go player and the son of a famous person. "Have you tried to apologize to your friend?"

"I don't think he can forgive me even if I tried." Akira murmured. "And I am not his friend…"

Akiko smiled, "But Akira-san… seeing how sad you are, I think you want him to be your friend."

Akira looked flustered, "I… it's not like that! Okaa-san!"

The wife of Meijin cupped her cheek, "But Akira-san, this is the first time I see you so disturbed about someone. If you don't want him to be your friend, you will not be this distraught…"

"I…"

Akiko smiled at her only son. "Akira-san, I know you're confused because you are rarely in company of children your age. You're also more mature than any other child… but there's always the first time for everything." She paused, "Which mean you can start now… try to meet this child and apologize."

Akira nodded numbly, considering his mother's advice. 'But Okaa-san… there's one flaw in that plan. I…"

He didn't even know how to find Shindou, and that boy was as elusive as a ghost! He had heard the story of a boy playing shidougo in that children tournament from Ogata-san. He kept it to himself that he knew the boy because obviously Shindou disliked attention. It was easy to guess it was Shindou as the long haired boy was the only boy his age he knew could give any pro a run for their money when it comes to shidougo.

A lot of people from institute were looking for the mysterious young go tutor. If they couldn't find Shindou, it was very unlikely he could have a better luck. Although…. He was indeed very lucky to find Shindou back then. He couldn't be that lucky again, could he?

Akira quickly finished his lunch and decided to start his search of Shindou Hikaru

Few hours later in Meijin's go salon

The young prodigy came to a conclusion that he was indeed no good in anything but go. Because the only thing that came up to his mind to look for his rival was coming back to his father's go salon. It was not like in detective drama where the criminal would return to the crime scene. Then again Akira had no idea where else he had to start to look for Shindou.

He slumped on his seat, "Shindou Hikaru… twelve years old, he likes alternating his joseki from old to modern at random pace…" He listed on all he knew about Shindou.

The fact he was a genius, with plenty of experience under his belt to match Akira and yet managed to stay unknown until he was twelve was saying something. Go was not the most popular game on earth or Japan, In fact because the circle was pretty small, any prodigy would be spotted since they were young. Simply because no one could be that skilled and experienced with playing at home on their own. There was net-go, but looking at the way Shindou held his stone indicated he played in real world often enough to reach that level of grace and elegance. Beside net-go had just launched last year so Shindou couldn't be that good because of net-go in one year.

Akira had asked Yasuda-san who visited go salon again after that incident about Shindou, and Yasuda-san assured Akira that his friend was alright now. That panic attack was bad but it won't leave any lasting effect, but it didn't make Akira felt better.

"Welcome." Ichikawa-san was greeting someone but Akira didn't pay attention.

"Hello, good afternoon." Wizened old voice said. "I am looking for Touya Akira-kun."

Akira perked up when he heard someone was calling his name, "Eh?"

"For Akira-kun?" Ichikawa-san repeated, narrowing her eyes at the old man before her. He was looking just like any other typical old man who loves go, he could easily mingle in the go salon and no one could distinguish him.

The old man nodded, giving Ichikawa-san a warm grandfatherly smile. "I am Shindou Heihachi… I heard my grandson caused quite a commotion here." He said in sheepish tone.

Before he knew it Akira found himself rushing to the newly revealed Shindou Heihachi, "Good afternoon." He greeted the old go player almost hastily. "I am Touya Akira, nice to meet you sir!" Then Akira stopped on his track, as he realized he had just barged in to the conversation between adults. Heihachi was looking for him, but Ichikawa-san was the one Heihachi was talking to.

"Akira-kun?"

Akira flustered, "Ah, I am sorry I…"

Heihachi chuckled softly, "Nice to meet you too, Touya-kun. I am Shindou Heihachi, Hikaru's grandfather."

This person, could it be he was Shindou's mentor? His name didn't ring any bell, there was no retired pro by the name Shindou Heihachi, and he had looked it up out of curiosity if there was any pro by the name Shindou.

Ichikawa-san beamed at the old man, "My! Shindou-kun's grandfather?" She noticed the tense air around Akira and tried to spare him some time to regain his bearing. "I am Ichikawa Harumi, and we're looking forward for Shindou-kun to come to visit again!" She said hopefully.

Heihachi gave them a rueful smile at that.

Akira swallowed, "Uhm… is Shindou… not going to come here anymore?" He asked hesitantly, Was Shindou going to disappear on him?

"Well…" Heihachi trailed off, "He didn't say anything, and while I am here on his behalf my grandson have no idea I am here."

"Huh?" Akira stuttered before he regained his composure. "Uhm… would you like to sit down Shindou-san?" Akira said and the old man nodded in response. Akira led him to the seats he occupied previously and they sat down across each other. "Shindou-san…" Akira began awkwardly, "Did Shindou…"

Heihachi chortled, "I don't think Hikaru notice I am gone though, not when he is occupied by four of my friends and new three brats at home."

It took Akira less than a second to realize Heihachi was implying his grandson was playing shidougo with seven players at home, busy enough that he couldn't notice his grandfather's absence. "Shindou… is really good at shidougo…" He murmured.

Heihachi smiled sheepishly, "He is a devoted tutor, and sometimes I am ashamed I was not half as good when I introduced him to go and now he is the one teaching me."

"Eh?"

"At any rate… you're around Hikaru's age, right? Akira-kun? " Akira sweat-dropped, did this old man just changed the topic at a drop of a hat? He was a huge question dodger as much as his grandson.

Akira nodded, "The same age… I am twelve years old, in sixth grade."

The go prodigy however was not prepared to see the old man suddenly burst to tears. "Hic hic hic! At last this day has come! My Hikaru… at last he has a friend his age and you plays go too!"

"Uhm… Shindou-san?" This was Shindou's grandfather alright! You couldn't tell how his mood swings as bad as a ship in the middle of a storm.

The next thing Akira knew, Heihachi had confessed his grandfatherly's angst to the Meijin's heir. About how his grandson was borderline a shut in and Shindou was apparently home-schooled. Shindou was totally clueless at how to interact with normal children his age because he didn't get them at all.

"Kids likes toys! And my grandson at the age of nine buried himself under books of historical literature! A through and through history buff!" Heihachi-san wailed, "Which kid in this age think purikura is no different than instant camera?"

Actually it was amazing an old man like Shindo Heihachi-san to even know what purikura was.

"I bought him manga about samurai of sengoku era… and my grandson complained that the mangaka got all the history timeline wrong… got bored of it and start reading Kokin Wakashu of all things…"

Poem? He didn't know whether to be surprised or not.

"I brought him to a play date and he stared at other children squabbling around and playing like normal kid as if they're doing alien activity he didn't get the point of."

Akira could relate to that as he didn't see the point of playing mud ball and pretend it was food. "I see…" Actually he saw why Shindou behaved like that.

Heihachi sighed, "Could you relate to him, Touya-kun?"

"Actually…" Akira averted his eyes uneasily.

The old man shrugged, "Well… that's about my boy."

Akira blinked owlishly, did Heihachi-san just gave Akira a crash course about his grandson?

Heihachi rubbed his chin, and Akira realized he was replying the game with Shindou on the goban in front of them before Shindou-san came. "It may sounds arrogant of me, but I am surprised to know there is a boy as good as my Hikaru." He said as looking at Akira and the game reply appraisingly.

The azure eyed boy blinked owlishly at him. Usually Akira would feel offended by this kind of assessment but in spite of how Heihachi admitted it Akira could see nothing but sincerity and kindness in his eyes. "No, he… beat me twice." The first was a tie, but since Shindou set it up…. "And I am so sorry, for what happened few days ago."

Heihachi frowned at that, "Ah… what happened few days ago is Hikaru's fault, I am the one who should apologize to Akira-kun on my grandson's behalf."

"But… I forced him to play!" Akira blurted out, "He refused but I was selfish and bitter so I…"

Heihachi shook his head, "Touya-kun… I know my grandson, although sometimes I can't tell what is running through that pretty little head of his." He grumbled the last part under his breath. "Hikaru is a stubborn boy and very persistent, if he has no wish to play with you again at all he won't bulge. He agreed to play, which mean he wanted the game."

Akira swallowed nervously, "But… still… I made him to play, and he warned me that he… is afraid to win in real game and I am still…"

Heihachi sighed exasperatedly at that. "Actually I am here to explain that."

"Eh?"

"The reason why Hikaru couldn't play normally face to face." Heihachi continued, "I want you to know, so you understand it's not his fault and not yours either."

Akira gulped, clenching his fist. "Is it wise to tell something this personal to me? I… barely know him…"

Heihachi nodded, "Who knows it's wise or not? But I know deep down Hikaru wanted you to not misunderstand him."

He flinched guiltily at that.

Heihachi took a deep breath. "Well… you're the son Touya Meijin." Akira nodded stiffly, "And you're a talented boy so I guess you understand that with talent you invite jealousy and so on?" Akira didn't answer and Heihachi didn't ask for one. "When I first introduced him to go at the age of seven, Hikaru played go because it please me… as simple as that but it's in his second year he start to learn to play seriously."

Seven years old, that was five years later than he did. Akira calculated mentally. "Why in his second year?"

Because of Sai

Heihachi shrugged, "I guess because he got better so quickly and began to love the game for his own reason." He murmured with a sigh. "That's when I started to realize my grandson is special, and he improved tremendously in such a neck breaking pace… it scared me even." He let out mirthless laugh.

It sounded so Shindou somehow and Akira found himself relate to the other boy more and more. He didn't love go at first, a two years old even didn't really get why his father taught him, only that he got praised and loved if he was good at it. As simple as that before Akira fell in love with go gradually on his own.

"Sadly… my grandson became even more withdrawn from other children because he devoted so much time in go, and they didn't get him at all." Heihachi continued.

Akira nodded numbly. "I think I can relate to that… they looked at us differently and we can't just fit in…" Heihachi nodded sagely, he was pleased that Touya seemed to understand Hikaru well enough because they could relate to each other. "But… I still can't understand why he plays like now…"

Heihachi stiffened at that.

"I mean… I did play against children my age before; I outclassed them so badly so they didn't want to play with me anymore but…" Akira trailed off, wincing at one of the worse part of his childhood that made his father forbid him from joining amateur competition. "I don't think… Shindou… couldn't be playing to get forced tie because of that, could he?"

The old man looked thoughtful and anxious for some time and then he took a very deep breath. He scribbled down something on a piece of paper and handed it to Akira. "My home address, if you want to know you should ask Hikaru."

Touya eyed the piece of paper in disbelief, "Just ask?"" He echoed in shock. "But… Shindou…"

Heihachi sighed exasperatedly, "Touya-kun… at this point I really have no idea what to do with my grandson and his go." He confessed sadly, "I mean… it sound irresponsible of me but I am just an ordinary opponent he could beat with his eyes closed if he feels like it. I am an old man who don't understand his pain and sadness… all I did is watch over him. But you…"

"Me?"

Heihachi looked down at the goban, "Well… I can't say my grandson is playing a good game here… " Akira frowned at that, and Heihachi noticed the displeasure in Akira's face. "So what if my grandson won? You played a better game and pushed him hard… and he responded." Heihachi said pointedly. "That brat… I am scared to win but I don't want to lose either? Heh!" Heihachi snorted, "That's a load of bull… that brat can take losing better than any player I have ever seen in my life! He just keep coming back like a cockroach… "

Then Heihachi launched a long rant about troublesome grandson who had no mercy even when playing shidougo with him and how just because his old man was sturdy didn't mean Hikaru could just lead over twenty mokus and returned it in yose without batting an eye.

"Still…" Akira began hesitantly, "Why me?"

Heihachi panted lightly after his long rant, and took a deep breath. "Simply because Hikaru seems to see something in you, my boy is a caring person but when it comes to go he has some sort of selective obliviousness…"

That was what landed him in this situation in the first place.

"However he notices you… at first I think it's because you have the same potential and talent." Heihachi rubbed his chin, reciting what Sai said. "However if that's the only reason he won't bother to give you another game, and he won't wear that disturbed and guilty face when he went home after your first game… Hikaru usually would shrug, hope he will never see you again and you will not notice that game was forced to a tie…"

Akira sweat dropped at that, 'Actually… perhaps it's because I shouted myself hoarse at him until he gives in.'

In the end maybe he was not special in Hikaru's book, he was just too stubborn and too troublesome to the point the other boy gave in. Heihachi-san must have overestimated his grandson if it only took Akira baiting him to a shouting match to get Shindou to give in.

But…

Akira traced the neat handwriting Heihachi wrote, Shindou's house. It didn't matter what Shindou thought of him, he just wanted… wanted the other boy to acknowledge him. It was different from what he wanted from his father or other pro like Ogata-san, it made him restless, excited, anxious, and happy. So many emotion mixed into one that he didn't know what to call it.

Heihachi stood up, "Well… I have another appointment, and if you rush to my house now you can catch him alone at home." Heihachi pushed something metallic towards his hands and Akira's eyes widened when he saw it was a key. "My friends and those kids will go home around four so he would be alone… and I am not going to be back until six." Heihachi winked.

Akira didn't know what to say, because he couldn't believe Shindou-san just gave him a spare key to Shindou's house. So he gave Shindou-san a timid thank you and watched the old man left the salon wordlessly.

In the end he was indeed very lucky at finding Shindou, he concluded. He swallowed nervously before he walked out of the salon after he bid Ichikawa-san a polite good bye.

Half an hour later

Shindou's house was five stops by train from the nearest station from go salon, and it was located in an old neighborhood where most of the house was traditional Japanese house. None of it was as big as his house but pretty big enough, and Shindou's stood out because it had massive willow tree near the gate. Akira was determined to see Shindou when he started walking from the go salon, but looking at the wooden door of Shindou's house made him rethink again of this abrupt visit.

Not to mention Shindou's grandfather undoubtedly gave him a key so he could enter the house freely so Shindou couldn't slam the door on his face or something. In spite of having permission to enter from the owner of the house Akira couldn't help but feel like he was doing something illegal as he plug the key in and opened the door.

If standing in front of the gate was bad, entering it made him feel even worse because he had no clue where to start. He doubted it very much he could just shout at Shindou to come out. Entering the house seemed inappropriate

Fuuu~

Akira's ears picked a soft, high pitched sound. He had heard this before when his father brought him to a performance of gagaku. He didn't know what he was doing but he instinctively followed the soft and playful sound as if he was hypnotized. Then he saw the boy he was looking for, sitting in seize on a bamboo mat laid in the middle of the garden. Shindou was playing a ryuuteki, a type of Japanese flute,

Akira walked closer slowly, and Shindou had not noticed his presence. It was then he noticed beside Shindou, there was a goban with a finished game, a replay perhaps? He took a turn around Shindou who was still immersed in his own world to take a closer look at the goban. His eyes widened when he saw the stones formation, black and whites dancing beautifully in top of the glossy wooden surface.

He didn't even see the complete replay just the end result but he could tell the go played in this game was a work of an art, a transcendental beauty. He recognized the way black moved as Shindou, steady, calm, unpredictable with subtle fierceness. This was not the same as what he saw in their games, the way Shindou played against him looked like a watered down version from this and Akira felt sad he couldn't get Shindou to play like this with him.

The one who played white however was a master, someone on the level of tittle holder. Akira also noticed the one who played white had zero mercy on Shindou, he didn't know if it was handicapped game or not but this was not shidougo at all. The playing style also alike with Shindou but if in Shindou the Shusaku's influence was like coating, a finishing touch of his own original style. The white player was like Shuusaku incarnation, the playing style mixed modern joseki but the Shuusaku was unmistakable. Who played Shindou like this? And outclassed him this badly to boot?!

"Hh.." The sound of the ryuuteki stopped and Akira tensed when he heard Shindou sighing. "No good." He grumbled to himself, eyes closed in deep concentration. "The last game was awful… what's with reading too far ahead is a mistake? It's not like I can guess how far ahead I should read!"

Akira blinked, 'Shindou is talking to himself? Never pegged him as the type… and he is complaining about himself.'

"There's nothing wrong with preparing a trap for fifty moves later if it works! Uselessly complicated is the farthest description I could think of!"

He did what? So that was what that off move in 16-7 was for, that was one of many odd hands Shindou played in this game.

"Aargh! Recalling how the trap I prepared for fifty steps collapse is frustrating…"

He was also very animated when complaining about his own play.

"Considering about my opponent's reading skill is important too… hm hm." Now he was nodding to himself.

Akira couldn't help but sat in seiza across Shindou, watching the animated boy in fascination.

"Yes, like Touya." He blinked owlishly that his name came out of the blue from Shindou's mouth. "Some of my traps totally went unnoticed and I can't tell whether he is purposely dodging them or he didn't read the board enough to even notice…"

"I did?" Akira blurted out before he could stop himself.

Shindou continued to nod animatedly. "Yeah… remember that move in 4-7 in our first game? I totally expecting 15-11 that will boost your defense and give you three more mokus, and you go for one that give less influence."

"I didn't notice that, I am concentrating on strengthening my corner." Akira answered.

The other boy was still nodding. "Yeah… I notice that Touya clings to his corner like they're the love of his life… " Akira blushed a deep red, but that was a very standard strategy that had survived since ancient time! "Although he totally will give it up at a drop of a hat so he could control center area."

"Is that bad?" Akira asked curiously.

"Not really, it's good to take risk once in a while but…" Shindou trailed off and stopped on his track before he opened his eyes and turned sharply to Akira's direaction.

They stared at each other for a long minute before Akira broke the silence. "Good afternoon Shindou." He greeted the other boy stiffly.

Shindou stared at him some more then back and forth from the goban and his face.

"Oh."

Akira didn't blame Shindou at all to scream loud enough to burst his eardrum, and Akira had an epiphany he had a talent in surprising Shindou outside of goban. Hikaru himself came to a conclusion that Touya Akira was really bad for his heart. Unfortunately for Hikaru, Akira had no intention to leave him be anytime soon.

Even if both of them were destined to be a legend in go, the detail of their third meeting would be out of history record forever.

And here we have second chapter, and I am struggling to get Eclipse 17th chapter out soon! WHatever I have three weeks holiday to mull over which story I am going to focus next.

I hope I did a good job in writing this version of their disastrous second game... as said in this chapter Hikaru is not that far ahead from Akira, in fact they're evenly matched. It was just Akira is raised in orthodox styled play in my opinion, Hikaru is his opposite.
Hikaru in this story also habit of overestimating his opponent so sometimes he play too carefully and set some trap that too elaborate that it didn't work because it's too complicated.

Hope you love it ^^