Hikaru no Monogatari Chapter 4, a hikaru no go fanfic

I AM SO SORRY for taking down the first version, but I write you guys a better one and LONGER that's will make up for double alert!

Chapter 4: The Fang of Kirin

Hikaru was excited that he of all people was honored by the chance to play against the Meijin, the title holder who was hailed as Japan's strongest go player. Of course the reason he accepted this game was not for altruistic reason, far from it. If he just wanted to play against strongest go player, Sai was available. His mentor and surrogate brother was the legendary honinbou after all.

However the reason this game was happening, it was to show his real go to the Touya Akira and his father. So they could have a fair judgment of his worth as a go player. Hikaru was well aware he was strong, and very proud of it. His pride stemmed simply because he had worked hard to be good enough as Sai's disciple. Torajirou was… simply a proxy to Sai, but in Hikaru, Sai wanted him to be his heir. That privilege alone made him unable to accept defeat, which was the only reason that saved him from spiraling to endless defeat because of his fear to win.

It was not simply to prove his worth, but also to defend his master's pride as legendary go player that carved his name in history.

This game was not for victory, or at least it wasn't the main purpose.

"Three stones handicap." The Meijin offered.

Hikaru shook his head, "My apologies, but I have to refuse that offer."

The Meijin raised an eyebrow and Akira gasped in shock. "Shindou?"

He raised his hands in placating gesture, "It's not that I am claiming that I didn't need the same handicap as Akira did because I am a better player…" He explained in lofty tone. "It's just that my playing style make it unfavorable to me to play against strong player at your level with handicap…" He explained earnestly.

That didn't make sense, then again almost everything about Shindou hardly made sense. "Eeeh… you mean…" Then Akira recalled the replay of Shindou's game against his mentor. "Don't tell me… your mentor… never play shidougo with you?"

Much to Akira's horror, Shindou gave him a curt nod. "Never… I don't think he ever hold back against me at all." In short his mentor trounced him in every single game. "That's why… if player in Touya-sensei's level give me handicap and holding back against me… it's the same as handicapping me because it will throw me off..."

And also why this person didn't get the meaning of holding back against weaker opponent, which was also why he trounced those people who gave him the trauma of winning?! Akira thought.

Sai weep in the background. It was not his fault Hikaru was such an eager child who could take his worse since the tender age of eight. His Spartan teaching method worked miraculously though. Although in exchange, Hikaru had a pretty botched sense in measuring his opponent's strength when he was younger. Shidougo was some sort of training for Hikaru to learn how to hold back and correctly measuring his opponent's strength. While he never played Shidougo with Hikaru, his surrogate brother learned how to play shidougo from him.

'I am so sorry Hikaru!'

'It's too late for that… as long as Touya-sensei didn't take it as an insult…'

"I understand…" Touya Kouyo said as he eyed the child before him skeptically. "Let's play an even game…"

"Hai."

"Your guidance please."

Inwardly Hikaru was pretty skeptical the Meijin really got him. Then again this was Akira's father, if he was anything like his son, he would leap first because it was more challenging like that. Oh well, he had explained himself and all he could do was playing his best. Beside this person's eyes, the same eyes as Touya.

Pachi! '3-3, Tsuke'

Akira narrowed his eyes at the opening hand, one of Shindou's favorite openings.

Pachi!

Hikaru couldn't help but stunned to see the way Touya-Meijin was holding his stone. What a magnificent way to handle stone, and Hikaru couldn't help but wonder if this was the way Sai would hold stone if he was corporeal?

Pachi (16-3)

Pachi

The Meijin paused when he noticed his opponent's eyes were closed and slowly revealing deep green orbs that shone with something he thought shouldn't belong to a child. There was a long silence before the young player decided his next move.

Pachi (4.4 Hoshi)

Pachi

Pachi (Kosumi)

Pachi

His eyes narrowed at the last move, 'Shusaku's kosumi?' He responded that move.

Fifteen hands later Touya Kouyou paused, crossing his arms above his chest and surveyed the goban. He couldn't help but noticed his son didn't send him questioning glance for his pause. In fact Kouyo was sure his son's was observing Shindou's hands rather than his. He couldn't blame his son though as he could begin to see what his son sees in Shindou Hikaru's go.

He was an unconventional player, using a mix of classic and modern style and somehow managed to make it so distinctively his. Shindou Hikaru's go was also one of the most beautiful play he had ever seen, poetic and subtle. It was nothing like any play Akira had ever seen before for sure, and so contrast with preciseness and fierceness of Akira's go.

It was really odd though, as a child this young shouldn't have developed aesthetic side of his play yet. It was not like this boy's go had matured either, Kouyo could see the inexperience and youth of a child's go in his like Akira's. It must be his mentor's influence, and Kouyo couldn't help but wonder what kind of player nourished this child's go to the point it developed this kind of poetic beauty.

But his move was also heavily tinted by Shusaku's joseki, as if… this boy was the disciple of the old legend itself.

Pachi

The game progressed to chuugen, where confrontation couldn't be avoided anymore. So the Meijin surveyed his opponents' territory carefully. Shindou-kun's formations were solid like a fort, but it was nothing a player on his level couldn't penetrate. He could cut Shindou-kun's main formation if he wanted to do so now but…

This child was Akira's equal; undoubtedly he was at least as good as Akira. He wouldn't play to kill against Akira so quickly so...

Pachi

It was then Kouyo noticed the boy was frowning at the latest move he made, it was not the best or the strongest but it was a good enough move for someone in his level. No… this child realized he was holding back just now, and the boy was displeased about it. He was no mind reader but the boy's next hands were moves of a player who had their plan interrupted and scrambling for plan B. It was not his pride that made the boy frowning but…

Could it be?

Hikaru narrowed his eyes as he made his next move, he should have known the Meijin wouldn't play to kill against someone in his son's level. He shouldn't have expect the same treatment from this man like Sai would but… all he knew about this man was kifu from his official match, all he learned was real strength not the toned down one. This felt like he was the one who played handicapped game, and against the Meijin no less.

'Hikaru! I am so sorry!' Sai wailed to himself. Hikaru was good at reading board and predicting his opponent's future move but he was no seer. Hikaru made his prediction based on his knowledge of the said person, firsthand experience playing against them was better but kifu could serve as good material.. Because Sai never held back, Hikaru rarely misread and he couldn't predict people when they were holding back on him correctly. So when the Meijin held back, Hikaru's reading became off and that was taking a toll on him mentally

Pachi

It was now or never, he had to bet on this.

Pachi (8-5)

Shindou-kun's latest hand made his breath hitched and Akira gasped in shock.

Hikaru was well aware his latest hand could be considered very rude against someone like Touya Meijin, however it was just his playing style not a challenge from a stuck up brat. He could hear Sai laughing softly on the back of his mind, and it gave him a sense of excitement and pride because Sai approved his latest move.

He could feel Touya junior was glaring daggers now at him with eyes screaming, 'What are you thinking, Shindou?!'

Touya could be very expressive with his glaring; he picked that one up very fast in the last two weeks.

Oh well, for now he had to concentrate on this game. He closed his eyes again and let himself fall deeper and deeper to the game. At this point of the game he could afford to be totally loose and played as he saw fit.

Sai eyed his disciple with a thin smile on his face, 'Hikaru… my young Kirin, show this honorable man… the serenity of your slumber and your fang when you're awaken' Sai raised his fan, 'Bare your fang to him now, otouto…'

Pachi!

This time the Meijin didn't disappoint, he placed his tone where he would mercilessly cut Hikaru's biggest formation.

Pachi!

Hikaru narrowed his eyes, 'Fifteen more hands… no, twenty… thirty… I need to be as subtle as possible. If I rush on fifteen it would be noticed by Ani-ue. At thirty Ani-ue would jump to the trap because it's going to be fun to jump at it in his opinion…' Hikaru closed his eyes, 'Then again… using Ani-ue as a standard is a little hard, especially it's like a hobby for him to dodge me at last second… but it's not like I will let go so easily.'

Suddenly lightning struck down from the sky, so loud that all patrons in go salon let out a shocked gasp. The Meijin narrowed his eyes at the child before him who didn't even flinch at the loud thundering sound that followed. Such concentration when playing a game, even pro players rarely had this much.

Truly… his son had chosen well, this game was just about to reach yose but he could see why his son wanted this boy as a rival.

Pachi!

However he still couldn't see what the boy wanted from that move, and why the boy wanted him to go all out. Especially by now the boy had been left behind by at least 15 moku.

Pachi!

Kouyo's eyes widened in shock when he saw the last hand and surveyed the board as a whole. That challenging move thirty hands ago! It was not a mere challenge, but a trigger for an elaborate trap that took reign over center area. Unbelievable! A child Akira's age formed such an elaborate trap?

Pachi!

As if it was not a surprise enough as he was about to escape the trap, another trap was unveiled. He barely noticed Akira's shocked gasp at the sudden ferocity Shindou-kun revealed from beneath that beautiful and serene formation. It as if he had just woke a sleeping dragon… no a kirin from its peaceful slumber, and it won't let him go.

Pachi!

Hikaru knew with that trap he had won around eight extra moku, that was cutting his lost around half but this was already yose and he had to rush to seize this opportunity to gain some more.

Pachi!

He was cut off in every corner in spite of his best effort. This was the Meijin after all, and in turn of dragging the pro player to his trap now he was getting an all-out attack. Nothing he was not used to, his mentor gave him this kind of beating every single night.

'This boy… it's not like my attack has no effect but he keep pushing through without fear, and even though it's slow he is gaining on me.' Kouyo thought as he strengthen his defense before Shindou could invade further.

Pachi!

'Yose is my home ground but there's nothing much to scrap by at this point...'

Akira swallowed as he watched the game was rapidly reaching the end, 'As expected… he is the strongest in yose, he is flawless…'

The Meijin responded, 'There's no mistake at all in his yose technique, so he is the kind of player who shows his best at the end of the game…'

Pachi!

Shindou's residence

Two old men, Heihachi and Towa let out a content sigh after a sip of new green tea they just purchased from the master who blended it himself. It was pretty pricey but considering Heihachi had good money from his retirement fund, he could afford to splurge once in a while.

"So, how is Touya-kun and Hikaru-kun?" Towa asked.

Heihachi shrugged, "Hikaru is still trying to run away, not as much and as bad as the first few days… you know in the first few days my polite grandson repeatedly slamming door on Touya-kun's face and then they started shouting at each other in spite of the door between them…" The shoji door was thin in the first place anyway.

He laughed softly, "They really love shouting at each other, and considering both are mini adult and calm it's a wonder…"

Then again back before Mitsuko passed away, Hikaru was such an active child it was not much stretch of imagination. Touya-kun seemed to be the calm type all along.

"Who knows?" Towa sipped his tea, "All things considered both of them didn't have normal childhood."

Heihachi was not offended by that remark, because it was mostly Hikaru who distant himself from his peers. "Well… they make up the lost time now, but I wish my grandson is not so stubborn."

Towa sighed at that, recalling the chaotic first few days when their young teacher was trying his hardest to get Touya-kun to stop visiting him. Had it been any other child they would have given up, but Touya-kun was amazingly persistent in chasing their young teacher. Considering he was the son of Touya-Meijin, and had everything to pave a smooth path of go career. It was hard to believe the boy had such a drive to work his hardest to get what he wanted.

Slowly but steadily Hikaru-kun was relenting.

Then again knowing Hikaru-kun, it was not just in his personality to act so cold towards anyone. He must felt bad too in the end for acting that way towards Touya-kun.

"But still… if I didn't know better, I would have thought Touya-kun and Hikaru-kun have been together since they were younger." Towa said. "I swear… just yesterday I think Touya-kun was glaring at Hikaru-kun and he somehow understood what Touya-kun wanted." He had this resigned look whenever Touya-kun was glaring at him, and it was amusing.

Heihachi shrugged at that nonchalantly, "Yeah… I get what you mean, soon enough they will start finishing each other's sentence in their shouting match."

Meijin's go salon

Hikaru breathed out and in slowly as the adrenaline was slowly leaving his system. Even though he was used to play this kind of harsh game against Sai, it didn't mean he won't feel the tiredness in mind and body. He was after all still very much a child, Sai said. If he could push himself this much, he had to be proud of himself.

The Meijin was still staring at the goban, at their finished game. They didn't arrange it so they could count territories easier, as they were good enough to do so without rearrangement and it was not like the result was not obvious enough.

He had lost by 8.5 moku

One century ago he would be considered lost against the Meijin by 3 moku. That was a pretty amazing achievement of course, but it seemed vain and mundane considering he had better score against Honinbou Shusaku on his best day. The Meijin also totally holding back in the first half of the game anyway… he also didn't know the Meijin as well as he knew Sai. Studying his kifu could only go so far too, he had succeed to read ahead of Meijin's steps with minor errors, that counted for something.

The Meijin at last looked up from the board to his face, "You're indeed a strong player, Shindou-kun." Much to Hikaru's shock the Meijin was smiling at him. "It's no wonder why my son… Akira acknowledges you…"

"But…" Hikaru breathed out. "I…"

"Shindou…" Akira began and he noticed his rival quickly averting his eyes. "Why you're averting your eyes from mine?"

Hikaru refused to meet his eyes, "You need to see mirror sometimes to see what kind of look you shoot me."

The Meijin had to admit, he didn't expect to see Akira making that kind of face. Akira was always a composed and reserved child, he rarely voiced what he wanted. However Akira now was completely open to this boy of what he wanted, and Shindou-kun was receiving the full brunt of Akira's longing. The way the boy reacted suggested he had seen Akira shooting him the same look before.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Akira's voice rose in volume.

"Touya Akira, I am not going to answer that and keep it down before we…" He trailed off, glancing at the pro player before them. Started another shouting match, and in front of the Meijin. He didn't have to say it because in the last two weeks he learned that Touya was smart enough to pick up his hint. As long as the said hint was not about giving up on him, which ignored expertly by Touya.

Akira blushed a deep red, and then glanced at his father, halfway between embarrassed and horror. "Father… I am…"

Kouyo shook his head, "It's fine Akira… I am really glad to see this side of you, it seems being your father didn't mean that I know everything about you." His son blushed even harder. "And also… Shindou-kun."

"Yes?"

"You're an exceptional player for someone so young… and I apologize for holding back in the first half of our game." He could see the boy was going to open his mouth to say the apology was unnecessary, such a polite boy. "You have warned me about your playing style and I didn't heed it… truly, you're someone worthy to be my son's rival."

"I am not sure about that…" Hikaru murmured somberly.

Kouyo shook his head, "I don't know why you see yourself anything but worthy, however… you have to know… whoever taught you to play go was… unusual and it shows in your go..."

"Really?!" Hikaru beamed, his lips quirked up to a smile so wide and he was glowing with happiness.

Akira and the Meijin didn't expect that kind of reaction from the long haired boy, it was just merely a statement from his observation and hardly a compliment. Shindou didn't even smile when Akira's father complimented him. But for some reason Shindou was so happy about it and his reaction was out of his character Akira learned to know for the last two weeks.

Perhaps what he knew about Shindou was just a miniscule part of bigger enigma known as Shindou Hikaru.

'Sai! Ani-ue! He sees you in my go! Touya-sensei did!'

Sai smiled at his young charge, 'I am glad… but I think you should be happier that the Meijin complimented you.'

'I am!'

And now Shindou looked so happy and he was in his own little world, he looked like… twelve, like a child he supposed to be. The bright smile he could never think Shindou could form didn't seem like it was going away anytime soon.

For a long while both Touyas didn't bother to snap Shindou out of his daydream as to see the composed and mature child to be so happy, it made them clueless of what to do in respond to that. Ogata of all people saved them from disturbing Shindou's daydream. They hardly notice he had come back from his errand, which was totally an excuse because Ogata was not interested to see his teacher beating random child. Ogata's eyes quickly drawn to the sea of white and black on the goban, however his eyes was locked to black's formation and he turned to Shindou who was still daydreaming.

"You! Kou! Right?! You're… Kou!" Ogata exclaimed.

That snapped Shindou out of his daydream and looked at Ogata wide-eyedly, he looked shocked for a moment before his eyes narrowed in confusion quickly. "Who?"

Ogata almost tripped over himself out of shock, "Who?!" He echoed. "I am Ogata Seiji! 9-dan! Ogata… Seiji!"

Akira sweat-dropped, trust Shindou to not know who Ogata-san was. Then again Shindou almost cut himself off from professional go world. He knew who was the current tittle holders and deep history of go and the institute but not of top players or the detail of matches. Akira also suspected his rival didn't know about the detail of pro exam or insei. Or he just tuned most of it out.

Shindou stood up from his seat and gave Ogata a polite bow. "Nice to meet you, Ogata-san." Then he titled his head to the side, "Do I know you?"

"You!"

Akira quickly stepped forward between Shindou and his father's student. "Ogata-san! Why you're shouting at Shindou, and what's with this Kou business? His name is Shindou!"

"Is that so?" Ogata spat sarcastically.

Hikaru shrugged, "Akira… Touya-sensei, I am sorry but it seems we have to cut this short." His eyes narrowed, "I am not comfortable with this intrusion, my apologies but I should take my leave…" He said with a deep bow.

"Shindou?" Akira looked at his rival worriedly.

Hikaru shook his head and whispered as he walked pass Akira. "Keep quiet about me around this person please…"

"Fine, but I am going with you." Akira hissed as he followed Hikaru. "Father, I will not be home today!" He said as he turned towards his father, as his feet carried him to opposite direction. "I have told mother I am going to stay over at Shindou's house on the weekend! And I will go home by myself!" Kouyo could guess what the last part meant, don't send Ogata to fetch him and that doubled as kept Ogata away from Shindou.

The two young boys hastened their pace when they heard Ogata shouted, "Wait! Kou!"

"Ogata-kun! Behave yourself!" Kouyo warned the younger pro player.

Ogata flinched, "Yes, sensei…" He took a deep. "That boy… the playing style I see in this game, I know who he is… " He suppressed his urge to chase after the two when he heard the sound of door closing.

Kouyo narrowed his eyes, "He is an amateur… and even though he is as good as Akira…"

"Seriously…" Ogata groaned, "Sensei, you have no idea who your son has found…" It was like finding an unicorn, but Akira had no idea for sure. "This boy… his nick in net-go is Kou.. K.O.U… kou for光 (ray/light)

Kouyo frowned at that, it was very likely Ogata-san was right since Shindou's play was so distinctive it was easy to recognize it, the chance Ogata recognize it wrong was slim. "So?"

Ogata sighed wearily, "This boy as Kou is indeed one of top players online, but he is special because he is Sai's disciple." Ogata smiled at the confused look he received from his teacher. "Sai… could be considered the Meijin of Net-go, and a number of pro players from all over the world already have a taste of his strength… including Yang Hai of China, and An Teson of Korea…"

Ogata then moved towards the goban and pointed at the elaborate trap Shindou sprung on the Meijin. "This… this elaborate and layered trap is unmistakably Kou's… this distinctive mix of old and modern joseki too…" He added with a growl. "Due to his popularity, nowadays Sai is very selective of his opponents, and it's either you're lucky he picked you or you got through his disciple first…" He adjusted his glasses, "I never believe in my luck so I go to second route… challenging his disciple Kou, first."

Kouyo eyed the stone Ogata was pointing at and back to his student. "Then? I find it hard to believe that boy could beat you. He is exceptional… I can even say he is perhaps a little ahead of my son but you're a seasoned player with years of experience Ogata…"

Ogata flushed a deep red, "It's not that I lost… in fact he resigned before the game reached yose but…"

"But?" Kouyo urged him.

He swallowed heavily, as much as he hated to show his shame he couldn't fool his teacher. "I underestimated him… back then I didn't know what to expect aside from watered down version of his master's go, I thought he is just a random kid Sai picked… and the information he is Sai's was dubious at best back then…"

Kouyo sighed at that, "You do know that Akira is more than capable to give you a run for your money when you're underestimating him."

Ogata snorted, "I will not call it giving me a run for my money… " He said as he walked towards an unoccupied seat beside one his teacher used and began to replay a game on the empty goban. "Akira will give me a run for my money when I am underestimating me, Kou however… will do this." He said as he placed the hand that had haunted him for months.

"This.." Kouyo's eyes widened. "This trap… is as elaborate… and layered, even a high dan could fall on it… it's similar with what he used on me, the style at least… and the level of complexity."

"If Akira could give me a run for my money, when I was underestimating him…" Ogata repeated again with saccharine tone, "That boy… Kou… he would grab me from the least unexpected moment, knocked my breath out of my lungs and before I could get my bearing together he will inflict as many harm as possible even though his fang and claw is that of a young child… he is vicious."

Kouyo could see that, it was exactly what Shindou-kun did. The boy couldn't win against him, but by pure determination the boy had no fear to jump at his blade and clawed him.

"However…" Ogata gritted out. "That boy after he mauled me as much as he could… and I am about to pay him back, he resigned."

"… Resigned?"

"Yes." It took almost all Ogata's self-control to not snap at his honorable teacher, especially because now that boy was undoubtedly under the Meijin's protection.

He had seen the glimpse of how the Meijin looked at the young boy, Kou… Shindou. He also didn't miss how Akira looked like a cat ready to pounce when it seemed he was going to inflict bodily harm to the boy. There was no way he could get away with attempting anything at Akira's very first friend. Go figures Akira's first friend and rival was the most elusive young player from net-Go and Sai's disciple. Kou and Sai had been attracting attention left and right since their debut.

"You felt insulted." His teacher pointed out the obvious.

Ogata took a deep breath, "Yes, but I am not going to inflict bodily or mentally harm to a child over it… and definitely not a brilliant child you have your eyes on, sensei."

Kouyo nodded at that, "Good, so what do you want from him? Another game? Or information on his master?"

"Both." Ogata admitted reluctantly.

"And you will get neither unless the boy willingly give it to you." The Meijin stated sternly, leaving no room for discussion.

Which mean he had to coax it out of the boy, and judging from the way the boy played his game, it was very unlikely.

The Meijin eyed the game he replayed skeptically, "While I admit the in our gametrap is very likely Shindou-kun's… this joseki is a different style from what he has shown me… Shindou-kun's play is littered with old joseki here and there but… his play is more like inspired from Shuusaku… this is very Shuusaku like… like a reflection…"

Ogata sighed at that, "Oh… that is Sai's playing style, after ten hands or so I think the boy can tell I am just indulging him so…" He shook his head, "Such a crafty little boy… made me let my guard down even more with throwing my expectation right on my face before I completely on mercy of that elaborate trap he sprung on me."

Kouyo sweat-dropped at that, "In short… it's a childish tantrum." Akira was mature most of the time but he had long suspected beneath that calm façade Akira was capable to throw a childish tantrum. Shindou-kun had thrown a vicious one at Ogata for sure.

That aside…

Kouyo eyed the hands he recognized distinctive from Shindou-kun's, so this was the master? This was merely replication of a student of his master and yet from it Kouyo could see the glimpse of masterful and transcendent beauty of Sai's go.

"Sai… hm…" Kouyo crossed his arms, then turned towards Ogata. "Does this person have any record outside of Net-go?"

Ogata shook his head ruefully. "No, sensei… nothing, just his Net-go nick and his disciple who we know by assumption until today because of their distinctive play style."

"Hiding in the dark, hm… so there is someone like that who never show himself… " Kouyo untangled his arms, "Ogata-kun, I expect you to control your curiosity around the boy… my son, Akira is trying his best to drag that boy out of his shell… and I will be displeased if our curiosity ruin that."

"Hai sensei." Ogata knew very well the worth of patience in go world. It was not like he could pry it off of the boy if he tried. That boy was a fighter in spite of his young age, he would fight teeth and nail to keep his secret. It would be better if the boy was close, close to Akira and his teacher so Ogata could investigate Sai on his own leisure.

"Beside…" Kouyo trailed off, "Even if we will never catch the tail of the master, I'd rather choose the boy who will be the future of go world with my son rather than an unknown like Sai…" He said as he placed the stone that will cut formation on the goban.

Pachi!

Teahouse

It was a quaint teahouse, nothing fancy but it had the kind of relaxing air Akira liked. Shindou seemed to share the same opinion as they browsed the menu and ordered their drinks and snacks.

"I will not ask about your mentor." Akira said as soon as they finished giving the order to the nice waitress in kimono.

Hikaru shook his head ruefully, "Hh… I can see you're really curious and seriously, I am amazed you can hold your curiosity back this much for my comfort." Akira frowned at him. "I am grateful really…" He assured the dark haired boy. "I have lots of secret I can't tell anyone… I think that's why I can't keep friend my age aside from being the odd one out too…"

Akira resisted his urge to retort he was also the odd one out as it would be totally like flattering Shindou, and it would sound fake.

"Come to think of it, you're also weird… Touya." Shindou said out of the blue.

Akira smiled at that. "Is that so?"

He shrugged, "Takes one to know one I guess… but… if you want to know what problem Ogata-pro have with me I don't mind telling you. In fact I'd rather tell you before he does."

Akira frowned at that, "I thought you don't know him?"

"I don't." Hikaru answered promptly, "I played him once… I suspected he is a high ranking pro, but I don't know who he is until he spelt out his full name to me." He said as he rested his chin on top of his crossed fingers.

The Meijin's son gaped at him, "You played against Ogata-san online?"

He nodded curtly, "Yeah… although in a sense we can't really call it a real game as he was totally underestimating me, I was offended and playing along with it for a while…"

Akira blinked owlishly at him, and the Meijin's son had a feeling where this goes.

"I replicated my teacher's play after twenty hands or so because I could tell this person had no intention to take me seriously and I was merely stepping stone to get to my teacher… so I showed him a watered down version of my teacher he expected me to be and sprung a trap on him." He averted his eyes, "Then I resigned."

"You what?!" Akira half-shouted

Hikaru blushed, "I was mad okay! It's childish! I know… returning the favor like that… and I have been chastised properly by my teacher for it! So don't start!"

After the shock dampened Akira suddenly couldn't stop himself from laughing, "Ha ha ha ha… the disrespect aside… ha ha, that's so funny! I don't know you have that in you!"

"It's not funny!" Hikaru snapped, thoroughly embarrassed. "I dislike that one game so much! I can't stand playing against someone like that… his play was aggressive, mocking and… it made me want to hurl…" He hissed.

Akira sighed at that, "I understand… I played against Ogata-san many times and I can say I sense some sort of hostility from him, it's like… he is wary of me but in the same time he didn't want to take me seriously either because of my age."

"In short… his pride as an experienced player made him look down on us." Hikaru concluded in dry tone. "However in the same time he is not blind… well, you better be careful when you go pro and play against him… your father's son or not he seems to be the type who will try to show you your place for as long as he could…"

Akira tensed at that, "If I go pro…"

"It's not if to you, does it?" Hikaru murmured.

"And how about you?" Akira blurted out before he quickly covered his mouth in shock. It was too late though as he had said it loud and clear to Shindou, the dreaded question.

Shindou however gave him a long stare that made him squirm. Their order came just in time to cut the awkward silence that ensued. Green tea and ohagi for Akira, and uiiro and Oolong tea for Hikaru. If Akira thought he had escaped from the awkwardness and tense situation he was horribly wrong when Shindou at last stopped fiddling with his straw and began to speak.

"The hand of god… do you want it?" The long haired boy asked in a tone that made him sounded like he was in a daze.

Akira blinked owlishly at that, not expecting that question. "I think all aspiring go player wants it… it's the pinnacle of go…"

Hikaru smiled at that, "As expected but… Touya, are you thinking that if you can't achieve it before you surpassed me?"

That question caught him off guard and Akira swallowed heavily. "I… I am not sure myself, it's just…"

"I also want to achieve it, the hand of god." Hikaru admitted, glancing briefly at his ghost tutor who had wandered pretty far away from him so he could get a private conversation with Akira They couldn't be too far apart though, and he was not sure why Sai wanted him to speak privately with Akira. "Although… I am never sure whether I really want it or what I want truly is… to achieve it for my teacher's sake…"

"Huh?" Akira was confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean perhaps I don't want it… at least not for myself but for my teacher who wants it." Hikaru explained in lofty tone. "In the end I think nothing else matter, as long as we could achieve it together… that is what keeps me playing all these years… "

Akira pursed his lips, "I think…" He began, taking a deep breath. "It's not wrong to wish for something for someone else's sake, I also wish for my father to attain it but…"

"But?"

"I also want it for myself… I want to achieve my own hand of god." Akira confessed. "My father was… my goal, but in the end it's how a student sees their master… and one day I will surpass him."

"Surpass your father?" Hikaru echoed. "That's a lofty goal I guess… and I don't see where it involves me."

"You too!" Akira drawled, "You should surpass your teacher too… one day! You will!"

Hikaru's eyes widened at that, "I… surpass… my teacher?" He echoed bewilderedly. "I never think of such thing…"

"Why not?"

Hikaru looked wary and Akira quickly regretted asking, another sore topic it seemed. "I… loves go, and when I found I excel at it… I love it even more. However the reason I play is because it make my grandfather and teacher happy… I never have a goal for myself I guess… and I thought… I just want to play like this forever and ignorant of what happened outside… and when I tried to peek…"

Akira didn't need the other boy to finish his sentence as he knew. He was ignorant of the world outside of own little world, and most of all he was innocently unaware of his capability. So when he stepped out, Shindou Hikaru unknowingly trampled on those inferior than him.

There was no point forcing him to go to pro world, he was already afraid before he tried. Akira wanted to scream and angry at him for that but he knew that Shindou didn't deserve his resentment. He could also see that deep down Shindou Hikaru long to reach out to the unknown and he was still trying.

"Shindou…"

"Yes?"

Akira's eyes softened at him, "We can just take one step of a time… maybe now you don't know what you want for yourself but… if you stop, I will never stop looking back and wait…"

Shindou Hikaru closed his eyes at that before shaking his head ruefully. "Really… you're amazingly stubborn. I really feel bad for you…"

Akira laughed softly at that, "It's not like… being around you is not pleasant."

"So in short, you enjoy stalking me." Hikaru concluded bluntly. "I am glad you have a new hobby... Touya." He said patronizingly as he poked his uiiro.

"Shindou! That's uncalled for!" Akira blushed a deep red at the word stalking.

Hikaru chewed his snack, "Don't temp me to shout at you, because I really like this place and I will hate to be banned from here for starting a shouting match with you."

Akira quickly sank back to his seat, and feeling totally humiliated when he realized a lot of people was watching the impromptu of his outburst. "This is embarrassing…"

"Uh huh…" Hikaru agreed absentmindedly. "Let's wait until we have our privacy at my home…"

Akira blinked owlishly at that, "Eh?"

"It's embarrassing…" Hikaru echoed him, "But it's fun, shouting at you…"

Akira looked appalled, "Shindou, you…"

"But in general… I guess it's fun to spend time with a friend…" He added.

The other go prodigy froze at that, "I am… your friend?" He asked in hopeful tone.

Hikaru tensed when he realized what he had just said, but what said was done so he should just go along with it. It was not like it was wrong or anything. "At this point I don't think I can be a proper rival… but aren't we already friends? Or you don't want…"

"Yes!" Akira almost shouted his answer. "I do."

Hikaru now felt terribly guilty for not admitting this sooner as Akira looked like he had won the Meijin title. He looked so happy that it felt like a sin to deprive him of his friendship. However Hikaru still couldn't pass the chance to tease him. "Please don't answer it like accepting a marriage proposal." He said in the most even voice he could muster.

Akira as expected was blushing a deep red, "Shindou! You…"

And Hikaru decided he loved teasing Akira as much as shouting at him over a goban.

"And by the way… you do realize what I mean by waiting for you, I will not take pro exam without you?" Akira queried with a smirk.

Damn, he evened the score. Hikaru: 1 Akira: 1

Hikaru groaned, "I know it…" Now if the Meijin's heir didn't join the pro world soon, the go world would blame it on him. Then again knowing Touya, he would keep chasing Hikaru, going pro or not. He was that stubborn.

Few days later…

"It's about time Hikaru to go back to school." Heihachi stated in their secret meeting in Eiki's teahouse.

Towa crossed his arms, "All things considered it's going to be easy to get him anywhere… Hikaru-kun excelled in math, history and Japanese…"

It was obvious why, Heihachi added inwardly. "Well… Heiji here already have recommendation."

Heiji whipped out a manila folder. "I am an alumnus from this school, good place, good go club but well…"

"Hikaru got another recommendation through his Japanese teacher." Heihachi added, "Hishigi-sensei's brother is interested in Hikaru… it seems the essay my grandson wrote in his spare time impressed him."

Kazuha-obaasan, Heiji's wife chimed in. "Hishigi-san is a nice young man and fond of Hikaru!"

He nodded, "He guarantee Hikaru could get scholarship for his talent in history and Japanese… so there would be no problem!"

"What school?"

Heihachi wrote down the name on paper with neat calligraphy.

"That elite school?" Towa murmured, "It's unlikely Hikaru-kun would get bullied there."

Eiki rolled his eyes, "Nowadays you can't trust reputation…"

"Why do we have to be worried about Hikaru-kun getting bullied anyway?" Heiji wondered. "You do know he could hold his own ground now…"

Eiki snorted, "Don't worry too much, beside… worse come to worse he would be in go home club."

"Your trust in my grandon's social skill is touching." Heihachi muttered sarcastically.

"That aside…" Towa, their resident 'go walking dictionary', who knew about go weekly as well as the editor. "Touya-Meijin was also alumnus of this school…"

"That means… it's very likely that…"

"Oh!" They chorused.

Park

Hikaru was not too excited at the prospect of going back to school, considering his short time knowing formal education was not exactly spectacular. It also meant severe decrease in his go time. He also would left grandfather most of the time since almost half of his days would be spent in school.

'It would be fun! School was fun back in Heian era!' Sai cheered him up.

Hikaru sighed at that, 'I doubt it very much my school is going to be anything like yours, ani-ue…"

'Mou! Hikaru! Education is really important!' Sai chided. 'And you have to enjoy your youth!'

'Hm, youth? How?'

"Hikaru!" A feminime voice called him. "Hikaru, long time no see!"

Hikaru turned to the source of voice and smiled at the familiar girl. "Ah… Akari-san, it's been a while." Fujisaki Akari was an old neighbor when he was still living with his parents, and they used to be pretty close. He changed and they drifted apart so quickly afterward. She tried to get along with him, learning go to have something in common but it didn't work as she still go to school and he didn't.

She had friends with her, female friends who were giggling at him to boot.

Akari tensed, since when Hikaru was this formal to her? Since… that day? "Uhm… good afternoon… Hikaru. "

"Akari! Who is this boy?!" A girl who stood beside her hissed.

"He is cute! His hair is long… and his bangs is bleached! How unusual!" The other said.

Hikaru sweat-dropped, 'I can hear you…'

'You're living up to your name sake, Hika…'

'Don't even joke with comparing me with Hikaru Genji.' Hikaru shot back.

Akari seemed to recall something and fished out two tickets from her pocket. "Anoo… Hikaru, I have two tickets to Haze Middle School festival."

"Festival?" He echoed as he took one of it. "This Sunday…"

Akari felt like slapping herself, this was not the same old Hikaru who loved festival! He buried himself under old books and Go these days, there was no way he'd like to go to festival. "Would you like to go with me?!" She asked quickly. "I will treat you takoyaki!"

What was she saying?! This was Hikaru, and she baited him with Takoyaki?!

"Okay."

"Ha ha ha I know it's childish and…" Akari's eyes bulged out in shock, "Okay?! You… will go with me Hikaru? Really?!"

Hikaru laughed softly and Akari flushed red. "Yes, I would love to… although I have appointment at one o'clock somewhere else so I can't accompany you for too long." He informed her.

"It's fine! Then let's meet in front of the gate at ten!" Akari seized her opportunity.

"And for that takoyaki you promised…" Hikaru trailed off. "It would be my treat, since you have invited me it would be improper if it's on you."

That was totally like a date!

Akari stuttered at the prospect, and she was getting dizzy. "Uhm… okay… then! See you on Sunday, Hikaru!" She said before she ran off with her friends who were giggling and teasing their friend about her date.

'And you said you're no Hikaru Genji…' Sai teased.

'Ha ha ha very funny ani-ue… I accept that invitation without any romantic intention, it's just that…'

'You feel bad for drifting apart from her?' Sai continued.

Hikaru nodded, 'Yes, but then again it may be fun… trying something new once in a while…'

With Akari and her friends

"I don't know that childhood friend you always spoke of is such a cutie!" Akari's friend, Sa-chan said. "Ri-chan! You have a good taste."

Acc-chan nodded, "Yeah, good looks but…" She trailed off, "Maybe it's just me, but that guy has this mature air around him and it feels off to me."

Akari frowned at that, "Hikaru… lost her mother when he was six and his father worked overseas since then so he was left with his grandfather, so it's no wonder he mature faster than any of us."

Acchan shrugged, "Perhaps but… I just feel he is different."

Sa-chan nodded in agreement. "Yeah… just with being near him I can tell he is different… he is good looking though and that mature personality makes him miles ahead our male classmates."

Acchan shook her head, "It's more fitting to say he is in different plane…"

"He plays go." Akari added.

"Go? That old man's game? So that's why you join go class once in a while?" Acchan grinned. "So it's for him?"

Akari blushed, "Uhm… but I didn't get better and when I visited him once in a while even an amateur like me can tell he is really good. His grandfather said he is good enough to be a pro already…"

"Pro?!" Sachan squeaked, "My dad is total fanboy of pro players! That would be totally weird if he my father fanboy your boyfriend if he make pro…"

"Eww!" Acchan cringed. "That's so gross! And isn't he too young?"

Akari shook his head, "Actually from what I know it's not unusual… but Hikaru seems uninterested."

"His interest in going pro aside, why don't you try to get him teaching you?" She asked curiously.

Akari frowned at that, "Well… his grandfather's house is pretty far… and I am busy with my club too…"

"Ooh that's too bad…"

Akari smiled sadly at her friend although inwardly she apologized for lying. She could spare her time if she wanted, but she didn't want to be around Hikaru when he was playing go too often. It was just… whenever he played go, Akari felt he was so far away as if they they didn't even exist on the same plane.

review please! Feed me!

I think at this point Hikaru relent to be Akira's friend already... and Akira didn't show it in canon at first but I think his desire for rivalry is partly because he has no idea how to make friends so he go to the route he know best, compete in go LOL
However in this story Akira get to enjoy spending time with Hikaru that has nothing with go so he could see what being friends feels like not just rivalry.

So yeah... good luck Hikaru, one more stalker for you LOL

This chapter is shorter simply because it's a good end there... and I think I torture you guys enough with tension from last chapter. SO this time I torture you with preview for next chapter~

Chapter 5: Apparently School is harder than Tsumego

"Hand over your gakuran, Tsutsui!"

"Hah?! But he doesn't go to this school! Heck! He is sixth grader!" Tsutsui shouted but Kaga already set on stripping him off of his black top. "Oi!"

Hikaru assured Akari he understood her circumstances and he was not mad. Then he heard Tsutsui and Kaga yelling, and couldn't help but wondered if this how their audience felt whenever he and Touya was shouting at each other. "Uhm… what are you two doing?"

At last Kaga who was physically stronger managed to rob Tsutsui of his black jacket and tossed it to Hikaru who stared at the piece of clothing bewilderedly. "What is this supposed to mean?"

"Now we have a team." Kaga announced proudly, "You, I and this smart ass boy!" Kaga said, pointing at Hikaru who stared at him as if the older boy had gone nuts.

Hikaru smiled at him benignly, "I refuse."

"You lost! Or you'd rather I throw you to freezing pool?!" Kaga threatened.

"I didn't agree to that… I have not expressed my agreement to that ridiculous condition." Hikaru shot back coolly.