Disclaimers: Hikaru no Go and its characters are created and/or owned by Hotta Yumi, Obata Takeshi, Shueisha, Studio Pierrot (all rights reserved). I just borrow them to provide - hopefully - a bit of free entertainment to the fans.
The Way of Go
by VKempf
2. Prologue: A Spell on the Future
A smile was flickering around Abe no Seimei's mouth, as he felt scrutinized by the young Go master, who had already taken a long curious look at his tools. Other people would just lower their head and wait patiently for the onmyoji's statement, but his current guest was watching carefully every of his moves.
Is it an habit he got from playing? Seimei wondered. He really would have made a good disciple. Maybe it is not too late...
Thanks to his powers, Seimei had managed to reach the canonical age of eighty in a rather good shape, another feat to his credit. Of course, his body was not as nimble as it used to be, but his mind was, and that was really all he needed. He could easily live on a few years more, just for the pleasure of teaching a dedicated student. But would Sai be really dedicated, and a student to begin with? He was young but already a master in his own way...
Seimei put aside these plans to concentrate on Sai's birth chart. What appeared quickly under his eyes was an exceptional configuration, something he hadn't seen many times in his life.
"Brilliant..." he whispered, beaming. Sai was not just gifted or talented: he was born a pure genius, a blinding star who had still some growth ahead.
But the present days were his matter of concern. Seimei turned to his chyokuban and held out his right hand above the starry hemisphere. After a few seconds of concentration, it began to spin slowly, according to his will. Another fascinating subject for his curious guest, but this time Seimei was too busy to relish the sight of Sai's amazement. Silently, the plates were moving to match the current configuration of the stars, planets, elements and gods, and in the end combine with Sai's birth pattern.
Seimei's face remained impassive, but his usual smile had somehow frozen on his lips. He didn't like at all the configuration forming under his hand. He had already seen similar ones regarding known Heian dignitaries - even the highest of them. All of these people were not to be found in the land of living anymore. He cast a quick look at the young man, who seized this glance to venture a question.
"May I ask... do you see anything?"
"An oracle is needed." Seimei replied in a tone as neutral as possible.
The onmyoji began with a series of ritual hand gestures to seal himself off from any external influence. Then, lifting the lid of an oblong lacquered case, he grabbed a handful of thin yarrow stalks in his left hand. His eyes shut, he concentrated on the question for which he was seeking an answer. When he had it clearly in his mind, he began dividing the handful into bundles, following the complex counting of the stalks to cast the first line of the oracle. He ended up with eight, which meant a young On. With a thin stylus, he drew a broken line on a small sand tablet. He repeated the process five times, counting and drawing, while Sai was watching, fascinated, the dance of the stalks. When the whole hexagram was formed, the tablet displayed five On under a single Myo.
Seimei let out a deep sigh, not of relief, but hopeless
resignation.
The star would never reach its full size. His days
were short, very short. They are numbered, had whispered other
stars on the black stone. When Seimei had asked what could be done
about that, the oracle had replied with the twenty-third figure:
Splitting Apart.
It does not further one
To go anywhere.
And in addition to the judgement:
The bed is split at the edge.
Those who persevere are
destroyed....
The night was clear under the full moon. The garden was very quiet, save for a few hoots and squeaks under the trees. Sai was waiting nervously for the Onmyo Master to speak, but Seimei's head was still lowered, considering the stalks.
If only he had come sooner, while his destiny was still written with chalk! Maybe I could have helped him. Now it is written with red ink, it cannot be diverted. Shall I talk to him ? Seimei wondered.
Telling bad news, even the worst ones, had always been an unavoidable part of his duties. Not so long ago, he had foretold an emperor's death, which was proven true - as always. He had never hidden the truth to anyone, as harsh as it was for the concerned people. Why this hesitation now? Sai had the right to know and prepare bravely for his fate. But even the brazen Seimei found it too cruel to the poor Go master.
Tomorrow is an important game for him, there is no need to ruin it now. Yet I must tell him something of the truth...
The old man allowed himself a good breath before raising his head and looking at Sai.
"Your fears, sensei, are well founded," Seimei said quietly. "You are a hindrance for someone's ambition; therefore you must be... pushed aside."
Sai shivered.
"Someone... You mean... my rival?"
"Though this oracle usually tells about lower people, it is very likely."
Sai frowned.
"How can I be a hindrance for him? Tennou-sama has always treated us equally. What can he gain from being his only Go tutor? That does not entitle him to more power or wealth."
Seimei smiled sadly.
"Some people just cannot make do with what they have. You say the emperor treats you both equally, maybe your rival does not share your view. Or maybe he envies you something else. The so-called City of Peace runs on an awful mix of ambitions and jealousies wrestling like snakes in a basket; even a young courtier like you should be aware of that..."
"I know but... who would envy a simple tutor position? Especially when he already holds one..."
There was bitterness in Sai's voice, and Seimei could not imagine that the so brilliant master was just discovering the real world. He didn't let himself lose his patience though.
"Maybe your enemy has other plans for the future. Maybe he is not even jealous. Maybe he just... hates."
"Hates ?" Sai seemed totally lost, and this time Seimei let out a bit of annoyance in his reply.
"Why not? You belong to an important and powerful family, Fujiwara no Sai," Seimei said, ironically stressing the name. "So important and powerful, and for so long now that fear and hate have arisen among many in the Court. I do not speak for myself, of course," he added. "All those little plots and political schemes have always left me cold, all the more now."
"I am hardly related to our regent or any of the great ministers," Sai pouted. "Besides, power does not interest me, I just want to play and teach Go."
Seimei shook his head.
"That is precisely what makes you an obvious target. Many courtiers yearn to see the present regency overthrown, but Crafty Michinaga is not a piece you remove overnight. So they would rather go for an easier prey."
He gave Sai a commiserating half-smile.
"You do not lack cleverness, sensei - you have proved it brightly. You even allow yourself to cultivate a bold scepticism on matters other people just take for granted. Yet you remain way too trusting, and the same people are able to use it to their own advantage. Please do not take it badly, but you should apply your fighting skills outside of the goban too. "
Sai hid his clenched teeth behind his fan. To be considered a naive person by a famously cunning one wasn't very pleasant, but he knew in himself Seimei was right. When he spoke again, he sounded resolute:
"Thank you, Seimei-sama. I will not let anyone push me aside easily. And tomorrow, the game will be mine."
"Good," Seimei nodded. At least, those last days of yours will be lived in honour.
"Only..." Sai began, but he didn't speak further.
"Is there something else you would like to know?" Seimei asked.
"I would like to be sure... Is there any chance I must leave Heiankyo in the future?" Sai said, his voice quavering.
Seimei allowed himself a moment of thinking.
"The oracle does not tell such a thing, though it is not to exclude," he said. "Of course, for a courtier, exile from the Capital is a hard situation."
"It would be a disaster for me, since nobody is allowed to play Go outside of the Court," Sai lamented.
Seimei looked at Sai with a bit of pity. Considering the kind of exile the Go master was going to face, he would not be able to play much anyway.
"I reckon it is a shame for a Go master not to be allowed to touch a goban, but as long as you are living, you still have options open to you."
So take advantage of them while you can.
"But Go is my life!" Sai exclaimed in despair. "If I cannot play, I cannot live!"
Beads of sweat stood out on his forehead. Seimei looked shocked.
"Please, sensei, mind your words! They can have consequences you barely imagine!" he said gravely.
Sai gulped.
"I am sorry, Seimei-sama, but life without the game would lose all of its meaning, all of its taste. Maybe you do not understand it, but it is the way I feel."
"If you say so..." Seimei replied pensively.
Things were getting complicated. Not only was Sai going to die, but there was a serious risk he would not find peace in death because of his obsession.
He may become one of those poor shadows we must chase out, or worse!
As an answer to his grim thoughts, a long, sudden hoot shattered the silence of the night. Seimei looked up toward the cherry tree standing not far behind them in the garden. On the lowest branch was perching an owl, whose white feathers glowed eerily under the moon. Its golden eyes were turned straight toward the young Go master, who hadn't reacted, lost in his own turmoil.
"So..." Seimei whispered.
All the omens for Sai's future tallied: the Go master would die soon and wander in despair for...
A thousand years! You must have seriously offended the gods, Fujiwara no Sai! Seimei thought bitterly.
He couldn't imagine how, but guessed it had something to do with Sai's passion.
"How come you are so entrenched in Igo, sensei? You showed me the beauty of your art, but is it enough of a reason to sacrifice everything for it? What makes it so important to you?"
Sai's violet eyes gleamed.
"What makes the game so important, Seimei-sama, is the underlying perfection that hides in it," he explained in a passionate tone. "It is usually sensed only by advanced players, but surely you must have a certain idea of it, since you told me about the truth under the stones."
"Hmm... I was merely talking about the symbolic meaning of the goban. In days of yore, it was even used for our science, before we changed for more practical devices," Seimei said, nodding to his chyokuban.
"So you have never heard of the Kami no itte?" Sai asked, disappointed.
"Kami no itte?" Seimei repeated curiously. "Mikushige-dono may have mentioned it once, but I do not remember well. What is it exactly?"
If Sai had not been the exquisitely distinguished noble man he was, he would have snorted. He covered his mouth with his fan instead.
"If I could answer that, my career would be achieved and my life complete. I just caught glimpses of it in a very few games, against very strong opponents."
"So this... 'divine hand' is to be found through the game?" Seimei asked.
"Yes. That is why my position in Court is crucial, for it allows me to play games of a very high level, whenever I have the chance of meeting strong players. Though it does not happen too often," Sai complained. "Living outside the Capital, I would have even less opportunities to play with them."
Seimei closed his eyes. A part of him burned against the Go master.
Why not leave the Capital already, and look yourself for these strong players, instead of waiting lamely for them to come to you? You should even cross the sea to meet old masters in China, while you are young and full of resources!
But even geniuses had their limitations, Seimei thought right afterwards. His own eccentricity was tolerated in the Court because of his fame - and his dreadful powers, but a man like Sai, who had grown in perfect obedience and respect of the authority, would have a harder time freeing himself from the social constraints. Since Sai was not going to live, blaming him was useless.
Seimei closed his fist on the handle of his fan. A better idea had just formed in his head.
"Have you ever thought of who would be the ideal partner in your quest for the... Kami no itte?" Seimei asked.
Sai looked surprised.
"... not really. I need strong opponents, for sure," he said.
"Like the one you face tomorrow?" Seimei asked.
Sai's face hardened.
"I do not think so," he said bitterly. "There is no doubt he is strong, but as far as he is concerned, the game is a means, not an end."
"Obviously he is not worthy of this quest," Seimei concluded. "Do you see any other candidate among those you have already played with? A foreign master passing through the City, maybe? Even a promising disciple?"
Sai racked his brain to remember his opponents in the best games he had ever played. He brought out a few names, but couldn't single one out . Each of them had shown him very good sequences - in which he had found the glimpses of perfection he was talking about, but none seemed as passionate and dedicated as he was himself.
As Sai remained silent, Seimei smiled.
"You are a dedicated teacher, but you actually look more interested in what lies on the goban than who sits across it, am I wrong, sensei?"
"I... What do you mean?" Sai stammered.
You are selfish, Seimei thought. Just like I was in my youth, thinking I needed no one else. Life proved me wrong. Unfortunately, life you do not have much left, and I cannot help it. But since it looks like you will have plenty of afterlife, something should be done nevertheless.
"As you pointed out, the opportunities of advantageous meetings in life are scarce, so it is important not to miss them," Seimei explained. "You miss them if you do not pay enough attention to others, just getting a hazy measure from the first impression. When you get to know one better, sometimes you find precious qualities you had no idea of on the first meeting."
Sai didn't appreciate much being lectured again, but showing his irritation was out of question: it would just make him look more immature than Seimei's statement implied, especially since Seimei was right. His answer had to be composed, just like in the game.
"I see... but you must admit it would take more of a lifetime to know each and everyone around," he said.
"Alas," Seimei sighed.
"Then, what about your science, Seimei-sama?" Sai went on. "Does it let you know who in the world deserves to be known?"
Seimei shook his head.
Your rival may consider the game as just a means to achieve his ambition, but the same applies to you, sensei, only the means in your case is not the game, but your opponent.
He could clearly perceive Sai's pride, and in other circumstances, he would have told him straight and loud his home truths. But he didn't want the Go master to leave before he had found a way to help him.
"Part of my business is to tell, in the Way of all events, what is fortunate from what is not," he said. "Thus you can catch good fortune when it passes by, and avoid disasters, or at least lessen their impact. But you cannot spend your time trying to foresee the future: doing so would mean not living your own life."
Sai was listening attentively.
"Avoid disasters..." he repeated thoughtfully. "The science that allows you to foresee a man plotting against another, can it be used to thwart his plans?"
"Sometimes it can be done... but not in your case," Seimei replied. "I have already saved men cursed by the will of a jealous rival, but when the curse lies in destiny itself, I am almost powerless. Although we have some limited influence on events, the very Way cannot be diverted. Those who try do so at considerable cost, and usually fail. That is why I cannot guarantee you will keep your position, nor that you will find the Kami no itte."
Sai nodded.
"I understand, Seimei-sama. I had no intention to ask you that anyway."
"Good. But that was not my point when I was asking about the
ideal opponent. To make things clearer..." Seimei waved his hand
toward the goban:
"In a game, what is the basic answer to a
nozoki?"
"Connection," Sai replied at once, though taken aback by the question.
"Right. Two loners lost in the flow of the game are joined and make a string that cannot be cut. By doing so, they yield a degree of freedom to the group, but together they face the following hands in a stronger position."
Sai could already see what the old man was driving at, but he let him finish his speech.
"People facing the common setbacks of life tend to connect to other people who share the same interests. Most of the time, such bonds are quite loose, for they only result from the circumstances. Some can get really firm though. The firmer the bond is, the less free each part gets, but the stronger they are together, sharing success like injuries. Then they can stand up to the flow of events, and sometimes... change it."
Seimei's eyes sparkled as he remembered memories of his.
"Provided of course each one in the group has chosen the right friends," Sai replied grimly.
"You are right," Seimei said. "If we could watch our life like we take in the whole surface of the game, we would know instantly which people to connect with. No player does these moves in our stead, so we are left to our own devices. Yet," he added in a confiding tone, "such is the Way that the paths of people who need to meet are naturally driven to cross each other in the long term."
Sai gulped.
"You mean... there is someone somewhere who, like me, seeks the Kami no itte, and both of us are destined to meet any day?"
Seimei smiled.
"Absolutely. Though this move can stretch over a very long
time, more than a lifetime in some cases. But it goes on
relentlessly, beyond space, time or death. So if you do not
meet your peer in this life, you may find him in the next."
Or
in between...
Sai took a comforting gaze at the familiar shape of the goban.
"So I just have to wait with hope," he said simply.
"I said we cannot go against the Way, but we can... support it, and make your wait shorter," Seimei winked.
"Really?" Sai said, his face lighting up.
"Certainly. Let me think about it."
He closed his eyes to muse over his plan. Sai didn't really figure out what was going on, but he waited patiently.
Seimei opened his eyes again after a while. At once, one servant came with a writing case he put down at Seimei's right side. Only this time, Sai realized - to his utter amazement - that the onmyoji never voiced any order to his servants: they just came and did the right thing at the right time.
Seimei took notice of Sai's reaction.
"Shikigami," he explained, pointing to the withdrawing shadow. "More reliable than any human servant - as long as you keep them under control."
Sai shuddered.
Seimei picked a small brush from the writing case and held out his free hand toward Sai.
"May I have your fan for a moment, sensei?"
Sai remained unmoving for seconds. Such a request was quite unusual: a fan was a personal object for a noble man or woman to hide unsuitable emotions, in accordance with the Court etiquette. Asking for it was on the verge of rudeness. But Sai found no serious reason Seimei would want to insult him at this point of their meeting, so he closed his fan and held it to the onmyoji with noticeable reluctance.
Seimei took it and delicately opened it out. It was a simple, unadorned yet elegant fan of ivory oilpaper, the one Sai used outside of ceremonial occasions.
"A fan," Seimei said, "is a very handy item. In its folds we keep nice and useful secrets: the words of a wise man, a beautiful song, a poem by the loved one. What we need here, though, is a spell... a spell on the future."
Seimei took a good look at the blank surface, visualizing what he was going to write on it. When he had his mind made up, he plunged the brush into the inkwell. Sai held his breath while his fan was getting covered with thin characters, along with unknown symbols on the sides. Despite Seimei's age, his hand was moving in a steady pace. In the same time, his lips were muttering mysterious words Sai didn't even try to understand. When the old master had finished, he slowly waved the fan to dry the black ink off. At last, he gave it back to its owner.
"Can you read it?"
Sai looked at his fan. The strange drawings on the side excepted, Seimei's calligraphy was perfectly readable.
"I can, but... what does it mean exactly?"
"Nothing but your wish... in appropriate words," Seimei said. "Every time you voice them, you actually call your peers, begging their paths to cross yours soon. You can even sing it if you like, you will remember it more easily."
Indeed, as he was muttering the words of the spell, Sai discovered somewhat of a rhythm in their arrangement, a music he found strangely comforting.
"It sounds like a good song in my ears," he said, smiling. "I will take it as a beautiful and fortunate wish for the grim days to come."
"It is much more than that!" Seimei cut sternly. "When you speak it, even the most indifferent gods are forced to hear your prayer. Remember this, sensei: the key to your life achievement may lie in this wish you take so lightly. This is the best I can do for you now, so you had better follow my advice and memorize these words quickly."
Sai blushed like a foolish schoolboy admonished by his tutor.
"I... I will remember it, Seimei-sama," he mumbled. "And be assured I will find a way to reward you greatly for your kindness." he added with a deep bow.
Seimei smiled sadly.
"Never mind that, you have no time. Tomorrow's game is your priority now. If you want to do me a favour, just sing this spell as often as possible from now, and my heart will feel lighter."
"I promise, Seimei-sama," Sai said firmly. "Thank you for everything."
"Good. In return I promise I will play Go more often," Seimei replied with a wink. In memory of you, sensei.
Sai bowed gracefully.
"I will be deeply honoured to stand as your unworthy opponent, every time you wish."
In the sedan chair on his way home, Sai was wondering about his interview with Seimei. He had come to him with no defined purpose but to off-load somewhat of his anguish. He was going back with even more questions, and a few lines on his fan.
He drew back the front curtain to let the moonlight in. Holding his fan spread under it, he read again the strange verses Seimei had written as a "spell".
It still makes little sense. How is it supposed to make my righteous partner come out of nowhere?
Outside Seimei's presence, even the most peculiar events of this night seemed to fade into irrelevance like those of a dream. He thought again about the onmyoji and his oracle.
I cannot deny he is an interesting person. But all he has told me is I have an ambitious rival and I should find someone worthier; all things I already know. Perhaps he is just a great illusionist who comforts people with smooth talk and bogus charms. Yet...
Yet Sai couldn't definitely consider Seimei a fraud, partly because of the strong impression the old man had still made on him, and also because in his dread, he needed to cling to someone.
Maybe that is precisely what allows this kind of people to thrive, Sai mused grimly. After a while though, he decided he had enough of the inner conflict.
That was not a bad meeting after all... If Seimei is a fraud, he is a pleasant one, and he really made me feel better.
Staring at his fan, he cast a smile.
As for his so-called spell, I see no harm in singing it. I like its rhythm, I can already think of a nice tune to go with it. I should try it on my fue sometime.
All the way to Sai's house, his servants could hear a soft humming from inside the chair.
Long after Sai had left, Abe no Seimei was still sitting in the veranda, staring at the vivid orb above. He had little hope the Go master would follow his advice. His fox side felt confirmed in his opinion that humans remained powerless puppets in the hands of fate, whatever talent, sign or help they were given in their lives. But the man in him grudgingly admitted that, always tempted to defy the gods and secretly wishing Sai's victory over the oracle.
He looked down on the sand tablet that still displayed the fateful hexagram.
"Oh yes, the second line is an old On, it is moving," he noticed. "Which gives us..."
With his stylus, he filled the gap in the broken line, changing it into a solid young Myo. The evolving figure of Sai's future was now the fourth:
Youthful Folly has success.
It is not I who seek the young
fool
The young fool seeks me...
Seimei burst out laughing.
(to be continued)
NOTES:
Ch(y)okuban: a rotating diagram used to calculate relationships between stars, elements, gods... (don't ask me how!)
Oracle: the oracle used by Seimei is the famous I Ching (or Yi Jing), the Book of Changes. I won't detail here all the stuff about trigrams and hexagrams, how to cast and interpret them; if you want to know more, Wikipedia is your friend (yeah, I'm lazy). The excerpts used in this fic are taken from Robert Wilhelm's translation (all rights reserved...).
Fujiwara: the Fujiwara clan played a predominant role in
the Heian era politics. Its members used to marry their daughters to
the successive emperors, thus securing their own position in the
Court, and actually ruling the state. Among them, Fujiwara no
Michinaga (966 - 1027) was the most renowned, and though he refused a
chancellor (kanpaku) position, he was the de facto ruler under
several emperors (who had no real power but religious), until his
retirement in 1017 AD. Thanks to his political skills, he managed to
remain in power and exercise an effective administration.
The
Fujiwara were a large family, with many branches; I assume here Sai
belongs to one of lesser importance.
Nozoki: a threat to cut (the English term is "peep").
Shikigami: a spirit familiar, taking human shape when summoned by a wizard to execute his orders.
Fue: wooden flute (there's a stunning color pic of Sai playing it in the artbook).
--
This ends the prologue of my new fic, hope it was not too tedious. I hadn't planned such a beginning at first, but after I watched Onmyoji (see notes in previous chapter), I thought I could write something interesting about Sai and Seimei. Since I hadn't involved Sai as an active character in my previous fics, it was the ideal opportunity for him to make an appearance in the flesh!
I've tried my best to make the background as accurate as possible, collecting material about the Heian period, I Ching, Chinese astrology, Go!... I can still fall wrong, and sometimes I must even take huge artistic license for things I really don't know (I couldn't find for instance what kind of tool people used in Heian Japan for ephemeral writing, so after watching Hero, I just made up the "sand tablet") So I beg your indulgence - every informative correction is welcome.
While we're at warnings:
The rest of the story takes place a few years after the end of the manga (the Hokuto Cup), so of course there'll be spoilers here and there.
Yes, there will be Romance! You'll have to be patient though... I won't give away the pairings, but don't expect slash ones, you'd be very disappointed. Though I plan some intense relationship between our two favorite Go rivals, but no more in my mind than scraps of SATIN® (Shounen Ai That Is Not).
I've got quite the whole plot in mind, but since English is not my first language, I'll be slow at writing and updating, sorry. It's just a fanfiction, but I don't want to make a half-assed job of this. Corrections are welcome (email please), as well as your reviews, of course!
Valérien
