Full Summary: Ya Shu was considered a Go genius. Her rise to fame was quick, and she easily attracted respect, power, fame... and enemies. When it got to be too much, she fled from China to her grandparents in Japan, changing her name to Makoto Seiko and swearing to never again play Go. One day, when walking home, she takes refuge from the rain in a Go salon, where she plays a single game. But before she can place down the last stone, the one that will secure her win, she realizes what she has done and flees. The only problem is that her opponent is the Meijin, and he won't let her fade into the background at all. All he has is the name she gave him, Zhen Hui, but it's enough to start tracking her down.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hikaru no Go.
Author's Note:
Ya Shu means 'elegant kindness' in Chinese.
Zhen Hui means 'rare intelligence' in Chinese.
Makoto Seiko means 'sincere truth' in Japanese.
Last Updated: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Placing the Last Stone - 001
Written By: FireFlower007
This is so not my day, Makoto thought as she walked around the Go salon, biting her tongue and pinching her wrist so she wouldn't let herself get involved with the games she saw. Dear Kami, what have I done that offended you so much?
Fool, she found a part of herself thinking before she could stop it, instinctively reacting to a game she'd just passed. You just missed a crucial point! You should've played the -
SHUT UP! the sane part of her mind screamed at her, almost in hysterics just by the fact she was in a Go salon. ARE YOU TRYING TO GET US INVOLVED WITH GO AGAIN?
I'm mental, she found herself internally sobbing as she found a spot to sit in the corner of the room, away from the games, trying to make herself as unnoticeable as possible. I'm completely mental.
"Oh, hello." Makoto looked up to see an older man dressed in a traditional kimono who looked to be about in his fifties. "Do you need an opponent, Ms - ?"
"Zhen Hui," she said, forcing herself not to hyperventilate. This guy... even though she hadn't been near a game of Go in over two years, she easily recognized the power he was practically smothering her with. She didn't want attention from someone important like him, blast it! "I'm really just waiting for the rain to stop, Mr - ?"
"Toya. My name is Koyo Toya." He studied her, and Makoto forced herself not to curl up in a ball under his gaze. "Do you not play, then?"
"I used to," she said, repeating what she had told the lady at the desk. "But not any more. I had a... well, I just don't play anymore."
Lame, her mind muttered.
SHUT UP! she wailed back.
"Well, how about just one game, then?" he asked.
I hate my life, she sobbed mentally. I hate hate hate my life. "Alright," she said, not wanting to refuse the man. After all, he'd taken the time to approach her and ask for a game. She herself would never be brave enough to do something like that. "Just... just one game, then."
He smiled. "Just one game."
_
Breathe, Makoto told herself. In. Out. In - oh, who am I trying to kid? I'M FREAKING OUT IN HERE! She looked around, half hoping that someone would save her only to see that everyone else had stopped to look curiously over at her and her opponent.
I'M DOOMED!
"Would you like a handicap?" Koyo asked her politely.
Makoto blinked. GAH! she internally exploded. What should I say? Should I say no? I haven't played in two years, though. Does that mean I should say yes?
MORON! that twisted, insane part of her brain scolded her. You're Ya Shu! You don't need a handicap!
But she's not Ya Shu anymore! the more reasonable part argued. That's the entire point!
Details, details.
Koyo watched as the young girl in front of him seemed to have an internal meltdown from his simple question, surprised by her reaction. Was she alright?
He'd noticed her as soon as she'd darted in from the rain. As the owner of the salon, it was only natural that he should know who came in. His curiosity had immediately been piqued when he'd seen her panicked expression when she'd realized where she was. And when she'd passed, he'd heard her mutter quietly to herself, "No, not that point, just one higher" as she stared down at a nearby game. Then, she'd shaken her head and told herself to shut up. He'd looked, and she was exactly right. Then, she'd secluded herself in the corner! Just what was she trying to do?
"No, no thank you, Toya-sama," she finally said in a small voice. "An even game, please."
He nodded. "Alright, then. Let's nagiri."
She bit her lip and nodded. He took a handful of white stones, and she set down two black stones. He counted. 16. She took the black, and he took the white.
Makoto bowed, letting her instincts take over once more. "Onegaishimasu," she said, her eyes becoming cold and calculating as she gazed serenely at the board in front of her.
Koyo stared at her in concealed shock. Gone was the nervous girl that had been sitting there just moments ago. Now, she radiated power like the most experienced players. He bowed politely back, his fingers already itching to start playing. "Onegaishimasu."
Pa-chi! Makoto slammed the stone down expertly, ignoring how the more experienced players in the salon immediately focused even harder on her as she did. She felt herself slipping away from her carefully constructed alias and becoming Ya Shu, the Go genius of China, once again.
_
Pa-chi!
Pa-chi!
Both of them frowned as they surveyed the board in front of them, dancing over the complex patterns of black and white stones.
Koyo was impressed. This girl, Zhen Hui, had an original style that surprised him. He'd been planning on holding back against her and playing a teaching game, but it had soon become apparent that that would be impossible. Every move she made was curious, as she ignored the usual moves that were considered acceptable and made her own. But despite that, every move she made was carefully planned, concealing elaborate traps that surprised him with their complexity.
Makoto was annoyed. She hadn't had to work this hard for a win since she had played against her old sensei. It was both sweet and salty; she was pleased that the game had turned out so interesting and challenging, but she was used to winning easily. It was a thrilling experience, and made adrenaline pump through her veins. It was that addictive feeling that had first made her play Go.
She suddenly grinned, and Koyo followed the direction of her gaze with his own eyes. They had been at a stalemate for quite some time, and both of them had been staring blankly at the board, trying to find a way to win. However, she'd found it first.
With that one move, she'd win the game. It was the point of no return.
Makoto couldn't stop the grin from spreading across her face as she spotted the winning hand of the game. Sorry, pops, she thought. Looks like this game will be going to me after all.
Then, she made the mistake of looking up at him.
Their eyes met, and he gave a small nod, as if telling her to go ahead and make the play. That's when she realized exactly what she'd been doing.
She'd been playing Go!
Her body moved on its own. As soon as she realized what she was doing, she immediately stood, her chair falling to the ground and the stones flying everywhere, and dashed out of the salon and into the rain.
Three blocks away, she collapsed and threw up in a conveniently placed trash can, earning several disgusted looks from passerby.
She'd been playing Go, and she'd enjoyed it!
Feeling dizzy, she forced herself to start walking home, shivering as she wrapped her arms around her.
My life sucks, she couldn't help but think as she closed her eyes and let the rain wash over her.
_
"Just who was that?"
"I don't know, but whoever she was - "
"To play like that against the Meijin of all people - "
Koyo ignored the chatter around him as he calmly started cleaning up the fallen stones, wondering who the strange girl was himself. Zhen Hui, he said to himself, remembering the name she had given him. Just who are you?
Only several blocks away, the girl in question had just arrived at her grandparents' home and was wondering herself, Just who was that old man I played?