The Call of Go
Chapter 2
By: Warrior Seadra
"My friends told me there's a good Go salon around this neighborhood." Nase spreads her arms as far as she can, saying, "The quality of the players is suppose to be this much higher than the other places we've visited."
"That's all?" Hitsuji raises an eyebrow. He opens his arms beyond Nase's and asks, "Wouldn't something like this be better?"
"Oh hush," Nase pouts, lowering her arms. She grins, beginning to hop slightly. "Anyway, they told me the owner is really strong too. Maybe even pro level."
…..
"Hey kid," A store keeper taps Hitsuji's shoulder. "you going to pay?"
"For what?" Hitsuji narrows his gaze. "I'm just watching."
"Sorry. This store don't work that way. It's pay, or leave."
"I'm just watching my friend play, and I payed her fee." Hitsuji links his fingers together. "Can't you let it slide?"
"Maybe." The owner smirks, "But first, your friend. She's an insei, right?"
"Yeah." Hitsuji hesitantly responds, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Thought so, she's just too strong. Anyway, I'll cut you a deal. If you beat me, I'll let you two come how ever often you want, free of charge. Loose, you pay me double."
Hitsuji's eyes widen upon hearing the word free. 'They're strong here. Nase-san will want to return. That could be expensive though and ever since dad died... Mom's been working really hard to support me... I... need to pull my weight too... So I should... but still... I just... have... to play.'
Hitsuji looks over to Nase. The concentration she displays sends a chill down his spine. In the other Go salons they visited, she never concentrated so hard.
"Fine." Hitsuji closes his eyes, lowering his head.
"Perfect." The owner's grin widens.
'I'll just make this quick.' Hitsuji tells himself.
Hitsuji follows the owner to a goban near the window.
They seat themselves and the owner says, "Now, this'll be an even game. Got that? But, I'll let you go first."
"Great, thanks."
""Please."" The two say the customary match greeting.
Tokin, Hitsuji places his stone on the board. Taking a breath, he places his right hand back by his side.
Pachi, the owner responds.
Tokin, pachi, tokin, pachi, the two play their hands.
'He's strong.' Hitsuji concludes. 'Stronger than Nase, but not enough to be a pro.'
Tokin, pachi, tokin, pachi.
'He's trying to take my stones in the upper right. From there, he'll move threw the middle and connect with his on the bottom left. But not if...'
Tokin, pachi, tokin, pachi.
Tokin, 'the game should now enter yose, its final stage.'
"Gahhh!" The owner slaps his forehead. "I give, I give. It was last move, really. Made me think I was winnin, then ya pull that. Well, a deal's a deal. Feel free to come by anytime. But I gotta know, why don't you play?"
"Bad memories." Hitsuji mumbles, hunched over on his seat. He holds a hand over his mouth while he bows. Excusing himself, Hitsuji rushes to the bathroom.
…..
"Thanks." Nase absentmindedly responds, taking a tea cup from Hitsuji's hand. She takes a quick sip and completely focuses her attention on her triple game.
Hitsuji swallows the tea in his mouth as he watches Nase place the cup of tea onto the table. From the tea cup, Hitsuji directs his gaze onto the empty tea plate before him.
…..
"Hey dad, mom's getting food for tomorrow," Hitsuji speaks to his father's memorial. "Nase-san and I went to another Go salon today. It was probably the strongest place we visited ever since we met last month. Even the owner was strong. He wasn't pro level, but close. You know, ever since you died, mom's been working really hard to support me. That's why I did it...
"I hate playing Go," Hitsuji shouts. "but I also have my responsibilities! I'm not the type of person who'll put himself before others! I hate this game and I hate you! It's you're fault! This is all your fault!
Hitsuji looks to the ground as warm tears roll across his face. "Go, Go, Go; that's all you left me and the only thing everyone wants. So why? Why is it I'm content watching Nase-san play Go? Forget it, I'll figure this out myself. It's not like you ever helped me with anything."
…..
"Hey, Nase-san," Ayumi hears Xiao Lan call out to her before an arm gets wrapped around her shoulders.
"Xiao Lan-san," Ayumi greets her insei classmate.
"So, was that him the other day?" Xiao Lan asks, bouncing within her knees. "Was that your boyfriend?"
"I-I told you already!" Ayumi franticly waves her hands. "Souma-kun isn't my boyfriend."
"Really?" Xiao Lan tilts her head to the side. "But you took his tea right from his hands and drank it."
"That was his cup?" Ayumi feels her face burn as she attempts to recall the event.
Xiao Lan laughs, pulling Ayumi's arm. "Come on, tell me what happened over a game."
"Xi-Xiao Lan!" Ayumi cries as her friend drags to a goban.
…..
"You've gotten stronger." Xiao Lan comments, surrendering the match.
"You think?" Ayumi grins. She flexes her arm, and squeezes the muscle with her free hand.
"That game really shows progress from last month." Takashi-sensei comments. "Nase-san, have you begun tutoring under a pro?"
"No, just has a new boyfriend." a fellow insei remarks.
"I do not have a boyfriend!"
"It still isn't official?" an insei asks.
"I think I saw him. Does he wear a really old, beat up jacket?"
"A blue and white one with a black sheep on it's back, right?"
"Yeah, that's the one."
"Then, I think I've seen him too."
"He must be quite the Go player to have helped you improve this fast." Takashi-sensei smiles. "Is he a pro?"
"Actually," Ayumi pauses, furrowing her eye brows. "we've never played against each other., He says he's really bad, though."
"Really" Xiao Lan tilts her head. "But he defeated that bald owner really fast."
"Hitsuji beat him?" Ayumi turns to Xiao Lan in disbelief. "When, how?"
"During the middle of your triple game. It was really fast, barely a few minutes at most." Xiao Lan lifts her eyes struggling to remember. "Then he ran off looking really sick."
"Why were you watching spying on them?" An insei asks.
"N-no, no, no, I wasn't spying!" Xiao Lan franticly waves her hands in denial. "I was just walking by and happened to see Nase-san's boyfriend..."
"Hitsuji isn't my boyfriend!"
"nigiri with the owner. I've played him before and he's strong. Well, that guy... Souma-san's confidence ticked me off, so I wanted to see him get crushed. It was only afterwards that I saw Nase-san.
"Hitsuji?" Xiao Lan fakes a confused face. Winking, she holds out her thumb1. "What happened to calling him Souma-kun,2 Miss. Single?"
…..
"Hitsuji," Hitsuji's mother calls threw the door. "Hitsuji, you're grandfather is here. Come out and greet him."
Hitsuji, lying on his bed, looks too the door and pleasantly responds, "Coming."
With a sigh he sits up and holds out his left palm. Using a finger from his right hand, he writes 'uneasy' and swallows3 it three times to calm himself.
Hitsuji stands and looks at the recordings of games his father played scattered across his bed. "Why, why am I studying kifu?"
With a final glance to his right hand, Hitsuji opens his bedroom door.
"Grandfather, grandmother," Hitsuji greets, shutting his bedroom door. He steps into the living room and bows, "I'm glad to see you are well."
"Ah, Hitsuji." His grandfather ruffles Hitsuji's hair. "If only Shou had had your mannerisms."
"I don't know." Hitsuji's grandmother grabs Hitsuji's hand. "A little immaturity is cute. Shou's charm dropped whenever he acted polite."
"Grandfather." Hitsuji smiles, gesturing to the goban, "would you like to play the first game."
Hitsuji's grandfather ruffles Hitsuji's hair. "I'm not so sure kaa-san.4 Hitsuji's charm might just lie in his politeness."
"Please, father's board is ready. I will get the tea."
Hitsuji set's the tea upon an adjacent coffee table and sits on the chair opposing the aged goban. He turns, joining his grandfather to face his father's memorial. Finishing a silent prayer, Hitsuji directs his attention to the goban.
"Please." Hitsuji and his grandfather say as the door bell rings.
'Pachi,' Hitsuji's grandfather ignores the interruption, placing the first stone.
'Pachi,' Hitsuji responds and replaces his left hand into his bowl of stones. The jagged edges cut along his fingers, distracting him from his tribulate stomach.
"Its started." Hitsuji hears someone comment as his grandfather plays a hand.
…..
"I resign." Hitsuji's grandfather bows his head. The elder turns to his son's memorial, bows, and rises from the chair.
"I'll play next." Hitsuji's oldest uncle seats himself. He gives a silent prayer to the memorial and turns to Hitsuji. "Go easy on me Hitsuji-chan."
"Please" the two bow.
'Pachi' Hitsuji's uncle plays the first hand.
'Pachi' Hitsuji responds.
'Pachi' "It's surprising," a side conversation begins. 'Pachi' "You'd think Hitsuji would play 'pachi' black."
"That's just 'pachi' his charm. Even though he's 'pachi' head of the house, he allows the guest to 'pachi' first."
'Pachi'
"He really honors 'pachi' his family."
'Pachi'
"And his father."
"Every year we play, it's the same thing."
"Yes, Hitsuji, before his father, plays each of us in turn."
"Never stopping for a break, not even once."
"He only speaks again once he finishes."
"Shou and Keiko should be proud."
'Pachi'
…..
"Hitsuji, visitor." Hitsuji's grandmother calls from the entrance, leading someone inside.
"Coming?" Hitsuji pleasantly calls out, furrowing his eyebrows. He quickly makes his way threw the room.
Hitsuji's relatives begin whispering amongst themselves upon seeing the guest.
"Na-Nase-san." Hitsuji is taken aback upon seeing Nase at the entrance.
"Go-good afternoon, So-Souma-kun." Nase murmurs, hesitantly giving a low, formal bow.
"Ah," Hitsuji remembers his manners. He walks up to Nase and turns to face his relative. "Everyone, this is Nase, Ayumi-san."
In response, Nase bows to Hitsuji's relatives. A few of Hitsuji's cousins whistle in response, much to Hitsuji's discomfort.
"Nase-san," Hitsuji swallows, turning to Nase. "These are my relatives. Come."
Hitsuji leads Nase to the goban before his father.
"This... is my father."
Hitsuji seats himself before the goban and gestures Nase to the seat before him. "Please."
"Oh," Nase mouths the word, seating herself across Hitsuji. She gives a prayer and turns her attention to Hitsuji. Uneasily, she looks upon the goban.
"You can go first." Hitsuji passes the black stones
"Please." The two say.
'Pachi' Nase opens the game with a weak hand.
Hitsuji looks to Nase with down cast eyes and 'pachi,' he responds with an aggressive hand.
'Pachi'
'Pachi'
'Pachi'
'Pachi'
Nase pauses to examines the board. She glances up to Hitsuji and look back down. 'Pachi,' with a proper hand, she resumes attacking Hitsuji's stones.
"She's strong." A relative comments.
'Pachi' "Mmm, I think Hitsuji 'pachi' is still a head."
"He is. 'Pachi' but 'pachi' not by much."
"Meh, Hitsuji's been 'pachi' playing for hours. 'Pachi' we can't blame 'pachi' him if he gets 'pachi' tired."
'Pachi'
'Pachi'
Hitsuji draws a stone and stops, hesitantly holding his left hand over the goban. With his hand trembling over the board, he searches the rows and columns for a hand. He studies all the areas except the one below his fingers.
"I resign." Nase announces.
Hitsuji exhales, placing his stone back into its bowl. He cleans his stones off the board, turns to his father, and rises, stepping away from the goban.
With a bow, Histuji excuses himself from the living room and enters the kitchen.
Hitsuji opens the refrigerator, and leaning on its frame, hidden by the door, breaths deeply.
He feels a hand on his shoulder as Ayumi's voice runs threw his ears. "Hitsuji?"
"Ayumi..." Hitsuji turns to the girl, avoiding eye contact. Slowly, he continues. "Please... stay for as long as you can... Please..."
Ayumi gently squeezes Hitusji's shoulder and exits the kitchen.
…..
"Thank you for coming this year." Hitsuji bows to his grandfather and grandmother. They shut the door as they leaving. As the door shuts, Hitsuji makes eye contact with his mother. With a glance to Ayumi, he steps outside and allows the cool air to wash over him. Gripping the railing, he looks at the city before.
He hears Ayumi open the door and step outside. "Hitsuji." She whispers, shutting the door.
"Hey," Hitsuji turns to Ayumi, not releasing his grip on the railing. His face face long and tired.
"Hitsuji..."
"Every year, it's the same thing. All for the memory of my dad, I have to play game after game...
Hitsuji tightens his grip on the railing.
"It's true, you know. About my dad."
Ayumi shakes her head, her lips tremble as she smiles. "What about you, do you hate Go? Do you hate... me? You avoided so many hands that game..."
Hitusji turns back to the city, leaning on the railing with his arms. "I... I like watching you play. Really, I do. But you saw, I- I... When I play, I'm just... and well..."
Hitsuji sighs, closing his eyes and straighting his posture. He looks off into the night sky, continuing, "I just... I don't know. About myself, what playing means to me. I don't know anymore."
Feeling a warm hand on his arm, Hitsuji turns to face Ayumi.
…..
Hitsuji sighs as he steps into his house, shutting the door behind him.
"Was that your girlfriend?" His mother asks as he steps into the living room.
"Ayumi... I just walked her home." Hitsuji sighs, collapsing on the seat next to his mother. He looks to the side and notices his mother had already returned his father's goban and memorial to their rightful places. "Sorry, she didn't tell me she was coming to visit. She's always busy with her insei classes on Sunday."
"She's a sweet girl." Hitsuji's mother strokes his hair. "I'm glad I finally got to meet her."
Hitsuji turns to his mother and rises. "I'm going to bed. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Hitsuji."
foot notes
1Hold out your thumb in conversation, means your talking about someone's boyfriend. Pinkie means girlfriend.
2Using first names is a sign of intimacy.
3A method for dealing with nervousness
4Wife, husbands and wives in japan call each other husband and wife as a form of endearment.
A/N: Well, chapter two, I hope you all like it. Although romance is a part of this story, it isn't an important part of this story. The romance just happens, mostly off screen, but I'm trying to show the stages it developed threw on screen. I'm also trying to show Hitsuji's relationship with his family, specically his father, grandfather, and mother. Let me know what you think and criticism is always welcome. Thank you