The Call of Go

Chapter 6

By: Warrior Seadra

"-uji, Hitsuji," Hitsuji awakens to his mother knocking on his door. "Hitsuji, wake up. You have a visitor."

"Just... a moment." Hitsuji sleepily responds, forcing the blankness from his mind. Hitsuji, hearing his mother great his guest, pushes himself into sitting up. Rubbing his eyes, he moves himself on to the edge of his bed. He stands, stretching and yawning, and changes his cloths. He runs his fingers threw his hair and opens his bedroom door.

"Xiao Lan," Hitsuji smiles, seeing the girl from the hallway. Greeting his mother as he passes her, Hitsuji enters the living room. He stops and bows politely, "Good morning."

"Stop that already, Hitsuji!" Xiao Lan waves her hands, "It's embarrassing. Anyway, I'm here for a good morning match."

"What happened to making reasonable requests...?" Hitsuji sighs, dropping his shoulders as he turns to the clock. "It isn't even nine..."

"Yeah, sorry. I would have come earlier, but I had to finish my chores first." Xiao Lan scratches the back of her head as she smiles in embarrassment.

"Xiao Lan..." Hitsuji maintains his smile as he feels a shiver run down his spine.

"That's the complete opposite of Hitsuji." Hitsuji's mother enters the living room with kettle of tea. She pours three cups and seats herself on the sofa. "If Hitsuji could, I'm sure he would just sleep the entire morning away."

"But really, Souma-san." Hitsuji hears Xiao Lan comment to his mother as he retrieves the goban. "I never realized the Hitsuji you always spoke of was the same age as me. I should have realized he was your son before today too..."

"Mother, you know Xiao Lan?" Hitsuji looks to his mother as he places the goban on the table.

"Yes, we took the elevator together every morning." Hitsuji's mother sips her tea as Hitsuji seats himself. "She introduced herself by declaring she was going to be a professional Go player."

Xiao Lan coughs, chocking on her tea. Her face turns red as she tries to make herself smaller. "I was still just a child back then..." Xiao Lan weakly responds.

"Passion for what you love is nothing to be ashamed of." Hitsuji's mother chastises as she rises from the sofa. "Always make the most of the life you've been given."

Hitsuji excuses himself from the room. Leaving Xiao Lan in the company of his mother, he proceeds to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Hitsuji re-enters the room as his mother leaves. He seats himself before the goban and Xiao Lan changes her seat for the chair across from Hitsuji. The two nigiri and, 'pachi,' Xiao Lan plays the first hand.

…..

"Urghhh," Xiao Lan bows her head. "I lost."

"Thank you for the match." Hitsuji returns the bow.

"Do you think I should have gone here instead?" Xiao Lan points at the board. "Or maybe it was this hand here... Maybe if..."

Hitsuji silently sips from his tea, allowing Xiao Lan the opportunity to review the game.

"Wait..." Xiao Lan furrows her eyebrows and turns her face towards Hitsuji. She points at him, exclaiming, "You're just playing around with me, jerk!"

Hitsuji's mother laughs from her seat on the sofa. From the book she's reading, she turns to Xiao Lan. "Xiao Lan-san, please, don't be insulted. Hitsuji will only tease people he's comfortable with."

"Urghh, fine." Xiao Lan sighs, dropping her head. "Nase-san must have it really hard."

"If Hitsuji's like his father..." Hitsuji's mother shakes her head. She trails off upon noticing her son's smile strain, "How did you meet Hitsuji?"

"Nase-san introduced us. We've all passed the preliminaries." Xiao Lan grins.

"Ah, so you are both insei. Do tell me if you pass," Hitsuji's mother glances at her son. "Hitsuji doesn't tell me anything. Good luck."

"Thank you." Xiao Lan stands and bows. "I must be going now. Thank you for the hospitality, Souma-san."

Hitsuji accompanies Xiao Lan to the door and bows. "Thank you for visiting today."

Xiao Lan shakes her head, sighing. "This is going to take some getting use to. Thanks for the game, Hitsuji. Guess I'll see you and Nase-san later for more training?"

"Yes, I'll give you call once the details are set."

"Thanks, bye." Xiao Lan walks down the corridor to her apartment.

Hitsuji closes the door and re-enters the living room.

"How are you feeling?" Hitsuji's mother asks her son as he puts the goban in the cabinet.

"I'm fine, I was playing with my left." Hitsuji turns from the cabinet and goes to the table. He picks up the kettle and tea cups, "Just like for when grandfather and everyone else comes to visit."

Hitsuji enters the kitchen and emerges holding a sponge.

"You playing Go reminds us of Shou. But they'd stop if you tell them."

"No," Hitsuji wipes the table. "I my left's already become my stopper. Saying anything now is silly since I'm going pro. But that's why you've never introduced Xiao Lan and I, right? My condition?"

"Yes," Hitsuji's mother smiles. "now don't forget to tell your grandfather once you pass the exam."

"Mom, that's not for almost two months."

"Yes, but you won't tell us unless we ask." Hitsuji's mother chastises her son, "He's very excited for you and did pay for the exam."

"Fine, I promise."

"Tell him you passed the preliminaries too."

Hitsuji sighs, dropping his shoulders "I promise."

…..

"Hello?" Xiao Lan's voice rings as her front door opens. "Hitsuji?"

"I'm off to meet Ayumi for our training. Will you still be joining us?"

"Yeah, but why didn't you call?"

"Sorry," Hitsuji drops his gaze as he glances to the side. "I don't know your number."

"Just let me tell my mom." Xiao Lan lifts her eyes and she bites her lower lip, as though attempting to remember something, as she re-enters her house. Through the door, Hitsuji hears Xiao Lan laugh. The door opens and Xiao Lan steps out, she giggles while holding her phone. "You're right. What's your number? I'll give you a call."

Hitsuji and Xiao Lan exchange numbers as they reach the elevator. They step out of the elevator on the first floor, greet the guard who winks at them, and leave for the train station.

"Ayumi." Hitsuji calls, spotting his girlfriend sitting on a bench outside the train station.

"Hitsuji!" Ayumi stands. She blushes slightly as she turns her head towards Hitsuji. Her bliss dissipates into disappointment and her shoulders drop as she says, "and Xiao Lan-san."

"I'm very happy to see you too, Ayumi-san." Xiao Lan gives a fake smile.

"No, sorry." Ayumi holds her hands before herself. "You just surprised me."

"What, afraid to share?" Xiao Lan juts her chin to the side in offense as she grabs onto Hitsuji's arm. "I don't know what you're thinking, but this is for the pro exam."

"Xiao Lan," Ayumi cries, attempting to pull Hitsuji's arm from the girl's grasp. "let go!"

Hitsuji, with a smile on his face, feels a sigh within his mind. He glances to a clock, patiently waiting for the two girls to finish their cat fight.

…..

'Pachi,' Hitsuji releases a black stone from his left hand. 'Pachi,' the bald owner responds with a white stone.

Hitsuji studies the goban and draws a stone, 'pachi.' He invades the heart of the owner's territory.

'Pachi,' the owner isolates Hitsuji's invading stone.

Hitsuji ignores the retaliation and 'pachi,' continues attacking.

The two continue exchanging hands and Hitsuji slowly bridges a path into the center of the owner's territory.

'Pachi,' the owner plays a hand.

"I resign." Htisuji bows his head in defeat.

"Again?" Ayumi turns to Hitsuji. She places a hand on his shoulder and examines his board. 'Pachi,' the ringing of a stone on a goban startles Ayumi. With a smirk, she returns her attention to her game.

"Please, another game." Hitsuji looks to the owner. His eyes burn with determination.

"Five stones?" The owner smirks as light reflects of his upheld head. "Let's play."

Hitsuji and the owner bow performing the customary greetings. Hitsuji stares at the goban for eleven minutes. Narrowing his eyes, he extends his hand.

'Pachi.'

…..

"Not the best way to start your training, huh?" Xiao Lan asks. Seated next to Hitsuji in a restaurant booth, she pats his back.

"But you start beating him towards the end, right?" Ayumi glares at Xiao Lan from across the table. She puts down her soda and asks, "What was the final score?"

"Two to seven," Hitsuji leans back against his seat. Resting his head on the wall, he looks up towards the ceiling. "I lost the last game too."

Hitsuji smiles, remembering himself, and leans on the table with his arms. He reaches for a french fry asking, "How were the other players?"

"Terrible," Ayumi shuts her eyes in resignation as she clenches a fist before herself. Her fist trembling, she continues, "even with a ten stone handicap, they lost. Ten stones, we gave them ten stones."

"Other than the owner, they all suck." Xiao Lan sips her soda threw a straw. "Maybe that salon they recommended will be better. Want to check it out afterwards?"

"Maybe tomorrow." Ayumi puts down her burger and wipes her mouth with a napkin, "Instead, Hitsuji, play a game with me."

Ayumi gives Hitsuji a shy smile, slightly leaning back in her seat. Hitsuji returns the smile. He leans towards his girlfriend and reaches for her hand.

"What?" Xiao Lan slams her hand on the table causing the two to jump, "Nase-san, not fair!"

"Not fair?" Hitsuji recalls he and Ayumi aren't alone. He repositions his arms on the table and turns to Xiao Lan raising an eye brow.

"Well, if you put it like that..." Xiao Lan giggles bashfully, admitting defeat. She scratches her cheek and says, "But, maybe... maybe we could have a study night sometime? Nase-san, you could even spend the night."

"That's a great idea. Where should we meet up?" Ayumi turns to Xiao Lan.

"I'm thinking my house. On the days when my parents come home late. Just, let me ask first."

Hitsuji leans back on his seat. Maintaining his smile, he gives a silent sigh of resignation. "My house could also work. My mom also sometimes doesn't come home until late." Hitsuji looks to his food and takes a bite from his cheeseburger.

Ayumi smiles brightly and says, "So, how about we go back to the salon afterwards and have our match?"

…..

"I'm home." Hitsuji announces, stepping into his apartment. He removes his shoes and enters the living room.

"Welcome home," Hitsuji's mother puts down a book. "how was your training?"

"I lost to the owner. The score was two to seven." Hitsuji sighs, dropping on the sofa next to his mother.

"That's great." Hitsuji's mother smiles.

"Yeah!" Hitsuji leans forward, smiling brightly. He rests his arms on his knees, saying, "A few more games, and I would have passed him."

"By loosing, you find someone to defeat." Hitsuji's mother clasps her hands together. She makes a distant smile, as though recalling something happy from long go. "Just like Shou would say."

Hitsuji's expression sullens. He glances to the floor saying, "I don't really remember."

Hitsuji's mother gasps, holding a hand over her mouth. She looks to Hitsuji and smiles sadly upon seeing her son's pained sorrow. She spreads out her arms and tightly embraces her son, holding him close to herself. "Oh Hitsuji, you know it isn't like that."

"He'd still be here." Hitsuji scowls, his hands' gripping themselves. "All because he wanted to play that game! We wouldn't have to live like this if he... If he ca-cared about... he-he wouldn't have gone! He should have just stayed home!"

Hitsuji begins to shake, crying softly in his mother's arms.

…..

Gently, Hitsuji opens his palms. He pulls away from his mother, wiping away his tears with his hands. "Bu-but I'm different. To- to me, there are more important things than Go."

Hitsuji's mother sadly stares at her son as he rises to his feet.

Hitsuji breaths deeply saying, "I have to get ready for bed."

"Good night, Hitsuji."

A/N: Hello everyone, here's chapter six and it's back to the story. It's a bit shorter than my usual, but some significant revelations were made or hinted at. Mainly, Hintsuji's relationship with his father. As we know, he doesn't like him too much, here I was trying to reveal why without actually having him say it out front. Do tell me if the delivery was satisfactory or how it could have been improved. We also have some more knowledge on why Hitsuji plays left handed. I think I've said enough for all of you to piece it together. Take a guess, please. Most importantly, we now know why Hitsuji and Xiao Lan never met each other despite being neighbors. His mother prevented them. Although, I don't feel I did a really good job on portraying Histuji and Ayumis' relation ship change after that kiss. The first kiss Hitsuji has ever given a girl. Thank you for reading, please review.