Thank you for all the reviews and alerts! It really helps keep me going, even though I've planned out the whole story already.
Anyway, without further ado, onto the next part! But just before that...
Disclaimer: The one downside of writing fanfiction instead of originals, because every time I have to write one of these, I'm reminded of how I'm basically leeching off of someone else's imagination (for the most part). So yeah, I don't own Hikaru no Go or Yu-Gi-Oh.
And since there were no complaints, I'll be using the same 'thought' system:
/.../ = Yugi's thoughts
/ /.../ / = Yami's thoughts
\...\ = Hikaru's thoughts
\\...\\ = Sai's thoughts
It's Time to Play a Game
Chapter 2: Let's Play a Game (Part 3)
At Kawai-san's command, Shindou grinned. He supposed he should be feeling sorry for Yugi since he was manipulated into playing a game, but he was actually excited. Even though he was almost certain that Yugi would be a complete beginner based on his supposed previous experience, it would be nice to let his mind relax after having to concentrate on simultaneous games.
\\Ne, ne! Hikaru, can I play? Pleeeeaasseee?\\ Sai's usual plea interrupted his thoughts, but this time he felt a little sorry about turning the ghost down.
\No Sai – there are too many people around.\
\\But a lot of them are leaving anyway! Please, Hikaru? Just one game?\\
Sai had his signature puppy-eyes look on and was clinging to him in earnest, and even though he was right about the crowd thinning out at the prospect of a not-so-high-level game, he still didn't think they should risk it. Also, he was sure Kawai-san would stay throughout the whole thing; after all, he was the one who instigated the game.
\\But the child even said he's on a vacation, so we'll probably never see him again after this game, right?\\
\No! Kawai-san's watching us, and he knows my playing style.\
Cue Sai's wail of despair, and it took every ounce of Hikaru's self-control to not plug his ears with his fingers.
"Is something wrong, Shindou-san?" Yugi asked. For a flash, Hikaru thought he saw a more calculating look behind those large, innocent eyes, but when he blinked it was gone.
"Eh-heh…no; everything's fine. Anyway, how many stones do you want?"
/ /Yugi! You saw the way he said that – he's clearly lying. And I felt a spike in that otherworldly aura surrounding him. In fact, it's increasing now as we speak! We should switch now, Yugi!/ /
/Yami! I'm not switching just on a vague feeling or hunch!/ he retorted, determined to play his own game. In the back of his mind, he knew he was being a little selfish, but he just didn't see where the danger was, especially in playing a harmless game of Go. It wasn't Duel Monsters, where there was always the possibility of being dragged into a shadow game. /Besides, this isn't like a duel where everyone's standing at least a few feet apart. We're practically right in front of each other, and there's no way no one wouldn't notice the sudden change./
On the outside, Yugi pretended to think deeply, before replying "I don't need a handicap" to Shindou. He got a raised eyebrow in response – clearly the teen expected to give him a big handicap, but Yugi refused to lower his standards. Besides, it was a friendly game with someone his own age.
"No handicap? Are you absolutely sure?"
He nodded. "It's just a friendly game; I don't really mind if I lose. But I'm not saying that I won't be trying my best to win, either." He smiled, hoping that Shindou would accept. Even if he lost, he could challenge the boy to a game of Duel Monsters afterwards. He looked the type that would suit the card game much more than the traditional game.
Hikaru looked at Yugi dubiously. He didn't want to lose, but he didn't want to cream the other kid either. Maybe he was lying about his limited experience? But he shrugged the matter aside – after all, he'd done the same to Touya with their first game together, even though it was Sai who was playing. In the corner of his mind, he felt that the whole situation was getting a little too eerily familiar. He shook his mind to clear his thoughts – now was not the time, damn it!
Yami had stopped voicing his worries about the game, but Yugi could still sense the spirit's intense displeasure at his stubbornness. Since that couldn't be helped, Yugi tried to reassure the spirit through their link instead.
/How about this – if there's any hint at all that he's going to go all weird on me, we'll switch. I promise./
He felt the spirit hesitate, before nodding reluctantly. Very reluctantly. But Yugi won the argument, so he smiled in his mind.
/Besides, I want to play, and it's not like you've played Go before, right?/ He heard another heavy sigh and a 'humph' – the best he could get out of the pharaoh at the moment.
-o-o-o-
\\Ne, Hikaru, he has that look again.\\
\Stop it, Sai. He does not have a thousand-year-old ghost haunting him and forcing him to play Go!\
Hikaru sounded like he was trying to reassure himself of that thought as much as he was trying to tell Sai to do the same, causing Sai to huff in defiance and disbelief. He was still a little miffed at Hikaru for not letting him play and for the roundabout insult to his person.
\\How can you be so sure of that?\\
\Because if he did, it would be the end of the world to try and pitch two Go-obsessed ghosts against one another. The world would drown in a wave of tears of happiness, with Go stones flying everywhere.\
\\Hey!\\ Sai pouted, but couldn't help entertaining such an idea. It would be wonderful if he could find a rival in this world this time around, even though he knew the chances of that were very slim.
Hikaru ignored him again, getting ready to concentrate on the game.
"Nigiri."
Yugi blinked at the term, before remembering that they were playing Go and not in a sushi restaurant. In fact, he had half-expected Shindou to say "Shuffle" or "Draw". He groaned inwardly – he was clearly not used to the game, not after playing Duel Monsters for so long. But he reached into the Go ke anyway and pulled out a handful of stones, plopping them onto the goban.
"Okay, so you're black and I'm white. Komi's at five-and-a-half moku. Get ready to be schooled by one Hikaru Shindou!"
Yugi had to crack a grin; his enthusiasm was contagious. But as they cleared the board, he saw Shindou's face harden in concentration – the same look a duellist would get during a battle. He felt a similar look take over his own face as he tuned out Kawai-san's cheers, and concentrated on forming his own strategy. He had the advantage of having seen a little of Shindou's style of playing, plus he picked up on a few things while watching the games.
/Wish me luck!/ he thought to Yami, feeling the reassuring support of the spirit's presence and drawing on every last ounce of his experience with the traditional game. He was going to need it, if he wanted to win.
-To be continued-
Three parts into this story/chapter and the actual game still hasn't started yet. Well, in both animes, games were often drawn out to be at least 2-3 episodes long, sometimes even longer, soooooo yeah. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
For those unfamiliar with Go terms, here's a quick glossary:
Go ke: a pot for holding the stones.
Goban: the playing board for Go.
Nigiri: what players say before determining who plays which colour.
Poor Sai and Yami; both shot down by their respective hosts. Haha. The next part will be up soon since this one is a little short. But meanwhile, continue to review/comment! Each one is much appreciated. =)
