I'm back! Although I guess this is somewhat bittersweet news, since it's the last installment of this crossover story.

I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

The HUGE SPOILER WARNING is back up in effect! Don't read unless you know the endings to both series!

The Disclaimer is also back up in effect...more like it was never gone in the first place. Meh.


It's Time to Play a Game
by ten

Epilogue: For the One Who Waits

Two spirits sat with a goban between them, mirroring one another with the intensity reflected in their eyes. But that was where the mirroring began and ended, for these spirits were as opposite as the colour of the Go stones they were using to play.

Pachi.

Some nervous shuffling, shifts in facial expressions, and a sigh of defeat.

"I have nothing."

The winner smiled in jubilation before heaving a great sigh himself, letting his intense concentration seep out of his body.

"Good game – you attacked very well in the upper-right and centre during the mid-game, especially that trap you laid out. It caught me completely by surprise!" He grinned, reliving the excitement of that moment. "Care for another round?"

His companion let out a deep laugh, running a hand through tri-coloured hair.

"Honestly, I wish you could play something other than Go – your obsession is starting to worry even me."

He received a cute pout in response.

"I can't help it if I love the game. Besides, I've been looking for a rival for so long – who knew that I'd only find one in the afterlife?"

The other spirit quirked a small smile – he could understand the need and longing for an equal. God knows he'd sometimes resented, even hated his title of the "King of Games", not just because it made him a target for everyone and anyone with a big enough ego, but also because it made him seem so far; so intangible to everyone else, not just because he spent most of his time trapped in a golden puzzle. So he didn't mind when his spirit-friend constantly dragged him into a game of Go, even though he often grumbled about it. He found that holding a stone was not quite the same as holding his beloved cards. Even now, the stones felt foreign in his hand, as if they were trying to replace something that wasn't there.

The sound of a finger tapping wood pulled him out of his thoughts, and he dipped his head in apology. But his companion wasn't offended; merely curious.

"Is something bothering you?"

"Ah, just thinking about…old times."

The violet-eyed ghost grinned at the bad pun, but his eyes softened as his own thoughts drifted to a certain blond-banged boy. Without thinking, he said quietly, "It's hard to leave our friends behind, ne?" His pale hands fingered a smooth stone, remembering the times he so badly wanted to pick up the stones, but somewhere along the way, he found himself not really minding as long as his host did it for him. It was a very small gesture, but it showed that underneath that brash and teenage nature was a kind heart that cared about him.

His rival hmm'ed.

"Perhaps. But you know we didn't belong there; we overstayed for far too long." He frowned, marring his tanned face. "It was only borrowed time."

"Still. I'm eternally thankful to Kami-sama for letting me rekindle the earth's passion for Go, and for meeting—"

"Don't even think about it," the other warned, catching the dangerously wistful look on the Go-obsessed spirit's face. "You might not have gotten caught the last time you intruded the Realm of Dreams, but if you do it again, I'll drag you out myself! You know full well that there could be serious repercussions for doing that, like losing much more than a fan!"

The spirit pouted again, and stuck a tongue out childishly even though he was pretty sure it was a highly improper way to treat a former pharaoh.

"I think it might cause problems among the living if they started dreaming about an Egyptian with an impossible hairstyle dragging an ancient Japanese man behind him." He bit back a laugh at the image before sobering up. "Besides, don't you ever worry about your charge? Things like how he's doing and what he's up to?"

The ex-pharaoh's face fell a little, but he tried to keep the sadness out of his voice.

"I left those regrets behind me when I walked through the last gate. It would also be betraying my trust in the friendships he has formed with many others, and undermine my belief that they will support him through any obstacles he may face. But even without his friends, I know he is far stronger than anyone I've ever met."

There wasn't anything the Go-spirit could say to that, except acknowledge his fierce determination. But still, he was the one who hadn't managed to say a proper goodbye, so he could forgive himself for breaking the rules.

They sat in comfortable silence, thinking about the 'extra lives' they were given. Until one of them started to think about Go again.

"So can we play another game? Pleeeaaaaassseeeeee?" He gave his best puppy-eyed impression, making his rival throw up his hands in exasperation.

"Fine, fine. I give up. But only because I'm going to win this time!"

"Yaaaayyy! You're awesome, pharaoh!" He glomped the tanned spirit, who squirmed a little under the suffocating hug but allowed it anyway. He'd long gotten used to it, after the other ghost had apologised numerously and explained that it was a habit he couldn't get rid of, not ever since meeting his second host in the living world.

They quickly cleared their previous game, but before they began, the Heian spirit shot the Egyptian a challenging look.

"I'm not going to go easy on you because it's my turn to play the Kami no Itte!"

The Egyptian laughed, knowing the other's fiercely competitive streak that almost surpassed his own.

"That's not much of a threat – I'm the one who managed to play that hand first."

"Well, I suppose we'll have to see whose hand is better!" They nigiried, and this time, the dark spirit was white while the pale ghost was black. As they exchanged Go ke's, the pharaoh took the opportunity to send a last jibe.

"You do know that it's possible to play the Hand of God with games other than Go, right? Like with the card game that I've been playing for the last few thousand years?" It was also a last ditch attempt at trying to turn that Go obsession towards something different.

He just received a mild glare for his efforts.

"The only game I'm interested in is Go."

For a split second, the Egyptian spirit saw a certain violet-eyed twin staring back at him with the same innocence and child-like quality, and he felt a stab of nostalgia. But it was soon drowned out by the sound of stones drawing shapes among the lines, until all that was left were two of the world's finest strategists duelling in a world where all they did was play games and wait.

-Fin-


And there you have it. Thanks for all the favourites and alerts and reviews! Leave one last comment if you have a few seconds to spare. =) I'll see you next time, in my next story!