Collection of Memories

Summary: Hikaru quit go after Sai left him and he moved with his family to America. But even as he finds a new obsession, go is still on his mind. Will Hikaru make his way back to Japan and his destiny with go?

AN: I am so sorry about how late this is but I have excuses including dropping my computer down the stairs….or had excuses but since it's been this long… well, if you're someone who cares, you can read more at the bottom but if you don't, just ignore this and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Only the original idea is mine, not Hikaru no Go

Part One – The Art of America

Act Three – Peace and the Time for Decisions

Summer 2004

Hikaru sat on the end of a dock, sketching the scenery in front of him. Small turquoise waves rolled towards the shore, made by the many passing boats. Trees on the other side of the lake were visible in an assortment of greens and yellows. Overhead, the sky was just beginning to show the hints of clouds, indicating a storm may be coming.

Despite the devastating months of April and May, Hikaru had managed to pass grade 11. Most of his marks had gotten him into the courses he wanted but the low Social Studies mark he received meant he had to take a summer session to boost the mark. The course was now finished and he and his mother had gone to Lake Superior, a place they had once wanted to go as a whole family but hadn't managed to.

The wind picked up and Hikaru turned to a new page in his sketchbook. The water was changing, growing more and more wild and he wanted to capture its wild state on paper. But before he could finish the drawing, rain forced him inside the cabin they were renting.

x-X-x

Hikaru entered the cabin, arms full of art supplies. He dumped them unceremoniously on the table and went looking for his mother. He found her sitting in the loft, staring at the brewing storm. Hikaru went up behind her, surprising her with a hug.

"I'm glad we came."

His mother nodded but didn't reply.

"Do you think we can come again next summer?"

She turned to look at him, talking in the maturity he gained while she grieved. He never complained, fulfilling his chores and schoolwork as well as the things his mother couldn't handle.

"Will we even be here next year?" She asked and saw confusion enter his expression. He never allowed emotion like that to show unless he wanted her to know what he was thinking without saying anything. She wondered when he had became so good at hiding his emotions. "We might be in Japan again, if you want to go to university there…"

Before his face completely hid his feelings again, she saw a brief displeasure.

"I'd prefer not to go back to Japan. There are too many unhappy memories."

While his mother immediately thought her late husband, she wondered what Hikaru was referring to, never having understood the reason for his strange mood swing before they moved.

"Well, what do you want to do next year? This is your last year of high school."

Hikaru paused for a moment, glancing at the easel he had set up in this room so he could paint the sunrise. "I want to paint. Maybe I could get an art scholarship? And my Finance 35 and Math 30-1 marks are both high enough to get me into a good business university here."

As she thought over this implication of staying in America, Hikaru sighed.

"I don't know about next year, but I know I want to spend it with you."

They sat together in the dark as the storm raged on outside, holding each other's hands and contemplating the future.

September 2004

One thing Hikaru never got used to was the lack of uniforms for school in America. As he walked into the school he was going to attend for one more year, he glanced at the crowd of students around him.

It was hard to guess who were the new students and who were only going to be there for less than ten more months, at least without the handy uniform system of the Japanese schools. But after a few moments of observing, Hikaru realized that he could tell the difference after all.

The new students were more hesitant, clutching sheets of paper that were probably school schedules and rushing to any familiar person they saw.

The ones who were going to be there for two more years had an air of ease about them, relaxing and chatting with friends.

And the ones in the graduating class were tense, either looking everything over with a critical eye or ignoring it in favour of beginning to read the textbooks that would be important for exams that would start in only a couple of months. Some looked confident in their ability to graduate and get accepted into any college they wanted and others looked at their schedule in worry, hoping the courses listed would get them into the college they needed.

As Hikaru wondered about how others students saw him, confident or worried, when a hand on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. He turned to stare up at a mess of blond hair.

Kevin Smith glared at Hikaru but the glare soon turned into a smirk. The two had become sort of friends as they had to take the same summer class. Kevin had been alone without any of his usual lackeys and had taken to talking to the Japanese boy.

Somehow Kevin had found out about what happened with Hikaru's father and apologized for being a jerk while Hikaru was going through difficult times. Hikaru had shrugged it off but found out later that Kevin's mother had been going in and out of the hospital for treatment for many years now and the American boy was worried for her. She worked in an art studio and sometimes painted as well, which was how Kevin learned about art.

As Hikaru started to show Kevin a sketch of his newest painting for his Memories collection, the blond dragged the still shorter boy into the school gymnasium for the welcoming ceremony.

-x-

Hikaru was seated next to Kevin and two of his lackeys, the others sitting on the other side of Kevin. They had been surprised to find their boss talking to 'the Jap' but when Kevin silenced their teasing, they welcomed him into their group, only a little hesitant. Hikaru realized he had somehow gotten himself involved with the school's basketball team regulars as he noticed a few jealous glances.

He turned his attention back onto the student council president, some girl who had won the election he hadn't cared about last year. Half the things she talked about must have come from a graduation speech as she talked about how everyone should '"go out into the world and do something with your life."

The boy to Hikaru's right suddenly was pushed into him as the two boys' entertainment got a little violent. A cough from a teacher caused them to momentarily pause their game only for it to start moments later in the form of poking each other.

A squeal from the microphone, and Hikaru once again looked to the stage to see the student president hand off the mic to the principal.

"You all have the chance to be something extraordinary," the principal began. He straightened his tie and faced the twelve hundred students who would all rather be somewhere else.

"Each and every one of you can do something that will leave a lasting mark on our world. Whether it is three years, two years, or only more year, you will all have to go out and make decisions for your future. Let me tell you what someone once told me…"

The principal was known for his long-winded speeches. The record had apparently been twenty-seven minutes at the graduation ceremony last year. From where he was sitting, Hikaru could see about eleven students timing the speech, and more than half of the rest of the students were on their phones or chatting with friends. Still, the speech went on.

"...You can become great if you put the effort into it. Let me tell you, make yourself a success. Will you be a successful sports player who only lasts till the end of university or one who goes on to compete at the olympics? Will you be a store manager or the company CEO?..."

On and on, he gave examples for almost every profession Hikaru could think of, even ones he hadn't known existed. Hikaru had given up on listening several minutes ago and was now sketching a picture of the principal, except where he slipped and his toupee fell off. Kevin laughed at the drawing and stole it out of Hikaru's hands to show the rest of the basketball team. They all agreed it was a very good likeness of their principal.

"...Your decisions now dictate the future." The principal continued, unaware of the drawing at his expense and the boys laughing at him. "Make those decisions be good decisions. Decide what you want to do next year, the year after that, two years after that. Give yourself a goal and meet that goal and you will be a success..."

The principle was winding down, and his speech was finally almost done but he gained a second wind for one, no, two more examples. He had been pacing the whole time and now stopped in the center of the stage. Nearly all twelve thousand students and most of the teachers hold their breaths. Was this the end?

"Here is to a successful school year!"

With that last sentence, the principal was finished and he handed the microphone to the frazzled MC who quickly finished with one more sentence that was drowned out by cheers. Hikaru wondered if the loudest cheers were just because people were glad that was done or if it was people who had placed bets on how long the speech was going to be and won. Personally, Hikaru thought that it was the latter.

Kevin and his basketball lackeys pushed their way through others to try to leave first, ignoring the calls for order. The blond clapped Hikaru on the back as he pushed past the shorter boy. When Hikaru glanced at him, the other boy grinned and shook the picture of the principal then disappeared into the crowd. Briefly, Hikaru wondered if it was a bad idea to let Kevin to keep the picture as he wondered what would happen to him if the principal saw it before other thoughts took over.

Give yourself a goal, the principal had said. What goal did he have? Hikaru couldn't think of any goals he had except maybe painting more. The more he thought, Hikaru realized he hadn't had a real life goal since deciding to become a Go professional in Japan. He frowned. He needed a goal beyond graduating.

November 2004

Three months into his second last semester, and Hikaru found himself in the library. All day teachers and students alike were mentioning the progress reports that were going to be released today. While talking earlier, Kevin had all but begged Hikaru to stick around with him so they could see their accounting marks together. Despite hating anything math or finance related, Kevin had confided to Hikaru about his mother's wish for him to get into a good university and not just with a basketball scholarship.

The library was crowded for four in the afternoon as everyone who couldn't be home in time was here to check their marks. Now was a critical time for the grade twelve students to find out if their marks were good enough for whatever university or college they were hoping to get into.

As Hikaru searched for Kevin, he could hear grade ten and eleven students laughing about low marks and scores. They at least had more time to fix marks. Hikaru wondered about what he would do if any of his marks were low. He hoped they wouldn't be.

"Hikaru!" Kevin was almost right in front of him, leaning over the chair. "I can't look."

Kevin gave up the chair to Hikaru and the dark haired teen took control of the computer. As he printed off Kevin's progress report and went to print off his own with Kevin hovering over his shoulder, Hikaru was reminded of when he had played netgo for Sai.

-x-

'4-9'

Click.

The ghost hovered over his shoulder, flitting back and forth as he waited for a response. He nearly jumped in excitement when a response came.

'5-8'

Click.

"How much longer is this going to go on?" Hikaru complained. "I have homework."

'I've won now, my opponent just doesn't know it yet.' Sai responded.

Hikaru rolled his eyes. Sai always won. It wasn't likely this time was going to be any different.

'18-12'

Click.

'Hey, hey, Hikaru!' Sai began fluttering around even more excitedly than before. 'We could make this training for you!'

"What? How?"

Sai pointed at the screen with his fan. 'Where do you think this guy is going to go next?'

"17-11" Hikaru read off the screen. Sai pouted.

'You have to answer before the player makes his move. I'll go 17-12. Where do you think he'll go?'

-x-

Was that why he was so good at predicting Sai's play, Hikaru pondered. Because Sai had begun to train him in predicting others' play?

His thoughts were cut off when Kevin returned with both progress reports from the printer and Hikaru briefly wondered if the comment that Hikaru had Kevin wrapped round his finger had any truth after all. Then both reports were shoved into his hands.

"Just tell me I'm not failing accounting."

Hikaru nodded and turned the paper over. "You're not failing accounting."

Kevin sighed a breath of relief.

"You might want to study more though, you're almost failing accounting."

The blond grabbed the sheet out Hikaru's hands to study his marks. The Japanese turned to his own progress report. His social studies mark was low again, as was first semester drama. But did he really need drama? He sighed. If he was going into arts, yes, if business, no. Once again he needed to make a decision. But why was it so difficult to decide?

December 2004

Three canvases on easels surrounded Hikaru. His bedroom looked more like an art studio with his bed in the corner than a bedroom as he didn't even have a desk for homework. He did his other work in the office and painted in his bedroom, the smells of paint seeping into his dreams

The canvas on the right was a building being built. Half way up, it turned to framework with men flying with some strange contraption on their backs and putting bricks on the structure one at a time. It had been a passing comment by Sai but Hikaru had remembered and was immortalizing it in a painting.

The canvas on the left was another for the Collection of Memories. Two hands on either side of the canvas with sleeves twisting and swirling behind the go board. One black stone was circled in purple, the rest were just absences of colour, contrasting the shock of white the other stones are. The one with purple was placed at 1-5.

The canvas in the center was different. It was for his mother for Christmas. They didn't really celebrate it much, but Hikaru wanted to give his mother a painting and this was as good a reason to as any. Although, today was Christmas Eve and the paint wasn't finished drying yet.

It was a picture of when they first moved to America, and had just arrived at the house only to find their stuff wouldn't be coming until later. They hadn't had a table and sat on a blanket in the middle of the room, eating McDonalds and laughing. Hikaru had set up the camera to take pictures at different intervals and in this one, they were all sitting, Mitsuko in Masao's arms and Hikaru resting his head on his father's shoulder, all three laughing over some joke Masao had said moments before.

The final touches were just drying when Mitsuko knocked on her son's door. Hikaru glanced up in panic for a moment before deciding now was as good a time as any to let her see her present.

The first thing she saw was her son, now taller than her, but still a head shorter than his basketball friend. His hair was all dark now and she momentarily missed the brightness the blond bangs had seemed to bring to her son's face. Now his hair was almost shoulder length and tied up in a pony to keep it out of his face while he painted. But paint streaks marked his forehead where he had brushed hair out of his eyes. Paint also seemed to find a home on both his arms and across his shirt.

Then she caught sight of the picture, or painting, beside him.

"Oh, Hikaru!" It was a perfect replica of the picture, her favorite out of all the ones that Hikaru had from that day. Her son had captured the moment perfectly, both with the photograph and with his painting. "It's beautiful."

"It's for you," he rubbed his arm uncomfortably and was surprised by the hug she gave him.

"Thank you."

For a moment they both stood there in silence before Mitsuko lead her son to sit on his bed.

"We need to talk." She began and Hikaru nodded, already guessing where this conversation was going. "Hikaru, what do you want to do next year?"

"I want to paint."

Mitsuko wondered when his love of go had turned into a love of painting. He had loved go as much as he now loved painting. But she didn't mention it, instead only prompting him, "and?"

"And…. I love painting but it's not very practical in the long run. I'm enjoying my business courses and that could be a better job opportunity. But I don't know beyond that - what I want to do with a business degree or even where to go to university."

"What about Japan and your friends with the Go Association?" Mitsuko nearly bit her tongue as she realized what she said and watched her son's expression suddenly turn distant then blank.

When Hikaru finally spoke, his voice was bitter. "I haven't talked to them in over three years. They probably don't care about being friends with me."

She wondered when her loud, rash and rambunctious child was replaced by this serious, solitude, artistic and studious stranger. She couldn't even guess what had happened to cause her son to distrust his friends, so she didn't push it.

"You don't have to decide yet. Just take your time and study hard."

Hikaru nodded but they both knew the conversation was done. He went to the canvas with the picture, feeling the corner if it was dry. Satisfied, he grabbed a scripting brush and dipped it into black paint.

Carefully, Hikaru signed the painting. H dot S dot ai. H. . When Mitsuko had asked about it the first time she noticed, Hikaru had replied that H.S. stood for Hikaru Shindou, in the American order. He told her that ai stood for art inspired but both knew that was his public answer. Only he knew that it actually was another way for him to remember Sai.

Hikaru frowned at the thought of his mother mentioning go but he knew he couldn't deny some lingering attachment to it. The proof was is his art after all.

February 2005

Hikaru was sitting in the assistant principal's office. He had been waiting for ages but the assistant principal had been called into another meeting, leaving Hikaru to ponder what he was going to do.

He hadn't failed social studies but the mark was lower than he would have liked. He was going to have to retake it but what would he drop instead.

The assistant principal came in then, pausing in the doorway to remember what student was waiting for him. "Hikaru Shindou. I'm Mr. Kolehmainen but most people call me Mr. K."

Hikaru nodded and waited while Mr. K. went to his desk to look at the file.

"So I see you want to redo social studies, is that right?"

Hikaru nodded again. "I also want to try to take the calculus class for better chances of getting into a business school. But I might want to do art so I need to keep my drama credits for that."

Mr. K. hummed in acknowledgement, looking over the schedule and the changes he wanted to make. "But you're going to do business next year?"

"Well, I'm not sure and…"

"Here's what we can do," Mr. K. cut Hikaru off. "You're wanting business requirements so you need social studies for graduating so that can do in place of your biology, you only need at least two sciences, three is a little over the top and there is an empty spot in the class at that time. You want to take calculus and you are right, it fits in that drama spot, or you could drop art instead."

"I need those two requirements if I want to do art in university though."

"Art and not business?" Mr. K. frowned.

Hikaru couldn't trust himself to speak and nodded again.

"Ah, you're that student - the one with the painting that got in the Art Gallery." He paused, thinking and typing for a moment on his computer.

"Here's what we can do, I have a handful of other serious art student in grade twelve who are on a standby list because we can't fit them into the schedule or the classes. We can make a before or after school class for an hour or so a few times a week. I'll finalize things and let you and the others know before the end of the week. Until then go to the classes on the new schedule I just told you. Ok?"

Hikaru tried to organize what was just said and found he was pushed out the door with a schedule in hand. He decided he would try to talk to the principal if things didn't work out but he knew he wanted to keep both paths open so that's what he was going to do.

March 2005

Hikaru was alone in the art classroom. Although the afterschool class was only two days a week, Hikaru could be found in the classroom almost every day.

In front of him stood a mostly blank canvas. He was trying to work on his class assignment - a painting showing some kind of emotion - but couldn't focus.

Several months ago, he had put together a portfolio of art and submitted it to several universities and colleges along with his application not only for arts but business as well. His portfolio had included a whole sketchbook full of sketches and rough coloured drawings of the high school's basketball team, the Comets, as Kevin had dragged Hikaru to several games and practices. There were small paintings, mainly watercolours or thin canvases of sceneries, such as the one he finished up from the summer at Lake Superior. He had also put in a haiku he had written, in both English and Japanese, done in calligraphy with drawings around it.

Now, he had to wait. Thinking about the portfolio wouldn't help him right now so Hikaru shook his head and reached for his pencil again. He only had a few pencil sketches on the canvas so far but none seemed to convey the emotion he was trying to portray.

After trying for several more minutes, Hikaru gave up. He shoved his art supplies into his backpack and grabbed the canvas only to turn and almost run into Kevin, who had just come in the door.

"Hikaru! Progress reports!" His voice was frantic.

These were even more important than the last ones. This was going to tell the grade twelve students if they had the marks they need or if they needed to start praying for a miracle.

Hikaru nodded. "The library is probably full by now."

As Kevin pouted, Hikaru relented, "Come on, we can print them off at my house."

-x-X-x-

"Hey, Mrs. Shindou!"

Mitsuko smiled when she heard Kevin's loud greeting. The basketball player who befriended her son reminded her of how Hikaru was when he was younger.

The sound of the boys' footsteps echoed as they went up the stairs, one set several times louder than the other. She didn't have to guess to know the first stop would be Hikaru's art studio bedroom as he dumped whatever he had brought to school and most likely showed Kevin his latest piece.

She sat for a moment, warming her hands on the coffee mug Hikaru had bought her two years before, back before they knew the treatment had failed, back when they were a whole family…

Before her thoughts could spiral deeper, loud footsteps descended again and lead towards the home office. A moment later and Hikaru appeared in the kitchen doorway, immediately moving to give her a hug as he saw the tears in her eyes.

For a moment, the two just stood there, her head on his taller shoulder.

"Mom," He began as she pried herself away from him but she silenced his words.

"I'm fine." She was anything but and he knew as well as she did but neither pushed the matter.

The moment passed and he nodded, going to grab the two pops he came down for.

As he moved to go back up the stairs, Mitsuko spotted an envelope on the table. "Hikaru, why don't you take a look at that?"

There was a pause as he looked to what she pointed to and then he was catching the pop that slipped out of his hand and set them both on the table. Hikaru carefully lifted the envelope, eyeing the familiar emblem on the front then turning it over and ever so slowly unfolding the letter from inside while she watched.

A crash from the office distracted her and she turned to see Kevin burst into the kitchen surrounded by noise, waving two papers over his head.

"HIKARU! We're passing everything! Like, with good marks!"

When he suddenly stopped, Mitsuko turned again and wished she had a camera. Hikaru rarely showed emotion like this, but his eyes were sparkling, most likely from tears, and a small grin was in the place of his usual stoic expression.

"I got in," was all he said, and he probably would have left it at that if Kevin didn't express his confusion and dislike of Hikaru's cryptic words with a whack to the head.

After rubbing his head, Hikaru clarified.

"The Yale Fine Arts program, they accepted my submissions and are offering me a scholarship for September."

May 2005

Hikaru found himself unsure as he stood outside of his mother's bedroom. It never used to be so hard to step inside the master bedroom, but ever since his father died, he viewed it as his mother's sanctuary. But he looked at the folder in his hands and realized there is no time for this.

The door opened easily for the heavy air that is on the other side. A quick look showed the main bedroom and bathroom were empty but the balcony door was open and Hikaru walked towards it.

Seeing his mother lost in thought, he knocked against the doorframe and she started but smiled when she saw her son.

Hikaru took a seat in the other chair on the balcony and laid his folder on the table. "Mom, can we talk about next year?"

The question surprised his mother but Hikaru knew they both know this can't wait any longer.

They had come to the mutual agreement that he applied to colleges and universities in the United States but would consider going to one in Japan if they moved back.

Mitsuko nodded, understanding from the look in his eyes that he is ready this time.

-x-

It was later that Hikaru sat with paint brush to canvas, just dipped in black paint, that he realized the conversation had been a battle for him.

The beginning of the conversation started slowly, back and forth, testing out the waters. It was filled with casual questions of general things about how each of them was feeling, how school was and so on.

Hikaru found he was painting the conversation, not quite in the conventional sense, but a go battle between two battle-hardened warriors, one a young man and the other a wise elder woman, in the middle of a battle field with warriors surrounding them. The opening was over, onto the battles.

Mitsuko brought it up first. "What about going to university in Japan?"

Hikaru evaded, "what about going to university in America?"

Back to Mitsuko with, "why not Japan?"

He had been silent for a moment at this point, two options in front of him. Why not America? Or he could try explaining he feels he got to start fresh here and doesn't want to go back and feel like how it was in the past again.

Hikaru chose the second. This Ko battle was won, on to the next.

His mother made a couple of quiet remarks which he had answered but she ambushed him with a question about the friends he left behind, and how can she know he wouldn't abandon art like he abandoned his go career?

He lost a group here, lost his concentration and his cool. Hikaru imagined the pincer Mitsuko threw at him closing in on both sides and he floundered for an answer.

"Art fills up the missing piece inside of me where go left a hole," Hikaru answered and it was a poor response for the lost group. Mitsuko couldn't know that he mean Sai, maybe if he told her? But no, he couldn't so Hikaru went on with his next plan.

Hikaru sent out a probe, "what about Yale, they already sent an acceptance scholarship?"

Mitsuko responded with, "nothing is wrong with Yale, I just want to know why we can't try going back home to Japan."

"Because Japan doesn't seem like home anymore," Hikaru murmured, "not without dad."

It proved the game was in yose, and nearing the end. Mitsuko couldn't respond to the comment for several minutes. It hit the point home. What would Japan be like without Maseo?

Hikaru looked at the painting he has in front of him. It is surprisingly finished for the short amount of time he put into it but he likes the ways the vague, rough strokes display the battle.

It is finished now. The female warrior sits, looking at the face of her younger opponent, not defeated but acknowledging the strength he displayed. The warriors surrounding the board on both sides look at the game in awe, not caring about being on the winning or losing side but feeling privileged to watch such a battle. The younger warrior looks at the game, solemn but eyes shining with tears, admiring the game depicted before him, an exact rendition of the game Hikaru imagined he had with his mother but not a game he ever actually played, but pieces of his and Sai's play within. And there, almost hidden behind the young warrior's shoulder, stands a tall man, with long, flowing, purple hair, approving of the game, smiling at the young warrior…

It is Sai, Hikaru knew, despite his care to make the warriors appear different from his mother's or his appearances.

Hikaru wondered if Sai was out there somewhere, watching Hikaru and wishing he would play go again. Maybe if he played Sai would be watching? Maybe he should play again?

He shook his head. No, he and his mother came up with a plan for what to do and it didn't involve go.

Taking his scripting brush, Hikaru dipped it in black paint and signed the bottom right corner. He nodded to himself, already planning to name it Battle between Two Generations and left the room.

There were preparations to take care of.

August 2005

Frantic knocking on the front door brought Hikaru out of the trance he was in looking at the contents of a box that had remained unopened as his family had moved to America, and he ran down the stairs to open it. The door was barely unlocked when Kevin burst in with a grin on his face and waving a piece of paper.

Hikaru just stood back as Kevin tried to catch his breath, obviously winded from running the whole way from his house.

"I did it!" Exclaimed the blond. "I got into the business program!"

The words surprised Hikaru. "Business? I thought you hated business?"

The blond looked sheepish. "I guess I don't hate it as much as I thought I did?"

Hikaru grinned and they both went inside the house. Kevin looked around at the state of chaos the house was in. Boxes were everywhere, in various states of being filled.

"Wow. I know you're moving soon but don't you still have a week?" Kevin peeked into a box to find an old game system Hikaru hadn't played with since moving to America.

Hikaru laughed. "I think you mean only a week, it's a long way. And, actually, we changed plans. We're leaving Friday, not Monday, so we need to hurry."

"Changed plans?" Kevin's eyes widened comically. "You're not leaving the country or anything, are you?"

"No, just to Connecticut..."

"Good!" Kevin didn't let Hikaru expand. "'Cause I only applied for this program because you're going to be there too!"

"I bet it was because you got a scholarship."

Kevin frowned. "That didn't hurt… They also had the best residence."

Hikaru agreed with him. He and his mother had looked over the residence of not only Yale but a few other universities as well.

"And I thought we could room together but someone isn't going to be in residence."

"Hey!" Hikaru faked the indignation in his voice but Kevin just laughed.

Putting on a serious face once again, "You know I don't want to leave my mom alone here and she agreed it might be nice to live somewhere without all the reminders of dad… even though this place is better than Japan."

Kevin nodded, "I know, I wouldn't want to leave my mom alone here either but she has my dad and younger brothers. But enough about me, how much left do you have left to pack?"

"Not much. My mom said this stuff is almost done," Hikaru gestured to the things in the living room, "but I still have to finish my room."

"I'll help!"

Kevin bounded up the stairs with Hikaru following more slowly behind him. He watched as the blond almost ran into his mother carrying a box out of her bedroom.

"Hello, Mrs. Shindou!" Kevin exclaimed, taking the box from her. "Where do you want me to put this?"

Mitsuko smiled. "Just down the stairs. Thank you, Kevin."

"No problem!" Kevin began the trek downstairs.

Hikaru decided Kevin knew where to find him and slipped into his bedroom after giving his mother a quick hug. He paused after seeing the box full of go related items he was looking at before.

He was in the same spot when Kevin came up.

"What's in the box?"

Kevin's voice startled Hikaru out of his trance.

Hikaru looked once more at the box, imagined what he had once had had and what was now gone. He was moving forward with life, going to university in the fall, not just in art but business as well. Once, Hikaru hadn't been able to imagine his life without playing go every day. Now he couldn't imagine not painting.

… Or talking to Kevin. The parallels weren't lost on Hikaru and suddenly he was very glad the louder, obnoxious, blond basketball player he called his friend would be coming to Yale with him.

Hikaru tried to think of an answer

The box was full of weekly go magazines, of the goban he got from his grandfather, of the pages and pages of kifu he wrote after Sai disappeared. It was full of Sai and go, of Akira, Waya, all the other pros, of becoming a pro and winning… and...

Hikaru shook his head to clear his thoughts. It was time to look forwards not back. "Memories."

-x-X-x-X-x-X-x-

Wow! I finally updated! And it's the longest chapter to date!

Huge thank you to all the reviewers, (Well, the seven of you who reviewed chapter three…) I'm super happy that people are reading it and enjoying what I write!

Again, I am so sorry about how late this is.

Everything started with exams and dropping my computer down the stairs, which caused it to break and not be fixed until months later and I lost everything off my hard drive - actually had to get a whole new hard drive - and although I had saved some of my plans, I couldn't do much writing since I started University… now I'm beginning the first semester of my third year and got a whole new computer due to the evils of sticky pop… well, let's just say writer's block wasn't the worst of it…

I actually took some of this time to revise my outline (many times… many, many many times) and have an idea of how I want it to end (before it was just hanging in limbo and left me super dissatisfied)

It's going to take me a while to organize the end, though I might be able to write two more chapters until I find out some obscure go information I need that determines chapters far to come. Figuring out what's been happening in Japan is taking loads of time but I think I've figured out most of the basic info…

Anyways… to sum it up: Lots of time passed, I'm super sorry and super clumsy and I hope I can write more and update sooner but life happens.

For one final thing: What do you guys think of Kevin Smith? Want to see more? Want to see less? And how do you feel about OCs… obviously, in America Hikaru isn't going to be seeing any canon characters but how do you feel about him getting close to some of his classmates in University?

Crossing my fingers that I can get more written soon! (But hey, I wrote a couple of other things - take a look!)

Tell me what you like! Let me know if I made any errors.

Please Review!

- REW