DISCLAIMER: If I own Hikaru no Go, it won't end after Hokuto Cup ;P but it did so it's not mine unfortunately.

Prologue: Heihachi's prodigious grandson

Hikari used to be a bright and cheerful boy, but then tragedy struck and Heihachi knew he lost that lively boy his grandson used to be. Nothing had ever been the same since Mitsuko passed away in an accident and his son engrossed himself in work and left Hikaru with him. Hikaru turned to be a subdued child, and only small glimpse of his sunny disposition left.

Children could be cruel, that line couldn't be truer as his classmates started to bully Hikaru who had fallen to further depression. In the end Heihachi decided to homeschool Hikaru at the age of six. The old man didn't know it was a right decision or the worse he had done to protect his only grandchild. Hikaru became even more subdued and he seemed to lost interest in everything. In his desperation Heihachi in his genius old brain thought, starting to teach Hikaru how to play go was a brilliant idea.

The old Hikaru wouldn't want to play geezer's game, but present HIkaru wouldn't break his grandfather's heart, the only family who cared for him. So Hikaru learned basic of go, and engrossed himself in books because those are things Heihachi enjoyed and Hikaru wanted to enjoy it with him.

It was as simple as that.

Heihachi didn't know he should happy or not his only grandson that used to be so energetic used that extra energy on reading and go now instead of sport or playing. Hikaru wandered to the shack behind their house, intending to find more old molten books that was older than Heihachi himself. He thought his heart was going to jump out of his mouth when he saw Hikaru fainted beside the old goban his father claimed as goban of Honinbou Shuusaku.

Heihachi once again was clueless how to react when Hikaru told him, the goban was haunted and now the ghost was following him around. Heihachi couldn't see Fujiwara Sai, but to him a thousand years old ghost was more believable and likeable than the prospect of his only grandson had gone nuts for being cooped up at home for too long.

And go didn't lie, Heihachi would forever thanked God he had a chance to be tutored by the mentor of Emperor Keigo and Honinbou Shuusaku.

The ghost box he bought apparently was a real deal, and not simply a fancy looking radio as it really worked to transmit Hikaru's ghost friend's voice.

Hikaru was very thrilled to have another friend at home, one who loved go more than the life itself literally and could indulge him on lots of story from old forgotten literature of Heian era. Heihachi couldn't complain when Hikaru started calling Fujiwara-sensei as ani-ue and his speech became overly polite for someone his age and he refer to himself with watashi instead of boku or ore like any other Japanese boy his age.

Hikaru was eight when he gained an older brother that was one thousand years his senior, and a go mentor.

Unfortunately for Heihachi and even more for Hikaru, his beloved grandson had no intention to go pro for reason that… uh… Heihachi thought was a little biased, and while he understood where Hikaru was coming…

On second thought, let Fujiwara-sensei dealt with Hikaru's preteen teenage angst.

Unfortunately the ghost didn't succeed and Hikaru won't bulge from his decision.

"I am perfectly fine with playing go with ani-ue and grandfather forever." Hikaru declared, his eyes narrowed in disgust. "I will never ever enter the same world as those men… They are the worse…"

According to Fujiwara Sai-sensei on one of Hikaru's rare outings from Shindou residence, his grandson saw the wrong peoples in the wrong place, time and condition. He didn't elaborate further, but Heihachi was sure those long deep sigh was not the ghost box going error on him but Fujiwara-sensei's long deep suffering sigh.

"He is growing up… Heihachi-dono, ten years old, acting like an adult while inside he wasn't…. he need to play other people, not just you and I! At this rate his go will hit a slump."

And Hikaru did.

Heihachi's attempt to socialize his grandson didn't really worked, as apparently his grandson at this point was few centuries more ancient than any other boy his age. He was bright and composed, definitely not an ideal playmate for his friend's grandchildren. The play date ended in disaster, and Hikaru was awoken to the fact he was ancient boy.

He didn't care, and Fujiwara-sensei berated him that he should care at least a little.

"Ani-ue… I can live with the way I am."

Heihachi never thought his grandson's go solution would be buying him a nice shiny laptop that gave him a chance to play Net-go online. But it worked wonder on Hikaru's go as he learned to play with other people and stayed anonymous in the same time. Unfortunately for Heihachi and their ghost instructor, HIkaru refused to type even a word whenever any net go player tried to chat with him.

It didn't take long for people to think that Kou was some sort of program instead of person, the fact that Sai whose playing style had similar distinct mix of ancient and modern was equally silent didn't help. It was no secret in Net-go that Kou who appeared a few months after Sai was his disciple, as Sai never failed to be in watch list (using different browser) whenever Kou was playing and always refused a challenge when he was watching.

In the end online players agreed that Kou was a human player with zero interest to talk.

Fujiwara-sensei decided this was the best they could get from his introvert grandson, a baby step but it was better than nothing. However as much as he loved his surrogate brother, Fujiwara-sensei voiced his frustration through the ghost box as Hikaru had no drive as a player at all. He played for leisure and to make them happy, no more no less. The problem was Hikaru had potential and Fujiwara-sense felt that if he kept going like this, that potential wouldn't bloom to its fullest and wasted.

Heihachi agreed, but he dreaded to plan another play date because the first ended in disaster.

Fujiwara-sensei was determined that to reach the Hand of God with Hikaru - Heihachi didn't know since when Fujiwara-sensei's ambition had 'with Hikaru' attached in it- Hikaru needed a rival. So Fujiwara-sensei convinced Hikaru to go outside for some refreshing walk, go to library and visiting go convention. Heihachi wished him a good luck, because lately Hikaru was playing him with five stones handicap and shidougo already. He was a pretty good player, above average with years of experience under his belt and Hikaru already played him as a mentor.

Heihachi was pretty pessimist there was anyone out there who was close enough in age to relate with Hikaru and with equal potential to make Hikaru even care for the said person.

He shouldn't have bet against Fujiwara-sensei, because at the third attempt that winter somehow Fujiwara-sensei managed to get Hikaru to enter a go salon (which was already a miracle on itself) and found a child his age to play with.

Of course reality was not as sweet as the novelty of finding your fated rival that written in fiction. Although judging from Fujiwara-sensei's long deep sigh, it could be summed up as a disaster instead of fated meeting.

The first time he and his supposed rival played, Hikaru went home with slightly disturbed look on his face but Heihachi could see doubt and a flicker of interest in competition in his eyes. "He is really good… formidable player, but well…" Heihachi decided it was the best to not push his grandson to reveal his opinion in this rival of his.

Touya Akira, where did he hear that name before.

Heihachi almost had a heart attack when on the next day he found out from latest release of go monthly that the boy who declared himself Hikaru's rival was the heir of Touya Meijin.

Chapter 1: Hikaru and Akira

Fujiwara no Sai would wholeheartedly admitted he loved his surrogate brother very much, and wished to share his dream with Hikaru. Perhaps it had something to do with being the fifth son of Fujiwara branch house who had four brothers who were busy making their career in politics and military instead of paying attention to him who made his career in go. His brothers and family were proud of him, that in spite of not walking in the way of sword, he was useful for their family prestige. They didn't share any interest with him, and in the end blood and business were all they had with him and never bond and familial love.

HIkaru was his only brother in everything but blood, Torajirou was a friend but he had never seen Toajirou in familial light. Hikaru was an adorable brother, and since he met the boy four years ago Hikaru ironically had been following him around like a puppy. Hikaru also grew his hair, a little pass his shoulder, he tied it in low ponytail and leaving the bleached part of his hair to frame his youthful face. Hikaru also prefer wearing kimono at home and acted as sophisticated as any courtier back in Heian era like Sai.

Sai was glad he managed to convince Hikaru to wear modern clothes when going outside, he got Heihachi to buy fashion magazine for Hikaru as reference. Hikaru was not the most fashionable boy though, he likes jacket and coat in muted color for winter, plain shirt or dress shirt with loose jeans or dark colored pants. Sai was pretty satisfied that Hikaru was out of nerd category in fashion. Hikaru was not amused with how Sai used knowledge he gained from using internet to catch up with modern times.

He didn't mind Hikaru wanted to be like him, but he was worried by Hikaru's lack of social life.

Sai wanted only the best for his otouto. So when he spotted a boy around Hikaru's age entering a go salon, he had jumped at the chance to bet on the unknown boy. He urged Hikaru to follow the boy, but off course his sweet and stubborn brother responded smartly.

"Ani-ue… what possess you to think following a stranger and challenge him to a game is a good idea?" That was a pretty ironic question, he admitted. "I have no interest playing face to face with anyone."

"Dear brother… it's my wish for you to learn playing face to face with someone other than Heihachi-dono and I." Sai admitted honestly, "And there's nothing wrong with trying."

Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, his raven locks glinted under the sun as he inclined his head towards the ghost. "I am not interested… and my experience in interacting with children my age… I believe my performance was far from stellar." That was not a good reminder.

He tried again. "Hikaru… please, just one game! One harmless game! Shidougo or anything will do!" Hikaru sighed again, that was not a good sign especially because Hikaru was about to turn at opposite direction from the go salon. "If you do! I will recite 'Collection of Ten Thousand Leave' for you this weekend!"

Hikaru stopped mid-stride, his eyes were gleaming in happiness. "Really?"

Sai cringed; even though he was a ghost to recite the whole content of Collection of Ten Thousand Leave was going to make him feeling the phantom exhaustion. "Yes… any poem you wanted from that collection."

He almost regretted making Hikaru a historical literature buff, but it worked marvelously to bribe his brother. "Then what are we waiting for?"

"You, dear otouto…" Sai chirped as Hikaru entered the go salon.

Heihachi said Hikaru used to be so eager for everything, but these days it was hard to make him eager for anything that was out of his comfort zone. Well, go was his comfort zone but hilariously go salon was not. Sai could see it already with the way his surrogate brother behaved.

"Welcome." The counter girl greeted.

"Good afternoon." Hikaru greeted back, giving a respectful bow much to her shock.

He didn't know since when but if he was nervous Hikaru would start acting overly polite. Thankfully the woman recovered and instructed Hikaru to fill a form. Sai couldn't stop a smile from forming when the woman once again was stunned by his brother, this time because his brother somehow managed to use a pen to write his name as beautiful as well-crafted calligraphy.

It looked really glaring in the guestbook of that go salon.

"Level? I am not sure." Hikaru admitted.

His brother won't be caught dead revealing his online player level, and Sai had to admit that was wise. Hikaru was Kou, second most famous online player and disciple of the strongest. Sai himself was pretty unnerved with how obsessed some peoples were to find him. It was fortunate the Net go admin acted quick, unwilling to lose Sai and Kou they promised to do everything so Sai and Kou won't be traced and their privacy were assured as long as they played in Net-go. Sai thought they were very nice, Hikaru disagreed because they were the goldmine of Net-go so it was given for the admin to do anything to keep them happy.

That was why Sai wanted Hikaru to interact with people outside from his small circle of family, HIkaru was cynical and too distrusting of other people. The problem was, Hikaru was reluctant to try.

Sai was pleasantly surprised when the boy he spotted before stepped forward to see what occupied the counter girl. Hikaru in the other hand looked like deer on headlight for a moment before he regained his composure.

"Oh, Akira-kun! This boy is new and looking for an opponent to play with." Sai thanked the girl, since she was pretty much offering Hikaru to this young Akira to play go with.

The boy looked eager, and Sai was pleased. "Would you like to play with me?" He noticed Hikaru was still looking around the salon so he added, "Don't be so nervous…"

Hikaru smiled sheepishly, "This is my first time in go salon…" He admitted before glancing at the cashier, Ichikawa-san. "So the fee…"

"It's 500 yen for children." Ichikawa informed the raven haired boy.

Hikaru was about to pay but Akira stopped him. "Since this is his first time, let him play for free."

Ichikawa touched her blushing cheek, 'Akira is so kind!' She also could tell Akira wanted to encourage this Shindou Hikaru to play. 'He needs friend his age and hopefully this boy is the one… Shindou-kun is polite and a little awkward but it seems he will get along nicely with Akira-kun.'

Unknown to Ichikawa, Hikaru was very skeptical at the prospect. 'This is a bad idea, Sai.'

'No, it's not.' Sai disagreed, 'You will get along just fine with this boy.'

'Huh? I am talking about the game…'

'Oh! Yes! I mean… it's very possible this boy is pretty good! Just play one game and you will know!' Sai corrected himself hastily. To be honest Sai, as unbelievable as it was, he didn't really care Akira was good or not. He'd rather this boy befriend Hikaru first, as go skill could come later. In Sai's opinion Hikaru was a very good tutor to his grandfather, in fact if there was one thing Hikaru was better at than Sai in go, it was shidou go. So if Akira could be HIkaru's friend, his go could catch up later.

"I am Touya Akira, I am twelve years old… nice to meet you." Akira introduced himself politely.

"I am Shindou Hikaru." Hikaru returned, "Twelve years old, nice to meet you too."

Akira perked up, "So… how good are you?"

At that question Hikaru tensed instantly. "Ah."

Akira realized that seemed to be the wrong question to ask to Shindou Hikaru. "I… mean…"

Hikaru regained his composure and smiled. "I guess I am decent."

Sai who was hovering beside Hikaru winced, 'Hikaru!'

"Ah, I see… I am pretty decent myself." Akira responded awkwardly as they checked their goke in the same time. Akira got white while Hikaru got black. "Then."

"Then." They began almost in the same time.

"Why don't you put down four or five stones."

Their eyes widened when they realized they both offered handicap to their opponents in the same time. "Ah."

Sai began to weep, 'Hikaru! Touya-kun! Why of all things to say to start your game…'

Neither of them meant to be rude, but what they said just now as go player counted as rude because both underestimated their opponent and offered to play with handicap.

The patrons who played nearby would have said something usually but they realized both young players became frozen stiff by their unintended rudeness. So they didn't say anything in fear they would make it worse.

Akira tried to salvage the awkward situation, "Nigiri?"

"Oh, okay." Hikaru placed one stone on the board.

Sai sobbed in the background, 'Don't just go with the flow and decided to nigiri instead! You guys supposed to make friends with each other!' Then again for two boys who just met, Sai had to admit it was amazing enough they somehow could come to a silent agreement to ignore their blunder so quickly.

Akira separated two stones from a handful he placed on the board, six stones so he got black and Hikaru played white. "Your guidance please." They exchanged the greeting with a low bow, which if anything was too formal for a casual game.

The observers, namely Sai and a pair of old men playing nearby sweat dropped.

Hikaru took a deep breath and began with upper left kosumi. 'Just play…and don't think too much about anything else but the game…' Hikaru looked up from the board and realized his opponent was deep in thought, already planning his first move? "On second thought... about the handicap." Hikaru trailed off as he placed his first stone on the board. "Can we didn't use komi instead?"

Akira blinked owlishly at that, "I don't mind..." In exchange for handicap he'd rather not using komi? "But I am playing black..."

Hikaru nodded, "I want to try playing like go players one thousands years ago... no komi."

That was an odd reason, but Akira became curious because even before the game started this boy had piqued his interest. Playing go with old rules made it even more interesting.

"Sounds interesting." Akira smiled back.

Akira observed his opponent ten hands later, 'He is a little slow but the way he places the stone is elegant like a master… he was being modest to say he is decent but he is also pretty confident in his skill to offer me four moku handicaps.' Akira thought as he placed the next stone, claiming 5-13 spot. 'But I still can't measure how good he is.'

'I still can't tell what kind of player he is just from this.' Hikaru thought with a sigh. 'Subtle but sharp perhaps?'

Sai was really tempted to whack both go prodigies upside their heads with his fan. He could tell they were confused why they couldn't put a finger yet on their opponent's skill level. 'That's because both of you try to play shidou go! Overconfident brats!'

Never in his one thousand years as go player to see two players attempting to teach each other in shidougo, and his disciple somehow managed to do that outrageous thing with Touya Akira.

Hikaru of course didn't notice Sai was sulking beside him, too engrossed to read the game and his opponent.

'His move is solid… he is good, I know that much at least but…' Akira glanced at his opponent, 'The way he plays is odd… he mix some Shuusaku's signature move to boot. That's unusual…' His eyes narrowed, 'In that case, I will start to attack.'

Pachi.

'Ah, he attacks my left upper cluster.' Hikaru thought, 'Does not matter…'

Pachi

Pachi

Pachi

Akira's eyes narrowed, 'He knows I am attacking now but he didn't bulge, a defensive player?' He shook his head mentally, 'No, a player like that won't be so bold to offer me handicap. I have to push harder.

Another ten hands later, Akira was confused by his opponent who had stopped for five minutes instead of placing another stone. It was an odd point to contemplate his move now as Akira had been relentlessly attacking for quite some time and Hikaru didn't even bat an eye. Nothing drastic happened on the board yet so Akira found Hikaru pausing now as odd.

Sai rolled his eyes, 'This boy is exceptional… now if only Hikaru can come out of his shell and play seriously…' He looked at his disciple who was tapping his chin with his fan, and Sai fought his urge to bite his kimono's sleeve. 'You have no intention to do that at all, huh! Hikaru!' In the end he did bite his kimono's sleeve in frustration.

Akira perked up when he saw Hikaru lowered his fan and set it aside, and much to his confusion Hikaru took a very long deep breath and exhaled.

PACHI!

He almost jumped at how sudden another white stone had been placed and moved to pick a stone from his own goke and responded.

Pachi

Pachi

Pachi

Five hands later Akira swallowed, 'And now he is in hurry! Why? This is not speed go!' However for some reason Akira also sped up his pace to match his opponent.

Half an hour later…

Hikaru stood up from his seat, leaving his opponent gaping at the goban that filled with white and black stones. "Thank you for the game, my apologies but I need to go back now."

Akira stay rooted to his seat, not listening as he mentally recounted the result of the game. It was still the same.

Ichikawa smiled at Hikaru, "Hi! Are you done?"

Hikaru nodded, "Yes, it's a good game…" He said with a wistful smile, "I have to go home, it's almost my curfew."

Ichikawa raised an eyebrow at that. It was four in the afternoon now, too early even for a twelve year old boy. "I see, then… "

"Good bye." Hikaru said as he moved to exit the salon, but managed to take a brochure that grabbed his attention before he left.

The young woman sighed, "Hum… he lose?" She guessed why he was in hurry. "My… too bad, it's fifty years too early for him to beat our Akira-sensei." She said with a smug and fond smile. "I wish he will come back again but well…"

"That boy and Akira-sensei is WHAT?!"

"That's impossible!"

"He plays white…"

"What the heck is this game?!"

In midst of that commotion Akira stayed silent, too shocked out of his mind to notice the patrons of go salon.

Outside of the salon

Sai groaned as he heard hell broke loose inside the salon and Hikaru sprinted towards the nearest train station as if the god of death himself was chasing them. "I told you to not to do that again! Hikaru!"

Hikaru slowed down as he tapped his train pass, before he broke to another sprint towards the train. "Why shouldn't I?" Hikaru asked with a sigh as he walked towards secluded corner of the train that would allow him to speak to Sai freely. Mind link was a good way to talk but it was tiring and sometimes he spoke out loud without noticing it.

"I told you repeatedly why!" Sai scolded in frustrated tone. "No one is happy if you end the game like that! And it's disrespectful!"

Hikaru averted his eyes from Sai. "I know but…"

"That boy is an exceptional player!" Sai pointed out gently, "You don't have to do that! I am sure he can take your worse!"

Hikaru sighed exasperatedly, "I know that… I know he is good, but I am just… can't…"

"You can't or you won't?" Sai asked the dreaded question and Hikaru as usual didn't answer it.

The rest of the trip home was spent in silence.

Back in go salon

"A forced tie?!" Ichikawa echoed in shock, "But that's…"

Akira nodded numbly, "A pro level skill…" Akira swore ten hands before the game ended, the last time he did a quick count of territory he was leading by two moku.

"Isn't that harder than winning?!" An old patron mumbled.

"And that's mean… he could have…" Another trailed off

"SHHH!" Another silenced him quickly, giving discreet glance at Akira.

Akira trembled in shock, 'And that means he… he is… in a level above me, who is he?!'

Shindou's Residence

Heihachi sipped his tea as he waited his opponent's turn. "Aah… that hits the spot."

His old friend, Eiki grinned as he placed his tone. "Take that, Shindou."

"Hn." Heihachi grunted, "You're fifty years too early to think you can beat me, Eiki!"

Towa and Heiji, who were playing on goban beside theirs sighed in unison. "Yo guys are fifty years too old to challenge each other like hormonal teenager."

"Humph!" Heihachi huffed, "I am not boasting, you have to admit it's me… who is the strongest go player here!"

"Because your grandson, Hikaru-sensei tutor you all the time! Shindou!" Eiki scowled, "Half of your accomplishment is Hikaru-sensei's!"

Heihachi scoffed, "Now now… Hikaru is a good teacher, but in the first place I am also a good student to get this strong." He boasted. "And again… I told you, Hikaru teach us but he didn't like to be called sensei."

"He deserves it though…" Heiji sighed wistfully, "You're a lucky grandfather, Heihachi… a polite and smart grandson who is a genius go player."

Shindou's residence since Sai's appearance became a pseudo go salon, mainly to satisfy Sai's craving for go without Hikaru needing to go outside before they discovered about Net-go. Heihachi was also more than happy to bring his friends to enjoy go together as often as they could in their old days. All of them were fond of his beloved grandson and looked up to the young prodigy. There were six of them but today only four of them were free to spend the day playing.

Then again Heihachi blamed them and himself for being the main circle of Hikaru's social life, his grandson needed to play with children his age and not with geezers. If only Hikaru was willing to be an insei, or going pro… or at least joined a go tournament… They tried to convince him but Hikaru never gave in. All of them had soft spot for him so they could never be persuasive with the young prodigy.

Towa sighed exasperatedly, running his fingers through his graying hair. "Speaking of which… where is Hikaru-sensei?"

"He went to buy book and wood polish…" Heihachi informed them. "And perhaps he also goes to check out some go salon." In unison all of his friends looked at him expectantly. "I hope so; the area I asked him to go is full of go salon…"

Eiki sighed exasperatedly, "It's a pity… his go skill is like god's gift to go world." Heihachi rolled his eyes, here Eiki went again with worshipping his grandson. "And yet… he has no wish to be a pro at all."

"Let's don't jump to pro first." Heihachi said as nodding sagely. "I would rather to see him learning to play normally again without forcing tie ten out of ten games."

They nodded in agreement, "Aah… but in a sense since he is very good at it, ironically his skill improves tremendously because of that too." Towa pointed out.

Heihachi grunted. "It's not like my grandson forgot how to win." In fact Hikaru still play to win online, because he didn't see his opponent face to face. However when it comes to playing for real, Hikaru avoid to win like it was a plague.

"But since he never lost when playing with us means he is not eager to lose either." Eiki gave his two cents. "That's a relief at least."

Towa and Heiji eyed him with a wry look on their face. "You do know Hikaru-sensei didn't play us for real for two years already, there's a reason he is getting so good at shidougo."

Heihachi nodded, "Yeah… my grandson is a prodigy in go but he is even more genius in shidougo."

They nodded sagely again, "He would be a wonderful teacher once he becomes a pro."

"If that ever happen in the first place…" Heihachi grumbled. "I wish…"

"That's not going to happen." A familiar young face said tonelessly.

As one the four old go players jumped in shock when Hikaru slid the shoji door open with a tray of tea and snacks in hand. "I bought komugi, the sweet shop is newly opened so I don't know it's good or not." Hikaru said as he placed the tray on the nearby short table. Then before he closed the door he gave them a benign smile and said, "If you need me for shidougo, I would be at my library."

And the door slid shut.

Heihachi was the first one who broke the silence that caused by his grandson's abrupt entrance. "Hikaru, my boy… what should I do about that stubbornness of yours?"

No one answered him, and they continued their game as if nothing had happened.

That night Heihachi asked Hikaru about his first trip to a proper go salon, and he was pleased to hear that Hikaru found someone his age who was an exceptional go player.

"He is a formidable player, but well…" Hikaru clenched his fist, recalling the look on Touya's face when he forced the game to tie. "I don't…" He looked down to his lap, hiding his expression from his grandfather.

"Hikaru…" Heihachi looked at his grandson sadly.

The ghost box emitted static noise before Sai's musical voice echoed, "Hikaru… that's a close game, and you know it."

Hikaru nodded, "Yes, I know… ani-ue."

Sai narrowed his eyes at Hikaru, and he could tell both he and Hikaru realized for the first time since Sai appeared Hikaru was almost pushed to his limit. In fact Sai could see Hikaru was very close to lose control of himself and almost went to kill at yose before he caught himself and let Touya Akira to get back some of his territory to get the game ended in a tie.

Then again aside form that split moment in yose, Hikaru didn't play seriously at all and treated the game as a shidougo. Touya Akira was a prodigy too, but it seemed he was still below Hikaru at this point. Then again it was Sai's personal opinion, because Hikaru didn't push Akira too much it was hard to tell what the other prodigy would do when cornered.

'But… after what happened back then… I am not really sure either if I want Touya-kun to push him too far.'

He had no wish to repeat that incident that caused his disciple to be the way he was now. Then again, he was betting on that boy to be Hikaru's friend, but could he trust Touya Akira to be Hikaru's rival? No, he was not sure at all about the latter.

When he was resting in his bed room alone, Sai eyed his disciple carefully. "Hikaru…" Sai called and the young go player looked up to him, turning his attention away from the book he was reading. "Regardless of the outcome and everything else, did you have fun playing with Touya-kun?"

Hikaru swallowed as he averted his eyes. "Uhm…"

He hesitated, and Sai wondered if it was a good sign. No, it WAS a good sign because if it wasn't Hikaru would have voiced his disinterest at a drop of a hat. "So you have fun!" Sai said in his place.

Hikaru didn't refute him, flushing a deep red. "Forget it."

No way, he won't forget Hikaru's adorable blush because Sai got a strike for guessing that he had fun playing with Touya right.

"I will get stronger so I can help ani-ue to achieve the hand of God together." Hikaru stated with conviction as he put his book back to the shelves. "Everything else… Touya, becoming a pro, or anyone else's go… means nothing to me."

"Hikaru…"

A month later…

In another side of Tokyo

Sai was giddy at the thought of watching Japan's future generation of go and Hikaru was more than willing to come watching it to boot! Then again Hikaru loved watching game of go as much as Sai did, it was the next best thing after playing the game themselves.

"Look Sai! So many children and some are younger than me!" Hikaru exclaimed through their mind link.

Sai nodded eagerly, "It's wonderful!" He sighed wistfully, "One thousand years ago, now and in the next century… we will see new generation reaching a new height!"

The ghost couldn't help but smiled when he saw childish glee in Hikaru's eyes as he watched dozens of goban in rows, different game and different players creating different monochrome galaxy.

"Uwaa…"

At the time like this he looked just like any other twelve years old boy.

It would be better if Hikaru was willing to join it too, but perhaps with Hikaru's skill level it was not a good idea. Unless most children in this competition was at least half as good as Touya Akira. That boy was one in a million just like his Hikaru. It was a pity Hikaru was reluctant to go back to that go salon. Then again it was Hikaru's fault in the first place to force the game to a tie and throw that go salon in chaos.

Sai couldn't argue that there was no way Hikaru could show his face again in that salon. At least in spite of his stubbornness Hikaru had decency to feel ashamed to throw a match he could have won, and to an opponent whose level was the same or close to him to boot.

"Hm." Hikaru noticed there was a corner where a number of goban were unused and there were children laying around there but not playing. Getting curious of the unusual sight he came closer, poking his head to look at the secluded corner. Then he overheard one of the staff talking with his colleague that the low dan pros they called for this event cancelled at last minute because of urgent business. In the first place this mini tutorial corner was not really a priority as most people visiting would be competitors and parents. They didn't expect children who had lost wandered here in hope they could get advice from pro players. There was nothing they could do but informed the children and left.

"Hikaru…" Sai sang as looking around, "This place is pretty secluded and no staff is paying attention to it."

"So?"

"Oh come on Hikaru… these children lost their game! And they wished for guidanc to get better!" Sai narrowed his eyes as tapping his chin with his fan. "How could you deny them that when you could give them what they need?"

"But…"

"You're itching to play, ne? Watching these kids playing make your fingers itch, ne?" Sai pushed on. "It's shidougo! Hikaru, it's your specialty!"

Hikaru perked up at that, it never failed to make him feel warm and tingly whenever Sai praised his tutoring skill. He took a deep breath and approached a group of three children; all of them were younger than him and looking at the older newcomer with curious eyes.

Meijin's go salon

Ichikawa and patrons of Meijin's go salon were worried about their young prodigy, because since that game Akira came by every day and replayed the same game over and over again. Then he would stare at the empty chair in front of him and had this sad look that pained them. Akira was still waiting for that boy to return.

"Akira-kun… is still waiting for that boy?" Kasuga, one of the frequent customers said.

Ichikawa nodded, "Yes… he will sit there for hours, waiting for Shindou-kun."

Akira bit his lower lip as he analyzed the game he replayed more than any game he ever had in his ten years as go player. 'This hand… and that one too… it's undoubtedly shidougo until halfway no… a bit later than that he started to play to even the moku.' Akira swallowed, 'But… I didn't notice at all until we count our territory and his irregular change of pace…he… is planning this all along, it's really a genuine forced tie.'

Back to go's competition hall

A seven years old boy squinted really hard at the board, it was the game he just lost and replayed so he could find how to turn the favor. "Ugh… ne, nii-chan! Are you serious I can still turn this game around in yose? My opponent have eight moku lead!"

The older boy nodded, "Look closely… try to think outside of the box and see the path."

The younger squinted harder and he noticed his temporary tutor was looking at specific spot on the goban. It was a group of dead stones of his, and he couldn't see how it could help him. "Oh!" He exclaimed before he reached out for his goke and placed the stone. "There!"

"Very good." The older boy said as he reached out for his own goke and responded. "There, judging from your opponent's skill level he is going to respond like this."

The seven year old boy, Takeshi pouted. "Ugh… "

"I will be right back." He said quickly.

Takeshi nodded. "I will get it right! Hikaru-niichan! Watch!"

Hikaru chukled softly before he moved to the goban next to Takeshi's. "How about you? Ai-chan?"

Ai, a ten years old girl shrugged at him. "Uhm… I can't decide which is better 3-4 or 4-6… uhm… 3-2 then!" She decided.

Hikaru shook his head as he tapped his fan on the other spot. "Look closely… if you put it there you're opening a way for your opponent to attack this eye, and the cluster over here would be threatened too…"

"Oh…"

"3-2 gains you more moku, but it make you open for all frontal attack as well." Hikaru explained

Ai nodded eagerly, "I see! Thank you Hikaru-niichan!"

Ai's mother clapped from where she stood behind Ai. "My! You're really good sensei! Ai! Call him sensei, he is young but he is a sensei."

"Actually I am…" Hikaru trailed off.

Kouta's father, the other boy who was still struggling on problem Hikaru laid out for him laughed at his discomfort. "You're an insei? It's just about time to call you sensei!"

Takeshi's mother nodded in agreement. "Give us your contact number! You're handling my impatient and energetic son much better than any pro I ever asked to come to tutor him! Sensei!"

Hikaru blushed a deep red. "Ah… I am not an insei either…"

They gave him a wide eyed stare but shrugged. "Humph!" Takeshi's mother harrumphed. "If you can teach this good without pro certificate, I would rather hire Shindou-kun instead of those pro who can't keep my son to stay still! They bored him!"

Ai's mother nodded in agreement. "I guess being a pro doesn't mean you're a good teacher! Shindou-kun! You really have to give us your contact number! Ai enjoys your teaching and I will hate to put her with a pro tutor again…"

Hikaru sighed inwardly, at first he just wanted to give a couple of tips but somehow he was carried away with shidougo and these three kids won't let him go. "Uhm…" It would be nice to have kids to teach, they were more fun to teach than his old friends. No offense to grandfather and his friends. He took out a small note from his backpack and wrote down his house and email address. "Here… my house is no go salon but we have study session every weekend in the morning at 10." He informed them with benign smile on his face. "Just send me an email beforehand if you're interested."

Ai's mother took the note, "My! Your home is not far from our apartment complex! It should be no problem for us to drop our children in your place every weekend."

Ai and the other two children perked up. "Really?! Hikaru-niichan will teach us from now on?!" They asked enthusiastically. "Yay! No more boring go class!"

"Ha ha ha…" Inwardly Hikaru felt a little sorry that he perhaps had made a couple of pro lost their tutoring job. His ears perked up when he heard his phone ringing, so he excused himself to pick the phone. "Moshi, moshi… ojii-san? Cabbage and egg? Oh… so we're having okonomiyaki tonight? I get it, I will buy it on the way home." He checked his watch and cringed. "Uhm, I am sorry but… I really have to go to buy dinner for my grandfather."

The children let out disappointed noise, whining childishly. The parents quickly assured their children that the tutoring session would be continued on the weekend. Hikaru himself was also looking forward to tutor them again, it was really fun!

"But it's unfortunate Touya-kun is not here…" Sai said in teasing tone.

Hikaru was on the way out from the hall, averting his eyes from Sai. "I am not looking for him."

"Well… since you can't go back to that go salon, you actually came here in hope you can see Touya-kun again." Hikaru didn't answer, "You know… if you're going to behave like this you shouldn't play him like that in the first place."

"I know but I… can't help it." Hikaru murmured.

"Anyway Hikaru! Now we will have those kids playing go at our house!" Sai cheered, "It would be so fun!"

"Yeah!" Hikaru agreed.

Back in go salon

"Come to think of it…" Ichikawa tapped her chin, "Shindou-kun grabbed that go competition brochure before he left."

Akira perked up at that and Ichikawa was sure she had never seen Akira moved that fast. "Competition?! Brochure?"

She had never seen he was this enthusiastic to the point he babbled his words instead of forming coherent sentence. "Uhm yes… it's children go competition that held this week." She crossed her arms. "Maybe he is there?"

Akira quickly made up his mind and ran towards the exit of go salon. "Ichikawa-san! If Shindou come, please don't let him go!" And he made the hastiest exit Ichikawa had ever seen.

Hirose-san, one of the patrons looked at the closed door in worry. "My… I have never seen Akira-kun behaves like that." Ichikawa said with a sigh, "I wish Shindou-kun return and be friends with him."

Hirose shrugged, "Well… this is the first time Akira-kun met someone his age who could match his skill."

Ichikawa frowned at that, 'Actually… since Shindou-kun could force a tie from Akira-kun, isn't that mean he is a better player? But that's… '

Back at the go competition

"Let me repeat this again." Ogata, the blond high level pro, eternal challenger of Honinbou and student of Touya Meijin gritted out. "There is a kid, teaching three kids in secluded corner meant for tutoring session that cancelled because Touou pro cancelled it at last minute… insanely good at shidougo to the point their parents would choose him over pro player to teach their kids, and all you did is watching the tutoring session in awe…"

The staff, a middle aged man by the name Kozou-san nodded. "Hai… Ogata-sensei."

"And it never crossed your mind to ask for that boy's name? Or even stop the parents from leaving so you could ask them that address he gave them?" Ogata asked incredulously. "Unbelievable! I can't believe an employee of go institute let go of such a brilliant child!"

"Ogata-kun?" Touya Meijin, the strongest Japanese go player entered the room. "I heard the commotion already… so a child who might be in Akira's level appeared?"

Ogata shrugged, "Not sure… all they have seen from this kid is his shidougo, and that could mean…" He trailed off with a long sigh. "He could be better than Akira."

"Hm…" Touya Meijin crossed his arms, "I see…"

"And they let him go." Ogata gritted out. "What a waste…"

"Hm… but if this boy is that skilled, one way or another… he will show himself to us pro players sooner or later." Touya Meijin stated with conviction in his eyes.

Outside of Train Station

Hikaru hummed, he was lucky to find a small grocery shop on the way to train station. He also found a bazaar, where he found someone selling lots of old book with cheap price. His hands plastic bag of grocery and one big paper bag full of books. They felt like they were going to come off though, but he was too happy to care.

Sai looked at Hikaru in amusement. "Hikaru… I think you bought almost half of books from that stand."

"Yeah." Hikaru agreed. "I even found a first edition of The Wind-up Bird Chronicle! I can't believe it!"

"Hikaru… I believe you're fit to be called a nerd at this point." Sai had learned a lot of new words from internet.

"Who cares! I am too happy to care!" And absolutely nothing could change…

"SHINDOU!"

Maybe not.

Hikaru turned around in shock, to find Touya Akira panting as if he had run a mile and about to collapse. "Touya?" Hikaru frowned at the panting boy who struggled to catch his breath. "What is it? You looks like you have been running from the go salon all the way here."

Akira looked flustered, and Hikaru realized that was exactly what the dark haired boy did.

"Uhm… I…"

"I didn't see you in tournament today." Hikaru drawled softly.

Akira couldn't help but happy to know Hikaru was looking for him, "Yeah… I didn't join, how about you?"

"I am just watching." Hikaru answered honestly. Although he only watched for a few minutes before he dragged himself for shidougo instead because of Sai's urging. "I was really impressed…" He said as his eyes looked to Sai, although in Akira's point of view he was looking at somewhere distant. "Children… even those who are younger than us devote their best in go, their passion and seriousness is amazing…" He murmured wistfully.

That made Akira pause, "Passion and seriousness?"

"Yes… they're admirable, I am impressed." He knew he was babbling but he was still in a rush of happiness after playing shidougo with those kids.

"Admirable." Akira echoed again, "Impressed…" Then realization dawned on him, "Shindou… could it be you…"

Hikaru was snapped out of his musing at the change of tone in Akira's voice. "Yes?"

"Could it be you… " He drawled hoarsely, "You have never been serious? You… really played shidougo with me?!" The look of shock in his face and tenseness in his body language was as good as any answer in Akira's book.

Hikaru always had control of his emotion after years of practive but this time Akira caught him off guard. "I… I…" Hikaru could almost see Akira's mind gear turning and he didn't like what kind of conclusion Akira came up with.

"You…" Akira trailed off in shock and anger, "You are looking down at me!"

Hikaru shook his head, "I don't! I know you're an exceptional player, Touya! I don't…"

"If I am…" Akira gritted his teeth, "Why did you play with me like that! You force the game to end in a tie! If you didn't look down on me, you will beat me fair and square! You're mocking me with playing like that!"

Hikaru swallowed, "I didn't mean to mock you! I am just… "

"Just what?!" Akira pressed on. "Why you play our game like that?! Am I that weak to you?!"

"No! I just didn't play to win!" Hikaru tensed, realizing what he had just said but it was too late.

Akira's temper if anything skyrocketed to its worse. "So…" He murmured, "In the end… you even didn't think it's worthy to win against me? Because it's pointless to win in shidougo!"

Hikaru wanted to stop Akira's train of thought but he knew there was absolutely nothing he could say to pacify the enraged boy now. He could tell Akira the whole story even, but Hikaru didn't think anyone but those who witnessed the whole disaster would believe him. Even Hikaru himself found it hard to believe the way he played now. If someone told him three years ago he would end up like this, he would have hit them with his grandfather's old shinai.

His thought was interrupted by Akira who had grabbed his hand roughly, enough to leave a bruise on his wrist. "What the…"

"I will show you!" Akira shouted as rain began to fall.

HIkaru who was still in a daze blinked, "Show what?" A wrong thing to say, because Akira if possible looked even angrier because of his stupid response.

"My go!" Akira answered as he tugged Hikaru's hand harder. "Let's play again! This time I will show you my full strength!"

Hikaru suspected as much that neither of them played seriously the first time around. So why Akira… well, even though Akira didn't play seriously he won't force the game to tie like Hikaru did. "I refuse." Hikaru declared boldly. "Unhand me now, Touya!"

"No! You're going to come with me!" Akira demanded, "Do you think you can just walk away after what you did?!"

"What right you have to force me!" Hikaru shot back. "You feels insulted? Fine! I am sorry!"

"I don't need you to feel sorry for me!" Akira snapped. "I want a game!"

Hikaru knew he was very much at fault to make Akira felt insulted by their first game, but this boy was getting on his nerve. "Fine! Name me one reason why I should!"

To that Akira showed Hikaru his hand, a hand of go player that with worn nails and callouses that resulted from years of playing go. "Is this a good enough reason for you, Shindou?!"

Hikaru gritted his teeth, looking for an angry retort in his mind but nothing came out.

"You have lost." Sai who had been very quiet since Akira appeared said, "In this moment… you have been defeated by his determination, if you refuse his challenge… all you did is hurting this boy and yourself." Sai murmured softly, "Hikaru… you know what to do."

The boy with bleached bangs took a deep breath, "Arimasen." He declared. "I have nothing."

"Huh?" Akira blinked owlishly in confusion.

Hikaru sighed, "This time I admit defeat… I will give you another game like you want."

The next thing HIkaru knew, he was dragged by Touya Akira back to the train station.

Apparently it took a month for Hikaru's and Akira's second meeting so I need to correct that! DAMN! I should have paid more attention to canon timeline!

I have a very minimum knowledge of go, basic rules at least... but well it's harder than basketball! I don't think I can write a detailed match so... perhaps after I did some research but I can foresee it going to be harder than learning theory of basketball LOL

Correcting their first game because normal even game can't end in tie because of komi DX

This Hikaru is inpsired by Saki from Saki... since she always break even in mahjong so I think, why not?