A/N: This chapter will be spoken mostly in Japanese as Hikaru doesn't speak English and is mostly in his point of view. Also, in doing research on Japanese mythology, it became very confusing to this poor old lady from the Midwest. I just hope I did justice to it and did not offend any one.

Except for the flashback and at the end of this chapter, English is in italics.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Chapter 3: Post Game

The doctors came in, asking a lot of questions in English. Hikaru didn't understand any of it until his interpreter was brought in. Things went more smoothly after that.

Garion stepped into the room as the doctors were leaving. The interpreter was quietly speaking to Hikaru, assuring him that all expenses were being handled by Tautha Enterprises. They regretted his collapse and would be paying for everything.

"That is the truth, Shindou-san," Garion assured him in Japanese. "Father felt bad that you collapsed right after your match." Turning to the interpreter he spoke in English,"If you don't mind, I would like to speak to Shindou-san alone? Don't worry I speak Japanese fluently."

The interpreter bowed. "I will wait outside, if you need me Mr. Williams."

Once they were alone, Garion hopped up on the hospital bed. "If you don't remember, I am Williams Garion. We met at the party the night you played Go against my father. Congratulations on winning, by the way. That's quite the accomplishment as he is a hard man to beat."

"He. . . he was fun to play against. Sure kept me on my toes, wouldn't mind playing him again." Hikaru tried to remember the game with a confused frown. "Then he asked me . . ."

"About a wish? Yes, I know. He does that for those that win against him, or win his respect. Congratulations, you did both. That is not easy to do."

"What happened? I remember turning down his offer. My wish was too personal, too impossible . . . "

Garion smiled. "Impossible is his specialty. Let me explain a few things, don't worry, we won't be interrupted." Garion cleared his throat before speaking again.

"I apologize, my Japanese isn't as fluent as I would like, and my research into your myths and legends is a bit lacking. I pray I get it right.

"In the western world there is a race of immortal beings known as the Fae. I'm not sure if there is anything like them in your culture, except they are a little like your kami. They live in the realm known by morals as 'The Underground.' It is a different dimension that shares space with ours. One of those beings is known as the Goblin King. Again, I could find no comparison to him in your culture."

Hikaru gave the teen a look. 'You got to be kidding me. Kami's? Seriously?'

Garion sighed and looked over at the wall across from him. "I know that your Sai was a spirit who was trapped within a Goban. He was cursed over a thousand years ago. His problem was he was a genius who was born too soon. So the Powers That Be imprisoned his spirit for a reason. That reason was you."

He turned to look at Hikaru, who gasped in shock. The back of the Japanese teen's hand was pressed against his mouth to keep from crying.

"There is more," Garion continued, turning back to stare at the wall. "The Goblin King is many things but he has two major attributes. One, he is the what the Mortal World sees as a Garbage Collector. He takes the unwanted children that have been Wished away. He can't take them freely before that time.

"Then there is his second aspect. He loves games. His favorite is making those that Wish away a child travel his very formidable Labyrinth in thirteen hours or less. If they fail the child is forfeit and remains in the Underground."

Garion paused as he reached out and magically summoned a glass of water. He toasted the shocked Japanese teen before drinking it down.

"That is who you played three nights ago," Garion said as he vanished the glass. "I, myself, was Wished to him when I was a toddler. My cousin didn't want to run the Labyrinth, so Father kept me. That is another story for another time.

"Let's get back to you. As Tautha Enterprises was setting up this year's tournament a seer, I think you call them psychics, came to Father. We were just deciding on what game to sponsor this year. She said it had to be the game Go, and that there would be one that would come who was grieving and in pain. She said that you seek your teacher in your game."

"But I never voiced it!? How could he know!?" Hikaru shouted at Garion.

"Your thoughts broadcast to every empath and those with mind gifts in that room that night," Garion replied calmly. "You said, and I quote: 'I want Sai back. If I can't have that, I want one more day with him. To play Go, to hear his voice. To find out why he left the way he did. I want to prove to the world he existed. To tell everyone what a genius he was when it came to playing Go. That is what I wish.' Did you know the first part of your wish has been fulfilled?"

Too many shocks were coming at the young Go Pro. His monitors were starting to go into over drive. What was unusual was no one was coming in to check on him.

"I said we wouldn't be interrupted," Garion said and with a wave of his hand, the monitors returned to normal settings.

Hikaru bowed his head, hiding his eyes under his bleached bangs. His hands clenched the bed covers as tears flowed down his cheeks.

Suddenly a crystal ball about the size of his fist landed in his lap.

"That is the second part of your wish," Garion informed him. "You've already received the first part. You got to say good-bye and to apologize for your attitude towards him."

"But, it was a dream."

"Was it? The Goblin King can rearrange time when he wishes. It is exhausting, but he can do it. Be thankful he was willing to do that for you. It takes a lot out of him, magic-wise. Nothing changed much after that. You behaved like a spoiled brat after Sai left by refusing to play Go for all those weeks, until a friend knocked some sense into you. His Majesty could not undo all that, but he did give you Sai's last two days."

"Why? Why did Sai have to leave?" Hikaru looked up, lost and in pain. He scrubbed the tears away with the back of his hand.

"It was his time. He needed redemption for killing himself. He had to learn that the path he wanted to take was a very long one and one person by himself couldn't walk it to its end. He had to set another on the path to the Divine Move to continue. That someone was you."

Garion paused, then pointed to the crystal. "That is a magical crystal. It contains all of your Sai's memories, hopes, emotions and dreams. It was created just as Sai was fading from this world. The Goblin King pulled him into the Underground and made a copy of everything that was Sai before allowing the spirit to continue on."

Hikaru picked up the crystal and stared into it. Suddenly he was pulled within. . .

"Ojii-sama, what are you doing?" asked a very young Sai's voice, racing up to an older man sitting in front of a small table. They were on the open porch of a traditional style home. A closed shoji was behind them.

"Sai-chan, I am playing Go," said Ojii-sama.

Hikaru noticed that the older gentleman was wearing the Heien-style outfit as his Sai wore, including the tall hat.

"Can I play too, Ojii-sama?"

"Here, Sai-chan, let me show you." The man picked a very young Sai up and sat him in his lap. Hikaru smiled as the man patiently showed Sai how to play.

"This is fun, Ojii-sama! I want to play with you forever and ever!" Sai's young voice shrilled happily. Ojii-sama laughed at the youthful exuberance.

Hikaru pulled out of the memory as Garion stood up. "Hh. . . .hhow?"

"Well, my work is done. That," he pointed to the crystal, "is everything that Sai knew, from the time he first learned how to play to his last day with you. My advice is write a book. I think, if you play it right, there may be three, maybe four books out of that. If you don't write just about the games alone that is. This is for your wish to show the world what a genius he was. Here's your chance."

"But what happens if I drop it or it gets lost?"

Garion smiled. "It is magical. It can't be broken by any normal means. You could drop it from a 50 story high-rise and it would not break. You could drop it in a river and it'll find its way back to you the next day. It is keyed to you, and only you."

As Garion turned to walk out, Hikaru called out, "Arigato! Arigato! Arigato!"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hikaru was released from the hospital the next day. The doctors couldn't find anything medically wrong with him except exhaustion, both physical and mental. They made him promise to take it easier, which the teenage Go pro agreed.

The crystal was safely tucked in his carry on for his trip home along with a business card that Garion-san had given him. "Just in case you need anything, Shindou-san."

He was already thinking about what Garion-san had suggested. He had never thought of a book. It made sense, but he knew nothing about writing a book.

On the trip back, Hikaru leaned back and appeared to be sleeping for most of it. Instead of dreaming, he was reviewing Sai's life as a Go Instructor for the Emperor. Yes, a book would be great but who would publish it?

Once he was back home, Hikaru didn't waste any time in writing. He had saved all of Sai's 'netgo' games years ago. He had printed them all out after he saw Sai's face the first time. At the time, he hadn't really understood that look until he realized it was one of recognition. It said 'I exist.'

Hikaru spent some of his winnings from the Tautha Tournament to purchase a laptop and printer. It took two weeks to write, print out, and to record the kifus – to show Sai's genius without telling the world that Sai had been a ghost.

As the last of the paper for his manuscript exited the commercial copier Hikaru sighed as he looked around the Internet Cafe. He had come here to make a copies of his finished manuscript, and to decide who he should show this to. He could send it to Garion-san, but really, he wanted to keep it in Japan for the moment.

Well. It was a puzzle, and like any puzzle, he knew he could solve it.

With the help of one of the girls behind the counter, Hikaru bought a folder to stuff all the loose papers in. The manuscript was some 500 pages filled with kifu, and stories behind the kifus of Sai's time with him. Hikaru had started the book with a short story on how he met Sai.

He couldn't tell how he really met the spirit as no one would believe him. He made it sound as if Sai was a permanent resident at a hospital, unable to hold the stones to play Go. It sounded believable, he hoped. The end of the manuscript had the last game they played.

He wrote about his last day with Sai, and their unfinished game. He hoped that would stop people bugging him to play the spirit.

'Sai, I hope you know that I will never forget you and I hope the world now appreciates your genius the way I never did when you were with me. I miss you.'

With that, Hikaru took the next step in healing.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

It had taken some doing but four months after Hikaru returned to Japan he finished writing the Go records of Sai.

It had been a very hard four months. What should he put into his story? What should he leave out? How does he explain how Sai played through him? In the end, Hikaru went with the Internet records and the private games they played in his room.

After he finished the manuscript, the young pro took it to the one person he knew would keep an open mind – Shinoda-sensei, the Go Instructor at the Japanese Institute of Go. The middle-aged man had been Hikaru's instructor during his insei period and was fair-minded, and very helpful to those under his tutelage.

"Shinoda-sensei, are you busy?" he asked hurriedly, one day since he had a match later on. He left a copy with the confused instructor.

It was unsurprising that he didn't see the manuscript again until several days later, but during that time he waited anxiously to hear how it was being received.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Shinoda-sensei had watched many young and older hopefuls pass through the Institute chasing their dreams of playing Go professionally. In his opinion, none had the spark and passion of Shindou Hikaru. The boy had come out of nowhere. It was quite apparent that the boy didn't know much about the pro side of the game, but he did have the raw talent and passion to go far.

When Shindou had asked him to look over something he had written, he wasn't sure what to expect. Many young pros thought they were the next Shusaku Hon'inbo and had written of their experiences. He was prepared to gently let the teen down, after he was sure it was a mediocre manuscript, filled with holes and errors.

However, Shindou's manuscript seemed different. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the title.

The title was only one word – "SAI." Inside were many kifus. Mostly they were private games between Shindou and this Sai but as he flipped through each kifu, his eyes grew large. This Sai's games were beautiful works of art!

The first few kifus showed Shindou's very beginnings and his poor playing style. That he had never touched a Go stone before the age of 12 was apparent.

Each game had notes about the game and how Shindou lost to this Sai, who was very ruthless and also cruel at times in his teachings. Each one of teen's notes showed well thought out insights behind Sai's playing style. Sai was a genius, but he also was a strict and powerful teacher.

Shinoda-sensei could remember Shindou's days as an Insei. The boy came across as loud and untutored, but his passion for Go was very evident.

His rise through the ranks had been beyond comprehension. Now he could understand what drove the young Go player.

Then Shinoda-sensei discovered the internet games in the middle of the manuscript and was blown away by the sheer brilliance of Sai's kifus.

It was so different than the games with Shindou. Although it was rumored that the teen didn't have a Go sensei, however, one could see this 'sai' in his playing.

This 'sai' had played all comers on NetGo, amateur and pro alike. He won them all. It was no wonder he was referred to as "The Saint of NetGo." Many had wondered who this 'sai' had been.

He now held in his hands the answers to those questions and so much more.

Then the middle-aged Go instructor finally came to the private game between 'sai' and Touya Koyo. He could see why the former Meijin had lost by a half point. This 'sai' was in a league of his own. Shindou had even pointed out that if Sai had played in a different spot he would've lost to Touya-meijin.

However, the last two pages were the saddest. It showed an unfinished game and the comments at the bottom:

"This was the last game Sai and I played. He was telling me his thoughts about Go. I didn't know they would be the last words he would ever speak to me. He said, "If I existed for your sake, Hikaru, then in time you will exist for someone else. Then that someone will exist for someone else. It is the way it should be. It is the long path to the Divine Move."

"Then he said, as he started to fade away, "Hikaru, this was fun . . .Go is . . ."

"Those were his last words to me. Sai was gone from this world.

"I would like to think he was trying to say "Go is fun." but I'll never know. He left me on May fifth and I'll never see him again, never hear his voice or put up with his childish whining, begging me to play Go with him. But I do know that I can find him in my Go every time I play. He is there waiting for me.

"And he was right – Go is fun."

Shinoda-sensei felt the tears running down his cheek as he closed the manuscript and looked over at the calendar on the wall next to him.

May fifth. . . So that was why Shindou-kun missed so many games that spring. He was grieving for his mentor and no one had even known. Even in death, Shindou protected his friend. He wondered why now? Why was Shindou breaking his silence now? Maybe now was the right time?

He heard that Shindou had collapsed after that Tournament over in the United States. Maybe someone there helped Shindou to heal? Shinoda doubted he would get the answers to those questions. However. . .

He reached for the phone. He had heard that Touya-sensei was home from a tour in China. Just maybe he would like a peek at this manuscript that answered many questions about a certain young player rising as a Go pro, and raised many more.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Two days later, Shinoda-sensei went to his good friend at Go Weekly with Shindou's now well-thumbed manuscript. Touya-sensei had been a big help with many of the questions that plagued him.

Both the retired Meijin and Insei instructor silently swore that they would help that troubled young pro to overcome his loss and get his mentor's story out.

And both knew the person to help.

Amano-san was a veteran reporter for the Go Weekly Magazine. He had a good eye for a story and Shindou's manuscript in Shinoda's opinion was powerful news.

Amano blew his nose as he read the last page of the manuscript. He also read the few notes that Touya-sensei had written in the margins confirming that Shindou had known this 'sai'.

The retired meijin wrote that Shindou was very protective of his mentor and had gone to great lengths to insure the secret of 'sai's identity. His notes also offered corrections to the teen to help perfect his writing style. He also affirmed that the game he'd played online with 'sai' was accurate, including some of the private information that wasn't publicly known.

"Well, this does answer many questions about Shindou-kun and the 'Saint of Netgo'," the rotund reporter commented as he reached for a pack of cigarettes. "It also raises several other questions."

"Doesn't it? Do you think this is publishable?" queried the Go Instructor. "I doubt Shindou-kun will answer those questions. You know how tight-lipped he can be.

"Also, don't forget Touya-sensei has said that he was going to buy a copy as soon as it went on sale. He's willing to lend his name to it as being accurate in its details."

"Oh, I most definitely think it's marketable. I'm impressed at all of the teaching kifus in this," he waved at the manuscript. "This Sai was not only a genius, he was willing to teach a boy that had no interest in the game and make him a pro in little over a year. Not only that, this Sai had all of the makings of being the next Shusaku Hon'inbo. It's too bad that he has passed away."

"Touya-sensei said the same thing," Shinoda-sensei agreed. "What do I tell Shindou-kun?"

Amano smiled as he lit a cigarette. "Bring him by tomorrow. I would like to go over this again and verify a few things he mentioned. Maybe we can get more answers from him."

0o0o0o0o0o0o

Hikaru yawned as he stepped into JFK airport. The flight had been long and tiring.

Last year his manuscript had been printed by Go Weekly, and the sales had been more than they could've predicted. In fact, sales were so good that editors at Go Weekly were considering a third printing, and were hounding him for another book.

The Go Institute had purchased several copies of the book for the young insei to read and study. In fact, signed copies were for sale in the Institute's Gift Shop. The book was a great learning tool. It showed a progression of teaching through the kifus, as Shindou had planned out.

The NetGo community had been saddened to hear that 'The Saint of NetGo' had passed away, but Shindou's book became a 'must have' for any serious Go player, amateur and pro alike.

Hikaru was very reluctant to give out more information on the life of Sai, including his last name. He couldn't very well tell them that Sai had been a ghost that possessed a goban because he refused to move on.

Hikaru was still getting requests for information to where Sai was buried. He had been hard pressed on answering that question. Sai's original body was long gone. Even Sai didn't know where it had been buried or even if it had been.

Finally he announced in an interview, "Sai once told me that he wished he could visit Shusaku Hon'inbo's grave. I would like to say any one who wants to pay their respects to Sai – make a donation to the Shusaku Hon'inbo Igo Memorial Hall* in his honor. He would've loved that."

The museum was pleased by the fresh in-pouring of donations and visits that interview generated. Some of the pros were even seen at the museum playing Go on the many stone gobans with other visitors.

Hikaru yawned again as he walked through JFK International terminal looking for his interpreter. All he wanted was a soft bed and something to eat but knew he had a meeting to get to first. His flight had been delayed and he was a day behind.

He was returning to the States because he was ready to write Sai's story and needed help to write it. Although it would be Go-related, it was going to be about Sai's personal history during his time with the Emperor of Japan during the Heian Period. He just didn't know how to write it. So he picked up the business card Williams-san had given him in the hospital almost two years ago and called.

"Shindou-san, over here!" called someone in Japanese.

Hikaru turned and there was the teen he had met the year before. "Williams-san!"

No. He would get never forget the spirit who had set his feet on the path of the Divine Move, and he was making certain that the world didn't either. His last wish was being fulfilled – Fujiwara no Sai would not be forgotten.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A/N: This is the end of this short story. Don't worry, Frau and I have another story in the wings. It'll have to be after November before we present it.

Thank you for all the wonderful reviews.

Until next time. – GF and The Frau

*The Shusaku Hon'inbo Igo Memorial Hall does exist and is located at Innoshima, Japan and is open for visitors. You can find details by using google.

kifu – written game records

Ojii-sama – a very formal way to say grandfather much like when Rukia Kuchiki addresses her brother-in-law in Bleach.