Disclaimer : I don't own Hikaru no Go or Omukae Desu or Spirited away.
"Blahblahblah" : character's normal conversation
Blahblahblah : character's thought
/ Blahblahblah/ soundtrack
Chapter 15: Today is the day
Hikaru found himself surrounded by a field, a breathtaking beautiful green field. The gently wind breezed, carrying the scent of wild flowers.
This is what we're talking about! Yeah, this is the way Heaven should be! Sai is here…somewhere. I gotta find him! Looking around, he quickly cast his eyes in order to find his beloved ghost. Sai! Where are you?
" Bunny!"
" Bunny!"
Eh? Without noticing, there was a girl standing on his left and a boy on his right. Both of them shared the same green eyes and orange hair. Where're they from? They just…pop out from no where like a ghost! Wait, who am I kidding, they are ghosts!...Hmm,They look so similar.. they must be related…brother and sister, maybe.
" So soft!" said the boy on the right.
" So cute!" said the girl on the left.
" Ne, Ryoko, what's on your mind?" the boy asked light-heartedly.
The girl grinned back widely, " The same thing as yours, brother,"
" Let's to take him to Sensei!" The duet said in unison.
What? Wait! I can't! I don't have time for this! I gotta find Sai! I've only 15 minutes! Hey! Let go of me! Stop it! Since he couldn't say it out loud, Hikaru mentally protested as the duo pulled him leading him to somewhere. He tried to shake them off but they caught his fluffy arms very tight. Besides, children's enthusiasm was unbelievable powerful, they easily dragged the clumsy bunny along with them. No! Where are you taking me to! I gotta find Sai! Facing a difficulty in walking because he didn't get used to this big and heavy costume, he couldn't move the way he wanted.
" Sensei..ei," both little students shouted once they saw their Sensei.
There he was, under a large Maple tree, a gorgeous man in a tall black hat and a white Traditional Japanese garment was sitting in the shade of the tall tree. It was him, the ghost Hikaru was looking for, the ghost who taught him the game and introduced him to the world of Go, the ghost who was like a brother to him, it was him, Sai, his ghost.
" Ryoma, Ryoko," Sai greeted his students with his usual sweet smile, " I see you bring a friend with you today,"
" Yes, Sensei," the duet precisely nodded in the same time.
" Can he join us?" Ryoma asked.
" Please, Sensei, let him join us," Ryoko begged, " Pleaseeee,"
" Of course, why not? The more the merrier," the Sensei invited the strange guest to take a seat, " Would you like to join us?"
Hikaru just…froze there, he even forgot to blink. When Nabeshima had ordered him not to say a single word, he wondered if he was able to do that. If he met Sai, he might forget the order and burst into tears revealing his identity.
Even so, when he actually met Sai, he just…stood there, paralyzed by the greatest yearning.
He doesn't change a bit! He looks exactly the same like the day he left. He kept staring at that familiar figure. His eyes, his deep blue eyes, his silky long purple hair…He's still the same just like the way I remember.
" Well?" Sai's captivated voice woke him.
Yes…No, I can't say it. Therefore, the poor bunny nodded instead.
Since the duet had already taken the seats opposite their Sensei, Hikaru sat by Sai's side. He watched every move his dearest friend made, the way he gracefully held the stone, the way he smoothly placed the stone on the Goban, the way he pointed the bad move with his elegant fan, the way he talked, the way he smiled, the way he laughed. He watched all those moves without blinking. Even his voice doesn't change, it's still the very same bewitching voice.
While the children were trying to solve the simple Go problem that Sai had set, the blue-eyed ghost spoke up.
" These kids are very talented but their Sempai is even more gifted," Smiling softly, Sai looked at the stones on the Goban, " He's truly blessed,"
" Hey, we go again," Ryoma song.
" Deal it with, brother," Ryoko said, " When Sensei starts talking about Sempai, there's no way to stop him,"
"……….." The pink bunny remained silent. Sai
Looking up, Sai went on, he was now in his own world, " His name is Hikaru, Shindou Hikaru. He's not only my student but also my friend…No, that's not right. He's my… my everything, my student, my successor, my best friend and my little brother,"
"……..." Sai.
Gazing at somewhere far faraway…as far as the eyes could see , the stunning man went into a long monologue, " Meeting him is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Those years are the best years of my life,"
"………" Me too, Sai. Me too.
" Leaving him is the hardest thing…but I had to. My time is over, my work is done. I know he understands, after all he's a smart kid," Sai said optimistically.
"………" Actually, I don't get it, Sai, why did you have to leave? Why?
" Besides, it's not that I actually leave him," the Heian ghost noted. " I'm always be with him, in his Go. Although I'm dead, a part of me is still alive in his Go,"
"………" That's what I think Sai, you're still with me, in my Go, in my heart too.
" That's right! I'll always be with him," The purple-haired ghost reassured himself, " We'll be together forever, as long as he plays the game,"
"………" That's right, Sai. That's why I keep playing the game.
" I wonder how he's doing nowadays. Long ago, I met a young man, he told me that he had met Hikaru. It seems that he becomes some kind of mediums to help those wandering ghosts who can't see the light,"
"………." A young man? Who is he?
Turning to face the bunny, Sai confessed, " Telling you the truth, I'm not surprised at all. He's a good boy…Well, a loud-mouthed but kind boy," he chuckled softly, " Always cares about other people rather than himself…always cares about me," Feeling guilty, he lowered his voice, " Hearing that he's helping those poor ghosts like that…,"
"………." Me? Kind? No, Sai, I'm the most selfish person in the world. I should have let you play all games. I'm so selfish, so foolish!
" God, I'm so proud of him, I miss him, I miss him everyday, I want him to be here with me," Tilting his head up, Sai closed his eyes. How wonderful life would be if Hikaru was here with him?
"………." I'm here, Sai! I'm right here!
" But…there's no need to hurry, right? One day, someday his time finally comes then we can be together again. And this time, no one can separate us apart, no one" He uttered in serious tones.
"………." But!
" We'll be together forever, playing Go together for eternity, therefore, there's no need to rush,"
"……….." But!
" Bunny! Bunny!" two little kids shouted in excitement, " There's another one there on the hill!"
Hikaru quickly turned around, he knew who that bunny actually was. Nabeshima-san! It's time? I've to go now?...I've to leave Sai now? But, Sai. He turned back to Sai, he hastily reached out to embrace his precious ghost. Sai, Sai, I…I…
Funny that this was the very first time that Hikaru had ever hugged Sai. When they had been together, he couldn't hug Sai, he couldn't even touch the ghost. Now, when he could actually hold him in his arms, it turned out to be a goodbye hug. Sai…I…I want to be here…with you, I don't wanna go, I don't wanna be apart from you…not again!
I'm always be with him, in his Go…
A part of me still alive in his Go…
We'll be together forever, as long as he plays the game…
There's no need to hurry…
I'm so proud of him… Proud of him…proud of him…
What will you say if you know that I kill myself just to be with you? You must be very disappointed, right?
" Err…" The confused ghost stayed still, he didn't know how to react in this situation. Well, it was not everyday that a Go maniac ghost from Heian period got a bear hug from a pink bunny, right?
You have a peaceful life here. That's all I ever want…your happiness…I don't wanna let you go, Sai. I really don't want to but…
Hikaru let go of his beloved teacher at last. I have to. He mildly fingered Sai's smooth cheek. Take care, Sai, and wait for me…I'll come back, I promise.
It was hard for the blond but finally he reluctantly rose. He looked at his dearly loved ghost for the last time. Man, this is hard, now I know how he felt. Closing his eyes, he took a very deep breath before turning back, leaving his dearest friend behind.
I'll live on, Sai.
I'll make you proud, Sai, I swear. Walking away from the Maple tree, he promised quietly. I guess we're even now. You left me, I leave you.
" I thought that you wouldn't come back," Another bunny said when he eventually made it to the hill.
"………………"
From nowhere, the very same door emerged by his side, " It'll lead you to your world, to where you belong,"
Slowly turning the doorknob, Hikaru made a silent oath to himself. I'll live for him too, I'll live for both of us. I can't die yet, I have to go back! Eyes burned with determination, he was about to take his first step in then…
" You don't have to worry about him, he doesn't have to wait that long," said the mysterious bunny, " One day up here is equal to one year down there,"
"………………" Really? Turning to face the other bunny, Hikaru looked at him in surprise.
" Just talking to myself," Whistling, the taller bunny turned away. It was another secret that he shouldn't have told the living.
Inside the bunny costume, the blond smiled kindheartedly and gratefully said, " Thank you," Then he walked through the same door, leaving the other bunny alone in heaven.
"…………." Taking off the bunny head, Nabeshima felt his cheeks flushed pink, " Baka! Told you not to talk,"
…………….
…………….
" Who is that bunny?" wondered, Sai. He seems so familiar.
Kaburagi Hospital, room 612
" Umm," Moving uncomfortably, the sick boy murmured, " Umm,"
" He's waking up!" Akira exclaimed with delight, " Shindou-san! Shindou is waking up!" You finally wake up! You're alright now, right? Shindou.
Promptly rising, Mitsuko almost dashed to her son's bed, " Hikaru! Hikaru!"
" Umm," At long last, Hikaru opened his sleepy eyes, " Mom? Touya?" Everything was a blur to him. I'm back?
" My Goodness! You wake up!" Thank you, God, thank you. The nervous mother said in tears but they were tears of happiness, " How are feeling? Dear," She ran his fingers through his golden bangs, " I'd better call Doctor Sukawara, Don't worry, Hikaru, I'll be back in a minute!" She guaranteed her son before turning to Akira who was close to tears, " Touya-kun, Please, Take care of him,"
Smiling genially, the happy 3-Dans nodded.
Then Mitsuko left the room leaving the two best friends by themselves.
……….
………..
" Shindou, I…" Akira spoke up first. I'm sorry.
" Ne, Touya, Tell me one thing," Hikaru interrupted, " Do you believe in ghosts?"
End
A/N : Thank you! Thank you for the past 16 days! Finally it ends! So? Do you like it? As I told you, in the beginning, I mean in the very beginning, I intended to write about Hikaru, Haku and the ghosts, but when I thought of Akira…Well, it ends up like this.
I also wanna thank Kari, long ago I used to ask you guys to help me name the characters, Remember? Well, the ghosts' names, the hospital's name and the doctor's name are from Kari. So Thank you, Kari, even though you didn't read this fic :(
P.S. : To my surprise, Finding Seiji got 11 fav! While Yongha go 8! What does it mean? It means that my readers like a pedophile?
I'm working on a new fic, the draft is completed about10 percent now. - -"
Dragonshadows : "keep up the cliffhangers" I remembered a reader called me like that once :) What about the ending? Like it?
Giftfrombelow : 15 minutes is long enough for monoloquing :)
xiar : "when is it going to be the actual killing ur 3 fics?" I feel like I'm some kind of serial-killer, Hahaha. Well, about the next fic, no blood, no injury :)
Firehedeghog : Haha