Note: As you all know, Hikaru no go belongs to Hotta Yumi and Obata Takeshi. This fanfic is just based on my thoughts and if there is any similarity to other fanfics of hng, it is purely coincidental.

Chapter 5: Missing Sai

Hikaru sat in front of the Go board, deep in thoughts, staring at the black and white stones that arranged exactly the same way as the day when Sai suddenly disappeared. Yes, the last incomplete game he had with Sai. That particular day when Sai kept on bugging him to play a game with him after he came back from a Go event.

Hikaru closed his eyes as he felt the wind breeze blew towards him.

It was as windy as that particular day too, Hikaru noted as sadness washed over him.

Many times, Hikaru would replicate the game over and over again, playing with himself, thinking how Sai would attack if he put his stone here or there. However, nothing was better than Sai, himself. No matter how much he tried to think from Sai's point of view, Hikaru still felt it was not good enough because his skills did not match up to Sai. He could never replace Sai. Even till now, after so many years, he was still chasing after Sai.

And he liked it that way.

Sai was irreplaceable.

Hikaru did not dare to imagine if he could ever beat Sai because what level of playing would it be considered as Sai level? And even if he ever did, what would he have to look forward to by then? No matter what, Hikaru knew he would never win Sai because Sai would not come back. They will never have another game together, so there would never be any answer.

The last dream he had of Sai was him passing the fan to him, as if Sai was entrusting him with his dreams and since then, it was his goal to find the Hand of God.

His train of thoughts broke when he heard his daughter's voice.

"Hey Dad!" Sakura skipped into the study room excitedly, showing Hikaru the consent form she received today.

Recollecting his emotions, Hikaru smiled at his daughter gently. "Yes Sakura?"

"See this." She showed him the form excitedly. "This is the exchange programme to a school in Korea. There was a Go club in the school too and we will have the opportunity to have some games with them too. We can even get to visit their Go Association and met some of their Pros"

"That's great."

"Yes, but we need parent's consent. You'll allow me to go right?" She gave Hikaru the puppy eyes look.

Hikaru read through the form while Sakura waited anxiously for his approval.

"What did your mother say about it?" Hikaru asked after he finished reading.

"She say ask your daddy," Sakura answered hopefully.

Hikaru took a pen and signed it. Sakura grinned widely.

"Thanks Daddy," Sakura hugged him tightly. "You're the best."

Hikaru shook his head and then remarked jokingly, "Yes, I'm the best when I give you what you want."

"Who says? You are the greatest daddy in the whole world," Sakura praised exaggeratedly in which Hikaru raised his eyebrow. Sakura smiled impishly and left the room happily.

It was late at night and Sakura was already asleep when Hikaru was at the dining room. Somehow he was unable to sleep today.

"Heard that you allow Sakura to go to Korea," Akari spoke as she laid the green tea in front of him.

Hikaru nodded as he sipped the piping hot green tea. "It's good for her to meet people from other countries for greater exposure. Nowadays, Go becomes more and more common around the world. Sooner or later she would meet people from different countries. So I believe this will be a good start, to be expose to more different style of Go and play with different kind of opponents."

Akari sat opposite him and stared at him intensely. Sensing her gaze, he looked up at her questionably. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"Is there anything troubling you?" Akari spoke after a few minutes of silent scrutiny.

Hikaru froze for a second before he returned to normal. "Nothing," he lied as he lifted the cup and sipped his tea, letting the smoke from the hot tea hid his expression.

"Are you thinking about your Go teacher?" Akari guessed.

Hikaru stayed silent and that gave her the answer.

Akari sat opposite him and stared at him intently. "You miss him right?"

Hikaru lifted his tea cup, using the steam to hide his expression and sipped it slowly. Akari understood how important Sai was to him. She always wondered what caused him to have the interest in Go when he used to enjoy playing soccer and since then, Go grew more and more important to him and he even became a Pro. During their date one day she asked about it. At that time, he said he would tell her one day and it was after they had married that he confessed.

"It's hard not to think about him. Whenever I play Go, I'll be reminded of him," Hikaru admitted. And he had no intention of changing it, he added silently. He did not want to forget Sai at all.

Although Hikaru tried his best to keep the sadness out, Akari still sensed it. Hikaru enjoyed Go but sometimes when he played Go, there was a sorrow in it but very subtle.

Akari got up, walked towards him and put her arms around him. Hikaru closed his eyes as he laid in her embrace, feeling secured. He did not know why and how but Akari somehow knew when to provide him the right amount of comfort. "He'll be very proud of your achievement if he is still here," Akari consoled.

Hikaru nodded weakly.

"Hey, it has been a long time since we have a game of Go together," Akari remarked, trying to sound cheerful.

Hikaru looked up and smiled at her. "You sure you want to challenge me?"

Akari was offended. "My Go is not that weak okay?"

"Yes, as strong as a twelve years old kid," mocked Hikaru.

"I'll prove you wrong," Akari swore.

"Bring it on."

"Remember to take care of yourself," Akari reminded "Is the passport with you?"

"Yes Mum"

"Did you bring Uncle Ko Yeong Ha contact number?"

"Yes."

Hikaru, Akari and Akira were currently at the airport along with all Sakura's other classmates parents. It was their departure day to Korea. There were a total of fifteen students going with two accompanying teachers.

"Enjoy yourself."

"Yes Dad, I will."

Akira gave Sakura the bag he brought along. "Here's some snacks for you to bring over there in case you miss the food here."

"Thank you Uncle Touya."

It was time to go in. Sakura hugged each of them for one last time because the next time she sees them again, it would be ten days later. Akari tried to suppress her tears that were threatening to fall as she saw her daughter walking off and then out of her sight.

Hikaru patted her shoulder comfortingly. "She will be back."

A few days had passed since Sakura left for Korea. Life was as normal in Japan though occasionally Akari would miss her daughter. Fortunately, everyday, Sakura would make some time to call home or chat online with a web camera with them.

It was another usual day where Hikaru and Akira were having a game of Go.

"How's Sakura adapting in South Korea? Enjoying it?" Akira asked while he put a white stone on the goban.

"She enjoys it and she has makes a few new friends. Yeong Ha and Su Yon bring her around the country, treating her to their local delicacies. Then at the Go Association, she has a game or two with them," Hikaru replied and placed his black stone to defend his territory from Akira's attack.

"Then she must have improve?"

"Yes, she says she did. I have to see for myself. This weekend, we are going to have a game of Net Go, want to join us? Yeong Ha, Su Yon and some of the Koreans Pro are in. Later I will call Waya and tell him about this."

"Sounds fun, and I think this weekend I don't have any match. So I should be able to join you."

"Great, will give you the details once everything is finalised. Then this weekend, come over to my house and bring your laptop along. After the Net Go match, we can have a game or two."

And the next two hours, Hikaru and Akira concentrated on the match. Hikaru won by 1 moku.

"Akira, you better don't lose during your Meijin title match," Hikaru mocked jokingly. "I won't want to read the news that Touya Akira loses his Meijin title."

Indignant, Akira retorted, "I won't. Instead, worry more about your Honinbo title. If you lose it, Kuwabara-sensei will feel deeply insulted and definitely give you a long scolding and shame Sai's name."

Three years ago, Kuwabara-sensei retired from the Go world after losing to Hikaru the Honinbo title and joined Akira's father, ex-Touya Meijin, playing Go leisurely, exploring the Go around the world and play matches with Pros from countries such as China, South Korea.

"I won't," Hikaru said firmly.

"Me too," Akira answered with equal determination.

"The one who loses the title will treat the person anything he asked for," Hikaru challenged.

"Deal."

They sealed it with their pinky fingers, a bit childish but it was serious business for them. Many years had passed but it did not reduce the sense of rivalry between each other. They always take note of each other news in the Go world, keeping track of each other matches, opponents and also looking forward to official games with each other, whether it is a dan-series game or some Go title preliminaries such as Kisei, Meijin.

They are eternal rivals.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, at a Go Salon, Yeong Ha was having a game of teaching Go with Sakura with Su Yon and some customers watching them.

Sakura was concentrating deeply as she thought of her next step. Unsurprisingly, Yeong Ha was winning but she did not give up. Her father taught her not to give up until the last moment. There would always be a chance to overturn the game if you think hard enough. She watched him win countless games with this principle in mind.

She placed the black stone on the top right corner. It strengthened the defence of being attacked by Yeong Ha white stones. However, Yeong Ha was a pro. In just a few stones, he crushed her defence.

Sakura knew she had lost completely. She bowed, "I've lost. Thanks for your guidance."

"Thanks for your guidance too," Yeong Ha bowed back.

They smiled.

"It's a good game," Su Yon praised. "You've improved Sakura."

Whenever they came to Japan for some competition, they would have a game with Sakura since she started playing Go.

Sakura grinned. "Thanks. Dad trained me after all."

"Let's discuss the game and later we'll treat you to some good food around Korea."

"Yay!" Sakura cheered. Today was free and easy period for the students and they were allowed to travel around Korea with the company of their Korean friends or an adult.

"And if there are any places you want to go but it is not in your school itinerary, tell us and we will bring you," Su Yon added.

"I love you Uncle Su Yon," Sakura hugged him.

"What about me?" Yeong Ha remarked, slightly jealous.

Sakura turned and hugged him. "You too."

After the game and discussion of Go at Akira's house, Hikaru decided to stop by his grandfather's house.

He went up the attic and cleaned the Goban board meticulously, a sad smile on his face. It had been years since his grandfather passed away. Hikaru managed to convince his parents not to sell the house. This was where it all started, where his life changed from a boy who played around, enjoyed life without much thought to someone with a goal, with a direction in life.

All because he met Sai.

Maybe one day Sai will appear.

Ten over years had passed, countless times he came here wishing Sai will appear before him again.

"Sai, I'll achieve the Hand of God," Hikara said firmly to himself. "By then, I'm able to see you right?"

Silence.

Hikaru smiled, a tinge of sadness in it. "One day, I will definitely able to see you again."

Caressing the goban one last time, Hikaru closed the door and left.

Yes, I know finally I updated after god knows how long. Hope this chapter won't disappoint you.

Enjoy reading I hope? =) Reviews appreciated.

© Crazeblue27