Disclaimer: I don't own Hikaru no Go.

Touya Hikaru

-Chapter 20-

Moving On

The shop sign for Kousuke's Antique Store was as old and rotting as last time. The kanji were difficult to make out in general and the gold paint that was chipping off on the edges was nearly gone, this time. Last year's wind had not been kind to the storekeeper.

Hikaru leapt out of Ogata's car without explanation, leaving his father and student behind and bewildered. After Hikaru's screaming episode the day before, Kouyou was concerned, but unsure what to do. He had jumped from concerned to full on paranoia once Hikaru started screaming and yelling down the hallways before bursting into tears. Akiko was better in dealing with their son, but she had left to keep an eye on an expecting friend whose husband was out of town for the weekend. That had left Ogata to call when Hikaru started screaming the name Sai without provocation. Even his young student didn't know what to do, and when Hikaru requested a ride to the antique store he'd passed out in over a year ago, neither was thrilled with the idea.

However, when Hikaru stared at Kouyou with his red-rimmed eyes and begged to go, he couldn't really refuse. Against his better judgment, Kouyou requested Ogata come over and drive the three of them to the store. At least if Hikaru passed out again, Seiji could help him carry the boy to the hospital.

But this did not sit well with Kouyou.

The front door to the store was slammed open and Hikaru barged in, head whipping around in a flurry of motion. Hopping into action before Kousuke could say a word or respond to abrupt intrusion, Hikaru leapt over to the Go boards, flicking his eyes quickly over each piece of wood and looking for the tell-tale blood stain he'd seen the last time he'd been here.

Kouyou and Ogata entered far more quietly and apologized for Hikaru's behavior. They explained their reason for coming and Kousuke's eyes widened in recognition. "Ah, yes, I remember. You're the young boy who passed out here over a year ago. Yes, I'd remember that face anywhere," the man chuckled with a twinkle in his eye.

Over in the corner, Hikaru looked up from the boards with worry in his eyes. "Sir. Sir, what happened to that Go board? The one from last time. I don't see it here."

"The one you fainted over?"

Hikaru nodded in a hesitant affirmative.

"Ah, well I'm sorry, son. I sold that board, oh…quite a while back, now."

"What?" Hikaru approached the desk with a look of horror stricken across his face, leaving both Kouyou and Ogata tense, behind the boy. "Who? Who did you sell it to?" Hikaru practically screamed in the older man's face. "Please! Please, this is important. I need that board!" he yelled again, eyes beginning to sting slightly, though he forced himself to remain calm.

"I'm sorry, son, but I'm not at liberty to reveal those records to you," Kousuke apologized. His face softened as the young boy in front of him struggled to gain composure. "I can tell that board's important to you, but buyers have rights. Though, I can tell you it went to a good home. A man who really loved the game," he assured Hikaru. "I have some other Go boards here, though."

Hikaru could feel himself tensing in anger. He could feel his nails biting into his palms in an attempt to control his outburst as he fought back the thoughts that were flooding his head. Obviously the man wasn't at fault and was trying to help, but he was so frustrated, confused, lost. This was when Sai would calm him. Would cover his swarming thoughts with a blanket and force him to breathe and focus. But Sai wasn't here.

"How does that help me? I need THAT board! He's gone, and I need that board to…to…link," he screamed. "He's gone and I need him – I NEED THAT BOARD," he yelled, slamming his hands against the counter. "You're no help." Turning without warning, Hikaru dashed out of the shop, leaving his father and Ogata to call out after him, though he didn't listen. Instead, Hikaru just ran and ran. Out of the store, past the car, down the streets and around buildings.

He didn't know where he was headed; he just needed the noise to stop. The thoughts, the emptiness, the clutter, the voices, the silence—it needed to stop. So Hikaru pressed forward, harder and faster. The wind cut around his face and filled his ears. Every moment, that wind would begin to fill his hearing and begin to consume his mind, and then he would slow down, just ever so slightly, and the noise and the silence were back. He pressed forward harder. Anything to fill the emptiness in his head and in his mind.

Where was Sai?

His lungs tore and his heart burned as Hikaru's feet slapped against the ground harder and harder.

Why did Sai go?

His heart tore and his lungs burned as breaths began to catch in his throat and his feet began to knock against one another.

Where—

One foot caught the other's ankle and Hikaru felt himself spiral forward, hands shooting out as a reflex. He fell hard on his elbows and his cheek scrapped against the ground as Hikaru hit the cement. The concrete felt gritty and hard against his skin and little drops of blood began to pool on the face of his palms, but he didn't get up. Lying on the middle of the sidewalk, the silence consumed his mind and Hikaru began to cry to himself, head hidden and locked up in his arms. Instinctively, his ankles locked and his knees crept closer to his stomach as he tried to block out the world and call for Sai across his mind as loudly as possible.

There was no response, and Hikaru remained cradled in himself, wrapped up in his own little ball. He might have stayed that way for days, lying dejectedly in the middle of the sidewalk, however his phone rang. The first call was lost under the noise of his sobs, though the second vaguely broke through his tears. Half curiously, he glanced down at his pocket to see the light on his phone blinking through the denim.

After a short pause, the phone began to ring again. More out of habit than actual interest, Hikaru pulled the device out of his pocket, trying to wipe his messy face a little. Glancing down at the phone's screen, the name "Ogata" glared back at him. Hikaru's lip curled slightly and he chucked the cell at the cement, hard, relishing the deafening crack as it hit the cement. The ringer immediately stopped and Hikaru leaned back, smirking in his slight victory.

Just as he was leaning back to stare at the sun until he went blind, the phone screamed out one more ring tone. Frustration mounting, Hikaru lunged at the phone, swiping it off the ground. "What do you want?" he yelled, so packed with emotions he couldn't even express. The one person who had followed his every move and been role model he could rely on was gone, and nobody would let him wallow in peace.

Kouyou's voice crackled over the other end of the line. "Where are you Hikaru?"

"Who knows," he shot back, the venom in his voice unnecessary, though it made him feel better.

"Hikaru, we're worried about you. Please, come back now. We'll go home and talk."

Sighing, Hikaru let loose a stream of annoyance and sarcasm. "I can't tell you where I am, because I don't even know," he growled. "Just—just leave me be!"

"Hikaru, let me—"

Without hesitation, Hikaru snapped his phone shut. He couldn't take it. His father was trying to help and was trying to understand, but who would? Who could understand, 'Hey, I've had this ghost floating around in my brain for a year, and it's been annoying, but hey, good times'? Nobody that was right in the head, for sure.

Sighing, Hikaru fell back against the pavement, too tired to cry or to care or to budge. Finally he was glad this was a rural area. In the twenty or thirty minutes he sat solidly frozen to the middle of the sidewalk, only three people passed, and all on the other side of the road, eyeing him oddly.

His eyes ached and his nose stung. The wind snapped coldly across his face. Any tear that tried to escape froze almost instantly in the winter's wind. Sai was missing, and so was his board, leaving Hikaru with no idea where to look next. He had found Sai because of that board, and now there was nothing else he could think to look for. Sai loved Go. That was it, really. Go and…and…

'Torajirou.'

Torajirou. If Hikaru couldn't find Sai's board, the only other thing he could look for was Torajirou. Sai talked about him often, usually in the dead of the night as Hikaru was drifting off to sleep. Just then, Sai would settle in and begin a slow soft story about his student and the boy's quirks.

Yes, Torajirou was the next step.

Breathing deeply and regaining control, Hikaru pushed off the cement and forced himself to his feet. Lightly, he brushed himself off, looking more to warm his hands than brush off dirt. If he was going to find Torajirou, he was going to need help. The man had been dead and buried over a hundred years, but being that famous, he had to have a gravestone somewhere. Maybe Sai was just brooding near his old student. Still, Hikaru would need his father and Ogata to tell him where the gravesite was and drive him there.

However, as Hikaru looked around, he realized his current dilemma. He wasn't sure how to get back.

When he was running, he'd rather ignored the route he took, just taking random turns and hoping for the best. Now, he was lost.

Sighing, the blonde boy stepped forward, brain on autopilot. If he had managed to get here, he might be able to get back on his subconscious' memory. So, trusting his brain he just kept stepping forward, taking turns wherever he felt he should and memorizing where he'd come from so he could always restart.

After about fifteen minutes, he dead-ended and had to restart, repeating the process three more times. Hikaru had been walking in circles for nearly forty minutes before he finally caught a glimpse of a red car, swinging around a far corner. "Hey! Wait!" he shouted, suddenly picking up speed and rushing after the vehicle. "Wait! Wait! Ogata!" Hikaru's cries were drowned out by the engine, but thankfully the blonde had been driving slowly in the first place, hoping to catch sight of Hikaru.

When Ogata heard a sudden thunk from behind, he glanced in his rearview mirror, spotted Hikaru, and stopped. "Hikaru! Where have you been?" he gripped, hopping out of the car in seconds.

Dumb question. "Lost, Ogata. Very, very lost," Hikaru panted slightly. He was beyond out of shape. 'Maybe I should go back to soccer.' There was no response. "I'm tired, Ogata. Can we go back, now?" he asked, face falling as he remembered why he had even been running around in the first place.

Silently, Ogata agreed and ushered Hikaru into the back of the car, face stoic and mouth muttering something about picking up Kouyou. Hikaru nodded absentmindedly, watching as the car pulled forward, speeding up the landscape outside. Buildings, trees, cars—it was minutes when Kousuke's shop sign came into sight.

Kouyou stood silently, albeit with an anxious twitch in his figure. Hikaru caught his father's eye before quickly averting his gaze. He missed a quick, relieved smile from Kouyou. Though the silence was painful, the car remained quiet as the three took off. Behind them, Kousuke waved from his front door, glad his customer had found the boy.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the car was stressed, thin and awkward. Hikaru curled up in the back, focusing his eyes on the landscape. Quiet, voice soft, Hikaru whispered out a light, "Dad?"

Miraculously, Kouyou caught the quiet call. He'd been more that worried about his son all day. Ever since his 'Sai' episode, screaming around the house, he couldn't stay calm, and now, after Hikaru had run out of the antique shop yelling, he could barely stay quiet. When Kouyou returned to the car, he had caught those red-rimmed eyes, but he worried about pushing his son. "Yes, Hikaru?" he asked tentatively.

"Dad…where was Shuusaku buried?"

An odd question. "Well, there is a gravesite for him in Tokyo." Hikaru nodded mutely, but ignored the hanging privacy. "Any particular reason?"

"Um…well," Hikaru muttered off, not really wanting to divulge. "I mean…I just want to visit. See if he's—uh, there." Yes. That went smoothly.

Kouyou and Ogata passed a glance between each other, but neither pointed out the obvious blunder in Hikaru's statement. Best not to attack his self-esteem when it was anyone's guess how he would react next. "All right, Hikaru. We'll plan to visit tomorrow, first-thing."

"Tomorrow?" Hikaru instantly rebuked, but Kouyou gave him a bland, forceful look through the rearview mirror. Sheepishly, the young blonde looked down. "Do we really have to wait?"

Nodding, Kouyou returned his gaze to the road. "I believe we have already had a busy day, yes?" Hikaru agreed in annoyance. Catching sight of the long face, Kouyou couldn't help but feel down. "Well, Hikaru, it seems with your mother gone, we'll have to eat out. Would you pick a restaurant?"

For once, Hikaru actually didn't want to eat out, even for ramen. What he needed was a good, home-cooked, mother-loved meal. But…well, he'd have to make do. "Ramen?"

The adults upfront sighed and muttered to one another, trying to remember a ramen restaurant with other food on the menu.

Sunday morning couldn't come early enough. The whole night, Hikaru only managed to get a few hours of sleep at a time, constantly waking up and searching for Sai, just to remember he was alone. Shifting uncomfortably and rolling around, he would manage to fall back into a restless sleep, only to wake up soon after and repeat the process.

With a sigh, Hikaru finally climbed out of bed at eight in the morning, giving up his futile attempt to fall asleep. Sore and sleep deprived, he entered the kitchen and made himself a brief breakfast, sucking down food with his brain on autopilot. In fact, he prepared for the day quicker than ever, leaving himself completely fed, clothed, and washed within a half hour.

Thankfully, the after-breakfast shower seemed to have woken his father up and as Hikaru exited his room, finally clothed, so did Kouyou. The two met in the kitchen and Kouyou settled down for breakfast. Hikaru sat across from him. He sat quietly, elbows on the table, and leg bouncing in anxiety, watching Kouyou intently. It quite obviously unnerved his father, but Hikaru couldn't force himself to look anywhere else. His mind was stuck on Shuusaku's grave and finding Sai.

"Done yet?"

"No," Kouyou sighed, scooping more food into his mouth. Hikaru posed the question several more times, the answer never changing. Finally, Kouyou decided to forgo nearly a third of his breakfast to his incessant son. "Are you ready to go, then?"

Nodding fervently, Hikaru jumped up towards the door, sweeping his backpack over his shoulder and slipping his shoes on in seconds. "Ready?"

Much more slowly, Kouyou followed. He checked his pockets for train money and then headed to the front door, retrieving his shoes. "We can take a train heading towards the Honmyoji Temple."

"Honmyoji Temple?" Hikaru asked hesitantly, leading the way out the door and to the station.

"Yes. Shuusaku's gravesite is near Moriyama Takichiro's gravesite, within the Honmyoji Temple. We can pay our respects there."

Without doubt or more questions, Hikaru agreed, leading the quiet escapade. Getting to the train station proved simple, finding the right line proved harder. Still, once on the train, the ride went in one direction, helpfully weeding out the chance of the two getting lost.

Although Hikaru had claimed to keep an ear out for their station, ultimately Kouyou warned him when to get off, and then both had to spend a few minutes orienting themselves. Hikaru rode the trains frequently, but not on that side of the city, and Kouyou mainly relied on Ogata driving him around at this point in life. Besides Go related events, he rarely left the house.

After asking directions a few times, the two managed to find the temple. The broad sign was elaborate and the gardens were ornate, but Hikaru plowed past both. Kouyou nearly lost his son when he stopped to gaze at the flowers and take in the smells, but a few signs and the sound of pounding shoes helped to orient him in the right direction. "Hikaru…Hikaru, slow down," Kouyou admonished whenever he caught site of his son, ducking around the corners. "This is not the place for running." Still, Hikaru never heard him.

'Sai? Sai? Sai, where are you?' he shouted over and over in his head, dashing between gravesites and looking for Torajirou's. 'Sai! Sai, don't go hiding, now. C'mon, I miss you!' No matter how much he cried out, he could feel himself welling up with despair. Yes, Hikaru was in denial, but he couldn't embrace the thought of Sai being gone from his life. 'Sai, I need you.' Nearly two years of having the most intimate roommate possible, and suddenly he was gone.

'Sai…'

Hikaru slowed at the site of Shuusaku's grave. It was just a simple cement gravestone with his name carved into it. There was a nice base with some basic flowers around it, but mainly was rather plain, though well kept. 'Hey Sai,' Hikaru mumbled to himself, dropping slightly. He sat back on his heels, knees drawing close to his chest, and he reached out a hand. Ever so gently, his morose feelings mixing with his fond memories as he lightly traced the kanji. 'How ya been?'

Kouyou came around the corner, catching site of his son. "Hikaru, you must really slow down."

Nodding absentmindedly, Hikaru balanced his chin between his knees, mind calm for the first time in days. He wasn't sure why, but it was oddly relaxing to be by the gravesite of his predecessor. "You know, it's nice here."

"Nice?" Kouyou's face softened, eyes slightly confused. Still, he was glad Hikaru didn't seem as depressed today as the past few days. "Why do you say that?"

Hikaru let a pregnant pause stretch out as he thought seriously. "Are you ready for a long story?"

"Long story?" Kouyou asked in confusion.

"You're gonna wanna sit," Hikaru warned his father, gesturing to some of the various rocks around them. "And I don't really expect you to believe me, but…I think you should know."

Hesitantly looking at the rocks, poking up at odd angles and looking generally uncomfortable, Kouyou decided against the idea. "I think I shall stand."

Hikaru shrugged, turning back to the gravestone. "Alright, then I'll just tell you.

"There was this guy—a man, who lived one thousand years ago named Fujiwara Sai. In the Heion era, he played Go at the emperor's court all day long, teaching beginners and experts alike. He loved Go and lived everyday to play a new game against his many opponents.

"However, he was not the only teacher at the court. There was another man, much older than Sai, who also played Go everyday, but despite age and experience, was not vastly stronger than the younger teacher."

Kouyou nodded along. Though he wasn't sure where the story was connected, he could guess where it was going. Jealousy such as this never ended well.

"One day, the older teacher challenged Sai in front of the emperor, claiming there was no need to have two teachers. Instead, he proposed the stronger of the two should stay and the other should leave his position. Though Sai didn't like these terms, the emperor sanctioned the challenge, and a game was played.

"Sai was given white, and the older man played black. The game continued evenly, until Sai happened to notice a white stone, mixed in with his opponent's black stones." Hikaru paused, remembering the emotions that coursed through him when Sai first told him this story. Initially, they hadn't been his feelings, the ghost had forced feelings on to the boy, but soon, he could only tell the difference between their feelings because Sai's were covered in hurt and sorrow. Clearly, Hikaru remembered being torn with anger and hate.

"However, before Sai could mention the small white stone in his opponent's bowl, he scooped it out and dropped it in with his captured stones, while everyone else's eyes were drawn to the board. Sai began to call the man on his deceit, and was interrupted as the older instructor jumped up and claimed that Sai had added a black stone to his captured pile.

"Before the court could erupt in shouting, the emperor silenced both men, convinced neither would cheat in his presence. The two settled back in and continued their game, but Sai's mind was already unraveled. He lost the game and was branded a cheater. Banished from the capital, he had no other skills and no other love than for Go, so he drowned himself in a river."

Hikaru had to stop as his voice hitched. If not for Sai committing suicide, he would never have met the ghost, but it had still hurt to imagine his friend do such a thing. It shook his heart to remember the story he'd been told nearly two years ago from a man he barely knew.

Still, Hikaru continued. "With his love for Go unsatisfied, the ghost remained trapped in a Go board, stained with his tears of regret. Much time passed until a small boy's voice rang out into Sai's darkness, calling him.

"The boy's name was Torajirou, who would later be known as Honin'bou Shuusaku. Only he could see the stains that looked like tears."

"Honin'bou Shuusaku?" Kouyou's face finally moved, in slight confusion.

"Yeah," Hikaru mumbled, meeting his father's eyes for the first time. "Torajirou was Sai's first host and let Sai play all of his games. In fact, the Shuusaku we see now is actually Sai. All those games were Sai's games." Kouyou nodded slowly, but Hikaru could see the doubt in his father's eyes. "Can I keep going? It'll make sense. Promise."

With a nod, Hikaru continued. "Though Sai stayed with Torajirou throughout the boy's life, Torajirou died of disease at age 34, and Sai returned to the Go board. However, now the board was coated with Torajirou's blood instead of Sai's tears.

"Two years ago, we found Shuusaku's board at Kousuke's antique shop. It was genuine. However, the blood I pointed out that none of you could see – that was real. It was Torajirou's blood that only I could see.

"When Sai heard my voice, he entered my subconscious and I passed out. You and Ogata rushed me to a hospital, and from then on, Sai has been with me, teaching me Go and cheering me on as I grew stronger."

Kouyou sent his son and skeptical look and Hikaru shrugged. "It's true. I didn't just teach myself to play Go. Those times I would talk out loud to myself were my conversations with Sai. He's been with me all the time."

For now, Kouyou decided to believe Hikaru and play along. Frankly, Hikaru was too old for an imaginary friend, but that was better than the alternative. "If that is the case, then why were you yelling the name Sai around the house?"

Hikaru dropped his gaze, remembering when Sai left his subconscious and the empty feeling that had filled him. "Sai disappeared, Dad. Right after our game, without a warning, he just left."

"Left?"

"Yeah," Hikaru sighed. "I'm not sure why. I just know he's gone and I can't find him. I thought visiting Torajirou's grave might help me find him, but he's not here. In two years, he never left my side, and now I can't find him." Hikaru broke off, too tired to cry, but heart heavy.

Gently, Kouyou began to lower himself, squatting to reach Hikaru's level, before placing a soft hand on his son's shoulder. "Perhaps, Hikaru, Sai was here because you needed him."

"But, I'm not even a professional, yet," Hikaru rebutted. "I've still got so much left to learn! Why would he leave?"

Even as Hikaru's mouth opened again, Kouyou silenced him. "Perhaps Go wasn't the reason Sai came. Hikaru, I have learned so much about you in the last few months that I have been missing over the years, and I regretting having lost. I think Sai was sent to bring us back together."

With a face as skeptical as Kouyou's had been throughout the whole Sai story, Hikaru met his father's eyes. "Really?"

"I think so."

Hikaru's face finally smiled, ever so slightly, and his eyes grew bright for the first time in days. "Well, that's a better reason than the alternative," he mumbled. He was worried he pushed Sai away, but his father…his dad had a much better reason. "Thanks," he murmured, leaning against Kouyou and giving his dad a hug.

"Of course," Kouyou smiled back, returning the hug. "You know, Hikaru," he was forced to speak into his son's hair. "In Innoshima, there are some other Shuusaku sites and museums."

"Really," Hikaru asked tentatively, unwilling to pull away from the hug. He was getting his father's shoulder wet, and didn't want Kouyou to realize he was crying slightly. "Can we go?"

"Next weekend. I have a study group to run this afternoon."

"Yeah, right." Hikaru sniffled and grinned.

With the summer sun bearing down, Hikaru panted in the heat. "How much longer?"

Akira sighed, shaking his head slightly. "My house is just around the corner."

"It's so far away!" Hikaru complained, half mockingly, half seriously. Tokyo had mild winters, but it received the brunt of the summer heat, and in this suburban area there were few trees, and the buildings weren't really tall enough to block the sun. And then there was the humidity…

"How much farther?" Hikaru whined.

Stifling a sigh, Akira chose to ignore his friend. And he used the term loosely.

The two rounded the corner to another row of houses lining both sides of the street. "So, which one's yours?" Hikaru asked, taking in all the buildings quickly. Nice. Normal. It fit.

"That one," Akira stated, pointing to a building two doors down on their right.

Without another word, Hikaru took off running and screaming something about air condition, letting loose whoops of laughter. Taking a second to catch on, Akira let loose a laugh and followed Hikaru's lead, racing towards the door. Though Hikaru tagged the handle first, Akira took charge of opening the door and leading his friend to a fan to cool off.

"Better?" Akira laughed as Hikaru's bangs blew off his face, and few sticking to his skin due to sweat.

"Better. Much better," he mumbled, relishing the man who invented the electric fan. "Sorry, you wouldn't have some cold water or something, would you?" Hikaru asked lightly, turning around to let the fan cool his back.

Akira jokingly sighed before heading towards the kitchen. "Lemonade sound okay?"

"Better!" Hikaru shouted back.

It had been months since Sai's disappearance, but Hikaru was feeling much better now. He still missed his companion on a regular basis, but he was starting to grow closer to his flesh friends, like Akira, Waya, and Fuku. Isumi had left to train in China for a while, back in May, so they hadn't had the same time to bond, but Hikaru still got a call once and a while, or a note through Waya.

Still staying in the air the fan was circulating, Hikaru glanced around the room, taking in the homey feel. He was used to the more traditional décor in his house, but the Shindou family was really far more modern. There was even a second story. Not uncommon, but he was used to the one-floor layout of his house.

The stairs creaked and an older man came down, a large Go board balanced in his arms. "Uh, hi!" Hikaru waved awkwardly, feeling a little weird now that he was being watched. "Sorry, I'm Hikaru. One of Akira's friends." He moved away from the fan with a sheepish smile, and then gave the older gentleman a small bow.

"Hikaru?" The older face wrinkled slightly as the man began to mumble to himself. Then, a look of recognition shot across his gaze. "Ah, you must be Touya Kouyou's son, yes? The one Akira met at the Go salon." Hikaru nodded. "Well, it's nice to meet you," the old man smiled. "I'm Akira's grandfather, Shindou Heihachi."

"It's nice to meet you, Shindou-san." Hikaru bowed slightly once more, a grin splitting his face. He liked this man. "Do you want some help with that board?"

"Oh," Heihachi glanced down at the board in his arms and shrugged slightly, smile still in place. "If you wouldn't mind, I do keep almost loosing the bowls." Hikaru nodded and reached over the board, grabbing the two bowls balanced under his chin. "Ah, that's better."

"That's an old board," Hikaru remarked, following the man into another room. "How long have you had it?"

Heihachi paused, thinking for a moment as he set it on the floor. "Not long, actually. I bought it about a year ago, from an antique shop. It was cut to a ridiculously low price. I nearly thought it was stolen."

Hikaru grinned, setting the bowls on top. "But you bought it anyway."

"Yes, well, the shop keeper insisted it was a Shuusaku board." Heihachi chuckled to himself as Hikaru leaned in closer to inspect it. "A fan of Shuusaku?" he asked light-heartedly, watching the boy ghost his fingers over the lines in the board.

The question was almost missed. "Uh, yeah…you could say that." Tilting his head, Hikaru tried to imagine blood, staining the corner of the kaya wood, pattern the same as the pattern burned into his memory. The chips on the corners of the wood seemed the same as before, but it was hard to remember. He had only seen the board once and had promptly passed out after. "I'm sorry, but can you remember where you bought this from, sir?"

"Bought it from? Gee, that was quite a few months ago. I only happened to run into the store once, almost by accident." Heihachi leaned back, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to remember. "Old shop, it was. Falling apart, frankly. Hmm…"

The entrance to the room was suddenly blocked as Akira stood in the doorway, a tray with lemonade and drink glasses balanced on top. "I figured I would find you two here," he said with a slight smirk, setting the tray by the board.

"Ah, sorry. I moved," Hikaru half-heartedly apologized before his brain was absorbed by the thought of lemonade. He scooped up a glass and poured himself a drink.

"Showing off your Shuusaku board again, Grandfather?" Akira asked with mirth in his voice, pouring a glass for Heihachi.

The older man's face drew in annoyance. "I didn't bring it out for your friend or to show off. I just thought it needed to be dusted down." Akira agreed with a knowing smile and handed the cup over. Heihachi accepted it albeit with hesitation. "You wouldn't happen to remember where we picked it up, would you?"

"You mean the antique store?" Akira pondered the question for a moment. "I believe we got it from that family owned store. What was it…Kousuke's Antique Shop? At least, I think so," he mumbled, finally pouring himself a glass. "If I recall, Ogata-san was the one to mention it at first."

"Ah, yes," Heihachi jumped in, clipping off the tail end of Akira's comment. "Yes, yes, Kousuke's Antique Shop," he answered jovially, acting as if he was the one to remember the name.

Smiling, Hikaru nodded. "Thank you, Shindou-san," he spoke with a laugh.

Akira had to hide a small shiver. Although Hikaru had been doing it for months now, no one was really used to Hikaru using suffixes yet. In fact, the first time he called Ogata 'Ogata-san,' at the study group, even some of the students that ever talked to Hikaru objected. Eventually, Hikaru finally agreed to stick to 'Ogata' and save everyone the heart attack.

"Kousuke's Antique Shop, hmm?"

Akira broke out of his revere to see Hikaru once more, ghost his fingers across the ridges.

'Hey, Sai. It's been a while, huh?' the blonde asked himself, eyes staring intensely at the board. 'How's heaven? Does the God of Go actually exist?' Though there was no answer, Hikaru could guess what it would be.

'I miss you. But, I hope you're having fun. Win a few games for me, okay?'

Silence. But Hikaru smiled. "Do you play much on this board?" he asked, looking up and catching Heihachi's eye.

Though Akira was silenced by Hikaru's gentile nature, Heihachi was struck by it and he smiled at the young boy. "Not really. I'm worried I would soil the board."

"Oh, sir," Hikaru sighed, looking back at the board as images of Sai flashed through his head. "Sir, this board was made to have games played on it. Enough games to fill a thousand years. No matter the skill level, as long as you play for love of the game, this ghost will never cry."

Both Shindou's smiled at Hikaru as the boy flushed in embarrassment. "All right, then," Heihachi agreed, groaning as his aging body shifted to the other side of the board. "Let's make this ghost smile."

Hikaru's face flushed, this time in excitement and joy. "Okay." 'Sai, this game's for you, ya softie.'

Author's Note Stuff:

I had papers due at the beginning of this week, so sadly this was put off, but we're done. Whoo! Confetti time!

Of course, thank you ALL for sticking around. I had a ball, and I hope all of you did, too. It's a really nice feeling to finally finish this, since I've had the ending in mind for a LONG time.

Thank you all for EVERYTHING. The only note I think I've got to add is that when I checked online, "Heion" was spelled "Heian". For some reason, I felt it should be spelled "Heion" regardless. Does anyone actually know the way it's spelled in the legally translated volumes? Thanks.

Bye!