~ Between Two People ~

A/N: Hello. Thanks for all the support and kind words.

Hope you guys will enjoy this chapter! I am quite fond of this particular chapter title: Where Madness Lies. I always liked Shakespeare's "Oh, that way madness lies." and wanted to use it in my stories. I wanted to do more with it, but alas, my imagination failed me. I still like how it turned out and hope you guys do too.

Disclaimer: Don't own Hikaru no Go.

Chapter 7: Where Madness Lies

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

"That's crazy! Were you two mad!?"

Hikaru's been hearing that phrase a lot within the last few days. First, it was the principal who had called him and Reiji into his office where the coach and captain sat; the former had developed quite a bruise, courtesy of Reiji. Then it was his parents, who though didn't verbalize the phrase, Hikaru could see it from their face. Even his grandparents jokingly asked him as well when they found out. Now it was Hiroto's incredulous voice that was on the phone.

He, Hiroto, and Reiji were currently three-way calling each other. The three of them would often do this Friday night every other week or so to update each other and catch up. Hikaru quietly wondered if they would manage to keep this up once Reiji moved away and long-distance calls were expensive. Some part of him knew that it wouldn't last, but another part refused to let their friendship end. But is it really a choice?

Hikaru left the explanation to Reiji who was still hyped over what happened. Hikaru was exhausted from defending himself especially since Hikaru acknowledged that the situation was largely their fault. Not getting along with someone even if they were a scumbag, was no excuse for violence.

Hikaru was definitely not looking forward to going to school on Monday, when their suspension ends. Although, talks amongst his peers in school may have died down by now; when he return, the rumors and gossips will surely start up again.

"-ikaru."

Catching the tail of his name, Hikaru returned to the conversation. "Hm?"

"I said, how are you going to play now?" Hikaru could hear the concern etched within Hiroto's voice.

"I don't know," Hikaru admitted with pursed lips.

"You could try and transfer school and play soccer at that new school?" Reiji suggested.

However, Hiroto squashed any hope that the suggestion may have brought. "But wouldn't they question the reason you transfer? Besides, I'm sure the school would know the stint with the soccer coach and stuff at Kaio so while he can transfer school, I doubt the school's soccer team would accept him."

"So you're saying, Hikaru's soccer career is screwed?" Reiji asked, alarmed.

"Well-"

"Guys, it's okay," Hikaru interrupted, he didn't want to think about this now, not when he's so unsure about everything. He's going to use the weekend as a break and then decide later. "I'll figure something out somehow."

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

"This is black's best move," the Go instructor explained, placing a black stone on 1-12. "Even if white does this, let him take your two stones, but surround him. Then take this eye and white is dead."

Hikaru couldn't suppressed the yawn from escaping. It had been a good idea to continue the Go class, since he had nothing to do that day anyway. He had told himself not to think about soccer, after all.

"Hikaru! That's rude," Akari chided softly from next to him. She had decided to continue going to the Go class with Hikaru despite her protest from last week. After all, it was hard to say no to an already devastated Hikaru.

"Okay, let's stop here and play some matches," the instructor stated.

Hikaru watched every table shifting around to begin their match. There were Go boards on each table with two players facing each other. Hikaru and Akari had came in a bit late and didn't know that had they sat across from each other, they would've been able to play with one another. As is, Hikaru didn't have anyone sitting across from him.

"Umm, you're Shindou-kun, right?"

Hikaru turned around towards the voice. The instructor was merely going around with the sign-in sheet getting to know the students.

"You're a beginner?" the instructor asked.

"Oh, yea, I don't know anything," Hikaru replied.

"Oh, I see. So why are you interested in Go?" the instructor gave Hikaru a friendly smile.

"Hm, I'm not really-," Hikaru struggled to answer the question. He couldn't possibly explain that he was hoping that if he played Go or understand something about it, he'll get a hint about the plaguing visions and Sai.

As if the sensei had felt Hikaru's discomfort, he merely suggested they play a little stone taking game to get started.

"Stone taking?"

"Yes, this will teach you the basics," the instructor explained.

The instructor proceeded to demonstrate upon the Go board in front of Hikaru. Akari, curious, had also shifted her body to watch the demo as well.

"I can find you an opponent in a bit if you want."

"No, I'll just watch or something," Hikaru replied. He really didn't want to play.

After putting the stones away into the bowl and tidying up his area, Hikaru looked over to Akari. His friend was playing some older guy and it seemed she knew what she was doing! Amazed, he watched.

It was strange, though, Hikaru realized. He felt like he's been in this situation before. Watching Go being played. Hikaru foster it up to the feeling the visions bring, but this particular feeling wasn't preceded by a vision.

"Yay, 6 more stones are mine," Akari's opponent exclaimed as he slammed his stone on the board, taking Hikaru's attention back to the game.

Hikaru noticed Akari flinched.

"You must like losing them," the older guy goaded with a wide grin on his face.

Suddenly, a series of vision played through his mind. It was the same guy, but someone else was his opponent, not Akari. Hikaru wondered what happened because he saw himself pour the bowl of Go stones on the arrogant man's head, exposing his toupee.

The sound of the man's taunting voice brought Hikaru back. "What a stupid move... It's rare to see a person who likes losing."

"Oh, I-" came Akari's dejected voice.

Hikaru started to get annoyed at the other guy. Can't he see that Akari didn't know the game well? He was clearly bullying Akari! Though Hikaru wouldn't verbally admit it, Akari was a good friend. And being subjected to a bully himself, the incident with the other soccer players fresh in his mind, Hikaru was not going to stand for it.

Suddenly, he remembered the vision he just saw. A wicked grin appeared on Hikaru's face. He reached over to his own bowl of Go stones, grabbed it, stood up, and dumped the Go stones and bowl onto the haughty man's head, merely murmuring a fake "oops, sorry".

Akari gasped as the stones fell onto the Go board and many rolled onto the ground. The noise caught everyone's attention. Everyone, including the instructor, were staring. Hikaru didn't care.

"What are you doing! Are you mad!? You..." exclaimed the guy. The Go bowl was still laid on his head. "You ruined the game." He angrily waved his finger at the scattered stones on the board.

"Oh sorry, my hand slipped," Hikaru tried an apologetic tone, but the grin on his face told a different story. "But I'll fix everything now."

The other guy yelped as soon as Hikaru placed his hand on the Go bowl and instead of lifting the bowl up, Hikaru dragged the bowl backwards, pulling the guy's wig with him.

"Ahh!" the now wig-less fellow called out as he tried to follow his wig backwards, only to have the chair fall over under his weight.

Everyone gasped as Hikaru took the wig and dropped it off on the guy's head. Many then tried to stifle their laugh at the situation. The guy, stunned momentarily, ran out of the room, covering his face with his hands, embarrassed.

"Hehe," Hikaru smirked, giving a victory sign to the wide-eyed Akari.

"Shindo-kun!" came the instructor's voice.

"Eek." Hikaru sheepishly turned around.

"Shindo-kun, you'll have to apologize to Akota-san next time."

"Yea, yea."

A woman interrupted with a grin. "Forgive him sensei, you laughed just as much." The instructor flushed at the comment.

"Okay, sorry sensei, I have to go now," Hikaru spoke quickly, taking advantage of the moment. He grabbed Akari by the arm and skedaddle out of the room.

"Hikaru!" Despite being dragged, Akari managed to briefly thanked the sensei and give him a quick bow.

"I don't think I want to go back there again," Hikaru stated once they exit the building.

"I wonder why," Akari rolled her eyes.

"It's not my fault. That wig guy was annoying," Hikaru replied and a quick laugh escaped his lips when he remembered what happened.

"Hmph." Hikaru did notice Akari trying to hide a smile.

"You seem to know how to play the game?" Hikaru asked.

"Only what the sensei taught," Akari answered and then realized, "weren't you listening to him, Hikaru!?"

"It was boring."

"Oh geeze."

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

Shindou Hikaru was irritated. It's been over a week since quitting the soccer team and still no answer came to him about his soccer future. He ran through several possibilities.

First, he could beg the team to take him back and this time he would endure and be more patient. Except, Hikaru couldn't stomach the idea and squashed it down as fast as it came up. That aside, the stink eye that the coach and captain had given him if he ever crossed their path was pretty toxic. Hikaru was just glad that the bullying didn't spill over from soccer to his school life; therefore, although he received numerous looks and circulated rumors, he was mainly left alone.

The second option was Reiji's suggestion to transfer schools. Although Hiroto was probably right - Hikaru's soccer past would spill over. Nonetheless, Hikaru had really liked this idea, he would get away from this school and he would, hopefully, be given a chance to explain his side of the story and the situation surrounding it. Unfortunately, his parents weren't as receptive to the idea. His father was still angry at him, evident from the frown Hikaru received when he suggested the idea, followed by a stern 'no' and Hikaru should 'finish your schooling at this school'. Hikaru tried turning to his mother. However, she shot down the idea when she realized that the closest school wasn't in a great area and the rest of the other schools weren't near enough that Hikaru could walk; the commute would be too time-consuming.

The third idea crossed Hikaru's mind, but Hikaru waved it away as soon as it came up: he could create his own soccer team at school. Alas, Hikaru knew the school wouldn't allow two soccer teams to represent them nor would anyone be interested, given Hikaru's feud with the other team.

Hikaru's last option wasn't really an option and Hikaru wouldn't have even thought of it had Reiji not tentatively questioned; there was no way he was going to quit playing soccer. He loved the game and loved playing it. Quitting was not an option.

Hikaru snarled at the thought.

"Eeek!"

Hikaru looked up to see a girl skirting to the other side of the road whom quickly averted her eyes when Hikaru noticed her. "Sorry, not to you." Hikaru gave an apologetic look. It didn't help, the girl just scrambled away quickly.

The small misunderstanding made his mood darker. Hikaru was currently walking aimlessly around because his mother had seen his horrible mood and thought some 'sunshine and nice weather would cheer you right up!' The sun was out, the weather was pleasant, and there was even a soft breeze about. By all accounts and purpose, it was a beautiful Saturday! Instead, Hikaru felt the day was trying its best to suppress his foul mood and he wanted to be in this bad mood. It's a venting mechanism, Hikaru decided.

Suddenly, a soccer ball rolled in front of him. Hikaru stopped and blinked. Perhaps he was thinking about the soccer problem too much that he was starting to imagine it? Would he imagine people playing soccer without him now?

"Hey you kid over there!"

Hikaru looked around, unsure where the voice was coming from and whom the voice was directed to.

"You, with the blond bangs!"

Well, that narrowed it down.

"Over here, in the field!"

Fields? Then Hikaru finally noticed his surroundings. He was walking down the road between a river bank and a field of grass. He noticed there were several boys, many probably his age, were standing at the field. Hikaru guessed that the jumping and waving boy was the owner of the voice.

"Pass it! Pass it!"

Hikaru stared at the enthusiastic and energetic boy. With the soccer ball next to his feet, Hikaru smiled. Ah, this was it, Hikaru realized. He had always loved soccer because he could use his restlessness to simply kick the ball around. Hikaru lobbed the ball gently enough for it to land in front of where the boy was standing.

The boy looked down at the ball and back up at Hikaru - then he grinned. "Nice pass!"

And before Hikaru had the chance to answer, the lively boy had already kicked the ball back his way. Despite Hikaru's confusion, his body had moved on its own to receive the ball. To be able to pass the ball in a way that it lands right in front of him, Hikaru realized the boy was good, his control on the ball was on par with Reiji, if not better.

The other boy called over. "Come play with us!"

Hikaru didn't even need to debate over the answer before dribbling the ball towards the group of boys on the field, delighted to play soccer and curious about the other boy.

And that boy was Aragishi Raiho whom was a year his senior, but he wasn't much bigger nor taller than Hikaru was. Despite his small stature, he was extremely fast and agile. And his sense of the game was amazing, it left Hikaru excited to play with or against the other boy. And so Hikaru spent some time playing in that field with Raiho and the other kids whom lived nearby.

By the time everyone had to run home for lunch or errands, Hikaru was exhausted. His face was flushed, but he couldn't help grinning like an idiot at the games. They had played some exciting games with amazing plays and Hikaru was laughing throughout. He missed this, having fun just kicking the ball around. With the Kaio team, everyone was trying their best, but they weren't enjoying the game because they wanted to beat one another to be starting position or the star. This wasn't it. They were merely on the field kicking around some ball in a field with some makeshift goal posts just happy to play.

"Same time tomorrow!" The other boys called as they walked off, leaving a still jubilant Raiho and an exhausted Hikaru sitting on the grass, trying to catch his breath.

"You guys come here often?" Hikaru asked in between each breath. Man, he was sorely out of practice and he had forgotten to stretch so his body is going to give him some pain later.

"Yup, almost every weekend. I stay with my grandparents every weekend so I come out here to play a bit," Raiho replied.

"Which school do you go to?" Hikaru wondered if he can transferred to that school.

However, Raiho's school was further than Hikaru expected.

"Are you on the soccer team?" Hikaru asked.

"My school doesn't have one and Kozue said it was too late to start one so I'll do it next year at Satomi High!" Raiho replied enthusiastically.

Hikaru nodded and pretend to know who Kozue was and where Satomi High was.

"Playing soccer is fun, isn't it!?" Raiho exclaimed after a moment of silence.

"Of course!" Hikaru responded in kind.

"Come play with us tomorrow too!" Raiho stated before standing up. He roughly dusted his backside before grabbing the ball and heading off.

"Wouldn't miss it!"

Hikaru had found a boy that he couldn't wait to play with again. The boy had the same love for soccer that Hikaru did, Hikaru saw it during the games and with the boy's eyes which shone when he spoke about soccer.

Though he doesn't know what to do about his future as a soccer player, Hikaru was sure of one thing, he loved soccer and if he can still play it, it's not the end of his dreams.

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

Akira glanced around, searching for his father amongst the crowd surrounding him. He was pulled away from his father as soon as they walked through the door; the staff and administration had rushed to greet and ushered him away. It was a large amateur Go event and his father, along with Kuwabara-sensei, was selected to be part of the prize. The winner of the children's tournament and the adult's tournament would play his father and Kuwabara-sensei, respectively. It was the second day in a two-day event.

Akira didn't usually tag along with his father to such events, but this time, something within him hoped to be surprised. He wondered if the winner of the children's tournament would hold any skilled players, someone perhaps around his age. Like Shindou Hikaru.

No, that wasn't correct. Akira mentally shook his head, trying to erase thoughts of the other boy. Akira came to realize that Shindou Hikaru clearly was not a worthy opponent, with his callous disrespect for the game and infuriating attitude. He had gotten his hopes up for no reason. But he couldn't discount their game, it was-

"Touya-kun?"

The familiar voice startled Akira. He turned to face the voice and was surprised to see Fujiwara-san standing there wearing a warm smile. The slightly older man wore a white polo shirt with khaki slacks and his long dark hair sashaying behind him, tied loosely at the nape of his neck.

Akira bowed slightly to the other man. "Fujiwara-san."

"It is you. Thank goodness I didn't make a fool of myself," Fujiwara chuckled, raising his fan to hide the lower half of his face.

Akira eyed the intricate fan in wonderment. He had never met any man who carried a fan and didn't look strange with it. Ever since Akira met the other man, Fujiwara had always carried a fan. It looked so natural to associate the fan with Fujiwara; the other man clearly used the fan effortlessly, as if he had thousands of years of practice. And Akira wouldn't admit it had he not experienced it first hand, but the fan was intimidating.

There are many players who bring something of comfort to them when they play Go, little good luck charms and such. There are many more who play mind games to psyche their opponent out, most notably Kuwabara-sensei from what Ogata-san had told him. However, Fujiwara's fan was something more; it was both. During games, the sound of the fan opening and closing would rail the opponent's nerves because it often accompanied a good play. Fujiwara would often hid the lower half of his face behind the fan when laying out a game-changing move. Some say that the Shusaku-like player was probably grinning madly behind the fan.

The funny thing was, the fan usage was more intimidating than the person himself. Fujiwara is a beautiful man, putting many women to shame. He possessed a rare, frail, and ancient beauty that is enhanced by his wonderful personality. Warm, inviting, and serene, Fujiwara was the kind of person you would go out of your way to do things for and you'd be hard-pressed to stay angry with him no matter what he had done.

He's become quite infamous in the Go community because of his powerful and strong Go plays, rivaling that of Shusaku earning him the title of 'modern-day Shusaku'. Fujiwara was so young too! So young and with all that strength, Akira shuddered. Many people had labeled Akira as a Go prodigy for how well he played compared to others his age, but Fujiwara Sai was something else. Akira doubted that even he could climb as high and fast as Fujiwara did. If Akira was a prodigy, Fujiwara Sai was a phenomenon, he was the force of nature itself.

Akira often heard Ogata-san complained that, "it would've helped if that guy was arrogant or detestable in some way. He makes me feel like I'm a bad person for just existing!"

Because of this, people either disliked him or loved him, but most definitely everyone respected him, especially more when they faced him across a Go board. Meeting him either leaves you stunned in awe or shivering with fear. Regardless of friend or foe, he is too nice and accommodating, a perfect gentleman full of manners and charisma despite some child-like mannerisms.

Strangely, despite being warm and inviting, there's this distance that's kept between him and everyone else. It was a mysterious allure that attracted everyone to him yet repelled them to stay at a distance; there was a line that could not be passed. However, there is one thing that everyone can agree on, Fujiwara Sai loved Go. His love transcends anything that Akira had known and it was a magnificent love. Fujiwara loved playing strong opponents and when some people get angry and frustrated when they lose, Fujiwara Sai, in the rare instances that he lost, was delighted! Always quick to discuss and play more Go, no matter the level of the opposition, Akira wondered what it would be like to learn under such a person.

"Are you here with your father, Touya-kun?" Fujiwara asked politely, slightly craning his neck to seek the familiar face.

"Yes, he's playing the winner of the children's tournament," Akira answered.

"Oh, how fun! I want to do that," Fujiwara exclaimed.

"Are you here supporting someone, Fujiwara-san?" Akira pried.

Amidst the cloud of Fujiwara's mysterious allure was that no one really knew him. It felt like Fujiwara had always existed in the Go community; Go and Fujiwara Sai came hand in hand, you couldn't have one without the other and that it was difficult to imagine him before that, which was why no one really questioned him about his personal life. Usually, Akira wouldn't be impolite to pry into someone's life, but there was something about Fujiwara Sai that just begs solving.

"I was on my way and saw the poster for Go in front of the building and thought I'd stop by for a bit," Fujiwara replied.

Akira noticed the wistful glance that the other man gave as he scanned the room. He wanted to ask about it, but murmured, "would you like to see my father?" instead.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to be in the way," Fujiwara protested.

The staff would more likely fawn over him if they knew, Akira thought to himself. Although Fujiwara held no titles, (yet, Akira mentally added), everyone held him in the same light as a title-holder, most likely because it probably wouldn't take him long to gain one.

"I just want to have a look around, see some games," Fujiwara smiled.

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

Hikaru stopped walking and stared at the poster. It was funny, Hikaru thought, that once he became aware of Go, he seemed to encounter Go-related things everywhere. He briefly scanned the contents. It was an Amateur Event that hosted two tournaments: Children's and Adult's Amateur Go Tournament. Hikaru gawked at the amount of money the winner of the tournament would receive. Hikaru whistled appreciatively.

Wow, can't believe you'd get paid that much for a board game, Hikaru thought.

"Maybe I should check it out," Hikaru said aloud. He then realized what he just said.

"Are you mad!?" Hikaru murmured beneath his breath as he watch people walking in and out of the building. He remembered the last time he dropped by the Children's Tournament and the incident that happened. He didn't want to be grabbed, mobbed, and then later have to run for his life.

That aside, he was supposed to go and ask Reiji to play soccer with Raiho and the others. He shouldn't waste his time here. As Hikaru stood there debating to himself about whether or not he should go in, a vision appeared.

As the image went away and he returned to reality, Hikaru exhaled nosily, blowing his bangs in annoyance. "Yea. Yea, I am," Hikaru admitted, answering his own question from earlier. After all, how can he not be insane when he's having those visions, about that other life.

With that, Hikaru walked in.

.

~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

.

A/N:

Next Chapter: Will they finally meet?

Chapter 8 - Meet the Joker

I really enjoyed writing the part about Sai (I had a version of this part written a while back). And I think I gave lots of hints about this story's and this reality's Sai! What do you guys think? You all have such a wonderful imagination!

That being said, I can't actually answer or comment on most of the reviews about questions or your theories because it might spoil the story! But know this, I am very tempted to do so! I will resist.

Also, disclaimer: don't own characters of Meister.

Til next time!

P.S. I like cliffhanger as a writer. I hate cliffhanger as a reader.