Heian fic, chapter 13
Chapter 13
Once everyone had settled down, the silence in the room was almost tangible; the only sounds were the constant, hard rain and the occasional thunder claps. Hikaru looked at his opponent across the go board. Akitada wasn't watching him, instead his eyes were already on the board and he was softly fingering the stones in his bowl, eagerly anticipating the game. As if sensing the boy's gaze he looked up, and as he met Hikaru's eyes, a small smile, or maybe rather a sneer, passed on his face.
Hikaru looked down, lips a tight line. Akitada clearly didn't think him to be much of an opponent. He most likely couldn't believe someone of the common origin truly could play - and in the end, he was just Sai's student, not Sai himself. It was hardly surprising if the man thought he was in for an easy win.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves and suppress the surge of anger he felt, waiting for the game to begin. Then, out of nowhere the monk suddenly appeared again by his side. Hikaru looked up at him with a start.
“Sent to you for victory,” the monk said quietly and pressed a small object to his hand. A black go stone, a little cracked. Hikaru closed his eyes with an inward groan. Certainly sent with good intentions, for encouragement, but the last thing he right now needed was to be reminded of this certain lady. He shouldn't have let Akira write that letter...
The monk retreated, with an annoyed glance from Akitada. He obviously didn't recognize the monk, but in the audience Toshirou gave a start.
Hikaru shot a glance after the monk, and was startled to see him sitting down close to the screen among some court ladies. He stared, eyes possibly bulging a little, at his first view of women of the higher classes, their colorful clothes, high painted eyebrows and hair that flowed down to the floor as they sat. He glanced at the screen, wondering why it was there if the women weren't using it, but seeing the tiny figure behind it he remembered the girl the monk had addressed as 'your highness' and guessed it was for her. His eyes wondered back to the women, but seeing them whispering to each other and laughing behind their fans he quickly turned back to the board, face flushing.
“Begin the game,” the emperor declared, and the opponents bowed at each other. Akitada, playing white this time, placed the first stone on the board.
Hikaru closed his eyes, attempting to clear his mind of anything and everything except the opponent who was facing him and the game that had just started. His fingers closed on the stone in his hand. Slowly he raised it, eyes on the board. He could feel the contempt with which his opponent watched him, and he knew it was foolish, there was so much at stake here... but still... he was the one who had been challenged here, after all...
“Sai...” His lips formed the name, soundless. He looked up, and the ghost smiled at him, nodded.
Go ahead.
With a loud snap he played his first move.
~
Akira was following the game with a frown. Although they hadn't yet played many moves, it was clearly a game between two excellent players. Still, it didn't quite reach the levels he had been expecting. Perhaps it wasn't surprising in Akitada's case; he most likely didn't think he'd have to exert himself in a game like this. But black's play, even though it was solid and flawless, didn't quite have the brilliancy he remembered from the previous game between these two.
“He's playing by himself,” he heard Seimei mutter quietly. He suppressed a start, realizing what that meant. His initial reaction was that of frustration. Why? He shot a glare at the boy who was bent over the board with a tiny frown on his face. Why take such a chance? But as the game progressed, the annoyance died away. Watching Hikaru's unbreakable concentration as he stone by stone strove to wipe that sneer from Akitada's face he could easily understand why. Which didn't mean he wouldn't give the boy a piece of his mind once the game was over, no matter how it ended.
~
The upper left was going to be a problem, he made a note of that in the back of his mind. Not an insuperable one, hopefully, and as long as he kept control of the center, even losing that corner wouldn't hurt too much. Now, it was the upper right he was concentrating on. If he could get Akitada lured in there, that might just decide the game. The man was clearly underestimating him, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
He played a stone, deliberately leaving an inviting opening. Akitada took it, and he played his next move, ensuring that white wouldn't be able to escape. A handful of moves would make this corner solidly his territory.
Akitada didn't even stop to think. He placed his stone on the board with a sharp snap and sat back, unruffled. Hikaru had already grasped his next stone, but his hand stopped, hovering in midair, as he stared down at the board, not wanting to believe his eyes.
~
Akira was crunching his fan so hard it was close to breaking. Didn't you see that? he wanted to yell. How could you not see that? Oh, he would yet yell that, later, once they'd be somewhere in private.
~
Hands lowered to his lap Hikaru sat staring at that single white stone, which suddenly, out of nowhere, was threatening his central stones in the corner. His mind raced, going through all the possible variations how the game could proceed here, and always arriving at the same conclusion: those stones were lost. How had he missed that move? It was so obvious, now that he faced it. Perhaps Akitada wasn't the only one underestimating his opponent. When had he forgotten it was Sai's rival he was playing with? Would Sai have fallen for that trap he'd prepared? Hardly. He should have been more careful there.
With a quiet breath he gave in to the inevitable and abandoned those stones, turning his attention elsewhere. The upper left had suddenly become vital.
~
Akira was still grasping his fan hands buried into the layers of his sleeves in an attempt to keep himself from gnawing his nails. After that one mistake, he had been afraid Hikaru would lose his composure and the game would be lost, but it seemed to have had an opposite effect on the boy. The way Hikaru was playing now, Akira didn't think he would have been able to do much - but then again, he wasn't Akitada.
But he couldn't help noticing how the way Akitada was watching his opponent had changed. There was still anger in his eyes, or pure hate, rather, but even that was different from before. Earlier, his hate had been drenched in disdain, but now... Akira could well imagine how he had once watched Fujiwara no Sai with that same look. He had clearly come to realize that this was a game he might still lose, unless he took it seriously.
Which couldn’t be good for Hikaru. He was putting up a great fight in the upper corner, but the left side was otherwise strongly in Akitada's control. If he lost there, he would have just the center and maybe the lower right, and that wouldn't be enough.
~
At that moment Hikaru had completely forgotten the existence of their audience, but his thoughts were following quite a similar track with Akira's. There had to be a way to life in that upper left corner. He couldn't afford losing that many stones... at that point, there would be no other choice but to resign. And those words he wouldn't get out of his mouth, not without choking.
There simply was nothing else to do but to find a path to life. There must be one, he was certain of it, but try as he might he couldn't see it. Twiddling a black stone in his hands he stared at the board, willing for a way to appear, but in vain. The wall of the white stones was solid and unbreakable, and he couldn't find the smallest crack where to make his attack.
Sai would find a way, he was sure of that.
Sai, he thought, closing his eyes, unwilling to look at the presence he felt next to him. I'm sorry, I can't make it... You shouldn't have let me play, it's not about me, it's all about you, and now I'm messing it up... such a stupid, selfish thing...
He felt tears brimming in his eyes and fought to hold them back. It took him a moment to regain his calm - he was taking too long, he knew it. He should make a move soon. He opened his eyes, fingers squeezing a stone, wanting more than anything to find the move that would save the game - and as he looked down at the board, he thought he saw a ghostly vision of a fan upon it, pointing at a certain intersection. He blinked, confused, and during that blink the fan had disappeared. There? Why there? As Hikaru glanced up, he saw Sai watching the board with that same tiny smile he remembered a little too well from all the games in which he’d just been about to receive a crushing defeat.
Still not understanding, he played the stone. Someone in the audience drew a sharp breath.
~
Akira frowned. What kind of a move was that? He couldn't see what help it would bring to this situation - a lone black stone, apart from it all. He looked sharply at Hikaru. Did the boy have a plan? There was a strange look of confusion even on his face. But...
He glanced over his shoulder at Fujiwara no Kouyou. What had he seen in that move, to be so startled?
~
Akitada didn't seem to think much of that move, either. He played his next stone soon, after giving a short frown at Hikaru's strange move. And then, suddenly, it all became clear to the boy. Eyes slightly wide, he took his next stone, and placed it on the board. He looked up at the ghost with a little smile, and Sai returned his smile, nodding.
Akitada frowned again, but didn't seem to realize what was going on. He played as he had planned to, and Hikaru resisted the urge to grin. This game... it could still be his. No, theirs, he thought with another glance at Sai.
~
By now, Akira's eyes were wide as well. He couldn't believe that move, in all its simplicity. The path was there, right there, and Akitada had missed his chance to cut it. Now, the man as well had realized this, and he was staring at the board with an almost comical expression of surprise.
“What is it?” Seimei whispered, catching on that something was happening but unable to read the game so deeply. “What's going on?”
Akira swallowed. “He just might yet win this,” he whispered back with a surge of excitement.
~
A loud clap of thunder made the audience jump, and even Akitada, who had been about to place a stone on the board, looked around with a start. There were the sounds of servants running somewhere, wondering where the lightning had hit. Hikaru was the only one who remained oblivious to it all. His attention was completely on the board.
It wasn't over yet. With renewed determination, he played his move, reading the game carefully. He was leading with a few moku, but he couldn't afford a single mistake, Akitada was breathing down his neck with every move he made. They had moved to the right side, where the upper corner was lost to him, but he could still keep his own in the rest. A ko situation developed there, and winning it, he gained yet two moku more.
The game entered yose, and he could see from the red spots on Akitada's cheeks that the man as well knew he'd be losing at this rate. His only hope was for Hikaru to make a mistake, but the boy didn't let his attention flag. He placed the last stone on the board, and the game ended.
One could have heard a feather drop in the silence of the hall.
“Did he win?” Seimei whispered then, eagerly.
“Yes,” Akira breathed. “By... three moku, I think.”
The sound of their voices started the murmuring. Hikaru was declared the winner of the game. The boy stood up, lightheaded. The adrenaline of the game was still rushing through him as he looked at his beaten opponent. Akitada was still sitting by the go board, mouth quivering a little as if he wanted to say something, to object, but didn't know how.
“You still don't confess?” Hikaru couldn't resist saying. “You couldn't have won against Sai, not without cheating.”
Akitada looked up, face seething with rage. “Like teacher like student,” he hissed between his teeth. “I should have got rid of you too that night at the river! You could have shared a grave with your beloved teacher.” He stood up, sleeves flapping around him with an angry swap.
“That's enough,” the regent said strictly. “You agreed to let this matter be decided by this game, and you lost it.”
“But what does that prove?” Akitada exclaimed in a final desperate attempt. “Can we truly decide who is right or wrong based on a game? All it shows is... is...” His voice trailed off, unwilling to say it aloud.
“All it shows is who is the better player,” Akira completed the sentence for him, not noticing Hikaru's small embarrassed wince.
The glare Akitada shot them should have been enough to kill.
“You were happy to agree to this game,” the regent repeated. “It is too late to make such objections now. It's time for you - and your friend - to leave.” He gave Toshirou a short glance.
“But, my lord regent,” the onmyouji cried out, “I assure you I haven't done anything wrong here. I've simply attempted to assist my friend who was haunted by a ghost. And as I was afraid the same ghost might have done other mischief, too...”
“You didn't seem to be of much help to your friend,” Seiji stated from his place among the court onmyouji. “And if you truly believed this ghost to be behind the emperor's illness, your skill leaves much to be desired.”
There were agreeing noises, and Toshirou fell silent.
“You played an excellent game, Fujiwara no Hikaru,” came the emperor's young voice from behind the screen. One couldn't help noticing how delighted he sounded. “And I seem to have an open position for a go teacher, as it is.”
Akitada twitched, but said nothing. Hikaru blinked. “I... I'm honored, your majesty,” he said with a deep bow. “But you... I'm afraid you overestimate me.”
“Everyone agrees you played brilliantly,” the emperor insisted. “Especially that one move.”
Hikaru winced. Hesitated. “Well, in truth, your majesty... I think... I got that move from Sai,” he admitted.
“Ha!” Akitada exclaimed. “Now who's the cheater? Getting outside help!”
“This should have been Sai's game,” Hikaru said quietly. “A game played between you two, without anyone cheating. It could have been an incredible game, one like which has never before been played, but you... you had to ruin it. And now... I stole the game for myself... At least that one move gave everyone a glimpse of what kind of a game it could have been.”
Akitada opened his mouth to say something, but the emperor's voice cut him off.
“I'm growing tired of this. You two were already told to leave.” As Akitada still attempted to protest, he jumped angrily up from his seat and walked to the screen. “I never believed Fujiwara no Sai cheated. Never! Get out of here!”
After such a blatant command, Akitada and Toshirou hardly had any choice. Bowing deeply, they started to make their way out of the room. Toshirou still stopped to shot a mean look at Seimei.
“What is this, boy?” he asked. “First you disappear for days, and now you won't follow your teacher?”
“He isn't your apprentice anymore,” Tadayuki answered in the boy's stead. “His mother has approached me and asked me to take him as one of my students. Which I am happy to do.”
“But...” A startled look spread on Toshirou's face. “I... my brother...”
“Probably isn't too happy with you at the moment,” Tadayuki murmured. Unable to reply anything Toshirou turned and followed his friend out.
“This matter is hardly closed yet,” the regent said to Fujiwara no Kouyou. “There are many things to consider... I've heard of the somewhat... unorthodox burial of your son, not to mention...” He glanced around. “Is the ghost still present?”
All the onmyouji (and Hikaru as well) nodded.
“Something must be done about this, too,” the regent went on grimly. “But I believe these matters are best left into the hands of those with more understanding of spiritual matters.” He looked at the onmyouji and the monk.
“We shall restore his position,” the emperor declared. “And promote him to... third rank?” He sounded a little uncertain, probably forgetting exactly what rank Sai had held. “And I want it known that he was always my favorite.”
Behind the other screen someone snapped her fan shut quite loudly.
“And my wife's, too,” the emperor added hurriedly.
Hikaru blinked. There was something off, in his mind, with a child this young to be speaking about his wife. But this got him thinking. Could it be that the girl he had met... the monk had called her 'your highness.' Could she be...? And if she was, did that mean that this mysterious lady of his was one of the emperor's wife's ladies-in-waiting? He almost glanced at the women who were still sitting by the screen, but fixed his eyes firmly onward.
“I'll order prayers to be read at different temples,” the monk was saying. “Perhaps you can somehow attempt to convince him to leave, now that his adversary has been banished from the court.”
Tadayuki nodded and looked at his onmyouji friends. “We'll start at once, with your permission,” he said with a look to the regent.
“Does he have to go?” the emperor asked, wistful. “Couldn't he stay, at least a short while? I'd like to play with him again.”
Yes, yes. Hikaru was nodding eagerly, even though he knew what the answer would be.
“I am sorry, your majesty,” Tadayuki said. “A ghost does not belong to this world.”
Hikaru sighed and was about to turn to Akira when he saw someone else approaching him. One of the women came to a stop in front of him and bowed her head slightly. “My lady wishes to offer her compliments for a game well played,” she said.
Hikaru blinked. Felt Akira's hand push his back, and bowed. Blinked again. “I... um, thanks, that is...”
“My friend is deeply moved by your mistress's kindness,” Akira came to his rescue. “But he is also still quite overwhelmed by this extraordinary game. Please give him a moment to recover.”
A small smile tugged the woman's lips. “He is easily overwhelmed, no?” But she bowed her head again and returned to the screen. Akira guided Hikaru away, to a quieter part of the room.
“Don't tell me it's her...”
“Sure is,” Hikaru muttered. He shuddered. “That eyebrow thing is freaky. Why do they do that?”
“Shh! Stop talking nonsense.” Akira shook his head. “You sure aim high...”
“I'm not aiming anywhere!” Hikaru exclaimed, and after Akira shushed him again went on more quietly, “Is it my fault she's fixated on me? Who is she, anyway?”
“Her name's lady Asumi. She's...” He was cut off by Shinichirou and Yoshitaka who came to offer them congratulations for the victory.
“Brilliant playing!” Yoshitaka exclaimed, pounding Hikaru on the back. “In the latter half of the game you were obviously way above him.”
“The beginning wasn't too great, though,” Shinichirou put in. “Did you really think he'd fall for that trap?”
“Hear, hear,” Akira muttered throwing Hikaru a dark look. They didn't have time to start an argument, though, as they were joined by a group of other court nobles, and it took all Akira's creativity to steer Hikaru clear among all the compliments and even some poetry.
Gradually, though, almost everyone left the place: the court nobles, including Shinichirou and Yoshitaka, who still gave them victorious smiles before leaving; the ladies, luckily without any further complications; and the emperor himself, even though he clearly would have liked to stay. Hikaru remained behind, as Sai was still strictly following him, and Akira stayed with him. They had sat down in a corner of the room, waiting for the onmyouji to come into an agreement of what to do. Tadayuki was currently explaining something to the regent and Fujiwara no Kouyou, who both listened very intently.
“I didn't quite imagine things to go like this,” Hikaru muttered to Akira, who shook his head.
“But everything turned out quite well in the end.”
“I guess.” Hikaru sounded doubtful. “He's still dead. Those two... maybe they lost whatever power they had, but... still. Sai's dead, and now they're going to make him leave for good.”
“Like you just said, he is dead,” Akira pointed out. “Maybe it's not fair, but it can't be helped.”
Hikaru wasn't listening to him. “I got an idea!” He jumped up suddenly, startling his friend. “They didn't yet take the go board away.” He rushed to get it.
“You want to play a game?” Akira asked, a little confused.
“Nope.” Hikaru grinned at him, coming back with the board. “I thought you might. With Sai. I still see him, you know,” he added at Akira's astonished look.
“I... yes!” Akira breathed. “That is, if he's willing.”
“Oh, he seems to be quite excited about it.” Hikaru grinned again. “And I kinda owe him, taking over his game like that. But try to be quick, who knows how long we've got.”
They started the game, with Hikaru placing Sai's stones where he pointed. It was, without doubt, one of the best games Akira had played, even though he saw from the beginning that he couldn't do much against this opponent. At his level, Sai could have played a teaching game with him, but chose not to. And that was what Akira wanted - if this was to be their only game, it couldn't be wasted. He went all out against his opponent, fighting to the end, always managing to find a way to keep the game going, but still not once did he take the lead during the game and when it was over the winner was quite clear.
Only when they were cleaning the stones away did they notice that Fujiwara no Kouyou had came to follow the game, sitting quietly by the go board.
“A fine game,” Kouyou said looking Akira levelly into eyes.
“Thank you,” he replied with a slight bow. “And... my condolences.”
Kouyou nodded, wordless. “It was... him playing, wasn't it?” he asked quietly looking down at the board. “I wish...” He shook his head, cutting off the sentence. “No matter. There is no time. Once this is over,” he said to Hikaru, “you should come to my city mansion. We have much to talk.”
“Sure.” Hikaru nodded.
Now, the onmyouji were approaching them with the regent in the lead, so they all stood up.
“It's time, huh...” Hikaru muttered. He looked at Sai, who stood behind him. The ghost returned his gaze, nodded once, a little sadly, and closed his eyes.
“It has been decided...” the regent started to say, but startled voices cut him off.
“Sai!” Hikaru as well exclaimed, seeing how faint shimmering spread across the ghost, turning gradually brighter and brighter. For a blink of an eye Sai shone like a star, then he was gone.
There was a moment's stunned silence. “If he was anyway going to leave like that,” Seimei puffed then, “he could have let us know so we'd have spared some trouble.”
It still took a while before they could take their leave. There were long spells and incantations recited to ensure that the ghost truly had left and wasn't lingering somewhere in the palace. Fujiwara no Kouyou spoke a while with the regent about the posthumous promotion of his son - even though it clearly wasn't a matter about which he cared too much - and other things concerning his untimely death. Hikaru and Akira hovered in the background, wondering if it'd be alright for them to start a game of their own to pass time.
When they were finally leaving from the palace, Hikaru couldn't hold back a great yawn.
“Oh, by the way, congratulations on you adoption,” Akira muttered as they were descending down the steps from the great audience hall. The thunderstorm was over, and the edges of the dark dispersing clouds were colored golden and deep red by the setting sun.
“Yeah, that...” Hikaru glanced at Fujiwara no Kouyou. “I guess he really has to make it official now?” he whispered to Akira.
“What do you mean? He just did, by stating it in the presence of so many witnesses. Including the emperor.”
“Oh.” Hikaru thought about it a moment. “Wow. So I really am a Fujiwara now, eh?”
Akira nodded. “No one can deny it anymore. So, what are you going to do now?”
“Me?” Hikaru blinked. “I don't have the faintest idea.”
“Will you stay here? Or will you follow your new father to Kawachi? You could probably enter the university, if you wanted to. And there is that lady friend of yours to consider, too.”
“Don't call her my lady friend!” Hikaru snapped. “Gods...” He sighed. “I think I'll have to send her a letter and explain everything. And I'll do it myself. Though I guess I might need a bit help with it...”
Akira gave a little laugh. “If she's after that still willing to continue correspondence with you, you really must not let her go - and do be careful with that fan! It's mine, remember, and I like it, and I'd rather not have you break it, especially not on my head.”
“Consider your words, then,” Hikaru stated with one more whack toward his friend which Akira repelled with his own fan.
“If you want my - I admit - somewhat selfish opinion,” Akira said after a while, when they were about to climb into their carriages - he together with his family and Hikaru with his new adoptive father, “I'd rather you stayed here. So that we could play.”
“You've got a point there,” Hikaru admitted.
Tadayuki sighed, and leaned out of the carriage. “For the peace of this city, I am inclined to wish that you won't stay here, then.”
Akira shot him a little embarrassed glance. “Father, please. We're not that bad.”
Tadayuki simply shook his head and sat back down.
Hikaru grinned. “Well, even if I go, it won't be for good. We'll get to play a lot.”
Akira nodded, and with wishes of good night they mounted their carriages. He still stopped to glance behind. “That reminded me... we need to talk about today's game. I've got some things to say.”
“I bet!” Hikaru yelled, peeking out of his carriage. “You always have things to say!”
“Mainly considering some selfish actions and stupid mistakes,” Akira went on, as Tadayuki gave a sign for their carriage to leave.
“As usual!” he still heard Hikaru's voice. “Why is it you only see my mistakes? As if you never made any!”
“Not the kind you...” Akira started to yell back, but this time he received a whack from his father's fan.
“Please finish this discussion some other time. And preferably not in my house.”
Akira sat back with a sigh. Well, whether Hikaru chose to leave the capital or not, he'd be there still at least a few days. They'd have time for that discussion, and a game or two as well.
Notes:
Mmm... Akitada once said he doesn't like teaching children. Perhaps children don't like being taught by him, either.
Before anyone points out that Heian age women always stayed behind their screens etc... I've just found out that wasn't the case with ladies-in-waiting. I (finally) started reading Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book (I've had it for ages, I can't believe it took me this long to open it) and there's a passage where she complains about men who think the ladies who serve at court are frivolous just because they meet all kinds of people face-to-face. I'd been wondering about this, in fact, based on what I'd read before, but no one had said it straight out elsewhere. (That also means that the scene in the manga/anime in which Sai meets some ladies face-to-face wasn't any mistake like I once saw someone somewhere say.)
Hikaru's “lady friend”: I wanted her to be someone from the manga, and ended up picking Nase. But honestly, she could be just anyone. At first I thought of Kaneko, but somehow the princess turned out into a tiny Kaneko in my mind...
Oh, and this “tiny Kaneko”, aka the girl behind the screen, would have been princess Hiroko, one of emperor Suzaku's wives (though I don't know whether they were married already at this point or not). I'm not sure about how old she was then, as her birth date isn't known, but given that her father died on the same year Suzaku was born, she's probably a little older than him. Not much older, though, as her father was only 20 years old when he died (one of Suzaku's brothers, btw.)
Suzaku was a weird emperor, btw. According to wikipedia, he had only two wives (and no official empress) and one daughter (his younger brother became the emperor after him.) Compared to his father, Daigo, who had fourteen wives and 36 children - if I counted correctly - that's kind of pathetic. (No offense, Suzaku-tennou!)
Lol, I guess that's more than enough notes. This was the final “real” chapter, but there's still an epilogue left. So the story's not yet over!
Epilogue
Previous chapter
First chapter
Once everyone had settled down, the silence in the room was almost tangible; the only sounds were the constant, hard rain and the occasional thunder claps. Hikaru looked at his opponent across the go board. Akitada wasn't watching him, instead his eyes were already on the board and he was softly fingering the stones in his bowl, eagerly anticipating the game. As if sensing the boy's gaze he looked up, and as he met Hikaru's eyes, a small smile, or maybe rather a sneer, passed on his face.
Hikaru looked down, lips a tight line. Akitada clearly didn't think him to be much of an opponent. He most likely couldn't believe someone of the common origin truly could play - and in the end, he was just Sai's student, not Sai himself. It was hardly surprising if the man thought he was in for an easy win.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves and suppress the surge of anger he felt, waiting for the game to begin. Then, out of nowhere the monk suddenly appeared again by his side. Hikaru looked up at him with a start.
“Sent to you for victory,” the monk said quietly and pressed a small object to his hand. A black go stone, a little cracked. Hikaru closed his eyes with an inward groan. Certainly sent with good intentions, for encouragement, but the last thing he right now needed was to be reminded of this certain lady. He shouldn't have let Akira write that letter...
The monk retreated, with an annoyed glance from Akitada. He obviously didn't recognize the monk, but in the audience Toshirou gave a start.
Hikaru shot a glance after the monk, and was startled to see him sitting down close to the screen among some court ladies. He stared, eyes possibly bulging a little, at his first view of women of the higher classes, their colorful clothes, high painted eyebrows and hair that flowed down to the floor as they sat. He glanced at the screen, wondering why it was there if the women weren't using it, but seeing the tiny figure behind it he remembered the girl the monk had addressed as 'your highness' and guessed it was for her. His eyes wondered back to the women, but seeing them whispering to each other and laughing behind their fans he quickly turned back to the board, face flushing.
“Begin the game,” the emperor declared, and the opponents bowed at each other. Akitada, playing white this time, placed the first stone on the board.
Hikaru closed his eyes, attempting to clear his mind of anything and everything except the opponent who was facing him and the game that had just started. His fingers closed on the stone in his hand. Slowly he raised it, eyes on the board. He could feel the contempt with which his opponent watched him, and he knew it was foolish, there was so much at stake here... but still... he was the one who had been challenged here, after all...
“Sai...” His lips formed the name, soundless. He looked up, and the ghost smiled at him, nodded.
Go ahead.
With a loud snap he played his first move.
~
Akira was following the game with a frown. Although they hadn't yet played many moves, it was clearly a game between two excellent players. Still, it didn't quite reach the levels he had been expecting. Perhaps it wasn't surprising in Akitada's case; he most likely didn't think he'd have to exert himself in a game like this. But black's play, even though it was solid and flawless, didn't quite have the brilliancy he remembered from the previous game between these two.
“He's playing by himself,” he heard Seimei mutter quietly. He suppressed a start, realizing what that meant. His initial reaction was that of frustration. Why? He shot a glare at the boy who was bent over the board with a tiny frown on his face. Why take such a chance? But as the game progressed, the annoyance died away. Watching Hikaru's unbreakable concentration as he stone by stone strove to wipe that sneer from Akitada's face he could easily understand why. Which didn't mean he wouldn't give the boy a piece of his mind once the game was over, no matter how it ended.
~
The upper left was going to be a problem, he made a note of that in the back of his mind. Not an insuperable one, hopefully, and as long as he kept control of the center, even losing that corner wouldn't hurt too much. Now, it was the upper right he was concentrating on. If he could get Akitada lured in there, that might just decide the game. The man was clearly underestimating him, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
He played a stone, deliberately leaving an inviting opening. Akitada took it, and he played his next move, ensuring that white wouldn't be able to escape. A handful of moves would make this corner solidly his territory.
Akitada didn't even stop to think. He placed his stone on the board with a sharp snap and sat back, unruffled. Hikaru had already grasped his next stone, but his hand stopped, hovering in midair, as he stared down at the board, not wanting to believe his eyes.
~
Akira was crunching his fan so hard it was close to breaking. Didn't you see that? he wanted to yell. How could you not see that? Oh, he would yet yell that, later, once they'd be somewhere in private.
~
Hands lowered to his lap Hikaru sat staring at that single white stone, which suddenly, out of nowhere, was threatening his central stones in the corner. His mind raced, going through all the possible variations how the game could proceed here, and always arriving at the same conclusion: those stones were lost. How had he missed that move? It was so obvious, now that he faced it. Perhaps Akitada wasn't the only one underestimating his opponent. When had he forgotten it was Sai's rival he was playing with? Would Sai have fallen for that trap he'd prepared? Hardly. He should have been more careful there.
With a quiet breath he gave in to the inevitable and abandoned those stones, turning his attention elsewhere. The upper left had suddenly become vital.
~
Akira was still grasping his fan hands buried into the layers of his sleeves in an attempt to keep himself from gnawing his nails. After that one mistake, he had been afraid Hikaru would lose his composure and the game would be lost, but it seemed to have had an opposite effect on the boy. The way Hikaru was playing now, Akira didn't think he would have been able to do much - but then again, he wasn't Akitada.
But he couldn't help noticing how the way Akitada was watching his opponent had changed. There was still anger in his eyes, or pure hate, rather, but even that was different from before. Earlier, his hate had been drenched in disdain, but now... Akira could well imagine how he had once watched Fujiwara no Sai with that same look. He had clearly come to realize that this was a game he might still lose, unless he took it seriously.
Which couldn’t be good for Hikaru. He was putting up a great fight in the upper corner, but the left side was otherwise strongly in Akitada's control. If he lost there, he would have just the center and maybe the lower right, and that wouldn't be enough.
~
At that moment Hikaru had completely forgotten the existence of their audience, but his thoughts were following quite a similar track with Akira's. There had to be a way to life in that upper left corner. He couldn't afford losing that many stones... at that point, there would be no other choice but to resign. And those words he wouldn't get out of his mouth, not without choking.
There simply was nothing else to do but to find a path to life. There must be one, he was certain of it, but try as he might he couldn't see it. Twiddling a black stone in his hands he stared at the board, willing for a way to appear, but in vain. The wall of the white stones was solid and unbreakable, and he couldn't find the smallest crack where to make his attack.
Sai would find a way, he was sure of that.
Sai, he thought, closing his eyes, unwilling to look at the presence he felt next to him. I'm sorry, I can't make it... You shouldn't have let me play, it's not about me, it's all about you, and now I'm messing it up... such a stupid, selfish thing...
He felt tears brimming in his eyes and fought to hold them back. It took him a moment to regain his calm - he was taking too long, he knew it. He should make a move soon. He opened his eyes, fingers squeezing a stone, wanting more than anything to find the move that would save the game - and as he looked down at the board, he thought he saw a ghostly vision of a fan upon it, pointing at a certain intersection. He blinked, confused, and during that blink the fan had disappeared. There? Why there? As Hikaru glanced up, he saw Sai watching the board with that same tiny smile he remembered a little too well from all the games in which he’d just been about to receive a crushing defeat.
Still not understanding, he played the stone. Someone in the audience drew a sharp breath.
~
Akira frowned. What kind of a move was that? He couldn't see what help it would bring to this situation - a lone black stone, apart from it all. He looked sharply at Hikaru. Did the boy have a plan? There was a strange look of confusion even on his face. But...
He glanced over his shoulder at Fujiwara no Kouyou. What had he seen in that move, to be so startled?
~
Akitada didn't seem to think much of that move, either. He played his next stone soon, after giving a short frown at Hikaru's strange move. And then, suddenly, it all became clear to the boy. Eyes slightly wide, he took his next stone, and placed it on the board. He looked up at the ghost with a little smile, and Sai returned his smile, nodding.
Akitada frowned again, but didn't seem to realize what was going on. He played as he had planned to, and Hikaru resisted the urge to grin. This game... it could still be his. No, theirs, he thought with another glance at Sai.
~
By now, Akira's eyes were wide as well. He couldn't believe that move, in all its simplicity. The path was there, right there, and Akitada had missed his chance to cut it. Now, the man as well had realized this, and he was staring at the board with an almost comical expression of surprise.
“What is it?” Seimei whispered, catching on that something was happening but unable to read the game so deeply. “What's going on?”
Akira swallowed. “He just might yet win this,” he whispered back with a surge of excitement.
~
A loud clap of thunder made the audience jump, and even Akitada, who had been about to place a stone on the board, looked around with a start. There were the sounds of servants running somewhere, wondering where the lightning had hit. Hikaru was the only one who remained oblivious to it all. His attention was completely on the board.
It wasn't over yet. With renewed determination, he played his move, reading the game carefully. He was leading with a few moku, but he couldn't afford a single mistake, Akitada was breathing down his neck with every move he made. They had moved to the right side, where the upper corner was lost to him, but he could still keep his own in the rest. A ko situation developed there, and winning it, he gained yet two moku more.
The game entered yose, and he could see from the red spots on Akitada's cheeks that the man as well knew he'd be losing at this rate. His only hope was for Hikaru to make a mistake, but the boy didn't let his attention flag. He placed the last stone on the board, and the game ended.
One could have heard a feather drop in the silence of the hall.
“Did he win?” Seimei whispered then, eagerly.
“Yes,” Akira breathed. “By... three moku, I think.”
The sound of their voices started the murmuring. Hikaru was declared the winner of the game. The boy stood up, lightheaded. The adrenaline of the game was still rushing through him as he looked at his beaten opponent. Akitada was still sitting by the go board, mouth quivering a little as if he wanted to say something, to object, but didn't know how.
“You still don't confess?” Hikaru couldn't resist saying. “You couldn't have won against Sai, not without cheating.”
Akitada looked up, face seething with rage. “Like teacher like student,” he hissed between his teeth. “I should have got rid of you too that night at the river! You could have shared a grave with your beloved teacher.” He stood up, sleeves flapping around him with an angry swap.
“That's enough,” the regent said strictly. “You agreed to let this matter be decided by this game, and you lost it.”
“But what does that prove?” Akitada exclaimed in a final desperate attempt. “Can we truly decide who is right or wrong based on a game? All it shows is... is...” His voice trailed off, unwilling to say it aloud.
“All it shows is who is the better player,” Akira completed the sentence for him, not noticing Hikaru's small embarrassed wince.
The glare Akitada shot them should have been enough to kill.
“You were happy to agree to this game,” the regent repeated. “It is too late to make such objections now. It's time for you - and your friend - to leave.” He gave Toshirou a short glance.
“But, my lord regent,” the onmyouji cried out, “I assure you I haven't done anything wrong here. I've simply attempted to assist my friend who was haunted by a ghost. And as I was afraid the same ghost might have done other mischief, too...”
“You didn't seem to be of much help to your friend,” Seiji stated from his place among the court onmyouji. “And if you truly believed this ghost to be behind the emperor's illness, your skill leaves much to be desired.”
There were agreeing noises, and Toshirou fell silent.
“You played an excellent game, Fujiwara no Hikaru,” came the emperor's young voice from behind the screen. One couldn't help noticing how delighted he sounded. “And I seem to have an open position for a go teacher, as it is.”
Akitada twitched, but said nothing. Hikaru blinked. “I... I'm honored, your majesty,” he said with a deep bow. “But you... I'm afraid you overestimate me.”
“Everyone agrees you played brilliantly,” the emperor insisted. “Especially that one move.”
Hikaru winced. Hesitated. “Well, in truth, your majesty... I think... I got that move from Sai,” he admitted.
“Ha!” Akitada exclaimed. “Now who's the cheater? Getting outside help!”
“This should have been Sai's game,” Hikaru said quietly. “A game played between you two, without anyone cheating. It could have been an incredible game, one like which has never before been played, but you... you had to ruin it. And now... I stole the game for myself... At least that one move gave everyone a glimpse of what kind of a game it could have been.”
Akitada opened his mouth to say something, but the emperor's voice cut him off.
“I'm growing tired of this. You two were already told to leave.” As Akitada still attempted to protest, he jumped angrily up from his seat and walked to the screen. “I never believed Fujiwara no Sai cheated. Never! Get out of here!”
After such a blatant command, Akitada and Toshirou hardly had any choice. Bowing deeply, they started to make their way out of the room. Toshirou still stopped to shot a mean look at Seimei.
“What is this, boy?” he asked. “First you disappear for days, and now you won't follow your teacher?”
“He isn't your apprentice anymore,” Tadayuki answered in the boy's stead. “His mother has approached me and asked me to take him as one of my students. Which I am happy to do.”
“But...” A startled look spread on Toshirou's face. “I... my brother...”
“Probably isn't too happy with you at the moment,” Tadayuki murmured. Unable to reply anything Toshirou turned and followed his friend out.
“This matter is hardly closed yet,” the regent said to Fujiwara no Kouyou. “There are many things to consider... I've heard of the somewhat... unorthodox burial of your son, not to mention...” He glanced around. “Is the ghost still present?”
All the onmyouji (and Hikaru as well) nodded.
“Something must be done about this, too,” the regent went on grimly. “But I believe these matters are best left into the hands of those with more understanding of spiritual matters.” He looked at the onmyouji and the monk.
“We shall restore his position,” the emperor declared. “And promote him to... third rank?” He sounded a little uncertain, probably forgetting exactly what rank Sai had held. “And I want it known that he was always my favorite.”
Behind the other screen someone snapped her fan shut quite loudly.
“And my wife's, too,” the emperor added hurriedly.
Hikaru blinked. There was something off, in his mind, with a child this young to be speaking about his wife. But this got him thinking. Could it be that the girl he had met... the monk had called her 'your highness.' Could she be...? And if she was, did that mean that this mysterious lady of his was one of the emperor's wife's ladies-in-waiting? He almost glanced at the women who were still sitting by the screen, but fixed his eyes firmly onward.
“I'll order prayers to be read at different temples,” the monk was saying. “Perhaps you can somehow attempt to convince him to leave, now that his adversary has been banished from the court.”
Tadayuki nodded and looked at his onmyouji friends. “We'll start at once, with your permission,” he said with a look to the regent.
“Does he have to go?” the emperor asked, wistful. “Couldn't he stay, at least a short while? I'd like to play with him again.”
Yes, yes. Hikaru was nodding eagerly, even though he knew what the answer would be.
“I am sorry, your majesty,” Tadayuki said. “A ghost does not belong to this world.”
Hikaru sighed and was about to turn to Akira when he saw someone else approaching him. One of the women came to a stop in front of him and bowed her head slightly. “My lady wishes to offer her compliments for a game well played,” she said.
Hikaru blinked. Felt Akira's hand push his back, and bowed. Blinked again. “I... um, thanks, that is...”
“My friend is deeply moved by your mistress's kindness,” Akira came to his rescue. “But he is also still quite overwhelmed by this extraordinary game. Please give him a moment to recover.”
A small smile tugged the woman's lips. “He is easily overwhelmed, no?” But she bowed her head again and returned to the screen. Akira guided Hikaru away, to a quieter part of the room.
“Don't tell me it's her...”
“Sure is,” Hikaru muttered. He shuddered. “That eyebrow thing is freaky. Why do they do that?”
“Shh! Stop talking nonsense.” Akira shook his head. “You sure aim high...”
“I'm not aiming anywhere!” Hikaru exclaimed, and after Akira shushed him again went on more quietly, “Is it my fault she's fixated on me? Who is she, anyway?”
“Her name's lady Asumi. She's...” He was cut off by Shinichirou and Yoshitaka who came to offer them congratulations for the victory.
“Brilliant playing!” Yoshitaka exclaimed, pounding Hikaru on the back. “In the latter half of the game you were obviously way above him.”
“The beginning wasn't too great, though,” Shinichirou put in. “Did you really think he'd fall for that trap?”
“Hear, hear,” Akira muttered throwing Hikaru a dark look. They didn't have time to start an argument, though, as they were joined by a group of other court nobles, and it took all Akira's creativity to steer Hikaru clear among all the compliments and even some poetry.
Gradually, though, almost everyone left the place: the court nobles, including Shinichirou and Yoshitaka, who still gave them victorious smiles before leaving; the ladies, luckily without any further complications; and the emperor himself, even though he clearly would have liked to stay. Hikaru remained behind, as Sai was still strictly following him, and Akira stayed with him. They had sat down in a corner of the room, waiting for the onmyouji to come into an agreement of what to do. Tadayuki was currently explaining something to the regent and Fujiwara no Kouyou, who both listened very intently.
“I didn't quite imagine things to go like this,” Hikaru muttered to Akira, who shook his head.
“But everything turned out quite well in the end.”
“I guess.” Hikaru sounded doubtful. “He's still dead. Those two... maybe they lost whatever power they had, but... still. Sai's dead, and now they're going to make him leave for good.”
“Like you just said, he is dead,” Akira pointed out. “Maybe it's not fair, but it can't be helped.”
Hikaru wasn't listening to him. “I got an idea!” He jumped up suddenly, startling his friend. “They didn't yet take the go board away.” He rushed to get it.
“You want to play a game?” Akira asked, a little confused.
“Nope.” Hikaru grinned at him, coming back with the board. “I thought you might. With Sai. I still see him, you know,” he added at Akira's astonished look.
“I... yes!” Akira breathed. “That is, if he's willing.”
“Oh, he seems to be quite excited about it.” Hikaru grinned again. “And I kinda owe him, taking over his game like that. But try to be quick, who knows how long we've got.”
They started the game, with Hikaru placing Sai's stones where he pointed. It was, without doubt, one of the best games Akira had played, even though he saw from the beginning that he couldn't do much against this opponent. At his level, Sai could have played a teaching game with him, but chose not to. And that was what Akira wanted - if this was to be their only game, it couldn't be wasted. He went all out against his opponent, fighting to the end, always managing to find a way to keep the game going, but still not once did he take the lead during the game and when it was over the winner was quite clear.
Only when they were cleaning the stones away did they notice that Fujiwara no Kouyou had came to follow the game, sitting quietly by the go board.
“A fine game,” Kouyou said looking Akira levelly into eyes.
“Thank you,” he replied with a slight bow. “And... my condolences.”
Kouyou nodded, wordless. “It was... him playing, wasn't it?” he asked quietly looking down at the board. “I wish...” He shook his head, cutting off the sentence. “No matter. There is no time. Once this is over,” he said to Hikaru, “you should come to my city mansion. We have much to talk.”
“Sure.” Hikaru nodded.
Now, the onmyouji were approaching them with the regent in the lead, so they all stood up.
“It's time, huh...” Hikaru muttered. He looked at Sai, who stood behind him. The ghost returned his gaze, nodded once, a little sadly, and closed his eyes.
“It has been decided...” the regent started to say, but startled voices cut him off.
“Sai!” Hikaru as well exclaimed, seeing how faint shimmering spread across the ghost, turning gradually brighter and brighter. For a blink of an eye Sai shone like a star, then he was gone.
There was a moment's stunned silence. “If he was anyway going to leave like that,” Seimei puffed then, “he could have let us know so we'd have spared some trouble.”
It still took a while before they could take their leave. There were long spells and incantations recited to ensure that the ghost truly had left and wasn't lingering somewhere in the palace. Fujiwara no Kouyou spoke a while with the regent about the posthumous promotion of his son - even though it clearly wasn't a matter about which he cared too much - and other things concerning his untimely death. Hikaru and Akira hovered in the background, wondering if it'd be alright for them to start a game of their own to pass time.
When they were finally leaving from the palace, Hikaru couldn't hold back a great yawn.
“Oh, by the way, congratulations on you adoption,” Akira muttered as they were descending down the steps from the great audience hall. The thunderstorm was over, and the edges of the dark dispersing clouds were colored golden and deep red by the setting sun.
“Yeah, that...” Hikaru glanced at Fujiwara no Kouyou. “I guess he really has to make it official now?” he whispered to Akira.
“What do you mean? He just did, by stating it in the presence of so many witnesses. Including the emperor.”
“Oh.” Hikaru thought about it a moment. “Wow. So I really am a Fujiwara now, eh?”
Akira nodded. “No one can deny it anymore. So, what are you going to do now?”
“Me?” Hikaru blinked. “I don't have the faintest idea.”
“Will you stay here? Or will you follow your new father to Kawachi? You could probably enter the university, if you wanted to. And there is that lady friend of yours to consider, too.”
“Don't call her my lady friend!” Hikaru snapped. “Gods...” He sighed. “I think I'll have to send her a letter and explain everything. And I'll do it myself. Though I guess I might need a bit help with it...”
Akira gave a little laugh. “If she's after that still willing to continue correspondence with you, you really must not let her go - and do be careful with that fan! It's mine, remember, and I like it, and I'd rather not have you break it, especially not on my head.”
“Consider your words, then,” Hikaru stated with one more whack toward his friend which Akira repelled with his own fan.
“If you want my - I admit - somewhat selfish opinion,” Akira said after a while, when they were about to climb into their carriages - he together with his family and Hikaru with his new adoptive father, “I'd rather you stayed here. So that we could play.”
“You've got a point there,” Hikaru admitted.
Tadayuki sighed, and leaned out of the carriage. “For the peace of this city, I am inclined to wish that you won't stay here, then.”
Akira shot him a little embarrassed glance. “Father, please. We're not that bad.”
Tadayuki simply shook his head and sat back down.
Hikaru grinned. “Well, even if I go, it won't be for good. We'll get to play a lot.”
Akira nodded, and with wishes of good night they mounted their carriages. He still stopped to glance behind. “That reminded me... we need to talk about today's game. I've got some things to say.”
“I bet!” Hikaru yelled, peeking out of his carriage. “You always have things to say!”
“Mainly considering some selfish actions and stupid mistakes,” Akira went on, as Tadayuki gave a sign for their carriage to leave.
“As usual!” he still heard Hikaru's voice. “Why is it you only see my mistakes? As if you never made any!”
“Not the kind you...” Akira started to yell back, but this time he received a whack from his father's fan.
“Please finish this discussion some other time. And preferably not in my house.”
Akira sat back with a sigh. Well, whether Hikaru chose to leave the capital or not, he'd be there still at least a few days. They'd have time for that discussion, and a game or two as well.
Notes:
Mmm... Akitada once said he doesn't like teaching children. Perhaps children don't like being taught by him, either.
Before anyone points out that Heian age women always stayed behind their screens etc... I've just found out that wasn't the case with ladies-in-waiting. I (finally) started reading Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book (I've had it for ages, I can't believe it took me this long to open it) and there's a passage where she complains about men who think the ladies who serve at court are frivolous just because they meet all kinds of people face-to-face. I'd been wondering about this, in fact, based on what I'd read before, but no one had said it straight out elsewhere. (That also means that the scene in the manga/anime in which Sai meets some ladies face-to-face wasn't any mistake like I once saw someone somewhere say.)
Hikaru's “lady friend”: I wanted her to be someone from the manga, and ended up picking Nase. But honestly, she could be just anyone. At first I thought of Kaneko, but somehow the princess turned out into a tiny Kaneko in my mind...
Oh, and this “tiny Kaneko”, aka the girl behind the screen, would have been princess Hiroko, one of emperor Suzaku's wives (though I don't know whether they were married already at this point or not). I'm not sure about how old she was then, as her birth date isn't known, but given that her father died on the same year Suzaku was born, she's probably a little older than him. Not much older, though, as her father was only 20 years old when he died (one of Suzaku's brothers, btw.)
Suzaku was a weird emperor, btw. According to wikipedia, he had only two wives (and no official empress) and one daughter (his younger brother became the emperor after him.) Compared to his father, Daigo, who had fourteen wives and 36 children - if I counted correctly - that's kind of pathetic. (No offense, Suzaku-tennou!)
Lol, I guess that's more than enough notes. This was the final “real” chapter, but there's still an epilogue left. So the story's not yet over!
Epilogue
Previous chapter
First chapter