Cherry blossoms and Go

By: Digitalwing

Summary: “Touya-Meijin” and his wife are on a trip to China though Akira is left alone with a task, to find a young player and to train him for the “I-go for kids”. Hikaru can probably help by asking his 5 year old cousin. Will everything be alright or will it all turn into a disaster?

Pairings: UNDECIDED

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Chapter 1: I-Go tournament

“Eh…? An international Go tournament for kids you say?” Hikaru said grinning as he clicked the button from the vending machine to grab one of his favorite sodas, “I want to join!! I’m sure you do, Waya!!”

Hikaru has just finished one of his matches and now a 5dan after defeating the 9dan, Kurata-san a while ago. Though Kurata-san was a bit annoyed after seeing that Hikaru has lost that autograph he gave him. Hikaru is now 17 years old and now trying to get one of the titles.

Waya hit his head as if Hikaru was mentally retarded, “Baka!!! It says only for kids 6 up to 14!!! You don’t read all the things in the poster! The only thing you see is the picture and the heading!!!”

“Waya, you’re being hot-headed again…” Isumi said as he tried to stop him,

Waya and Isumi have already improved greatly too. They are now 4dans trying to catch up with Hikaru’s strange winning strike since the time in the Hokuto cup.

Hikaru squinted his eyes to see the note under the huge heading of the poster. He laughed as he looked at the rules. “I see!!! Ha? “There are only 3 chosen people to participate in this event per country. Those who pass shall go to the following countries; Japan for the first match, China for the second and USA for the final.” Ahh!! I want to join, damnit!!”

“Ah, Waya… You’re pretty much wrong at the ending notes… It says that there are supposed to be two tutors for each of these following people plus one leader. So there would be… Three plus six then one--- Ten people!! Sugoii!!” Isumi said smiling,

“Tsk!!! It’s just one mistake I made!!” Waya said looking in another way,

“Ha, but I’m right!!!” Hikaru said grinning,

“—For once that is!!” Waya said smirking,

“Nani?!!” Hikaru said glaring,

“Oi, you should stop…” Isumi said,

“Ne, Isumi-san!! Let’s go ask some kid to go to that tournament, eh? It says that tutors also get to have matches when the chosen kids wins the rounds from that specific country… How about that Le Ping kid??” Waya said,

“He’s in China and I bet he’s participating in the tournament... How about we dress up Fuku as a 10 year old!” Isumi said as the three started laughing at his statement,

DING

The three who were watching the elevator tried to see who is or who are inside as it opened. Ogata and a slightly nervous Ochi were inside it. Hikaru just stared at Ogata who stared back then directly pass the three as Ochi came to Waya and Isumi.

“Oi, Ochi?? What happened in there?” Waya said which was almost like a whisper.

“The elevator opened then Ogata-sensei came in with a fierce look. He told me that if I was one of Touya Akira’s tutees then I responded yes. He was asking if Hikaru was in the institute then the door opened. The air was so tense…” Ochi said as he struggled to look calm and alright.

“He’s coming for Touya, right?” Isumi said,

“Yeah, he’s just there…” Waya said,

Hikaru just looked forward still staring at the direction where Ogata went to. Hikaru hasn’t seen him in weeks and he’ll be his next match this 4th of November. That’s 3 months in time. Touya Akira has told him that from Amano-san there at the Go salon with Fujisaki-san.

Hikaru’s eyes caught something and saw Ogata walking with a serious faced Touya Akira. Everyone else kept quiet as Ogata and Akira passed them.

“Touya…” Hikaru said as he eyed them. His eyes suddenly looked at Akira again who looked back at him and gave him a hidden wave. Hikaru grinned back as Akira smiled. The elevator closed as Waya made a comment, “Geez, those two are so serious in matches and outside the Go world.”

Hikaru just gave a huge smile and said, “Yoshi!!! Let’s go for Ramen!!!!”

“SUSHI!!!” Waya said glaring,

“Ramen!!!!” Hikaru said glaring as well,

“Sushi!”

“Ramen!”

“Sushi!!!”

“RAMEN!!!”

“Oi, you two!! Let’s just go to McDonalds…” Isumi said sweatdropping,

“What nonsensical bickering.” Ochi said as he pushed his glasses to keep his gigantic glasses from falling in the nose bridge.

---

“Outo-san wants to see me now? Isn’t he in China with okaa-san?” Akira said with a quizzical tone while looking at Ogata. On the other hand, the holder of the Jyudan title merely looked at the door of the elevator.

“He’s at your residence to have a word with you. It’s about this incoming international tournament for kids. What was it again?” Ogata said as he walked out of the elevator and Akira followed.

“I-Go competition? But it’s for talented pros 5 to 14. I’m already 17, Ogata-san. I can’t participate…” Akira said,

“Iia, your father has something for you about it. He wouldn’t tell me at all. You should go and ask him yourself.” Ogata said,

“What do you mean?” Akira said as he stopped on his tracks.

This is rather strange for Touya-Meijin to come all the way to Japan to talk to Akira about an international tournament for kids only. He could have just said it to Ogata so he can pass the message to Akira. No, it’s more than a message. It must be a task that only Akira can handle. It must be very important considering his father’s health on going to an airplane.

Yes, it must be.

---

“I have to find a young player and train that person to win in the tournament?” Akira said,

“That is your task.” Touya said with his eyes closed,

“B-But, outo-san…! Why can’t it be someone else? I mean, Why me out of all people? The institute could arrange a meeting with some people to find talented go players or maybe Ogata san…” Akira said,

“Iie, not only you… But also that rival of yours. Shindou Hikaru.” Touya said as his eyes opened sharply,

“Shindou?” Akira choked out with disbelief,

“Hai, you two have only been in a team with him once and I saw the great potential. It would lead Japan into a great success showing that we are strong Go players.”

“Naze?” Akira said,

“You see Shindou on that Go salon, am I right?” Touya said,

“Ah, h-hai.” Akira murmured,

“Then tell Shindou to start and be a team to find that young player.” Touya said,

“—H-Hai, Wakarimashita.” Akira said bowing, “Itekimasu.”

With that last word, he walked out of the room without saying anything to Ogata.

“Ogata-kun.” Touya said,

“Hai, Touya-sensei? Ogata said as he walked in sitting down,

“I have a job for you too…”

---

“Ichikawa-san…” Akira said smiling a bit.

“Ah, Akira-kun!! Your friend Shindou-kun’s waiting for you!” Harumi Ichikawa said pointing over the table with a frustrated Hikaru,

“Oi, Touya!!! Where the hell have you been?!! You promised me a match, you know!!!” Hikaru growled,

“Ah, gomen… Outo-san came back from China and---”

“Eh..?! He did?! Can you say hi for me? It’s been a year or two when I last saw him...” Hikaru said grinning,

“Shindou…” Akira said with his stare ever so fierce. Of course, Hikaru was pretty dumb; he couldn’t tell what’s wrong.

“Mm? Doshita no, Touya?” Hikaru said,

“Do you know that I-Go tournament?” He said,

“Yeah… Waya, Isumi-san and I were talking about it before Ogata-san came. Why’d you ask?”

“Outo-san came to tell me all about this international tournament. He said if Japan wins, it’ll give our country a great success stating that our country have strong Go players.”

“Yeah, I know… Get to the point!!” Hikaru said a little bit irritated and itching to know,

“Outo-san wants the both of us to participate with a young pro go player.” Akira declared,

“N-Nani?!!” Hikaru’s eyes widened,

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End of chapter 1

N/A: Please review!!!! Oh, and if it sucked, I'll try my very best to fix it!!