[Hikaru no Go] Fic: The Silent Path
Apr. 10th, 2006 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
flonnebonneAnyone who is anyone is kicking it oldskool at
dancedance_fan (a com for reccing animanga titles & fandoms) where it is now officially Slam Dunk week! Today is canonland, so you can download the first volumes of the manga in today's postings. SD is pure shounen awesomeness, the sports series that defined sports series, and also one of the funniest damn things ever. Speaking of kicking it oldskool, I've recently started reading some of the works of Tezuka Osamu, the "God of Manga" and "God of Anime" who wrote Astro Boy. His second volume in his Phoenix series, entitled Future, is absolutely magnificent. The scope of the story-telling is amazing--it goes from microcosmic to macrocosmic in the blink of an eye. The first half of the story seems fairly "normal," but the second half heads into superbly imaginative territory. I actually cried near the end of it, not because I felt pity for the characters (which I did), but because I was so flabbergasted by the plot and Tezuka's concerns about humanity's future. It's easy to make me cry for the characters, but to make me cry for the storytelling? That's something else.
Oh yeah, and fic of the day:
Title: The Silent Path (previously known as "Untitled")
Fandom: Hikaru no Go
Characters: Sai
Genre: AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: What if Sai had not been allowed to play Go?
The Silent Path
Sai had wondered, when the boy and girl had found his goban, what kind of host the God of Go would give to him this time. He should not have expected another Torajiro.
Sai learned that the modern age was filled with many things, too many things, ice cream parlours and video games and cell phones and internet, school and homework and clubs and entrance exams and I'm sorry, Sai, I can't play Go anymore.
It was sad, so sad, these children who had forgotten how to love Go.
There were birthdays and first dates and first kisses, first days of spring and rainfall and umbrellas (some things did not change, he thought nostalgically), and there was that first car accident when Sai was so scared and helpless, a ghost who was useless for anything but Go.
I'm okay, it's okay, I'm okay, weak smile that was like Torajiro's smile before death had claimed him, the smile of a child who loved and loved well.
Sai was so sad in the days following the accident that the doctor had had to prescribe a double dose of nausea pills, because there was one thing that Sai could do aside from play Go, he could make his host sick with his sadness, and Sai wondered if he'd long ago killed Torajiro with his sadness, tears and blood mingling on a goban, which only made him sadder still until the dose of nausea pills tripled.
Sai asked his child: Do you wish you had never met me?
No, of course not, you're my best friend, Akari answered sweetly, and as soon as she got out of the hospital Sai was allowed to play NetGo until his sadness went away.
-End-
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no subject
Date: 2006-04-11 02:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-11 05:58 am (UTC)When I read your comment "that's painful," for some reason I initially thought you were referring to the active and unique BL culture in my yoghurt.
Um, I'm very rambly and you can totally ignore this if you want
Date: 2006-04-19 09:01 pm (UTC)Lol, and I hope you don't mind if I flesh out a little plot bunny that this ficlet has inspired in me. I'm not sure when you planned for Akari to have her accident, but I'm setting this a few years down the road.
Touya Akira, 4-dan, sat back from his desk, a look of complete devastation and awe reaching his normally stoic and pristine face. Could it really be that the game that he had just played over the 'Net had been with the ever elusive 'sai' that still had the go world in a buzz?
Ever since last year's disapearance of the mysterious 'sai', impostors claiming to be 'sai' would pop up online, and every time he challenged them to a game, they would invariably show the lack of skill and depth that 'sai' possessed. 'sai' was never a regular NetGo player, coming online every few weeks for a day or two of NetGo, but whenever he was active, offers to play would always flood his net handle. Touya had only been able to challenge 'sai' five times in the three years since he had first stumbled upon him. Having been utterly crushed, Touya had put it behind him, deciding that one of the higher dans had decided to play anonymously and that he had just run into an opponent he would later face over a go board. When whispers started to float around the Go institute that a powerful 'Net player had emerged and was defeating seasoned pros left and right, Touya started to take notice.
Listening to a conversation between Waya and Isumi, both sho-dans at the time, Touya was able to learn that 'sai' couldn't be an insei or a pro. Process of elimination had ruled out too many days when 'sai' played during insei and pro matches. That many absences would have been noted and accounted for. Concentrating on the goal ahead of him, Touya put the identity of 'sai' out of his mind. As long as he was able to play go with players stronger than he was, he was sure to get that much closer to the Hand of God. 'sai' could keep his anonymity.
That all changed a year ago when 'sai' just vanished off the face of the planet and stopped playing netGo.
Wiping his suddenly sweaty palms, Touya looked back up to his screen once more to check that the player who had just defeated him was still logged in. 'hikaru' was indeed still online, and seemed to be entering a new game with 'goboi88' according to his stats. Having a very rash idea, Touya decided to send 'hikaru' a private message to see if his suspicions were right.
Hoping that 'hikaru' could read English even though his designated nationality was Japanese, Touya wrote, "I'm sorry, but are you the NetGo player, sai? I only ask, because I would like to play a game with you in person. My name is Touya Akira, and I'm a go pro. If you would please contact me at touyaakira@goinstitue.jp, I would appreciate it very much."
Waiting ten minutes for the reply, Touya let out a sigh of relief. Reading over the broken English, Touya felt his shoulders slump in defeat. "I sorry Touya-san. I no play go with pros. I only play for fun. Thank you for chance."
'hikaru' soon forced his opponent to resign and logged off. Touya Akira stared at his computer monitor for a few more minutes, willing 'hikaru' to log back on. After admitting defeat, Touya shut down his computer, shocked and defeated about whether or not 'hikaru' would be back online to play him.
He wasn't.
However, when 'torajiro' showed up six months later, and beat Ogata-san in an even match on the 'Net, Touya kept his fingers firmly in his lap.
Erm, sorry?
Re: Um, I'm very rambly and you can totally ignore this if you want
Date: 2006-04-19 09:53 pm (UTC)I love the shock value of seeing Hikaru's name pop up (and what it implies about Akari), and how Akari is SO MUCH SMARTER than Hikaru was when it comes to hiding her identity. And of course the last line=love.
Re: Um, I'm very rambly and you can totally ignore this if you want
Date: 2006-04-20 12:11 am (UTC)I'm glad you like the little comment ficlet. Your idea totally set off sparks in my head about everyone in the Hikago-verse and how they would be different if Sai wasn't there to haunt Hikaru. I actually have a couple more scenes that I didn't put into the previous drabble, because they happen at different times and I suck at writing time changes. I don't write fiction at all really, so I don't know how to transition between different times and points of views. Lol, I've read about a million fanfics, but I get stuck when I try to think it up for myself.
Yay! The NetGo arc was one of my favorites in the manga/anime. I love when the main characters hide who they are and only the audience knows what's going on. I guess that's why I love crossdressing-shoujo too. The character is one thing, but appears to be something else to all the other characters. *g*
Haha, and there's a reason for my madness in picking Hikaru's name as Akari's net handle besides the totally ego-stroking SHOCK value. ^^
Lol, and Akari is smarter than Hikaru, but that doesn't say much. A squirrel on crack is smarter than Hikaru at times.
Also thank you for the last line love. That is one of the best compliments I've ever gotten, because I always love it when authors end with impressionable last lines. I'm just really happy that you liked mine.
I was going to post another ficlet here too, but I have to run. I'll see if I can get it up to you tomorrow.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 02:14 pm (UTC)Akari stepped over the threshold of the Internet Cafe, happy and care-free that her exams were finally over and her summer vacation was about to begin. Even though she would still have to attend cram school everyday, this still left a lot more time for her to indulge her best friend in his favorite past time.
"Sai," Akari thought to her companion, "now that I have summer vacation, we can play NetGo a lot more often."
"Really, Akari-chan? How often?" Sai asked excited and practically vibrating with energy.
"Well, not everyday. I still have to go to cram school, but maybe once or twice a week. And I'll still play go with you at night. I'm still playing you with a four stone handicap, but I'm getting better."
"Really? Wai! Wai! Thank you Akari-chan!" Sai said happily dancing in a little circle.
Heading to the counter, Akari looked up to see Mitani-kun's sister manning the register. Pulling out her fee, Akari made small talk, asking after Mitani-kun and how he was after they had parted ways in Junior High. While Akari was never able to convince Mitani-kun to join the Haze Junior High go club, she still had fond memories of Mitani Yuuki.
Being later in the afternoon, there were many other students milling around, chatting in groups around computers. Some were playing online role-playing games, others were giggling over their emails, and there were even a few grandmas surfing online for patterns for their next knitting projects. Akari passed all these casual users, aking a free computer in the back of the building. Facing the entrance, Akari sat down ready to watch her friend do what he loved.
Watching Sai play go while on the net was always a delight to Akari. So many people would challenge Sai as soon as she logged in, and while she would usually pick one at random to let Sai play, she would always look out for the ones who gave Sai the most challenge. Whenever Sai played against a strong opponent, he would get a fierce expression on his face and would be bouncing off the walls when they got home.
Not spotting any of the challengers that Sai truly relished, Akari and Sai played a few easy games with some amateurs whose level were not that far off from Akari's. Akari would always feel a little amazed when she thought of Sai's devotion to the game and his seemingly endless patience when dealing with weaker players. He never pushed her into learning more than she was willing to handle, and while Sai would sometime talk wistfully of the players who would challenge Torajirou, Akari would look that much harder for a challenging NetGo player for Sai.
Logging off from the NetGo website she was using, Akari wanted to check her email quickly to see if Myuki and Sora had any plans for the weekend. Having a few minutes before she needed to leave, Akari looked up as she heard a commotion up by the front counter. A weird gaijin had walked in and seemed to be arguing with Mitani-kun's sister about something. Not being quite able to hear what they were talking about over the other conversations, AKari hoped that Mitani-chan was okay. Watching discretely as the two settled down, and Mitani-san got angrier and quieter, the gaijin soon left in a huff.
Closing her email and looking back worriedly at Sai, Akari headed over towards Mitani-chan to see what was the matter.
Part 2
Date: 2006-04-20 02:15 pm (UTC)"Mitani-san, are you alright? Who was that stange man who just came in?" asked Akari rounding the counter to stand right in front of Mitani-kun's sister.
"I'm fine, Akari-chan. Just some gaijin asking around about the customers here. As if I would ever tell some foreigner information about my customers. My boss would fire me!" Mitani-chan answered.
"Really? Was he some creepy stalker or something?" Akari asked shooting nervous glances around.
"Just someone trying to get into our records. He wanted to look at our logs to see which custormers have been using the computers. I told him we don't have any go players here, just teenagers playing games and older people checking their email. We don't even have any go boards or anything! I don't know where people get their ideas sometimes." Mitani-san answered exasperated.
"Go...players...ehehehe..." Akari laughed trying to sound casual.
"I know. Isn't it the silliest thing? Like some old timer would be hanging around an Internet Cafe to play go, right? Why bother when there are go parlors around?" Mitani joked back.
Akari could only nod meekly while Sai was waving his hands frantically. His robes were flying all over, but Mitani-san just continued on, "Oh, I must be keeping you from dinner, Akari-chan. I've bored you enough with my problems. I'm sure you have have places to be."
Akari perked up at this and answered with a little more cheer, "Yes, I was just on my way home. Thank you for chatting with me Mitani-san."
"Bye-bye, Akari-chan."
Waving one last time, Akari turned away to walk out the door, Sai following after her.
As Akari started walking towards the train station to take her back home, Sai started to grow agitated and couldn't contain his thoughts any longer. "What will we do, Akari-chan?! Someone has found out that I'm playing NetGo with you! How are we going to play go anymore with other people?" Sai wailed.
Feeling a little nauseuos Akari tried to soothe her frantic ghost, "It's okay, it's okay, Sai. We'll think of something. I promised you when I quit the go club that I would always play with you, right? I know I'm not as much fun as palying all those great players on the 'Net, but I'll get better. And you never know, maybe we'll think of something."
Watching as Sai took in her words, he seemed to calm, and the nausea that Akari was experiencing faded away.
"You're right, Akari-chan. I know that you are doing the best you can to make me happy in your busy life. I'm just afraid of that creepy man who came after you! What if he had found out who you are? Did you see his face, he looked like a toad! A toad-man could have spirited you away because of me," Sai answered back dejectedly.
"Never, Sai. How could anything concerning you hurt me? You're my best friend. Don't worry, we'll figure something out," Akari replied, striding towards the train station and hoping what she said was true.
Sai was the best friend Akari had ever had, and while she knew that she couldn't give Sai what he wanted most, she hoped she could give him a little bit of what he craved. Until he found a host that would love the game Sai had died for as much as he did, Akari worried that her friend would never truly be content.
Wow, I really have to stop these comment ficlets. This one seems to be over the limit, and I had to split it in two. Hehehe, sorry for spamming you post, but I hope you find them at least a little amusing.
Re: Part 2
Date: 2006-04-20 07:32 pm (UTC)A toad-man could have spirited you away
For some reason I thought of Miyazaki's Spirited Away when I read this line. *grin* Must be your icon. Is that Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle?
Re: Part 2
Date: 2006-04-21 12:12 am (UTC)The Spirited Away reference was actually unintentional on my part. I can see where you'd think that, especially with the little frog guys running around in the movie. I was actually trying to be clever and referring to Sai's fear of frog/toads. I think they mentioned it in one of the episodes where Sai challenges some antiques dealer over a little girl's vase. But we'll just pretend that I was being super smart and punny on purpose, shall we? ^^
Oh, and my icon is teenager!Howl. Isn't he adorable? *pets*
Erm, and if you don't mind, I could post these on ff.net, so I wouldn't have to spam you if I have new one. If that's ok. I'd totally credit for the original idea and all.
Re: Part 2
Date: 2006-04-21 01:21 am (UTC)...Howl looks much too girly. But then, that's what we love about him.