Amazing story ! I read and re-read it . The way you wrote Hikaru's dwindling sanity and Akira ...it's just exellant . So good job , keep it up !
lazyass out !

terrific.

Hello, I liked your fic, I love Sai and Hikaru are so cool and handsome, I like a lot this couple, for me is one of the best, and Hikaru silly is sometimes poor Sai, as if it never existed and Hikaru realizes too late how much you want to Sai, this because when that is gone, but not many fics of them, and among them could do more lovebirds hehe, while Hikaru is the uke, I like the couple Waya and Hikaru, these two stick together, I also like the fascination and others having Hikaru Ogata, although not always with Hikaru, I also like the couple and Akira Hikaru, although sometimes not much clumping, nevertheless, because chemical and others if they have, for my Hikaru's rival Sai, Touya and although others are not bad, and it shows, I do not like Akari, is not that special, and it gets into everything, so still thanks and kisses.

Haunting, and...beautiful, in its own way. And very heart-wrenching, too. I wonder what really happened to Hikaru when he began to lose his skill.
One little fix for the fifth chapter: you mention there the capital, Edo - but Edo wasn't the capital yet in Sai's time, but Heian-kyo, modern day Kyoto.

... Wow, chilling as get out.

this is stupid, who care about touya believe or not believe about sai in hikaru,
the most interesting about sai is just how they speculating about why hikaru play like sai

I only saw this story now and I'm wondering why.
The first chapter was very promising. I was expecting something along the lines of drama and happy endings. By the second chapter I realized that that was not the case. The following chapters frightened me, to say the least. Your writing style went so perfectly with the plot, it had me edging on my seat. (Not really, that's just an expression. I was actually curled up with my legs tucked under my sweater, damaging my eyes by reading too close to the screen.)
The last two chapters were absolutely horrifyingly heart-wrenching. Hikaru going insane was already too much for me to take. Needless to say, I was terrified when Hikaru was actually trying to commit suicide.
Now, the last chapter really showed Akira's perspective. You wrote him very in-character. It was just so...amazing. Enough to bring tears to my eyes. Maybe it's because I'm not a fangirl, but I really saw how their relationship was put in a strong point without sounding romantic.

The last line was what hit me the most. You ended the story with such elegance, referencing Go. It was such a strong line that brought so much feeling. It really had me crying for the characters. Feeling for them.

This is without a doubt one of my most favorite angst stories ever. Scratch that, it's THE best angst story ever.

Excellent story.

Hi,

Thanks for a good fic. It was the first one (among the limited number of fics I have read) in that Akira reacted this way to Hikaru's story. You captured the emotions . A sad story but good one albeit the simple telling.

This is good, I mean, really, really, really good. The ending was so unexpected, and it leaved so many things in suspenceful mystery, that I bet it stay long in my mind haunting me.

I really liked this, and I hope yo'll write more fics like this ;)

-Jen

I dunno, it was a good story. I just hate drama at times, death and madness just aren't my thing, sorry, it left me feeling somewhat confused very sad and a bit angry. Can't help you with a proper review, my personal dislikes are in the way at the moment, still thanks, i can see that this story is well written.

Hey, I won't allow you to make a crazy man out of my Hikaru, nor Sai into a violent man.

Well, the most valid argument that proves Sai's existence has to be the fact that he learned to play go so well and fast and no matter how one's mind might be good at illusions I doubt it could pull out a go expert ghost out of nowhere. If I were Hikaru, my go would be proof enough for me, because without Sai he wouldn't have even ever met Akira. I doubt that even Akira could completely explain a way a brilliant game played by a kid who couldn't even hold go stones properly and had to count to properly place them. Not even split personality could properly explain that, his personality didn't even change. Hikaru's life had been so thoroughly changed by Sai that not even fading memories should have him doubting it too much. I can understand the struggle, but I can also see him stubbornly holding on to his go as proof of everything. Well at least that's how i see things. Anyway i'll stop my ranting and keep reading, ja...

I first read this fic five years ago, in 2005. Now, more than thirteen times of rereading and five years later, I'm still crying over the last chapter. This is so wonderful, so utterly heartbreaking. Thank you for writing this.

*cries* *cries* Th-that w-was so-o g-goo-ood... B-but so-so s-saad... *cries harder*