Button Mash discovers an old GO board in his grandfather's attic and meets the spirit trapped within. Bonding with the spirit he makes a choice that will change his life forever.
This is my entry into the anime crossover contest. It is a crossover with one of my favorite anime's, Hikaru No Go. about a young boy's triumphs, his failures, what he gains and what he looses as he pursues the game of Go. Lets follow this young boy and see what life has in store for him and his friends, ALLONS Y!
The sun was shining, but nature had other plans for the day. Dark clouds rolled in quickly and soon the city of Canterlot was drenched in a down pour of rain. Two figures could be seen running down a street trying to find shelter.
"Button Mash I told you we should've gone straight home!" Sweetie Belle yelled over the rain. She was 5' 2" had lovely deep purple hair with pink highlights and bright green eyes. (Pictuer by Jade-Green-13) Both She and Button shielded their faces from the heavy rain drops as they ran down the street.
"Come on Sweetie, My grampa's place is just around the corner." He said pointing to a large two story building in the distance. Buton Mash was not much taller then Sweetie Belle, he wore a sports jacket with dark orange sleeves a red collar and the rest was black. He had dark brown hair and a tan bangs that hung slightly in front of his golden eyes. Picking up their pace they soon made it to the porch and were thankful to be out of the rain.
"Look at my dress!" Sweetie complained slightly, shaking her arms to get the water off.
"Rarity's going to kill me for ruining one of her dresses." Button ignored Sweeties grumblings.
"Hey! Grampa! Are you home!? We're coming in!" He yelled as he opened the door after taking off his shoes. Sweetie followed Button and they searched most of the rooms but gramps didn't appear to be home. Button smirked,
What he doesn't know won't hurt him He thought and he made his way to the attic. As he pulled the ladder/stairs down Sweetie asked,
"Are you sure this is okay Button? It feels kinda like stealing." She said, making little circles on the floor with her foot. He climbed up into the attic.
"Oh yeah, this place is filled with a bunch of junk anyway, he won't miss it." Button said as he started looking through boxes and moving some aside. A lightning bolt flashed outside illuminating the attic in light and casting dark shadows. Sweetie belle shivered.
"Let's get out of here Button, this place gives me the creeps." Button ignored her as continued searching through the boxes. Sweetie peaked over his shoulder to see what he was doing.
"Are you sure you should be touching this stuff?" She asked, making Button huff in slight annoyance.
"It's fine Sweetie Belle, my grampa never uses this stuff anyway and my mom cut off my allowance cause I got a bad grade on my history and social studies tests, so I need the money." He Moved a stack of papers a side and revealed something that made his eyes sparkle.
"Now this might be worth something." He said. Pulling out a thick square of wood with four stubby legs he set it on the attic floor. blowing away some of the dust he could see there was a grid pattern on it in an 18 by 18 grid. there were also 9 black spots placed in specific areas on the board.
Sweetie Belle seemed to know what it was.
"Oh cool! it's a five in a row board right? They've gotten really popular around Equestria since they were introduced to us by the Japanese, it's more commonly known as GO." She said, sounding a lot like their teacher as she rattled off facts.
"How do you know that?" Button asked and got a dead pan stare from Sweetie.
"If you'd have paid attention in history you'd already know this." She said, Button scoffed slightly, but turned his attention back to the board.
"An old GO board huh? I wonder if my Gampa used to play on this?" He wondered out loud. A thought struck his brain. Sweetie Belle sweat dropped as she swore she saw dollar signs appear in Buttons eyes.
"Oh, I bet we can get a lot for it!" He said excitedly, grabbing a piece of cloth from the floor he started to wipe the board clean. Sweetie still wasn't convinced about this.
"Are you sure this is okay Button?" She was not like this more by the second. Button just waved her concern off.
"Don't worry, I'm sure Grampa's forgotten all about this old thing." He said confidently, cleaning the dust off.
"I'll just brush the dirt off and shine it up a bit, good as new." He smiled as he thought about how much he could get for it. He was nearly finished cleaning it up when he noticed a stain in the bottom right corner. He rubbed a bit harder but the stain was a stubborn one for sure.
"That's annoying, this stain here won't come off." He grumbled tossing the rag away. Sweetie just looked confused.
"What are you talking about Button, what stain?" she asked looking closer at the board to see if she missed something. Button pointed to the stain he was seeing.
"This one." he said. Sweetie belle squinted.
"Show me."
"Right here!" Button said, getting annoyed.
"Huh? there's nothing there, look." She gestured to the board. Button was quite annoyed now.
"It's right here!" He said pointing to where the stain was.
"You can see it?"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you!" Button said hotly.
"You can hear me!?" Button froze, stiff as a steel beam in fear. That voice wasn't Sweetie Belle's.
"You can truly hear what I'm saying!" The voice said joyously.
"I don't see a stain button." Sweetie said apologetically. She was startled by Button leaping to his feet, twisting his head and body as he looked around if fright.
"W-Who...Who's there?" He asked, a nervous sweat running down his temple. A lighting bolt flashed outside followed by a loud thunder boom. Sweetie Belle was completely freaked out now.
"Stop it Button Mash your scaring me!" She said, thinking Button was pulling some kind of prank.
"At last... I have found the one..." Button was a nervous wreck.
"Grampa?... Is that you?" He hoped that his grampa was just being silly cause his heart felt like it would explode from his chest if it beat any harder. Sweetie had had enough and quickly made her way out of the attic.
"I'm going home!" She yelled as she climbed down. her foot slipped about half way down and she fell to the floor, landing on her butt with a cry of pain.
Button was to scared to move, let alone run away. His breath came is ragged gasps and his pulse beat like a jack hammer.
"To the gods, I offer my gratitude, for once again..." The voice got clear, stronger. the Go board glowed a bright green and flashed brightly.
"I can finally..." Tendrils of light and waves of energy exploded from the board making Button jacket and hair whip around like they were in a wind tunnel but not effecting his body.
"I can finally... the voice was loud now, joy ringing clear as it spoke.
"Return to this world!" The tendril and wave condensed and began to take a form. A figure wearing a deep blue Kimono with large billowing sleeves, knelt slightly on the other side of the GO board. Cherry blossoms floated around like delicate snow flakes. A folded fan was held parallel to the floor in the figures right hand. The figure looked up and gazed directly into Buttons eyes.
She was a beautiful women, her shoulder length hair seemed to sparkle and shine like stars on a clear night. Her skin was a soft white like a lilies and her deep blue eyes radiated joy and kindness.
Button was so overwhelmed with awe and fear, his mind couldn't take it. His eyes rolled into the back of his head and he crumpled to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
"Button?" Sweetie called from bellow the attic entrance. She had heard the thump and was really worried.
"Button?! Answer me!" She yelled. When not a peep was heard Sweetie Belle forgot her fear and rushed back up into the attic. She found Button crumpled on the floor nest to that old GO board. Sweetie belle started to panic.
"Button! Button!" She yelled and started shaking him, trying to rouse but to no avail. She started to cry when she heard a voice from down stairs.
"Who's up their?" Yelled the voice of a stallion and Sweetie Belle could here foot steps coming toward the attic. She rushed down and ran straight into Buttons grandfather Checkered Board.
"Sweetie Belle? What are you doing up there?" He asked, seeing the state she was in he started to worry. Between sniffles He heard her speak.
"Help... Something's wrong with Button Mash." Checkered didn't need to be told twice. After firmly telling Sweetie Belle to call an ambulance he rushed into the attic and carried the unconscious Button down to the living room. Within ten minutes the ambulance arrived and Button was driven to the hospital with a worried Sweetie Belle by his side.
Unknown to the ones around him, Buttons mind was still active while his body was unconscious.
"Who are you?" He asked the women Standing across from him. She offered him a kind smile before she spoke.
My name is Luna." She said calmly. Button needed answers.
"Luna? What are you?" He asked. Luna's face got a far away look to it as she began.
"one thousand years ago, I held a position as a GO instructor to the Emperor of Japan." Smile split her face and Button could feel pure her joy as if it were his own.
"It was such a happy time for me, I was able to play GO everyday." The look of happy excitement that flashed on her face made Button smile. Then Luna's smile faded and her face became more neutral.
"Then one day, the other instructor approached the emperor with a suggestion... He said Sir I believe you have need for only one instructor, please allow the two of us to play a game to decide who shall keep their position." The stern look on her face made Button a little nervous.
"O-okay, so you played a game right? Who won?" Button asked. He was curious. Luna's face became hard as stone and Button found himself standing inside a room. in the middle were two people on wither side of a go board. people flanked them on either side and were all staring intensely at the board. Button watched as Luna picked up a white piece and placed it on the board. The tap of the piece on wood sounded like a gun shot in the silence that permeated the room.
"The game was dead even." She said as she drew her hand away from the board.
"Every one's attention was focused on the board, it was only by mere chance that I saw it." Button saw where she was looking and a realization hit him hard. He was looking at a memory... Luna's memory.
"There was a white stone in his GO bowl." Button could see Luna's opponent smirk slightly as he picked up the white stone and placed it into the cover with a few others.
"He waited till an opportune moment and then slipped the stone in with his prisoners." Anger filled Luna's voice as she spoke. Button was shocked.
"You mean he cheated?!" Button had never liked cheater. Luna nodded slightly
"And then just as I was about to protest..." Luna's memory seemed to come to life as it played out.
"Was that..." Luna's shocked voice said as she looked at her opponents bowl. He suddenly jumped to his feet and shouted angrily.
"Cheater! Just now I saw you take a black stone from your bowl and place it among your prisoners!" He yelled pointing an accusing finger at Luna.
"What? But I just saw you do the same thing with a white stone from your bowl!" She tried to defend, her opponent just scoffed.
"What a pitiful attempt at an excuse." He sneered at her. Whispers started to be heard from the crowd.
"While everyone's eyes were fixed on the board, you shamelessly took one of my stones from your bowl and placed it among your prisoners!" the whisper from the crowd grew in intensity.
"No you were the one who did that!" Luna said angrily, pointing her fan at her opponent. The emperor spoke up.
"Silence! That's enough!" He said, his voice radiating with authority.
"I refuse to believe that two members of my court would commit such a discourteous offense within my presence... Now finish the game." He commanded. the scene shifted, twisting and blurring before it set into the new memory.
Button looked around, he was in the same room, but it was empty and felt like a tomb rather then a meeting hall. He saw Luna sitting where she had been before, only this time the board was covered in stones and her tears as she cried.
"I was unable to calm myself after that... and... I lost the game." The light around her and Button dimmed and he could hear the pipping sound as her tears hit the GO board.
"I was banished from the capital. My reputation tarnished by the allegations of treachery." Button felt his heart break as Luna stood up and walked past him.
The scene changed again and he was out side a large city, standing on a high hill under a full moon.
"I had no other skills... There was no way for me to make a living." Luna said as she gazed toward the full moon, it's light making the tears streaming down her cheeks sparkle like diamonds as they fell to the earth bellow. Her soft sobs were the only thing to be heard over the soft breeze and rustling of leaves.
"Two days later... I cast my self into the river." Luna said and Button found himself looking out across a foggy river as she disappeared beneath the surface. Button could hold back his tears any longer. They fell from his eyes like a waterfall of sorrow and compassion. The river faded to white and Luna's melancholy voice spoke from the whiteness.
"My spirit was unable to find peace, and so my soul was trapped within a go board. It seemed like an eternity, until one day..." Button could hear the hope fill Luna's voice as she continued
"On the island of Enoshima in the sea of Seto, I heard a child voice... His name was Tora-jiro." White was infused with color as a scene were a young boy knelt by a a go board and ran his hand over a stain on it's surface. Luna appeared behind him, hope filled her eyes.
"Sweet child, if you can see the stains of my wretched tears, then perhaps you have a small space in your own heart in which to house me." The child nodded his head and the scene changed to an older Torajiro playing a game of GO with some one.
"Tora-jiro was an aspireing GO player and by the age of twenty... he had surpassed his teacher." The pride and happiness in Luna's voice was obvious.
"He became Hon'inbo Shusaku the 14th."
"Hon'inbo Shusaku?" Button parroted curiously, trying to think what that title could mean. Before he could ask he cough Tora-jiro cough hard and some blood came out spattering the Go board's surface. The scene shifted and he saw Tora-Jiro laying under a blanket, his breathing labored. Luna spoke but her voice was filled with sorrow.
"But Tora-Jiro fell victim to an epidemic, and one night... in his youthful 34 year..." Luna paused as the single candle near the bed dimmed and went out.
"His time came." Luna said sadly. The dots inside Buttons head clicked together.
"So those must've been his blood stains on the GO board." Button said as he figured it out. Luna looked at him curiously because of his outburst and he smiled sheepishly.
"Does this mean you appeared to me because you still want to play GO?" Button asked. He shook his head slightly, his vision was getting foggy and his eye lids heavy. A small smile graced Luna's features.
"Yes." She said. Kneeling down to the go board that appeared on the ground and picked up a stone.
"For I have yet to play..." She had the stone nestled in between the tips of her pointer, middle and ring finger on her right hand. She started to bring it down, the stone seemed to blur and leave a sparkling trail behind it as it deacended toward the board.
"The Divine move!" Luna proclaimed and all that could be heard in the silence after her statement was the click of the stone on the board, echoing and resonating with power. Button tried to keep his eyes open but couldn't and his vision faded to black.
Button Mash sighed as he walked through the slightly crowded hall of his school. He had been checked out of the hospital earlier that morning with a clean bill of health. He weaved through the bodies of his class mates, making his way to his home room.
What the heck happened to me yesterday? Was any of that real? He thought to himself as he opened the door to his classroom.
"Hey Button! I heard you rode in an ambulance yesterday." One of his classmates teased, but Button was to lost in thought to raise to the bait
"Huh?... Oh, yeah." He said blandly and walked to his desk. as soon as he sat down there was a shadow to his left and he turned and saw a happy and concerned Sweetie belle next to him.
"Button! Are you feeling better? What happened to you yesterday?" She peppered him with questions making him raise his palm in a placating gesture,
"Easy there Sweetie... I'm not really sure what happened." he said trying his best to explain.
"When I woke up it was already morning." He said. Sweetie was about to ask another question but the bell rand and they all quickly got to their desks.
"It was a normal, boring day of school for Button, and it only got worse when Ms, Cheerilee gave them an impromptu history test. Button groaned in despair as he took a page from the pile, placed it face down on his desk and passed the stack back to the student behind him
"All right then... Begin." His teacher said and he heard the flipping of paper. Giving a defeated sigh he flipped his page over and started to read the questions.
OH! A history test! she said, obviously curious. Button's head jerked up and looked around seeing nobody around him he jumped to his feet shouting.
"You again!" He yelled in panic drawing all eyes to him and making him sweat nervously.
"Is everything alright?" Cheerilee asked him, he tried to come up with something but he couldn't.
"I... uh... just... yeah... sorry" His eyes staring at the floor in embarrassment. a few snickers could be heard in the class room. Cheerilee just shook her head.
"Then please sit down and continue with the test Button."
"Yes ma'am." He said quickly taking his seat and glancing over at Sweetie Belle and saw she was giving him a worried look. He smiled sheepishly and gave a small wave. He turned his head back to the test but his mind was else where.
So... yesterday wasn't a dream after all. Button thought to himself
"Twas no dream." Her voice quite chipper.
sorry, what was your name again? He asked. He heard her huff slightly.
"My name's Luna." She said. Button was to distracted by his mental conversation he didn't notice the clock ticking away and that he hadn't written a single letter on his test.
You really like GO don't ya? Button asked, a small plan forming in his mind.
"Oh Yes!" Luna said happily. button smirked evilly.
And you really want to play GO don't ya? Luna was obviously excited.
"YES!" She said loudly and happily.
To bad... I don't think I'm ever gonna play the game. Button smirk evil smirk grew. this was a little pay back for making him faint the day before. He felt an intense feeling of despair and he heard Luna cry out.
"MY AFTERLIFE IS RUINED!" She wailed and sobbed. Button felt his stomach start doing somersaults and his breakfast decided it didn't like being in his stomach. He clutched his mouth and bolted from the classroom hoping to make it to the bathroom in time. He didn't. luckily there was a open window so he didn't spew his guts all over the floor.
After a few heaves his stomach emptied and he was trying to catch his breath. Wiping spit off his mouth he turned around and snarled at the air.
"What did you do to me?" He asked angrily, not noticing his teacher and Sweetie Belle close by making their way over to him.
"I didn't do anything!" Luna said, panicking slightly from Buttons hostility. Button slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. He heard footsteps quickly making their way toward him.
"Button are you okay?" Sweetie asked as she knelt next to him. Cheerilee knelt next to her.
"I'm worried about you Button, do you want to see the nurse?" She asked. Button shook his head slowly no.
"I think I'm okay now... must've been some thing from breakfast that didn't agree with me." he said slowly getting to his feet with Sweetie's help.
You must have felt my intense sorrow a the thought of not being able to play GO again." Luna said as Button made his way back to class with his teacher and Sweetie.
Man... a thousand years of disappointment is hard on the stomach He thought as he walked back into class and took his seat.
couldn't you... you know... go bother some one else? Button asked nervously. Luna sighed sadly.
"Most likely not." she said and Button grumbled. Luna's shoulder slumped at the thought of not playing GO again. Button looked at her standing pitifully next to him and just sighed.
I guess... it' wouldn't hurt to play every once and a while." he said, trying to make it seem like he wasn't being a good guy. A look of surprise then happiness flashed onto Luna's face, but Button had a few rules.
But my head is my own... and don't talk to me unless I talk to you first, agreed? he asked, Luna's eyes sparkled with joy.
"Agreed." She said happily. and for the next twenty minutes she was silent as she stood just behind Button.
Button was sure he had answered most of the questions correctly but there were still some left that he couldn't figure out.
"Damn it." He mumbled.
"What was that guys name... I can remember." His mumbling caught the attention of Luna and she crouched next to his desk, her hands on top, looking slightly like a cat.
"Ten more minutes." Ms. Cheerilee announced, making Button's mind start to panic. He hung his head in defeat,
"I can't remember." he whined. turning he saw Luna looking at him over the edge of his desk in concern and an idea sparked.
worth a shot he thought.
hey, Luna, you know anything about the Allied reform? he asked. Luna tapped her chin.
"Allied reform... you mean the one started by Starswirl the Bearded?" She asked, jogging Buttons memory and he quickly wrote down the name.
"Yeah, that's the guy!" He said excitedly. Luna looked quite pleased with her self.
"I remember him well. He had an odd obsession with hats. I played a game of GO with him at the castle once, it was a fascinating g..."
"Yeah yeah, that's enough." Button said cutting her off as he finished writing the name down.
"You know anything about Preen?" he asked, Luna coked her head in confusion.
"Preen?" She asked, button huffed in annoyance.
"Preen, the one with the black ships and stuff." He said making Luna smile in recognition.
"Oh! you mean Commodore Preen of the Griffonian empire." She stated happily and Button nodded his head.
"That's the one, which bay did he sail into?" he asked and Luna cocked her head as she thought.
"Dragon tooth bay, he certainly caused an up roar." Luna said a look of nostalgia on her face,
"Dragon tooth." Button said as he wrote it down.
"Hey Luna?"
"Yes?"
"You can be pretty useful some times."
"What are you mumbling to yourself about?" Cheerilee's voice asked from next to him making him start a little.
"Are you finished?" She asked, Button shook his head.
"Not yet but almost." He said smiling at her. She smiled back.
"Well keep at it." She said and walked to the front of the room... right through Luna. Button was shocked for a second, then he remembered Luna was a spirit and others couldn't see her. luna's cheek puffed out in annoyance.
"How rude! Your teacher just walked right through me with out so much as an excuse me or I beg you pardon." Luna complained. The look on her face and the whole situation made Button snicker to himself in amusement.
"Button Mash! There seems to be a lack of etiquette in this modern world of yours." She said glaring slightly at his teacher. Button sighed.
"Yeah, yeah, just stop making such a racket in my head. Once I'm done here I'll take you some place were you can play GO okay?" Button said and returned his focus to his test.
The school day went by fast and it felt like no time at all when the bell rang and Button left school. He walked toward downtown Canterlot, which was a conglomeration of shops, restaurants and more shops. He stopped at an intersection and when the light turned green he made his way across the busy street with the crowd.
"Oh My! there certainly a lot of people here in this city of your." Luna said. She had shaken off her wonder lust and her love of GO had reasserted it's self.
"Yep, Canterlot is a pretty big place." Button said, slightly amused at Luna's actions.
So, where are we going to be playing GO?" She asked impatiently.
"At a GO salon." Button said matter of fact like.
"Really?" she asked, Curiosity and wonder obvious on her face.
"Yeah, my grampa goes there sometimes. He said it's a place were old guys who like GO go to hang out." He said. Luna had a look of happiness about her.
"So... People still enjoy go today as much as they did in my time.. Huzzah!" She yelled doing a skip jump. Button Chuckled. it wasn't long before they reached the place Button had talked about. Pushing the door open he was greeted buy a smiling young women.
"Hello and welcome." She said giving Button a small wave. He smiled at her then let his gaze wonder over the rest of the place. There were many tables filled with older men, the youngest looked to be in their 50's.
it's like a nursing home in here. Button thought as he brought his attention back to the lady.
"Is this your first time here?" She asked
"Yeah everything in this place is new to me... can anybody play?" He asked, feeling a bit foolish but tried to keep face.
"Certainly." She beamed. Picking up a pencil she set it on a clipboard with a name roster on it and handed it to Button.
"Just sign you name here... uh, what's your skill level?" she asked, Button's mind was drawing blanks.
"Skill level... I'm not to sure." He admitted making the lady quirk an eyebrow.
"Oh?" she asked.
"See, I've never really played anyone else before, but I think I'm pretty good." He said with a confident smile. the lady giggled slightly making Button blush a bit. He noticed a part of the place that only had one person in it and they looked to be around his age.
"Hey there's a kid over there... can I play him?" He asked looking at the lady expectantly. She smiled kindly.
"I know he's you age buuut..." She hesitated slightly making Button worry he had done something wrong. The boy in question stood up and made his way over to them. Button got a good look of him and he was slightly intimidated. The boy was around 5' 7" and wore a three button grey suit with dress pants and shoes. He had blonde hair combed neatly on his head and a pair of ice blue eyes.
The boy gave Button a kind smile.
"Are you looking for someone to play against?" He asked, his voice was kind and calm. Button blinked for a second then got his act together.
"Yeah." Button nodded his head. The boy chuckled slightly in good humor and motioned for Button to follow.
"Come on then, I'll play you." He said. The lady looked a bit concerned.
"But this boy's never..." She was stopped by the blond boy giving her a small smile and raising his hand. The lady sigh but held her peace.
"Follow me." The boy said.
"Okay." Button replied and started to follow, but the lady stopped him.
"Wait a minute, there's an entrance fee." She said, button started fumbling around in his pockets.
"Entrance fee." He grumbled slightly as he fished around for any amount of cash. The blonde boy had a playful smirk on his face.
"Oh come on, it's his first time here. Why not let him play for free?" He said sweetly. The lady giggled slightly and just placed her hand on her cheek.
"Oh sure Blueblood, what ever you say." She said batting her eyelashes at him which made him laugh lightly. He lead Button to the table he had been sitting at and they took a seat. he held out his hand after they sat down.
"Sorry if that embarrassed you, she likes to tease me a bit. By the way my name's Blueblood what's your's?" He asked. Button took his hand and shook it.
"Button Mash, nice to meet you Blueblood. If you don't mid me asking what grade are you in you look like you'd be in the 6th grade like me?" Button asked. Blueblood nodded his head.
"I'm also in the 6th grade.' Button sighed inwardly.
"This will be a lot better then playing one of the older guys." He said sheepishly. Blueblood just shook his head in amusement.
"What's your skill level?" He asked and Button Shrugged.
"I have not clue... but I think I'll be pretty good at this game." he said confidently. Blueblood chuckled.
"You don't know but you think your pretty good?" he asked making Button give a sheepish smile. Blueblood took the cover off one of the bowls on the board revealing it to be a stone bowl. He set the cover off tot the side and then placed the bowl behind the right corner on his side.
"Well... why don't you put down four or five stones for now." Blueblood offered but Button had no idea what he meant.
"Put down stones? A handicap? I don't need one, you and I are about the same age." Button reasoned. He didn't hear the conversation of a nearby group of elders.
"No handicap against Blueblood?" one asked.
"Who does that kid think he is?" said another.
"I don't know but he's in for a shock, that's for sure." Another said and they all went back to their own games. Blueblood sighed but excepted this was how it would be.
"Alright then you go first." Blueblood said. Button took his bowl and set it down.
"I hope you don't mind, but I'm a bit of a slow player." He said. Button reached into his bowl and pulled out a black stone. he looked at it for a second then noticed something falling next to him. he looked up and saw Luna standing next to him, crying. Her soft sobs as she tried to hide her face behind her fan.
Luna, are those tears of joy? he asked her to which she nodded.
Well I guess I can't blame you, not being able to play the game you love for so long. He said. Luna composed her self and after taking a few deep breaths she spoke, her voice clear and controlled.
"Very well Button, let us play." She said, and the passion she felt coursed through Button making him smirk with confidence.
"Yes!" He said out loud making Blueblood startle slightly.
"3-4 in the upper right, 17 across and 4 down." Luna said sitting on her knees on Buttons right side. Button bit his tongue as he tried to find the spot.
Blueblood took note of how Button was holding his stones, picking them up with his pointer finger and thumb.
From the way he hold his stones, he must be a beginner Blur blood thought as he placed a stone down.
"3-4 in the lower right 16-17." luna said firmly
16-17, ah this must be it Button thought as he placed his stone down. Blueblood placed his stone and Luna responded.
"3-16" She stopped telling Button the exact places as he got the hang of it where the spots were. as Blueblood placed his stone, Luna gazed at him like a hawk ready to strike.
"16-5." she said and Button placed the stone down. Blueblood cocked an eyebrow.
A diagonal? He wondered as he place his response. So it went on, both Blueblood and Luna, via Button, placed their pieces and watched their strategies unfold on the board. As the game progressed, Blueblood was impressed with the boy in front of him.
He holds his stones like an amateur but... he's making good solid moves. He paused on his turn to think about this, deciding the Button's beginning statement wasn't without merit.
He is pretty good He smiled inwardly.
"Everything okay? it's your move." Button asked getting Blueblood's attention from his thoughts.
"Sorry." Blueblood said sheepishly and placed his stone down. He's have to keep a close eye on Buttons moves to make sure he wasn't caught off guard. As the game went on Blueblood noticed something odd about Button's playing.
The shape of his Joseki seems to be outdated... and why does his hand keep stopping and starting over the board He thought as he watched Button look over the board.
14-11 "Ah here it is." Button said and placed his stone at 14-11.
As the game went on Blueblood was curious and slightly worried.
He's not intimidated by my attacks at all He pondered as he place another stone.
In fact... he's countering them easily. He thought as he watched Button place a stone down that would make it extremely difficult to hold onto that corner of the board.
I'll have to rethink my strategy Blueblood thought as he placed his piece down. they continued on till Button placed a black stone down and a whit one was in between four black stones.
"That white stone is now yours, take it." Luna said.
this one? Button asked her, she nodded and he picked up the piece and place it into the cover of his bowl. Blueblood placed a piece down.
"19-15" Luna said and Button placed the stone in the right spot. Blueblood placed a piece of his down and took one the stones Button used to capture Blueblood's one, making it so they could just go back and forth in a never ending cycle of captures.
He took it Luna! is that alright? Button asked. Luna just smiled.
"18-14" Luna said confidently. Button placed the stone down and saw he had captured another on Blueblood's pieces.
Button picked it up and placed it with the other. Blueblood gave a small sigh and Button was confused.
What's going on? He asked Luna. She gestured to the corner Button and Blueblood had been placing most of their pieces on.
"Those 9 white stones there just died, eventually you will take them prisoner." She said. Button smiled internally.
WOW! That many? cool, this is going to be an easy win. he thought. Luna glanced over her spread fan at Blueblood
"No... this boy is not that weak." She said. Blueblood opened his eyes and with a determined look he placed a stone down, but before he took his finger off he slid it into a different spot. Button kept placing stones down where Luna told him.
"We did not capture those stones, He sacrificed them." luna's voice was focused. Button was amazed the she noticed it.
Really? He asked. luna's fan closed and she pointed to the board.
"Look closely." She said. So Button did and he was surprised that he had missed it.
OH! But thought in realization. Blueblood's eyes were fixed on the board.
I still have a chance... loosing those 9 stones on my upper left hurt but I still control the center of the board he placed a stone and carefully planned his next move. button was nervous now that he saw what Blueblood was planning.
Are we gonna win? he asked Luna to which she chuckled.
"Maybe, 4-13." she said with a smile. Button and Blueblood placed a few more stones with Luna watching the board like a predator. She smiled behind her fan when she knew it was the time to show the young Blueblood what she was made of.
"Now 8-5." she said, now standing behind Button.
"hhmm, 8-5 where are you, ah here it is." Button said out loud and placed his stone down. Blueblood gasped in surprise and confusion. he just stared at the stone Button had laid down, nervous tension coursing through him.
Why? that isn't the best move... it's not even a good move. he thought when a chilling idea crossed his mind.
He played it to see how I'd respond. Blueblood realized. a bead of sweat fell down his temple.
It's like he's testing my strength. Blueblood was now thoroughly spooked. The world seemed to fade away and all that was left was Blueblood and the Go board. he felt this heavy presence that seemed to weigh him down like a lead jacket.
He's testing my skill... from a level far above mine he thought. little did he know Luna was watching him, Her hard gaze piercing him from over her spread fan, calculating what he would do and planning a counter attack.
The lady at the front desk said goodbye to one of the customers when Button cam jogging up to her.
"Oh, game finished?" She asked cheerfully. Button nodded.
"Yep all done>' he said then sighed,
"I think it was a little to soon for a match after all... Ya know I'm so slow, it kinda tired me out." he said, stretching his arms a bit. The lady smiled and pulled out a flyer from under the desk.
"By the way there's a GO tournament coming up soon, take a look." She handed Button the flyer and he glanced at it.
"Why not check it out." She said leaning her head on her hand and smiling at him. Button blushed slightly and rubbed his head sheepishly.
"I' think about it., and thank you for letting me play here today, bye." He said as he pushed the door open and walked out.
"Come again." She called after him. She giggled to herself.
"He may even beat BlueBlood... in another 50 years maybe." Her attention was pulled to the chorus of loud voices and she saw them gathering around the table The boy and Blueblood had played at.
"What he lost?!" one man voice said
"That's not possible." Another stated
"I know, Blueblood's as good as a pro." the voices got more heated and she made her way over to the table and the conversations got clearer.
"So he must've given him a handicap right? how many stones?"
"It's not just the two points, he was playing on a level higher then I was." When she heard Blueblood say that she muscled her way past the crown and her eyes fell upon the GO board and she was shocked.
"Is that true Blueblood? You lost?" She asked. Blueblood was so shook up about his game that he couldn't even answer her question. She just shook her head in disbelief.
"No, that's impossible, that boy said he'd never played a game before in his life." She said. This made Blueblood's head snap up and stare wide eyed in terrified fascination at her statement. He looked between the board and her in a daze.
"Never... played a game... Before today... ever?" He started to shake and he stood to his feet.
"Who... who is he?" He asked, knowing no one could answer him.
Button Mash walked down the street, his finger laced behind his head. He let out a tired sigh.
"I'm not used to this, I'm exhausted." He turned and looked at Luna who was standing just behind him.
"Did you have a good time playing GO again Luna?" She nodded her head
"Very much so." she beamed a smile at him, he smiled back.
"Good, now when we get home were doing some social studies homework." He said. Luna chuckled inwardly.
"Anything you say." She said giving him a closed eye smile. she missed the child gleam of haapiness that shined in his eyes.
"Great! you wanna race?" He asked hopping up and down slightly.
"I would love to." her eyes shimmered with happiness. Button laughed.
"Onetwotheego!" he yelled quickly and sped off before Luna could get ready.
"Hey! That's not fair! I wasn't ready!" She yelled after him and grinned widely as she gave chase. They raced down the road into the sunset laughing with each other.
