To Find Hope

A/N: So title based on the Yugioh Zexal card Hope and it's important bond that ties Astral and Yuma together (total OTP). Misaki and Kai FREINDSHIP here :P (cause they honestly do make awesome friends and understand each other), and yaoi and yuri. So yes We have Misaki x Kourin, and Kai x Aichi both implied within this story a sequel may come soon after seeing more episodes of the new season. Enjoy.

"Hope -verb \ˈhōp\ : to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true"

Trusting in your own abilities isn't the hard part, but finding answers, and having the courage to rely on others…that felt nearly impossible at times.

Upon the slightly rusty tan bench, lay a teenage boy. He was somewhat tall for his age, had light brown hair and closed green eyes. He wore a blue and white school uniform with a loosely done tie.

The shadow of a young female form loomed over said figure on the bench. A groaning sound could be heard from the brunette. A young girl, around 17 stood in front of the slightly younger boy. Her arms partially covered by black roll up sleeves from her uniform, crossed over her chest. Her hair remained a very light shade of violet.

"Hmm…" Kai groaned again, attempting to cover his vision of his friend by laying an arm over his eyes.

"Kai-san." Misaki stated out, she wasn't going to be leaving anytime soon.

"Tokura-san," Kai retorted before slowly opening his eyes and meeting the girl's concerned gaze. He looked her over for a moment, arms crossed and most likely lost, thinking of at least a million concerns.

Misaki looked towards the light blue sky, reflecting for a moment. If they could have that much time… "I can't believe I forgot him…"

Kai stared at her for a moment, eyes quite serious though he shrugged that expression off. He sat up, and slid over to the far left side of the bench. He looked at her wordlessly, allowing his friend to sit near him.

Things had changed, Misaki looked down a smile on her face. Kai turned himself as she sat down, looking her in the eyes. "Everyone's forgotten…even his own family.." he mourned out the truth, as if he had lost the only light his life contained.

Misaki's eyes darkened, as she pulled her knees up to her chest, staring at the coiled black ribbon around her wrist. "You didn't.."

Kai's green eyes widened a bit turning towards her, as Misaki sat only looking away. It used to be so different, now Kai was the one to act as a comforter, to participate in a conversation. "It's because this is all my sin…he's saved me…all of us, and for my selfishness," The brunette turned away, as he shifted in his seat, holding one bent leg against his chest. He laid his chin down against the top of his knee, eyes looking away, aimlessly.

They sat back to back for a moment of silence, Misaki turned towards him. "So you are blaming yourself again?." Although it was a statement rather than a question of any sorts.

"The worst punishment to me, not losing my own soul, or life…but those that are precious," Kai began, the image of his parent's both having a hand on each of his shoulders, flashing before him. He couldn't make out their smile, then a flash of blue hair. Kai shook his head, this was driving him to his breaking point. "Everyone that becomes so precious to me must be lost, it seems" Kai started to bite on his own lip, suppressing bitter laughter.

Misaki remained in thought as they both looked toward each other. She shook her head slightly, deep sympathy, she'd been there so long before. The black ribbon began to shine even more against the harsh rays of sunlight. "Of all things…" Misaki softly cursed, those images again. Whether doing practice matches to prove her worth, or acting the role of Vanguard figures in a play. Kourin had been there, the blonde's smiling face at her, as they held each others hands, flashed before her, once again.

"I lost myself, wanting power, the Link Joker.." Kai began. "I should be the one forgotten…not Aichi..."

Misaki paused for a moment, her expression warming towards him. She placed a hand upon his shoulder, momentarily bringing the image of Kai's parents to mind. "It won't solve anything to think like that now, we'll find him…no matter what it takes,"

Kai stopped for a moment, meeting Misaki's gaze, before mumbling out a soft. "Thank you…Tokura,"

She blinked, trying to force down the grin, but it kept coming. She remembered their days of Q4, how dishonest Kai had been from the start. How painfully obvious it was when he and Aichi first played together. How infatuated the two had been with each other, yet how distant he kept himself and now…Misaki broke out into soft laughter. "Sorry," Misaki apologized, holding a hand lightly over her mouth. "I'm just not used to this side of you…thanking others,"

Kai turned his face away in embarrassment, Misaki had a certain comfort to her, much like an older sister. "Hmph.." he chided, then returning to a relaxed smirk.

His eyes remained a shaken swirl of emotions, and the older girl saw that. "He changed you…" she spoke thoughtfully.

Kai quickly added, "He changed all of us…"

Misaki shook her head, "You know what I mean. You love him. My parents used to always say finding that one person you care for the most…could change just about anyone."

Kai flushed a bit at that comment, "You knew,"

"I think everyone knew," Misaki smirked, enjoying seeing the brunette's face redden, he was finally showing emotion, and all due to Aichi. "It took longer than expected for your two to end up together, but we were all pretty happy when we found out. Miwa, Shin-san, Kamui even Emi and I.. We saw you two continue to play at the shop, which started as a hobby shop then started to look like a love nest. I'm not gonna lie Miwa and I took bets on how long it would take for you two to finally-"

And Misaki was met with a glare, though she prepared for this earlier. Still she added, "You should've been careful if you both wanted it to be a secret. For instance making sure you're lover's necktie is straightened before coming into the shop, so he's not leaving his collar exposed."

Kai's glare darkened while his cheeks flushed a deep pink before searching for his own response. "As…if you haven't changed yourself."

Misaki looked back blinking a bit, as she slowly closed her eyes, realizing. "I never wanted myself to change for anyone, I thought…I'd lose myself, but I couldn't do anything." Misaki started to feel the soft fabric around her wrist.

"So I suppose you knew about Kourin?" Misaki asked.

Kai mimicked Misaki's earlier words of "I think everyone knew," a smirk upon his face. He looked away, noticing Misaki's broken expression.

"I hadn't…I hadn't told her I loved her…before she too," Misaki's hand formed into a fist to her side, as she buried herself into her knees, bundled into a ball. "Kourin..." her voice whispered out.

Kai could only look on with sympathy, his voice apologetic.

"I'm sorry.. to have brought this on you.." he rather formerly apologized, causing Misaki to look up.

Her eyes were inquisitive and Kai continued on. "They're both gone from our world, now. Yet life goes on without a word of them. We couldn't forget. Our mates…" Kai sighed out, "Though you were able to hold onto Kourin before even Aichi.."

Misaki laughed a bit at his blatant honesty, "She is to me..what Aichi is to you…my eternal mate. And we'll," Misaki balled her fists tighter searching for the courage. "We will find our mates!" She held tight to the ribbon around her, as she felt the courage to finally stand up. "I've kept this close to my heart, and with me since the day of that final fight-I won't give up on Kourin…either of them!"

Kai looked upon her determination, acknowledging it, "Though we don't know where to start…who knows if they are from this world." He sighed, seeing as Misaki did not falter.

"But there is still that hope-"

"That hope?"

"The hope that we will succeed in finding them, and bringing them back, no matter the cost. They haven't died…I can feel that much, Cray would be in turmoil without those two. We are bound to our mates, and together we will find them! I won't give up on Kourin and I know you won't give up on your Aichi."

The brunette looked over her with his usual serious expression, before giving a slight nod. His expression was still darkened, a trait which could continue until he found his eternal mate, but there still was hope, that small trail of light that lead their way to victory.

All was not lost, for if their hope was lost, that light was surrounded by darkness, they would have to become the vanguard themselves. There was simply no other choice, for a world with their true eternal mates, wasn't a world worth being in.

It all would start today. The path…towards their lights, that small beacon of hope would be leading them forwards.