Ch. 1 My Buddy Returns

"I Buddy Call to the right Dragowizard, Magician Drum!" Gao shouted feeling the same excitement he gets every time he Buddy Fights. He picked a glowing card from his hand and threw it to his right. Drum, being on queue, leaped without effort over Gao and to the right area of his field leaving behind the Magic World flag impaled into the earth.

"I got your back, kid!" he exclaimed not turning back his head. Drum got into his battle stance and prepared himself for the next command. He wasn't in his default attire since he was fighting for Magic World in this challenge. Drum had a staff in hand instead of his massive drill and a wizard hat in place of his helmet with two tubes coming out on either side. Gao's life points went up by one thanks to the Buddy Call giving him two life points.

His opponent was Kazane, and she had her buddy, Blade Wing, in her center area protecting her 8 life points. " You're a little off your game today, Gao," she said to him playfully while spinning her core deck ball on her finger. They both stared at each other seeing who would break a sweat first.

Gao replied, "What makes you think that?" Gao kept his confidence showing. He's been in heated battles shortly after the shop opened, but this one only started not too long ago with Gao losing all but one life point due to Kazane's tricky Dungeon World.

"This match is obviously one-sided, you ill-mannered mongrel!" Blade snapped. He flapped his wings angrily at this. The giant avian would be bald if he was wrong. The score stands at 8 to 2, but this didn't intimidate Gao.

"You don't scare us, bird brain! We got this Gao don't let him get to you," Drum reassured. "I know you can do it!" He smiled at Gao who smiled back at him as if saying, "Thanks!" then looked back at his opponent.

Blade scoffed, "Oh please! Your Magic World deck isn't as powerful without your buddy, Qinus Axia. I'd say he was even the deck's ace monster!" It was unusual for Blade to compliment another besides his buddy, Kazane, and this caught everyone off guard.

Not sure who that remark was directed to exactly, but had a wild guess it was him, Drum's smile faded when he heard this. A following fierce growl led him to say, "What did you say?"

"Did I stutter?" Blade said with a coy smile. He said this to spite Drum for the sake of finally finishing what he started and as payback for Drum attempting to eat him many days ago.

That comment upset Drum even more. "What are you trying to say about Axia, huh?" He grabbed his staff with both hands out of anger.

"Face it. Without him, you're nothing!" Blade stated facing his head to the side with one wing folded into his chest still teasing Drum. He really wanted revenge on Drum so much that he didn't know when to stop.

Drum's grip on his staff grew tighter as he shouted, "You take that back!" His teeth flashed with approaching pure rage. His eyes widened enough to show the slightest hint they were watering. Drum was a sensitive dragon, but this was a little too much for him, especially in a Buddy Fight where he was fighting as a Dragowizard. He also started to wonder why he cared so much why someone would talk about Axia's absence. Did he actually miss Axia?

Kazane was a little upset and surprised with Blade's teasing. She stopped spinning her ball, clutched it in her side, and told him, "Hey Blade, that wasn't very nice to say. Knock it down a peg or two. Are you still mad at him for trying to make a meal out of you?"

Blade turned his head to his buddy and said, "My apologies, Miss Kazane, but I simply wanted to teach this young man a lesson! I think we're just about even now."

He never showed it, but Drum did - does care for Axia. He only lets his pride get in the way of physically appreciating the other dragon's help and bluntly affectionate compliments. Drum couldn't believe that he actually wanted the "cuddle dragon" to come back. Drum muttered to himself, "I'm sorry, Axia." He shut his eyes to try holding back the waterworks.

Gao stepped in the argument and said, "Cheer up, Drum! It's like you said, 'We got this.'" These words brought down the arguing and brought up their spirits to overcome the battle, though Drum was still a little hurt from the bird's words. All that went through his head was Axia and wanting to apologize to him personally. These thoughts were momentarily interrupted when Gao shouted, "I use 6 gauge to use Magician Drum's ability!"

Blade and Kazane gasped as they remembered this from the fight at Sengoku Academy. Drum raised his scepter, and a red glowing light emanated from within. Energy shrouded around the top of his weapon, and a giant energy ball formed. Drum shouted, "Mega Blast Bunker!" then aimed and shot his attack at Blade.

"Oh my," was all Blade could say before he was blasted and reverted to card forme. The blast then hit Kazane, who already braced herself for the impact, damaging four of her life points.

Kazane put her arms down and reminded Gao, "That was an amazing effort, but even if you attack with Drum, I'll still have two life points." Her smile returned to her face with this thought.

"Not quite," said Gao, which Kazane gasped at. "I pay one life point to equip Steel Fist Drago Knuckle!" He jumped into the center area then went for Kazane drawing back an arm then landing the blow. "Take this!" She grunted as his attack knocked down her life points to two. "Alright, Drum she's all yours! Attack the fighter!" Gao exclaimed as he withdrew himself to leave Kazane open for Drum.

First, a growl escaped Drum, then he yelled, "Drill Blaster!" as he fired a charged shot of energy, eliminating Kazane's remaining life points. Before the air cleared from the blast, Drum shed a single tear so that no one can see. Gao was then declared the winner.

"Wow, I gotta say, you never cease to amaze me, Gao," Kazane said. "As for you mister." This was directed towards Blade who quickly acted, embarrassed by his nasty behavior he displayed during the fight.

"Ah, y-yes, of course," Blade stuttered this time. "I sincerely apologize, Drum for my rude actions. I promise it won't happen again." He extended a wing trusting Drum to return the handshake rather than chew it off.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Drum said weakly, giving his arm to shake, but he didn't look Blade in the face. He didn't look anyone in the face, nor did he want to for the moment. After the friendly gesture, Drum just headed into the card shop section with his head hung.

Gao noticed Drum's strange attitude and called to him in confusion, "Hey, bud. You feeling alright? You shouldn't feel down. We just won." He followed the dragon, grabbed him by the shoulder, and turned him around to face him. "C'mon, tell me what's up. I'm your buddy, remember?"

Gao's words were comforting, but not enough for Drum to be uplifted given his current mood. "Don't worry about it, Gao. I'll be fine," he said as he brushed the human's hand off his shoulder and continued alone heading to the shelves with the Magic World cards. Drum looked up and down the rows of decks and cards until he spotted one in particular: Dragowizard, Qinus Axia. He couldn't believe his watering eyes. The card was encased with three booster packs. "Could this really be him?" he asked himself, then, after some thinking, thought, "This can't be him. Axia wanted to find his buddy, not be found." Soon, the tears began to swell in his eyes again as Drum realized the possibility of this card being his friend, his buddy. He never thought he'd care this much about Axia, but his absence made Drum's heart grow fonder.

"So that's why you're so bummed out " a voice came from behind Drum. He jumped as he saw Gao standing behind him. "Kazane left the store, so I thought I'd see why you're feeling this way," Gao said then noticed Drum's weeping eyeballs and now reddening face due to someone seeing him cry. The human then looked up and saw the Axia card. "Oh, so you really do miss him," Gao realized, then, with a smirk, said, "Hehe, told ya you'd be lonely now that he's gone."

Drum just blushed harder and yelled, "Quiet down! Will ya? I just-," but he couldn't think of a lie to tell. All he did was hide face from Gao again looking back at the buddy rare card. His face was noticeably redder than normal by this point.

"Hey, chill out. I'm just messing with you," Gao assured. Then, he knelt down to Drum's height next to him and said, "If you want so badly, I'll buy the box. I could use some new cards to go with Magic Guts." As much as they like messing around with each other, they both have their respect for the other. Drum helped Gao cope with his late brother, so Gao wanted to return the favor.

Drum's face lit up, and he nodded at Gao. They both knew this wouldn't be the Axia they knew, and rather another monster of the same species, but that didn't matter to Drum. He knew this would be the next best thing. Gao grabbed the collector's box and took it to the cashier while Drum just stood in the same spot. Drum grew happier as he saw his human buddy hand over the cash and receive the receipt. "Thank you so much, Gao," Drum told him with sparkles mixing with the dried tears in his eyes as Gao walked back him. Gao started unpacking the box and broke free the three packs and the one card. Drum reached out his arms and asked, "Can - can I just hold onto this?" He pointed to the Axia card, and Gao nodded with a warm smile. He handed the dragon the card and watched as he held it in his hand with care.

They both stepped outside, and Gao commanded, "Buddy Skill, on!" An orange hover board appeared under Gao's feet while Drum grew a pair of crimson wings. Then, both took off home with Drum holding on tightly to his buddy's card with both hands.

Once they arrived to the Mikado residence landing on the balcony of Gao's room, he said, "Goodnight, Drum. I'm pooped from Buddy Fighting all day. See you in the morning, and you're welcome pal." That last statement referred to the gift he gave Drum.

"Thanks again, Gao. Goodnight," Drum replied. Gao just yawned, stepped inside his room and went to bed dropping the packs next to him on the bed. Drum only closed the sliding door for he was too excited now to go to sleep, but he was still disappointed that he still didn't really have his buddy, his Axia. He's even gone far enough to call him his. Drum couldn't lie to himself anymore. He shared the same affections for Axia that he had for him. He just stared at the card while his depressing mood returned and his excitement turned into despair.

Many minutes passed as he clung on to the card and a wish that Axia would be released from the potential two-dimensional portal. "Please, come back, Axia," he whispered to the card.

Just as Drum was about to doze off, giving up hope for his buddy's return, a light shone from the card. This startled him as the card itself was shining. Pretty soon a familiar voice called to him and said, "Awe, did you miss me, Drum?" The Bunker dragon looked up with wide eyes as the card floated then changed shape into a small figure. The light faded as a short, blue Dragowizard with a scholar's outfit and a monocle on the left eye appeared before him. Golden, luscious locks flowed from underneath the cap as well. Drum grew a face of disbelief and happiness as he saw it was Axia who then spoke calmly, but joyfully, "I missed you, too, as soon as I left that day." He opened out his arms ready to hug Drum, but, to Axia's surprise, Drum leaped into Axia's arms and wrapped his arms around him. He took a moment to let his buddy hug him before he returned the warm embrace. "Wow, Drum! You never gave me a hug before," clarified Axia. "You really did miss little, old me." Axia began to blush after saying this.

"I don't know what to say, but you're right, Axia," said Drum still having his grip on the Dragowizard. They stayed like that for what seemed like hours, then Drum broke the hug, but kept his arms on the other dragon's shoulders. Looking at Axia in the eyes, he confessed, "I'm so happy you're back!" Then, realizing why Axia left in the first place, said, "That is if you are here to stay. Didn't you set out to find your own buddy?"

Axia recalled, "I did say that, didn't I? Honestly, I couldn't find a human that befits me to be their buddy, but that's why I'm here, Drumkins." The Bunker dragon's eyes lit up and his cheeks reddened as he had an idea what he was about to say. Then Axia answered with a heavy heart, "I did find my buddy!"

Drum was happy to hear this. He followed up that statement and just replied, "And I've found mine."

Astonished to hear this, Axia said, "You consider me your buddy?" His smile was replaced by a pout as another thought came to him. "Wait, what about Gaowow?" he said pointing to the sleeping human. "Isn't he your buddy?"

Drum thought about how to dictate his feelings and said, "Why can't I have both? Besides, I may have a human buddy, but it'll be more grand having another dragon be my buddy." Axia grew a wide smile hearing this, blush appearing on his face as well. Drum continued, "In fact, there's something I wanted to say now that you're back." Axia's smile diminished, confused at what his buddy was trying to tell him. The Bunker dragon gulped and said, "Axia, c-can I kiss you?"

Axia took a moment to take in what he just heard from his favorite monster ever. Then, he more than happily answered, "Oh, Drumkins! Of course you may kiss me!"

Drum, excited to hear his buddy's permission, leaned in slowly with his eyes half closed. Axia, on the receiving end, puckered his lips and fully closed his eyes. Both hearts began beating faster as the pairs of lips neared each other. Drum took his time due to the fact he's never done, let alone felt this way with anyone, especially a male. His mouth almost made contact as he began thinking what if he's not a good kisser, and what would Axia think of him now if that were the case.

It was too late to back out now as the kiss was made. Drum took it slow, only slightly tilting his head. Axia opened his mouth wider as to give his buddy the invitation to deepen the smooch. Drum took the hint and began to slide his tongue into the other dragon's. The prehensile organ entwined with Axia's, and lips were locked passionately. Axia then pushed his tongue into Drum, and they wrestled with their tongues throughout the loving kiss. Their faces were flustered, and the beating hearts were in unison. This went on for a while with short breaks to inhale, but Drum finally broke the last kiss for that session. Both were panting lightly, and Axia said, "I had no idea you missed me that much."

"Well, that's how I felt," said Drum. Axia giggled at that comment. Drum then told him, "Axia, promise me you'll never leave me again. After all, you did say you'd do whatever I say." He laughed at his own remark.

With a sure decision, Axia replied, "I promise, buddy," and he locked his fingers with Drum's. Both closed their eyes, and Drum pressed his chest against Axia's, letting their heats beat near each other.