Caught Red-Handed

"It's…my fault. All my fault," Yomi looked down, disgusted by the deck she held. The United Sanctuary bracelet she once wore as a sign of pride and honor.

And in seconds, both were flung onto the ground, clanging and pattering as Yomi sunk into a mess of tears and croaks.

"I'm no goddess," she stared at the card that she once named her avatar. Minerva, one of the creators of Cray.

"I'm a monster," she murmured wistfully, her thoughts and senses now anchored in the present day. As she stepped through the halls of the school she noticed faint, subtle yet uneasy gazes on her, poking at her like she were some thing that walked out from prison. Some sort of criminal. Her sombre self-loathing mind would have welcomed all of the blaming stares, but this was something else. She was being blamed for something else.

"Y-Yomi!"

She looked back to her front, seeing Caitlin before her, worry splayed across her face. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"D-do you notice it t-too?" the other girl mumbled.

Yomi nodded. "Yeah. The other students don't seem very friendly today."

She could hear whispers behind her, around her. It was growing increasingly uncomfortable.

"I-I don't like this," Caitlin said nervously, tugging at Yomi's sleeve. "Let's go to class?"

"Yeah, sure," Yomi replied, walking away with the blonde at a brisk pace.

Their homeroom wasn't much better.

The two girls were faced with nothing but stares of both worry, pity, anger and disgust all mixed into one negative cocktail. It was like they were pariahs, and they didn't even know why. The next twenty or so minutes were excruciatingly long, like watching paint dry. Though, the wait did nothing to prepare her for what came next.

"Yomi, Caitlin, stay. The rest of the class may go," their homeroom teacher, usually as sweet as a peach, looked at the two of them sternly.

The raven-haired girl narrowed her eyes as a couple of students walked out the door, snickering and whispering amongst themselves.

"I'm very disappointed in you two," Yomi looked up at the woman who stood before them.

"I'm sorry," Yomi cut in. "But what exactly did we do?"

"Playing dumb I see," she frowned. "Well, I'll suppose it'll come to you soon enough. You two are to go to the principal's office. Now."

"But-"

"No buts, Ms. Asano," their teacher folded her arms. "Go. Now."

The two girls looked at each other in utter confusion.

###

"E-Eric!" Caitlin exclaimed as the two girls entered the principal's office. It was certainly lavish compared to the rest of the campus, with furniture made of antique wood and gold that spoke of years past. It was old, yet at the same time it was in an entirely different class. The green-haired boy in question stood in front of the principal's desk, his posture like that of a military officer before his general.

"I see that you've all arrived," the principal spoke. He was an old man, old enough to be either of their grandfather, his hair lacking any semblance of youthful color and his complexion past its prime.

"Yes, um," Yomi stepped forward. "Why exactly have we been called here?"

Eric looked down despondently as the principal stood up to answer her. "Don't play innocent with me, young lady. You know what you've done. Breaking into school, vandalizing school and student property, have you no shame?"

"What?" Yomi asked, baffled. "I don't understand-"

"You don't understand?" the principal echoed, almost as baffled as her. "Even when you've been caught red-handed?" as he spoke, he scattered a slew of photographs across his desk with one sweeping movement of his arm.

Yomi's eyes widened. There were various shots of them running in the darkened hallways of the school, including their entrance and exits. But what was most distressing was the photo of the three of them in front of the bully's locker.

"You still want to act like you've done nothing wrong?" the principal scowled.

"Look, sir, we can explain. Those boys took Caitlin's Vanguard deck-"

"So you thought you'd get even by sneaking into school after-hours, and then terrorize the poor students by spray-painting their lockers with profane language?" the principal roared.

"W-what?" Yomi was stunned.

"W-we did nothing of the sort!" Caitlin squeaked. "B-believe us!"

"I believe in evidence," the principal smacked his hand atop the desk. "And the evidence is clear as day."

Yomi opened her mouth to object, but was interrupted by Eric.

"Sir, what happens now?"

"Ah, someone who accepts the consequences of their actions. You two would do well to follow his example," the principal said, sitting back down.

"The punishment will be dire, but since this is a first for all of you, you will not be suspended."

Yomi sighed in relief.

"But I will be meeting with all three of your parents to discuss appropriate disciplinary measures. You three are part of the Vanguard Club, aren't you? I'm afraid I might also have to suspend your Club activities as well."

"Wait, what? Sir, please reconsider this. Please don't tell my parents about this, or terminate the Club. This means everything to me. I'll do anything. Extra credit, clean-up duty, anything! Just ple-"

The older man held up his hand, silencing the teenager. "I know how important your record is to you, Eric. You're one of our school's best students. But I'm afraid I can't play favorites. You should have thought more about this when you decided to commit such an act."

Eric looked down, clearly frustrated.

"With that said, you three are free to go for now. I will be meeting with your parents first thing tomorrow. I've also sent them an e-mail notifying them. Good day."

And so the doors closed behind them as they walked out.

"This is all because we broke in," Eric muttered. "I told you all it was a horrible idea, and look where we are now!"

"Eric, we couldn't have known it would come to this," Yomi said.

"Y-Yomi's right," Caitlin murmured. "Maybe if we're lucky, we'll come out of this with just detention. Or something."

"You two don't understand," Eric gritted his teeth. "I can't have any stain on my record. I can't be in trouble."

"Look, it's okay, we'll get through this together," Yomi tried, placing her hand assuredly on his shoulder.

"No," he snapped, backing away. "You wouldn't understand. People like you, you wouldn't understand even if you tried."

"E-Eric…" Caitlin mumbled.

But it was too late. The boy was already walking away, down the hallway, and into a sea of students.

"W-what did he mean?" Caitlin asked, worriedly.

"I don't know," Yomi frowned. But he was right, there was nothing she could do to help. She couldn't even understand his dilemma. I don't understand. It was a perfect plan. There was no way it could have failed. Unless…

Then it dawned on her.

"Caitlin, we should head to class," Yomi said at last.

"R-right," Caitlin mumbled. "T-then…see you?"

Yomi nodded. "But maybe not afterschool. There's something I need to take care of."

"O-okay," Caitlin murmured. "W-will we still have a Vanguard Club after this?"

"We will," Yomi said, smiling. "I'm sure."

###

It was afterschool, and most of the students had gone home for the day. Yomi, however, still had someone to see.

"Rosie Riveter," Connor smirked. "What a pleasant surprise. What can I do for ya?"

"Cut the innocent act," Yomi narrowed her eyes. "It was you who framed us for the spray-painting, wasn't it?"

"Alright," he sighed. "You got me. The bullies started a fight with you and managed to grab Caitlin's deck in the process. Then, I had you all go and steal it back, giving me the perfect opportunity to have some brilliant evidence to frame you for them spray-painting their own lockers. It was all my plan, of course. Did you really think those three were smart enough to come up with that on their own?"

Yomi was slightly taken aback by his blunt honesty. She didn't expect it to come so easily. "So now you've told me everything."

"So what if I did?" he said, his tone growing colder now. Harsher. "What are you going to do about it? Accuse me in front of the principal? It doesn't matter that you know. You've got nothing on me."

"No," she said. "You're right. There's nothing we can do against you. Hell, the other two haven't even figured it out yet."

"Eric probably will, once he's done panicking."

"But Caitlin would be devastated. She trusted you so much."

"She did, didn't she?"

"So why?" Yomi took a step forward. "Why did you do it? What did we do to make you betray us?"

"Look," he held up his hands. "I have nothing against you guys, really. But business is business. I saw an opportunity for a good deal with those bullies, and I took it. Simple as that."

"So we didn't mean anything to you?" she glared.

"Whoa, whoa," he chuckled. "This is reality. It is what it is. Don't act like I'm some heinous criminal."

"You keep saying that, and yet everything you've done tells me the opposite. But still," she held out her deck.

"Huh?"

"Fight me. I for one believe that a fight with someone can reveal many things about them. I want to see for myself what kind of a person you really are."

"Haven't you already decided?" he raised an eyebrow.

"To be honest, with you I don't know what to believe. You've got a silver tongue, you're resourceful, you're sly. But there are some things you can't hide, and I'll draw them out of you, one way or another."

"Fine then," he smirked. "I'll take you on. Besides, I don't believe we've had the pleasure of a good dance, have we?"

"Then it's decided."

Connor, why are you really doing this?

###

The door closed behind Eric as he stepped into his home.

"Eric."

The voice immediately sent chills down his spine. He looked up nervously to see his father standing at the entrance of the living room, arms crossed.

"Care to explain why I got an e-mail from your principal? You vandalized school property and it will go on your permanent record, apparently?"

"I…"

"Speak up, boy."

"It was a mistake," he managed. "It won't happen again."

"A mistake? Won't happen again?" his father echoed incredulously. Eric said nothing as the elder man stomped over to him. In seconds he found himself splayed on the ground, the side of his face throbbing. "You're damn right it won't happen again!"

"I'm sorry," he coughed. That didn't go very well, either, as he felt a weight hammer into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. The pain was great, but he knew making noises or worse, crying would just bring him more punishment.

So he took the beating.

Then another.

And another. At that point his head was whirling.

"What are you doing?!" he heard his mother shriek, pulling his enraged father away.

"Our boy needs to be disciplined!" he heard him protest.

That's right. I'm weak scum. I failed. I deserve this, don't I?

What happened next was just a blur of arguing and him being half-dragged-half-carried up to his room.

###

"Machining Hornet attacks Kotonoha," Connor turned the card over. [Machining Hornet – 7000 + 3000 = 10000 Power]

"Guard, Gelgja," Yomi answered. [9000 + 5000 = 14000 Power]

"Beet Atlas!" the mutated beetle-humanoid launched into the air, pulling back its massive black blades. The ghastly lights scattered across the Megacolony nest illuminated its monstrous figure, the tendril-like pillars and pathways providing a suitably grotesque backdrop for the battlefield. [Machining Beet Atlas – 11000 Power]

"I don't guard."

"Twin drive,"

[Drive Check: Machining Firefly (Critical Trigger)]

"Critical trigger," he smirked. "Critical to the Vanguard. Power to Mosquito."

[Drive Check: Machining Dive Beetle (No Trigger)]

Bone-white debris was thrown up into the air as obsidian claws smashed into the ground, the shockwave throwing Ningal hurtling into the air, the goddess only managing a cough of surprise as she found the air knocked out of her.

"Damage check."

[Damage Check: Battle Maiden, Senri (No Trigger)]

[Damage Check: Detect Angel (No Trigger)]

"And now Mosquito will attack the Vanguard." [Machining Mosquito mk II – 9000 + 2000 + 5000 = 16000 Power]

In seconds, she was no longer in the air. Instead, she was pinned to the ground by sharp needles, slowly struggling to get back up.

[Damage Check: Dreaming Dragon (Stand Trigger)]

"Power to the Vanguard, and I stand Kotonoha," Yomi announced as the shrine maiden rose back up.

"Mosquito's skill, I paralyze Nakisawame, then attack Kotonoha with Hornet!"

"Guard," Yomi retorted as an explosion of pink petals shoved the red-shelled mutant back. "Goddess of Deep Sleep, Tahro."

"My, my. Twice in a row," her opponent mused. "You're one tough cookie, I'll give you that."

"Why thank you," she said, smiling slightly as she put her card away. "You're not so bad yourself, for someone actively trying to destroy a Vanguard Club."

"You know I don't have anything against you guys," Connor frowned. "I didn't actually want this to happen."

"And yet it's happened anyway," Yomi retorted. "So I don't, in fact, know. Care to enlighten me?"

"This coming from a person who plays a deck of deities and prophets," Connor smiled slyly. "Ironic, no?"

Connor

Hand: 5

(Machining Hornet) – (Machining Beet Atlas) – (Machining Mosquito mk II)

(Empty) – (Machining Bagworm) – (Empty)

Damage: 3 – [Machining Bombyx] (U), [Machining Tardigrade] (U), [Machining Princess]

Yomi

Hand: 3

(Battle Maiden, Kotonoha) – (Goddess of Karmic Wind, Ningal) – (Empty)

(Empty) – (Goddess of Headwater, Nakisawame) – (Empty)

Damage: 4 – [Shackle Fetter, Gelgja] (U), [Battle Maiden, Senri] (U), [Detect Angel] (U), [Dreaming Dragon] (U)

"Stand and draw," Yomi declared, staring at her paralyzed first Vanguard. "Ride. Prime Beauty, Amaruda. Revelation, to the top."

"Your usual pattern, eh? Ever tried to spice things up a little?"

"Why fix what isn't broken?"

"Touche," he grinned.

"With Amaruda's Soul Blast, I Stride Goddess of Investigation, Ishtar," she said as her Vanguard's bow and dress were consumed in a blaze of violet, eventually emerging as a trailing spiral of silken robes, a sapphire spear in each hand. As she moved, her amethyst hair faded into her natural black, with faint flickers of divine light sparkling where the light flickered upon her. [Goddess of Investigation, Ishtar – 26000 Power]

"Stride skill," Yomi said, swiping two cards off the top of her deck. "Soul Charge. Kotonoha and Ishtar gain four-thousand each. Draw."

[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Senri]

[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Kukurihime]

[Goddess of Investigation, Ishtar – 26000 + 4000 = 30000 Power]

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 9000 + 2000 + 4000 = 15000 Power]

"Then I call another Kotonoha," she extended an arm to the left, where a carbon copy of the shrine maiden manifested in a burst of violet light. "Revelation. I place Awanami into the soul, and rest the other Kotonoha. Because of their skills, they each gain two-thousand."

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 15000 + 2000 = 17000 Power]

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 9000 + 2000 = 11000 Power]

"I call Gelgja. Revelation," she said, sliding a Tahro into the soul. "I rest the standing Kotonoha. Once more, plus two-thousand."

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 17000 + 2000 = 19000 Power]

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 11000 + 2000 = 13000 Power]

"Resting and standing," Connor observed. "It's like looking in the mirror on a Monday morning."

"True. Our styles are very similar," Yomi concurred. "But while you end up weakening your opponent, I strengthen my forces."

"Harsh, much?" Connor pouted. "I'm telling you, I'm not the bad guy here."

"Then why?" Yomi gripped the table. "Why did you frame us?"

"To survive," he looked away. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me," she replied. "Nakisawame's skill. I stand the left Kotonoha and draw. Then, I'll activate Gelgja's skill from the soul and stand the right Kotonoha. Power plus three-thousand."

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 19000 + 1000 = 20000 Power]

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 13000 + 1000 + 3000 = 17000 Power]

"The right Kotonoha attacks the Vanguard," she announced as the unit opened fire.

"Guard, Machining Firefly," a teal-plated insectoid materialized in front, deflecting the bullets across the walls of the nest in a widespread network of little bursts of light and flame. [11000 + 10000 = 21000 Power]

The remaining Kotonoha shot through the explosion, and in the confusion blasted at the opposing Vanguard from her somersaulting position mid-air. The blasts connected, smothering the beetle mutant in yet another conflagration. It screamed in pain as she landed softly on the ground, arms crossed and her back turned to it. [Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 20000 + 7000 = 27000 Power]

"Damage check," Connor said, smiling when he saw the card. "Draw trigger. Power to Beet Atlas."

[Damage Check: Machining Scarab (Draw Trigger)]

"Then Ishtar attacks," Yomi went on.

"Do your worst," Connor relented.

"One Critical Trigger and it's over," she remarked. "A little risky, isn't it?"

"The moment someone says something is risky, is the moment it suddenly becomes more attractive to me."

"And yet here you are, picking the safe option," Yomi murmured. "Triple drive,"

[Drive Check: Teabreak Angel (Heal Trigger)]

"Heal Trigger. Power to the right Kotonoha and I heal one point of damage. Second check,"

[Drive Check: Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime (No Trigger)]

"Since a grade one or greater card appeared, I activate Ishtar's skill," she said. "I stand the right Kotonoha and grant three-thousand power. With the Soul Blasted Awanami's skill, I Soul Charge, and with that, both Kotonoha's gain power."

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 20000 + 2000 = 22000 Power]

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 17000 + 5000 + 3000 + 2000 = 27000 Power]

[Soul Charge: Dreaming Dragon]

[Soul Charge: Goddess of Karmic Wind, Ningal]

"Third check,"

[Drive Check: Prime Beauty, Amaruda (No Trigger)]

"Ishtar's skill, one more time," she said, as each of her rearguards danced back to life.

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 22000 + 3000 = 25000 Power]

[Shackle Fetter, Gelgja – 7000 + 3000 = 10000 Power]

"No Criticals," Connor mused, his Vanguard struck down by the pair of heavenly spears. "Damage check,"

[Damage Check: Machining Beet Atlas (No Trigger)]

"Kotonoha!" [Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 27000 Power]

"Guard, Treehopper! Leafy!" [16000 + 10000 + 5000 = 31000 Power]

"Again!" [Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 25000 + 10000 = 35000 Power]

"Generation Guard," an azure-winged mutant swirled between them, shielding Atlas from the shower of bullets that rained down from above. Each bullet exploded on impact, sending up puffs of translucent blue smoke in their wake. "Feather Wall Mutant Deity, Morphosian." [16000 + 15000 + 10000 = 41000 Power]

"…Turn end."

Yomi

Hand: 5

(Battle Maiden, Kotonoha) – (Prime Beauty, Amaruda) – (Battle Maiden, Kotonoha)

(Shackle Fetter, Gelgja) – (Empty) – (Empty)

Damage: 3 – [Battle Maiden, Senri] (U), [Detect Angel] (U), [Dreaming Dragon] (U)

Connor

Hand: 2

(Machining Hornet) – (Machining Beet Atlas) – (Machining Mosquito mk II)

(Empty) – (Machining Bagworm) – (Empty)

Damage: 5 – [Machining Bombyx] (U), [Machining Tardigrade] (U), [Machining Princess] (U), [Machining Scarab] (U), [Machining Beet Atlas] (U)

"So aggressive," Connor mused as he made a draw. "Have you always been so merciless?"

I'm a monster.

"I…" Yomi lost her composure for a bit. "Perhaps I have."

"Guess I hit a nerve, eh?" he chuckled, discarding a card from his hand.

"It's true," she said at last. "I was merciless. I wasn't a good person at all. And that definitely won't change for a long time."

"Uh, what?" he paused. "You know I'm just messing with you, right?"

"But that's just it, isn't it?" Yomi said. "You joke. You mess with people. It's all fun and games, but at the end of the day, it's all just a wall. A wall for you to hide behind. A safe cocoon where you don't have to open up. Connor, whatever your reasons may have been, was it really worth betraying your friends?"

"You don't know what you're talking about. You don't know anything," for the first time ever, Yomi could see it in his liquid blue eyes. Vulnerability. "Obey, bend and break. For survival, Stride: Lawless Mutant Deity, Obtirandus!"

The battlefield was consumed in a brilliant teal glow, and as the radiance dimmed and receded, a far larger, far more monstrous beetloid stood where Atlas once was, letting out a bloodcurdling roar. Its ebony exoskeleton caught light from the nest's ambiance, distorting it into a sickly red. [Lawless Mutant Deity, Obtirandus – 26000 Power]

"Hornet moves back, then I call Machining Princess," he declared, summoning the bronze-shelled cybernetic insectoid to his side. A ray of teal light sparked in its wake. "Then I rest her to grant Mosquito three-thousand power."

[Machining Princess – 9000 Power]

[Machining Mosquito mk II – 9000 + 2000 + 3000 = 14000 Power]

Resting for the effects of his cards, then of course standing them for even greater power, Yomi observed. Then paralyzing the enemy, pushing them down. It's like a never-ending struggle for survival.

"With Princess's Generation Break two, I pay one Counter Blast to stand her and grant her a new skill," Connor went on. "And now, to deliver the coup de grâce. Obtirandus's skill. By discarding a card and paying another two Counter Blast, I prevent you from calling any rearguard during your next turn by any method."

Yomi grimaced. Even so

"Mosquito attacks the Kotonoha in front of Gelgja," Connor declared, motioning for the robot to begin its bullet-swift blow, which immediately slashed the priestess into a dispersing cloud of violet motes.

"Tsch," she narrowed her eyes. That meant one less rearguard she could use during the next turn. She needed to guard it, but then she'd be down on resources. That extra three-thousand was perfect.

"I didn't want to do it, you know," Connor sighed. "But I had no choice. It's a dog-eat-dog world here, everyone out for themselves. I had to do what was right for me."

"No," Yomi said. "There's always a choice. We choose every time we take an action. Every time we make a play. There's always a choice. And I made a horrible choice. You don't have to, Connor. Whatever-"

"What would you know?" he said, turning over his Vanguard. "When bullies have caught you in their web, when there's no escape, no running away? Obtirandus attacks."

"So you're saying they have something against you?" Yomi questioned, placing a card before her. "Perfect guard with Kibitsuhime. With her Revelation, I place another Kibitsuhime into the soul."

"They do," Connor answered. "Triple drive, first check, no trigger."

[Drive Check: Machining Red Soldier (No Trigger)]

"Second check, Critical Trigger. All effects to Princess."

[Drive Check: Machining Firefly (Critical Trigger)]

"And third check, Draw Trigger. Power to Princess, and I draw."

[Drive Check: Machining Scarab (Draw Trigger)]

"When Kibitsuhime retires, if there's another copy in the soul, I can Soul Charge."

[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Senri]

[Soul Charge: Detect Angel]

"Princess," the insectoid rushed forward, leaving an ashy white trail of debris and dust behind it. Before Amaruda could react, she was quickly knocked back by the turbulent force, right before she was slashed by its bright green blades. She couldn't help but let out a scream as she was smashed into one of the many tendril-like pillars.

[Damage Check: Battle Maiden, Azusa (No Trigger)]

[Damage Check: Goddess of Transitory, Awanami (No Trigger)]

"At the end of the attack, I activate Princess's skill," Connor smirked. "I stand Mosquito, then I'll have it attack the remaining Kotonoha." [Machining Mosquito mk II – 14000 Power]

"I won't let you," she coughed, holding out her hand to bring forth a guardian. A young priestess scattering clouds of blaze and boom as she tripped. Suffice to say, the chaos was enough to dissuade the enemy unit from approaching. "Guard. Battle Maiden, Kukurihime." [9000 + 10000 = 19000 Power]

"At the end of my turn, I move Bagworm and Hornet into my soul to draw a card and Counter Charge," Connor said after a brief pause. "I didn't finish you off, but when your field's as weak as that, I doubt there's much you can do anyway. See? In such a dire situation, without anyone to rely on, what is there left to do? What choice do you have?"

Yomi simply smiled. She was starting to understand more. "The truth is, you're just like the rest of us, aren't you? You're alone."

"Wha-"

"Now that you've started to project all your thoughts into the fight, now that you're starting to open up, I think I've figured it out," she said. "You could've done so many things to undermine us, to throw us into the gutter, all while keeping your distance and yet you joined our Club anyway. There was no reason for you to."

"I…It's because it was easier this way."

"You and I both know that's not true," Yomi countered. "I understand, you know. I came here alone, I was alone. I was strong, but I was alone. I'm lost, and I still feel lost, but with the Club, it's like I can put aside my worries and just have fun. And I did have fun. I had a fun time with all of you. For the first time in forever,I felt like I could have so much more. I'm sure you can, too. If you walk away like this, you'll be alone again."

"Nonsense," he said, eyes darkening. "I don't care about the Club. I'm not a sap fest like you."

"Again with the wall?" Yomi sighed. In that case, she'd just have to beat it into him.

Connor

Hand: 5

(Machining Princess) – (Machining Beet Atlas) – (Machining Mosquito mk II)

(Empty) – (Empty) – (Empty)

Damage: 5 – [Machining Bombyx] (F), [Machining Tardigrade] (F), [Machining Princess] (U), [Machining Scarab] (U), [Machining Beet Atlas] (U)

Yomi

Hand: 2

(Empty) – (Prime Beauty, Amaruda) – (Battle Maiden, Kotonoha)

(Shackle Fetter, Gelgja) – (Empty) – (Empty)

Damage: 5 – [Battle Maiden, Senri] (U), [Detect Angel] (U), [Dreaming Dragon] (U), [Battle Maiden, Azusa] (U), [Goddess of Transitory, Awanami] (U)

"I'll tell you a little something about me," Yomi murmured, plucking a card from the top of her deck. "I used to be a horrible person."

"You don't deserve to be a part of United Sanctuary."

"I was a monster that kept hurting everyone in my path, picking on those who were weak."

"Pathetic! And you call yourself a Vanguard fighter?"

"Yet at the same time, it was all to survive. To remain at the top. Not unlike you. So ask yourself, is simply surviving worth losing yourself?" her Vanguard's body began to glow a fierce violet, changing, transforming. "You know, I actually think you do care about us. Which is why,"

Her visage was now dressed in the color of the radiant morning sky, adorned with the blushed reds of the breaking dawn, the golds of a blazing sun.

"Even if I've lost my way. Even though I wouldn't, couldn't understand anything about you, myself, or others, I can't let you keep going down this path. Not like I did."

[Goddess of Compassion, Inanna – 26000 Power]

"This isn't some epic movie," Connor said. "There's no 'saving' or 'path.' It's just life."

"There's more to life than simply doing whatever you can to survive," she retorted. "Eric, he made this Club because he wanted companions. Caitlin joined because she wanted to be a part of something bigger. I joined to try and find my way. It had nothing to do with surviving. It was about living."

The Machining player was silent.

"Revelation, to the top. Stride skill," she declared. "Soul Charge. Kotonoha and Gelgja each gain four-thousand, and I draw."

[Soul Charge: Goddess of Deep Sleep, Tahro]

[Soul Charge: Goddess of Favorable Wind, Ninnil]

"I then activate Inanna's skill," she went on. "Soul Charge, and I retire your rearguards!"

[Soul Charge: Battle Maiden, Azusa]

[Soul Charge: Teabreak Angel]

[Soul Charge: Goddess of Adherence, Kibitsuhime]

"My intercepts…"

Yomi nodded. "That's not all. With Inanna's Generation Break three, all of my rearguards gain two-thousand for each card with the Revelation ability in my soul. With eight, that's a total of sixteen-thousand!"

[Battle Maiden, Kotonoha – 9000 + 2000 + 4000 + 16000 = 31000 Power]

[Shackle Fetter, Gelgja – 7000 + 4000 + 16000 = 27000 Power]

"That's…" Connor grimaced.

"Even when there doesn't seem to be any option left, even when you're bearing a burden alone, there's always a choice," she said. "Gelgja! Attack!"

"G-guard!" Connor sputtered. "Firefly, Scarab! Hornet too!" [11000 + 10000 + 5000 + 5000 = 31000 Power]

"Inanna," Yomi turned the card over. "Attacks!"

"No guard," he closed his eyes in defeat.

She gripped her magical staff, as starlit runic circles flashed around her, feeding mana into her, pouring like rivers of violet, encircling her staff. Once it was fully lit, in one sweeping motion she launched violet bolts of mana raining down, crashing and exploding on the enemy Vanguard below, enveloping the battlefield in a purple radiance.

[Damage Check: Machining Beet Atlas (No Trigger)]

###

There was a loud knock at Eric's bedroom door. Yet, it had an air of gentleness too. A very contradictory knock indeed.

"Come in," he murmured. His head was still light, and frankly, every time he tried to move, it felt like there were invisible needles digging into his body.

"Hey there," the door opened slowly to reveal Eric's father. Whatever anger that was in the man's face had melted away, leaving nothing but a nervous smile. When Eric didn't reply, rather, he didn't know what to say, his father spoke first. "Listen, I'm sorry for what I did earlier."

An apology? Eric thought, confused. He didn't even realize his father was inching closer, and when he raised his arms he braced himself, only to be caught in a warm embrace. Father?

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice cracking. "I just want you to be successful. I want you to be the best. Shine like no other light. I want you to be approved by everyone. Loved by everyone because they can't help but notice how intelligent, how successful my son is. You understand, right?"

"I understand," Eric said, resting his head on his father's shoulder. Yet, his voice had a firmness in it. A fierce firmness that even surprised himself. "I'll bring home Championship trophies. I'll do better in school. I'll make you proud, father."

Yes, I'll make you proud. You'll see. Everyone will see just how great I can be. I'll be holy. Strong. No matter what.

Because I want to feel love like this. This warmth. I want, need more. This…is love, right?

###

"I lost."

"And I won," Yomi stated.

"Why do you even care so much?" Connor asked after collecting his cards. "It was one thing to confront me, but to say all that…"

"I don't even know myself, to be honest," Yomi shrugged. "Perhaps I saw a bit of myself in you. A part of me that I desperately wanted to help. I didn't want you to end up as I did. A person I never wanted or expected to become."

"I'm a little confused, but also kinda honored you're telling me that."

"Well, given your particular set of skills, I'm sure you would've figured me out sooner or later."

"Well, you are an enigma wrapped in mystery."

"Could say the same about you," Yomi shot back. "You still are."

"Heh."

"Well," she said as she turned away from the teenager. "You have a choice now. The bullies blackmailed you and you took the bait. It can't be helped. So decide, what really matters to you. If it was really worth giving those bullies what they wanted. And what kind of person you really want to be. What kind of person you want other people to see you as."

All she got was silence, but she didn't look back, continuing to walk away. As she walked away, thoughts started to swirl around, pouring into her mind.

What person do I want to be? Just who am I? Am I strong? Am I weak? Is either so bad? I suppose I still haven't found an answer to that yet. But I do know that I don't want others to suffer like me, or because of me. Eric, Kuro, I couldn't do anything for you. I still can't do anything for you, Eric.

But I wonder, did I do right by you?