Hello and welcome back to 'Our Fight'! Hopefully this chapter WON'T be a late update like last time!

I was SO SLOW when writing this chapter, but I got it done! Yay for me! But that aside, I'm still really giddy for the next episode of 'Stride Gate'! I think that was the only thing keeping me going for a while.

Also, I am NOT, I repeat, NOT UPDATING NEXT WEEK! I'm going on a school trip and since we'll be sightseeing the entire time, I won't be able to update, as I'm not bringing my laptop with me. I'm REALLY sorry for the inconvenience.(Again.) But there will be an update the following week, so this is only happening next week. Note to self, write something in the story's summary saying this when updating chapter.

One last thing. (Clears throat.) (Takes a deep breath.) SCHOOL IS FINALLY OVER! IT'S SUMMER VACATION! WHOO HOO!... Ok I'm done now.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'Cardfight Vanguard' in any way what-so-ever.

Started: 5/31/16-Finished: 6/4/16

...

"Well... Isn't this interesting..." Sousuke looked up from his tablet-It was currently displaying the results of Am's Stride Force testing-at the sound of Ryuzu's voice. The two of them were the only one's currently in the room that held the capsules for the 12 Zodiac Time Beasts. Ever since Ibuki and his group had stormed their old base, the Gear Chronicle Units have been showing strange abnormalities-as in their energy levels would spike abruptly every now and then. They had come to see what was the cause, and by the tone of Ryuzu's voice, it's seems as if he has found it.

"Might Wakamizu ask what is 'interesting'?" Questioned Sousuke, walking over to the 'young boy'. Ryuzu turned from the small smartphone in his hand to face the taller man.

"Enishi has just informed me of a large surge in Stride Force within Chrono's school."

"Chrono..." Sousuke hummed. "He's the boy your so interested in, correct? The one who also uses Gear Chronicle?"

"That is right." Ryuzu nodded with a smile. "Not only that, it looks like that the spike corresponds with the one in Chronofang Tiger's energy just a few moments ago."

"You believe they are connected?"

"I know they're connected." Corrected the creator of the Vanguard Association. Sousuke raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Wakamizu doesn't mean to sound doubtful..." He said. "But Wakamizu would like to know how you know this?"

"It's simple really. Like the rest of the Gear Chronicle Clan..." The purple-eyed boy stepped up to Chronofang's capsule and placed a hand on the glass. The Unit's eyes flashed dimly, nowhere near as bright as when Chrono had hit the glass back at their old base. Turning to Sousuke, he gave him a knowing smile.

"... He simply has a strong desire to reunite with his dear Vanguard."

Taiyou frowned as he looked at the ruins of the United Sanctuary Branch. It's been two days, three if you count today, since Hiroki and him had fought, Hiroki emerging as the as the victor. And because he lost, all Taiyou could do was watch as the Space Police user and another boy destroy the Branch with an actual Vanguard Unit!

Sighing, Taiyou took out his phone and checked for any new messages from his friends. Or more specifically, messages from Chrono. The Gold Paladin user hadn't heard from the elder cardfighter for a few days now. In fact, they had lost contact around the time Hiroki had came to the now ruined Branch. At first he thought Chrono was busy, but as time went on, Taiyou started to feel as if something was terribly wrong. And his encounter with Company didn't help with that feeling at all. Then there was Hiroki...

"Justice always prevails! Evil always loses!"

"My justice is absolute! No one is a match for me!"

"United Sanctuary Branch's ideals are defiantly in the right!

Taiyou flinched at the last memory, reminding himself of when all he cared about was being strong. His hands flew to his ears in a hopeless attempt at blocking out all the voices from the memory. He didn't want to be reminded of that time.

A few moments had passed before he let his arms hang by his sides again, the flashbacks of what had happened before over. For now, at least. He was so confused. Just when the United Sanctuary Branch was finally becoming the Branch it was supposed to be- fun, welcoming- it was all demolished in one day.

"... What should I do?" Taiyou asked himself as he looked to the sky, as if looking for an answer. He didn't find one. Turning away and sighing, he left the the destroyed Branch. Maybe he should visit Chrono, Tokoha, Shion, or one of the others and ask for their advice on the matter. It has been awhile since he's seen them after all.

Turning a corner, Taiyou never noticed the blue-haired man across the street watching him.

Mamoru looked up from the stack of papers he was organizing at the sound of a phone ringing. He and Ibuki were currently in the middle of dealing with the resulting chaos of Myoujin's 'death' occurring in the Dragon Empire Branch, and it still didn't look pretty. Not only that, they had to worry about organizing the meeting of the Branch Chiefs- Their Branch chief, Ryutaro Oyama, would have taken care of it, but he ran off. Again- And that's not even counting the recent destruction of the United Sanctuary Branch...

"Go ahead." Said the Clan Leader at Ibuki's glance. "It might be important." Nodding in thanks, Ibuki took out his phone and held it to his ear.

"Ibuki." Spoke the Neon Messiah user. "... What?!" Mamoru jumped at the sudden outburst.

"What's wrong!?" Ibuki didn't answer, as his attention was directed to whoever was on the phone. A moment had passed before the cardfighter regained his composure.

"... I see... Very well..." Pressing the 'End Call' button, Ibuki turned to Mamoru. "Ryuzu's old hideout was attacked by one of Company's members. Hiroki Moriyama."

"Was anyone hurt?" Asked Mamoru. He knew quite a few people who were investigating there, including Chris, who had come to Japan to assist them in their GIRS Crisis.

"They all have some injuries, nothing too serious or fatal. But it's now near impossible to recover any data from their database."

"I see..." Mamoru hummed in thought before standing up. "We should head over there. See if we can do anything to help."

"No, you stay here." Said Ibuki while he walked over to the door. "I'll head over to see the damage. They said it was because of a Depend Card and you still have to worry about the meeting of the Branch Chiefs." With that Ibuki left the office room. Mamoru, meanwhile, sighed in depression.

"To be honest..." He muttered. "I could've used the break..." A stack of papers fell to the ground just as he said that, making him groan tiredly.

...

Btw, for those of you wondering when the previous chapter took place, it was four days since the raid on Ryuzu's hideout, as mentioned before. Meaning that episodes 2-4 have occurred. ('Re-Meeting with Kanzaki' happened over the time-span of two days.)(Also, I think each episode happens each day, so when you put episode 2, 3, and 4 together, you get 4 days.) Episode 2 pretty much didn't happen due to Chrono's coma, episode 3 did happen-Minus Chrono and Ibuki meeting up to talk about Rive-, and episode 4 also didn't happen due to, again, Chrono's coma. Meaning that Taiyou still has yet to know about the 'Depend Cards' and such and Hiroki is still snooping around Company's old hideout. Luna joining Company and Chrono finding out that Mikuru knew about Rive is still the same though.

So that was 'Chapter 10: Longing for a Friend'! Hope you all enjoyed it!... SWEET DESTINY! WE'RE AT 10 CHAPTERS ALREADY! I know that isn't much when compared to other stories-I'm counting every story I have read from every Fan Fiction fandom I've ever visited-but it feels like a HUGE milestone for me! Now, let's see to it that we hit 20 Chapters next!

Review Responses-

Yukomin- Yes, yes I do like to torture Chrono. And any other hero in any other fandom I come across. (If not in a story, then in my head.) Also, I really hope the next episode is as great as it looks! (Then again, ALL the episodes of 'Stride Gate' are amazing.) I'm glad you like the chapter. And, as always, I'll do my best to keep this story going until the very end!

Amelia dragneel15- You know, I should be thanking YOU for reminding me about him. As I said before, I ad completely forgotten about him until you asked about him in your last review. Also, pleased to make your acquaintance, fellow 'Fairy Tail' fan! And finally, considering what was revealed last chapter about the disappearing Units, I think it's safe to say Aichi will EVENTUALLY make an appearance.

Grima- Thanks! I hope you enjoyed this chapter like you did with the other ones!

himekuroyuki853- Thank you! I'm glad you like the story. Hope you liked this week's chapter!

Angelover1827- I'll say this, I don't know what will happen to Chrono-or Chronojet for that manner- until the next episode comes out. The episodes are like my inspiration- same with the opening. I loop it over and over again every now and then when I write, er, type- so I'll probably come up with what'll happen to them when I watch it. For now, I'd just like to say that I, too, hope they'll be ok.

Reaction Corner- Holy... Did that just happen!? I swear, there are no words to describe this episode! And Chrono was capture as well! Things are going so badly on so many levels for our heroes! At least Chrono got his memories back, I guess... Oh Clockwork... It's going to be TORTURE to wait a whole week for the next episode... I can't wait!

QUICK QUESTION! What you do if the characters of 'Cardfight Vanguard G' sang the opening of 'Stride Gate'? This was just a random thought that came up while I was listening to said song. For me, I'd just record it on camera XD!

On a side note, I AM NOT HAPPY! I just checked the number of words for this chapter and it was below 2,000. That doesn't sit right with me. Not at all. Nope. I'm mostly writing this note just to make it to 2,000 words. Or at least closer to 2,000 words.

Until The Next Raid!