Fenikkusumaru: Hello everyone! It's Fen and BD here! And we have another chapter of Cardfight Vanguard: Rise of the Courier Saints!

BlasterDragonoid: Hello, everyone! I feel all happy today with the next round coming up!

Fenikkusumaru: So am I! Because for this chapter, Team NJS are going against Team Tri–Delta from their owner… well, BlasterDragonoid!

BlasterDragonoid: Oh, my dear team get to fight their fights against Team NJS? Oh, I am so excited! Who will fight and who will win?

Fenikkusumaru: Well, the readers are just gonna have to find out! So you ready?

BlasterDragonoid: Oh, yeah! Let's call it!

Fenikkusumaru: Alright! Oh, before I forget, since it's Christmas, we're giving you a whole marathon of Vanguard chapters! Five chapters worth, as a gift to you readers!

BlasterDragonoid: Ho ho ho! We're the Santa Clauses of this story! Right, Fen–kun?

Fenikkusumaru: Yep! So let's start!

Both: STAND UP, VANGUARD!

Disclaimer: Same thing.


Team Q4 had just finished their match against Team Three Blacks and the former won. The thing that caught them by surprise was that while their last names were dark, their first names were so bright. Not to mention that they actually look handsome. Not only that, Kamui didn't get his chance to fight. So as of now, after everyone of the other teams have had their matches it was now for that thirty minute break and during that time, Team NJS and Q4 met up with each other.

Shin popped a small celebratory ball that scattered with confetti and had a piece of paper, saying "Congratulations!"

"Congratulations, Team Q4, Team NJS, for getting through your first fights!" Shin praised.

"T–Thanks…" Aichi said, sheepishly.

"Hold on, as much as we'd like to celebrate, it's not over yet. We have the second round to go through." Kurogasa said.

"Geez dude, did you have to be such a buzzkill?" Koji deadpanned.

"What? I'm just saying!" Kurogasa raised his hands in defense.

"Well, is someone going to clean that confetti up?" Kamui asked.

"Well, yes. Me…" Shin deflated.

"It was easy to defeat an opponent of that level with mine. It's natural that I won." Kai crossed his arms and turned away.

"Way to show sportsmanship…" Rika muttered making Kai scoff.

"Anyways, Kurogasa is right. It's a bit too early to celebrate." Kyoshiro reminded. "We have to make sure that we're ready for our second round opponents."

"No worries! We got this in the purse!" Kamui grinned.

"Um… don't you mean bag?" Aichi corrected.

"Of course, bag!" Kamui blushed in embarrassment, but suddenly, he heard some running steps and immediately recognized it as…

"KAMUI–CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"

…Nagisa.

Thinking quickly, Kamui sidestepped making Nagisa miss and landed flat on her face. "You really need to stop that Nagisa." He said.

"Owie…" Nagisa mumbled.

"Uh… you okay?" Kurogasa tilted his head in worry.

"Yeah, I am. Kamui–chan, I'm so happy that you and your team won your first match." Nagisa smiled.

"Uh, thanks…" Kamui said, quietly.

"What are we, ghosts? We won our match too, you know!" Rika said, ticked.

"I know. No recognition about our moves. How wrong is that?" Koji grumbled.

"I'm sorry, guys." Nagisa said, going up to Team NJS. "I'm really sorry, guys and congratulations on your win too."

"Thank you, then." Rika said.

"Yeah, thanks." Koji grinned as Kurogasa nodded.

"However, either you guys won't last long in the Regionals." Nagisa said, making Koji and Rika pop a vessel.

"Why you little–!"

"Okay, okay, don't gang up on her, she's only nine years old." Kurogasa sweat dropped with a sheepish smile getting in front of the two.

"Sorry, it's just that you guys or Team Q4 won't get through the tournament because of my brother's team, Team Handsome." Nagisa said.

"Seriously? We'll crush your brother's team if we fight them, honey!" Koji growled.

"Right! No one's going to stop our reign!" Rika roared.

"Pfft. Whatever." Nagisa scoffed looking to the side with a 'That's BS' look on her face.

Rika and Koji finally lost it and were about to strike the youngest Daimonji down, if it wasn't for Kamui moving her out of the area and Kurogasa holding his friends down.

"Calm down, you two! She's only nine!" Kurogasa struggled to keep his friends down like an owner to a couple of mad dogs.

"Yeah, she's nine and gonna get it!" Rika growled.

"Let us at her, aibou!" Koji snapped.

'Why are these two crazies my closest friends?' Kurogasa thought to himself with a sweat drop.


(Cue Theme Re:member by Flow)

(Kakeru narase sonzai wo koko ni iru to~) The camera moved fast as we see Kurogasa in front of the camera running down a path. From one path, Koji comes running down to join him, giving him a high five. Rika joins them from the other side to give a high five too.
(Arata na tabi ga ima hajimaru~ [Whoa, whoa, whoa~]) After a few moments of running, the three jumped in the air and the camera moved upwards to focus on the sky.
(Whoa, whoa, whoa~ Whoa, whoa, whoa~ Whoa, whoa, whoa) The title card Cardfight Vanguard: Rise of the Courier Saints appeared on the screen and stayed there before it faded away at the last part of the lyrics.

(Instrumental) At each beat, there was a cameo shot of Aichi, Kai, Misaki, Kamui, Koji, Rika, and Kurogasa.

(Kawari yuku kisetsu no naka wo) Kurogasa looks at the screen with a smirk on his face as he held up a Vanguard card, showing the reverse side and his Courier Saints appear with him.
(Ikinuku tabi ni bokura) Rika was cooking away while apparitions of her Neo Nectar units appeared and smiled at the delicious food she was cooking before setting them on the table.
(Chie to tsuyosa wo te ni ireta kedo~ [Just looks like a survival game]) Koji does some disco dance moves, a smug smirk on his face as his Dimension Police units surround him. Hitting his last pose, a mob of girls glomp him to the ground. Rika looking irritated, gets him out of the mob, covered in lipstick kiss marks, and smacks him upside the head, making Koji have a lump while Kurogasa laughed nervously with a sweat drop.

(Nagareteku jikan no naka ni) The next scene then shows the members of Team Q4 in a group consisting of Aichi, Kai, Misaki, and Kamui.
(Okizari ni shita omoi wo) The camera then panned to the right to showing Miwa, Izaki, Morikawa, Reiji, Eiji, Emi, Shin, Kyoshiro, and Yukina as they smiled at the camera.
(Wasureta koto sura wasurete ita~) The camera then showed the members of five teams: Team Ultra Rare, Team Handsome, Team Caesar and the last two teams were unknown covered in silhouettes and the leaders of those teams had their eyes glowing ominously.

(Kuzure kaketa toki~ kodoku wo shitte~) In a black screen, Kurogasa stood alone looking down before a silhouette of a ghost hugged him from behind. Kurogasa senses it before the ghost disappeared.
(Deaeta bokura hi~to~ri ja nai) When he turned around, he saw nothing, but his friends Koji, Rika, Aichi, Kai, Misaki, Kamui, Morikawa, Izaki, Miwa, Reiji, Eiji, Emi, Shin, Kyoshiro, and Yukina faded into view in groups and Kurogasa smiles seeing them before going over to them.

(Sarake dase kanjou wo banjou no omoi wo~) Koji and Rika are then shown standing in their spirit forms on the surface of Cray before their forms are replaced with those of Super Dimensional Robo, Daiyusha and Maiden of Trailing Roses respectively. Each of them unleash attacks on an unseen opponent.
(Namidame ga unmei wo kaete yuku~) Kurogasa is also shown standing on Cray as a spirit, standing opposite of a shadowed figure. The shadowed figure is then replaced by the silhouette of an unknown unit while Kurogasa transforms into Guardian Saint, Alexander with his facial appearance.
(Yami ni uchi narase kodou wo kitto aeru yo~) Blaster Blade walked up next to him and Kurogasa looked to see him with Aichi's facial appearance and the two nodded before charging towards the unknown unit.
(Onaji itami no hata no moto de~ [Whoa, whoa, whoa~]) As they got closer, they crossed their blades and when theirs clashed with the unknown unit's blade, the whole scenery turns white and it fades out to Kurogasa waking up from a dream seeing himself sitting at a table in Card Capital and was startled to see Koji and Rika trying to wake him up.

(Whoa, whoa, whoa~ Whoa, whoa, whoa~ Whoa, whoa, whoa) Kurogasa looks around as he sees everyone else crowding around the table and smiles. He then grabs hold of his deck as he stands up, with the shot pausing as he stood at full height with a look of determination.


Chapter 11: Girl Power

"Alright, teams, you have about five minutes until we start our second rounds! So head on over back to the dueling stage!" MC Mya announced.

As the teams were getting ready, Kurogasa noticed Misaki about to go with Q4, until he remembered something and went over to her. "Misaki, you got a minute?"

"Uh, yes, Kurogasa…" Misaki said shyly.

"Thanks." Kurogasa said and soon, the two were outside, sitting on a bench near the picnic area.

"So, what did you want to talk about, Kuro?" Misaki said, which made Kurogasa blush as she called him a nickname.

"Um… I just wanted to say thanks… for snapping me out of it during my match earlier. I… needed that."

"Really? I mean… thanks, Kuro." Misaki smiled.

"Yeah, when you told me to focus and not lose, I knew that I could win it and it snapped me out of my funk, so thank you, Misaki." Kurogasa said.

"Yeah, like I said, you're welcome." Misaki said.

"And what's with calling me Kuro?" Kurogasa wondered.

"Well, I thought it would be easier to say rather than Kurogasa. Plus, Rika calls you that sometimes, right?" Misaki said.

"Well, yes, she does and from you, it feels…" Kurogasa said, scratching his head and blushing. "Cool."

Misaki blushed as well, as she looked up into the sky. "Yeah, I'm happy you like that." Misaki soon got up. "I have to go now to meet up with the others. I know you'll win your match. I believe in you."

"Thanks, Misaki." Kurogasa smiled and soon Misaki left. Kurogasa sighed. "Misaki…"

Unfortunately, a certain someone came over to Kurogasa as he was daydreaming…

"Hey, bud, thinking about your love?" The person said, shocking Kurogasa out of his daydream and causing him to fall out of the bench. Kurogasa looked and saw that the person scaring him was Koji.

"Koji!" Kurogasa growled.

"Seriously, when are you gonna admit that you're head over heels for Misaki?" Koji chuckled as Kurogasa turned beet red.

"Hey! I told you we're not like that!"

"Seriously, you're not going to tell me? You're not still denying it, are you?" Koji said with a serious look.

"Uh… Well, I don't know, really. Misaki is great and I don't know how I feel about her. She's really great and cute and when I see her, I feel… really happy and I want to say that, but I don't know at all." Kurogasa admitted.

*BONK!*

"Ow!" Kurogasa snapped. "What was that for?!"

"For not saying that sooner or I wouldn't have teased you like that in the first place."

"Really, though? The bonk on my head? Seriously?" Kurogasa said, rubbing his head.

"Oh quit your whining, crybaby." Koji rolled his eyes. "Anyways, just take it slow and let it play out. I'm sure something will turn up."

Kurogasa sighed. "Fine, if you say so, dude. But, tell me, how do you handle girls?"

"Well, I guess you can say it's because of my natural charms and good looks." Koji smirked.

"You forgot your humbleness and honesty." Kurogasa deadpanned.

Koji scratched his cheek a bit. "Sorry, aibou. What I mean is that when I hang out with a girl, they usually come to me and that in itself can't be helped. But, for those that truly dig and want to know me, I give them the true Koji Shinamori and talk to them truthfully."

"Attention all fighters! The second rounds are about to begin!" MC Mya's voice announced.

"I guess we're up, then." Koji said, getting up.

"But, what about…" Kurogasa said.

"Don't worry. Knowing what you need to know about ladies will come naturally and you will be able to tell Misaki how you feel, once you get more jiggy with it." Koji said as he placed his hand on Kurogasa's shoulder. "Now, let's groove on down the road to victory and win our next match, okay aibou?"

"Right! Let's win this!" Kurogasa said as the two fist bumped.


"Now, with all the teams making it to the second round, the teams for the second round are up on the board!"

Team NJS looked up at the Titantron screen to see who they were going against next.

Team NJS vs. Team Tri–Delta

"Tri–Delta, huh? What are they about?" Kurogasa said, wondering what kind of opponents they were going to fight.

"Well, they are a family team, with three members and one of the members uses the dreaded Murakumo." Kyoshiro warned.

"Murakumo? Isn't that a new clan in the Dragon Empire?" Koji asked.

"Yes, so you need to keep your distance with them, team. Using Murakumo is like the ninjas of the olden days of Japan and they tend to confuse their opponents with strategy and speed, so stay on your toes." Kyoshiro explained.

"Got it." the team nodded.

"And now the first of the second rounds will be Team NJS vs. Team Tri–Delta! Teams, send out your first fighters!" MC Mya announced.

"I'll go first this time." Rika said.

"Alright, Rika, give it your all, okay?" Kurogasa said.

"Right, watch me go and get our first win, guys!" Rika smiled as she went up to the Vanguard Stage and to her own respective fighting table. As she drew her five cards and picked out her Starting Vanguard, she saw her opponent come up to their respective Vanguard table. Her opponent was a girl around the same age as Rika, but had long red hair tied in a ponytail on the back, wore a blue sleeveless vest over a white blouse and dark blue skirt and black shoes and wore a black wristwatch and two earrings with a garnet gem on them.

"So, you're my opponent, huh?" The girl said, giving Rika a weird look, like she grew an extra head. "I guess you'll do, then."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Rika frowned.

"I mean that this wouldn't be so much fun. I wanted to fight that Kurogasa and his Courier Saints." The girl said, giving Rika a disappointed look. "Even that Koji would be fun to Cardfight, but you… kind of a disappointment."

*POP!*

"Uh–oh…" Kurogasa and Koji gulped.

"Rika, keep a cool head." Kyoshiro warned.

"I think that isn't going to work, Dad." Kurogasa said. "Remember the Ryusaki saying… You anger the dragon, then you're gonna get burned."

"And this dragon is seriously angry!" Koji quivered a bit.

"Okay, you obviously need to understand when you underestimate your opponent!" Rika growled.

"Sure, whatever, and the name's Ami Shirosaki." Ami introduced herself.

"I'm Rika Ryusaki! Get ready to be burned!"

"Are the two fighters ready?" The referee asked as the two fighters nodded. "Then, let this first match of the second round begin!"


"STAND UP, VANGUARD!"

Soon, the battlefield changed into a barren field in a darkened field with two hills were between the two holographic Cardfighters. The field was battle scarred from multiple fights in this area and this wasn't going to be any different.

"Pea Knight!" Rika soon transformed into the peapod–like knight with a pitchfork. [Pea Knight – 6000 Power]

"Lozenge Magus!" Ami soon transformed into the Elf based Magician in pink armor and holding her her pink staff. [Lozenge Magus – 3000 Power]

"I'll go first!" Rika said, drawing her card, increasing it to six. "I Ride Corolla Dragon!"

On the field, the Pea Knight transformed into the butterfly–winged dragon. [Corolla Dragon – 8000 Power]

"That's all for me, so I end my turn." Rika concluded.

Rika
Hand: 5
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Front Row: Empty/Corolla Dragon/Empty
Damage: None

Ami
Hand:
5
Front Row: Empty/Lozenge Magus/Empty
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Damage: None

"Now, it's my turn. I draw!" Ami said, drawing her next card and increasing her hand to six. "I Ride Dark Cat!"

Lozenge Magus soon transformed into the dark mechanical cat with the pink gem on her forehead. [Dark Cat – 7000 Power]

"Since I rode Dark Cat and she is a Oracle Think Tank Vanguard, we can both draw a card, so you're welcome if that helps you." Ami explained with a smug tone as she and Rika each drew a card, but as she did, Rika replied to Ami's smug tone with a mumble of something that was explicit. "Also, I move Lozenge Magus from the Soul to the Rear Guard, due to her ability."

Lozenge Magus soon returned to the Rear Guard with a graceful bow. [Lozenge Magus – 3000 Power]

"I also Call two copies of Oracle Guardian, Gemini!" Ami continued, placing another unit on the Rear Guard.

On the field, two pairs of the mechanical baby twins with machine-like wings appeared, one behind Dark Cat and another in front of Lozenge Magus. [Oracle Guardian, Gemini – 8000 Power] x2

"Now, my front row Gemini attacks!" Ami declared, turning her front row Rear Guard sideways.

"No guard." Rika declared.

Despite no support from Lozenge Magus, the Oracle Guardian twins attacked successfully, with their dual laser beam attack on Corolla Dragon. [8000 Power]

"Damage trigger, check." Rika said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check – Maiden of Blossom Rain – No Trigger]

As she lost her first card, Rika growled at losing a possible Perfect Guard, as Ami smirked. "Sorry about that, but now with a boost from my back row Gemini, Dark Cat attacks your Vanguard!" Ami declared.

"No guard." Rika said.

"Drive Trigger, check." Ami said, revealing the top card.

[Drive Check – Oracle Guardian, Red Eye – No Trigger]

Gaining power from the Oracle Guardian, Dark Cat leapt up and gave Corolla Dragon a pouncing scratch, throwing her down into the ground. [7000 Power + 8000 Power = 15000 Power]

"Damage trigger, check." Rika said, drawing the next top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check – Chestnut Bullet – Critical Trigger]

"Oh, man! Critical Trigger!" Rika yelled.

"Not really useful since I just finished my turn and it would be even more useless on my turn, anyway, so I end it." Ami smiled, making Rika even more angry.

Rika
Hand:
6
Back Row: Empty/Empty/Empty
Front Row: Empty/Corolla Dragon/Empty
Damage: Maiden of Blossom Rain (U), Chestnut Bullet (U)

Ami
Hand:
4
Front Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat/Empty
Back Row: Lozenge Magus/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Empty
Damage: None

"Oh, man. Rika just lost two cards she could've used for her next turn!" Kurogasa gasped.

"What's worse is that Rika is letting her anger get to her again like in the cardfight with Shingen." Koji said.

"That's the problem with Rika. She has too much anger and drive to focus when she is like this, but if she can focus that anger on her opponent, then she can win this." Kyoshiro said.

"Okay, it's my turn. I Draw!" Rika said, drawing her card and increasing her Hand to seven. "I Ride Iris Knight!"

On the field, the Corolla Dragon changed into the purple petaled warrior with a flower sword for one of his arms and Rika's head appearing for the original's. [Iris Knight – 10000 Power]

"Call! Lily Knight of the Valley! Glass Beads Dragon! Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul!" Rika said, calling the three cards on the Rear Guard position.

On the field, the green foliaged Knight Bioroid, the slender dragon with rainbow and light skin, and a large living tree sage with a green tunic appeared in their respective positions around Iris Knight. [Lily Knight of the Valley – 6000 Power] [Glass Beads Dragon – 9000 Power] [Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul – 7000 Power]

"Thanks to Irminsul, since I called him in the Rear Guard, I can check the top card of my Deck and if it's a Grade 1 or 2 Neo Nectar unit, then I can Call it on the field!" Rika said as she checked the top card of the Deck.

[Corolla Dragon – 8000 Power]

"It's Corolla Dragon, so I Superior Call it to the Rear Guard!" Rika said, calling the said card on the field.

Soon, the said unit appeared on the Rear Guard behind the enormous Spiritual Tree Sage, ready to support its friends. [Corolla Dragon – 8000 Power]

"With a boost from Corolla Dragon, Irminsul attacks your Vanguard!" Rika declared, turning her Rear Guards sideways.

"No guard." Ami said.

Absorbing the natural power of the Corolla Dragon, Irminsul's fingers grew and sprung toward the Dark Cat and caught its legs, lifting it up in the air and then throwing it down hard onto the battlefield. [7000 Power + 8000 Power = 15000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Ami said, checking the top card of her Deck as it glowed red.

[Damage Check – Dream Eater – Draw Trigger]

"Draw Trigger! I give the +5000 Power to Dark Cat and I draw a card." Ami said, drawing her next card and increasing her Hand to five.

Despite being damaged, Dark Cat rose up with renewed vigor. [7000 Power + 5000 Power = 12000 Power]

"With a boost from Lily Knight of the Valley, Iris Knight attacks your Vanguard! Also, due to Lily Knight's ability, as he boosts, he gives Iris Knight +4000 Power!" Rika said, turning her Vanguard and Rear Guard sideways.

"No guard."

"Drive Trigger, check." Rika said, turning the card over and it glowed blue.

[Drive Check – Watering Elf – Stand Trigger]

"Stand Trigger! I stand up Irminsul and it give +5000 Power to him as well!"

As Irminsul stood back up and gained more power from the Stand Trigger [7000 Power + 5000 Power = 12000 Power], Rika's form of Iris Knight, boosted by the Lily Knight of the Valley, ran through the field and gave a fierce slash on the Dark Cat, blowing it back a few feet. [10000 Power + 6000 Power + 4000 Power = 20000 Power]

"Damage trigger, check." Ami said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check – Luck Bird – No Trigger]

"Now, Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul attacks your Vanguard again!" Rika shouted.

"Nuh–uh. Guarding with Emergency Alarmer." Ami countered.

As Irminsul, empowered by the Stand Trigger, launched a second attack on Dark Cat again [12000 Power], a small robot with emergency red lights on its head and arms and a design like an alarm clock with a black clock–like face appeared, taking the brunt of the attack as it was crushed before disappearing into motes. [12000 Power + 10000 Shield = 22000 Power]

"Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…!" Rika puffed her cheek in frustration. "I end my turn…" She grumbled.

Rika
Hand:
4
Back Row: Corolla Dragon/Lily Knight of the Valley/Empty
Front Row:Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul/Iris Knight/Glass Beads Dragon
Damage: Maiden of Blossom Rain (U), Chestnut Bullet (U)

Ami
Hand:
4
Front Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat/Empty
Back Row: Lozenge Magus/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Empty
Damage: Dream Eater (U) Luck Bird (U)

"Well, you win some, you lose some. In this case, you lose some." Ami said as she drew her next card, increasing her Hand to five. "I Ride Oracle Guardian, Red Eye!"

In the Vanguard position, the Dark Cat soon changed into a white jackal statue,with red sigils on its body and wearing a necklace of blue prayer beads and a red cloth, sitting on top of a platform. [Oracle Guardian, Red Eye – 9000 Power]

"I Call Sword Dancer Angel and another Dark Cat!" Ami continued, placing the Rear Guards on the Rear Guard position.

On the field, next to Red Eye, appeared an angel with long orange hair in a blue dress, white wings, and holding a golden sword in her hand and another dark mechanical cat. [Sword Dancer Angel – 8000 Power] [Dark Cat – 7000 Power]

"Thanks to Dark Cat, we can both draw a card again." Ami smiled smugly as she and Rika both drew a card. "And thanks to that, Sword Dancer Angel gains +1000 Power until the end of the turn, so there."

Sword Dancer Angel gained more of an orange aura as she powered up. [8000 Power + 1000 Power = 9000 Power]

"With a boost from Dark Cat, Sword Dancer Angel attacks your Vanguard!" Ami said, turning her Rear Guards sideways.

"No guard." Rika grumbled.

Gaining power from the Dark Cat, Sword Dancer Angel flew in and gave the Iris Knight an overhead slash, ending the attack with an outstanding smash. [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Rika said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check – Colossal Wings, Simurgh – No Trigger]

"Now, with a boost from Oracle Guardian, Gemini, my Red Eye lights it up and attacks your Vanguard!" Ami smiled.

"Guard! Watering Elf!" Rika smirked.

"Grr… Whatevs. Drive Trigger, check." Ami said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Drive Check – Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime – No Trigger]

Gaining power from the Oracle Guardian, Gemini, Red Eye gave a howl before small blue fireballs formed around its tail to launch it at Iris Knight [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power], the small elf with her watering can splashed water from her can to extinguish some of the fireballs, but the rest of the fireballs hit the Watering Elf, taking her out. [10000 Power + 10000 Shield = 20000 Power]

"Alright, then. Oracle Guardian, Gemini, boosted by Lozenge Magus attacks your Vanguard! Plus, she gives an extra +3000 to add to that one!"

"No guard!" Rika said.

Gaining power from Lozenge Magus, plus some more, Gemini fired another dual blast from its eyes onto Iris Knight, blasting him back a few feet. [8000 Power + 3000 Power + 3000 Power = 14000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check."

[Damage Check – Sweet Honey – Heal Trigger]

"Finally, Heal Trigger! Though the power increase will be useless, so don't remind me. I Heal one point of Damage." Rika said as she placed her first card in the Drop Zone.

"Tch… I end my turn." Ami scoffed. "And Lozenge returns to the Deck,"

Rika
Hand:
4
Back Row: Corolla Dragon/Lily Knight of the Valley/Empty
Front Row:Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul/Iris Knight/Glass Beads Dragon
Damage: Chestnut Bullet (U), Colossal Wings, Simurgh (U), Sweet Honey (U)

Ami
Hand:
4
Front Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Oracle Guardian, Red Eye/Sword Dancer Angel
Back Row: Empty/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat
Damage: Dream Eater (U) Luck Bird (U)

"And with the fourth turn done, it's now Rika's turn! Ami is leading by one Damage, but that can change at any moment!" MC Mya announced.

"So far, it's going left to right with these two. It's hard to see who could win this." Kurogasa said.

"That's the thing with girls and catfights: you could never tell who could win it all and I know with a lot of girls fighting over me." Koji said confidently.

"You know, Koji, with you, they break the mold." Kurogasa deadpanned with Kyoshiro chuckling a bit.

"Well, gender aside, hopefully Rika can change the favor to ours." Kyoshiro looked to the field again.

Back to the Vanguard field, Rika sighed before drawing her next hand, increasing her Hand to four. "Now I'll show you that I'm not so easily overlooked!" She then raised her card in the air and chanted.

"Blooming in the wake of battle, your grace will ensure me victory! Ride! Maiden of Trailing Rose!"

Taking the place of Iris Knight, was the young and beautiful woman with violet hair, curled into six long pigtails, with a small bouquet of roses and leaves on her head, wearing a dress of white and green leaves with pink flower petals growing in the bottom of the dress and white gloves. [Maiden of Trailing Rose – 11000 Power]

"Call! Caramel Popcorn!"

Appearing behind Glass Beads Dragon was the large cob of corn with some popcorn sticking out of its back and had a female face. [Caramel Popcorn – 7000 Power]

"With a boost from Corolla Dragon, Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul attacks your Vanguard!" Rika said, turning her Rear Guards sideways.

"No guard." Ami said.

Irminsul, boosted by Corolla Dragon, quickly sprung its large branch like arms at Red Eye and grabbed it in his hands, gripping it and trying to crush it. [7000 Power + 8000 Power = 15000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Ami said revealing the top card.

[Damage Check – Oracle Guardian, Blue Eye – No Trigger]

"With a boost from Caramel Popcorn, Glass Beads Dragon attacks your Vanguard!" Rika said next.

"No guard." Ami said again.

Gaining power from Caramel Popcorn, Glass Beads Dragon's wings gleamed as it reflected light from his wings and fired a pinpointed blast at multiple beams of light, which struck Red Eye and blinded him a few times. [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Ami said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check White Hare of Inaba – No Trigger]

"Boosted by Lily Knight of the Valley, Maiden of Trailing Rose attacks your Vanguard!" Rika said, turning the two cards sideways.

"Sorry, honey, but I Guard with Dream Eater and Weather Girl, Milk!" Ami said, placing the cards in the Guardian Circle.

"Grrr… Twin Drive, check." Rika said, checking the top cards of her Deck.

[Drive Check – Maiden of Blossom Rain – No Trigger]

[Drive Check – Dancing Sunflower – Draw Trigger]

"Draw Trigger! The +5000 Power goes to Maiden of the Trailing Rose!" Rika smiled.

"Oh, man!" Ami said, surprised.

As the fairy like unit and petite black elephant appeared to protect the Oracle Think Tank Vanguard [9000 Power + 5000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 19000 Power], Maiden of Trailing Rose, boosted by Lily Knight, gained extra power from the Draw Trigger, used her thorn-like whips to quickly defeat the guardians, followed by a swift kick to the Oracle Guardian. [10000 Power + 6000 Power + 5000 Power = 21000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Ami gritted.

[Damage Check – Meteor Break Wizard – No Trigger]

"And I'll end my turn there." Rika grinned.

Rika
Hand:
5
Back Row: Corolla Dragon/Lily Knight of the Valley/Caramel Popcorn
Front Row:Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul/Maiden of Trailing Rose/Glass Beads Dragon
Damage: Chestnut Bullet (U), Colossal Wings, Simurgh (U), Sweet Honey (U)

Ami
Hand:
4
Front Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Oracle Guardian, Red Eye/Sword Dancer Angel
Back Row: Empty/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat
Damage: Dream Eater (U), Luck Bird (U), Oracle Guardian, Blue Eye (U), White Hare of Inaba (U), Meteor Break Wizard (U)

"And look at that, Rika has now taken the lead by two! Ami on the other hand is up against the wall! How will she counter?!" MC Mya announced.

"Okay, you wannabe winner, I'm ending this right now." Ami scowled.

"You sure about that?" Rika said, confidently.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"What I mean is that I'm fighting for my team to make it to the finals and win the Regionals to make to the Nationals and becoming champions of the Vanguard world! I'm not letting someone as presumptuous as you to beat me now, you got me?" Rika said.

"Come on, Rika! You can do this!" Kurogasa cheered.

"Show them how you dance soul sistah!" Koji added.

"Give them all you got, Rika!" Kyoshiro cheered.

Rika looked back to her team, cheering her on. "You see, my team's cheering me on to win, and I'm not going to let them down."

"Well, you may let them down on that," Ami said said as she drew her next card to make her hand increase to five. "Because at the end of the day, you're just nothing but an amateur who knows nothing!"

Rika smirked. "Now, I know I'm going to win, because you're still underestimating me and for those who underestimate their opponents always fail."

"Shut up!" Ami shouted before she raised a card in the air.

"Bloom in true magnificence and show these peons your divinity and eternal beauty! Ride! Goddess of Flower Divination, Sakuya!

On the field, Red Eye was enveloped in a flurry of blossom petals and a pink pillar of light as a beautiful woman with long brown hair and wearing a pink haori with a light pink dress worn underneath and a blue sash tied around her waist with cherry blossom petals fluttering around her. [Goddess of Flower Divination, Sakuya – 10000 Power]

"That's not good…" Kyoshiro frowned.

"What's wrong Dad?" Kurogasa asked.

"Her Vanguard… Sakuya allows her to return all cards on her field back to her hand." Kyoshiro explained.

"And that's dangerous how Coach?" Koji raised an eyebrow.

"Well, just watch and you'll know what I mean." Kyoshiro said as he and the others turned back to the fight.

"Sakuya's skill activates! When she's the Vanguard, I return all the cards on my Field to my Hand!" Ami said as she returned the said cards.

"And what are you trying to do? Retreat?" Rika said.

"Ye of little mind. What I'm doing is this! Call! My Geminis! Sword Dancer Angel! Dark Cat! And Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime!"

Soon, all the units that Sakuya banished off the field appeared back on the field with a new female warrior with long blue hair tied in a ponytail while wearing a miko outfit and carries a naginata as her choice of weaponry. [Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime – 9000 Power]

"Wait! Now, I see it! With Dark Cat called back onto the field, she can draw another card, not to mention, she can easily organize her field without retiring any of her units!" Kurogasa gasped.

"Yes, Rika may be in trouble here." Kyoshiro agreed.

"Dark Cat's skill. Both of us draw a card." Ami said, and she and Rika drew. "Plus, with an extra card drawn, Sword Dancer Angel gain +1000 Power!"

Sword Dancer Angel glowed another orange aura as she gained power. [8000 Power + 1000 Power = 9000 Power]

"With a boost from Dark Cat, Sword Dancer Angel attacks your Vanguard!" Ami declared, turning her Rear Guard sideways.

"No guard." Rika announced.

Gaining power from the Dark Cat, Sword Dancer Angel flew over and gave the Maiden of Trailing Rose a powerful slash from her golden sword. [9000 Power + 7000 Power = 16000 Power]

"Damage Trigger, check." Rika said, checking the top card of her Deck.

[Damage Check – Avatar of the Plains, Behemoth – No Trigger]

"With a boost from Oracle Guardian, Gemini, Sakuya attacks your Vanguard!" Ami shouted. "And since I have four cards in my hand, Sakuya gains +4000 Power!"

"No way! I Perfect Guard with Maiden of Blossom Rain!" Rika countered. "By ditching a card, your attack is all but wilted!" She said, discarding her card.

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Fine, Twin Drive, check!" Ami roared, nearly ripping off the top two cards of her Deck.

[Drive Check – Sword Dancer Angel – No Trigger]

[Drive Check – Oracle Guardian, Nike – Critical Trigger]

"HA! Critical Trigger! All effects will go to Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime!" Ami boasted.

Sakuya, absorbing power from Gemini, released a storm of beautiful cherry blossom petals, about to slice into the Maiden of Trailing Rose [10000 Power + 8000 Power + 4000 Power = 22000 Power], but the Maiden of Blossom Rain appeared in front of her friend and blocked the storm with her own flurry of red blossom petals, which negated the attack completely. [Maiden of Blossom Rain – Shield: 0]

"NOW, TAGITSUHIME! WITH A BOOST FROM GEMINI, TAKE THIS WANNABE DOWN!" Ami shouted in anger, turning the Rear Guards sideways.

"I Guard with Chestnut Bullet and Intercept with Glass Beads Dragon!" Rika said, placing the cards in the Guardian Circle.

"NO!"

Tagitsuhime, after being boosted by the other Gemini and gaining power from the Critical Trigger, leapt up and was about to slash the Maiden with her naginata [9000 Power + 8000 Power + 5000 Power = 22000 Power/Critical: 1–2], but the Chestnut Bullet and Glass Beads Dragon appeared and intercepted the attack. [10000 Power + 10000 Shield + 5000 Shield = 25000 Power]

"DARN IT! I end my turn!" Ami growled.

Rika
Hand:
3
Back Row: Corolla Dragon/Lily Knight of the Valley/Caramel Popcorn
Front Row:Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul/Maiden of Trailing Rose/Empty
Damage: Chestnut Bullet (U), Colossal Wings, Simurgh (U), Sweet Honey (U), Avatar of the Plains Behemoth (U)

Ami
Hand:
6
Front Row: Sword Dancer Angel/Goddess of Flower Divination, Sakuya/Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime
Back Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat
Damage: Dream Eater (U), Luck Bird (U), Oracle Guardian, Blue Eye (U), White Hare of Inaba (U), Meteor Break Wizard (U)

"What do you know? Even with Sakuya, Ami wasn't able to end the fight right there and then! Will Rika be able to win the first fight for her team?" MC Mya announced.

"Time for me to end this fight! I Stand and Draw!" Rika said as she drew her next card, increasing her Hand to 4. "I Call Iris Knight!"

Another purple petaled warrior with his flowery blade as his arm appeared with the readiness to battle. [Iris Knight – 10000 Power]

"Calling another unit like that will get you the win, you amateur!" Ami yelled.

"You think? Let's see if that's true. With a boost from Corolla Dragon, Irminsul attacks your Vanguard!" Rika said, turning her cards sideways.

"Nike will Guard!" Ami said.

As Irminsul, boosted by the Corolla Dragon, was about to strike again with his branch like arms again, the mechanical statue of a winged angel with detached arms appeared to intercept the attack, weakening the assault. [7000 Power + 8000 Power = 15000 Power]

"Now, with a boost from Lily Knight of the Valley, the Maiden of Trailing Rose attacks your Vanguard!" Rika said, turning her Vanguard and Rear Guard sideways.

"You're not the only one with a Perfect Guard! Battle Sister, Chocolat!" Ami smirked, discarding Luck Bird to activate its ability.

"Twin Drive, check!"

[Drive Check – Chestnut Bullet – Critical Trigger]

[Drive Check – Chestnut Bullet – Critical Trigger]

"Double Critical!" Rika shouted. "All effects will go to Iris Knight!"

"UWHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOA!" the crowd said in awe.

As the Maiden of Trailing Rose was about to launch her thorn like whips at Sakuya, ending the fight [11000 Power + 6000 Power = 17000 Power], but the timid Battle Sister with a machine gun in her hands fired uncontrollably as she tried to hold it on, but the flurry of bullets shot off the thorns from the target, completely stopping the attack. [Battle Sister, Chocolat – Shield: 0]

"Now, the Last Entree for you, you jerk! Boosted by Caramel Popcorn, Iris Knight finally attacks and lands the final strike on your Vanguard!" Rika said, turning her cards sideways.

Ami only had one card, Oracle Guardian, Wiseman, and even with Sword Dancer Angel and Tagitsuhime, she wasn't going to be able to stop this attack. She only grumbled as she did nothing, declaring that she wasn't going to guard.

Boosted by Caramel Popcorn and both Critical Triggers, Iris Knight gave a final war cry before finally running through the battlefield with his sword glowing from the Critical Triggers, leaping up and delivering the final blow onto Sakuya as she screamed in pain from the final attack [10000 Power + 7000 Power + 5000 Power + 5000 Power = 27000 Power/Critical: 1–3]

[Damage Check – Goddess of Flower Divination, Sakuya – No Trigger]

FINAL RESULTS:

Rika
Hand:
5
Back Row: Corolla Dragon/Lily Knight of the Valley/Caramel Popcorn
Front Row:Spiritual Tree Sage, Irminsul/Maiden of Trailing Rose/Iris Knight
Damage: Chestnut Bullet (U), Colossal Wings, Simurgh (U), Sweet Honey (U), Avatar of the Plains Behemoth (U)

Ami
Hand:
3
Front Row: Sword Dancer Angel/Goddess of Flower Divination, Sakuya/Battle Maiden, Tagitsuhime
Back Row: Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Oracle Guardian, Gemini/Dark Cat
Damage: Dream Eater (U), Luck Bird (U), Oracle Guardian, Blue Eye (U), White Hare of Inaba (U), Meteor Break Wizard (U), Goddess of Divination, Sakuya (U)


"The winner! Team NJS! Rika Ryusaki!" the referee announced.

"OH YEAH!" Rika yelled as Ami growled, taking her deck and cards off the Vanguard table and walked off with a growl. Rika looked and just shrugged as she went back to her team.

"Alright, Rika, you rocked it!" Kurogasa smiled.

"Yeah, my soul sistah, you showed that jive-turkey what the Ryusakis' got." Koji praised.

"It was a great match and an amazing first win for our team, Rika." Kyoshiro added.

"Thanks, guys. And now…" Rika said, looking to Team Tri–Delta, choosing their next fighter. "Our next opponent is up now."

"Don't worry." Kurogasa said, walking forward. "I'll go next and make it 2–0."

"Alright, aibou!" Koji cheered. "You win this!"

"Yeah, Kuro! Give it everything you got!"

Kurogasa gave a thumbs–up and smiled. "Don't worry, I will. For the win!"


Fenikkusumaru: WOHOO! That does it! Rika got the first win!

BlasterDragonoid: Yeah, sweet fight, but that Ami has a bad attitude, totally incompatible with Oracle Think Tank. Maybe Spike Brothers would be a better fit. She's more of a fit with that than them.

Fenikkusumaru: Yeah, I don't know what her problem is…

BlasterDragonoid: Well, I'm happy that Rika showed her up. Heaven knows she reminds of a certain girl who likes to tease certain others related to a Pro cardfighter, but I digress.

Fenikkusumaru: So what's next Blaster?

BlasterDragonoid: The second round of course, with Kurogasa versus Rock Makiyama!

Fenikkusumaru: Right, silly me. ^^ Anyways, don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and Review!

Both: STAND UP, VANGUARD!