Chapter 13
5 years ago.
The roaring waves of the ocean echoed in her ears as she stood watching it crashing down the shoreline. She sighed. "What have I gotten myself into?" she said to herself, tucking a loose lock of blue hair behind her ear. Do normal children her age have to go through this much stress?
"Asaka," his voice called her name, and her heart fluttered. She turned and watched Ren approach her with his trademark smile.
Her face lit up. "Hi," she said sheepishly.
Ren stood beside her and stared at the horizon. "It looks really nice out here. I'm glad we decided to train on this spot."
The beach was a strange spot to choose for training, but she always trusted Ren's decision. Surely enough, Foo Fighters' drills for the past few days had been a success.
Ren turned to her. "Hey, Asaka," he said, "you agree too, right?"
She nodded her head vigorously. "Of course, Ren! I'm sure the other Foo Fighters think so as well. You are a great leader."
He tilted his head to the side. "Then, why are you sad?"
Asaka stared at him for a moment. "Sad?" she repeated. She shook her head. "I'm sorry I troubled you, Ren. Please don't worry for me. There are more important things on your plate right now."
Ren pouted. "You didn't answer my question."
It took some time for her to answer. "I've been trying, Ren," she admitted, "to be by your side, to be with you at the top. But it's tough to start at the bottom."
Ren gave her a friendly smile. "Everyone starts somewhere, Asaka. We invited you to be part of Foo Fighters for a reason."
Asaka let out a short laugh. "Thank you, Ren. That means a lot, coming from you."
Ren looked on and noticed her sad smile. He took her by the hand. Asaka's cheeks flushed lightly. "Let's stop this for now," he said, dragging her behind him as he dashed to the sandy beach. When he stopped, he looked down and saw the waves tumbling into the sand he stood on.
Asaka shrieked as she avoided the water, but Ren laughed. "It's only water, silly Asaka," he said, "it won't hurt you." He knelt down and picked up a seashell from the sand. "Let's play a game. We'll hunt for the best looking seashell on the beach." He held up the white shell for her to see. "You can find a pretty one, right Asaka?"
Asaka took the white shell from Ren. She nodded her head with a fresh fierceness in her face. "Yes, I won't let you down, Ren!" she declared.
Present.
Ren and Aichi approached Card Capital with an airy caution.
"Aichi," Ren said, "it's going to be dangerous from here on out."
The seriousness on Aichi's face did not falter. "I know," he admitted, "But I need to save Emi."
Ren took the pocket knife from his pocket and pulled out a blade. "Let's go."
The two of them stepped inside the shop. Aichi took out his flashlight and switched it on. The two cardfighters stepped into the hallway at the back of the shop. There was a sound of glass breaking from the right. The two of them turned sharply. Aichi could see shadows on the wall growing larger.
"Someone's coming," he whispered. Before Ren could respond, a group of Reversed fighters turned from the rightmost corner of the hallway. Ren faced them. "Go on ahead," he said, "I'll take care of this."
Aichi stared at him in shock. "Ren, they're not here for a card fight. These people are going to kill you!"
"Just go, Aichi!" Ren exclaimed.
Hesitantly, Aichi nodded his head and hurried off.
Ren took out the Taser from his satchel. The Reversed fighters approached him dully, each with a weapon of their own. He Tased one of them and the fighter fell. Ren ran and hid behind a wall. He stared at the knife he held in his hand. There were too many of them; it wasn't enough. Ren opened the satchel. He sighed frustratingly and grabbed the Lysol can, frantically pulling out the lighter from his pocket.
A Reversed entered the shop and raised his knife in an attempt to stab him, but Ren moved away before he can.
Ren flicked the lighter and a small fire sprouted. He uncapped the Lysol can and placed the spray against the flame. "Listen, I don't want to kill you," he said, "So please don't make me do it."
The other Reversed came into the room. "Master Void needs you dead," one of them said, "and we shall do what he asks of us." With that, the hoard of Reversed fighters dashed toward him with knives ready.
Ren pressed on the can, but it blurted a few sprits of gurgling liquid. "Uh-oh," he said. Ren grabbed a chair from beside him in time to block a number of their attacks. He pushed forward and a few of them fell over. Ren dropped the chair and ran, purposefully topping over tables and chairs as he did. He saw a knife zip past him just a few inches away from his face.
Ren tested the can in his hand, spraying it a few times. "C'mon, c'mon!" he grumbled, until finally the can unleashed a jet of fragrant lavender. "Yes!" he exclaimed, flicking the lighter with his other hand. He turned around and sprayed against the flame. A huge flare shot out at the Reversed. Each of them yelled out in agony as the fire consumed them.
Blaster Dark swung his sword swiftly at his foe. The platinum Cyberoid in front of him let loose a metallic shrill. Blaster Dark's sword left a clean-cut slice on her body. The lady gunner's top torso slid down slowly from her lower torso and she fell to the ground. Blaster Dark looked behind him. Blaster Blade had just cut off the head of what looked like a member of the Star-vaders. The Gold Paladin knight stood from his fighting stance.
"Everyone okay?" he scanned the area and saw the Liberator and Revenger knights panting from their own fights against the Link Joker army. Gancelot waved his sword after his adversary fell in front of him. His golden armor was tainted in silvery blood. "We're all clear," he said. Beside him, Alfred maintained his fighting stance. "Mordred, is everything under control on your side?"
On the other corner, Mordred, Rugos and Tartu had their swords ready, guarding each other's sides as they stood with their backs facing one another's. "All enemies are down," Mordred announced.
Blaster Blade smiled triumphantly. "Perfect. Ready, Blaster Dark?"
The dark knight beside him smirked. "As I've always been." The two of them dashed into the Fukuhara building, slicing through any adversary that got on their way. Their team tailed behind them. The knights of gold and dark ambushed the Link Jokers in the room.
"Blade!" Alfred cried out, "We'll take it from here."
Blaster Blade's sword swiped through a Star-Vader's torso and it fell with a shrill cry. He turned to Blaster Dark and the two nodded. Without another word, the knights ran up the building while the other Liberators and Revengers fought against any enemy who would attack them.
Blaster Blade furrowed his eyebrows as a strange sensation wafted in him. Blaster Dark glanced at him.
"What's wrong?" the dark knight said.
Blaster Blade placed his hand above his heart. "This feeling," he said, "There's a rush of tension, with a hint of courage and fear."
"That would be the adrenalin," Blaster Dark said as-a-matter-of-factly, "Now get a grip and let's go. We're wasting time."
"No," Blaster Blade said sternly, "I never feel this way. This feeling isn't mine." The moment of realization hit him like a freight train, and he turned to Blaster Dark with the look of pure terror.
Blaster Dark's expression hardened. "No," he growled, "I told them to stay out of it. They can't possibly be!"
Blaster Blade's grip on his sword tightened. "We need to hurry. Before our links cause us to fall."
Aichi slid open a door and saw Emi seated in the middle of the room, with her back turned to him.
"Emi!" Aichi exclaimed, running towards her. "Emi, are you alright?" she turned to him. The look on her face tinged Aichi with fear.
"I'm alright, Aichi," she said, "but the real question is, will you be?" red marks under her eyes shone bright, and his heart sank.
Aichi heard the door behind him close. He turned sharply.
A low, confident chuckle came out of her as Luquier approached him. Aichi scrambled to his feet, but Emi held him down.
"Hello boy," Luquier greeted as she pulled out a knife, "I'll enjoy playing with you for a little while."
Luquier knelt down to level with him. "Now tell me," she crooned, "Where are the rest of the links?"
Aichi glared at her, despite his increasing anxiety. Luquier cocked her head to the side. "How brave," she said, "perhaps a little coaxing would get us somewhere."
Emi grabbed Aichi's right arm and pushed his sleeve back. Luquier placed her knife on his flesh and sliced tenderly through.
"Aagh!" Blaster Blade hissed, dropping his sword on the marble floor.
Blaster Dark turned to him. "Blade!" he called, "What happened?"
Blaster Blade clutched on his right arm while he stared at it in panic. "It's Aichi," he said, "He's being tortured!"
"That insolent boy," Blaster Dark grumbled, taking Blaster Blade's sword from the ground. "Can you swing with your left hand?"
The Liberator knight gave him an exasperated look. "You're kidding."
Blaster Dark sighed frustratingly. "Fine. I'll do this myself." He turned his heel and stepped forward, but Blaster Blade grabbed him by his red cape.
"Now you're definitely kidding," Blaster Blade said, "We need to stay together. We cannot afford to be reckless. We must retreat. Our new mission is to find our links and—"
Blaster Dark felt his rival's grip slipping. He looked and saw that he was down on his knees, clutching his stomach in despair. "Ugh," he winced, "Dark, I… I don't think I can go on."
"Damn it, Blade!" Blaster Dark snapped, helping the Liberator knight up. "Can't your link fight?"
"Shut up," Blaster Blade growled, "We must retreat…" he hissed again, looking down at what he thought was an open wound on his stomach.
Luquier removed her knife from Aichi's abdomen the second time. The blood oozed out of him profusely. "Your yelling will get you nowhere. Now answer me boy, before I finish you off," Luquier warned, "Where. Are. The other. Links?"
Cold sweat dripped from Aichi's face, but he turned away from the dragon tamer. Luquier grinned. "Very well then," she said, raising her knife up.
A surge of electrical current coursed through the dragon tamer's body and it shuddered violently. Luquier fell to the ground. Ren stepped forward. Emi glared at him.
"Stay back!" she exclaimed. Ren rammed his hand onto Emi's shoulder, and the Bermuda Triangle fighter collapsed. He opened the first aid kit from his satchel and wrapped a bandage around Aichi's stab wound.
"Thank you, Ren," Aichi muttered, slowly losing consciousness from the overwhelming pain.
"Hey, keep your eyes on me. Eyes on me." Ren said, but Aichi's eyes were about to close. "Aichi!" Ren exclaimed. He placed the boy's arm around his shoulder and helped him to stand. "You're going to be fine," he reassured, "C'mon Aichi."
Ren struggled with the boy as they reached toward the end of the hallway, finally making it toward the main shop. Ren brushed off his sweat.
A small female giggle echoed from across the room. "You truly are the great Suzugamori Ren."
Ren's heart dropped. "Asaka," he uttered in breathless whisper.
"Ren," she said. Her eyes glinted at the sight of him. "That shock you gave Luquier… it really did her in, you know?" her body was visibly shaking as she stood. "She… is probably still struggling back there. I know I am." She took out a gun from the side of her skirt and pointed it at her long-time obsession.
5 years ago.
The young Asaka smiled as she brushed off the last few traces of sand left in the light peach seashell she had found yesterday. She placed the N in the seashell with her calligraphy to finish up his name. I hope he likes it, she thought. The vision of his face lighting up with glee was all it took to make her heart race.
Asaka proceeded to the Foo Fighter practice room. She spotted Ren in the horizon. Asaka couldn't see his face with the headgear on his head, but she knew it was him. Ren was battling an orange-haired Foo Fighter member—Kiriya, and was on the brink of delivering the other Pale Moon player his sixth damage. Ren switched his card from the upright position to the horizontal position.
"Darkness Maiden, Macha attacks the vanguard, with Charon boosting her from behind." His voice was eerily calm and a little cocky, but Asaka shrugged it off. He had the right to be this confident anyway.
Kiriya received his 6th damage and the two players removed their headgears. The expression on Ren's face startled Asaka. It was nothing she had ever seen from him before. There was malice hidden in that wicked smile.
"You lost," he said sternly, "you are too weak, Bidou. Get out of my sight."
Asaka pursed her lips. Perhaps he was only having a bad day. Kiriya Bidou, Ren's opponent, bowed his head for him. "I apologize, Ren. I will get stronger." His voice had a hint of fear in it. The orange-haired Foo Fighter stood and left, too ashamed to even greet her as they passed each other.
She stared at Ren, who was shutting off the training equipment in front of him. Cautiously, Asaka approached him.
"E-erm, hi Ren," she said, "I got you something."
He turned to her, and she saw—those hollow eyes that had not an ounce of warmth in them. "Oh, Asaka," he greeted, "good news, I hope."
Her heart was beating fast, but it was out of fear. She brought out her hand to reveal to him the seashell she had been working on. "I made this for you," she piped up.
He kept that calm smile on his face as he took the shell from her. "A seashell?" he said, "is this what you've been doing all this time?"
Asaka gulped. "I thought it would be a great way to thank you. You made me happy yesterday."
Ren chuckled, and this eased Asaka a little. "Asaka," he began, "I understand now."
She brightened up. "You do?"
Ren nodded. "This is the reason why you're weak."
The hope he had implanted in her from before had vanished in an instant, and her heart sank. Ren continued, "Instead of training, you put your time and effort in something as insignificant as a seashell," he dropped the seashell on the floor and raised his right foot above it. Asaka gasped. Ren stomped on the seashell, and she felt her heart shatter.
"If you wish to impress me, be stronger," he said.
Tears were forming on her eyes which also blurred her vision. "I-I'm sorry, Ren," she said.
"Leave," he replied. Asaka gritted her teeth, but she turned and walked away, letting her tears finally fall.
Present.
"Asaka, listen to me," Ren began, "You need to put that gun down."
"WHY?" she yelled, "So you can step on me again? Because that's all you've ever done, Ren! I'm never good enough for you."
The pain in her heart was resurfacing, and it made Ren feel more hurt than he was before. Had he been treating her so bad that she would feel this way? Had he been neglecting their bond that much?
"I care for you, Asaka," Ren stated, "I'm sorry I never showed you, but I do."
Asaka stood her ground. "You lie," she mumbled, "all you ever cared about is yourself."
Ren frowned. He placed his hand on his suit pocket to pull something out. Asaka aimed at the floor and pulled the trigger, and Ren jumped.
"That was a warning shot," Asaka said.
Ren brought his hand up. "It's not a weapon, Asaka," he presented what he had taken—a light peach colored seashell resting at the palm of his hand. "Do you remember this?"
The Pale Moon wielder looked on. "My seashell, you pieced it back," she realized, her threatening stance slowly waning.
"Yes," Ren admitted, "My actions during the time I was controlled by psyqualia were ones I truly regret. I saw those pieces on the ground on the few instances I was myself that day, so I gathered it up and fixed it. I kept this with me all these years, because I've always admired you, Asaka."
Slowly, Ren stepped closer toward her. Asaka gasped.
"Don't come any closer!" she exclaimed. But with every stride left unscathed, Ren felt all the more confident to approach. Asaka grew frantic at every passing step. She held her breath when Ren was finally a few inches away, with her gun pointing directly at his torso. The tension between them was burning on her skin.
"Let's stop this for now," he said. She felt his warm hand hold hers, casually switching the gun with the seashell he held. "This is my promise," he murmured, "that I will come back for you."
Asaka's expression hardened. "Come on," she muttered, "You shouldn't worry for me. There are more important things on your plate right now."
Ren chuckled. He caressed her hair gently. "Even as a Reverse, you still underestimate how much you mean to me."
Her heart fluttered. She longed for this moment, to be at his embrace, but she knew it had to be cut short. "Luquier has probably fully recovered by now," she said, "You need to go."
Ren smiled. "Thank you," he murmured, leaving her again with another unrequited moment.
The doors to Void's room burst open. The twins Jillian and Sharlene stood before her with equally dull eyes.
"Master Void," Sharlene began, "The Liberators and Revengers have infiltrated the building. Most of our allies have been killed."
Void stood from her seat. "Is that so?" she said, "Where are they now?"
"They've all retreated, Master," Jillian explained, "They left the building, but most of our troupes are gone."
Void signaled her to stop. "Alright. I don't need to hear more. Leave."
Jillian and Sharlene bowed before her and proceeded to exit the room. When she was alone, Void stormed angrily at the mirror on the side of the room.
"This wasn't part of the future I saw," she grumbled at her reflection. She took out the small mirror beneath her robe and stared at it intently. Gradually, she was able to hear faint voices, then afterwards see a few gray shadows. Eventually the shadows formed a much clearer picture, and the voices grew louder.
A foggy vision of Amaterasu with a sinister smile stood before an array of lifeless bodies on the ground, all of which she knew belonged to various links and rebel soldiers. One soldier, a bloodied Blaster Dark, struggled to stand. Without another thought, the sinister Amaterasu grabbed a sword on the ground and finished him off with a harsh stab. Void grinned. This was the future she longed for. It still remained intact, despite the unpredicted ambush.
Suddenly, the vision shrunk, seemingly moving away from her. Another foggy scene appeared before her eyes, this time with Blaster Blade and Blaster Dark standing before her struggling body. The two knights looked at each other and nodded. Blaster Blade raised his sword and stabbed Void on the stomach.
Void flinched. What was that just now? The vision shrunk again, just like the first one, and moved aside. Another future appeared before his eyes. Then another, and another. As Void watched through them, the visions sped through, faster and faster until it was too much for Void to bear.
"Aargh!" Void yelled, flinging the mirror at her chair. The visions disappeared and her eyes reverted back to hazel. "Ama… terasu…" Void murmured, panting heavily. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face. There were numerous visions. Hundreds of possible futures. Which one was the future she would face?
"How... can you possibly… understand these wretched nightmares?" Void growled at her reflection.
The reflection sighed without Void doing so. "The gift to see what is yet to come is a burden," Amaterasu said solemnly, "With every great gift comes a price you must pay," Void gritted her teeth, as Amaterasu continued, "In this case, you are doomed to understand how to decipher the different paths of the future."
Void clenched her fists. "Tell me what the real future is!" she demanded, "Or I will kill a member of your clan every time you refuse me."
Amaterasu looked at Void, a shadow of herself with a more malicious expression. "Very well," she said. In an instant, an array of over a thousand futures appeared before her, each conjured in a small bright orb. Void looked at them closely and saw that each orb displayed an event of what is yet to come. Void grinned, waiting for Amaterasu to say something, but she did not respond.
"Well?" Void grumbled, "Which one is it?"
"You are looking at them," Amaterasu admitted, "the truth is, Void, all these futures are the real futures. Each of these could happen within the course of your reign."
"What?" Void exclaimed. She examined some of the orbs. Everything had a different outcome. While one orb displayed her rule, the other displayed her defeat. And the orbs went on. Void glared at Amaterasu. "Enough of your games, Sun Goddess!"
"This is not a game," Amaterasu said sternly, "There are still countless decisions to be made, hundreds of beings choosing their own little futures. Depending on their decision and yours, orbs of impossible futures will disappear, while the rest of them still remain. So, until then, you have both won and lost this battle."
Void growled. "You foolish Noble! You cannot hide anything from me! I am you!"
Amaterasu retained her calm. "Void," she said, "The only information I have left for you is this: Out of the thousand futures, there are more of which you have lost. So I suggest you marvel at the futures that you want to happen, because as time approaches closer to the end, the orbs you seek will all disappear."
"Argh!" Void bellowed, emitting a harsh dark pulse. The objects surrounding her shot out. A chair collided with her reflection and the tall mirror shattered into tiny pieces. Void approached the shards slowly, looking at the thousand jagged reflections on the floor.
"My future will be whatever I want it to be," she stated, "and no one, not even you, Amaterasu, with all your powers of foresight, can stop me."