Previously:

"Actually, I was told she feels worse about that."

I stopped looking through my cards.

"December was hurt by what you said, but she realized that she should have just let it go. But, she just cares a lot about her friends. So much that she can't bear to see them hurt by anyone, especially herself." He turned to face me again. "Well, at least that's what Mimi told me, but I trust her judgment."

I placed my grade 0 in the Vanguard circle.

"Let's go again."

"Alright." He sighed, sounding defeated.

...that couldn't be true...could it?

December's POV

"Woohoo! I win! Yes, I am the greatest Vanguard player of all time!" Tsushima got up from the bench and began to do some ridiculous happy dance.

Ember clapped. "Congratulations on winning your first card fight! How'd you like my deck?"

"I liked it! Though the units could have been a little stronger."

I rolled my eyes. "Are you trying to sound like Morikawa?"

She stuck her tongue at me. "Call me what you want, but it doesn't change the fact that I beat you!"

She continued to dance around. I sighed, collecting all my cards.

"Well, I'm gonna take a walk. Hopefully, when I come back your hair won't have defied the laws of gravity."

She held her side pigtail up as much as she could. "Well, I've always thought I'd look good with an up-do."

They laughed as I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever floats your boat. Later."

I walked over to a shady tree on the far side of the camp and sat down. I took out my cards and laid them all out so I could individually see each and every one of them. Collette stood out, being the only Hybrid Battle Witch in my deck. I groaned, placing my elbows on my thighs and resting my head on my hands. What was I doing wrong? I could have easily won that game. Was it my strategy? Or my deck? No, I couldn't blame it all on my deck, I just sucked...

I groaned again. I didn't know what to do next.

"Something troubling you?"

I turned my head to find Mitsusada. I guess I was so deep in my wallowing I didn't hear him. I turned back.

"Not really."

He laughed gently. "Forgive me if I'm bothering you, but I couldn't help but notice you seemed a bit down."

"Like I said, it's nothing..."

I was doing a really terrible job, he already knew what was wrong; it was laid right in front of me.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" He pointed to my cards.

"Do what you want."

He took a seat next to me, looking through each card. He handled them with great care like they were his own. He then began to point out some small details and gave me pointers on how I could better use some of the cards with each other in combos. He was patient, yet informative, and above all, really freaking nice.

"Honestly, if she hadn't told me, I would have never guessed you and Kazoku were related."

He looked at me with uncertainty, then smiled. "I get that a lot. We're basically polar opposites, especially when it comes to being the center of attention. I'm not exactly good with crowds." He scratched his cheek, embarrassed. "But I'm lucky to have a cousin like her. She's always inspiring me to take bigger risks, and cheers me on from the side. She'll do anything for the people she cares about."

Kazoku...

He looked at me as if he was trying to tell me something. A light breeze passed by, blowing away one of my cards.

"Ah-" I reached out and pinned it down before it could get far.

"Wow, you have great reflexes."

I shrugged, picking up the card. "Not that great. Otherwise, I would have sensed you coming."

"Is that so?"

I didn't reply. I wasn't even paying attention to the card anymore. It wasn't exactly something I wanted to go into; how I became that way.

"Do you mind if we have a card fight?"

"Huh?"

He took out his deck case. "I'd like to see how they work with your playstyle, and then we can keep going from there."

I hesitated at the sudden offer but then nodded.

/skipbattle/

My sixth damage, just as I predicted. There was absolutely no way I could win against a former National Champion. But I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would; maybe just because it was Mitsusada who challenged me.

"That was a lot of fun. You played well."

I scoffed weakly. "I wish I could believe that."

"Don't sell yourself short, you're very skilled. You're making the most out of your units, and I can see what you're trying to do. And overall, your deck's not bad."

"Yeah, but I know there's a "but" in there."

He grinned sheepishly. "You could tell huh?" He looked back at my cards. "The main issue is Collette- not the card itself, but the fact that it's not being utilized as well as it could be."

I was hoping for anything but this.

"You don't have any other HBW's do you?"

I looked at my lap, thinking about the glass box sitting in my room, wishing I'd already smashed it to pieces.

"Oh good! I'm glad I found you December!" We looked over to see Shin carrying some kind of case.

"For me? Why?"

He smiled. "I have something that might be of use to you."

He put down a silver case on the grass and opened it. Inside were various amounts of Vanguard cards, many of them rare finds.

"None of these are from my clan, though."

He held up his index finger. "Ah, but wait just a moment."

He grabbed the two ends of the bottom of the case, and with care, gently lifted the tray, revealing more cards. My eyes widened as I realized that he was hiding a collection of HBWs.

"What the-? You-?"

"Yup. This is my prize collection of Hybrid Battle Witch units. Take good care of them."

"You... You're going to let me use them?"

He nodded. "These cards were meant for you December. I just know you'll do great things with them."

I couldn't believe I was face to face with these cards again. My heart started racing and my hands began shaking

"Well I-I couldn't, I-" But before I could protest, he left, leaving me with the cards.

"Wow, that's amazing! I bet we could work out something really great with these." He began looking through the cards with great enthusiasm.

I stared at the case, tentatively looking at a grade 0 unit I was familiar with: Hybrid Battle Witch Kimi...

I felt my core begin to shake. These cards, they weren't mine, but they held so many terrible memories. There is no way I could use them, not a chance. But what would I say to Shin? And Mistusada? They'd be disappointed to hear I wasn't going to incorporate them in with Collette. I don't know, maybe-

"Oh, hello Aichi."

My thoughts were interrupted by Mitsusada. I looked over my shoulder to see Sendou, peering over from behind the tree.

"Sendou..."

Third person

Aichi came closer to them, curiosity in his eyes.

"What bring's you here Aichi?" Kenji asked.

"I was wondering how things were going. Shin told me he had some sort of surprise for you." He looked at the silver case on the grass. "That must be it." He walked over to the case and peered inside for a better look. "Wow!" He took out Kimi and admired it. "This is amazing, there are so many rare Hybrid Battle Witch's you can use, these will help you for sure!"

Kenji nodded, motioning Aichi to come closer. "Here, take a look at these. I was thinking these would make a great combo alongside this card."

Meanwhile, December was about to deny that she would be using them, but then something strange happened.

"Sis, those cards will make you strong for sure, no doubt! I promise I'll get these for you! Then you'll be able to beat anyone, even us!"

Her eyes widened in horror as her body began trembling and her breathing turned to hyperventilating. Soon they both noticed, becoming increasingly worried.

"December? Hey, are you okay?" Kenji asked.

She said nothing back.

Aichi came closer, reaching out his hand to comfort her, only to have her smack it away.

"Stay back!"

Both looked at her in surprise.

"D...December?"

All at once she realized what she'd done.

I just...why did I do that? What's wrong with me?

She sat frozen for a moment before running off, without giving either a chance to respond.

"December!" Aichi yelled after her.

"I'll go," Kenji said before running off.

"Ah- Koutei!" Aichi called out.

He watched as Kenji ran off, leaving him by himself with the cards. He looked in their direction, then back at Kimi. "December..."

When she stopped running, she found herself at the beach again, now devoid of any people. She stood in the shallow water, letting the breeze blow past her. Staring at her feet, she soon she started seeing little ripples in the water. It took her a moment to realize that she was crying. Her fist clenched as she thought about what happened.

What... Where did that come from? Why did that memory come back? How?

She lifted her left hand to her forehead.

Sendou Aichi... Why was it that you were able to trigger one of my worst memories...

"Deca!"

December heard the voice of Miwa and slowly turned around. The blond was standing on the sand next to Kenji, both a bit out of breath.

"You had me worried there, we couldn't find you for a while. Mitsusada said you weren't feeling well-" he was cut off by the feeling of December's head on his shoulders.

"Deca? Hey, what's wrong?"

A muffled whimper could be heard. "Miwa..."

Miwa felt a sting in his heart, sad that she still wouldn't call him by his first name, but despite that, he held her just as tenderly. "Shh, it's okay, I'm right here," he whispered as he rubbed her back gently.

Back at the cottage, Kai was wandering around, looking at what other people were doing. Tamika and Ember were still battling, while Morikawa was getting his butt kicked by Gai, the others watching. Then he noticed Miwa was missing. Shrugging it off, he took a walk around the property, looking at the scenery and the ocean below. That's when he saw them. He stopped as his eyes focused in on the sight of Miwa, but in his arms was none other than December, along with Kenji standing beside them, on the beach. He stiffened.

Why is Miwa down there? Did he... They're friends, he's comforting her, that's that. Mitsusada's there as well, they wouldn't...

But he couldn't help but feel angry.

...am I jealous?

"Kai?" He turned around to see Daiki. "Is something the matter? You look tense."

There was a moment of silence.

"It's nothing... Just May being complicated again." He didn't mean to say that last part out loud.

"Oh, I see..."

For a moment, Daiki sounded angry, but he left too quickly for Kai to be sure. He looked out to the ocean, the breeze gently passing by, her still in Miwa's arms.

May...

(Disclaimer: I do not own Cardfight! Vanguard or its characters. All I own are my OCs. Credit goes to Bushiroad)