City Streets

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Akira)

Later that night, Aichi, Kai, Naoki and Ruko were walking back through the city with Kamui in tow, having bid farewell to both Hitoe and Yuzuki when the Selector had returned home safely with no more interruptions to catch them along the way. Now having been introduced to the LRIGs they held, the Nova Grappler user had a short summary of everything going on in the Selector Battles explained to him in the midst of their journey together, leaving him a little disheartened when he realized that he didn't take into account or even ask Chiyori about her wish before she had opened the battlefield for their Selector Battle. At the same time though, he felt a little on edge with the brief mention that the surviving Star-vaders also had a hand in the creation of the Selector Battles, only serving to stir up more uncertainty as a result.

As the group were travelling back to the apartment blocks, Kamui took the time to explain everything that happened throughout the day back in his world before his subsequent encounter with Kiyoi, the cardfight along with the result that occurred before she sent him off to this world, where he literally bumped heads with Amika. He then spoke of how she had helped to teach him the rules of Wixoss in a friendly non-Selector Battle, much to the relieved expressions of everyone present with the exception of Kai, Kuro and Umr, who remained as calm as ever.

"So you've encountered her as well," the Kagero user spoke.

"Yeah," Kamui replied "Now that you do mention the bad stuff going on here, I'm wondering what kind of a wish she's had in mind. I just wish her LRIG was a little more friendlier though..."

"You must mean Piruluk from what all of you have told me," Kuro explained as he looked to the girl of black whose card was held in Ruko's hand "Now that you do mention her... there was something strange about her the last I saw her, when she was in Akira's possession."

"Strange?" murmured Tama.

"What do you mean?" asked Ruko, now curious about what one of her two LRIGs had to say.

"Being the one who only became interested in becoming who I intended to be, at that time, I initially paid no mind to it," the girl of black answered "But with everything that has transpired and my changed viewpoint since our battle together, I believe it might be of a little importance. During my most recent battle against Akira, when I was in control of Urazoe Iona's body, I could sense that underneath Piruluk's calm demanor lay a hidden aura."

Everyone else blinked for a brief moment, with most of the group having encountered the blue LRIG at least once or twice on their own occasions within their time in this world. But then again, with Kuro already possessing as much knowledge about the insides and outs of the Selector Battles themselves, any piece of information that sounded intriguing in the least bit would at least be worth listening to at this point in time.

"That aura I sensed then..." she continued "Was one of great rage. But for why, I do not know."

"If that is the case..." Kai pondered "Then why did I not sense it during my first Selector Battle?"

"Rage..." Umr murmured, having been aware of the meaning of that emotion, but curious as to why such an aura was within Piruluk of all LRIGs.

"Well, 'rage aura' or not," Naoki interrupted "We know that Amika's just in as much danger as we are."

"We need to tell her everything the next time we meet her," Aichi interjected as the others nodded in agreement with him.

"Speaking of someone, who's Akira?" asked Kamui.

"No one you'd ever want to meet," Naoki huffed, almost mimicking a slashing motion in front of his neck to get the point across to the Nova Grappler user who was unaware of Akira, her temper and her affinity for sharp and blunt objects.

(End Music)

As the group were about to continue back to the apartment blocks through the dark night, they suddenly heard some footsteps from behind which had immediately caught their attention. Turning around immediately, they could see that it was Futase who had approached them at this very hour, her gaze with her only eye that was visible to them was made apparent as she had usually appeared. The moonlight revealed all of her face but the metal plating covering her left eye that was kept concealed by the strands of hair covering entirely over that portion of her face.

"It has been a while since we first met, Kai Toshiki," she spoke.

"Naturally, Futase Fumio," he replied.

"I suppose that the one named Soryu Leon informed you of our previous battle?" Futase asked, to which Kai nodded in response.

"You know her?" Ruko murmured.

"Tama remembers Fumio!" Tama called out, recalling the first time they had met her, before Kai battled her Selector that same evening.

"Then... are you the writer of those Wixoss novels we read yesterday?" asked Aichi.

"That is correct," Futase spoke, bringing her gaze upon the Royal Paladin user, her visible eye briefly widening when she saw Umr's card in his right hand. "It cannot be..."

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: LRIG)

The others looked at the Selector, curious as to why she had been surprised that Umr was in Aichi's possession as he brought up the card to face her. Umr stared up at Futase, bringing both of their curious gazes upon one another as one was wondering why she had taken interest in the other whilst the other in turn had been intrigued by who the Selector was and why she had chosen to write such novels in the first place, even if the mysterious LRIG had no knowledge in the concept of literature itself.

"Oi, what's up with her?" Kamui interrupted, snapping her out of her brief trance.

"My apologies," she spoke "I did not anticipate your companion would be in possession of 'that' particular LRIG." She then turned back to Kai. "Regardless, I came to give you a warning. I'm not fully aware of the details, but whatever you did to anger Mayu back then has forced her to raise her hand."

"What are you saying?" asked Aichi.

"From what I've heard, she has placed a bounty on the heads of the six of you... the units of the Planet Cray... and all of the cardfighters from your world," Futase answered "She has already sent one of her associates there to carry out her intentions."

"And if that's case, this first associate will not be the last," Kai murmured, his eyes becoming narrow slits.

"Then, that's the reason Kiyoi went after me in our last cardfight?!" Kamui exclaimed as he showed the mark on top of his right hand "All because of some bounty?!"

"So she's already begun..." Futase murmured as she looked at the Nova Grappler user for a brief moment before turning away from the group. "For now, this is where we must part ways. I would uphold a challenge for one of you, but Anne has fallen ill for the moment. When we next meet however... I will regretfully say that it may not be as allies."

Kai kept a close eye on the Selector as she departed from the empty street that they were standing in, curious as to know what she had meant by the fact they would 'regretfully' not be allies the next time that they would encounter each other. They all looked at one another, each of them knowing that the other were sharing almost the exact same thoughts and suspicions that were crossing their mind at the moment. The silence was abruptly cut off when Kamui's stomach began rumbling loudly.

"Sorry about that..." he said, rubbing the back of his head in embarassment "I didn't eat much before ending up in this world."

"Don't worry about that," Naoki replied "Kai will whip something up for us when we get back to the apartment."

"I suppose..." the Nova Grappler user mumurmed "Anyway, let's get moving!"

And with that, the group of cardfighters with the only Selector amongst them continued on their walk through the dark and empty streets back to the apartment complex, where they knew there was much to contemplate on with the day's events that had gone by.

(End Music)


Vanguard World: Above Card Capital

Meanwhile back in 'that' world as nightfall fell, Misaki was in her bedroom looking over the cards that had made up her most recent Genesis deck, gazing closely at the card named Cosmic Regalia, CEO Yggdrasil. Much like everyone else that was involved in the discussion from the grim news that Miwa had brought of both Kiyoi's arrival and Kamui's disappearance, she too couldn't help but feel disconcerted about what had happened. This feeling was not just out of concern for the Nova Grappler user's safety, unaware that he was thankfully back in the capable hands of Aichi and Kai, but also of uncertainty for the individual who was believed to have been responsible for this event, all because of a lead on a card that she had seemingly left behind when she had left this world, for the moment that was.

Looking over to the single card that depicted Remember's Grade 0 form, only with different stats compared to the one that Kiyoi used in her cardfight with Kamui, she couldn't help but be intrigued by some of the odd details that were present. The two that caught her attention the most, much like everyone else who had taken a previous look at the card before, were the blank Magallanica clan box and the word LRIG encribed on the small race box beneath, located beside the other 'race' human, seperated by only a single forward slash.

Within the cardfighter's bedroom, she was not the only occupant at this very moment. Ratie who had been staying around for quite some time had also shared both curiousity and concern into the subjects that had been brought up as of recently, including the one that regarded Aichi's journey to Ruko's world so that he could find Kai and bring him back to their world, unaware of what was really going on over there. The former Quatre Knight from the remaining three of the group was briefly playing around with Card Capital's 'Sub Manager', sometimes also known as 'Assistacat', the pet cat of both Shin and Misaki before looking over to the cardfighter herself. Ratie noticed that whilst her friend still appeared as calm as ever, she could easily tell that hint of uncertainty was still present within her visible expression.

"Misakin?" she asked, bringing the very clerk of Card Capital's attention towards her "Has it been bothering you as well?"

"With how long Aichi and the others have been gone for, along with what has happened of late," Misaki answered "I can't shake the feeling that something ominous has been happening, not the least with how Kamui has disappeared."

"Aichi will definitely come back!" Ratie called with a little enthusiasm, presumably in an effort to try and cheer up the Oracle Think Tank and Genesis user "After all, he's not gone there alone!"

"Hmm... You are right about that," she replied with a warm smile "From what you told us after 'that' ordeal, he's always tried to take on everyone's burden alone. But thanks to Kai and Ishida, he's learned to have faith in those around him."

The former Quatre Knight nodded happily in agreement with Misaki before her expression went almost serious again.

"I should probably let Gaillard and Neve know about Kiyoi," she murmured "You know... for just in case."

"I understand," said Misaki "Be careful."

Ratie nodded before getting up on her feet and leaving the bedroom immediately in almost a hurry of some kind as Assistacat gave a brief meow in farewell. As silence fell in Misaki's bedroom once again, the cardfighter sighed for a moment before looking back at the Remember card that Miwa had given to her. Although she couldn't exactly blame Ratie for both her eagerness and for trying to brighten the mood after everything that had transpired thus far, she knew that alone would not quell her ever growing suspicions about Kiyoi, whom everyone else with the exception of Jun had not encountered. She looked back to her bed to see Assistacat had pounced up on the cover and was looking over Remember's card out of curiousity.

(Cardfight! Vanguard Unreleased Soundtrack: Presence of the Void)

Then with a sudden brush of its paw, the card suddenly emitted a bright purple glow which illuminated the room in the bask of that very colour. Almost frightened by what had just happened, Assistacat shrieked and immediately hid behind the left side of Misaki who could only stare at the card, surprised that she wasn't already blinded by the bright glow before her shadow that was painted on the nearby wall began to warp in shape. Two sharp triangular points that represented eyes of some sort materialized in the inky black 'image' that was now before the cardfighter herself.

"Now that I have your attention, you by now have already realized about the noticable absence of the one named Katsuragi Kamui."

The eerily icy cold tone that spoke from the warped 'shadow' was unfamilar to Misaki, but familar to those that had been around her in the past. This was the same voice of that which Ayumu had called mother. The voice of the one that Ruko and Hatsu knew had belonged to Kominato Miyako.

"Who are you?" the cardfighter asked, curious as to why she was talking to her this way and why she had her own knowledge to Kamui's disappearance. The voice however ignored Misaki's question and continued to speak out.

"His mark of penalty that he recieved is only the beginning for what is to befall of this world. For there will be more." As Miyako continued to speak, a purple image of the symbol that was carved onto Kamui's right hand as a result of his loss to Kiyoi, appeared for only a brief few seconds during this 'explanation'. "I am aware that your world and the Planet Cray share a special connection, which is why I cannot allow you all to remain as potential hindrances in my associate's plans. Know that with this message, cardfighters from across this world, regardless of their possession of a particular connection to Cray or not, shall soon discover they have no concept of the powers that be for what lies ahead."

As Misaki narrowed her eyes in response to the message of Ruko's former mother whilst Assistacat simply hissed at the warped shadow in response, Miyako finally concluded her message as the light emitted from Remember's card began to die down.

"When the time eventually comes, my associate... No, my closest companion will finally take... her rightful place among the gods."

When her words had finally finished, the glowing light died down as the card suddenly vanished right before the cardfighter's eyes, presumably as a result of the message having concluded. Although she knew their one 'lead' to Kamui's whereabouts was now gone, whatever Miyako had spoken about to her had already confirmed several suspicions, some being said in regards to Kiyoi being involved with his disappearance. At the same time, she couldn't but ponder about the person that was talking to her at this moment, having no knowledge of Ruko and Ayumu's former mother beforehand from not venturing to their world.

Keeping an eye on her shadow that had reverted back to normal on the moment that Miyako's message had concluded, Misaki knew that whatever she and the others planned to do next in response to the events of today would have to be carried out carefully. If what was said to her this very night was indeed true, then Kiyoi's efforts in Kamui's disappearance and his 'Mark of Penalty' would not be the last 'strange' event that would occur in the near future.

(End Music)


Wixoss World: Kai's Apartment

"Phew... I tell you, I can't believe I actually owe Kai one there."

Kamui happily sighed after the group of cardfighters had already finished their meal, courtesy of Kai's culinary skills from his own previous experiences of living alone. Aichi simply smiled warmly, feeling somewhat relieved for the Nova Grappler user after everything that had happened to him throughout the day thus far whilst Ren laid back on the couch in almost a lazy like fashion. Leon on the other hand was looking out over the city horizon from the single window that was available to them in the living space of the apartment. The Aqua Force user kept a stern gaze over the darkening sky in front of him, having known that close encounters with both Mayu and Ayumu on seperate occasions as of late had only served to raise even more tension in the air around him, as he could already sense with 'the wind'.

"So Umr..." Kamui spoke as he looked down at the LRIG whose card was on the table in front of him and Aichi "You've gotten onii-san out of a pinch or two."

"That is correct..." she replied before blinking for a moment "Though... I do fail to see the genetic similarities between the two of you."

"Well... that's..." he murmured.

"Kamui just means that as an expression," the Royal Paladin user answered for his friend "He just looks at me like an older brother... or so I'm told."

"I see..."

As the two boys laughed nervously to try and kill off the awkward silence that had then been hanging around the three of them, Naoki briefly glanced over the apartment, noticing that a certain someone was currently absent.

"Besides... Where did Kai go anyway?" he asked.

"He said that he needed to pay another visit to Ruko and that he might be a while," Ren answered before dropping his expression into a somewhat exasperated smile "Though knowing him, I think I have a pretty good idea of what he's thinking of."

"With their fates having been tied before our arrival, it's only natural that something like this would happen."

Leon spoke those words out aloud as he turned away from the window and took a seat at the table, bringing out his Aqua Force deck out and turning his serious gaze upon Aichi. The Royal Paladin user blinked for a moment before looking back to the cardfighter that had approached him right now, wondering what exactly he had on his mind. Kamui looked over at Aichi for a moment before looking over to Leon, curious as to what he had in mind.

"Leon... are you wanting to battle onii-san?" he asked.

"Your perception is most accurate, Katsuragi," Leon answered "But, I do not intend to conduct it as a Selector Battle between us. Nor do I intend at this moment to face the Royal Paladins."

"Then..." Naoki murmured.

"It is me he wants."

Aichi and Kamui looked down at the card on the table to see that Umr had immediately drawn out the conclusion that the Aqua Force user was seemingly hinting at in regards to his sudden challenge. The LRIG gazed up at Leon in a curious manner, having known about him to be somewhat mysterious in more ways than one from what Aichi had described to her, especially with the sacred wind that he commanded in the midst of his cardfights and battles.

"I'll accept your battle, Leon-san," the Royal Paladin user spoke as he brought out the deck that Hatsu had given to him.

Whilst Kamui and Umr watched the two cardfighters prepared for battle, Ren now having been intrigued by what was about to happen got up from the couch he had been lying on and stretched his arms for a brief moment before taking a seat beside the Nova Grappler user to watch the battle that was about to unfold. When Aichi and Leon were ready to begin, both of them reached out for their starting LRIGs.

"Open!"

"Open, my LRIG!"

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Fight 3)

On the battlefield that was imaged in both of the cardfighter's minds, both Umr and Officer Cadet, Erikk stood at a great distance from each other, with it being wide enough for them to still see each other perfectly along with any other units or SIGNI that would be summoned into battle over the course of the game. Looking at each other, Aichi and Leon kept a focused gaze on one another as the Aqua Force user drew a single card to begin the first turn of the battle.

"Grow, Tear Knight, Theo!" he called as he placed the unit's LRIG card over the top of Officer Cader, Erikk.

After summoning Ice Floe Angel to the center SIGNI zone on his side of the field, he gazed up at Aichi with the long silence that followed, leading everyone to assume that would be ending his turn right there. The Royal Paladin user then began his turn by drawing 2 cards and then turned his attention to the cards that he had present in his hand. He had recognized those cards from previously battling against Hatsu and as such ended up having a reasonably fair idea of what Umr was based around in general. However, part of his thoughts for some reason was telling him otherwise. Before contemplating over what he was thinking, he placed the black Spell card known as Grave Pain from his hand into his Ener Zone.

Umr's general style is reviving Ancient Weapon SIGNI from the Trash, just like how Gouki and Serra do with their units from Granblue clan he thought But there's difference between seeing them and actually using the real thing. I just hope I can use them properly so that I don't let Umr down if we ever battle together.

"Grow, Umr=Ett, Wielder of the Key of Chaos!" he called.

On the field imaged in the two cardfighters' minds, Umr's clothing and outfit had changed in quite a few ways, but not in a completely drastic manner, considering that it was her only her Level 1 form for the moment. In the center SIGNI space in front of her appeared a black SIGNI by the name of Code Anti Voyni as a purple aura then surrounded her immediately.

"With Voyni's skill," Aichi spoke "I down her and send the top three cards of my deck to my Trash Pile."

Turning over the top three cards of his deck, they were revealed to be Code Anti Nessie, Code Anti Nebra and Code Anti Texahammer as he placed the first two of the three revealed SIGNI into his Trash Pile. He then placed Texahammer's card onto the left SIGNI zone on his side of the field before drawing an additional card to add to the five that he was currently holding onto.

"How was he able to do that?" Kamui pondered.

"Texahammer can revive itself whenever its sent from the deck to the Trash," Ren answered "Given that Aichi's managed to remember what he's seen from battling Ruko's grandmother, he seems to be already at home with Umr. I guess changing briefly from the Royal Paladins hasn't had that much of an effect."

"You mean like the first time you gave him the Shadow Paladins?" the Nova Grappler user asked whilst raising an eyebrow, clearly recalling back to 'that' time.

"Wait... you never told me Aichi used Shadow Paladin before," Naoki interjected, looking over to Ren who simply held a somewhat innocent smile in response to Kamui's comment followed by a brief glance away from the two and a whistle under his breath.

Whilst Umr simply blinked for a brief moment, Aichi decided not to ponder on that particular subject, knowing that although Ren wasn't exactly himself back then, it was a brief period of time in his own case that he would rather forget about personally. Deciding to resume the battle from where he had briefly paused, he immediately downed Texahammer's card.

"Attack!" he called.

Back on the imagined field, Texahammer swung her large barreled hammer right into Tear Knight, Theo, disorienting him for the moment before Umr leapt in front and dealt another blow with the large golden key that she had carried. Leon placed his second crushed Life Cloth, Storm Rider, Diamantes on top of Battle Siren, Mallika whose earlier Life Burst had already increased his hand size by one. The Aqua Force user kept a sharp gaze upon Aichi as he concluded his turn there, having nothing else available to allow him to attack again this turn.

End of Turn 2

Aichi vs Leon

Hand - 6 : 6

Life Cloths - 7 : 5

Current LRIGs - Umr=Ett, Wielder of the Key of Chaos : Tear Knight, Theo

SIGNI : Code Anti Texahammer - Code Anti Voyni - EMPTY : EMPTY - Ice Floe Angel - EMPTY

Ener - 1 : 2

Leon then drew his two cards to begin his turn before moving Mallika's card from his Ener Zone to his Trash Pile and taking the next card from his white deck in preparation to Grow again.

"Grow!" he called "Tear Knight, Lazarus!"

The Aqua Force user placed Lazarus' card on top of Theo's, bringing him up to Level 2 and a Limit of 5 as he then immediately summoned Tidal Assault and Blue Storm Soldier, Tempest Blader to his remaining open SIGNI spaces alongside Ice Floe Angel. He then gazed upon Aichi as he prepared to conduct his attacks.

"Tidal Assault's first attack!" he declared.

On the imaged field, Tidal Assault pointed one of its two blades towards Umr before taking a mighty leap into the air and slashing down the front of the LRIG. As Umr fumbled around briefly in pain from being damaged by the attack, a dark aura surrounded her as an afterimage of the black SIGNI, Code Anti Nessie appeared in front of her. The Ancient Weapon opened up her orange eyes before pointing straight at Tidal Assault, causing it to vanish in a murky black aura. Leon simply frowned as he moved the card to his Ener Zone as did Aichi with Nessie's card after resolving the effect of her Life Burst.

"Yes!" Kamui called "Onii-san's cut down the amount of direct attacks he'll get this turn!"

"You're right there," Naoki murmured "But Leon really gets into it around the late game, especially with those combo attacks."

As Ren simply remained silent, closely eying the game as it progressed through the opening stages, Leon immediately proceeded to banish both Voyni and Texahammer with both Ice Floe Angel and Tempest Blader with both units' respective attacks as Aichi moved the banished Ancient Weapons to his Ener Zone.

"Lazarus attacks!" he called.

Lazarus charged towards Umr and slashed down his blade upon the black LRIG who simply parried it away with the giant key that she had carried. Seeing that she was now wide open, the Tear Knight then thrust the blade he carried across the right side of her, grazing both her skin and a portion of her clothing causing her to cringe in pain. Aichi's next Life Cloth had revealed a second copy of the Spell, Grave Pain, with no Life Burst being available to aid him any further during this turn. The Royal Paladin user simply gazed at his Ener Zone for the moment before looking back to Leon whose serious gaze had remained unwavering, despite a loss on part of his advantage.

"Turn end," he spoke.

(End Music)

End of Turn 3

Aichi vs Leon

Hand - 6 : 6

Life Cloths - 5 : 5

Current LRIGs - Umr=Ett, Wielder of the Key of Chaos : Tear Knight, Lazarus

SIGNI : EMPTY - EMPTY - EMPTY : EMPTY - Ice Floe Angel - Blue Storm Soldier, Tempest Blader

Ener - 5 : 2

As Aichi drew his next two cards, he looked down to the real Umr herself who had been observing the battle since the beginning, no doubt studying every move he was making and trying to make sense of the power she would wield whenever they would eventually fight together within the Selector Battles themselves. Turning his attention back to the battle, he placed a SIGNI known as Code Anti Nebra from his hand to his Ener Zone before moving Code Anti Voyni from there to his Trash Pile.

"Grow!" he called "Umr=Två, Wielder of the Key of Chaos!"

After placing the card on top of Umr's previous form, the Royal Paladin user then placed down two more Ancient Weapon SIGNI in the left and right SIGNI spaces on his side of the field. Each of them were Level 2, but different from each other as evidenced by their respective names. They were known as Code Anti Aztec and Code Anti Cabrera. On the imaged field, the two SIGNI appeared in front of Umr as the ground between their respective SIGNI zones suddenly cracked and opened up, leaving a black aura that poured out of it.

"With Aztec's skill, I revive Voyni!" Aichi's voice called out "And by paying three for skill of Nessie in my Trash, I return her to the bottom of my deck and decrease Tempest Blader's power by 8000!"

As the black aura faded out to reveal that Voyni had returned back to his side of the field, Nessie appeared in a spectral form before reappearing behind Tempest Blader and coiling her tail around the unit, causing them both to vanish in a murky black aura. As Leon simply placed the banished Aqua Force unit into his Ener Zone, he did not take his serious gaze off of Aichi as they stared off once again. The Royal Paladin user then felt that there was something that he had to ask his opponent at this very moment, even if it was just a hint of curiousity.

"Leon..." he spoke "This battle... Is this about my responsibility for both Umr and Blaster Blade?"

As Kamui and Naoki blinked in confusion for a brief moment, Leon simply closed his eyes in response.

"In a sense, that would be correct," he answered "However, that was not my intent. Kai wanted me to ensure that you had managed to fully recover from Ulith, given that we dropped the subject to Ruko today."

(Cardfight! Vanguard OST: Imeeji ha Tsugi he no Chikara ni)

"I see..." Aichi murmured "I'm still uneasy about her, but I'm feeling a lot better than I was back then."

"Oh? Did I miss something?" Kamui asked, having not been introduced to the cruel demanored Selector nor having any knowledge about her.

"Ulith's pretty nasty," Naoki whispered "She had Aichi in tears at one point and he only managed to pull himself together then because of Umr. Akira's even serving her for similar reasons or so I heard."

"That is true," Ren replied "But given the suffering that occurs in these battles, she's already content with herself."

The atmosphere in the apartment went completely silent as everyone began contemplating on the subject itself, knowing full well of Ulith's supposed allegiance to Mayu and the cause of the Selector Battles, even by going as far as reversing Tama during her previous battle with Aichi. Having recalled that name from the confrontation, Umr pondered over what little personal knowledge she had of the cruel demanored Selector.

Ulith... she murmured in her thoughts That Selector from mine and Aichi's last battle together... I could sense a malicious aura from her at the time... but I never imagined she would willingly aid my creator in bringing devastation to this world.

"Is something wrong, Umr?" Aichi asked, bringing the LRIG out of her trail of thought.

"Aichi..." she spoke "Earlier today... you said I was your friend. But, I have no prior knowledge on the concept itself." She then looked up from her card at him. "What do I mean to you... as does Blaster Blade and your Royal Paladins?"

"Well... I know that I can't really mix the Royal Paladins and your Ancient Weapons together..." the Royal Paladin user murmured "But that doesn't mean I will forsake one over the other. Just as Blaster Blade and my closest comrades still continue to help me out... Umr, you're my comrade too. I don't know what kind of battles we'll fight when I use you in battle, but what I know is that I won't be fighting alone. After all, I have both my friends and you by my side."

"Even if Chaos Breaker had initially created me and Tawil as experimental weapons before we first met?"

Aichi nodded and smiled warmly in reply as he looked back to Leon whose neutral expression had somewhat delved into a calm smile as he brought his attention back to his opponent in turn.

"Let's go, Leon!" Aichi called, his confidence having returned back to him.

"Fine by me," the Aqua Force user replied as a breeze began to stir around them, presumably from the large open window in the apartment "Then show me and the fierce wind that you've learned everything you need to master Umr!"

(End Music)


Ruko's Apartment

Meanwhile, Kai and Ruko had been seated at the single small table in the apartment whilst Hatsu was staring out of the window into the night sky, presumably out of concern for Ayumu's current state and Miyako's presumed influence on the way that he was thinking for the moment. Both the cardfighter and the Selector had been involved in a discussion abouts the events that had been transpiring around them ever since the Kagero user first arrived into this world and how much of an impact that event and the Selector Battles in general had on them and the others. Kuro and Tama listened carefully to the discussion with the girl of black offering her views on the subjects at hand.

At first, Kai had begun the discussion with how he arrived in this world to his encounter with Yuragi and Mako, where he presumed that he was first able to hear the voice of an LRIG without knowing at first, before coming into Tama's possession. The question that had him puzzled however was how he had managed to recieve her card, given the circumstances from her last battle with Ruko before then. Needless to say, the girl of white was quick to answer that.

"Tama escaped because of Takuto!" she loudly called "That's how Tama found Kai!"

"I see..." he murmured "Because of his efforts, I arrived in this world, just as you left Mayu's domain."

"Mhm," Tama replied as she continued the story from there "And that's when Kai found Hitoe and Yuzuki!"

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Friends)

"So that's how the four of you began searching for me," said Ruko as her expression dropped a little. "Kai... I... I think I need to apologize for something."

Kai simply remained still, presuming that the Selector was only planning to apologize for initially rejecting his help in trying to remove the influence of Reverse from her.

"You see..." she began "When I last battled Kuro, I was fully intent on trying to set everyone free from the Selector Battles, even if it meant sacrificing myself and leaving my body for Tama to inhabit. Because of my bitterness then, I assumed that you were just trying to stop me because of what I believed was deception to have me reversed when I should have listened to you. And when Kuro's attacks had briefly reversed you and I heard Tama call out to you... I felt envious."

"So that's why I thought you felt off then," Kuro murmured "I presume that was actually out of envy for the bond you shared with Tama before I became your LRIG?"

"That's right..." Ruko answered "Even though I told Kai everything I believed about Tama after that battle back then, he was still willing to help and listen to her... something I should have done..."

As she was about to hold her head down in both guilt and depression, Kai placed a hand over her left shoulder to calm her down as she looked over towards him, noting his serious expression at this very moment.

"Ruko, I understand how you feel," he spoke as he closed his eyes "You were in a state of disbelief and denial back then, when you were only wanting to do good for the people caught in the Selector Battles. Neither of us have had the most pleasant experiences around Reverse, but I am grateful that you were at least aware of the danger that came with wielding that power and your willingless to restrain it until Aichi and I saved you, unlike myself in a previous time."

"Kai..." she murmured.

"Right now, there is the matter of Ayumu and his sudden reacqaintance with your mother, Kominato Miyako." he continued "If you don't mind me asking... do you remember anything about her before coming into Hatsu's care?"

Ruko then closed her eyes as she tried to recall everything she could about her former mother, hoping that it would at least provide a clue as to the sudden change in Ayumu's behavior towards her and the others as of late.

"Well... I never exactly talked to her," she spoke "I... remember her having a disdained look around wherever she went... and..." She then clutched her head, trying desperately to remember anything else from her past.

"What's wrong...?" Kai asked.

"I'm sorry," the Selector replied "My memories just before I came in grandmother's care seem to be fuzzy for some reason. I can't remember anything around then for some reason."

The Kagero user remained silent for the moment, now taking this newfound information about Miyako into account from what he had now heard. Ruko's memories around her appeared to have vanished from her mind completely, from what he could gather from the way she spoke and that their lack of conversation appeared to contribute to the neglection that Hatsu had brought up when they previously discussed about the former mother.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of, Ru-chan," the grandmother's voice spoke out as she approached both the Selector and Kai "I know you weren't entirely open to those around you, before you eventually found your friends because you didn't want me to worry. But as far as I know, you never held any unreasonable requests. If Miyako has granted Ayumu entry into these Selector Battles you told me about, then perhaps its through them we'll know the truth."

(End Music)

"You're right, grandmother," Ruko replied as she held a warm smile before looking down to Tama and Kuro "Somehow... all of us will get through this together. Right Kai?"

Kai's expression changed to a gentle smile as he nodded in reply, this being one of the few times that the Selector or anyone for that matter had seen him in this particular manner. Now it appeared that she had finally regained her resolve and that hopefully, somewhere in their quest to bring an end to the Selector Battles and Mayu's schemes, they would also bring an end to the family issue that had been plaguing her for all of these years.


And there we go! As Kamui is brought up to speed with everything that has happened in the world of Wixoss, Misaki back in the world of Vanguard recieves a foreboding message from Kominato Miyako, foretelling of an ominous fate that is about to transcend with Kiyoi's marking of the Nova Grappler user being only the beginning of what Ruko's former mother and Mayu have planned. Meanwhile, Futase sends a warning of that same message to Kai and the others as Aichi and Leon begin a battle to determine the Royal Paladin user's strength with Umr's. What will happen from here? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG! Please feel free to share your thoughts and criticisms and I'll see you all next time! Until then!