Intro: Sorry guys for the very long update of TDM! My attention was just really really really caught by Genshin Impact, and I am rooting for Aether, new best boi, for his BL harem in game… hahahaha…. I am also slowly time by time trying to add as much as possible for it to be enough for one chapter, thank you for your continued patience and love everyone!

Disclaimer: I do not own Touken Ranbu and Cardfight! Vanguard and other material which came from the said Game/Anime, they are owned by its original creators. The making of this story and this story is made for the fans and the writer XD. Although the plot and some changes in the story are from me ^_^.

Chapter 76: Chance meeting

~The next day~

"I didn't think that with just us newly manifested we would get the chance to get out and see the new era for a short while" Tonbokiri warms up his body while getting ready to go.

"I'll be accompanying you two, as per Aichi-sama and Mina-nee's recommendation, considering that you two just recently manifested." Yagen said while walking towards the two which the two nodded to in response to him.

"Please take care of us." Kogitsunemaru smiles while Tonbokiri slightly turns his head down as he finishes up brushing his hair.

"Please take care of me too." Yagen smiles while the three patiently wait for Aichi the three made small talks regarding this new era.

"I heard there are a lot of changes in this era." Kogitsunemaru mused to start out the conversation "A lot…" Kogitsunemaru repeats and emphasizes the word.

Yagen chuckles a little understanding the reason to it "It's a whole lot I am telling you, it feels like you are in a different world, to be honest…" Yagen places a hand on his chin as he continues to grin, imagining what might be the reaction of the two.

As the three continues on to be fascinated to the things Yagen tells them Aichi finally stepped out of the citadel "S-sorry I took so long…" Aichi pants while catching his breathe.

Noticing this "You can take a short break before we head out." Yagen suggested.

"N-No it's fine…" Aichi said while catching his breath as he looks to his left and his right "As usual, Misaki-san leaves early…"

"Oh…" Yagen sweats as he looks away from Aichi's line of sight.

Noticing this action Aichi sweat drops and prepares himself "I-if you have something to say you can say it…" knowing that look it can only mean one thing.

He clears his throat "… that's because you are always so slow and wakes up late…" Yagen looks at him blankly as Aichi felt something stabbing behind him "And that if she would stay and wait she will be late…"

Slumping his shoulders and his head Aichi grumbled at the thought… he is a lost cause he thought to himself, even with the other's help to wake him up and get him to school early, it doesn't work, though it might be better that way so that he won't be too early to school and get the attention of other people and pile on him with question regarding them, hence he thinks its fine this way… for now…

"Though you aren't somehow doing it on purpose, right?" Yagen asked which made Aichi sprung up in surprise.

Yagen sighs at the thought, he was right "It's fine for us, but to you it might have been different right? Since we are not there to see." Yagen then started walking forward "Let's go then, before you get late." Not pressing the topic anymore knowing the reason, Yagen cuts off the conversation and left.

Since they were informed beforehand, Kogitsunemaru and Tonbokiri could only look at each other, knowing the reason.

Before leaving, Aichi didn't think any much and didn't have any other thought aside from the feeling that there are eyes of a certain toudans that he feels peering at him.

~On their way to school~

While walking towards school a little more and they would have successfully gone to school earlier than expected, even with Yagen and Aichi showing Kogitsunemaru and Tonbokiri around, still it wasn't enough and didn't think that they would be this early even if they left a little later than usual which is making Aichi feeling anxious that they were still a little earlier than expected.

But somewhere along the intersection that they were trailing, the help that he wanted to extend time has arrived, and Aichi who stopped from his tracks shocked at the discovery, also surprised Yagen from the sudden stopping asked "Is something the matter?" since he was closest to him he was the first to notice.

And without a word from him "Ah! Aichi-sama!" Aichi ran off to a different direction that worried and surprised the three greatly.

Even though Aichi had a head start, the three were able to catch up to him in no time especially Yagen, and with this they were able to ask him what troubled him "Aichi-sama did you see something?" Tonbokiri asked wary of the surroundings.

"Yes, something that has been bothering me for me days…" Aichi pointed his hands to what he was chasing to. Truth be told, he was surprised that he would show up, there really must be something here that he keeps showing himself to him, he thought.

Upon inspection of the figure they were chasing, even from afar "Eh… K-Kashuu?!" Yagen was surprised, surely from all the time they have spent, Yagen would surely identify who and what they were chasing "But, it seems different…" He noticed the build, the hair even the color, it was different, but still it was almost the same as the Kiyomitsu they know.

"Surely maybe this is a trap." Tonbokiri pointed out since it could be that the enemy is luring Aichi with someone he know.

"Or maybe a fox might just be playing around." Kogitsunemaru added, somehow they hoped that maybe it was something like that.

"But then, I still want to find out!" Aichi fastened his pace which Yagen sighed, in his mind there is nothing that can stop him at this point and at this point it was their time to act and get him away from trouble.

Noticing a presence "Aichi-sama stop!" Yagen stopped as did the two, until of course at a near intersection Aichi accidentally bumped into someone, to which they were already too late.

"Ouch!" Aichi and the person that he bumped to and both landed on their behind, Yagen crouches as he checks up on Aichi, while also helping him up.

Kogitsunemaru extended a hand to the person who bumped into Aichi "Little Lady, are you alright?" the person did not say anything while averting eye contact but accepted the hand offered and puffs off dust on her outfit.

"I lost him…" The person muttered looking at the location where the supposed Kiyomitsu were.

Kogitsunemaru who was next to her said "Oh, were you also following the man with the black hair?" something that Kogitsunemaru shouldn't have said but his hearing was too good that he thought it wasn't mumbling from the girl.

Surprising the group especially Aichi "Y-you know him?!" he immediately stood up and asked the girl, but the girl placed a hand on her lips covering it from further speaking since a little mumbled could be heard by Kogitsunemaru.

Yagen knowing she is connected or something with the person they were chasing, eyed the girl trying to memorize her face and figure knowing that she might be an ally or an enemy, since she was chasing after the same person they were chasing, that all the toudans thought was a trap, which still could be one.

The girl has a long raven black wavy hair that reaches her behind tied into a half ponytail tied with white lace into a ribbon, the hair on the ponytail were the only once into a curl and the hair in front of her, her eyes are a crimson ruby, surprising Yagen of how red stained it were, as if it were stained by blood, as how black her hair were like the darkness has ate everything. From the looks of it she is wearing a red sweater and a black cardigan, with braids as design. She is also wearing a gray skirt short which is slit on the left showing the shorts with black knee high socks and red ankle boots. And from the looks of her she is in her teens, around Aichi's age.

Slowly walking backwards the girl tries her best to avoid Aichi's eye contact "Aichi-sama you just bumped into her…" Yagen calls out his attention to make him come back to reality.

Realizing it just now "Oh, uhm, I uh… I'm really sorry." Reverting back to himself Aichi bows his head as he apologizes to the girl.

Waving her hands as if it was okay but when Aichi still hasn't pulled away his head she finally decided to speak "uhm… I uh… I'm really sorry to bump into you too." As she also bowed her head apologetically.

"My name is Aichi Sendou, could you please tell me what you know about that person!?" he reverts back to his earlier agenda.

"My name is …ha…" her voice lowers from her name which the four couldn't quite hear, even for Kogitsunemaru it was hard to hear and they could all just hear was HA "Kureha…" she repeated.

The name fits her well if the Kanji of her name is for the word crimson, they thought as they look at her mesmerizing eyes.

"Before I tell you… can you first tell me what is he to you?" the girl now identified herself as Kureha asked Aichi as she stares deep into his eyes.

To which of course Aichi couldn't find an answer, he himself wanted to find the answer of what is he to him since he kept showing himself though not in front of him, that's why he was desperately chasing after him, and so the answer he thought after a while was that "He is my answer, for now that is what he is."

"I see…" Kureha's lips curled into a smile, she puffs "He is an old friend…" the four can easily understand the longing and saddness in her voice, something that resonated with them all, that is was true and sincere.

To them it made things more suspicious and made their curiosity higher than ever, considering that the person they were chasing was like a copy of Kiyomitsu and now a girl is chasing after him.

Somehow to them maybe it was just a coincidence that Aichi kept seeing him and that he is a real person, not just a playful fox playing with him, or a trap that is trying to lure him out, maybe it was time to stop chasing Aichi thought. "Sorry if you lost him…" both Aichi and Kureha spoke at the same time.

"N-no it's fine!" Aichi said and so did Kureha.

"I wasn't looking at the near intersection." Aichi said.

"It's fine I wasn't thinking about that too." Kureha said.

"This two are somewhat similar huh…" Yagen noticed as the three watches the two.

"Yes, I can somehow see that." Tonbokiri added while Kogitsunemaru only nodded in agreement to the two.

Their way of movements, their timidness, even their matching sweater… are both… red…

Until finally it stopped when Kureha's expression turned serious "Just one word of advice, don't run into people that you don't know." She pierced through Aichi's eyes as if reading him.

"I saw in your eyes when I asked you your connection to him that you do not have any connection to him, except for the answers to your question that you said." She closes her eyes and looked at the area where the man was before "Just that if you do want to follow something, make sure that you are ready if it will give you a bad ending." She smiles.

With just that brief moment Aichi once again realizes that his curiosity could have done something that he would again regret and make the others sad, it wasn't in his intention but maybe he thought just maybe he would instead give his trust to this girl and if their paths would one day again cross, then he will ask her if she has succeeded in chasing the person, for now with her warning it would be best to steer clear.

Of who this person is, what is his name, what is his past, is he an enemy or an ally or if Kureha is too and the most important question of all, why does he look like him?

After much thinking Kureha then jumps at a nearby tree grabbing Aichi's attention "Don't worry, uhm… Aichi-kun, if we ever crossed paths I will tell you some of what I know whether if I have ever successfully chased after him or if not, I will try to answer it anything you want to know, as long as I can answer it… for now so leave the following to me!" She smiles "This is the closest I have him within my grasps, and I am not going to let this chance slip…"

"Farewell… for now, and be careful not to get yourself into trouble again…" with that she disappears into the leaves of the trees. Which again they thought that her Kureha might also be a Kanji to the other meaning leaf.

"Then I was wrong that it was a kitsune playing with you." Kogitsunemaru spoke "But then again, we all saw it."

"It's like she read my mind…" Aichi said.

"About what?" Yagen asked.

"The part where she said that if our paths crossed, in my mind I thought that if there will be a chance to cross paths again I will ask her about him. And then she spoke like answering to my thoughts…" Aichi silently stared at the tree where Kureha left as the other three did too.

"Wait… what does she mean to not get into trouble again?" Aichi questioned.

"Maybe it's the part where you bumped into her." Tonbokiri gave a good reason.

"Yeah, that could be it." Aichi said in realization smiling sheepishly.

But then Yagen looks at his watch "You will be late if we do not leave now…" after 5 second and…

"Uwah! We have to go now!"

~Hitsue Middle School~ -Aichi's PoV-

"Leave the following to me!" Kureha-san's voice resounded in my head from time to time whenever my mind is not occupied with other things. Yes, that's the best option that I should do! What I have to do…

Although I hoped that it would be best if I won't see that person again, as I know myself too well that I would still chase after it, but I have got to put my trust to Kureha-san and to steer clear away of trouble. I don't want to burden everyone, and most especially I don't want them to be sad when it is my fault. I have to change for the better, for them.

Which will be hard considering that right now in front of me at the cafeteria… that so called illusion who is now sure to be a real person as said by Kureha-san is again walking toward the usual route that I always see him going.

Now that I think about it though, what if they were actually both ghosts the same as the kitsune playing with me that Kogitsunemaru mentioned, but to top it all off, maybe I should have told Kureha-san a tip, a tip that this person is actually going this school.

Whatever it is I shouldn't think of going there and following him and just wish that someone or something will get my attention away from him. Though thankfully I couldn't be happier to hear the voices of my friends "Oi, Aichi! You've been staring there for a while now." Morikawa called my attention.

"Let's go now I'm excited to see what your lunch will be today!" Morikawa cheered, he is always eager to know what is inside my lunch boxes, it is because many toudans have different styles of cooking dishes making things exciting for one dish, add to it that Shokudaikiri always has new dishes to serve making the food at the citadel and my lunch for school not boring and always makes me anxious for the new taste that will enter my mouth when I eat it.

Although this has become a normal routine, me and Izaki just couldn't help but sweat drop at his remarks about my lunch, although thankfully the toudans in charge of cooking duty never ceases to fail in giving me extra for them to eat with me.

As I look back one more time to the place where he is usually walking through, which he was there no more.

Whoever you are… I will try my best to stay away given that I was warned…

"Just that if you do want to follow something, make sure that you are ready if it will give you a bad ending"

I will think that maybe it was a precaution, or maybe it really is a friendly reminder that what I am following is something dangerous. That I should not follow what I am not sure even if he has some answers that would answer the cravings of my curiosity.

-Normal PoV- ~Back at the Citadel~

"Hmm..?" Aichi looks at his left and his right as the other toudans that is at the garden greeted him "Where is Mina-nee?" as he knows that usually Mina always greets him when comes home, so it was strange that she was not present.

"Oh… she just went to take care of some things…" Konnosuke explained, without having eye contact with him while wagging his tail left and right staring at the pond.

"What about Kon-san" Aichi asked next.

"Oh, since his last day is tomorrow he thought that it would be best to join at leaving with Mina." Konnosuke added.

"It's a bit sudden huh…" Aichi said to which Konnosuke agreed, while he made his way to his room without forgetting to greet the other toudans back.

~Few days have passed –Saturday morning-~

While taking a break at the garden of the citadel the atmosphere somewhat a little tense with Mikazuki's somehow not good aura coming out of him, which is making them curious but there is no way of knowing what and why, even Kogitsunemaru who is closest to him doesn't know, but Mina and Konnosuke might have an idea of why.

"I am afraid that I am not in the mood for tea right now." Mikazuki places down the untouched tea in his hand as he stood up with the other toudans whispering to each other and asking Kogitsunemaru of what has happened.

All over the place where Aichi have gone too Mikazuki followed, but to no avail, Aichi did look at him and greeted him, but there was something missing from those, of course he made sure that no one would notice him following him besides Aichi.

Until finally at Aichi's room at the evening where he was about to sleep, Aichi noticed that Mikazuki is silently waiting near his room.

Greeting him normally with a Good night while Aichi reaches for the door Mikazuki slammed his hands so that Aichi wouldn't be able to slide the door open, of course he did not put that much force since it would end up breaking.

Noticing that Mikazuki has caught his attention he leans in closer to whisper on his ear "Are you scared of me?" he asked as Aichi turns around but was unable to look nor speak after seeing his face.

But he did not get an answer from him and instead averted his eyes from him and even closes his eyes, hurting Mikazuki a little. "Then I guess I should steer clear away from you ever again, so that I won't anger you also…" he tries his best to get Aichi's attention.

And with what Mikazuki has said Aichi instantly and finally locked eyes with him "No! I'm -" as he instantly spoke it was also that instant that he stopped, noticing the eye contact with him, he lowers his head and continues "it's not that…" Once again Aichi's heart skips a beat as he feels his cheek getting warmer.

Slowly Aichi reaches for the other handle of the door, which Mikazuki also slammed his hands onto to stop Aichi from entering "Then what?" Mikazuki leans a little closer.

"Haven't I told you that I won't do anything that you don't like…" Mikazuki slowly placed his forehead on Aichi's shoulder, the one of course with no injury

"I can feel in your emotion that you are saying the truth but… Not seeing any action can feel like it's all lie… especially when knowing that something is bothering you, when you usually are troubled you will come to me for aid, question, enlightment… but you did not even come once, nor even look my way for a whole week."

"I know knowing your feelings is the answer, but, it still somewhat hurts… If that one time I stole your kiss made you hate me, then so be it, although I am sorry to say that I will not disappear from you entirely as I still have a duty as your Touken Danshi, but I will do my best to steer clear of your way and so that we do not always cross paths even if we are in the citadel and will only try my best to see you only when you have orders for me."

Of course Aichi doesn't want that it's just that "I'm sorry I couldn't look into your eyes… but I just don't know how to respond to it and every time I look at you even though we have the same gender, I can feel my face heat up, I treat everyone here the same as my comrade, but… but because of what you did… I don't know how to look into your eyes anymore…"

Somewhere in Mikazuki's mind… Wow he is dense…

Mikazuki chuckles surprising Aichi "Just continue on the way you are whenever you are close to me, try to be just you in front of me, the you I fell for… the you who is trying to change for the better, well everything about you. I will be with you every step of the way, so you do not have to worry. I will give you some time since I know that it wouldn't be that easy to do…" Mikazuki lifted his head.

"For now I just want to see you smile normally in front of me, the way you always used to be, that shining radiant smile that I don't want to lose. And I will still try my best not to cross paths with you too much so I that I won't catch you off guard." Mikazuki proceeded to place his hand on Aichi's cheek.

"I will try my best…" was the only thing Aichi could say trying his best to look at his eyes but still looks away after some time.

"I am glad to hear it then." Mikazuki then bid him good night and made his way to the stairs, noticing that Mikazuki is there no more Aichi's knees gave up on him and is he now sitting on the floor with his heart beating so fast.

~The next morning -Garden-~

"Oh, I see something good has happened last night." Kogitsunemaru said as he sat near Mikazuki, noticing that his normal aura and smile are now matching unlike yesterday morning.

"Yes…" he laughed "How brilliant." He said as he continues on to sip his tea.

Outro: For now I am loving the dynamic between Childe and Aether, a fanart gave me the chills and since then I became a fan!, But my Aether harem consist of Childe, Kaeya, Diluc, Zhongli, Xiao, and Razor and a little bit of Chongyun 3, mainly the four daddies hehe…

Since there is not much update, but have events, hoping I could still continue writing with the busy sched and addictive playing on Genshin Impact.

Additional points for Mikazuki.. heh… his voice being Kaeya's just… *sigh* though I feel like its still a miss…

I'm very sorry for my lack of vocabulary, wrong grammars and wrong spellings, but I hope you like the story nonetheless, and thank you for everyone's continuous support! Thank you for reading!