Intro: So yeah I lived, and that is good news, thanks for still continuing on to read and waiting for next chapter! Thank you thank you very much!
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 77: Plan
~Sunday~ -Meeting hall at the Citadel-
On the door of a certain room in the citadel there on top of it a sign written on paper, it says 'Occupied, Do not disturb' and inside that room lies two groups of people First is Team Quadrifoglio and the Second is Team Caesar, which surprised the latter about their coming.
In front of Team Q4 walking to his left and right Shin started his 'talk' "As you all now a new tournament will be held!" Shin stands proud and strict in front of Team Quadrifoglio while informing them of the upcoming event as he continued on with his speech "And this time we are hoping… no… we should aim to win!" Shin pumps his fist then hurriedly moved his hands towards the visitors aka Team Caesar "And with their help we will be number one!"
"You do know that we are also joining on this tournament right?" Yuri raised a brow from Shin's remark.
"We could not know the true outcome, so let's just help each other out." Kenji, smiling, said to Yuri.
"Just say what the real reason why you are really here…" Misaki sighs with Aichi sheepishly laughing.
At the area where Team Caesar are sitting, there lies lots of different types and set of foods and drinks lined in front of them to eat.
Team Caesar drops a sweat, since their coming all the toudans gave them of course their utmost respect and hospitability towards visitors, and served them variety of foods and drinks, with of course hearing the words they will be helping their beloved master achieve victory in one of his passions, which is winning the Tournament they thought of giving their best as support.
"We will still help you, it's not like we are just here for the food and ambience." Gai said.
"You just said it yourself! Just fess up!" Kamui stood up from his seat as he pointed towards where they are seated.
"Hey, hey it's fine it's fine no fighting, right?" Miwa said as he chomps on one of the food that is served at the table of Team Caesar.
"And you! Aren't you just the same?!" Misaki retaliated.
"Yeah! I'm sure you had something to do with this!" Kamui added.
Thinking that this might be actually nonsense Kai sighs and stood up, slowly walking away with Aichi and Shin trying to stop him.
As if not hearing him "Oh my…" Was the only words that slipped out of Shin.
It is chaos inside… with Miwa joining in, things just… got out of hand for Shin.
~At the Garden~
"Alright Line up everyone! Aichi-kun doesn't know anything about this but don't worry I will inform of him this when he finished with his agenda, and while he is busy with his other training I will announce some… things… and don't worry this is for his own good and will need full cooperation… So listen up!" Mina called all of the Toudans at the garden for a quick important announcement.
~Afternoon~ -After the said Training-
With a bang from the sliding door pushed with force, Shin declares that today's training is done and successful. Team Q4 bidding farewell to Team Caesar. After a while of short pep talk Team Q4 with Miwa bids farewell also with Shin, with in mind that Misaki will still be staying because of the still unfinished renovation of Card Capital.
Walking towards the hallway Aichi places a hand on his forehead with Misaki noticing this action she can't help but worry "Are you alright?" Misaki asked with Kamui and Kai still inside the room and playing at their hearts content Miwa who is watching the card battle between the two saw this stood up beside them supporting Aichi.
"Used too much of your brain cells?" Miwa joked while helping him walk along the veranda, though he was joking it is true that he is genuinely worried about the latter.
Pulling away his hands he made sure to the two that he is doing fine "I'm fine, just a little headache."
"Yes, and that means you used too much of it." Miwa snickered but Misaki stopped him immediately swallowing his saliva at the glare she showed him, he just want to set up the mood but it seems it wasn't helping.
Aichi chuckled at the thought "Funny though I feel like I've improved."
"You did, and that is true." Misaki said assuring him.
"Yeah I agree, you always almost beat Yuri and Gai, you are almost at that level!" Miwa cheered. "Oh you too nee-chan, you almost wiped the floor with Yuri-san."
Misaki looked away at Miwa's compliment "Of course, I can't stay at that level, I also have to improve."
"While playing Vanguard, little by little I can somehow hear the voices of the cards… rooting for me to win, helping me to win and then showing me to win, I might be too engrossed at this game but for me if I can really hear them, then it makes me really happy." Aichi smiles while holding tightly onto his cards.
"Somehow I don't see this as something impossible knowing what you can do and what you are, adding to it that everything has soul, also time and their owners gave them too, maybe it's just a possibility considering your gift, but yeah, we will see." For Miwa what he said to Aichi is true and he do believe that from what he is seeing right now is not something going to be farfetched from what Aichi is saying, although since this is a card game he would never know if it is true, since historical swords are old and their personalities shows that they are loved by their owners giving them such strong souls.
"Alright, don't want to surprise the others so I'm going up ahead and give them a heads up to prepare something for you." Miwa then rushes forward to the direction of the kitchen.
~Garden~
While taking a break at the garden, Mina who is walking through the veranda quickly called out his attention as she walks towards him she then made herself seated beside him. In her hand a clipboard that she slowly hands over to Aichi.
With a very confused face because of the silence when handed over to, finally, Aichi understood why "Eh?" with a loud voice showing his surprise, the toudans near them were not even surprised at his reaction, possibly because they knew what was written in it.
"A… Are you sure about this?" Aichi stared at Mina with a confused face "I mean its fine but… are you sure?" Aichi then stares at the clipboard, staring at it deeply full of thoughts.
"Yes, and we have talked this out, considering that they have done something already 'twice' now" Mina emphasized the word twice so as to not belittle the number "and that is bothering the present timeline, which they know themselves would put them on the short end of the stick but still did everything to do whatever they were planning, I want to be sure since they were so bold to be doing something like this."
At that Aichi thought "It wouldn't be impossible for a third…" he lowers his voice as reality hits him, he then shifted his gaze to Mina with acceptance in his eyes he said "Alright!"
~At an unknown Area~
There stands Ren Suzugamori near the table with Asaka and Tetsu in front as they watch in worry and surprise at the infuriated Ren, shoving all the contents of the table he said "Why?! Why isn't it working!?" thumping the table while saying over and over the words why.
The two in worry and unable to do anything could only stare at each other as they see their leader enrage at something they know nothing about. Although they wanted to help, they were kept hidden at all the things that their leader was doing up this time, though they understand themselves that he does not watch the trainings that they do, but his missing at his office more often is worrying them, especially now that something like this is happening in front of them.
"It seems that your abilities are not that powerful yet as it did not affect him to the fullest" from the shadows the masked man has appeared sarcastically mocking Ren.
"You! Whatever you are doing to Ren-sama please stop it!" Asaka shouted as her feet leads her to the direction of the man.
Knowing that this person is not a normal one Tetsu quickly stops Asaka from moving on, he knows that this man is dangerous and whatever Ren is doing he knows that it is not something of a child's play and could only wish him peace if the plan they have is done.
"It's those stupid bonds he keeps talking about it makes me sick…" Ren glares at the masked man "Can't you do something about it?"
"See you are still weak, you can't even sever a flimsy bond of a new Saniwa and newly born sword warriors" the masked man continues on to mock him as Ren prepares a talismans that shuts the man up as he once spoke again answering what Ren would want to hear, he needs this easily controlled person so it would be best to just do what he wants to hear until he can do so what he want after "I most certainly can, but of course…" the masked man was cut off by Ren.
"I know what I must do, but I want answers why it is not working." Ren pointed the talisman to him.
Although he knows he can do something about it, it would be best not to anger him too much "It does work, he succumbs to the despair you feel it don't you." The masked man slowly approaches them.
"But it still didn't change the fact that on a daily basis if despair touches him it will fade away the same day." When the masked man reached their destination Ren eyes the two ordering them to leave the room.
Asaka was reluctant to leave but Tetsu knows this is something that they should not hear as it is not their business, Asaka knows this but there is nothing they can do but just wait and left the room, it will be bad to anger him too and they can't do anything to help anyways so they'll just have to obey so that it will end faster.
As the two left, they waited until there was no one near in the area and continued on to their discussion "He does get affected by the poison that we injected to him at that day, but his bonds with his so called family of his is powerful enough to deplete all the despair that he accumulated, add to it that there is a certain sword who knows medicine and a certain Saniwa that is surely have known and done something about it." The masked man explained to him.
"So we still need something more to make him snap, I would love to see that smile get broken and ripped off out of his face" Ren lowered his talismans as if his anger did not get the best of him earlier, he returns to normal and slumped down on his chair.
"It doesn't mean that the despair he has with him disappeared though…" the masked man chuckles as Ren gazed at him with a cold smile.
"It only means that all his uneasiness, fear, and insecurity is still there, but this bond that he says is just keeping him sane." Ren burst in laughter at the discovery that everything he has done is not for nothing and everything is still according to plan "We just need to push him towards it… so did you get enough intel?" Ren turns around his chair playfully while waiting for their next plan.
"Of course…"
~Monday –on their way to school-~
"I'm somehow curious what has become of this formation…" Tonbokiri said looking at Mutsunokami and Hakata that is in front of him and Aichi who just said something that Aichi wasn't expecting.
"Eh? I thought all of you talked it out with Mina-nee?" Aichi hastily directed his surprised face to Tonbokiri almost stopping on his tracks.
Hakata raised a hand as he walks beside Aichi "She didn't tell us everything though, what she just told us that is to guard you also at school since with the two attacks with places with people it won't be impossible to strike at the school and isolate you in one area with no one near and won't let anyone near." Hakata said.
"So she only informed us to infiltrate the school to check if enemies has also gotten inside." Mutsunokami added.
"She also said that she would just speak with you regarding this and then we saw the new line up for the Aichi-sama's Bodyguards list as named by Mina-dono that is posted at the stairs below your room." Aichi sweat dropped at hearing the word Bodyguards and its coming from the most suited to be one of them, Tonbokiri.
"Just make sure to hide yourself!" Aichi said but not as an order but as reminder to be careful.
"We will still see you off and after a while that everyone is in their rooms that is where we will sneak inside!" Mutsunokami seems pumped up.
"Why the sudden energy?" Aichi asked in curiosity.
Hakata and Mutsunokami smiled at each other "We get to see what this school is like!" both said in unison.
"Of course we are also curious as to what you do inside!" Mutsunokami said.
"And we are curious what it looks inside!" Hakata jumped as he adds.
"I see." Somehow Aichi thought that it's kind of nice that they are taking interest at what he does, or maybe it's just because they are unfamiliar of this era that they are curious of everything.
~Inside the school~
"Infiltration complete!" Mutsunokami and Hakata whispered as they posed while their eyes are all over the place.
"Should we start?" Tonbokiri called out the attention of the two.
"Yes!" The two said in unison.
But before that "Where are we anyways…" Mutsunokami finally takes notice of.
They went at the back of the school, the most deserted part of the school, and the place where old equipment's are stored.
While looking at the whole area a certain building caught Hakata's attention "Hey hey hey! Let's check every room!" Hakata suggested while pointing at the said building as Mutsunokami and he hastily ran towards it.
"Well checking every rooms also counts." Tonbokiri raised a brow with a worried smile on his face as he set to follow the two.
~Lunch Break~
"Oi, Aichi!" Aichi snaps from the trail of thoughts that is occupying his head from Morikawa and Izaki's calls.
Finally able to call out to him Izaki noticed a notebook full of notes that is surely not taken from their lecture "Don't tell me you haven't been listening to the lectures?" Izaki pointed at the notebook Aichi has been staring at when they called him.
Aichi stares back at the notebook as Izaki thought that something might have happened "Did something happened?" Izaki asked in worry.
"Don't worry with the great Morikawa here, I will save you in any predicament." Morikawa said with a face full of confidence and posture.
Which the two knows is just something he does when he is also worried, it's kind of his way to say he is worried but his head is too big to say it that directly.
Aichi shakes his head as he cleans up his desk "No, its fine don't worry." Aichi assured though he is half lying.
"Let's go eat lunch." Izaki said inviting Aichi to eat.
What has been bothering Aichi is not what is written on the notebook, but instead he is worried about what is happening to the three he was with just this morning.
When they have reached the cafeteria and have taken a seat, some of the students were fussing about something that is quite unearthly.
"Hey have you heard, someone who is in-charge of cleaning the equipment room heard noises inside of it!"
"What kind of noises?"
"They heard someone counting! Not just one person but it seems multiple voices were heard!"
"Ehhh… they could have just been someone counting the equipment's inventory inside."
"But that is the catch, the people who were going to clean them were the ones in charge of it also… So they looked inside to check… only to see…"
"What is with the suspense!?"
"NOTHING!"
"KYAAA!"
And then laughter burst out in the group of the students "I'm not kidding though it actually happened today."
"Wow, in the morning what playful souls"
Aichi jumped at hearing that it just happened today and in the morning, somehow it just strike him as something that made him uneasy but of course that couldn't be… right?
~After school~
After school Aichi said his good bye to the two as he hastily left to find where the three might be, a little worried about their certain infiltration and to his surprised they are already walking towards him.
"Aichi~ sama~!" Hakata called out while waving his hand that made Aichi panic looking to his left and right if there are other from his class, seeing nobody near he places one of his fingers close to his lips to sign to keep it low.
But at the far back from other classes he could hear voices "oh its them!" "Aww.. he is not here today" "I saw him again so dreamy." "I wonder when will he come again" At the least they were nice words that he heard so far and doesn't want to hear more so he fastened his pace and ran a little faster.
"A-Aichi-sama you shouldn't run!" Tonbokiri tries to hurry but his mobility failed him so it was up to Mutsunokami with Hakata trying to wait and time his phase to Tonbokiri.
When finally catching up to them Aichi greets the three and the first thing that came to him to ask is "So what did you find out?"
"A lot!" The two said in unison, to which made Aichi chuckle from delight seeing their smile it seems there was no danger yet that will harm the school.
But of course it would be too early to say as they might not have decided to do it yet there are still other days to come that they can execute their plan "I see, is it alright to ask what they were?" Aichi asked.
"Of course!" Hakata said.
"May it today or any other day we will gladly tell you over and over again!" Mutsunokami added.
"I sure did found out a lot too." Tonbokiri joined in.
"That's great!" Aichi chuckled. For now he will just hope that they won't plan anything at his school, because there might be lives that will be at stake if ever that happens and it filled him with fear thinking of it.
~The next day~
It's the second day and the team that is accompanying Aichi sure has become quiet from the reason is that it will be Kogitsunemaru, Hasebe, and Gokotai. Though there is no problem with them, the problem is "A-Aichi-sama, s-sorry!" Gokotai bowed so formal that the bag on his back almost tipped and let loose what was inside them, good thing Kogitsunemaru and Hasebe swiftly closed and push back the bag.
"I… Its fine just make sure that they won't be seen by others" Aichi pats Gokotai's head as they continued on.
Curious why they did not left the tigers? It was because Gokotai will be leaving for a whole day and that would make the cubs restless without his presence for that long time hence Mina and Aichi made a bag earlier that if this day comes the cubs will have something they can be placed so that they won't be seen by other people and also so that they can be easily carried.
After they successfully got Aichi to school they left off to find the area where to infiltrate the school and get started on their mission.
They successfully went inside the school easily especially that they have intel from the first team they were passed on to them so it was easier than the first time and they will be able to rely it to the next team that will also head in tomorrow.
Although the thing with the first team "I knew that the first team would be a fail." Hasebe sighed.
"They still went on to check every room and did their task, though what they did were…" Kogitsunemaru paused.
"Just goofed off… !" as Hasebe angrily (comically) stomped the ground while making annoyed muffled noises between those muffled voices were "they did check every room but just out of curiosity and not because of their actual job, and they have the audacity to play" and then after the short fit he puffed "Alright let's take this seriously this is for Aichi-sama's safety" as if nothing happened.
"Understood"
"Y-yes"
~At Lunch break in the cafeteria~
"Hey Hey Hey!" a group of students were talking about something that can be heard over to them.
"Oh anything new?"
"Yeah!"
"Okay! Lay it on us!"
"Did you know that there are beast in this school?!" at hearing the word beast there is only one thing that popped on to Aichi's head and almost spits out his drink… yep, Gokotai's tiger cubs, but he thought it might be better to hear the whole story first.
"This friend of mine was inside the room of their club and while checking things out he heard footsteps that seems to have claws, and there were many of them!"
"Beast? More like maybe just birds or cat or maybe just a dogs."
"But that is the thing though from the slow gap of the open door of their club room, he noticed white silhouettes, at first it was one so he did not mind it but then came another and then the next he got curious and peeked at the gap then saw something white and it's a tiger! You know like that divine beast Byakko?!"
"It might just be a dog that is color white that they saw, it would be impossible that it would be a tiger in a first place as white tigers are super rare."
"I know that's why maybe it's like a ghost or monster like Byakko!"
"Well, we would never know since we were not the ones who saw it."
"Exactly!" and after that the group's conversation near them ended and turned into a different topic.
Aichi's mind can't begin to think properly, the toudans might accidentally expose themselves, but there is no way he can stop them from coming as it will be dangerous, maybe think of some other way or maybe … at that he shook his head and thought of something else.
Right about now he is confused and wants to find them and see and ask… but it might be best to let them handle it he thought, since they might be eating and then feeding them but then got out of hand and ran.
He became uneasy because of the news that he has heard, and now he cannot think straight and just thought of things that might have caused that to happen.
Outro: So yeah this was actually planned for a long time and I am happy I am finally able to write it! I've been waiting to write this for so long! There is more to come in this part of the story though.
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!