Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 5! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
During the next few days, Aichi had participated in another tournament hosted by Card Capital as he teamed up with Misaki and Kamui for the team tournament. Thankfully, he won again but the voices of the cards had also spoken to him right then during his fight with Miwa. Upon returning home, he took out his cards again and started pondering.
" I don't really like where this is going... Having Reishi and being able to hear the thoughts of people are already bothersome enough, but a power that allows me to hear the voices of the cards...? I do want Kai-kun to acknowledge my strength in Vanguard, but... is it really alright to depend on a power that I don't know anything about? If I do then I..." Aichi thought as he remembered Ren and the way he fights, " I might become like him if I lose control of this too..."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door as he kept his cards and opened it.
" Mother..."
" I know tomorrow's the Regionals, but your grandfather is asking us to meet him today. Will you be alright?" Shizuka ask
" Yeah..."
" Then let's go." Shizuka said
Aichi nodded as they took transportation to a traditional mansion. The gates opened after they identified themselves as they walked into the main building and was sat down on the sofa.
" The master will be here shortly. Please wait here." A servant said before leaving
After they waited for another few minutes, an old man with neat and styled white hair entered in a yukata attire as he sat down opposite them.
" So what do you want to meet us for, Father?" Shizuka ask
" I'm glad you actually remembered that I'm your father, Shizue." He said
" I'm not Shizue, please call me Shizuka." Shizuka said
" ... Whatever. I called you here because of a divination, as I've said in the call before. It said that your son is the one that will rightfully inherit this clan after me." He said
" What?"
" Hao Asakura. You guys met him, right? Our God and ancestor." He said
" ... Huh...?"
" Enough, Father. I'm not allowing Aichi to become the Head. He has more important things to be doing and tomorrow's a big day for him. If that's all, then we'll be taking our leave." Shizuka said
" Hold."
As he raised his hand, security guards stormed into the room as one dragged Aichi by his wrists up to his feet as he struggled.
" Aichi!"
Shizuka was thrown back down on the sofa by the other guards as they stopped her attempts from getting up.
" Mother!"
" Azuha, let him sleep for now." He ordered
A female spirit with a traditional headdress appeared as Aichi was put to sleep with her powers.
" Carry him to his room. I still have matters to talk to with this woman."
" Yes, sir."
" Aichi!"
The guard carried Aichi and left the room as Shizuka glared at her father.
" Don't give me that. From the day you married that normal human, you've already been cast out from this family. Look, you've been abandoned by that man and are now this pathetic! But your son is our blessing now... If we train him properly, he'll become a strong Shaman with enough power to summon Onis, like our ancestor. So I'll have to thank you for birthing him... Shizue Asakura... No, Shizuka Sendou. Don't worry, we'll take good care of your son." He said
With a quick command, Shizuka was forcefully escorted out of the gates as she tried to protest again to get Aichi back.
" Damn bastard...! Just you wait... I'll definitely get Aichi back from you!" Shizuka thought as she stormed off
A few hours later, her father walked over to a room with the same guard in front of him saluting to greet him.
" How is he?" He ask
" He doesn't want to see anyone, sir. He says that he don't want to be here, so he's been confining himself in a corner." The guard explained
He ordered for the door to be opened as the guard pulled open the door to allow him inside. Aichi heard the door as he flinched and curled up as much as he can in the corner of the room.
" Don't come any closer...!" Aichi exclaimed
" It's me, Aichi. Your grandfather, Keijin." Keijin said
" No...!"
" Your uncles and aunts are not in this household anymore, so you can relax here now without worries. No one will treat you like that ever again." Keijin assured
" ... I want to go home...!" Aichi cried
" This is your home. From now on, you'll be living here comfortably. And when you graduate, you'll be homeschooled for the rest of your school years. So I'll allow you to continue your mundane activities until then. Tomorrow's an important day, right? I've been watching your fights on television." Keijin said
" I don't want to be here..." Aichi said
" ... Like it or not, this will be your life from now on. After graduation, you'll never be seeing those friends and teammates of yours again, so your freedom will last until then. I'll have someone bring you to your destination tomorrow and bring you home too. Get used to it." Keijin said as he left the room
Aichi's tears continued to flow from his eyes as he thought about the friends he'd made in the span of a few months and having to leave them.
" I can't just leave like that... They'll all be..." Aichi thought
That was when a feeling came over him as he took out his deck from his pocket and looked at the card inside.
" ... I have to do this... so that no one will be hurt..." Aichi thought
During the next day in the Regionals, everyone present, friends and teammates equally, had all witnessed a great change in Aichi's attitude and demeanor as he had grown confident in cardfighting and also almost... arrogant, albeit frightening. Kai was the most affected by this change as he'd suspected something about Aichi when Miwa approached him after the tournament in Card Capital.
" But he said something odd... Something about the cards talking to him or something." Miwa had said
He narrowed his eyes as his memories brought him back to a red haired figure with a menacing aura around him before he flashed back to reality. After fainting after his fight with Kyou, Aichi was brought to the infirmary as Kai finally told him that he was still weak and declared to leave the team. While the others who heard it were shocked, Aichi just smiled a little behind their backs.
After the Regionals, Aichi had the same feeling again as it seemed to draw him to something or someone.
" ... Grandfather... I want to go somewhere... Pick up something..." Aichi requested in the living room
" Very well."
A guard came to escort Aichi as he was driven to the mall where he felt the same feeling. The guard was asked to wait as Aichi found Cardshop PSY and entered it to find Ren and Ultra Rare. It was then that Ren handed him the Shadow Paladin deck. The dark feeling had grown now as Aichi's smirk was now darker than normal. Kourin fought him to try to get him back to his senses but it was too late as Aichi had been driven too far by the power, Psyqualia.
" ... Thank you, Ren-san. With this... it'll be much easier for me to finish my task." Aichi said before leaving
Ren blinked in confusion at first but shrugged it off as Aichi talking in his power hungry state.
During the Nationals, Aichi had shown up with the Shadow Paladin deck and won each of his fights. However, he had mild fainting spells from overusing Psyqualia, so Kamui and Misaki took it upon themselves to try to win all their matches without needing Aichi to go up. However, when Misaki lost in the final round second match against a member of Team Brilliant Stars, an extended team from Foo Fighter, Aichi came on to fight but had said harsh words to Misaki beforehand. After winning and securing a spot to the National Finals, Aichi immediately left before the fainting spell hit him while Kamui, Misaki and Shin met up with the others.
" What's up? You guys look dejected even after winning. Where's Aichi?" Morikawa ask
" He left right after his match." Shin replied
" Brother has been acting different lately... Usually he would just cheer us up when we lost a match but today... he scolded Misaki-san and talked down on her." Kamui said
" It's almost like he completely changed after getting the Shadow Paladins." Misaki said
" It can't be... Aichi won't do that, maybe he's nervous." Izaki said
" I hope so..."
Soon after, a soft sniffle was heard as they turned to see Emi crying and Misaki went over to comfort.
" Aichi... He can't be with us anymore, that's why he..." Emi cried
" What does that mean?!" Kamui exclaimed
" ... This isn't the place to talk. Let's head back to the shop. I'll also drop Morikawa-kun and Izaki-kun at their homes. In the meantime,
Izaki-kun, could you contact Miwa-kun and ask him to bring Kai-kun with him? We need to talk." Shin said
" R-Right..."
A few hours later, they were now back at the shop after dropping off Morikawa and Izaki at their homes. After waiting for awhile longer, Miwa and Kai entered the shop to see the gloomy atmosphere as Shin beckoned them to sit down as he locked the doors.
" Emi-chan. Could you tell us what's happening? What's happening to Aichi?" Misaki ask
" ... The day before the regionals, Aichi and Mother had went to visit grandfather. But Mother had never spoken to him for so long, so I was curious. But in the late evening, Mother came home alone..." Emi explained
" Withour Brother?" Kamui ask
" Yeah... Then Mother had kept calling grandfather's number. I tried to listen in and... I heard that Aichi was being forced to become the Head of grandfather's clan and he won't be able to come back out again after graduation. Mother returned home alone that day because Aichi had been taken away to live in grandfather's mansion and she couldn't help him..." Emi continued
" But Aichi just got to realise his emotions! If he gets locked up like that, he'll be back to the Aichi we first met!" Miwa exclaimed
" Mother's trying but nothing's helping... Not even the authorities could go against grandfather because of his wealth and status... Aichi must have realised that and started acting this way..." Emi said as her tears flowed again
Misaki comforted her as Shin hummed in worry.
" He's purposely pushing everyone away so that we won't feel as hurt when he has to say goodbye." Shin said
" That's right! The Aichi I know would never act that way!" Emi exclaimed
" ... And here I thought he might've actually fell into that power... He was actually using its obsessive nature to push his goal to succeed." Kai thought
" ... Miwa. Contact that idol. Sendou, tell her the address of the mansion." Kai said
" Huh?"
" I'll be waiting at the Underground tomorrow." Kai said
" ... Right!"
The next day, Aichi was looking through his Shadow Paladin deck as his gaze fell on Blaster Dark.
" I'll continue to depend on you. You're important for my plan to succeed." Aichi thought
Suddenly, a swirl of light shone in his eyes as he got up and opened the door. He looked out of the courtyard and looked up to the sky.
" ... He's trying to call me again..." Aichi muttered as he looked at the Blaster Dark card
He went back into his room and changed to his red turtleneck and blue jacket. He then entered the living room to see Keijin.
" You want to go out again?" Keijin ask
" Yes..."
" What for?"
Before Aichi could respond, the light in his eyes swirled again as he quickly shook it off, hoping Keijin didn't notice.
" ... Some business..." Aichi replied
Keijin kept silent when a guard entered to greet them.
" Sir, the Ultra Rare idol, Kourin, has requested for Aichi-sama's presence. What should I do?" He ask
" Huh? Kourin-san is here?" Aichi ask
Keijin stood up as they went over to the gate where Kourin was waiting with a motorcycle.
" Aichi Sendou."
" Kourin-san... What... How are you here?" Aichi ask
" And for your information, he's an Asakura. He's not Sendou anymore." Keijin said
" ... Aichi. I need you to come with me. There's someone you need to meet." Kourin said
" He's not riding on that thing. If he needs to go somewhere then I'll have my men drive him over." Keijin said
" I want to go alone, grandfather. If it's something this important, then it's better to not have anyone else following. I can protect myself." Aichi assured
" ... Fine."
Aichi bowed as Kourin handed him another helmet and drove off.
" Tail them."
" Yes, sir!"
Soon, Kourin and Aichi arrived at the Underground Fight Club as Aichi was greeted by the sights of his friends. And then when he turned his head to the fight table, he saw Kai waiting.
" Kai... kun...?"
" Go on." Kourin said
" R-Right..."
Aichi walked over to Kai at the fight table as he ushered Aichi to stand opposite him at the table.
" What's wrong? You're getting the fight that you wanted from me. Why are you hesitating?" Kai ask
" ... I'm not."
" Or is it that you still want me to call you weak? Because that's what your fights are telling me right now." Kai said
" ... Fine then. I'll show you who's stronger." Aichi said
Aichi wore the glove connected to the table as they set up their field and drew their hand cards before resting their hands on their starting Vanguard.
" Stand up, Vanguard!"
" Stand up the Vanguard!"
To his surprise, Kai was using the Royal Paladin deck that he had abandoned back in Cardshop PSY as their fight began. As their fight progressed normally, Kai soon rode to Blaster Blade and gauged for Aichi's reaction.
" You're hiding something, aren't you?" Kai ask
" I'm not, what are you talking about?" Aichi ask
" You're not being truthful. Since that's the case, I'll change my question then. Where have you been after the tournament?" Kai ask
" ... Home... What does it matter to you?" Aichi ask
" ... Nothing much."
Aichi just let out a small sigh before continuing his turn and Kai's eyes narrowed after seeing it. Aichi depended on Psyqualia's power to remain seen as power hungry and relied on using the images shown by it to try to win against Kai, but his supposed Final Turn failed as he gasped inwardly.
" ... You're hesitating and your fight comes out half-baked. Because you know it yourself that you're going down the wrong path. Aichi, why are you forcing yourself to become like this?" Kai ask
" I'm not...! This is who I am now!" Aichi exclaimed
" Then can you say the same thing when you see this?! Together with the knights, open a new path... and look upon the young king! I ride! Alfred Early!" Kai declared
" Alfred Early?!"
" That's right! I activate his skill! I superior call Blaster Blade from the soul!" Kai declared
" ... Blaster... Blade..."
" I won't allow you to lie to yourself and to everyone else here anymore, Aichi. I'm clinching it this turn!" Kai declared
Soon after, Aichi was dragged into an image as Blaster Blade spoke to him about his true strength as Aichi finally freed himself from Blaster Dark's image and joined back with Blaster Blade as his avatar. And so... With the attacks from Alfred Early and Blaster Blade, Kai finally defeated Aichi as the sixth damage fell into his damage zone as he let his hands free the cards he held.
" Aichi."
" This is... not the fight I've always wanted to have with you... Neither is this the path I wanted to take..." Aichi admitted
" We heard everything from your little sister. You don't have to do it if you don't want to, Aichi." Kai said
" I never had a choice or say in this... That's why I decided that if that's going to be the case, then I would leave quietly..." Aichi said
" And you didn't have to."
" If you really need help, then let us help." Miwa said
" No... You guys can't fight grandfather. He has too much power over the authorities..." Aichi said
" But we can't just leave you alone!" Kamui exclaimed
" Besides, we've been followed..." Aichi said
They then turned to the entrance to the alley as Jun and his gang members were standing against the guards.
" This is our turf, get out." Jun ordered
" That's if you return Aichi-sama." The guard said
" I heard what happened. Just leave." Jun said
Miwa's eyes narrowed as he saw the manifestations of spirits as he pulled Jun back.
" Don't. You won't be a match if you guys fought." Miwa said
" I'll go back for now." Aichi said
" Huh? No, Brother Aichi!" Kamui exclaimed
" If I don't, then everyone here will be affected too. I'll see you guys at the Nationals next week. Don't worry." Aichi assured
Kai then walked with Aichi towards the guards as he grabbed his shoulder.
" I'm going." Kai said
" ... If he's going then I'm going too!" Miwa said
" Me too!" Kamui said
" Let me join in too." Misaki said
" Just leave me be. I'll handle this myself." Aichi said
" No."
" ... Fine then. I'll only let two of you come with me." Aichi said
He then started talking to the guard as the guard started communicating with someone over the phone before nodding to Aichi.
" Kai-kun, Miwa-kun. Let's go." Aichi said
" Yeah!"
They were led to a car as the guard opened it and Aichi entered with Kai and Miwa. The door closed and drove off.
And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!