Hello everyone! This is the start of a new chapter! Chapter 6! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
The car ride to the mansion was silent as Aichi looked out of the window to see the view.
" ... I thought you really were power obsessed, Aichi. And I really thought that it was because of me walking away from you." Kai started
" Admittedly, Psyqualia's power is quite strong and it did get me for awhile, but it was thanks to it that I was able to draw that personality of mine out. After that, all I needed to do was to use that personality to drive everyone away from me." Aichi said
" When everyone figured out that you were just trying to push us away, they got really frustrated that they never noticed." Miwa said
" ... I'm sorry..."
" It's alright. We know what's going on now. We'll try to help out." Miwa said
" No... It's okay. I'm resolved now. I know what I'm supposed to do." Aichi said
" Huh?"
" I'm going to be just fine." Aichi assured
The car slowly drove into the gates of the mansion as the guard opened the door again to let Aichi and the others out.
" Thank you."
" He's waiting in the living room." The guard said
Aichi nodded as he led Kai and Miwa to the living room and they sat on the sofa opposite Keijin.
" Grandfather..."
" Tell me who they are and why are they here." Keijin said
" I'm Taishi Miwa and this guy is Toshiki Kai. We're Aichi's friends." Miwa said
" ... Unfortunately, you won't be for long. Aichi won't be associating with others after graduation." Keijin said
" That's what we're here to talk about. Aichi is a really good guy and friend. He has a circle of friends that genuinely cares for his wellbeing and I think that'll continue for a long time. He's changed many of our lives too. You don't know how much of an impact he made for all of us. Yet now you're saying that you're gonna keep him locked up here for the rest of his life, keeping him away from us." Miwa explained
" Of course. He's the heir I chose, so he has to be brought up like one." Keijin said
" But he didn't choose to be one. You forced it upon him." Kai countered
" ... Do the both of you know where you are right now? You're in the mansion of the Asakura clan." Keijin said
" Asakura?"
" That's right, so it needs a powerful Shaman as a Head to continue leading it." Keijin said
" ... Aichi, wasn't your surname..." Miwa exclaimed
" That's... my father's surname. My uncles and aunts in this household didn't like me because of my power, so to protect me and my sanity, Mother cut off contact with them and moved out." Aichi explained
" That's right. Aichi's my grandson born from that foolish daughter of mine. A descendant of our ancestor, Hao Asakura." Keijin said
" So what? You could have anyone else inherit this place and yet you picked Aichi." Kai said
" ... Doesn't matter. All I want now is for the both of you to exit this place. Aichi will stay here, I'll pick a suitable marriage partner for him and he can have heirs to inherit this clan too. That's final. Now I would like it if you two are out of my sight." Keijin said
Security guards entered the living room as Kai huffed.
" I won't leave." Kai said, standing up
Keijin's eyes narrowed a little as a giant black snake spirit was coiled around him, hissing at the guards. A spirit of a beautiful white four tailed fox was standing behind Miwa as they got ready to engage.
" So I was right. You two are of Shaman blood too." Keijin said
" You bet! We won't leave without a fight!" Miwa said
" ... I will not permit violence in front of my grandson. Aichi, you can sleep for now. Azuha." Keijin called
The two turned to Aichi as he had sat silently between them during the conversation. His eyes were closed in concentration before finally opening.
" Azuha, put Aichi to sleep." Keijin ordered
" She won't be doing that anymore." Aichi said
" What?"
" Everyone can leave. It's true, I shouldn't be seeing violence. But... I won't allow you to hurt my friends either." Aichi said
" Aichi..."
" I don't care if I'm born with Asakura blood or not, but I want to return home and to where my family and friends are." Aichi said
" Aichi, you cannot defy me." Keijin said
" I can. I have you to thank for it too. I did think for awhile that I might not be a match for you, but... It's thanks to that library you have here. I learned quite a bit of things just from reading some scrolls and history books. You cannot beat me." Aichi said
" Nonsense. My Guardian Spirit, Azuha cannot be beaten by your small Onis." Keijin said
" Maybe they can't, but my Guardian Spirits can." Aichi said
From behind him, two giant figures appeared as the guards started backing away upon seeing them while Keijin was left in awe and shock.
" This is impossible...!" He exclaimed
Kai and Miwa then turned behind as they gasped after seeing the two red and blue giant Onis.
" Onis?!" Miwa exclaimed
" ... The Demigod Onis created by Hao Asakura! Why?!" Keijin exclaimed
" I didn't understand their powers at first, so I did as much as I could to hide them away from you. Now that I've learned about them, I'm confident. These are my Guardian Spirits, Zenki and Goki. My mother gave them to me and I'm deemed as their Master. I had them subdue Azuha and prevented her from getting near me." Aichi explained
" That means... you've inherited them from our ancestor...!" Keijin exclaimed
" ... Maybe."
Another spirit ball appeared beside Aichi as it hovered beside him.
" I have a third one, but I won't be using this one to stop all of you. Zenki and Goki are more than enough. So, Grandfather... this is my last warning. Leave my friends alone." Aichi said
Keijin gritted his teeth as he ordered his guards to withdraw. After some hesitation, Kai and Miwa sat back down with their spirits.
" I don't intend to inherit this place, neither am I staying here for the rest of my life." Aichi said
" You..."
" I just want to leave and lead my normal life again." Aichi said
Keijin clenched his fist as he looked past Aichi's shoulder and at the two Onis again as he sighed. But before he could say anything, a loud crash was heard as they turned to the courtyard.
" What?!"
They ran out of the living room to see some smoke at the gate as someone stepped out of it.
" Mother!"
" H-Huh?!"
" Shizue?! What are you doing?!" Keijin exclaimed
" I thought I told you over the phone, Father. I'm taking my son back. You can't beat me." Shizuka said
" Wha..."
Behind Shizuka was a giant Tengu spirit as it loomed ominously over her.
" M-Mother, wait! Grandfather can't fight anymore!" Aichi shouted
" Huh?"
" His spirit currently can't manifest because of Zenki and Goki's power! There's no need for violence!" Aichi exclaimed
Shizuka looked at Zenki and Goki behind Aichi before sighing in relief and recalling the Tengu.
" I-Isn't that spirit...?" Miwa exclaimed
" The... Great Tengu..." Kai muttered
" I heard how fearsome and powerful it was from books but seeing it is different..." Miwa said
" Yeah..."
In the end, everyone's settled down in the living room again as Shizuka patted Aichi's head.
" Sorry I took so long, Aichi."
" It's okay. Staying here helped me improve my training and my breakdowns are lesser now." Aichi said
" That's a relief to hear. I ordered some guards to bring you and your friends home. So go on without me." Shizuka said
" Huh?"
" Father and I... will have a nice, long talk." Shizuka said
" ... Y... Yes, ma'am..."
The three boys then headed into the prepared car as the guard drove them away from the mansion.
" Is it really alright to leave your Mother alone?" Miwa ask
" Yes, I think..."
" Ah..."
" ... What will you do now?" Kai ask
" Well... I still do want to tie up some loose ends with Grandfather. I still have some unanswered questions and I plan to ask him again when Mother is less... scary..." Aichi said
" But what about the others?" Miwa ask
" I... I won't be at the shop for awhile. I'll be at Nationals but depending on how long the situation will tide over... I'll see you guys when I see you." Aichi said
" Aichi..."
" Don't worry. I promise I'll be there." Aichi assured
" Alright then."
Kai and Miwa were dropped off at their houses before Aichi was driven back to the home that he got used to living in and reunited with Emi.
A few days later, Card Capital was hosting another shop tournament as the doors slid open. Aichi stepped in, surprised at the amount of people inside and outside the shop.
" This is..."
" It's even livelier than last time, isn't it?" Shin said
" A shop tournament..." Aichi read the sign
" That's right, Brother!" Kamui said
" Isn't that why you came?" Misaki ask
" Or is it about..." Kamui said as he frowned
" Oh, if it's about my Grandfather, then don't worry about that. Mother had a pretty, uh... civil talk with him, so everything he said before is now null and void. I had no interest in whatever he wanted me to inherit anyway, so I guess he'll be stuck with finding someone else to do it." Aichi said
" Then you won't be bothered by him anymore, right?!" Kamui ask
" Uh, well... let's just leave it at that..." Aichi said
Before they could ask anymore, Aichi applied for the shop tournament and went on with Kamui to try fighting some people. When they went over to the counter, Aichi finally bowed in apology.
" I'm really sorry for all the trouble I caused... I was rude to everyone and..." Aichi said
" It's fine, Brother. We're just glad that you're back now." Kamui said
" Yeah."
Afterwards, as the National Finals were coming up, Shin handed them boxes of booster packs to upgrade and modify their decks. Kai came in a little later and gave advice to Kamui, which he had taken and the two went over to a table for a fight while Aichi and Misaki did the same. Soon, the day was almost over as Aichi and Emi left the shop together just a little in the evening.
" Congratulations again, Emi." Aichi said
" Thanks!"
" Aichi."
They turned behind to see Kai after he'd came out of the shop.
" I need to talk to you." Kai said
" ... I'll walk home alone. Be careful on your way back." Aichi said
" Okay."
As Emi started walking home, Aichi turned to one of the Onis that materialized behind him.
" Goki, please make sure she returns home safe." Aichi ordered
The red Oni nodded and flew after Emi as Aichi followed Kai to the park, where the two sat in silence on the bench. Kai glanced up at Zenki as its eyes stared at him menacingly.
" Zenki, it's alright. He's my friend. There's no need to intimidate him." Aichi assured
At that, Zenki relaxed and sat down beside Aichi to stare somewhere else as he patted him.
" So what do you need to talk to me about?" Aichi ask
" Katsuragi mentioned during our fight that you're alright now, but... did your Grandfather really give up so easily?" Kai ask
" Well... he was lectured by my Mother for hours on end. Apparently, my uncles and aunts all went to follow their dreams or just want out of that household and Grandmother wasn't the best wife either, thus they went on their own path. That only left Mother, whom they had cut contact with because of me and mostly because she married someone that wasn't a Shaman. Grandfather said that it was Grandmother that forced him to cut contact with us." Aichi explained
" I see."
" But he did beg Mother to have some issues settled about my life... He won't be interfering with what I want to do, but he's worried that I won't be able to get someone I like by the time I get to high school, so he wants to find me a fiancee like the Asakura ancestors did. Mother didn't believe that I wouldn't but... Oh well." Aichi shrugged
" And you're alright with that? You might marry someone you don't like." Kai said
" Well, yeah... I heard the ancestors fell in love at first sight with their fiancee anyway and got married." Aichi said, kicking his leg on the ground
" Oh... You don't have anyone you like?" Kai ask
" I... I don't know... what it is like to have someone that you like. Do you have anyone you like, Kai-kun? If so, what's it like?" Aichi ask
" Someone I like...?" Kai trailed off
Aichi waited for his answer with a curious tilt to his head as Kai blinked a little rapidly before turning his head away.
" If you like someone... I guess you just feel like... Whatever that person does feels... right? You just feel flustered at the sight of that person... probably." Kai explained
" Flustered...?"
" Like... Your heart just beats really, really fast and you feel like your whole face is red from just looking at that person." Kai added
Aichi tried to process whether he had felt that feeling before as Kai turned back to him to gauge his reaction before sighing inwardly. He then took out something from his pocket and clipped it to the inner collar of Aichi's jacket. Kai went closer to make sure the item was secure as Aichi flinched a little and the feeling that Kai had explained before was felt.
" U-Um..."
Kai looked up after successfully clipping the pin on Aichi's collar as he immediately backed away after realizing how close he was to Aichi's face, still leaving a certain distance between the both of them.
" U-Uh..."
Before Kai could explain anything, a battle axe came between them as Kai raised his hands and backed away.
" Zenki! Put that away!" Aichi chided
Zenki immediately did as told before sitting back down again as Kai sighed in relief.
" I'm sorry..."
" I... It's okay." Kai said
" ... Thanks... for the explanation." Aichi said
" So... have you ever felt that feeling around someone?" Kai ask
" I think so... It definitely was a different feeling, really warm... And my heart isn't beating hard like I was going to have a breakdown." Aichi said
" So you have one? Someone you like?" Kai ask
" Yeah... But I don't think they like me... romantically..." Aichi said
" I see..."
" A-Anyway, this pin..." Aichi pointed out
" Oh... I filled it up with another scent. But it still has a calming effect, so bring it with you tomorrow too. You'll feel less nervous." Kai said
" Thank you, Kai-kun."
Kai stared at Aichi silently, looking at his smile.
It's the first time I saw a genuine smile from him...
Aichi's mouth gaped a little after hearing that thought as Kai turned away again.
" I... I smiled..." Aichi said
" You did, once... back at the beach." Kai said
" Yeah..."
Aichi then stood up and patted his pants before turning his back to Kai.
" I'll be off now. I'll... consider Grandfather's proposal about having a fiancee." Aichi said
He left with Zenki trailing behind him as the black snake appeared around Kai again.
" You're not telling him?" It ask
" What?"
" Do I have to spell it out for you? Or do you really want to see him getting married to someone he doesn't like?" It ask
" Shut up, Ophy." Kai said
" Yes, yes. You've never been honest with your feelings ever since that accident anyway. You only kept running away, like with Ren Suzugamori." Ophy said
" ... I'll do something about him." Kai said
Ophy sighed as they left the park as well.
The next day, they went for the Nationals as Q4 managed to make it up to the semifinals where they were able to fight Team Caesar. Before that, there was a brief break for them while Team AL4 and Brilliant Stars were up to fight each other. The other members of Q4 were watching the match but then Kamui started looking around.
" Huh? Brother's taking a long time in the toilet." Kamui said
" You're right." Shin said
" How long has it been?" Kai ask
" ... About ten minutes." Misaki replied, looking at the times
Kai went off immediately as he started looking around the waiting areas or nearby corners, when...
" Isn't that... Toshiki Kai-kun!" A voice exclaimed
Kai turned towards the voice as he spotted Team Caesar in the distance and hesitantly walked over to them before changing his pace to quickly walk over to them once he spotted familiar blue hair.
" Aichi."
" We found him like this, but he's not responding to us." Mitsusada said
" It happens." Kai said as he kneeled down, " Aichi."
Aichi was having another breakdown again as Kai's eyes narrowed after not seeing the pin on his collar.
" Did anyone see a pin?" Kai ask
" A pin?"
Kai stood up and started looking around as he ran off to find it. After a few moments of searching, he finally found it outside a room and picked it up, relieved that it wasn't broken. He then made his way back to where Aichi was, surprised to see that Misaki and the others were there.
" Move."
" Kai?"
Kai quickly clipped the pin back onto Aichi's collar as the scent slowly started to calm him down and his breathing evened out before slowing to a calm pace. He slowly opened his eyes to see the others as he let his hands down from his head.
" ... Did I..." Aichi muttered
" You're fine. The match is still ongoing." Kai said
" Are you okay?" Yuri ask
" Yeah..."
" It happens sometimes. We still have enough time before our match. Tetsu hasn't gone up for his fight yet. Let's have you rest in the infirmary." Kai said
" Okay..."
Kai helped Aichi up as he got him onto the bed in the infirmary and laid him down.
" Just call me if you feel uncomfortable." Kai said
" Okay..."
" ... Was it worse than before?" Kai ask
" I think it's also because of Psyqualia. I guess Blaster Dark is holding a grudge against me for not using the deck anymore. And... the stadium seats are full for today and tomorrow. So I'm hearing their wishes and feelings even more than before. The pin helped but..." Aichi said
" It's alright, we found it anyway. Take a rest until it's our turn." Kai said
Aichi nodded and closed his eyes to rest as Kai exited the infirmary to see the others outside.
" I thought you guys went back first." Kai said as he closed the door to the infirmary
" We were worried!" Kamui exclaimed
" He's going to be fine. He just can't take the noises in stadiums since he has sensitive ears. Miwa told me that he had easy breakdowns whenever he went for tournaments." Kai explained
" Is that so?" Misaki ask
" The pin has a scent to calm him down during those times, he just lost it when he had the breakdown." Kai said
" I see..."
" Anyway, get back to watching the match, don't disturb his rest and get ready for our match. Aichi will be fine by then, don't worry." Kai huffed before leaving to get some water
The others just looked at Aichi resting in the infirmary before returning to the stadium.
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!