NOTE: The original idea for this Misaki + Chrono interlude was for Chrono to meet Morikawa, but that one just didn't flow well. But, the G3 Master will eventually make his appearance in this story. Next chapter will go right back to Emi and Shadow Emi.

Enjoy and review!

Interlude 5: Misaki's Story Time(Part 2)

Chrono sat on the floor with his legs crossed. He closed his eyes and hummed with thought as Misaki just finished explaining another part of her story to him.

The lilac beauty had a mini white board out, scribbling on it to help Chrono visualize certain aspects of the retelling. She wasn't the best artist amongst her friend group, but she felt that she's done a pretty good job thus far. Especially since she's caught Chrono laughing quietly at her drawings.

"So, Kai left the team?" Chrono suddenly asked. Misaki turned her attention from the mini white board to look at the spiral boy.

"Yes, around that time Kai left the Q4 team. Leaving handling the Nationals up to the three of us," Misaki answered.

"That's stupid. Why would he just abandon the team like that?" Chrono frowned. From the descriptions Misaki had explained to him about her friends, Kai sounded like a jerk.

"Don't be too hard on him. From what Aichi told me, Kai had some bad history with the leader of Team AL4 Ren Suzugamori. Some time before the Nationals, Kai had challenged Ren to a cardfight and had lost. That was when he decided to quit the team," Misaki explained. Hoping that she made her tall brooding friend look a bit better in the 11-year old's eyes. Considering the look on Chrono's face, it didn't work.

"Why didn't he just fight Ren again during the Nationals? There was no reason for him to quit the team," Chrono replied back.

"Because Kai had fought Ren with his strongest deck and still lost to him. Kai didn't see much reason to fight Ren again if it would just end with the same result," Misaki had scribbled an image of a chibi Kai defeated with a chibi Ren standing over him with a smug look. Behind Ren was a chibi Tetsu and chibi Asaka who was oddly drawn with devil horns and tail.

Chrono grumbled at Misaki's explanation. Understanding that she had a point, what's the point of trying again if the first time you failed. If he had lost to Misaki back in the shop earlier, he would've just given up on Vanguard. Winning felt way better than losing.

"So, what exciting matches happened in the Nationals?" Chrono wanted to know.

"Welp, after getting past a few matches, we eventually came face to face with another rival team called Team Caesar," Misaki drew Chibi Team Caesar standing across Chibi Q4.

"Team Caesar?" Chrono tilted his head at the name.

"Ah! The leader of Team Caesar was Kenji Mitsuada. He was a big fan of Greek history, so that's the reason for the name," Misaki said,

"Oh, so he was a nerd," Chrono stated, as if everything made sense. His simple answer made Misaki sweatdrop and shake her head at the boy.

"So, who did you fight?" Chrono asked.

"In the first match Kamui fought Gai Usui and pulled out the victory. The second match was between me and Gai's sister, Yuri Usui," Misaki said. Her mind flashed back to the fight against one of her rivals..

Misaki glanced down at her cards in frustration at Yuri stopping her attacks dead cold. Once again she found herself in the worst position possible.

"...I'm done," Misaki ended her turn.

"Yup, you sure are," Yuri shrugged her shoulders. "Though in stopping that I've used up my entire hand. You know it's actually been a lot of fun playing against you. But, it's about time you saw my winning image. I don't worry about calculating the best option, I fight my hardest and when I do that...I rely on my cards to bring me victory!" Yuri clenches her hand in confidence.

As Yuri began her turn, Misaki could only hope that she could hold out.

"Supported by Daisy! Miracle Beauty attacks your Vanguard!" Yuri declared. Misaki didn't guard the attack, taking her 5th damage.

"Boosted by Magical Police Quilt! Enigman Rain attacks!" Yuri initiated her second attack. Misaki was prepared for the incoming attack.

"Same deal as before, if this attack makes it through Miracle Beauty and Daisy will stand," Misaki thought. Pulling two cards from her hand, Misaki guarded the attack. "Not so fast! Dream Eater and Ginger will guard that!" She declared.

Yuri was undeterred by Misaki's decision. "Working so hard to stop Rain's attack, too bad. There's more than one way to make units stand and if my Vanguard won't do it, then my deck will. I just need a Stand Trigger," Yuri explained.

Misaki along with everyone else in the stadium could only watch apprehensively as Yuri began the drive check that would make or break the game for both fighters.

"I'll stand Miracle Beauty and Daisy, then attack for the win!" Yuri explained confidently that she'll pull a Stand Trigger. Misaki glared at the woman's cockiness, hoping that she wouldn't pull what she needed.

"I don't calculate the probabilities, but I know the right card will come when I need it. Twin Drive Check!" She flipped over the first card to reveal a perfect guard. Yuri took a moment to stare down at her deck and slowly flipped over the next card. Her face slowly turns into one of excitement as if she knows what the card will reveal. "And the second check." As she turns it over, a bright light begins to emit around the area, signifying that Yuri has pulled a Stand Trigger.

Misaki could only gape at the unbelievability of it all. "No...it can't be…"

"Not looking good for you," Yuri smirked. "Miracle Beauty stands with another +5000 power, then I use her skill to stand Daisy too!"

Misaki knew that she didn't have enough to guard the attack. Once again she couldn't pull through for her team.

"Miracle Beauty! Supported by Daisy, attacks Amaterasu!" Yuri launched her final attack at Misaki, ending the match with her victory and sending both teams into a 3rd and final match.

"Wow...you lose a lot," Chrono stated, bluntly.

CHOP

"Ow!" Chrono rubbed his head in pain from Misaki's chop.

"Shut it! Unless you don't want me to continue telling the story and I don't always lose!" Misaki blushed, embarrassed. She's aware that most of her fights that she's told Chrono did in fact involve her losing. However, it wasn't like she didn't get pay back for both of those losses.

"I'm sorry," Chrono apologized, he didn't want her to stop telling him the stories. Misaki sighed and continued her story time.

"We ended up going into a third game with Koutei and Aichi going against one another. The fight that would decide who would get to face Team AL4 in the finals," Misaki explained.

"And Aichi won right?" Chrono cut her off.

"Yes, Aichi pulled through like he always does. We went to the finals to get our rematch against Team AL4. It was during this rematch that I would get my pay back against Asaka for my lost in our first fight in the last tournament," Misaki recalled the memory that she treasures forever.

Misaki smirked in satisfaction as she stopped Asaka cold in her tracks. Having used a perfect guard to stop Asaka from finishing her off.

"What!? She used two perfect guards in one turn!?" Asaka cried out in disbelief. Frustrated that this girl that she had humiliated once before is managing to stand up to her. Asaka attacked once more only for Misaki to guard it again. Causing the assassin to grind her teeth in anger.

"Grrr! I bet it makes you pretty happy to embarrass me in front of everyone like that, huh!? Misaki Tokura, it's obvious that you're not the same person I beat last time! Still, I'm the better Cardfighter and there's no way that I'd lose to you! Take your turn and once I defend against these attacks, I'll be sure to finish you off!" Asaka declared.

" Ah huh, you probably will," Misaki couldn't help but give a cheeky reply. "But, who said you're gonna live through this turn?" Misaki grinned.

The eidetic memory girl began her turn. "In our last fight you were able to stay two steps ahead of my moves the whole time. But, now? The tables have turned. Planning a comeback? No chance! The Oracle Think Tank has assured my victory!" Misaki declared. Asaka gasped from Misaki's words, actually fearing that she may be right.

"A gentle light breaks through the darkness, following me down my chosen path! Behold, the rising of the Full Moon, Tsukuyomi!" Misaki rode her Grade 3. Believing in her cards, Misaki began her attack that would put Asaka in her place.

"Call! Evil Eye, Princess Urily!" Misaki placed the Medusa looking card down on the fight table. "Check out this ability! Take one of the cards in your hand and bind it!" Misaki used her hand to mimic a gun and fired, shooting a card out of Asaka's hand.

"That's one less card for you to use this turn. Ready? I call! A second Princess Urily!" Misaki smirked. "Bind!" She shot another card out of Asaka's hand.

Growling like a rabid animal, Asaka glared at Misaki. "Stop acting like you're gonna finish me off this turn! I'm still sitting at 4 damage and there's no way I'm gonna let two of your attacks get to my Vanguard!" Asaka shouted.

"Two attacks? Hardly, I'm gonna finish you off with only one!" Misaki declared, shocking the assassin.

"I'll show you if you don't believe me! I'm attacking Mistress Hurricane with Tsukuyomi!" Misaki shouted.

"18,000 power? No choice. Candy Clown and Turquoise Beast Tamer will guard!" Asaka said.

Misaki was undeterred either way, acting almost similar to Yuri when she was defeated by Queen Caesar. "Are you ready? Twin Drive. Battle Sister Ginger is a critical trigger going straight to my Vanguard!" Misaki predicted the card she was going to pull.

"Godhawk Ichibyoshi, Goddess of the Crescent Moon, Goddess of the Half Moon, and Amaterasu. Because I used their skills I was able to place 16 cards at the bottom of my deck. So, now I know every draw from this point on!" Misaki revealed as she pulled a Critical Trigger.

"Evil girl! She's memorized the remaining cards in her deck?" Asaka couldn't believe it and kept growling like a dog.

"And the second check? It's another Critical Trigger, giving all the effects to the Goddess of the Full Moon," Misaki said. "It's too strong to stop!"

With that Misaki dealt the final damage to Asaka, ending the fight with her victory and ensuring a final battle between Ren and Aichi.

Asaka stood in stunned belief at the outcome. "How could this happen?" Her voice quivered.

"The Oracle Think Tank allows me to peer into the future, you didn't realize that I was in complete control of this battle!" Misaki felt good at reversing Asaka's previous words against her.

Chrono's eyes were shining like stars as Misaki finished telling the tale of her victory. "That was so cool! The way you just completely reversed the situation on her like that was awesome!" He praised her.

Misaki blushed at the praise that Chrono was showering her with. "Alright alright. Let me finish telling the story," Misaki had Chrono settle back down.

"The final match of the Finals was between Ren Suzugamori and Aichi Sendou. A climatic battle of Royal Paladins vs Shadow Paladins! Light vs Dark! Hero vs Villain! Ah…" She froze as Chrono gave her a blank stare at her descriptions.

"Shin has been rubbing off on me too much," Misaki thought to her own displeasure. Coughing into her hands, hiding the recurring blush on her face, Misaki finished the tale.

"Aichi revealed a new card called Majesty Lord Blaster to finish off Ren, knocking Team AL4 off their golden pedestal and crowning us the National Champions. And that's how Q4 became champions in Japan," Misaki finished.

Chrono jumped up from the floor and started jumping up and down excitedly. "Oh! I'm excited, Vanguard sounds like so much fun, especially from all of your adventures! Can we Cardfight more!?" The swirl boy asked the lilac beauty.

She giggled at Chrono's enthusiasm. "Of course, Chrono. We can keep Cardfighting-"

BBBBRRRRRRRR

Misaki pulled out her phone to see that Shin was calling. She swiped right on her screen to answer the call. "Hello?"

"Ah, Misaki. I'm on my way back and I'm wondering if Chrono has settled in fine?" Shin asked.

"He's fine, Shin. I just finished telling him how Q4 was formed and how we won Nationals," Misaki explained.

"Hehe! Did you also tell him how awesome of a coach I was?" Shin asked, excited.

"I skipped over you completely."

"AHH! MISAKI THAT'S MEAN!" Shin comically cried. Getting over the usual coldness that his niece shows him, Shin continued the conversation. "Misaki, could you hold off on showing him Vanguard. I have something that I need to give to him."

Misaki mentally winced. "I already taught and fought him."

"Gah! Misaki! I was supposed to do that!" Shin comically cried again. She rolled her eyes at her uncle's usual behavior.

"What is it that you need to give him?" She asked.

Shin looked at the two cards that he held in his hands. "Just something that he was always meant to have," He answered.

Interlude End

NOTE: V-Series did reveal that Misaki is secretly a closet nerd. She mainly reads sci-fi and fantasy stuff, behind that quiet girl demeanor she always wears. I always like to think that she lets her inner nerd slip out from time to time.