Hello everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 8! I hope everyone will enjoy this story! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
For a few days, Kai and Aichi had been going around the world to spread the music and Reverse more people. However, after each performance, Aichi would be incredibly fatigued and had to rest for the day. On the last day of their performance, the same thing had happened to Aichi as he was laid down on the bed inside the van provided while Kai placed a wet cloth on his forehead.
" Today's the last day of our trip. Have you enjoyed yourself?" Kai ask
" I don't know..." Aichi muttered
" Still tired? Then continue resting. I'll be here." Kai said
" ... Don't you feel any guilt...? The screams of those people who came to us to get Reversed... Don't your heart ache even once?" Aichi ask
" My priority is you. Everything else doesn't matter to me. We've spread the power like we're supposed to." Kai said
" But that power will destroy the world..." Aichi said
" Who cares. As long as the both of us are together, the world doesn't matter." Kai said
" This world is the place where we met... If it wasn't for it, we wouldn't have met nor be together like this... Aren't you feeling anything for it...?" Aichi ask
" Nothing. The only thing I feel for is you. Everything else is nothing to me." Kai said
" ... You don't understand..." Aichi muttered
" What is it? Did you say something?" Kai ask
" ... It's nothing... I'm going to sleep... Wake me up when it's time for our flight..." Aichi said
He turned away from Kai's touch and closed his eyes to sleep.
- Aichi's nightmare-
Aichi is in a dark space as he looked around before seeing Kai's back and started running after him.
" Toshiki-kun!"
No matter how much he ran, he couldn't keep up with Kai as he reached out to him.
" Wait! Don't leave me! Toshiki-kun!" Aichi shouted
The darkness engulfed Kai as Aichi's screams echoed to nothingness.
- Reality-
Aichi woke up screaming as he looked around and calmed himself down when he saw that he was still in the van as it drove.
" A dream...? Toshiki-kun..." Aichi muttered as his eyes slowly widened, " Huh...?"
No matter how hard he was trying, Kai's face was a blank in his memories.
" No way... That's not..." Aichi muttered
Kai burst into the room as he came beside him.
" Aichi, I heard you screaming. Is something wrong?" Kai ask
Aichi looked at Kai's face again before shaking his head.
" Just a dream..." Aichi replied
" That's a relief." Kai sighed
" ... Hey, Toshiki-kun... When did we first met?" Aichi ask
" Huh? The park in our hometown. Don't tell me you forgot about it. I taught you about Vanguard and gave you Blaster Blade." Kai said
" Vanguard... Blaster Blade..." Aichi muttered as he tried searching in his memories again, but to no avail, " ... No..."
" ... Aichi?"
" I can't remember them..." Aichi muttered
" Huh?"
" I can't remember... About Vanguard, Blaster Blade... I can't even remember what you looked like..." Aichi said
Kai's eyes slowly widened as he grabbed Aichi's shoulder.
" What do you mean? It's a lie, right?!" Kai ask
" ... I've been having gaps in my memories ever since we started this tour... At some point of time, I started to have times where I could remember these things and forget them the next. I thought it was from the exhaustions, but today, I couldn't remember everything no matter how much I tried." Aichi said
" Ever since the tour...?" Kai repeated
" ... I suspected that it was the work of the aura inside the song. Everytime I sang it, I would always have those gaps in my memories." Aichi said
" No way... That song was deleting your memories...?!" Kai exclaimed
" I'm sorry... If I'd mentioned it earlier..." Aichi said
Kai looked at Aichi before hugging him as Aichi quickly returned the hug.
" It's okay. We'll find a way, no matter what. Those were your most precious memories. I won't let you lose them." Kai sakd
" ... Yeah..."
In a few hours time, they were flown back to Japan and arrived at the building to report their progress.
" You both did great. The situation here isn't as good, though. Although I'd sent Suiko and Rekka to Reverse whoever they knew, they failed and were freed. All we have left is Kourin, who was unwilling to Reverse your clubmates." Reversed Takuto said
" Kourin-san..."
" However, with this disc, I'll broadcast it nationwide and the progress that I want will come true. This country's Cardfighters will be instantly Reversed with this song." Reversed Takuto said
" As I've said, the song doesn't work as effectively as you think. As long as there are people who have strong wills, they won't be affected." Kai said
" I know. He has worked hard, and I can tell he's extremely exhausted. Since he did so much work, I'll give him the leeway and not order you to Reverse him. However, if I really need to, I will have to ask him to do his work again." Reversed Takuto said
" Whatever. I have a room here, Aichi. Let's have you rest there." Kai said
Aichi nodded as Kai helped him out of the room while Reversed Takuto eyed them suspiciously.
" From the time he came in until he left, he never touched his deck. Even before he left for the tour, his deck was always on his waist. Something must be going on." Reversed Takuto thought
Turning on the screen to view Kai's room, he saw that Kai had laid out Aichi's card and was pointing at the field and the cards in Aichi's hand. The next he drew was Blaster Blade Liberator as Kai pointed it out while Aichi shook his head.
" He seems uninterested, or maybe..." Reversed Takuto thought
In the room, Aichi sighed and set the cards down on the table.
" Don't worry. I won't force you. Even if it takes a long time, I'll always be with you." Kai assured
" I know. I'm tired. I'm going to take a rest." Aichi said
" I'll unpack our luggages, so have a good rest." Kai said
Aichi nodded and laid down on the bed to sleep as Kai smiled and unpacked their luggages. While unpacking Aichi's luggage, he found a diary as he opened it. But before he could read it, a call came from his device as he picked it up.
" Hello?"
" Where have you two been these few days?" Tsubasa ask
" I already messaged you that I needed Aichi's schedule to be cleared for these few days. He hasn't been feeling well." Kai said
" Then when can you two come back? The fans have been on an uproar ever since someone leaked his concert on Lancaster to the galaxy." Tsubasa said
" I don't know yet. Until Aichi recovers enough to start singing again, I'll be keeping his schedule clear." Kai said
" Don't take too long. Also... I found a recording of another song in your usual recording studio. It doesn't sound like something Aichi would make. I sure hope it's not broadcasted out anywhere. It has a bad taste." Tsubasa said
" ... You can delete that. We were testing out a different kind of theme but it didn't seem to work out." Kai said
" I see. Then I'll contact you again." Tsubasa said as she hung up
Kai sighed as he kept the device and opened Aichi's diary again to read it.
Meanwhile, Ren was walking around with the others after the VF high school championship finals when his device started ringing.
" Ren?"
" ... Sorry. I have to pick up a call. Go on ahead without me." Ren said
" But..."
" It's a private call. Sorry." Ren said
Ren walked away from them and answered the call.
" It's rare for you to call me, Tsubasa-san." Ren said
" I want to confirm something. Five days ago, were you with Aichi and Kai in the recording studio?" Tsubasa ask
" The studio? No, I never met them. I haven't even seen them for awhile either. Kai ignored all of my calls too." Ren said
" That's weird... I have a recording of a song here that is giving me a bad vibe. Since you can't come here without Aichi, I'll send it to you." Tsubasa said
" ... Okay."
Ren then received the notification about the sent recording.
" So what was giving you the bad vibes about the recording?" Ren ask
" I'm not sure. I just know that it shouldn't exist. I'm deleting it from the studio's data right now, but just tell me what you think about it once you've listened to it." Tsubasa said
" I understand." Ren said
He hung the call up and listened to the song carefully as his eyes widened and immediately turned it off.
" It's the same feeling that I got from the others when they were Reversed... It can't be..." Ren thought
At the same time, Leon had been chatting with Mitsusada and the others after the championship as well. He'd defeated them on the day Kai and Aichi left for the tour, freeing them from Reverse.
" You finally remembered what happened that day?" Leon ask
" Parts of it, but yes. I remember that Kai-kun and Aichi-kun were there." Mitsusada said
" Sendou and Kai? In the airport? Isn't it a school day the day after?" Leon ask
" We heard from Misaki-san that Aichi called in sick for the next few days." Chris added
" They could've just been wanting to travel, it's something you do in airports." Ali said
" But the problem was that we were taken to the lounge with Mitsusada... You have to admit that it was an odd move from Kai." Chris said
" All I remember after that was the room going dark and then nothing else." Mitsusada said
" Then what was Sendou and Kai doing?" Leon ask
" Aichi was nowhere to be seen, and Kai was the one who turned down the lights." Chris said
" Oh, right. He also said something about a show starting." Mitsusada said
" ... It can't be... It's impossible, even for someone like Sendou. He would never want to be in this sort of thing." Leon said
" I found it weird, too. That's why I wanted to ask you." Mitsusada said
" Us too. Aichi would never do such a thing." Chris said
" Unless... Unless Kai had something to do with this..." Leon said
At that time, Jillian and Sharlene burst into the room with a video.
" Leon-sama!"
" What is it?" Leon ask
" Take a look at this!" Jillian exclaimed
Leon played the video as the song started playing while a hooded singer performed on a truck with a stage. Audience were listening to it until Leon spotted the Reverse auras seeping out of a few members of the audience.
" ... That song!" Lee exclaimed
" We heard that too and got Reversed! Hurry up and turn the music off!" Chris exclaimed
Leon's eyes widened as he quickly muted the music.
" It wasn't as clear as before, so nothing happened." Mitsusada sighed in relief
" This music is what caused it?" Leon ask
" Yeah. Although it's hard to believe." Ali said
" Who was singing this?" Leon ask
" ... The room was dark, so we aren't that sure but..." Chris said
" ... It was Aichi-kun...!" Mitsusada exclaimed
" Huh?!"
" It was dark but there was a single light suddenly glowing in that room. No doubt about it! It was Aichi-kun in that light!" Mitsusada exclaimed
" No way! He can't have that kind of voice!" Jillian exclaimed
" H-He's a boy!" Sharlene exclaimed
" ... Even if he could, why? It goes against Sendou's justice." Leon said
" I do recall something. His eyes... I saw a flash of red in his eyes. It was like the aura of Reverse." Chris said
" Just his eyes? There wasn't a real aura around him?" Leon ask
" No..."
" ... Sendou was under someone's spell. He may still be under that spell, or maybe he's free from it. But this explains his involvement in this entire thing." Leon said
" But who could've done such a thing?" Ali ask
Soon after Leon had an idea and conclusion in his mind, Mitsusada and Chris came up with the same thing too.
" It couldn't be..."
Meanwhile, Kai had read Aichi's diary. It had contained all of the details of their trip and the performances Aichi had done over the past few days. Especially...
' I've been feeling like I'm starting to forget my most precious things. No matter how much I try, they sometimes come up as a blank in my memories... To the future me, I just want to tell you this. Even if you do forget these things, reading this diary will always remind you of them. Never give them up, never despair, never lose hope. These precious things were what made me who I was now. Vanguard, it was thanks to it that I could meet all of my wonderful and precious friends. Blaster Blade, it was thanks to this card that kept me strong. And... Toshiki-kun. He's the person I love and cherish the most, the one who gave me Blaster Blade, the hope that had made me stronger. I'm sad, because I might really forget him one day. But just remember, never let go of him. He needs me as much as I need him. We both rely on each other. My dearest Toshiki-kun... Even if I were to forget him one day, as long as I keep reading this diary, I would know how much I really love and cherish him from the bottom of my heart. I will keep him close and never abandon him and love him with all my heart. I love you, Toshiki-kun.'
Kai closed the diary after that as he set it aside and crawled onto the bed beside Aichi, cuddling him in his arms.
" It was all my fault... If I hadn't made that song, this wouldn't have happened. I'm sorry, Aichi." Kai muttered
" ... Toshiki-kun..." Aichi muttered in his sleep
Kai hugged Aichi tighter as he kissed his forehead.
" I'll bring those memories back, no matter what." Kai muttered
The next day, Reversed Takuto called them into his room as he welcomed them.
" I hope you two had a good rest last night. Today's the day this song is broadcasted out to this country. Soon, we will have a large army to back up our power." Reversed Takuto said
" And why did you call us here?" Kai ask
" I was thinking of letting you two watch the show. I will be making the announcement of the invasion to all Cardfighters only. So, they'll be the ones despairing for the day of their doom. Let's see... I guess I should play the song at these two places first after the announcement." Reversed Takuto said
Aichi's eyes widened as he saw Card Capital and Miyaji Academy on screen.
" Leave the others alone! Aren't you satisfied with the fighters we've Reversed overseas?! Why are you targeting our friends?!" Aichi exclaimed
" In accordance to strength, they are the best targets. You can't have a say in this decision." Reversed Takuto said
" Stop this! I won't allow this! You're not going to use that song for any more of your evil!" Aichi exclaimed
His Kirara glowed brightly in response as Aichi was surrounded by a bright rainbow aura.
" The Center Nova Phenomenon!" Kai thought
" Aichi! Calm down! Don't get worked up!" Kai exclaimed
The bright glow only lasted for a few seconds as it quickly disappeared while Aichi fainted.
" Aichi!"
Kai quickly caught him before he could hit the floor.
" Wake up, Aichi! What's wrong?!" Kai exclaimed
" ... Bring him back to your room to rest. I'm going to make the announcement. In the meantime, you received a call from your friend, didn't you? Reverse him and return here immediately." Reversed Takuto said
" As if! If I'm going, then I'm taking Aichi with me! You're just going to make him a hostage to make me obey your orders when I leave him here!" Kai said
Kai carried Aichi up as his Kirara followed after them. A car had been prepared for them as Kai got in and settled Aichi on the seat, putting his head on his lap as the car drove off. A little while later, Aichi woke up as he looked around.
" We're in the car. We have somewhere to be right now." Kai said
" ... Sorry. I overreacted and accidentally glowed." Aichi said
" It's fine. I just have to keep you safe from him." Kai said
" Okay."
Kai soon received a call as he saw that the caller ID was 'Ren' and answered it.
" You finally answered. What did you do?" Ren ask
" With what?" Kai ask
" Don't pretend you don't know. That song recording... It was your doing, wasn't it? I recognise the voice. It's Aichi-kun's altered voice. What did you make him do?" Ren ask
" And why would that be a problem?" Kai ask
" You know what the problem is. I saw a video about the mysterious singer around the world. People got Reversed because of that song. Was the Reversing of Tetsu and the others your doing too?" Ren ask
" I only sent that song to Tetsu. He Reversed the rest alongside Suiko Tatsunagi. Not like it matters anyway. You already got them back to normal." Kai said
" Where's Aichi-kun? Is he safe?" Ren ask
" Yeah, he's right here. You want to talk to him?" Kai ask as he covered the mic, " It's Ren."
Kai placed the phone on Aichi's ear.
" Ren-san."
" Are you alright, Aichi-kun?! Did Kai do anything to you?!" Ren ask
" ... No. He's just protecting me, from Link Joker." Aichi replied
" But he's using you to Reverse the whole world! Are you really okay with that?!" Ren exclaimed
" I have no power over this... I didn't want to, either..." Aichi said
Seeing that Aichi was getting upset at the topic, Kai took the phone away.
" Anyway, just wait for the broadcast." Kai said
" What broadcast? Kai, answer me!" Ren exclaimed
Kai hung the call up and kept his phone to pat Aichi's head in assurance.
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!