Hello everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 9! I hope everyone will enjoy this story! Without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
The car soon slowed to a stop as Kai helped Aichi out of it and they were soon face to face with Miwa.
" Long time no see." Kai greeted
" It definitely has been a long time, Kai." Miwa greeted
" You wanted something?" Kai ask
" There's this rumor on the Net about an increasing number of weird cardfights happening here and there around the world. One day, suddenly, someone's personality changes and they're way stronger than before... And they try to increase the number of people like them. This also happened when some singer started appearing around the world, spreading a weird music. I heard it, but I shut it off. It was a bad feeling. This all started around the time you two disappeared. What a joke! But it all fits." Miwa said
Kai stayed silent while Aichi hesitated.
" Kai. Say something. Tell me I'm wrong." Miwa thought
" If I'm one of them, what of it?" Kai ask
Miwa let out a sigh.
" I didn't wanna believe it. Why are you doing this? Why do you have anything to do with this?! Why... did you have to drag someone like Aichi into this?!" Miwa exclaimed
" Miwa-kun..."
" Talk to me, Kai. What did you do exactly?" Miwa ask
" You'll see." Kai said
" I want an answer right now. What exactly did you do? Why did you drag Aichi into this?!" Miwa ask
He then noticed that the Secretary was holding a laptop with Reversed Takuto on the screen.
" Hello, Cardfighters all over the world. I trust you're all enjoying yourselves as you strive to win a fight today? It pleases me immensely. Friends and comrades and frenemies... Growing as fighters... I know how fulfilling that can be. And yet, nothing lasts forever. No matter how fun your days are, they'll come to an end eventually. And that day is right before you. This may seem sudden, but your world... is going to be destroyed. Cardfighters... I'm sure some of you are aware of the phenomenon known as "Reverse". Link Joker is the very one controlling that phenomenon. When a Cardfighter loses to a Reversed fighter, he becomes Reversed too. If he's Reversed, his personality changes, and he becomes very strong... but what really happens is that he becomes a soldier in our Link Joker army." Takuto announced
An image of the black ring appeared.
" This is a gate. If you look up in the sky, you will see them, here and there all over the world. Even now, the number of Reversed fighter is increasing. The gates will open wider the more Reversed fighters there are. And when they eventually cover the Earth... this planet will smother in the darkness of nothingness in the blink of an eye. All life will fall into darkness. This has all become possible because of you Earth fighters. Thank you very much! By way of gratitude, I'm only telling you fighters about this today. I hope you all spend the scant remainder of your peaceful days in despair. For a world ruled by Link Joker, despair is a perfect fit." Takuto announced and laughed menacingly
Aichi gasped as he quickly tried to fish out his phone to contact someone.
In Miyaji High, Misaki and the others had ran out after seeing Kamui getting Reversed without knowing the reason as they had also met with Emi and the others while the announcement was happening.
" Darn it! Ruler! Despair! My foot! That kid's joke ain't funny at all!" Naoki said
" Agreed." Shingo said
" It's no joke. Right now, an enemy called Link Joker has appeared. And its soldiers are..." Misaki said as she turned to Kourin and Maki
That was when her phone started ringing as her eyes widened at the caller ID and answered the call.
" Aichi?!"
" Make everyone cover their ears! If you hear music, don't listen to it! Please, I don't have much time!" Aichi hurriedly whispered
" What are you saying, Aichi?" Misaki ask
Before Aichi could explain further, the call was cut off as she saw that he had hung up.
At Aichi's side, Kai had snatched his phone away and hung the call up.
" Don't try that again. He won't let you off." Kai said
" Aichi's acting normal...?" Miwa thought
" Don't tell me... Your group is holding him hostage? Kai, just what did you guys do? Or have you already done something?" Miwa ask
" Doesn't matter." Kai said
" ... The song. He's the singer, isn't he? How could you force him to do that?! You're bascially torturing him to see everyone in front of him getting Reversed!" Miwa exclaimed
" Go."
" Huh?"
" Leave. You know you can't beat me with your current power." Kai said
" ... He doesn't want to Reverse me? Then... the reason he even became like this was..." Miwa thought
" I'll see you again for sure, and I will defeat you." Miwa said
He then ran off as Kai dragged Aichi back to the car and closed the door.
" Aichi. Please control yourself. I can't help you all the time." Kai said
" But...!"
" Trust our friends. They won't fall for the trap, I'm sure of it." Kai said
Aichi hesitantly nodded as Kai patted his head again.
Meanwhile, Shin had picked the others up as he dropped off Emi and Mai along with Nagisa and Gouki at their houses before dropping the others off at Card Capital. Misaki tried to contact Aichi again, but to no avail.
" Nothing. He's not answering." Misaki said
" A song really played around the school. How did he know? And why did he ask us to cover our ears?" Naoki ask
" I don't know, and him not answering is making it worse." Misaki said
The doors slid opened as Ren and Leon stepped in with their teammates.
" You guys!"
" I figured you guys are going to be here." Ren said
" Everyone saw the announcement, right?" Leon ask
" Yeah."
" Aichi contacted me after that. He warned us about a song that was about to play in our school and told us to cover our ears from it." Misaki said
" Aichi-kun did?" Ren ask
" ... Then that means that he wasn't Reversed or being controlled. He's well aware of what's happening." Leon said
" What do you mean?" Shingo ask
" The worldwide Reverse spread was caused by that song. It was a song that would Reverse people the moment they listen to it. If they lack the willpower to resist, they immediately become Reversed." Ren explained
" What did Aichi have to do with this?" Naoki ask
" ... Aichi-kun was the one who sang that song. I suspect the music was made by Kai." Ren said
" What?!"
" Aichi would never do that, not even willingly!" Naoki exclaimed
" That's right!" Shingo exclaimed
" He even warned us." Misaki said
" That aside, it means that he's being forced to cooperate. I don't know what method Kai used, but it must be because of a threat that's forcing Sendou to cooperate with the plan." Leon said
The doors slid opened again as Miwa entered.
" Miwa!"
" I met up with Kai just now. But he didn't Reverse me, and instead he asked me to scram." Miwa said
" What?"
" It was just after Aichi contacted you guys. I thought I could bring him back to normal, but he was insistent that I left. I really don't know what's going through his mind right now." Miwa said
" I wonder if something happened during their trip around the world." Leon said
" When I saw them, nothing seemed out of the ordinary." Miwa said
" ... We need to get Aichi-kun back. If he can Reverse people, then he probably can bring them back to normal without a fight." Ren said
" It wouldn't be possible. I suspect that the song is laced with Link Joker's aura. We need a power that's stronger than that aura." Leon said
" I know what's stronger than it, but we need Aichi-kun back in order to do anything." Ren said
" Then let's hurry! We need to save him!" Naoki exclaimed
" Yeah."
Meanwhile, at the Tatsunagi building, Kai was flung aside by black mist as he hit the glass while Aichi was restrained by it.
" Toshiki-kun!"
" You...! Let Aichi go...!" Kai exclaimed
" We have no use for you anymore, Toshiki Kai. If you refuse to Reverse others, it's only right that we take him for our own use." Reversed Takuto said
" He's not for you to use!" Kai exclaimed
" Shut up." A voice echoed
Kai was immediately grabbed by the throat and lifted up as a figure formed, his Reverse aura being removed from him.
" Welcome, Void-sama." Reversed Takuto greeted
" Void...?!"
" Toshiki-kun!"
" You're just a normal trash. If you can't Reverse others, then you can be real trash. I'm going to have to dispose of you." Void said
As the grip of his neck tightened, Aichi panicked before realising that his Kirara was still with Kai.
" Maybe..." Aichi thought
" Yasashii kotoba wo anata ga kureta"
His Kirara glowed brightly in resonance as Void and Reversed Takuto shielded their eyes. The black mist slowly started to retreat as Kai was released from its grip and coughed.
" Sabishii toki ni wa dakishimete kureta"
Soon, he was also released from the black mist as he quickly ran over to Kai and helped him up. His Kirara floated to him and stopped glowing as the two made a run for it.
" Hurry up and catch them!" Void ordered
" Yes!"
As Reversed Takuto ordered his men to chase them, Aichi and Kai had soon arrived at the ground floor and saw the others.
" Everyone!"
" Turn back! Run!" Kai shouted
The others stopped in their tracks as they turned around and started running. Once they arrived at Card Capital, they took some time to catch their breath before looking over to Aichi and Kai.
" ... My Reverse was taken away. They knew I wasn't going to obey them and tried to get rid of me. Aichi saved me." Kai said
" I know everyone have many things to ask, but first, we need to find a method to get rid of the black rings around the world." Ren said
" Some of our friends have already went back to Singapore, but it won't be enough. Even if many people joined their hands together to fight, the spread that Kai caused is still there." Leon said
" When talking about numbers, we're outnumbered. We need to use the same method you used to spread that aura around the world and reverse the effects." Ren said
" You mean, the song?" Kai ask
" That's right. We just need to know the method you used to do that, then we can use the method and reverse the effects." Ren said
" ... It was a sudden idea. I gathered these while I was at the other side." Kai said as he took out the pouch
Ren looked inside the pouch as his eyes narrowed.
" The sparkles in the sand... Dualium crystals?" Ren ask
" We don't have those crystals here. But it is what fulfilled the criteria to Reverse a normal human, adding to that, I infused the Reverse aura into the song too." Kai said
" Makes sense. I think I understand where you're getting at. What if we use the same method you used but without the Reverse aura?" Ren ask
" I would think it is possible. It's just..." Kai said
" Let's fight, Aichi. It'll get those thoughts out of your mind for awhile." Naoki said
" Huh? Oh..." Aichi muttered
Kai hesitated but gave Aichi his deck back as they set the field. Aichi hesitantly drew his five cards and fanned them out in front of him and looked at them.
" ... Aichi?"
" Oh? What is it?" Aichi ask
" I was asking if you're ready yet." Naoki replied
" O-Oh... Y-Yeah, I'm ready..." Aichi replied
Both placed their hands on their starting Vanguards and was ready to flip them up when a sharp pain was felt in his head as his body started shaking.
" What...? Everyone...? Who's everyone...? Who's this person in front of me...?" Aichi thought as he stared at Naoki before his eyes shifted as everyone's faces were becoming blanks
" Aichi? Aichi!" Naoki called
" Naoki... kun...? Why...? I can't remember... Why can't I remember their faces...? What is this?" Aichi thought as he stared at the blank cards in his hands, " What am I...? What was I...? Why was I...? I..."
He tried to steady himself by gripping on the table's edge as everything happened too quickly and his breathing started to become ragged and out of breath. His eyes widened while his face went pale as sweat dripped down his cheeks.
" I can't... remember..." Aichi thought as he blacked out
When he had suddenly lost grip on the edge of the table and collapsed to the ground, Kai immediately ran over while the others were in shock by what had transpired.
" Aichi!"
" Tetsu! Get the car! Hurry!" Ren exclaimed
Tetsu quickly got over his shock and immediately went to fetch the car as Kai carried Aichi into the car while they tried to fit in as much people as possible before driving off to the hospital while the others got onto Shin's van and followed them. On the way there, Kai had tried to shake Aichi awake but to no avail as his heart raced.
" No, no, no! This can't be happening!" Kai thought
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Aichi was immediately wheeled into the hospital and taken in for a scan as they waited outside his assigned ward after he was transferred there for the results. The doctor soon returned with the results as Kai stood up and went over to him.
" How's Aichi?!" Kai ask
" We did all of the scans and check ups. His physical state seems normal and there isn't anything physically wrong with him. However... his brain scan showed that it has been affected by some sort of mysterious wave. I'm not sure what kind of wave it is, it could be anything ranging from some scan waves or radioactive waves. Although it might be too far-fetched for it to be radioactive, something did happen to his brain and the most affected area seems to be where his memories lie. The worst case scenario is that he might wake up and not remember anything, so please be prepared for the worst." The doctor explained
" ... Can we go in to see him?" Leon ask
" A few at a time. He might get stressed out if too many people are inside." The doctor replied
" We understand. Thank you." Ren thanked
They bowed as the doctor left as Kai quickly entered the room while Ren stopped the others.
" I need to have a private talk with him. You guys can come in afterwards." Ren said
He entered the room and locked the door behind him as he approached Kai, who was anxiously waiting for Aichi to wake up.
" It's the song, isn't it?" Ren ask
" ... It's all my fault... I shouldn't have made him do it... If I hadn't, then this wouldn't have happened..." Kai muttered
" There will be a way, Kai. There must have been something that started this memory loss and continued to eat away at him." Ren said
" ... When we were creating that song, he kept telling me about how he didn't want to lose everything precious to him." Kai said
" Maybe his thoughts were what caused the ill effect from the song. I'm sure it's reversible." Ren assured
" I don't know..." Kai said
Aichi's groan cut the silence as he slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
" Aichi? Are you feeling alright?" Kai ask
" ... Toshiki... kun... is that you?" Aichi ask
" Yeah. Can you... recognize me?" Kai ask
" Your face is still a blur but I recognize other features of yours..." Aichi said
" I see..."
Aichi's eyes then shifted to Ren as he blinked a little.
" Hello, Aichi-kun. You worried everyone when you fainted." Ren said
" ... Oh... Ren-san, it's you..." Aichi said
" You took some time. You recognised Kai immediately when you woke up." Ren pouted
" I'm sorry... I didn't recognise you... Your voice was familiar though..." Aichi said
" ... I understand. The others are outside. They are quite worried about you." Ren said
" Oh... I'm sorry... I want to be alone with Toshiki-kun for awhile..." Aichi said
" Okay."
Ren lightly tapped Kai's shoulder to assure him before leaving the room as Aichi finally let his tears fall and Kai leaned in to comfort him. Outside the room, Ren explained Aichi's situation to the others.
" I think it's best to leave them alone for now. If we head inside there as a large group now, Aichi-kun might have a mental breakdown. If he allows us to, we'll head in one by one once he's feeling better." Ren explained
" Will he really lose his memories completely?" Misaki ask
" I'm not sure. He recognised me when I talked. Other than that, he couldn't remember my face and other features. He could even barely recognise Kai because he could remember and recognise some things other than his face." Ren said
" Will it get worse...?" Naoki ask
" ... Who knows. If there is a solution to this, let's hope that we can find it soon." Ren said
The others looked down in defeat at his words. Inside the room, Aichi finally calmed down as Kai wiped his tears away.
" It was my fault. I'll make sure to find a solution to this and get your memories back." Kai assured
" Yeah..."
" ... When you can be discharged, let's head back to Akibastar. You can continue singing for everyone waiting for you back there." Kai said
" I do miss there... Let's go back there soon..." Aichi said
" Yeah."
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!