Hi again readers! I am presenting to everyone chapter 19! I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter, although I think it's gonna be boring but I really hope everyone enjoys it! Let's start!

Normal POV

Misaki and the others were still waiting for Takamina and the others to arrive when the door opened. But it was Leon!

" Leon Souryu!" Misaki exclaimed

" Where is Sendou?" Leon ask

" That's..." Shin said

" Did something happen?" Leon ask

" Aichi has... been captured by the enemy." Naoki replied

" What did you say?!" Leon said

" We stopped the guardian from rising but in the end, they got him after he went to sleep." Misaki said

" I see. I'm going there." Leon said

" Where?" Shingo ask

" Isn't it obvious? To save Sendou." Leon said

" Then... Let me go with you! I want to save Aichi!" Naoki said

" But it's impossible. There's no way we can find him! Besides, there's no telling where they have hid Aichi in!" Misaki said

" Then follow the wind." Leon said

" Why did you come here in the first place?" Shingo ask

" I wanted to bring Sendou with me and defeat Toshiki Kai. But right now, he's much more important in the case right now." Leon replied

" Then let me go with you!" Naoki said

" You? Out of the question." Leon said

Leon left the shop. Naoki didn't want to give up and chased after him.

" Ishida?!" Shingo exclaimed

Shingo chased after him.

" Those guys..." Misaki said

Takamina and the others entered after awhile but some other people were behind them.

" Nagisa and Chieri?! Wait a minute... Why are the understudies here?!" Misaki ask

" They followed us here. Kanata wanted to follow, then Mimori also followed. We met Nagisa and Chieri along the way and they followed us in the end." Takamina replied

" Please! Let us help you!" Kanata said

" When we heard your world was in trouble, we couldn't sit back and wait on anymore!" Mimori said

" And we also heard about Aichi-san! Please! Let us help too!" Nagisa said

" Please!" Chieri said

" That determination..." Misaki thought

" Alright. Takamina and the others can practice their fights. Nagisa, Chieri, Kanata and Mimori. Let's see which deck you'll pick." Misaki said

Misaki took out a few decks.

" Dark Irregulars, Royal Paladin, Gold Paladin, Oracle Think Tank, Nova Grapplers, Genesis, Bermuda Triangle, Narukami, Kagero, Murakumo, Pale Moon, Neo Nectar... actually, there's a lot of decks you can pick." Misaki said

" Which will you pick, Chieri?" Nagisa ask

" Pale Moon... Genesis... Royal Paladin... I don't know..." Chieri replied

" Just pick the one you think fits you best." Misaki said

" Then I'll pick... Neo Nectar." Kanata said

" Then... I'll pick... Angel Feather." Mimori said

" Then Pale Moon for me!" Nagisa said

" Oracle Think Tank... I pick this deck." Chieri said

" Oracle Think Tank, huh? I originally used Oracle Think Tank as well. But now I'm using Genesis, but it seems the Magus series is perfect for you, Chieri." Misaki said

" You used Oracle Think Tank before?" Chieri ask

" Yes. She used her ability to remember things and helped us in tournaments a lot." Shin said

" Amazing! The ability to remember things with just one look!" Nagisa said

" Anyway, Takamina." Misaki called

" Yeah?" Takamina ask

" Here. Aichi wanted to give you these two cards. The memories in these cards means a lot to him, please take care of them well." Misaki said

" Yes! Thank you!" Takamina said

" And Yuuko, I know you changed your deck to Genesis. Here, this card is for you. Please use her well, I know she'll be useful to you." Misaki said

" Thank you!" Yuuko said

" Now then, we should begin training you four." Misaki said

" Yes!"

Misaki begun training them. She taught them the basics and used booster packs to improve their decks.

" Misaki, where did Naoki and Shingo go?" Takamina ask

" They ran after Leon Souryu to train." Misaki replied

" I see."

Misaki continued training the others as Takamina went out to find Naoki and Shingo.

~ At the park~

Naoki was constantly defeated by Leon but he never gave up.

" That's enough. At your level, you'll only be a hindrance." Leon said

" I'm still of no use to him?!" Naoki said

" Please wait! I want to go with you too! I know if Ishida go alone, he won't be able to go anywhere! But with the both of us, we might get somewhere!" Shingo said

" Granny Glasses... No, Shingo. Me too! Please!" Naoki said

" You said your name was Naoki Ishida, yes? I'm leaving Aichi Sendou to you. Instead, I'll go to Toshiki Kai. Your hot wind isn't bad. Now, bye." Leon said

He left. Naoki and Shingo continued training. Takamina found them after sometime.

" Naoki! Shingo! Please, I want to train with you too!" Takamina said

" Y-Yeah! We'll train like crazy, then, we'll go save Aichi together!" Naoki said

" Yes!"

" Who's next?!" Naoki ask

They continued training for the whole day.

~ Miyaji High, unknown location~

Aichi had been struggling with the ropes over and over again but the ropes were really tight.

" Miwa-kun wasn't telling a lie, right? Kai-kun accepted Reverse on his own because he wanted to be equal with me? No, I need to get out of here! I can't just be simply captured and taken away here!" Aichi thought

He struggled some more when finally, he could feel the ropes around his wrists loosening.

" Alright! Just a little more!" Aichi thought

Maki entered the place.

" My, my. I didn't think you would still be trying to escape. Maybe I didn't tie the ropes tight enough. Or maybe... I should add more ropes on you." Maki said

Maki tightened the loose ropes again and tied more ropes on Aichi's body.

" Now, you shouldn't be able to escape this time." Maki said

She removed the cloth around Aichi's mouth.

" What do you think you want from me?! Just let go of me already!" Aichi said

" No. You're an important person and I can't afford to let you escape." Maki said

" Why?! Why do you want to use me?!" Aichi ask

" As long as we can get you to open the gate, everything will be completed." Maki said

" Like I would let you!" Aichi said

Maki immediately grabbed his neck and squeezed it.

" Don't worry. I won't kill you. But if I do this much, I'm sure you'll faint." Maki said

" Try if you must... But this won't be enough to knock me out..." Aichi said

" Fine then." Maki said

She released the grip and Aichi coughed.

" Don't forget that you have breathing difficulties so I can easily make you suffer." Maki said

" Of course I didn't forget but you're not going to use me for anything. The others will definitely come to save me." Aichi said

" They won't because I'm going to delay them while you're being taken away." Maki sais

She covered Aichi's mouth again before he could say anymore.

" Now just be good and stop struggling because tomorrow you will be given to Takuto. Rest well." Maki said

She left the place and Aichi continued struggling to free himself.

The next day...

Naoki, Shingo and Takamina started to set off to Miyaji Academy.

Meanwhile...

Misaki and the others started their practice again.

" Huh? Where is Takamina, Naoki and Shingo?" Yuuko ask

" Now that I think about it, they didn't come back since yesterday." Misaki replied

" Huh?! Where would they go?!" Kojiharu said

" I don't know. Probably to save Aichi... At... Miyaji Academy! Let's go!" Misaki said

" Yeah!"

They left the shop and to the school.

Naoki and Shingo managed to defeat the Reversed fighters but Shingo went missing when they turned behind.

" Shingo? Shingo! Where did you go?! Shingo!" Takamina called

" Shingo! Shingo! If you're here, please respond! Shingo!" Naoki called

They looked all over for Shingo.

" Hey, Naoki." Takamina said

She pointed to a figure running behind a wall.

" Let's go." Naoki said

They went there but only saw two boxes.

" Lame disguises..." They thought

They went by the boxes naturally then turned behind and noticed the boxes were following them.

" Naoki..." Takamina whispered

" Yeah..."

Takamina kicked off the two boxes and the two figures jumped and freaked out.

" You two are the Student Council!" Naoki exclaimed

" Student Council? I thought they were enemies." Takamina said

They took them to the stairs.

" So, what are you doing here?" Naoki ask

" After we came back from the camping trip, we went to the Student Council office." Suwabe replied

" The work has been piling up since we were gone." Naitou added

The truth is... They were cardfighting when they heard screams...

" I wanted to fight but Suwabe was a coward." Naitou said

" No fair! You were hiding behind the whole time, president!" Suwabe said

" Hey... Hey..." Naoki said

They kept arguing and Naoki couldn't say a single thing. Takamina gave a light punch on their heads.

" Listen up if you want to live." Takamina said

" Y-Yes!"

" Hey, have you seen Shingo before me?" Naoki ask

" No." Naitou replied

" Then what about that girl named Nagashiro?" Takamina ask

" Nagashiro? Maki-kun?" Naitou ask

" She stayed back here too?" Suwabe ask

" If you don't know then never mind. We need to go somewhere." Naoki said

Naoki stood up. But Naitou and Suwabe stopped them.

" What are you doing now?!" Takamina ask

" P-Please! Take us with you!" Naitou said

" Huh?! I don't know about you but I really need to go, so let go!" Naoki said

" P-Please!" The two begged

Takamina turned her head and noticed two Reversed fighters carrying a long crate.

" That's..." Takamina exclaimed

She shook them off and followed the Reversed fighters.

" Hey, Takamina!" Naoki said

" Good luck with them!" Takamina said

" Don't leave me here!" Naoki said

Naoki noticed Shingo on top of the stairs.

" Shingo! Jeez! Don't make a guy worry about you like that!" Naoki said

" Are you... strong?" Shingo ask

Lightning strike and red marks shown on Shingo's face for a split second.

Takamina was following the two Reversed fighters.

" Hey, you two! Open that crate!" Takamina said

" Why should we listen to you?" One of the fighters ask

" I know who's inside, so just release him right now." Takamina said

Inside the crate... Takamina's guess was correct. Aichi was unconscious inside.

" You better release him, otherwise, I won't go easy on you!" Takamina said

" Heh. Like we'll listen to you. You're just a woman. If you want to rescue him, you have to fight us." Another Reversed fighter said

" Now you've me pissed off!" Takamina said

They prepared their decks and starting Vanguards.

" Stand up, Vanguard!"

Inside the crate... Aichi opened his eyes and heard the fight outside.

" Dreaming Sage, Corron's skill! I put him into the Soul and I look for a unit with the name 'Ezel'. Blond Ezel. I put him in my hand and shuffle the deck. Call! War-horse, Raging Storm! His skill! Since I have a Gold Paladin Vanguard, I can put one unit in my hand to the Soul! Attack!" Takamina declared

Explosion outside.

" What happened to me? Why am I inside here?" Aichi thought

~ Flashback start~

Maki entered the place.

" Time to go. Don't worry, it won't be a long ride. As long as you don't feel it." Maki said

She took out the cloth around Aichi's mouth.

" What do you mean?" Aichi ask

She took out another cloth and pressed it against his nose and mouth.

' Oh no! I'm... losing... consciousness...' Aichi thought

Aichi blacked out. Maki untied the ropes and placed him into the crate and tied him up again. She covered Aichi's mouth with the cloth again and sealed the crate tight.

" I even made it comfortable for you. You better enjoy it while you can." Maki said

Inside the crate was a mattress with a pillow.

~ Flashback end~

" Takamina's outside... I need to get out of here." Aichi thought

He used his legs to kick the top of the crate but it was nailed to place tight. Takamina heard the sound.

" Aichi!" Takamina called

She could hear muffled shouts inside the crate. More sounds of kicking inside the crate.

" Tch. Oi! Get him into the car! We can't waste anymore time!" The Reversed fighter Takamina is challenging said

" Yes!"

Two more Reversed fighters carried the crate and took off. Inside, Aichi could feel the crate being carried away. He kicked the top of the crate even more but it was no use.

" Wha... Why am I losing consciousness again? No... Not now..." Aichi thought

He blacked out again. Apparently, the Reversed fighters sealed the hole where Aichi could breathe from and caused him to lose consciousness because of the lack of air. The Reversed fighter released the hole and air went into the crate again.

Meanwhile... Naoki had defeated Shingo and it was also starting to rain. Takamina also finished her fight.

" Naoki! They got away with him." Takamina said

" Shingo got Reversed. Sorry I couldn't help." Naoki said

" It's fine. I was the one who let them get away. Besides, I could have easily taken them out but in the end, I got so pissed off and fought with one of them." Takamina said

" No time to talk about this! We need to get in! Rain is starting to pour. Hey, you two. Help us too!" Naoki said

" Y-Yes!"

Meanwhile...

Yuuko and the others somehow met up with Reversed fighters on the way.

" Attack! Go, Himiko!" Yuuko declared

Yuuko defeated one Reversed fighter.

" Pentagonal Magus, attack!" Chieri declared

Chieri managed to defeat one Reversed fighter too.

" That was great, Chieri!" Nagisa said

" We better get to shelter. It's raining already." Misaki said

" Yes!"

They managed to find shelter and stayed under there.

" Misaki-san, what kind of archtype do you use?" Yuuko ask

" You'll find out once I fight. But right now, I'm more worried about the others." Misaki said

" If I remember, Aichi used the Ezel archtype in the VF Circuit, right?" Sayaka ask

" Yeah."

" I just hope the rain will stop soon." Nagisa said

" Me too."

Meanwhile, Naoki and the others are...

" Stand up, Vanguard!"

" Ambush Dragon Eradicator, Linchu!"

" Maiden of Physalis!"

" That unit is..." Naitou said

" Isn't it from the Brilliant Strike booster pack?" Suwabe said

" Neo-nectar... I don't remember what kind of fight we had, but I'm takin' you down! Linchu moves back!" Naoki declared

" Maiden of Cherry Stone attacks!" Maki declared

" Thunder Boom Dragon attacks!" Naoki declared

" Iris Knight!" Maki declared

" Guard!"

" Maiden of Cherry Bloom! Cherry Bloom's skill. Superior call." Maki declared

Below the feet of the unit that just appeared into the field, the ground started to turn red.

" What?!" Naoki exclaimed

" To be precise, Link Joker is nothingness. It spreads over everything that exists. Like this Neo-nectar, which has gained the power of Reverse." Maki said

" Disgusting!" Naoki said

Meanwhile, Aichi was behind Maki, still inside the crate.

" I don't care how far your garden spreads, my Eradicators are gonna mow it down!" Aichi heard Naoki's voice

" That's Naoki-kun's voice!" Aichi thought

Aichi kicked the crate again.

" Tch. He's awake." Maki said

" So he is inside there. Aichi! Wait right there! We're coming soon!" Naoki shouted

Aichi kicked the crate for some time but stopped.

" Oh no... I-I... can't... breathe... again..." Aichi thought

" I need to hurry!" Naoki thought

Maki draws her card.

" No matter how much you struggle, you won't be able to stop this growth. Life of darkness released from the gates of Hell, grow in abundance until you cover everything! Break ride! Maiden of Venus Trap "Reverse". Break ride skill. Superior call." Maki declared

Naoki backed off as the nothingness approaches.

" I understand you too, Naoki Ishida. Suffocating, endless darkness of nothingness... The feeling of being alone everyday, unable to find someone to be with you. You who knows what that is cannot reject Link Joker. I understand that. I was the same way myself. I felt different from everyone around me. I came to feel that their insignificant existence we're beneath me." Maki said

" True, I was alone for the longest time..." Naoki said

Aichi kicked again.

" Aichi?" Naoki said

" Don't bother. You're already in a bind yourself. Limit Break! Okay, here I come! Attack!" Maki declared

" Guard!"

" Attack!" Maki declared

" Guard! And intercept!" Naoki declared

" He's not giving up, then so am I!" Naoki thought

" But don't you have more problems to worry about? Because isolation is approaching you again. Attack!" Maki declared

The attack hit. Red vines emerged from the ground again and entangled Naoki in it.

" Darn it... Somebody..." Naoki said

When Aichi managed to look through the hole, Naoki was already trapped within the vines.

" Juvenile delinquent wannabe!" Shingo shouted

Aichi looked at Shingo.

" You can't be trapped in there either! Don't forget that we're here with you! You're not alone anymore!" Shingo shouted

" Thanks... Granny Glasses..." Naoki said

He broke the vines.

" I see. This is your image. Your image almost swallowed me up there." Naoki said

" You...!" Maki said

" You're right. I used to be alone. But... I ain't alone now!" Naoki said

All of his rear-guards and Maki's rear-guards were taken out.

" Call! And skill activated! You keep goin' on about bein' alone, but in the first place, us Cardifghters are alone when we fight. We fight all on our own. But in the middle of fightin', I think the feelin's between the two opponents are communicated. I mean, if it ain't a fight like that, where's the fun? It's big talk. I know, but that's what somebody told me. A fellow member of the Cardfight Club." Naoki said

" Jeez. You made me worry." Shingo said

" Continuing what I was saying, fighters like us, me and you, we ain't alone!" Naoki said

" Guard!"

" Not to mention, there ain't no need to fall prey to nothingness!" Naoki said

" Critical trigger!" Shingo said

The attack went through.

" Juvenile delinquent wannabe, you did it!" Shingo said

Maki screamed as Reverse left her body. The place changed back to normal.

" Ishida-kun, here..." Naitou said

He passed the jacket to Naoki. Naitou and Suwabe ran to Maki's side.

" Now then..." Naoki said

They ran to the crate and opened the top with much difficulties and saw the now unconscious Aichi inside.

" Aichi!" Naoki exclaimed

" He looks awfully pale." Shingo said

" We better get him out of here." Naoki said

Naoki carried Aichi as Naitou and Suwabe carried Maki and headed out of the place.

Meanwhile at the academy...

The black ring had disappeared by the time Misaki and others arrived.

" That was the gate?" Yuuko said

" It disappeared." Chieri said

" Where are they?" Misaki said

" And they did all this?!" Kojiharu exclaimed

Inside the academy...

Naoki had used his coat again to use as Aichi's cushion.

" I wonder if she's gonna be alright?" Naoki said

Naitou and Suwabe were waiting for Maki to wake up when they finally heard grunting noise.

" Thank goodness! You're up." Naitou said

" What was I...?" Maki ask

" You need to rest. I know! Let's fight next time! You're not alone anymore." Naitou said

" That's right. But right now, you need to rest up." Suwabe said

Maki nodded and went back to rest.

" Will Nagashiro-kun really be alright?" Suwabe ask

" Yeah. She was possessed by something. But that wonderful fight... And Ishida-kun's passionate feelings... I believe they had the power to banish it!" Naitou said

" President..." Suwabe said

" It's like I've always said: Vanguard is great!" Naitou said

" Certainly! This truly is the global standard!" Suwabe said

" I wonder if Sendou-kun is alright too." Naitou said

" Me too. After what happened to him..." Suwabe said

Naoki and Shingo heard a bit of it.

" It looks like they've changed a bit, too." Naoki said

He almost fainted from exhaustion.

" Naoki! Shingo!" It was Misaki

" Boss Lady!" Naoki exclaimed

" Where's Aichi?" Misaki ask

" Well..." Shingo said

When they head grunting noise behind them. Aichi opened his eyes.

" Aichi! You alright?!" Naoki ask

" Yeah... What happened to me?" Aichi ask

" We managed to get you out after defeating the Secretary." Shingo replied

" I see... Thank you." Aichi said

Aichi stood up.

" Feels like I hit my head or something..." Aichi said

" Huh?"

Shingo stared at Naoki. The truth was Naoki accidentally hit Aichi's head while getting him out.

" Sorry..." Naoki said

" It's fine." Aichi said

Aichi looked around.

" Naoki-kun, you should go to sleep." Aichi said

Naoki was knocked out by Takamina and was already snoring.

" So you knew he was tired all along, Sendou-kun." Shingo said

" Yeah."

Aichi walked down the stairs.

" Aichi?" Misaki said

" I'm going to Takuto-kun's place." Aichi said

Aichi continued walking.

" I won't tolerate whatever made the world like this. Even if Kamui-kun, Takuto-kun... and Kai-kun are my enemies. I'll fight them!" Aichi thought

And that's the end of this chapter! Thank you for reading and sorry for the long update! I'll see everyone in the next chapter! Bye bye!