I actually had another version of chapter 9, but I decided to make that chapter 10 instead. So have this extra episode

Chapter 9:

The Day After

"So… uhhhh, where are your parents?" Satoshi asked the young girl that he and Claire had found out of nowhere. She had this weird curly shape orange hair as she looked at them with a smile. They had bumped into her, or rather she bumped into them from nowhere. "I'm Satoshi by the way, and this is my sister Claire."

"I don't know, I was just fiddling with my deck and then woosh! I'm right here!" She explained.

"I uhhh, I see…" Both siblings had no idea how to react to that.

"So…" Claire began. "What's your name?"

"Akemi! Shindou Akemi!" She said giving such a cinnamon roll smile that just made the two siblings look at each other.

"Adopt?"

"Adopt."

With them easily deciding, Satoshi lowered himself to be a bit closer to the girl's height before beginning to ask her.

"So do you want to stay with us for a while then? Until we find your parents?"

"Yes please!" The girl replied. "You two are kind! Completely unlike Val-baka! Stupid Val-baka always keeping me and Kaa-chan from meeting Tou-san!"

'O…k…' The blonde realized, now he knew what to avoid asking as the girl took the siblings hands and followed them.

Meanwhile, Takeru just stared at the ceiling as he arrived at his place. The events earlier were unbelievable, not just in the fact that there were doppelgangers of himself and Sakuya but…

'What was with them…' he thought. 'The way they fought, there was something so off about it… were they, in survival mode? No, it can't be, Vanguard Fights are supposed to be fun right? How could, how could a Vanguard fight make them act like that… why did Saya-san react like that?' Too many thoughts though he realized, too many questions and not enough answers. It was getting late as he looked at the clock on the side of his room hit 12 Midnight. 'I should probably sleep.'

When the next day came though, Takeru lazily woke up and prepared to head out. It was a day off for them so he instead went around town, going through the stores. However, he was surprised as he ran into another person he never thought he would see. He saw a guy with black hair and fair skin, his polo was colored black as well as his pants

"Alan!" He called out as the guy turned over and waved back.

"Yooo! Takeru what's up?" He asked as the two shared a handshake.

"I'm doing great, didn't know you were back in town."

"I just came back recently. So how's Sakuya?"

"We've been going steady for a while, how's Asuna? Still a lost cause?"

"Yep." He had to smile at that. "Speaking of which though, we should catch up, I saw that match and it was pretty interesting."

"Thanks I'm free now so we can definitely do so."

With that Takeru decided to spend the day with Alan, and while they were eating their lunch… at Sakuya's place, she was with Saya, who also had a day off.

"So, Sakuya-chan, how do you liked the cards?" Saya asked. She was doing much better from yesterday, although the other girl realized that she probably shouldn't bring up its events.

"They're really nice, although I don't know much about what to do with it…"

"That's ok! Saya will help you myu~!" The idol began as she helped the girl build her deck…

Back to Takeru and Alan though…

"So Alan, how were the past few years for you?"

"It was ok…" He said as he sipped from his soda. "After Kai-san left I didn't really have much reason to play, Asuna left, and I'm pretty sure I made it clear to you several times that I wanted to beat Claire at her best right?" The blue haired teen nodded. "Yeah, you know what happens next, I felt that I would not be able to beat her at her best if she used Great Nature, my parents moved. Still no reason to play Vanguard at that time so eh."

"I see…"

"But enough about me man, how was it with you guys here? I saw the news that the Tatsunagi Foundation had to cover you guys."

"Yeah… by all case and purposes, Kai Rebirth is just like a Cardfight club at that school, although it's more like a secondary club, as no one joins it due to the reputation that happened when Kai-san disappeared."

"I'd bet, how is Sybella? I remember that she was a big fan of Rekka."

"Oh trust me, she was thrilled when she finally met them. Kinda surprised that the two started seeing each other though, although with how Rekka-san immediately retired after that it should have clicked to me…"

"You lost a bet to Claire didn't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" Takeru asked.

"Yes, you'd think after this many years you'd stop betting against Claire, didn't you have to buy her cat themed deck case because you lost a bet to her all those years ago?"

"Don't remind me, she still uses it to rub it in my face." He gave a defeated smile before beginning to ask. "So, you think you'll want to pick up Vanguard again?"

"Honestly I don't know, perhaps…"

"Well, in that case, want to have a game then?"

"Well sure, I'm ok, I'm kinda rusty though so…" Alan admitted.

"Then it will be a fair match, remember, I never won against you."

Meanwhile, at the Yamato household…

"Claire nee-chan, Claire nee-chan!" Akemi beamed as she approached the female player. "Fight me fight me!" She said as she showed her deck.

"Woah, I mean, I don't mind, but why the immediate ask?"

"I saw your decks last night! I didn't know what it was though! Although I think I saw a Dimension Police deck on Satoshi nii-chan, so nee-chan, play play!" She said using her adorable face to coerce Claire into accepting.

"Oh ok ok, I'm not going to hold back ok?" She began.

"Yay!"

"Oh is there a match going on?" Satoshi wondered as he saw the two setting up.

"Yep, Akemi pulled me into it."

"I see, good luck then." He said as he then did other stuff in the house although he also made sure to pay attention.

Back at the park though Takeru took his sixth damage.

"Ah well, I lost."

"Don't give me that." Alan smiled. "You were doing great Takeru, if I didn't get that 6th damage heal last turn you would have destroyed me 4-6. But man I missed so much."

"Yeah, so you think you'll pick the game up again?"

"Honestly, with how this game went, I feel like I should never have dropped it in the first place."

"I guess we'll definitely have more matches like this huh?"

"Definitely." With that the two shared a fist bump.

At that moment though, all 5 of the Kai Rebirth group had received a message from Takuto all saying the same thing.

"Meeting tomorrow at the Kai Rebirth School, bring your decks, our first Imaginary Gift cards are ready."

"Neat…." Was Takeru's reply as he read it.

"Important?"

"Yeah, we have to go to Kai Rebirth tomorrow, want to come with?"

"Actually can't." He said. "Going to hang out with Asuna tomorrow."

"Good luck man."

"I know, I need it." He replied as the two laughed a bit before continuing to hang out.

Saya meanwhile though, was ecstatic that Sakuya had asked if she wanted to come.

"Of course, Saya wants to go! Saya wants to see you use Imaginary Gifts you know!"

At the same time, in the Yamato household, Satoshi had read the message although he knew that Claire was too busy in the match to care so he decided to announce it later, although when he looked at the field his eyes widened a bit.

"I attack your Vanguard!" Akemi beamed as Claire had no choice but to take the 6th damage as she lost.

"Woah…" He could only reply as he saw his sister beaten. Claire was the best student of Kai Toshiki, she was the best among them and he was shocked to see her lose, granted, it was a 5-6 win for Akemi but he was still surprised.

"I lose, man you're strong." Claire smiled. "Did you always play with your parents?"

"Yes when they're there. And thanks so much! I got so scared when you started attacking so much last turn Claire nee-chan." Akemi replied.

"Anyway Claire." The male interrupted. "Takuto wants us to show up tomorrow, said something about Imaginary Gifts ready to be tested for each of our decks."

"Awesome."

"Can I come with?" The young girl asked.

"Of course, just stay close to us." Satoshi assured.

"YAY!"

End of chapter

So a short chapter. Claire is the last member of the Kai Rebirth group to not have a match. She'll get her chance next chapter. So see you then guys!