Chapter 5: Kai and PSY

A/N: I'm back guys, told you I'd keep my promise to put out at least one chapter a month. I'd like to thank everyone that's read and/or reviewed the story so far, I appreciate it so much. Like I said a few chapters ago, this is just a little pet project of mine, I had no idea that it would be seen by so many people. I know you're all anxious to see the chapter, so goodbye for now! -SidewaysRiku

"One more fight, just one more!" Asuma protested as he sat across from Kai, six damage on his side of the field, as the taller boy started to put his deck away. Kai stared back at him, unmoved. "We've already gone 3 times, I have nothing else to gain from fighting you again." He held up the final card left on his field, the imposing, almost terrifying Dragonic Overlord. "Until you figure out how to get past my vanguard, the result will always be the same."

Upon laying eyes on Kai's finishing card once again, Asuma couldn't hold himself back from flinching a bit, remembering how the relentless flames washed over his units time and time again, Overlord standing, attacking, and standing once more until there was nothing left of his units, as bravely as they might struggle.

"See? With that kind of fear in your eyes, you'll never reach my level. You're better off fighting for fun, with people like Morikawa over there." Kai jerked his head to the side, where indeed the rowdy guy was in the middle of his own fight with Kamui. "Come on Kai, we both know he just recently started playing, there's no reason to be this harsh. Besides, Aichi-"

"That's enough Miwa, I was just leaving anyway. Your name is Asuma, right? I suggest you find another hobby." Kai stood up and started walking to the door. Asuma clenched a fist, his frustrations with himself and that feeling of self-doubt starting to worm back into his mind. But before he could think on it too much, his body practically reacted on its own, as he stood and almost threw himself in front of Kai. Asuma's purple eyes flared with the competitive spirit he used to feel before a tense playoff game, and he stared up at the aloof brown-haired boy.

"When I do something, it isn't just a hobby. I give my all, every time. You might think I can't grow, but come back in a week, and at the shop tournament I'll show you exactly what I'm made of. You got that, Kai?" Before he realized it, Asuma had stepped forward and was almost yelling in Kai's face, one hand gripping the collar of his jacket. Kai seemed as calm as every other time Asuma had seen him, however, and simply stepped back and pushed Asuma's hand away.

Kai sighed, and just seemed bored when he responded, "If it makes you happy, I already planned to compete here. If you think a week will make you strong enough to give me more of a challenge, go ahead and enter. Otherwise, don't bother." With that, he brushed past Asuma's side, and silently walked out the door.

After a short pause, Asuma realized the rest of the shop had stopped playing, watching his confrontation with Kai. "Hey, what're you all lookin' at, huh?" Miwa thankfully jumped in, waving his hands a bit as he stepped in front of a grateful, embarrassed Asuma. "I'll see you around, Asuma." The blonde boy said apologetically, before slipping around him and out of the shop as well, as everyone else just quietly went back to what they were doing. Asuma sheepishly went back to the table and packed his things, before heading towards the door. Before he could fully leave, however, he heard something. "Hey." Startled, Asuma turned around, only to notice Misaki standing behind the counter, watching him.

"Sorry for causing such a disturbance Misaki, I shouldn't have let my emotions get the better of me." Asuma looked down, unable to maintain eye contact with her. He couldn't stop thinking about what Kai had said, and how foolishly he had made a challenge without any sort of training set up or any idea on how to get better. He was broken out of this downward spiral at the silver-haired girl's words, however.

"Kai acts tough, and he's very good. But what Miwa was trying to tell you is that Aichi beat him, during his first cardfight. He's not unbeatable, and I plan to take him down a notch myself next week." Asuma looked over behind the counter and spread out on a lower table was Misaki's deck, and she was switching cards in and out without even looking at them as they talked.

"You're not anywhere close to the only one who wants to win the tournament, so put your anger to work. Just promise not to cause any more commotion like that, or I'd have to throw you out." She smiled at her declaration, leaving Asuma unsure as to whether she was serious or not about throwing him out, and reeling from the revelation that somebody who seemed as inexperienced as Aichi could take down Kai, while he himself just got smashed in three consecutive fights.

"I promise, Misaki. I'll head out for today now, that's probably for the best." Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and nearly sprinted out the door, heading for home like he was being chased. Barely even remembering to breathe, Asuma burst through the door of his family's small home, giving his mom a passing greeting as he headed upstairs to his room.

His thoughts were cloudy and unorganized as he threw on some shorts, a t-shirt and one of his windbreakers before departing again as quickly as he had arrived, shouting, "Bye! Be back soon!" while running down the street in the opposite direction of Card Capital, heading downtown.

Running usually gave Asuma a sense of release, of being free like the wind, going where he pleased and having no worries. This time felt different. Rather than losing himself in the rhythm of his shoes hitting the pavement, the feeling of his breathing and the sensation of the wind on his face, Asuma was stuck in his own head, watching his losses to Kai on repeat. He spent the better part of an hour agonizing over each move, every ride and call. He ran further into the city than usual, weaving through the pedestrian traffic of people heading home from work. Eventually, Asuma ducked into an alleyway to escape the crush of the crowds, resting his palms on his knees, breathing hard and letting his sweat race down his shoulders and arms.

All he could hear was the sound of his own breathing, his heart pounding in his head as he slowly stood up straight, breathing deeply and trying to calm himself down. "Come on, you're better than this. Pride before a fall, remember? Next time he's going down". Asuma thought to himself, clenching a fist and smacking it against his thigh in frustration. As he turned to walk back out of the alley and head home, a light caught his eye, and he spun around in surprise.

Down at the end of the alleyway, where he was sure there hadn't been one before, a neon sign in red, blue, and yellow simply proclaimed, "PSY". "What the hell?" Asuma said softly, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes for a second, but even after that, the sign, along with a door under it, was still there. Wary but curious, Asuma dried his face off on the hem of his shirt before walking slowly up to the door. There was no handle on the door, just "push" in red lettering. Asuma pressed a hand to the door but paused, uncertain.

"Go forward, my vanguard." Asuma wasn't sure where the voice came from, it didn't even seem like it came from the alley, but as he turned to check, the pressure from his shoulder pushed the door open, and he stumbled sideways into the near-darkness beyond. The door closed behind him, with a soft thump. Asuma looked back, but in the dim light couldn't make out even the door's outline, much less some kind of handle. He turned away from the door, and seeing the source of the dim, greenish light ahead, he walked forward, his footsteps echoing softly around him.

After a few yards, the hallway opened into a broader room, and Asuma looked around, seeing row upon row of small pillars of light. "What is this place?" he whispered to himself, staring at his strange surroundings. As he approached the first of the rows, Asuma investigated the light, and saw what looked like a card floating there! As he took a closer look, the design was very familiar. In fact, the card floating in the light was a copy of General Seifried! "Is this some kind of card shop?" Asuma wondered aloud, walking down the row and spotting many familiar units, from Juggernaut Maximum to Asura Kaiser, and even Gancelot! As he stared at the units, almost unable to believe his eyes, there was yet another voice, this one a bit softer, and from the end of the row. "Well this is an unexpected development."

"Hello? Who's there?" Asuma asked, and as almost as an answer, three silhouettes appeared at the end of the row, one small with two huge tails of hair, and the other two taller, one with long, almost mane-like hair, and the tallest having shorter hair than either of those. "I'm sorry, do you work here? If I'm not supposed to be here, I can leave right away." Asuma nearly stuttered as he spoke, feeling confused and a bit intimidated by these mysterious people, this mysterious place, and his circumstances in general leading up to this.

He heard what could only be described as a giggle, and then a different, higher pitched voice replied "Nothing of the sort! Welcome to Cardshop PSY, Asuma."

A/N: And on that cryptic, cliffhanger note I leave you guys! Sorry that this is coming out so late in February, hopefully I'll be able to work more on the March chapter. I know this chapter is short, and doesn't really fit my usual style, but I wanted to try something. Hopefully you guys enjoy it anyway, and keep looking forward to our boy Asuma's story!