So this is my first attempt at writing any sort of fanfiction in years, and no before you ask this isn't a thirst fic, my own take on something similar to the anime/manga. I will be kind of keeping to release orders of irl cards, it'll start mostly with the first wave of support of every clan, however, as and when it fits the character I'll update their decks. I'll try to stick with Imaginary Gifts 1 for now until the story develops. This will probably have many mistakes but I'll do my best to try and keep it cohesive and fun to read. I'll update this as and when I feel inspired, don't want to promise any sort of schedule and cause any stress/upset for anyone reading or myself. Thanks for checking this out and I hope you stick around.

Prologue: Sowing Seeds

Inside his bedroom, Jake Summers sat at his desk with a shoe box with his name written on it. Jake was 16, his hair a dark brown with sea blue eyes, clouded from the tears forming. In a black suit and tie.

He had just come back from the funeral of his older sister, Miya. This was something he found in her room, He wanted to find something to keep of hers and found this under her bed. He wiped the tear from his eye and grabbed either side of the box, with one heavy exhale he removed the lid. Inside was a deck box and a folded piece of paper. He took both out and checked the paper.

Jake,

If you found this it probably means I'm gone, I'm so sorry lil bro, I got to close to knowing the truth and I guess I paid the price. this might surprise you but remember when I would go out all the time and come home with stories of knights, dragons, demons and all that? Well inside this box is where they all came from, I entrust my deck to you, do what you will with it, I love you always.

-M x

Jake sat there shaking as he went over the note repeatedly. Questions pinged around his head, What did she mean by the truth? Why is this deck relevant or mentioned along with that? What was she doing? So many thoughts rushed through his head before a knock at his door. His father, John, stood in the doorway, in his black suit, face red with emotions written all over it, grey cloudy eyes and grey with wisps of brown hair short, but in a mess. He adjusted his glasses and in a shaky voice asked,

"Hey sport, I know things are rough, if you need to talk we're here for you, if you need some space, some air, whatever you need-" before he could finish Jake interrupted.

"Yeah I get it, thanks" He didn't even look at him, just continued to stare at the box of items unable to process it all.

His father left the room and Jake grabbed the deck, Miya had taught him how to play the game called Cardfight Vanguard as she was obsessed with it, inside was her deck, the one she would never go anywhere without, but why give it to me? The thought ran through his mind. He took a scan of the cards and pulled one out, White Lily Musketeer, Cecilia. His mind raced back to when she would harass him until he gave up and would play against her. She would had him a spare deck and she would always use this deck. He put the deck back in it's box, tossed it into his brown rucksack and got changed into something more casual, plain white tee and black skinny jeans, put on his glasses, grabbed the bag and went to the front door.

"Are you sure you want to go out dear?" His mother asked from another room, he assumed she saw him fly passed the doorway.

"I need some air, I-I'll be back later." He said rushing to put his converse on. Before she could even reply he dashed out of the door. He didn't pay attention to anyone or anything around him as he headed towards the only place he knew he could get some answers, Quietus, the card shop Miya mentioned going to occasionally.

What felt like seconds later he had turned up outside. All sorts of card game posters plastered the windows. He looked at his reflection, he could still see the redness of his face at stood there debating whether this was a good idea or not. A hand gently touches his shoulder. A shiver rolls down his spine as he slowly turns around.

A petite girl stood smiling at him, shorter than himself. "Hi, are you wanting to come in?" Jake just stared at her as a faint hint of recognition washed over him. "Amy Stroud, nice to meet you."

Amy smiled as she held her hand out for a shake, as the other brushed strands of her strawberry blonde hair out of her face, it was back length. Her eyes a hue of violet that seemed to shine constantly. Wearing a purple and white jacket and white knee length skirt, white little pumps and a faded orange satchel bag on her shoulder.

"J-Jake, I umm don't know? Thought I'd get some answers here, but I think I might just go home." He shook her hand, she didn't let go and dragged him inside, smiling.

Inside more posters were covering the plain white walls, tables and chairs lined up in rows with people play games, cheers and cries throughout the room. From a table towards the back an even shorter girl stood up with long red hair, crimson eyes and a befuddled look on her face.

"Amy, who is this?" She called out, the room had gone still, and Jake's face had returned to it's red state again.

Amy hugged Jake from the side and gleefully smiled, "This is Jake, I met him just outside, seems like he wants to play, he mentioned about having some questions."

Jake could feel his face burning, his throat went dry and could barely think straight, he knew going here would trigger his social anxiety, but he didn't expect to be put on the spot like that. "I... ermm yes, hi, I am Jake." He felt like a fool.

The crimson strutted her way over to him, looked him up and down. "Do you play?" She asked hand on hip as she flicked her hair. Jake in a panic took his bag off and rummaged through to find Miya's deck. Alyssa's eyes widened. "Let me see that." She grabbed the deck from his hands, thumbed through the cards, she handed it back glaring at him. "The box and cards are a lot like a friend of mine used to have. Why do you have Miya's cards?" A tear had formed and slid down her cheek. Jake was stunned. He knew Miya went here but did she really know these people?

"T-This was my sisters, she used to play here and I thought I could find a connection to her here." A sort of lie, if he learnt about her past here it could enlighten him of what she meant by getting to close to the truth, or just meet some people that she used to know, that thought gave him another shiver.

Amy grabbed his hand again and dragged him to the closest table, "well since you have her deck, do you play? I'm sure she taught you well, she was one of the best." Even through the smile, Jake could see the pain. He could read the pain on everyone's faces. "Alyssa, I know you like fighting the new players, but maybe it would be better if I take this game" Alyssa gave her a look, turned her body, then head and strutted her way back to her table. "She has a good heart that Alyssa, she just struggles to show it I'm sure she'll warm up to you, you're the best players brother after all" she shuffled her deck still smiling through her pain.

Jake did the same, shuffled his deck, shuffled Amy's drew his hand and was ready, he was going to use this opportunity to learn something about her, learn what she was like outside of the house. "I'm still a bit rusty, do you mind going first?" He tried to smile through the nerves. She nodded. "Stand up, Vanguard!" in unison.

Miya had always said 'once you have a connection to your units, the planet Cray will show you that bond' Jake didn't understand what she meant by that, until now, he flipped over the card Broccolini Musketeer, Kirah, he stood there in the white and brown musketeer attire. Opposite him Amy in pink and red mage armour with a staff as she announces "Lozenge Magus"

Jake and Amy began their match as the door opened and a guy around Jake's age had walked in, Alyssa once again shot up from her seat, but this time, she charged right for him. "Zach you're late... AGAIN" she grabbed his ear and dragged him to her table.

"Aly, I got distracted okay? There was a really cute puppy, and then an Ice cream van went by and-" Thrown into his chair Alyssa charged round to her side of the table, slammed her deck on the table and interrupted him.

"I'm going to make you regret failing me again." A wicked grin grew on her face, but not for long, as her usual crowd had left them to watch Jake and Amy.

Jake drew a card for the turn and froze at the sight. He held Miya's avatar unit, Cecilia. He placed her into his hand and took another. "Ride Maiden of Trailing Rose, Imaginary gift Force 1" Jake's image had changed to be more elven, in green and pink. He slide the marker on the left front circle. "Her effect calls two plant tokens. Next I'll call Pansy Musketeer, Sylvia to the left circle, her skill gets me another plant token. I'll call Lily of the Valley Musketeer, Kaivant to the right, he gains 15000 power from having three plant tokens. Now for Trailing Rose's second skill, I soulblast two and three of my tokens gain five thousand each." Jake turned Sylvia sideways "Attack" as he pointed at her CEO Amaterasu.

Amy took the top card of her deck and flipped it over "No trigger, that makes 5 damage, you're doing really well for someone who hasn't played much, Miya was always a great teacher." She gave him a sympathetic smile.

"Now my vanguard attacks." he turned the cards as Amy put a Protect Gift in front of her vanguard, discarding a copy of Oracle Guardian Gemini. He flipped the top two cards of his deck, a copy of Trailing rose, and a critical trigger. "I give all effects to Kaivant, let's see if this finishes it." 45k swing.

"I can't allow that, I'll use a heal trigger and a crit to guard." She placed them into the drop and held her single card in hand.

"I end my turn."

"Draw, ride Imperial Daughter." Amy transformed into a woman in green with overly sized shoulder pads that seemed to be almost large block like wings. "Imaginary Gift Protect 1, her skill, I counterblast one, check the top two, add one to hand and I'll put the other on top of the deck, she also gains power and a crit. I call Silent Tom and Oracle Guardian Gemini. I'll use Daughter's second skill to give Tom six thousand power. Now I'll attack with my vanguard."

Jake looked at his hand, Cecilia, Trailing Rose, crit and a draw perfect guard. "Perfect guard." Maiden hit the drop zone to pay for the cost.

"Drive check, critical trigger, I give all effects to Tom, next check, Another critical, I'll give the effects to Tom once again." She placed them into her and and turned Gemini and Tom sideways. "I'll attack Trailing Rose with Tom."

"No guard." He placed his hand on the table and hovered his hand over the deck.

"I hope there's a heal trigger." Amy said with a hopefully look.

Jake flipped over the top card of his deck, "No trigger" he placed the fifth damage, he hovered over the last card. Is it over? the question ran through his mind, he was enjoying himself and for the most part, everyone was welcoming. He shot a glace at Alyssa who wasn't looking very happy. He flipped the last card. A copy of Cecilia. "I-I guess it's over."

Amy reached over and grabbed the two cards from his hand. "You know, if you used Cecilia you might've had enough power to break through my hand and beat me, you didn't use it because of her right?" She looked him in the eye with such empathy, and put her hand on his. "She was a real inspiration for me, I got better at the game and made some new friends here. I'm so sorry about what happened. But I'm glad you're here, she would constantly talk about you and how much she wanted to bring you here. You're always welcome. If we haven't put you off." She let go of him with a smile and started sorting her cards out.

Jake took a moment to think. He grabbed his cards. I should come back, I'm sure there's more people here who knew her. Before he could finish his train of thought his phone rang.

"Jake? It's your mother, you said you'd be home soon, are you alright? Do you need us to pick you up?" Worry grew in her voice the more she spoke.

"It's okay mum, I got distracted, I'm on my way back now, s-sorry to worry you."

"Alright, be safe, see you soon, dinner will be ready soon."

"On my way, bye." He hung up, packed his things, but when he stood up Zach marched over.

"Hey kiddo, don't take Alyssa to heart, she's a tough one on the outside, but she means well, fight her sometime and you'll learn that. Anyone gives you any trouble you call me, Miya was the soul of this place, it won't be the same without her, part of her will always live on in this place, it was her home from home as she used to say. And it's not weird using feminine units, every clan has a meaning to someone. If you stick with Neo I'm sure she would appreciate it. Anyway, it sounded like you were in a rush, cya later Jake." Zach gave him and pat on the shoulder and a nod.

Jake rushed home thinking about everything that just happened. Miya really did love that place, maybe he'd go again, Alyssa must know something if she was that defensive.

He finished his food, helped clean up, his mother put herself to bed after a long day. Jake took the deck out of his bag, she left this for him, this was his last connection to her, Quietus was a lot to take in but playing that game gave him a feeling he lost. He took Cecilia out and stared at her for a while, Why didn't I use you? Tomorrow for sure I'm going to give it 100% It's what she would've wanted. I don't care what people will think, this is for Miya. He held the card close to his chest. A single tear rolled down his cheek. For Miya.

So I want to thank you for reading this intro into my story, hopefully you've enjoyed it so far, sorry for any grammatical errors and if any of the content comes across as insensitive or hurtful to anyone. I'm just very inspired to write something meaningful. If you're sticking around I'll see you for the next installment of A Rose By Another Name.