Hello, everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 7! I hope everyone will enjoy it and without further ado, let's start!
Normal POV
In the next morning, Kai had woken up early to make breakfast for Aichi while he gets ready for school. Once he was ready, Kai set their breakfast on the table before adjusting his tie.
" It's a little unbalanced. Stay still for a bit while I adjust this." Kai said
Aichi stayed silent while Kai finished the final adjustments for his tie before sitting down for breakfast. Kai silently looked over to Aichi a few times while eating and stared a little at his chest, where the seal was laying dormant.
" ... Link Joker contacted me while you were in the bathroom." Kai started, noticing Aichi flinching a little before continuing, " He wants to make the announcement today. Go to school as per normal and keep your club members at bay."
" ... I understand."
Kai blinked in surprise a little as they silently continued eating. Once they were done with breakfast, Kai kneeled down beside Aichi and patted his head.
" Don't worry. I'll definitely find a way to take that thing off of you. Just endure this for a little while longer." Kai whispered
" ... Kai-kun. Do you remember about our conversation about my powers yesterday?" Aichi whispered
" Yeah."
" That person that looked like me... is a god that lives on Cray. I am part of a god's soul. When I think about it again, does this mean that I'm not even a real being?" Aichi whispered
" ... No. No matter what anyone says, you are you. Nothing is going to change my mind about that. Even if you were a part of a god's soul, it doesn't matter. You and that god are different people." Kai whispered
" ... You're right. We're two different beings. I belong here with you." Aichi whispered
Kai nodded.
" I'm not that god. I'm not that god's other soul...!" Aichi whispered before wincing
Holding in pained screams, Aichi placed his hand on his right eye as he continued to wince.
" Aichi?!"
Kai held his shoulders as Aichi lifted his head and opened his right eye to reveal a mark.
" My eye feels like it's burning up...!" Aichi exclaimed
" Empty your mind! Don't think! If it hurts, then don't have those thoughts!" Kai exclaimed
" Is this all because I don't want to accept that I'm not a being of my own...? I have to follow this rule because I'm that god's other soul...? Because of that, I can't think of wanting to be a real human...?" Aichi cried
" But you're suffering! If this is what it takes for you to become a real human here, then don't! I'm fine with who you are now! It doesn't matter whether you're actually a god's soul or not! We can still be together and live normally! You don't have to do this!" Kai exclaimed
The mark in Aichi's eye faded away after that as Aichi nodded. Kai sighed in relief as he hugged Aichi.
" Nothing will tear us apart. You'll still live normally as a human, even if your soul is not completely one." Kai said
" Yeah..."
There was a knock on the door after that as they were led down to the car. Both sat down in the car as Kai rubbed Aichi's knuckles with his finger to calm him down.
" Just act normal and don't draw attention to yourself, okay?" Kai ask
" Yeah..."
As the car slowed to a stop, Kai kissed Aichi on his lips before letting him get off the car. Aichi watched as the car drove off into the distance before hearing footsteps walking towards him and he turned to the figure.
" Student Council Secretary. Good morning." Aichi greeted
" There's no need to be so formal. Just call me Maki. We're all allies after all." Maki said
Aichi flinched a little before nodding and walked to his class. When he entered, his class was still slightly empty as he set his bag aside and sat down at his table before looking outside the window.
" Is this... all I can do...? Must I watch as this world fade away?" Aichi thought
Aichi silently sighed as his classmates slowly entered one by one.
" Pulses of life..." Aichi thought
He then stood up and walked to the door as Naoki and Shingo entered just as he left the classroom.
" Mornin'!"
" Good morning!"
" Huh? Aichi ain't here today?" Naoki wondered
" That's unusual of him." Shingo said
While they continued wondering where Aichi was, Aichi himself had arrived at the rooftop as he walked towards the fence and closed his eyes. Slowly, white aura started to appear on his body as gentle wind blew around him.
At the same time, Raphtalia's ears twitched and perked up as she looked outside the window of the living room.
" That feeling..." Raphtalia exclaimed
" That idiot is recklessly releasing his slumbering power." A voice said
She turned to her side to see Naofumi walking towards her as she nodded.
" He probably doesn't know it himself." Raphtalia said
" Yeah. Even the Mirror is reacting. It's weird. Why did they let him do this?" Naofumi ask
" Did they make a mistake?" Raphtalia ask
" ... His powers are awakening, and at the worst timing possible. If worse comes to worst... Raphtalia, knock him out of commission. That's the safest way so that his slave crest won't activate." Naofumi said
" I understand."
" Filo, follow Raphtalia in case she needs help. But do not change to your filolial form unless you need it." Naofumi said
" Okay~"
Meanwhile, Naoki and the others had ran down to the field after they saw Kamui staggering before falling to his knees.
" Kid! What's going on?!" Naoki exclaimed
" ... Tell Brother that I'm sorry... I wasn't... strong enough...!" Kamui winced as he finally screamed when a red aura engulfed him
" What is this?!" Naoki exclaimed
The two then turned behind to see Kourin.
" Kourin...?"
" I Reversed him." Kourin said
" What are you...?!" Misaki exclaimed
" The gang's all here." Maki laughed as they turned to her
" That girl..." Naoki muttered
" She's the Secretary of the Student Council, right?" Misaki confirmed
" This is perfect. Right when it's about to begin." Maki said
" What's about to begin?!" Misaki ask
" Something unbelievably huge!" Maki exclaimed
A projection screen then showed up as Reversed Takuto was shown on the screen.
" What the?!" Naoki exclaimed
" 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." Takuto announced
Kamui clenched his head as he continued to resist the Reverse.
" Kamui!" Misaki exclaimed
" This is unavoidable. Link Joker holds sway over the world." Takuto announced
" Link Joker?" Misaki repeated
" Link Joker... A destroyer possessing ultimate power who has crossed hundreds of millions of planets and dimensions to get here." Kourin said
" Kourin, what are you saying?!" Naoki exclaimed
" 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
" Is that what happened to..." Shingo said
" ... Darn it! My memory is foggy, but... I think I might've been..." Naoki said
" With an increase in their numbers, we have become more powerful than ever. Take a look at this." 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." Takuto announced
While Kamui continued to struggle with Reverse's power, a voice was heard.
" Kamui-kun!"
They turned to Emi and the others.
" Emi-chan! Gouki Daimonji!" Misaki exclaimed
" Kamui-chan!" Nagisa exclaimed
" Kamui!" Gouki exclaimed
" That's... Takuto?!" Rekka exclaimed
" 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
The projector then turned itself off.
" 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's right. We're their soldiers... and your enemies. What's happening now is our destiny." Kourin said
" Kourin..."
" ... Hey, Boss Lady!" Naoki exclaimed
" What is it? And I'm not a Boss Lady!" Misaki exclaimed
Naoki signalled for Misaki to look around as she saw Reversed Miyaji middle schoolers and some of the students inside their school coming out to see what was going on.
" This is bad..." Misaki muttered
" And where'd Aichi go anyway?! He must be around here since his bag is upstairs!" Naoki exclaimed
" It's unusual of him to run off like that..." Misaki said
They soon heard an evil chuckle as they turned to Kamui, who'd completely been taken kver by Reverse.
" I'm being filled with power." Kamui said
" Kamui-kun?" Emi ask
" Kamui-chan?!" Nagisa exclaimed
" I'm going to thoroughly crush any enemies who could overpower me. That's the only thing of any value." Kamui said as red marks and dark aura surrounded him
" Kamui! Don't do this! We're your friends! Your teammates!" Misaki exclaimed
" Those words won't reach him. They're both Reversed, so your only recourse is to defeat them in a fight. If you want to help them, take out your decks. Go ahead!" Maki said
" Fine with me, wench!" Naoki said
" Wait! Fighting right now is exactly what the enemy wants!" Gouki said
" What?! What do you mean?" Naoki ask
" I get that you want to fight. But..." Gouki said
They turned to the Reversed middle schoolers and the observing high schoolers.
" We're completely surrounded..." Shingo exclaimed
" What do we do?!" Naoki exclaimed
" Hurry and evacuate the school!" A voice shouted
They turned their heads to see Raphtalia and Filo running towards them.
" Who are you guys?!" Misaki exclaimed
" We're not enemies! But this situation is dire! This school has to be evacuated now!" Raphtalia exclaimed
" ... She's right."
" But we don't have the time to do that! We're outnumbered!" Naoki exclaimed
" If only we could stop those Reversed fighters from advancing while evacuating the high schoolers..." Misaki said
That was when a bright light shone above them. They all looked up to see a figure cloaked in a bright light as it moved its arm and aurora veils created walls to separate them from the Reversed fighters while creating an evacuation path for the high schoolers.
" ... Take this chance and leave!" Misaki shouted
Naoki and the others looked at each other and nodded as they all rushed into the school to evacuate all of the students.
" What's happening?!" Kamui exclaimed
" I didn't expect this to happen." Maki exclaimed
Raphtalia then looked up at the figure as Filo sniffed.
" That person's scent is the same as Aichi's." Filo said
" ... I see."
As soon as the students were all evacuated, Raphtalia used summoned her hammer and threw it at the figure. The figure turned to it as a familiar mirror appeared in its hand and deflected the attack with a similar hammer made from the mirror's glass. Raphtalia gasped as she dodged her hammer when it was sent back to her.
" The Mirror! Why?!" Raphtalia exclaimed
As soon as that happened, the light began to weaken as everyone around the area now recognised Aichi as he gripped the mirror while looking paler than usual.
" Aichi?!"
Aichi opened his eyes again to look around and saw that his friends would be safe before flying away. Raphtalia then withdrew her hammer as she sighed.
" I failed..."
" Hey! Why was Aichi there?! What's going on?!" Naoki exclaimed
" I can explain later! We need to go now before these auroras disappear!" Raphtalia said
They looked at each other and nodded as they ran out of Miyaji High.
Meanwhile, Kai had successfully Reversed Miwa after he challenged him to a cardfight. That was when a fading light landed behind him and he turned to it before gasping. Aichi was standing unsteadily after landing as Kai quickly ran over to catch him before he could collapse to the ground.
" Aichi?! What are you doing here?!" Kai exclaimed
" ... Kai... kun...?"
" ... You look pale. Are you feeling alright?" Kai ask
" I feel really drained for some reason..." Aichi replied
Kai then noticed the mirror in his hands as his eyes narrowed before carrying Aichi.
" Miwa. Do what you need to do." Kai said
" Okay."
Kai entered the car as Ushimaru drove them both back to the Tatsunagi building.
" Takuto-sama requests for both of your presences immediately upon arrival." Ushimaru informed
Kai stayed silent as he brushed Aichi's hair with his fingers. Once the car arrived back at the building, Kai carried Aichi up to the floor where Reversed Takuto was in as he entered it.
" What do you want?" Kai said
" See for yourself." Reversed Takuto said
Kai gasped when he saw a video of what happened in Miyaji as it slowly revealed Aichi.
" What is this? Aichi Sendou has that sort of power?" Reversed Takuto ask
" ... Aichi. What did you do?" Kai ask
Aichi opened his eyes as he looked at the video.
" ... I... don't know... Is that... me?" Aichi ask
" You don't remember?" Kai ask
" No..."
" ... If the seal isn't reacting, then that means that he's telling the truth." Reversed Takuto said
" The last thing I remember... was going to the rooftop... and then, there was so much light... And then I lost consciousness..." Aichi muttered
" I figured as much. That much power can't be so easily used by a normal human. He must've been taken over by some kind of foce temporarily." Reversed Takuto said
" A force?" Kai ask
" Does that mirror in his hands do something?" Reversed Takuto ask
" It's the first time I'm seeing it, so I'm not sure." Kai replied
" ... During the battle in the space between Earth and Cray, I remember that Void-sama was having some problems with someone who uses a shield to fight. According to the knowledge that I currently have, there was a name in a legend. Something or someone called the 'Shield Hero'. Someone who fought for the world and gained the power to kill evil Gods. Could that mirror have the same powers as that shield?" Reversed Takuto ask
" Isn't it your job to find out? I have no interest in that. Aichi needs his rest." Kai said as he quickly left
Once he entered his room with Aichi, he heaved a sigh of relief and gently set him down on the bed.
" I'm sorry... I caused trouble..." Aichi said
" No, it's okay. I suspected you wouldn't remember what happened. Get some rest." Kai said
" I couldn't do what I was asked to... Will you get into trouble...?" Aichi ask
" I won't. I'll take that mirror aside for now. Don't worry about me and just sleep. I'll be back soon." Kai said
" Okay..."
Aichi closed his eyes and slept while Kai took the mirror and went back to Reversed Takuto's room.
" Here. You wanted this, right? Since you have it now, leave Aichi alone." Kai said as he tossed the mirror over to him
Reversed Takuto caught the mirror and inspected it.
" You catch on quick. I know he's hiding something from me. You just handed this to me so that I wouldn't try anything eith that seal, right?" Reversed Takuto ask
" I didn't ask for that seal. I just asked you to leave him alone. Don't expect me to listen to you all the time. You backed out on a deal, and I'm not going to forget that." Kai said as he went towards the door
" And if I still plan to have him talk? I have plenty of men on hand in this building right now and everything can easily happen with a snap of my fingers." Reversed Takuto said
" ... Touch him again, and I assure you... You won't be staying in that body for long." Kai warned
After giving a final glare, he left the room and slammed the door shut before going back to his own room. He then sat on the bed and looked at Aichi before taking out his phone.
" He must know... But after what happened... Will he even help me...? ... No. Aichi needs his help, no matter what. I have to hurry and get something to remove that seal." Kai thought
Kai then dialled a number and put the phone on his ear. After a few rings, the call was picked up.
" What business would you want, calling Aichi's phone? You should know that I would be answering it." Naofumi said
" ... Iwatani. Help Aichi." Kai whispered
" I know about the slave crest. Unbelievable. To think you would go this far-" Naofumi said as Kai cut him off
" I didn't do it!" Kai exclaimed before quickly turning to make sure that Aichi was still asleep before going back to the call, " ... I didn't ask for this. All I wanted was Aichi. I didn't want that seal or crest or whatever you call it. I... I could only watch when they engraved it onto him. In this building, I'm completely outnumbered. I can't protect him with my own strength."
" ... You're not the same as the normal Reversed. You're completely in control. That means... you accepted that power on your own accord to satisfy your greed?" Naofumi ask
" ... I can't say that I don't regret this. Because of my greed, I got Aichi into this mess. I know that I made a mistake bringing him here. Listen, he shouldn't stay here any longer. But I can't sneak him out of this building alone... The mastermind wants answers from Aichi, and he might resort to the worst case scenarios to get those answers out of him." Kai whispered
" Because of what happened at school, huh?" Naofumi said
" Yeah. That's why-"
That was when the doors to the room slammed open as Kai was immediately restrained by his arms by Reversed fighters while Aichi woke up from the noise and gasped when the Reversed fighters all flooded in.
" Now then... I should probably get started on what I want from you, Aichi Sendou." Reversed Takuto said
Meanwhile, Naofumi quickly hung the call up the moment he heard that something had happened as he ran towards the living room where Raphtalia and the others were waiting.
" Raphtalia, Filo! We're raiding that building!" Naofumi said
" Did something happen, Naofumi-sama?" Raphtalia ask
" I'll tell you later! If we don't hurry, those two are going to be in deep trouble!" Naofumi exclaimed
" Wait! What's happening to Aichi?!" Naoki ask
" You guys can stay here. I'll bring him back and then give you answers." Naofumi said
" Then let us go with you. Now that the others were brought back home, our numbers will draw lesser attention." Misaki said
" Yeah!"
" We know some of those Reversed fighters too and can fight." Misaki said
" Naofumi-sama..."
Naofumi clicked his tongue and paused to think when all three of them felt a strong dark energy.
" Just now..." Raphtalia exclaimed
" There's a bad smell..." Filo said
" ... Not good!" Naofumi exclaimed
At that time, Aichi's arms were tied behind his back and a cloth were tied around his mouth while Kai was still being forcefully restrained by the other fighters.
" Let me go! What are you trying to do to Aichi?!" Kai exclaimed
" Your usefulness to us was gone the moment you brought him here. I just wanted to bid for some time. Now that I have my needed answers, you're no longer needed here since I don't have control over you. I'll be taking back your Reverse powers." Reversed Takuto said
Kai winced when dark red aura leaked out of him and started to part with him. Aichi struggled to stand when he saw what happened as the Reversed fighters beside him kept him seated on the bed.
" Instead, our leader would like you to stay and observe as Aichi Sendou will finally belong to us." Reversed Takuto said
" Leader...?!" Kai exclaimed
A man soon stepped in as Aichi and Kai immediately recognised the aura they were feeling.
" It's been a long time. We haven't seen each other since that fight to save that space that separates Cray and Earth, huh?" The man said
" T-That's impossible..." Kai exclaimed
" I'm sure you remember, right? I'm your old friend... Void."
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!