AC: Hello dear readers. You might notice the chapter came faster than usual, but I reach a peak of motivation in this story. I want to end the first Arc as fast as I could to begin the second one. The best stuff is coming soon for this Arc.

Chapter 22: Preparation And Day Off

It was Tuesday morning and the Mikado's family and the dragons were eating their breakfast. Gao was in deep thought while Drum was waiting for the moment to say what he found out.

After they finished eating, Drum grunted loudly, "Excuse me. I have something important to say."

"What is it?" Suzumi asked before the other's.

Drum looked at everyone. He got their attention, "I have some good news. We found out who was the human helping Findar."

Halberd almost gasped, but he hit his surprised behind his stoic face. He asked, lightly surprised, "You did it?"

Ironchain looked at Drum and said, "Hurry up and tell us. I want to know it."

Drum replied, "His name is Tasuku. He's a student in the same school as Gao and...One of his friends."

The people around the table were speechless. Halberd was even more since he knew that Jackknife was definitely in danger now.

"We have to capture him now! This world will be safe after we get him," Ironchain said as he stood up.

"Are you sure about it?" Halberd asked.

Drum nodded and said, "Halberd. Can you give the report to The Punisher now? Gao also asked to talk to Tasuku alone before we do anything. He wants speak with his friend first."

"Tasuku is a good kid Halberd," Gao said. "I'm sure he's just manipulated by Findar. I have to talk to him first."

Halberd looked at Gao and nodded, "I'll communicate with him right now. It might take a while, so you should wait for tomorrow to talk with Tasuku."

"I will t- We're going to be late!" Gao realised.

Hanako looked at the clock and also gasped, "Hurry."

Gao and his sister brought their stuff and ran outside toward school.

Axia turned toward Drum and said, "You think this boy will listen to Gao?"

"I'm not sure. If he's not, I have to be here and stop him from trying anything. If Tasuku feels in danger, he might try to defend himself," Drum said. He climbed down the stairs and said, "I'm going to keep an eye on him. Findar could be hiding around Tasuku too."

Ironchain stood up and said, "Wait. I'm coming too. I need to talk to my future partner. Even if it's a little too late."

They both flew away.

Axia looked at Gao's parents, "Do you think he can convince Tasuku or believe he's a good guy?"

Suzumi replied, "I'm sure he can. Gao is good at judging people like me. He got that from me."

Takashi nodded before saying, "That's why you are here. Gao is a good boy. Yota really influenced him for the better."

The parents and the grandmother looked at the picture of Yota. Halberd and Axia looked at it too.

"Where is he?" Halberd asked.

"Not in this world anymore," Suzumi replied.

"Which world? We could find him and-" Axia started.

Takashi cut Axia, "She meant that he's not alive anymore."

The two dragons were silence and lowered their head.

After a respectful silence, Axia grumbled before suddenly yelling: "Ah! I forgot to present my new spellcard! Well...That was more important anyway. Once they are home, I'll show them. Although, Gao should have it but...I'll go deliver it then."

It was lunch time and Gao was heading to the roof with Baku and Kuguru as usual. Gao was a little nervous as he was about to talk to Tasuku. They stopped when they saw Rouga passing by their side.

"You should turn away. Tasuku isn't here," he said when the trio was behind him.

"What do you mean?" Gao asked turning around, frowning at him.

Rouga stopped and said, "He wasn't on the roof. So I couldn't force him to bring me to Findar. I'll find another way."

The three frowned and let him walk away.

"Gao. What does he mean by that?" Kuguru asked.

Gao turned toward his friends.

"Why did he say that?" Baku asked.

Gao sighted and said, "Drum told me yesterday, when it was the night, that he recognised Tasuku as Findar partner. We just weren't alone today, so I couldn't tell you sooner."

Baku sighted and turned around, "True."

"So you have to warn him about Findar true nature?" Kuguru asked.

"Yes. Tasuku is a good friend and I'm sure Findar is using him because Tasuku can use spellcards," Gao replied.

The two nodded and reached the roof. They looked around and they saw no one there.

"Rouga was telling the true. Tasuku isn't here," Gao said looking around.

"I thought he evaded Rouga. Where is he?" Baku asked.

"We don't know. I smell everywhere, but I can't smell him," a voice said above them.

They looked up and saw Drum and Ironchain in their chibi form landing in front of them.

"So he's definitely not here," Baku thought about it.

"We also tried to search for him," someone else said.

"Zanya," Gao said.

Zanya joined them with Tsukikage sitting between Drum and Ironchain.

"Gyah! When did you get here?" Drum yelled surprised.

"Yeah!" Ironchain agreed.

"As I said. I also search for him. With Gallows still alive, we have to find Findar and end this now. If Gallows has no reason to remain here, he'll leave this world," Zanya said.

"Wait. That means you knew Findar was with Tasuku from the start?" Kuguru asked.

"Nun!" Tsukikage showed his scroll written: "Yes."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Drum and Ironchain yelled.

Kuguru walked closer, but Zanya gasped nervously and backed away while his glasses cracked.

Tsukikage sighted and stood between her and Zanya.

The boy with blue hair calmed down and replied, "Because I owe the reward to Tsukikage. If you arrest him, he won't get anything and I'll fail my promise for him."

"What do you owe him?" Gao asked.

Tsukikage nodded at Zanya. The boy sighted and replied, "I guess I can tell you this now. It's not necessarily a big thing for you, but it means a lot for me. Long story short, Tsukikage saved my brother's life. We passed near a skyscraper when a pillar felt from the sky. If Tsukikage wasn't there, my little brother would have been crushed."

"Nun," Tsukikage showed his scroll: "I was supposed to be discreet. But I couldn't just stay there and let a kid die in front of me."

"That's why you are helping him?" Ironchain asked.

Zanya nodded, "I couldn't just thank him for saving my brother and since he wants to capture a criminal, I didn't mind. My little brother also loves him."

"Zanya. I have to talk with Tasuku and explain what's going on. He might have been manipulated by Findar."

Zanya thought about it and replied, "Possible, but I doubt it. Tasuku is a smart kid and-"

"Nun," Tsukikage showed his scroll, "Being smart doesn't always mean harder to manipulate."

"He's right. He could use his kindness," Kuguru replied.

Zanya nodded and asked to the blue dragon, "Who are you? I saw you on television but I never heard your name."

The blue dragon sighted, remembering that mistake. He then raised his chest and replied, "I'm Ironchain. I came here to give my spellcards deck to my partner. I finally decide it."

"Who is it?" Drum asked curiously.

Ironchain turned toward Kuguru and showed the spellcard deck, "I think we'll be a good team together Kuguru."

She took the deck and looked at it carefully. She raised her head and replied, "Are you sure? Baku knows how to prepare the card to their maximal capacity."

Ironchain replied, "Yeah. He's mostly a guy that provides support, not directly in the battlefield."

"Good," Baku nodded.

Kuguru replied, "Alright. I guess I'll give it a try. I saw Gao's training, but I might be bad at it."

Ironchain chuckled, "Still better than not having at all."

"Anyway. We need to find where Tasuku lives. It might be better to meet him at his home and-" Zanya was cut.

"I'm sorry, but it's not a good idea," Gao replied, crossing his arms. "He will ask how we know where he lived anyway. It's better to wait for him to come at school. I want to talk to him alone first. We are friends and he will listen to me."

Zanya was about to protest when a voice yelled, "Drum-kin!"

Drum knew who it was and gasped. He didn't have time to do anything before he was hugged from behind by Axia.

"Let me go!" Drum yelled before pushing Axia away from him.

Axia corrected his monocle and said, "That's not very nice Drum-kin. I flew all the way to give something really important. You know it's not easy to find this school when you never went there before. There's always another time anyway," he winked.

Drum paled and took a safer distance from the dragon wizard.

"Why are you here anyway Axia?" Ironchain asked.

Axia looked at him and replied, "I came here to bring something important. I finished the spellcard I was working on. I wanted to show it this morning, but more important things came in the way," he searched the spellcard in his clothes and took it out, "Here's the new and important spellcard based on my little knowledge of this world. The Invoking spellcard."

"Invoking spellcard?" the others asked.

"Yeah. I cannot use teleporting spellcard because it's not really how it works. Anyway, this card is really important for the humans to have it with them," Axia started his explanation.

"What does it do?" Zanya asked.

Axia pointed his claw at Zanya and said, "It's not polite to cut me when I am exactly explaining that."

"My apologies," Zanya replied.

"Only Drum-kin can interrupt me. Anyway, this card is called Invoking for one reason. When you are separated from your partner, you are vulnerable if one of our kind attacks you. For example, Gao, if you are attacked at school and Drum-kin is at the other side of town with me, at the park with a picnic," he said with star in his eyes.

"Never gonna happen," Drum grumbled as he rolled his eyes.

"You just have to use the spellcard and you'll invoke him by your side in an instant. Of course it would ruin the picnic. Anyway, because magic energy comes from human, it's possible to use it by you, but I cannot do it because I use the environment natural magic energy. In other word, the magic energy from Gao will 'grab' Drum-kin and pulled him toward him. I wish I could do that," Axia commented.

"Not me," Drum replied, glad it cannot happen.

"This spell card seems really useful," Zanya commented.

"How did you create the spellcard anyway?" Baku asked.

Axia winked and replied, "Let me show you," the dragon wizard took the card and took the back of it and separated it. Inside the card, it was covered with symbol that no one could understand, "Those symbols control the flow of magic. The way the flow of magic moved, determined the spell," he then put it back together, "Depending on the complexity of the spells, some needs more than one card or it could kill the owner. Of course, I didn't make one spellcard. Once a new spellcard is created, it's easy to make more of the same," he took more out of his cloth. He gave two to Gao, one to Kuguru and one to Zanya, "Since you are a nice kid. I'll let you have one Zanya."

"Thank you Axia," Zanya bowed to the dragon wizard.

"Oh. You're making me blushing," Axia giggled.

"Why did you give me two?" Gao asked.

"Because you should give one to your sister. Halberd wants to protect her. He's worried when she's at school you know why."

Gao nodded and replied, "Thanks. I'll give it to her when I see her."

"That is all. I hope you have a good day. I'll take the rest of the day to rest. I put so much effort on making that spell that I'm tired," Axia said before turning around and summoned wings on his staff and flew away.

The humans looked at the spellcard when Baku said, "We don't have much time before class. We have to eat now."

The other's realised it and finished their diner just in time before class while the two other dragons flew back for their mission and Tsukikage disappeared from anyone sight.

Gao asked himself one question as he returned to class, Where is Tasuku?

Tasuku and Jackknife, in his real form were watching the television. Jackknife rested on the floor while the boy had his back against the dragon flank.

Jackknife laughed and said, "How can that dragon end up in such silly situation? I'll never understand it."

"I don't think that's the point of this anime," Tasuku replied with a grin.

Jackknife calmed down and looked at the clock. It was the beginning of the afternoon, "Are you sure you won't go to school today?"

Tasuku patted the neck of his friend and replied, "Yes. I almost lost you Jack. When he got you, I thought you would die."

Jackknife twisted his head and moved his snout against the cheek of his friend, "I'm sorry if I worried you. I am a veteran warrior who had more than one war on my shoulders. I fought for so long that sometimes, it is best to get hit if you want to defeat your opponent."

Tasuku put his hand on the jaw of the dragon and said, "I'm sorry if I was a weight on you. I'll be more careful from now on."

Jackknife continued patting the boy with his snout and replied, "You will never be a weight for me Tasuku. I think I'm the one holding you back and putting you in danger," they watched the television for a while and Jackknife said, "Tasuku. I wish we could have a normal life. I mean, that I don't have to hide because I'm chased by the other dragons and bounty hunters."

"Me too," Tasuku replied.

They heard someone knocking at the window and wondered who it was. Jackknife turned in his chibi form and hid while Tasuku checked out. Tasuku saw it was Halberd waving at him in his chibi form.

Tasuku opened the window and asked with a hint of suspicion, "What is it Halberd?"

"Is Jackknife here too?" Halberd asked.

"I am here," Jackknife replied.

Halberd entered in the house while Tasuku closed it and closed the shade.

"Why are you here?" Tasuku asked, crossing his arms.

"I came here to warn you two," Halberd stared.

"What is it?" Jackknife asked.

"They know that Tasuku is helping you. Drum recognised the boy," Halberd said.

Jackknife and Tasuku gasped when they heard the news.

"This is bad. They are going after Tasuku to get me. He will be in danger now that they know we are together," Jackknife said looking at the boy.

"They know it's me, but, why aren't they here yet?" Tasuku asked.

Halberd hesitated to reply before sighing loudly and admittedly said, "Because the boy wants to speak with you first. They don't know why you side with him yet. Before you asked...It's Gao."

Tasuku was silent when he heard the name. He sat on the sofa while Jackknife, in his chibi form, jumped on the sofa by his side, "Gao."

"Tasuku," Jackknife whispered.

The boy turned toward Halberd and yelled, "Why didn't you tell us last time?"

"Because he's a good kid like you. I didn't want you to try anything to protect Jackknife," Halberd defensively replied, "He wants to talk to you because he knows you are a good person. That's why he wants to talk to you alone and try to figure this out. Of course...He thinks Jackknife manipulate you."

"He's not," the boy replied.

"Tasuku. He thinks that way because he knows you are a good kid and because he thinks I'm only a dangerous criminal who killed dragon and escape his judgement," Jackknife replied.

Tasuku gazed at the mini green dragon before looking at Halberd, "I'll talk to him when I'll return to school. Halberd...Is there anything else?"

"Yes," Halberd took a spellcard out of his armor and gave it to Tasuku, "I steal this from Axia. It's a new spellcard he created to teleport a creature by his side. If you need Jackknife help, this card will make him appear by your side in a short amount of time."

Tasuku grabbed the card and looked at it. He saw an image with a vortex with a creature inside, moving toward the end, near a human, "Thanks."

"Maybe you'll need it. I have to go now. Stay safe Jackknife and Tasuku. I'll try to win some time," Halberd walked near the window. He flew outside once he could and left the two alone.

Jackknife returned to his real form and put a hand on the shoulder of the boy, "I feel like the end is coming near."

"No," Tasuku said, turning toward Jackknife and putting his hand on the scaly one of his dragon friend, "It won't be the end. I'll protect you no matter what. I'll try to convince Gao that you choose the right thing to do. You killed the dragons because they were killing innocent civilians."

Jackknife smiled, "Let's hope it works."

Tasuku lowered his head and sighed, "I really hope it will be the case."

AC: This is the end of chapter 22.

If you are wondering why I chose Kuguru, it's because I think it will be the best. From Ironchain perspective, Baku isn't that much straightforward. As for Kuguru, some of you asked her to have Cait Sith as her partner. Do not worry, it will happen. I have some joke about the fact that she'll have two partners.

Chapter 23: We Are Nowhere Safe Anymore.

Chapter 24: Roar Of The Dragons Part 1.

Chapter 25: Roar Of The Dragons Part 2.

Chapter 26: Heart Of The Dragons.

Chapter 24 to 26 are planned to be intense. Especially chapter 24-25 in a big show down between the main characters. Yep, this is the first Climax of this Arc.

After chapter 26, there is another epic fight before closing this arc.