AC: I noticed a little too late that Noboru wasn't that much in this event. I think I was caught up with the vital stuff compare to other things.

Chapter 45: Operation Party End

The sun was starting to disappear at the horizon when the ship finally reached the port. Once they were close, Azi put it somewhere the ship wouldn't sink deep and returned to the surface in his mini form.

Most buddies were back in their mini form except Tsukikage and Akatsuki for duty reason.

Zanya, Tsukikage with Akatsuki on his shoulder, Tetsuya and Asmodai were watching the prisoners. The remaining pirates were all attached with ropes while Storm was handcuffed and forced into his mini form.

"How's my invention?" Axia asked, pointing to the handcuff.

"Really handy. They are powerless with them," Asmodai nodded.

"Anyway, I can see The Commander. Let's bring them," Zanya said.

They four escorted the pirates while Zanya gave his report with more details than anyone else.

The police and the buddypolice force were interrogating everyone to know what happened. Zanya noticed Shido and Sophia together. He knew that Sophia wasn't on the bridge, but wondered where she was. He also noticed Gallows sleeping on the police car, clearly bored out by the interrogation.

Gao, Tasuku, Kiri, Hanako, Baku, Kuguru Drum, Jackknife, Tenbu, Joker, Cat Sith and Halberd were about to walk out of the ship when they heard.

"Wait."

They turned around and saw Azi and Kyoya walking toward them.

"What do you want?" Drum grunted.

Azi walked near Gao and said, "You were an impressive fighter, for a human of course. We'll be honest, we underestimated all of you. We noticed Shido and he was fighting pretty well, surprisingly. That's the proof that humans have much more than they look like."

"You didn't answer my question," Drum replied.

Azi gave an annoyed glare.

"Azi was complimenting Gao," Kyoya explained.

Azi raised his hand, "We had fun to fight by all your side. Even if this grumpy grandpa dragon," he pointed at Drum.

"Grandpa!" Drum furiously yelled while Jackknife couldn't help, but snicker.

Gao smiled and shook it. Azi felt a rush in his spine at the contact of his hand, Just like Tasuku, this boy is something else. This boy must also be under our grasp. His potential is wasted by this annoying dragon acting as his buddy.

"You just shook the hands of a Darkness Dragon and it's their ruler!" Drum yelled furiously.

Tenbu sighed and said, "Deep breath Drum. It is better to be polite than rude toward Azi, especially when he fought by our side not that long ago and saved peoples life."

Drum said nothing else and crossed his arms.

Azi looked at Kiri and told himself, It isn't we expected for anyone to suddenly have someone obtaining a buddy in the cruise ship, but it is still the mission. Azi turned toward Kiri and presented his hand, "Congratulation in finding your buddy. You have good instinct in your spell cards."

Kiri smiled and shook his hands. Azi gasped when he entered in contact, but hid it, He's... He is one of them. We need him by our side. After all... Azi took a glimpse at Tenbu, Tenbu isn't aware of it... Yet.

Gao yawned and said, "I'm getting really tired. I think we should return home before I fall asleep... Anywhere."

"You have used all of your energy," Kuguru said.

Azi gave three nods to Kyoya. His buddy gave him what he asked, "Before you leave, we have a gift for you three," each head looked at who they wanted to give the gift, Tasuku, Gao and Kiri.

"What is it?" Kiri asked.

Drum didn't like it as he frowned at the dark dragon.

He showed them what he had, it was a gem looking like a red eye with yellow iris and sharp dark pupil, "This is our gift for you. It is made by one of the few who can craft precious stone as we have so few in our world. It's a decoration for your deck case to be precise."

Tasuku turned around and replied, "Sorry, but I cannot accept your gift. I was doing what I must do."

Gao looked at them.

"You're not going to take that right?" Drum asked.

Tenbu looked at the gem and his instinct told him not to touch it, "I don't think you should accept this gift."

Drum pointed at the original dragon, "See. Even Tenbu don't think you should accept it."

Gao turned toward Drum and replied, "I don't want to be impolite. Also, it could hurt the one who made it," he took it and said, "Thank you."

Azi smiled and saw Kiri picking the next one and also thanking him.

Gao saw Noboru joining them. He was glad he wasn't hurt, "We are going Noboru. Want to return home with us?"

Noboru continued walking and replied, "I'll go home alone once I can."

Gao didn't insist, the exhaustion didn't give him the strength to do so like he would usually do. They left him alone as he walked out of the ship and talked to the police.

Noboru walked toward his home, trap in his thought, I was so useless. Even Baku was useful when those pirates attacked. I couldn't do anything. I wanted to fight and help everyone, but I don't have a buddy and no spellcards. How can Kiri get one and not me? Noboru sighed and added, Just wasn't my luck. But... Watching this battle and... I just want to be a part of it. I want a buddy, more than I ever wanted. I want to be useful and show Gao that I'm powerful too. I guess... I have to try and find my buddy. He clenched his fist with his small resolve and looked forward, "I'll have a buddy soon Gao."

Azi and Kyoya waited for a while. Once everyone returned to their home, so did they.

"What did you think of them?" Kyoya asked, having already an idea.

"It's too bad that Tasuku didn't take the gift, but we do not want to force them to take it," Azi replied. He grumbled and said, "We'll forget about the kissing part."

"So you stop drinking wine?" Kyoya asked.

"No. But we'll take less," Azi replied.

"It is strange that only the left head got drunk."

The two heads looked at the left one and the three replied, "Each of us has a weakness. Each heads balance it so we made this our strength."

"Right. How long until the Disaster Mark enters in action?" Kyoya asked.

"That only depends on their will and their mental strength. We just need to wait for it to influence them," Azi replied. He smiled and said, "Phase two is complete. We shall move to Phase 3 now."

"Do not worry about it. My friend is ready to collect what we need," Kyoya also smiled.

Azi chuckled before turning serious, "But that assassination attempt is troublesome. We should investigate and end this. We shouldn't let Hinako get killed."

"Because you love her?" Kyoya asked.

The left head cheeks lightly turned red while the other two furiously grunted, "We are not!" the heads turned toward the left one, "Right?"

"Right," the left head replied, still having his cheeks red.

"It's because she can be useful to us," the three heads said.

"I agree. As for the one behind the attempt, he could target us when we get advance in our plan, just like Hinako own plot," Kyoya said.

Azi nodded.

Kiri opened the door leading to his home and told his buddy, "This is where I live."

Joker looked inside. The living room looks like any ordinary living room with the wall painted in blue. Sofa, TV, small table, etc. A typical living room, "It's nice. A little too warm for me, but I won't complain or meeting your father will start a hot relationship."

"Dad! I'm home!" Kiri yelled. He heard nothing and said, "I think he's not here."

Joker crossed his arms and said, "Burning reception from your father."

Kiri wondered what he said, but realised that he meant a cold reception, in a way an ice living being would said. He walked in the kitchen and saw a note on the fridge, "Dear Kiri. I'm sorry I cannot be here tonight. I have to work extra hours," he sighed, "Guess he's busy as always."

He walked in the living room and saw Joker sitting on the sofa, "Comfy. Except for my tails," his tails twisted behind him.

Kiri sat by his side and said, "Dad's not here. He's working late again."

Joker sighed and replied, "Poor you."

Kiri smiled, "At least I'm not alone home anymore. You are here."

Joker eyes took the form of a smile as he said, "Yes. I am your buddy."

Kiri hugged his buddy when he heard a low grunt.

"I'm hungry. My stomach is empty," Joker said.

Kiri wondered how he would eat without a mouth, but thought he wore a mask, "I'll prepare something for us. I am also hungry."

Joker chuckled and said, "Let me help. I am not as slippery as ice."

They stood up and walked in the kitchen. Joker joyfully thought, I'm so glad we are together.

Someone watched the television and The Commander was showing during an interview.

"-Commander. Do you know why the cruise ship was targeted by the monsters from Pirate world?-" the journalist asked.

The Commander adjusted his glasses and replied, "-Yes. It was for two reasons. One, to steal everything in the ship.-"

"-And the second?-" the journalist asked.

"-They were asked by someone to assassinate Hinako, the minister of defense,-" The Commander replied.

The person stopped watching the television and whispered, "Looks like they failed," he tapped his left arm with his right hand and said, "I need to get her out of my way. Those monsters don't deserve to live here. They should just be exterminated before they invade us."

Someone joined him and brought him a glass of wine, "Here's your wine Tenchi."

Tenchi grabbed the glass and lightly smiled while the other person walked away, "Soon I shall be the president and those wild monsters will be out of this world."

The day was over and Gao walked to his chamber with Drum following him. Gao put his deck case on his desk before he rested on his bed.

"It was such a tough day right Gao?" Drum asked as he sat on the bed. He took out his armor and put it on the ground.

"Yeah," Gao replied. He turned toward Drum and said, "You should go-"

Drum felt asleep on the bed and lightly snored. Gao grumbled a little as it was awkward, but didn't have the strength to push him out of his bed. He just felt asleep a few seconds later.

Tenbu flew in the chamber and saw the two sleeping together. He saw Drum still had his helmet and seemed uncomfortable. Tenbu flew near him and took it off, "Rest well Drum. You deserve it."

Tenbu flew down and rested on the couch in the living room. He closed his eyes and felt asleep.

Crunch!

Tenbu opened his eyes when he felt something biting his throat, just were his main artery was. He felt something trying to much his throat, but couldn't pierce his scales. Tenbu slowly turned his eyes to his attacker and saw something with dark skin, four orange eyes and only two hands biting his throat with his sharp teeth. Tenbu found the small thing reckless to even try and murder him in his real form. He waited for a few seconds before moving his big hand and lightly poking the beast head.

"What are you doing?" Tenbu asked.

The beast made a loud squeak and tried biting him again.

"Eating me? Good luck with that. It's not even tickling me," Tenbu chuckled. He looked around and watched the deserted place. Nothing was alive around him, but it was just like the rest of this planet lifeless, "This is your home?"

The beast yelled, "Sark!"

"So you are a survivor," Tenbu said. He looked at him and snapped his fingers; a fish appeared in his claw, "Would you rather eat this fish than me?"

The beast looked at the fish and then back at the dragon's throat. He hesitated and eventually decided to bite Tenbu's throat again.

The dragon poked his head again and the beast whined this time. Tenbu saw a mark on his head and realised he poked a little too hard, "Sorry. But biting me won't fill your stomach. Just eat the fish, it's easier."

He presented it near the beast that sniffed it. He looked at Tenbu who replied, "I can give you another one, to apology for hurting you."

The beast grabbed the fish, which was slightly smaller than him. He ate it fast and looked at the dragon that held his words and gave him another one. The beast ate the other one. Now that his stomach was content, he yawned.

"Tell me. Where are your parents?" Tenbu asked.

The beast whined before replying sadly, "Sark."

Tenbu moved his hand before the beast and pulled him against his cheek, "Poor you. Why don't you rest with me? I'll keep you warm. The nights here are rather cold."

The beast watched the dragon. When he was freed, He looked behind him and back at the dragon. Having nowhere to go and the dragon feeding him, he made his choice. He landed on the dragon snout and watched him for a few seconds before slowly closing his shining orange eyes.

"What is your name?" Tenbu asked.

"Sark," the beast tiredly replied before falling asleep.

"Is that you name?," Tenbu smiled when he saw the little beast snoring loudly on his snout. He moved his moustache around the beast and covered him, so he won't get cold, "Good night, Yamigedo."

Tenbu opened his eyes and started cleaning his eyes when he felt tears on them. Tenbu put his hands on his chest and whispered, "The weights of my sins are coming back. The time is drawing closer," he then put his hands on his snout and pat it.

A blue dragon landed on the roof of a house. He held his chains and made sure they weren't loud. He smiled as the full moon revealed a hint of strange mark on his scales. He joyfully said, "I hope Kuguru will be happy to see me again. After so long, I'm finally back," it was Ironchain who said those words as he sat on Kuguru roof, waiting to surprise here tomorrow.

AC: Surprise to see Yamigedo appearance. I thought about it and I wanted to use this to develop Tenbu and Yamigedo relationship. I noticed in the series that Yamigedo seemed to target more Tenbu than any others, until he ate Tenbu. As for Asmodai, he was in his way and ate him then.

The idea already formed in me of a relationship between Tenbu and Yamigedo, but it will appear in this AU, slowly and surely.

Dreams and Flashback will appear, preparing the reason why Yamigedo wants Tenbu down first.

The next chapter is: The Return Of Ironchain.

He got a surprise for Kuguru and some changes in his appearance.

Followed by: The First Adult Buddy Police Officer, (You saw him in the show).