Chapter 77: There Is More Than One Good-Bye

After the tournament was over, Gao and Drum followed Noboru and his buddy outside of the stadium. It wasn't long before their friends and Gao's parents joined them and Kanaze. Kuguru tried asking a question, but Noboru told them to wait until they were at the park. He wanted to be away from a crowd walking outside the stadium.

Kiri was standing a little away from his friends, looking down and a little depress. He wanted to announce the bad news, but there was more than one for Gao and his friends.

Noboru guided them toward the park and sighed. He put his hands on his chest and felt sorrow just thinking of leaving his friends, but at the same time, was glad he could have done the last thing he wanted before leaving.

Noboru stopped when there were bench at the park and everyone sat.

Kuguru was the first to ask, "Why didn't you tell us before?"

Noboru knew that question was the first he'll got, "It's because we were about to begin the tournament and I wanted to fight against Gao."

"You could have still told us," Baku replied.

"I know I should have, but I had trouble accepting the news myself and..." Noboru remained silent for a few seconds, trying to find the right words, but couldn't, "And because I wanted to fight you when you were at your best Gao. I wanted to fight you when you and Drum give everything you have and you did. I wanted to show you how strong I am and fell a complete victory or defeat in me, not an empty one when I keep wondering if I would have really won or not when you were at your best."

"And why didn't you tell us?" Hanako asked Quixote.

The old elf replied, "Because I respect the wishes of my buddy. It was the warrior inside of him expressing his desire to have a real battle against Gao and Drum, and I agree with his desire."

The monsters agreed with him, but the humans had more mixed feelings.

Gao's mother decided to intervene, "I think you did the right thing. I'm sure my son would also wondered how would that fight be if he was at his best," she turned toward the children, "This was what Noboru wanted the most before leaving. And you gave it to him Gao, so he can leave with less regret."

"It was still a jerky thing to do," Kuguru protested.

Cat Sith and Ironchain both disagree with her, which was surprising for them.

"You still should have told us. My big brother can fight with everything he has even if he knew. He would surely have done better."

Halberd put his hand around her, "It is hard to understand, but as a warrior myself, I can. You cannot be sure Gao would have been at best. He could even feel more pressure and be slower when he used his spellcards. It is all but possibilities of course."

Suzumi clapped her hands, "We shouldn't talk about this anymore. I think we should prepare something special before you leave... Unless you have to prepare your package."

Noboru smiled, "Everything is ready."

"Then come at home, I'll prepare the best meal you can eat before leaving," she turned toward Kazane, "You two are also welcome. More friends for Gao is for the best."

Kazane smiled, "Thanks."

Azi Dahara and Kyoya waited for Troubadour to come and gave his report about Tenchi as he was supposed to watch him. They were back in the manor with no eyes to spy on them or ears to listen to them.

The lyrical dragon joined them in his mini form and said, "I came as you ordered," he bowed to Azi.

"Yes Troubadour. We want to know if you know anything about the actions of Tenchi or his intentions," Azi asked right to business.

"I tried listening to him when he was on the phone and his behavior, except when I was with Gao," the lyrical dragon chuckled nervously when he saw Azi glaring. Kyoya remained calm and gave a sign to continue, "It would have been suspicious if I remained at the same spot, so I moved with them and watched the match, but I always kept Tenchi in my eyes."

"What's the result?" Kyoya asked.

Troubadour frowned and said with all seriousness, "What he said on the phone was cryptic and worrying. He asked if something was competed and I know it's yes. And... he found a subject to test it. After this, he wasn't watching the match anymore."

Azi and Kyoya also frowned.

Kyoya commented, "So he made his move, but we don't know what it is. It's obvious it's about getting rid of your kind back to your world."

Troubadour added, "The only thing I'm sure, it's that it's one buddy monster that fought that day when he made his pick. I had no idea who it is sadly. He gave no name and he was gone the next day."

"We have to find what he wants to do and eliminate the threat," Kyoya decided.

"Even so, let's move on to the next phase officially. Maybe we can use the threat to our advantage," Azi replied with a grin, but wasn't confident in his own words, knowing all too well it could go wrong easily.

Zanya and Akatsuki returned to their home. They were both tired after running around town and searching for Tsukikage. They didn't find him no matter where they went and their morale was low.

"I hope nothing happened to him," Akatsuki commented.

"Tsukikage is a powerful ninja from another world, I don't think anything bad happened to him," Zanya replied to cheer him up.

Zanya stopped when he noticed something in front of the door. He saw a white scroll and picked it up.

"What is it big bro?" his little brother asked.

Zanya opened the scroll and frowned, "I don't know who wrote it, but this message was sent to me," he started reading it out loud so his little brother can hear it, "To Zanya. I'm sending you this message to warn you about my intention. You surely already noticed that I'm gone-"

"That's Tsukikage!" Akatsuki shouted.

Zanya frowned as he kept reading it, "Yes. It can only be him... but it's not his writing."

His brother checked, "You're right. It's different than his usual scroll."

"Maybe it's because he wrote it with his hands this time. Usually, it appears out of nowhere," Zanya commented before he frowned even more, but it was anger this time. He crushed the scroll in his hands and threw it on the ground, "How can he? That bastard!"

"W-what is it big bro?" Akatsuki nervously commented at his big brother sudden change of moods.

"He dears do this after everything we have done together! That selfish-" he took his deck case and threw it on the ground. The spellcards spread around and walked inside, "If that's what he wants, than I don't want to see him again!"

Akatsuki was silent as he took the cards and put them in the deck case. He looked at the scroll and picked it up. He read it, "You probably noticed that I'm gone. You don't have to worry about me," his face paled as he continued, "I took time to think after my defeat against Drum and I realised that you were dragging me down. You are too weak and preventing me to become stronger. You lacked talents in the spellcards-" Akatsuki stopped reading it as his mind told him in denial, That's not him. It cannot be Tsukikage. He would never do that.

The boy took the scroll and entered inside, thinking it was all lies.

It was almost time for Noboru to leave. He was waiting for the train to announce its departure. His parents were waiting near the train while Noboru talked with his friends for one last time before leaving Tokyo for an unknown time.

Noboru's buddy let the boy talked to his friends alone, but remained by his side with Rocinante and quietly waited. The other buddies were also silent and let the humans spoke their last words.

Kuguru grumbled something she already said, "You could have told us sooner. I would have given you something you know."

"I would also offer you something," Gao joined her.

Noboru chuckled, "Gao. You already gave me what I wanted and I'm-" he decided to be honest and cut anything sarcastic. He was leaving after all and didn't want to leave any regret, "Glad you give your all in our buddyfight."

The boy smiled and admitted, "You beat me during the match. You don't have to tell me again. You would have reached the final if it wasn't from that."

"And don't forget it while I'm gone. Because we might have a rematch one day and we'll be truly victorious that time," Noboru grinned.

"Noboru. I hope you'll have fun and that you send us some news about yourself. You have our Facebook account right?" Baku asked.

"Of course. I'll tell you how I'll do without you with my buddy," Noboru said. Noboru checked the clock and realised it was soon time to go, "Look at that. Time is running out already," he turned toward Kazane, "Kazane. You better not think about taking my place. I'll be back one day."

Kazane nervously replied, "I won't. That's not my intention at all. I also wanted to be your friend."

Noboru chuckled, "I know, but we won't have time for that," he turned toward Gao, Baku and Kuguru, "Guys," Kuguru glared at him for a second before softening up, "I have to tell it to you now... Well... You're going to- I'm going to miss you... a lot."

Kuguru replied, "Of course we are also going to miss you."

Baku and Gao nodded with a sad smile.

Noboru cleaned his eyes from a single tear about to appear, he saw the clock and said, "It's time for me to go."

"Noboru! Don't forget to watch the final," Gao told him.

"Sure. Tasuku! If you lose against Gao, that means we are better than you and Jackknife. Think about that," Noboru told the boy.

Tasuku lightly grinned, "I don't intent to lose against Gao and Drum."

Drum jumped and replied, "Gao and I are going to win."

He turned around and walked toward the train. He climbed inside, but stopped midway as he turned around. He saw his friends waving his arms and telling him good-bye. He waved back at them before entering in the train. It wasn't long before the train rolled away. Noboru looked at the window and saw his friends continuing waving good-bye at him.

Noboru sighed when he couldn't see them anymore. His buddy sat by his side and told him, "Do not worry. You will see them again someday."

"I know," Noboru said, "But when?"

Kiri was back in his home and sighed. He never had the courage to tell his friends that he was also leaving soon. He didn't have any reasons to not tell them, but he was afraid to tell them. Deep down, when he thought of Gao, he felt like they already part away many times and each one was more painful that the other. He didn't know why, but it was painful just thinking about it.

Joker was by his side and pushed the cellphone in front of the boy, "You have to tell them."

Kiri looked at the cellphone and his hand slowly moved toward it. His hand trembled when it was near it. He eventually picked it, Gao was an important friend.

"-Moshi Moshi,-" Gao responded.

"Hi Gao... It's Kiri."

"-What is it Kiri?-" Gao asked concern.

"Gao..." Kiri took a deep breath. He felt the blade of Joker gently put on his shoulder. "I wanted to tell you sooner, but Noboru was leaving but... I'm also leaving soon."

"-What?-" Gao yelled surprised. "W-why?"

"Dad job moved elsewhere," Kiri explained as his eyes became humid.

"-W-when are you leaving?-" Gao asked.

"In a few days Gao," the blue haired boy answered.

"-Then we have to make sure to have fun after the tournament Kiri-" Gao declared.

Those kinds words made Kiri even more depress. He took a deep breath and replied, "Thanks..." he couldn't speak any more about it and suddenly said, "See you tomorrow."

"-Good-night-" Gao replied.

Kiri put the cellphone and cuddled Joker.

"You did the right thing Kiri, even if it's painful," Joker whispered to his friend.

"I... I know," Kiri agreed sadly.

AC: This is the end of chapter 77 of Earth Battlefield.

Next chapter: The Great Final

Chapter 79 is when the main plot takes strength in the first step of a domino effect in three parts: The Upcoming Storm.

Chapter 80: The Lightning strike.

Chapter 81: The Thunder Strikes Tokyo.