Card Shop PSY

(Selector Spread Wixoss OST: Akira and Iona)

Meanwhile within the halls of Card Shop PSY, the idol trio of Ultra Rare were keeping watch over the place, a little warier than usual following the events of Kiyoi and Remember's cardfight and Kamui's eventual recovery from his time spent in a block of ice. They had learned of a great many things today, even without the remainder of their missing memories save for the few Aichi had managed to help Kourin recover, one step at a time. To think that their world was under siege from the forces that were responsible for the absence of Takuto and their memories as well as the spirit of a girl whose powers seemingly had no limit to the means of imagination itself, a key aspect also very heavily prevalent in the game of Vanguard.

The blonde idol was also in thought over what she had witnessed during the events of Kiyoi and Remember's confrontation as well as the memory that she ended up recovering from the sight of the fight tables alone. She had heard whispers of how some had not recovered from the crisis of Reverse and how much damage it had caused for both worlds and the game itself, feeling mortified she had willingly played a part in its spread and also worried for the Selector who now had a personal battle she had yet to fight outside the realm of cards in her home world, even with the evidence provided from Remember's gloating about her plans for the late Ayumi Sakaguchi. Seeing she was still gloomy, Rekka came up to her.

"Hey Kourin, you can't just keep feeling down like that," she said "I know there was some scary stuff to see in that fight, but it's over now, right?"

"That's not what I'm worried about," Kourin replied "If those people are seeking out every cardfighter to strip of their units, then the three of us are just as eligible regardless of our missing memories or not."

"Hmm... maybe they'll come after us, maybe they won't," the younger idol pondered "Besides, I just wished I could see that cool Grade 4 Kiyoi showed us in action. That's something we don't see every day, but I thought there was only one about like that."

"I assume you are referring to that card..."

The pair of them turned to see Suiko entering the room as all of the holographic cards on the stands changed to reveal that of a Kagero unit that would be familiar to only a few and fewer still believed that it was ever in existence at one point or another during the game's history. It was indeed a Grade 4 unit which depicted a divine humanoid Flame Dragon with majestic red armour with several gold trims around the chest area along with a blue gem encrusted in the center. It's name was depicted as Transcendence Dragon, Dragonic Nouvelle Vague.

"Well yeah," Rekka muttered "I'm honestly surprised that they haven't come across anyone that has that unit. Then again, the stories of the cards always said Nouvelle Vague was nothing more than a myth, so who knows. Maybe it's just one here as well."

"True," the eldest idol replied "Then again, the appearance of Kiyoi's Azure Neon Blaukluger from these walls... perhaps it's a sign suggesting that the role we had once forgotten during those lost days is not over yet."

"And yet, it may come to an end sooner than you think."

Before anyone could ask who had said those words, the lights and holograms in Card Shop PSY suddenly flickered wildly before turning off, one after the other until the room was covered in pitch black darkness, much to the shock of its three occupants. A sinister giggle echoed at as Kourin, the only one whose eyes adjusted to the darkness better than her companions' thus far had, was unnerved at the sudden turn of events.

"Show yourself!" she demanded, looking around almost frantically trying to pinpoint the origin of the voice she was hearing.

"As you wish, scum. But first... how about I do you three a favour?"

Before Kourin could reply back, a sharp jolt rang through her head as she fell to her knees, memories of a time long forgotten besides those she had recovered on her own ventures along with Aichi's prior help flooding into her mind at such a rapid fire rate. She clutched her head to try and force her way through the pain as best as she could with minimal success. Eventually when the experience was over, she had remembered nothing and yet everything at the same time, confirming one thing.

"That person... restored my memories," she breathed "... but why?"

Suddenly, the lights flickered back on as Kourin looked behind her to see Suiko and Rekka with bewildered expressions, trying to make sense of their respective experiences whilst making sense of the images that flashed before them. Before any of them had a chance to speak, the blonde idol turned back around to see a sight she never imagined she would see. It was Urith standing in front of the sealed entrance doors to Card Shop PSY, bearing a smug expression as she glanced upon her three new members of prey, her latest targets for her next craving of despair and brokenness.

"W... Who are you?!" she demanded as she struggled to her feet "And why did you restore our memories?!"

"I had no reason, I just thought it was more fun this way," the cruel demanoured Selector replied with a replulsive sneer as she glanced at Rekka and Suiko, who were just as bewildered to their situation at the present "As for me... you can call me Urith."

"You mean to say... you're the same Urith whose name has been spoken by those marked?" Suiko inquired with a sharp glance.

"That's right," Urith remarked in a smug response "I have decided that the three of you are all my next victims of ultimate despair. Be honoured that I in one single moment have succeeded in helping you recover that which you had lost where my precious Aichi-chan had failed."

The Ultra Rare trio then stared at the opponent that had revealed herself before them, bewildered that she had given them what should have been joy at the recovery of their missing memories and feelings, yet it seemed she had intended to snatch it back along with more in the cardfights to come. That was when Urith had decided in her twisted mind's confines to weave a new game in mind for some of her prey. Before she could do that however, Kourin who had her conviction restored following the return of her memories stepped forward in defiance.

"I don't know why you're doing this or why you even called Aichi like that, but we won't let you get away with this!" she snapped, holding out a familiar deck case.

"Oh? Since you're all eager to stop me, I'll make things interesting," the cruel demanoured Selector replied before looking to the pair behind the blonde idol "Rekka, Suiko, I will fight the two of you at once first."

"You're challenging us to a juggernaut fight?" Suiko asked, wondering what the point of it was given the overwhelming disadvantage the lone player would have.

"That's right," Urith answered "It would simply be boring to crush you all one at a time and it would be rude to make it three against one. Therefore, I'm savouring Kourin's happiness for last."

"Bring it!" Rekka replied in defiance "We accept your challenge."

Their opponent turned around to lead them out of Card Shop PSY and onto the rooftop of the mall where their confrontations would be at hand. Seeing that she had given them hope to take the bait, Urith pondered briefly on how she well had adopted Chaos Breaker's philosophy into her own enigma, looking forward to using that same philosophy to rip that hope and much more away from the Ultra Rare trio. Thinking back to how much Aichi's fate was intwined with their own back in the day, her sinister smile deepened before she licked her lips, savouring the moment that was to come.

(End Music)


Mall Basement

"Stand and draw!"

(Cardfight! Vanguard G Z OST: Chaos Breaker Fight)

Ruko drew her next card and added it to her hand, eyeing over her options as she was about to choose Dragmiko Yuki's card to ride. Before she could do so, she was interrupted by the sight of a red Vanguard circle flashing above Chaosbringer, grabbing the attention of her and everyone else in the room save for her possessed opponent. They all knew it was bound to be the sign of a Limit Break ability, even from their own imaginations and indeed with Charcoal on Tokoha's side of the field, that possibility was all but confirmed.

"At this moment, Chaosbringer's skill activates!" Miyako announced as her deck hovered into the air and fanned itself out "I superior ride this unit from my deck!"

"Superior Ride on the opponent's turn?!" Ratie exclaimed "But what's the point of that?!"

Her question would be answered as one lone card with its back turned to everyone else in the room hovered in front of the possessed girl who snatched and held it into the air. Streams of dark red energy poured from it, the feeling from it being more than enough to fill the room with familiar dread, especially for Tama who was holding Yuki's card and for Ruko who had seen that unit in battle previously.

"Slash through everything with your cursed blade and cover this disgusting world with the darkness of death!" she called out, with venom laced in her tone before slamming the card down onto Chaosbringer's in the Rest state, the unit on the battlefield in turn disappearing "Star-vader... CHAOS BREAKER DRAGON!"

Within a blinding red glow, the shape of Chaos Breaker emerged from within clasping his scythe in a familiar manner with a slashing motion before bringing it to his right side, his full frightening presence displayed to all in the basement. A dark chuckle echoed from the Clown's sneering face as it gazed down towards a nervous, but otherwise defiant opposing Selector who did her best to muster a glare back at him.

"So you've finally shown yourself!" she hissed, looking briefly to Tokoha and back to the Cyber Dragon "The one who built the broken rules of Selector Battles and Kai's former mentor!"

"Ah Kominato... it has been some time since we last met for the first time... but that would be a broken lie of itself, wouldn't it?" Chaos Breaker replied in amusement.

"It wasn't enough you're responsible for everyone's suffering back home... but you also have my mother as your pawn!" Ruko snapped back, pointing at him "Release that girl and give my mother back! This is between me and you!"

"Heh. So you still cling to false hope in more ways than one," the Clown scoffed "But have it your way. You'll learn more about yourself and the true history of the Kominato family... eventually..."

"Eventually...?"

Tama and Yuki blinked as they listened to the conversation in front of them, curious about what Chaos Breaker had just said. The girl of black was the one more in thought over the topic, pondering back to Ruko's encounter with Morris after he confessed he had originally played a part in marking fighters and stripping them of their units alongside Serra and Miyako before wishing for their downfall after the Selector chatted with him and came to an agreement, if only on his 'theory' that Miyako could simply be acting against her will and possessed by the Clown much like how Reverse took ahold of a victim. Yet now, listening to the words of the Cyber Dragon had began to manifest doubts in her mind and more questions as to the Kominato family's turbulent history to this point, much of which still remained in the dark.

"Don't listen to Chaos Breaker!" Tama cried out "Ru can beat Chaos Breaker!"

"I got it Tama!" Ruko responded as she resumed with her turn and held out her intended card into the air "Girl of black who walked down a solitude path, awaken to a new compromise and aid me in my need now! Cross Ride!"

She then slammed her card down onto the Vanguard Circle as the imaged Yuki on the field was enveloped in a dark violet coloured aura of flame that spiralled around for a few moments before dispersing to reveal the transformed LRIG. Her wings had become flesh instead of feather and all the draconic features that the Selector, the girl of black herself and Tama could recognize from the battle against Ayumu had returned to empower this new form.

"Dragmiko Yuki, Eclipse/Maiden!"

Dragmiko Yuki, Eclipse/Maiden/Grade 3/Twin Drive!/POW: 11000/United Sanctuary/Human;LRIG

"The Vanguard Yuki transformed?" Christopher breathed in disbelief, having not expected it to take on such a form.

"She's amazing..." Ratie interjected, mesmerized by the elegance of Yuki's appearance on the battlefield.

"But it may not be enough," Tetsu muttered grimly "Two of Ruko's rear-guards are Locked and her Vanguard has lost its booster. Unless she can deal three damage at once..."

Ruko having overheard the comments from the sidelines knew that the Dark Irregulars user had made a valid observation, knowing that she had to make the push needed to end the game this turn having been more than familiar with Chaos Breaker's abilities at hand. Looking over her hand, she could see a familiar card that would help her to turn the turn, restoring her confidence.

Just wait a little longer mother...! I'm breaking through to you this turn!

(End Music)

"With the skill of Dragmiko Yuki, since I have a Grade 3 or greater Iona or Yuki in the soul other than another copy, she gets 2000 power and an additional Grade!" she announced before placing down two cards onto her empty right column "I call Seredu and Portal Mage, Badabh Caar!"

The white Labyrinth SIGNI appeared onto the battlefield along with a Shadow Paladin Elf who was dressed in a manner that would be considered 'casual' to humans on Earth, even down to the earbuds that were worn. Seredu then set her sights on Niobium once again as she hurled several crosses onto the Cyberoid which stuck themselves to its armour and electrocuted it, rendering it powerless of its skills and the ability to intercept once again. Miyako hissed at this prospect, now seeing that Ruko had ridded her of some vital shield value, but otherwise remained stoic in the face of adversity, not otherwise concerned that her opponent had to deal three damage to win the fight.

(Cardfight Vanguard G NEXT OST: Kazuma Fight)

"Dragmiko Yuki's skill!" Ruko called, turning two cards in her damage zone face down and Soul Blasting two cards from beneath her Vanguard as the image LRIG raised her claws "I return four units with different Grades from the drop zone to the bottom of my deck to gain a skill and retire Iron!"

Dragmiko Yuki then generated and fired a beam of black and white energy towards Iron with her claws, obliterating the Cyberoid in an instant and clearing out another Intercept that the Selector would have been concerned about going into the attacks to come. The girl then looked over to the real Yuki whose card was still in Tama's hands, the girl of black then giving her approval to proceed as normal whilst the girl of white cheered out in anticipation for the Selector's victory at hand as she turned back to the table and began her attacks.

"Let's go! Seredu attacks your Vanguard with Caar's boost!" Ruko declared.

Seredu ran towards Chaos Breaker Dragon who seemingly made no motion to defend itself, taking the attack without any resistance. The fourth point of damage in Tokoha's damage zone emerged as Star-vader, Volt Line, much to Miyako's annoyance at seeing the lack of a trigger marking.

"Yuki attack your Vanguard!" the Selector continued "With the acquired skill, Limit Break!"

A violet coloured Vanguard circle flashed in front of Dragmiko Yuki who slashed it with her claws and shattered it in an instant, the glow being absorbed by her presence. This was followed by Seredu and Badabh Caar vanishing in specs of light with only yellow coloured particles remaining in their place before they too were absorbed by the imaged LRIG who powered up even further. Chaos Breaker shielded his eyes from the blinding glow for a brief moment before staring at Yuki, now both amazed at how much powerful she had become since overcoming the curse she bore from her greed and arrogance so long ago.

Dragmiko Yuki, Eclispe/Maiden/POW: 13000 - 23000

"Add 10000 power and as I returned normal units from the drop zone to the deck with the earlier skill, you cannot guard with Grade 1 or higher units!" Ruko called out causing the crowd on the sidelines to gasp in surprise "Furthermore, Caar's skill, I Counter Blast and look at the top two cards!"

She then drew and fanned out the top two cards, relief spreading across her face when she saw what was amongst them.

"I call one of them and put the other into my drop zone!" the Selector continued as an additional Iona, Pale/Maiden entered the battlefield "Then since I retired him for the cost of the Vanguard's ability and I called a Grade 1 unit this way, my Vanguard gains the rear-guard's original Power and Critical in exchange for resting the called unit!"

"Amazing!" cried Ratie "Yuki's power is 30000 with an extra critical! And Miyako can't use a Perfect Guard or intercept!"

"But..." Christopher replied, as if he sensed what was coming next.

"Guard!" Miyako growled, with Tokoha revealing three cards from her hand "Weiss Soldat! In addition, Paradigm Shift Dragon and Nebula Captor!"

(Music Abruptly Ends)

The three Link Joker units appeared in front of Chaos Breaker and projected a barrier in front of him to raise the total shield value to 35000 power, seemingly more than enough to ward off the attack with the only hope of breaking through now resting on a double trigger in the upcoming Twin Drive. Then before anyone could anticipate what could happen next, the Clown suddenly raised his scythe and without warning slashed through his own guardians in one swift motion, sending them to the ground in pieces. This was enough to mortify everyone else on the battlefield as they could not believe the Cyber Dragon was willing to cut down his own soldiers even if it would not change the mechanic of guarding from those three units alone.

(Selector Infected Wixoss OST: Battle ~ Even if I Hurt Someone)

"Now what fun would that have been?" he sneered as he stared up towards the imaged Yuki who soared into the air before raising his weapon in front of him to meet the attack head on "Isn't this exactly what you have wanted Kominato? No nuisances? No interferences? Just you, your mother and your only obstacle between them? Then I'll gladly give you exactly what you want!"

Dragmiko Yuki then dived down towards the Cyber Dragon and grappled ahold of his scythe, attempting to push past it and deal the finishing blow to the opponent in front of her.

"Twin Drive!" Ruko cried out as she revealed the first card as Deadcrash Dragon "Critical Trigger! I give everything to my Vanguard!"

"But that isn't enough vermin!" Miyako scowled as she glared at her daughter through Tokoha's eyes "Humanity always has its limits and yours is no exception!"

"Even so... I won't stop until I'm bringing you home!" the Selector replied, unable to stop a tear from leaving her right eye "Morris gave me hope I can bring you back and I'm not about to go back on his word!"

The name of the Serra Family's butler had struck a cord with Ratie who suddenly stiffened at the unpleasant memories of Serra's betrayal on the day Kai and his friends risked everything to accomplish what she and the others had secretly wanted until that day, to save Aichi from the horrible fate he had been trapped within until that point. Although Ruko had insisted he could be trusted following him being marked by his now former master, she couldn't help but still feel that anyone from Serra's corner, much less those close to him, could not be trusted. Yet here and now, the Selector was acting on what seemed nothing more than a theory, especially considered that in this scenario, Tokoha was the one being possessed by the General whereas Miyako in all of her venom and rage seemed to be acting as she normally would. Still, the former Quatre Knight hoped that if there was a slim chance that Morris was right and Ruko's battle now was not in vain, her splintered family could be reunited at last so the past could be put behind all of them.

"Second check!" the girl the turned over her next card to reveal Grim Reaper, causing Miyako to scowl at this outcome "Double Critical! I give it all to Yuki! GO!"

With the strength acquired from the double trigger effect, Dragmiko Yuki pushed with all her might until she snapped the scythe of Chaos Breaker in two, the sudden force also knocking back the Clown as it fumbled backwards, allowing the imaged LRIG to raise her arms and slash down the front of her opponent, causing him to cringe in pain before cackling madly afterwards, causing the crowd watching the fight to be mortified.

"Chaos Breaker's hurt... yet Chaos Breaker's laughing...?" Tama breathed in confusion.

"He's always been one to laugh at the pain of others... it only makes sense his twisted sense of humour applies to even his own misfortunes..." Yuki muttered, staring at the Cyber Dragon who stood back up with little effort and using the bottom half of his broken scythe as a crutch of sorts.

At the same time, Iron, Chaosbringer and Promethium all entered Tokoha's damage zone, ending the fight in an instant and in Ruko's victory. As all imaged units on the battlefield including those still Locked vanished along with Dragmiko Yuki, a burst of dark red energy erupted from the possessed girl, causing her to screw in pain until she eventually lost consciousness as an astral projection of Miyako rose from her body, displaying her true appearance to all in the room. Tetsu grimaced, having seen her face before in their prior confrontation despite her now lacking her hood whilst Ratie and Christopher could only stare, seeing the rage and complete discontent glance in her eyes carrying a grudge against her own kind for the last 20 years.

"So that's... Kominato Miyako..." the former Quatre Knight breathed.

"Even if that's not her in person... I can feel a great deal of pressure from her alone..." Christopher interjected "To think she wants us extinct in retaliation for what happened to Mayu..."

"Do not address my friend's circumstance as mere CHANCE!" Miyako bellowed in interruption as she glared at the crowd, silencing the Great Nature user immediately before turning her attention to Ruko "... the laws of the Selector Battles and our rituals' rules in this world cannot be set aside. Savour your freedom for the present... insects."

She then glanced at Chaos Breaker who merely giggled in amusement at the turn of events, as if they were already pre-determined. Then, her astral projection suddenly began fading from view alongside the flaming walls of the boundary, causing Ruko to gasp and run towards the disappearing form of her mother.

"... I've seen enough."

"Wait mother...!" cried Ruko "Come back!"

"If you want to settle this matter once and for all... meet me at the site of Kai and Akira's last battle by midnight," the general spoke, before her form vanished leaving behind only the trailing words that followed "Then I shall put this matter to rest... along with you and your LRIGs."

And with the projection gone, Ruko could only stop short a few steps from where Tokoha lay, a sense of annoyance and sadness now building up from within her. She was so close, she had beaten Chaos Breaker in this fight fair and square, yet her mother's ideals continued as if nothing had happened and as if the whole fight had been a distraction to the woman she called mother.

"Ru?"

The Selector snapped out of her stupor when Tama walked up to her with Yuki's card still held in the palm of her hands with the girl of black also looking as concerned for her friend as the card holder was now.

"I was so close Tama... so close!" she sniffed.

She couldn't help but in this moment clench her teeth with a small growl of annoyance, which spooked the girl of white for a brief moment. Realizing what she had done, Ruko's anger quickly faded.

(End Music)

"S-sorry Tama!" the Selector cried out, waving her hands "I didn't mean to scare you... I'm just... I don't know!"

"Tama doesn't hate Ru," Tama replied as she handed back Yuki's card before embracing the girl in front of her "Tama only wants Ru... to be happy."

Before Ruko could process this newfound comfort she found in her white LRIG, the sound of panting could be heard from the nearby stairs as Morris suddenly ran into the basement with Kai and Miwa following behind him with Neve holding an injured Mamoru by his shoulder. The butler's tone was one of panic, as if he was desperate to relay the news to the Selector of what happened and prayed he wasn't too late.

"Ruko-sama...! Miyako has seized control of a girl named Anjou Tokoha and has sent her to find you...!" he gasped between breaths "Get out of here! It won't be long before she... tracks... ... Oh."

"It would appear we were too late," Kai muttered as walked towards the unconscious form of Tokoha before noticing the damage to the gateway "What has happened here?"

"Where to even begin...?" Yuki murmured from her card, bringing his attention to her but also causing him and those coming down the stairs to notice Tama was no longer confined to her card.

The girl of white who had broken away from her earlier embrace with Ruko ran up to the Kagero user and stopped right in front of him, briefly startling him at the sudden scenario and how close she was to him. Before either could respond to one another and anyone could offer an explanation, Mamoru pried himself free of Neve's grip and ran in a fumble towards Tokoha, eventually landing on his knees in front of her as a result of his earlier injuries from Miyako's Judgement.

"Tokoha... I'm sorry for failing you..." he sobbed as he picked her up "I said to you I wouldn't lose easily to that woman... and yet, my efforts came to naught and you became her pawn."

Sensing the malice from Miyako's influence was no longer present in his younger sister, he turned to Ruko who simply blinked back at him, having been partially oblivious to the events of the possession due to her own obsession with freeing her mother from the grasp of Chaos Breaker. Finally realizing that her opponent had been purged of the general's influence, she let out a sigh of relief that she seemed to otherwise come out of it unharmed.

"What's your name?" asked Mamoru.

"... Ruko," she answered "Kominato Ruko..."

"... Thank you for saving my sister," he said, mustering a small smile of gratitude which also resulting in her returning a warm smile as well "I wonder if our paths will cross again."

"You're welcome," the Selector said kindly "I hope your sister gets better soon."

And with that, Mamoru with Tokoha now safely resting on his back, headed out of the mall's basement with the pain in his legs now feeling minimal thanks to his renewed relief in the fate of his sister, intent on making sure she would make a full recovery from the experience. By then, the group reconvened and began sharing the events of what happened earlier in the afternoon. During that time, Kiyoi and Kamui eventually joined them to see the chaos that had happened and although the Nova Grappler user was upset that their 'ticket' to returning to the other world was now seemingly destroyed with no chance of another keystone existing, Christopher still told him the card he and Kiyoi acquired from Futase would be beneficial to him in the long run, no matter how long that would be.

All that had not been present for the battle were now taking their time to get acquainted with Tama who was still overly excited to meet with everyone given that she was still no longer confined to her card which had survived the initial explosion of the unstable portal. Elsewhere, Ruko who had been keeping distant to herself from the group discussion was still in thought and worry over Miyako, her resolve still unwavering but now full of nervousness, knowing that the general was bound to not hold back the next time they would meet along with Chaos Breaker. Morris noticed this and went over to join her, having sensed her earlier doubt and concern.

"Don't give up," he spoke calmly, holding a hand on her shoulder "If there is still a chance there's anything human left in Miyako, then you can bring it out from Chaos Breaker's clutches."

"Thanks Morris," she said, regaining a small smile "If anything, at least I'll know she'll be there. ... She has to be."

"You two have certainly thought this out."

The butler looked behind him to see Kai, Neve and Ratie glancing sharply at him, the three of them still having doubts as to where his loyalties really lay, even after his own side of the story into how Ruko and himself met for the first time.

"Neve, Ratie..." he acknowledged before bowing once "... I understand it has been some time."

"I don't know why you've suddenly been pushed out of the Serra Family because of Miyako," the Metalborg wielder murmured darkly "But know this. We still have our eye on you."

"Understood," Morris replied "This may not change anything between us... but we all now share a common enemy in Serra and the Selector Battles for the greater good."

"Morris is right," the Selector interjected "The only ones we should be angry at are Chaos Breaker and Mayu. They're the ones behind this after all."

No one said a word more on the discussion with the two former Quatre Knights leaving to rejoin Christopher and the others whilst Kai remained at stared down at the girl who felt a little unnerved. Before she or him could say anything, that was when Yuki had decided to voice her opinions on the cardfight's transpiration following Tokoha's possession by Miyako along with the chaos that happened beforehand with the failed gateway test.

"That was far too close, even for you Ruko," she huffed, getting everyone to look at her card "If Miyako had not guarded with Pixie Powder earlier, that last attack would have been doomed to fail."

"Does it really matter Yuki?" Ruko replied "What matters is I beat Chaos Breaker and I know I can do it again!"

"That may have been him on the battlefield as a Vanguard, but Miyako was still the one fighting," Kai interjected "We've both seen her expressed views and we know that there may be no changing them, regardless of Chaos Breaker's..."

"That's still my mother!" the Selector snapped, surprising Morris at her sudden shift in tone whilst making the Kagero user narrow his eyes "I'll fight her again tonight as she promised and I will get her back! No one's getting in my way this time, not even you Kai!"

"What do you mean?" he asked with a small hint of sternness to his tone.

"You only want to bring her down as another enemy!" she huffed "I'm settling this family issue tonight once and for all and I won't let you ruin it for me!"

The two of them stared at one another, now seeing that both had made the other's viewpoint rather clear and blunt whilst both were refusing to back down from their own respectively. When it became clear that neither were willing to budge an inch and that an argument could could erupt between them if either made a wrong move, the butler made a coughing motion to snap them both out of their stupors, but not before both glared at one another, deciding that this conversation on the subject of Kominato Miyako wasn't over between them.

"If we are done discussing conflicting opinions..." said Yuki "We still have a more pressing issue. We have now got confirmation that only another keystone can get the gateway working again and there's no chance of finding one. Even so, the damage to this one may be far too great for any of us to fix it at all."

"That may not be necessary..."

(Cardfight Vanguard Neon Messiah OST: Wishes Entrusted Through Encounter)

Everyone in the room turned their attention to Tetsu and Christopher who had been in discussion on other similar methods of teleportation to the other world and thinking back on past endeavours with Cray's legacy, that was when they finally realized they had a backup plan in plain sight the whole time. Whilst all looked at the pair curiously, easing off the newfound animosity between Kai and Ruko at the same time, that was when Kamui had a question of his own.

"Hey Chris, you did say it was something some of us have come across before?" the Nova Grappler user asked "What are you getting at?"

"I couldn't believe it myself, but when I was thinking about it and comparing my memory of it to the gateway here, that was when it clicked," he answered "If the gateway that was present in the building for the Asia Circuit's final stage is still there..."

"We may be able to reprogram its software and use it as a means to send us to Ruko's world," Tetsu interjected, confirming the Great Nature user's theory "But it may take the same amount of power we used for the experiment to stabilize the coordinates to the Tokyo over in that dimension and with the server towers we installed here destroyed, it will take some considerable time for some new ones to be imported from SIT."

"If you two can get it working to get me, Tama and Kiyoi home, then we can wait a little longer," Ruko replied "You got us that close, even to us just seeing and talking with Chiyori on the other end. We know you can do it again."

The pair nodded, appreciative of the Selector's patience in getting her and her friends back to her homeworld and immediately set off to the site of that venue, praying that the Tatsunagi family had not relocated it following the events of the Asia Circuit. By then, everyone in the basement set off back to street level with Tama being the most excited of the lot, finally having a chance to see and touch things she would have never imagined experiencing from the confines of her card. She immediately ran out into the open with Ruko following right behind her, hoping the girl of white would at least have enough sense to wait for her so she could understand the things she could and could not do in the real world in front of them.

Meanwhile as many of the group disembarked on their own paths for the rest of the day, Kai could not help but feel some of the earlier animosity between him and the Selector still linger from within him. It was not like him to be so easily goaded into attempting to start an argument, assuming that was Ruko's aim to begin with, and that combined with the knowledge of Miyako's true nature was something that had troubled him. Perhaps it was learning her intention to use him as a puppet after he did all the hard work in reversing everyone under his own will or her hypocritical beliefs that had gotten under his skin, but lately, it felt like the Selector was trying to prove him wrong at any cost and he was suspecting Morris had something to do with it, given the details of their first conversation.

So far, I have only been viewing Miyako as the monster she's become... I've never given any thought into how much the lack of this parental figure has affected Ruko, but her intent on seeing that theory Morris has presented through to the end has me troubled. Whatever happens now, even with that deadline of tonight on the horizon, I need to keep an eye on her.

The Kagero user grimly glanced up at the sky, sensing that his bond with Ruko had just become turbulent over their difference of opinion, that being a rather vast difference given the subject matter at hand.

(End Music)


And there we go! Sorry I was a little late with this one folks, short as it may be. But we're finally back into gear with Stand Up, the LRIG! and this time, I intend to finish this side of the fourth arc with no further unwanted hiatuses. As Urith closes her trap on Ultra Rare after restoring their memories to give them hope, Ruko defeats Miyako and swears to get her away from Chaos Breaker, no matter the cost, even if it means opposing Kai who is now seemingly at odds with her as she is with him. What will happen in the fights to come between Urith and Ultra Rare? Find out next time on Stand Up, the LRIG!


Story Original Cards debuting this chapter:

Dragmiko Yuki, Eclipse Maiden
Grade 3
Twin Drive!
POW: 11000
Dark Zone/Shadow Paladin
Human;LRIG
Dark Zone/United Sanctuary
[CONT](Hand): If you do not have a Grade 2 or greater Vanguard with "Iona" in its card name on your (VC), you cannot ride this unit.
[ACT](VC): {{COST|Counter Blast (2) & Soul Blast (2)}} Choose 4 cards with different Grades from your drop zone, put them on the bottom of your deck in any order and if you do, choose 1 of your opponent's rear-guards and retire it. This unit gets [Power]+10000 and if the cards returned to the deck by this effect were not Trigger Units, this unit also gets "[AUTO](VC){Limit Break 4}: When this unit attacks a Vanguard, {{COST|Choose two of your rear-guards and retire them}}, your opponent cannot call Grade 1 or greater cards from their hand to (GC) until the end of that battle" until end of turn.
[CONT](VC/Drop Zone): If you have a Grade 3 or greater card with "Iona" in its card name other than a card with the same name as this unit in your soul, this unit gets [Power]+2000/Grade+1.
[CONT]: This card is always treated as a card with "Iona" in its card name.

Portal Mage, Badabh Caar
Grade 1
Boost
SLD: 5000
POW: 6000
Shadow Paladin
Elf
United Sanctuary
[AUTO](RC): When retired from (RC) due to the COST of your Vanguard's ability, {COST|Counter Blast (1)}, look at two cards from the top of your deck, call one to (RC) and put the rest into your drop zone. Then if the called card was a Grade 1 unit, {COST|[Rest] the called unit}, choose one of your Vanguards. Until end of turn, it gets the original [Power] and [Critical] of the called unit. You can only use this ability of a card with the same name as this card once per turn.