Chapter 29: A little Detour

~Cray, Mage's Chamber~

"Ergh… Who's there?" A soft voice came from the shifting pile of books.

"It's me, Jonathan." Jonathan replied, still not lowering his weapons.

The pile of books diverged from an emerging hand coming from the middle of the pile.

"Eh, you don't think you could help me out here?" The voice asked weakly.

"Alright, hold on." Jonathan said and cautiously moved forward, still holding up his blade with one hand as he reached over to the hand in the pile of books.

"Out you come!" Jonathan grunted as he pulled hard on the hand.

"Ow!" The person came tumbling out of the pile of books.

"Thanks for getting me outta there.. It was becoming increasingly hard to breathe under all those books.." The short figure that emerged from the books gasped.

"What are you doing Sharon?" Jonathan questioned the assistant mage.

"Em… Well, Zenon left for something a while ago and he left me in-charge, so I decided to practice some spell-casting…" Sharon's voice trailed off in mid-sentence.

"And, let me guess, you messed up one spell and wrecked the entire place?" Jonathan cocked an eyebrow as he raised his voice slightly.

"Not one spell exactly…" Sharon admitted sheepishly as she grinned slightly.

"Oh my goodness…" Jonathan grumbled and facepalmed.

"Well Zenon did give me a few spells to work on…" Sharon smiled sheepishly.

"Erm, well guys… I don't think you guys can get back to Earth anytime soon…" Jonathan mumbled with his hand still on his face.

"H-hey! I've been practicing on my teleportation spells I'll have you know!" Sharon exclaimed defensively as she folded her arms, crossed.

"I don't know… I guess it's up to them? But I don't think they'd trust you too much either…" Jonathan shrugged.

"H-hey!" Sharon pouted and held her hands at her hip.

"Jonathan, I don't think we have a choice now… We need to get back to Earth as soon as we can…" Aichi stated honestly, "But then again…"

"Well, there you have it Sharon. We'll just wait for Zenon to come back." Jonathan shrugged, again, "Oh and do inform us when he gets back."

"Hey Aichi, Jonathan. I think we could give her a chance." Misaki spoke up.

"Yeah… I want to get back home soon guys…" Ren agreed softly with Misaki.

"I guess if they are fine with trying then so am I… I just thought that…" Aichi smiled sheepishly.

"Well, you got your chance Sharon. Please send them back safely and to the right place… I don't want them to be stranded halfway across the planet from home." Jonathan said seriously.

"Alright! I won't let you guys down!" Sharon cheered and ran off to get her necessary equipment.

"For your sake, I hope this goes well." Jonathan voiced as he went back to the lift, "I'll see you guys soon then?"

"Yeah me too. And I'll try to control my Psyqualia too!" Aichi agreed as Jonathan disappeared down the lift.

"Oh man I thought he'd never leave." A dark figure emerged from where Sharon had left to.

"Who are you and what have you done to Sharon!" Aichi called out as he readied his blades. Misaki held up her staff with both hands as Ren pulled both daggers from their slots.

"I am Sharon!" The figured smiled as it morphed back to Sharon.

"That wasn't funny you know." Aichi heaved a sigh of relief as he lowered his blades.

"It wasn't supposed to be!" Sharon morphed back into that dark figure and launched shard of ice at Aichi.

"W-woah!" Aichi reared back as the impact into his blades drove him a few steps back.

"Aichi, that isn't Sharon!" Misaki exclaimed as Ren took a step forward.

"No, it isn't." Ren said ominously as he brought his daggers to Misaki's neck.

"Ren! What are you doing?" Misaki screamed as the cold metal touch the skin on her neck.

"Ren! What's gotten into you!" Aichi shouted as he turned around and saw Ren taking Misaki hostage.

"Hmm?" The dark figure smirked at the unfolding events.

"My place is with the Shadow Paladins Aichi. My Psyqualia dictates that." Ren said cooly as he walked Misaki past Aichi beside the dark figure.

"Ah… So you're the legendary wielder of Shadow Psyqualia?" The figure mused.

"Yeah. But I've never heard of you before." Ren chatted calmly as he brought his daggers slightly away from Misaki.

"Well, I'm the Witch of the Cursed Charms, Edin." Edin introduced herself.

"Nice to finally meet you Edin. I have actually heard things about you." Ren smiled as he took a step back from Misaki with his daggers withdrawn.

"Such as?" Edin grinned, proud that she was known by such a legendary figure.

"That you're pretty stupid!" Misaki shouted and swung her staff at Edin and casted a cage spell.

"What's the meaning of this? Let me out! You think a measly cage can trap me?" Edin shouted, infuriated and insulted.

"No, but this can." Ren poked one of his daggers, through the gap in the magical bars, against her back.

"Ha! How's that supposed to trap me?" Edin's confidence sunk as she felt the cold metallic tip on her back.

"One false move and you'll get it." Ren challenged Edin as he held his dagger steady.

"Ren I'm sorry." Aichi apologised weakly.

"No, I should be apologising. I should have somehow indicated my plan to you." Ren apologised, still keeping his hand steady, "But, how did you know what I was planning Misaki?"

"I didn't. I figured you were up to something when you withdrew your daggers." Misaki grinned.

"Have you gained psychic powers by any chance?" Ren ask quizzically as he cocked and eyebrow.

"No!" Misaki smiled as Aichi turned away and smiled slightly.

Well, I guess maybe we can hide this from the rest if Ren can act 'natural' around us after we return. Aichi thought gladly.

"So, start talking witch." Ren ordered as he prodded his dagger against her back.

"About what?" Edin scoffed as she rolled her eyes in annoyance.

"How do we get back?" Aichi asked seriously.

"Well how did you get here?" Edin smirked.

"Well, I… Brought us here… By accident…" Aichi spoke hesitantly.

"If you brought them here, you can bring them back!" Edin scoffed at them again.

"Yeah, well how?" Aichi reiterated the fact he didn't know how.

"Just did what you do? Do whatever you did again!" Edin groaned, exasperated.

"Well… I got everyone to picture their Vanguards and then willed my Psyqualia from within me…" Aichi carelessly revealed the fact he also wielded the power of Psyqualia.

"Well then use that power to get you back! Don't you know anything in spells and witchcraft?" Edin whinnied in a very mocking tone.

"Er of course we don't-" Was all Misaki could say before Aichi willed Psyqualia from within him again and the trio teleported back to Earth.

The cage around Edin disappeared as soon as the trio disappeared.

"I have to report back to Michael. This kid is actually able to control his Psyqualia like Ren." Edin muttered to herself as she dreaded what Michael would do to her after receiving this news.

~Earth, Corridor outside Aichi's room~

A bright light flashed as three figures emerged from the light.

"Whoa!" Ren squeaked a little as he readjusted to the dim lighting in the corridor.

Emi and Kamui came out of Emi's room to investigate the 'squeaky' noise they heard.

"AICHI!" Emi squealed at the top of her lungs as she ran up and hugged her brother.

Everyone crowded upstairs after they heard Emi's screamed, even Shizuka. As everyone gathered around the trio, no one said a word. Even Shizuka was unsure of what to say, whether to reprimand them for 'disappearing' on everyone or be extremely relieved they were back.

Kourin finally broke the silence after two silent minutes, "Where were you guys?"

Aichi glanced at Misaki before turning to Ren. Misaki shrugged slightly and Ren put his palms up.

"Cray." Aichi said softly.

"Cray? Isn't that the planet where your cards 'live'?" Shizuka asked, extreme confusion written all over her face.

"I think it'd be easier if everyone gathered in the living room." Kai spoke up.

"Erm, yeah. Let's go downstairs. It's kinda cramp here." Aichi went down first, followed closely by Misaki and Ren and everyone else.

~Earth, Aichi's Living Room~

"Well, it's like this…" Aichi started his tale from moments ago when Ren informed Aichi of the danger at the Royal Beacon, to fighting Michael and his henchmen, to tussling with the mercenaries, to getting to the High Towers, to finally fighting Edin and getting back; intentionally leaving out the part where Misaki nearly died and the two confessed to each other.

"That's an interesting tale Aichi… I don't know what to say…" Shizuka was sitting beside her son, soaking in all the information he was dishing to everyone.

"I do." Kai stood up and turned to the door.

"Well, what is it?" Kourin snapped, still sour about a while ago.

"You need to rest up in case you go again. When, you go back." Kai stood near the doorway about to leave the house.

"W-when, Kai?" Aichi, Misaki and Ren asked simultaneously and shared a little smile amongst themselves.

"I don't think this is a one time thing Aichi. And next time, you should go prepared." Kai said and waved one hand before leaving the house.

"Well, I'd better go too…" Miwa scratched his head awkwardly after Kai's departure.

"Yeah and it's getting late we have to go too." Eiji and Reiji piped up.

"Guess I'm going home too…" Kamui said a little downcast.

Emi moved up to Kamui and whispered something in his ear. Kamui just smiled dreamily and left in a trance.

"H-hey wait up yo!" Eiji and Reiji hurried after Kamui.

Miwa left silently behind them.

"The Great Morikawa shall leave his top student to rest now." Morikawa declared as he got up to leave.

"You're anything but great. I… Guess… I'm leaving too then… You coming along Misaki?" Kourin got up and asked.

"Em… I… Well… Thing is… I live here now… So…" Misaki stuttered awkwardly as Kourin just gaped with her eyes wide open.

"Alright, bye Aichi! See ya soon! Hope you're better the next time to play more Vanguard!" Ren greeted cheerily, as if they never went to Cray or experienced all that they experienced there.

Kourin left still puzzled, with Ren and Morikawa.

"Well, I don't know what to make of your story now Aichi, but your friends are right. You do need to rest. Aichi, do you need help back to your room?" Shizuka asked.

Aichi shook his head slightly. Kneading her head slightly and Shizuka went to wash up the remainder of the dishes she left behind.

"C'mon Aichi, Emi. Let's go back to our rooms." Misaki said leading up the stairs.

Emi turned to her room as Misaki and Aichi went to theirs'.

~Earth, Aichi's and Misaki's Room~

"Eh, Misaki, what do we do now? Aichi asked as soon as he closed the door behind him.

"What do you mean? And, er, turn around for a while would you? I just want to slip into my night dress real quick." Misaki blushed lightly as she said that.

"Oh erm, yeah… I mean about our relationship I guess…" Aichi choked slightly as he turned around quickly.

"Well, we can't really do much in the open if we want to hide it from the others…" Misaki said softly.

"Well, yeah I guess…" Aichi looked down at his feet and scratched his neck awkwardly.

"But we aren't 'in the open' now are we?" Misaki's voice perked up a little from behind Aichi.

"Y-yeah I guess…" Aichi's head perked up a little as well.

"You can turn around, I'm done." Misaki said awkwardly and Aichi turned slowly.

Taking a step forward, Aichi remembered what Gancelot and Alfred had told before. He was brave, but wasn't confident. Mustering all the confidence he could, he looked Misaki in her eyes right before putting his lips to hers. Caught by surprise, Misaki blinked twice before closing her eyes as Aichi did. Standing there for another half a minute, the couple didn't budge until the door creaked open slightly. They parted immediately, both blushing a bright red as Emi poked her head in.

Seeing her two siblings standing there blushing red, "I'm sorry, did I interrupt you guys? I just wanted to ask Misaki something."

"Eh…" Aichi mumbled, as Misaki walked to Emi.

"What is it Emi?" Misaki recovered quickly as Emi brought Misaki to her room.

A/N: Alright… And I'll leave a mild cliffhanger here… And sorry for the weird 'language' or presentation for certain parts of the chapter. I wrote one part of this some time ago and the rest just only… And I was watching 'Family Guy' while typing out the rest of the chapter so… I'm really sorry for the weird writing recently… I'm just not really 'in the game' right now… So many things have been and are happening in my life and I'm sorry for letting all that get in the way of this Fic. But rest assured, future updates will not take as long as this one. And once again, I really can't say this enough, thanks for all the support guys (and girls)! And now to DooMKrusadeR's Chit-chat!

DooMKrusadeR's Chit-chit:

Aichi: Hi readers. It's been some time huh?

Emi: Yeah, it's been way too long since we had a casual chat.

Kai: Yeah.

Aichi: You're here too Kai?

Kai: I'm not gonna stay long.

Aichi: Oh.

Me: Okay… This is a little awkward…

Emi: Why?

Me: Well Kai's already leaving and we've barely started today…

Naoki: I guess I can pop in today then?

Me: Oh whew… Yeah sure…

Shingo: A-and me!

Rekka: Where's Kourin?

Suiko: Probably sulking about Aichi and Misaki's 'mysterious' relationship. Right? *wink*

Aichi: What do you mean 'mysterious'? *blush*

Misaki: Yeah, we're just foster siblings! *blush*

Suiko: Drop the act you two. Kourin isn't here, Kai's left, and none of us are due to join till the sequel. Which might not be out for some time. *rolls eyes*

Me: Hey don't look at me like that. I got things to do too!

Suiko: Yeah sure… Well, me and and Naoki aren't going to get any action going till then…

Naoki: Eh… Er…

Rekka: Don't tease the dense guy Suiko!

Aichi: What?

Misaki: Erm… Author? What's going on?

Me: Eh call me Jo. Erm… I'm not quite sure so I'm gonna end this chat session here… Bye guys! And see you all, characters and readers, in the next chapter and chat session!