Might as well upload the whole thing, right?
Disclaimer: Cardfight! Vanguard belongs to Bushiroad
Kai walked into his apartment, with Miwa following behind him. As the blond closed the door behind the two, Kai sat on his bed.
"So what's vanguard, Miwa?" the brunet asked again. Turning around, the usually bubbly blond looked his best friend dead in the eye.
"Did you really forget about Vanguard, Kai? About everything you've been through?" Kai slowly shook his head, not used to the blond's seriousness. Sighing, Miwa sat down next to Kai. "Vanguard is a card game. It's where you use units to do battle here, as well as on another planet called Cray. It's a game all about imagination and strategy. You wer-are very good at it. You're actually one of the top fighters in the world." Kai looked genuinely surprised but at the same time, curious.
"Can you teach me how to play tomorrow?" he asked. Miwa nodded, smiling his bright smile again, knowing that Kai would be back to normal soon.
The next day, the two of them went to the Motion Figure System at Hitsue High School. Beforehand during lunch, Miwa had already explained triggers, break rides, limit breaks and grades to Kai. Now all that was left was game play. He watched as Kai set down a grade 0, doing the same himself. Drawing five cards from his deck, the blond patiently waited for Kai to finish his own preparations. Seeing that his opponent was ready, both boys cried out,
"Stand up, the Vanguard!"
"Stand up, Vanguard!"
Surprised that Kai had used 'the Vanguard', Miwa sent a questioning look towards the brunet, only to receive a confused look in response. Miwa shrugged. Guess it was just instinct then.
"Seal Dragon, Terrycloth!" the blond announced as the red dragon materialized behind him.
"Eradicator, Strike Dagger Dragon!" Kai responded, as the unit took its place behind the boy. Smiling, Miwa chose to go first, much like how Kai had explained the game to Aichi a year ago.
"I draw. Ride! Embodiment of Armour, Bahr! Terrycloth moves back." The Kagero demon rose up from where Terrycloth once stood, his sword brandished. The aforementioned seal dragon took his new place, directly behind the demon. Signaling that his turn was over, he watched Kai draw a card from his deck.
"Ride! Red River Dragoon! Strike Dagger moves." The red-clad human appeared, with the grade 0 appearing in the bottom left rearguard circle. Kai twisted the unit in his centre column, like Miwa had showed him at lunch, signaling his attack.
"No guard!" the Kagero user declared. Kai proceeded to check the top card of his deck for a trigger. Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon was what he was greeted with. Adding the card into his hand, he watched as Miwa placed a copy of Seal Dragon, Jacquard into the damage zone. Nodding to indicate that his turn was finished, he watched the blond begin his turn.
"I draw. Ride! Dragon Knight, Nehalem!" The proud dragon knight rose up, his purple scarf billowing behind him. "Call! Jacquard and Flannel!" The two grade units took their places, with Jacquard on the right side of Nehalem and Flannel directly behind Jacquard. Twisting the two newly called units, the blond declared, "Flannel boosts Jacquard's attack!" Kai turned over the top card of his deck, revealing it to be Eradicator Thunder Boom Dragon, before placing it into his damage zone. Not losing his momentum, Miwa twisted his other units, announcing his vanguard's attack.
"No guard!" Kai proclaimed. Miwa turned over the top card of his deck, revealing it to be Seal Dragon, Artpique.
"Draw trigger! I give the 5000 power to Nehalem and then I draw." Kai repeated his previous action, this time revealing Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle as his damage check.
"Critical trigger. All of the effects go to Red River Dragoon."
"So what do you think, Kai? Do you remember anything?" Miwa asked.
"Nothing in particular," the brunet responded while drawing a card from his deck. "Ride! Dragonic Deathscythe!" the red and blue dragon appeared, weapon raised and ready to attack. "Counterblast! I retire Jacquard!" The Flame Dragon vanished from the field in a flurry of red sparkles just as Kai chose another card from his hand and placed it to the left of Deathscythe. "I call Zuitan!" Thinking carefully, Kai twisted his centre column unit again and announced his attack. "No guard!" Miwa responded.
"Checking the drive trigger," Kai trailed off. "Got it! Critical trigger! The power goes to Zuitan and the critical stays with Deathscythe." The scythe slammed into the dragon knight's shield, knocking him off balance as two cards, Hunger Hell and Blockade, from Miwa's deck flew into the damage zone. Continuing, Kai twisted the last two units he had that could attack. The blond pulled out a copy of Flannel and shouted,
"Guard!" Kai looked up and signaled the end of his turn. Miwa smiled and laughed. "Are you sure you forgot how to play? You're playing the same as you always do and it's way better than me!" Kai blushed and glared at his best friend. Laughing again, Miwa drew a card from his deck and looked across with a determined expression towards his adversary. Surprised, Kai stepped back a little, intimidated by Miwa's sudden change in demeanor.
"I ride Seal Dragon, Blockade!" The red flame dragon rose up from behind Miwa, towering over him. "Call! Corduroy and Bahr!" placing the grade 2 on the left of Blockade and the grade 1 directly behind Corduroy. "Corduroy's counterblast!" He declared as he flipped over Jacquard in the damage zone. "Zuitan is retired! Then, look at the top four cards of your deck and superior call a grade 2," Miwa instructed. Kai did as Miwa said and chose to superior call Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon. Returning the other 3 cards into the deck, Kai shuffled before setting it back down. "Flannel moves up and attacks Spark Rain!" Miwa announced.
"Guard!" Kai declared as he held up a copy of Sword Dance Eradicator, Hisen.
"Next, boosted by Terrycloth, Blockade attacks! Blockade's skill activates! You can't intercept this attack!" Miwa said, proudly. Kai glanced at his damage and back, saying
"No guard!"
"Twin drive check!" the blond declared. Revealing the first one as a copy of Seal Dragon, Rinocross, he added it to his hand as he revealed the second being Seal Dragon, Kersey. The blond's vanguard struck the brunet's as Kai watched his second and third damage, a copy of Eradicator, Demolition Dragon and Eradicator, Dragon Mage, fall into the damage zone.
"Draw trigger," he announced, "The power to Deathscythe and then I draw."
" Finally, Bahr boosts Corduroy!"
"Guard!" the brunet declared as he held up a copy of Eradicator, Yellow Gem Carbuncle.
"I end my turn."Miwa smiled up at his best friend. "You'll remember everything soon Kai, don't worry." Kai looked up, rather surprised that his friend had read his mind. Had he looked troubled?
"I draw," he mumbled. Selecting a card from his hand, the brunet held it above his head and chanted, "Hot-blooded scarlet dragon! Ride the Vanguard!" He slammed the card down onto the table with the last word, allowing his new vanguard to arrive. "Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon!" Suddenly, he was assaulted with a headache. The pain seared through his mind, causing him to stumble back, his hand on his forehead, as if to shield him from the pain.
Miwa watched as Kai chanted the mantra that he had created for the thunder dragon, slightly surprised that he had used it. Was Kai starting to remember? The happiness from that thought was short-lived when he saw Kai in pain.
"K-Kai!" he shouted in concern. He was about to rush to his friend's side when he saw him hold up his hand, gesturing for the blond to stop. Staggering, the brunet held onto the side of his fight table, regaining his balance. Straightening, Kai took a deep breath. What was that? Where did that headache come from? Shaking his head, the Narukami played chose 2 cards from his hand, calling Hisen behind his vanguard and Thunderboom Dragon to the right of his vanguard. Twisting the solitary grade 2, he announced his attack.
"Thunderboom attacks Blockade!"
"Guard!" the blond declared as he held up a copy of Nehalem. Not to be daunted, Kai twisted the two units in his centre column.
"Hisen boosts Vowing Sword's attack!" Glancing at the 3 cards in his hand, the blond opted to let the attack through. "Twin drive check," the brunet started. The first was a copy or Red River Dragoon while the sixth card to be added to his hand was a copy of Eradicator, Wyvern Guard Guld. Miwa clicked his tongue as he revealed his fourth damage, only to grin as the revealed card glowed green.
"Seal Dragon, Shirting! Heal trigger! The power goes to Blockade and I recover one point of damage," he announced as he placed the flipped copy of Jacquard into the drop zone. Changing the positions of the last two units he had in position, he declared his last attack.
"Strike Dagger boosts Spark Rain's attack on Corduroy!" Losing an intercept unit was still something that the blond could afford at this point in the game so he allowed the attack to hit.
"I end my turn," Kai said. He watched in anticipation of Miwa's next move. Who knew that this game was so much fun? He had felt so alive during his turn! Vanguard was really fun!
Miwa looked up. Frowning, he noted that he didn't have his crossride just yet. Drawing a card, he frowned when it wasn't what he wanted. Oh well. He could make this work.
"Call! Blockade and Artpique!" He placed the copy of his vanguard in front of Bahr and Artpique behind Flannel. "Artpique's skill! It moves to the soul and Flannel gains 3000 power!" Kai frowned. That might be a little bit of a problem. Grinning, Miwa twisted his grade 1, signaled its attack on Kai's vanguard.
"No guard," the brunet said as he flipped the top card over, of what would be his fourth damage, watching it glow green. "Worm Toxin Eradicator, Seiobo! The power goes to Vowing and I recover one point of damage," the brunet said, relieved to not be pushed to four damage already. Frowning, the blond twisted his centre column.
"Terrycloth boosts Blockade's attack on Vowing Sword Dragon! Blockade's skill activates! You can't intercept!" Kai frowned but pulled out a copy of Red River Dragoon.
"Guard!" Miwa scowled. He would need two triggers to break through Kai's defense. "Twin drive check," the blond trailed off as he revealed the first card to be Hellfire Seal Dragon, Blockade Inferno. The blond smiled. At least he would have a crossride for next turn. The second card glowed yellow, earning a delighted grin from Miwa. "Critical trigger! I give all the effects to my rearguard Blockade! With a boost from Bahr, he attacks!"
"Guard!" the brunet yelled as he held up a copy of Sacred Spear Eradicator, Pollux.
"Turn end," the blond said. The brunet smiled, feeling a little proud of himself. He had successfully guarded against Miwa's attacks and hadn't changed the amount of damage he took. Drawing, he chose one of the cards in his hand and slammed it down on his Vanguard.
"Break ride! Eradicator, Vowing Sword Dragon!" The renewed version of the thunder dragon roared, ready to take down his enemy. "Break ride skill activated! I retire Blockade!" The aforementioned flame dragon disappeared in a fizzle of red sparkles as Miwa placed the grade 3 in the drop zone. Choosing another one of the 6 cards he had in hand, he called it into the last empty space on his field. "Call! Red River Dragoon!" Now that he had a full field, Kai was ready to attack Miwa.
"Boosted by Red River, Thunderboom attacks!"
"Guard!" the blond yelled as he held up his critical trigger from the previous drive check.
"Boosted by Hisen, Vowing Sword attacks!" Frowning at the 2 cards in hand, Miwa shouted,
"No guard!" Praying, he hoped that Kai wouldn't pull a critical trigger. If he did, Miwa would have to use up his entire hand to guard the last attack.
"Check the drive trigger," Kai announced as he placed his hand over his deck. Miwa masked his look of surprise. Kai's old speech patterns were coming back. Does that mean he was starting to remember? Or was it simply out of habit? Snapping out of his thoughts, he watched as Kai revealed another copy of Eradicator, Wyvern Guard Guld and a copy of Eradicator, Spark Rain Dragon. Phew. He didn't have to worry about a critical trigger.
"Damage trigger, check," he said as he flipped over his top card and let it glow red. "Draw trigger! I give the power to Blockade and then I draw!" He exclaimed happily.
Twisting his last two units, Kai announced,
"Boosted by Strike Dagger, Spark Rain attacks!"
"No guard!" The fifth damage flew into Miwa's damage zone: another copy of Hellfire Seal Dragon, Blockade Inferno. Smiling, Miwa drew his card to signal the start of his turn. Holding a card high above his head, he chanted,
"When the seal is broken, the dragon's flames will reduce everything to ashes! Crossride! Hellfire Seal Dragon, Blockade Inferno!" The red dragon rose up, his claws sharp and ready to fight. Kai backed up, daunted by the hologram of the blond's vanguard. Miwa smiled sadly. "Do you remember, Kai? You gave me this card." Kai looked up, surprised.
"I did?"
"Hey, Miwa. Hold out your hand."
"Eh? Why?" the blond asked, confused. Kai just blushed lightly and raised his voice.
"Just hold out your hand already!" Miwa obliged and was greeted with something light hitting his hand. Holding it up, he read the card text.
"Hellfire Seal Dragon, Blockade Inferno… Hey this is a crossride!" Miwa exclaimed, the sight of the triple rare card making his spirits soar.
"Yeah. You can have it," the brunet stated simply.
"But Kai! This is a super rare card!" Miwa protested.
"It's fine. Consider it an early birthday present," Kai insisted. The blond reluctantly agreed to keep the card but nonetheless smiled and thanked his friend. Smiling, Kai replied,
"You're welcome."
Frowning, Kai put a hand to his forehead, the memories pounding in the back of his mind.
"M-Miwa…" the brunet said weakly. Miwa wanted to help his best friend but he just couldn't. At least not right now.
"Limit Break!" the blond declared. A yellow vanguard circle appeared briefly above Blockade Inferno before vanishing. "Counterblast!" Miwa said as he flipped over Hunger Hell and Blockade in his damage zone. "All of your grade 2 rearguards are retired! Spark Rain! Thunderboom!" The two units in Kai's front row vanished from the holographic display, leaving Kai with no intercepts. "Along with that, he gains 10,000 power!" The Seal Dragon glowed yellow, signaling its power increase. "I call Hunger Hell!" The purple seal dragon manifested itself in front of Bahr. Twisting the two units in his left column, he announced,
"Bahr supports Hunger Hell's attack on Vowing Sword!"
"No guard," his opponent replied as a copy of Supreme Army Eradicator, Zuitan fell into the damage zone. Miwa smiled.
"Boosted by Terrycloth, my vanguard attacks yours!" He watched as Kai chose a card from his hand and slammed it down on the table.
"I perfect guard with Eradicator, Wyvern Guard Guld!" The brunet discarded a copy of Demolition Dragon and the nullification of the blond's attack commenced. Frowning slightly, Miwa announced his drive check.
"First check, no trigger," he announced dejectedly as he revealed a copy of Bahr. Flipping the second card over, he was pleasantly surprised when the card glowed yellow. "Embodiment of Spear, Tahr! I give all the effects to Flannel!" The sole grade 1 received the plus one critical effect and the 5000 power bonus. "Now he attacks!" the blond exclaimed, hoping to end the game at that. They were both at 5 damage. If Miwa didn't end it there, he might not have a chance next turn.
"Guard!" Kai shouted as he held up a copy of Spark Rain. Sighing, Miwa begrudgingly admitted,
"Turn end…" Kai smiled.
"Miwa, you're really strong!" Miwa scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'm not as strong as you are, Kai. In any case, you're doing really well! You're playing exactly like you used to!" Kai looked up, trying to mask his joy. Was he remembering? He really wanted to. Starting his turn with a draw, he was greeted with the sight of a red and yellow grade 3. Curiously reading the text, he thought that it would be a useful unit and held it above his head, chanting,
"Powerful, ancient dragon, trace the ancestry of your form and strength and swoop down to Earth once again. Break ride! Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant!" Another jolt of pain raced through Kai's head, as he brought his hand to his head. Thousands of images were running through his mind at a kilometer a second; pictures and faces, but none of them familiar to him; Aichi's face with white armour, Tokura's with something resembling a little girl riding on top of a bird with blue wings and Katsuragi's with machines. Crying out, Kai took deep breaths trying to calm himself down.
Miwa watched from across the room, regretting that he couldn't run over to his friend's side again. He could only pray that Kai would remember by himself.
Gritting his teeth, Kai called Zuitan and Dragonic Deathscythe on either side of Dragonic Descendant.
"Deathscythe's counterblast! I retire Hunger Hell!" The purple grade 2 roared before vanishing in a shower of sparks from the battlefield. Kai looked down. He had depleted his hand to only 2 cards. On the other hand, Miwa had 5 cards in his hand, one of which was a perfect guard. Frowning, he could only hope that his units would have the power to finish him this turn. Kai twisted his left column units, beginning his attacks. "Zuitan attacks Blockade Inferno, boosted by Strike Dagger!"
"Guard!" Miwa cried as he held up a copy of Nehalem.
"Boosted by Hisen, Descendant attacks! Hisen's soulblast adds another 5000 power to Descendant!" The attack totaled 32000; more than what Miwa could handle. He had no other choice.
"Perfect guard with Seal Dragon Rinocross!" Dropping a copy of Artpique into the drop zone, he waited for Kai to check his twin drive.
"Check the drive trigger. First check, no trigger," Kai stated as he revealed a copy of Dragonic Descendant. "Second check, critical trigger!" he exclaimed, watching Sacred Spear Eradicator, Pollux glow yellow in his hand. "All effects go to Descendant!" Miwa frowned. This was definitely going to be a problem.
"Descendant's Limit Break! When an attack fails, I can stand it back up with an extra critical!" Kai shouted, discarding Dragonic Descendant, Pollux and Eradicator, Blue Gem Carbuncle while counterblasting Zuitan in his damage zone. The red dragon stood back up, roaring in triumph, ready to attack his enemy again, stronger than ever.
"Descendant attacks again!" Kai exclaimed, pointing towards his opponent's vanguard. Miwa had two cards in hand now. There was no way he could guard the attack.
"No guard!" the blond cried out as he braced himself for the attack. I'll need to draw 2 heal triggers, he thought.
"Check the drive trigger. First check, nothing," he said as he revealed a copy of Dragonic Kaiser Vermillion, his head starting to ache at the sight of the card. One of his former avatars in his hand, Kai almost couldn't take the memories running amuck in his mind. "S-Second check," he stuttered. "Still nothing," he said as he showed a copy of Thunder Boom Dragon.
Dragonic Descendant roared as it charged and attacked Blockade Inferno, roaring in triumph when its blade made contact. Miwa made a noise of disapproval and checked his damage trigger. Embodiment of Spear, Tahr. He had lost. Miwa smiled. It reminded him of what Kai was like before he lost his memory. He looked up, about to congratulate the brunet on his win when he saw him swaying on his feet.
"Kai!" he shouted in concern. The brunet looked at him with dazed green eyes, mumbling out the blond's name before pitching forward towards the floor. "Kai!" Miwa shouted again, running forward to catch his best friend before he could hit the ground. Cradling Kai's head in his lap, Miwa felt his forehead, only to find the brunet burning up. Not wasting any time, Miwa picked the weakened boy up and rushed to Kai's apartment.
Part 3 coming up~