Chapter 2: The blooming love

As Aichi was nearing the PSY –shop, he was kind of anxious at first, since it's been a while since he saw Kourin. Aichi entered inside the shop and as usual, started to look around. He walked towards the holographic projections, that were showing some of the rarest cards. After a short time, Kourin arrived.

"Hey, Aichi." Kourin greeted.

"Hey, Kourin." Aichi replied back. They both were smiling and they were blushing a bit as well. It showed that they both cared about each other. The moment for both was quite important, but they weren't able to speak their minds up. But bravely Aichi took the first step on starting the conversation:

"I received your letter, Kourin. I-I have wanted to see you after the VF Circuit, b-but since you've been busy with your Idol Work and you weren't on the shop so I thought you've probably left the place to go somewhere else…"

"Aichi…" Kourin replied, as she stepped forward towards him. "I know that I haven't had the chance to talk with you after your victory. But the truth is that I… I-i…" Kourin couldn't say what she wanted. Aichi manned up and stepped forward as well, reaching for Kourin's hands. As Aichi mustered his courage to Kourin while she herself was kind of confused at first until…

"Kourin"

"…Yes?"

"I…I…must tell you truth."

Kourin started to get worried. "Has Aichi found another girl?" she quickly thought to herself but decided to keep her emotions in check. She didn't want to cry in front of Aichi as it wasn't professional of her.

"Kourin, I-I have feelings for you!" Aichi said emotionally, as he firmly gripped her hands and closed in. They were now close enough to feel the warmth of each others bodies. From these words Kourin gasped and was about to fall down from the shock, but Aichi caught her from falling down. Aichi gave a smile to Kourin and she blushed, looking directly towards Aichi's face.

"Kourin, you've always been the one who encouraged me to keep going despite the bad times I have had as well. You encouraged me to face the hard situations and deal with them. If anything would happen to you I would be there for you." As Aichi said, blushing himself from these words, Kourin stood up and got closer to Aichi. She gave a sweet kiss to Aichi's lips as a thank you of Aichi's words. Aichi blushed even more than he did before. Kourin and Aichi smiled together. This moment meant a lot for both.

After the talk they decided to go eat something before going outside. Soon after they were heading outside towards the park.

As Aichi and Kourin we're walking to the park they saw a couple of familiar faces. Suiko and Rekka were walking on the park as well. Both met up and greeted:

"Oh, hey Suiko and Rekka." Aichi replied as the first person to start the conversation.

"Hey Aichi." Suiko and Rekka said together.

"What are you doing here on the park?" Kourin asked from Suiko and Rekka.

"Eh, shouldn't we be asking you that Kourin…?" Suiko and Rekka replied. But soon Rekka caught up what this was all about.

"Oh, I see Kourin. You're having a date with Aichi, right?" she smirked to Kourin.

"T-that's not it!" Kourin tried to defend but she couldn't hide her blush. Aichi was also blushing from the fact that he and Kourin both knew that they were on a date. Rekka then whispered to Suiko's ears about the situation. Suiko smirked as well now.

"Well well, Kourin, have an enjoyable date with Aichi!" Suiko teased Kourin as she and Rekka were now heading to PSY -shop. Kourin sighed from the relief and Aichi did smile weakly. They decided to move on and sit down on the bench on the park.

"Aichi, I must thank you for your sweet words. I have noticed that because of you I have been able to keep going forward despite having hard times. But… I would want to ask you something." Aichi nodded.

"If something bad would happen to me, would you save me from it, Aichi?" Kourin asked. Aichi on the other hands was a bit worried now as he saw Kourin's expression change a bit. But despite that, he gave a smile to Kourin.

"Kourin, I said it before. If anything would happen to you, I would save you from it. I promise." Aichi replied. With these words said from Aichi, Kourin smiled to him and gave him a kiss to the cheeks. Aichi immediately blushed from the kiss.

"Thank you." said Kourin with a smile. She knew that Aichi would keep his word if he promised something. "Well, we should get going now." Kourin stated. Aichi nodded and he gave his hand to Kourin. She gladly took Aichi's hand as they were now walking back to PSY –shop with their hands together. Kourin looked upon to Aichi who was smiling from this day's date. She smiled and she was dreaming as well.

As Kourin was still dreaming she didn't hear Aichi's warnings. There was a car who was driving at high speed, as it was about to drive over Kourin. She got scared, but Aichi managed to pull her away to safety, making him fall down to the ground and Kourin on top of him.

The position they were on now was embarrassing.

"Oh, eh…A-Aichi.." Kourin managed to say, a bit shocked from the incident that would've happened if Aichi hadn't pulled her to safety.

"Are you okay, Kourin?" Aichi asked, giving a worried face.

"I'm sorry. I was dreaming and I couldn't hear you. I owe you one."

"No, it's fine. The point is that you're safe now. That's what matters to me."

Kourin now realized even further that Aichi really cared about her. She was disappointed on herself now as she usually was more of a stronger person to keep a clear head. This time she failed. But she was happy that it was Aichi who saved her from the possible incident.

Aichi gave her a smile yet again. "I am glad that you're okay and you weren't injured. But I-I think you should get up from me." Kourin however, gave yet another kiss to Aichi's lips as a sign of gratitude for him. Aichi blushed once again from her kiss. It seemed like Aichi was happy when he could be with her. Nothing would step in the way of their relationship. Afterwards they walked back to PSY -shop

As Aichi and Kourin were at PSY –shop, they discussed about when they would meet again.

"...So it's settled then." Aichi said.

"Yes, tomorrow." Kourin replied.

Aichi gave a gentle kiss to Kourin's cheek as a goodbye and then left to his home. Kourin waved back as well with a smile on her face.

The next day:

This dream is similar to what happened on the episode 126 of Cardfight! Vanguard. This however, is a dream where Kourin is only displayed.

Aichi was having a bad dream while sleeping. On his dream he saw Kourin turning into something weird, something that he had never seen. For him, it was a terrible nightmare.

"Wait, Kourin!" Aichi yelled on his nightmare to Kourin who was walking away. Kourin, on his dream was walking even further away from Aichi, making him cry on his dream.

Aichi was desperate to reach Kourin but he just couldn't reach her. Aichi was saddened by this and couldn't do anything anymore. Soon after he woke up.

"EH!" Aichi woke up from his bad dream. "A dream…?" Aichi continued, taking a deep breath after. He felt something off on his dream. Also this wasn't an original dream that he'd normally see. Aichi wondered what had happened on his dream as he had never seen anything like that. As Aichi started stretching up and changing his clothes he went downstairs for breakfast that her mother made. Emi was also there, having a breakfast.

"Good morning, Aichi." Emi greeted

"Morning" Aichi replied.

"What are you going to do today Aichi?" Emi asked.

"Eh…I will have a meeting with Kourin a bit later today but before that I will probably visit Card Capital. Are you coming there as well? I won't be staying there for long though." Aichi answered. Emi nodded.

As Aichi ate his breakfast, he went to put on his shoes and started to head out. Emi would be coming later as well. Aichi headed out of door and said to her mom, that he'll be going now. Emi had now eaten her breakfast as well and came to put her shoes on. She also left outside, telling her mom that she'll be going outside as well. Mom waved back and told to her to be careful. Aichi and Emi were now on their way to Card Capital.

Emi caught up with Aichi who was nearing the Card Capital. As they stepped inside they saw Kai and Kamui having a match. Miwa, Morikawa, Izaki and Misaki were watching the match as well along with Shin and Assistacat. The game was so far tied to 4-4 damage for each.

"..Ride the Vanguard! I call, Eradicator, Dragonic Descendant!" Kai said.

"Vowing Sword Dragon's Break Ride skill. I retire one of your rear-guard unit." As Kamui had to retire his rear-guard. He didn't like the skill.

"+10000 power goes to my Dragonic Descendant" Kai continued. "Especial Counterblast. It gets +5000 power this turn."

"Hisen boosts, Dragonic Descendant attacks your Vanguard"

"Perfect Guard with Twin Blader!" Kamui said, guarding Kai's attack.

"Checking the Twin Drive." Kai drew his first trigger which was Thunder Boom Dragon(no trigger). On his second check he got Yellow Gem Carbuncle(a critical trigger).

"I give all the effects to my Dragonic Descendant" Kai said and continued. "I activate Dragonic Descendant's Limit Break! When Descedant's attack doesn't hit, Descendant can stand once more. It also gets an extra critical."

Kamui was now in a tight spot as he had no good cards to defend Kai's final attack. Kamui couldn't guard anymore as Kai now dealt the last two damage to Kamui's Vanguard. No heal trigger for Kamui. That was the end of the game.

"Awesome! You're still strong as usual!" Kamui said and commended Kai for his strength. Kai however wasn't really that satisfied with his own strength but he kept his cool. Kai soon noticed that Aichi was in the shop. He came to Aichi and asked how he was. Aichi told about his dream to Kai as he and others listened.

"…That sounds bad, Aichi." Kai replied as he noticed that Aichi was worried of Kourin because of that bad dream he saw. "I'm sure she's fine. You'll be meeting her today right, Aichi?" Kai asked. Aichi nodded to Kai.

"You shouldn't worry about her, Aichi." Miwa comforted him along with Misaki.

"Yeah, She's a strong-willed Idol after all." Izaki and Morikawa said together, even though Morikawa, in his mind, wished that Aichi wouldn't be lucky with her. Kourin was supposed to be his after all, since Morikawa loved her. Kourin didn't love Morikawa though.

"I will go now to visit Kourin." As Aichi now stepped out of the Card Capital, he was walking to PSY –shop, thinking about the dream as well. He didn't like how Kourin was on his dream, because she had a cold aura surrounding her which wasn't hers. Her own aura was charming and calm. Aichi though hoped for the best as he went inside to the PSY –shop.

Aichi was now inside the shop and after a few seconds Kourin showed up. She looked normal so Aichi was all relieved from his dream, but he shouldn't still let his guard down.

"Someday it could happen…" Aichi thought on his mind.

"Hey, Aichi!" Kourin smiled to Aichi as she was happy to see him again.

"Hey, Kourin." Aichi replied back, blushing a bit, but showing from his expression that he wasn't feeling alright. Kourin noticed this and got worried.

"Are you alright, Aichi?" She asked as she was curious what was on Aichi's mind. She had no clue why was Aichi feeling down a bit.

"U-uh…I am n-not sure, Kourin… I…I had a bad dream." Aichi answered.

"What kind of dream was it?"

"W-well… I saw you in my dream, walking away from me as you had worn somekind of sinister power that was really cold, probably similar to Void's power. The sinister power was terrifying me a bit and it seemed like that you were soulless on the dream, Kourin." Aichi said as Kourin was now bit saddened that Aichi had seen such a dream. She didn't want to let Aichi down so she closed up to him and took his hand.

"Aichi, as long as you're here, I won't let you down. That's why I will think about you even if you're far away. That is because I love you… Aichi." Kourin said to Aichi as she was now smiling to him and giving a slight blush on her face. However she gave Aichi a hug just to make Aichi feel comfortable. Aichi was happy that Kourin was fine and he gave Kourin a kiss. Kourin blushed a bit as well and took Aichi's hand and gave him a card.

"Here."

"W-W-what is this?" As Aichi took the card Kourin gave him he gasped.

"Wolf Fang Liberator, Garmore? B-but Kourin-"

"You've said before that if something would happen to me you would save me, right? I think this card would sign our friendship even if we're far away. That's why I would like to give this card to you, Aichi." Kourin gave a small smile to Aichi as he took the card that Kourin gave to him.

"T-Thank you, Kourin." Aichi smiled to Kourin as well, being fine now that he saw Kourin was alright. Aichi wanted to give something small to Kourin but he didn't have anything good to give to her, until he checked his pocket and realized he had a necklace. It was a Necklace of Love he had completely forgotten on his pocket. He got the necklace from her mother as a birthday gift but he had already worn another necklace. Aichi thought that if he gave Kourin his necklace it should be enough so that his and hers bond would be strong.

"K-Kourin. I- I got something for you as well."

"What is it?" Kourin asked, being surprised a bit since she didn't expect Aichi to give her anything. Aichi lent his hand and took Kourin's hand and put the necklace to her hand.

"I had this necklace in my pocket that I had forgotten. Since I already wear a necklace I thought I would give it to you." As Aichi handed the Necklace of Love to Kourin.

"My mother said that this necklace is called Necklace of Love. I think you should wear it for me, Kourin." As Aichi stepped forward and put the necklace to Kourin's neck. Kourin looked at the necklace Aichi had given to her. It looked beautiful, she thought on her mind and smiled.

"Thank you, Aichi. I appreciate this necklace. I will keep it for you." She said to Aichi, giving a kiss as well to Aichi, making him blush.

Aichi and Kourin had fun as they watched some movies and went outside for shopping. They had another wonderful day together. As Aichi got more relieved from the thought of his dream, he became more happier and he kept having a smile once again. Kourin liked the smile and she did the same. They both thought in their mind that nothing would be separating them despite facing off the odds that they would be meeting.

It was now evening and Aichi had to go home. Kourin also had to go home but she had to visit Takuto on his building. She wanted to tell him about Aichi's dream that he had seen.

"I must go now, Kourin. Promise to me that you will keep the necklace for me." Aichi said and took Kourin's hand and put his own as well top of her hand. "Please, be careful."

"I will. After all you're the person I wish to be with forever." Kourin smiled to Aichi and put her hand on top of Aichi's hand as well. They were both yet again happy and were truly the couple they wanted to be for a long time.

Aichi came forward and gave a kiss to Kourin's cheek as she now blushed but didn't stop him for doing that. Kourin gave her kiss as well to Aichi's lips. This time Aichi felt the tastiness of Kourin's lips. Of course her lips tasted sweet before but this time her lips were so irresistible that Aichi wanted the kiss to last longer, but it was late for both of them. As they now waved to each other, going to their home they ended the day with a great success once again.

Kourin was now on her way to Takuto's place. She thought he would know something of Aichi's dream after all or what could have caused that dream. That's why she had to visit Takuto. If nobody else would know then Takuto himself would know the answer to her question.

...But was that everything Kourin wished to ask for or is there something else...?