Intro: Wow it's been awhile since it's Christmas vacation I hope I can work on the other story too. Since I am back I can continue writing again muwahahaha…
Anyway here is chapter 18 hope this can chill your minds from the gloomy chapters in the past stories.
Disclaimer: I do not own Touken Ranbu and Cardfight! Vanguard and other material which came from the said Game/Anime, they are owned by its original creators. The making of this story and this story is made for the fans and the writer XD. Although the plot and some changes in the story are from me ^_^.
Chapter 18: The shop tournament
~At the Citadel~
Shokudaikiri, Horikawa and Hasebe were in the kitchen finishes cleaning the dishes while unknowingly a tumbler sitting quietly at a table is waiting for the three of them to notice it. While Shokudaikiri silently thinking of what he has forgotten again and just continued on what he was doing earlier.
When suddenly "E-excuse me" the three TouDans inside the kitchen sought for the owner of the voice to find that it was Gokotai along with the five tiger cubs that they are still not used to seeing, in Shokudaikiri's mind "Mina nee liked these tiger cubs" he reminisces with a sweat drop on his head staring intently at the playing tiger cubs which could have meant that the word 'like' is more than it means.
"What do you need Gokotai?" It was Horikawa who brought back Shokudaikiri to his senses and waited for the latter's response.
He is timid and shy same as their master they all thought looking at him with a smile excluding Hasebe "I… I just want to ask if there is something that I can be of help with" Shokudaikiri and Hasebe looks around the whole kitchen to see if there is something while Horikawa was continuing on cleaning the dishes when both Hasebe and Shokudaikiri both flinched at the sight of the tumbler sitting on the table.
"AAAHHH!" Hasebe shouted to Horikawa's surprise and almost let's go of the plate and startled the tiger cubs.
"Easy there Hasebe!" Shokudaikiri said calming Hasebe.
Hasebe dropped down on the floor on his knees "I… I'm a failure…" The three TouDans sweat dropped at the sight of Hasebe.
"You don't have to be so hard on yourself Hasebe-san." Horikawa said finishing the dishes and is now comforting Hasebe.
Then the quick witted Shokudaikiri had an idea "I think I know what you can help with Gokotai-kun" He finished while smiling at Gokotai which made the three of them blink twice curious at what he could mean. Although it was also his fault that he forgot to give that bottle to Kiyomitsu for them to be able to drink.
~To the Tournament~
Aichi and Kiyomitsu were silently walking towards Card Capital, while the two are not making any contact with each other, they weren't able to notice that they were already at the said place and is now in front of it.
Aichi being a little nervous stops in front staring at the door of the shop and is hesitating to enter seeing this sight made Kiyomitsu sigh which he noticed that he keeps doing lately "You'll be fine" he said then held his master's hand who has now a pink hue on his face and is avoiding at looking back to Kiyomitsu, his heart beating fast and his hands now tightly gripping back to Kiyomitsu.
But then "Oh Aichi onii-san and girly!" Kiyomitsu popped a vein on his head and pulls his hands away from Aichi who is now saddened at the thought that he would want to make it last longer, but alas it was inevitable "Who are you calling girly! Shrimp!" Kiyomitsu shouted that made Aichi sweat drop at the scene where he is bickering with an elementary school kid.
"What did you say?!" Kamui fought back but was stopped by Aichi who is now in front of the two trying to stop their childish bickering although inside he is actually thinking that Kiyomitsu has his childish side and it makes him look cute too to which made him blush deep red at the sudden thought of what has popped up to his mind.
Seeing as Aichi is now deep red "A-A-Aichi-sama do you have a cold?!" Kiyomitsu panicked and placed his hand to Aichi's forehead and his to check if he has a fever or cold to which he was able to breathe again seeing as nothing is wrong.
But then the two was interfered once again by Kamui "So Aichi onii-san is the goddess coming?"
"Goddess?" Which Kiyomitsu and Aichi said at the same while looking at each other thinking that what he meant could be…
"Y-you know… E-Emi-san?" But then while Kamui was thinking of Emi, Kiyomitsu already pushed Aichi inside of the shop when Kamui saw this he shouted and entered the shop first and started talking to others while Kiyomitsu is trying to comfort Aichi again while staring at the crowd in front of him.
But then the shop door opens and showed Emi with a basket on her hands, seeing this Emi stared at what Kiyomitsu was holding thinking that it could be lunch the same as what she has inside of what she brought.
At the same time Kamui made his move but then the shop door opens once again to show three Tantou "Ah found Aichi-sama!" Imanotsurugi and Midare shouted that made Gokotai a little teary eyed because of the sudden outburst of the two.
"Imanotsurugi, Midare" Kiyomitsu said "Gokotai?" Aichi called a little worried at Gokotai then patted his head to calm him down which gave a smile to Gokotai but then he noticed something odd "Eh? Where are the tiger cubs that are always with you?" Kamui and his two friends were listening and heard the word tigers to which they got a little aware of Gokotai.
Kiyomitsu noticed it also and then waited for his response "S-Shokudaikiri-san said to ask for permission first a-and then next time I will be able to bring them with me h-he said" Shokudaikiri made a good decision.
"So what are the three of you doing here?" Kiyomitsu asked while looking at a bag that Midare has on him to which he already has an idea.
"Oh we brought this!" Midare said while rummaging the bag for something and then showed two tumblers "We brought drinks!" He said with sparkles in his eyes.
Seeing this Aichi patted Midare and then Imanotsurugi next and said "Thank you for your hard work." While smiling at the three Tantou's giving a warm and fuzzy feeling inside of them and felt happy and proud at the same time.
"Midare! Imanotsurugi!" Emi happily exclaimed seeing the two. Kamui who was seeing what is unfolding felt jealous seeing as there are so many boys around her and thinks that he has many competition although that is not the case here though.
Kamui was staring intently at Midare thinking that maybe he is one of her friend and maybe ask Midare about Emi too since maybe he can get tips about how to ask her out and befriend Midare. He sighed from relief thinking that Emi wasn't completely alone with boys since Midare was with Emi, although unbeknownst to Kamui that Midare is actually a boy.
Midare placed back the water bottles and then headed to Emi followed by Imanotsurugi "Emi!" The two exclaimed back. While Aichi reached for Gokotai's shoulder and brought him next to Emi and the other "Emi." Aichi called "This is Gokotai" he introduced to which Emi introduced back and the four are now together with Kiyomitsu and Aichi following to go near the crowd.
As they made it into the center of the crowd the participants were immediately called to go in front of the tournament bracket then while walking towards the front Aichi almost trip but then "Aichi-sama!" Kiyomitsu hastily noticed his clumsiness to which he is already used to and was able to catch him "Will you be careful please." Everyone was surprised at Kiyomitsu's reflex and when the people who doesn't know or haven't seen or met him were staring at his bewitching beauty to which made Aichi a little bitter "Thanks" he said then continued to go to the front. While Kiyomitsu went back to the four to see them already talking to each other and is having fun.
There are sixteen participants that will hold a single elimination tournament and now it's time for the revealing of the match ups. Kiyomitsu noticed Aichi's response upon seeing that it wasn't Kai that he will be able to fight to which every time makes him agitated at the same time saddened to which he cannot understand. But then when Tenchou-Dairi continued to show the other match up he noticed that each of them are in different blocks and Aichi is on the first block making him one of the first to fight in the tournament.
The first fight A block Izaki and Aichi B block is Misaki and Morikawa. Emi and the three Tantou's are beside Shin with Kiyomitsu behind them watching the fight. The battle now starting "Aichi-sama Good luck!" Imanotsurugi and Midare both cheered forgetting that Aichi isn't supposed to be called with honorifics with Emi to which Kiyomitsu remembers and lets it slide but then.
"You too Gokotai" Midare said asking Gokotai to cheer too.
"G-good luck Aichi-sama" at the good luck part he has a high voice but then when he realized it and toned down his voice and whispered Aichi's name. Upon hearing it the second time although it was a whisper Kiyomitsu couldn't take it anymore and drags the two and asked Gokotai to follow him at the back to which Emi got confused at the sudden action of Kiyomitsu.
Although the battle is starting Miwa noticed this action and although not following them with his eyes, his ears are though, and while trying to listen it seems Kiyomitsu caught up on this and noticed Miwa is always trying to snoop around and to avoid it he tries to be more discreet and scolded the two and informed Gokotai, to his efforts it seems Miwa wasn't able to get a single thing and made it back to the battle to see a more confident Aichi to his surprise that made him smile. Then Kiyomitsu offered Emi to let him carry the basket she has with her.
Aichi and Misaki were able to win their matches, after that Aichi went to Kiyomitsu and the others congratulating him on his first win. Then the next battle was next, Kai and Kamui's, they were able to finish their battle in no hurry and win. Kiyomitsu noticed the look that Aichi is giving Kai throughout the entire battle.
Kiyomitsu became a little agitated but tries to contain himself, then after sometime, a weird ninja entered the tournament who is now Aichi's next opponent and now all attention is on him although everyone will still steal glances to Kiyomitsu and Aichi will feel uneasy.
Morikawa and Izaki went to Aichi where Ninja M starts talking to the three of them where Aichi found out the true identity of Ninja M, his homeroom teacher from school Mark.
After their little talk and Morikawa insisting that it can't be their teacher and a ninja must hide his true identity they were called back to the front for the next round to start. Where Kiyomitsu got more and more agitated each time Aichi gives Kai that look. Even through the second round of Aichi's battle he was worrying about Kai more than his own battles and saw that he was almost in the losing because of that. At that point Kiyomitsu can't take it anymore. He gives the pack lunches to Midare and Imanotsurugi and leaves the shop, unbeknownst to Aichi who Kiyomitsu didn't notice that he was making a comeback at his fights and it didn't go past Miwa.
Aichi won his third round battle and is now moving on to the finals with hopes of being able to fight Kai, but from the happiness he feels there was something missing he looked around the shop but he was missing he disbanded from the group who were cheering for him and headed to the back where Kai and Miwa was, maybe Miwa knows he thought.
He hurried to Miwa and it seems from Aichi's look he understood who and what is the problem "You are looking for Kiyomitsu right" Aichi nodded his head hastily answering his question "Welp he looks like he was feeling ill and left in a hurry outside" Aichi has his answer that was enough "Thank you!" he said then headed outside in haste while the other block started their battle on who will advance to the final.
"Aichi-sama?" Imanotsurugi called then his mouth was hastily covered by Midare in panic and then Imanotsurugi remembered why the sudden action and panicked and stopped.
When Miwa and Kai saw Aichi hastily go outside Miwa grinned to Kai to which the latter ignored and stared at the door of the shop.
Aichi was outside the shop but Kiyomitsu was nowhere to be found and the time for the tournament finals must come so he cannot decide whether what he should do but then he remembered the gift he received from Konnosuke thinking that maybe it could help, and so he did, he closed his eyes and focused his divine ability to the bell but then Kiyomitsu came out of a tree and saw Aichi.
Aichi opened his eyes and saw Kiyomitsu who was about to run and turn but then he hastily ran to him and embraced him "Why did you leave? Did something happen? Are you feeling ill?" Aichi had so many question it seems that when it comes to Kiyomitsu he cannot think right nor can he keep his calm just him being gone makes him worried but Aichi didn't know that that is what Kiyomitsu feels also.
Kiyomitsu held the hand of the person who is embracing him from behind, he turned around and answered his question "It's alright I was just a little suffocated inside" he made an excuse although it wasn't true nor false.
"But you were about to run" Kiyomitsu was surprised at what Aichi said it seems he cannot lie to him.
"Oh that, it's because you look like you were about to scold me or something" He patted Aichi's head "So how did it go" Aichi knew that he was making excuses and changing the subject but he doesn't want to ask anymore but then he felt a little betrayed "You are unfair" Aichi said while taking of the hand patting him and the other that is holding his other hand and left Kiyomitsu outside and headed inside the shop for the next announcement.
Kiyomitsu doesn't want to go inside but at the same time he wants to follow and continue on to watch Aichi finish and win the tournament. But he doesn't know whether he should be happy if ever he win or lose because either way he will still look at Kai and not him and that kind of thing makes his heart burst into pieces and little by little he understood what he was feeling.
Aichi winner of Block A, Misaki winner of block B, Kamui winner of block C, and Kai winner of block D, the four of them will be facing each other for the final round although when the announcement were announced, Aichi hasn't the slightest bit of energy and it's making everyone threw off their game and is making the whole place gloomy.
They wonder what might have happened to him but then Shin remembered about the lunch break of 12-1 so he made a good excuse to be able to do something about his gloomy expression.
After that Emi, Midare, Imanotsurugi, and Gokotai headed to him and showed the lunch boxes they have with them trying to cheer him up but to no avail, Tenchou-Dairi came trying to say something which made Misaki say that she can understand cat languages to which she declines hastily after some reaction from Kamui and the others and say that it was because they have a no eating or drinking policy inside the shop but then suggested that there is a bench beside the shop where they can eat.
When they headed outside they saw Kiyomitsu leaning at the wall of the shop, when they notice Aichi looking away to him with a sad face they immediately understood what was the problem, but not Kamui, Reiji and Eiji though, while Gokotai is a little confused since he was new to this family and doesn't understand human feeling yet.
Kiyomitsu hastily stood up when he saw Aichi "I'll explain later…" he has nothing to say but say the truth later although he is embarrassed.
Aichi's mood changed a little he was a little relieved but he wasn't happy but he was fine than before since Kiyomitsu opened up and thought that maybe the reason he can't say it earlier is because they were out in the open so he understood it a bit.
They had their lunch at the side of the shop and the food were just enough for all of them to share and since also because Shokudaikiri was kind enough to add more when the three Tantou's were delivering the drink to Aichi and Kiyomitsu plus Emi also brought some so they were all full from the delicious food that was prepared for them.
It was time for the announcement of who is going to face who with the help of a draw box to determine their fate. Aichi drew one, Kamui drew two. Misaki three, and Kai four. Now the battle for the finals of the tournament begins.
Emi and the Tantou's bid Aichi good luck with Kiyomitsu now the finals has started, Aichi was a little overwhelmed from the battle but he was able to withstand and fight back making it a heated battle, but on the opposite side, Kai and Misaki already finished their fight with a crushing defeat at Misaki's side. This surely shows that Kai had much more experience in fighting.
After the fight with Kai and Misaki, Aichi is more fired up and geared up to advance to the finals, Aichi thought that he has Kamui overwhelmed but on Kamui's turn it became turned and Aichi seems to be on the losing side but Aichi was able to defend all of his attack but Kamui has something up his sleeves he was able to attack once more again with all of his units with his Vanguard's skill giving Kamui another chance to attack and because of that Aichi has lost the battle.
Aichi for a moment lost all his will but then he got himself brought back to his sense, the finals has started but Aichi chose to sit at the back with Kiyomitsu in front of him trying to cheer him and comfort him back.
"You know moping here won't do you anything good right?" Kiyomitsu said trying to get him to watch the match thinking that maybe it would help him to be a better fighter.
Aichi loved this game maybe that's why he feels so sad about it, but at the same time Kiyomitsu thought that maybe it was because of his lingering affection to Kai to which Kiyomitsu can't take it anymore every time he thinks of it he feels irritated and uneasy because of it he wasn't able to contain it and ask it directly.
"Nee Aichi-sama" He was about to speak out but then he tried to stop and bit his lip trying to restrain himself, after all what can he do, he was just a sword that was called to help and fight for him, all he could do is follow orders, since he is a sword he is sure that even though Aichi is the soft type and understanding person he knows that deep inside he only thinks of them as a tool.
Kiyomitsu's mind became blank and his expression changed although nobody could notice and see but he was different, his thought process changed "Even if I decorate myself with pretty things and keep myself pretty and clean you won't love me back since this master of mine has already love someone. All I just need to do is keep myself pretty so that he won't abandon me, then I will still have purpose, that's what I should just be thinking" Kiyomitsu thought and because of that it wasn't noticeable but Kiyomitsu changed starting from there. Kiyomitsu lost his heart, because of jealousy.
"C'mon let's watch the match" Kiyomitsu said to Aichi to which Aichi followed to go to watch the final battle of the tournament.
Upon watching the battle between Kai and Kamui, Aichi could feel the tension and excitement Aichi was inspired to be like the both of them in the future, to be able to fight with strong opponents and be able to give him a new goal to be able to move forward and become just like the two of them. Kai was the winner of the tournament, making him the strongest in the whole shop.
After Shin updated the board declaring Kai as the winner, making Kamui the runner up and Aichi with Misaki, the four of them as a best four, where they will pit against a more bigger tournament, the regional tournament. The championship which is the biggest tournament in japan. The four of them will be the representative for the Shop, Card capital. The first stop is the regional and then if they ever win they will be able to battle through the nationals. But then shin also announced that it was entirely only a team of three but then a back-up is needed. In the end there was a good news.
After the announcement everyone headed home but the gang stayed at the shop to be able to talk more about the tournament although Kai and Miwa already left since Kai isn't that type of person.
"Emi-chan!" Midare called.
"What is it Midare-chan?" Emi asked.
"I was wondering when you will be able to come to the citadel again" Midare asked to which Imanotsurugi supported.
"Maybe this Saturday or Sunday I will visit." Emi answered to which Midare and Imanotsurugi rejoiced.
"You will come play too right Gokotai? And also I want to see the kitties you mentioned." Emi smiled a little excited about her next visit. Gokotai nodded in response to her question and is a little excited himself too.
Kamui was silently listening to the conversation and thinks of a way to be able to ask Aichi to let him come to this certain citadel of his, or either will he even ask for direction, ask permission, or sneak up on them and follow, and the right person to ask that is Miwa, but he is no longer in the vicinity so maybe he can still catch up to him.
"Okay I'll be leaving on ahead!" Kamui said while dashing through the door of the shop and is searching for Miwa.
Aichi and the others were a little surprised but then ignored the latter since he is always energetic so they thought it was just normal.
Outro: Finally I was able to make another chapter. Hmm… I wonder what I am going to do with Kiyomitsu… welp imma just gonna have to figure it out next chapter.
Thank you for reading! Please review or pm for any suggestions or problems on the story.