Intro: alright here we are for another chapter, hope you guys like it!
Keep safe everyone! Don't forget to maintain a clean hygiene!
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 31: A Rank 5 Sword Warrior
Continuing on to the Toba team they continued to the next area where they can get charcoal, the Tantous, feeling the stiff atmosphere from the previous battle decided to make a conversation "Mikazuki-san was amazing back there" Gokotai hesitated to speak about the next thing he wanted to say but regardless he hoped it would come through "I wish I could be like you"
"ahahaha…" He laughed at Gokotai's praise then turned his head to face Gokotai "A spar would be nice from time to time then." Mikazuki suggested so they could boost their reaction time.
"Really?"
"Of course" Mikazuki reassured
Aichi who was happy that they were starting to get along noticed the expectant expression from Sayo, understanding what that meant he decided to help him "When Mikazuki has time you can ask him too Sayo"
"Eh?!" Sayo looked at Aichi with a surprised expression who was now walking beside him.
"Sure, it won't be a problem." Mikazuki accepted, though Sayo did not smile it can be understood from his expression that he is happy.
"If that is how it's gonna be, y'all can bet that I'll be the first to surpass him." Mutsunokami smugly predicted.
"Heh, I beg to differ, I'm sure you would be growing up the least." Hasebe complacently retorted back.
"We'll all see about that" Mutsunokami geared up and ran towards the place where their next destination is leaving them behind.
Although he didn't join in the argument Yamanbagiri felt the same, that he needed to change but, what can he do, the question that lingers through his mind "H-hey wait up!" Aichi shouted to catch Mutsunokami's attention, but alas, he was too fast, seeing that they become more and more left behind, all of them decided to run after him.
After a long run that eventually led them to the next destination that dealt the hardest blow to Gokotai and Sayo slumped to the ground for dear air, same with Aichi almost losing his balance from exhaustion was carefully led by Mikazuki to let him sit at a log nearby. While the three Uchigatana looks like it was just normal routine.
"Thanks" Aichi thanked Mikazuki who is standing next to him not leaving his side, piquing the others' attention.
"Sayo, Gokotai" Aichi called the two Tantous attention "Come sit over here and rest for a bit."
"It was a good thing that we were almost to the next destination, or else this could have exhausted us more." Hasebe breathes a sigh of relief that they were all doing fine but it did not get past them how Mikazuki treats Aichi.
Mutsunokami who wasn't even worn out didn't let himself be beaten and continued again to run over here and there to gather coal that he can carry as many as possible "Catch y'all later!"
"Hey come back here!" as if he didn't hear Hasebe's scolding he continued to run on his own.
"Ahahahaha" Mikazuki laughed once again "Brilliant, everyone seems to be in high spirits." Aichi smiled at his comment, seeing how lively they were.
"Yamanbagiri, Hasebe, why don't the two of you have a rest first before you start?" Aichi offered to the two who were still standing and can only watch the energetic Mutsunokami.
"I am doing fine Aichi-sama, thank you for the offer." Yamanbagiri declined the offer and instead decided to gather coals.
"You need not worry Aichi-sama, you can take a rest for us." Hasebe smiled placing a hand on his chest and left to find coals.
Seeing the three started working the two Tantous understood that it was also time for them to start, nodding at each other Gokotai spoke to Aichi "I think we had our rest too Aichi-sama, thank you, but we better start too."
The two stood up from their seat and ran around together looking for coal, seeing as everyone seems to be busy, Mikazuki has decided that he too should start "I think it's time for me to start too" Mikazuki waited for Aichi to look his way "I'm afraid I have to leave your side for a while" Mikazuki smiled to Aichi waiting for his response. Understanding his reason Aichi nodded to what Mikazuki has told him.
~A few moments later ~
The first to return is of course Mutsunokami with a bag full of charcoal "Mahahahaha, I was faster!"
Followed by Yamanbagiri and Hasebe with a bag each while Gokotai and Sayo shared one bag, now all that is left is Mikazuki which is again, nowhere to be found.
Aichi stood up from the log he was sitting and looked around the area with worry etched on his face "Have you noticed Mikazuki?"
Aichi asked which made the five looked at one another with their face losing its color.
"Alright let's look around the area and come back here in 10 minutes if we can't still find him, then…" Hasebe stares at Aichi "The ability of the bell that Konnosuke gave us can help" He comes closer to Aichi.
"It's a good thing Aichi-sama is with us." Hasebe looks at Aichi which is looking for the answer who is pointing at his arm where he wear his bracelet.
"Konnosuke did say that the bracelet can tell the location of the toudan to master or vice versa but it can't be toudan to toudan" Mutsunokami plays with his bracelet.
Looking at his bracelet Aichi became worried and it didn't get passed the five making them curious of the reason why "Eh? I… I haven't learned it yet…" the five got their answer who clearly has sweat drops and seems to have added to their worries.
"At any rate, while the five of us search for him…" slowly Hasebe walked in front of Aichi and kneeled down a little in front of Aichi making the other four surprised at his action especially Aichi "You can learn little by little on how to use it" Hasebe smiled to Aichi giving him the confidence he need.
Aichi nodding to Hasebe was his signal to stand up and say "Good luck"
"As to you too…" Hasebe bowed waiting for Aichi's command the four were surprised how Hasebe handled it.
"Everyone look for Mikazuki and until the allotted time of up to 20 minutes you must all comeback to this same place while I try to learn how to locate Mikazuki, Good luck."
"Yes!" The five all said in unison and then left the area.
~At an unknown Area~
"Ahahahaha… I seem to have lost my way" Mikazuki laughed it off as if it was nothing, the expression on his face didn't change as he continued to smile while looking around the area.
"Hmm… I seem to have visitors" Mikazuki reaches for his sword and swiftly cuts the said visitor "Ah… I should find my way back or I will worry him." He said as the feeling of worry whelms up inside him.
"I see, is this what it means to be connected by 'that' bond…" Mikazuki continues to fend of the visitor coming up to him "Tantou huh…" he said as he saw the disappearing body of the enemy he sliced. As fast as he can, he slashes the oncoming enemies if ever one gets away he would hastily chase after it and cut it down.
"I wonder if he feels the same or is it on my side only." He flicks his sword and returned it back to its sheath "I wonder…" As he looks around the area uninterested at the scene at the ground that he was surrounded by disappearing enemy Tantou that he defeated, instead decided to continue forward looking for the path that will lead him back to the group.
~The ones left at the citadel~
"Now that is what you call a surprise. He got lost and accidentally went to the next lcoation, but successfully defeated all those enemies by himself." The expression showing on the faces of all the toudans was different from what the four guardians.
You can see the toudans expression as if seeing a monster at the same time the feeling of not wanting to lose to him. As for the guardians they were in awe and amaze.
"Is that how powerful a rank 5 is?" Nikkari asked dumbfounded at the scene in front of him.
"I'm already at rank 4 but I know myself I won't be able to finish it that fast and move that fast if I was just summoned." Tsurumaru staggered at his words.
"Is that how big the gap is for rank 4 and a rank 5." Shokudaikiri added in amazement.
"Maybe that is the true power of a rank 5 sword hence the reason they are really hard to get." Horikawa speculated.
"We need to make sure that Aichi-sama is doing fine when he comes back" Yagen doubted about Aichi's current health "I bet it took a toll at him, though its either it hasn't come yet or he is just that good at hiding now."
Mina and Konnosuke stared at each other upon hearing the comments of the toudans, hiding the truth regarding the two.
"I wonder if we could be that good too." Midare cheered.
"I sure would like to learn those kind of skills" even Miwa can't help but show his amazement of Mikazuki.
"Come to think of it, will Aichi-sama be able to learn to locate Mikazuki-san" Yasusada recalls the part where they need to find Mikazuki.
"Well its Aichi-sama so I'm sure he can do it." Imanotsurugi confidently said.
"We will just have to watch what will happen then." Kiyomitsu ended the conversation with everyone agreeing to his statement.
Not noticing how the time has passed this is how focused they were to the battle.
~Back to Aichi and the others~
"It's almost 20 minutes, I wonder what happened to Mikazuki." Aichi worriedly spoke to himself while waiting for the others and Mikazuki if ever to return "I wonder what happened I hope he just got lost and nothing more than that." He sighs as he continues to look at the bell on his wrist "And it's almost 20 minutes and I still can't figure out how to use this" He inhales "Focus Aichi!"
While continuing to focus on said bracelet a sudden rustling of the bushes was heard making Aichi jump in surprise and lose focus, when the rustling became nearer and louder a large shadow can be seen and before the shadow can be finally revealed "Uwah!" Aichi jumped off of his seat when the shadow approached him.
"Aichi-sama." Mikazuki said as he slowly approached Aichi alerting him that he is not an enemy or anything that will hurt him.
Upon hearing and immediately identified the voice of the one approaching Aichi was actually Mikazuki "Mi-… Mi-… Mikazuki!" Aichi felt himself that he was about to cry, but tried to stop it, feeling of failure once again whelmed up inside him.
Mikazuki felt the pain throb inside him, once again the feeling of Aichi is synching within him "I'm back, Aichi-sama, please excuse what I am about to do." He excused himself as one of his arm reached out for Aichi's head slowly caressing it.
"Please stop thinking about that, it was not you who is the failure, it was my fault and I am very aware of it, and I deeply apologize for making you feel that" Mikazuki tries his best to make Aichi feel better and stop the negative feeling whelming up inside him.
Aichi surprised at what Mikazuki said looked straight up to him in his eyes thinking if this is what it meant to be with that bond, Mikazuki understanding what that look was nodded back to him "Didn't you promise that you will change when you made me? Why not start today, if something bad happens just think positively to it, move forward and stop feeling bad."
Mikazuki's looks became fierce "Hasn't it occurred to you that if you continue to be like this everyone will not blame you but will blame themselves for it, though I think it has."
"We are but swords but we are ones who will be with you every step of the way since the very day you have summoned us to this era." Mikazuki smiled "To help you, wasn't it because of that, so let us help each other why don't we." Mikazuki lightly chuckled and took away his hand that was on top of Aichi's head.
As Aichi continued to stare at Mikazuki's eyes, Mikazuki closed his and left his area of vision curious as to why "Oh! Mikazuki has returned by himself" Hasebe shouted who was with Sayo when he saw Mikazuki when the two were already apart. Something inside Aichi feel as if he was reassured something with Mikazuki has some kind of influence, was it because of the bond, or different more.
A little while after Hasebe and Sayo's return Mutsunokami has also returned "Mahahaha… didn't even think that he would come back by himself." Mutsunokami laughed it off.
Following him was Yamanbagiri with Gokotai "It felt like our efforts were for nothing." Yamanbagiri sighed looking at Mikazuki.
"At least he found his way back, since we couldn't find him." Gokotai felt relieved upon seeing Mikazuki.
"Thank you for your hard work everyone, would you like to take a rest first?" Aichi thanks them for their effort before he forgets.
"Nope, I am still doing fine" Mutsunokami raised his arms.
"Well it's the second time that Mikazuki went off on his own, the first was he almost got lost and the second… he actually did." Hasebe sighed thinking that this has turned into a troubling matter.
"In other words he couldn't be left alone by himself" Yamanbagiri hits the bull's eye summing it all up.
"I agree, either let him stay in one spot and just be Aichi-sama's bodyguard or he partners up." Hasebe suggested "We need to warn the others about him." Hasebe somewhat choked at the still carefree look on Mikazuki and sighs once again.
The group in the citadel had the same thought in their head while watching the whole scene and inside their heads "No need to tell us."
"A-anyways, why don't we head to the next destination, so we could still come back early." Hasebe suggested to the group which everyone has agreed to.
~At the second to the last area~
"That's weird I thought we could be able to scout first but before we even enter, I felt no sign of enemy." Hasebe said as he looks around the surrounding area to make sure that he wasn't just imagining things.
"Same here, I thought I was gonna be able to do some work out again." Mutsunokami does the same as Hasebe and looks around the area just to make sure they are not in some kind of trap.
"hhmmm…" Mikazuki hummed.
"Hm? Mikazuki?" Aichi heard his hum as he was next to him because of what Hasebe told though regardless he would still do it, curious as to why the sudden hum he called out Mikazuki's attention.
"This is the area I got lost to." Mikazuki continued his carefree smile as the others stared at him questionably.
A sudden question sprung to Yamanbagiri "Then what happened here is your doing?" a question that speaks it all.
"Yes." Mikazuki responded in affirmation.
Yamanbagiri's question was clearly vague but Mikazuki understood what he meant and the others as well, making their expression full of shock and doubt. And as for hearing Mikazuki's response everyone had the idea that he could actually really do it, just not at the point that he is alone and at that speed.
Speaking of fast "How did you comeback so fast?" Hasebe asked.
Though before Mikazuki could answer Hasebe, Mutsunokami intervened and added another question "And with what happened here, did you really get lost by accident and came here?" Mutsunokami was right, they all had thought the same when he opened it up, thinking that maybe he did not really have gotten lost but instead he just came here early to finish the job early.
Mikazuki continues his carefree smile and thought of a response that will answer both and instead decided to tell the whole story "I really did get lost, though I didn't think that I would be lost at this place and was already far away from the group, maybe the enemies were the ones that led me here since I could feel their presence in the area." While Mikazuki tells his story Mutsunokami and Hasebe slowly walked towards them to hear him clearly "While thinking of a way to get back, I was attacked and then something was riling up inside me, that I need to get back to him." This time Mikazuki's smile felt different and everyone who saw this understood the difference of his usual smile to this smile.
"I was really troubled at what could have happened if I wasn't so lucky to find my way back, but at all cost I must get back hence I sped up and ran at full speed at where my feet would lead me" His head turned to Aichi for a moment whereas he felt that that gentle warm smile was directed to him "Hence I was able to come back and at one piece." Mikazuki chuckled "Believe it or not I was also surprised" it was true, after all he was kind of newly born and he was new to this bond thing but it seems it all has turned out well and all.
"A ha ha ha ha" Mikazuki laughs as everyone seems to be dumbfounded and deep in thought "Aichi-sama shall we head to the next location then?" though because of what Mikazuki has done their time has lessen but still it still hasn't that much processed to them how did all just happen and decided to just watch for now.
"Oh, Uhm, yeah" Aichi was awakened to his senses and so does the others as they wait as to where the die will take them, as the die drops it was clear where they will be going to next, the location of the boss.
"Hmmmmm…" Mikazuki was in deep thought.
Aichi sees the chance to help lift their spirits up "W-we can do these everyone, as long as we are together!"
The group returned to their normal faces as they all agreed to continue forward and do everything in the best of their abilities.
~Last Location~
"Hmmm…" Mikazuki scouts the area "They are much more powerful than the others be careful." While searching the area for enemies Mikazuki saw something different from the past enemies "I see an enemy Uchigatana"
"Can you detect how many?" Hasebe asked.
Mikazuki tries to read the presence of the enemy "Hm, about three, 5 Wakizashi, and mostly… about 10 Tantou."
"All right everyone, let's get ready." Aichi initiates the attack and as affirmation everyone nodded in response.
Once they were near the area Aichi readies his arrows to alarm the enemy "Here I go!" Alerting the toudans they drew out their swords.
"Well then, I suppose it's time for me to do work that is worthy of my salary" Mikazuki kick-offed as the six of them engaged in battle, Aichi who was dumbfounded at hearing his quote stares at Mikazuki.
As the enemies started to show one by one Mutsunokami was the very first to jump in "Aim…" As Mutsunokami drew out his gun he aimed at a far enemy "Bang!" and hits the bulls-eye on one of the enemy Wakizashi and then headed straight to fight the others using his sword.
Surprised at the sudden attack by Mutsunokami Aichi gulps as he sees the enemy from afar as it was his moment to join in the fray "You can do this…" Aichi whispered to himself. Waiting for the right time to aim and release Aichi inhales and aims at an enemy, as he exhales he releases the bow, hitting the target successfully Aichi himself was surprised and was proud of himself.
Mutsunokami whistles at His aim as he was near the target, while Hasebe, Yamanbagiri, Gokotai and Sayo cheered in their own way, "You can do it if you put your heart to it." Mikazuki praised Aichi as he positioned himself behind him for look out.
Confident and happy though he tries hard not to show it much since the battle is just starting, Aichi aims at another enemy and helps support them from behind as the long range user of the party and as their master.
Sayo was attacked by an enemy but with his fast impulses he was able to detect the enemy "There, huh." Although successfully deflecting the attack the enemy ran off to hide, thankfully Hasebe was near enough to deal with the enemy "There's no use in hiding!"
Facing off with an Uchigatana who was near Yamanbagiri and Gokotai the two teamed up in to taking it down "I don't like the look you're giving me." He raised his sword upward as Yamanbagiri and the enemy goes head to head as the two continues to attack Gokotai who was sneaking up behind the enemy swiftly cuts a part of it "If you get injured, please say so."
Mikazuki readies himself as he senses an enemy coming "The enemy boss huh…" as he sees the enemy in front of him whereas Mikazuki is behind Aichi watching his back while Aichi was alerted he readies himself by readying another arrow continuing to support the others.
Mikazuki waits for the attack as he senses an enemy Tantou who is aiming at Aichi "How is this." Who successfully landed a critical to the enemy, Aichi who was almost got attacked held the injury he had, a slight feeling of trauma has submerged from within him but he tries his best to forget about it as he was in the battlefield, as he readies his bows his hands shaken from the memory tries to clear his head, he tries to aim but it didn't land a hit but still grazed an enemy.
Feeling the emotions of fear Mikazuki tightens the grip on his swords and slowly walked backwards to Aichi "Don't worry, I will protect you." Reassuring Aichi, Mikazuki then closes his eyes as he himself rushed to start his battle, an enemy Tantou came forward as he slashes to his right to end the enemy, little did he know that an enemy Wakizashi was behind the defeated Tantou, surprised by the attack Mikazuki jumps backward as he deflect the attack.
"I see that you are well guarded." Feeling the malice from Mikazuki the enemy boss came forward to add another force of attack, seeing this Mikazuki turns as he swiftly attack the enemy Wakizashi from behind, as his sword was long he was able to slice the arm of the enemy Uchigatana.
"Anyone who strikes fear to my master shall deal with a monster!" Mikazuki sped up slashing the enemy from behind, to its right, to its left, the enemy Uchigatana who cannot keep up was seconds behind when attacking back nor deflecting, it was as if Mikazuki was playing with his prey. Thinking that is was enough Mikazuki stopped as he swung his sword to his right and headed straight to the enemy slicing up its head.
As the enemy Uchigatana disappear, he tries to sense the area and as there was no more enemies Mikazuki and the others successfully finished their first sortie.
Outro: Gonna end up there since if I continue it will take longer, so what do you guys think?! Comment or pm is the key, thank you for reading! Keep safe everyone!
I'm very sorry for my lack of vocabulary and wrong grammars and wrong spellings, but I hope you like the story nonetheless, and thank you for everyone's continuous support!
Thank you for reading! Please review or pm for any suggestions or problems on the story.