Intro: updating has become really slow…
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 61: To Sekigahara
"I don't know if he is helping or doing it worse." Yagen sighs.
"I think it's both." Horikawa only smiled at him then followed Izuminokami.
Yagen turns to Gokotai as they also followed suit to where Aichi and the others are "Aichi-sama…" Izuminokami froze noticing that Aichi's attention was elsewhere.
"Will it be alright if we go talk about this elsewhere?" Aichi said as he started walking without eye contact to them, making things look more serious than they thought.
They could only look again to one another deciding to only follow him behind when Aichi got a call he hastily turned around after to them finally making eye contact but with a dire expression on his face "We need to head back faster!"
"I'm sorry Izuminokami but we have to postpone the tour for today, let's head back to the citadel it's the History Retrograding Force." Izuminokami widens his eyes hearing Aichi apologize and now sincerely looking at him in the eyes.
Aichi turns around looking like he was about to sprint "Wait! You can't run again." Yagen stops him.
Finally little by little realizing what they meant about him thinking about them than his own "I'll carry him back!" Izuminokami volunteered hurrying to his side Yagen and Horikawa helps Aichi up at Izuminokami's back, standing up he positions Aichi in a comfortable position, while Horikawa took his bag as they sprinted back to the citadel.
~Back at the citadel~
When they have successfully reached the citadel, Aichi asked Izuminokami to let him down now that they are at the garden of the citadel where Mina asked to meet up with them.
Seeing that everyone is lined up "Alright, I received a news from Konnosuke that he found a signal from the new location that an enemy has infiltrated that era, although the signal disappeared after a moment upon finding it out but we can't say for sure that the enemy itself has entirely disappeared."
"What era is it?" Shokudaikiri asked.
Mina shifted her gaze to Shokudaikiri "1600…" she started then move her gaze to Ookurikara and then to all "The Battle at Sekigahara."
Tsurumaru and Shokudaikiri looked at Ookurikara upon hearing Sekigahara, which Aichi took notice of because of Shokudaikiri's earlier question he decided to shift his gaze to them and felt curious at why they looked at him, though they didn't look like they didn't like what they heard, they maybe just looked at him, but still it made him curious.
"So Aichi-kun please assemble six toudans to dispatch them to the new area, and I will help lead them to the area." Aichi hurries to look at Mina upon hearing about her leading them instead of him, adding to the fact that going to Sekigahara he might get info about Ookurikara since from the looks of it, it has something to do with him.
"Wait!" Aichi cuts of Mina that made all of them surprised "Please let me be the one to join them!" Aichi pleads and insisted.
"But Aichi-kun, you are injured." Mina tries to stop him as did the other toudans since they too were also very much against what he wants, until a loud thud was heard.
"I believe that this signal is trying to get us distracted from the present, or it can also be a trap, which they can be both." It was Kon who leaped down to show himself to them, surprising the new toudans at the Pipe fox in front of them.
"K-Kon-san?!" The others spoke his name in surprise to him showing up.
"I will be your guide in this sortie and act as substitute for Konnosuke, and like before I will be staying for one week, so I will be in your care once again." Kon bowed his head as did Aichi and the others who have known him.
"But what if this really is a trap…" Mina tries her best but to not avail to stop Aichi from joining the other toudans too wanted to say but they let Mina handle it.
"It will be fine Mina-kun, besides this will be a good opportunity to really understand what the enemy is planning. We already know that this is a trap and if it is, the one who attacked here in the present will also be there in the past, and if did turns out for the worst I will forcefully take them back." Kon smiles at them understanding what he wants to do they silently listens to him "Fret not Mina-kun, for I am with Aichi-kun, something that the enemy will not anticipate." He sat down on the veranda "I suggest that you start deciding on which group you will want to bring with you Aichi-kun." The other toudans thought that Kon would be the one to stop him, but it turned to be different.
"We might not engage in battle, but we might also be ambushed, for all we know, something definitely is going on." Kon stands up as he jumps to Aichi's shoulder on the side without injury "I also want to know if he still wants to continue in the present or just do his plans on the past trying to get closer to the enemy is the best way to understand their plan."
"So Aichi-kun, have you decided on who to bring?" Kon asked.
Aichi nodded to his question "I want to make sure so I want to bring someone who has experience in the battlefield with their human forms." He turns around to face the toudans "Alright, the names I will say will help me investigate this new area!"
Aichi turns his head to his left and right as the toudans prepare for their names to be called, but the new toudans knew they won't be picked out so they didn't raised their hopes up "Gokotai!... Nikkari Aoe!... Mutsunokami Yoshiyuki!... Kashuu Kiyomitsu!... Taroutachi!... And for Captain Shokudaikiri Mitsutada!" The called toudans expressions become serious once their names were called.
"At least if we can't stop you from continuing into this battle, at the least we can save you from getting you away from harm." Kiyomitsu spoke up.
"I agree, we might not stop you from things that you want to do, but with this we can help you prevent you from going into it further." Nikkari added.
"Although I am the captain, I won't be accepting anything that will put you to harm even if it's an order from you in this battle." Shokudaikiri smiled at Aichi with a hint of seriousness from his face.
Aichi smiles and thanks them properly "Prepare for thirty minutes and meet up at the center of the citadel!" Aichi dismissed the six as they prepare for their battle.
Yagen steps forward after the other toudans left "Will it really be alright that I won't be joining you?" he frowns but it was only because he is worried.
"That is exactly why you need to be here, so that if we get injured especially if my shoulder acts up again, You will be able to tend to me faster than you also getting injured and then you will need to prioritize yourself before me, this is so you can aid here than there." Aichi explains and smile to him the reason of why it would be necessary to not bring him, something that he thought is the best option while he is injured "This will be a hard battle I know of it, so I want you to help us after this battle especially at times that I have injury."
Aichi caresses his cheek to comfort him understanding that Yagen still doesn't understand why "I just don't want you to see me suffering too much and thinks to yourself that you can't do anything to help or save me…" Yagen widens his eyes nodding to him understanding his motive.
Seeing that Yagen finally understand "Then I will be preparing too." Aichi starts to turn his heel as Yagen clutches on the sleeves of his uniform handing over a bottle.
"If your shoulder starts to hurt just drink this, but after you drank it and it starts hurting again stop fighting cause the wound will end up opening again." Yagen explained the purpose of the bottle meaning it was only a pain killer for a short time when it is necessary to drink it.
Aichi accepts the bottle "Thank you Yagen." As he dashes off to his room.
~Aichi's Room~
"Aichi-sama…" Mikazuki enters the room surprising Aichi who is currently changing his clothes as he hurries towards him he instantly embraces him surprising Aichi more as he felt his cheeks get warm from the sudden action.
"I am somewhat saddened that you didn't include me to the team while you included Nikkari and Mutsunokami." Aichi widens his eyes at hearing his words it was those two that is also with him when he got injured, Mikazuki must have felt left out he thought.
"It has no underlying meaning, but if you are worried it will be fine Mikazuki, Kon-san is with us, and I won't act rashly since I know it will give trouble to everyone." Aichi leans his head to Mikazuki's chest as a sign of him returning his embrace.
"I understand and I know how greedy I will be if I ask of you to add me to every sortie you will come to, so I will only say to always take care of yourself!" Mikazuki tightens his embrace as his expression also tightens into a frown.
Aichi answers to him with a nod "When you come back let's ask Kon about the bond." Mikazuki spoke as he pulled away from the embrace "Konnosuke always forgets to tell us about it."
"I am curious too but why are you so eager on getting the answer faster?" Aichi asked Mikazuki, though somehow he really can't help him being this dense but the only thing he can do is cups his cheeks and pull it upward where he can stare intently to Aichi's big blue innocent eyes while waiting for a reaction, and after a long while finally Aichi felt a little flustered and embarrassed earning a chuckle from Mikazuki as he takes away his hands.
Still cannot help but smile ear to ear from the expression Aichi showed "Let me help you get change then." Mikazuki offered and takes the cloth from Aichi's shoulder as he helps him prepare.
~At the center~
Aichi with Mikazuki has entered the center with the others already there and of course the six has already assembled "Why am I always the one who is late…" Aichi muttered to himself.
Mikazuki laughs hearing his comment and decided to comment back "It is alright we are used to it…"
Aichi felt somewhat embarrassed as he walks towards where the six are followed by Kon who jumps at his shoulders when he noticed him come surprising Aichi a little.
"Are you ready?" Kon asked which Aichi nodded, breathing in Aichi lets it all out in a huff as he readies the talismans that will transport them to the past.
"May luck be with you…" Mikazuki prayed as he watches them vanish with the light.
~Battle at Sekigahara -1600-~
As the blinding blue light disappears the six toudans closes in to where Aichi and Kon are to listen about the newly opened era.
"This area is actually pretty straightforward, three regular locations, one resources location which ends the sortie, and of course the boss node, in this era, we only have two branching options, one straightforward that goes to the resources node and one that branches off again to either the resource node or straight to the boss node." Somehow the silence is making Kon confused but nonetheless he continues in explaining this new area.
"If we headed to the resources node it can only mean that there is no enemy boss or that much threat in the area or that they haven't prepared to clash with us, if we do end up in the boss node, it can only mean one thing, and that is they have prepared to clash with us. Also be in mind that although this area has not that many location or nodes, be mindful that all the enemy here are all blue hue ones, meaning they are much more powerful than the normal green ones so be careful when you engage in battle especially since Aichi-kun can't support 100% like before." Kon ended his explanation and noticed that all their expression were in awe at him.
"Is there something I have said that made you confused?" Kon tilts his head a little "Shall I explain once again? Or shall I explain it differently, depending on what you didn't understand?" He asked earning him stares and blinks from the six toudans and also Aichi.
"It's just that we have never heard this much detailed explanation…" Shokudaikiri scratches his cheek looking away from Kon.
"Yeah, we do get info, but this detailed… is really something, let's say kind of refreshing…" Kiyomitsu plays with his hair while also looking away from Kon's view making him raise his brow.
"I see, then I will take that as a compliment then." Said bowed his head to them.
The others continues to stare at him but Aichi came back to himself first and called their attention "A-alright everyone let's continue on so that we could come back early." The six came around and turned their attention to him, nodding to his order they all wait for him to throw on his dice.
As they all wait for the dice to fall, Aichi felt a foreboding feeling, clenching his hands he swallows seeing that their location is moving towards the boss. Noticing this Kiyomitsu clasps the hand that he clenches hastily turning to his side Kiyomitsu looks and smiled at him as his foreboding eases smiling back to him.
"It lead us to the boss, or will it?" Nikkari muttered as they all looked at the path that they will be moving towards… the path where it branches to either the boss node or the resource area.
~First location~
"Catching them off guard and taking them down... Well, something like that would be ideal." Shokudaikiri quoted starting off to scout the area with the help of Kiyomitsu.
While waiting for full report on the scouting, Aichi talks with the others regarding how he can help and support them "I won't be able to help with my archery but I will try to help with my talisman." He said.
"Since my mobility is not that high, I thought that it might be best if I don't go too far away from your side." Taroutachi suggested.
"M-me too… I want to stay beside you…" Gokotai asks while the tiger cubs joined, meowing out to him.
"I will be fine, with my barrier I will be safe, the two of you will need to fight in full force so that man power will be sufficient." The two lower their gaze when Aichi turned their offers down puffing out as he smiles with a frown in his eyes.
"Alright we got something." Shokudaikiri calls their attention without looking away on the binoculars as he reports to them the number of the enemies "3 enemy Tantou, 2 enemy Wakizashi, 4 enemy Tachi, and 4 enemy Uchigatana."
"These are normal numbers, so far I haven't seen what might be the boss, so my hunch is that he might be at the boss node." Kiyomitsu throws the binoculars to Shokudaikiri successfully catching it and brought it back to Kon.
"Alright, the battle begins!" Mutsunokami gears up for the attack.
Followed by "Let's go back safely!" Aichi commencing to start the battle.
As Aichi gives the command to attack the Toudans started hiding behind the trees and the bushes as they prepare for an ambush.
"Laugh with Nikkari." And at the very first attack surprised Aichi even the other five when Nikkari landed a surprising critical hastily ending the enemy Wakizashi that he was aiming at then followed onward on the other Wakizashi after.
Feeling fired up "Don't think I'm going to let you get the spotlight!" Kiyomitsu swooshes in defeating an enemy Uchigatana at the same time defending himself from the enemy Uchigatana that is behind him.
Getting fired up as well seeing the two hastily and successfully defeating two enemies that are blue hue "All I need is to win, right?" Mutsunokami didn't let himself away from the spotlight successfully landing a critical too while helping out Kiyomitsu on the Uchigatana enemy that is attacking him.
Facing off with an enemy Tachi Shokudaikiri eyes and measures up the enemy "Whatever defenses you have are useless!" slashing forward he too landed a critical on the enemy, and since the enemy in front of him is the one Mutsunokami and Kiyomitsu is attacking, he decided to help "I want to do things with style!" slashing downwards he dealt the final blow to the enemy hastily reducing down their number.
Along with the tiger cubs the one on top of his shoulder jumps in startling the enemy Tantou making it possible for Gokotai to also land a critical "T-this sort of thing can happen too, once." While the other tiger cubs hunts around for the other enemy Tantou in the area.
Losing sight of the other enemy hiding their presence, sadly for them though it is Taroutachi that is on his guard "My strikes are as storms!" it dealt a heavy damage on the Tantou defeating it but heavily injured the two enemy Tachi.
"Wh-what's happening?!" Aichi who is too surprised at what is happening in front of him, can't help but be in awe at what he is seeing.
"They all landed a critical?!" Even Kon was surprised "Aichi did you make a bond with all of them?" Kon asked as he watches with Aichi.
"I… I did with Shokudaikiri and Kiyomitsu, but…" Aichi doesn't even get the chance to throw away the talisman that he has for support thinking that it won't be much of help if they were this fired up he won't have a chance to help.
"They don't seem to be in awakening, maybe the critical are just luck, but I hope it won't end just like that." Kon watches as he prayed.
Jumping from behind Gokotai and Shokudaikiri, ends the heavily damaged Tachi that Taroutachi fought with. The other Tachi that is left were attacked by a double attack from Kiyomitsu and Nikkari.
Battling it out one on one with the enemy Uchigatana, Mutsunokami first aims at the enemy, still standing the enemy did not move nor budge but then with its fast mobility it surprises Mutsunokami as it is now half way to him, but Mutsunokami was faster as he already pulled the trigger and attacked the Uchigatana Kiyomitsu swoops in from the side as he finishes the enemy Uchigatana.
The remaining Tantou, Wakizashi, and Tachi enemy are missing in action, unmoving from their spots, they read their surroundings as they wait for a surprise attack from the enemy, and they were right to do so as an enemy Tantou and Wakizashi tries to target Aichi.
"Aichi-kun!" Kon called his attention with this Aichi changing into his game face he threw out two talismans, hitting the two enemy behind them as the talisman activated and bound them with plants making them unable to move, Gokotai and Nikkari were already there as they were their previous prey but was fast enough to hide themselves and ran away for a surprise attack.
Now with only one more remaining enemy they think of possibilities of what might happen next.
"Do you think that it might have asked for back up?" Kiyomitsu flicks his words cleaning it up.
"Or maybe it's just planning another surprise attack." Mutsunokami didn't lower his hands that is holding his gun as he still scouts the whole area and prepares himself of where the enemy might show up.
"Or it could have ran away…" Nikkari smiled at his own words.
"I highly doubt that, but it can be a possibility." Shokudaikiri contradicts but then agrees to it in the end.
"Or maybe they are trying to stall for time…" Taroutachi added another possibility.
"Though what could they be aiming for since with stalling for time, all those mentioned could be the next step it will make." Shokudaikiri said which made sense.
"One thing is for sure, we have to be vi-" Kiyomitsu was cut off as a sword slashes for his head, thankfully he was fast enough to notice it and dodges the attack arching his back as he falls onto the ground from the sudden movement.
Gokotai with the cubs jumps in as he slashes forward, the enemy unfortunately was able to dodge the attack, flinging Gokotai to the side "Gokotai!" Aichi runs to him while Taroutachi swings his sword so that the enemy won't get to them, luckily the enemy Tachi is dealt with a moderate damage since it was a little far away from him.
Next Shokudaikiri slashes forward surprising the enemy as it successfully slits its belly but the enemy was fast enough to dodge as it only sustained minimal injury from him, behind him though is Nikkari slashing its back and the one that dealt the finishing blow from the head and somewhat also a revenge attack is from Kiyomitsu "And this is what you call a group feint attack."
Counting down to zero they have finally finished all the enemy faster than they could have imagined. "That took faster than we expected." Shokudaikiri flicks his swords putting it back to its scabbard.
"I agree, this is no sweat, although I hope it will be the same with the next one." Kiyomitsu said as they all looked straight at Aichi waiting for him to roll the dice to go to their next destination.
"That last one was tough though." Mutsunokami plays with his gun as they wait for the result.
"Probably." Nikkari agreed as he answered to him.
And then finally they fell silent seeing that their next destination "The dice know which you will be needed to head out, and where the enemies might be." Kon spoke.
"I guess it is inevitable…" Shokudaikiri spoke and checked upped on Gokotai "Can you carry on?" he asked being the only one who took a damage from the enemy.
Gokotai nodded as an answer to his question "Alright, let's continue on."
As they walk onwards the path they are heading to, somehow Aichi felt a slight discomfort at his shoulder to his arms, but decided that maybe it is due to the surprise when he threw out the talisman and discarded the thought and continued on.
~Boss Node~
"It is oddly silent here…" Shokudaikiri said scouting the area while the others also start helping him.
"I agree, no sign of enemies anywhere, and the area is really silent, aside from the fact that this place will be a battle field later…" Mutsunokami clicks his tongue.
"I'm not fond of enemies giving surprise attacks to us, but I am on for surprise attack to the enemies." Kiyomitsu plays with the binoculars as they wait for the enemies to show themselves.
"Kh!" But then the discomfort on Aichi's arms were already very uncomfortable making him almost fall down on the ground.
The five hurries towards him "Aichi-sama are you alright?" Shokudaikiri thankfully catches him and supports him.
The first to notice was Gokotai as he was beside him "A-Aichi-sama your arm?!"
They all looked at his arm and found out that his arm looks glitching and is slowly disappearing what surprised them is an electricity flashed around his arm.
"Temporal Pressure?!" Kon said as they all look at him for further answer.
Outro: hoping that I won't stop… Some ideas from Katsugeki too…
I'm very sorry for my lack of vocabulary, 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!