Intro: wow its already chapter 70, I really thought this would only end up at 50 chapters but it continued to explode, thank you all for the support! And chapter 70 at exactly the 3rd anniversary of this story at the time this story has been published! Thank you all for the continuous love and new loves and to those to come!
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 70: The next Mock battle
"Of course on your free time when the other parties were planning their plans, you already had a plan and talked with them too right?" Mina looked sheepishly to Miwa as he look away he wasn't able to say anything in return instead scratch his head "Don't worry I really did plan to give you time again, since you guys were focused on the first match."
Miwa was able to breathe again as he speaks with the team on him on the other hand "Since Aichi-sama wills this I will give my best and win this!" Hasebe seems fired up.
"Whoever wins will be facing off with Aichi-sama." Hachisuka moves his eyes to Aichi.
"Whoever wins this will be facing off with Aichi-sama!" Izuminokami said to his team.
"Are you aiming for Aichi-sama?" Yamanbagiri asks.
"Of course! If I want to get stronger you have to aim for the strongest, and I've heard the strongest here is Mikazuki Munechika, and I am going to aim for him, while watching how Aichi-sama leads us." Izuminokami smiles as he looks at Aichi.
"The new ones are tricky…" Yamanbagiri muttered.
"Well, let us hope for the best then?" Kogitsunemaru smiles as they start to huddle for a plan.
At the time of 10 minutes has passed "Alright, time has passed! Are you all ready?"
"Yes!" Both parties roared.
"This will seem to be a good fight." Gai mentions.
"Oh I'm sure it will be!" Kamui cheers for both the teams.
"Alright, ready!" Mina places her hands in the middle "Start!" As she raises her hands.
~Miwa versus Kai~
Miwa and Kai moves forward surprising the crowd since Misaki and Kamui were only at the far back, but it was different from them, they were fighting with them in this mock battle, aiming forward Miwa starts defending from Hasebe as he was the one that was able to reach him first.
Striking left and right as Miwa tries to flick away the attack from Hasebe "You are quite skilled." he commended as their swords lock.
"I learned from the best. Although he is not here to see my glory!" Miwa flicks Hasebe's sword parting with his attack.
"I forgot that it was Tsuru-san that Mina-nee appointed to teach him." Shokudaikiri remembers the times when Tsurumaru and he was taking charge in the training of them.
"Is there something special?" Kenji asks in curiosity.
Shokudaikiri nodded "Despite the fact that he looks like just wants to have his days in carefreeness and fills it with surprises but, the one that overseers him, is the second most powerful and rare sword here in the citadel, Tsurumaru Kuninaga." He explains.
"The pure white one?!" Kenji exclaimed in surprise.
"Eh that thin looking guy who only likes pranks?!" Gai too was shocked at the news remembering the sandy pants he experienced during the beach outing.
"I think by now you have to stop judging by the cover." Horikawa smiles to the two as they both flinch remembering the aura he has before from what he did to Morikawa.
"To remind you again, we are swords, pure swords, it's inelegant to hear such words." Kasen sighs.
"Regardless Aichi-sama doesn't think like that." Yagen sighs too as the others left the area where they are near Team Caesar and the Card Capital gang.
Yuri looking annoyed at Gai and Kenji "What?" sighs in the end.
"We are visitors here, and I can't believe you don't know anything except to continue offending them, they graciously accepted us, and I bet if it wasn't even because of Aichi-kun we weren't even allowed to step foot here, and add to it that we are alive." Yuri shakes her head "Especially you Gai. Kenji's was a little safer, but you dealt the most." Placing a hand on her forehead she sighs once again.
"Maybe next time we should not include you in joining, you are such a disappointment of a brother…" Yuri stands up as she changes seat.
"I feel like I want to go home now…" Gai lowers his head as Kenji pats his shoulder to comfort him.
Back to the fight, Izuminokami continues facing off with Hachisuka "A true Kotetsu is based on the work! And as a genuine one I will show you how powerful my strikes are!" The two locks swords.
"I'm the recently popular, cool, and strong sword and I will prove that!" Izuminokami flicks the sword as he strikes for another one, but Kai was able to deflect the strike as Hachisuka loses his balance from Izuminokami's strike and tries to get back on his feet.
With Hachisuka getting back his footing he instantly lungs at Izuminokami, but was successfully helped by Yamanbagiri before getting called back by Souza's strike that he is his opponent and then leaves after helping them to continue their unfinished fight.
"I can see that Tsurumaru has taught you well…" Hasebe and Miwa continues to exchange strikes "Your blows are heavy, Tsurumaru must have pounded you with those kinds of strikes." Hearing their conversation Hachisuka surprises the two, but he was clearly aiming for Miwa.
"I will be the one to test that!" Hachisuka's strikes were dodged as he chase him away from his group he started striking him once again "Hoooh… you can really take a hit!" Hachisuka commended "But I can see he is holding back on you!" the final strike Hachisuka made him gave up on his knees, it being a Touken Danshi still has an advantage.
Seeing this "I too want to face off to Mikazuki…" Kogitsunemaru strikes Hachisuka from behind, almost missing the attack Hachisuka jumps away from the area of strike touching his hair in the process "Tsk" Hachisuka clicks his tongue.
"Behind you!" Miwa shouted as Kogitsunemaru hastily twists behind and flicks away the attack from Souza as Hachisuka charges to join in with Souza, cornering Miwa making him run away from the clash, but Izuminokami was lying in wait for him to help him, but he notices Kai's presence kicking behind him to throw him off but Kai was able to defend using his sword sending him back.
"Heh…" Izuminokami smirks.
"Neither parties are showing weakness" Taroutachi commended the two teams.
"Then we better hope for the next one to be better." Tonbokiri mentions.
"But with Misaki-san's photographic memory, she might have memorized their moves by now and already has a plan in mind." Kamui noted.
"Photographic memory?" Kasen repeated in question.
Kamui nodded "Yes, it's a cool ability where only just one look Misaki-san can store all of those she sees in her mind and memorizing them!"
"So there is an ability like that." Kasen expressed his astonishment.
"Though it still feels kind of sad to lose early." Shokudaikiri puffs.
"There will be other times to try again." Tonbokiri tries to cheer him up.
Right now it seems that things have turned around for Miwa "I commend him for him being able to receive the attacks but it seems it is the end." For a while it's the first time that Mikazuki has spoken regarding a match surprising everyone.
"What do you mean Mikazuki?" Aichi asks in curiosity.
"Kogitsunemaru has just recently been summoned by you, and Tsurumaru has certainly trained him well as per his strength and endurance but…" Souza and Hachisuka instantly slashes forward to Miwa not noticing Izuminokami was already beside Hachisuka he hastily thrust his elbow onto Hachisuka's stomach stopping him from aiming at Miwa, while doing so he hastily slashes his sword forward but Souza beautifully dodges the attack as Miwa notices an opening he slashes forward aiming at Souza's legs.
"I won't let you!" Hasebe aims behind Miwa as he crouches down trying to match his force but is unable to Kogitsunemaru slashes from below to push away Hasebe with Yamanbagiri behind him to not let him escape.
What they didn't know or didn't notice was that Kai was missing in action, in the middle of Souza and Hachisuka with Izuminokami occupied with Souza's attacks Kai slips past lunging forward to where Miwa is.
Miwa who is occupied with Hasebe's surprise attack even though there were two of his teammates near him, Kai didn't bat an eye as he takes this opportunity to strike at Miwa. When he saw Kogitsunemaru took away the force from Miwa, Kogitsunemaru chases Hasebe away in a different direction with Yamanbagiri staying with Miwa, the two were looking at the area to think of where they would be helping next, sadly Kai was already in front of him.
Thrusting forward Miwa was too late nor does Yamanbagiri to see the attack from Kai as Miwa and Yamanbagiri try to move Kai's sword was already aimed at Miwa's forehead tapping it gently successfully touching him.
"Winner! Toshiki Kai!" Mina shouts surprising Miwa's team as Kogitsunemaru and Izuminokami were preoccupied with their fight not noticing what has happened they turn their head to where Miwa is as they see Kai successfully touching his forehead.
"W-we lost?!" Izuminokami exclaimed in surprise and dismay.
"It seems that we have." Kogitsunemaru has stopped as did the others.
"Now I get it, although Miwa-kun has definitely has the brawns but Kai showed off his brains, by purposely joining into the fight and then showing once in a while to divert their attention that he really does joins in the fray." Shokudaikiri started.
"But he was actually just watching from behind and seizing the right moment to strike, is that what you meant?" To which Yagen ends as he smiles to Mikazuki.
"Yes." Mikazuki smiles as he looks at Aichi thinking that right about now as Aichi listens to their conversation, Aichi is once again was captured by Kai's greatness.
As the others congratulate the opposing team from a good game Aichi never forgets to commend them for the thrilling battle they have showed and for their hard work "Everyone you did great, thank you for your hard work!" as the toudans thanks him back, Aichi faces to Kai's team "Congratulations on your team, as expected you really are a great Vanguard."
"I still have a lot to learn from this, but that same thing goes for you in Cardfighting." Kai walks away making Aichi remember again the bitter memory of losing from Ren, which he has already forgotten from the thrilling fight, but Mikazuki is still watching silently and studying their movements and actions.
"As usual Kai, either in cardfight or here I can't beat you…" Miwa sighs "But it doesn't mean I will lose hope and stop trying! I will still do my best to one day defeat you in those areas!" Miwa moves his hands forward to Kai with his hands tightly in a clutch.
"I'm looking forward to that day." Kai smirks a little as they wait for the next announcement.
"Aichi-sama! I am really grateful from your praise but I am not worthy! BUT! I will definitely show you that I am capable and worthy of facing off with you in the finals after we win this next fight! I am looking forward to it." Hasebe tries his hardest to appeal to Aichi.
"Likewise Hasebe, I am also looking forward to it." Aichi said as he tries to stop Hasebe from bowing too much in front of him.
"We too want to be worthy of facing off with Aichi-sama, hence we will do our best to win the next battle." Taroutachi of course would not accept defeat that easily.
"Alright!" Mina calls their attention "This time the 10 minutes meeting with each party will be changed to 30 minutes as a break for the previous winning team."
~After the 30 minute break~
As the final battle is about to start Mina calls out the two teams that won from their respective block to face each other for the battle.
"I can already see that this match will be a battle of tactics." Yuri comments.
"I bet that it would be Misaki-san that will win!" Kamui shouts.
"I would like to root for Misaki but, I think Kai will win this." Miwa smiles watching the two teams move forward.
"Let us wait to see how this will unfold then." Kogitsunemaru ends the conversation agreeing with him as they watch the starting of the fight.
"I look forward to sparring with you O-Sayo." Souza positions himself.
"Me too nii-san…" Sayo too readies himself.
"With Aichi-sama waiting for me in the final battle with him, I will show him that I can be a worthy opponent!" Hasebe readies himself.
"We too feel the same way." Taroutachi come backs.
"Well looking at you guys I can see that you are ready." Mina places her hands as the two teams prepare themselves "Ready!" looking to her right and her left, noticing that they are already impatient she waves her hand "Start!"
The two toudans with highest mobility in both teams are the first to move heading for the opposing team's guardian, but before they could Hasebe was countered by Ookurikara "So you are the one who will try to stop me." Hasebe smirks.
"I don't intend on getting friendly." Ookurikara's expression didn't change one bit.
"Monotonous as usual." Hasebe strikes whereas Ookurikara will defend but of course since this is Ookurikara we are talking about he won't back down without a fight, seeing a chance to attack Ookurikara strikes for the kill but he dodges it leaning backwards he almost loses his footing, Ookurikara seeing another chance strikes but Hachisuka comes in to help his teammate striking back at him.
Replacing Hasebe from Ookurikara's clasps, Hachisuka faces off with Ookurikara, with Hasebe continuing on to his task on aiming for the guardian of the opposing group.
Since Taroutachi is a wall of force to be reckoned with, Misaki's team decided to make Taroutachi a wall of protection instead to fend of the incoming opponent until it was necessary for him to go and help knowing that each team has two fast Touken Danshi especially Hasebe as they decided to defend first before attacking.
Knowing that Hasebe will come and head for them, Taroutachi was the first to strike, surprised by this Hasebe receives the attack and felt the storm like strikes from him "Kuh!" Hasebe groaned from the impact he received.
"As expected of Misaki." Miwa spoke as the others who caught attention of him turns to listen "Knowing that Hasebe-san is the fastest out of them all she knew and has memorized that he will be heading to her direction."
"So that means that she purposely made Taroutachi to not move yet until someone attacks her." Izuminokami smirks amazed at Misaki.
With this said Misaki looks around the area and noticed that unlike the other fight, Kai silently stood on the other end with Souza already fending off Sayo's attacks watching, lying in wait for opportunity or studying them intently regardless it was suspicious for Misaki, noticing that everyone is busy, Misaki runs away from the fray in front of her.
Kai noticing her movements also started moving, surprised at the sudden movements Misaki stops and aims her bow to where Souza and Sayo are, which Kai was near, but didn't move an inch and waited for her to release her bow. Releasing the bow it seems she has other thought and Hachisuka was almost hit as it was changed to aim at him, with him distracted Ookurikara runs to Kai facing off with him.
Striking first Kai receives the strike aimed at him, not one is backing off nor going away, as the two continues to push forward their swords with the force they have as they stare into the other's eye without batting an eyelid, waiting who will give out first.
"Watching those two like that…" Kamui somehow felt chills making Aichi nervously laugh at his comment and reaction.
"Oh the two mirrors are fighting." Miwa laughed.
"We are nothing alike!" The two shouted at him.
"With the two of you answering at the same time and answering the same thing just makes you two alike." Making Miwa only laugh harder and louder than before.
"Somehow I can't quite argue on that part but instead agree with you on that." Shokudaikiri sweat drops "And I can somehow see Tsuru-san joining you in teasing the two."
Aichi agrees with this as Shokudaikiri and Aichi makes eye contact the two both nervously laughed before they continue to watch the fight.
Since Hachisuka has no one to battle with and Misaki purposely aimed at him, he knows who he should be going first and that is the defenseless Misaki, but Misaki will have none of it.
As Hachisuka starts to run towards her, Misaki aims forward to him, seeing this is futile for Hachisuka he smiles at her action.
Only for her to once again change the trajectory as it aims for Souza, backing away from the attack it was a signal for Sayo that she is going to be attacked. Running to help her Sayo runs and heads for behind Hachisuka jumping behind him, feeling his presence Hachisuka twists behind and fends the attack from Sayo.
Recuperating from the sudden attack of the bow to him and noticing he has no more opponent Souza notices the two stubborn guy that just won't let go of each other, sighing from the sight he is seeing he aims for Ookurikara. And of course Ookurikara has noticed this, he finally parts with Kai and strikes first to Souza backing away from the attack, then Ookurikara slashes sideways back to Kai and again receives the attack but this time Ookurikara continues to attack instead of the two locking swords again.
Seeing that Ookurikara is being attack from his front and his side Misaki decided to help him but this time she aims for Kai directly, surprising the others that she finally called his attention as if inviting him for a fight.
"Now this is really what a final fight feel like!" Miwa comments feeling the intensity from the two teams.
"Do your best Misaki-san!" Emi cheers for Misaki as the fight seems to be at its climax.
Hasebe looks around while fending of the attacks from Taroutachi he tries to clear his head and think for another opportunity, remembering that in front of him is an Ootachi, if the other opponents are occupied it means he will have a chance to attack Misaki.
"Sorry but I want to meet Aichi-sama in the finals!" Hasebe strikes a critical on Taroutachi as he loses his footing Hasebe made a run to where Misaki is, and of course Ootachi's aren't the fast type of swords so he had a hard time running to catch up to him, but he notices a fight with Hachisuka and Sayo, and since Sayo is the fastest among the three of them and thinks he can match him with speed, he instead helps Sayo with Hachisuka and exchange places with him.
Understanding this Sayo runs toward Hasebe to stop him, Misaki knows and trusts that Sayo will manage to help her but she needs to slow Hasebe down before that, so she started running away and before firing an arrow which the arrow was carefully calculated as each time she releases the bow before running again, the hits were aimed where Kai was. Making the others wow at her skill.
"When it comes to archery training Misaki-chan can match Aichi-kun." Mina commends.
"My Aichi is also good with archery?!" Shizuka was surprised at the news since she didn't hear about that part.
"Shizuka-san, Aichi is not good." The others were instantly confused at her words "Since Aichi-kun is the best!" Mina smiles having full trust on his ability as if betting on it. Making Shin and Team Caesar wow knowing something new again to Aichi. "Sadly you can't watch him use it on today's mock battle, so it's for another time."
Sadly Aichi hasn't been able to use the bow and arrow for a while because of his injury but when the time cones that his injury finally heals, if he does the next time Mina has told him to also bring them for defense purposes, and hearing words of archery although he was praised, Aichi unconsciously placed a hand on his wound with a sad expression on his face.
It didn't get past Mikazuki, Horikawa, Yagen, Yamanbagiri, and Shokudaikiri as they notice the sad expression and the action that he made.
"It's alright Aichi-sama even without the bow and arrow you are strong as you are." Horikawa tries to cheer him on.
"With the talismans alone helps us more times than just the bows." Yagen added.
"Although your form when holding the bow is very beautiful…" Yamanbagiri muttered which even the other toudans heard surprising them but made Shokudaikiri, Horikawa, and Yagen almost burst into laughter with Yamanbagiri clenching on his hood as he blushes while hiding his face by stretching the hood to cover his face.
"I kind of agree on that part. I kind of miss watching Aichi-sama hold the bow and arrow." Shokudaikiri puffs trying to hold his laughter from Yamanbagiri's slip up.
"Oh! I would love to see Aichi-sama hold the bow." Kogitsunemaru smiles as did Tonbokiri who wanted to see if what Yamanbagiri commented was true about Aichi.
Hearing words of encouragement and praise from the others Aichi's frown was instantly turned to a smile "Thank you everyone!" their hearts flutter at the sight of the smile with innocence and warmth within it surprising Izuminokami, Tonbokiri, Kasen, and Kogitsunemaru as they fell silent seeing the smile that the others always yearn for understanding from their stories why they want to protect it.
After that they continued on watching the fight surprising them that just from that short conversation Sayo was already fending of Hasebe and that Misaki was actually running towards the path were Kai was! Surprising even Kai and Souza who is still continuing to firing her arrows aiming at them while Sayo keeps Hasebe at bay while Taroutachi decided to finally move and help out Ookurikara to end the battle.
With Taroutachi's swing it instantly hits Souza and Hachisuka, having a wide range and high impact it dealt the two pain on their arms upon receiving his attack "If this was his sword this would have been much heavier and powerful…" Hachisuka comments.
With this Misaki now aims at Kai directly while Ookurikara tries to hide the trajectory of attack, and since they already had a plan even though Ookurikara did not listen to it, he can feel where the direction of the bow will be coming from, first one didn't land a hit on Kai but then it came one after another and when it was as if raining arrows already Ookurikara walks away as Kai was forced to fend off the arrow, but Ookurikara was missing and he cannot bat an eye from the arrows so all he could do was, no it was too late, Kai has already felt something from behind him, as the arrows from Misaki stopped he finally had time to see behind him that Ookurikara has already touched him, although at the sudden stop of the arrows coming, he already understood what that meant.
"Winner! Misaki Tokura." Mina raises her hands and declares the winner and end of the mock battle, but of course there is a final boss kind of like a bonus "After a short break it will be the time for the boss battle, so prepare yourselves!" Mina on the other hand looks enthusiastic for the next and last entry.
Outro: finally finished, I actually thought I wasn't going to be able to update but I did!
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!