Intro: the longest day ever officially, Saturday the chapter that spanned from chapter 67 to chapter 73 making it a total of 7 chapters, wow… I actually really enjoyed myself writing those, especially the battle especially with Misaki, the cook off and of course the prank chaos, how about you guys?
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 74: Contract
~Morning -Garden-~
"So Morikawa-kun and Izaki-kun left early in the morning?" Aichi was talking with Shokudaikiri about the reason why they weren't around while placing down after breakfast desserts and tea while hanging out at the Garden "So that is why they weren't at the dining hall this morning." Showing a frown on his face clearly he was down knowing that he left early.
"But last night I could have sworn I heard him scream… and I was hurrying my way to him until…" Aichi swallows his saliva cringing from the thought of last night he did not continue his words, the toudans around him were surprised at his reaction thinking what could his reaction would be if there was that certain insect in front of him.
Taking away the bad thoughts they have formed inside their heads they noticed that Misaki and Yuri came walking up to them "Well we did hear him last night too." Misaki said looking at Yuri nodding to her statement.
"And we also wanted to check it out but Tonbokiri-san said to not go outside of our rooms until they are clear of what just happened." Yuri added remembering last night's events.
Then came along Kamui, Miwa, and Kai who noticed the conversation they were having "Although in the end it was only because he got lost in the citadel." Miwa and Kamui laughs.
"I can see that totally happening!" Kamui said.
"Though when he was brought back to the room with Shokudaikiri-san and Izuminokami-san's shoulders he was completely wiped out." Kenji said with Gai with him.
"Maybe he fainted or fell asleep." Gai said.
"Well we didn't actually know what happened to him instead we found him unconscious already." what Shokudaikiri said was right since he really didn't know exactly what had happened except the nine pranksters last night but they sure do know that it was because of what they did and just did not tell them.
"Speaking of not knowing what happened, this morning, Tsurumaru, Kiyomitsu, Yasusada, Mutsunokami, Nikkari, Midare, Imanotsurugi, Gokotai, and Hakata weren't at breakfast." Aichi recalls the nine who weren't present this morning at breakfast except for the two.
"Y-you know who was present and not?…" Kenji was a little surprised at the same time amazed.
"This is Aichi we are talking about." Miwa said to Kenji.
"Misaki must have surely memorized them and you three also right?" Yuri asked them.
"I well…" Miwa and Kamui looks away though they would have surely understood that Kai have also but Miwa and Kamui might have trouble.
"Well they were asked to do some things last night and are still tired." Horikawa thought of a reason.
"Eh?" Aichi was surprised he surely didn't tell them anything.
"It was from me." Mina steps forward "I asked a favor to them."
"So does that mean yesterday when the nine of them left early it was from you too?" Aichi asks clueless of what had transpired last night.
"Y-yeah…" Mina took the blame and the toudans commended her for what she did, it is going to be a little secret between all the toudans and Mina, with Kon and Konnosuke being informed of what happened, knowing Aichi he would be very sad and disappointed, that a little harmless prank became too traumatizing for his friend.
Aichi chuckles a little surprising everyone "You know before I've come to know everyone from Vanguard, it was Morikawa who gave me a way." He opens up to them making the toudans guilty.
But they silently continues to listen to his story "At that very day I was asked what would I have done in leading an army from the Sengoku period" He looks at the Sengoku period swords "Of what plan I would to win a war in that period." He looks above the sky after "I stood up to answer but there is nothing I answer to his question, but instead of answering something brave I answered something cowardly, I said that time that 'I would have to make sure there is a line of escape for me'" he chuckles after.
"After that day I was called out to the back and Morikawa took away my card Blaster Blade and led me through Card Capital." He opts out the fact that he was tripped and other things.
"I met the people at Card Capital reunited with the one who gave me my treasure the Blaster Blade card and after that had many friends outside of the citadel." Aichi opts out Kai's name but clearly the people who knows about it gazed at Kai "But who would have thought that I would really be meeting and becoming in their master to lead the swords they have used in that era and the other eras also." The toudans smiles at him as did Mina "A really unexpected turn of events." Team Caesar, the Guardians, and Shin smiles to him.
"Thank you for today." Aichi said but somehow the guardians and the toudans, at the back of their minds they all felt a foreboding.
~Afternoon~
"Thank you for letting us stay the night!" Kenji thanks as they ready for their journey back home.
"We surely had fun, we hoped that there would be a next time." Yuri thanks Aichi but Gai decided to keep quiet.
"Well since Misaki is going to stay here until the repair of the shop finishes I will instead keep watch of the progress of the repairs in the shop." Shin thanks.
"I am sorry again for what has happened…" Aichi bows his head a little.
The toudans with him panics with Misaki and Shin also joining in the panic "N-no its fine at least if it didn't happen when you were there surely they would have come to a time that you weren't there and did something to Misaki knowing you have connections with her." Shin explains and he understands it very well which is why he didn't want them to be a guardian from the start.
"At least now they surely won't come again and try to do something since they know it's kind of like Aichi's territory." Misaki said.
"Though Aichi-kun just a word of advice. If they can do something like that to the citadel, then surely they would be able to do something like that in other places, even at your school." Shin becomes serious after telling him something that they didn't even thought about and could be a possibility. Since Card Capital has many people coming and going and they were able to obstruct people from coming it can only mean that they can do the same to public nor private places.
"Yes I will, you be careful too. Once the repair is finished I will visit and place protective charms too." Aichi smiles to him bowing again.
"P-please don't bow." He panics once again "That will surely be appreciated!"
"Well you gave us protective charms." Kenji pulls out a pouch with protective charms in it.
"And if anything happens we will give you a call." Yuri added.
"Besides you said this will also notify you that something happened right?" Kenji smiles placing back the protective charms.
"Alright we are all set, thank you again we will visit again sometime!" Yuri asks Kenji and Gai as they nodded to her.
"There will surely be another time, thank you also for visiting!" Aichi waves as Team Caesar with Shin headed on first while the Guardians also see them off.
"Aichi…" Shizuka calls out to him.
"Oh, are you and Emi heading out also?" Aichi said turning around to meet up with Shizuka.
"Yes, but we will surely visit again." Shizuka chuckles blushing a little Emi looks at her knowing the very reason why "Thank you also with this protective charms, we will take care of it."
"Kasen, Shokudaikiri, Izuminokami." Aichi immediately calls out to the two.
"Yes, Aichi-sama?" Shokudaikiri and Kasen answered.
"Will it be alright to ask a favor for you to escort and carry their luggage back home?" Aichi requested.
"It will be no problem Aichi-sama." Kasen agrees.
"Sure!" Izuminokami agrees.
"I have sweets with me to give to Emi-chan." Shokudaikiri has with his hands what looks like a box possibly the sweets he was talking about.
"So that's what that is for…" Aichi mutters staring at the container Shokudaikiri is carrying.
"I noticed them getting ready and I thought they will also be heading out so I was preparing this early so that if they decided to go I won't have any problems with the preparation." Shokudaikiri motions to give it to Emi.
Smiling ear to ear Emi as she receives the container "Thank You!" she thanks Shokudaikiri as she takes a look at what is inside.
"You are welcome!" Shokudaikiri smiles and pats her head.
"Thank you for the treats." Shizuka thanks him too then proceeded to talk with Aichi again.
Shizuka slowly moves in forward opening up her arms and "Take care of yourself here at the citadel alright." Shizuka embraces Aichi.
Returning the hug Aichi responded to her "Don't worry mom, if ever I forget to they always take care of me." Aichi somehow feels like he wants to cry his heart out at the thought but he has to be strong.
After the embrace "Please take care of my Aichi." Shizuka bows to everyone present.
"Oh my Shizuka-san you don't have to, don't worry we will take care of Aichi-sama!" Horikawa bows to her too as did all the toudans.
"Take care Emi." Aichi pats Emi's head which somehow she is unfamiliar and unused to but she didn't hate it instead she liked it.
"We will take our leave now, thank you again for today." Shizuka and Emi waves' goodbye while being escorted by Shokudaikiri, Izuminokami and Kasen.
"Emi-chan bring your other friend here some other time!" Midare waves goodbye.
"I will!" Emi smiles waving her hands.
Waving goodbye once again Aichi smiles at the events that happened yesterday "The time yesterday felt so slow…" Aichi mumbles as they all went back inside the citadel.
"But it was a lot of fun right?" Kiyomitsu walks next to him "Though it was sad that we weren't included in that mock battle."
"There will surely come a next time." Aichi chuckles then he remembers something "Oh yeah everyone I have something to give all of you!" He calls out everyone's attention even the ones that are not in the garden calling them through the bell.
Pulling out something from his sleeves "So that's why it's so bulky." Yasusada stares at the bag Aichi pulled out.
Taking off the strings he opened it as it shows "Protective charms?" Taroutachi and Nikkari spoke in surprise.
Nodding to his guess "Yes, since I made protective charms for them, I thought that it would be the best to make some for everyone too as Shin-san said, we would never know." He started handing out the charms.
"We have one too?!" Hasebe starts to cry once again with the other toudans sweat drops at the display.
"Another gift from Aichi-sama!" The Tantous smile as the others thanks him for the gift when handed out to them.
When everyone has been handed with the charms it was only the three others who left with his mom and Emi and "I don't need them." Ookurikara who declines the gift.
"Show me your hand!" Aichi insisted and of course even though he doesn't want to he still follows his order before of course groaning.
Showing his hands Aichi grabs his hand surprising Ookurikara and placing on top of it the protective charms "There!" closing it for him Aichi smiles to him once again then looks for a certain sword.
After Aichi left Ookurikara opens up the hand that has the protective charm and once again something from inside him felt somewhat warm and fast, clenching the charm tightly he hides it in his pocket.
"Where is Mikazuki?" Aichi looks around the area but there was no Mikazuki found.
"Oh if you are looking for him he is in the hallways with Kon-san." Kogitsunemaru answers for him.
"I see…" Aichi thought but before heading to the hallways to find Mikazuki he heads to the guardians while holding out his hands "Here!"
"W-we have one too?" Miwa asked a little reluctant and surprised.
"Of course!" Smiling out to them they gave him each a protective charm.
"It has your color." Misaki dangles the protective charm appreciating its blue color shining through even at sunrise.
"Thanks." The four then said their thanks simultaneously.
~Evening~
The sun has finally set and Aichi went inside the citadel to look for Mikazuki to hand out his gift "Mikazuki!" he calls out when he noticed him going out of a room as he hurries to catch up to him.
Hearing his name called by the voice he endears he turns to meet his caller "Are you here to hand me something?" he smiles to him.
"Yes!" he motions for Mikazuki to show his hands.
Showing his hands to him Aichi places the charm on top of it "I'm sorry for not coming when you called." He places a hand on Aichi's cheek as he receives the gift "Thank you for this gift."
"No problem…" Thinking that Mikazuki was acting weird he has to ask what is troubling him "Is something the matter, Mikazuki?"
"Will it be alright to ask Kon about the bond, right now?" Mikazuki stares Aichi into his eyes.
Noticing the troubled look on him he couldn't help but ask "It has always troubled you huh…" Aichi said as the hands on his cheeks still hasn't let go of it.
"Yes." Mikazuki answered simply.
"Will you tell me?" Aichi asks back.
"If we find out the answer I will." Mikazuki said.
"Alright." Aichi nods as Mikazuki pulls away his hands and drags Aichi to a room.
~Mina's Room~
"Oh, is there something you need?" Mina opens up the door to her room and Aichi took notice of how her room was decorated.
Simply staring at it, it made Mina somewhat flustered "Will it be alright to bother you for a while Kon-san?" Mikazuki asked.
Mina looks at Kon for his response and he answers to her by nodding "O-okay…" She opens the door to her room letting the two come inside.
Aichi and Mikazuki immediately took a seat in front of a table where Kon is sitting while Konnosuke lays next to him.
"We want to ask about the bond that we have." Mikazuki flat out said to Kon when they were properly seated.
Seeing that this is a serious conversation and a secret at that, Mina closed of her room and placed a talisman so it would be sound proof and that no one may enter, after that she took a seat on the right of Mikazuki and Aichi to have a clear view of the four.
"I see, so it just bothers you that much huh…" Konnosuke wags his tail in amusement as he noticed Mikazuki's serious expression.
"Yes, because you don't seem to have any remorse in always forgetting to explain it to us, saying things such as you keep forgetting and that you are very busy." Mikazuki smiles but deep within that smile was something very scary to mention and it was effective as it made Konnosuke flinch and drops his head on the table looking away at Mikazuki added to it that he is also guilty
"Well I can fill you up with the information you need, since you already did come for my aid for answers since a certain fox is not doing his job properly again." His words made Konnosuke flinch once again "So far what have you heard?" Kon asks and wait for their answer.
"Konnosuke said at that time that, my sword form absorbed his blood when he accidentally cut his fingers while moving me, adding to it that while taking me out again another drop of blood dropped onto me again, he notified them immediately that it doesn't mean that I am a vampire sword or something and instead it only means that the blood made me much more powerful by absorbing Aichi-sama's DNA." At that point Mina and Aichi especially Konnosuke were surprised that he remembers every word at that time.
"That it only means that he and I are tightly bonded than the others since I have his blood me, he also said that it will take a long time to explain hence he asked for Aichi-sama to only introduce himself to me and will explain it some other time. He also added that it could spur jealousy on the other Touken Danshis so he said to just keep it to us four, adding to what he said, aside from the fact that I am already powerful being a rarity 5 sword, I am much powerful and special because we are connected." He then looks at Konnosuke without his face smiling as if judging him with a hint of disgust from Mikazuki's part.
"I see, well first of all, what you two are called are only blood contract." Kon started.
"Blood Contract?" The two repeated.
Kon nodded to them and continued on "It's true that you took his blood as it is the one that formed the contract, but when you were called the blood turned into contract and became a kind of agreement between you two. For instance it's true you are really powerful aside from being a rank 5 but it's because of Aichi-kun's blood why you Mikazuki Munechika was summoned, you are also cloaked with his blood that transformed into some kind of blessing from him that became a divine ability boost to you." Mikazuki and Aichi looks at each other.
"I'll explain step by step, when Aichi-kun drops his first set of blood it was to call out to you, Mikazuki Munechika one of the very few rarity 5 sword, and you answered to his calls, the blood became a medium for you to hear out his calls since Aichi-kun alone with his divine power can't call you yet, blood has a lot of effect on things and makes it powerful, hence at that time you were already within the sword Aichi-kun made and is only sleeping waiting for him to bring you out and with your human form. It is a different concept with the normal summoning as they still haven't been summoned yet and will only be summoned once a Saniwa has finished making them and will call out to them."
"This is the first I have heard of this to be honest." Mina is surprised at the information she is hearing.
"That is because it's a very rare occurrence, if I remember correctly this has been only the third time it has happened." Kon tries to recall.
"T-the third time?!" Aichi and Mina were clearly surprised at the news.
"Yes, since it's not always that the Saniwa is as clumsy as you are…" Kon chuckles at Aichi, making him groan looking away at them.
"Alright to continue on, there is a second drop of blood right?" Kon asked as the four nodded "To be honest the first drop of blood already made it possible to call out to any rarity 5 swords if you aren't that powerful yet and even if you are powerful you have to be lucky for them to hear your prayers or call for their aid, since they are rarity 5, same goes to rarity 4 since they are the second most powerful and rare."
"The last or the second drop of blood was the boost that made Mikazuki this way." Kon looks at Mikazuki as did Aichi and Mina.
"Is that the part that made me and Aichi-sama blood related…" Mikazuki's voice became filled with sorrow surprising Aichi and Mina.
Kon chuckles "No… your appearance has nothing to with his blood, and the blood coursing within you has nothing to do with Aichi-kun, your human form has nothing to do with Aichi's blood. The second drop of blood was the reason for you having kind of like an extra boost or ability, something like he would like to call special skill, that made the two of you closer and maybe has a meaning for you having it."
"For one the second drop of blood was a coating of Aichi-kun's divine ability, giving you another boost on your power, hence you have a powerful ability to detect presence of others, I think the coat of Aichi-kun's divine ability became a link to you and him, for instance we know that you can easily feel what he is feeling right? Knowing what troubles him or what makes him happy, and the fact that you know exactly where to find him?" Aichi stares at Mikazuki since this is kind of like the first time it was emphasized.
"Think of it as Aichi's blessing. This is a very rare occurrences and we would like to find out more… so Aichi-kun, a little piece of advice you can repeat doing this to other swords that you will summon especially if you want them to be powerful and special for battles that they will be having a hard time, in a sense they will be like a whole team when alone, but aren't like a one man army."
"What I am curious at is that if this coating will disappear or will you be able to control it or make it much more powerful, what I am talking about is the kind of like extra skill you got from Aichi-kun, although I know you will be blessed with 10x the power you already have, this is the first time I have heard that you have a link with Aichi-kun as in detect his emotions, It's true that what Konnosuke said about the fact that you have his blood within you but it's not literally in you but its enveloping you with his power, the next is the fact that you are connected, although it's true you can easily detect his presence and know whether he is hurt or feel his divine power, but it's the first time I have heard that you can also feel his emotions."
"I think there is an underlying reason why you two are tightly connected and is better to observe first, for now all I want to let the two of you to understand is that you two aren't blood related, you do not share the same blood, and it's not because of the blood that made your appearance look like that, Shizuka, Aichi-kun's mom, is a good example of stating the obvious. She as your mother Aichi-kun didn't feel anything to Mikazuki, she didn't feel a surge of blood nor didn't comment on how you look, that is because a mother knows all!" Kon puffed.
"So it means that there is no relation from me and Aichi-sama except a master and his sword?" Mikazuki's eyes shine as if realization strikes.
"Yes!" Kon nodded in assurance.
"Then…" Mikazuki stares at Aichi and at that moment Mikazuki immediately cups Aichi's chin and immediately Aichi's lips met with Mikazuki's stunning Aichi and surprising Kon, Konnosuke, and Mina by covering her eyes from surprise but quickly parted her fingers to clarify that in front of her, Mikazuki just kissed Aichi on the lips.
Outro: the last part was something I was actually waiting for Aichi to happen, whoever is first that is, but Mikazuki wins this round.
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!