Chapter 2

Sendou Aichi could be seen traveling through the dark streets of Tokyo, lost in though. His mind was on the explanation that Suiko gave him about his mysterious power, Psyqualia.

The explanation was quite long, and, as a result, he could already hear the scold that his mother and Emi would give him once he got home.

Apparently, Planet Cray, the fictional world where the units from vanguard live, does exist, and it's destiny is connected to earth's.

Also, it seems that some fighters have the power to influence the destiny of Cray in a card fight against other fighters who have the same power and who uses different clans.

In other words, he has it. He has something that makes him special. While that did made him happy, he just couldn't stop worrying about Blaster Blade. The sole fact that the loss of a battle against a rival nation could hold disastrous effects for the units of those who held this power.

This however, only made him all the more determined to regain Blaster Blade. And he already knows how to do that. He will master this power and this new deck of his, and then, he will defeat Toshiki Kai.

Remembering the words of Suiko, he smiled. After all, now he had three teachers that would help him reach Kai's level.

Stopping in his tracks, he took out the deck the mysterious shop owners gave him. Drawing the card that was on top of it, he take a long stare at it. The card that helped him to arise victorious against Kourin. Proud Knight, Gancelot.

The power of this card was, in essence, the one who best features the Royal Paladin main ability.

He placed his deck back in his bag and continued his way to his house, when a noisy alley attracted his attention.

It was a very crowded alley. Something was off. It shouldn't have that much people out in this time of night, and those who are, well, they would be up to no good.

Aichi really wanted to continue his path to his home, but curiosity got the better out of him. He strode carefully towards the alleyway, when he saw two people card fighting, however…

THEY WHERE VISIBLY CHEATING!

Don't they have any respect for the game? Why would they card fight only to cheat? While thinking about these things, Aichi didn't noticed the two men behind him until it was too late.

"Hey boy… do you want to card fight?" Said the bigger and fatter one. He have a disturbing smile and a beard-covered face.

"You have quite the rare card there, don't ya? Come on, let's have some fun!" The thinner but equally scary, one said, smiling in the same way as his friend. His face looked more like a rat than anything.

"W-well I…"

"HA! He's visibly scared. Someone that weak wouldn't even be a challenge."

"Yeah… his deck is better off with us, true fighters, not with a pipsqueak like you."

That did it… after those words escaped the criminal-looking man, Aichi remembered what Morikawa said to him. It was the exact same sentence.

Aichi wondered why people picked up on him… he knew that it wasn't his fault that people where mean, but… he didn't want to keep being hurt. Not after losing Blaster Blade…

Therefore, only one thing could be done.

"I accept."

And that is to become stronger.

"Sorry, I couldn't quite hear it pipsqueak. What did you said?" The fat one said, not believing his ears.

"I've said I accept your challenge."

Strong enough so that people would respect him.

"Hey… you do know that if you lose we gonna pick your best card, right?" The thinner one spoke, disbelief in his eyes.

"I see. So to play here, you have to bet cards… why don't we make this more interesting, then? Let's bet our entire decks."

After all, if he really have the power to influence on Planet Cray, he need to become a lot more stronger. Strong enough so that he can protect his friends.

If they where shocked by the fact that the blue-haired boy accepted, now they where in utter disbelief. How could someone who looked that scared be that bold?

The disbelief, however, didn't last long. They're smiled wide and guided Aichi towards a card fighting Table.

The onlookers where people who heard what Aichi said. They though it would be funny to see the kid cry as he lose all his cards to the best duo of Underground fighter in that alley.

They where, whoever, about to witness a carnage, but not on the side they where expecting.

"Stand up, Vanguard!" They both said, each one eyeing the other.

"Maiden of betrayal, Guinevere!"

"Madame Mirage." The bigger man said, with a smile.

"Ha, so the little boy uses Royal Paladins huh?" One member of the crowd said, a little interested now.

"He probably admires the knights or something, so lame." Another one said.

'Focus. Don't let them distract you.' Aichi thought, seriousness in his face. Closing his eyes, he tapped in Psyqualia once more. Trying to grasp the feeling of his power activation, he opened his eyes. Both now had the same ominous glow as they had when he first activated it.

Seeing his image of victory, he found himself looking at the same unit that defeated Kourin… But there was more. It also have another unit in the rear guard. It was a gigantic dragon made of light.

He smiled. The dragon would sent a burst of light against a spider unit, and that would be it.

"What are you smiling at?" His opponent said, looking a little confused. After all, in his mind, this was an easy victory.

"Nothing of your concern. I will start things off. I stand and draw." Aichi said, drawing a card. He smiled wickedly when he saw that he already have the dragon his image shown him. "I ride! Little sage Marron. Guinevere moves back. And then it is up to you.

"I stand and draw. I Ride. Come forth, Phantom Black! And then I attack."

"No guard. Go ahead. It should be a critical, correct?"

At the confidence of Aichi, everyone's eyes went wide.

"How do you…"

"Oh please, don't be that surprised. I'm playing in a coliseum of cheaters, aren't I?" Aichi replied, smiling with confidence.

"Tch. Get, Critical Trigger."

"I check. Oh, should I say that I will get a draw trigger in my second check?" Aichi said, and everyone stared with disbelief. Some even laughed at his expanse. "You can laugh if you want… I check for the damage. First check… second check. Get, draw trigger." Now, each and every soul in the crowd went silence. Some dismissed as just another cheater, but even then, some still gotten a little scared.

"I end my turn."

Aichi:

(Hand 6)

R/ MoB, Guinevere/ R

R/ LsMarron/ R

Damage 2

Soul 0

Counter blast 2

Guardian Circle

Bucchi

(Hand 5)

R/ R/ R

R/ Phantom Black/ R

Damage 0

Soul 1

Counter blast 0

"I stand and draw. The knight in shinning armor who wears pride in his noble wings, as he confidently strides through the lake. Come forth, Knight of the Lake, Gancelot. Gancelot skill activates. I counter blast two, and give him an extra drive and he is going critical. Then I call Galatin, Pongal and Marron."

"Five against one?" A member of the crowd said, a little surprised.

"Who is this kid?" Another one asked.

"Before I forget, I will give you a tip. Use the perfect guard your saving for when I ride the grade 3, after all, I will check two critical triggers this turn. Now, onto the battle phase. Marron attacks your vanguard."

Nervously, the bandit guard with a shield of 5000

"My Vanguard attacks yours."

'Tch… how does he knows I have a perfect guard on my hand? The only way for him to know is if some of these guys are telling him… but who?' He though as he begun to desperately look for a culprit.

"You won't find what your searching for here. No one in this place is telling me your cards."

"Then, where? Tell me!"

"Nowhere actually. My crystal ball told me how this fight will end… and things aren't looking good on your side." Aichi said, in a mockingly manner.

"Shut up. I guard with my perfect guard."

"Very well. I check the twin drive. First check… get, critical trigger, all the effects to my Gallatin. Second check…" Aichi checked the second card, only for the faint yellow glow to appear. He smiled evilly. "Get, critical Trigger. Once again, all effects goes to my Gallatin. And he's coming for your vanguard now."

"Tch… no guard." The bandit announced, seeing as he didn't have enough shield in his hand. "I check the damage…"

"Your going to get a heal in your third check, why are you so down…" Aichi teases, with a playful smile.

"Fist check, no trigger. Second check, no trigger. Third check…" The bandit then focused at the task at hand. He placed a card from his sleeve in the top of the deck. "Get, heal trigger." 'That was close. If I didn't place the heal on my sleeve in the top of my deck, things would get ugly.' He though, seeing that he was sitting on two damage with his opponent.

"I end my turn… now go ahead and draw your heal trigger."

The bandit dismissed the commentary, but he couldn't do that for long. After all, when he drew the card from his deck… it was a heal trigger, just like the boy said.

"Judging on your expression, I think that I got that right. Say, how does it feel? Placing a heal at the top of your deck, and just drawing another one? It must suck."

'Just… just what is this kid? How did he knew that I cheated. No, even a better question… how did he knew what card I would draw?' The panicked bandit though, scared by what he was witnessing.

"Y-you know what… this is kinda boring. Yeah, that's it… I will let you go with your cards. How does that sound?"

"Wow… I know you use an insect based deck, but I never took you for a maggot, you know." Aichi said, still smiling. His opponent dismissed his comment. He was too scared to even process he was insulted. He simply tried to take out his V-glove, however…

He soon find himself on the surface of Cray. In front of him was Gancelot. No, looking better, it was the blue haired boy he so foolishly challenged in Gancelot's body.

"Are you trying to run away? You know… it would make me really sad to have you run away like that… that' s why I decided to lock both our minds here, in Cray… that way, you won't be able to run. Doesn't that sound perfect?" the boy declared, chuckling evilly. "Oh, and before I forget. If you cheat again, I will make sure that your spirit stays in this planet, imprisoned forever."

Soon, he found himself back in his body, at earth. He could, however, still feel the cold wind of Cray's lush green plateaus blowing in his skin, as a remind of his punishment for running away or cheating.

"What's the matter? Won't you ride your Vanguard?" The boy, no… the monster in front of him asked, feigning innocence.

"Shut it… I ride Bloody Hercules." The bandit said, still a little frightened from the last experience. "Then I call, Lady Bomb to the rear guard. Lady Bomb special skill. I counter blast two and then, one of your rear Guards won't stand during your next stand phase. And I choose Gallatin. Then I call a Phantom Black to the rear guard. My Bloody Hercules attacks your Vanguard."

"No guard." Aichi stated, with pure confidence laced in his voice. Even Aichi was a bit surprised by this. It was almost like he was a different person. A complete reverse of his usual dull self.

"I check for a Trigger… no trigger."

"Damage check. No trigger."

"With the boost of Phantom Black, my lady bomb attacks your Vanguard."

"I guard with Marron from my hand, and I will have Gallatin intercept it."

"So he not only made Lady bomb skill completely useless, but he also prevented taking one damage?" The spectators where chattering among themselves.

Aichi:

(Hand 5)

R/ MoB, Guinevere/ Pongal

Marron/ KoL, Gancelot/ R

Damage 3

Soul 1

Counter blast 1

Guardian Circle

Bucchi:

(Hand: 1)

R R R

R Bloody Hercules Lady Bomb

Damage: 2

Soul 2

Counter blast 0

"Now it is my turn. I stand and Draw." Aichi said, drawing another card from his deck… and it was the card that defeated Kourin, and also, the card which was shown to be one of the two that will end this fight. "The knight of shinning armor who wears pride in his noble wings. He, who never have fallen in battle, yet never once was able to obtain what he truly wished. Come forth, oh prideful knight. I ride, Proud Knight Gancelot!"

Now was the moment everyone was legitimately surprised. They knew that Bucchi was strong but, if that boy use that card correctly, then victory was on his side.

"I activate Proud Knight, Gancelot special counter blast. When I ride him, I can counter blast 1 and soul blast 2, then I can superior call from my deck, two royal paladin units. Come forth, Swordsman of the Explosive Flames, Palamedes and also Gallatin! Now, are you ready?" Aichi asked, with a friendly smile. However, Bucchi would not be fooled by that. He witnessed first hand what the kid is capable of.

"Come at me with all you got!"

"As you wish then. Gancelot skill activates. When a unit is superior called from the deck, I can discard three cards from my hand, and then, in the battle phase, all my front row gains plus 5000 power. Add this to the extra 3000 power Gallatin and Palamedes have already gained, and you have plus 8000 to all my front row. How does that sounds? Also, Gallatin and Marron switch places."

"With only one card in his hand, Bucchi will not be able to guard himself against this attack." Some person in the crowd said. A lot of people where genuinely surprised by that outcome.

However, as long as Aichi didn't draw a critical, then Bucchi was still in the game.

"With a boos from Marron, Gallatin attacks your vanguard."

"No guard." Bucchi said, looking at his hand. Normally, he would cheat, but the wind and the odor of the other world his mind was just sent keep him from doing anything like that.

Seeing the way his friend was playing, the man with a rat face, Giovanni, couldn't help but ask himself what was going on.

"With a boost from Guinevere, my vanguard attacks yours."

"No guard…"

"I check the twin drive. First check… second check. Though luck. No trigger at all." Aichi said, looking at the two grade one units his drive check revealed.

"Check for a damage trigger. No trigger again."

"With a boost from Pongal, Palamedes attacks. At this moment, Palamedes ability activates. He gains an additional 5000 if I have one other grade 3 unit. With the boost from Pongal, the total of the attack is 28000."

"I check for a damage trigger… no trigger." Bucchi concluded, seeing the other grade 2 unit that was sent to the damage zone.

"Amazing." The people on the crowd whispered through themselves.

"He already have Bucchi sitting on five damage." The whispers continued.

"Go ahead. It is your turn now."

"Yeah, yeah… I stand and draw." Seeing the card he just drew, Bucchi began to laugh. "Ha! Now your fried kid. I ride! Hell Spider!"

"All right!" Someone said.

"Show him who's the boss, Bucchi!" His little companion screamed.

"HA! Of course. I activate Hell Spider special counter blast. I counter blast two, and then your Palamedes won't stand during the next turn."

As he said that, Aichi didn't shown any reaction. It wouldn't matter anyway. It would still end in his victory. After all… if he lost to someone without Psyqualia, how could he ever hope to regain his Blaster Blade?

"My vanguard attacks yours." He said, turning his vanguard to the side. Aichi wouldn't guard, until he saw what was in store for him if he didn't.

"I guard with Iseult!"

"A perfect guard?"

"But why?" The crowd asked between whispers. Aichi just smiled. He still have 3 cards in his hand, and he have enough shield, the victor of this fight will be him.

"I check for a twin drive. First check, get critical trigger. All the effects to my Lady Bomb. Second check, get critical Trigger. Once again, all the effects to my Lady Bomb. Go my rearguard!"

"Gallatin intercepts, and I guard with Pongal!"

"Amazing."

"He survived!"

Aichi:

(Hand 1)

Pongal/ Guinevere/ Marron

Palamedes/ Gancelot/ R

Damage 3

Soul blast: 0

Counter blast 0

Guardian Circle

Bucchi:

(Hand 3)

R/ R/ Phantom Black

R/ Hell spider Lady Bomb

Damage 5

Soul blast 3

Counter blast 1

"My turn… and this will be the final one too. I stand and draw. I call! Gallatin! Also, Palamedes retires, and I call to the rearguard the unit that will be your down fall. Come, Soul Saver Dragon!"

"It's Soul Saver Dragon!"

"He not only have Gancelot, but he also has The deity of The United Sanctuary?"

"Is he… really just a beginner?"

Aichi darkly chuckled. He knew what was coming now. After all, he has a very special power.

"With a boost from Marron, Gallatin attacks!"

"I guard with Bad drip!"

"My with a boost from Guinevere, My vanguard attacks yours!"

"I guard with Bad drip again!"

"I Check for a twin drive. First check, no Trigger, second Check… get! Critical Trigger. All the effects to my Soul Saver! With a boost from Pongal, my Dragon attacks!"

"No guard…" The megacolony said, looking very sad. "I check for a damage trigger… please, get me a trigger…" The big man said, praying for whatever god that was there that he would get two heal triggers on a row… but his luck ended in the moment he challenged Aichi to a fight. "No trigger…"

The man fallen on his knees, with tears on his eyes. He liked playing with his Megacolony, he didn't want to give away his deck.

Aichi, who saw that, took his deck, and did something that surprised everyone there.

"Take it… it is yours, right? Just… don't bet something you're afraid of losing." Aichi said, offering the Megacolony deck he just gained in that fight to his opponent. A kind smile on his face, which surprised even more Bucchi.

"But… you… why?" Bucchi asked, taking his cards back.

"Because I know how it feels to have something precious to you on the line, and lose after giving your all to keep it." Aichi said, cryptically. "We'll that was a fun Vanguard fight, but I got to go. It is kinda late as of now. See you tomorrow, Bucchi."

Aichi said, walking away, but before he could, Bucchi stopped him in his tracks.

"Wait… what's your name?"

"My name is Aichi… Sendou Aichi."

---

After that, Aichi went straight home. When he got there, it seemed like both his mother and sister where already sleeping. Seems like he would escape the scold for today.

Taking out his clothes and changing into his nightwear, he got straight to bed and then drifted off to sleep, with a smile on his face. After all, now he have something to look forward to.

---

Waking up, Aichi's sister, Sendou Emi, went to his room, hoping to see his brother back home.

Much to her dismay, Aichi's bed was empty. Annoyed, Emi pouted a little. She was about to throw a tantrum, when she heard her brother voice.

"I'm going out."

She caught her breath. Turning back, she went straight to where his voice was coming from, the front door of the house, hoping to at least give his brother a scolding.

When she got there, it seemed like his mother had pretty much the same idea, since she was in front of the exit, lost in though.

Now that was weird. The usual Aichi would often be depressed and always not even showing a hint of disposal to go to school.

In Emi's young mind, she could only ask herself what changed.

---

When Aichi entered his classroom, no one paid he any attention. He never was the center of attentions anyway. He carefully strode towards his table, and he was only steps away from reaching it, until a hand stopped him.

He turned his head back, and found a rather… surprising sight.

With his head bowed down, Morikawa Katsumi and Izaki Yuta both asked for forgiveness, surprising everyone in class.

Now that was something he didn't want it. Feeling the heads of every person in class turning to see the scene, together with a few whispers, made Aichi seriously nervous.

"Please forgive us Aichi!" The duo said, regret evident in they're voices.

"S-stop that, Morikawa, Izaki. You don't need to apologize. It's fine, really." Aichi said, his cheeks turning red from all the attention that he was receiving.

"But… we lost it. We lost your card!" Yuta said, with remorse in his eyes.

"Yeah… how can you be so calm!" Katsumi also said, or rather, screamed.

"Because I will get it back… I just need to win against Kai the next time I fight him." Aichi said, with resolve in his eyes and belief in his voice.

To the many people of his class, this was a new sight to see. The boy who was called Shychi was showing much more confidence than many of his peers. This made Yuta and Katsumi both very surprised by his change of character.

Needless to say, the day went uneventful after that. After that show off, he went back at being the same dull and boring kid his peers where accustomed with. The image of the shy and useless blue haired boy, however, was clearly shaken in the mind of many.

---

After the day that Aichi lost to Kai, in an elite school called Miyaji Academy, in the middle school division, a red headed kid could be seen talking with a bowl cut haired one.

"So, you want to head to that card shop I told you about, Naoki?" The smaller kid asked, with hope in his eyes.

"Sure thing, Shingo. Just you wait, I'm gonna beat ya today."

"Ha, you wish!"

Those two where Ishida Naoki and Komoi Shingo. Shingo is someone who knows all about Vanguard, and Ishida is a rookie whom just recently started playing.

They know each other for a long time, but only become friends last week, when Naoki stopped a couple of bullies who where picking up on Shingo. After that, Shingo introduced Naoki to the world of Vanguard, and they've been friends ever since.

After the classes where over, Shingo and Ishida packed they're things and went in the direction of Card Capital, the shop Shingo wanted to shown Ishida. While they where in the streets of the city, Ishida and Naoki where talking about the topics the teacher discussed in class, when a blue-haired kid passes across them.

He was heading towards the opposite side of the two fighters, but Ishida would recognize that hair anywhere.

He turned back, and called for the stranger who he was apparently acquainted with.

"Hey wait!"

The blue-haired person turned back, and when Naoki though he would finally have the chance to talk with the kid who he couldn't help, he got a let down. That wasn't Sendou Aichi after all.

"What's up?" The boy asked, and Naoki just rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed.

"Sorry, I mistook you for other person." Naoki said, and then he continued to walk forward, Shingo soon following suit.

"What was that?" His new friend asked, with obvious curiosity.

"Nothing… he just reminded me someone I knew. That's all." Naoki answered his friend. Both continued in they're way towards Card Capital.

---

Now, back at Aichi, he was in the strange shop that he went yesterday, card fighting. Across the table, his opponent could be seen, using the same deck she was using yesterday.

Today, they would fight, and this time, Aichi wasn't allowed to use his Psyqualia, therefore, Kourin knew the result would be different.

"Stand up, Vanguard!" They cried in unison, both eager for the rematch.