CV ch18: National Tournamt arc

Ride 18

Return to Nationals! The Semi-Finals begin!



The day of Nationals was upon Akaihono and Hito, however, Luna, after her fight with Ice lead to the reveal of her past, she went missing, and neither knew where her home was, as she never told them. Both were waiting at the card shop, sending text after text to the girl.

Hito leant against the wall, watching his phone, text after text of "where are you?" being sent to the girl.

"Oh come on Luna..." He said to the phone, almost crushing it.

"Luna...." Akaihono says sadly as he sends her a text as well when Beth walks out of the shop.

"Still no luck?" Beth asks in a worried tone in her voice, knowing three team members are needed.

Hito sighed, flipping his phone closed and puts it away. "Nothing whatsoever." He groaned. "W-why did she have to up and leave...that Ice was such a jerk..."

"What's worse is that we have to return to Nationals today. Without a 3rd member, we might not be allowed to play." Akaihono says, though he was more worried about Luna then Nationals at this time.

"Actually, as long as you win battles and it doesn't go to a third match, you can continue. But you do need Luna still written down as a team member. But if one of you loses and Luna isn't around, to win or fight, your disqualified." Beth explains to the boys.

Hito sighed. "This isn't fair...Why'd Ice have to go and do that!?" He snarled punching the wall.

"I don't know...but Beth is right, we need to go to Nationals. I want to look for Luna but if we win today, then we can look for her before the Finals." Akaihono explains as he walks over to the car.

Hito sighed as he looked up at his best friend hopefully. "I guess...though...we can give her a celebration party to come back to right?" He asked, concealing his anxiety with cheerful excitement.

"Yeah. Now let's go win, for Luna's sake. And let's have fun!" Akaihono says, knowing that's what she would want. But he wondered, could they win? Should he...reactivate his Psyquila? 'No, even if I did, it would only work for me, and that wouldn't be fair to Hito. I'll fight with my own power!' The boy thought in his head.

After some time driving, they arrived at the National Tournament. Once they head inside, they sigh in.

"Hm? Where's your third member?" The female at the desk asks them.

"She's um, busy with something important." Akaihono lied, not wanting to tell the real reason to some person.

"I see. Well you both may proceed, but if your matches go to a third battle, and your teammate isn't here, then your disqualified."

Hito nodded, wishing he didn't sound so nervous. "Y-yes we know." He said with a nervous chuckle.

"Very well, please proceed to the main field and good luck." The woman says with a smile as the boys walk off with Beth behind them.

Once on the field, they all noticed all the strong players gathered. As will as Wild Ocean who were closer to the back.

"Hm? Helena?" Akaihono asks as he and Hito walks over to the three girls.

Helena, Aqua and Ashely all turn their heads, seeing the boys approaching. "Well hello Akaihono, Hito." Helena says smiling.

Hito gave a cheesy grin. "H-Hey there." He mumbled nervously.

"Hm? Hey where's Luna?" Aqua asks the boys, but before they could answer, the MC started talking.

"Welcome back to all the Cardfighters that made it past last weeks elimination matches! Today is the start of the main event! And tomorrow, will be the Final Match between the two remaining teams!"

Hito couldn't suppress his excitement. "It's awesome...I can't believe we're really doing this."

"Yeah." Akaihono says, wanting Luna to be with them.

"And now, a word from the boy himself! Kiryu Higurashi!"

Kiryu, along with Ice and Savior walk into the stage and stood at the center. "Welcome everyone, to the National tournament. I'm sad to say, due to certain events, I was only able to make six Vision. So, Vision will be saved for the Final Match with the two remaining teams." Kiryu says as he heard some people complain as they wanted to try it.

Hito blinked up at the stage, eyes fixed with hate and anger on Ice, his teeth gritted and his fists curled.

"I'm sure all of you well give it your all in today's many matches. Good luck. But becareful, because we are also in this, so I hope for all those that fight me have a wonderful time." Kiryu says bowing with his right arm in front of his chest and then walks off the stage.

"He's really got a way with words, doesn't he?" Asked Hito, giving Akaihono a look.

"Yeah, and it's because of him that I was almost..." Akaihono starts, remembering that he was under Psyquila's grip.

Hito placed a hand on Akaihono. "It's fine akai...you and I both know we'll do our best."

"Yeah." Akaihono says smiling as the MC starts talking again.

"Alright!! Let's begin!!" He says as the screen screen shows all the teams and it begins to randomly shuffle and place the teams in different roster positions.

Akaihono and Hito see that Wild Ocean was on their side, but it looked like they won't be fighting them unless they make it to the Semi Final match. The same was with Kiryu's team, but if they want to fight them, it'll be in the Finals. But could they make it that far with just the two of them?

Hito held out his fist to Akaihono. "Let's do it for luna bro..." He says, letting his shaky confidence slip just a little.

Akaihono nods and fist bumps Hito. Though this gets the attention of Wild Ocean. "What do you mean?" Helena asks them.

"Well...it's best if we move off the field first so that the fights can begin." Akaihono says as they left the field as the first matches began.

The boys took this time to explain their situation to the three girls, all having shocked faces, even Ashley who was usually unfazed.

"That's awful! And such a low thing to do!" Aqua says, talking about Ice.

"What's worse, if they don't get Luna back, then they aren't gonna be able to continue." Helena says, folding her arms.

Hito looked downcast. "Normally I'd deny it outright since that Ice is a jerk...but why would luna run out like that...we know she's a good person at heart..."

"Yeah..." Akaihono says. "So we have to win all of our fights."

Hito nodded in agreement. "yeah...it'll be a tough road."

"Don't worry, I'm sure she'll return." Helena smiles as they hear the first rounds have ended. "Sorry guys, we are up next. See you soon." With that, Wild Ocean walks off.

Hito smiled at them. "I hope they do well." He said with a smile.

"Yeah...." Akaihono says as watches the waiting room screen and watched the fight.

After awhile, the first round was wrapping up, Akaihono and Hito were up first, with Hito taking the first turn.

"Tyrannolegend! Finish this up!" Hito yells as the king of Dinosaurs roars with three critical on him and fired his tri-cannons. "Twin drive! First, nothing. Second, critical! Critical to Tyrannolegend!!"

His opponent was a nova grapplers user, and he was totally overwhelmed, staring at the field formation, unable to guard.

The attack hits, dealing four damage to the opponent, bringing him way past 6 damage.

"An amazing victory from Hito!!" The MC yells into his mic as Hito grabs his cards and heads back.

"I guess having 12 critical triggers worked out perfectly." Hito says approaching Akaihono.

"Nice win." The red hair boy says smiling and walks past his friend to the field.

Hito walked back and sat down on the bench they had been using, chuckling to himself, but at the same time, he looked at the phone by his side. "Come on.."

Akaihono looked at his opponent, then he pulls out two deck holders. "Which one...should I use?" He asks himself.

From a special waiting room, Kiryu, Savior and Ice were watching from a private room.

Ice had kept queit since arriving with them and was slumped on the sofa, slurping an ice slushie.

Savior stood calmly by Kiryu's chair, his hands folded behind his back respectfully. "He's deciding which clan to use." He said in a quiet tone but Kiryu heard.

"Indeed. It seems he truely can't let go of his power, that's why he has Kagero still." Kiryu says smirking, waiting for the boy to activate his Psyquila.

Akaihono finally decided on a deck and puts the other one away. He sets a starter down and drew five cards without reshuffling.

Up in the stage was a hooded figure, watching closely to the fight.

"I'm ready." Akaihono says to his opponent.

The other boy nodded too, ready to turn over his card. "So am I!"

"Stand up my Vanguard! Dragon Knight Sadegh!" Akaihono says as a young man appears with a spear and armor.

Savior sighed, though quickly corrected himself, Ice watching the screen closely. "Kagero..." Savior said softly.

Akaihono looks at his starter, then his hand. "Kagero, I used you while using Psyquila....therefore, I don't think I can really stop using you....because I didn't use you the right way." He opens he's eyes, serious taking over his shyness. "This time we will win as one!!"

The man opposite him grinned, overconfidant of his own victory as the match began.

"I draw and then I ride Embodiment of Armor Bar! Sadegh move to the lower left and I'll end." Akaihono says ending his turn.

The man drew his card. "I ride clay doll mechanic, move back raiser and attack."

The battle between Akaihono and his opponent was almost even, both trading attacks with one another, dealing famage after damage.

As Savior watched, he saw Akaihono's play style with Kagero wasn't as aggressive. He was truely using the deck as his own.

Savior couldn't resist a smile as he watched the play. "He's grown into that deck." He whispers to himself.

"My turn, draw! I ride Dragonic Overlord!" Akaihono says as the Break Ride dragon appears and let's out a roar.

The man shivered nand shook at the summoned units appearance. "I attack!" Akaihono says as the dragon roars and shoots a stream of fire at the opponent's Vanguard.

"N-No guard!" The man cried out and only being at three damage.

"Twin Drive! First, critical trigger! Critical to Overlord, second check. Critical trigger! That's three damage to your already 3 damage!" Akaihono says as the flames engulf the Vanguard in a fire vortex.

"Ahh!!!" The opponent cried out, toppling backwards, his cards flying off the table as he reached his sixth damage.

"Phew...hehe. Thanks Overlord." Akaihono says with a smile and the dragon turns its head and seems to nod before vanishing. The boy picks up his deck and walks back to the waiting room.

Hito smiled at him and held out his fist. "Not bad buddy!" He cheered happily.

"Thanks." Akaihono says fist bumping Hito's fist and looks at his deck. "Seems Kagero likes me."

Hito looked over at him and he opened his mouth for a second, then turned back to watch the latest matches. 'I just hope he doesn't slip back into that...crazy phase.' He thought to himself.

Akaihono also looks at the screen, surprised to see it was Savior who was now fighting.

Savior was playing a rather unnerved looking woman, both were at grade three and savior was four damage to two in the womans favor.

Savior had just break ridden to sanctuary guard dragon, and had five grade ones on the field, raising it to 36000.

"My sanctuary guard dragons blade dispels all evil!" Savior shouted as his dragon charged and the woman couldn't guard or nullify it, then Savior's boosting unit boosted it up to 47000! "Twin drive..." Savior pulled two Epona cards. "That's a critical trigger, times two!"

Savior's dragon brought down its sword with a huge explosion and the woman was dealt four damage, losing at once.

"He's much stronger." Akaihono says, shocked by the power increase...and it was only a few days ago.

Hito stared at the screen as Savior collected his cards. "Akai...do you think...if Savior's that strong...is Kiryu..."

"Yeah, I've wondered that too. And as I'm thinking about it, I've never seen him fight, or have seen his deck. I wonder what he uses." Akaihono says, folding his arms, wondering what Kiryu was capable of.

"Hmm..." Hito grumbled, looking over at the fight stages. "I wondered about that...Kiryu's deck I mean..."

"Yeah, but as far as I've seen, he hasn't really battled yet." Akaihono says as he really wanted to know the kind of deck Kiryu possessed.

"Mmmm...I suppose Savior and Ice are enough muscle for him not to need to battle." Hito remarked, leaning back in his chair with a dissastisfied sigh of annoyance.

Akaihono watches the screen as Ice battled. The boy started thinking about Luna, wondering what she was doing right now.

After winning their way through many tough fights, Akaihono and Hito manage to make it to the Semi-Finals.

"We are now at the Semi-Final match! We have Team Wild Ocean!" Helena and Aqua wave to everyone while Ashley stands there. "These are one of the fan favorites to win here!"

"Team Roadrunners!" The mc yells as four men wearing racer clothes wave. "They came from Osaka to partake in the Nationals!"

"Team World!" Kiryu waves with a smile as Ice and Savior stand near him. "They have not lost a single match and we have only seen Ice and Savior so far in the Tournament!"

Team Rising Knights, and despite having it be just the two of them, they managed to win all their fights with great skill!" Akaihono and Hito wave a bit.

"Now for the match up!!"

As the MC spoke, all four teams get shuffled on screen and then reveal it to be Team Rising Knights vs Wild Ocean and Team World vs Team Roadrunners.

"We're up against Wild Ocean..." Hito mumbled to himself.

"I rather fight them first." Akaihono says with a smile on his as the girls approch him.

"Let's have a good a good fight you two." Helena says smiling happily.

Hito smiled too. "Yeah, this is gonna be great!"

"Hito, I'll take the first turn." Akaihono says with a smile as the others left the field.

"Good luck Akai." Hito says walking off to the waiting room.

Akaihono gets to the card table and looks across the field to see Aqua as his opponent. He's seen her play and she's one of the best. Maybe not on the team, but as a solo player, she's tough.

"It's an honor to finally fight you." Akaihono says smiling and setting his starter down.

"Heh, I'm glad. But don't expect me to go easy on you. I'm getting our team to Finals." Aqua says setting her starter down and Akaihono dies the same with his starter.

"Now stand up, my Vanguard!" Akaihono and Aqua shout out at the same time and their battle begins.


--Meanwhile--


Luna was sitting in a box somewhere, hugging her knees as she has her head in her knees. The girl was listening to a nearby radio, which was talking about the matches so far.

"So...they don't need me anymore....I knew it...they both hate me..." Luna says sadly as she starts crying.


To be continued....