Entrenched Love

Kai

It was a week since I had last been to Card Capital, and I noticed a circle forming above the shop when I hesitantly returned.

"Link Joker," I muttered.

Link Joker was an evil force that reversed cardfighters, anyone who lost to the reverse would become reversed themselves.

I frowned as I watched the circle grow a little. A black ring with a red outline. It grew every time someone new became reversed.

I walked into card capital, ready to fight anyone who was reversed- Miwa would have done it.

Everyone fell silent as I walked in. Aichi looked at me.

"Where have you been?" he said, fearfully.

"Away." I replied harshly, quickly. I looked down and sighed.

"Anyway, that's not why I came here. I came here to help fight the reverse."

Aichi smiled gratefully, his attention returning back to his opponent. I saw that his opponent was reversed.

I looked around, my eyes roaming for reversed fighters. I gasped inwardly when I saw Misaki, her usual blue eyes tinged red.

I growled quietly in disappointment. I walked up to her purposefully.

She looked at me, her deck in hand. "You-" she scoffed. "honestly believe you can beat me?" She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.

I knew this was the reverse speaking, and I had to fix it. I held my deck up. "If you know you're going to win so easily, why not Cardfight me? Are you scared to lose?" I taunted.

"Ready to be reversed?" She asked as she placed down her Genesis deck, a sly smile on her pale face.

I placed my own Kagero down.

"Stand up, the, Vanguard!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Misaki's screams filled the room as the reverse left her body. Aichi, Shin, Kamui, Reiji and Eiji were right by her side, comforting her and she returned to the normal Misaki.

I picked up my deck and turned away. That was enough for me. Her screaming filled my head with thoughts of Miwa. Pain overwhelmed me.

I'll get you back Miwa, if it's the last I do.

I began to make my way home, Miwa's scream echoing in my head. I made it only just outside Card Capital before I fell to my knees on the damp concrete, sobbing.

Aichi, Kamui, Reiji and Eiji, Misaki, Shin, and a few others I didn't know ran outside, attempting to calm me down. Aichi kneeled in front of me, his arms wrapping around my neck simultaneously.

"I... I know it hurts, Kai. I miss him, too." Aichi said.

Something inside me snapped.

"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, AICHI. NO ONE DOES. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FEEL THE PAIN I'M IN. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND, HE WAS EVERYTHING." I bawled.

Instead of backing off, Aichi wrapped his arms around me tighter. I wept, and wrapped my arms around him too. For a moment, I stayed. Time seemed to freeze until I realized where I was, and I realized the crowd around me.

I stood shakily, and began to run. I ran as fast as I could. The wind blew through my hair and slapped against my cheeks, but I continued to run.

The thoughts refused to leave me alone. "Nothing will bring Miwa back, nothing."

And so for now, I did the only thing I could do.

I ran.