Cardfight!! Vanguard SC: Defenders of the Gate

Chapter 23: United Sanctuary

Yudai, Kiniro, Roka, Rei and Izo were all riding the taking the train to the United Sanctuary Branch. The three Defenders were going to find Clan Guardians in that area but they decided to take Rei and Izo with them, because Rei's dad worked in that area and Izo just wanted to go to support them.

"So, how many Clan Guardians do you think are in this area?" Asked Izo. Yudai thought a minute, thinking of the answer.

"Well, considering that we already have Rei's Gold Paladins, we have to find at most five others. Why?" Izo shuffled uncomfortably.

"Yeah....the thing is....there was a big incident concerning the United Sanctuary Branch. Have you heard that?" They nodded their heads.

"Yeah, the Branch lost a lot of members after the entirety of the Branch's top fighters lost to a bunch of kids. So what's your point?" Said Roka.

"I'm just saying that even among the people who left the Branch, the mentality that was imposed on them may not be gone completely."

"What 'mentality'?" Asked Yudai. Izo sighed. It was a sigh full of pity, for the members and former members of the United Sanctuary.

"Weakness is a sin." Everyone's ears pricked about this, Roka even gasped. "Yep. This was told them time and time again, day after day after day. They would go through strict training regiments, controlled fights for long hours and learn corrupt philosophies such as that one. The power we gain from our bonds, the connection to our units, the fact that we don't care whether we win or lose, the prospect of fighting for fun, none of the meant anything to them and possibly still means nothing to some of them. All I'm saying is these people don't share the same values as us. We should watch our backs." Said Izo, taking his usual position as the precaustionist within the group.

"I didn't realise how complicated this could end up being. We need to exercise caution in all of our fights. There's strength in ideals. They can believe in theirs just as much as we believe in ours. It all depends who's will is stronger." The team nodded in agreement, just as the train stopped.

"Looks like we're here. But enough of the gloom and doom, guys. I know where here on serious business, but let's have fun doing, okay?" Said Kiniro, reassuringly. Once again, the group nodded and all walked out of this train. Yudai thought about what was to come in the future. He had to travel all around the place and find Clan Guardians, practically putting his regular life on hold. This morning everyone agreed it would be more convenient to stay in each area temporarily before going to the next, so since Rei's father, Tenshi Asuka, is the manager of a hotel called Sunshine Plaza, they decided it would be best if Rei called in a favour and let them stay there, if not for free then for a reduced cost.
Yudai had to call in his mother saying that he was going on a trip around the country and wouldn't be back home for a while. Either having full trust in her son or being overloaded with work, she agreed quickly. Yudai even had to get him, Roka and Kiniro temporary leave from school, and that wasn't easy. They had to pack for all the time they'd be gone also.

"All this just to find Clan Guardians. We better end up saving the world or I'm gonna be beyond ticked." While walking down the street with his friends, another person walked past Yudai, going in the opposite direction. As this person walked passed him, he felt as if time went much, much slower, like one-thousandth of its normal speed. He caught glimpse of the person. He was a boy, looked a little younger than him. The boy turned around to look at him, and Yudai didn't like what he saw. He had cold, steel grey eyes that lacked life inside of them. Instead they were full of something else. Anger? Hatred? Sorrow? Loss? Hopelessness? Something else? The boy had obviously gone through dark times. The stare went on for what seemed like hours, until the boy had passed him. Yudai looked back at him, watching as he walked off into the distance. Roka noticed this and walked over to Yudai, giving his shoulder a little shake.