(GS3) Field: Rijuku Park

[Jello]

"Ah--, er, hi there." Haruka attempts his normal bubbly, innocent smile. However, if she's seen him for even remotely as long as he saw her, there was no way she was going to buy it.

Be vigilant.

For once you actually are helping me...

"What can I do for you? You don't just casually approach people in the park all the time, do you?" Haruka said, biting into a grape from a bag at his side.

[Hope]

Neu thought about the question. Does she always casually approach people all the time? Pretty much, may as well just get straight to the point. She walked closer to him and took out a Vanguard deck. It was perfect, it needed to be tested anyways, so this is a good opportunity to try it out, especially again lover boy. She didn't know what deck he was using now though, so this in itself would be something quite interesting.

"You're not much of stranger to me anyways," she gave off a grin, "soo.... how's the little girlfriend?..."

[Jello]

"I see-"

It clicked. If only it clicked a little earlier so Haruka wouldn't have said anything to her.

"Neu."

Hm.

Haruka's front dropped instantly. The uninterested and fatigued face showed through rather quickly. He clenched his fists. However...

"She's good. Peachy." Haruka wasn't exactly defending the fact that he was certainly in love with Yukino. But simply giving out the information about her recent depression and lack of drive wasn't going to help the cause. There was no way to buy himself much more time that this.

"You'd think she would have it much worse after what you did." Haruka stood up, slightly above Neu. Where he felt like he should have been more powerful, he only could stand for so long before giving out. He was in fact shaking to the core. Sera wasn't at work this time, either.

[Hope]

Neu placed her deck on a fight table, as if challenging him, and taunting him all the same.

She looked back over at him with a clueless expression as if she was absolutely confused. "So she's not doing well. That sucks, maybe she takes this card game seriously. Can't she just have fun? Oh man."

[Jello]

His morbid expression didn't waver. There was no way he could really provoke the girl. He only had one real choice. This was a decision he knew he had to make from the beginning.

But he was afraid. What Sera had said about him being a dark Vanguard. Ruthlessly giving up his loved ones for his own benefit. Was that true? Would he really sacrifice...

He already had. It was a small thing, nobody really payed a lot of attention to it. Haruka felt no remorse for those retired when he restood. He simply did. They were pawns on the field. Haruka never saw them as friends really.

He shook is head, as if to drive the thought out. He placed his deck on the fight table, sighing.

"Alright, Neu. You have me for now. Don't waste my energy." Haruka said something that at first sounded like an insult, but was actually in reality a plea. He was low on energy as it was, hosting two entities. Fighting at the same time drove his remaining supply into the dirt.

"Let's do it then." Haruka did not grin like he normally did. He bore no scowl. His face was gaunt and tired. It was pretty much done with everyone. It wanted to sleep.

[Hope]

"Dang he seems really tired..." Neu thought to herself, "Maybe this could wake him up."

It felt nice, it was a lot of fun. "Ride! Dragonic Overlord The End!" Neu used it, achieving full synchronization with Kagero, and what better way to celebrate than to invite the very person that she got it from? The seal was temporarily broken, enabling him to fight by her side and follow her orders, to raise its weapons against its old comrade. Dramatic reunions always brought tears of joy to her eyes. The game was a lot of fun, Neu got to use the persona blast, twice even, and then on top of that use Eternal Flame from the rearguard. Fun.

Once it was over Neu had understood the extent of the deck's strength, good thing it was sealed away. For a good game, she offered him a cup of coffee, her treat.

"Right, so there's like a good coffee place in the Shopping District I think? StarGate Bucks?" She pointed the general direction of the shopping district after looking around for a bit.

[Jello]

Haruka was shaken, in the moment. Seeing his old Vanguard rise from the ashes as it's seal was broken moved him a little. However it only fazed him for so long. After the ride and being hit once or twice, his emotions stabilized. Haruka returned to his tired self. His body was autonomic, moving on it's own without much of a reason. It just knew to go forward and turn when things that could kill him would appear. Like cars.

"Right, coffee. Sounds nice." Haruka was genuinely interested in a cup of coffee, but with Neu, he felt as though it was going to taste twice as bitter. "To the shopping district then." He slipped his hands in his pockets and started his way there.

[Kisaragi Zane]

"...-yawns-, boy oh boy am I tired."

Body fully stretched out on the park bench, Jellal's eyes, were shut as he was bathed in the gentle sunlight and blanketed by the gentle wind. He blonde hair shimmered gold, with his hands behind his head, legs crossed, and another yawn leaving his mouth.

"Hmm.." he started to think back to what he had learned while at PSYShop: Royal's, Kagero, and Shadows taken down by one person.

"It doesn't seem possible and yet..." his eyes slowly opened, revealing his cyan-blue iris that sparkled like a fine gem. He stared into the sky as he took another thought about the people who lost their clans. Yukino and Royals, her friend w/ Kagero, Hana and Bermuda's, most importantly the Shadow Paladins and himself. Although he knew the Shadow Paladin clan was no longer connected to him directly anymore, he thought about his friend: the one who left him the deck to carry out it's will to fight. His initial thought was "why should I care about a clan that tried to use me?" but he knew why. It was because it was the only clan he had to cling to before finding out his rightful destiny with Aqua Force. The only clan who took him in and made him stronger, regardless if it was right or wrong. He sat back up, as memories flowed into his head about the times he used Shadow Paladins: confirming that deep down, he grew to care about them, even Phantom Blaster Dragon. He needed them when he was 'weakened' and so...

"I've decided, I need to rescue them." he said to himself, strengthening his eyes and will, while continuing to lay on the bench, waiting.

[OverDrive]

Tsubasa had just entered the park even though the day was kind of late, he still wanted to understand what Neo was thinking fully before he can consider his next moves. Nevertheless, as his friend he wants to make sure that he is convinced in his path before he leaves him to be strung by with Neu.

"....A lot sure has happened here...." he says, as he begins to take out his deck. "In my most recent fight I had with Neo...I heard him...I heard Ezel...but ever since I accepted Neu's offer.. I have not been able to hear it anymore."

"For that matter if the units exist and are 'alive'...is erasing them justifiable at that point..." he thought.

[NeoBuster]

Neo walked through the forest and had changed his clothes. Wearing a Black leather jacket with black jeans, white sneakers and a part of his hair dyed in white to show his loyalty to Neu and the rift. He then saw Tsubasa in the forest just like they planned. Neo then walked up to him.

"Im here like you said" Neo said to Tsubasa.

Im guessing you want to know why I did what I did. And its simple: The rift is a strong power. This power is strong enough to seal any clan, as well as release the clans it seals itself. I feel the rift is connected to my parents. So I will help Neu keep the clans sealed and do anything to make sure No one interferes, including you" Neo said to Tsubasa with a cold look to his eyes.

[OverDrive]

"Before you start pledging your loyalty to that woman I would consider what you're dealing with here." he said

"But before we get to that...I want to know...what exactly happened to your parents." he said. "I know that it's a tender topic but I want to know, it's important."

Tsubasa did not wish to pressure Neo, as he too dislikes talking about his parents but if what he says about the rift is true the connection to the rift may involve more than he'd anticipated.

[Azuki Frappé]

After finishing her refreshing Orange Honey Comb Crunch Frappucino, she walked to the park in order to get some food at the stalls around the park. Though there were some fans around, most of them weren't as dedicated and thus did not stalk her once she gave them her signature. Nowadays she seems to be meeting people so often, meanwhile she was thinking that her eye caught on a "Neo".

"Neooooooooo hellllooooooooo konichiwaaaaaaa bonjouuuuuur nihaoooooo" Ighanna yelled as she ran at the pace of a snail with her empire state-high heels. Despite not knowing any languages besides English and German, she thought that was pretty good for a greeting.

He seemed to be discussing something related to "parents" with another guy and so without a do, she skipped in between them.

"I'm sooo soo hungry right now, and I forgot my purse *wink wink*, I wonder if I'll have anyone to treat me lunch if I beat them in a cardfight" she deceived the two as she was trying to find a cardfight to replenish Metatron's thrill, she's becoming bored like an old hag lately. She then whistles for a bit waiting for either of the two to reply, she thought, "If I win, I get free food and I guess I'll treat them if I lose" betting on her skills for free food. She didn't actually forget her purse, it was all an excuse.

[NeoBuster]

"My parents disappeared when I was younger. I was a little kid at the time, 10 years ago to be exact." Neo started to say then took out a picture of his parents and stared at it while talking.

"It was just a normal day. They both went to work and I went to school. The day flew by like it was any other day, so I was stuck at school waiting for them to pick me up. Then I was told the words I will never forget "Your parents cant pick you up because they are gone." I will never forget that day!" Neo said while choking up

My parents.. Just vanished into thin air never to be seen again, with no clues anywhere! That was the day that changed my life Tsubasa! No one understands the pain, the suffering, the crying at night, the questions I asked! No one will understand it at all!" Neo said

After wiping his tears off, Neo continued his story

After they disappeared, I was thrown into an orphange with other kids, but I wasnt exactly the nice one of the group. I was miserable, lonely and sad each and every day for 8 years. 8 years of having to go through that.. I always got into fights and wasnt very liked. Eventually when I turned 13, I was thrown into a dentention center since I was no longer a "kid" by the system standards. The fights happened more and my anger grew. I eventually grew up not trusting a single person. On my 14th birthday, I recieved a package from an unknown sender. When I opened it, it was a Kagero Vanguard deck. The same deck that disappeared along with everything else. I didnt know anything about Vanguard at the time nor why this was sent to me, but I knew it was sign. So after months of planning, I escaped the dentention center without being caught and I laid low for a year to avoid having to go back to the place. Survival on minuium amount of food and living in the streets with the clothes on my back with tough. But I told myself I could get through it. When I turned 16 a mysterous man came and handed me a envelope was a letter and money. It read "Your parents are out there, but you need to find them" To this day i never knew who sent me that letter, but I was always thankful because of the money. If I didnt recieve that, who knows where I would be right now. So with that money I turned my life into the right direction and started searching for my parents. I was not going to stop intil I found them, intil I entered this neighborhood, everything has changed. My Kagero deck was replaced, Ive fought many people and made friends all while trying to figure out why clans disappeared and where my parents were." Neo said

... Intil I met Neu. Sure she likes to have fun, but shes the one who sealed everything. To keep the hapiness around. While it seems wrong, I understand where she is coming from. The clans were at war and she did something about it. And as for the rift.. im certain the rift has something to do about my parents.. So I will find out everything about the rift. No matter what it takes nor the cost"

Neo finished talking while tears flew down his face.

That is what happened to my parents, that is my story. And I stand by it" Neo said

[OverDrive]

".......The stories may be somewhat altered but....his situation it's too similar...." he thought.

Tsubasa hands a tissue over to Neo

"..I understand that it's painful, believe me i know that pain all too well, except...unlike you that night for me was the day I held onto a guilt that I will probably never lose...or overcome." he said. "...As you saw I already made a pact with Neu, in a way her methods touch on the lighter side of this game, but I will never acknowledge the wiping of memories and loss of clans...but I can't put my finger on it I want to understand her more, she's not some all powerful creature who just came in to settle things, she's a human just like us..."

Tsubasa places his hand on Neo's shoulder

"Try to calm down.." he said."..and of course if they 'just' disappeared...then i'm sure you know who your number 1 suspect as of now is, you're my friend I will help you find your parents but be careful.."

Tsubasa wanted to tell Neo the details about his past and his parents, but he did not want to recall those tragic memories as they would hurt him a lot, nevertheless he will keep his word for both Neu and Neo.

[NeoBuster]

Neo took the tissue and thanked Tsubasa. But then turned to him and said

"Im sorry Tsubasa, But I fully support Neu's cause. Ive already shown my loyalty to her" Neo said

Sure she isnt serious about this, but she is serious about the fun of the game. Now while im just like you, I dont agree with clans being taken away, At the same time I strongly believe the Rift and the vanishing of my parents are connected.. So I will follow Neu's order for now and work from there, and no let anyone interfere."

Neo then took a few steps in the other direction and said: "Im sorry Tsubasa, I have no other choice. Even if im hated for it"