(GS3) Home Field: Espoir Mansion

[Beryl]

Satoshi heard Mr. Espoir giving Haruka a harsh talking to from outside the kitchen. He whistled.

"Don't you two go headin' out without lettin' me see you!" he yelled from inside, chuckling.

[Cherry]

Well... Haruka wasn't crushed, that's a plus.

Not only that, but Satoshi came to see them off. Good, her date would need a supporting wingman... from the house, because she was going to throw a hissy fit if someone intruded. Even at the Gold Paladins, who were at a meeting.

[Jello]

Haruka hears the holler from the kitchen. He rolls his eyes and grins.

"One second!!" He looks at Yukino with a look if "I wish we could be out of here," as he takes her hand once more and leads her to the kitchen.

He sees a slightly less injured Satoshi. Haruka mentally noted he would have to apologize about the whole situation again later.

"So, how do we look? Please say good so we can go. The evening isn't getting any younger, mate."

Haruka fixes his tie with his free hand.

[Beryl]

Satoshi looked them both other and covered his mouth, trying not to laugh. Haruka all dressed up was really a sight to see, given how partial he was to his scarf. And contrary to her normal formal attire, the Ice Queen looked as though she had changed names to the Sunflower Queen with her golden dress. Incredibly uncharacteristic of them both.

But as he leaned back and made a picture shape with his hands, as though he were holding an old camera...he saw something he hadn't seen in forever cross his mind. His mother and father, on their first date. The picture his mother had scrapbooked from long ago. These two...they honestly looked...

He put his hands behind his head. "You both look great. Seeing as Mr. Espoir didn't kill you, I'd say more than great, even."

He moved his leg in a way similar to that of a dismissing wave. "Go on. Have a fun night. You're not the only one who wanted this to happen, after all." He winked. "I've been waitin' for you two lovebirds to get together. After all, how does a flower bloom without sunlight?"

[Hope]

"Tired.."

It seems like Yukinee and Yukinee's bf have yet to have returned from their outing by the time Hana had finished the meeting. Between Garmore and Ezel's constant bickering, Juggernaut Maximum's constant screaming, Hell Spider's strange "Neo Nectar" drug deals, Daiyusha's constant preaching of justice, Amon's power speeches, and Mr. Invicible's endless laughter, was Hana, the princess, and the princess was just done. It was a fun and eventful meet, sure things got done, but no one would ever guess that Cray's leaders act so childish. Hana as one of them also fits the bill, childish.

She had changed out her dress and is now in really neat pair of egg pajamas, pajamas with eggs printed on them. Hana wondered how it was going, really and how her sister was doing overall. She hoped for their happiness and hoped that the confession was successful. While her sister was out, she was fulfilling her duty. "Chosen Sword...huh," Hana sighed, in hopes that her sister would go home from this date, no longer feeling down or pathetic because now she is needed to fight in the War of Liberation. But somehow, that wasn't just it. She felt that there was more than just that.

The feeling of jealousy had overcome her again. Hana laid on her bed and cried and cried. She set her alarm to go off again for the early morning in order to force herself to wake and do her usual exercises. She dipped her head into her pillow and cried and cried again. Tears that no one would ever see. Raised to fulfill her duty, that was the Chosen Sword. Raised to live a normal life, that was Hana. Somehow, The Chosen Sword was the one who went on a date while Hana was the one who had to work. She set it up herself, but of course she still felt regret, and one cannot forget, the raging emotion of jealousy. "Why the hell does it have to be me? Why is it that the only time our roles are switched, I get the shorter end of the stick!?" She screamed into her pillow. Eventually, she just drifted into sleep, with tears still in her eyes.

[Hope]

Upon waking up, Hana washed her face and her eyes, still having evidence of the near emotional break down that she had prior to sleeping. She go dressed in her exercise clothes, tied up her hair, and walked out her room. The butler that she had sent to go disguise himself and work among the restaurant's waiters and waitresses returned to her with news of the date that she had set for them.

"It was a success, Haruka was able to confess to them before the food was even served but this was also due to some issues..." the butler went from excitement to regret in just one statement.
"What issues?" Hana asked.
"A certain man in the name of Cero was causing a commotion in the restaurant, and using his money to prioritize the service on himself. Eventually he challenged Mistress Yukino to a cardfight in which he was the victor, offering nothing harsh words after. He did say something along the lines of "lending a helping hand," though with the way he did things.." The Butler was interuppted.
"Yes, I know him, but I'm glad that their date went well afterwards yes?"
"Yes it did madam." The Butler bowed.
"Arigatou." She smiled at him and bowed, signaling that he may take his leave.

Affinity:
Cero: -5

[Cherry]

Despair at the Liberation's flag been torn asunder.

Yukino woke up, finally making sense of some of the garbled speech from the cyber horror. Though in another cold sweat, she was violently panicking as usual. Perhaps she was getting used to the nightmare. The queen looked around for Haruka, but he wasn't in her room. If he was, she'd have clung onto him again like yesterday. The thought of her beloved kept her sane - he was still her lifeline, a reminder that she was here and not sealed away. Nearly tumbling out of bed, getting ready for the day came next. Getting back to sleep would prove incredibly difficult, as judged by laying there for thirty minutes to no avail.

Honestly, the image of how to proceed was... blank. Haruka brought back happiness that was desperately needed, but it didn't solve the overall problem, nor cure heart of the parasite.

Hearing about a formal start to the War of Liberation only further unsettled the queen. Now was the time to focus, however, if she was going to assist in saving Ahmes and Yunos. Ezel steeled himself to fulfill his "promise" to her and that this act came before the rescue of the heroes. While that was relieving, it, again, did not solve the overall turmoil in heart.

"Ugh", an irate grunt after showering. Legwork was next, as planned yesterday before passing out from hunger.

[Hope]

Hana made her way back home, looking down at the sidewalk. She didn’t pay much attention to where she was going, but it was definitely the right direction to get back into the manor. A few more steps until she had reached the game, she ended up bumping into someone due to not being wary of her surroundings.

“S-sorry…” She quickly turned and looked up to see who it was and send her earnest apologies.
“No, the fault is mine, Princess,” Neu said with a smile, petting her head.
“Youre…” She suddenly snapped out of her trance in disbelief..
“Yup, America’s National Champion, and I know that you’re Japan’s, Princess!” Neu let out a laugh.

Hana hopped back, more awake due to the shock. It was her, the one who sealed the clans, Neu. She had mixed emotions, all of them flowing into her. All of them caused her to become indecisive, she became frozen.

“What’s the problem? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost?” Neu shrugged and walked towards her again.
“Where are they?” Hana managed to ask the words, her body shaking. The question was enough to stop Neu in her tracks.
“The Bermuda Triangle? If you want a nice reunion we can play a game sure.” Neu offered, taking a deck out of her purse, the one labeled “Hana Isabella Espoir.”

If it’s really true that Neu had the sealed clans, Hana would be able to talk to them. She had no reason to reject. Even though they were on the other side, Hana could still tell them her apologizes and even greet them, this gave her lots of hope. She didn’t agree to a cardfight, no, that was the last thing she actually needed at this moment. She saw it as a chance to talk to Bermuda Triangle, that’s what she was agreeing to.

“O-of course…” Hana agreed, with a bittersweet feeling in her heart. Nonetheless, she still looked forward to talking to them.


“Stand up, Vanguard!” Neu exclaimed.
“Arise, my Power of Hope!” Hana followed up.
“Hope Child, Turiel!”
“Bermuda Cadet, Wendell”

Her eyes widened, and she cried tears of joy, it was really her. She saw it as an image, the physical manifestation of the unit, the card was in front of her, it really was Wendell. The rest of them were there too, she had to greet them, ask them how they’re feeling, anything. Just about any conversation would make her happy. She let out a smile, even a wave, her enthusiasm seemingly having returned
“Wendell-chan! How are you! I missed you!” She cried tears of joy.
“I ride, Sedna, Wendell moves back.” Neu stated as she continued with her turn, “Your go.”
“Right.” Hana wondered why Wendell was silent, but it was her turn so she had to focus and pay attention to that later, “I’ll ride Battle Cupid, Nociel, and she attacks Sedna being boosted by Hope Child Turiel!”
“I’ll guard!”

That was the only time Hana launched an attack.

Turn after turn, she tried to talk to them.
“Rio-chan! Aqua-chan! Why is Wendell being silent? Did you guys do anything mean to her? Haha I’ll get you guys out soon! I promise!!” She laughed.
“Who the heck are you talking to, Princess?”.Neu asked, “Wait you’re not going to attack at all?”
“Why are you guys being quiet? Do you guys hate me? Look, I’m sorry.” She apologized to them, completely ignoring her opponent. Her enthusiasm was now starting to vanish.

The situation didn’t change whatsoever.

“I ride, Top Idol, Pacifica!”
That’s when it hit her the hardest. “Pacifica-chan why are the rest them not talking to me? I know you can hear me right? No hard feelings??” She asked, her voice now starting to break apart.
“Not attacking again? Man this is not funnn!”
“I don’t want to fight them!” Hana started to cry, “Pacifica-chan can you hear me?! Please I know I messed up with you guys but… It really hurts… why are you all ignoring me?...”
“They’re just cards, Princess, dang you really look like a psycho right now just calm down, here I even got a handkerchief here for you. Plus this isn’t even really a fight, come on just have fun, this is Vanguard and Vanguard is fun!.” Upon saying this, Neu offered her a handkerchief with a fish printed on it.
Right, Vanguard was fun, that’s why she played and got to know the Bermuda Triangle. But his wasn’t fun at all, but even so, she tried.“Shamsiel att-...” She couldn’t do it, she didn’t want to do anything to hurt them. “I’ll end my turn.”
“Man… I kinda feel bad. Pacifica. Attack.”
“No...guard…” The game ended easily, with Neu winning as Hana wasn’t even fighting back. Neu put away her deck and checked on her opponent, “You sure you alright? Well I mean I guess you’re almost home and it is getting late so I gotta dip. Uh, you can keep the handkerchief.” Neu didn’t understand the bond between units whatsoever, she actually thought Hana was crying for no reason, that she was just crazy, trying to talk to cards. She just found it ridiculous. Somehow at the same time, Neu felt pride, the princess who had the title Japan’s National Champion, despite the circumstances, has been reduced to nearly nothing, another one toppled over. It was satisfying for her.

Hana picked up her cards without saying a word. She made her way back into the manor.


She laid her Angel Feather deck on the table in her room, right next to her tiara. She was quiet, still crying. Suddenly there was knock on her door.

“Mistress Hana, just a reminder, you have to attend a meeting for the council soon.” A worker reminded her.

She wasn’t in the mood to go. She didn’t want to go. The memory of how they wouldn’t speak to her kept playing again and again on her head. All they did was try to hurt her and attack her. No matter what she said and tried, even Pacifica, just ignored her. She was tired of being princess and tired of force feeding herself the same routine, pretending as if her dream still existed. It was all meaningless without them.

“I don’t want to go…” She said, almost just breathing the words out, choking on her own tears now. “No! Don’t make me go!”
“Hana-chan, you have to go it’s your duty.” Nociel informed her, being cautious.
“Stop! I don’t want to be the princess anymore, not like this! I hate this, I hate everything!”
“Hana-ch…”
“Shut up! Stop calling me that!” She slapped the cards off of her table, causing them to spread all across the floor. Hana’s tears now flowed more intensely.
“Hana-chan what’s wrong? We’re here for you, we’ll always be here for you..” Nociel said in a caring and tender voice.

The final words of Bermuda Triangle played in her mind.
“The Bermuda Triangle will always be here for you Hana-chan!”

“Enough! Thats an order! I command you to shut the hell up!” Hana yelled. .
“Hana-ch...” Nociel was interrupted.
“I told you to stop calling me that! Stop trying to replace them, you aren’t them, you’ll ever be them! Ever! So stop it! Just be quiet!” She stepped on the cards and kicked and screamed, she could no longer control herself.
“You said we bonded… so….”
“I quit, I quit being the princess, I quit being national champion, I quit Vanguard. I just want my normal life back, I just want them back. I want my sister back. I want my dreams back….” She kept saying it over and over, a helpless wish.
“Hana-chan…”
“Go to hell.” Hana stood up and took tiara. She threw it onto the ground, causing it to shatter into pieces.

Hana stepped on the cards and kicked them again. Eventually, she locked her room and left them as they were, all on the ground with fragments of her tiara broken along with them. Workers approached her, all worried at her state. For the time being, Hana will be spending time with her mother abroad who is on a business trip. She made sure that the living arrangements with her sister were finished. On her request, she asked that no workers or anyone would ever talk or mention Vanguard around her. The only time that it may be so is when she is when it is time to join the chosen warriors in unlocking the seal. Until then, she didn’t want to hear about it. Not a single word.

LAST STARDUST

[Crystalia]

Miyuki walked to the mansion, with Haruka following behind her. She hid her apprehension by talking to Haruka. 'How much coffeee have you had recently? Or ice-cream?' Random questions. They made their way to the gate. 'Oh yeah, I didn't text to see if Hana was in because I wanted to suprise her' she said to Haruka.

'Guess I should check'. Calling out to a nearby worker, she asked 'Is Hana in right now?'

[Jello]

"I've had 7 cups in the past... Small period of time."

Haruka stopped at the ice cream bit, considering he has had a ridiculous amount of sweets in the past week anyways.

As Miyuki called to check up for Hana, Haruka tries to read into Miyuki a little.

"So... Whats up with all the questions recently? You haven't stopped since we had started our walk over here."

He wanted to make sure Miyuki was okay. With everyone seemingly falling into a rut recently, he took a bit of the burden himself to check on everybody. Maybe listen to them, if they wanted to vent.

[Crystalia]

For some reason the worked didn't answer instantly. He went inside instead, to check perhaps? Shrugging, she continued to talk to Haruka. 'Oh you know, just haven't seen you in a bit, so I had some questions. In fact I've been meaning to ask you this as well, what's your phone number? Just thought it'd be easier to contact you if needed.' Man she really felt like Haruka was doing some psychiatric analysis or something.

The worker returned. All he said was 'Hana is not in'. Miyuki thought for a second, then spoke. 'Do you have any idea where she is, or when she might be back? The worker looked uncomfortable, but replied. 'Not for a while I'd assume, she jut left to go visit her mother, who is abroad. She didn't specify an exact time of return.

Miyuki froze at that. Hana wasn't even in the city anymore? She wanted to ask why, to scream why, but she felt that she already knew. 'I must have failed'. Considering that Hana had been very busy recently, and hadn't told her anything about this, it didn't seem like this was planned. It seemed more like she was running away. It would be so easy to blame something else, to direct it elsewhere, but Miyuki felt deep down, that it was her fault. How could it NOT be her fault.

'I failed didn't I.' Of course she had failed, as a friend. Hana had probably been under even greater pressure then she'd realised, and yet she had ignored her, trying to give her 'time'. And if it was 'just left' as well, that means she could have possibly prevented it.

Trying to overcome the feeling of failure, she checked with the worker again. 'Did Hana say anything in particular before she left?'
'She forbade us to talk about vanguard in front of her, and told us that she quit.'
She quit? Quit what exactly? Vanguard? Or something else. A ton of questions rose up inside her, but they were still washed away by guilt. 'I could have done something as her friend, but I failed'. She wasn't sure if she'd said that line out-loud or not, she wasn't even fully aware what her body was doing.'T-thanks for telling me this' she told the worker. She was anything but thankful.

She wasn't sure what happened next. It was just a blur. All she could think about was Hana, remember how she'd been there for her. She felt that she'd started moving, and realised that she'd ended up in a sprint.

'Haruka's still at the mansion' a small part of her brain said. 'You shouldn't just leave him there'. However, her body refused to listen. It just continued to run, and she lost track of time. 'I failed.' She repeated this phrase in her mind, until she found herself in the forest. She could vaguely feel how out of breath she was, and sat down.

[Jello]

Daisy

What.

What had just happened...

"Mi...Miyuk-i?... Miyuki!!!!!" He turned around and yelled for her. He yelled and yelled and even chased her down for a bit. But nothing happened. She was gone.

Hana had..... left?

"What... the hell, man.." Pounding his fist into the ground, he bit his into his lip to keep from yelling anymore. He slumped against a tree, looking at his phone for a moment. He felt hell in his throat and wanted to just fix it. Everything was falling apart from the seams, and nobody could catch the pieces. There was no single person Haruka knew that could fix any of this.

Miyuki is shattered by the sudden disappearance of her closest friend.

Yukino won't want to hear any of this, either. She'll shell up and close herself off too...

Satoshi? I guess he's not all too affected by Hana's disappearance. The two weren't particularly close, but it was still worth notifying him as well assuming the time presented itself.

Haruka was desperately grabbing at straws and shooting in the dark for a way to make things right. But nothing in his head worked out. He sat in the woods by the estate, for a good couple of hours just staring.

"H-Hey... this isn't your fault." Vortimer was never much of a comforting sort of guy, but this was a chance at it.

"I guess not. It's still-"

"Unfair. I know. There's a lot of things that are unfair."

With that remark, Haruka sucked in air raggedly, suspending the oxygen so he wouldn't break down into tears a second time. Around this time he'd start rampaging again. He'd be pissed and say awful things and become a mess for the day, maybe longer. But he wasn't going to do that today.

If they had any hope of recovering the clans, and restoring the bonds that are simply shattering at a breath, it all started with being ready. No doubt in his mind, Haruka realized he can no longer rely on his friends to carry the weight. He was going to do this himself if he really had to. Of course there was no way he would accomplish this all on his own, no way in hell.

But he'd never forgive himself if he didn't try.

 Hana, Yukino, Satoshi, Miyuki, Jellal, Ighanna, and Neo. These are the people Haruka has relied on to some degree in the past months. And they weren't going to be able to keep covering for Haruka when he couldn't be strong-

Strength? To hell with strength. This game was never about strength in the first place. Where were the good times? Where were the fun memories? The competitive blaze in everybodies' eyes?

"Why does it feel like all this game does is make people sad anymore...?" Haruka's threw his words to the wind with the crisp golden leaves.

[Beryl]

Satoshi walked up to the gate, ringing the bell. Today, he had realized himself in many ways, but his work for the day wasn't quite over.

"Mr. Kurosaki." The servants who normally operate the gate appeared on the screen. "Both of the Miss Espoirs aren't available at the moment."

He shook his head. "I'm not here to see them today. I'm here for a different reason." He held up his deckbox. "I'm here to speak to the man of the house about some important matters, if you wouldn't mind letting him know. If he asks what that purpose is..."

He thought back to the forest, to the place Yukino mentioned to him in passing.

"Tell him I want to know more about the Realm of the Gods."

[Cherry]

"Nothing to know about it", Dad Espoir walked by, returning to his home as the farm boy was at the door. "It's a place where Cray's divinity resides. You can compare it to Valhalla."

[Beryl]

"Cray's Valhalla..."

Satoshi chuckled a bit. "Nothing to know about it? Actually, I'd like to ask the impossible, Mr. Espoir."

His look turned from jovial to serious. "I'd like to ask how to reach Valhalla."