"Kai-kun."

Lids folded partly over orbs before retracting at the sound of his name said with an added honorific. It shouldn't be surprising to be referred to with such; but to Kai, he had not heard anyone call him with any honorific. He kept his gaze fixated on Aichi with a nonchalant visage whilst behind it, was at a loss of words.

Kai nodded off his musings before he suggested Aichi to go to bed as it was late at this hour of the evening. Aichi complied as he turned and limped towards the door. Oblivious to Kai's inner musings, the blue-haired boy wondered why Kai became silent in the calling of his name. Did he not like being addressed in that way? In being told to leave in a distinct way, Kai didn't want to discuss the topic.

Aichi paused in his tracks when he reached the doorway. He turned to give Kai a quick glance before looking away sheepishly. "Um….I…wouldn't mind joining you for dinner….next time…" In remembering his refusal of the other's invitation to dinner that night, he felt guilty. Kai was being a good host and perhaps he was rude to decline that offer. He felt he should make up for it. The boy's gaze fell towards the floor with an apologetic and guilt expression.

Kai took notice of the blue-haired youth's gestures. He didn't care anyhow after that night whether Aichi joined him for dinner or not. Perhaps he acted over demanding expecting to see the boy at the dinner table stat. After all, who would want to eat a meal with a horrific beast?

The Beast lightly scoffed. "Do as you like."

Aichi wasn't sure how to take the other's response. Would Kai really mind joining him for dinner? Or would it be a nuisance? Not wanting to stay rooted where he was and in case Kai may chide him out, Aichi left muttering a "Good night."

o0o0o0o

Several days past and Aichi's ankle healed, leaving him freely to wander the interior of the manor as he pleased. Today, he wasn't in the mood to leave his chambers as he laid on his belly on the bed. Aichi stared at his deck in front of him, arms folded under his chin. He released a sad sigh.

Aichi barely played the game. The only reason he had a deck was that Morikawa urged him to get one so he had more people to play with. And what better person is a classmate who was considered "weak" in the entire school. Aichi admitted to himself, and wouldn't ever voice it in public, that Morikawa was a terrible tutor. Aichi would lose every time he played and Morikawa's way of teaching confused him. But, in watching other fighters play in the shop, the game seemed like fun. If only he understood how to play.

The sound of a knock on the door caused Aichi to snap his attention towards the door. "Ah! Wh-who is it?"

"Miwa!"

"Ah….come in."

Without a second wasted, the door opened after a click at the turning of the doorknob presenting Miwa with a cheery glint in his blue gray orbs. The blonde butler noticed the cards spread before the bluenet on the bed and took steps closer to view them.

"Ah! Vanguard!"

Aichi blinked at the other's astonished yet ecstatic reaction to seeing his cards. "Ueh? You know Vanguard?"

"Uh, Yeah!" Miwa grinned with a ghostly snort. "It's a worldwide popular game, isn't it? We're not that old!" he laughed.

"…..I….I never said you were old…."

Miwa released a fake cough taking note of Aichi's bemused expression that meant the boy didn't understand fully of his attempt of half-joking. "Anyway, you play?"

Azure orbs glided down to his cards with head turning away. "I'm….a beginner…and honestly, barely played and know the rules…"

Miwa thought for a moment in taking notice of the boy's saddened expression. And then an idea hit him. "Hmm… I got just the thing!"

"Ueh?"

In less than ten seconds, Miwa darted out the door towards where else in the manor was Aichi's guess.

o0o0o0o

"Why should I?" Kai scoffed, not looking at his blonde servant. He sat on his cushioned chair, elbow resting on the armrest and knuckle against his cheek. Miwa had come barging in requesting that Kai of all people would fight his blue-haired guest.

"Well…he seemed interested in wanting to play. He even has a deck! What else can he do while being cooped here for who knows how long!" Miwa remarked.

"I only fight strong players."

"Searching for those players turned you into what you are now, didn't it?" the blonde interjected with a smug grin. Prodding Kai as a Beast was a risk to the blonde's life, but with Kai looking tamed and still on that chair, it seemed his life was spared.

"It means nothing." Kai didn't need a reminder of the consequences of his past actions as a cardfighter, especially coming from this blonde's mouth.

"Just give him a chance and fight him."

"You fight him yourself." Kai's eyes now baring towards the other's blue-gray ones.

"You're the strong one out of all of us. It's best for you to do it. And it's a way to make it up to him. Get a little closer. You know what I mean~"

Kai fell silent. During the past several days while Aichi's ankle healed, Kai had been avoiding eye contact with Aichi as well as wanting to speak with him. Despite giving the approval that the boy could eat dinner with him, Kai kept a distance. Was the reason being he was afraid? What was he afraid of, especially when it came to Aichi?

Fine. He was bored anyway. If Aichi had a deck, Kai assumed the boy knew how to play so there was no reason to explain the rules. A budding feeling began to form in his mind to make him wonder how good Aichi is in a Vanguard fight. Kai refused to show the sudden interest in his visage and decided to wait patiently this time. Kai gave the order to Miwa of where he would meet Aichi to play the game.

o0o0o0o

Aichi followed Miwa down the halls and corridors while holding his deck close to his chest. Earlier, Miwa arrived to his room calling for him to follow him right away as Kai wanted to see Aichi. Aichi pondered why Kai wanted to see him after avoiding him for some strange, yet personal to Kai, reason. Aichi had no intension to prod Kai as he didn't want to make his host upset.

The duo soon stopped in front of the doors after passing the door to the library. There was a room beside the library? Aichi piqued in curiosity to what was on the other side of the door they stood in front of. That answer was received as Miwa opened the door revealing the room that caused Aichi's eyes widened in amazement. The room was simple, yet modern and it was like a library. Instead of the usual books, it was a library of Vanguard cards with shelves reaching about ten-feet from the ground carrying packs, singles, and booster boxes stacked neatly. In Aichi's opinion, the amount of Vanguard merchandise here could not compare to what a card shop could carry on a public shelf. There were tables for standing and sitting that stood in rows in the center; and in the corner of the other side was a lounge to relax with cushioned chairs and sofas.

Kai sat naturally waiting at one of the tables set in the middle of the room with Shin, Misaki, and Kamui standing nearby. Miwa escorted Aichi further into the room then dropped him off at the opposing side of Kai. On the table, Aichi saw the play mat for the game consisting of the vanguard and rearguard circles, damage, deck and drop zones. Kai's deck had already been placed on the slot as well as his starting vanguard face down on the field.

"Let's waste no time in starting," Kai spoke, causing Aichi to wince at his tone. How long did Aichi make Kai wait? Was Kai irritaed at Aichi's time of arrival? Shaking off those musings, he nodded in understanding as he set down his deck with a shaky hand. He couldn't control the shakiness of his hands. The sharpness of Kai's tone gave Aichi an uneasy and nervous feeling that the other would be gravely upset with him if Aichi didn't give what Kai wanted. How good was Kai in the game of Vanguard? Aichi was just a novice.

In just a few turns with Aichi losing with six damage, Aichi was right that Kai would be upset with him. Not just the loss, but Aichi had slipped up with misplays and dropping a few cards while handling his cards.

How embarrassing.

Aichi fiddled his fingers shyly under the table, not wanting to give eye contact to anyone in the room. "I'm….sorry…." he muttered softly under his breath.

"Weak."

Aichi winced at Kai's comment. Kai sounded gravely disappointed in how the game played out. Despite it being true about Aichi, a counter spilled from his mouth yet it was voiced louder than his shy apology. "Well….my friend taught me…"

"Your friend is a terrible tutor."

Aichi spluttered before stifling laughter, hands cupping over his mouth in attempt to block the chuckles that followed. He knew he shouldn't find the criticism towards Morikawa funny, but he found it hilarious that he and Kai shared the same thought that Morikawa is terrible tutor!

"….." Kai frowned, staring at the other with a quizzical gaze. What was so funny about him insulting Aichi's friend? At the same time, he never knew how the boy's laughter could be so precious like a melodious song, especially from a cute-looking boy.

Wait, thinking Aichi was cute? And being enchanted by his laughter, he was close to falling a little deep for the boy. Mentally, Kai quickly shook off his musings.

"I want to become strong and play more! It seems like a fun game. I want to be strong enough to make both players satisfied whether win or lose. Even you, Kai-kun! I want to have fun," Aichi chimed, all hints of disappointments of losing eroded. He smiled with a cheerful, innocent smile after mentioning the other.

Kai immediately stood from his chair avoiding eye contact with Aichi. He walked over to one of the shelves behind him and plucked a black box off of it. He opened the lid before taking out a card from the comfort of its protective hold. It was kept in the box in a condition like it was a rare diamond. Kai walked over to Aichi to hand him the card. The contents of the Vanguard card featured a knight in white armor.

"This is Blaster Blade; this is the only copy of him in the entire world. He will give you what you wish. Also, he had been known to be the strong Knight of Courage."

Aichi grasp the card gently as he took it from Kai, studying the Unit in awe. Somehow, he felt a mutual bond with Blaster Blade would form in the near future. Aichi glanced up at Kai with a warm smile whilst holding Blaster Blade close to his chest. "I'll treasure it. I'll become stronger one day and fight you again!"

Without first realizing it, Kai's lips curved into a slight smile. There was a sudden spark emitting within him; a spark that he would wait for Aichi and watch him grow into a strong cardfighter. He would hold onto Aichi's word and see if Aichi does the same.

Soon, Aichi played against the servants as they knew how to play. They gave him advice such as knowing when to guard from his hand or intercept. During the many plays, Kai watched Aichi closely on the sidelines. At the same time playing against the servants, friendships were formed and the servants weren't seen as "servants" in Aichi's eyes. Although, in the beginning, Aichi didn't want to consider them as such even though they were servants to the Master of the estate.

Moments after watching Aichi, Kai casually walked up to Aichi who was sitting and having a normal conversation with Kamui on a cushioned couch in the lounge part of the card library. Kai asked Kamui to be excused as he wanted to have a word with the blue-haired boy in which Kamui did as Kai wished.

"Everything in this room is your's, meaning you are free to make your own deck, even make various decks to try out." It was an honest and stern decision that Kai declared. Kai knew Aichi wasn't at that stage yet and had long ways to go. For him to grow stronger, the only thing to do was give him everything in this room.

Aichi's eyes widened surprised. "E-e-every…. thing….? I-" He was about to decline the offer because he didn't think he deserved to own part of the property. Kai's visage read that he won't take no for an answer. Aichi heaved a light sigh. As a generous and modest soul, "Since this room is mine as you say, that leaves me freely decide what to do with it. That is, this room isn't just mine but everyone's…a room we can all enjoy Vanguard together!"