Lazzari smiled at Asuna. "We are going to need your help with this, can I count on you?"
"I guess, I could. But I was wondering when Kazuto left. He never told me anything. I haven't seen him, the guards wouldn't allow it."
"I will have to apologize for that. We have sensitive information in that division. We couldn't risk it being leaked. I am sure Kazuto wants to see you, just as much." Hyme's eyes looked glazed over. "Until this is brought to an end, I hope you will understand. We only get one chance, to set things right." Hyme was good at acting sympathetic. He and his wife, both were.
"You won't let me see him, then?" Asuna didn't like that at all, but what could she do? She wasn't able to help with the same things, Kazuto was. She just wished it didn't have to be this way.
"I'm afraid not." Lazzari acted in sympathy.
Asuna tried to be strong, again. But this was just getting stupid. It was like fate didn't want them together. Or was it deeper than that?
Asuna left to do the task, she had been assigned.
Saki entered. "I have received this from Kirito. It is addressed to Asuna."
Lazzari took it from Saki and Hyme approached her. "What do we have here?" Lazzari opened the letter and read it. "...Yui…? Looks like Asuna is no longer needed."
Hyme smirked at his wife. "You're wrong, dear. It looks like Asuna has her. We need her, even more, now. Yui could be the key, the one we have been looking for."
Lazzari turned to Saki. "You are dismissed." She then placed the letter in her brief case. "Oh. And Saki… Asuna doesn't need to know about this."
"As you wish, Ma'am." He bowed before he exited.
"Shall we go, Lazi?"
Lazzari was quite annoyed. "I really wish you wouldn't call me that."
"I kind of like it. To the emperor's castle, my queen."
Lazzari had to admit, he was cute.
Kazuto (in SAO gear) and Varina, had walked for what seemed like forever. They didn't even know if they were headed in the right direction. It had been a long time, since they had been near civilization, however uncivilized, it was.
They finally reached a street and followed it for a while. It had been months, since they were in these parts. They made it to a city that was still considerably north.
They saw a truck passing through and grabbed onto it, at the street lights. They climbed in, even though, they knew the driver was wearing an Augma.
A few hours came and went. They found out that they picked the right transport, because it made a stop in Tokyo. As they gazed at Tokyo, they were completely surprised to see the city flourishing and bustling. It was like there was never a war at all. 'Did people get over it that fast? No, I expect not… They are all wearing their Augmas, which could only mean one thing… They were forced to live on.' Thoughts of his sister came through his mind.
Vari recognized the longing in his features. "We can't. We need to stick to the plan."
"Aren't you growing tired of it all?"
"I don't regret what happened. I mean, I don't regret meeting you… and your friends. Not that I wished for this to happen… I mean, it really sucks, right? But I am glad to be a part of it… I mean, I am glad your here… that wasn't… What I am trying to say is-" Vari didn't know why she was so flustered. This sensitivity stuff was really hard for her.
"If you had to be here, you really appreciate not being alone." Kazuto finally finished for her, before she hurt herself.
"Yeah…" She smiled sheepishly. "That's what I meant… you're right."
"We should probably get going. The coordinates lead us to the center of Tokyo. It appears to be unground. What else is new? I sure hope Rosalia isn't leading us into an ambush."
"You still don't trust her?" Vari expected everyone to keep their word, when money was involved.
"She gave your half of the system admin to them. How could you trust her, after that?!"
"Rosalia's cover would have be blown. She didn't have a choice."
"So she says." Kazuto retorted. "Let's just get in and out, as quickly as possible."
They continued towards the center, when they saw Agil.
Kazuto knew that friendly faces were bad news. He wrenched Vari into the bush and waited for him to pass.
Agil stopped in front of the bush. He paused for a moment. "Is that you, Kirito?"
Kazuto felt the fear snare him.
Agil reached down and grabbed Kazuto's arm and wrenched him out from the bushes. "You should never have come back! I am taking you in."
Kazuto sighed for a brief moment, then turned to face his friend. "Sorry about this, Agil." Kazuto punched him across the face, but Agil barely staggered, let alone, released him. "New plan. We need to-"
Vari threw a flower pot at Agil's head and he dropped unconscious.
"Whoa." Kazuto stared at Vari in shock. "Help me pull him into the bush, to avoid drawing more attention!" Kazuto grabbed one arm and Vari the other, dragging him into the corner. "I will owe him a drink, after this."
"He was going to report you. You don't owe him anything."
They continued their current course, after discarding Agil, till they stood in front of the building, indicated by the given coordinates.
They made their way inside, discretely. They found an elevator and took it down to the basement. They were relieved to see, there was no one in view. They continued down the halls and found their way towards another elevator. Kazuto disarmed the locks and the security cameras, before they proceeded.
This elevator lead them down three more floors, below ground. They weren't as fortunate this time. These rooms were occupied. They quietly strolled down the halls towards the room mentioned in the memo. They saw through the room window, and noticed that it had a glass wall, looking into the room, beside it. They immediately recognized Kazuli, behind more glass.
Kazuto scanned the room, for any guards. There were two. "You knock out the first one and I have the second one! Are you able to handle that?"
"Don't you mock me. I saved you back there, with Agil, didn't I? You would be in the detention center, if it weren't for me." Vari whispered back.
Kazuto deactivated the door and they sprung into action, knocking out both guards, as planned. Kazuto took one of the key cards, off the guards and unlocked the adjacent door, using a little trick he was taught, to bypass the security code, on the glowing identification screen.
The door opened and Kazuli was alerted to their presence. "Varina! Kirigaya! I am glad to see you, alive and well. Kirigaya, you have served me, admirably."
"Not like I had a choice." Kazuto blurted.
Kazuli gave him a knowing look. "You figured it out. You passed the last test."
Kazuto whipped around in surprise. "What? Passed?! You are kidding me, right?!"
Kazuli stood up and joined them. "Let me ask you this: Do you still think that VRMMO's are a good thing?"
"If, by full diving, do I think that gaming can be enjoyable? Yes." Kazuto answered.
"When you dive, you are putting your mind in the hands of the company, to dictate your thoughts, emotions, actions, personality… They can do, whatever they want. You think that good security will change that? This is merely a demonstration of its full power. I could tell you: Go, kill yourself!"
Kazuto pulled out his sword and positioned it to strike himself in the chest. Tears formed in his eyes, as he tried to resist it, but the urge was getting stronger and his will, was only getting weaker. "...s-stop it…"
"PLEASE STOP IT, FATHER!" Varina cried.
"Stop! I want you alive." Kazuli ordered.
Kazuto dropped the sword and found himself, hyperventilating on his knees..
"Even now, you don't have any power."
Kazuto felt like he might lose it. He was so infuriated, right now. "W-hy do this? What do you hope to gain?"
"Kirito, you have made quite a name for yourself, in the VRMMO world. I knew they would listen to you. My reason is a simple one. I want to show the real threat of Augmented Reality to the world. I want the world to turn away from this infernal device, once and for all. Our youth need to live in the real world. I had made it, so you cannot defy my orders. Even so, you still impress me, with your resilience. That in mind, there is a program, that can destroy all my work. I am sure, you're familiar with it." Kazuli explained.
Kazuto shot up. "You can't have her."
"Remarkable. After what happened, you should still be exhibiting a desire to delete her. That means, she must be someone pretty important to you." Kazuli observed.
Varina stepped forward. "She is. And I will not allow you to harm her, or any of my friends. Father, I want you to release Kazuto from your control or I will never speak to you again!" If everything else failed, hit him where it hurts.
"I release you of service. Be free to make your own decisions!" Kazuli stared at Varina. "You are just like your mother."
"Thank you." She smiled in pride.
Kazuto stared blankly at Kazuli, emotionless and stale.
"Kazuto?" Varina asked.
Kazuto snapped back. "Did it work?"
Kazuli smirked. "You tell me? Stick your finger up your nose!"
Kazuto's eyes narrowed at Kazuli. "Thanks…" Kazuto didn't feel any urges to oblige, so he knew it worked.
"Don't thank me just yet. You still are not free from the use of the Augma, so I suggest you don't wear it again." A sigh escaped Kazuli's lips. "If this is some kind of rescue attempt, then hanging around here is like a ticking time bomb. Unless your goal was to get caught. Then you nailed it."
Kazuto picked up his sword and they headed towards the door.
Once they exited, they were surrounded.
"Enjoy your little reunion?"
"Johnny Black?" Kazuli stood poised, but with no weapon.
Kazuto was sure he heard that name before… That was XaXa's partner! Kazuto pulled out his other sword. It was time to see if all that practicing, would pay off.
The cloaked man, Johnny Black, pulled out a throwing knife. The others around them pulled out their swords. "Think you can defeat us all, Black Swordsman?" He mocked.
"You have already lost! Give up! Because we know how to stop you. This will end!" Kazuto warned, over exaggerating their chances of success.
"I still get to kill you!" Johnny Black cheered.
Kazuto tried to find the courage he used to possess, even in hopeless situations like this. Whether it was as a result of the mind control or the many trials he had faced, he changed more than he would like to admit. 'What would the old Kazuto do? He would never run away from a fight! It wasn't his style, nor will it be mine!' Kazuto took his stance. Three opponents and the three of them, minus Varina. She didn't stand a chance.
"Kazuto! Give me a sword! I can help you." Varina insisted.
After only a second to contemplate, Kazuto reluctantly handed her a sword.
The sword hit the ground, as she was barely managing to hold onto it. "This thing is heavy! How do you even-"
The cloaked man on her side, went to strike her, while she was unable to defend herself. Or so he thought.
She put all of her strength into the sword and whipped it around, managing to knock the guy advancing on her father, to the ground instead and then swinging it back towards her own pursuer, knocking his sword away. "Ha! I got to get me, one of these!" She gloated.
The man got up and swung his sword around, but Varina managed to duck, only because she dropped the sword.
"Oops…" She looked back up. "Oh, I'm good!" Varina gloated some more.
Kazuto swung his sword at Johnny and he deflected it with his blades. Kazuto could almost see a sly grin form on his attackers face. 'The blade is poisoned!'
Jonny Black pulled out another knife, that most likely fit the same criteria.
"You never change! You're still living in the past!" Kazuto slammed his sword across the knives again. If he had his other sword, he was sure this battle would already be over.
Johnny Black laughed hysterically. "So are you, by the looks of it!" Johnny turned to Kazuli, for a brief moment. "Kill the Black Swordsman and I'll let you live!" He cheered.
Kazuto's eyes grew wide. "You think you can intimidate us, you're wrong! We aren't like you! We stick up for each other!"
"Actually Kazuto… If this is what it takes to get away, then I have no choice." Vari stared at Kazuto, with a remorseful expression.
The attackers stood down and chose to watch them fight each other, for it would be more entertaining.
"I have come too far to die now." Vari added.
"You're kidding, right?!" Kazuto grew hysterical, until he saw a very subtle wink. "You would kill me?! After everything, we've been through?! I thought you were my friend!"
"I don't have friends. Money buys me everything I want. I don't need you, if it means, I can walk out of here, alive."
Kazuli just searched back and forth, between them, as if he was watching a movie in the theater.
"I can't believe you would be so selfish! If that is the way you want it, then fine! Let's see if you can survive in a fight against me!"
The man nearest to her, gave his sword and took the other one, finding it heavier than expected.
She found this sword to be easier to maneuver. She immediately, launched her attack, but every strike she made, was blocked with ease.
If the situation wasn't so dire, Kazuto might have even complimented her on her skills.
Vari jumped up and swung her sword around, for the downward strike, but blocked again. It wasn't like she was actually trying to kill Kazuto, she just needed them to believe, long enough.
As the fight ensued, they seemed to be evenly matched.
Johnny Black, wasn't buying their act. "Kill him already! What are you waiting for?!" He wanted to see Kirito die.
A sword managed to slip effortlessly across Johnny's throat, with the threat of cutting his throat at a moment's notice.
Kazuto and Varina, were alerted to their new arrival. 'Rosalia?!'
"Let them go!" Rosalia ordered.
The other men, hardly listened and advanced towards her.
Varina had no trouble disarming the man, who was carrying Kazuto's other sword. Kazuto disarmed the other just as quickly. Their swords pointed at their adversaries' throats.
"UGH!"
They turned to see Rosalia was stabbed with Johnny's knife. "Traitor!"
Rosalia fell to the ground, writhing in agony.
Johnny threw a knife at Kazuli.
Kazuto saw it coming and deflected it with his sword. Like it or not, they needed Kazuli.
"It's over! Give up!" Kazuto urged.
"You friends know how to stop us. Are you talking about those moles in the caves?! I knew about them all along. They are planning a big operation. One that will fry every Augma in this pathetic world! It will be one heck of a barbecue! I don't want to miss that!" Johnny taunted.
Kazuto couldn't believe that. 'There is no way! They wouldn't!' Kazuto felt like everything froze. He didn't know what to think. He was shifting into an outright panic. 'Sugu! Mom!... That can't happen! I won't let it happen!'
Johnny Black fell to the ground and they saw a blade sticking out of his back.
Rosalia was barely on her knees, giving it her last stitch effort.
The two men smacked their swords away in the middle of their distraction. Blood lust in their eyes.
One man grabbed Varina in a choker hold and pointed a gun at her head. "This girl dies!"
Tears built up in Varina's eyes.
"No don't!" Kazuli cried. "What do you want from me? Just let her live!"
"Yui! I want Yui!"
Kazuto's eyes only grew larger. Kazuto whipped his sword as hard as he could, throwing it towards the man. "I won't let you!"
Varina feared it would strike her, but it met its target. The man fell lifeless to the ground, releasing her. She grabbed the gun and shot the other man's arm. Whether that was really her intended target, Kazuto would never know. He picked up his swords and rushed towards the fresh set of armed guards that came down, alerted by the gun firing. Kazuto maneuvered around the hall, staying away from the side Varina was sitting, to prevent any straying bullets from hitting her.
Varina sat down next to Rosalia. "It will be okay. We are going to get you some help. Just hang in there."
"W-hy… do… you care s-o mu-ch…?" Rosalia asked.
"You are a person, who just risked your life to save ours. How could I not?" Varina asked. "I was just like you once, Rosalia. I thought I was alone and that people only wanted me for my money. I learned to keep many things hidden. I didn't want to get hurt. I don't know if I will ever know why, but that all changed when I met Kazuto and his friends. They taught me what it means to Protect what's important. Every life is important."
"You-re wr-ong… we-re noth-ing… al-ike…"
"You are just saying that, because your reasons for your lack of trust and selfish desires come from different circumstances."
"Sp-are me…" Rosalia's eyes grew heavy and before too long, they shut and didn't open again.
Varina cried for some time, before placing Rosalia's lifeless body on the ground. She turned to see Kazuto killing it out there. His moves were nothing short of amazing, but derived out of desperation. Varina grabbed the same gun in hand and ran towards the fighting. When she drew near, she heard more gunfire, but Kazuto was dodging the bullets, around corners and attacking them, when they no longer had any amo. She stared in awe, before reminding herself that Kazuto was doing all the work.
Kazuli grabbed her hand and pulled her in the other direction. "We need to get out of here!"
"Not without Kazuto!" Vari protested.
"There is no time! The fate of our world, may depend on this!" Kazuli stressed.
"Then you go! I will not abandon Kazuto!" Vari pulled her arm out of her father's grasp and ran back towards the fight.
She noticed someone come out from a room, in between them. "KAZUTO!"
Suddenly Kazuto got smacked in the head by a rather large object, from behind. Kazuto fell unconscious on impact.
The attacker stood in between her and Kazuto. She raised her gun, pointing it at his head.
The man grabbed Kazuto, making a human shield. "You better pray, that you are good with a gun, because you wouldn't want to shoot your own friend, now, would you?" He placed a knife against Kazuto's throat. "Drop the gun!"
Varina trembled in fear, but still managed to do as ordered.
"Now kick it over!"
She did.
He picked it up and dropped Kazuto like a sack of flour. "It's your turn to be behind the glass."
In the same confines that her father was in, Varina watched as they put Kazuto on a chair and placed an Augma on his head. They were taunting her.
She saw the man type something on the computer.
A few moments went by and then Kazuto stood up from his chair.
The man kept typing and Kazuto pulled out his sword, then slammed their tips into the ground. He knelt down, as if pledging his allegiance.
"NO KAZUTO! FIGHT THEM! YOU CAN DO IT! JUST TRY!" Varina pounded on the glass.
They wanted Kazuto for the system admin. They will be unstoppable!
"NOOOOO! YOU CAN'T! DON'T DO IT!" Varina grabbed whatever she could find and threw it at the glass, but it didn't break. It must be the new bulletproof glass.
Suddenly, everything went dark. The power had gone off. Varina couldn't see anything, except for the red and neon blue glow, emanating from Kazuto's baldes. She pushed on the door and it came unhinged. Weird but this was all strange. She ran out to find Kazuto. She pulled on his arm and dragged him behind her. "We have to get out of here! Take off your Augma! They will only control you with it.
But Kazuto's mind was stagnant. He was still trying to get a grasp on what was reality and what was forced. Going back and forth between the two, was starting to confuse the heck out of him.
Varina turned around a corner and there she met with her father. "You did this?! What now?! The only way out, is with the elevator."
"There is a tunnel exit, but we better hurry!" Kazuli led them down another series of hallways. He knew this place pretty well, or he would have struggled with navigation. The swords didn't provide too much light.
They exited into the tunnels and ran as fast, as possible.
Kazuli noticed the Augma on Kazuto's head. "Take that infernal thing off!" He reached to grab it, but Kazuto grabbed his arm. Dejavous.
"You will not touch my Augma!" Kazuto spoke in a low threatening voice.
"If we don't take it off, you will fall into the same loop, as the rest of the citizens." Kazuli warned. "And worse… compromise Yui."
"I don't care!" Kazuto grumbled.
"Yui! Think about her! Think of what will happen, if you don't!"
"You're wasting your time, Varina. It's time we go." Kazuli turned around and continued down the tunnel.
"Kazuto… I know you can do it! Try! Fight it! Think about Yui! Just think about her!" Varina slowly stepped towards Kazuto, hoping he could at least resist enough to allow her to remove it.
"I said no!" Kazuto took a step back. He then drew his swords. "Don't do that again!"
Varina ran at him, pulling him in a hug. "Trust me. Trust yourself. You know what you need to do." Her eyes lost their color, as she staggered back.
Kazuto's eyes filled with horror, as he saw the blood collecting on her side.
"VARINA!" Kazuli ran over to her side. "What have you done?!"
"I didn't-I was trying to… Is she going to be…?" Kazuto fell to his knees, with tears in his eyes, looking at the sword, that was the culprit. The Blazefury had blood on its blade. He dropped his swords.
Varina smiled at Kazuto. "Take the… Augma offfff!"
Kazuto pulled it off and threw it far away from him. "Don't die… you can't… we need you… I'm sorry…"
Kazuli picked her up, bridal style and continued down the hall.
Kazuto stood up and followed him. "I will get help."
"You've done enough!" Kazuli roared. "I don't know why my daughter cares for you."
Kazuto's heart pounded in his chest, to the point, where he thought it might explode. He saw the familiar glow, catch his eye and he retrieved his swords. Then he caught up with Kazuli.
"No one is going to help us, without pushing an Augma on us.
Kazuto pulled off his shirt. He ripped it up and offered it to Kazuli. "We can use this to stop the bleeding."
"You think that actually works? Let me guess, you saw it in a movie, didn't you? Technology…" Kazuli muttered the last part.
"How it happened, doesn't matter right now! I have to do what I can, to help her. I won't let her die!" Kazuto glared at him.
"Fine. If she dies… I'm going to kill you." Kazuli's voice became dangerously low.
Like Kazuto needed even more pressure. He had to stop this annihilation of the human race too. He was running on borrowed time. He didn't know if Johnny Black was telling the truth, but he couldn't risk it, if there was even a chance, that it was true.
Asuna leaned over the ridge of a cliff, in a well hidden ravine. There was a small paradise built there, that just screamed peace. The people really needed this. There was a beautiful garden with lovely ponds and the buildings were quaint, like they were going back in time, to Japan's past. There was a farmland, that had animals and crops. At the very end, was a dazzling lake, graced with the reflecting sunlight.
If the world wasn't on the brink of destruction, this would be a dream. When they came down from the cliffs, they stood in awe of the serenity, radiating off of the village. Asuna was assigned her own room. She was glad to be able to wear her own clothes again. It was to serve as a symbol of their new hope. She had a feeling that Hyme wasn't telling them everything. In this location even, they still weren't safe from the world. Who were they kidding?
She didn't hang around any longer, thinking about it, she wanted to see Kazuto.
Asuna was led into an office room and greeted by the paradise's founders. "Hyme. Lazzari. Where is Kazuto?"
"He is busy. Are you wanting to give him a message?" Hyme stared at her, with a new glint in his eyes, that Asuna couldn't place.
"I want to see him." Asuna tried to stay relaxed and tell herself, she was just being paranoid.
"Asuna? Would you like to accompany me to the garden?" Lazzari extended a hand as a friendly gesture. "I haven't seen it yet, either. There we can talk."
Asuna nodded and accepted the offer.
They headed towards the peaceful garden and stared at the glorious views.
"It's hard to believe, isn't it? In the middle of chaos, there is peace. I would like to see this world return to its original beauty, don't you?" Lazzari asked.
"I would. I just feel like this is a nightmare and sooner or later, we will just wake up... Have you seen Kazuto, recently? Is he alright? I have to know."
"You must be close. I can see that. Kazuto is doing well. I had a talk with him, recently. He has been inspired to take on a big responsibility, to secure our future. One day, I will have to thank him for his dedication."
"Why won't you let me see him? I want the truth." Asuna couldn't wait anymore. She was going to find out, if it killed her.
"The truth is a complicated thing. I hope to spare you of any that. That is why, Hyme and I have shouldered all the responsibilities, ourselves." She changed the subject. "How is Yui? I haven't seen her yet. I would like to meet her."
Asuna knew something was wrong now. She had been ignoring it, but Kazuto would never have told her and Asuna knew she didn't. Vari would have kept it hidden too. "How do you know about Yui?"
"Kazuto had mentioned her."
'She is lying! Kazuto would never have told her about Yui!' Asuna stood firmly. "Where is Kazuto?!"
"Around. What is the matter?"
'How dare she play innocent!' Asuna remained strong. "I want to see him right now!"
"Not possible." Lazzari remained calm and collected.
"Where is he?!"
"I was hoping we could be friends, but if there is no trust, then I can see, that is impossible." Lazzari looked pained.
Asuna was sure now, more than ever, it was just for show.
Lazzari turned away from her. "If you want to see Kazuto, you will just have to wait. I am not trying to keep you apart. In this situation, it just isn't possible." Lazzari left her alone with her thoughts.
Asuna was getting answers today. She was going to find out, just what Hyme and Lazzari were hiding.
That night she snuck into the house, that Hyme's office was located and waited in the shadows. When she heard the front door lock, she knew it was finally her chance to search. She took a couple tools and picked the office lock, just like Kazuto had taught her. The door swung open, revealing an empty office. She scanned the desk, using her flashlight and opened the computer. 'Voice recognition? For someone, who despises technology, he sure has a lot of it. She couldn't find anything in the desk.
Then a brief case caught her eye. She pulled the key from the drawer and unlocked the mechanism on the brief case. She saw a letter sticking out slightly and gave it a tug. She immediately noticed the letter was addressed to... her?!
She opened the letter. 'This is Kazuto's writing.' She became even more alarmed. In Kazuto's letter, she learned that he wasn't even here and neither was Varina. Kazuto explained in detail, what they wanted with Yui.
'No… Kazuto… They lied to me! What else are they keeping from me?!' She slid the letter in her pocket and searched through the brief case.
"Doing some late night reading?" Hyme's voice cut through the silence.
Asuna stood up. "You told me Kazuto was here. You lied to me!"
"Actually, I said that it was impossible to see him." Lazzari came from behind him.
"What else are you not telling us?!" Asuna demanded.
Hyme pulled out a gun and pointed it at Asuna. "What we do, is for the people. We can't let you leave. Where is Yui? I won't ask you again."
Lazzari placed a tender hand on her husband's shoulder. "Put the gun away! We are all friends here." She turned to Asuna. "You want to know the truth. Fine. Yui is our only shot to cure the Augma virus. She is a program, right? You know what the other alternative is… To fry the Augmas. Kazugto gave us the access we need, to do just that. We have been holding back, because of the insight on Yui. But if it all turns out to be bogus, then we have no choice."
"That would-" Asuna felt her tongue getting stuck in her mouth.
"Kill everyone who is wearing them. Yes. I would like to avoid the man slaughter. That is why we need Yui. Will you help us?" Hyme turned to his wife. "No matter what, this will end."
"What did Kazuto say, when you told him?" Asuna asked.
"We never told him. He left on his own free will. We aren't monsters, like you think. We are simply trying to do what is right by our people." Lazzari explained.
"What happens to Yui?" Asuna stared at her, intensely.
"I don't know. You could be worrying about nothing.
"I need to talk to Kazuto about it. He knows more on the subject, than I do. He will know if it is safe for Yui or not." Asuna reasoned.
"There isn't time. I received word that towers have been stationed at our old base. Kazuto is in Tokyo."
"Let me get in touch with him." Asuna insisted. She wasn't willing to put Yui at risk. "Please."
"That is impossible. Either we go with Yui or we go with my plan."
'...Kazuto… why did you have to leave? I need you… I won't let them hurt Yui…"
"Is this it?" Kazuli stared at the cave entrance and they went inside, but no one was around.
"No! Where did they go?! ASUNA! ASUNA!" Kazuto called out, hearing his voice ricochet off the empty walls.
"She isn't here, Kazuto." Vari held her bandaged side, for the pain shot up her back, when she tried to stand. Kazuli pulled her into his arms, again.
"They should have proper medical supplies here." Kazuto left towards the medical center. They had treated her in Tokyo, with whatever Kazuto could snatch from the hospital, without being detected, but he needed to get something that would really help her, especially against pain.
There was nothing. The entire thing was emptied.
"This is a waste of time. Kirigaya. They obviously left and took everything with them." Kazuli placed his daughter down on the observation table, that was mounted to the ground.
Varina smiled the best she could, but she was getting weak. She was lucky that the wound wasn't fatal, but the loss of blood, was taking it's toll.
"I'm sorry, Varina. But I have to do what I can, to make sure you stay alive." Kazuli pressed the emergency button that he discovered under the table. "You are getting medevaced. I will see you, when this is all over." Kazuli kissed her cheek.
Kazuto's eyes grew large at the sudden realization, that Kazuli was giving her up. She needed proper medical attention. There was nothing more he could do.
Kazuli wrenched on Kazuto's arm and dragged him away.
Kazuto stopped resisting. He didn't have a choice, if he wanted Varina to stay alive.
As suspected. The alarm was rigged and a chopper came into view. The men surrounded the place and they watched them helplessly, from a distance, as the men carried Varina out of the caves and into the chopper.
The chopper took off immediately. Some stayed behind to check the perimeter, which was Kazuto's and Kazuli's cue, to get out of there.
Varina was taken to a hospital and was taken into surgery. Once treated and she was left to rest in the hospital bed, an Augma was placed on her head. Her world became dark and gloomy, at a peculiar sound.