4
Ari
ALO: 48 Hours before operation start
Typical Kikuoka—leaving me to look after the kids. He pulls the same stunts like back in the task force days. Jules would call me a doormat.
ALO's simulated breeze brushes across my skin and the individual pixels of bladed grass under my boots. Below this grassy hill is a slab of ruins and a decrepit arena among it, square and open air, and, standing on opposing ends, the knuckleheads equipping their gear for a duel. The littlest one, Yuna, shifts in my periphery—nervously watching. I never imagined A.I. could be so lifelike. I could never distinguish her reactions from a real-world patient—or from her past self.
"Nervous?" I'm even trying to reassure her. She simply nods while her red eyes reflect tenderness. Her thoughts are full of Eiji right now I'm sure. I instinctually pat her head. I'll have to support my daughter someday—maybe this is practice.
"What's on your mind?" I ask out of routine.
"Naut." She glooms. "I hate seeing him like this."
"Little lady-" I look back down at the two of them. They spread their stances. Mylo rears his right arm to his chin as he grips that double-bladed sword. He shifts his weight to his right foot in the back. All that weight. "-I know exactly how you feel."
Eiji
ALO: 48 Hours before operation start
Double-bladed. That's new. We pace around each other in the boxed arena. Any openings, information, anything? Mylo's gear: Black Sleeveless tunic with an attached hood pulled back, steel shoulder guard and a bandaged hand on his left side, britches tucked in steel-toe boots, and a waist cloth colored electric indigo-It matches his hood. No secret or legendary gear attached, but then—that sword—I know ALO updated weapon drops and variety, but this is the first time I'm seeing anything like it. Rare drop? The entire length of the weapon is at least two meters; it's practically a polearm. I'll have to either get him within reach quickly, or stall time until I can get an opening. His reach and angle of defense will be wide, but I should be able to outmaneuver him. And then there's the possibility of getting him at an angle that would inflict harm on himself—no, he's too confident. SAO survivor or not, he must have experience to back up using a weapon like that. I'll stick to the plan of looking for an opening. I still have my gymnastic agility. I can work around just needing to get his health bar in the yellow with no flight, and then, Yuna and I—
"Finished thinking it through?" Mylo asks as we pace around each other.
Tch. Or maybe he really is just cocky.
"With all the time you've spent staring me up and down, I'm waiting for the pickup line." Mylo perks with a grin.
His mood's changed. "You're awfully more talkative now."
"I'm in my element." He smiles. Grass blades follow the breeze. Dust from the ancient arena follows. Then stillness.
Now. He surges forward off the front step of his left. I meet him.
Our blades clash—get a feel for the weight of his—he presses the upper blade further into mine, holding it there. He has that annoying-ass grin. I'm going to fix that.
I ease on my sword hand—let him drive his upper blade closer to me, but I side-step, get a kick into his right cheek—he doesn't even flinch—I leap overhead with my free hand on his shoulder before flipping to his backside—NOW!
His lower blade swings to guard his back, and our swords connect again. He rotates with his lower blade guiding mine away—that upper one is coming for my back. I front flip to evade the lunge and build distance. We face each other again.
"Surely you didn't think I'd be as easy as a few flips, right?" That annoying-ass smile.
Same plan: look for an opening. Stay patient. I can outmaneuver him! My feet launch forward as my sword moves from my side to a flurry of slashes. Mylo moves his rotation to his double-blades, windmilling and pausing to meet each of the strikes. Is he planning to make an offensive move yet? He must be trying to read me first; I'll take advantage then!
Instead of keeping to his front—I move to his side—an opening in his footwork, maybe? Move in. I hold my blade across my torso as I close the distance but keep my body low, and one of his swings misses overhead. An opening in his left leg. I cross my blade there, striking, but then something knocks me back. A bass drop. My shoes screech across the arena floor—and I'm still falling further back. I can't stop, even with the friction.
What the hell? What is this?
A shadow. I look up and see Mylo's grin bearing as he raises his upper blade for a downward slash, seizing the opening. I lift my sword high to block, but then he revolves the lower blade.
A feint!
Footwork. Use the momentum. I kick off the arena while falling back and spin midair, rotating just past the lower blade, swinging just over my nose and slicing grey hair strands. The top blade still crashes down into my sword—Shit! his defense to offense switch is twice the speed of a regular one-handed short sword—those double blades. My back pounds into the arena.
Get up!
Another slash comes down, but I breakdance on my free arm to dodge and kick away. Build distance again. Take a moment to breathe but keep eyes on him.
Mylo relaxes his stance. He just stands there, watching me, still with the cocky grin, and his sword—wait, when did it start glowing—a sword skill?
"Oh, this?" Mylo eyes his illuminating double-blade. "Sonic Buster releases a skill called reverb: repulse. Using the sound and kinetic energy from the strikes you make; I can release a sonic wave that knocks back my opponents. It won't deal much damage, but it makes for one hell of an opening—or good crowd control."
He's right—it didn't deal damage. So, I just need to be cautious with how I strike; they can rebound and knock off my momentum. And he's confident enough to reveal it to me—No. If anything, telling me is part of the mental fight in this arena. The comments throughout, that grin, the jeering: he's a great fighter, following my train of thought—reminds me of dueling Kirito—but I'm different now; I'm changing, even now in this fight. Yuna and I are sticking together. We won't be separated again, no matter what.
I smile. "That's broken as hell."
"Ain't it?" Mylo's grin fades. He's getting serious now.
He suddenly surges forward with more speed than before. That blade windmills around him—only milliseconds in openings. He's going on the offensive. I'll meet that. Lean in—and strike! Our blades cross and chime. He rotates the blade to build an opening; I rotate my body, to close them as narrow misses from his Sonic Buster swing closer. The motions are instinct, the flurries are instinct—red polygon cuts drift from body parts—mine. I can't get openings staying guarded. I draw my sword arm below my right hip, freeing up my torso. Mylo cocks an eyebrow as his sword slashes down on me again, taking the opening, but I dip toward his forward leg.
"After all that, you still think my lower body's my weakness?"
His extended steel-toe kicks towards me, but it's too late. I dive in, letting go of my sword, and locking both arms around his extended leg—a backflip to wrap my calves around his neck and bear the weight of my lower body against his torso to flip him to the arena floor head first—a bass knocks us both back—his Sonic Buster. He'll still crash with me!
We roll across the arena floor. Our abandoned swords clang against the ground in the tumble. We finally stop.
"Had enough?" I pant. I spit out the dust caught in my cloak and scarf as we slowly climb to our feet, both of our health bars dipped but green. Mylo creaks his neck—guess not. He bears fisticuffs, but then eyes my violet blade off to his side. I look to mine. The bandaged hilt of his Sonic Buster is within arm's reach.
We draw each other's weapons. Mylo rears back my sword, a form reminiscent of the lightning flash, but my sword's no rapier, it's meant for dedicated slashes. Is it too awkward for him? No, I feel it in his sword—the weight balance is different—holding double-blades, but the polar ends ultimately serve the same purpose as my own.
What's his game?
I watch his eyes. For the first time, I see how they methodically stare back. Did they look that way even when he grinned? Empty—no, just trying hard to be—the suppression of rage through a callous gaze—I'm not the one he's fighting right now.
Mylo surges forward. I cross the Sonic Buster to meet. This strike will end it, and now I have the range. From experience, I know, this sword will reach first. He won't accept my strength until I win, so I will. I'm strong enough now—I'll keep Yuna safe.
I can do this!
A roaring yell burns deep inside. The adrenaline. I drive everything into the sword swing with Mylo in range, and if he blocks, I'll swing back with the other end, just like he did me. He's out of gimmicks! "And out of his league!"
But. My sword?
It rotates through the air, in an arc toward me—he—threw it? I swat it aside on instinct but feel a firm grip on my wrist and sword arm.
"Do you think I don't know how to handle my own sword?" Mylo glares in my face. Suddenly he sidesteps and japs his elbow into my gut, collapsing for air—don't—my hand cringes, and his Sonic Buster flips into the air and away from my periphery. Swordless, he throws jabs—my gut again as I double over, then under my chin—I spin back—he's still coming.
He leaps—have to block—his fist bursts through my arms raised. Don't lose your footing, recompose—
A roundhouse kick knocks me to the ground. No. Get up. He pushes me back down, another drawn fist.
"Stop wasting our time." He sits over me—again, a dry stare.
"You got something against me?" I sputter.
"You made it personal. The moment Kikuoka brought up the A.I., you lost your nerve." He says calmly.
"What the hell do you know?!" I yell back. Like he knows what we've been through—
"I know all about you, Nochizawa Eiji."
What?
"The moment you said your name—I knew." Mylo rears. "I made sure to read up on as may case files as I could when Kikuoka brought me on—including Ordinal Scale." He gets off me and turns his back.
"I'm not that person anymore." Is that what this was to him? A test?
"Maybe." Mylo rears his head back, staring upward, watching the cloudless blue sky. His chest takes a deep breath, the manic aura around him dissipating. "Arimoto-sensei counseled a lot of parents while working for the SAO task force. He made sure to visit as many as he could that lost their children—that included Dr. Shigemura."
Then he really does know about us?
"No one's taking Yuna away, so you should show more respect for everyone's efforts. Maybe even trust in hers." Mylo reaches on the ground, his Sonic Buster lays at his side. Wet splotches fall on the dry-stone arena floor. Tears?
"Besides," Mylo says. "You're not the only one who's name didn't make it in the book."
Mylo picks up the Sonic Buster and lets it dissipate in a blue aura of pixels. He walks away with his win as I notice my health bar in the yellow. "You should figure out why you're still in this fight." He says.
"Who are you?" I finally ask. I know I never saw him in SAO, and there's no mention of a Mylo who uses double blades either or with fist fighting skills. I clamber to my feet.
Mylo half-turns with tears, blended with trembling eyes. He gazes with distant hatred—despair—exhaustion—what he's seen all along in our fight. His gaze relaxes, back into that dry stare, suppressing grief lurking.
"Just more collateral." His boots patter across the arena.
Eiji
Tokyo: Apartment: 44 Hours before operation start
Those crickets chirping in the dark corners of the apartment—I've logged out. Moonlight rays shine through the windows of our small studio. I close my eyes. Was fighting for Yuna's sake not enough? Can I even properly protect her, or am I still weak? Just like back then-
"Eiji?"
Huh? I stare at the ceiling in the dark. That sounded like Yuna—I press the side of the augma near my temple. Ruby eyes pixelate over mine as she leans on the couch overhead in a simulated nightgown.
"Are you ok?" She frowns. "That was—hard to watch."
"That guy—you're sure you couldn't find any records of him?" I ask.
"Y—yea," Yuna stammers and looks away. Maybe that bothered her; I didn't answer if I was ok.
"It's all right, you don't need to worry." I might prefer to keep my thoughts locked-in tonight though. I can't explain it yet—what's bothering me. I hate the idea of handing off Yuna to them, assurances or not, but—
"You should show more respect for everyone's efforts. Maybe even trust in hers."
Is he saying I don't trust Yuna? That's ridiculous—how can I let him get in my head like that? Yuna and I have always been together. Whenever we weren't, that's when-
"Are you worried about the mission?" She probes again.
"Yea, I am." And so much more. I look back into those Ruby eyes.
Yuna's white braid sways as she tilts her head. "Even if we're not always side-by-side, we've always kept each other safe, right?"
Maybe in ALO, but before—right now—things could get dangerous again. What happens when we get separated? What if this is just like SAO, when she left for the Field Dungeon with the guys in Fuurinkazan—and never came back?
"Nau—Eiji," Yuna starts, snapping me back.
She paused between her split thoughts. That's new. "What is it, Yuna?"
"I know after the diner, we both talked and agreed to work with Kikuoka—and that it's not ideal, but—why were you fighting today?" She murmurs. This time her eyes look away—maybe searching.
"I want to keep you safe." I twist one of her white braids to ease her, but she turns away. Is something wrong? "Yuna?"
Her white hair glows in moonlight. Her red eyes illuminate in the tears forming under them as she stands up.
"Yuna? What's wrong?" I stammer.
She turns her back as I lift from the couch. Should I reach out and console her?
"Am I a burden?" Yuna watches the moon again.
"No, Yuna, it's not that—" I step closer. "I'm just scared is all."
Yuna turns to me. "Scared of what?"
…That maybe I'm confused, and- "I'm afraid of losing you again."
"Was that—why you fought Mylo?" She asks. "Why you needed to?"
"I'm sorry about that." I want to hold her and make her feel safe.
"Ever since you and Kirito repaired my A.I., I see how you look at me—or sometimes don't—" She cradles herself. "So, do I make things complicated for you?"
I don't know what to say—has she always had these thoughts, and I just never noticed? Her programming—no, shehad such a blissful attitude today, or was I just not paying attention—was there more under the surface? She stands on the tips of her toes and pecks a kiss on my cheek, but she can't smile, just shying her eyes away. I haven't given her an answer. I can't give one.
"Try to get some sleep, all right?" She says as her body fades in dancing blue pixels, particles now in beams of moonlight, back into the augma where she locally resides. I drop into the couch. I couldn't say no.
Mylo
Tokyo: Apartment: 42 Hours before operation start
"Let me guess, still having doubts?" Arimoto sensei cuts through. We're at the walkway of his place and my temporary bed. I'm more tired than I expected.
"How do you read me so well?" I ask openly. Sure, Kikouka can too, but Ari's senses are different—Kikouka sniffs out weakness, Ari finds the roots of your thoughts.
"You wear your emotions on your face; it's even stronger when you're trying not to." Ari laughs. "Or maybe it's my paternal instincts kicking in." He knocks on the peach-colored door. Jules'll be pissed getting woken up at this hour because the old man forgot his keys when we were diving in GGO at the University.
A thump of footsteps approaches the door. There's a pause, a sigh, and then unlocking clicks. Jules swings the door open and appears with her hair tied back in a bun, and long flowing pajamas over her pregnant belly.
"Sorry! Sorry!" Arimoto sensei enthusiastically bows again and again. "We didn't expect to be out so late." He pushes my head down too.
I'm not the one who forgot his keys!
"Sorry, Julia-sensei." I give in to the bow out of respect.
Jules sighs and rubs her belly. "Just come in already, but next time, don't forget your keys, please."
"Yes, of course, sorry. Sorry." Arimoto sensei says with his nose to the ground still. This time, I bump his elbow, tell em to relax. We both raise our heads as the living room lights beacon. We all go inside.
"So, what's got you troubled?" Arimoto pops a beer can in the living room. He keeps his voice low—Jules is sleeping.
"Troubled?" Oh, right, emotions on my face. Ari smirks before he drinks.
I sigh. Maybe I went too rough on Eiji. "Whenever I think of Kayaba in the heat of a fight—"
Ari stops drinking and attentively leans on the dining room table. All ears.
"I lose myself." I admit it. I think about how the hurt I put on others will be what I put on him.
"You know, today you asked Eiji why he was still fighting," Ari sighs. "What about you, kid?"
"What do you mean?" I pull up a seat across from him. The living room bounces our voices, and then, the quiet lingers in a void. My thoughts gravitate around it. Maybe my feelings are what's filling the room, and right now—
Maybe I just need sleep.
Ari takes a deep breath and leans back in his seat. The moon, beaming, shines behind him through the living room's glass sliding door. "Caesar's spirit, ranging for revenge, with ate by his side come hot from hell, shall in these confines with a monarch's voice cry Havoc! and let slip the dogs of war."
Shakespeare quote. "Julius Caesar, easy."
"Well, I did say the name." Ari smiles until he eyes his drink. His eyes fall with his tone. "Can I be honest with you?"
"Sure."
"Right now—It's looking like you're on the war path of revenge."
Just me?
"But we're all going after Kayaba?" I ask.
"It might look like we're all on the same path, because we're working together, but deep down we're all in this for different reasons." He takes another sip, then lowers his can. "That matters, kid."
"Even if the end result is the same?"
"It won't be." Ari scoffs. The can abruptly clanks on the wooden table, a new sound disturbing the void. "When all of this is over, that grief and anger you're clinging to, it'll still be there, just waiting, at least until you figure out how to process it."
"I don't remember hiring you for a therapy session."
Why am I so defensive?
"It's on the house today." Ari smiles in the face of my rudeness. "Besides, It's not just for you. Eiji, Yuna, and I are sticking our necks out too."
"I won't be a detriment to the mission." I try to reassure.
"Like with Sanji?"
The silence fills back in. It looms over the living room, again, with a mass so great that everything gravitates there. Every thought—any word.
"Don't get me wrong," Ari says. "It wasn't your fault, but I know you think about it—in the way you lashed out at Eiji today."
"You're reaching." I stumble.
"You know, you and Eiji actually have a lot in common. You'd probably get along well if you tried."
I scoot out from the table and bow. This is too much for tonight. "Thank you for your time and patience, sensei. I'll think over what you said."
"Can I expect to see you in class tomorrow?" Ari scoots his seat back and stands with me. "You've been in Tokyo for quite a while now, and Kikuoka gave you freedom to enroll in classes. Forged student status or not, I'd hate to see you not finish your education because of Kayaba."
"Gee, I don't know—" I look away from him and scratch my cheek. I've been rude enough, I don't want him to think I'm blowing his class off, but-
Ari pouts before crinkling his can. "I was planning to start my lecture series on Freud and Macbeth."
"Don't I need to catch up on my readings then?" I distract.
"Mmmmmm." Ari keeps pouting at me.
"Is that pout practice for your daughter?" I deflect. Ari crosses his arms.
I yawn. "Geeze, this therapy session really emotionally wiped me. I think I'm gonna head to bed."
"Seriously?" Ari sighs.
"I'm going to take tomorrow to meditate on the mission, but I do think I'll feel up to everything after." I mean that. I've focused so much on Kayaba, and maybe that's because it feels like we're so far behind him, behind whatever's truly going on.
"Kid," Ari says. "Kayaba can't give you the peace you want."
Silence lingers in the living room after. Another palpable vacuum with faint echoes of the street outside. Silence harsh enough to hear my heartbeat pulsing.
"We'll see." I fill the silence.
*Author's Note: Hey Everyone! Thank you for your continued support with Sword Art Online Alternative: Specter. In this chapter I experimented a lot with the prose, especially in Eiji and Mylo's duel, so please let me know what you think! Last chapter I left an update that chapter 4 was turning into a beast to write, so I ended up splitting the chapter in two and making the later half chapter 5. It's still a beast. More than likely, I won't be releasing chapter 5 until next weekend instead of next Wednesday (a lot of personal life stuff is factoring into this as well), but fingers crossed! I'd like to find a way to put out something because the Holidays are coming around so I'll keep working my best! Until next time, peace, and stay safe!
-EF