Heart
of the Melting Blood
Legend
of the Moonlight
Written
and conceived by: Lone Wolf NEO
Lone Wolf NEO does not own any of all the games or anime or manga featured in this story, but he owns the copyright to all his original ideas in this fiction. The author would really appreciate it if readers do not plagiaries everything inside this story without his knowledge.
Chronological Note: Heart of the Melting Blood: Legend of the Moonlight takes place scarcely half a year after the event in Heart of the Melting Blood RELOADED, and currently runs roughly in parallel with Guilty Gear: the World within and Without written and created by Sheo Darren. This is Heart of Melting Blood: Legend of the Moonlight's new arc, the Awe of She Arc, which takes approximately a week after events in FATE Arc, and takes place in a peaceful, seaside town away from all the chaos and disorders. This is the arc where another half of the story will be revealed, thus completing the story… hopefully.
Chapter
18
About
Us
Sol was sitting on the bench outside the hotel room, gazing at the night sky while enjoying his usual sip of Marlboro-branded cigarette. Kagura was soundly sleeping inside the room, tired and exhausted after enjoying her time at the festival with Sol to its fullest extent. Sol cared less of the young girl, or anyone else who would be there, even as he was busy listening to the songs of Queen on his Discman and silently hummed the rhythm of Bohemian Rhapsody.
He stopped singing. Alex's angered and shocked face when he was advised to leave Dizzy still lingered inside his head. He sighed when he thought of the lone wolf's persistence to stay by the Gear's side whatever reason it would be, and he wondered of why Alex took his advice for granted. Not only he was worried of what would happen to Dizzy if she was forcibly abandoned, he was concerned of Ky's reaction if he were to see her getting close to his supposedly detested enemy.
x-x
"We'd like it if you and Kagura could come over to our summer house tomorrow. We're going to have our final BBQ before returning to our town, and it will be more fun if both of you are present."
"Why the hell do you want me to visit you, Dizzy? I can consider it if it's just a BBQ, but if it's Alex you're talking of, then I'm sorry. I can't go."
"Please, Sol. You promised to help him, right? You and Alex are quite friendly fellows back there, and I don't see anything wrong if you visit us. Do you have any problems with him?"
"Actually I don't, but what if he doesn't like seeing me?"
"Sol, please. He won't mind it if it's you. Will you come and join us for the BBQ?"
"Alright, alright. I'll try asking Kagura. If she wants to come, then I'll just follow her."
"Thank you so much, Sol."
x-x
Sol just sighed. Dizzy is surely a determined woman, he thought. He could only wonder whether there was any true reason behind the friendship bonded between her and Alex. "Maybe I'll have to talk with Lone Wolf regarding this matter… if he ever has something to talk about Alex," he pondered and changed the CD. This time, it was The Darkness, and he was now listening to the funky beat of I Believe In The Thing Called Love.
"You're still staying up?" He turned around and saw the sleepy Kagura walking toward him. He said nothing and continued listening to the CD, even as the girl took a seat next to him and rested her head upon his firmly built arm. Somehow, Sol didn't even attempt to resist it; he simply had no mood for such an argument.
"Ne, Sol-kun," Kagura spoke, after a very long time of silence.
Sol lowered the headphones and stared at her. "What is it this time, Kagura?"
"I just want to know something," Kagura said. "Did you have any grudge against Alexander-san? I saw you and him arguing during the firework display. Is there something the matter?"
He did not answer. That was another matter; the problem is should he answer? The thought of Alex protesting his suggestion to stay away from Dizzy and vowing himself to protect the Gear even he had to sacrifice his life, was all but annoying. And the thought of Dizzy getting too close in the way that he foresaw the relationship as more than mere friends was also disturbing, if not amusing.
"Sol-kun?" His bubblehead moment popped off, and he looked back at Kagura. "What's wrong? Why aren't you answering?"
"Sorry, Kagura," he told her and sighed. "I just have no mood to talk of anything."
"Oh, okay."
Kagura corrected the position of her head on his arm, and fell asleep. This startled Sol and he turned to see her sleeping face. "Oh, boy. You do like to be accompanied even in sleep, don't you?" he pondered and teasingly poked her cheek. She stirred at the playful poke, and he silently laughed at the reaction. He turned around, leaned against the hard steel frame of the bench and stared at the night sky, donning the headphones for the second time to continue enjoying the songs of The Darkness. And this time, he decided to let all thoughts drift away as his ears were already focused to the slow-paced song of Love Is Only a Feeling.
x-x-x-x-x
"Good morning, sir."
Slowly he opened his eyes. Stirred by the heat of the sunshine, he narrowed his eyelids when he looked up, and saw the two ruby eyes staring down at him.
"Good morning, Dizzy," lazily he replied and rubbed his eyes. "What are you doing in this early morning?"
The owner of the name giggled and gently rubbed his cheeks. "You silly. It's afternoon already, but I just want to say morning to you because I thought it'd be comfortable if I do so," she said.
Bedazzled, Alex tried to wake up when he found that his head was rested upon her lap. "Oh, great. You know that Testament would get mad if he saw me like this, don't you?" he uttered.
"Why would he?" she replied and continued rubbing his cheek. "He wouldn't be mad at you, I promise you."
"Oh, alright then. I guess there shouldn't be any reasons to be afraid of him," Alex said and got up from his back. He looked around the Devil's Living Place and noticed that the critters were all looking at them. "Why are they looking at us, Dizzy?" he asked and pointed at one of the creatures.
Dizzy just giggled and called one of the sparrow to perch upon her shoulder. "Don't be afraid of them, sir. They just want to be friendly toward you," she said and patted the bird's head.
"Oh, okay."
Alex just watched at her for a very long time, even as she 'talked' with the bird and giggled along. She noticed that she was being watched and giggled at his sheer curiosity. "What's wrong, sir? Do you never see someone doing this before?" she asked.
"No, Dizzy, but," and here he just grimly smiled. "You remind me of someone from a long time."
Dizzy's eyes shone very brightly when she heard the answer. "I do? Oh, will you tell me who the person is? I'd like to know," she uttered.
Along came Testament's disapproving cough, as the humanoid Gear walked toward them from his resting place under the tree. "Alexander, we need to talk," he spoke and lowered his scythe. "And as for you, Dizzy, spare us a bit of time and play somewhere else. It won't be long."
"Alright, Testament." With that said Dizzy bowed to Alex and moved to an area not far from the altar, humming a song as she did. "Don't talk with him too long, okay? I want to learn origami from him after this!" she called from faraway.
"Don't worry about us, okay?" Alex shouted back and turned his attention to Testament. "So, what business do you want to talk with me?"
"I remember my commander mentioning someone's name not a very long time ago," Testament said and took a seat on the bark. "And whenever I see you talking with Dizzy like nothing, you remind me of her very much."
"You sound awfully like you're jealous at us," Alex suggested, and here Testament glared at him with a murderous sight. "Okay, I better pull back my word. Then what does it have to do with me?"
"She had once said to me before her final battle with… someone," Testament said and coughed at the word 'someone', "that she had wished to meet this person again, because she had an unfinished business with him."
"If I may ask," Alex interrupted, "who is this person your commander was talking of? And who was this commander of yours?"
Testament took a very deep breath and stared at him. "She was talking about you, Alexander, and her name…" and here he frowned and tightly held the hilt of the scythe, "was Justice."
x-x
Alex woke up. It was the second time he had the weird dream, and he felt as if it wanted to haunt him for the rest of his life. Violently he shoved his hand through his head and fell back onto the bed, trying to think of the rationale behind the dream. "And who is this Justice…?" he whispered and rested an arm over his forehead. "Why do I have this feeling… that I've met this person before?"
Again, he closed his eyes yet it was not long before he felt his head being rested upon a lap. He opened his eyes, looked up and could only smile to see who was greeting him. "Good morning, Dizzy," he spoke and lazily yawned. "You know you don't have to do this every time, do you?"
"Why not?" she replied and placed a soft kiss upon his forehead. "Wake up, lazy boy. It's morning already."
"One thing before I wake up," he said and reached for her face, in which she took it and gently nuzzled her cheek against it. "Why are you being nice toward me, like, all the time?"
Dizzy just giggled and continued nuzzling it, feeling the rough texture of the palm against her soft skin. "Because you're my friend, and I should be nice toward my friend. And you know what? There's something you should know about me."
"Hmm? What is it?" he asked.
"It's about our past," Dizzy answered and tightly held his hand. "I know you still can't remember anything about it, but you must know something about it. And if you do…" And here she became silent and closed her eyes, as if there was something coming up in her mind. "I'd be more than happy," she half-whispered.
"What's wrong? What's the matter, Dizzy?" Alex asked and softly caressed her cheek.
Just then, the door was abruptly opened. Both of them looked at the door, and saw the mischievous faces of Hotaru, Millia and Hibiki who were teasingly laughing at their 'privacy'. Realizing that they had been eavesdropped, Alex and Dizzy quickly moved away and sat very far, not looking at each other.
"Aw, what's wrong with both of you?" Hotaru asked, even as a pair of fox ears popped on her head. "Come on! Continue your lovey-dovey scene, ne?"
"That was a surprise, you know," Millia added, "to see Dizzy waking Alex up in the most affectionate way she could think of."
"Indeed," Hibiki said. "And Dizzy-chan looks so lovely when she does the lonely face. Now do any of us know the song 'Lonely'? I think it suits Dizzy-chan very much right now."
"Why are you always bothering us!" Dizzy cried out in embarrassment and chased the three of them out of the room, leaving Alex in bewilderment. He could hear the girls shouting "because what you're doing just now is a no-no!" at her and Dizzy's disgraced reply at them. He just laughed at their unique friendship before fell back onto the bed, staring at the hand Dizzy was holding on. The unusual yet friendly warmth from the touch was still lingering, and he could feel it seeping through his skin, flowing through his vein and entering his heart, making it go wild.
He suddenly winced. A quick flashback of a certain event invaded his mind, and he trembled when he felt his head aching. A low-voiced groan came out of his mouth, and the pain was so building up that he slammed his fist upon the bedside table. "For everyone's sake, get out of my mind right now!" he screamed and slammed another fist on the table, utterly destroying it.
"Alex!" He turned around and saw Dizzy running back into the room. She immediately approached him and took his trembling hand. "What happened to you? We heard you screaming a while ago, and we rushed here immediately after that. What happened?"
"Goddammit…!" he growled. "What in the world had invaded my mind…?"
"Alex, what's the matter?" she asked and tightly held his hand. "Please, tell me what's going on."
His breath was hoarse. His eyes were wildly blinking, while sweats were seen coming down his cheeks and dripping off his chin. He was not looking at Dizzy, Hotaru or Hibiki as he was trying to get rid of the sudden pain.
He calmed down. "I need to talk with him…" he spoke in low voice and turned to Dizzy. "You still remember the paper bag doctor? Can you ask him to come over?"
x-x
Faust was deeply dedicated. Dizzy was in anxiety. Hotaru was worried. Hibiki remained calm. Millia and Venom looked at the doctor, who was busy checking Alex's eyesight, even as several of his mini-me were carrying his medical case around. Alex was not moving on the sofa as to let Faust examine himself, even as he let Dizzy holding his hand.
"I believe I have found the reason behind the sudden pain Mister Hahn endured," Faust spoke as he finished his examination.
"What is it, Doctor Faust?" Dizzy quickly asked. "Please tell us what it us."
Faust scratched his head and looked back at Alex, who was patiently waiting for the answer. "There are good news and bad news. Whichever news you want to hear, that I will explain."
"The good news, please," Dizzy begged and tightly held Alex's hand. "We'd like to hear the good news first, doctor."
The 9-feet-odd doctor nodded. "The good news is Mister Hahn is showing some sign of memory recovery."
Dizzy smiled very wide to hear the answer and turned to Alex. "Do you hear it, Alex? He said your memory is recovering. Oh, how good it is to know that," she spoke in relief.
"But the bad news is," and here Dizzy turned her attention to Faust, who seemed reluctant to give out the answer. "Mister Hahn will be pained every time his memory shows up." And this time Dizzy was so shocked that she almost protested Faust, yet Alex was quicker in asking her to calm down.
"What do you mean by 'will be pained', Faust-sensei?" Hibiki asked. "Isn't it good if Alexander-san has his memory recovered?"
"Most of my patients who have problem recalling their memories aren't affected by side-effects once their memories return," Faust explained. "For some, however, having their memories returned means that they will have to endure prolonged side-effects. These include unexpected breakdown, loss of appetite, and frequent nightmares. In some cases, patients are unable to apprehend with the surrounding environment, believing that they are being locked in solitude. This, if not solved quickly, can cost their life."
"No," Dizzy murmured and frowned. "I don't want this to happen to Alex… I don't want this to happen to him after he gets his memories back…" Alex said nothing and just held onto her hand, pleading her to accept the news.
"However," Faust said and made his usual 'peace' sign. "If any of you is willing to help him getting through the side-effects, Mister Hahn will be able to continue his life as the rest of us do. He needs someone to help him as a friend, and I'm sure he already has one by now."
"I'll do anything to help him," Dizzy uttered and tried to smile. "If it means to exchange my life, I'll do anything, as long as Alex recovers his memories and remembers our promise."
"Well, then, I'll take my leave now. Should anything happen to Mister Hahn or any of you need my help, don't hesitate to do so. I'll be honoured to help you as a doctor." Faust took his leave and departed from the summer house, and as usual shouted "VIVA WATASNE!" while flying with his umbrella. The summer group said nothing while watching at Faust and Venom started commenting on the rationale behind the 'regain with pain' explanation Faust had said earlier.
"Anou, I think I'll prepare the meals for the BBQ," Hotaru said and quickly walked to the kitchen.
"Then let me help you, Hotaru-chan," Hibiki suggested.
"I'm going out," Venom said before he was poked by an unsatisfied Millia. "What? I just want to take some fresh air. What's wrong with you?"
"Where do you think you're going?" Millia demanded. "Don't tell me you want to peek over under-aged girls, like what you did during the festival. You paedophile."
An embarrassed blush appeared upon his face. "That's not my intention! And stop accusing me, Millia!" he screamed and ran away from his angry wife, now armed to teeth with Angra.
All but Alex and Dizzy were no longer inside the living room. Now the two people were left alone, oblivious of anything happening around them. They were not saying anything even when they tried to open their mouth, although they did hold their hands.
"So," Alex finally broke off the silence and eased off the taut clench. "The doctor said that… I'm going to have a side-effect." He tried to chuckle, and he failed miserably. "Is this what I have to face if I were to have my memory back?"
"No! I will not allow that to happen!" Dizzy insisted. "I don't want to see you getting hurt, and I don't want any of those to hurt you!"
"But Dizzy, I…" And here he was promptly silenced. Dizzy was now staring at him, and her ruby eyes were now shining brightly. He tried to say anything, yet those eyes were as persistent as they usually were. Alex could only sigh and put an assuring hand over hers. "Don't worry about me too much. It's just temporary; it won't hurt me that much."
"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Dizzy asked.
"Of course I will," he answered. "Because nobody's going to harm me."
Dizzy immediately flung toward him and wrapped her arms about his neck. "Oh, I'm so glad to hear that," she said as she tightened the embrace. "I'm so happy now, Alex."
For a while, Alex was astounded by the unexpected hug the Gear/human hybrid gave him. Then he smiled and hugged her in return, proceeding to cuddle Dizzy as close as he could.
"Lonely,
I'm Mr. Lonely; I have nobody, all on my own, oh!
I'm
so lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely; I have nobody, all on my own, oh!
I'm
so lonely…"
The couple was startled when the cue of "Lonely" echoed. Dizzy, especially, realized that they were being under the cautious eyes of Hotaru, Hibiki and Millia, as well as the equally surprised Venom and immediately pulled herself away from Alex. "What was that for!" she demanded and glowered at the girls.
"Aw, that was so cute," Hotaru commented. "Being relaxed in Alex-san's arms; I wonder how it feels to be cuddled like that."
"If this weren't for Lone Wolf NEO, I'd have freaked out right now," Millia added.
"Why not? Lone Wolf-san knows about them the best," Hibiki answered and giggled. "But Hotaru-chan is right. Dizzy-chan was very cute in Alex-san's arms. She looks so lonely, but so happy."
"I suggest you three to stop teasing them, it's not good," Venom suggested, and here Hotaru, Hibiki and Millia glared at him in disgust. "What the hell! I was only suggesting!"
"Your suggestion is promptly ignored," Millia blatantly answered. "So shut the hell up and go somewhere else."
"Yeah!" Hotaru added. "You don't know the joy Dizzy-chan and the three of us always have!"
"You know, Venom-san," Hibiki spoke and made a 'no-no' hand gesture. "Getting involved in woman's affair will only ask for trouble, especially when it involves people like us."
This time, Dizzy had it enough. "That's it! I'm going to teach each and everyone of you right now!" and here Dizzy made defence to Ky's infamous quote of justice. "Your sin is beyond the grace of God!" She, then, chased the three girls out of the summer house, taking the disgraced Venom along. Alex watched at the group in bafflement before he shrugged and slowly leaned against the sofa. Silent as he was, he decided to let all troubles go away and went outside.
"What the hell is that noise?" Along came Sol's voice, as Alex headed to the hillside post. He turned around and saw Sol and Kagura walking toward the summer house, with the latter pointing at the disgraced Dizzy.
"How surprising to see you again here, Sol," Alex greeted.
"Yeah, about damn time I come over," Sol replied after letting Kagura go to join the chase. "So when will the BBQ start?"
"Oh, the one Dizzy suggested last night?" Alex replied and looked at the group who later chased the married Gear around the house. "She said it'll be held sometimes this evening, but I don't know why they don't do any preparations at this time."
Sol was about to say a word when he heard Dizzy's version of the quote of justice. "God? I don't want to have anything with it," he replied and grumbled. "Even Dizzy quoted Ky? I don't think he's going to like it. So," he said and shrugged. "Feeling any better?"
Alex turned around and gazed at the afternoon sky. "Yeah, somehow," he replied. "Though… my mind was a bit messed up."
"Hah, don't tell me it was Dizzy," Sol suggested.
"I'd have to, but it isn't about her." Alex later sighed and ran a hand across his hair, before putting it over the cross scar. "Faust came over a while ago, and he told us that I may start having my memory back."
"Okay, that was good," Sol said. "But what's wrong with you? You should be happy to hear that, shouldn't you?"
"Perhaps I should, but then," Alex spoke and sighed. "I may suffer from side-effects. I don't know what kind of the side-effects are, but it has to do with my memory."
"So the point is?"
"The point is, Sol, will it do any good if I get nothing but pain in return of having my memory back? And what's the point of getting it back when it keeps reminding me of someone?"
"Don't tell me it's Dizzy."
"How should I know it's Dizzy when the person was… not even her in the first place?"
"What do you mean?"
"Sol," and here Alex clenched a fist. "I had a dream a while ago. It was of her and someone named Testament. And this Testament told me in the dream, that I reminded him of his leader. Even now, I keep asking myself why I feel so familiar with the name, as if we had met before."
Sol seemed surprised, but he did not show it. "Just who are you talking about?"
"If I can ask you," Alex spoke and eased the fist. "Who is this Justice?"
x-x-x-x-x
Her steps halted. The red-haired Justine Harrier, who was wearing her usual turtleneck tank top with Levi's jeans, looked over her shoulder and gazed at the afternoon sky. Her best of friends Asamiya Athena and her newfound lover Rheo Farren were looking at her, not bothering the citizens of Athens who were occupied with their daily routines.
"What is it, 'Tine?" Athena asked.
"I don't know, 'Thena," she answered. "But I thought I heard someone calling my name."
"Oh, don't be such a silly, 'Tine," Athena replied and seized Justine's hand. "Come on! The theatre's going to start at any moment. You don't want to miss it, do you?"
"But Athena, I…"
Athena pouted at the reluctant answer and glanced to Rheo. "Rheo-san, do something about this Justine-chan, will you?" The suggestion made Justine blush in embarrassment and she quickly shrugged herself off Athena. "Aw, what's the matter with you, huh? You aren't usually like this."
"I'm alright, and don't try to make fun of our relationship, okay?" Justine demanded and seized Rheo's neck as to emphasize her words. "Do that again, and I'm going to PWN you like what happened during the assault."
"Hey, who are you to threaten me?" Athena replied in disgrace, despite her smiling face.
"Because I'm Justine, so fear me," Justine declared and stuck out her tongue at Athena. "PIIDAH!"
x-x-x-x-x
Sol grimaced. The name was far too familiar to him, and hearing it being spoken by the lone wolf of holy orders for the first time was far from pleasing. That name was not supposed to be said anymore; after all the events in his previous years, from the final judgment against the archetype Gear in Guilty Gear to the craziness and randomness of The Wedding Night 2 and previous instalments of Heart of Melting Blood ("I'm so gonna kill both of you, Sheo, Lone Wolf," Sol cursed under his breath), he had wanted to forget everything about the Gear, now transformed to the buxomly cute and overly energetic Justine (again, Sol cursed "damn you for pairing me with Justine, Sheo," before he gave it up), once and for all. And yet here, the lone wolf Alexander mentioned the name, and for a reason even he did not know.
"Sol?" He was startled and looked back at Alex. "Did anything hit your mind?"
"No, nothing," Sol answered and put a hand over his headband. "I was just surprised when you mentioned the name. But why did you tell me that you…?"
"Feel familiar?" Alex spoke and shrugged. "I don't even know, but I have this feeling… that this person may have an important answer I need."
Just then Dizzy ran toward him and hid behind his back. "Help me, Alex! Hotaru-chan, Hibiki-chan and Millia want to tickle me!" she cried.
"Are they?" Alex asked, even as he and Sol were equally surprised by the unexpected interference.
"Yes, they are!" Dizzy answered and clung onto him, while making her cutely afraid face. "Please, Alex, do something about them…!"
"Aw, look at her." Alex and Sol turned to the source of the voice and saw the three women walking toward them. "Hiding behind her newfound love in fear of us. I'm so jealous at Dizzy-chan," Hotaru said with mischievous eyesight.
"More like a boyfriend to me," Millia added.
"I just hope Ky-san isn't getting overly mad to see this lovey-dovey scene," Hibiki spoke and giggled. "But Alex-san as Dizzy-chan's boyfriend? That's a shocking development."
"Why are you suddenly making conclusions?" Dizzy demanded, even as her face was tainted with the bright colour of embarrassed blush. "He's a boy and he's a friend, but Alex's not my boyfriend!"
Alex scratched his head in amazement. "This is getting more complicated than ever…"
As for Sol, he just shrugged. "Whatever." Again, Kagura appeared from nowhere and gave him a big hug over his neck. Sol grumbled at the constant glomp but decided not to do anything about, and let himself be ogled.
Author's note: the song Dizzy hummed in Alex's dream of the Devil's Living Place was "Lonely" by Akon.
