So, I'm probably gonna be speeding through the rest of this because Haseo beating Sakaki was the main game of this story. Meaning now it's time to get to Yuuichi's awakening.
"-We found Yata. Then he ran off… then we found him again. It doesn't surprise me he turned out to be an epitaph user like me." Ryou said as he walked up to the nearest window and pulled the blinds back, allowing sunlight to fall into the hospital room. The sunlight skittered across the air and landed on Yuuichi's still form.
He knew he shouldn't be saying any of this, but Yuuichi was in a coma and dammit Ryou had to vent somehow. He already told all of this to Shino a day prior but … he felt like Yuuichi had to know too. The sunlight illuminated the dust particles that floated in the air.
"Now, that Yata has finally calmed down, and got the shit slapped out of him by Pi, we're all just waiting on an email from him. Then, just yesterday, Bo went missing and I won't lie…I was actually scared, but thankfully, we managed to find him before anything bad happened…"
Ryou sat back down and crossed his ankles together. "I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that Sakaki's PC most likely got deleted, and his IP address permabanned. He's no more. One less thorn in our side…" He sat back in his chair at this as he reached over and grabbed Yuuichi's right hand. He looked at the scarred knuckles once more and ran his thumb over the little white scars. "Saying I miss you would be redundant at this point… but I'm still going to say it. I miss you."
There was some silence as Ryou only listened to the beeping of Yuuichi's heart monitor. "I can't believe it's been two months since you got PK'd. It feels like an eternity." He sighed heavily. "Gaspard is back at the shop again. He's also been helping newbie players on occasion… but that's few and far between. People are staying far away from The World and with good reason. It's all going to come to a head soon I know it, but rest assure, Silabus, when it does I'll be ready-"
Ryou nearly leapt out of his skin when the curtain divider was yanked open. Ryou looked over his shoulder to see who had felt the need to open the curtain like they were hoping to catch their significant other cheating on them.
That was when little Suki threw herself at him.
"Whoa, there!" Ryou quickly caught the little girl as she wiggled against him like he was a life line. For a moment he felt a little confused, and a little honored, that this little girl who was usually so shy and reserved would throw herself at him like that. He wondered if he had grown on her.
But then he realized she was shaking violently against his torso.
She didn't throw herself at him because she was happy to see him. She threw herself at him because she was scared and he was the only one around that wasn't in a coma. Which begged the question: Where was Aoyama?
"Hey… hey…" he gently pulled Suki's head up just a little so she could look at him. Her big soulful brown eyes were filled with tears and she was absolutely quaking at this point. "What's the matter?"
Suki shook her head almost violently as she sniffled and then covered her mouth with both of her hands to suppress her cries.
'She's forcing herself to be quiet. Meaning that crying out loud or even being vocal about anything was met with punishment probably from her father or mother. I don't want to know what kind of punishment she would face, but it had to be bad if she's still trying to stay quiet even in Aoyama's custody...'
…
'Unless-'
The moment the realization hit him it was too late as the hospital door opened again and a male voice suddenly spoke through the quiet. "Natsuki?" The voice was rough sounding to Ryou. It also reminded Ryou of Antares as the man sounded older. He also sounded like he smoked, a lot. This man sounded like a chainsmoker. Like he smoked two packs a day and judging by the smell that was starting to waft through the room. Ryou was sure he was right about that.
The soft tapping of this man's shoes against the linoleum floors was enough to make Ryou's heart leap. So he couldn't imagine how scared Suki was as she now clenched her tiny hands against her mouth so hard that it made Ryou afraid that she was going to hurt herself.
He reached up and pulled her head into his chest just as this man grabbed the curtain and pulled it. The rings jingled and Ryou turned to look over his shoulder at Yuuichi's step father.
This man stood tall. Taller than Ryou, who was 5'7", by half a foot. His hair was black and stringy and greasy like he hadn't washed it in months. He had an equally greasy mass of stubble along his chin and cheeks alike. His clothes hung limply off of him and looked to be about two sizes too big. To put it all bluntly, he looked homeless.
"Who?..." The man asked as he pointed at Ryou.
Ryou raised an eyebrow. An opinion on this man already forming in his brain. "I could ask you the same thing." he huffed before turning away from the man. Ryou then reached up and patted Suki's hair.
"Err… right. You know Yuuichi?"
"Yep." Ryou kept his answer one worded and as non-committal as possible. Suki started to calm down just a little bit as she was focusing on Ryou's breathing. Which he purposefully kept calm for her.
"Eh? He never mentioned having a friend."
"From what I gathered he doesn't talk to you. So, that could be why."
Ryou could feel the man tense up at his less than ideal attitude towards him. "I see…" The man started to walk up to Ryou. Which caused Suki to stir against him a little. "Natsuki, leave that boy alone-"
"-She's not bugging me." Ryou kept his voice firm as he said this. "So, it's fine."
Now that the man was closer, Ryou could definitely smell him. He reeked of stale cigarettes mostly, with an undertone of week old beer that's been left out in the sun. The man's beady black eyes hardened and his shoulders tensed up even more if that were even possible.
"...tch." he huffed and turned towards Yuuichi's still form. "I didn't even know he fell into a coma. Turns out his grandmother kept it from us."
"..." Ryou didn't answer as he just continued on making sure Suki wasn't going to have a panic attack.
"Bah. The boy was nothing but trouble. I guess it was only a matter of time before something like this would happen to him."
Ryou had to bite his lip to keep from snapping at the man to 'Shut the hell up!' as he usually would. As Haseo would. Ryou had to remind himself he wasn't Haseo right now. That Silabus wasn't the one being insulted. But damn, if it wasn't hard.
"I mean…it's sad-" Clearly this man had a hard time reading the room as he continued on. "- But maybe it's for the best in the end-"
"Excuse me?" Ryou snarled at the man no longer able to keep quiet.
"I'm only just saying, if he ever wakes up then maybe he'll want to…I don't know… rethink his life and what led him to this point. Maybe he'll wake up both physically and mentally and get a more…erm realistic diploma."
"Please-" Ryou rolled his eyes before looking down at Suki just to make sure she was okay. She was, and he continued. "What diploma do you have, sir?"
Oh, that hit a button. The man's face turned red in a heartbeat and Ryou smirked. "That's what I thought." He couldn't help but say before tapping Suki on the shoulder to get her to look at him. "C'mon. I'll buy you a soda while we look for your grandmother." Ryou told her while also letting this man know that he knew who had guardianship over Suki.
Suki looked a little nervous, but in the end relented before wiggling off of his lap. Ryou grabbed her hand after he stood. It wasn't until the two were walking out of the room did Yuuichi's stepfather speak to him again. "I'd watch that attitude of yours. It's going to get you in trouble one day, young man."
Haseo came out before Ryou could stop it. "Yeah, well you're not me and I don't give a damn what you or anybody else thinks! Not while you just barge in here and start talking down to my friend while he's laying in a coma. Fuck you." He then turned and briskly walked out of the hospital room with Suki in tow.
"Thank you…" Suki whispered as she and Ryou sat in empty chairs of the waiting room. A can of root beer resting between both of her hands. "...He surprise me." She confessed.
"It's alright. I'm just glad I was there. I can't imagine what would have happened if you had been alone."
"I know… usually big brother keeps daddy away…"
"Right, you guys are half-siblings." Ryou was reminded as he popped open his own cola. It was cold to the touch and when he opened it some of it tried to spill out. He quickly had to slurp it up. "Has he-" Ryou paused to hiccup. "Has he, Yuuichi I mean, been in many fights with your father before he fell into a coma?"
"Ermm…" Suki kicked her little legs as she thought about it. "Just once. No punches were thrown, but he pushed daddy down. Daddy stopped being violent with him after that. I think the fact that big brother managed to push him to the ground scared him."
'Classic. The physical abuse stops when the abuser realizes that their victim can punch and push back; sometimes twice as hard. Really, it stops when the victim stops being afraid.' Ryou thought as he took another stip of his soda.
"Suki… when did your grandmother get custody of you?"
She kicked her little legs a little faster. "In june." She admitted.
'Two months ago, no wonder she's so quiet.'
"I see."
"But it's only temporary so I don't get put into the system. Grandma is trying her best, but she's not as young as she use to be. That's why big brother is-...was studying hard so he could get his degree early. So he can get custody of me as fast as possible. He doesn't want me in the system and he certainly doesn't want me going back to mommy and daddy."
'Oh jeez.' It was a messy situation for Silabus and Yuuichi alike. There wasn't a doubt in Ryou's mind that Yuuichi had to be stressed every day. 'And yet… he never let it show. Not once. He was never vocal about his home life or even his studies. Or even that he was trying to graduate at nineteen years old! Wow…I admire him for that. I really do…'
"I'm sorry for climbing into your lap like that." Suki suddenly said as she played with the tab on her can.
"It's okay. I understand also, your full name is Natsuki?"
She scrunched her nose at that. "Hate it. Natsuki is only for when I'm in trouble."
"Oh, I see…. Why were you in trouble with him?"
"I wouldn't give him a hug and then I ran from him. It made him angry." The little tab popped off of the can now and she suddenly looked confused about what to do with it. Her face turned sad as she pocketed the little metal tab. "Be honest with me, Mister. Is big brother ever going to wake up?"
"He is. Because I'm going to make sure of it, Suki."
"You say that… but… is it even possible?! What if…what if he never wakes up?! What if something happens to grandma and big brother won't be there to protect me? I-..." Suki whined as tears started to stream down her face. "I don't want to go back."
"..." Ryou reached over and wrapped an arm around Suki, pulling her into a sideways hug. She responded by putting her face against his side and sniffling. "I'm going to get him back because I know it's possible. He may not wake up today, or tomorrow, or even next week, but know that your big brother is going to wake up and when he does. You're going to be the first thing on his mind, I'm sure."
"...Hm…" Suki hummed as she took a silent sip of her soda.
"So, chin up." Ryou lightly flicked his index finger under her chin making her look at him. He then smiled at her. This made her smile back at him.
"Big brother is right!"
"Huh, about what?"
"That you have a nice smile."
Ryou blushed a little as he rubbed at the back of his head. "Please, you don't even know who I am in that game." He tried to play it off before he got a cocky little smile on his lips. "For all you know. I could be Gaspard."
Suki's nose scrunched up again. "No. I've heard Gaspard's voice. You're not as whiny, nor are you as high-pitched as he is. No. I figured it out the moment I heard you speak. You're Hasayo."
"It's Haseo." He corrected her with a fond sigh. He then lightly ruffled her hair. "How many gaming sessions do you sit in on?"
"Mainly when I get to stay the weekend at his apartment. Sometimes he plays the game on the TV so I can watch him play in real time. Though, sometimes, when he thinks I've gone to bed, I'll sneak in and watch him play. He plays with Gaspard the most, but you're a close second."
"Well, aren't you smart." Ryou smiled.
"Suki, thank goodness, I was so worried." Aoyama came off of the elevator in a rush. "I thought Kai had gotten to you."
'So, his name is Kai. Good to know.' Ryou thought as Aoyama swiftly walked up to them.
"You know. I think I get why Yuuichi hates his stepfather. He seems like a jackass." Ryou sighed as he put his arm across the back of the seat next to him. He also crossed one leg over the other just as well.
"Yes…" Aoyama grimaced. "So, you met him?"
"Unfortunately. Just know he didn't do anything to Suki. I was in the room the whole time."
Another sigh left Aoyama's mouth before she reached a hand out for Suki to take. Suki jumped up from her seat and took her grandmother's hand. "Well, I thank you. I'm glad you were here today."
"No problem. I'm glad I was there as well."
"R…yo…Ryou?! Oh god, Ryou!?"
Ryou groaned. His head was pounding. 'Did someone get the license plate of the truck that hit me?' He thought as he tried to crack his eyes open. The light was just too much and Ryou quickly reshut his eyes.
"Ryou! Please, please don't do this! Not again!" His brother sounded far away, but at the same time it sounded like he was crying or at the very least having a panic attack. Hearing his brother's frantic voice, Ryou gave a loud and low groan. His groan made his brother's frantic sobs, yes, sobs, calm down into mere mewling whimpers.
"Oh- Oh thank god…" Toga whispered and that was when Ryou was starting to feel again. He felt his body move and be readjusted and that's when he realized that Toga had him in his arms. "I thought- …are you okay?" Toga sounded so much younger than his current age. Between the whine in his voice and how quiet and small his voice was he sounded more akin to a child than a teenager.
Ryou tried to open his eyes again, but the lights were just too bright. This time he covered his eyes with the palm of his right hand. 'What happened?... oh…' Memories of his fight with Ovan danced throughout his mind. 'That's right. Ovan triggered the rebirth…and I nearly became a lost one because of it.' Ryou wanted to be mad about the whole situation, but he couldn't be. He literally couldn't be he was just too tired.
After the rebirth of The World. Haseo nearly lost himself and almost separated from Skeith, but in the end he pulled through. He thought about his friends at that moment. About how much he had changed and grew as a person. How his friends helped him change and how they still needed him as much as he needed them.
Zelkova had hacked into Haseo's PC and gave him a final form. The X-form that had allowed him to use the dual guns. He, along with all the others were all teleported to the netslum where they were then taken to Mac Anu.
Now Ryou was here in his brother's arms.
"Ryou?" Toga whispered after some time of silence.
"What happened, Toga?" Ryou whispered. His voice sounding hoarse even to his own ears.
Toga's breath lightly hitched before shaking entirely. "I-I dunno…I-I jus-just got home not too long ago and I hea-heard you screaming. At first I thought-" He sniffled loudly, almost obnoxiously, before he spoke again. "-I thought it was a normal gaming session for you, but these screams…they sounded different. So, I came to check on you- you were… you were on the floor by the time I came in. I've been trying to wake you for- I dunno…five minutes now…" Toga sniffled again. "I thought you had fallen into another coma. I was… I was so scared."
Ryou moved his hand from his eyes and was finally able to open them. The light was harsh at first, but his eyes quickly adjusted. Toga had tearstains running down his cheeks, his eyes were red, puffy, and was still blinking tears away every few seconds.
"I almost called for an ambulance." Toga then admitted as he brought his right hand up to wipe his nose.
"Well, I'm glad you didn't…" Ryou sighed as he threw his head back almost dramatically. He then rubbed at his temples with his right hand. His headache was a dull throb.
"What happened in the game? Was it those black dots?"
"...Yes and No. It's really complicated to put into words. Just know that I'm fine now and thank you…" Ryou finally shifted so his brother could let him go. Toga did so and moved so his legs were resting under his thighs. Ryou groaned again as he rested his back against his bed.
That was when Toga surprised him by wrapping his arms around Ryou's shoulders and pulled him to a hug. Ryou let out a shocked noise at this sudden display of affection. Ryou nearly pushed his little brother off of him, but he eventually just relaxed and sighed heavily. He reached up just as well and wrapped his arms around his brother just the same.
For a moment it was just the two of them sharing a hug before Toga eventually pulled away, and then he slugged Ryou right in the shoulder.
"Ow!" Ryou cursed out at the sudden attack.
"That's for scaring me, you jerk! I told you to take it easy on that game, I told you to be careful."
"Okay, yeah…I deserved that." Ryou gave a weak sigh at his brother and he then grabbed on to his bed to help hoist himself up to his feet.
Toga softened a little and he got up just as well. "Don't scare me like that again, or next time…I'll tell mom."
Ryou shuttered. He was thankful that his mother was at the shop today. If she were home when it happened… he might not have a game anymore.
He loved his mother to death, but if she got wind that he was put into another coma from The World then she would not be above throwing the game out for the safety of her children regardless if Ryou bought it himself or not.
"I hear you loud and clear."
Days passed since the 'Rebirth' of The World, and that's when Ryou was delighted to learn that not only has AIDA basically vanished completely from The World, but the lost ones… they were waking up. Waking up at their own pace, some woke up instantly, while others…Silabus, Shino, and Alkaid in particular…were still asleep. Their consciousness still wondering The World like ghosts.
Still, regardless if people were waking up, it wasn't over. Not yet anyways.
Not with the third network crisis looming directly over them.
