The blond boy groaned. Simply put, he wasn't feeling too well. His body ached all over and his torso in particular felt like it had been put through a meat slicer. He weakly rested a hand over his stomach in a futile attempt to ease the painful sensation he was being assaulted by.

"Ah, you're finally awake" an oddly familiar voice exclaimed.

The blond slowly opened his eyes. His grimace deepened as his eyes adjusted to the light around him. Once his vision cleared, he was met with a sight he certainly did not expect; Bercouli Synthesis One.

"Are you okay?" The Legendary Swordsman asked, his tone tinged with concern.

"P-peachy" Eugeo croaked, wincing at how his throat stung as he spoke.

"How do you feel?"

"Like crap"

Bercouli himself winced at the boy's dry (no pun intended) reply "Would you like some water?"

Eugeo nodded in response. The older swordsman reached over and handed him a glass of lukewarm water. The blond muttered a quick thanks and proceeded to gulp down his drink. He emptied his glass in record time, inwardly thanking the gods for every sip that eased the dryness in his throat.

"That hit the spot" Eugeo commented before handing his empty glass back. It was then the blond decided to take in his surroundings. He seemed to be in some fancy infirmary, given the numerous vacant beds and intricate decorations scattered around the room. The place did not seem familiar, but he felt a strange sense of peace and comfort just by being in its space.

There were a million questions swimming in his head, but one in particular was able to slip past his lips.

"Where am I?" Eugeo asked with his head tilted slightly to the side.

"We're in the Axiom Church's healing ward. This is where injured Integrity Knights are treated and cared for" Bercouli answered.

The phrase 'Integrity Knights' sent a rush of thoughts through Eugeo's mind. He hissed and clutched the side of his head in pain.

"Take it easy. You've been out for a few days. You shouldn't overexert yourself" Bercouli advised.

A few days? That doesnt't sound right "Wh-what happened to me?" Eugeo mumbled shakily.

Bercouli rested a hand on the blond's shoulder "What's the last thing you remember?"

At the question, Eugeo did his best to recount his memories. The last thing he remembered, eh? He remembered dueling his best friend, which allowed him to come to his senses and break Quinella's hold over him. He remembered confronting Quinella and engaging her in battle.

He remembered…Alice.

The thought of her alone was enough to make his eyes moist with unshed tears.

In the middle of the battle against Quinella, Eugeo, with the help of Cardinal, was able to absorb Alice Zuberg's memory fragment. Doing so granted him the strength he needed in order to deal a massive blow to his enemy. Unfortunately for the blond, he was defeated before he could finish off the self-proclaimed Administrator.

As he absorbed his childhood friend and love's memories, time seemed to stop just for the two of them.

He was able to meet and have one last conversation with her memory fragment's personified form.

A conversation that he would never forget.

She was exactly as how he remembered her to be—kind, firm, cheerful, and understanding. Things were said between them, some that made his heart soar in happiness, and some that absolutely crushed his soul. In the end, what became clear was that even if she passed on, she would always live within him. She sent him off with her blessing, along with words that he waited for an eternity to hear from her.

"I remember…getting knocked out by the administrator" Eugeo finally answered.

Bercouli nodded "You were indeed knocked out. You've been unconscious for almost a week now"

The blond frowned. Almost a week? He must've missed so much then! "What happened while I was…out?"

Bercouli shook his head "Don't worry about that for now. Just focus on getting as much rest as you can. I'll get you up to speed eventually"

Eugeo didn't like being left out on what was going on especially since he and Kirito managed to uncover a plethora of truths about their world in such a short amount of time, but he knew that there was no arguing with Bercouli "Fine" he mumbled.

"I'll go inform the healer that you've woken up. I'll be back in a minute" the older swordsman said before turning and leaving.

The healer arrived a few minutes later with Bercouli in tow. Eugeo was informed that his recovery was going well, but also that he was still not yet ready to be discharged despite his improving health. He was advised to strictly stay in bed for at least a few more days and to avoid any strenuous activities, much to his chagrin.

Bercouli and the healer eventually left the room in order to allow him to rest more. After being left on his lonesome, Eugeo found himself at a loss on what to do next. He tried going back to sleep, but his body was far too rested. He glanced around the infirmary to see if he could busy himself with something; to no luck. He settled for simply laying in his bed and staring at the ceiling.

Minutes passed. The blond found himself growing restless. It felt wrong to just lounge in bed when so much was going on. What were they going to do next? What happened to the administrator? What about the other Integrity Knights? Weren't they tasked to stop/capture him and Kirito? If he was confined within the Axiom Church, that meant every threat they slipped past days ago should still be around, so why was he not apprehended yet? And why was he, a recognized intruder, being treated in a facility for Integrity Knights? Also, where was Kirito? What happened to him?

Eugeo sighed. He knew it would be best for himself if he got out of bed. He took another glance around the room; no one seemed to be around. Granted, there was definitely more than meets the eye inside the Axiom Church, but he would much rather risk getting caught by someone (or something) than stay in bed.

Gingerly, he swung his legs to the side of the bed, hissing lightly as his muscles protested after days of inactivity. When his feet touched the ground, he pressed his palms against the surface of mattress and pushed himself to a stand.

A sharp pain suddenly struck him at the waist. The blond bit his lip to restraint himself from groaning out loud. It took him a few moments to compose himself as the pain slowly began to subside.

"Well, at least I can still stand" he muttered to himself. It was then he noticed his clothes. He had been stripped of his combat gear and now wore a plaid shirt and a pair of pajama pants. He also noticed that his boots were conveniently placed beside a nearby nightstand. Either someone out there was looking out for him, or whoever brought him here forgot to confiscate them.

After going through the hell of putting on his boots, he performed a few stretches he learned at the Sword Mastery Academy. His whole body still hurt but he could at least stand on his own two feet. But now he was faced with another question; where was he going to go? The Axiom Church was large and he had no idea where he was exactly. For all he knew he could be in some secret area that he and Kirito weren't able to explore on their first go-round.

In an uncharacteristic display of spontaneity, the blond decided to simply shrug his shoulders and go wherever his feet would take him.

Eugeo wandered the halls of the Axiom Church. It was nice to be able to appreciate the beauty of the place for the first time, which was most likely amplified by the fact that nobody was chasing him this time around. He came to a stop once he caught sight of a large door. A part of him wondered if going beyond said door was a good idea, but his curiosity and restlessness came out on top.

Hesitantly, he reached for the handle and opened the door. The sight that greeted him on the other side made him gasp.

It was the same garden where he and Kirito encountered Alice Synthesis Thirty—the Cloudtop Garden. A sudden wave of tranquility washed over him. The cool breeze, the birds chirping, the verdant landscape, the clear blue water—it all helped to put him at ease. His primary purpose for intruding in this place was to clear his mind. It turns out doing so won't take too much effort on his part as the scenery alone was doing a bulk of the job just fine.

The blond opted to sit on a patch of grass underneath a nearby tree. Everything about his current setting made him feel nostalgic. It felt like he was a young boy all over again, taking a short break from his task of cutting down the Gigas Cedar and waiting for Alice to visit him.

A frowned etched itself across his lips.

It seemed that no matter what he did or how peaceful his surroundings were he just couldn't get Alice out of his head. Not that he minded thinking about her, it's just…difficult at the moment.

While he received some type of closure by getting to talk with her one last time before she passed, he had to admit that he still wasn't quite over things yet. He waited, hoped, ached, and yearned for her for over six years only to find out that the Alice he knew and loved was gone.

And she was never coming back.

As quickly as it came, the feeling of calm and peacefulness the scenery around him provided him with was replaced with a deep sadness. Any thought of Alice, his Alice, still left a bittersweet taste on his mouth.

He couldn't help but recall bits of their conversation.

"A-alice? I-is that…re-really you?" Eugeo stammered in disbelief. At that moment all that mattered was whether she was real or not; never mind that he felt and looked like he was eleven years-old all over again.

She shot him that beautiful, radiant smile of hers and it was all the confirmation he needed "Hello, Eugeo"

Tears of joy welled up in the blond's blue-green orbs. In a rare display of raw emotion, Eugeo flung his arms around the girl he thought he'd never see again. The boy held on tight, as if loosening his grip would cause his love to disappear. He buried his nose in her neck, inhaling the scent of vanilla and roses that he missed so much.

Eugeo began sobbing, and the tears he tried to keep at bay started falling uncontrollably.

He felt Alice's arms wrap around his neck "I'm here. It's okay" she reassured.

Her angelic voice made him sob harder "I never thought I'd see you again" he shakily mumbled.

Alice ran a hand through his hair to comfort him "Neither did I. But this is…short-lived"

The blond slowly pulled away and gazed into her deep blue irises "W-what do you mean?"

She smiled sadly and reached out to caress his cheek "This…is…not real"

"Excuse me," a soft but firm voice that sounded just like the one in his flash back started "correct me if I'm wrong, but shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"

Eugeo blinked rapidly a couple of times before craning his neck towards the source of the said voice.

For the umpeteenth time in the last hour, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

There stood Alice.

But not his Alice.

Alice Synthesis Thirty regarded Eugeo with a raised eyebrow. Her expression reminded him of one of the looks his Alice used to give him whenever she would catch him doing something not related to his assigned task. In his last interaction with his Alice, she didn't look a day over eleven. This Alice however was most probably his age.

It was another sight he never thought he'd see—a seventeen year-old Alice giving him one of her signature stern looks. And as expected, the very sight made him feel a certain type of way that he couldn't consider to be pleasant. A part of him was filled with joy upon seeing his love. But a larger part of him felt insulted. This person wasn't his Alice. She just looked exactly like her and shared her name. But she wasn't her. How dare she pose as her?

"Hello, are you there?" Synthesis Thirty's tone was tinged with exasperation.

"Yes, I am" Eugeo replied almost robotically.

The two teens' gazes met. Blue-green clashed with deep blue. The birds stopped singing, the wind got colder, and the greens didn't seem as green as before. It was as if even the universe understood the harsh reality that had fallen upon the two. A look that was once exchanged between the best of friends…

…was now one that was being exchanged between strangers.

"I am not certain if you heard me, but as I was saying, weren't you instructed to stay in bed for a non-descript amount of time?" Alice asked, sounding much like a teacher scolding a child.

"I was" Eugeo answered. It was so unlike the blond to be so…rebellious.

But he couldn't help it.

The last time he saw Alice Synthesis Thirty, he still believed that there was some way to bring his Alice back to existence. He was also not in the right state of mind back then—he was running for his life while trying to find a way to the top of the Axiom Church at the same time. He faced opponents who were far more powerful than he was, something that exhausted him physically, mentally, and emotionally. The roller coaster of emotions he saw upon seeing the face of his beloved was too much too handle. Shock, disbelief, anxiety, happiness; the whole enchilada. It failed to cross his mind that what he was desperately searching for was already out of reach.

Synthesis Thirty placed her hands on her hips in a scolding manner "Then what are you doing out here? Last time I checked, this isn't the infirmary. Return to your post at once!"

Eugeo clenched his fists. Alice's stern nature was one of the things he admired the most about her. But now, being on the receiving end of it was absolutely infuriating. Who was she to scold him like some child? They barely knew each other and she was talking him down like they were old pals.

"I'm not one of your subordinates" Eugeo replied coolly.

Synthesis Thirty narrowed her eyes at him "I didn't expect someone of your stature to be so brash"

"I seem to be defying everyone's expectations lately. Perhaps I'm in a bit of a streak" the blond shot back smoothly.

Alice's eye twitched "Return to the infirmary. I will not ask again" she pressed firmly.

Eugeo smiled innocently "Well, we don't always get what we ask for, do we?"

Alice fumed "I am a hair's breadth away from detaining you. Keep acting like a petulant child and I will see to it that you will be chained to your bed in the next minute"

The young man chuckled "I simply went out for a short walk in order to clear my mind, and now I am being treated like a criminal?"

"No, not a criminal; a deviant" Alice clarified with narrowed eyes "I am not here to antagonize you. But you must understand that we cannot afford to not have you at your best given what lies ahead"

"Then leave me be. I'm doing this to help myself" Eugeo explained.

Alice scoffed "I understand what you are attempting to do, but it would be much more beneficial to your health if you stay in bed and rest"

"I never knew you were a—" Eugeo was about to say that he never knew Alice was a healer, but that was a complete lie. His Alice was one of the brightest, smartest people he knew and one of her best talents had to do with medicine. Even at an early age, Alice Zuberg was already one of the best healers (if not, the best) in all of Ruild.

"Were a what?" Synthesis Thirty asked with a raised eyebrow.

Eugeo shook his head "Nothing"

Eugeo was quickly learning that it wasn't easy to move on from losing your first great love when someone who looked exactly like her was standing in front of you.

The blonde rolled her eyes "If you say so"

Eugeo sighed "Don't you have anything better to do than scold me?"

Alice crossed her arms haughtily "As a matter of fact, I have plenty of better things to do! You just happened to be here as I was planning to begin my meditation!"

It was Eugeo's turn to raise an eyebrow "So you're scolding me for doing something you yourself were about to do?"

The blonde closed her eyes and drew in a deep, deep breath. It was apparent that she was getting agitated, and for some reason, Eugeo couldn't bring himself to care.

"I've had it with you. I ask you to do what's best for you, and you act like a complete brat in return" the Integrity Knight turned on her heels and began to walk away "Fine. Stay here then. What happens to you is none of my concern"

Eugeo watched her back as she left.

And he couldn't understand why watching a stranger walk away from him was so heartbreaking.

A/N: Greetings! It's been years since I've written an SAO fanfic. I admit I've been out of the loop with SAO. The last thing I remember is Eugeo dying. I completely stopped following the series after that tbh, because I was so upset over my favorite character dying. After years of being away from the series, I've decided to make a small comeback, and also because THERE AREN'T ENOUGH EUGEOXALICE FICS IN THE WORLD! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this one. This won't be a traditional long-fic; it'll be more like a collection of one-shots following one universe. As you can already tell from the summary of this story, this'll be an AU where Eugeo lives and is able to rekindle his relationship with Alice Synthesis Thirty. I've always wanted a fic where Eugeo acts more like an angsty teen/asshole from time to time. Anyways, stay safe and see you next time!