DM 1988: After two brutal exams, I'm back with Chapter 9 of Meridian's Kiss. Hopefully it turned out well.
Hay Lin: How brutal?
Elk: So brutal that it could eat you alive, right?
DM 1988: Yep. So Tsukasa, you finally have the guts to back in the game.
Tsukasa: Whoop-dee-frickin-doo for me.
Elyon: Come on, it isn't that bad, right?
Tsukasa: You haven't seen anything yet. And before we forget, the only thing DM 1988 owns is this rather stupid, crappy fic.
DM 1988: Read on.
Log Entry 8—Return
December 2, 2011
Fadden Falls, 4:00 PM
The students of the snow covered Fadden Falls High School have just gotten out for the day and weekend.
"See you at tomorrow's game, Whedon."
The dark-haired student waved goodbye at his teammate as he made his way back to the orphanage. Earlier, he received news that his team was going to face their local rivals at Sheffield High.
Though his team was thrilled to duke it out with their rivals, Whedon always hated facing them. Much of the players have caused personal fouls on him and most of the time it was on purpose. Whedon doesn't know why it's like this, but he tried his best to ignore it. Sheffield's team captain, Caleb, usually apologized to him. Whenever he's around their captain, Whedon felt at ease.
As he waited for the crosswalk signal to light up, several thoughts came to his mind.
"So, we're playing against Sheffield. That's where that Tsukasa kid is, as well as those girls I once known. I hope that retard Matt doesn't foul me like last time."
After crossing the crosswalk however, his head started hurting him again.
"Ungh! It's getting worse. Those painful memories. Why can't I seem to remove them." he thought.
No matter how hard he tried, these memories continue to haunt him. As he continued to head toward the orphanage, the pain started to subside from him. As he entered the orphanage, he headed straight to his room. He made sure that no one is around, like usual. He locked himself in his room and turned on his computer.
Meanwhile, in Heatherfield,
Around the same time, the students of Sheffield High got out of school for the day. While Tsukasa and his new friend Elyon were en route to his new home, they began talking on their day.
"Uh, sorry about that paint incident earlier with Hay Lin." apologized Elyon.
"That's all right. It's expected for a first day. Besides, maybe things might get better for me."
"So what's it like in Japan."
As Elyon asked that question, Tsukasa remembered what's it like living back in Shimokita.
"It's nothing worth mentioning. Why do you ask?" snapped Tsukasa.
"Uh, sorry, I was just asking, that's all."
"No, I'm sorry I yelled at you. It's just; I don't want to talk about it right now. But, I'm been meaning to ask you; why did you ask about me falling into a coma earlier?"
"Because someone has attacked me while I was playing the World."
Hearing that comment awaken Tsukasa to a nostalgic moment that he didn't want to remember. Tsukasa wondered how much has changed in the World since he abandoned over a year ago.
He then said, "Go on."
"It happened a few days, before you came to Sheffield…"
Elyon told Tsukasa as they approached Susan Vandom's house, his new home. When they went inside, they headed upstairs to his room.
"So that's the story, huh? Sounds like nothing has changed for the better. And you say this Wiru guy is looking for me? Looks like someone's desperate for me to return there." said Tsukasa.
He glanced at the room with the sign that read "DO NOT ENTER." He looked at it with curiosity and confusion.
"How come I didn't notice that sign last night? I wonder what's in that room." he thought.
"Tsukasa, what's up?"
"Oh, nothing. You sure you want to play the World after what you just experienced. What if it were to happen to you again?" asked Tsukasa.
"You should ask that yourself." argued Elyon.
"Uh, let's go to my room."
"So you're going to log in again, huh? Then I'm coming with you."
He pulled out a head visor from a box he hadn't opened yet. This visor was necessary to play the World and while Tsukasa usually uses his desktop for his homework, this is the first time he used the visor in a while. He turned on his computer, connected the two controllers, and waited for it to load up.
"What am I thinking?" was all Tsukasa had in mind.
A few minutes later, Tsukasa and Elyon were in the World. Gold rings disappeared from the two students as they were in the Mac Anu area. Tsukasa looked at what Elyon's avatar looked like. She had a blue headband along with a blue dress that resembles something that royalty wears. She however, didn't have a high level staff; she did however possess a small, yet significantly powerful knife for protection.
"So what do you think of my outfit?"
"Uh, good?"
Tsukasa later observed the Mac Anu area. He thought that nothing has changed too much from a year ago. While it was nice for Elyon to be with him, Elyon noticed him trembling uncontrollably. She thought that her arm around his body was making him feel uncomfortable. But this was not the case.
"Something the matter, Tsukasa?"
"N-no, it's just that it's been a long time since I've been here. This feeling, it feels so strange."
"Maybe we could fight some monsters to get you going again. We'll head to a low level dungeon to get you reacquainted with this game."
"Okay." said Tsukasa as he thought, "I have a bad feeling about this."
As the next few hours or so passed, Elyon and Tsukasa fought against any monsters they came across with. While Tsukasa was somewhat rusty with his skills, Elyon helped him out with her spells that obliterated their adversaries
After a few battles, they decided to take a break from swordplay, or staffplay as the two were wavemasters.
"So, are you okay?" asked Elyon.
"Yeah, I guess I'm a bit rusty back there, huh? So this Wiru guy that attacked you, do you have any reason why?" asked Tsukasa, as Elyon simply nodded "No."
"Ah, sir Tsukasa, it's been awhile, hasn't it? And Lady Elyon, Have you recovered from earlier this week?" Spoke a commanding voice behind the two students.
The man that stood before Tsukasa and Elyon was none other than Silver Knight.
"Silver Knight? What are you doing here?"
"I need you to come with me to the Chapel. You need to keep your eye on Elyon when we go over there." commanded SK.
"Why?"
"Subaru's being attacked! That PK is at it again and he'll more than likely attack Elyon once more. That's why I said that."
"WHAT?!?"
"Subaru? Are the Guardians there, Silver Knight?" asked Elyon.
"No, unfortunately. I tried contacting them to no avail." Said SK.
"Elyon, you know who Subaru is?"
"Precisely; the Guardians of Veil have worked with the Crimson Knights numerous times, locating bugs and viruses in the game system."
"S-subaru…." Tsukasa's voice croaked in anxiety as he remembers the person who helped him get out of the virtual hell.
"Tsukasa, I know you don't like the idea of coming back here, but this time Subaru needs your help. We must hurry!"
A few minutes later, the three arrived at the Chapel. Both Tsukasa and Elyon felt uneasy as Elyon's unable to contact with her friends I.T.C.H., making her an easy target for the Player Killer; and Tsukasa is very weak with his melee and magic skills, even before he couldn't log out a year ago. Silver Knight led the way for the two wavemasters inside the Chapel.
"Damn, can't get contact with them." said Elyon.
"The Guardians?" said Tsukasa.
"Yes, Tsukasa. Either they're at basketball practice or doing homework."
"Careful, you two. This could be a tough battle. Let's search the area and find if Subaru is alright." said SK.
They searched the area in hopes of finding Lady Subaru. SK ordered Tsukasa and Elyon to stay behind him to watch his back.
"Tsukasa, what finally drove you back into the World?" asked SK.
"Hey, does it matter right now?" responded Tsukasa.
As they reach the stairs, Tsukasa heard faint sobbing nearby.
"Tsukasa, did you hear that?"
"Yeah, I heard it too, Elyon. Hey SK, we're going to check over there, all right?"
"Be careful, Lady Elyon. Keep keen eye with her, sir Tsukasa."
The two wavemasters looked to see where the crying is coming from. As they walked toward the next room, the crying was becoming clearer. The entered through the door, but what they saw was something they didn't expect.
"Subaru? SUBARU!"
What Elyon and Tsukasa saw was in fact Subaru. However, she was battered and cut all over her body. Her wings were stained of blood, her hair was completely messed up, and much of her clothing was in shreds, making her appear only in her underwear. Tsukasa rushed to her side, with Elyon following him.
"Subaru?!? Are you all right?!?" panicked Tsukasa.
"Tsukasa, I'm sent SK a message that we found Lady Subaru." said Elyon.
"Thanks, Elyon. Subaru, can you hear me? It's me, Tsukasa! Subaru?!?"
The blue-haired angel groaned in pain, trying to open her eyes to see who was talking to her. What she saw was the person she deeply cared about the most.
"Ts-tsukasa? Is that you? Is it really you?" croaked Subaru. As she opened her eyes, she saw her blonde haired acquaintance and her Soma.
"Tsukasa, it is you! Tsukasa, it's been so long since I last saw you!" she cried as she hugged her white haired friend. "I've missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, my blue haired angel. But we need to get you out of here. Elyon, can you help me with Subaru?" asked Tsukasa.
"Right."
As the three headed toward the door, something struck Tsukasa and Elyon's mind in pain.
"Tsukasa, you've returned."
"Who's there? And what have done with Subaru?!?"
"Ever wonder to yourself if logging off of the World after a long time is really worth it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, is your life really heading to the right path after you logged out."
"Please, show yourself."
The boy did what Tsukasa requested.
"It's you again, Wiru." said Elyon.
"So you have recovered, Elyon. That was quicker than expected. But I'm not interested in you today. Who I'm interested with today is none other than the little wavemaster right by you, Elyon."
"You mean Tsukasa?"
"Yes, I mean HIM!" Wiru then shot a lightning bolt at Tsukasa, pulling him towards the dark haired boy. Tsukasa screamed as electricity surged his body with pain. Silver Knight just came to the scene at the right time as Tsukasa was trapped in a barrier with the PK.
"Lord Tsukasa!" yelled SK.
"Please stay out of this, Crimson dick!" said Wiru.
As the barrier enclosed Wiru and Tsukasa, Tsukasa felt the electricity go away, but the pain was still there.
"Elyon! What's happening?" yelled a girl.
"Irma, I'm so glad to see you guys." said Elyon.
"Those girls!" thought Wiru.
At the same time, the Guardians of Veil have arrived on the scene. The four girls arrived late because of practice. Luckily, they came just at the right time.
"Sorry, we're late. What happened here?" said Irma.
"I'm not sure. First Subaru got attacked by that same Player Killer who attacked me. Then he dragged that new kid into that barrier. But, I'm not sure what's he doing to him."
"Did you mean Wiru?!?" exclaimed Cornelia.
"Is that kid, Tsukasa, okay?" asked Taranee.
"He appears so, but I don't know." said Hay Lin.
"Can you one of help me restore some health to Subaru?" Elyon said as she cast a spell that engulfed Subaru with a white light. Cornelia aided her friend to heal the blue haired angel.
While those two were helping Subaru recover, the others saw Wiru and Tsukasa inside the barrier. As they watched the two players in the barrier helplessly, they wondered what he wanted with Tsukasa.
"Tsukasa, can you tell me what's it like to be stuck in game for six long, solitary months? Please tell me." Wiru asked
"What? Just where are you getting at, Wiru?"
"I mean, weren't you the one that was using the World as a means to escape a life full of sorrow, lies, deception, and degradation a year ago. As a mean to shun the ones who truly care for you, only to be lied to by the same ones that care for you?"
"Are you telling me that you rather be stuck in this game than to try be with your friends?"
"Precisely. Can you help me get there?"
"I can't do that."
"Well, I hope don't mind if I do this." Wiru then pulled out his sword and slice Tsukasa at the chest. Blood flew from Tsukasa's body and his tunic was torn open. Tsukasa, already at a weak state, was gasping for breath.
"-gasping- Why do want to escape reality? Is it because you hate it?"
"Yes, this world I lived in is very awful. Cheating, deception, lies, degradation. Every fucking day I had to live through it. When I heard about you finally logging out six months ago, I felt that maybe it could happen to me one day. To forget that bitch Susan's negligence, to forget those boys at Sheffield that constantly harm my body for their own sick use; to finally rid of myself from the battering of those winged bitches I once called my friends." Wiru said as he looked towards the girls.
"Why did you attack Elyon and Subaru?" asked Tsukasa.
"If I were to spend time being stuck in the World, then I want to spend with those two. Because they understand what I'm going through. They make me feel less lonely and neglected."
"THAT STILL DOESN'T GIVE YOU A REASON TO HARM ELYON!" screamed Cornelia as she charged her hands full of green energy. She telepathically threw chairs at the PK. The chairs struck a lucky shot at him. She then strangled Wiru with nearby plants in the Chapel.
"Tsukasa, catch!" yelled SK as he threw at him an amulet.
"What is it?" asked Tsukasa.
"It's the Heart of Candracar. Use it to help Cornelia capture that illegal player."
"WHAT? I can't!"
"Do it, Tsukasa!" said Cornelia.
Tsukasa, after hearing Wiru's comment earlier, felt uneasy about capturing the PK. Cornelia was getting impatient with Tsukasa holding back with the attack.
"I feel something strange with this guy. Is he really Wiru…or is he someone else?" thought Subaru, as she made a healthy recovery.
As Wiru was struggling to get out of the vines, the girls noticed the vines tearing apart his cloak, revealing strange petal-like wings. Tsukasa noticed this too, trying to tell Cornelia, "Cornelia, stop this, right now!"
"Why aren't you using the Heart? Hurry and use it to capture this bastard!"
He reluctantly complied and shot a pink light at Wiru. He screamed in agony as the light engulfed him. However, many heard a higher pitched scream as Cornelia and Tsukasa landed a strike across his skull mask, breaking it in the process.
As the area cleared, I.T.C.H, Elyon, Subaru, Silver Knight, and Tsukasa looked at the reeling Player Killer. He realizes his mask was shattered by Tsukasa and Cornelia's onslaught. However, Tsukasa looked at him with concern. As he saw wings sprouting from his back, he saw his blood soaked hands covering his face.
"What the hell did I just do?" Tsukasa asked himself.
"You just helped weaken his stats to almost nothing. Now help me find out who this jerk is."
The other girls looked confused as they felt something that was somewhat out of place. The wings he sprouted looked strangely familiar to them. Tsukasa tried to cautiously approach Wiru with the Heart of Candracar, but he pushed him away from him as well as Cornelia.
"Please stay away from me! I just want to be left alone!" yelled Wiru.
"Wiru, tell me who you ar-" said Tsukasa as Wiru abruptly log off.
Tsukasa stood in silence as the girls congratulated him on his efforts. But Subaru and Elyon felt something strange within him.
"Hey Tsukasa, aren't you happy we defeated Wiru." asked Cornelia. But, Tsukasa looked at her coldly, which gave her confused looks.
"Did you realize what happened here? There's still something wrong with all of this!" yelled Tsukasa.
"Uh, excuse me?"
"Cornelia, there's something strangely familiar with Wiru." said Elyon.
"Elyon's right. We all saw those wings and heard a scream that was completely different than his speaking voice." Taranee said.
Tsukasa was over by Subaru when he told her about what happened just earlier.
"Tsukasa, thanks for saving me back there. It's wonderful that I'm seeing you in the flesh." said Subaru as she tried to comfort him, only to hurt him where he got cut at. "Sorry. What's wrong, my white haired knight?" she noticed him as he grabbed his head.
"It's nothing; it's just that I need to log out right now. Drop me by a line okay." he said as Subaru logged out of the World.
"Tsukasa, did you think that Wiru is really who we think he is?" asked Elyon behind Tsukasa.
"I don't know Elyon. You ready to log out?"
"Yeah." Elyon said as the two wavemasters logged off the game.
The Vandom Residence
8:30 PM
As Tsukasa and Elyon removed their visors, Elyon looked at Tsukasa with concern.
"Are you okay, Tsukasa?"
"Yeah. But that guy. Why did he say he wanted to seclude himself in the World, away from those girls?"
"I don't know, Tsukasa. Another question is that how does Mrs. Vandom fit into this?"
"Elyon, I've been meaning to ask you something?"
"What is it, Tsukasa?"
"Ever since Susan Vandom, the one who adopted me, came to Shimokita, she mentioned that her other child was missing. Is it true?"
"Yeah, the student's name is Will."
"Can you tell me what happened to him…?"
DM 1988: Uh, Tsukasa. Are you alright? You look like you saw something.
Tsukasa: Why did I see Subaru in her underwear?
Elyon and Hay Lin giggling+
Elk: You must be one lucky stud.
Tsukasa: Shut up.
DM 1988: Read and Review, people.