A/N: Haha. I forgot to put on the summary that this fic was a continuation of Imperfect Solution lol. I got too used to AO3's series system www. So, anyone who hadn't read the earlier fic first so that the later stuff in this fic could make better sense. Hopefully XD
Tsumuri refilled the small bowl she was holding with clean water before returning to the other room where she already placed the other items on the bedside. She took a small washcloth before soaking it inside the bowl filled with water. Once the cloth was soaked enough, Tsumuri took it out and squeezed the excess water.
She turned to her side before reaching out to dab the wet cloth she was holding on someone's face. That someone... remained unmoving as he lay on the bed, seemingly in a very deep sleep. Tsumuri sighed.
It's been several days already, yet the man in front of her still hadn't woken up from his slumber. He has been like this ever since his friends rescued him from the DGP admins' clutches.
"Why won't you open your eyes still, little brother?"
Tsumuri felt her heart ache at the sight of the cuts and bruises on Ace's face and body. When Mitsume was released from her seal, it took a while for her to regain her strength after thousands of years of being sealed and used as the Goddess of Creation. But Mitsume hadn't suffered as much physical injury compared to Ace. Yet when Keiwa and the others took Ace home, all these bruises and cuts started to appear all over his body.
It baffled her as to why this had happened to Ace, and it worried her. She wondered whether the injuries were the reason Ace still hadn't woken up.
But then Mitsume had reasoned, that since Ace was the amalgamation of humans from the past and future which originally were never meant to be compatible with each other—perhaps the effect of being made a Creation Deity and forced to keep using the power throughout the many Desire Grand Prix games was different for Ace. But since Ace wasn't quite a normal human anyway, he should be able to recover from it. They just have to be patient about it.
.
When she heard sounds of footsteps behind her, Tsumuri immediately turned around to see Neon entering the room... slightly breathless. "Did something happen—" she was about to ask as Neon waved her hand at her.
"It's nothing to worry about. The admins sent some more people here again to retrieve both of you but Miichi was able to chase them off."
Tsumuri let out a sigh of relief as she cocked her head at the other girl. "How's Keiwa and Michinaga-san? Did they get hurt?"
Neon just shook her head at Tsumuri before turning to check on Ace.
"Still no change... huh?"
Tsumuri just shrugged. "Nothing..." she said softly before smiling weakly in Neon's direction. "But I've just changed the bandages earlier... and it looked like his injuries are starting to heal."
"Good..." exclaimed Neon before putting her hands on her hips.
"Please get well soon, Lord Ace. The three of us are still doing our best to protect you, Tsumuri and Mitsume-san." She flashed a grin at the still-unconscious Ace. "You seemed to still like to take your long naps, but I hope you wake up soon."
Neon warily took a cautious glance behind her before leaning closer towards Ace. "Keiwa had been sulking more often lately, and it was getting quite annoying to see him whenever he wasn't out working on his day job. So please wake up soon, he's really worried about you."
Tsumuri chuckled at the comment as Neon winked at her. As abrupt as Neon's arrival had been, the girl ran out of the room again leaving Tsumuri alone with her brother...
xxx
Tsumuri let out a soft sigh as she continued tending over Ace. She thought long about the events of the past few days. It's strange to think that she basically has fled from the only place that she 'might' have considered as home. Though the Desire Temple was hardly a place that one could picture as someone's home anyway.
Everything had happened so quickly...
It wasn't even the final round of the game yet, the current mission was set up by the game master in order to try to prevent Tycoon, Buffa and Na-go from becoming the last survivor who made it to the final round. Because the three had almost succeeded in winning the previous few DGPs, and the admins couldn't afford to let either of them win the game. Or else they would have to grant the wishes of the new Desaity, in which the three had brilliantly thought up a way where they would still be able to free Ace regardless of which had them become the final victor.
And so far, the Game Master and admins were able to foil the trio's plan. Either by making the game end in a stalemate (to which no one ends up becoming the new Desaity) or rigging the final round to be so difficult that no one could finish the game successfully. Or just use some kind of trickery to render any chances for the trio to win becoming null and end the game prematurely.
But the three had become so amazing. Somehow, in the course of these few DGP shows, the three had become so good in their gameplay that they've become almost as good as Ace was as a Kamen Rider. Not even the strongest of final bosses that the game master could throw out could stand against the trio when they're determined to fight together as one.
It frustrates the Game Master a lot. So the Game Master placed himself as the last-minute final boss to confront the trio to force them to forfeit the game. Unbeknownst to the Game Master, that was exactly what the trio had planned in order to lure the Game Master out into the open.
So that was how Buffa was able to get the Vision Driver from the Game Master, and the trio had left to rescue Ace. She thought that was the end of it but in the midst of the chaos, as the upper management of the DGP had gone into disarray, Neon had rushed over to take her away from the Desire Temple as well.
And here she was now, alongside the players who had rebelled and fought against the DGP management.
Yet this 'victory' would've tasted better if the biggest reason for their little rebellion was awake to enjoy it with them.
A/N 2: Unh...
I'm pulling at straws here haha. Cos it was hard to try to justify why it took several DGPs before we could save Ace. But I can't be lazy and have them succeed on the first try, eh? Vomiting words out and trying to get them to make sense is hard