[Alfheim Online, New Aincrad, Floor 27]
[Malzeno's POV]
I stretched as I leaned up against the wall of the familiar tavern. It was the sight of many memories in a brief space of time. The Sleeping Knights were inside, so was their leader. I kept close to the door, listening in on what was said. Yuuki sat and explained everything that had transpired, given none of them knew what happened after the complications at the Monument of Swordsmen. Siune was silent through it all.
Opening my eyes, I saw a message appear, 'You're good', taking my cue, I turned and exhaled to relax my body. Last I saw them, it was that day too, and Siune... she probably feels terrible for what happened. Twisting the handle that weighed a ton, I pushed forward, entering slowly as the door shut behind me with a round of shocked breaths.
Everyone was only a few feet away, only now, there was no stretch between us, at least, I hope so. "Arc, Myst, Pix; I could really use your strength now," With that request, I met their eyes and got stuck in with a snarky tone. "Do you know... how frustrating those three days were? Going around and around in circles in your head trying to make heads and tails of what ya did wrong? Well, anyone? 'Cause I certainly had a bountiful amount of time to think about everything that's transpired!"
I saw Jun about to open his mouth and I put my hand out. "Ap-p-p, I'm ranting, I deserve this!" He recoiled as I paced. "Like, honestly, no goodbyes, no explanations, just 'I'm sorry' and that's that, really feeling the love like a knife to the back, and kick in the shin,"
"Mal, a bit much?" Yuuki winced with a nervous smile as she squeezed two fingers close together.
"You said I could do this, I am gonna milk this dry," I retorted with a proud grin. "And another thing - you guys really need a better way to communicate; Cupcake gets the excuse, she took being an introvert to the metatheoretical chiropractic level, the rest of you? Really? None of you have a phone?"
"We do-" Nori tried to interject.
"Rhetorical!" I chopped my hand in her direction. Then, I took a breath again, feeling light-headed. "Ugh, I think I'm gonna pass out..."
"You done?" Yuuki raised one brow at me.
Taking a deep breath, I then turned to her with a nod. "...Yes."
"Malzeno, I..." Siune spoke up, drawing our gazes as she looked like she was really trying not to cry. "...what we did... what I said to you, I'm... I'm so sorry," She bowed her head, as if I was about to yell in her face. Well, can't say that scenario didn't crop up once. These guys trampled on my trust, if not for Kirito and Argo, I don't know what might've happened.
"Y-yeah, we just... sorry!" Jun was next, bowing with her.
"I-It wasn't fair t-to you," Talken too.
"Ya helped us a whole lot," Nori awkwardly rubbed her neck, bowing all the same.
"We thought it was best to not let you in, for that, we're deeply sorry," Even the silent giant Tecchi.
I looked at them all, then to Yuuki who smiled back at me, it kept my head on straight during all of this. Stepping forward, I when from left to right, raising my right hand to lightly chop each of them on the head, punctuating my words. "Don't. Ever. Do. That. Again," Backing up, I ruffled my unkept hair. "Seriously, I'm fifteen, I don't need this crap on my conscience, SAO was enough mental gymnastics for one lifetime,"
They stood up straight in surprise at my forgiving nature. I put one hand on my hip, holding out my hand for Siune. "Now can we just be in the same guild already? Three months, I'm damn well gonna annoy you guys through it all; and for whatever comes after," I winked. "It's what Merida would want - erm, being in the same guild, not really the 'annoying' part, that's my hat in the ring,"
Siune took my hand, then pulled me into a hug as she sniffled slightly. Okay, not what I was expecting but I'll take it. I patted her back gingerly as she hugged me for a bit before pulling away, her honest smile returned to her face as she wiped her tears. Everyone else looked better for it too as I opened my menu, flicking to notifications to accept a pending request sent my the giddy purplette to my right. To the edge of my health bar, a purple sketch of a heart on a black background appeared.
"Great to have you back, Mal," Nori chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Had fun with Yuuki without us?"
"If by 'fun' you mean being her glorious guide through school life? Then yes," I'm not falling into that pitfall, just thinking of what my Mom thought before school had my heart tick faster. I really don't want to think of that... or of her that way surrounded by everyone. "Ain't that right, Cupcake?"
"Asuna did most of the work, you just stole the mount before and after school!" She argued with a teasing smirk.
"Riiight, because from your anguished sobs today when you were talking with the girls definitely sold me on the idea you were having fun," I laughed as her face went a little pink, puffing out her cheeks.
"Hey, t-that was not my fault - a-and none of your business, bleh!" She stuck her tongue out at me, real leader material right here.
"You two have gotten along despite what's happened," Siune giggled as me and Yuuki looked to one another, then she nodded shyly while I coughed into my fist. "Does this mean you know everything?"
"Pretty much, actually met her face-to-face, sorta?" That seemed to take them by surprise, lots of shocking revelations today. I then put my thumb up with a teasing grin. "She's as adorable IRL as she is here - ack!" That's when she struck me in the face. "Worth it...!"
"I'm basically bed-ridden, how can you tell anyway?" Yuuki crossed her arms.
"Think it was just him being nice, boss," Nori chuckled as she patted my back while I rubbed my nose.
"Hey, so now that we're all back together... what now?" Jun popped the question of the afternoon. Shrugging, he looked around. "I mean, we got our names on the Monument, but what's our next big goal if we're not disbanding?"
"Hehe, leave that to me and Zeno!" Yuuki waved her hand high. "Oh-oh, can I tell 'em!? Please~"
Grinning with her, I eased her excited form. "Hey, I got the first part,"
"Yes!" She punched my chest lightly.
"W-What is it?" Talken asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Our new goal, my spectacle-wearing friend, is a quest of great strife and challenge," I began, pointing up alongside Yuuki to the ceiling, but more importantly, beyond this tavern.
"We're gonna clear the whole of Aincrad! Even the floors that they never reached! With our own guide to boot!" Yuuki declared, wowing the Sleeping Knights.
"T-The whole of SAO?" Nori chuckled a bit in disbelief. Then her face dropped. "Holy crap, you're serious."
"It's a good goal, but... that was a challenge even for hundreds of players before, and a lot has changed from what I've heard," Siune announced her concerns for this.
"A-are you s-sure we can do t-this?" Talken stuttered as Jun slapped his back, ouch.
"We can totally take this on, no sweat!" Jun, ever the optimist I suppose, or an idiot. Probably both.
"Listen; it took us two years to even make it three-quarters of the way, circumstances led to our early escape, but like Siune said, a lot's changed, and I don't have all the answers to how to combat them, not yet," I reminded them, closing his fist to my chest. "But so many died trying, many died out of fear or down to Red Players... still, I want to conquer the impossible, just like what we did with the floor boss,"
"This isn't just for our sakes, but a way to honour those that couldn't make it out alive, to show that it is possible to beat Aincrad even now; but also, to have fun carving our own names across this game, can't think of a better way to kill two birds with one stone, right?" I smirked sharply, holding my fist out. "Who wants to go to Floor 100?" Then I wiggled my brow a bit, "We can collect souvenirs~"
"Let's do it, all the way to the top!" Yuuki was already on board when I suggested it, bumping my fist.
"If our leader's in, I'm in!" Jun was next, nudging Yuuki's shoulder as she rolled her eyes playfully.
"Ah, heck with it," Nori sighed a laugh, knuckling our fists.
"Me too," Tecchi agreed with a pleased grin.
"S-same here!" Talken quickly stepped in.
Last, Siune put her fist forward. "Let's make countless memories, for however long we can," Yeah, if I could have one selfish wish? I'd hope it'll be for years. That warmth with them came back, and for a moment, I felt right at home again.
"YEAH!" We shouted to the rooftops, our fists high. Man, other players must hate us...
With this newly established goal, everyone was eager to just run around doing side-quests on floor 28 to get back into the flow after several days of absence. I decided to take a lovely seat atop the tavern out of view with a charming view of Ronbaru. That's when the soft beat of wings came to my left, dropping off a purple swordswoman.
"Getting Deja Vu, though more-so on the ground than a roof," I spoke first as Yuuki chuckled, stretching her hands out to her lap.
"Yeah, you were really freaked out when I dragged you here," She verbally jabbed as I made a mock look of horror.
"I feared for my life; abducted by a strange yet powerful girl a head shorter than me-" She punched my arm for that. "...hah, but yeah, strange how that all went down. Never thought I'd find a person to tell about my biggest regret again, let alone someone from the past,"
"Ditto; I mean, none of them knew where I was IRL, they looked so surprised when they heard you found me," She smiled softly as we stared up at the massive crystals protruding above. "Kazuki?"
"Hm?"
"Do you really think we can beat Aincrad... if... I can't change fate?" I thought that would worry her. I sat back a little, frowning a bit.
"Two years, and we made it to the 75th floor, and now most have changed, and there's still twenty-five to go after that," I raised my hand toward the ceiling of this floor. "You'll make it-" I felt her eyes on me. "-and after that? Well, there's a lot out there, the Seed's pumping out new worlds every month, that's something worth living for,"
Shaking my head, I rubbed my cheek as I felt a hot flush reach my face. "Man, I've been spitting so many philosophical lines, I'm starting to sound like an anime protagonist - hm?"
I was pulled toward Yuuki, her gentle embrace drawing my head down to her shoulder, feeling her hands rest around my back as she placed her head against my own shoulder. What... was this for? "I didn't have the chance to do this, ever since you told me about your old guild, I wanted to tell you personally... I'm right here,"
My gaze stared ahead, the touching embrace, the warmth of her body or the scent of her hair, even her words. It made my guard fall as I buried my head deeper into her shoulder as I placed my arms around her tightly. I don't know why this was affecting me so much, but it's like I needed to hear that.
I let out a shuttered breath, leaning into her hug longer. "Aren't I the one who should be telling you that?" I whispered to her, straining my voice.
"You have, and I know you will, but someone should tell you the same, it's only fair," Her voice murmured into my ear like a beautiful tune. This girl...
"Thank you... thank you..." Repeating it firmly, I didn't really want to move for a while. I don't believe Yuuki wanted to leave this either. I don't really care if someone saw us now, I was happy, as happy as when I met her again.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
I was really worried about where the hell I'd take Timeless next, what with the last major event being when Yuuki passes away, but we'll get there when we get there. Point is, I was lost... until now! Checking the fabled SAO timeline, there were several events that I have never heard of, the big one being an event called the 'United Duelling Tournament', the same we see briefly where Kirito and Yuuki go head-to-head, with Kirito losing.
Thus, welcome to the 'United Duelling Arc'! I have nothing to work with so I'm gonna construct something, I guess? Hope it works out. Any who, I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support; seeya in the next chapter, Players!