[IRL, Saitama Prefecture, Kawagoe]
[Malzeno's POV]
Parting ways with everyone, we felt it best to just forget about the battle for the time being and destress, which I was happy to do. Only Riku was with me now, I had finally talked Yuuki down to go and relax and chat with the rest of the guild and I'd be online in the morning for her to connect to my Augma.
We approached our home when she finally spoke up again. "I-I'm sorry, I..." She struggled with her words, so I leaned against the wall to wait and listen as her face cycled through expressions, head lowered. "When we were shoved, I-I could just see that dragon flying toward us, a-and I knew we had to move, I knew that, b-but I... froze,"
"It happens to every player in Full-Dive, AR is no different, there's just points our natural instincts overpower the devices themselves," I'm certain that's happened to me before without much thought, like tonight when I leapt into shield Yuuki and Mito.
Kneeling down, I squeezed her shoulders, meeting her misty eyes, she looked embarrassed by them too. "I know you hate being scared of a video game, heh, join the club. But listen, you're gonna fumble here and there, no one's gonna think less of you, you're not an avid gamer like us, like I said, take your time. Tonight's double dipping of pain and torment certainly wasn't expected, but you handled it far better than half the people I saw get flambéed,"
She giggled at that, wiping her tears dry, "Right, I-I'll improve, I still want to go to these events i-if that's okay?"
"Aw, now how can I say no to this pretty face?" I cooed, making her shove a hand against my face, glaring at me for a moment but still I caught her in a tight hug. "Come on, let's get you to bed,"
"You know I'll just go watch stuff online," I knew that, but ignorance is bliss.
"I never said you wouldn't," I replied, leading the way inside, kicking off our shoes before we headed down the hall.
"Uh, that little sprite on Kirigaya's shoulder, Yui? She said that the dragon was actually from the 91st Floor of SAO, like, the hell was that doing in a fight against the 12th?" Riku looked flabbergasted, shaking her head. "That's all levels of messed up, even for experienced players it was complete overkill, freakin' scared me half-to-death,"
"91st, huh?" I blinked, giving that some thought for a bit. "SAO..."
Catching my muttering, Riku eyed me with a brow raised. "Yeah, you guys only got up to the 75th before the game ended, right?"
"Mm," I nodded, though more out of habit. 75th Floor... that was... a quarter boss battle... Scratching my head, I gave her a sheepish grin, "Ah, sorry, head's still a bit fuzzy after my pride was sliced by an overgrown lizard straight off a death metal vinyl cover,"
"No kiddin', you've been staring off into space unless we talked to you," Riku turned to me fully, hands to her hips. "You sure you're alright?"
"Hey, I've taken worse hits," That had her skeptical brow rise higher. "Okay, so I may've hit my head, probably, I'm fine, really, relaaaax, sis,"
"Uh huh, well, if you pass out, you owe me if I have to drag your ass home," Riku snorted, heading off to the kitchen. "Hey Mom, Dad, we're home,"
A cup of tea would do me wonders right now before I passed out for the night. Maybe I'll actually have a better answer for Riku in the morning once my head's clear of fog...
"I'm tellin' ya, this dungeon's gonna be a big scoop for inteL!" Argo happily skipped along the dirt road leading me to God knows where.
"Are you sure? This place is all nice and colourful, but it might as well be harmless," I complained. Floor 47 was a beautiful floor to say the least, very popular with any lucky couples looking for a hot spot for romance. Hopefully, the PG kind. "The dungeons are all mediocre, boss,"
"Nyahaha, not this one, have a little faith in lil ol mE," That cheeky grin paired with greedy, yellow eyes and red whiskers really made it both annoying and unsettling to refute. "Ain't gonna be as good as me with a half-assed attitude like that, MaL!"
"Yeah-yeah, I getcha..." Shaking my head, I continued down this unmarked path of hers, likely to my grave.
Or... that's what it seemed.
I blinked but somehow, the sun was gone, and a thick fog had rolled in over the fields and between the now gloomy trees. Like all the colour had been leeched from the world. And Argo was nowhere to be seen.
"Huh?" I paused in my step, looking around. "Boss? Argo? Seriously, don't do this, I'm one more jump scare away from a heart attack, and I ain't even an adult yet!"
But there was nothing, not even my Detection skill picked up any life... it was dead.
Another blink, and the forest was out from under me, just a black void with... Aincrad in the distance. I drew my katana, rushing towards the glimmering castle that seemed to grow further away the faster I ran, it's frame beginning to crumble into dust.
"The hell is this? Argo!? Anyone!" I looked around, but there was no sign of life, or, until I looked to Aincrad, spotting Argo not far away, but her face was a blur to me. "About time... Argo, hey!"
But she turned to me with a frown. "Huh? Who are you?"
My sprint fell to a slow jog. "...Tomo?" But she didn't respond, instead, a massive shadow loomed over me, a black hand outstretched, belonging to Nautilus. That stupid grin of his masked by the darkness that quickly came to engulf me before I could even find the strength to move-
My body jerked itself awake, gasping like I had my head held underwater. I reached for my head, no Nervegear, and to my ear, no Augma. But that dream felt so vivid, like I was really about to be crushed.
The more I thought about it, the blurrier Argo's face became, and my heart nearly stopped. I tried to think back to those days over two years, the places were all there, but parts of them were starting to fog over, people's faces blurring away. Pix, ArcSol, Mystfit, even Kirito, Argo, and Asuna's faces were blurry, so were the memories.
Each I pulled up felt like more pieces were starting to chip away. It was enough to nearly freeze my blood over. "The hell is going on...?"
Reaching over for my phone, the time read as '3:00 AM'. Even so, I... I needed answers, Argo taught me that... I-I think, that I need to tug a problem at all sides to find a lead. I could do that, I can do that.
[Alfheim Online, Floor 27, Town of Ronbaru]
[Yuuki's POV]
I don't usually like being woken up in the middle of the night, it was rare that it happened, but I didn't like it. But, when I saw the text from Kazuki, something in the pit of my stomach screamed at me to get to him as quickly as possible. Now I can understand the rush he must've gone through to reach me by that tree.
It wasn't just me, the others were here too, all looked as worried as me. When we approached our go-to place, which might as well be our guild hall, I felt the handle to the café weigh thousands of pounds. Inside, I know I was about to see something bad.
"Yuuki?" Nori broke me from my trance, nodding to the rest. "Go on, we'll hold the line out here,"
"Just give us a signal, alright?" Jun waved.
"We'll make sure no stray players come by," Siune offered.
All of them were such lifesavers, it at least brought a weak smile to my lips. "You guys are the best, hold the fort then," With the added push, I stepped inside as the door shut behind me, echoing louder than I ever thought this place could be.
Sat closest to the firepit, I could see Malzeno staring at the flames, his hands cupped and covering his mouth as he appeared transfixed on the embers. It took me moving into his sightlines for him to move.
"Hey..." I offered a curt wave.
"Sorry, I... I know it's late and all," He shook his head, even his voice was quiet. "I know you like your beauty sleep,"
"Shut up, it's fine," I wasn't gonna let him feel bad about this. Sitting down next to him, I tentatively took his hand, even in the game he felt cold. His fingers curled around mine lightly. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah it's... help me out here for a sec," He suddenly stood up, taking slow steps to inspect his surroundings, only the firepit illuminating us. "SAO, it was cleared on the, uh, wh-what floor was it again? 70... something?"
I frowned, confused but went along with it, "75th, you were there when Kirito beat Heathcliff, who was Akihiko Kayaba,"
Quickly, almost too quickly, he snapped his fingers to me. "Right! And... and I was an... orange player? I stole from people with my party," I didn't like where this was going, or how he was starting to pace.
"...yeah? Floor 20 is... where they were killed," I answered, my throat feeling tight. "Kazuki?"
He started to ruffle his hair, shaking his head with a smile that felt far too forced to be real, and his eyes kept looking down. "Hah, right, yeah they... died then, didn't they? I... I..." He swallowed, continuing to pace. "...I can't really remember what happened, it's all blurry and the harder I think about it the harder it is to remember details,"
"Like, like take this place!" He waved his arms wide, and my heart started to clench at how... terrified he looked. "I can locate this place l-l-like the back of m-m-my hand! But-but-but if I think of SAO, it's... blurry or-or-or just can't th-think of a-a-any details about it! That's weird, v-v-very weird,"
His... memories are gone...?
That crushing weight almost took its toll, but seeing how panicked and frantic Kazuki was becoming, he was starting to have a panic attack, if he was logged out now, then... I quickly spared a glance to the window in the doorway, seeing Siune's eyes before I ran and held Kazuki as he fell to his knees.
He curled in on himself immediately after, burying his head against my chest as his body shook like a leaf. "I-I-I can't remember, e-e-everything it-it-it's, it's a-all..." His voice broke, so I squeezed my arms as tight as I could around him.
"I'm here, I'm still here," I did everything I could to keep him calm before the system booted him from ALO. Rubbing his back as I rocked him in my arms to try and quell his laboured breaths.
"I-I don't want t-t-to forget them, I-I-I d-don't want..." He croaked as I heard several footsteps behind me, and soon enough, Siune and Nori had their arms around him too. Talken, Tecchi, and Jun sat with us, placing their arms around us to keep Kazuki as safe as possible whilst I held him tight to my chest.
Tears ran down his face as he trembled, quietly sobbing in our arms. "We're right here, Kazuki, none of us are disappearing, I promise," We weren't there in SAO, but I can't imagine he felt like his other memories wouldn't disappear too. My own tears formed and broke free, but I didn't sob, never letting him go.
"Deep breaths, inhale and count to five," Siune instructed with that motherly voice of hers, and Kazuki hiccupped and did his best to hold it. "Okay, exhale for five seconds, don't think about anything else, just listen to us,"
"We've gotcha," Nori rubbed his back, trying to smile herself. "This ain't a group hug you get often, ya know?"
"Exactly, so just... take it easy," Jun offered too, patting his shoulder. "Deep breaths, come on," And Kazuki did so without a word, say for a hiccup or stomached sob.
I've never seen him so close to broken before. I've had my share of depression, after losing Mom, Dad, and Aiko. But I was lucky to have these guys and Doctor Kurahashi, and Kazuki needed that right now, not just us, but he needed Kurahashi's help too.
That guy... Eiji... he did this, I know he did.
I stomached my rare feeling of real anger for now, resting my head against Kazuki's as he steadily attempted to get his breathing under control, all of us sitting around him until then. "I'm not going to leave you, I'll never do that to you again..." I whispered, kissing the top of his head as I felt his fists clump up my skirt.
[IRL, Yokohama Kōhoku General Hospital]
[Malzeno's POV]
By the time the sun came up, and when I found the strength to logout for the rest of the night, I didn't get much sleep. When my Mom found me just sitting in the living room, staring blankly at the Nervegear in my hands, she caught on quick.
Taken to the same hospital Yuuki was kept in, I learned that her Medicuboid wasn't the only one ever made. It was about a year ago they started work on a new one, given how successful her own continuous dive had been. Since they were meant to scan the brain at an even greater strength than even the AmuSphere could produce, it made sense to use it to understand why my memories of SAO decided to check-out.
That's when I learned... Asuna was the same as me, neither of us could recall much of SAO, the harder we thought, the more distant and fragmented our memories became. I could see it in her eyes, she wasn't taking it any better than me.
After our scans, the four of us. Kirito and my Mom as our supports, sat down before Dr. Kurahashi. "I'll have to go through the data before I'll know any details, but both your brain's show signs of having had their memories scanned in specific areas."
Okay, that was very unsettling. Kirito spoke up for us. "Memory scanning in specific areas?" Echoing all our thoughts exactly. "Do you mean it only scanned their memories of SAO? But how is that possible?"
"One possibility that comes to mind is that both of them were reliving memories of SAO, so the signal neurons serving as a key to those memories were identified, and then the images could've been forcibly scanned with focused electron pulses," Kurahashi explained, the image of Asuna's brain being targeted by these pulses.
"Something was deliberately targeting these key points when they specifically recalled memories of SAO?" My Mom caught on quick, even if stuff about games often flew over her head.
"It appears so, to support this, in the last few days, there's been multiple reports of similar cases all around the city," Kurahashi's features took a grim turn. "It could be a coincidence, but what the patients have in common is the fact that they've taken part in that AR game's event battles,"
"So you're saying the Augma is the cause?" Kirito's tone shifted a little, not by a lot, but I had a good feeling he shared my sentiments.
"I can't be certain of that yet," The Doctor declined, which I suppose is fair, it was a difficult claim to make without physical evidence.
"No... Ordinal Scale is definitely involved somehow," I shook my head, while I didn't have a clue about SAO in its entirety right now, my other memories were fresh as I felt my chest tighten. "Why else would bosses from SAO start piling up every night? As if someone's expecting survivors to feel they've been tossed back into hell,"
I felt my Mom's hand slip over mine, as I realized I had nearly torn my pants leg with my grip. She smiled briefly, enough to simmer my frustrations before fixing the Doc with a firm look behind her glasses. "This aside, are Asuna and Kazuki going to be okay?"
"At this time, there's no signs of any organic anomalies in their brains themselves. Most likely, their ability to recall was impaired when the electron pulses degenerated their spines," His frown deepened, looking between us with uncertainty. It put me on the edge of my seat. "That said, I can't say without further observation whether their symptoms will worsen."
What?
We could... still lose more?
Kirito sat up straight sharply. "In other words, they may lose even more of their memory then they already have?"
If the Doc said anything else whilst looking at our notes, I didn't hear him. I... I'd lose more of my memory? Would that mean it'll start to rob me of all my experiences in Full Dive? Asuka Empire? Gun Gale? ...Alfheim...?
I didn't really tune in all that much for the next few hours, I tried watching videos or checking in on news related to gaming to pass the time between tests and the like. I only ever responded whenever my Mom or Kirito would speak to me. I even paid Yuuki a visit, using the mic on her own Medicuboid, she was worried sick, no surprise there, and it was comforting to hear her voice... cause I might just forget it sooner or later.
We sat in the lobby, waiting for results or to be discharged as it was coming up to 3PM, I didn't feel hungry but my Mom was insistent me and Asuna ate, she was a scary woman when pushed.
"I'm sorry, Kirito," I heard Asuna speak quietly to our right, her head lowered to her lap.
Kirito gave a small, supportive smile. "Don't worry about it, you still remember recent events, after all," She only gave a hum in response. "You've just temporarily forgotten what happened in SAO. It'll come back to you in no time,"
"He's right, both of you," My Mom added, squeezing my hand tightly. "Those memories are extremely important to you both, they won't disappear forever,"
"Yeah, exactly," Kirito nodded to her, thankful for the encouragement, it's what my Mom does...
But I felt it, when I recall the day the Death Game began, I just see a red sky... there's someone talking, their voice was so loud... b-but... I can't remember what else. I think I raised my hand and swiped down.
"Honey?" My Mom broke me from my trance as I stared at my hand in the air in front of me, trying to draw the menu. Right, not in Full Dive or AR... but it wasn't my own actions that frightened me, only the thought that... I'd lose everything, this instinct would be all I had left, wouldn't it?
I forced my back against the seat, holding a hand to my mouth as I felt bile nearly force its way out of me, my whole body coming down with a sudden chill as Asuna collapsed to the floor, paler than a ghost as Kirito immediately knelt down to try and help her up, several staff members rushing over to us as my Mom rubbed my back.
"Easy, breathe, Kazuki," Her hands ran up and down my arms, holding me tightly as I nearly lost my composure, and who could blame me?
The Sleeping Knights, all our battles, the United Duelling Tournament, all my team-ups with Sinon in the wastelands of GGO, meeting Yuuki... spending all those days with her... I... I was going to lose them all... I...
Eiji just smirked at us beyond the flames, untouchable, even to Kirito.
Swallowing the bile in my throat, I grimaced at the burning sensation before it irritated my throat further, but compared to what else I felt, these shivers were nothing.Eiji...he did this... he took our memories...
"I-I-I'm f-f-fine," I stuttered, wiping the sweat from my head as someone came back with two water bottles, one held out to me. I remember her, the nurse I first met when I came to find Yuuki, "T-thanks, m-miss,"
I'll ride this out, I needed to get my head on straight.
[Alfheim Online, New Aincrad, Floor 24]
When we got home, I said I needed some time to process everything, and I demanded Mom keep this from Riku. I didn't need her blaming herself for this mess, she wasn't responsible, but she was me, meaning anything that happens that you're involved in feels like it is your fault.
I went back to a place my memories remained fresh about, that great tree in the middle of the floor's sea. No one was around so it was good enough for me. I couldn't recall a damn thing about SAO, what little that remained were blurs and the occasion clear image of someone's face, that's all.
So, I drew Memento Mori instead of No Turning Back, and widened my stance. Blade clasped in both hands, I steeled my resolve, and lunged at the air with the sword above my head, striking down in a vertical chop, straight into a secondary strike.
From there, I spun on my heel and slashed horizontally. Twisting my body, I used the momentum to slash wide, the tip of the blue katana grazing the earth to slash in a rising slant, gripping the handle in both hands to copy the movement downward again.
Good, I still had those memories, none of them were a blur, honestly? With my head clear of most about SAO, it made all my others sharper, I could recall their vividness as though they were happening right before my eyes.
"Still sharp as ever, Mal," I stumbled and nearly face plated the tree, turning to the source of giggling that made my heartbeat rapid. Yuuki hand her hands to her hips, "I can't believe I nearly lost to you with a bow, with cheating included, and you were holding out on me!"
"Yeah, well, fighting an Elder Dragon wasn't what I expected to be my first test-run in years, sue me," I stuck my tongue out at her, sheathing my sword. I'll get some real world practice in later. "How's everyone else?"
"Worried sick, but I got them to give you and Asuna some space, I saw Kirito taking her around Aincrad," Yuuki's frown quickly emerged, looking around for a moment before she met my gaze. "A-are you..." 'Okay?' Yeah, I'd have given her a sarcastic remark for that.
"About everything since day one of SAO's gone now, give it 'till the end of the day, I bet," I answered flatly. I was completely wrecked about it, more so knowing I could lose everything about Yuuki and the others. But I wasn't about to curl up and accept that. "Just..."
Wandering over to the edge of the island, I found the perfect spot to sit down, one of the roots providing a backrest as I let my legs dangle towards the sloshing water below. The rush of this floor's sea creating a calming atmosphere. Yuuki soon joined me, her left arm pressed to my right.
"Strange, I remember I have an phobia of big bodies of water, I think I got that from SAO, but now?" I picked up a loose stone and tossed it across the water, sinking after the second bounce. "I don't feel afraid at all, not even wary..."
She could probably see it written on my face, I had a way of giving away when I was thinking of something that was genius yet stupid. A sad smile forming on her cheeks. "You're gonna do something stupid, huh?"
"Erm... more like extremely crazy," I replied with a shrug. "...Eiji, that guy's behind this in some way, Ordinal Scale too, but I can't figure that out wallowing about memory loss. I still have enough to do something about it, I... Asuna looked so defeated, maybe even more than me, it's killing her knowing we both could lose everything,"
"I'll help," Yuuki broke the silence, and I couldn't even open my mouth in surprise before she jabbed my chest with a finger, her eyes glistening with warring emotions. "I've had to sit here and do nothing as you guys are told your memories are disappearing and nothing else. I know, deep down, I know that jerk who threw your sister and Silica is behind this, but you can't do that alone, neither you nor Kirito, and I know damn well he'll act on this too,"
"I don't want you to run away like I did, but I am not letting you do this alone either. Me, Mito, anyone else we can get, let's try and figure this out for everyone's sakes; SAO was terrible for so many people, but that doesn't mean all those memories were painful, no one could have the choice of forgetting taken from them, especially not someone like you who only ever wanted to do better," By now, her eyes were starting to tear up, her emotions getting ahead of her.
I wasn't far behind. How is it that even at my lowest, she still finds a way to drag me back out? Dunno if that's love or just irritating stubbornness, knowing Yuuki, could very well be both. She did always like to speak her mind, regardless of the consequences.
A laugh, the first genuine one I've had in hours, escaped me involuntarily, looking deep into her eyes, she wasn't kidding, and I doubt I'd stop her from trying. "How is it you're awfully good at these pep talks?" I quirked a brow as she puffed out her chest.
"I told ya, awesome leader, and I learned from you it's often good to surprise people who don't expect something like that from someone like me," She admitted.
"Is this cause you're a complete tomboy?"
Flick!
"Ow..." I rubbed my forehead at how sharp her finger was, fixing me a small pout. "Well, it certainly works,"
Pinching her chin, I pulled her lips against mine, feeling the rush of adrenaline and heat pouring into my blood as I felt her lips meld to mine. Though, the surprise reaction had her teeth part, and what came to mind I'm certain turned my whole face crimson, but given the high I was on, and that gripping fear I'd lose any memory of Yuuki, I pursued this feeling further into that uncertain territory.
Pushing my tongue forward, she let out a muffled gasp, her eyes widening for a second as I just gambled and tested the waters. Though, it didn't take long for her eyelids to fall, and I felt her own tongue push back, the sensation sending a shiver down my spine. This was very new, I had heard and seen this stuff in media, sure, but to actively perform a kiss this deep was unexpected and new.
I see no complaints here.
This French kiss lasted only a few seconds before we pulled away, faces scarlet and a line of spit connected to our bottom lips, which I wiped away with my heart on the verge of shattering my ribs.
Yuuki panted a bit, but wore a tender, shy smile, her fingers tracing up to her lips. "Th-that was, uh..."
"Unexpected," I replied, staring at her for a reaction.
"'Unexpected', you instigated that," She lightly threw her hand towards me, face practically glowing like her vermillion eyes. "N-n-not that I'm against it, th-that was... really good,"
"S-sorry about the surprise, just..." I tried to explain but her tapped two fingers to my lips, cutting off my reply with a shake of her head, leaning closer.
"It's okay, a-a little shocked, s-sure, but... it's okay," That gentle voice, the scent of lavender from her hair, how her eyes glistened with a crimson fire, and that gentle smile. I burned it all into my memory. "If you lose your memories, then I'll just make a dozen more. If you... forget me," Her hands squeezed mine in our laps, knitting her brow. "Then I'll make you remember me,"
I know I was terrified to lose anything more than SAO, I should've guessed that the Doc would've told Yuuki everything after mine and Asuna's check-ups. Even further than that when I completely broke down in front of her, I never thought of how much it was tearing her apart.
My head fell, coming to rest against her breastplate, letting out a shaky sigh. "...thank you,"
Her arms were warm, wrapping securely around my back, feeling her head come to rest against my head, one of her hands snaking up so her lithe fingers could gently comb my hair. It felt really soothing.
"Dummy, like you have to thank me for this," That got a light huff from me, closing my eyes to savour this feeling, hearing the faint beat of her heart from her armour and clothes.
No way would I forget this.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
This was an emotional rollercoaster, the clock is ticking, but Malzeno ain't about to let his loss of memories keep him from finding out the truth. That last scene was something I really loved, even at his lowest, Yuuki will pick him up every time.
I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; see ya in the next chapter, Players!