The Sirens Song

Memories

(TW this chapter includes homophobic themes and mentions of gay conversation therapy)

Kirito's Pov
I was fourteen years old, the son of the town mayor of Rulid, my sister and I always had to put on our happy faces and act like our family was perfect but in truth it was far from perfect, our father would only let us be friends with other wealthy people, luckily my best friend who was one of the only people who really cared about me was apart of a wealthy family.

"------!! I brought you something!!" I yelled happily running towards him, he looked at me "Kazuto-" I jumped towards him and tackled him to the ground, we rolled around a bit before I stopped us and I was on top of him "haha! Kazuto!" He yelled as I started to tickle him, this went on for a bit, I eventually got off him and helped him up "anyway I brought you a gift" I got a book out of my bag "I know how much you want to be a sailor, even if it's not really possible, I thought it wouldn't hurt to get you a book on it" I passed him the book about sailing, he hesitantly took the book from me "I don't have anything for you....." he mumbled, I smiled cheekily "that's ok! I don't really mind at all" I responded, he teared up a bit, I started to panic "h-hey! Don't cry!" I cupped his face "I-i'm not...... is there anything I can do to repay you?" He asked, I smiled a bit "just don't ever leave me ok?" I asked, he nodded and hugged me, I hugged him back.

At a Party
"Kazuto!" He yelled running up to me, I looked over at him with a smile "I've been looking everywhere for you!" He said as he stopped in front of me "well, I was waiting here for you and look you found me" I giggled, he crossed his arms with a pout "idiot....." he mumbled, I held my hand out to him "shall we dance?" I asked bowing slightly, he took my hand "we shall" he answered, I stood up straight and lead him onto the dance floor, I put my hand on his waist and held his other hand, he put my hand on my shoulder, we started to dance to the music. He smiled at me for a bit before he looked around "people are staring" he whispered, I looked around as well "I wonder why?" I asked, the music stopped, we both let each other go "what do you two think you are doing?!" My father yelled, my mother started to cry, I was confused "I- I don't understand...... what did I do wrong?" I asked "we may have to have those weddings sooner than I thought Orick" my father said turning to my friends father "until then these two boys are not to see each other!" My father walked up to me and grabbed my arm, Orick grabbed his sons arm roughly and started to drag him away from me, my father started to drag me away from my friend, I kept resisting "let me go! You can't take me away from him! He's my best friend please! What did we do wrong?!" I yelled, I saw my friend crying and trying to get out of his fathers grip as we were both dragged away from each other "what did we do?!?!" I yelled, my father turned around and slapped me, I stopped struggling, I looked down "a male must not love another male! And with that stunt you made it look like you do love your friend! Who is male!!!" He answered, I looked at him, what is the difference between a man and woman loving each other and a man and a man I don't understand, other than the fact that they can't have children what's the difference? It's still love. The truth is I did love my best friend, I never knew if he loved me back but that didn't change the fact that I loved him.

Kirito's Home
I was sitting at the table with my family, eating dinner, although I didn't feel like eating, I haven't seen my friend in days "Kazuto, Suguha, we have something to tell you both" I looked up at my mother, she was holding my fathers hand, I nodded to signal for her to continue "we have arranged marriages for both of you" my father said, my eyes widened "what?!" I yelled, I wouldn't be yelling if it was just me but Sugu is 12 "don't you dare yell at me young man and let me explain before you protest the idea" my father scolded, I crossed my arms and looked away from him "I want you to marry ----- ------ and Suguha will marry ----- ------" my mother explained, I looked back at them, they want me to marry my best friends older sister and they want Sugu to marry my best friend. I stood up and slammed my hands down on the table "Sugu is twelve!!! This isn't right!!!" I yelled "sit down!!" My father yelled "no!! Why don't we get a choice!! Or at least just marry me off and wait till Sugu is older!! I don't even want to marry -----!!! I just want to see my friend again but you've separated us because of a small dance!!!!" I yelled, my father seemed more angry "you will marry her and Suguha will marry your friend!!" He yelled "Suguha is a child!!!" I yelled "Kazuto!! I will not allow such an attitude and the reason I separated you from your friend is because I will not allow such a sin in my family!!!" He yelled, I went quiet from then, I looked down "you know what? Fuck you....." I mumbled, I then walked away "Kazuto get back here!!!" My father yelled, I just kept walking.

At The Friends House
"Orick, it's a pleasure to see you again" my father greeted my friends father, I stayed quiet, Sugu, my father and I were standing in front of the stairs with, my friend, his older sister and his mother, I tried not to look at my friend but the truth is I would give anything just to run up to him and hug him or maybe kiss him as a big fuck you to my father but that would get my friend in trouble "shall we allow the kids to talk? It's been a while surely the boys get the idea not to get too close" Orick suggested, I kept my eyes away from everyone, damn it just say yes father, I need to talk to him, please "of course, however if they do get too close I will make sure the wedding is sooner" my father answered, I had to hold in my smile, we were lead into a room, once the door was closed I looked at my friend, he looked at me "don't worry, I won't tell, what about you Sugu?" His sister asked, I looked at Sugu, she nodded, I instantly hugged my friend "I missed you...." I sobbed, he hugged me back and started to cry into my shoulder "it was my fault we got separated, I asked you to dance, I'm so sorry" I apologised, he squeezed me tighter "I don't care, I missed you so much" he sobbed. This went on for a while, until we both pulled apart, I noticed a bandage around his wrist "what happened?" I asked, he looked at the bandage and covered it "it's nothing" he answered, I knew he was lying so I gently grabbed his wrist and undid the bandage, there was a cross cut into his wrist, it had been stitched up but still it looked terrifying "w-who did this?" I asked, he looked down as tears filled his eyes again, his sister noticed "a preach visits the house everyday and does different things to make sure ----- doesn't do anything gay again....." she explained, I looked at her shocked 'father says it's better than being executed" he added, I looked at my friend, I wrapped the bandage around his wrist again and then wiped away his tears "f-father wants to m-make sure I'm normal before I...." he took in a deep breath to stop himself from crying "I can't believe they're gonna make me marry your sister, she's twelve" my friend said, I nodded "if only I could just..... get her out before that happens" I mumbled, I looked over at Sugu who was chatting with his older sister, I looked back at him "----- I'm going to promise you something" I whispered, he nodded "I promise that if I ever disappear, I will find you again somehow, I will come back for you and I will take you away from here to become a sailor just like you always wanted" I whispered, he smiled "that sounds great but..... why would you disappear, that's crazy" he laughed out still trying not to cry, I smiled a bit "it doesn't matter, I promise" I answered, he kept laughing, I'm sorry friend.

The Friends Pov
I was just in my room, getting ready for the wedding, I'm 14.... I don't want to get married to a girl..... if I was to get married at this age I would want it to be Kazuto, I had a dream last night, that me and Kazuto were sailing on a ship of our own, I can never even remember Kazuto's sisters name, not because I don't respect her I'm just bad with names. Somebody knocked on the door, I walked over to the door and opened it, my big sister was standing there "hello Alice, is something wrong?" I asked, she showed me the news paper in her hands, I grabbed it confused, on the front pages.
Kazuto and Suguha Kirigaya have gone missing, if anyone sees them please bring them back to this address.
I looked at my sister, she nodded, I looked back at the paper "k-Kazuto......" I stuttered, I dropped the paper and fell onto my knees, tears fill my eyes "Kazuto!" I yelled, I couldn't stand a few weeks with out him how am I going to live with out him? The door opened again, my father saw me sobbing on the floor, he stared at me for a moment "pull yourself together and get up, we are going to the holiday house for while" he demanded, I couldn't do anything but nod sadly.

Years Later
Kirito's Pov
"Captain we've arrived at Rulid" Agil informed me, I smiled "I made a promise....." I mumbled, I stood up from my chair and walked outside, to my surprise there he was, or at least I hope it's him, he has two identical brothers, he was being pushed back by Asuna, I ran over and stopped him from falling off the boat by grabbing his waist and pulling him towards me, he bumped into me and stepped back a bit, he stared at me for a moment, I noticed a scar on his wrist, it was a cross, I looked at his eyes, that beautiful colour, I could never mistake it, it's him but I don't think he recognised me, I'm sure there is a reason for that. I found you again......Eugeo

(So I thought I should maybe explain, I did a lot of research on the topic of gay conversation therapy for the sake of future stories, they didn't actually exist until the early 1900s but since Eugeo is apart of a wealthy family, the family managed to keep Eugeo from being executed by keeping that event a secret and a priest agreed to help purify him. Kirito wasn't sent into any sort of therapy because even mentioning it to a priest would ruin the mayors reputation)
(Also even though I believe it's obvious, I do not agree with any sort of Gay Conversion Therapy, I also have nothing against Christianity I am just writing the realities of being gay during these times with a bit of fantasy spice)