The Gunpowder Blade

Is It Really Over

***

Hey, Familia of the Closet! How are you wonderful people? I've had a bit of an indigestion problem since Sunday. So I might not get this up until the end of the week. But I'm sure it'll go away soon. But aside from that, this chapter is gonna be a bit graphic. So I apologize if this either makes you vomit, cry, or both. Anyway, hope you enjoy. Love you!<3

-Seijirou

***

(Kazuto)

"G-G-G-G-Gone," Leafa stuttered. 

"What's gone?" I asked. 

"Kirito..." Sachi said. I turn my head to Sachi. She held her hand out in front of her. She was pixelating like Yui was back in the dungeon under floor 1. I had a feeling something like this would happen. She was just a memory. A fragment of old Aincrad. Probably something that Kayaba fixed up to get me emotionally distraught. I held Leafa closer to me as Sachi shattered into tiny crystals. I felt a small tear escape my eye and slide down my cheek. Suddenly, an alert popped up in front of me that read, 

"CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU HAVE DEFEATED THE FINAL BOSS AND CLEARED SWORD ART ONLINE

LOGGING OUT..." 

I held my breath as everyone, including me, disappeared from that world. And let the breath out as we entered the other one. 

***

My eyes slowly opened we re-entered reality. We were still in that wretched basement. My whole body ached. I unsteadily looked at my arms. There were IV drips stuck into them. I tried to talk, but couldn't. I felt a tube going down my throat. I slowly reached my hand to my mouth and pulled out the tube. I gagged at the motion of something in my throat but got it out. I looked at the tube in my hand, it was a feeding tube. I dropped it and pulled out the IV drips. I tried to sit up, but my body was weak and frail. I felt like I would tear apart with the slightest pull. But, I managed to sit up. God, is this nightmare really over? We're still in this basement, which means no one found us yet. Did Kayaba lie to me. To give me hope? I grabbed the pole that the bags of water were attached to and stood up. I looked around the room, everyone was just waking up. I closed my eyes for a minute to gather my thought. Just then, a muffled scream sounded throughout the room. I turned over and saw Suguha sitting up, covering her mouth. She pointed to a body still lying down. I turned my head and almost threw up everywhere. I managed to get a couple of words out. 

"Klein... No..." Tears began flowing as I stared at my best friend. His headless body laid lifeless on the table that Kayaba hooked him up to. The NerveGear that he was wearing had exploded during the game. Bits of his brain was scattered across his body, the table, and the wall behind him. There were scorch marks on the once-shiny metal table, with blood pooled around the opening on his body. Some blood had begun dripping to the floor, creating a just-as-big puddle. His hands fell down, hanging over the side of the table. Blood was dripping off his left index finger. I noticed that the others had sat up and noticed their lifeless friend. 

"God..." Rika said, muffled by the feeding tube. I moved over to the others and helped them with their medical gear. I noticed that Asada sat up. I walked over, sitting down on her table. I pulled out her feeding tube and IV drips. She didn't gag to the feeding tube. I wrapped my arms around her. 

"Careful, you'll drain the last of my HP..." She whispered. I softly chuckled. 

"I wonder where you got that from..." I coughed hoarsely. I stood up from the table and help her up. She shakily planted her feet on the ground and looked at Tsuboi's corpse. She stood in one place, didn't move, didn't speak. I placed my hand on her shoulder, she jolted awake and projectile vomited on the floor. A chunky, light brown liquid splatted onto the floor. The area of effect had small droplets splattered around it. Asada became tipsy and fell backward. I used every ounce of my strength to catch her and pull her back to her feet. She leaned on me for support. I took a quick look around the room and noticed that there was something missing. What was Kayaba's body? I walked over to his desk with Asada under my arm. I opened the drawer on the left and found Tsuboi's phone, along with everyone else's. I was about to turn around but noticed a sword leaning against the desk. Taking my hand off of the IV pole, I reached over and grabbed the sword. I took my arm away from Asada and grabbed the handle. I slowly pulled the sword out of the scabbard, revealing Tsuboi's katana from Alfheim. Suguha walked over to me and took the sword. She sheathed it and walked away from me. I nodded in understanding and turned back to Asada. I grabbed my IV pole and wrapped my other arm over Asada. I handed my phone to Agil.