...

Deku:
"...Now you guys are happy?" The others were silent. "Now you all know what's wrong with me... I wanted was to have a good life with my family... that's all - I don't care about anything else... but... then... I got to know all of you... and... I truly enjoyed it. Every single one of you. But... I just can't anymore ok."

Asuna:
"But, Dekarusu... it's ok to love your family and wanted to do everything you can in your power to make sure things are going smoothly for them... but you also have other people who will be there for you - Like us. No matter what, you can lean on us whenever you're feeling down."

Kirito:
"We all have our fair share of making mistakes and how we tried our best to make it up for it. But not all mistakes can be fixed. So of course we understand each other's mistakes but different."

Yuuki:
"Just like now - The mistakes you made was leaving us behind and saying you wanted us to forget you and wanted to sever our bonds! It's not too late for you to come back with us, Dekarusu." Dekarusu shook his head after hearing Yuuki's words, then he wiped his tears away from his face

Deku:
"It's too late Yuuki... it's WAY too late. I can't turn back now... I made it this far and I can't stop now until I finish things!" Deku said as he charges up his sword. Then the others are prepared for a big attack. "I already harm you guys before... and it really hurts me even more than now... I really hate myself for that... but since this Curse Mark has taken over my body... I don't want to take it to another level but if I must  - I WILL -"
DASHED!!

Kirito, Asuna & Yuuki:
CHARGING SWORD SKILLS - TRIPLE DASHED!!!

~Yuuki:
"(Thanks for Miss Cardinal's support... I've perfected my Original Sword Skill to a new level and I was able to teach it to Asuna just in case of an emergency. Now, I can do this Skill willingly and I can do it differently from the original! I hope this works!)"

Deku:
"Spirit Excalibur!!"
SWORD SHINES - GROWING!!

Kirito & Asuna:
"Hyaaaahh!" (Kirito)
"Haaaaahh!" (Asuna)

Deku:
"DYAAHHH!!"

~Yuuki:
~"HAAAA!!!"

Kirito & Asuna:
"HAAA!!"
"HAAA!!"

FIRECE CLASHED - FLASHING!!!

...

[ The battle of Dekarusu facing Kirito, Asuna and Yuuki was fierce. All were delivering strong moves after another... then the others tried to reach for Deku, Deku suddenly got outmatched by Kirito then he shouted his true feelings out as everyone else listened to his anger and yet sad words were he wish he didn't had made a mistake of his past... then he made his move as well as the others - As all four unleashed a big move at the same time - Then now a flash of light came from the fierce clash now - ]

Deku:
"..." Deku's eyes was closed and he was surprised as he opened his eyes. "...? What's this?" Deku was looking at the mysterious place until he heard a voice

???:
~"Yo! Dekarusu!"
Deku:
~"?" Deku turn around and sees someone and his eyes widened.

Akira:
"Hehehe! How's it going bro." Akira smiled

Deku:
"Akira!" Deku sprinted to his late cousin and reach his hand out but he disappeared. "Akira!!!" Deku stopped running.

???:
~"Sumisu!"
Deku:
~"?!" Deku sees his other late cousin; Soma. "Soma!!"

Soma:
"You wanna do something fun today Fam? I'm bored right now?" Soma smiled at Dekarusu

Deku:
"Soma!! Please wait!!" Deku tried to reach Soma but he disappeared as well. "No!!"

???:
~"What's wrong, Dekarusu? You look stressed?"
Deku:
~"Aoi!!!" Deku sees Aoi

Aoi:
"You need someone to talk to about your situation? I'm here for you now if you want to."

Deku:
"Aoi! Please don't go!" Deku couldn't reach Aoi either as he disappeared. "What's going on?! Why am I seeing this?!"

???:
"Dekarusu!"
???:
Dekarusu!"
???:
"Dekarusu!"

Deku:
"?!" Dekarusu turns around and see his late cousins together. "Guys!" Dekarusu tried to run up to them again but they signaled him to stop. "?!"

Aoi/Akira/Soma:
~"It's okay... you don't have to keep holding everything back. Just drop your restraints of your feelings... you don't have to keep it to yourself. You shared it with us, with your family and we were able to help you with your issues, your stress and everything else. You can do the same with your other friends."

Deku:
"Why you guys are telling me this?!"

Aoi/Akira/Soma:
~"Because... in your heart... you truly cared about us; Your family. You want to make sure everything is right for your family, you'll do anything in your own power for your kin. But the family you created is more important than the family you come from - Your friends are your new family now. And they wanted to make sure that they would help you and would take you back in their own powers as well - Like you wanted to get revenge for us. You left them behind, consume yourself by evil, and you said cruel, heartbreaking things to your friends and even tried to kill them."

[ As Aoi and the others were trying to reason with Deku... a bunch of memories of him and his family in the past were scattered around them... ]

Aoi:
"You see. All the memories of all four of us will forever be in your heart, Dekarusu. Even our beloved grandmother said something about family will live on forever in our hearts."

Akira:
"Since the day we all lived together, it was a great time and a great adventure. We all have our moments together - Good and bad ones. And each and every one of them will be there for you to remember."

Soma:
"Even new ones with our other friends - With Yuri Akuma. Then later in SAO, we had moments with Kirito, Asuna, Klien, Agil, Silica and Liz. And then of course with Suguha, Shino, Yuuki, Aiko and the others. They enjoyed the time they had with the four of us, did you enjoy the time with them, Dekarusu?"

Deku:
"......" Deku was looking at the memories around him. "...Yes. I do enjoy those memories with them. But... at the end, with this Curse Mark, it affected me incredibly bad; I barked at Asuna and the other girls, I assaulted Kirito and tried to kill him. I caused harm to my friends... I didn't want that. Even now, I'm STILL harming them even more - I made the girls cry because of my choice of words... I didn't want any more harm to them but of course I'm doing it now because they're in my way so I can reach my goal!"

Aoi:
"That's why words are powerful enough to hurt people. Just like actions speaks louder than words but words are like swords and it can only hurt people and especially yourself. Even if you're affected by the mark, it's still the words you choose to say and your friends still want you back. Even you made them mad and/or saddened. How'd you understand how they feel if they were in your shoes in this situation."

Deku:
"......"

Akira:
~"So Dekarusu... you realize how you express yourself to us, right?"
Deku:
~"Yes, of course I have. I truly trust you guys."
Soma:
~"Now... it's time for you to express yourself to your other friends. As they wanted to express themselves to you."
Deku:
~"But... I -"
Aoi:
"No "buts" Dekarusu. If you can do it with us, you can do it with the others - They're right behind you now as we speak." Aoi point behind Dekarusu as he sees Kirito, Asuna and Yuuki. Then he look back at Aoi

Deku:
"...Ah!" Deku was surprised that his cousins disappeared. "Damn..!" Deku sighed as Kirito spoke to him

Kirito:
~"Dekarusu."
Deku:
~"......"
Kirito:
"Now we're all here... I guess this is what Black was talking about. And now... we can finally reach you."

Deku:
"..." Deku sighed again. Then Yuuki spoke

Yuuki:
"Dekarusu... You did said that you wanted revenge... for your family's deaths. You're doing this because of everything turned into a living hell, right?"

Deku:
"Yeah..."

Yuuki:
"We get it as we all see you getting frustrated after everything that happened to you and your family but doing this - Abandoning your friends, severing your bonds with us and telling us to stay out of your life, just to get your revenge will not end well for you!"

Deku:
"I really don't care if it end well or not! I'll do whatever it takes to finish what I started! I was prepared for the worst and here I am now! I'll be ready to die if that's what it takes to achieve that goal!"

Kirito:
"That's suicidal, you idiot! That's definitely one of the reasons why we're trying to tell and stopping you from doing!"

Deku:
"So now you think what I'm doing here is "Suicidal?!" What about that time when Klein's group and I found out that you were planning on going solo for the revival item-?!"

FLASHED!!
[ A flashback of the Christmas Event to obtain the "Revival Item" from the Boss: Nicholas The Renegade... ]

Deku:
"See! Me and Klien tried to stop you from fighting against Nicholas, you knew you didn't care, you just did things your way and look at you now; You're still alive and kicking and now you're doing the SAME EXACT THING I DID TO YOU! So now you understand how I feel when you find me annoying, huh! Now the table has turn, acting like a hypocrite now!"

Kirito:
"Yeah... I can't actually say anything about that... but I didn't want you to make the same difference mistake as I did back then!"

Deku:
"Yeah I really bet. Like you actually cared back then."

Kirito:
"What makes you think that?"

Deku:
"Back then-!"
FLASHED!!
"The times when I see you going solo, I knew you find me annoying - You only pretend that you're doing everything fine on your own... You know you couldn't even stand me at first when I was trying reach out to YOU. I wanted to help you so won't have to bear the burden of being a "Beater" in the first place but you always think I'm irking you." Then the memories of Kirito ignoring Deku inside SAO.

Kirito:
"I had my reasons... I didn't want to be with anyone or to be in a group at first... but then I was invited to a guild called "Moonlit Black Cats," and I actually enjoyed it but of course I had to keep it a secret but they ended up getting killed because of me and my level... I just couldn't stand doing it again." Then the memories of Kirito joining the "Moonlit Black Cats" and the end of the guild were all getting killed and one jumped off the floor and committed suicide.

Deku:
"..." Deku witness the guild getting killed and somehow feels Kirito's pain, then as he sees Kirito's tears flowing down his face as he hears Sachi's voice. "(So.. this is how Kirito feels when he loses the people he cared about... This is the reason why he goes Solo...)" Then Deku sees the other memories of all the other events, then the memories of Kirito visiting Agil's shop and seeing Deku.

Kirito:
"But... honestly Dekarusu... I know I didn't show it or sound like it but I was happy that you and Klien were looking out for me but I couldn't help but to feel happy inside. Even when I saw you at Agil's shop that time. I... couldn't even thought of anything to say to you at that time."

Deku:
"...Same here. Then out of nowhere, Asuna came; To check on you of course." Asuna spoke up

Asuna:
"That too, but I was glad that you were alive as well. And I was glad that I thought about inviting you to eat with us and also I get to know you better as well.

Deku:
"Kinda wish I didn't at first." Then Yuuki spoke up to him

Yuuki:
"Is it because you slowly had feelings for Asuna." Yuuki said as Kirito was a bit shocked.

Deku:
"......" Deku was silent a bit. *Sigh* "Well... not only that... but of course I admit that I did see Asuna cute and attractive... but... I never thought I'd ever had feelings like that..." A memories of Kirito, Asuna and Deku eating the Ragou Rabbit together, then going through the 74th Floor, then Fuurinkazan joined the fray and Kobatz and a few of his men were killed, Kirito delivered the final blow to the "Gleam Eyes". "I was on my guard airtight because I didn't stand your guts to be honest... but of course you showed me how nice and sweet you are... I never thought it would get through to me so easily... and it look like you noticed something before... or maybe I was just imagining things..." Deku said as Asuna took a breath and said something.

~Asuna:
"Well... actually..."
~Deku:
"?!" Deku looks at Asuna confused.
~Asuna:
(😔)
"I actually knew that you had feelings for me since that day."

Deku

"......" Deku was silent as Asuna feel guilty.

Asuna:
"Deku... I... I'm sorry... I just..."

Deku:
"Just save your breath. Don't even bother apologizing to me... You knew and you didn't even bother of saying anything?! Couldn't even talk to me about it privately because you like Kirito, is that right?" Asuna didn't say anything. "I thought so... as a matter of fact... I've been let that shit go since Kirito beat the game anyway - And plus, I was mad at myself for not being honest with myself... I always think about other people than myself and I guess that's what l get for caring too much. And also... I did admit that you two were a good couple and look at you two now. So... I just let that go and not even worried about it." Deku said as a memory of Deku leaving Kirito and Asuna to go back with his family and he lets his emotions get the best of him later that day. Then Kirito and the others felt his sadness from the memory.

[ Flashback ]

Akin (SAO):
"Hey, Deku. Are you okay?" Akin talked to Deku

Deku (SAO):
"Yeah... I'm fine." Deku looked okay but sounds really depressed.

Sokai (SAO):
"We can talk about it if you want to, we promise we won't laugh." Sokai said

Deku (SAO):
"...Maybe later ok..." Deku entered his room and Aero sighed

Aero (SAO):
"Guys, let him have his space. Something must've happened pretty badly or complicated with them... let him let his emotions out. I'm sure he'll tell us eventually. And also, if his information was something you two also need to learn, take good notes, okay." Aero said to Akin and Sokai as they nodded their heads in agreement

[ Then Deku started to think of the moments he had spent with Kirito and Asuna... then started to realize his feelings for Asuna crushed him as he wasn't honest with him and he remembered that he witnessed Kirito kissed Asuna... and he immediately started crying - ]

Deku (SAO)
*Crying*

"Why... why couldn't I... just be honest with myself...?! I just... couldn't do it...! I didn't wanted... things to go wrong because of me...! I cared too much... and it hurts me so badly...! My own kindness... and tried to... not be a third-wheel... it TRULY hurt me! I hurt myself! I truly wish... I should've just stayed... with my family instead... but no, I just have to go with them that day! I knew I should've just left them... but my own feelings got the best of me and it hurts me so badly! I hate myself so much for this!!!" Deku couldn't control his emotions and his tears

[ End Flashback ]

Yuuki:
(😔)
"My god..." Yuuki covered her mouth from surprise as she understood his sadness

Kirito:
"Damn..." Kirito's face changed as he felt sad. "(Man... if I was in his shoes... I would cry and act like that as well...)"

Asuna:
"......" Asuna looks guilty

Deku:
"......" Deku shook his head. "There you go. That's why I left you two in the first place. I knew I should've just stayed with my family but instead I just stayed with you two.

Even though I did enjoy the time together... even when I thought I had really good friends - A best friend like Kirito since Day One. A good friend who's like a sister-type like Asuna. I thought with the three of us... we would be strong. I thought of the three of us work together, we would be an amazing trio but instead it was all about you two - I felt left out so I just decided to go with the flow and not make things really complicated..."

Kirito:
"You didn't have to. You could've had said something, we would understand it. You wouldn't have made things awkward."

Deku:
"Yeah? It's too late for that crap now! I cared too much about the whole thing... I saw you two having your moments with each other and slowly you guys were falling for each other! You two were together way before I even join you guys in the first place! Ever since the time Asuna wanted to check on you to see if you were alive or not, it was obvious that you two cooperated in some point! Am I wrong about that?"

Kirito:
"No..."

Deku:
"That's what I thought! I left because... I just couldn't handle it - I was secretly rooting for you two to be together and yet... I tried to stay focused on the things that we need to get done but at the same time I cared too much about you both and it brought me down to my own downfall! And I wanted to get over you two... so I just acted like you two didn't exist anymore so I can regain myself again - I've been ignoring your calls and messages so I can focus on my own promise; Clear the game with my family surviving."

Yuuki:
"Then... you did said something about you regretting your decision to ignore them. What about that and also after Kirito clears the game?"

Deku:
*Sighed*
"Well... I regretted even more than before... when Asuna died from Heathcliff's attack... then Kirito was next in line but he killed him before he disappeared... I thought I lost you two... I hated myself even more when I saw you two shattered into a million pieces -

"I thought once you died in the game, you died in real life. So... I got over it, of the past in SAO - Everything. I immediately got a fresh start and I wanted to make it up to my family... then one day... I saw you two together. It looked like you two were on a date together. I was shocked, I witnessed you both shattered and suddenly it's like you two never died in the first place." Deku clenched his fist... and immediately shed a tear. "I really wanted to approach you two right from the bat but of course the memories came to me and I couldn't even do it. And it made me realize that I wish I could never even had you two in my life in the first place." Both Kirito and Asuna were surprised and shocked by Deku's words

Kirito:
"I never thought you'd feel this way... about us dying like that... I understand that it was too heavy for you to handle... it would've made me feel sad as well, not gonna lie."

Asuna:
"Me too! I wished you didn't have to go through that as well! I'm truly sorry Deku~Kun! I truly mean it!"

Deku:
"Like I said before - Save your breath! It doesn't even matter anymore. I don't even care about everything that happens to me or how I feel in SAO. My main concern was surviving... and keep things up with my family that I grew up with. But... one things for sure even I can't deny - The Past Never Dies."

Yuuki:
"That's right. The past never dies! And you have every right to feel how you wanted to feel but... that's how things goes in life - There's so much misunderstandings, things that people wanted to say or do, things people wish they can start over and everything else! The past made us of who we are today, without the past, there's no future! No future for you! That's why you have friends in the past and some new friends you made in the future, and now the friends you made with are now here to help you!"

Kirito:
"That's facts! We just wanted to be there for you! I wanted to return the favor for you - As a friend who's like a brother to me! And I don't want to lose you because I don't want the same thing happening to you to me - I don't want to see you losing your own life right in front of me!"

Asuna:
"Same thing with me! I truly love your kindness and everything else that's good about you! I wanted to make things right between us, I wanted to do things right with you as a friend! As a sister to you! Please, Dekarusu!

[ A moment of silence... The light was shining behind Kirito, Asuna and Yuuki... Then the Darkness was shrouded behind Dekarusu...

Deku:
"As much as I love to go back... but I can't! I need to finish things here and I'm not going anywhere until it's done!" The other's eyes widened. "I can't exactly say it but... if I don't make it back alive... It looks like that's as far as I can go and I enjoy everything I've done in my life... except of course doing evil things up until now..." Deku turns around.

Kirito:
~"Dekarusu! C'mon man! Don't do this!!"
Asuna:
~"Stop! Don't go into the darkness!"
Yuuki:
~"Please! Dekarusu!"

Deku:
"..." Deku turns his head, seeing his friends. "I'll see you guys later... I hope..."
WALKING!

Kirito/Asuna/Yuuki:
~"DEKARUSU!!!" The trio shouted out his name as they tried to run and reach him but they were getting further away from him and the light flashes!!
~LIGHT FLASHES!!

[ As the light shrouded brightly... they were all back in reality... ]

FIERECE CLASHING!! THUUDED!!

Deku:
BLOW AWAY!!! HEAVEY CRASHED!!!

[ Suddenly, Deku was sent flying by the fierce clashing between Kirito, Asuna and Yuuki's combined forces... ]

Kirito:
*Pant* *Pant*
"I was right... the stronger our attack... we can read our thoughts and feelings but... we was able to do more than that!"

Yuuki:
"True... but... something was off... he did said - "I'll see you guys later, I hope." What he mean by that?!"

Asuna:
"I was wondering the same thing..."

[ Meanwhile with Black fighting against Alice and Eugeo - ]

~CLASHING - CLASH CLASH CLASH - SLIDE EVADE - CROSS SLASHED!!!
~HEAVY CRASHED!!!

Alice/Black:
"?!"
BOTH BACKED DASHED!!

Alice:
~"What happened?!" Alice questioned as Eugeo sees Deku crashed into the wall.
Eugeo:
"Deku's got sent flying! I'm guessing from his attack against the others, he wasn't able to handle the pressure!

Deku Black:
~"(It seems like they were able to understand what I was talking about earlier... I heard everything while they were talking to each other. It's time for Deku to finish things here!)
~Wind Release! Gale Pressure!"
WIND RELEASED! BLOW AWAY!!

Alice:
"Grrr!! Ahhhh!!" Alice stands her ground and was sent flying towards Eugeo!

Eugeo:
"Alice!" Eugeo grabbed Alice and crashed into the wall and breaks Alice's fall.

Deku Black:
"Deku! Enough wasting time! Why are you holding back? Unleash the Curse Mark to its fullest!"

Deku:
*Coughs up blood*
"Argh! Crap! I really didn't wanted to... but I guess I have no other choice here..." Deku lands on the ground in his knees... then slowly got on his feet. "Once I go ahead and let this power take over my body and mind... I'm not sure what'll happen to me in the end!" Deku decided to unleash the Curse Mark to it's fullest!
CURSE MARK ACTIVATE - MARKS CRAWLING!

Yuuki:
"The marks! They're crawling!" Everyone was in shocking awe as they're witnessing their friend transforming

Deku Black:
"(That's right! Witness the Power of the Curse Mark you fools!)

Deku:
CURSE MARK CRAWLING - STABLED!

"I really don't wanted to go this far but it is what it is!" Deku said as the Curse Mark changed his whole appearance - Hair Color Change and grow longer, Skin Tone Change, His Eye Sclera changed from White to Black and His Eye Color Change from Red to Dark Red.

Yuuki:
~"D-Deku~Kun..."
Asuna:
~"Oh my gosh..."
Alice:
~"His appearance changed!"
Eugeo:
~"Oh no... He really wants to do it... he wanted to eliminate us...!"
Kirito:
~"......" Kirito was completely speechless. "Grrr! DEKARUSU!!!"

[ As Dekarusu finally decides to unleash the Curse Mark to the fullest - He means serious business to eliminate his friends. As Kirito and the others were completely shocked and speechless by witnessing the transformation... they were having thoughts of if they could still fight their friend in the state he's in. Will the transformation give Deku the victory he need in order to fulfill his goal or will it be too much for him to handle? Find out in the next chapter. ]

-To be continued -