Chapter 8: Last Talk With Aria

Daubeny was sound asleep, dreaming of a new sister who forcefully told him it was time to sleep. Suddenly, he was jolted awake by a loud knocking at the door. He groggily sat up and rubbed his eyes, wondering who could be visiting him at this ungodly hour. 

'Oh well, it's probably some scammer wanting to sell me some overpriced insurance.' 

Before he could even get out of bed, his head lit up with the magic spell for a phone started ringing. He fumbled for it on the nightstand and answered without looking at who called.

"Hello?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.

"Daubeny, it's me," his sister's voice came through the receiver, sounding choked and tearful.

"Aria? What's going on? Why are you crying?" he asked, now fully awake and concerned.

"I'm outside your apartment. Can you let me in?" Aria replied, her voice shaking.

Daubeny quickly got out of bed and went to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open. Aria rushed inside, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

"What happened, Aria? What's wrong?" Daubeny asked, wrapping his arm around her. As the two of them entered, Daubeny closed and locked the door while Aria strode towards the kitchen table, quickly dragging the chair out along the wood.

Sighing, Aria looked at Daubeny tiredly. "Asuka found a way to cure us." 

"That's great-."

Raising her hand to stop him, she said. "Please, let me finish. He's found a procedure to cure us, but I can't take it now."

"Why not, and what exactly did Asuka promise?" Daubeny asked.

"He promised me until a cure was found by guaranteeing that I would be able to see Frederick and you again, no matter how many years passed." Being silent for a few more seconds, Aria continued. "And I won't get the treatment now because... I'm pregnant."

Not knowing what to do or say, Daubeny was flabbergasted as he spoke out. "I... See, so how did Frederick react?"

"Frederick can't know about this. Asuka said he wouldn't understand for some reason."

"I'll keep this a secret, but that's not all you're worried about, right?" He asked.

They sat silently for a few minutes, each lost in their own thoughts until Aria asked out of the blue. "Would I be a good mom?"

"Of course you would. What makes you think you wouldn't?"

Aria's gaze was cast to the floor, saying, "I thought if I became a mom, I might be as our's were. Abandon them the same way we were..." Aria replied.

Getting up from his chair and walking to his sister, he got on his knees to reach her eye level and hugged Aria, staring into her eyes. She froze but then started sobbing, which led to tears pouring out of her eyes as she hugged back fiercely. 

"Are you okay now?" He asked.

"I don't know," Aria said, shrugging helplessly. "I just...I don't want this to be the end, not for me or the baby. But I don't want to hurt Frederick."

Daubeny nodded understandingly, "Don't worry, Aria. Everything will be okay. I'm sure Frederick will understand." he reassured her, leading her over to the couch and sitting down beside her. "And hey, I'll still be around by the time you wake up."

They talked for hours, and by the time the sun rose, Aria was feeling a little better, and Daubeny was glad he could be there for her when she needed him the most.

-

Around a month had passed, and both siblings could be mistaken for being emaciated. Daubeny stood beside his sister's cryopod, watching as the machine's glass window was covered in frost. He felt a lump form in his throat as he realized that he wouldn't see her for decades, not until the day when she would be awakened to become a Gear.

'God, I hope she doesn't become Justice. I'll just need to have faith that Asuka won't act the same way as in the games. What could I even do if I fought him now or in the future? Sol wasn't even able to hurt him once outside of gameplay.'

As tears streamed down his face, Daubeny pulled his sister close for one last hug. "I'll miss you so much, Aria," he said, his voice choked. "But I promise when you wake up, I will be there, and then the four of us can spend as much time as we want together."

Aria smiled weakly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I love you, Daubeny. Don't forget me while I'm gone."

"I won't."

Asuka stepped forward, placing a hand on Daubeny's shoulder. "It's time to say goodbye," he said softly. "Aria needs to rest now."

Daubeny nodded, reluctantly releasing his sister from his embrace. He watched her being situated in the cryo pod while leaving the room where Asuka told him to stay put while he took care of Aria's sleep. 

-

Daubeny sat inside the spacious room, his eyes drifting around as he waited for Asuka to return. He had been waiting for what felt like hours and couldn't shake the unease that washed over him.

Finally, about thirty minutes later, the door creaked open, and Asuka entered the room, his face drawn and serious. Daubeny felt a sense of relief flood through him as Asuka walked over to Him, who was sitting and holding a glass of water in his hands. He handed it to Daubeny, saying. "Daubeny, you shouldn't overexert yourself and could have waited for me to return here." 

Daubeny took the glass gratefully, gulping it down in one go and wiping the water from his mouth while replying to Asuka. "And miss the chance to see her for years, no way."

The ashen-haired young man didn't say anything, not daring to look at his dying friend.

"Hey, Asuka. What's going on? Is Aria okay?"

Still standing, Asuka's face was solemn as he nodded. "Yes, everything went well. Aria is in cryo-sleep now and will be safe until she can be cured."

Daubeny sighed in relief, feeling grateful for Asuka's help. "Thanks, Asuka, I didn't have much hope before." 

Asuka smiled back, but Daubeny noticed a hint of malice in his expression. "You have been a great help, but your usefulness has come to an end," Asuka said, his tone cold and calculating.

Daubeny's eyes widened in confusion as he felt a sudden dizziness wash over him. He stumbled backward, trying to steady himself, but it was useless. The last thing he saw was Asuka's evil smile as he fell unconscious to the ground with a thud.