Artificial Memory (DISCONT'D BUT WILL UPLOAD UNEDITED CHAPTERS)

Chapter 4: Distance Beats the Shit Out Of Me

"Ah, I'm fine. I'm more concerned with you. I held back, but you seemed to be in a decent amount of pain when I hit you."

"Don't be stupid, I'm fine. Don't look down on me."

I snapped irritably.

He nodded with a more serious expression.

"You're right. I won't do that again. Sorry."

"Whatever."

"So is there anything you want me to help you with? Some fighting moves? I'm not saying that you're lacking in skill, but I just wanna help you."

He asked me with a grin.

I paused, then I thought about that last burst of energy he'd had when he pinned me at the end.

"I want to know how you managed to attack me with so little energy left right at the end."

I mumbled without looking at him, instead focusing on a bird as it flew overhead.

After a few moments of thought, Memory laughed and replied,

"I guess I can call it a limit attack, like in Kingdom Hearts. I was at my limit, since I was pretty screwed over with a ruptured diaphragm and stuff. I saw that you were gonna beat the shit out of me, so I just focused on taking you down, then ignored my pain for a minute to immobilize you."

I groaned.

"You suck at explanations. How's a normal person supposed to ignore that kind of pain?"

"I tried, all right?"

He laughed.

Standing up, I offered him my hand and pulled him up off the grass. With that, we headed back into the house, too tired to do any more extensive exercise today.

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That night, at the point in the evening when the stars just start to appear, I sat on the closed toilet seat lid with my knees drawn up to my chin. This was because I wanted to speak with Triumph, but he also wanted to take a bath. He kneeled at the side of the tub, fingers extended under the water and eyes glittering excitedly.

"I don't understand why you're so excited about becoming a Siren. I mean, they're so disgusting compared to mermaids."

I grumbled with irritation heavy in my tone.

Without glancing back at me, he laughed and replied,

"Sirens and Mermaids go hand in hand because of their appearance. I've actually travelled quite a bit and met a lot of Mermaids who think Sirens are more beautiful."

"Those Mermaids are probably on crack."

I muttered bitterly.

Triumph finished drawing himself a bath and sighed, looking at me tiredly.

"The past you never had self-esteem issues."

"Well I'm not the past me, and if you're upset, why don't you try changing me back?"

I challenged, eyes locking onto his single pale green eye intensely.

Whenever Sirens were brought up in a conversation, I grew irritable and irrational. It was just a habit that came into my life after being insulted by the other Sirens I met.

"I'd never do that."

Triumph murmured.

"Why not?"

He walked over to me on his knees and placed his hands on my shoulders, a sad smile on his face.

"Because that would likely make Memory Tsubasa disappear. You'd basically vanish from existence."