Episode 5

original air date: 5.1.02

Captured

In a desert region filled with bones of dead animals a young man runs through with a large spear type weapon shouting, "I'm back!"  

Tsukasa is sitting alone in front of an entrance to what appears to be a dungeon, which is surrounded by molten lava.  The same guy who was running through the dessert before takes him out of his daze. He asks Tsukasa if he needs any help and offers his services, then introduces himself as Crim.  He goes on to tell him that if he just wants to sit there then there is nothing he can do, but if he needs help fighting he's your man.  Getting no response from Tsukasa Crim goes on to say they must of met there by chance and that he should not hold back, but still Tsukasa says nothing.  Crim asks if his troubles have to do with him, but then realizes they must not, for they have just met.  "Now that we have met though, your troubles concern me too."  Tsukasa finally speaks saying "I don't want your help" and then warps out.  Crim now alone curses that he did it again, but if he needs help he will gladly be there. He runs to the entrance and curses again saying, "Damn, I forgot to give him my member address."

Back in the main area Mimiru stands alone looking into the sky. A passerby asks if she wants to form a party, to which she responds with a fierce no and says she is waiting for someone.  Bear walks up from behind her and asks if she waited long.  "Of course I did!!" she responds. He asks her what she is upset over. She goes on to say this is just a game, right? and that a game is for fun.  "To put up wanted posters in something that is fun?"  She asks Bear if that is strange.  Bear explains that there are rules in games, and that Tsukasa broke those rules first. Mimiru points out that he has circumstances though, and at this rate he won't be able to play the game anymore.  "That Tsukasa.... they say with the dots after his name." Mimiru says that's not fun at all- and she doesn't want that.  Bear says things are happening too quickly, Mimiru asks what they should do, Bear only answers "I'm thinking about that too....  I'm thinking, but can't I have more time?"

In the city Subaru is discussing the situation with Ginkan saying Tsukasa has been in hiding ever since then.  Ginkan goes on to tell her that all the information they have gotten is either too old or unconfirmed, so they have no real information.  Subaru hopes he remains quiet like he is now, yet Ginkan disagrees with her.  Ginkan points out that he may be being quiet because being wanted has scared him.  He goes on to say eventually when things slow down he will.... "Will what?" asks Subaru.  "Come out of hiding." Ginkan finishes.  "I pray that does not happen."  All of a sudden Subaru gets a startled look on her face.  Ginkan asks, "Subaru?"  "Do not worry about it" she replies.  She goes on to say she will go look around the other servers.  Ginkan tells her he will prepare escorts immediately.  She tells him there is no need, that she wants to roam around unnoticed, alone.  

Dark clouds cover the moon, and in a rocky plain.  The sorceress stands alone near a large rock formation, staring at the moonlit sky.  All of a sudden Sora rushes by running toward something.  She too rushes off in the same direction.  Both of them race toward some point till the sorceress stops near a large rock, and raises her staff.  As she stands there holding her staff and looking up at the outcropping, Sora appears behind her with his blades drawn and says, "It's here.  Is there anything you wish to say?" She replies with "Not good enough yet."  "Yep, not good enough yet, want to try dying again?" She tells him no, and asks he get those blades out of her face.  She goes on to say that she can't do anything to him, for she doesn't stand a chance against him. She tells him she lost.  Sora then goes on to say "And? You didn't call me here for a rematch?" They go on about how this was just a bonus, an impulse buy.  She asks what he means, and he explains it's like a like when you go to a candy store, and people buy candy, but don't want the candy, but rather the toy inside.  She tells him she wants an exchange of information.  He tells her that unless they are of equal value, it is not a trade.  She tells him "then a gift of information."  He is surprised to find out it is a one-way flow- from her to him.  He tells her she is interesting, and asks her what she is plotting.  She tells him she plans to lure Tsukasa out, and asks if he is interested.  "That is not a trade of information." "Do you want to call it a trade again?"  Sora responds, "You should have said so from the beginning."  She says to him he doesn't have many friends does he.  He tells her "You don't either, so we are even."  She goes on, "Are you going to listen or not?"  If you want me to listen, then I will, he replies.  "Why you..." she mutters, "...bastard?" he finishes, "that's what's special about me."  

In what appears to be a throne room of a castle Subaru paces back and forth in front of a throne.  The doors to the room loudly open, and Subaru turns around, for there stands Crim.  "Sorry for the wait!" he continues, I had to take a business trip to Indonesia!  I finally got home and was able to access again."  He goes on to say he's having a hard time finding his way around again after being gone for so long.  Subaru gives him an odd look, which prompts him to ask if he should not have called her.  There is a long silence between them, till finally he says maybe it was a mistake to do so, and was wrong of him for him to want to see her again - and tells her he won't do it again. He turns around and is about to leave when Subaru says, "Crim, the red lighting, you haven't changed."  He tells her he's always himself.  She goes on to tell him that she was with Ginkan when he messaged her.  Crim asks how he is doing; she tells him he has not changed either.  Crim assumes then the Knighthood must be stable.  But from the look on Subaru's face he is uncertain, and asks if something happened.  Subaru remembers and points out that Crim was never the type to check the BBS or notices from the system admid's.  Crim agrees with her, and she scolds him saying it is not something to be proud of.  She thanks him and tells him she feels much better, and that she will now return.  He tells her that he cannot act like Ginkan, but he will help her as a player and tells her that she does not need to hold back when asking him for help.  She gives him a look, then turns and continues to walk away.  "But you do hold back.  I wonder what kind of problem she has."  As he turn to leave he shouts out 'OH YEAH!! The BBS!!"

Tsukasa back with Aura is sitting on the ground watching her, he then gets up and starts thrashing some nearby bushes with his staff.  Maho appears and looks at him, and shakes her head.  He asks her, "Mother... Are you angry?"  She speaks, but no words are heard.  "But that was... his fault!" Tsukasa explains.  "He didn't listen to me... and ran amok and..  No! No! Don't take it from me!  Please don't give it to someone else!"  Again she speaks to him, yet nothing is heard.  "What?  Me? Because I'm weak?"  Maho floats over to him and places her hand on her chest.  "Heart?  Oh... but you can't protect something like that."  She floats a bit closer with open arms.  "Mother, so that's what you’re trying to say."  Getting even closer to him, she whispers something into his ear.  "I understand.  I understand now."  

Subaru appears at the warp gate back in the city, Ginkan is kneeling at the bottom of the stairs waiting for her. She tells him there was no need to wait for her.  He tells her he has something he wishes to speak to her about.  As the two of them walk through the city Sora jumps from another place in the city and appears in front of them. Subaru stops Ginkan from attacking and says to asks him if he has anyway to lure him out.  Sora tells her yes, and asks if she is interested.  She tells him no, and there is no need to hear him out.  She walks past him and continues her walk with Ginkan. Sora comments, "So that's how you want to play it."  

In the main area again Mimiru states how strange it was for BT to contact her.  BT is there with her, and tells her she though she should know.  Mimiru asks what.  After two other random players pass by and say hello, Mimiru asks if it is something bad.  BT tells her it is something she heard from an acquaintance.  "That monster that Tsukasa has with him..."  "The one that looks like a dumbbell?" Mimiru asks.  BT asks if that's what it looks like, Mimiru nods.  BT goes on to say it seems Tsukasa is not the only one with it.  Mimiru is surprised, and BT tells her that her acquaintance saw a heavy swordsman with it.  Mimiru wonders what that means, and asks if he also cannot log out.  BT does not know, but is concerned about it.  BT asks if Tsukasa would be interested in knowing this.  Mimiru still confused asks why she is telling her all of this but is sure he would want to know.  BT goes on to tell her that she does not have Tsukasa's member address and couldn't give him the information if she wanted to.  Mimiru asks if she knows where she might be able to meet the heavy swordsman.  "He's usually in the same field, as if waiting for someone.  Maybe he is waiting for Tsukasa."  Mimiru asks which field.  BT answers, "That's..."

A close up on Sora saying, "That information is supposed to travel to him."  He is with Ginkan in an alley in the city.  Ginkan ask if Sora has a way to communicate with him.  Sora tells him that's a secret, only to have Ginkan say that story is hard to swallow.  Sora begins to leave saying if you're not going to believe me, then there's nothing else to say.  Ginkan tells him to wait, and asks what about after that.  "Have you heard of something called 'imagination'?"  Sora goes on to say that he thinks he's something special, and what does he base that on.  Ginkan answers "the monster he has with him."  Sora explains that if there was another character with it, he is no longer special.  Ginkan asks if Tsukasa will come to check, Sora says probably, and Ginkan points out only if they know where he's coming.  It's easy, Sora tells him, but asks if they will be able to handle it.  Ginkan tells him not to underestimate the Scarlet Knights, and begins to walk away.  "Aren't you forgetting something," Sora asks.  "I thought the knights valued loyalty and manners."  "My thanks," Ginkan speaks, and walks off.  

In a snowy field Bear and Mimiru appear, she says maybe they are being too impulsive.  Bear points out that they already have called him and nothing can be done about it. He goes on to ask if they should wait for him.  She says they might as well go over to the dungeon.  Ginkan and Sora are atop a castle in the same area, another Scarlet Knights walks up behind them and tells him they are in position.  Ginkan asks if they have any spare manpower, and is told they have two squads to spare.  The Knight is instructed to bring one squad over here, and another to that side. Sora asks, "That side?"  Ginkan answers with "It's a plan.  Ever heard of something called 'imagination'?"  Sora tells him well said, then shouts "Well then!" and starts to leave.  Ginkan asks where he is going, "To watch this from above."  

Back in the city Subaru is on a boat with two Scarlet Knights, they tell her they were told to stay with her.  She wonders, and says "Ginkan?"

Sora joins BT atop another part of the castle in the snowy field.  BT wonders if they can snatch him.  Sora tells her that he has changed his mind and is just going to watch.  BT remarks how that's not like him, he tells her they are waiting in another field as well, and have a barrier set up there.  He goes on to tell her that once they capture him, they are going to transfer him over there immediately- at least that seems to be the plan.  BT points out that once he gets separated from the monster, the sorcerer will be powerless and can't transport or summon inside a barrier.  Mimiru and Bear run through the field and stop, she points out that she does not see a heave swordsman with a monster at all.  Bear suggests that maybe he changed his pattern and went somewhere else, or that the swordsman didn't exist in the first place.  Mimiru asks if he's saying BT lied, he says it is a possibility only to have Mimiru ask why, why would she.  Bear tells her to stop Tsukasa, to message him not to come here.  Tsukasa appears near them and says, "It's too late."  Bear says it's too late, and says to tell him to leave immediately.  "Message sent!" is Mimiru's reply.  He asks what his reply was, and she tells him "Make my heart stronger," she asks what that means.  Bear thinks he might have misunderstood something. Tsukasa stands alone in the middle of the field, Mimiru calls out to him, and then sees all the Scarlet Knights ready to attack.  Bear yells out that it's a trap. But calls aloud, "The bell has rung! Come, let us begin!"  Tsukasa says he's fine, raises his staff and summons his guardian.   The Knights are instructed to draw their swords and are now surrounding Tsukasa.  Ginkan yells out "We will temporarily capture your character, under the name of the Scarlet Knights, who assist in the moderation of the system!  Do not resist, otherwise..."  "When will you learn," replies Tsukasa.  Tsukasa asks if they want to get beat by her again.  Ginkan tells him that if he wants to play that way, they won't hold back.  Tsukasa thrusts his staff into the ground and the Knights move in, the guardian quickly attacks, shooting many of them down.  Tsukasa says he's not scared.  "Is this the only barrier you have? If you don't capture me already, I'm going to escape."  Ginkan orders for them to surrounded him.  Bear yells to Ginkan to stop them, Ginkan refuses saying he will not call back an order he already made.  He goes on to say that one person is enough, if they can just restrict him.  Subaru shows up and demands to know what the meaning of this is.  Subaru and Tsukasa exchange some glances. She says she doesn't remember authorizing an operation like this and begins to walk toward Tsukasa.  As she does the guardian attacks, aiming for Subaru, but one of her Knights pushes her out of the way as the guardian spears him, being deleted in the process.  Everyone around is stunned and looks of wonder abound.  Crim barges into the scene atop a Puchiguso yelling, "Out of the way! Get out of my way! You'll get injured in you come near!"  Ginkan surprised to see him asks why he is here.  The guardian shoots for Crim, but misses, as he continues his charge.  "You're in the wrong this time! Things like this happen when your pranks get out of hand!  Didn't your parent tell you so? Then your parents are to blame too, but you have to take responsibility for your actions," Crim yells, as Tsukasa just stares at him.  Again the guardian shoots for him misses, and he jumps off the Puchiguso and flies toward Tsukasa attack him from above.  Tsukasa stops his spear with his staff, but is knocked down by the force.  Crim yells now, take him away before that monster can react.  They do so all grabbing him, Tsukasa mutters, "it can't be... this can't be..." as he is smothered by them.  The others all watch in shock, and then the group holding Tsukasa down all warp out.  The guardian floats up and then disappears.  "Operation complete!" Ginkan shouts, as Subaru is frozen in shock of what she has just witnessed. 

They Knights dragging Tsukasa in a dark dungeon/prison area, they are carrying him and headed toward a large dark doorway.  He screams out "No! Let me go! Let me go! Don't touch me!  Let me go!"