Lol, this book is now old enough to drink in the US. :,)

Meliodas felt anxious as he waited outside. Was he too early? Ban had said they needed to meet before everyone woke up, but maybe his friend didn't realize how early that was? Maybe he was still sleeping?

Oh the blond was far too impatient and nervous to wait around if that were the case. The knowledge of there being something he didn't know was already enough to make his mind go a mile a minute. How was he supposed to wait around knowing he was so close to finding out the truth?

The boy sighed as he looked at the garden around him. No Ban in sight. Just wet grass and the smell of morning dew that caused the grass to be wet.

I'm so nervous. What if... what if it's something bad? What if- no. I can't think like that now! Whatever it is, I need to find out! I need to find out why my brothers are lying to me!

Determination renewed, the blond found he just couldn't sit still as his legs bounced against the wall he sat on. Both jittery from impatience and the unknown, as well as newly energized from refreshing in his mind why he had to do this, all drowsiness from before was completely gone. Now the boy was filled with the energy of someone who had downed three cups of coffee before noon.

It wasn't long after that Ban arrived, which was a good thing considering Meliodas was seconds away from doing laps around the garden to rid himself of the endless stamina rushing through his veins.

Although he was quite startled by the sudden presence. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the man's voice.

"Heya kid. Have ya been waiting long?"

His more childish side wanted to say "for ages" in the most exasperated way possible. But he couldn't bring himself to be so rude, so instead he smiled and simply shook his head.

"Good, I'm glad. Now, about why were meeting... are you sure you're still completely okay with this? You trust me?"

Turning oddly serious for a kid of his age, Meliodas replied without even a moment of hesitancy.

"Yes. I need to know what my brothers aren't telling me."

Ban knew right then and there which version he was talking to. It was the one he knew. His captain. The kid just didn't realize it. Realize who he really was.

"Alright. If you're sure that's what you want, we'll have to go somewhere else to chat. You positive you're okay with that too?"

The boy nodded again. He had thought of that a lot last night, and if this was what was necessary for him to find out what he so desperately needed to, then fine.

"Okay, Merlin. Ya can come out now."

The woman seemed to appear out of thin air, and if Meliodas didn't know of teleportation magic, he would've been a lot more startled than amazed.

"Whoa! Humans can do that too?!"

The woman smirked.

"I'm not what most would consider the normal.. human. But yes, certain mages are capable."

There was a lot of pride and mischief behind those two simple sentences, and the look felt vaguely familiar to Meliodas. Like a moment of nostalgia when smelling something you don't even recognize. Only the blond knew exactly why he felt that way now that Ban had confirmed the boy knew them all.

"Are you ready Meliodas?"

"Mhm! I'm ready."

She snapped her fingers and a second later, he was flooded with that same feeling as before, only it was much, much, stronger as multiple of his senses were overwhelmed.

Sight, smell, touch, even the sound of the place as the wood creaked underneath their feet. All of it felt so dear to him.

"You pretty much built this place yourself. Do ya remember that.. Cap'n?"

His friend was calling him that again. Like when they first met. Well, when he first met them that he could remember, rather.

He looked up at the man, seeing a sadness there. But not just sadness, there was also... hope? Grief? Desperation? And... agony.

That was the only way the boy could put it. The only word to describe such a strong look in those crimson eyes. Agony over seeing a friend who couldn't see him. Not really. He couldn't see him like he did before.

Before.. what?

That was where Meliodas kept going blank. He knew something was different. He knew this was different. Not him. Not anymore.

This wasn't who he was anymore.

He wasn't a kid.

But then... who was he really?

Everything was so scattered. Beyond that point of thought, beyond that question, he couldn't think of anything. And it was.... frustrating. Like he wasn't in control of his own mind and what he could recall and couldn't.

"I... I don't. I'm sorry but I-I don't remember doing that. I don't remember any of you. I just know.. I know I know you."

Meliodas felt despair at his own answer. He didn't want to make Ban sadder. He didn't want to hurt him. But that was the best way he could put it. The best way his little nine year old self could comprehend and answer.

He could see his friend try to hide it, but the immortal's shoulders slumped slightly as the light dimmed in his eyes.

He was disappointed, and the blond hated that he had been the one to make him feel such a way.

"It's okay kiddo. Thanks for trying to think on it though. Maybe it'll... maybe it'll come back to you."

Not letting the blond dwell on it any further, the taller man picked up the boy and sat him on one of the stools at the bar.

"Okay, well since you were nice enough to come here with us. I guess I should tell ya what you're wanting to know, right? Where do ya want me to start?"

The demon blinked at that. In all of his jitters and conflicting emotions, he hadn't actually thought of what he wanted to ask first. Which of the burning questions in his mind would be the first to be quelled?

How he knew them? The supposed secret his brothers were keeping? Why his brothers would be upset with him meeting with his new friends? How he became friends with those of different races to begin with when they usually never went to the demon realm?

Deciding to start small before his brain exploded from the different options, the little demon took a deep breath and started from the one that came to his mind originally.

"How do I know you? How do I really know you."

The man let out a sigh as if that simple question alone was as complicated as all of the others he anticipated the child asking.

"Well, do ya want just me to answer or should I bring out the others?"

"The others?"

"Yep. The people that would look at ya kinda weird? We all met you around the same time. In fact, we were all on the same team."

"Team?"

Now the blond was even more confused. Seeing the reaction, Ban decided to pick for the kid so he didn't get overwhelmed.

"I'll just start with me then. Maybe it'll trigger something so you remember the rest on your own and you won't even need an explanation."

Fine with this answer, Meliodas's little legs started bouncing against his new seat again, energy coming back stronger than before now that it was matched by anticipation.

"Well, remember that dream you had? About the prison?"

"That was real!?"

"Yep. You were building a team to put together. And while you were doing so, you heard about me. A bum in prison who couldn't die regardless of how many times I had been executed. I had.. pretty much given up on a lot of things. I didn't have a lot I wanted to go on for anymore. But then you came in and literally knocked some sense into me. You looked at me like a person, not the criminal everyone called me. I...I've only ever had one other person look at me that way. And I'm gonna make sure that nomatter what I bring you back Cap'n. Memories and all."

It was silent for a moment as Meliodas tried hard to think of such a memory. He wanted to remember it, he was desperate to. It was like a puzzle he had just bought and was trying to finish. Only the pieces got broken and shredded, so he was stuck trying to fix them all without any idea what the whole picture looked like!

It was so frustrating. He tried so, so hard. But all he could come up with were the few moments of his dream. There wasn't anything else.

A lump filled his throat as he tried not to cry. He didn't want to have to tell Ban that he couldn't remember something so important to his friend. He didn't want to make him sad again.

He couldn't even look at the man out of worry that he'd see that same sadness there again. But he didn't have to as Ban seemed to notice and moved on.

"After meetin me and all the others, we formed a group of holy knights. Each of us had something weighing us down before we met ya Cap'n, but we got a chance to repent after joining up with you. We were already given our sins, but you were the one who brought them together and made em something good. You named us The Seven Deadly Sins. I'm Ban the Fox Sin of Greed. Diane is the Serpent Sin of Envy, Merlin is the Boar Sin of Gluttony, King is The Grizzly Sin of Sloth, Gowther is the Goat Sin of Lust, and Escanor- who you haven't seen yet- is the Lion Sin of Pride."

It took a minute for the boy to process all of the different names, but after a minute of furrowed concentration, his eyes widened in excitement.

"That sounds a little familiar! Maybe I'm starting to remember something!"

His little legs swung harder against the seat from his own enthusiasm while a small smile formed on Ban's face. Not necessarily just because it sounded familiar to the boy since that wasn't exactly much, but more or less because of how badly the kid wanted to remember them. He was trying his hardest to think and recall anything he could.

"Well that's a start, ain't it! Do you want me to keep talking about that or is there another question you want to ask?"

The small demon was torn over his choices. On one hand, this felt familiar, so if they kept talking about it, would he remember something? But on the other, he had some new burning questions stuck in his head that he wanted answers to.

"Does Elizabeth have one of those Sin names too? Or the pig? You only listed six."

Ban's face grew serious as the smile faded. Although the boy wasn't sure why.

"No. Those two are some new recruits you picked up after the sins disbanded awhile ago. We got back together though recently because of a new mission."

"New mission?"

The serious look doubled as crimson eyes hardened. Although it didn't appear to be any sort of anger at the boy himself.

"Are you sure you're ready to find out, kid? Because I'm only gonna tell ya the honest truth if you think ya can handle it."

Meliodas didn't even take a second to nod. This was the forth time the man asked him that! He was ready, no matter what.

"Alright. The reason I only listed six, is because you're the last one. Our captian: Meliodas, the Dragon Sin Of Wrath. You created the seven deadly sins, and brought us together for one reason according to Merlin. To defeat the Ten Commandments."

A shock of pain went through the demon's head as he winced and touched the spot it was focused in. Though it was matched by a similar pain in his chest that was caused by what he said.

"To.. defeat the Ten Commandments? B-But... that can't be! Why would I do something like that!? I'd never fight them!"

The pain was getting worse as his breathing sped up. Why would he go against his brothers like that!? Why would they fight!?

"I-I don't understand. I'd never do that! I'd never want to hurt them!"

Ban's expression was neutral again, looking as if he was expecting this reaction.

"Your brothers aren't who you think they are, Cap'n. They've been killing humans, destroying families- hell, entire kingdoms- and starting wars with the other races. I don't know what made you originally decide to go against them, but.. you were the one who made us to take them down. You've been the one protecting the humans ever since the first holy war. Three thousand years ago."

"Ah-"

The blond cried out in pain as everything sharpened. It felt like a knife was being twisted around in his chest and a needle poked in his eye.

"Cap'n, are you okay?"

The voice was thick with worry as Ban walked towards him. Even crouching to his level to take a better look at him.

"Is this hurting you?"

He couldn't respond, random scenes were playing in his head. Scenes that made it impossible for him to argue with what the man was saying to him.

"You won't be able to come home!"

"I refuse to be apart of this carnage.... and if that means I don't have a home..... then so be it."

"Zeldris listen to me! The humans aren't like we thought! I-I've seen them! They have families, homes, lives! It's amazing! We can't take that from them!"

"Meliodas, stop. You hit your head, you don't know what you're going on about. Just sit tight, we'll have a doctor come and help. Do you think he has a concussion Estarossa?"

"It's likely, until a few days ago we thought he was dead from that battle. It's not farfetched to say he has some injuries that need to be treated."

"No! You two aren't listening! We have to stop the fighting! It's hurting so many people Zel. People are DYING because of us!"

"Shush Mel. Stop using up so much energy. Listen, we can talk later once you're healed. For now we're just glad you're okay."

They aren't gonna listen to me... they aren't ever going to listen.

"Cap'n.... Cap'n.... CAP'N!"

The blond nearly jumped out of his seat when reality came back to him. Both Merlin and Ban were standing over him looking worried.

And after a moment he understood that it wasn't just from the unresponsiveness.

Hot tears were going down his face again, and waves of agony were mixing with the pain he felt.

"You.... You weren't lying. I-I did leave. I left the demon realm. I... I had to. I had to protect them."

There weren't any other memories other than the ones that had just flooded his mind. He still didn't remember Ban or Merlin or any of the other sins, nor did he remember being a holy knight. But... he knew that he had left. Why he had left.

And what his brothers were doing.

"B-Ban.... can you tell me something?"

"What is it?"

"Were.. Were my brothers the ones that erased my memory? They... They told me I had been asleep. They lied to me. Why would they do that unless they were the ones who did this?"

His voice was so small, so broken, like he was hoping Ban would say no. Even though deep down he knew that wasn't the case.

The man didn't respond. And that was enough to answer for the demon.

I knew it... they lied to me. They.... They lied to me about everything.

"I'm sorry. I...I know how hard this is on ya kiddo."

He looked up at the man, the tears flowing more than ever.

"T-They lied to me! They h-hurt people!"

"I know, kid. I know."

Squeezing Ban tightly in a hug, he didn't let go until his tears ran dry, and the two were left in the silence of the truth.

Not great, I haven't edited and I'm having some health stuff but this is a long chapter and I did my best!

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