Authors' notes: Ever since I was studying at university I've always wanted to write a fanfic inspired by the Rugby World Cup in Japan which takes place later this year. I'm also interested in taking Kirito and Asuna out of their own comfort zones as well as seeing Asuna as a leader.
The usual disclaimers for a fanfic apply with a couple of extra words of warning before we begin: There are spoilers in this story and theories on how the final arc of Sword Art Online will play out from its outset.
This is also going to be a politically charged story however people from countries including Japan shouldn't be too worried, although there will more likely than not be some considered comments about of the state of the world and issues that cross borders. Britain given the situation that we're in? That's another matter, but I'm not out to write something simplistic either. Since it's politically charged I should also make it clear ( particularly given the nature of my day job) that this is written in a strictly personal capacity.
Now all of that's out of the way, can an armchair fan do justice to an interesting and inspiring sport with its rich history and characters as well as sport in general?
We will see…
A Match for Their Lives
Chapter 1: Standing on the line
A woman stood in the centre of a floodlit stadium holding a rugby ball.
She was wearing a white and blue latticed jersey with blue shorts and socks, along with a cross marked scrum cap that had brown hair poking out. Beside and behind her teammates both male and female were also on the pitch, all wearing the same kit, some with scrum caps some without. All of them moments away from the kick off of a match.
Opposite her lines of players stood ready dressed in black with white symbols on their shirts. A chant echoed around her as she tossed the ball knowing what she had to do.
"A-su-na!" "A-su-na!" "A-su-na! "
And another one being sung out in the beyond photorealistic night sky.
"Sur-vi-vors, Sur-vi-vors, Sur-vi-vors."
Thousands of supporters were calling out her and their teams' name. But they weren't free to come and go from the stadium. Captive they had to watch as she prepared to kick the ball off towards the opposition.
A drop of sweat trickled across her brow.
Virtual sweat? No it's all too real...
Because this wasn't just a game.
A mixed virtual reality rugby union match in another VRMMO, Grandstand Online… One mainly focused on sports rather than fighting monsters or other people. It was the final of a tournament that they'd got to not in two years but in the space of just over two terrifying months.
And as a consequence of one of the rounds leading to here, her fiancée Kazuto wasn't in the line-up. Instead he was sitting on the side-lines watching her with their daughter Yui beside him. Head bowed yet keeping his eyes focused on the pitch he could do no more. Her daughter on the other hand was also watching with equal intensity waiting to play her part.
"Time on."
Asuna shook her head and her eyes narrowed as the referee blew their whistle.
Still I have to focus.
Because although this is not a death game this is…
A death match.
And as she launched the ball high into the air, for her and the rest of Survivors RFC the next eighty minutes would be the match of their lives.
Two months earlier- Tokyo 2029.
The match being played out between two university teams in the March sunshine was an interesting one. Both sets of women had scored tries against each other as the first half approached its end.
Asuna sat in the mildly populated grandstand watching with Kazuto and Yui. Wearing a light jacket over a blue shirt and trousers she grasped her daughters' hand as she felt the press of her fiancée beside her. Asuna had enjoyed explaining the rules of the game to them but her eyes scanned the field looking for one of their friends while continuing to hold Yuis' hand.
Soon we'll be a family of three offline as well as online. So close now!
Her eyes narrowed.
Still where is Rika?
Rikas' team were leading but there was no sign of her, whether on the pitch or on the bench for substitutes. She'd normally been involved in Alfheim Online but after Unital Ring she while still playing, could be found offline too in the front row of her university rugby club.
Unital Ring changed things for everyone, the ultimate VRRMOS game that turned into another death one. It's why certain people aren't here to see this, including Silica who would have loved to have been playing today.
And if he was awake Klein would be roaring her on.
Asuna relaxed as Kirito stroked her hand that bore her engagement ring and she returned the caress giving him a small smile as she noticed his one, a gold ring with a small black and white tower.
I'm just glad that he's here with me though and Yui too. Both little miracles after everything that we we've been through.
Anyway…
Rika gave no indication that she wasn't playing today and this match is one that she wouldn't have wanted to miss out on whatsoever.
"Excuse me?"
A tall woman sitting behind them was wearing a university tracksuit and anorak.
"Are you looking for someone?"
Asuna nodded.
"A friend of ours called Shinozaki Rika."
The woman grinned
"Rika? I'm one of her teammates although…" she glanced at her right foot which was covered by a boot.
"I'm out of action for today."
Asuna gave a sympathetic wince and noticed something else.
That's perfect Japanese but the accent's a northern English one.
"Oh I forgot to introduce myself. Okanoshita Kurea chan."
That's Claire Underhill but her surname's been Japanicized, definitely naturalized. Must be an immigrant here possibly a Fawlty Towers one… the way she uses first and second names interchangeably is obvious.
In any case she looks vaguely familiar. Anyway I'd better introduce myself too.
"Ki- ,no Yuuki Asuna Chan "
Not Kirigaya just yet!
Claire did a double take.
"Asuna Yuuki right? I've seen you before."
Asuna nodded
"In the news?"
My name's in the headlines now, both for the right reasons and for the wrong ones.
Clare shook her head
"No not just that. Did you use to play rugby?
Asuna nodded as the name of the woman suddenly came to her. Claire Underhill, a player for the England women's U-20 rugby team.
"Hai, that was a long time ago though."
The smile that Claire had on her face turned into a grin as she offered a hand.
"I thought I recognised you! You were almost impossible to tackle when we played each other. It's as if you were a flash of lightning!"
The Flash gave a small smile back as she shook it remembering the friendly older teenager who'd been a sporting rival on the pitch and totally nice off it.
"I got pushed into touch a few times by you to be fair. It was a fun match."
I was great at running with the ball but my judgement under pressure? No, that cost us a final.
Okanoshita saw the change in Asunas expression and her grin turned into a sad smile.
"I watched that match, you were in a tough if not nigh-on impossible situation. Anyway Rika called me on Wednesday. She's on a special assignment that's taking longer than she thought it would."
Asunas eyes narrowed.
"Oh what kind of one?"
I know that Rika was doing some kind of technical project but she was tight lipped about who she was working for.
"She didn't say, just that she was out of the country and had some extra work to do."
Fair enough but who would have sent her out of Japan? It can't be Kikuoka, he's dead. So…
That was when Asunas' mobile rang. Excusing herself she stared at the display.
An International Number… 44. That's what used to be the UK, the dialling code hasn't been changed.
Better respond I suppose, it's not a cold caller.
"Hello Asuna Yuuki speaking."
A tired yet friendly Scottish voice was at the other end of the line.
"Afternoon Asuna, How's the weather in Tokyo?"
Felix Martin Mulcahy, MSP for East Lothian and possibly a lot more given recent events out west. Or in full dive Muldar… former Team C squad leader in the Knights of the Blood and before that my former team member.
"Great thanks for asking Felix and the wedding preparations are going well too."
There was what sounded like a sigh of relief on the other side of the line.
"That's great to hear skipper. But this isn't a social call I'm afraid and Kazuto should be listening in too."
Skipper huh? As ever a bit too casual but there's something else.
Asuna put the phone onto speaker and motioned to Kirito.
"That's Former Vice-Commander to you Former Team Leader and what is it? As it's midday here I know that you're calling at some crazy hour in Scotland."
There was a pause at the end of the line.
"0415 Bri- no Isles Summer Time Asuna. It's because a situation that's been lurking behind the front pages has escalated in the past twenty four hours."
Asuna shook her head
"I'm afraid that you'll have to explain a bit more Felix. Kazuto and I have been trying to take a break from the news."
At the other end of the line there was what sounded like a "d'oh" then Felix regained his decorum.
"Given recent events I understand completely. Five people have gone missing over the last two weeks while playing a VRMMO game called Grandstand Online. The last one disappeared just under 24 hours ago."
My skin's tingling
"Disappeared?"
Asuna saw Kazuto stare at her phone "That shouldn't be possible…"
The response was arch and typically outspoken for the Scotsman.
"It shouldn't be but it's happening Kazuto and causing me a headache just thinking about it. If it wasn't I wouldn't be calling you at some god awful hour on a Saturday, believe me. In fact it's why I'd could use some help from my fellow former guild members in finding those people, should you be willing."
He's offering us a choice?
"Should you be willing Felix?"
Felix took a deep breath.
"I'm a member of a foreign government Asuna. I can't order you to assist me, especially as I checked with my friends at MOFA who said: "You can ask by all means but it's up to them."
Given the hell both of you have been through and what Kazuto's still recovering from I agree with their assessment."
He knows about what happened in Unital Ring?
Asuna clenched her fist.
Fool, of course he does, the whole world knows about it!
After all we've been part of public select committee hearings in Japan, Brussels and the US discussing its implications! I've come under intense scrutiny too for my own actions and not all of it fair.
Asuna looked at Kirito who nodded at her
"We'll think about it Felix."
And that's something I know he'll accept, which he's going to.
"I couldn't ask for anything more. If you're really up for this then meet me in the West Midlands 72 hours from now. Our RV point will be where a ram can get stung by a wasp."
That's a riddle…
"Cryptic for you Felix…"
Then bolts of recognition and dread coursed through Asuna. Had the phone she was holding not been metal she would have cracked its casing.
Or a wasp can get squashed by a ram on its day. You've definitely done your research, bastard!
"…and you'd better have a REALLY good reason for meeting us there!"
Fittingly enough her former subordinate was really apologetic.
"I know that it's a trip down memory lane for you which you'd rather not take. But believe me meeting online wouldn't have been a great option either. Former Team Leader out. "
Asuna shook her head as Felix hung up clenching her free hand. Kirito put an arm round her shoulder.
"There are a huge amount of safeguards to stop people from being kidnapped while in Full Dive. But if someone really wanted to bypass them…."
Asuna sighed.
"So we should go. But given where we're meeting Felix part of me would rather face my mums' ambivalence about our marriage at home than go there."
Not that Felix would care…
Asuna took a deep breath as Kazuto squeezed her hand.
No he does. I could hear his unease coming through the line.
That was one of the things about Muldar when we were in Aincrad, when we clashed, it was normally because he thought that I was pushing someone too hard!
And there was something else too…
"Fucking hell Rika!"
Asunas trail of thought was interrupted by Claire who had forgotten all of the cultural sensitivities of her adopted country.
"What in bleeding heck have you gotten yourself into?"
Asuna looked at her former rival.
"What happened to her?"
Visibly shaking Claire handed her phone to Asuna with its screen on a news site.
"Look at this!"
As Kirito joined her they saw the face of one of their best friends faces staring at them with the headline:
Missing Japanese rugby player identified as a survivor of the Sword Art Online incident
"A student and rugby player who went missing in Edinburgh while playing a VRMMO game called Grandstand Online has been identified as Rika "Lisbeth" Shinozaki a survivor of the Sword Art Online Incident. Shinozaki, 22 had been studying engineering at the University of Tokyo and had been selected for the Moonwolves as a player for the upcoming professional Womens' Super-Rugby season. She becomes the fifth person to go missing while playing Grandstand Online. Investigations are continuing into the disappearances which started when English International Jonathan Hasketh disappeared a fortnight ago followed by Japanese amateur player Shigeru Yoshida. Two other players are reported to have gone missing however their identities haven't been confirmed by Police Scotland due to ongoing investigations surrounding the circumstances of their disappearances.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Agency of Foreign Affairs (SAFA) refused to confirm reports that Miss Shinozaki was working for them on an assignment as part of talks with England and Wales on arrangements for the 2030 World Cup taking place across the British Isles. However they confirmed that she was working with the Scottish government at the time of the incident. SAFA also confirmed that Shinozakis' family have been notified and are being provided with consular assistance."
The article went on to explain that several years ago Rika had been part of ten thousand players who had been trapped in a virtual reality game unable to log out… Asuna skipped over that part and handed the phone back to a shell-shocked Claire.
"Can you help her?"
Asuna looked at Kirito and Yui who both nodded.
"We'll do our best."
Claire cleared her throat.
"Then get out there and bring her home! Rika's been great for our team."
As she was for the Assault Team all of those years ago and for all of us afterwards. So we're going and Claire, no Kurea deserves to know that.
"Don't worry we will."
As the three of them walked away Yui held her mothers' hand.
"But exactly does your friend want to meet us Mama-chan?"
The former Vice-Commander bit her lip and stared up at the sky.
"Felix was talking about a stadium called the Ricoh Arena which is in a city called Coventry."
Yui looked at her mother.
"How do you know that Mama-chan?"
Asuna continued to stare skywards her face burning.
"Because I went there a few months before the death game began, to play in the final of a rugby tournament."
