A/N: Hello. :) In celebration of Alicization coming to Toonami, I've decided to work on another segment of SAO to take it in a slightly different direction. This time, Kikuoka won't be a jerk and try to keep out Kirito's friends out of the loop, as far as I know. And there'd also be more frequent lemons here for anyone who liked to see more of Kirito and his harem. And to add to that, Quinella won't be alone in the Castle of Centoria. What that would entangle, I'll never tell. For now, you'll just have to keep reading.
Prologue: "Prelude to Alicization"
It had been five months since that fateful day. The day when Laughing Coffin aimed to lay siege upon the Yokohama Hospital and obtain the Medicuboid to obtain its secrets and fulfill what could've been a global genocide. But they were thwarted and arrested while their anonymous leader, the Sorcerer, was slain by Korai Kayaba, the successor to the creator of Sword Art Online, a death game that if one perished in the game, they die in real life as well. It took place long before Laughing Coffin ever attempted such a siege. Back then, a different hero saved their lives.
The one who cleared the game was none other than Kazuto Kirigaya, otherwise known as Kirito. Upon confronting Akihiko Kayaba, Kirito fought him to the death and cleared it, but at a price. He still had to fight one more enemy, Sugou Nobuyuki, to save the minds of the hundred that were captured after SAO was cleared. The two heroes both had something to fight for, and someone. The two of them each had someone to love and knew very well the very meaning of survival against all odds that would oppose them. And because of their hardened spirits and brave hearts, they live their lives in content and peace. And that peace was beginning to flourish into something divine.
About a month prior to the present, Yuuki had married Korai. And in 2 weeks' time, Yuuki and Korai went to the church that occupied the husband's mother's grave as the priest said his speech with Kazuto, Asuna, Klein, Shi-Eun, Rika, Keiko, Suguha, and Sachi present alongside Kyouko (Asuna's mother), Dr. Kurahashi, Kikuoka (a partner of sorts that helped Kirito against Death Gun), and Aunt Rika (who became interested in Keiko as they had not just the similar name, but also a similar attitude).
"And do you, Korai Kayaba take Yuuki Konno to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Of course, with how hard he's fought to keep her alive, Korai gave his answer.
"I do."
"I now pronounce you husband and wife."
This made Yuuki and Korai excited as they hugged each other before they kissed with the crowd clapping their hands together as the newly wedded couple embraced each other.
Almost a month after the ceremony had passed, Yuuki had suddenly blacked out and gotten tired. Thankfully, she was already in bed when it occurred. Still, Korai had become worried about why it happened the way it did as he sat by Yuuki on a chair adjacent to her. As they waited anxiously, a doctor came in to visit them as the husband became very afraid to find out if there was anything wrong.
"How is Yuuki doing, doc?"
Fortunately, the doctor did not have news of gloom to offer, but that of peace as she smiled before replying.
"There's nothing wrong with your wife. Physically, she's in perfect health. And, we've also stumbled upon some fascinating news."
Hearing about this, Yuuki blinked her eyes as she spoke to her.
"What sort of fascinating news?"
"Well... the fact is... you're pregnant."
As Yuuki heard this, she widened her eyes and bore a smile as she tried to process the news.
"I... I'm gonna have a baby?"
"Not a Baby. Two of them. You have twins."
As Yuuki heard that piece of news, she found herself caught unawares as she felt as though her heart stopped. She was hoping to get at least one baby, but to have twins? This was more than she would've liked. It was the best news she'd ever heard. And it was showing as Yuuki began to shed tears.
"T-Twins? Really?"
As Yuuki couldn't help but sniffle trying to calm herself down, Korai couldn't be any more proud of her than he already was. Although, the news had a different effect on him as Korai was practically as giddy as a kid at Christmas.
"We're having twins?! For real?!"
"Of course. Although, it's too soon to know what gender they are."
As he was told this, Korai was in such high spirits that he began dancing in the room with glee, making Yuuki laugh as he caught her attention before she spoke up to the smiling doctor.
"Thank you so much for telling us, doc."
"Congratulations."
Later, at Kayaba's company-owned apartment, Korai and Yuuki had just entered via elevator before he suddenly grabbed her and lifted her bridal style before he walked her over to her bed as she enjoyed the ride she's given with a giggle. With that, as Yuuki laid down on the bed, she couldn't help but feel as though Korai should've made a callback to something as the rain was heavy outside.
"I still feel like you should've actually sang in the rain."
"What are you talking about?"
"You know? From that movie I heard a lot of people talk about?"
Confused about her description, Korai honestly had no clue as to what movie she meant as he showed it on his face, making Yuuki realize there was simply no point.
"Never mind. I wonder how the other girls are doing?"
As if to answer, Yuuki's new phone began to ring in her pocket before she reached into it and got it out, noticing Asuna's picture on it before she tapped on the phone button and started the call.
"Hey, Asuna. What's up?"
"Hi, Yuuki. Are you doing alright? We heard about what happened."
"Yeah, I'm alright. And guess what? I'm preggers with twinsies!"
Having heard this, Asuna couldn't help but voice her excitement as Yuuki had gotten her wish.
"What?! Really?!"
"Uh-huh. But we still don't know if they're boys or girls yet. So it'll be a while."
"Well, that's great news, Yuuki. That's actually another good thing to hear today."
For a moment, it intrigued Yuuki. What other good thing was there to be excited about? Then, upon remembering what Kazuto had done with the girls on May 23rd, her birthday, Yuuki began to be excited.
"Wait. You mean you're pregnant, too?"
"No. Not yet. I wish I was."
"Oh. Sorry to hear that."
"It's okay. I think I can wait a bit longer. My mom would think it to be too soon."
"Well, what's that other good thing, then?"
"Shinonon asked us to help her against this guild in GGO."
"Shinonon? I thought she was called Shino."
"It's a nickname I thought of. Anyway, they've been acting bizarre. I heard that they've been targeting other players without even touching their items."
"What? That is strange. And also, familiar... you don't think—"
"I don't know. That's what we're trying to find out. Hey, maybe you and Korai should come along. We'll be starting up the next day."
Given the opportunity, Yuuki realized that she hasn't played GGO before. And even after all this time, she still got the adrenaline pumping from hearing of it. Eager to join in, Yuuki gave a smile before she replied.
"Maybe we will. See you then."
With that, Yuuki finished her call before she turned to Korai.
"Well, at least I know what we're doing tomorrow."
"And what's that?"
"We're gonna help Shino in GGO against this guild that's been killing people but leaving the items."
Hearing about this, Korai became intrigued, catching her attention before he spoke to her.
"You okay?"
"I dunno. Sounds like something Laughing Coffin would do, but it can't be. We got them all arrested and took out the Sorcerer."
"Yeah. So if it's not them... What guild would do that, then?"
The next day, they would find out the answer. On June 27th, 2026, the raid against this mysterious squad began as Sinon was running through the forest with two attackers wearing black cloaks and golden crow masks on her trail. As soon as she had gotten to the open area of it, Sinon attempted to fire at one of them using her Hecate, only to miss as he dodged before both of them trained their weapons on her, much to her shock. However, Sinon had counted on this as the sounds of a Jeep distracted them from shooting as she smirked before the vehicle battled at them from above as it just jumped off of the ramp. In response, they tried to shoot at the Jeep with no success before Klein and Siune, who had her blue hair in a ponytail wearing the similar outfit as Sinon with the green colors as blue, began to fire at them as he spoke.
"This Tanegashima's full-auto!"
As the Jeep went toward one of the attackers, he was able to avoid the gunfire before leaping away as it turned, showing Lisbeth to be its driver as she spoke out.
"What's up, you PK jerks? Let's see how fast you run."
With that, Lisbeth fired a rifle at the attacker but missed as he went deep into the woods. In the meantime, as the attacker that was left behind prepared to counter as he reloaded, Silica, wearing a green pelt with a hooded cape, opened fire using a turret on top of the Jeep as adrenaline coursed through her. However, to counter this, the attacker that retreated tossed out a smoke grenade for him and his cohort to hide, much to Klein's disappointment.
"Cowards."
Sinon, however, got prepared for it as well before she spoke out to the cargo on the back with a shout before Yuuki replied.
"You're up! I'll cover you!"
"Got it!"
With that, Kirito, Asuna, Yuuki, and Korai (who goes by Perseus) got out of the back of the Jeep before the last two splintered away from the fog and into the forest just as Kirito and Asuna went after them. As they did, Yuuki got her communicator and spoke to Sachi.
"Hey, Sachi. Did those guys move yet?"
Far away, Sachi focused her binoculars on a man with short, blonde hair and a small man with a computer to see them remaining where they were as she whispered.
"Not yet. I think they're just watching Kirito and Asuna."
"Good. Don't give yourself away, but keep your focus on them until we catch up."
With that, Sachi removed her binoculars before she began to climb down the tree branch she stood on. As this occurred, Leafa joined Kirito and Asuna as they repelled the attackers while they remained fixed on the watch between their battles as Leafa used a green photon sword where Asuna used a red one. As the three of them fought the attackers, Yuuki and Perseus went over to the uphill trail where they themselves took notice of the three men before she got out her purple photon sword while Korai got his grey one before she shouted to the blonde man in particular.
"Hey, blondie!"
Hearing this, the small and the blonde men turned around behind them to see Yuuki and Perseus as they smirked before he gave a small smile their way before the small man, known as Critter, became very surprised.
"How did you manage to find us?! Why haven't we been able to track you?"
At that moment, Yuuki motioned her head to where Sachi would've been as she practically pointed to her.
"How do you think?"
With that, Sachi got out of the bushes Yuuki pointed to and held out a small black device glowing orange before fading to black as Perseus spoke up.
"We had a small device given to us that hides us from any radar presence. That's how we got the drop on you."
After Perseus said this, Yuuki focused her attention on the blonde man who glared his way towards her as she spoke.
"So, you're the Subtilizer. Really takes the 'subtle' out of the name, honestly."
Despite her comment, he only stood with a look of curiosity before Yuuki noticed how strange his look was. It was almost as if he'd seen something that reminded him of someone he knew.
"Hey! Did you hear me?"
As he stared at her, the Subtilizer in question only granted a small smile before he spoke up.
"Pardon me, but... your soul would be sweet."
Having heard such a remark, Yuuki became perplexed as she blinked her eyes, not entirely certain what to make of this. What made him so interested in her soul, whatever that was? One thing's for sure, Yuuki did not like that one bit.
"Uh, you're starting to creep me out."
With that, Subtilizer walked towards Yuuki before he clenched his left hand at her throat, making her gag as she struggled to break free from his iron grip. If it wasn't for the brute's STA, she would've been out in a jiffy. As Perseus took notice of this, he began to see Subtilizer differently as he somehow viewed him as the Sorcerer gripping her neck before he reacted by getting his photon sword and rushing at him before he sliced off the arm gripping her, making him drop Yuuki as the arm fell to the floor before he felt the intense, burning pain of it as Sachi went over to Yuuki before she noticed her coughing before she spoke.
"You okay, Yuuki?"
"Yeah, I am now."
With that, the two of them looked to Perseus before he spoke threateningly to Subtilizer.
"Go near her again, and you're dead."
As he said this, Subtilizer took a glance at Perseus and saw a familiar resemblance as he recalled the news that took place at Yokohama Hospital before he gave a glare towards him.
"So... you're the one who did it."
As he heard that from his foe, Perseus became confused. What could he have done to them for him to say that just yet?
"What? What are you talking about?"
"You'll see. Till next time, kid."
With that, Subtilizer got out a smoke grenade and covered the area in smoke before the group began coughing. After the smoke cleared, however, Critter and Subtilizer both vanished before Perseus grew flustered.
"Darn it. He got away. You okay, Yuuki?"
When he'd asked her, Yuuki was having a look of curiosity as she recalled what the Subtilizer spoke concerning her soul. When Perseus spoke again, he was able to shake her mind off of it.
"Yuuki."
"Huh? Oh! Yeah. I'm fine. But... why would he be so interested in my soul? How weird..."
At Yuuki's house, the couple sat at the couch as they tried to work out who exactly that group was while trying to relieve the stress eating away at them as it seemed all too reminding of their war with Laughing Coffin. In their search to find the guild responsible for the most bizarre behavior since SAO, they figured out that Subtilizer was the ringleader of said squad. But what they weren't able to figure out as of yet was why. Although... the look on the Subtilizer's face alerted to Korai the link between him and the Sorcerer. Could he be with Laughing Coffin, or was that murder guild just a precursor to something worse? Either way, neither option would be good news. And Yuuki was no fan of that in the slightest as she cuddled near Korai, who was trying to consider the possibilities.
"Great. With behavior like that, they might as well be Laughing Coffin. Except they're all in jail or taken out. How would that explain the Subtilizer, though? He acts like he knows me, like he works for them. But why...?"
To stir him from his thoughts, Yuuki gave him a hug before he looked to see her in just her pink jacket as it was zipped over her chest and covered her posterior on both sides before she spoke up.
"I don't know if I like that either... he seemed to know us too well... did you see him when you were a member of Laughing Coffin?"
Korai only answered with a shake of his head before he replied verbally.
"Not really. So we can cross Laughing Coffin off the list."
"Okay, but... how could he know you, then?"
"I wish I knew..."
At that moment, Korai heard his phone ring as he sat up before he noticed Kikuoka's picture on it before Yuuki became curious as she looked at the photo.
"Huh? Is that Kikuoka? I wonder what's going on?"
"Only one way to find out."
With that, he tapped on the green icon before a picture of him appeared to show Kikuoka before he noticed Korai and Yuuki together, making him embarrassed as he became convinced he interrupted.
"Oh! Mr. and Mrs. Kayaba. I hope I wasn't interrupting anything."
Yuuki saw no need for him to be embarrassed as she spoke to him.
"Nah, it's okay. We weren't really doing anything. Yet... anyway, what's going on? I thought you guys were working on something with Rath."
"Well, yes, we are. And as you know, since it was his Medicuboid that was able to sustain you for all your time there, I've recently employed Kurahashi as my employees. Well, we just took a look inside the Medicuboid, and... I think it may interest you. Apparently, there's a human soul loving inside it."
Hearing this, Korai and Yuuki became shocked. Someone trapped in SAO via NerveGear would be understandable, but the Medicuboid? The very idea that someone could be trapped in the otherwise vacant machine strained belief.
"What did you just say?!"
"A human soul living inside it? Is that like SAO?"
Seeing their shocked faces, Kikuoka shook his head as he quickly explained.
"Easy, easy. It's not like that. This case is very different. In fact, it's almost as if it happened to have found its way in there once it got moved."
Not liking the sound of this, Korai spoke to him next.
"The only time it was moved was after—"
At that moment, a dark theory entered Korai's mind. What if when the Sorcerer was defeated... no, it couldn't be. The lightning destroyed his body systems with its bolts. But then again...
"Did you found out who the soul belonged to?"
"That's just the problem. We've been trying to figure it out, but the Soul Translator won't accept the Medicuboid directly because of its data."
To Korai and Yuuki, it made no sense. From what they were told at the wedding, it was supposed to allow the Fluctlight (fluctuating light within the mind) of the user to enter a creative sort of landscape and interact with other beings in that realm. It functioned as both the real world and the virtual; in fact, it may have been the product of what happened when they blurred together... alas, to hear that the Soul Translator wouldn't accept a soul within the Medicuboid... that was a great counter to which the device was titled. Although, it did make sense in a way; it's not like the STL would allow a machine to get inside.
"At this point, transferring the data to one of them with the soul intact is a no go."
Hearing about it, Yuuki became somehow frightened of what it meant. She had a fun time in the Medicuboid, even if it was longer than she would've liked.
"Meaning what?"
"In order to accept the soul it's currently housing, the data would either have to be moved or wiped clean. I told Kurahashi about it, but he's worried that this soul would be erased along with the data."
Afraid to know who the soul is, Korai seemed to be fine with it.
"Well then, so much the better. If it belongs to who I think it does, it's better off erased."
As he said it out of his mouth, Yuuki became stunted that he'd agree to it so quickly. After all, it's not just her time in the Medicuboid that'd go away. Along with it would follow any lead on who the Sorcerer really was. Besides, just because he died just before the Medicuboid was moved, that doesn't mean it happened the way it did. Could it?
"Are we sure about that? What if it wasn't the Sorcerer? What if... what if that's your dad?"
As Korai heard this, he looked to her out of bewilderment that she'd suggest it.
"What?"
"Think about it. Kirito saw a digital ghost of him after he saved Asuna, right? And your dad was using a Medicuboid before he passed away and it got transferred to me. When you think about it... maybe he sent a part of his soul into it?"
"Well, wouldn't you have noticed if he was?"
Hearing this, Yuuki realized how dark the place actually was without all the monitors in front of her. She didn't exactly have the best attention span back then.
"Honestly, no... I had all those monitors in front of me back then, so I didn't exactly have much of an attention span. That, and I spent my nights sleeping in bed with the Medicuboid off."
Hearing every word that came out of her mouth, Korai was becoming very impatient.
"Whatever. I'm not taking any chances."
"But what if the answer to SAO is in there? Wouldn't you take it?"
"No, I wouldn't!"
As Korai suddenly snapped at Yuuki, she gasped at his words before realizing how he raised his voice before he tried to make it right.
"Sorry, Yuuki. It's just... I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'll always choose you over that."
Having been told his apology, Yuuki only moved her head down and stood up before she spoke.
"I get it."
And with that, she went over to the window before looking out at the moon above her before Kikuoka spoke again.
"It seems like I've called at a bad time after all."
"Sorry, Kikuoka. It's not you. I'm just trying to keep Yuuki safe. She really means a lot to me. If she disappeared... I wouldn't know what to do with myself."
"I understand. But the offer's still on the table if you change your mind."
"Okay. We'll let you know when we do."
With that, Korai ended the FaceTime call as he looked to the bummed Yuuki. As he did, he recalled the offer Kikuoka made to the couple the wedding, he made an offer to them about an opportunity to work on Project: Alicization. The moment Yuuki heard of this and how it worked, like she was drawn to the Medicuboid, she was just as easily drawn to the lure of the world that went beyond the real world and the virtual. However, Korai suspected how dangerous it'd be. With that world blurring both sides, there's no telling what'll occur if she died. Because it wasn't a risk he found worth taking, Korai declined the offer for both of them, leaving Yuuki a bit disappointed, but they both understood.
Or at the very least, one of them did. Yuuki didn't want to say this to him, but she's actually angry with him for declining the offer. And as the weeks passed, Korai found it more and more evident in the way she behaved. Could that be because she's getting early fits from her impending pregnancy? While it was a possibility, it didn't change the fact that she was upset. So, tired of her being angry, Korai tried to explain himself to her.
"Yuuki... I know how badly you want to go, and why, but... if it's anything like SAO, I just can't take that risk."
Yuuki only maintained her seemingly indifferent composure as she spoke in a soft voice.
"I know. But I'm not a little kid anymore. I can take care of myself, now."
"Well, that one night I let you stay at home alone would say different."
"Hey! It's not my fault that pancake came at me from outta nowhere!"
As Korai laughed at remembering how Yuuki acted upon being bombarded by her own cooking, she laughed a bit at that memory herself before getting back to the point.
"Anyway, you know what I mean. I'm Zekken, remember? The Absolute Swordswoman?"
"But, Yuuki—"
"Listen. I told you something uber important after that fight at my hospital. Remember? I told you to let me keep you safe and that you owed it to me."
As she said that to Korai, he remembered every word she said as it seemed like he's reliving those moments all over again. He also remembered how scared she was for any possibility of him to try to kill himself when she's gone, so he knew she understood his fear very well. But they both knew it was no way to live. As the reminder kicked in, Korai could see her face at the pale moonlight practically glowing as he cupped her face before he spoke.
"You know... you're right."
As she read the look on his face staring intently at her, Yuuki smiled, knowing he finally understood.
"Of course I am. Now, can we please make out so you don't get so nervous?"
"Sure."
As Yuuki giggled at his reply, they began to kiss each other on the lips gently as they cradled their tongues with each other's as they moaned softly. As their tongues mingled, they could feel the intensity of it as Korai began to clutch his hand on one of her buttocks and squeezed it as she began to moan more in his mouth before they had to break away for their breath. As they took their breath, Korai saw her blushing face as he spoke to her.
"Are you sure you wanna do this again, though? You are pregnant."
"Well, you do know how to set the mood."
With that, they got in their bedroom in which the wife laid herself on the back of the bed before unzipping her jacket enough to where her chest was partly exposed with the zipper acting as a clip on for her custom bra. With Korai's penis erect, Yuuki couldn't take any more without it as she spoke to him.
"You can cum on me through here. I'd want you to..."
Without giving any more thought, Korai slid it in between her chest and into her mouth before he began to thrust it, causing her chest to move up and down along with her jacket. As the pace kept going, Yuuki's taste of his organ, as well as the sensation of her nipples being aroused by her jacket's fabric, made her moan loudly in bliss, although she couldn't be heard as it was muffled by the thing in her mouth. That, in turn, made Korai closer and closer to the edge until he couldn't hold it anymore and released his seed in her mouth as Yuuki moaned while her chest excreted milk onto the jacket, making it evident by a couple of wet spots here and there as she swallowed the contents before he took it out and she began to breathe deeply. As she did, Korai removed the jacket from Yuuki upwards before he laid down beside her as he inserted his penis inside her vagina smoothly with no intention to thrust this time as Yuuki was getting tired. Feeling the comfort from it, the wife looked to her husband before she smiled and wanted to know how he felt.
"Did it work? Feeling better?"
"Yeah. A little."
"So...? Are you finally in?"
As Korai looked at Yuuki, he held her close to him as he again recalled Yuuki's words to him. While he's certain he remembered them, Korai didn't quite feel sure that Yuuki would remember his words to her. And so, he responded with a smile.
"I'm in. Just as long as you remember that I'll always be there to protect you. I told you not to forget it, after all."
"Don't worry. I'll never forget."
With Yuuki having heard it from her husband, the both of them each remembered their promises made to each other. And they carry a great meaning for what will occur. He won't be just protecting her, just as she won just be protecting him; instead, like comrades, they'll protect each other...