Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel or any of the Characters or events therein. These works belong Reki Kawahara, A-1 pictures, and Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy Respectively.

Author's note: This an alternate universe fic where the events of Sword Art Online took place twenty years before they do in canon. Many of the events happened differently from the canon and Asuna's mother has a completely different personality. Also the Faery dance arc never happened.

The stone floor felt cold. It should not feel like anything, Asuna thought. It was fake, just ones and zeroes organized in such a way to trick her mind into thinking it was a stone floor. And now she was stuck, paralyzed against said stone floor as her lover was fighting her former commander.

Kirito with his dual blades was on the attack against Heathcliff. Kirito swung repeatedly with all his might, but Heathcliff remained cold and calm while effortlessly deflecting every attack that came his way. Kirito then let out a powerful attack, one that would have obliterated a lesser foe. Alas he was not fighting a lesser foe and the attack failed. Kirito, desperate went to stab Heathcliff and Kirito's second sword went straight into his enemy's shield and shattered.

Heathcliff made some pretentious comment that Asuna did not pay attention to and raised his sword which glowed in preparation to attack. Asuna grit her teeth knowing what was about to happen and that she was powerless to stop it.

Asuna forced herself to stand up even though she knew It would not work. Strangely enough, it did. Asuna had somehow broken her paralysis and was standing. She was surprised by this but this was no time to question such things.

Without thinking she drew her sword and charged. Heathcliff was about to land a blow on Kirito when he flew a good thirty feet back. Landing on his back with his former second-in command standing over him, her rapier in his chest.

"Death to Kayaba" Asuna shouted at the top of her lungs before the world flashed around her and disappeared.

Her eyes opened to a blank hospital room. Sitting herself up, Asuna removed the abominable contraption that trapped her in Kayaba's nightmare world. Asuna took a look around the room and, deciding that there was very little she could do in her present condition, settled down for a natural rest in her own body. Back again at last.


The nurse came in to checkup on the comatose girl and almost missed the fact that Asuna was sleeping without her Nervegear on. In a moment of panic the nurse checked Asuna's vitals afraid that she had been claimed by the infernal device, but the nurse was relieved when it turned out that the young woman was in fact safe.

The nurse reported this to main desk although the desk was busy with all the other reports of people free from the game. The desk then went about contacting the families of the former sleepers before it relegated that information to the news stations informing everyone that all was well at last.

The Yuuki Family was all together when it got the call. Kyouko, Asuna's mother, was the one to pick up the phone and receive the news before joyously referring it to the rest of the household. Kouichirou, Asuna's Brother, sat down and rested his head in his hands; letting out years of guilt that he had allowed this to happen to his little sister. Shouzou, Asuna's father, smiled and let out a few tears, but his face seemed hard as if something had not quite gone according to plan.

Thus began the lengthy grueling process of mass rehabilitation. The expected recovery time for the average SAO player was between three to six months. To everyone's surprise, Asuna had recovered most of strength by the end of her second week and was walking without aid by the end of her fourth. Now that she was able, Asuna was ready to do what she had promised.

Walking down the hospital corridor with her mother by her side, Asuna repeatedly looked down on the note woman at the desk had given her and the numbers on the rooms. She stopped in front of one door, checking the note one last time just to be sure before entering the room.

And there sitting on the bed was Kazuto Kirigaya. He slowly turned towards the door, obviously not as far in recovery as Asuna was.

"Asuna," Kazuto said. "Is that you?"

"Yes it's me, Kirito."

Asuna then rushed and took him into her arms.

"I found you," Asuna said. "Just like I said I would, Kirito."

"I love you, Asuna." Kazuto said as he wrapped his right arm around her shoulder. "And I've missed you so much."

Asuna stepped out of their embrace but still held his hand in hers.

"You caught me just in time," Kazuto said. "I'm being discharged today."

Kyouko quietly stepped forward and introduced herself to this strange young man.

"Hello Mr Kirigaya," She said giving a slight bow in the Japanese fashion. "I am Kyouko Yuuki, Asuna's mother."

At this Kazuto shuddered in discomfort. He bowed as well as he could considering his body was not in peak condition. He really regretted embracing Asuna the way he just did at this moment.

"My daughter has told me about you, your time in the game, and your relationship with her."

"Mrs. Yuuki, I can explain." Kazuto stumbled like seasick pig. "I forgot myself and I promise you…"

"Mr. Kirigaya," Kyouko interrupted "I can't claim to understand the intricacies of your relationship, but I believe firmly that I raised my daughter to be responsible. I trust that she would make the right decision regarding something like this. Until I see the proof to the contrary, as long as she is happy with you, that is good enough for me."

Kazuto relaxed slightly. "Thank you, Mrs. Yuuki."

Asuna and her mother left shortly afterward.


Another sleepless night for Asuna. Looking out at the darkness. It had been a year since Sword Art Online had been cleared and the dreams had only gotten worse. Everyone told her not to think too much about it: her mother, Kirito, Lisbeth, but she could not help but think that something did not make sense. No screw that nothing made sense about the whole two years.

First of all the game was released in November 2002 only a year after the release of Halo: combat evolved. How did the technology advance quickly enough to go from a standard first person shooter to a whole virtual world. Secondly, how did no one know that the game or the nerve gear were capable of killing its users. It was reported that nobody else who worked on the game knew about Kayaba's plans, how did one man keep this monumental fact from everyone else who was so intimately involved with the development of this game.

But even stranger than that was all the things that made no sense to Asuna about….herself. She had never played a video game before in her life and yet when she was in the game she quickly proved that not only was she a capable fighter but one of the best. She did not question it at the time, she just needed to survive and it all just felt natural at the time.

Then there were the times when she seemed to break the game's rules through sheer strength of will. When she raced to save Kirito from Kuredeel and more importantly when she broke her paralysis to stab Heathcliff in the heart.

None of this made any sense to her. Any time she did not spend in school or therapy was spent investigating Argus and Kayaba, so far nothing. The investigators that her family had hired had only uncovered small traces of some mysterious stockholder but all information about this was wiped from the files well before the game even launched. What was going on?

While Asuna was pondering this, some shady characters were getting nervous.

"That pesky girl is getting in way over her head" one said.

"Your overreacting nobody can touch us" said the other.

"No one was even supposed to survive that game. It was designed to be unbeatable. Kayaba got cocky he should have retreated and stayed low when he was discovered, but no he had to have an ego contest with that punk. And as it turned out, he wasn't the real threat anyways."

"We have our ways of dealing with these people the investigations will done for in a week."

"If we kill the investigators that will just make it look like they were on to something"

"No, we strike at the source and eliminate our dear Lightning Flash once and for all. She may have had all the power in that game but out here she's just another little girl."

"Technically she's 18 so…"

"You miss the point nincompoop. she is powerless despite her family's wealth and we will make short work of her. Make the call."

"Uh, ah, yes… Yes, My lord."


The next evening Asuna was being walked home by Kirito after a date. Asuna had herself pressed up against Kirito and her arm over his shoulder which was not difficult due to the small height difference between them.

"Hey girl," A tall imposing man said from the darkness. "You look like a delicious morsel."

"Go away creep!" Kirito lunged into action "your not her type."

"Oh, I can take any type from AB+ to O-." said the interloper.

Kirito lunged at the man only to be punched into the trunk of a nearby tree causing one the lower branches to come off.

"Kirito" Asuna exclaimed as she ran to him "Are you Okay?"

"I think so, ow"

"So what will it be little lady?" Asuna looked back at their assailant to see that his forehead had Become bumpy and his canines had grown into fangs. "You ready to donate blood?"

"Run, Kirito."

"Asuna, I can't…"

"Don't Argue with me, Run." Said Asuna pushing him away and picking up the fallen branch. Brandishing the branch like the rapier she had once wielded so fiercely, she attacked her opposer. The branch broke quickly and she was forced to fight him hand to hand. Her long dormant instincts kicking in again she fought him off harder than anyone else would have been able to, but she still feel that he was wearing her down.

She stepped back exhausted and quickly checked behind sighing in relief that Kirito had done as she said. She swung back to her assailant who was slowly approaching. He was clearly intent on savoring this kill.

Asuna raised her fists, ready give her all before the end. The man smiled grotesquely. But before he could attack, he suddenly winced before disintegrating into dust. In his place a dark-haired girl of Japanese descent, about Asuna's age, was standing holding a small sharpened piece of wood.

"It's dangerous at night" said the strange girl. "You should head home."

"Okay," Asuna responded tired and quite confused.

The girl nodded and quietly walked away slipping the wood piece into her purse.

Remembering herself she turned and ran to find Kirito laying against a fence.

"Asuna You're okay." Said Kirito.

"Kirito," Asuna cupped his face in her hands, "the next time I tell you to run, you run okay."

"I'm sorry, Asuna" Asuna nodded and held him for a few seconds.

"Do I need to take you to the hospital?" Asuna Asked.

"No, I can drive myself home on my bike after I take you home."

"You can't drive tonight, I'll drive you home. I have my license and I can return the bike when I am able to."

"I…"

"No arguing Kirito, Let's go."

They walked away. Asuna holding Kirito same as she had before, this time as much out of necessity as affection.


I am well aware that no Japanese mother would act the way Kyouko did to Kirito, but the "we have defend our daughter like she's a piece of property" trope is one I really hate so I am foregoing it out of spite.