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.
Shizuku had talked to Giles and they had organized that wherever she went, Asuna would be accompanied by a slayer as well as receive proper slayer training. It was quite apparent at this point that Asuna was in fact a slayer, despite what Kennedy said.
Meanwhile the shady characters were not happy with the current developments.
"Well we setup the bounty." One figure said. "But despite several vampires going after her there has been no success."
"It seems that there is a contingent of slayers in this town. Seriously, not too long ago there was only one, now they're everywhere."
"What are we going to do? If they discover us we're doomed."
"Control yourself." The older one said. "It will take more than a few little girls to stop us. We have the Fallen Lord on our side."
"So what do we do next?"
"I think I can handle this problem myself. Now that the appointed time is approaching, it will not be long before we will return to our former glory and there will be nothing that any slayer will be able to do about it."
"You ready, Asuna?" Asked Shizuku Holding a bo-staff.
"Ready" and thus the sparing started.
Asuna had practiced with the slayers for some time. She had two years of fighting experience, but with a virtual body. Her actually body had to adjust to the instructions her mind was giving and even with her experience she was not used to fighting thinking human beings who were as strong as she was.
Even so Asuna caught up quickly and was proving herself a worthy sparring partner.
They stopped for a second to wipe their sweat.
"You're getting good Asuna," Shizuku complimented her opponent.
"I could still do better."
"Weren't you one of the best in…" Shizuku trailed off, wondering if she had crossed a line bringing up such a sensitive subject.
"In Sword Art Online? I was a high ranking player, yes. But fighting in a virtual world is quite different. I really don't expect to be as good out here."
"You're right," Kennedy Interjected. "You shouldn't. I have no room for cocky wannabes under my command."
"She was only answering my question." Shizuku responded.
"Don't you talk back to me," Kennedy chided. "Give me your staff, Shizuku. Let us see what the champion of Sword Art Online is really made of."
With this Kennedy and Asuna commenced sparing. Asuna was still clumsy in her technique, but she still retained her speed that had earned her the title "Lightning Flash" and it was more than enough to make up for any shortcomings she had.
Asuna was not beating Kennedy, but she still was not going down as easy as Kennedy had suspected she would. So when Kennedy had Asuna busy blocking her staff, Kennedy Slipped her foot forward and tripped Asuna, causing her to fall. "She couldn't have blocked!" Shizuku declared.
Asuna pushed herself up with her palms to the ground "What is your problem?"
"My problem is your attitude Yuuki. You come in here and you act like your this great hero when you're just a recruit. You trying to take my position?"
"I don't want your position, I want to know why you hate me?"
"You know that everything that happened in SAO is public right? Answer me this. Did you, great Asuna Hero of Aincrad and feminist icon, threaten to kill yourself if your boyfriend got himself killed?"
Asuna huffed "Fine. If you must know let's talk about context."
Asuna Stood up and walked to the towel rack to wipe herself off.
"At the time Kirito and I were waiting to head to fight the final boss of the seventy-fifth floor. We were alone while everyone else was preparing for the battle. He told me that he wanted me to stay behind while he fought on the frontlines. He didn't want to see me get hurt, but did he seriously think that I didn't feel the same way? Did he not think that maybe I wanted him to stay back too? I was a high ranking officer I could have ordered him to stay back. I didn't because I knew that if something happened to me he would never forgive himself for staying behind, so I said nothing."
Asuna paused "It was an impulsive thing to say, I know that now. But after all that time in the game he was and still is like family to me. We all felt like we had death sentences anyways. Everyday less people were fighting, the enemies were get stronger and stronger, our bodies were decaying on life support, and we still had twenty-five floors to go."
Asuna, throwing her towel over her shoulder picked up her staff and placed it on the rack, before leaving.
"Figured she act like that," Kennedy remarked.
Shizuku quietly left. It did not look like she was going after Asuna.
"You had no right to bring that up." Giles chided Kennedy. "It was a personal matter between Asuna and her boyfriend. It was no concern of yours."
"We cannot afford someone who will crack under pressure." Kennedy protested. "If she is so incapable of holding her shit together then I don't want her on this team."
"That is not your call to make, Kennedy." Giles chided.