I'd like to thank everyone for their time, all those who favorite, followed, and reviewed this story. A special shout out goes to FailtasticBelt, thank you for your kind words and pointing out those spelling errors in chapter one.
The original idea for Leopon actually came up during my first attempted playthrough on Sword Art Online Hollow Fragment, (Which I still need to finish) and when I decided to write a story, I kinda wanted to include romance but without involving Kirito. Making Leopon the same age as Klien was the easiest way to do this since Leopon was going to be the MC anyways.
Her being Kayaba's daughter came about a month before the first chapter came out, I had a five chapter proto-story before switching to this concept as having someone who solo-killed 36 Laughing Coffin members began to feel rather... overpowered to me. Sadly, I had no idea that Rinko even existed at the time, and only came to learn about her existence last November. I might be able to add her in but... let's just say it won't be a good ending for her.
Anyways, here's the next chapter, Enjoy! Thanks again for all you who supported this story, and if you have something to say, feel free to tell me in a review if you'd like.
Sunlight fluttered down the window, though the two girls sharing the room didn't seem to mind. It was the first time they could spend the night in a same room for ages, and they where content. Their relationship had grown quite a bit during the course of SAO, despite the pain in the realization of what their father and distant uncle had done.
That was until a certain aloof Samurai burst the door down. "Leopon, Phililla, guess what I manage to get!" He exclaimed excitedly. Pililla looked slightly annoyed, but Leopon gave him a small smile. "What is it hun," she asked, slipping into her slippers and walking up to him, striding rather confidently in her light orange undies.
"You ever heard of putting on a night coat sis?" Plilila muttered, slightly off-put with how her cousin seemed so at ease with the Furinkazin leader. At least she didn't have to worry about them coming on to her, namely because for one, she was grossly underage in comparison, they didn't want to upset Leopon, and if anyone of them where foolish enough to incur Leopon's wrath, or upset her, their leader would be right there supporting her. A Samurai with an expert fencer made a deadly combination.
"Check this out!" Klien smiled, before opening his menu, revealing to her an S class flying buffalo meat.
Leopon just stared at the ingredient, dumbfounded, before glancing up at him. "Klien, either you are going to find a maxed out cook and share this with me or take me on a really good date or two," she threatened playfully.
"Oh come on, I'm sure we can find someone," he said, lacing his hands smoothly around her back, causing Leopon to give out something like a purr. Phililla grunted, but was ignored. My gosh, have you two never heard of a private suite? Still, an S class meal does sound good, she notioned. "Don't tell me that you two aren't going to share with the rest of us as well?" she cautioned.
"Of course! We'll invite Kazuto and his friends as well," Klien declared, much to Leopon's slight disgust. It wasn't that she disliked him or his friends, quite the opposite. But, rather it was how all the girls, even Phillia, where trying to get a piece of Kazuto. However, Leopon smiled at Klein, keeping her feelings to herself. "Alright, but let's show this to Agil and Asuna first before we do anything. They might let us use their place and skills," she permitted.
Arriving at the inn, Klien got everyone's attention, and he opened his menu to show off his loot. Leopon listened to the admiring comments, and suddenly a feeling of pride came over her. Even if she didn't help him get it, this was her boyfriend. He'd done something not too many people could claim to have done, that getting an S class ingredient. Something about that just made her feel warm and fuzzy.
"Well, I don't mind using my shop as the venue, provided the chief doesn't mind doing the cooking. After a few quick arrangements, everything was all set. "I'll round up the rest of the Furinkazin," she offered.
"Yeah, it's only fair they get to join in as well." Agil remarked before turning to Kirito. "You could sit with Klien and hear his story. He is the star of the show today after all."
At first Leopon didn't think too much about what Agil had said to Kirito. But as she traveled to the place where she'd meet up with the other members, her mind began to wonder. Would Kirito try and steal the show from Klien? Somehow, she doubted it, at least that he would on purpose. But with the way the girls are, that just might end up happening.
"Hey guys, you all ready?" they coursed their approval and she lead them to the inn, and abruptly stopped, simultaneous taking a whiff before bursting into laughter the antic. "Oh man, I can't believe we did it at the same time," Dale chuckled.
"Now you all eat up! There's plenty," Klien was telling everyone." This brought smiles on everyone faces. However Kirito decided to pipe up. "You are joining in too, right Klien.?
"Yes, he is," Leopon answered abruptly, before her boyfriend could refuse, knowing exactly what would happen if he didn't join in. She also knew he was likely to say something stupid, such as he'll take the left overs, and between not getting fat in SAO due to overcharging and the sheer amount of food someone could eat at one time, compounded by the amount of people present, he would likely not get anything at all.
"But Le..." The Lioness glared at Klien, before pulling him into the hallway, having the other hold for a brief moment. "I know you're trying to be kind, but if it had been me cooking this meal and you said you where going to eat last, I might get the impression you didn't like my cooking," she whispered seriously.
Klien gulped. "Have I offended Asuna?" he whispered worriedly.
Leopon shook her head. "Not yet but you will if you keep refusing," she warned. She then smiled. "Now come on, let's get us some of that Buffalo you worked so hard to get, alright?"
She smiled as she got herself some soup and a pork stake. While it was true she was well aware of the food mechanics in SAO, she still acted like the food could make her fat, despite the contrary. That's not to say she didn't eat a lot, but she did eat marginally less than most.
Towards the end of the meal, everyone decided it would be a good idea to reveal a secrete about themselves. Leopon stood up and smiled. "This Philla and Klien already know, but I'm half Australian." she admitted.
Some people gasped in shock, but a couple of oh's erupted from the guess, as if they finally discovered where her eye and hair color came from. "Can you speak like an Australian?" Silica asked. Leopon smiled at her. "Hello, my name is Leopon, it is very nice to meet you all," she spoke not only in perfect English, but in a perfect Australian accent.
"Wow!" Asuna gasped, her eyes sparkling in astonishment. "I had no idea, your Japanese is so perfect." she added, amazed. Leopon chuckled. "My mother wanted to make sure I got as close to the Japanese dialect as I could, so I would work on it for hours every day." She admitted.
"I remember that, too," Leafa admitted, taking a bite of her stake. "I use to practice with you, remember?"
Chuckling, Leopon nodded. "That I do Leafa. It was a lot of work, but we managed to pull it off."
The rest of the meal went off without a hitch, and Leopon began to help with the dishes, despite Asuna telling her that she could manage. As she was washing them, she over heard Strea. "I bet Klien would have saved all that meat for himself back in the day, Kirito coming into his life has had a good influence on him."
Leopon glanced up, then down at the place she was washing, almost thinking about throwing it at the lilac haired girl. How dare she! Klien is a kind and caring person. Yes, sure there might have been a time when he would hoard the meat, but Strea clearly meant more recently.
However, as she grabbed another dish, her eyebrows softened. But what if she's insinuating that I'm not a good influence in his life? Before she could contemplate this thought much, she felt Agil tap her shoulder gently. "Don't pay much attention to Strea on that, she just Kirito-gushing at the moment."
Leopon almost laughed at his choice of words, save she was still doubtful. "Okay," she replied, but didn't take her focus off of cleaning her dishes for a while, before glancing up. "Agil?"
"Yes?"
"Why is it that so many of the girls act like Kirito is fair game, even though he's happy with Asuna?" She asked.
"I guess it's because they are still young and growing up." He then glanced at her. "Don't be too harsh on them Leopon, they are still young. And Asuna can pretty much handle herself, I'm sure."
Leopon sighed. "I guess you're right. Still, I swear if he hurts Asuna, I'm going to have some very choice words for him." She smiled as she finished the last dish, before sitting down. "I forgot how easy it is for me to get tired." she admitted, before noticing how Klien, though very gently, carried her to Asuna's bed.
Leopon woke up later that evening, wondering briefly why she was there before remembering what happened. At once her anger toward Strea flared up, and only increased as she realized how many people where after Kirito. "I'll... show... them..." she growled, causing Asuna to flinch. "Leopon, are you okay?"
But the Lionness didn't stir, or even glance at her. She simply equipped her Rapair and shoved her way out of the inn. She didn't notice Asuna sending a message to Phillia, Kirito and Klien.
Following Her, Asuna was wondering what was going through her firend's mind that made her so angry. "She's usually not like this," Asuna whispered, keeping the girl in her sight but keeping out of her sight.
As time went on, Leopon began ranking up kill after kill after kill. Asuna shared a bewildered glance with Klien. "I thought she got tired easy," Asuna whispered. Klien gave a small shrug. "She has more energy when she's mad. But what made her mad in the first place?"
Suddenly the Lionness turned, spotting the the four. Sheathing her sword, she marched over to them before sighing. "Thanks, for making sure I'm okay," she muttered. "I'm just frustrated is all."
"Frustrated, about what?" Asuna asked.
"My tiredness." And the fact that your so called friends are trying to steal your guy. And with that she began to unsheathe her sword, only stopping when Klien grabbed her hand.
"Relax Leopon, you'll feel better after a good nights sleep. If you want, we can raid the labyrinth tomorrow, just you and me."
Leopon sighed. "Asuna, you're coming with me. Bring no one else." she conditioned before allowing herself to be herded back to the guild HQ.
