"You were born a girl, you will die a girl." Mutsa's tone was cold and full of disgust. It was the same dream Hoshi had been having for two months now, it always ended the same way, with Mutsa stabbing Hoshi through the heart and Hoshi waking up screaming and crying.
"Kirito!"
"Stop screaming like that, one would think you were still in that disgusting game." Hoshi's grandfather's arms were crossed as he looked over her, black eye's like his granddaughter's and slicked back grey hair. "The doctors say you can come home now, they've convinced us you're eating enough." Hoshi had not been able to leave the hospital for the past two months as she had refused to eat until she was allowed back into the NerveGear. She wore it like a helmet when she slept until the nurses weaned her off it.
"I need to see someone." Hoshi whispered, hands folded in her lap. Grandfather looked at her with a steely glint,
"Who?" Menace entering the old man's words as Hoshi gulped silently,
"Kazuto-san." She knew not using the honorific would earn her a slap across the face - something she didn't need right now. The old man walked up to her, pulling clump of hair to his hand, the old man sneered,
"Some boy from the game?" He asked, to which Hoshi nodded. Grandfather gave a tug on her hair before dropping it. "Fine. Now that you're free, you be a proper lady." He threw a bag on her bed, and Hoshi's windpipe constricted. This isn't my grey coat… I miss Estranged Justice… I miss my world. A tear slipped down her cheek that grandfather didn't see as he left the room.
Hoshi got out of the bed, pulling off the surgical white robe and watching it pool on the ground. Seeing the bandages across the room, she contemplated bandaging her chest, but knew it would only earn her another slap. Pulling the new clothes out of the bag, Hoshi looked at the dress.
Pale pink, knee-length with straps… So effeminate. Alone with the pink flats and her new, long, blonde hair… It made Hoshi want to cry. She searched frantically around the room until she found the scissors. Going into the adjoining bathroom, she hacked away at her hair until it was at her chin, until it was the way she liked it. Leaving the bathroom much calmer than she entered it, she slipped into the pink dress and flats.
"I'm ready, grandfather." Long ago had Hoshi abandoned her true voice, the one she used in SAO, now it was high and girly, making her grandfather rather happy. The old man walked into the room, looking at his granddaughter.
"What did you do?" He spat, making Hoshi tremble,
"I-I cut it, grandfather." She whispered,
"You look like a new-age whore." He growled, slapping Hoshi across her cheek, making Hoshi clench her fists, "You are at least wearing the dress… Your grandmother picked it." He turned his nose up, though Hoshi could see a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Hoshi had looked up Kirito in one of the many boring days in the hospital usually spent eating mashed potatoes and watching the news - it was so boring it often made Hoshi cry out of frustration. During the car-ride to Kirito's residence, Hoshi talked little to grandfather.
"I should tell you now… Your sister died within the game." Grandfather said, without looking away from the road. Hoshi bowed her head.
"I know…" The rest of the journey was silent. Once out of the car, grandfather told Hoshi he would pick her up at three that afternoon, it being ten in the morning then. Hoshi agreed.
She knocked on the door, waiting for a response. A young girl opened the door, well; she wasn't much younger than Hoshi… "Yes?" She asked, and Hoshi's smile faltered.
"I-I'm Siik Hoshi. I was in SAO with Kirit- Kazuto." She stuttered, her smile slipping slightly, the young girl's eyes opening wide as she invited Hoshi inside.
"Brother is at the hospital visiting Asuna, he'll be back soon." She said, smiling slightly. Hoshi's heart rate sped up. She had heard about people still trapped in the game but - Asuna? Hoshi sat on one of the dining room chairs, ankles crossed and hands twitching. The young girl introduced herself as Suguha, making tea for the two of them and Kirito.
"Who were you in SAO?" Asked Suguha excitedly, to which Hoshi clenched her tea-cup, not drinking anything.
"I'd rather not talk about that until Kazuto gets here." She sighed, and Suguha nodded understandingly. "Wait, I've heard of you, you're the national quarter finalist for kendo!" Hoshi smiled brightly at Suguha, who blushed bright red,
"W-what? How do you know?" She asked, making Hoshi laugh lightly,
"Oh, Kazuto told me all about you. You really are quite talented." Hoshi gushed, making Suguha smile,
"That's so nice of him!" She laughed, blushing pink, Hoshi smiled, glad to have made someone happy - this was Hoshi from the real world. She had no motivation, she just hoped that she could make someone else's day brighter because her own was so bleak. Before long, there was a knock on the door and Kirito walked in, Suguha jumped up, excitedly, "Brother! Brother! There's a girl here to see you, she says you two knew each other in SAO." Hoshi could hear every word.
"W-who are you?" Kirito asked, seeing Hoshi sitting at the table.
"Siik Hoshi." Hoshi smiled.
"Hoshi… Hoshi…" Kirito turned the name over on his tongue before Hoshi stood up.
"The Silver Knight." Hoshi looked to the ground, years of her grandfather's teachings rushing back to her and she felt ashamed. Kirito's eyes widened, looking over Hoshi and her dress, he grabbed her hand and pulled her into the next room, his face shocked.
"B-brother… I'm going to practice my kendo." Suguha said, uncertainly, before leaving. Kirito waited until Suguha was gone to growl,
"Liar! Who are you really? A member of the media?" He asked, making Hoshi's insides crawl.
"Don't pick a fight with someone who has nothing left to lose." Hoshi took a deep breath, letting a tear slip down her cheek, she smiled anyway. Kirito's face softened as he looked at Hoshi's eyes, black, like a shark's, but with none of the sparkle they held in the game… The game…
"Why do you look like a girl?" He asked, making Hoshi smile weakly,
"I am a girl." She took a shaky breath, tears wetting her eyes. "I understand if you never want to see me again." She whispered, making Kirito gasp. Kirito pull Hoshi into a tight hug, letting tears spill onto Hoshi's new dress.
"Hisoka, you're one of the few I have left. Hisoka she's still there. I'll never see her again." He whispered as Hoshi rubbed Kirito's back in a comforting way, willing the tears not to fall from her eyes.
"Kirito… I-I-I… I can't be Hisoka anymore… And I hate it. If my grandfather found out I spent two years as a male… I will have nowhere and nothing left… He will ruin my life… I just want to be back in SAO. On - on that note… Thank you for saving us." Hoshi whispered, the tears now coming fast from her eyes, as Kirito tensed around her and pull back.
"You told me you loved me." He whispered, making Hoshi sniffle, looking away.
"I do." Hoshi whispered, and Kirito twisted his hands together, looking at the floor,
"Hisoka… I just… I… I… Asuna." Kirito mumbled and Hoshi pressed her lips together.
"I'll wait for g-grandfather to arrive." Hoshi faltered when saying it, realising she still had another few hours left to herself.
"Hisoka, spar with me? You probably won't be as good as Suguha but… we still have grandpa's gear and you look like you need a fight." Kirito smiled slightly and Hoshi felt her insides go warm.
"I'm not Hisoka anymore… I can't… I just can't… But... Ok… Don't tell grandfather, he'd never forgive me." Hoshi followed Kirito to the dojo, smiling at Suguha as they walked in. Hoshi watched as Suguha slowly stepped back, her face curious at the blonde's actions. When Hoshi and Kirito had suited up, they collected the swords.
"Kazuto, the swords are awfully light…" Hoshi said making Kirito chuckle, "I said the same thing." The two ran at each other and something clicked in Hoshi's brain, her instincts took over and all she could see was Estranged Justice in her hand and another member of the Laughing Coffin in front of her. She was twisting and folding through the air, her only goal was to eliminate Kirito.
She couldn't remember what happened, just that when it was over, both she and Kirito were breathing roughly, wooden blades at each other's throats as Suguha stood, shocked. Hoshi, realising what she had done, removed her blade from Kirito's throat.
"I-I have to go. I'm still waiting for an answer." Hoshi raced outside once she had changed, her face bright red.