AN: A two/three part arc, it's going to be some character interactions, development with foreshadowing to the Golden Apple, Kizmel, Laughing Coffin plotlines later on. I think there will be around 15+ or so more chapters of Aincrad, might be less or more depending. I still need to a concert/duel event, to finally get to my planned fluff quality time and make a few more prequel jokes.

Lakeside Stories: Strea

"Uuu, which swimsuit should I wear? There's going to be other people people so maybe I won't wear this one…"

Strea put back the white micro bikini into her room's Wardrobe Inventory before going through the rest of her purchased swimsuits (that she never got to use until now).

"Nick will say things like 'protect your modesty', whatever that is. Modesty doesn't sound very tasty, through… hmm, a one piece? Nah, then no one can appreciate my beautiful body… this is harder than I thought."

Not that Strea was vain or anything, she simply was off the opinion that the unused character data she was currently using was definitely generated with the greatest sex appeal in mind, because that's simply how the majority of gamers would play online.

She firmly believed if Nick played an MMORPG that gave him the option of an elven race, he would immediately create a blonde or red haired female elven character with the largest breast size possible (which isn't much in Strea's opinion as MMORPG's try to not be 18+ games) along with every little attractive feature as he could detail.

Of course, such a belief wasn't that far off from the truth.

There was this time Nick had off handedly mentioned going through hoops to play Phantasy Star Online 2… where the first and only character he made was a scarlet haired female Newman (Space Elves) Force (Magic) character.

"What kind of swimsuit would… it would have to beat Yuuna's and Hiyori's as well, aha! I know!"

After deciding, she walked back to the living room and found Nick meditating with Kyoka Suigetsu out.

Hmm, wasn't this called [Jinzen] or something?

Maybe he's training with her or just doing some talking.

Poke.

He didn't really react when she poked his cheeks so it was safe to assume he wouldn't be doing anything for quite a while.

She had uhhh, two hours left before their little trip.

Trying to remember where it was, she decided to do a little secret shopping.

Yuuna and Hiyori wouldn't want to go back there, but Strea wanted to see if there was anything interesting, fun or tasty there.

It took a few minutes, but she made it back to the underground [Gobbo City].

"Shoo! Go away human! We already have enough breeding sows here. Come again another time." Some javelin wielding little goblin gatekeepers tried to kick her out.

How rude!

Ah, now she remembered! She needed to equip the quest reward first.

She equipped the [Gobbo City Pass], and their attitude went from ugly frowns to friendly smiles.

"Well met strong warrior! Enjoy your stay!"

Strea would have felt a bit of pity if it weren't for the fact that these were clearly non sentient A.I.'s.

After a bit of crystal shopping, she went around buying a whole bunch of stuff.

They were pretty low level considering how rare the equipment Nick's luck would net them, but they had funny flavour texts.

It was rather curious to see the random designs of little accessories made by monsters, or at least, the A.I. monsters.

She decided to see what was there to eat, the Ogre Bartender was really nice and offered her a free sample of their special milk.

"Oh! This smells really good!"

After drinking everything in one go, Strea was feeling really satisfied.

She really wanted to buy a whole lot of this milk to share with the rest.

"Mmm! It tastes so good! Hey, bartender guy, what is this?" She asked the friendly giant ogre dressed in a tuxedo.

"Oh, that's our special 'Elf Milk'!" The ogre told her while adjusting his monocle.

Strea placed a hand on her cheek while wondering what he meant by that.

"Ehh? There are Elven cows?" She didn't know there was a difference between human cows and elven cows.

The only different cow she knew about was that raging [Mad Cow] mob monster.

"Certainly so! Would you like to see them?" He offered.

"Oh, sure!"

She followed him into the bar's basement.

Two minutes later, Strea was in a pensive mood.

On the other hand, the milk tasted really good. On the other… she looked at her own breasts.

"... I didn't know girls can make milk like that."

Sure it was a little different, but it tasted really good. Must be because it was from female elven slaves…

She bought a few pints of it and kept it in her inventory to share.

No one would raise a fuss if they didn't know where it came from, she reasoned.

The item was only labelled as [Special Milk] anyways, so no one would really figure it out.

She tried a whole bunch of other foods. The meat wasn't all that great.

It was time to check the weapon shop!

She did her best to ignore the chained elven slave toiling away at her duties, outside of paying attention when the ogre storekeeper was giving some really useful advice that was applicable to her own future efforts.

Sure they were A.I.'s and all, but they weren't sentient.

She couldn't be responsible for them, if she went down the route of caring for every little A.I. here, there would be no end to it.

She bought a nice 'edgy' looking great sword, a [Tattoo Knife], a [Black Leather Whip] and this really weird wooden paddle.

Checking up the armour section, she found that it wasn't all that great.

But there were interesting accessories like the [Steel Slave Set] that had a weird attribute called [Anti-Elf].

It would have really been more useful in the lower levels!

Oh wait, this wasn't a weapon but an accessory… isn't it just useless then? Players can't be elves after all…

"Hmm… where have I seen this before…" Strea wondered and delved into her memories.

Or rather, she looked deeper into the shards of memories left behind when she got a third of Nick's soul to build her own one upon.

"Oh! This is one of those kinky things, huh!"

Apparently, the Collar, Wrist Shackles, and Ankle Shackles all came as a designated item set, connected with chains. Strea thought it was a really good bargain for the price.

The stats were only mid-tier at best, it would probably suit players up to the fifteenth floor if they were willing to fight naked and stuff.

Other than that, it looked like another nice addition to her wardrobe inventory.

May as well get one of everything, right?

There was a small delivery quest given by the shop owner to deliver several crates of stuff to someone else. Strea thought that she had a bit of free time, so she decided to help out.

Eh? She ended up in the slave pen?

"Oh, thank you… needed more branding irons...too many, have some. My thanks."

The not so literate Ogre gifted her 27 branding irons, one for each of the alphabet.

Strea didn't really know what it was for, so she resolved to ask Nick about it.

As she made it back home with half an hour to spare, she found Nick messing around with his hair while trying on several different types of glasses.

Elisa, who started giving Strea advice on 'how to decapitate heads properly', seemed to be giving Nick all sorts of opinions of different types of glasses.

Nijika was worried over something for no good reason, weird.

Hiyori looked overdressed and was wearing a huge straw hat, dark sunglasses and a surfboard.

Clearly, she wasn't at all deterred by the fact that they were going to a lake, not the sea side.

"Hiyori, did you go to the beach before?" Strea asked, and her friend shook her head in return.

"I've seen pictures on the internet! I wanted to go in the summer, but my parents were overseas working and no one invited me. I would go myself but that would have looked really sad."

"Oh! I never went to the beach before too!" Strea agreed.

"... There's a good reason for that, I'm sure." Hiyori giggled, Strea didn't particularly know why that was funny.

"Well, once we're all out of here we can all go to a real beach sometime!" Yuuna chimed in, adjusting her modified long brown hair. "Although… do you all know how to swim?"

"I think so?" Strea was a bit unsure about that.

"Kind off." Hiyori looked evasive.

"I remember having to kill assassins that hid themselves under water. Ah, it took a few days of rain until the lake went back from red to blue." Elisa mentioned as everyone ignored the implications.

"Uh huh, my daddy taught me to swim so I'm fine." Yuuna looked at Nick and Nijika.

"...Sorry, I was remembering my last deep sea dive. Yeah, I can swim fairly well." Nick humbly stated while flashing back to some supernatural fight with a certain Kraken and Dragon God.

Strea did hear Nick talking about fighting some Dragon God at Dragonland, something about a Korean Myth and a really commercialized underwater theme park that's part of [The Abyss].

Nijika grunted when everyone looked at her.

Nick slammed his head into the coffee table.

"I can't believe this is actually a thing." He muttered.

"I-I don't know if I even know how to swim…" She admitted.

Oh, that's no good! Strea thought, but reasoned that it would be fine since Nick could use his new fishing rod to save Nijika if she was drowning or something.

Nick spared Strea a glance before he smirked.

Oh, that probably meant he used [Observe], which means he knows about her latest thoughts.

He must have liked her brilliant idea, Strea was glad that she helped solved Nijika's problem.

"Eeh? Why are you two smiling like that? I have a bad feeling about this." The red-haired self proclaimed multi-wielder looked at Nick and Strea with a growing feeling of apprehension.

Yuuna placed her hand comfortingly on her shoulder.

"Don't worry. You just have so survive a few minutes of comedy."

"You're scaring me now!"

Strea hopped her way to the kitchen and poured everyone a glass of the special milk she bought.

Everyone liked it very much!

Nick liked it so much he was smiling with sparkles on his face!

It was an expression of utter innocence and bliss.

From what Strea knew, it definitely meant he knew exactly what was going on and was enjoying the moment for what it is.

"A surprise to be sure, but a welcome one. Strea, this milk is really wonderful. Why don't you tell everyone where it came from?" Nick suggested, and Strea was more than happy to oblige.

After all, if he was suggesting it, that meant it would be A-Okay to do so.

Strea described in detail what she saw in the bar's basement.

Elisa, Nijika, Hiyori and Yuuna had real disbelieving looks, it's as if they didn't know that girls could make milk too!

'That's not exactly the point you're missing Strea.' Nick informed her through their mental link in a very satisfied tone, which translated to his facial expression.

'Huh? But they look really confused." Strea replied in her head.

'Never change Strea. Never change. Hahaha, you already made my day.'

Well, if Nick's happy then she's happy.

Strea hummed as she took all the mugs from her friends (other than Nick) rigid hands and washed them in the sink.

There was a little ruckus happening behind her where all the blame was being put on Nick and he was unfairly being beaten on, but no one particularly cared because this was an anime world.

At least, that was how she processed the event in accordance to Nick's rants on anime tropes.

Well, it was time to head for the lake area! Elisa said she wanted to do a little exploring elsewhere, aww...

The walk was really nice, she had Nick all to herself!

It was probably a reward for getting everyone a nice drink. (Totally not because they blamed him for her actions!)

Nick didn't share her opinion apparently, the weird reluctant smile he had whilst adjusting his glasses said it all.

Hmm…

He really seemed overdressed for a vacation. He was wearing his Shinigami Captain uniform set, that must be really hot in this kind of weather.

Strea squeezed right in between his arm and body, hugging him really tight.

"Aargh! Strea- Hi! What's up!?"

Wow! Her hug must have worked to perk him up with how excited he is!

"Nothing~! Hehe, but there's really something special about your amazing smooth kimono… huh, it feels really cool even under the sun."

"Hmm… it's summer after all. It would be foolish of me not to have an accessory that provides a cooling aura equipped on my person at all times."

Oh? Nick doesn't seem very relaxed if he's talking so formally.

It's time for a hug at 100000%!

"Strea? Strea, what are you doing? Strea, StaphhaaaAAUUUGGHHHH!"

Nick was a lot less stressed after that.

Why, he even insisted in carrying her all the way to the meeting point!

It was really fun being carried like a princess!

Whee!

"Ah, Hi Kirito!" Strea waved at the cute boy, who seemed to be silently whispering something to Nick.

'Hey Nick, what is Kirito asking for?'

'He said the words 'Save me.''

Eh, is Kirito in trouble?

All Strea saw was there being some staring competition with the other girls and a pink-haired girl.

Oh, Philia led us all to a really pretty lake hidden behind a mountain and lots of trees.

"Here we are!" Philia declared and presented her find.

Wow! It really is a pretty lake! It's almost as nice as the water around their home, then again, they couldn't exactly swim in it whenever they wanted.

"Wow! It's so big! I didn't think Aincrad would have this sort of thing." The pink girl Lisbeth exclaimed in wonder.

"Haha! When you explore as much as Philia does you're bound to find all sorts of places like this." Kirito told his new totally platonic friend.

"It looks really deep too. It looks like we may be able to fish as well. Thanks Philia." Sachi commented.

"Thanks for bringing us here, Philia!" Asuna thanked her sort off former love rival.

"A magnificent find indeed… thank you this, Philia." Nick thanked her as he discreetly glanced all over the area for threats.

"Beautiful… the water is so clear, you won't see this kind of thing IRL." Yuuna dipped her toe into the water as she examined it.

"Pina! Don't go swimming yet!" Silica tried to control her sprite dragon.

"Ah, I have this handled." Kizmel caught Pina and handed it over to Silica. "It certainly is a magnificent lake, Philia, you have my thanks for showing me such a sight."

"Nick Nick, carry me over there so I can see! Thanks Philia!" Strea tapped on Nick's cheek and told him to move over there.

"It isn't an Oasis but it beats all the lakes I've seen online anytime. Hee hee, thanks Philia." Hiyori was setting up her beach chair regardless and plopped an umbrella down.

Was she seriously expecting some sand?

"You're welcome! I'm glad you all like it! A vacation is something we all need the most right now you know?" Philia said to everyone.

Kirito twitched a bit, he must still be thinking 'I want to grind' or something.

"It's too bad Keita, Klein and Agil couldn't make it…" Sachi added.

"Turns out he already made plans to clear another dungeon with a guild called the [Golden Apple]. It's a pretty high level one that needs to parties or two small guilds." Kirito explained.

Strea felt Nick tense slightly before he smiled, a plan forming in his mind.

Everyone began swapping their outfits to their swimsuits.

"Ah!" Strea got off the Nick express and ran towards a large boulder.

She knew she was forgetting someone!

"Eeek!"

Strea dragged Rain from a large boulder she was hiding behind in.

"Come on Rain! You shouldn't hide in the shadows over there. Come on and join in the fun!"

"Is something the matter, Rain?" Nick asked in concern, although he probably knew the answer to his question already.

Rain had a hand covering her chest that really didn't do a good job in completing it's task.

"Well, I-I just got really shy suddenly after putting on my swimsuit."

"You've got nothing to be embarrassed about." Strea said easily.

"But… Lux and Strea, you're both so grown up even though I'm older…" Nijika told them both.

"Could you be… mentioning chest size?" Asuna looked at her own, which were actually fine for her age based on Strea's estimates.

"What, you mean chest size? Aw, that's no big deal." Strea added.

"Easy for you to say." Yuuna stared hard at Strea, as was Silica.

In terms of actual age, Nick and Nijika were the oldest in the group as Nick had just began working for a few months (as far as he could remember) and Nijika had graduated High school and was working part time before going for college.

Strea recalled that was rather unusual for Japanese people considering how not going to college and getting a job immediately after was like a death sentence in such a rigid country.

Then again, Nijika could always work as a freelancer doing all sorts of things.

And with Nick by their side, money would never be an issue.

'Honestly, she has nothing to worry about. Give her two years out of SAO and Kirito will be a lucky man. Damn, Ordinal Scale was censored in my country… nooo, my bath scene…" Strea heard Nick lament through their link.

'Ah, if you wanted a bath scene I can give you a private one~!' Strea offered, which Nick immediately took up. Yay!

Hiyori was reading a notepad on 'typical beach poses', ignoring the group and tried to look like a 'proper' vacationer.

Such an act wasn't surprising to Nick as that was exactly what he would do in her place. Strea could feel that Nick would prefer just sitting by Hiyori's side and ignore the rest of the world, but he wouldn't do that in this case.

From what Strea knew, Nick and Hiyori were very alike in large groups, preferring to relax on their own. Then again, Nick had more at stake in being in control socially.

"Hey, let's all have a swim race! Strea, put on your swimsuit!"

Ah, Strea had to put on her swimsuit too! Oh no, Nick was giving some rather 'polite' compliments to Yuuna, Nijika and Hiyori… aww, silly group social rules!

She would have to get him in a more private setting if she could get a more 'honest' impression.

"Okay. I shall be standing guard in this case. Someone has to kill the tentacle monster." Nick explained, and was promptly laughed at by everyone.

After her little jaunt in the Gobbo Village, Strea was slightly less inclined to be skeptical.

Yuuna, Hiyori and Nijika probably had the same sinking suspicion that Nick might be right.

"Haha… that will never happen!" Sums up Asuna and the other girls reaction.

Kirito seems to be having a flashback of some sort.

"It happens…" He muttered weakly.

"You bait, I'll kill it, you get the loot." Nick quickly made an agreement.

"Deal, don't take too long please." Kirito nodded as the rest of the girls chided them for over reacting.

Preview:

Nick eyed Kizmel as he began his story, starting the story telling session around their campfire.

"Have you ever heard the Tragedy of Yhwach the Wise?"

"No, I don't believe I have."

"I thought not. It's not a story the mundane would tell you."

…

"Are you sure you're okay with doing this? This is tantamount to an extermination."

"Spare me your worry… In my eyes, there is no difference between wiping away one speck of dust or two."

...

"You are all open"

...

"Come now, Vassago Casals. I've known about you since the day you were born."