A/N: Hey! I've uploaded again! Isn't this strange? Thank you for bearing with me while I was on vacation, If I had it my way I would have uploaded on schedule, but things don't work out like that. Well, I'll let you get on with the story.


Chapter 43.

Kazuto walked out of the restaurant hand in hand with Asuna, his face was flushed red, and he couldn't get his thoughts in order.

"Kirito-kun, seriously, you're practically leaning on me." He stood up straight and flailed his arms.

"Uh! I knew that! And it's got nothing to do with anything other than my... Fatigue!"

"Just admit it Kirito-kun, you had a little too much to drink."

"I'd hardly call three glasses too much."

"I would from the way you're acting." She mumbled, before throwing her weight onto him, causing him to stumble.

"Hey!"

"If Kirito-kun isn't tipsy, then hold my weight!" He sighed and put his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into him.

"You say I'm drunk, but I can still see your radiating beauty just fine." That comment was enough to shut her up for the rest of the walk.

When they arrived at the water park, Kazuto's face instantly broke into a goofy grin. He gestured toward the bag Asuna was carrying, offering to take it, she declined with a smile, pecking his lips and saying how sweet he was.

"Ok, we'll get changed," He got his items out of the bag and left the rest for Asuna, "Then meet up on the other side. I'll wait up for you, ok?"

"Who's to say you are going to be ready first?"

"You have more items of clothing to undress and dress into. It's obvious who is going to win." Kazuto grinned a mischievous grin.

"Fine. A bet. I dress fastest and you have to... Wear that pink T-shirt your sister got you! For two days!"

"Humph? Fine. If I win you have to wear cat ears for the tomorrow and the day after."

Asuna smiled, she smiled a smile burning with determination.

"You're."

"On." Kazuto finished. They shook hands.

Asuna burst into the changing room, stripping off her summer dress, quickly and efficiently ripping layer after layer off of her body, switching gracefully into her bikini. She stuffed her clothes in a locker with he bag, locking it with a click before sliding the key bracelet onto her wrist.

She burst out the other side.

"Oh, Hi Asuna." Her grin dropped.

"E-Eh!?"

"Like I said, less clothes. You're so stubborn."

She gave in. "I guess I am." She quickly buried her face into his chest, wrapping her arms around his back.

"So. About the cat ears." Kazuto teased. Asuna whimpered into his chest. "I was thinking... Purple? Or maybe black. You'd look cute in any colour."

"You're such a tease Kazuto."

"Sorry Hun." He pecked her cheek.,

Asuna shook her head, then began giggling as she pulled her boyfriend into the water park, the screams of excitement and terror reached her ears and she laughed. Kazuto smiled as he ran behind Asuna, heading straight for the biggest ride in the park.

"That... Is... Huge." Kazuto then snickered. "That's what she said."

Asuna frowned, and punched his arm lightly. "Stop it with the dirty jokes. But come on Kirito-kun! You're not scared are you!?"

Kazuto scoffed. "Of course not!" He began to queue for the ride. "I'm going down head first. To prove it to you."

"Sure. Once you get up there you'll beg me to go first."

"I will not."

"We'll just have to see. In fact, if you go first, I'm gonna wear those cat ears for an entire week!"

Kazuto smiled. "You shouldn't have said that. Oh, and you have to wear it for the school week."

"Fine"

Kazuto chuckled.

"Oh... I just gave you motivation..." She face palmed, and immediately regretted the bet.

Once the queue had shortened down to the last three people, Asuna and Kazuto included, Kazuto began to tremble with excitement, and a hint of fear.

"Prepare yourself for the cat ears!" He laughed, before lining himself up at the start of the slide. He looked down. The slide was almost vertical, for the entire way down, before it curved up and straightened out softly at the bottom. Water gushed down the baby blue surface, and Kazuto watched as the feet of the person in front slapped against the water, splashing it up into his face. He gulped, then smiled. "For cat ears." He whispered to himself.

"What happened to going down head first?"

"You're not allowed." Kazuto pointed to the sign, and grinned.

The red light turned green, and he propelled himself off the slide, picking up tremendous speed on the way down. The wind rushed past him, inflating his cheeks like balloons, his feet slapped against the water like the previous person and splashed water onto his face. He laughed as he hit the landing area, skimming across it before sliding along the water's surface to a halt, where he sunk underneath. He broke the surface moments later, whipping his hair back and letting out an exhilarated laugh.

He looked up at Asuna, gave a thumbs up, and watched as she slid down. He burst out laughing as she screamed and laughed.

Once they both hit the bottom, Asuna vented the left over adrenaline, laughed and then pouted.

"Great, now I'm wearing cat ears for a week."

"Your fault." He chuckled, and kissed her forehead.

"But that was incredible! It was so fast!"

"I know! We have to do it again later. It was so good."

He embraced Asuna, pulling her into him and wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"Right! What next!" He asked, breathing heavily.

"How about the doughnut ride!?" They both smiled, nodded and ran.

Each and every ride they went on they smiled and laughed as water splashed their faces, wind rushed past their hair and adrenaline fueled their bodies.

Water dripped from their swimwear as they zipped from ride to ride, joyous goofy grins plastered to their faces.

~ Three hours later.

"It's... Getting late... Asuna..." They had just been down the massive slide they went on at the start for a second time, and all the zipping and laughing had really taken it out of Kazuto.

"Aw, ok... One more?"

"Ok. Which one?"

"The spiral one!" Asuna laughed again, before running off to the spiral ride. Kazuto shook his head, took another second to catch his breath, and followed.

The couple span round and round as they edged closer to the drop in the middle, Asuna squealed with delight and Kazuto laughed and cheered. The held their breaths as they hit the water, and broke the surface seconds later.

They smiled at each other, shared a brief kiss, and climbed out the landing pool.

The young lovers made their way to the changing room, changed, and found one another at the other side.

Walking back to the room, Asuna squeezed Kazuto's hand gently.

"I had a wonderful time in Paris Hun." She pecked his cheek, Kazuto's cheeks turned a light pink.

"It's not over yet Asuna, we've one more restaurant... And then the night."

They both blushed, and turned away from each other slightly.

Kazuto unlocked the door with a click and entered first as he always did, scanned the room, then told Asuna to follow. She hated doing this, and she constantly told Kazuto that they were safe, but he wouldn't listen.

Kazuto sighed and walked over to the wardrobe, taking out a plain white shirt, a red tie and a suit jacket Sugu had forced him to buy.

"I'm going to feel so stupid wearing this."

"Don't be silly Kirito-kun." She pecked his cheek. "You're going to look dashing."

"Thanks... What is your choice of attire for the evening?"

Asuna flickered a smile.

"You'll just have to wait and see." She winked.

"You're such a tease." He grinned. Asuna walked up beside him, pecked his cheek, and drifted over to the wardrobe.

Kazuto smiled, shook his head, and started to change. Seconds later Asuna entered the bathroom. The shirt was itchy, he felt stiff and the tie felt like it was slowly choking him to death. The suit jacket he put on next was also stiff, but the inside felt much softer than the material of his shirt. He slid on some smart trousers, and smiled at himself in the mirror.

"I look like some stuck up... Suitor."

"Oh shut up, I'm sure you don't." Asuna voice could be heard from the bathroom.

"Seriously! I look like some kind of business man, not a guy who's about to go on a date with his girlfriend."

"Then why did you buy it if you hate it so much?"

"Sugu made me. She said you'd love it."

"Aw, that's sweet of you both. I'm sure I will."

Kazuto rolled his eyes.

"Ok! I'm coming out." Asuna announced. Kazuto opened his mouth to complain as he turned, his jaw hung open but no words were emitted, as his eyes took in the image of the beauty before him.

"I...I... Wow..." Kazuto stuttered.

Asuna was wearing a crimson red dress, stopping just above her knees. It stuck to her frame, showing off her curves. She had red heels to match and her white and red bracelet on her right wrist. She wore blood red lipstick and her hair was all brushed round so it hung off one shoulder. Kazuto was speechless.

"I what?" Asuna smiled.

"You look beautiful. Angelic. Amazing. Incredible. You're a goddess."

Asuna blushed. "That's a lot of adjectives."

"Take your pick. They're all true."

The couple shared a brief laugh before their eyes locked. Kazuto wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into him, he then pressed his lips against hers, gently but passionately exploring her mouth, savouring their contact.

"Mm." Asuna pulled away. "So. Where are we going?"

"I haven't booked anything... So... Wherever you want to?"

"Hmmm..." She twirled back and forth. "We could go back to the Eiffel tower restaurant."

"I'm up for that."

Asuna smiled and nodded. "It's settled then. We leave for the Eiffel tower."

"I'm having wine."

"More? You're gonna become even more drunk..."

"I'll be fine." Asuna rolled her eyes.

Their hands found one another, their fingers intertwined, and they made their way out of the hotel.

~The restaurant.

The meal was much quieter and the atmosphere was romantic. They fed each other assorted foods and tidbits, a constant light pink blush painted on their faces. They laughed and smiled, and kissed and loved, enjoying every bit of the meal they devoured. Kazuto drank another wine, washing down his cooked snail meal.

Asuna was an angel, at least Kazuto believed so, and judging by all the eyes trained on her, every other guy in there did too. Kazuto tried to get them all to back off, but his cold icy glare was no match for Asuna's.

"Is there a problem Kirito-kun?"

"N-Nah... Just some creeps."

"Are they looking at me?"

"Yes..."

"Don't worry about it. I don't care." Asuna smiled at him.

"Ok... " He said sceptically, before sending one last glare to some pervert at the back of the restaurant, and returning to his meal. "At least they know a beauty when they see one." He chuckled to himself. Asuna blushed.

"Have you finished packing Kirito-kun?"

He almost choked on his food.

"What!?"

"I said, have you almost finished Packing?"

"I... I haven't even started. Have you?"

"I finished last night."

"When did you do it?" Kazuto began to groan.

"Mostly last night."

"I... Don't even... Ugh... Will you help me?"

Asuna grinned. "Nope!" She sang.

"E-Eh? Why?"

"Because it's funny to watch you groan about how much effort it is."

Kazuto laid his head on his arms, and moaned. "I can't be bothered. Please?"

"We all have to do it."

"Doesn't mean I have to do it."

"Actually," Asuna stated matter of fact-ly "It does."

Kazuto groaned again.

~Later that evening.

He didn't stop moaning and groaning and whining on the way back either. Asuna held her ground, even against his Bambi eyes, as he offered dates and chocolate to try and convince her to help him.

He entered the room, a cloud of rain above him, only releasing it's water directly onto him. He shuffled to the bed, and face planted the sheets.

"Oh stop being such a baby." Asuna said as she closed the door behind them.

"I don't wanna." Asuna sighed, and walked over to him, flopping over and landing on his back. "Oof!"

Asuna wrapped her arms around his neck, and assaulted his cheek with kisses.

"Good boys get rewards." She stood up, winked, and went to go get changed.

Kazuto stood. Blinked a few times, and rushed about, grabbing clothes and throwing them into an open suitcase. He sat on top, and zipped it around, doing a terrible job of keeping the ends of clothes inside the suitcase.

Asuna walked back into the room in her nightgown, and saw Kazuto desperately trying to push items back in without reopening the case.

"Are you serious?" She put her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You aren't going to pack very much doing that."

"Then show me how." Asuna rolled her eyes.

"I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this because I can't bare watching you do so horrifically bad at such a simple thing."

"Thanks Hun." He grinned and pecked her jaw, before turning and heading back into the bathroom to change.

Once Kazuto was changed and Asuna had finished his packing, much to his liking, they laid in bed, snuggling up to one another.

"I can't believe it's over already..." Asuna said, staring up into Kazuto's onyx orbs.

"I know... Time flies when you're having fun, eh?" He traced a finger through her hair.

She pecked his lips and giggled.

"Never leave me." She said, snuggling up to his chest.

"I never will." He replied, kissing her head.

She replied by kissing him passionately and aggressively on the lips, catching him by surprise.

She pushed back so that she was crawling above him, her hair forming a curtain around them. Kazuto brushed it behind her ear, before flipping over and pinning her arms by her sides as he traced kisses down her body, her opened up her nightgown, and kissed back up from her chest, tracing her jaw line before finding and claiming her lips once again.

She fumbled at his belt buckle, quickly ripping it open. He kissed her neck, nibbled and sucked, and was rewarded with a moan. They both enjoyed a long and passionate night.

~The morning.

Asuna's hair was in a mess. She hated it when it was in a mess. She would have to spend ages straightening it. But not today. Thanks to the previous night's activities, the couple woke up later than usual. Unfortunately, their flight was early, and they ended up rushing to be ready in time. Only just remembering to grab their painting, they dashed out of the hotel dragging their suitcases along, their taxi arrived only an hour before the plane took off. They swiftly checked in and got their boarding passes, fumbled through security, arriving at the gate only ten minutes before boarding began.

They stood before a window overlooking the planes taking off and landing, as they looked into one another's eyes.

"Back to the land of stress." Kazuto chuckled.

Asuna giggled.

"Goodbye Paris." Asuna smiled. They both leaned in to kiss.

The plane was boring. Some fat guy had somehow got a seat in between the couple, much to their dislike. Kazuto huffed. A whole 11 hours separated from Asuna. Because of a fat guy. He huffed again. He really started to lose it when someone started kicking his seat. He turned around, and low and behold, it was the same kid from the way to Paris.

"Today is not my day." Kick. Kick. Kick. Kick. He bounced in his chair. Kick. Kick. Kick. He crushed his can. Kick. Kick. Kick. Kazuto turned around in his seat, and glared at the kid. Kick.

"For the love of god will you please stop that!?" He yelled at the kid, not too loud, but very stern. The kid began to cry, and his mother gave him an icy cold glare. He sighed, turned in his seat again, and closed his eyes. Today was not a good day.

When the pilot announced they were beginning the landing sequence, Kazuto nearly cried from happiness.

"No more fat guy. No more annoying kid! Just Asuna and me and... Oh. Azmear." He frowned.

Kazuto lurched forward as the wheels touched the ground. It came to a stop and Kazuto, after waiting for what seemed like forever for the fat man to get out of the way, rushed out of the plane with Asuna.

They waited five minutes for their suitcases.

They waited ten in the queue for security.

And they waited fifteen for the late taxi.

Once he sat in that comfy seat, with Asuna right next to him, he sighed. Now only half an hour before I arrive home. He dreaded having to drop Asuna off, and it would pain him to watch her walk up to her house, so he tried to push that thought to the side.

Asuna sat comfortably leaning into his chest, Kazuto's arm draped around her shoulders, soothingly rubbing her arm. She listened to his slow, calming breath, his heart's rhythmic beating, she could feel his arm closing around her, a protective shield from her knight clad in black.

She regretted getting out of the car. She regretted waving as she walked up to her house. Kazuto followed her to the door.

"Well. This is it. Back to normal life." Asuna smiled, and pecked his cheek.

"I... Asuna. I need to ask you to do something for me."

"Hmm?'" She tilted her head. "What?"

"For a week or so... Stay away from me." Asuna stumbled back.

"WHAT!?" She exclaimed, stepping up to her boyfriend, she began to fell a hitch in her throat.

"It's not what you think! I'm not breaking up with you or going on a break or anything at all like that! It's to protect you from Azmear, and to keep up from getting blamed for anything I do to him or Facade."

"What do you mean?" Asuna was spilling tears everywhere now, gesturing with her hands and shaking her head. "No! We are a team! We do things together."

"And we protect each other. And that's what I'm doing, protecting you from malicious people and the law."

"I don't want to be protected! Treat me like you treated me on that first day we met, we switch, we team up, and we crush anything in our way!"

"And in order to do that I need you to be safe... I... I can't lose you again Asuna. I can't let you get hurt."

Asuna calmed herself, gulped down the hitch in her throat and dried her eyes. "You won't lose me." She stepped up to him, "Because you're my black knight, and you'll protect me." She kissed him tenderly.

"But-"

"But that doesn't mean I can't protect myself Hun." She kissed him again.

"This argument isn't finished." Kazuto finished.

"Oh, but it is." Asuna said, before entering her house. Kazuto sighed. and walked back to the taxi, apologising to the driver for the wait.

~Home.

Kazuto walked in through the front door to an empty house. There was a note on the counter.

-Dear Kazu-Kazu!

Sugu here! Welcome back Onii-Chan! Xxx.

We just left for the school, there's a welcome back party kind of thing. Stupid if you ask me, but there's a kendo tournament so I want to go!

We'll be back in a few hours, get some rest, get rid of that jet lag! See you soon!

Love Sugu and Midori. (Midori is still Mum to you Kazuto, remember that!)

Kazuto Smiled, Laughed, then walked up stairs. He opened the door and flopped down onto his bed.

He felt something... Weird. Out of place. He lifted himself up to find a letter with a red wax seal.

Curiosity took over, and he opened the letter.

-Kirito!

Welcome back! Hope you enjoyed your holiday, bet it was fun. Well. I know it was. I was watching you half the time.

Asuna looks good in her summer dress. Wish I could have waited to see what dress she wore on your last night, but I'm sure it was lovely.

I look forward to watching your life crumble around you! I tried once, but failed horribly. So annoying. Don't worry, I don't use the same plan twice, it gets terribly boring you see, so Yui's fine.

Hmm. I could get Sugu. But would that get me the same fury? Nah... Midori? Maybe. But she's old. May not be able to take the trauma. Haha, I can see you gritting your teeth in anger right now.

So. Yep. That's everything. Have fun being hunted!

-Azmear, Your good friend.

Kazuto watched, a facial expression that was seemingly void of expression, as his anger curled his fingers, scrunched up the paper. He sat on his bed, looking at the paper.

"I hate you. I'm going to kill you." He smiled and tilted his head. "I'm going to take your smug little face, and rip it open with my blade." He grinned at the scene. "You think you can just be smug and send me a letter, joking about what you're going to do?"

He laughed.

"I'm going to find you. And when I do, I'm going to kill you." He smiled again.

He threw the paper on the floor, and dumped his tears into the pillow.

~Morning.

Kazuto's eyes were stinging. A lot. He looked in the mirror and saw they were bloodshot. It made sense. His pillow was soaking with his salty tears. He waddled downstairs, poured himself some breakfast. Ate it silently. It was crunchy. He then made his way into the living room, where he found Sugu, hugging her pillow, still in her nightwear.

"Sugu?"

"Onii-Chan..." She stood up and embraced him tightly, sobbing onto his shoulder.

"What, What's wrong Sugu?"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"Tell me about this Azmear!?"

Kazuto's eyes widened.

"Do not tell Midori."

"We read it together."

"Where is she?"

"Outside. Looking out for anyone suspicious. She won't come inside. She's terrified."

"I..."

"Tell us. Now."

"Fine." Kazuto huffed, and walked over to the front door to call Midori in. She came in before he opened his mouth, brushing past him.

They both sat on the sofa, Midori with a blanket draped over her shoulders and a warm coffee in her hands, Sugu hugging her pillow.

"Azmear... Where do I start.

In Sword art online there was a guild, called the laughing coffin, who's sole purpose in the game was to player kill. Many feared the Guild, and it's leader PoH still has not paid for his crimes in game.

I clashed with many members, Johnny Black, Red eyed Xaxa... I must have fought... And killed one of his friends or family or something."

"KILLED!?" They both exclaimed.

"Yes. Killed. At some point I guess we'd decided we had had enough, so we formed a massive raid party, several guilds joined... Including the knights of the blood oath. Being a solo player meant it was my responsibility to fight on the front lines, and thus, with guilds. So they called me up...

I remember it clearly. The sky was a dark grey. The land was a marsh swampland, there were tall trees and crackling thunder.

We offered them a chance to surrender. It was never going to happen. I drew my blades and then. It was silent. Beautiful really. The calm before the storm, peaceful, no one dared to breath. And then he threw a knife. Hit some poor kid right in his thigh, poisoned, high damage, shock of the impact threw him back. He died seconds later. I charged him, ahead of the rest of the army, that charged behind me, I pressed my elucidator to his abodemen, and pushed through. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth as I watched a human, a human being, die by my hand. I wretched. You can't throw up in game, but I could almost feel my real body wretch and vomit.

The battle went smoothly for a while, most of us managing non lethal force and subduing enemies, but some of us were not so lucky. I had killed seven men by the end of it. My hands were covered in blood... Metaphorically and physically.

I cried on Asuna's shoulder, as she cried on mine. We weren't together, but we felt one another's pain. And we vowed never to speak of the event again. Ever.

Azmear... He attacked me and Asuna a few months back. He destroyed my programme for me, Yui and Asuna, the one with our home. Then attacked us in game, where I only just managed to defeat him, and then, finally, attack Asuna. Burning her with his cigar. We left him beaten and bloodied for the cops. Obviously he escaped."

"My god Kazuto! You should have told us this!" Sugu shouted, angry, afraid, upset, confused. These emotions bounced around her head.

Midori swallowed, and nodded as if she understood.

"Kazuto... We are here for you. You can call on us for help with this whenever you need to. What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to the police station. Then I'm going to get Asuna and tell her I love her. Then I'm going to find the bastard."

"How are you going to find him."

"He wants to fight me. All I have to do is create a ruckas."

Midori nodded. I'm on your side honey."

Kazuto nodded in appreciation.

~Later.

Kazuto left the house dressed in a thin tracksuit, jogging to Asuna's house with an amusphere slung around his shoulders inside a bag.

He stepped up to the beautiful oak door.

"This is going to be difficult."

He knocked.

"KIRITO-KUN!" Asuna jumped at him, attack hugging him and kissing him.

"Woah there. Hey Hun."

She calmed down, and stood.

"So. What's up?"

"Well... I'm going to go and do something very dangerous... And wanted to say I love you before I go."

He smiled.

"I love you. More than anything in the world."

"No."

"No what?"

"You're not going alone."

"Asuna. I'm sorry, I really am, but I'm not allowing you to come and fight this guy. He has hurt you once, that isn't going to happen again." He snaked his hand around her waist, and lightly touched the mark on her skin.

"I'm not allowing you to go alone. What are you even going to do huh? How are you going to find him?"

"I'm going to create a big event in game, and hopefully he will come and find me. Then I'll challenge him either in game, or in real life and take it from there."

"Your plan is based on so many if's... Kirito-kun, please, you'll get hurt."

"And I'll also be keeping us safe. I'm a beater Hun. A beta tester and a cheater, I'll win." Asuna kissed his cheek.

"You'll win with me."

"I would, but you could get hurt."

"Since when did I care?" Kazuto pulled her further into him.

"I care." He whispered into her ear. "I don't want you to fight... Log in tonight, 7pm. If you stay hidden in the crowd, away from Azmear, maybe even with a different avatar, you can watch. But I won't allow you to fight."

"I'm coming with my undine avatar. That way I can step in of needed. I will fight if I need to Kirito, you don't have to fight this battle yourself."

Kazuto smiled, and thanked her.

~6:30pm.

Kazuto had gone to the police station, alerted them of Azmear, and formulated a plan. He had asked the police to speak to an old friend from Sao, who worked as a high ranking officer, and he had granted the favour. The law was on his side.

He slipped his amusphere that he kept for Asuna on and logged in to ALO.

A blinding flash of light, and then he was in his log home on the 22nd floor of Aincrad.

He flew to Yggdrasil city, and walked over to the arena.

He flew up to the managers office, and knocked three times.

"Come in." The man looked up from a desk of menus and bit coins. "Kirito! Hey man! Long time no see!"

"Hey Yoyo." He was a big american man, a Spirrigan like Kirito, wearing a long black cloak with his to handed axe strapped to his belt, hanging off his hip. He had short, spiked, jet black hair. He also had Heterochromia iridum, meaning one of his irises was a different colour to the other. In his case, one green, one blue.

"What's up? Want to set up a duel?"

"Uh, kind of. I want to set up my own event, a tournament. How much would that cost me?"

"After what you have done for my business? Nothing. 50% split for the ticket sales."

"That's a deal. Can I have it set up now?"

"Sure. I'll start sending invites. Who do you want?"

"Hmm... Drift. Switchblade. The nitro guy I've been hearing about. Anyone who could give me a good fight."

"I'll add them, and a few surprises I think you'll like."

"And, is there anyone called Azmear on your list?"

"No... Well there is. But he isn't online." Kazuto gritted his teeth. Great.

"Thanks Yoyo."

"Anytime."

Kazuto walked out and jumped down into the centre of the arena, and began practising some of his lower level duel wielding skills. Skills he hadn't used in a long time. He regretted having to use Excalibur for semi personal use, but he would need it in order to create enough attention. The first people he noticed to join were his friends.

They ran up to him, surprised in the sudden turn of events.

"Kirito! You leave us for Paris for three days then don't bother to tell us you're hosting an event?"

Lisbeth shouted, charging at him, tackling him down.

"Hey guys." He lifted himself up, Klein, Silica, Agil and Sinon were all here, and of course Lisbeth.

"Where's Asuna?"

"She'll be here later. I want to apologise for using Excalibur in this match, especially after my vow, but I'm going to need it to generate enough attention."

"Attention? For what?"

"I will explain after the tournament, but I have a feeling it will explain it's self. For now, sit back and enjoy the show." Klein nodded.

"We're rooting for ya Kirito!" The gang cheered and raced to the ticket booth, to buy front row seats. As the time edged closer to 7pm, the seats began to fill up. Kirito swung his swords around and around, getting used to the feeling of wielding two swords.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Yoyo said, stood on the balcony of his office.

Kazuto rolled his eyes. He hadn't seen Asuna, but that was probably for the best.

"Welcome to one of the most spectacular events I have had the pleasure to host! The might Sao hero, The beater, Kirito, The black swordsman! Wielding two swords, he will be facing off against ALO's strongest players! Take a seat! Grab some pop corn! And enjoy the show!"

Kazuto sheathed his blades, and stood flexing his fingers.

"The first contestant is..."

A huge bay door opened, revealed a young women, older than Kirito buy a couple of years, with vibrant purple hair, soft cute features, and purple eyes to match her hair. Drift. A long purple cloak flowed behind her.

"The impish speed reaper herself! Drift!"

Drift reached behind herself, and pulled off a huge scythe. Kirito eyed it in envy, this was the best reaper in the game, dealing 800-900 normal slash damage, crit chance at 60% and a weapon speed of 2.0.

Kirito's elucidator was 710-800 slash damage, while his Excaliber was 870 slash. No more, no less. Crit chance was 55% because of his duel wield skills. His weapon speed was 3.5, almost double, but with that Scythe, she could block both sides at once, effectively, her weapon speed was 4.0.

"Kirito!" Drift ran up to him and bowed. "It is an absolute honour to battle the most power Sao player, and probably one of the most powerful ALO players too! I'm extremely grateful for the invite, and hope to have a lasting and fun battle with you!"

Kazuto smiled, and nodded. Two windows appeared in front of him.

'Drift would like to be your friend. Do you accept?' Kazuto chuckled and accepted, then the duel request.

"Are we doing one hit, or full battle?"

"Full battle, but promise to revive after?"

"Of course." He clicked accept, and full battle mode.

The countdown appeared in front of them, and the crowd went wild. Drift's expression changed instantly from excited and happy, to expressionless. She watched for weak points and decided on her moves to try and open Kirito up.

They stepped back, until they had the whole arena between them.

Everyone went silent. Kazuto calmed himself, listened to his breathing, took in his surroundings, looked at his Mana and health bars, unsheathed his swords. He checked their weight, exhaled, and looked up with an expressionless stare.

A tumbleweed passed between them.

GO!

The both charged forward at tremendous speed, the audience could see nothing but a dust cloud, and then a beautiful clash of red and yellow lit up the cloud of smoke.

Two silhouettes could be seen, smashing blade against blade, a black cloak lifted in the smoke, a purple cloak twirled in the chaos.

Both parties jumped back out of the smoke, giving it time to clear. Neither had been hit once. The began to circle.

"You're fast." Kirito said.

"Aw, thanks. That means a lot coming from you. The fastest player in Sao." They both jumped back at each other, Kazuto using a sword skill he had created for himself, duel sonic leap. It used both his swords to propel him forward, then slash one down, land, slash horizontally with the other one. It was risky. It left him open for a split second.

The impish Scythe wielder blocked it with her blade and her handle, and was pushed back a centimetre.

Kazuto broke off, span, and tried to slash her ankle. He hit, draining a slice of her health.

Drift jumped, landed a little ways back, and instantly Kazuto was back on top of her. She blocked left and right, her speed being the only thing keeping her alive. She ducked and dived and blocked and parried.

Until she swiped at Kazuto's shoulder as he came down with his second slash of double circular. She hit him with the blunt end of the scythe, causing minimal damage, but knocking him back, the split second of recovery time from the skill added on the split second of his recovery time, giving drift just the space she needed. Then Kazuto was on the defensive.

She used her skill, quad windmill, spinning the scythe vertically from side to side, the blade clashing with Kirito's at such a speed that the Audience could hardly see for the flashes of light.

She finished by swinging the scythe over her head twice then finished with a wide horizontal slash, catching Kazuto in the thigh. He was down the half HP.

"Can I really beat the black swordsman?" She said to herself. With new motivation, she pushed forward, activating triple slash, bottom right to top left, spin, horizontal slash at the ankles then finish with a jumping upwards slash. She missed. Darn.

Kazuto saw an opportunity and did something the crowd went wild for. After he blocked her jumping slash he used the small recovery time she had to use to slide under her airborne form, turned on his heel and jumped at her from behind, tackling her and impaling her on his swords, her health drained, she hit the red zone and started to panic. The hit the ground, Kazuto pulled his weapons out of her back, and rolled off, blocking as her scythe came down on top of him.

He got up, she did too, he slashed, she blocked, he ducked, she missed, he jumped, she ducked. It was like a dance, both just needing one good hit to finish on another off. If she could just get him locked in another windmill, she could win. But he wasn't letting her.

She landed. Back turned to him. She was open for just under a second. Unfortunately for her, Kazuto was fast. Very fast. She didn't even feel the slash of the blades before she saw him, standing, smiling.

You are dead.

"Good match." She said. Blackness.

Kazuto revived her instantly, and helped her to her feet.

"And the winner is... The black swordsman! Kirito!"

The contestants shook hands, Drift thanked him, briefly pecked his cheek and ran off blushing. Kazuto blushed, and shook his head, then turned to his friends.

They cheered he grinned and gave a thumbs up. He drank a HP and Mana potion and prepared himself for the next contestant.

"Ladies and gentlemen! What a battle! Please give your love for Kirito!"

They went wild.

"Ok! Ok, Next up, using a very unconventional weapon, the mysterious, switchblade!"

A taller man, clad in heavy, dark grey armour stepped out onto the arena. He had sharp features, and extremely short hair.

"Kirito." He bowed and took his place at the other end of the arena.

Kazuto bowed back, and accepted the duel request.

Switchblade pulled a whip from his waist, and a ball of shadows appeared in his hand.

"A whip and magic eh? This ought to be fun."

"Oh it will." He replied. Grinning.


A/N: Hope you enjoyed this super long chapter, 6,500 words to be exact. I hope it makes up for the chapters I haven't uploaded for two weeks. Well. Until next week. Terrarh. (Bit of British for ya. Haha.)