Chapter XLIII

''So...what is going on here?''

Now, everyone was looking at the Cait Sith, a bit scared. They didn't really know what was going to happen from now on and they already thought that they lost control over the situation. Jyun is a very strong player. Even if this place is mostly a safe haven, they can still be killed and put into Remain Lights. As they tried to move away, a little ''ting!'' sound was heard and the Bounty Hunters suddenly felt something grab their feet. Their eyes widened as they looked down, one of them shivering in fear.

''W-What the hell?!''

Somehow, ghost-like transparent hands were holding them in place, but their leader and Aki's group were spared. Jyun nonchalantly approached Varia and took a serious face.

''By the order of the Cait Sith, you are now ordered to get out of this city while you still can. These people are now under our own responsibility.''

Varia let out a slow grave laugh, being probably the only one who wasn't scared by the Dark Magic user.

''Oh? And...can I ask about the Salamanders? What do you think they will do if they heard about this?''

''They can think all they want, it's no matter. This choice is not mine, it is the one of the Lord Assistant, even though I would had interfered even without it.''

Aki smiled at this notice while Varia frowned.

''Lord Assistant?''

''Yes. Now, get out of here.''

''And what if I say no?''

''Bekutoru Ya.'' (1)

As Jyun sighed and did his incantation, a black smoke circle formed around his hands and he aimed at the other Bounty Hunters, making them a little bit worried at what will happen. Then, something really fast came out of the circle and hit one of the Bounty Hunters in the head, killing him instantly and making his Salamander Remain Light appear shortly after. The Cait Sith turned back toward Varia.

''Is that enough?''

The leader took an angered look, but sighed and turned back.

''Come on boys, let's go.''

As the ghastly hands that were holding the Bounty Hunters still got back into the ground, they quickly got toward their leader and followed him outside the city, followed by Cait Sith guards. After they got away, Emira sighed in relief.

''Well, looks like this is done...''

She looked toward Jyun and smiled.

''Thanks!''

The Spec Ops leader looked back and gave her a reassuring smile.

''You welcome. Anyways...''

He turned toward Aki and gave her a bothered look as she sheathed her scythe on her back.

''...why are you wanted by the Salamanders? As I know of, they wouldn't want to pursue one of their own soldiers.''

''Oh, that? Eeeeh...''

He looked back toward Emira, Haruhime and Soruka before sighing.

''No need to explain, I know why and I perfectly understand.''

''H-Haru-san?!''

The players looked toward their back and saw a little group of players following a certain white-haired girl that was just in front of Haruhime, surprising him.

''S-Saku-''

''IT WORKED! HAHAHA, YATTA!''

She hugged him and he looked behind her, where five players were apparently with her. Yukishi, Link and Kara had their eyes widened in surprise as they saw him, the only one kind of not understanding their expressions being Saito who had a little bag of chips in his hand, probably for the travel that must had been boring for him. Don't ask him how he's capable of eating while flying, probably no one knows. Haruhime couldn't say a word as his old guild leader was hugging him.

''S-Saku...nii-san...you're hugging me...too much!''

''But I'm so happy to see you again, I was so worried for you!''

Oh yes, I remember that I did left her a note before what happened...ah.

Aki and Jyun were looking at the scene with hesitant looks and they turned to Soruka, Aki asking first.

''Uh...what? I thought him and Emira-san were...''

The grey-haired Imp turned toward her and shrugged her shoulders.

''Oh, she's one of hi- wait, WHAAAT?! You thought Emira-chan's in love with that guy?!''

Aki nodded.

''...it was a bit obvious in my point of view.''

''Really?''

Soruka turned her look toward Haruhime who was getting cuddled by Sakumi and then turned toward her sister Emira who was not really far from him, smiling. She then looked at them with her fingers pointing toward the two and finishing into one place, trying to understand if those two could work properly in a couple.

''Well, Emira-chan does feel happy close to him and she oftens take his hand...I still feel that wouldn't really work somehow. We're A.I.s, we can't have relationship with people, but...what about between us?' I never questioned myself about that. Oh well.''

Sakumi stopped hugging Haruhime and she sighed in relief.

''I can't believe it worked, I thought we lost you forever!''

The Cait Sith took a curious look.

''Lost me...? What does that mean?''

Yukishi, Link and Kara approached him and the childhood friends were so much shocked that they couldn't really talk. Finally, the Spriggan Assassin approached him closer and put his hands on both the Cait Sith's shoulders.

''Never...never again. Do you hear me?''

''I...I...Yukishi, I...I'm sorry, it's just...''

''Why did you tried to do that?!''

As Link approached and said that in a sad voice, he sighed.

''I...I don't know! My life was shit and I hated my own father an-''

''Still. You know what's the first thing to stop something as horrible as that? Talk with your friends.''

This time, it was Sakumi who said that with a happy smile. She was just so happy that Haruhime was alive! Well...maybe not entirely alive considering that she already knew that he was now an A.I. like Emira and Soul, but whatever! Her friend was alive, that's all that counts!

''Saku-nii-san.''

She returned herself and fell right on Soruka, crossing her arms. She gave the Imp a slight curious look.

''Hm? Who are you? How do you know my name?''

''First answer, I'm supposed to be Soul. Second answer, I heard your name while we were on GGO. Question: Where the hell is Kirito-san right now, I want to beat him off!''

''Soul?! You mean, Maka's A.I.?! W-Why are you a-''

''Lower your voice, I don't want people to hear us!''

''Fine, fine...''

She lowered her voice.

''Why are you a girl? I thought you were a guy right from the start!''

''Your boyfriend messed up with my files while re-programming me and he gender-locked me to female!''

''Okay, okay, I'll...call him when he's going to be available...''

She took a slight sad look when remembering that Kirito was taken, surprising Soruka.

''H-Hey, are you alright? I'm sorry, maybe I infuriated myself a bit too much, I...''

''No, no, it's alright, it's not your fault. I understand your situation and I'll tell Kirito-kun when we will see him back.''

''...well, okay, sure. Call me Soruka for now, I guess. Did something happened to him?''

''I'll explain later...Sakuya-sama asked us to get here since she's in a meeting with Alicia-sama and we were searching for them.''

The grey-haired girl nodded and, while everyone was doing their little ''reunion'', Saito had approached Jyun and did a head sign.

''Hey, Jyun.''

The Dark Magic user turned his look toward Saito and smiled.

''Hey, Saito-san! So, what's going on right now?''

''We kind of have a little problem.''

''What is going on? I heard a message in the library while I was working as usual, what was it about?''

''Those people that are in front of you can't log out, myself included.''

Jyun's smile faded immediately.

''Wait, so you're stuck here too?''

''Yeah. We concluded that everyone that was in Sakumi's friend list cannot log out as from this morning.''

''Well, shit...I'm sorry.''

'' (sigh) As long as you help, it's not a worry.''

''Okay...who's Sakumi? Is she that white-haired girl over there?''

''Yeah, she was a guild leader in SAO.''

''Hm...I see. So that's why she looked so familiar to me.''

Saito nodded and Jyun approached Sakumi. Might as well get this political meeting over with.

''Excuse me?''

Sakumi turned herself toward Jyun.

''Yes?''

Guards automatically got behind him and he rolled his eyes when seeing them. He did not liked being body guarded since it looked only aggressive to people. Surprisingly, she did not cringed in fear like people usually do and an Undine got on her side, surprising Jyun.

''General Kristin?''

She nodded.

''Jyun-sama. I guess that you are here to escort us toward the meeting?''

He nodded as well.

''Yes. Sakuya-sama and Alicia-sama are both waiting for you in the Assembly Chamber.''

''Then let's go.''

As she said that in a serious tone, she directed herself toward the Embassy Tower while Sakumi sighed and turned back toward Jyun.

''I'm sorry, I think...I think she's shocked because of what is happening right now.''

The Cait Sith sighed as well.

''I would be like her if I was in her place. I was in SAO too.''

''You were?''

''Yeah...but let's not talk about that right now. Let's go.''

She looked back toward Haruhime and smiled before following Jyun to the tower, soon followed by the others. She was really happy that Emira said the truth about him and that he was revived. Yukishi and Link should be really happy as well. As for Haruhime himself, well, personally, she didn't really know. If he tried to suicide himself, then there was a reason, but now he seems more...in peace...and that is pretty creepy since it remembered her about ghosts stories or simply angels, like he was already dead but revived in some way.

She shook her head quickly.

''No no no, don't think like that. Haru-san is here now, he won't go...great, now I even think I sound creepy as well...''

On the rooftops of a building, a Salamander scout was looking at the group with goggles and he sighed.

''Great, now Eugene's going to be pissed even more.''

He activated a Midnight Mirror and a black bubble formed around him, forming the image of Eugene in front of the scout inside the bubble, his face fully red by anger.

''Report.''

The scout gulped in nervousness and took a deep breath before answering.

''My Lord, the people that you have put a bounty on has been invited to an apparent Cait Sith meeting. They had entered the Cait Sith Embassy Tower escorted by Ambassador Jyun and some guards. They are at around nine bounties in total, sir!''

''Then do what you were ordered too! Since this damn betrayal Lieutenant Aki just did, I want her and them being put down immediately. ASSAULT THE MEETING! THAT'S AN ORDER, SOLDIER! I WANT THOSE PEOPLE DEAD, DO YOU HEAR ME?! EUGENE OUT!''

The Salamander Lord stopped the communication and, as the Midnight Mirror disappeared, the scout began to hesitate. Attack a Cait Sith- Sylph meeting? In the capital city of Freelia?! This could lead to a full-fleshed war with them and the Sylphs!

Soon, a pack of warriors arrived at his side and one of them approached before getting into a military-like stance in front of him.

''Captain Kagemune-sama. Are we ready?''

Kagemune turned his head toward him and sighed.

''Frankly...I don't even know if it's a good idea anymore.''

''B-But, Kagemune-sama, if we don't, we will be traitors to our own race.''

''I know, Konan-san, I know...''

He looked at the Cait Sith Assembly Tower and closed his eyes before taking a deep breath, putting his helmet on and gesturing for his squad to follow as they got their lances in their hands.

''Let's just get this over with. I hate attacking someone that I have honour from like this.''

''HAI (1)! KAGEMUNE-SAMA!''

10 minutes later, Cait Sith Assembly Tower, Assembly Room:

''Natsumiiii! Harunaaaa! Are you alright?!''

As the sisters heard that voice and then felt something...well, TWO things get on them, they realised they were being cuddled by Ikuze and Uri and both of them took a nervous look. Sakumi whispered quickly.

''M-Mom! Uri-ojee-san, n-not here!''

The little girl got back a little and giggled.

''We were so worried for you, of course we want to cuddle you a little!''

Sakumi looked at her mother who was still hugging her and she felt nervous, REALLY nervous. She had not really shown her mother to her friends and they were all looking at the Undine with a weird look. Ikuze was indeed an Undine which had not really changed since the last time Sakumi had seen her in the Crossing Field program. The only difference is that her brown hair color was replaced with the usual Undine pale blue hair color and that her rather big scythe, the Mother's Embrace, was sheathed on her back. That detail interested Aki somehow, who was now looking at it with a curious look.

Uri, on the other hand. had taken the Sylph race. Since she was a little girl in appearance, she was smaller then the others and had long blonde hair and green eyes. She was wearing a leather armour covered by a green dress along with brown leather pants and shoes. On her back, she had an arrow quiver filled with arrows as well as a bow that could be seen on her shoulder, string passing over around her arm to sheathe it correctly. She also had a little dagger that was a leather sheathe on her hip.

Sakumi thought about it for a split-second. Uri was an archer...just like Sinon. Maybe Sinon could train her to get better? After all, the sniper that the blue-haired girl was in the FPS Gun Gale Online has incredible aim and reaction time. If she wants, maybe Uri could become a great archer too.

Kristin took a nervous look, different from her serious look that she had a second ago.

''Uh...mom? I know you love us, but...could you please...?''

Ikuze smiled and stopped hugging them.

''Sorry, sorry, heh heh, too much parental love!''

Sakumi's friends retained a laugh and the two sisters looked down, ridiculed.

''That humiliation...''

''Agreed...

Her mother giggled and closed her eyes while smiling.

''Ha, I was just like you two when I was younger! My mother used to cuddle me a lot in front of friends.''

''Then why do you do it too?!''

As the two sisters said that at the same time, Ikuze and Uri laughed out loud. Sakumi and Kristin looked at each other before sighing and smiling. Well, at least, they could forget what was happening in ALO for a minute with this little scene. Yukishi, as polite as he always is, arrived in front of Ikuze and bowed.

''Happy to meet you, miss!''

Ikuze took a surprised look from such politeness and bowed as well.

''Happy to meet you too.''

Soon, Ikuze noticed that Aki was still looking at the scythe with a curious look and she turned her look toward the Salamander.

''Hm? Interested by my weapon?''

Aki quickly snapped out of her curiosity and shook her head quickly.

''N-No, no, no, I was just, well, looking at it.''

The woman smiled.

''I can see that you are a scythe-wielder too.''

''Oh, that? U-Uh...''

Why am I so nervous?

''Oh well, it's nice to meet a fellow scythe-wielder here. My name is Ikuze, happy to meet you.''

Aki calmed herself and sighed before smiling.

''My name is Aki, it's nice to meet you too.''

The two scythe-wielders smiled to themselves and nodded in respect. Frankly, maybe those two could make good friends, even though Ikuze looked clearly older then Aki.

Sakumi felt someone behind her and she turned her look toward a worried-looking Sakuya and Alicia Rue, accompanied by guards, Leafa and Aurora. Kristin took a surprised look as she was still on Sakumi's side.

''Aurora-san? Leafa-san?''

The two girls sighed and nodded toward her while Leafa sent her quick message.

We will talk later, this is too important.

While Kristin nodded to the Sylph warrior, Sakuya approached Sakumi and sighed.

''We need to talk.''

The white-haired girl gulped, but both Yukishi, Link, Haruhime and Kara had seen the scene and had their hands on the weapons' hilt in case of danger. Sakumi saw that and she sighed.

''It's alright, there's no danger whatsoever.''

''You sure about this?''

As Haruhime asked that discretely, she nodded.

''Of course, Sakuya-sama is one of my friends! She helped us get Kara-san out of this game in the first place.''

''Kara? She was in danger?''

The Spriggan girl nodded to him as he took a look to her and he sighed.

''For Christ's sake...''

Sakumi turned back toward Sakuya as she sighed.

''I know what is going on right now...but let me ask first. Will I get arrested?''

''Arrested?''

As Alicia Rue asked that with a shocked voice, she shook her head quickly.

''Why would we get you arrested, you're our last hope!''

''L-Last hope?! That much?''

Sakuya nodded.

''You are one of the strongest players of this world and a war is about to start with the Salamanders if this continues. We have to make a quick raid party in order to raid the Dark Elf Castle and get rid of them so we can get out of this game.''

The white-haired girl sighed in relief.

''Thank god, I was thinking that you would had put a bounty on me as well.''

''A bounty?''

''Gift of Eugene, I guess. That bastard send mercenaries to deal with me and my friends so they can be imprisoned in Gattan.''

''And that peace treaty was so going so well...''

She sighed, disappointed that Eugene had snapped completely, but she took back a serious look.

''The damage has been done, but we can't abandon our main objective.''

Jyun approached them and took a sad look toward Alicia Rue and he sighed before turning toward Aurora.

''Is she alright?''

Aurora sighed as well.

''No...she's worried sick for everyone that were trapped. That counts me in as well.''

''That's horrible, having you and your sister trapped in here...''

''Sakumi's case is worst. Her whole family's here.''

''I know...her mother, her sister and a little girl that seems to be her aunt somehow. It must be horrible.''

''Jyun...what do you think that will happen now?''

He sighed and took out his hood, revealing his rectangular glasses that couldn't be seen from the shadow made by the cloth. When he takes out his hood, it means that there's usually a problem.

''I don't know, Aurora-san, (sigh) I don't know. All I know is that we need to get into the raid party. We need as much support as possible.''

''And what about your girlfriend, Rosa?''

''...I don't want her to get into trouble.''

Alicia turned to Jyun and sighed.

''So you're going to come too?''

He smirked.

''Oh, not just me. The entire Spec Ops Squad is at your service, Alicia-sama.''

''Please don't call me ''sama'', you can call me ''san'' if you want.''

She smiled faintly, making Jyun smile as well. He was happy to see that his Lord was getting back into the action.

Suddenly, the doors of the tower made a loud ''BANG!'' sound, making everyone turn to it. The guards took a surprised look and got close, opening it.

''Hey! Who's-''

He never finished his sentence. Immediately when he opened the door, a lance passed through him and his Remain Light appeared. The other guards quickly took their weapon and shouted to the others.

''STAY BACK! WE WILL RETAIN THEM!''

'' (sigh) Cait Siths...always so loyal...''

Soon, a squad of Salamanders bursted out of the doors and butchered the Cait Sith guards easily. The warriors took their weapons, but Alicia shook her head toward them.

''No, let's get away from here! I'll cast spells to warn them off!''

Soon, a hail of offensive little dragons were launched on the Salamanders and the party got back, looking around quickly. The room had a meeting table, chars that were surrounding it and windows since the meeting room was the highest of the Tower. Sakuya grinned, took her weapon and broke the windows.

''Jump! Let's get out of here, it's too dangerous!''

The players nodded and jumped out of the tower, activating their wings as soon as possible to rush out of the city of Freelia. As Sakumi looked toward the city, she took a shocked look.

The city was raided.

Remain Lights were everywhere and Salamanders were fighting against multiple Cait Sith soldiers who had no chance toward them considering their armour and weapon types. Buildings were on fire and screaming could be heard from the city's NPCs.

''Oh my god...''

Alicia Rue had a shadow over her face as she was on Sakuya's side.

''That's it. They asked for it.''

She opened her menu and got into the ''Cait Sith Lord'' sub-menu before pressing on the ''DECLARE WAR?'' button and choosing the Salamanders. Of course, the following message appeared.

Are you sure you want to declare war on the Salamanders? This will cause a series of events that can lead to the losing of your territory. You have been warned.

{O} {X}

The Cait Sith Lord was about to press on the ''agree'' button before Sakuya gave her a serious look.

''Are you really sure you want this?''

The Cait Sith girl turned toward her ally with a very serious look.

''Eugene has gone nuts, he does not have the pre-requisites to be a Race Lord anymore. He needs to be killed off or else both of us will lose our territory.''

Sakuya looked at her for five seconds straight and she closed her eyes.

''So be it.''

Alicia looked back toward Freelia, her city, her beloved city that she was now losing and she pressed on the ''agree'' button of the message. An alert sound was heard in all around ALO before a robotic female-like voice was heard.

''Attention all players! According to this day forth, the Cait Siths, the Sylph and the Salamanders are now in WAR! Prepare yourselves for the worst! Repeat, attention all players! ...''

Kristin heard the message and she sighed as Leafa joined her.

''So...it's starting.''

''Yes...everything that I have predicted...it has started. There's going to be a World War...''

''Kristin-san...''

Kristin sighed and she sent a message to her Undine leader.

Send the wolves. The Salamanders are declaring war on our possible allies.

Soon, her leader sent her a message quickly.

(sigh) You sure about this?

Perfectly. Declare war on the Salamanders. We don't need a council for this.

I am trusting you, Kristin-san. If this goes wrong, I'll maybe have to rank you down.

I do not care about it. A rank's a rank. A territory's a territory. Eugene's going crazy and he declared war on his neighbours and the Imps are just at their side. We have to help them, they are our allies and the Imp Lord will surely not be happy about this.

Personally, I'm not too, but...it's going to be a World War, isn't it?

Kristin hesitated, but replied back.

I fear it is true.

As she did had any replies back, another message was heard and another and another and another before an holo-panel appeared in the sky.

WORLD WAR

-SALAMANDERS

-GNOMES

-LEPRECHAUN

-PUCA

VS.

-SYLPH

-CAIT SITH

-UNDINE

-SPRIGGAN

-IMP

The players looked at the screen and they all took worried looks while Sakumi closed her eyes and took a serious look.

''That bastard...he's going to pay for all of this.''

Far away, at the Castle of Meridia, a loud maniacal laugh could be heard all around the area while Kirito closed his eyes, grinning with displeasure.

''Saku-nii-san...''


(1): ''Bekutoru Ya'' means ''Vector Arrows'' in Romaji Japanese.

(2) : ''Hai!'' means ''Yes!'' in Japanese.