Author Pre-Note

Hey guys, I'm really an amateur at this, sorry if it's not great but I'm hoping to get better! This fan fiction is completely inspired by Alicization in Perpetuity by Grafian, you may see elements of it in this story because it honestly worked so well for me I couldn't help but want to write myself. If you haven't read it and really suggest you do. Anyway any constructive criticism would be amazing, this chapter is a bit shorter than I was intending but I really wanted to feel the water for writing. My next chapters will be a lot longer, promise! Xoxo

Sky watched from across the street as Kirigaya was dropped off in a black sedan in front of the Kirigaya household, it was surprising he was released back to the world so soon after the Underworld incident. It was obviously demanded by Kazuto that he be allowed to return to Japan, the higher-ups would never let him to leave so soon. Kikouka must have convinced them otherwise, he wasn't foolish enough to potentially damage Rath's relationship with the dark-haired boy (or at least anymore they already have after the Underworld). No, Kazuto would have been released under the guise they were done with him, though he doubted the Black Swordsman himself would be deceived by the promise of freedom that Rath management would have given him. He was simply another asset they had in their arsenal to accomplish their goals; but it was intriguing to see the look of relief on his face as the car drove away.

Sky didn't need to worry about Kazuto spotting him under the deep darkness of night, it was doubtful even if he did notice the mysterious individual in the shadows that he would recognise Sky again. The darkness, hood he wore over his head and distance would make sure of that. As Sky watched Kazuto walk up to the door to his house, Sky considered the future with the Underworld revealed. The tides of the world would change yet again with the reveal of a "perfect" artificial intelligence, disturbances rivalling even the Sword Art Online incident a few years prior were starting to spread across the world. Change would be taking place very soon, with Kazuto as the very centre of it all. As Kazuto disappeared through the front door into the dark house, Sky realised suddenly it was about time for himself to disappear to, he had spent too long away fulfilling his own desire in making sure the hero of Aincrad had returned home safely. If he did not return soon Sky would be missed, he would not get the chance to leave again if they caught him. "Until next time Swordsman" Sky spoke to no-one in particular, with this Sky turned and walking down the road away from the house, not looking back.

Kirito watched this happen from the window through the door, of course he'd noticed the hooded figure standing opposite the house. The paranoia from living in a death game as one of Aincrad's main members of the clearing party had built up a measurable skill in observation. Although he wasn't able to discern the features of the stalking individual, he was able to judge the lack of hostility from the hooded person. Without turning on the lights Kirito soundlessly crept through the house assuring everything was in the right places and the locks and bolts on the windows and doors were secure before creeping up the stairs to his old bedroom. He sat on his bed and sat there in silence for a few minutes. The sounds of the boiler, car engines down the road a few blocks away, the cries of a baby from the house next door. All the sounds of his environment signified that his accommodation was secure. Kirito let out a sigh of relief he didn't realise he was holding.

His parents and sister were currently out, he didn't know where, or when they would return. He hadn't informed them he would be returning; Rath had near immediately complied with his demands that he be returned to his family, not allowing him the time to contact them. Even so he preferred the lack of company, this house no longer felt like home to him. It had been the first time he had set foot in it for a very long time, even the barn Eugeo and he had lived in for a while before the tournament in Zakkaria felt more comfortable than this place. His dreary bedroom would never compete with the apartment he had shared in the North Centoria Swordscraft Academy, that small room was constantly filled with activity. The combined forces of Eugeo, Ronye and Tieze constantly working to keep the place and gear maintained made it a hive of activity.

As Kirito thought this a tear dripped down his face, he would never see any of them again. Almost all his Underworld friends besides Alice would be long gone by now, their fluctlights erased by the systems as they passed away from their reality. They'd felt more real than any other human he'd met ever had, yet their lives would never be known by anyone but himself. He laid back on his bed, the Rath scientists who had "counselled" (analysed) him after his awakening in the real world had tried to persuade him these dark thoughts weren't the reality of the situation. Their lives had merit and were loved to the end and beyond, these feelings were just a remnant from the damage to his own fluctlight. That may have been the case, however he kept these dark feelings to himself and privately discussed them with Asuna when she came to visit him after her own recovery exercises. Asuna had been instrumental in helping him get over his initial grief, however the more visits she made to his room, the more convinced he became that she couldn't understand the pain Kirito felt, but to be fair who could? Eugeo was like a brother to him, Ronye and Tieze like daughters; the pain of losing them was nothing compared to the loss of friends in SAO, even Sachi's memory paled compared to the pain of the part of him missing with Eugeo's death.

In the end the counselling and constant visits from Asuna wore him down, he demanded from Kikouka he be allowed to leave, and that evening he was escorted back to the Kirigaya household. He felt bad for not being able to see Asuna before leaving, however she couldn't seem to understand the significance the Underworld held for him. He pondered this as he lay in the dark, she understood loss, she lost her friend Yuuki not long ago; but Kirito just felt that she wasn't comprehending the gravity of the situation. She felt like one of those mothers who disapprove with their child's game playing habits non-verbally, never admitting their disapproval with a fake smile. Suddenly Kirito felt overwhelmingly tired, he rolled over in his bed closing his eyes; he'd deal with his parents inevitable questions and Asuna's overbearing concern in the morning. Instead he let sleep claim him and drifted to his own world where the sun shone on a green world and a blond boy waited him.