A/n: I am soooo sorry. I completely forgot the day I was supposed to upload this chapter.

Speaking of which my p.c. and laptop don't work sooo I typed the whole thing on mobile. So the spacing may be hella fucked.

I don't have much else to say but if my chapters are ever late again just pm me or message my reddit (same username)

And again thanks to the guest account that reminded me

The wooden shinai cleaved through the air, striking the opponent in their midriff.

Suguha Kirigaya hit the ground not a second later. The protective padding around her body prevented any serious damage, but that didn't help her pride. nor, she thought, did the hand currently reached out to her.

"Good fight Sugu! you almost beat me that time." Kazuto Kirigaya looked down at his adopted sister with nothing but pure sincerity. A look that made her feel guilty at the jealously she had felt not a minute before.

"Oh please. I haven't been able to beat you since you finished rehab, Big Brother." She took his hand and yelped as he effortlessly pulled her up. It wasn't just his rehab that had caused the sudden increase in his conditioning. No, that had been caused by the Augma incident. After realizing just out of shape he was, Kazuto had began practicing Kendo with Suguha, just like he had promised after waking up.

"Well sis if you practiced fighting without your wings in ALO a bit more, maybe you would get better IRL." Suguha grumbled at that, but conceited his point. After all, Kirito was only as good as he was now because of his skill as the Black Swordsman.

The two made their way back to the house, stopping at the outdoor faucet to clean up a little. Kazuto was splashing some over his face when Suguha spoke.

"So, what's going on with you and Asuna lately? Have anything planned?" The question made Kazuto freeze, a startling realization coming over him.

"I don't know, we haven't spoken in days" He seemed to be shocked at that simple statement, not even realizing the fact till just then.

Suguha felt a small spark of hope at his words, before she tracked it down and stabbed it mercilessly. Asuna is your friend. You don't get happy when your friends love life is in danger. Although Rikka might disagree with that sentiment.

Confusion settled over her a moment later as her own realization was brought forth.

"But you have been on your phone constantly over the last few days. Who were you messaging if not Asuna" Kazuto scratched the back of his head, something Suguha knew was a sign of him getting nervous.

"Well Kikuoka asked me to keep an eye on Sinon, so I've been texting her." Understanding dawned over Suguha, and with it a pang of jealously. Sympathy for Asuna followed.

"Well then, I guess that's good. But you should probably text Asuna when you get the chance. She is your fiance after all."

And with that Suguha went inside, leaving Kazuto to his thoughts.

Shino Asada had a plan. A crazy, stupid plan. She knew that. But it would protect her friends. It would protect him.

Unlike Kazuto, Shino realized what was happening. She was falling for him. It was painfully obvious. But she knew it couldn't happen. He was engaged. To her best friend no less. And they loved each other.

But she still had to protect him. Which was why Shino came up with the plan.

The idea was simple, the execution less so. Steal Kikuokas phone, find out where the SDF and IA thought Black were hiding, and stop them. Originally she had thought stopping them was the most difficult part. Until she realized one slight mistake.

Kikuokas phone was locked.

Such a simple thing. An obvious conclusion anyone would come to. Except Shino. And now she couldn't find the information she stole from a government agent for.

As she was contemplating how to resolve her massive screw up, her doorbell rang. The sound startled her, causing her to fall off the bed with a loud thud. Recovering, she hid the device under her pillow and went to the door as the person knocked, clearly getting impatient.

Shino opened the door and was surprised to see a young woman there, although woman might be an overstatement as the girl was around the same age as her.

The girl was wearing an oversized hoodie, with the hood pulled up to cover her blond hair. Her brown-gold eyes looked up at Shino with a hidden amusement, while her hands were crossed in front of her skirt.

"Can I... help you?" Shino asked out of politeness and pure confusion.

"Actually I think I can help you" the girls voice was confident, but Shino noticed she put more emphasis on the end of her sentence. Her confusion became ten-fold when she processed what the girl had said.

"Uh well I'm not gonna buy anything if that's what you mean..." Door to door sales weren't common but still happened. And that sentence was straight out of sales 101. But when the girl giggled at her reply she reconsidered her reasoning.

"No I'm not here to sell anything. 'cept maybe information. And from what I hear your in desperate need of it, Shino Asada." The second her name passed the girls lips, Shino started reached for the knife behind her door.

The Laughing Coffin members from last week also wore hoods. Her hand rested on the hilt of the kitchen knife, but hesitated to draw it. She had to be sure.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" She couldn't deny the shake in her voice as she spoke. She was terrified. The girls amused smirk didn't help, however her next words did.

"Simple. I'm a friend of Kirito." Those 6 words calmed Shino down considerably, though not enough to disarm.

"I know most of his friends, I've never seen you." And of course it has to be another cute girl. Her mind pointed out. His annoying habit of attracting women like flies aside, she was curious on who the girl was if Kazuto never mentioned her.

"Well me an' him haven't been in contact till recently. Do you mind if I come in? This conversation might be better to have inside." Shino slipped the knife into her waistband and opened the door wide to allow the girl in. The girl passed her without a glance and without even looking, spoke again. "You can put the knife down. You won't need it."

"Why should I? You haven't given me any proof you are who you say" Internally Shino was shocked the girl spotted it, but she knew not to show fear to the girl. Said girl turned around and that amused look in her eyes was stronger, like she was laughing at an inside joke.

"Oh? Are you saying Kii-Boy never mentioned anyone named Argo?"

Kazuto woke up to a loud ringing. His phone was going off, caller I.D. telling him it was Asuna. Checking the clock it was 2:30. He grabbed his phone, worried. Asuna only called that late if something was wrong. As he picked up the call his fears came true.

"Asuna? What's wrong?"

"It's Shino! She's gone!"

A/n: so for some reason my A/n up top won't go to bold or use the separation line. but this one does?

I'm sorry again for the delay. And for having to type this on mobile

Onto the chapter. A lot of stuff happened in it. And my internet history is full of Argo. Research sucks.

Now Sinon may seem hella OOC in this chapter but I promise you that is intentional. She is still kinda going through shock and that's causing her to make some irrational decisions.

Now next chapter will be the Friday after halloween so if I don't post remind me.And with that

I bid you fine reader adeu