Disclaimer: I do not own anything. All content is based off of "Sword Art Online" and their owners.

Note: This story happens after the whole thing, therefore it means it happens when Kirito is re-defeating Aincrad with his friends.

December 25th 2028 6:00 Yuuki Mansion

Kirito, Asuna, Recon, Suguha, and Midori piled out of the van onto the luxurious walkway of the Yuuki mansion. Asuna lead the way to the front door, grabbing the familiar, grand, knocker, and knocking three times on the right door of the grand double doors. The Yuukis and Kirigayas were eating dinner as a family, on December 30th, as on the 31st, Recon and Suguha had to be at the HQ, and Kirito and Asuna would be hanging out with their friends at YUI. Everyone held a bag of presents for each other. The doors swung open, each door manned by a butler, and Kiouchirou standing on the door mat, with Yui and Kan, sporting a huge grin. Yui ran and tackled Kirito in a hug, screaming in glee, "Mommy! Daddy!" Kirito laughed, picking her up as she threw herself into his arms. Kiouchirou laughed, "Asuna! Kazuto!" He stepped to give Asuna a hug over her belly, and then stepped back and added for Recon, Suguha, and Midori, "Welcome! Asuna's family, is my family." It was quite literal, and meaningful. He stepped back to let them in, although even if he had just stood there, everyone could have just walked around him. Everyone filed in, following Asuna, Kiouchirou, and an overly excited Yui, who was draggin Kirito and Kan to the dining room. This room's door was already opened. Asuna stopped a bit at the doorway.

When Asuna had been a kid, her mother only allowed them to buy a tree once, and that was only decorated to impress a client. This was a huge joyful tree with stockings on the fireplace, a star at the top, ornaments, and Yui and Kan's arts and crafts over the days on the tree and walls. Decorations lined the walls, and windows. And that smell. It was the smell of the apple pie that her mother had stopped making, by the time Asuna turned eight. Then Yui pulled Kirito and Kan forward, bounding into the room. Kyouko looked at them with a small smile, more of a smile than anyone had ever seen her with for a long while. Kyouko got up at that point, and walked over to Midori with a smile, "I'm glad you could be here. Now that we're pretty much family." That night was great. Everyone was well fed, Yui received a mini Lambient Light, and Yui giving a BFF charm to Kan, and a whole ring of gifts, with Kan and Yui trying to spar each other, and Asuna and Kirito having a tournament of their own, of course, Kirito with only one sword, and letting Asuna win. Nobody took that fight really seriously. Not even Asuna. Everyone exchanged gifts, Kirito, Kan, Asuna, and Yui managed to fall asleep on the same sofa in a lounging area, of course, to be woken up later, Shouzou, and Kiouchirou passed out from a wine drinking contest, Recon and Suguha snuck off somehwere, Kyouko and Midori, talking about their children together, by the cheerful Christmas tree, and then watching their children, and their grandchild.

December 31st 11:00 P.M. 2028 Floor 48 YUI

Everyone was gathered in the squares and teleport plazas where there were screens set up of the official inauguration of the new Commander and Vice Commander. The first official ones. There was a curtain over a carved object in front of the HQ. Kirito, Asuna, Silica, Sinon, Klein, Lisbeth, Taren, and the Sleeping Knights all gathered in the lounging room of YUI each with cups of cider in wine glasses, to watch the square in front of the HQ, where most people had gathered. That was where Recon and Eugene currently stood, each on one side of the carved figure, with a screen above them. Agil was with his wife back at his cafe. Finally, there was three notes from an amplified trumpet that rang across the 55th floor square, and caught everyone's attention, silencing a lot of people across Aincrad.

Eugene stepped forward and boomed with a loud and resounding voice, "Happy winter holidays to all those who are watching! We all know, that today Recon and I are about to say our oaths and officially become the Commander and Vice Commander. But first, I would like to recognize the two un-officials leaders who not only lead everyone through SAO, but also lead us through the hard times after the Incident. They are our heroes, and our best players, and even though I hate to admit it, better than even me. Kazuto Kirigaya, Kirito Kirigaya. Asuna Yuuki. This carving is dedicated to them, so nobody can forget the best two leaders we've ever had." With that, Recon pulled the drape on the carving, and Asuna couldn't help but gasp. It was three swords. The Elucidator and Excalibur were crossed like when Kirito was blocking a really strong attack, and then the Lambient Light vertical, in between the Elucidator and the Excalibur.

Nobody had known about this. Not anybody but the creators, Recon, and Eugene because they had put up a tarp around it while they were carving it. There was a great round of thundering applause, and it took quite a few minutes for the whooping, applausing, and roaring to calm down. Finally, Recon announced, "Now, it is time to watch the last words of our Leaders, Kirito and Asuna, as Commander and Vice Commander." A video appeared on the screen.

The Video

Kirito and Asuna were shown, from shoulder up, showing only the shoulders of their clothes, their neck, and head. "When I first joined SAO, I was a regular 14 year old who devoted himself to technology. But eventually I found myself not clear the definition of reality and virtual reality, because the line was too blurred. The Incident only made it worse. However, now Aincrad is our reality. Aincrad was always our reality when we were there. So was ALO. So everyone has to give our best for our reality. It is our reality even if it isn't everyone elses. That's what I did. I gave a 100% to my reality. I did nothing more, than try my best in my reality,"Kirito starts, obviously reciting by heart. It didn't have the fancy words of a speech. But it was less practiced, and a lot more natural.

Asuna took a deep breath, and told them, "I don't have a practiced speech like I normally would. But Kirito is right. We all have to give our hundred percent for this community, so that our community and life style can survive, while the rest of the world, continues in their life style. So that is why we have picked Recon and Eugene, two out of a few of the most devoted players. I hope they will take care of Aincrad as Kirito and I have. Note that Kirito and I will be coming back to the council, for those who want to know. So, both of us wish Eugene and Recon luck. Arigatou."

The video ended, and the screen in the HQ Square went black, as every other screen trained itself on Recon and Eugene. Recon stepped forward first, and in the loudest voice anyone had ever heard him talk in, he swore, "On this very day, as the year ends, I, Nagata Recon Shinichi take on the duty, who former Vice Commander Kazuto Kirito Kirigaya has chosen me to bear, and it is my honor to protect, and give my best for all of Aincrad." He ended it witha salute, and bringing a fist to her chest with a single pound on his chest, before stepping back. As the clock ticked to ten minutes until midnight. "On this very day, as the year ends, I, Eugene, brother of Lord Mortimer, take on the duty, who former Commander Asuna Yuuki has chosen me to bear, and it is my honor to protect and give my all for Aincrad,"Eugene stepped forward and recited. Then he did a similar salute, and chest pound. He stepped back as the screen above him and Recon flashed on.

By this time, Asuna and Kazuto had already slipped out into the square of Lisbeth, watching a tree that sat in the middle with four screens at the base of it. Asuna and Kazuto sat at the back of the crowd, on a bench. Nobody really noticed them, as everyone's eyes was fixed on the screen. That's how they'd gotten away from their friends in the meeting room. Kirito looked at the tree with a sad expression, and Asuna allowed him silence to think again about Sachi and the Moonlit Black Cats. She knew she'd never replace that place they had left in him, although she wish she could, and it broke her heart that she couldn't. Kirito snapped out of his daze, as Eugene finished his oath, and turned to Asuna. He knew instantly, and responded to her thoughts, "It's not that. I was thinking about a dream I've been having. It's next year, and the twins, Yui, you and I are in our cozy house celebrating New Years. And I really wish, and hope that we do have a perfect Christmas and New Year like that next year." With that, the counting reached 10, and Kirito pulled Asuna in for a kiss. Everyone around them chanted.

10...

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1...

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"