Chapter Five- Hidden in Plain Sight

"Link Start!"

So we're finally here, but we've got somewhere to be. A training session is going on and we should head for it. It's time to meet our new teammates.

Yui looked at Asuna

"What's that tune Mama-Chan? It sounds really jazzy."

Asuna turned her ahead away from the stadium that the three of them were in the shadow of and listened to the beats of the music that was greeting them.

I remember Ryotaro played this tune time when he was with Elaine introducing her to our parents…

Asuna squinted

Of course, where do you think we are fool?

"It's the theme tune for a TV programme called Grandstand, which this VRMMO is named after."

Kirito nodded

"Apparently its creator, Kenneth Mansfield had a serious case of nostalgia when thinking of the concept for the game. He remembered watching a lot of different sports on Saturday on the same programme when he was a kid so he wanted to create something similar online."

Asuna stared at the training fields.

"Hai, he wanted a shared space for everyone to come and play fairly together. To see who was the best in any sport whatever gender they were."

Muldar who had been watching from offline was only too happy to confirm.

"Grandstand was the name of the BBCs main mixed sports show for around thirty years and it's still is for the corporations' main Olympic coverage. It's no surprise that Kenneth wanted to have something from a less fragmented and frightening time. It wasn't the easiest of times when Grandstand started though…"

No, the show started in the 1970s. There was a lot of "fun" in THAT decade and I wasn't even born then…anyway I'll let them focus. Given our circumstances nostalgia can wait, just as it should have done during the first EU referendum as well as afterwards!

Asuna was ignoring Muldars' nostalgia trip as the trio approached two pitches with different teams doing training drills. The team in blue and white was trying out passing with some players being more successful others not so much.

That's Survivors RFC for sure, the team on the other pitch is called "Hallowed Turf" and there's one player from them who's holding back…

What on earth?!

"Asuna are you ok?"

Asuna moved towards the other pitch as she saw one of the players, a flame haired woman who was sitting on some chairs adjacent to the field.

I don't need my Heads-Up Display to tell me who you are Megan.

You're taller and you've become more muscular. But then again you were pretty well built as a teenager. I'd recognise your crackling silver eyes anywhere.

Should I try to call out to her?

"Hey Megumi!"

She hasn't seemed to notice I'll try again.

"Megan?"

But Asunas former teammate barely flinched as she walked towards her teammates completely oblivious to Asuna.

Asuna moved towards the opposite pitch and raised her hand across its touchline.

Is there a forcefield? No but-

Kirito came up to her and held her hand.

" Is that Megan?"

Asuna nodded and stood for a moment biting her lip.

"That was really strange, why did she… ignore me?"

I know that she's playing for an opposing team but I thought it would be like old times even though we lost contact after Sword Art Online.

After all she was the one who introduced me to rugby in the first place.

She closed her eyes for a second.

"Hey Asuna, let's go!"

Megumi and I were in the same school together before Aincrad.

There were a group of Fawlty Towers girls who transferred into my school and played rugby after school. Megan was the only one from Scotland, the rest were from England but they got along well together. Even though they faced some rough treatment from certain "people" they didn't give a damn. It was if they were so relieved to be out here in Japan away from the strife in Britain as it used to be.

I was treated like one of them and in return for all the furakku they got from certain fools inside and outside our class I stood up for them whether on the pitch or off it.

We were a great group. But then Megan and I got selected for the Japanese national team….

Her messaging system pinged…

Better look at it, it's from Muldar.

"Be VERY careful around Megan Naismith, Asuna. There are things going on with her which we'll discuss offline. Right now, do not approach her under any circumstances."

What the hell-?

Asuna's train of thought was sliced through as one of their own players approached them and promptly gave her another surprise.

These are not just co-incidences…

He was a tall powerful blonde-haired man with streaks of grey in his hair.

"You must be The Kirigayas, it's good to meet you."

He extended his hand which Asuna shook

"I'm Jon Hasketh"

Kirito's eyes narrowed.

"Jonathan Hasketh?"

He nodded.

"The same."

He's part of our team but why?

And if he's here then shouldn't Rika be out on the same pitch?

Asuna must have said something Jonathan's eyes narrowed and he looked around skywards.

"Rika's been missing from training. She was here the first two weeks but she disappeared"

The legendary player gave a gesture skywards.

"We'll explain what we can later. It's not safe out here as the pre-season training grounds are shared facilities."

Asuna's HUD gave her the relevant information:

Shared facilities- a neutral area where different teams can train or exist in the same place.

Effectively a public area which means that we can't talk now.

"Anywaywe're currently doing a passing exercise trying to improve on our skills before the first pre-season match."

Asuna nodded

"Hai we'll join in and make full introductions later. I'll take the first pass for the benefit of these two."

The veteran player moved back picking up a rugby ball.

"Fine with me. Ready?"

Asuna nodded and got ready to receive the ball. Then Hasketh turned and launched the ball towards her.

Watch it coming towards you. Now hold it and back it goes.

Good now it's Kirito's turn.

Hasketh threw the ball at Kirito who juggled it but then dropped it to the ground.

Kirito shook his head.

Beginners weakness.

"Let's try it a second time."

This time Kirito reached for the ball but his fingers pushed the ball ahead of him instead.

That set the tone for The Black Swordsman although as he steadily improved Muldars' assertion that he was better off the pitch than on it was ringing in his ears.

Whereas Yui on the other hand…

"Great pass Yui!"

The young girl was being utterly metronomic and making a strong impression on her new teammates as she passed and ran with the ball. Just like her mother who was still just as agile, just as fast as she had been when on the fields of Aincrad all those years ago.

As if she needs the distraction from her doubts and I need to remind myself of my own skills.

But although Yui was displaying flair on the pitch, there was something about her as if she was trying to be far more focused than usual and Asuna noticed it.

Our caring and loving daughter is playing with a chip on her shoulder. It's as if something or someone has really hurt her and she's trying to distract herself…

But Asuna had her own drills to worry about. Including standing at the posts… to practice penalty kicks.

A one direct at the posts from the 22-metre line worked easily as did another kick from thirty metres out. But just she was about to take a shot from the right-hand corner of the pitch she started to shake…

But this is only a training exercise why am I shaking like this?

A hand went on her shoulder and she turned to see Kirito looking at her.

"Time to go Asuna, the session's finished."

His eyes stared into hers

"You don't have to push yourself just yet."

Asuna and Kirito joined Yui who was waiting at the edge of the pitch. Asuna turned to Kirito.

"Did you have any luck with activating Haskeths' Emergency Tracking system?"

Kirito shook his head.

"No, it's just as Sinon said, even inside the system. His position display is changing rapidly. It's as if whoever's got him is switching service providers, or places."

So, at least some of them are being hidden in plain sight. Being hidden in the system easy for us to reach virtually but why?

Kirito looked at Yui

"Are you ok Yui? You look on edge."

Yui turned away.

"Just before we started training, I got two messages from The Cardinals."

Asuna put an arm around her.

"Eugeo and Alice, what did they say?"

Yui raised her head.

"They said: It's really good to see you back Yui but remember that you don't live here anymore."

A harsh reminder that she's just a player now. She knows that though so was that really necessary?!

Yui wanted to move things on.

"I know but anyway Alice asked me to give you another message."

Oh?

Asunas eyes narrowed.

"What kind of one?"

Yui shook her head.

"We want to help you but this situation is beyond our control."

Which means that for all that we are offline we're on our own online…