[Greeting from fanfic author Eleya - Hello everyone (=^.^=)/ I deeply apologize for not releasing a chapter last week. It marks the first time that I missed a week since I resolved myself to post a chapter at least once a week. This year of 2020 has been an interesting one to say the least and I wanted to achieve some things of sorts and this project helped me with my own bigger writing projects outside of this. I missed posting this chapter last week due to Christmas coming along and several distractions making me forget altogether. I hope the wait for this chapter release was accompanied with a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays, and since this release along with the next chapter bring you a happy start to 2021. I wish every last one of you reading this fanfic a happy and prosperous new year. Even if I would like a little more interaction with everyone, I feel blessed to know there are several people who expect a new chapter every week. Perhaps in the near future I will start up a discord channel so fans of this fanfic can speak to me more directly, but that will depend on interaction I receive in the reviews here or private messages. Once again, I wish every person who has read this fanfic a prosperous 2021!]

Kirito swiftly moved from cover to cover, keeping her eyes on a person she was hunting. She hadn't used many arrows in the tournament so far, but she had made it a personal goal at some point during the BoB that she would use as few as possible. She could count the amount of arrows she used on her hands, while she had prepared with over two hundred in her inventory. Considering how many bullets the average other player spent trying to hit her, she realized it was very different expectation for someone like her who was experienced at stealth and hunting to someone who trained as a soldier. Soldiers back in the day might have been trained more like hunters, but even the American opponents were laughable compared to the skills she had developed. She was absolutely lethal it turned out in the tournament as long as she got the jump on her opponents.

Her current target was the last person aside the criminal and Shiro left in the tournament. As soon as Mystery Gunner X was down, it would be time for taking down the criminal and having whatever duel her and Shiro would decide on having to finish it off.

She just about leaped out for the killing blow but her current target was extremely paranoid and checking over her shoulder every other second. It hadn't been a minute since the last time the satellite passed overhead. Kirito was hidden from view of the satellite like nearly every other time. The only time she didn't keep herself hidden was a time to lure out some of the other competition.

She continued watching the woman frantically observe her surroundings, and decided she would wait for the woman to exhaust herself. Being on such high alert can easily wear a person out who isn't used to it. Kirito was thankful then for the years she spent in SAO, experiencing the stress and anxiety of any moment potentially being her last. She was used to expending energy like that over a long period of time, and she honestly at the moment couldn't be further from anxious that she would die or lose the tournament.

She had to think about it frequently, that she was being too reckless, and growing too overconfident. It didn't help that every time she tried to reign in her confidence during the tournament, she would encounter yet another person who just wasn't quite enough to make her go all out, to put in all her effort and training. It was honestly disappointing and part of her was eager to test herself out against the criminal, but she once again needed to talk herself down mentally. That she could fight more challenging opponents in other games when the job was over.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

The scream was accompanied by the sound of a semi-automatic gun pumping out its load in a few seconds. Kirito was safe, but the bullets were definitely fired in her direction. Her current target frantically went to load her gun again, but it was an opening Kirito couldn't refuse. She left her current cover and sprinted in for the killing blow, but X shouted expletives and threw her main weapon and ammo she was sloppily handling to the ground and switched to her handgun, firing off a round at Kirito's head. Kirito stopped for a second as soon as the main weapon went to the ground and readied herself to dodge or counter, and ended up slicing through the prediction line just as she saw the trigger finger exert pressure. The blade of her short sword sliced through the bullet and she realized no matter how cool it was, it was dangerous and she shouldn't be trying to cut through bullets.

X unloaded the shots she had in her handgun and Kirito managed to dodge the rest of them, closing the distance between them just in time for X to expend her last bullet. Kirito was startled to find something extremely unexpected happen when she was closing the distance to X. X convulsed and fell to the ground, taser spikes protruding from her back. Behind her was revealed to be the criminal, making a cross motion over his face which she hadn't really processed yet, pointing a handgun at X's head.

"No you don't!"

Kirito finished closing the gap but not to fire on X and finish her off, instead to slice at the criminal. Her slice barely landed, claiming the slower to retreat of his hands. The non dominant hand thumped dully on the ground and she charged at him once again, slicing at his neck. She grew upset at herself that it had become so easy for her to aim a weapon at another person. She had to reinforce that it wasn't an actual death, that it was just a game unlike SAO, and that the person she was cutting down was a criminal.

Her slowness to cut him down, from the apprehension she had in being a monster like him and his friends, gave him enough time to dodge the lethal swipe.

"Not yet~ I need to claim at least one more kill~ I didn't get enough there!"

Kirito charged at him once again and sliced like a storm, her sword essentially dancing in her hand. Her opponent barely managed to dodge most of the onslaught, taking many cuts, but none lethal. She wanted to curse at herself but she didn't have time. He aimed his handgun at X once again and pulled the trigger. She screamed and turned as she sliced at the bullet, hoping she would catch it in time, but the arrival of Shiro saved the day. He kicked X out of the path of the bullet, taking it with his ankle. He fell to the ground and fought back the urge to scream.

"Get him! Before he attacks again!"

Kirito bit her bottom lip and turned with a furious glint in her eyes as she unsheathed her second sword and unleashed an onslaught on the criminal that he couldn't escape. She hacked off his other hand, then a leg, an arm, then the other arm and leg before she pointed one of her swords at his neck ready to demand answers.

The criminal screamed in agony as she stared at him like a worthless monster deserving every bit of pain he was experiencing. He was a criminal. A murderer. She wasn't like him. She was helping law enforcement capture a monster. Repeating it in her head made her calm and all the more terrifying to the others remaining in the area.

"As soon as you get it out of your system...you will explain a couple of things for me before I send you off to law enforcement. First, were you Red-Eyed Zaza in SAO?"

He finished screaming and glared daggers at her before answering with a slow, trembling nod.

"Great, we can confirm you were one of those Laughing Coffin criminals who killed a dozen people in SAO. Second question. Who helped you with the killing in this game? There were only a few escapees of the Laughing Coffin members. Or did you have outside help?"

To that question he only showed a more angry side of his current expression.

"Cut him off and leave the rest to the police. Please remember this is being broadcast, oneechan."

Shiro's comment to her made her close her eyes, calm down with a breath and snuff him out with her blade through Zaza's neck. At some point during her interrogation of him, Shiro had finished off X.

"Well then. Are we going to duel? Double suicide to end this in a tie? What do you want to do?"

She sighed and faced him.

"Let's have as fair a fight as possible. I would like to put some of the winnings toward my studies. Maybe I'll treat our guild to something too."

"I want to put the winnings and job pay toward my studies too. And maybe...no, I'll let you know after this."

There were several drones flying around above them, taking in the tension that they put between them. Shiro put away his gun and unsheathed his swords so that the both of them would face off in their true element. Melee combat was how they were best at fighting if they didn't have the element of surprise, but it was also the only way they could fight each other marginally fairly. Kirito was too good at handling distance fighting in spite of not even using a gun.

"You two are going to want to get out of there right away! There's trouble outside!"

Kirito leveled her eyes at Shiro and the two of them put away one of their swords, ready to end it in one move so it was done and they could get out. It was all about speed and precision in that kind of duel. Like samurai. They both knew the moment to charge, simultaneously taking off like they themselves were bullets. As their blades sliced through the air, Shiro tried to change up his attack in the last possible second to throw her off, but she continued toward him unfazed and sliced through his center with her eyes closed. She swiped the sword in front of her, whipping the blood off of the blade and sheathing the sword before bowing, and waving at the congratulatory message for a moment before logging out of the game.

"Where are we needed?"

Shiro's voice was shaky and followed by shallow breaths. He was still feeling the residual pain from the death he suffered in the tournament only seconds before.

"There's an attacker at each of your homes. It's the second time tonight. Ela-san has dispatched her children to at least try and slow them down, but the intruders are more prepared this time."

Kazu blinked as she saw the supervising nurse say the words she said.

"There are police heading to your homes and your sisters have been alerted and woken to respond, but you really need to get there as soon as possible since you're closer to your homes than the police. We have a taxi ready and Kazu-chan has been approved to drive with this student license provided by Kikuoka-san. Your guards here will accompany you in lieu of the police being slow to arrive. Please be safe."

It was a lot for them to take in, but Kazu got up immediately and shook off her physical fatigue after being in GGO for so long that day. She was still pumped up on adrenaline from the fighting there and ready to go.

"Is there anything here ready for me to use as transportation?"

A guard opened the door and entered to answer the question.

"We have a motorcycle supplied as a gift to Kirigaya-san from the department in show of cooperation and your demonstrated skill during your many hours of training for the tournament. I will accompany you to your home, Kirigaya-san. Please do not heed the speed limitations as I will be providing you cover with my enforcement lights and siren."

She nodded her head and followed his lead as he headed out. Seeing her leave got Shiro flustered and he shot up and moved toward the door.

"I will be accompanying Asada-kun to his home as protection. Thank you for your service, nurse-san."

With a nod and a stern expression she waved him off. Kazu practically flew along the roads on her way home with the enforcement vehicle only a small bit behind her. Thankfully the helmet also provided to her with the motorcycle dulled the volume of the sirens because otherwise she thought her head might explode from it.

Her hair whipped behind her and the feeling only made her uncomfortable. She regretted not putting it up in a bun or something first so she could wear it under the helmet and it not distract her while driving but the reminder that Suguha might be facing the real life version of Zaza cut the distractions out of her mind including the whipping of her hair against her shoulders and back.

As soon as they were on the road for her home, she quickly decelerated and pulled into the driveway. She was both happy and a little disappointed her aunt and uncle weren't home. Happy because they weren't in danger of the situation at least, but disappointed that it meant Suguha was totally vulnerable if someone were to make it to her while she was diving in a virtual environment.

She ran up to the door, went to unlock it only to notice the lock was broken and the door slightly ajar. She took a peek through the peephole to see if anyone was in front of the door and dashed in when noticing it was clear. Her ears took over from there. She could hear two familiar voices screaming at each other. She sprinted up the stairs with her shoes on for the traction so she wouldn't slip and fall down the stairs, down the hall to Suguha's bedroom and as soon as she entered the room and she saw the tall boy matching the description of Zaza's real appearance from the records she had studied, wrestling Suguha down and fighting to press a toy-like syringe to her, she screamed and tackled him to the wall. She dug her nails into his wrists and pinned him like a martial arts expert using her legs. He released the syringe and glared into her eyes.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked like he was in absolute agony from the residual pain of her slicing him apart in GGO.

"Kirigaya-san, release suspect's legs, they are now bound and held down."

She looked back to the guard who accompanied her and her rage at Zaza subsided slightly. She cooperated and it took only a minute for Zaza to be totally under lock and key from the guard's cuffs and binds.

When they were done and Suguha was still coughing from Zaza trying to strangle her, Kazu went over to give her a light hug and pat her back.

"Are you okay? Did he get you with the syringe?"

She sobbed and clung to him tightly.

"Why am I so worthless in a real fight?! I was so scared! Why was he so much stronger than me?!"

She sobbed and shouted.

"It's okay...I'm here now, and he's being taken away by the police."

"No more...! No more jobs like this! We need to put an end to people like the laughing coffin so we don't need to worry about our safety..."

She calmed down as Kazu continued to comfort her, patting her back and holding her in the firm, gentle hug. Eventually she loosened her hold on Kazu.

"It's not fair..."

Kazu was startled by that statement.

"It's not fair that you're stronger just because of how you were born. If I had your strength I might have been able to stop him."

"Please don't. It's okay. I will protect you. I don't want to have any kind of advantage because of how I was born. We shouldn't need to be worried about our lives like this. We have equal opportunity in virtual spaces and that's the only place it should count. You held on, you were able to make it through until I got here. You are so strong Sugu! I'm proud of you!"

Suguha returned to crying as Kazu finished what she was saying.

"It's not fair..."

Eventually, Suguha fell asleep and Kazu tucked her in. The guard had put Zaza in police custody and returned at some point during the speech. Kazu walked up to him and with a good few feet between them she bowed.

"Thank you for your assistance here."

He shook his head and changed his expression from somber to having a slight grin.

"I might as well have been worthless. The police got here not even a minute after us and you did all the hard work. You are mighty impressive for someone your age. It's truly a wonder that you are capable of so much. Studying under that genius, solving the case for us and proving that virtual or real, your strength and dexterous ability are nothing short of prodigal. It has been an honor working with you. While your sister has said she doesn't want you to do more jobs like this one, I have a request from Kikuoka-san."

Kazu sighed and listened to him explain that there was a job to work on the medicuboid with Ela and Kojiro Rinko, as well as another job to serve as a tester for something called the Alicization Project. Both sounded right up her alley but she couldn't decide immediately, and she wanted to run it by her aunt and uncle first.

Shiro arrived with the guard at his home only to find Shino struggling in the snow outside of the house with someone unfamiliar. Shiro went to tackle him.

"Stop!"

Shino's shout startled him and in that moment of him being startled, the man on top of her pulled something out of his pocket and slammed it against Shiro's stomach. The sound of a hiss an the unfamiliar man's sickening laughter sent chills through Shiro.

"Was that your brother? The person who was actually interfering in our job?! Good riddance! What a disgusting vile insect! Why was some twerp like that getting in our way?!"

Shino cried and punched at him with her free arm while the guard kicked the criminal square in the chest, sending him slamming into the wall of the house. The guard began cuffing him and demanded to know if there was an antidote. Shiro was slumping to the ground, desperately trying to stay awake. He felt like he had been injected with enough sleep medication to knock out a horse. The realization that he was in the claws of the most terrifying experience of his life, he put every ounce of his willpower into staying awake.

By the time the real police made it there, he was barely holding on. An antidote was produced from a hidden pocket in the criminal's boot and injected in him. Shiro went from on the cusp of falling to eternal slumber, to falling asleep from the adrenaline in his system fading out.

"Call for medical!"

Shino cried and embraced Shiro tightly, shouting angrily at him.

"Why?! Why did you do that?!"

The two of them were in an ambulance ride and her saying those two lines over and over had become a whimper. The paramedic accompanying them noticed Shiro having woken up and got to work on further treatment. Shino's eyes which might have dried up swelled with more tears and she looked down at her hands.

"Why...? You know this isn't virtual reality...you should have let the police handle it..."

She was fighting back her tears desperately at that point, the tears welling at the edges and corners of her eyes.

"I was so afraid...that I might lose you. We only just started to live together again as family, and you went and risked your life like that...you almost died..."

He stared at her and grimaced.

"I guess...my VR brain just told me I could do it. Because I'm so strong there..."

He sighed and looked up at the ceiling above them. He was shocked, that he lived through something life threatening. He didn't know just how life threatening the situation was.

"You kids really got involved in some dangerous stuff. What you were injected with, Asada-kun, was something that could have stopped your heart. If you fell asleep a moment sooner, we would have lost you. You were lucky."

The paramedic's words shook Shiro to the core. The realization at how close he was to dying made him start crying.

"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."

He repeated those words over and over until the exhaustion caught up with him again and he fell asleep being taken to a hospital room.