Momiji, one hour after Jaymes entered the Underworld

"Okay, you two have been looking worried the entire time." Sanya holds up a red bikini to her body and checks herself out while speaking to the two girls in front of her. She looks up at the unanswering girls and sighs. "How does this look?"

"Cute."

"Agreed."

"Oh, so you can talk. First off, Nijika, you're cute, I'm the definition of Russian beauty. Second, how are you both gonna impress boys this summer if you're not looking at these swimsuits. Especially you, Momiji. You should look for something sexy."

Momiji shakes her head and blushes. "Huh?"

Sanya chuckles to herself and looks at the racks. "Now spill. What has gotten you two down?"

Nijika sighs and takes her phone out her pocket. "It's Joshua and Asuna. It's been an hour and we haven't heard anything from them. It's bad enough we don't know what has happened to Kirito now."

"Ah. So the Crimson Warrior went after the Black Swordsman, leaving their girls to worry. Speaking of which, Nijika, when are you going to confess your undying love for Mr. Red?"

"I-I-I don't like him like that! It's just...well…"

"Sanya, stop messing around." The three turn to face a couple approaching them. The orange-haired girl pinches the gray-haired and looks at Momiji and Nijika. "Someone doesn't understand boys and girls can have close relationships without romance, which is clearly what they share with him. But of course, you and your stubbornness…"

Momiji chuckles. "It's fine, Liten. Truth be told, I talked to him yesterday about that, and we decided to stick to our friendship. I prefer it this way."

Liten smiles brightly as she releases Sanya. "See, Sanya. Get yourself a boyfriend, leave everyone else alone."

"Uh huh, and you bring your trophy around to brag."

Liten gasps and gestures to the dark-haired boy beside her. "Oh, yeah. Nijika, Momiji, this is Emiya, but you can also call him Shivata. We met in SAO as part of the Assault Team."

Sanya returns her attention to the swimsuits. "Yeah, can't tell how many times your romance as Romeo and Juliet has nearly gotten us killed."

Shivata scratches his head and faces Momiji. "Never minding Sanya, I've heard some stuff about you, Momiji. We've all started playing GGO recently, so to hear Jaymes leads a squadron in GGO that's pretty well-known and to hear that Liten and Sanya personally know the vice-captain as well surprised me. Oh, and to finally meet Rain is awesome too."

Momiji smiles at the appreciation. "Joshua has told me about the ALS and DKB during the first half of the game. Having participated and won the last Squad Jam and gearing up for the big GGO update at the end of July, we know how competitive being in guilds can be, but romance behind the scenes...spicy."

"And deadly." Sanya picks out a somewhat risque swimsuit and holds it to Liten's body. "Yep. Litty, you're getting this one. Looks blood-rushing sexy, doesn't it, lieutenant?" Shivata looks away, but his blush and nervous nod is enough for Sanya. "Good, it's yours."

"What?"

"Now to find someone for Nijika to make Jaymes' heart and other parts throb. He's not with the blacksmith anymore, so this is your chance!"

Nijika sighs. "No, Sanya, I don't like him that way. Besides, even if I did that, I would be betraying two friends. Lisbeth still loves him and so does Kotone."

"And he still loves...her," Momiji adds. "So until he gets over 'her' and figure things out with Lisbeth, no one, not even Kotone who has waited forever, will make a move on him. So enough about that… You say you're new to GGO, Shivata? You two, Liten?"

Shivata nods. "Yes, all three of us and a few more. I'm sure you've met most of Jaymes' close allies in SAO like Lueur and his sister, but there's two more. We had an unofficial guild back in SAO, and we decided to reunite and surprise Jaymes."

"So we all have been training in GGO, waiting for a good time to surprise Jaymes." Liten snickers and looks at the grey-haired girl paying attention to the merchandise. "Someone won't admit it, but it was her idea."

"...Shiyukha."

Lisbeth, one hour and a half after Jaymes entered the Underworld

"Thanks for coming." Lisbeth waves farewell as the customer leaves her shop, then leans back against the counter and wipes her forehead. It's been a long day, but not due to her work as a blacksmith. Lisbeth has had it easy, but Rika has had it tough ever since she talked to Jaymes last night.

"Kureha is the complication, huh? She's a pretty girl, more your type than I am. Heh, all this time I worried about Philia or Rain, never thought about Kureha honestly. But you two have always had a connection, both in real life and the virtual world, even back in childhood. Plus she can back you up like Koharu once did…"

"Kureha is not a complication. Quite honestly, it is you. For the vast majority of the last two years, you've been my reason to fight and live. That holds more weight than anything. Even today, despite us no longer together, I… I was actually more afraid of you being mad at me than Leafa. With the other girls, try as I might, I can't bring myself to be alone with them in real life, and in the virtual world, it feels even more wrong. It's because, deep down, even though you said it was fine if I saw another, I cannot see anyone but you. That hasn't changed much… Yet, at the same time, I also want to move along. I just don't know what to do."

"Then do what you're best at. Protecting others. It always came before your heart, after all, I know that well enough, it's what I love most about you. But I won't bother you about this again, not until you bring Kirito back."

Her worry is also with Kirito's condition, and Asuna's text earlier did not ease them. Jaymes has entered the Underworld to go to Kirito, which may mean the latter's condition may have worsened. Of course, she should have known Jaymes would go after Kirito, it is what she'd expect if the roles were reversed. She expects Asuna to soon join the fray. Those three are the thickest of thieves, and when it comes to it, they'll do anything for each other. As much as Lisbeth knows she's a valued friend to Kirito, Jaymes, and Asuna, she's not one of them, and the missing piece to the puzzle in their lives is gone.

"Hello, Lizzy!" Lisbeth turns around as her shop's door closes and enters Klein. She sighs and turns around to face him.

"Hello, Klein. Need something?"

He shakes his head. "No… This is more of a social visit, given the circumstances. How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Honestly?"

"I'm worried. What if they cannot help Kirito? What if...he doesn't love me anymore? I probably shouldn't have said what I said long ago and told him the truth I spoke last night, when there was a chance we could get back together. And stupid Kirito, dragging Jaymes and Asuna away. Why must he always do stupid stuff that those two have to come to his rescue? Why are those boys the way they are?"

Klein chuckles. "They're boys, that's why. Kirito and Jaymes grew up too fast in SAO, bearing a responsibility us adults should have handled. But Jaymes grew up a little faster having the little missy with him. Koharu and Asuna grew up once they realized they had someone to protect, and now, whenever something happens, they have to respond to it because they grew up into who they are, heroes. Asuna, in her own right, became a heroine, so she can keep up with the likes of them. But us, as much as we want to share their burdens, cannot keep up with them."

"What are you saying?"

"To want Kirito, Jaymes, and Asuna to stop running headlong into danger is foolish, They already lost one pillar in their lives, and you witnessed the extent they'll go for the others. Who knows what will happen if Asuna loses Kirito...maybe a repeat of when Jaymes lost Koharu. Who knows if she can recover from it because she will carry him in her heart forever. And though he loved you, Koharu will forever be in his heart. That's his eternal wound." Klein smiles and pats Lisbeth on her head. "But to say that, Lisbeth, Jaymes will come for you. You may mean more to him than any one of us losers."

Lisbeth wipes her face and smiles at Klein. "If only you were this cool all the time, you would have had a girlfriend long ago."

"I guess I owe Jaymes one, then."

Shino, three hours after Jaymes entered the Underworld

"Jaymes got eliminated? Guess I win our bet...but even then, that isn't easily done." Sinon runs across the rooftops of the city ruins and rolls into a prone position. Eyes on her scope, she scans the area for her last opponent and the one who eliminated Jaymes. Now that she survives longer than her friend and captain, she seeks to bring home the Battle of Bullets glory. However, no matter where she looks, she doesn't see him at all.

She hears a footstep behind her. Realizing her advantage of using her prized sniper is gone, Sinon reaches for the pistol strapped to her back and aims towards the darkness. She takes a deep breath as she waits for her enemy to appear, then feels a chill down her spine. She barely turns her head before she's kicked aside. She tries shooting back, but a knife is thrown into her arm and her body punched into a pillar. She removes the knife but her arm is grabbed before she can aim again. Dropped and pinned to the ground, Sinon struggles to reach for her pistol.

"So you must be the beloved sniper." She's picked up and choked by the man's arm around the neck. "Your soul…would be so sweet." That's the last thing Sinon hears before she's choked out and eliminated…

"Ah!"

"Shino?" The girl looks across the table to the tall, dark-haired university student in front of her. "Bad dream?"

Shino takes a deep breath and exhales slowly. "Yeah, thanks Karen. It's just… Again...the guy from that BoB..."

Karen nods. "Ah, the one who eliminated you, Momiji, and Joshua? Yeah, it was quite...brutal. Have you talked to Josh about it?"

"No, I didn't get much of a chance to do so the last few weeks. He's been busy and...well, our friend got hurt the one time we had a moment alone."

"He hasn't come back from this Underworld yet? He's been there a while."

"No, he hasn't…" Shino sighs and looks down at the book in front of her, but not really reading it at all. What she does hear is a giggle from her friend. "What's so funny?"

"You hide it so well in front of him, but it's so obvious. And for someone who usually catches on to things, I'm shocked he hasn't figured you out yet. You must be a great actor to play the role of friend so well."

Shino sighs and drops her head on the book. "Please don't start this today, Karen, or I swear I'll downsize you in this world"

"Okay, okay… Well, I'd love being shorter than I am, you know. Now pick up your phone before a mean librarian walks over."

Shino looks at her vibrating phone. "Asuna?" It then switches up to a call from Yui.

"Sinon, there's something that I'd like to explain to you all. Would you mind logging into ALO right away?"

ALO, Sylvain

"So you see, in order to repair Daddy's fluctlight and help Uncle, Mommy...has decided to dive into the Underworld."

Leafa drops her head. "Big Brother…"

Silica sighs. "Kirito…"

Philia folds her arms in thought. "So that means Jaymes was unable to help him beforehand?"

"Oh, Kirito'll be fine," Lisbeth says. "He's always come back, hasn't he?"

After a moment of silence, Sinon looks up to Yui. "So, is the Ocean Turtle all right? Aren't they under attack by some sketchy guys? That's why Jaymes went in first, right?"

Klein punches his palm. "Isn't there something that we can do to help?"

"Well, about that… Rath has employed someone to drop in with Asuna, so for now, we might need to call on you for help later."

Agil narrows his eyes. "Someone from Rath?"

Yui gasps and covers her mouth, prompting Strea to walk over into her big sister's face. "Yui, are you hiding something from us? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Yui shakes her head. "I can't! Mommy said not to!" Everyone looks at Yui in surprise, never hearing such an outburst from her. It must be very important if Asuna holds her daughter to a secret.

"Besides that," Kureha says as she pushes herself off the wall, "Jaymes is okay as well?"

"Mhm. There was another issue in the Underworld, but he took care of it. Mommy didn't say why, but for some reason, Uncle has stayed in the Underworld the last three hours."

LIsbeth sighs and fiddles with her fingers. "I trust he knows what he's doing. Maybe he needs Asuna and this other person's help. Whatever it is… We have to believe in them until we're called."

Kureha nods and faces the AIs. "Yui, when that time comes, send a message to Rei as well. Crimson Squad will assist as well. But as Liz said, I have no doubt those two, and whoever is with them, can help Kirito..."

"You must be really down if you are wanting to talk to me." Kureha didn't mean to sound rude, it's certainly a byproduct of her current stress in the real world. However, it must mean a lot for a certain blacksmith to stop her to talk about a certain warrior, so that's how she's going to address it. Leaning back against a wooden fence in the city of Slyvain, Kureha opens her eyes and faces the nervous, sad wreck that is Lisbeth. Rare to see the confident teaser act like an older version of Silica, just as low as the times Kureha has talked to Lisbeth in both worlds combined.

"It must be true, then." Lisbeth sighs and sits on the ground, holding her legs close. "It's just… I'm surprised, that's all, that he did not go to you?"

"Don't make it sound like I'm the rebound, he liked me long before he knew any of you, and I share those feelings still. Of course, I would have never done what you did."

"Was I wrong?"

"For feeling the way you did when he decided to help Kirito? No, your feelings are always correct. But tell me this, Lisbeth: Did he not risk his life to save your once? Of course he has, many times so. You fell in love with Jaymes possibly because of that and more. But the moment Joshua comes into danger to do the same as Jaymes, you can't handle it. You never understood Jaymes or Joshua, and at the rate you're going, you will never do so."

"What do you mean?"

"Every girl wants their hero. Kirito is Asuna's hero, and that may extend to some of the other girls. Jaymes is not a hero, not yours, not mine, not anyone's. He hasn't been a hero since that one day. No, he wasn't a hero then. He was the one saved in SAO, not the savior, and everything he has done since that day has been to honor his hero. But Koharu wasn't his only hero back then. He had someone else he could count on too, and she's been a vital part of his life for the vast majority of the last two years. At his worst, you were there for him. When he was going to risk his life again against Death Gun, he didn't call on Kirito or Asuna, he called you. You saved Jaymes from a guilt-filled death in SAO, and you saved Joshua from a guilt-filled life. You just didn't understand it because you only saw what you wanted to see, the hero dressed in red. Not the boy who suffered from rage at his failures, sadness from his losses, and a need to honor a dying wish that you saved."

Kureha sighs and sits on the ground, gazing up to the orange sky. "None of us will understand him besides the three who he trusted and loved most. One is dead, another he went to save, the last gone to save them both. But if you truly love him, Rika, you have to learn to love who the Crimson Warrior truly is. Not just a hero in your eyes, but someone waiting on a hero himself…"

GGO, one and a half hours after Asuna and Koharu entered the Underworld

Zeliska downs her drink after Kureha reports her meeting with the friends of Jaymes, Kirito, and Asuna in ALO to the newcomers to GGO and the majority of Crimson Squad, one of the two absent members unaccounted for. "So they're in more trouble than we expected?"

"Mhm. I don't fully understand what happened to Kirito, but it made Jaymes act, but whatever held him up is forcing Asuna to act as well."

"You mention another person joining Asuna," Sanya points out. "Do we know who it is?"

Kureha shakes her head. "No. But it seems Yui and Asuna do know the identity of the one coming with her. But the way she was tight-lipped with it, it makes me believe neither of the boys know who it is either. Jaymes never spoke of another person besides him, Kirito, and the employees using the STL."

"But who?" Pitohui scans the room, pointing to everyone. "Besides Itsuki, who we know works with Rath, everyone is here or there. But your Asuna and Yui don't know him like that. So, as far as we know, it's not one of us, and we can eliminate their fairy friends."

LLENN turns to the newcomers. "Which leaves SAO… The ten of you, any idea?"

Lueur shakes his head. "Nah. I can recall almost every moment I know of Jaymes, Kirito, and Asuna, and there's not a single soul that is not here or in ALO that would make sense. Not even the Non-Conformity guy over there is worth keeping a secret."

Eiji scoffs and looks over away. "Don't have to say it like that, but yes, they all know of me."

"So if it's not the living…" M frowns and looks up to Kureha. "The girl from a month back, the one he recognized, is it possible it could be someone like her?"

Liten shakes her head. "That's the only possible person Asuna knows that would be a big spill, except she's dead."

STL requires a living person, obviously. Kureha sighs and looks to Strea, but the AI herself is unable to delve deep enough into Rath to figure it out, Folding her arms, Kureha leans back and closes her eyes. Why is she so worried? True, she knows he can take care of himself, and as of now, only Kirito is in danger. She may not care too much about him or Asuna, but she knows Jaymes holds them dear to his heart. Maybe it is a natural reaction to being his childhood friend, his only friend from back then. Maybe it is the long-harbored feeling she's born since she could understand the attraction she had for him in their younger years. Maybe it is her position as his second in command, or his housemate, or maybe it is because Lisbeth worried her more than she should've. Kirito is the one in danger, that's who everyone back there should be focused on.

Or maybe Lisbeth is unknowingly right to be fearful. Jaymes and Asuna are fine, but Joshua Hardin and Asuna Yuuki are threatened by invaders. That must be the real reason Kureha, or should she say Momiji, cannot quell her worries. But there's nothing to be done about it now, and the identity of Asuna's companion is not going to make it better. "No point in trying to figure it out. What's more important is what we do to aid our captain."

Rei nods. "Master will be okay! Rei will be ready to do all that's necessary to help Master when the time comes."

"Then that settles it," Pito says as she crosses her legs. "Crimson Squad will be prepared no matter the time. It'd be nice to have Jaymes owe me again. Maybe I can come over your house and sleepover...with him. You wouldn't mind, vice-captain?"

Kureha keeps her words to herself and turns to Sanya's group. "Can I count on you guys?"

Shivata gives her a thumbs-up. "We owe him, Asuna, and Kirito plenty. This is our way of paying them back for once."

"Okay. Once Yui gives us the notification, we'll assemble once again. Operation: Underworld begins soon." As the others rally around her, Kureha looks at her hands and forms two tight fists. Rei is right, Joshua will be okay, now that Asuna and someone else will be with him. Yet...no matter how many times she says that, that feeling just won't go away.

Something tells her neither Jaymes, Asuna, and Kirito or Joshua, Asuna, and Kazuto are in danger; both personas of the trio both are.

Next chapter is all Alice and truly kicks off this story. I'm actually excited to present this one to you all, as I just started the 25th chapter and...this might become my favorite written story easily. I'm watching the second half of the WoU arc as I write, so everything is new and exciting to me.

In case you didn't know, many of the new, non-anime characters introduced here are from Integral Factor game just like Koharu, Rain, Phillia, Strea, and half of Crimson Squad are from the SAO Gameverse (the console games such as Alicization Lycoris), and the reason Eiji and Yuna are there is explained in another story.

The games I've written or referenced in previous stories are important to the storyline, so later on, you'll definitely see references to them, except Infinity Moment/Hollow Fragment and Memory Defrag, which I have not wrote/referenced (outside of Philia and Strea) and Lost Song, which is Rain's original origin but besides that and the reference that it happened in my canon... Poor Seven got left out.

Also, in case you haven't seen, I'm currently adapting the Fairy Dance arc. Not important to go back and read, it's more of a "what if" since, in my storyline, Jaymes never joined Kirito in his quest, but I got requests to write it. I'm also going to try getting more chapters into "Troubles of Jaymes and Kirito" as I got a little more Hollow Fragment content to go before I hit Lost Song. That collection of tales is a spinoff as well, merely for enjoyment of our boys' suffering.

Not much else to say for now, so I'll see you all in the next chapter. Stay cool...or warm.