What I wrote to Lily when I sent the initial scene to her, I kept it just so you all could understand my attitude at the time of writing: "Well I'm unfortunately sobering up listening to a bunch of kpop in 100 degree weather at the moment so coherency is probably a pipe dream. Also this became a thing."

I may not be eloquent but I certainly get to the point quickly enough. I think this was written in about an hour? Whatever, enjoy! The story isn't dead!

Argo was tapping her forefinger against her chin lightly as she tried to figure out exactly how she was going to trick...well... No, no...not trick...coerce her best friends into attending their secret coronation ceremony without them killing anyone in the process,

Wasn't that a trial in on itself really? Convincing Asuna to play game was...difficult, yet not impossible. Kirito on the other hand was...a significantly more delicate egg to crack primarily because she was just so damn obstinate.

"Ki-chan you would be so much easier to handle if you were just not so...you..."

Argo was made aware of a new presence when the boy who intruded into her sphere of solitude coughed and spoke up as if he mattered.

Presumptuous.

"You're Argo, the information broker, right?"

Sighing Argo closed her menus and turned to the boy who was staring at her in a forlorn manner, "Yes?"

The boy relaxed slightly as he took in a tired breath and continued, "Can you by chance get me an audience with the Black and White Queens?"

Well...that was...new...

Not the request to meet Ki-chan and A-chan, but the...seriousness...that hadn't been there before and concerned her.

Argo stood up straight and approached the boy who she stared down a few moments before asking, "What do you wish of your queens?"

Argo was well aware both of her besties would be irritated with her due to her wording but really, what did they expect from her at this point?

The boy took in a breath and let it out heavily as he whispered out, "Retribution."

Suddenly Argo was all ears.

"I miss ramen," Asuna stated as she walked beside her wife.

Heh, wife, wasn't that something...

Said wife for her part raised a brow as she replied, "As someone who needed a lot of carbs quickly and efficiently when being trained by a psychotic old man I have to ask, why?"

Asuna giggled at that while shrugging and grasping Keiko's hand pulling her along through the crowd, "So you know how I'm not exactly on good terms with my parents?"

Keiko snorted at that while shaking her head lightly, "I also heard the Pacific was a large body of water and the sun may or may not be rather hot. Also the Illuminati are bad news, you know, if they exist and all that."

Asuna poked Keiko's side earning her a yelp as she responded with, "Don't be a bitch. Anyway my brother used to take me to this little restaurant where he would order me a bowl of ramen, always liked the eggs that soaked in the broth... It was almost always after my grades came in and my mom would bemoan my inadequacy despite the fact that the bitch barely made it out of high school yet demands utter perfection from me... Anyway Kou would keep topping off my soda and every time I tried to justify my mother's actions he would place a finger on my lips and say, 'Eat up!' and push my bowl towards me. I miss ramen..."

They were dead silent for a few minutes before Kirito finally took in a deep breath and spoke up obviously having over worked her next statement to the extreme but what does one expect otherwise from an antisocial introvert?

"You miss your big brother as much as I miss my little sister."

Asuna did not bother hiding the tears running down her cheeks as she rested her head on Keiko's shoulder, "Yeah...does that make me weak?"

Keiko tightened her grip around her wife's shoulder as she whispered her response, "Do you think I am weak?"

Asuna blinked and met her gaze in bewilderment, "No, never!"

Then Keiko grinned, "Well considering the fact you're my strength, that answers your question doesn't it?"

Asuna just stared at her for a few moments before smiling, and pulled her wife closer, "You're awesome, you know that right?"

Kirito nodded as she returned the gesture and kept walking on, "Yup, nice to have a confirmation every now and then though."

They walked along in companionable silence for a time before they were rather rudely interrupted.

"Ki-chan."

Both teens stopped dead in their tracks. Understanding vocal tones was something you just sort of gained through war and attrition, so they both turned towards a grim faced Argo with more then a little trepidation.

"Argo," Asuna stated while narrowing her eyes and clenching Kirito's hand a bit harder.

For her part Argo let out a weary sigh and knocked her head to the side, "Follow me guys, got an acquaintance who has a story to share."

If anyone were to ask Shiro if he ever expected to be facing off the three most intimidating women in the entirety of Japan at the same time he would have likely laughed the statement off.

Now though...

The Twilight Queen, The Rat, The Master of Whispers, one Argo, was watching him silently, as was her wont.

The White Queen, The Lightning Flash, MJolnir's Strike, one Asuna who at the moment looked... mildly annoyed.

Most terrifying was the Black Queen, Death's Shadow, The Dark Swordswoman, The Valkyrie of Aincrad, Kirito, was staring him down with a heart palpating intensity.

"Soooo..." Kirito began, "You had a story to tell us?"

Shiro took in a shuddering breath and nodded, "My friends and I, we took in a random player on a quest and while I didn't trust her our guild leader was...fuck it, she was hot and he was looking to score."

That actually seemed to earn him some points with the Black Queen, getting to the point was always something she appreciated.

"Anyway Rosalia drew us out to a really difficult quest and we managed to pull it off, if barely. We were heading back to town when we were surrounded by players with orange icons. Rosalia stepped away from us and announced that if we didn't hand over all our gear and money, we would be executed."

Shiro stared down at his hands for a few moments before sobbing out, "I was the only one who fought back. I attacked them and I was only a strike away from killing that traitorous bitch. Then I was hit with a paralysis dart, I fell over, and being the only one who was still geared I had to watch my stripped and naked friends get torn apart by the local mobs..."

Shiro sobbed, "I'm the only one left. All of my friends are dead, and I could do nothing to save them... So... Whatever money I have, whatever items you want, they are your's my Queens, if only you avenge my friends... Please..."

The Black Queen approached him, and oddly enough there looked to be tears in her eyes as she gripped his chin and made him meet her gaze evenly, "Your friends were more than just friends weren't they?"

Shiro began shuddering before he nodded, "My little sister and our cousins..."

There was dead silence before the White Queen spoke up, "We will bring justice to your enemies, but first we need some details..."

Back in the real world in a flat in Tokyo, Tsunayoshi exchanged glances with Hayato when Nagi spoke for the group as they stared at the monitor before them.

"Oh fucking hell..."

Angering your rulers with their self admitted trigger is probably not the smartest thing to do.