A Sylph and a Imp: Love in Alfheim
Chapter 3: Imp and Spriggian! Kirito vs Toshi
Suguha woke up first, her eyes very blurry when the rays of sunshine hit her face. She sat up, still drowsy, but realized she wasn't in her room. It was Kazuto's room, seeing things that looked like her room and now her usual stuff animals that wire normally on her bed. She adjusted her pajamas, making sure she was decent before kneeling down to see her sleeping cousin. He looked like it wasn't a issue of him falling asleep in his bed, getting up from the floor to walk to her bedroom. She grabbed some clean clothes from her dresser and went into the bathroom to take her shower.
Kazuto finally woke from his futon, yawning as he remembered he was sleeping on the floor. He looked to see Suguha wasn't in his bed anymore, meaning she either finally returned to her room or in the shower. Taking a guess it's shower, he decided to make his bed, put out fresh clothes to in for the Full Dive into ALO, and excited his room. He could hear the running of the shower, Suguha hasn't been in there long before he work up. So he decided to quickly make breakfast while she's in the shower, also seeing Aunt Midori had already left for work. As he cooked, he thought about everything so far these past two days.
Toshiyuki Honda, or in Alfhiem Online, the Imp Toshi. Sixteen years old, close to Suguha's age and just like us, a connection to all the mess Sword Online brought to everyone. His relationship with Sachi, a member of the Moonlit Black Cats was a close friend to him and someone he knew close in the real world. Even then, he does look like he's still not over losing a friend. Wish I told him it was my fault that Sachi and her guild were killed because I hid my real level from them and they fell into that trap. He probably be even more upset, it wasn't like I meant it to happen. Still, he is a excellent Swordsman and probably as good as Yuuki, Rain, even Leafa. Even so, I guess we all have the scars of the past holding us down.
"Morning!" was Suguha's voice, coming into the dining room fully dressed and taking her seat. Kazuto looked at her, still she looked like in higher spirits than any other day. He gave her a wave back and continued to cook, trying to hide back a smile of his own.
Still, Suguha has never looked as happy after meeting Toshi and getting to know him.
"Everyone should be at Yggdrasil City correct?" Leafa asked, the pair flying towards the capital, with Yui flying beside them.
"That's where we all should be meeting. Toshi also said he'll have his sister with him as well." Kirito explained, looking to his cousin, "Actually, what kind of person is his sister? If she's a ALO player, she must be real strong."
"From how Toshi describes her, she isn't no slouch when it comes to skill alone. She probably as good as you Kirito." Leafa said smiling at him.
"He did say she was in the Undine race like mama is, I guess like Toshi, both usually to their races or friends in other races." Yui said remembering the other way very well.
"So that makes her good at support and healing magic, but if it's anything like Asuna's battle style, isn't someone to tread lightly." Kritio said, knowing full well Asuna wasn't someone to underestimate and neither did Toshi's older sister.
They arrived at Yggdrasil City a quarter past eight of their meeting time, meaning everyone should be Lisbeth's Arms Shop where they will meet. Landing at the enterence, they could see the faint outline of New Aincrad in the sky under the clouds. The city was busy then ever, many races teleport to buying to just a normal day for everyone in ALO. Lisbeth's shop wasn't too far into the city, seeing the Arms shop right into view. There, a familiar face was standing there waiting or them. His appearance was someone a little older than them by a few years. His reddish hair was noticeable with a red bandanna that held up his hair and was tied around his forehead. His attire was close to a samurai, his pointy ears very prominent as well. His name was Ryoutarou Tsuboi or Klien as he's known in-game. He saw the Kirigaya siblings and Yui and waved at them.
"Hey Kirito, Leafa, Yui!" he greeted happily to the three.
"Hey Klien." Leafa greeted, waving to the Slander and leader of his guild Fuurinkazan, "Are the others here?"
"Yeah, they're all inside," Klien replied before walking up to Kirito, "So, what's the story wit Toshi? He actually saved Leafa?"
"Not much saved, more like helped me." she protected him, trying to not make it sound like she was damsel in distress there.
"I see. And he has a older sister who's also a ALO player too, A Imp and Undine respectuflly right?" he asked. Kirito nodded, and relived the older member of their group wasn't trying to ask if she was single or not. It wouldn't happen, Toshi's sister was the same age of Asuna so it wasn't going to happen/
"Correct, Toshi also has a Original Sword Skill of his own." Yui said, floating in front of the Salamander.
"Really? Come to think of it, I did hear about a player whose skills just as good as Yuuki's, but no way her level." he said pondering a little, "He's the same person?"
"Yes, I saw his Sword Skill myself, of course it was covered in a black mist so I couldn't see it properly." Leafa answered, the attack not hard to forgetas it make the monster run off.
"Combing magic and a Sword skill, he must have practice to get the correct balance in strength." Kirito pndered crossing his arms, "guess we'll ask him when he gets here, let's go in now."
"Right!" they agreed and entered. Liz's Arms Shop was usually the pink haired Leprechaun would be crafting items, weapons, and accessories that she gets from her customers or her friends. Right now she was sitting with everyone of Kirito's Group: Asuna. Silica (with Pina on her head), Philia, Strea, Yuuki, and Sinon. The girls were talking with another familiar player of their group. Out of everyone, he was the oldest of the party, just like Klein. His skin was much more darker than theirs, his height almost giant compared to the teens. He was a massive and bulky bald man with a brown goatee and brown eyes. He also has two silver earrings on his left ear. His attire was close to the Gnome Race, except for the silver armor and green he wore as well. His name was Andrew Gilbert Mills or Agil he's known as in-game. When everyone heard the sound the door close, they saw the Kirigaya coucins, Yui and Klien at the front door and all looked pleased to see them.
"Kiritoi-kun, Leafa-chan, Yui!" Asuna said delightedly seeing her boyfriend, daughter, and Leafa.
"Good to see you three made it," Lisbeth said, the three and Klien walking closer to a open table, Kirito and Yui sitting with Asuna now, "Toshi messaged Yuuki, he should be here in a few minutes."
"So we're going to finally have another boy to hang around with. Well that's our age though." Sinon said, "Doubt it's going to stop the harem rumors."
"Harem rumors, what happened?" Leafa asked and Kirito only felt worried how she'll react to all this.
"Well rumors have generated about you girls and Kirito that you all are some big harem group and several players have been spreading the rumors." Agil explained and Leafa's mouth was agape in shock.
"What, that's crazy. On what group says we are in a harem with him? Is it becase we are all girls, because outside you and Klien, he's the only boy? That just a insane assumption to make on us!" she exclaimed slamming her hands to the table.
"We don't get it ourselves, and if we told you what they said about you, you snap and I'm sure Sakuya would be disappointed in you causing trouble." Asuna said, and Leafa still looked furious about it but knew she wasn't wrong.
"Still, can't believe that, like what idiot really believes that my brother is some harem protagonist?" she said hotly with a huff.
"Who knows, but I wouldn't be too steamed by it, since Toshi is coming. And I think Rain said she'll log in soon as Seven is trying to dodge Shamrock to visit us."
"That's good to hear," Kirito said smiling before seeing the door opening up and someone walking inside, "And looks whose here."
Everyone turned their heads to see a Imp walk into the the shop and closed the door behind him. It finally dawned on them he was Toshi. Their first impressions like Kirito had was how normal he looked. Of any Imp players, his appearance was very normal, not gaudy or trying to impress anyone. In fact, he looked quite a breath of fresh air, a player not trying to be a show off because of strength and appearance, he looked like he could be just a average player in all the right ways. They saw he had his sword on his hip, knowing full well it's a Lisbeth made one just by it's craftsmanship. He came to their tables and smiled, bowing his head to them. He didn't have a air of smugness on him, almost kind demeanor he presented.
"It's nice to meet Kirito's friends in person. My name's Toshi, it's a pleasure to meet all of you!" he siad his hands to his sides showing as much kindness as he could.
"Whoa, he's kinder than I thought." Klien realized seeing Toshi just bow like they were royalty. Kirito only chuckled, putting a hand to the Salamander's shoulders.
"Well he's in middle school, so he's just respecting those a little older than him," he said and walk on over to Toshi and smiled to him, "good you made it, now let me introduce you to everyone," he pointed to Asuna and Yui who waved to him, "You already know Asuna and Yui and Leafa as well. Yuuki you know full well being in your territory."
"Yes, I know them." he replied.
"Beside Asuna and Yui is our Beast Tamer of the Cait Sith and one of my friends I made in SAO, Silica and her Dragon partner Pina." Kirito said, pointing to the brown year girl. Toshi saw her, her appearance looking a year younger than him. The dragon Pina looked very peaceful with her, like she was her best friend. Silica looked to Toshi and smiled to him, seeing him like a nice person.
"It's nice to meet you Toshi-kun!" Silica said happily. Pina responding as well with a chirp.
"Nice to meet you, Silica-chan!" he said happily and Silica smiled back
"Over there, That's Klien and Agil, two of my friends I made in SAO as well. Klien leads own his guild Fuurinkazan and Agil runs his own shop here in ALO and his own Cafe IRL." Kirito said, pointing to the two adults of the group. Toshi, who remembered what Kirito told him about Klien and Agil, he could tell they were strong. Despite how Klien acted, he led his own guild and Agil shows his adult nature he had on him.
"Hey man!" Klien waved to him.
"How's it going?" Agil greeted to the Imp.
"Nice to meet you, Klien, Agil." Toshi waved back back.
"Over there beside them is Sinon, another Cait Sith and a impressive shooter with her bow. She I met because of the strange glitch in Sword Art Online." Kirito said, pointing towards Sinon next. Calm and cool is how Toshi saw the light blue haired Cait Sith. How she looked was someone he could tell was kind, but probably so,one who he shouldn't pester especially that Cait Sith Harassment law that's been made. Looking at her more clearly, there was something about her that said she's been through a lot like him, a tragic event that befell her? He didn't know why, but he felt that air from her looking at.
"Hey, nice to meet you Sinon-san." Toshi said happily to the girl.
"Likewise," she replied before looking at up and down more clearly, "You don't seem like a bad kid, hopefully it stays that way."
"Don't worry Sinon-san, it's not like I'll be intimate with girls in a guild or anything or in inns or forests, trust me." he replied sheepishly, everyone a little confused on what he meant or what it was about, but Sinon cracked a smile, looking from Toshi to Leafa.
"I like this boy, keep him around." she requested with a sly tone that rivals Lisbeth. Leafa blinked at her words.
"Wait, what?" she asked, not getting what that meant.
"The ones beside Sinon are Philia and Strea, two other Friends I made in SAO as well. Strea is a Mental Health - Counseling Program like Yui and Philia was a former Orange Player amd Solo Player in SAO and now Spriggian Treasure Hunter in ALO." Kirito continued, pointing to the two girls. Toshi got a idea that Strea was friendly, but might be careful if she was the flirty type. Philia on the other looked really kind, but she was a Orange player? Shee doesn't look like the kind of person to kill players, but it ade sense given the life she had to endure. Now she looked happy, so it had something to do with Kirito and his friends.
"Night to meet you Toshi." Strea said, smiling at the Imp.
"Hope we can get along, Toshi." Philia said smiling to him as well.
"The same to you Strea, Philia-san." he replied to them.
"And lastly, you should know Lisbeth, the owner of this Arms Shop." Kirito added finally, pointing to the pink haired Blacksmith. He only knew Lisbeth from just visits from her shop. She was a very kind girl and a very diligent worker. Her craft skills is why he still visited, and got along well with knowing her. Seeing that she was a close friend of Kirito, it surprised him a little.
"Nice to meet you Lisbeth, I hope we can be friends." Toshi greeted to the Leprechaun.
"Same to you Toshi." she replied before getting up to his face with a expression seeing him like a prey or meat, "then again, it's hard to believe you're the boy that saved Leafa."
"Y-Yes?" he responded, feeling uncomfortable with Lisbeth now who then stood right beside him, surprising Kirito.
"And you even charmed her into liking you, way a go stud." she jeered punching his chest, making both Toshi and Leafa blushed madly.
"It's nothing like that I swear!" both yelled at the same time only for Lisbeth to smirk at them.
"You even say the same thing like you're a married couple, I knew it." she added causing both of them to turn even redder.
"We are not a couple!" they shouted in unison, only for everyone else to look on at them.
"Not even five minutes and Lisbeth is already teasing to poor boy." Philia pointed out with a sigh.
"Yup, I thought that messing with Leafa was enough, at least give the boy a chance to breath." Sinon agreed before Kirito put a hand on Lisbeth's shoulders.
"Liz, he's just a kid. Don't pressure him, and he wouldn't be some knight if he saved her just to save her." he said before looking back to Toshi, "Anyway, is your sister coming soon?"
"She shout be here. We live in the same house after all, she said she'll be here soon," he said looking to the shop door and see the knob turning, "And there she is now." as everyone's attention was turned to the door opening and someone walking into the shop.
The person was a woman, much taller than them and one of the Undine race. Her hair was light blue and long, down to her waist, her eyes were a light blue as well. Her clothes resembled Asuna's the most, the light and dark blue and white dress like attire with visible dark blue shorts. A brown belt she wore as well, seeing a sword equipped on her left hipbone. Lastly, her boots were dark blue and reaching to her thighs. Even if the appearance in the game made her older, she looked the same age as Asuna if not a few months older. She walked up to the groups' table, putting her hands to her hip.
"Sorry it took me to get here, when you have to tell your friends you are seeing your brother's friends, they take a long time to talk with. Anyway, I guess I should introduce myself to you all," she said smiling to the other players, "My name's Juri, Toshi's older sister. Nice to meet all of you."
"Nice to meet you, Juri." everyone chimed in and Kririo only saw Klien take interest in the cute girl.
"She's kind of cute." Klien whispered.
"She also might punch you silly, so don't even try." Philia warned and Klien flinched in fright, realizing he just be walking into his own death.
"So, which one of you is the Sylph Leafa that my brother met two days ago?" she asked, scanning the room for the Sylph. Leafa got up from her seat and looked nervously at the Undine. Seeing her stand up, she saw the name of the player, her Health points, Magic, her Race icon and her skill level unseen. Leafa walked up to Juri and smiled to her, Juri not smiling anymore,.
"Uh hi. Your brother really saved my bacon the other day, I own him for that," she saoid before laughing sheepishly, "but I'm a better player than that, getting outsmarted by a monster's desperation attack like that. Was a bit noobish on my part." before seeing the Undine eye her up and down, "What?"
"So, you're the girl," she said her tone very unsure of Leafa, everyone wondering what she was looking at. She looked her brother, her tone still unsure of the girl, "Are you sure about this girl Toshi, she seems very 'easy' to be around." to which Leafa's face turned beet red with anger.
"What, what are you saying?!" She shouted, and everyone remained silent to see what was going on. Some got the idea what she meant, but others were blanket stares. Strea and Yui didn't know what it meant, so they remained quiet.
"I seen Sakuya-san, she's a great territory leader, hard to see a harlot in her ranks just happen to get herself attacked and get saved so easily without something in return," she stated and Leafa gritted her teeth in frustration before Juri pointed her finger at her, "Now listen here Sylph, Toshi really seems to take a liking to you but no way I'm gonna let some girl take advantage of him with their body."
"What you say bitch?!" she snapped back, shocking everyone that Leafa swore like that, she was much more calmer than this. Klien and Agil wanted to put a stop to this, but it was like water and wind, let them deal with it themselves. Kirito did feel like Juri was getting the wrong idea about Leafa, Leafa would never subdue anyone, not even him. He looked to Toshi, trying to get some answers.
"Uh, what's up with that?" he asked.
"My sis can get a little overprotective with most girls I know. Yuuki got a pass because just on pity and a lot of her group are girls her age, not a lot of them take a liking of dating me." he explained and already the two girls were sparking mad at each other. If Kirito has ever saw his sister ticked off, it's now. He best to step in before this gets into a fight, and knowing Leafa well as his family, she wouldn't hesitate to kick her butt.
"Hey Leafa, calm down would you?" he asked trying to warn her and put a hand to her shoulder. Leafa whipped around, and her green eyes were a fiery blaze.
"Kazuto, I love you but I'm not going to let this girl just call me a... a..." she replied but Sinon interrupted her.
"A kind of girl who throws themselves at any guy regardless of situations, only to be in a intimate relationship without real chemistry whatsoever. Only to then realize who this person is and who you gave yourself to, Game or IRL." she said only for Leafa to snap to her.
"Thank you peanut gallery!" she shouted furiously at her.
"I get you are upset, but remember this is Lisbeth's shop and she'll have our heads in anything shatters in here, namely mine." Kirito said before looking to Juri, "Listen Juri. Before you probably pound my sister..." only for Lisbeth and several girls try to hold back giggles at what he phrased, "how about we sit down. We got plenty of room, we want to hear your gaming experience if you will."
"Sure." Juri shrugged, passing by Leafa and Toshi (giving Leafa the death glare) and taking her seat with the rest of the group. Kirito, Toshi and Leafa to follow as well.
It didn't go long that Lisbeth's shop was filled with conversation between the group and Toshi and Juri, sharing tales of Sword Art Online, the glitch, and their Adventures with Svert Alfhiem. Toshi and Juri told their adventures in ALO too, telling how both started out when ALO started. From how Juri phrase it, Toshi was a complete novice playing the game, making mistakes his first time and took awhile to be a great player. Most of those stories really embarrassed him, it was him getting use to the virtual world as well cope with Sachi's loss. Everyone surprised that he started off as badly as they did, but over time they gotten better as Players. That's why they survived so long and why they went up against Shamrock. Toshi started off very noobish of a player into the boy who can perform his very own Original Sword Skill, hard to believe.
"So we were having our first big quest, Toshi accidentally cast a wind spell hitting one of our party member. Boy did he cower in fear when she snap at him." Juri said through fits of laughter and everyone else started laughing too, Toshi looked like he wanted be dead of embarrassment from this story.
"Juri, come on. It was horrible I did that!" he whined, his cheeks red again.
"I think it's cute of you. You started off like us. When I started off, I was much younger to even be playing Sword Art Online, treated like a mascot and just not a strong player. After knowing Kirito-san and the others, I was able to catch up to them. We wouldn't have made it Floor 100 if we didn't improve and have Asuna-san and Kirito-san as our leaders, no way." Silica said reassuring to him.
"Silica-chan..." he said breathlessly, feeling a little better.
"But kind of my story, Kirito was the one who taught me, than I went on leading my own guild. Nothing is wrong with starting from the bottom," Klien said proudly, even surprising everyone how mature he sounded, "because now you're there."
"That's true, thanks." Toshi replied, rubbing his neck, "I did had to improve my skills afterwards. Nowadays I don't aim badly, my accuracy in magic was around 55% better after that event."
"So what's your battle skill Toshi, swords or magic?" Sinon asked curiously.
"Balance is more my style, but Sword skills are what I been used too for the longest time since they were ported from SAO to ALO. Yuuki had made her own and then I decided to make my own and took days even a month or two to prefect it it. My own Original Sword Skill: Eclipse Breaker." he said and everyone's eyes were glued to this now. They never heard of the name or anyone who seen it in action but now they have a name to this name.
"How come you named it that?" Leafa asked.
"I wanted a name that fit darkness magic, so I picked that. I wanted to show my improvement of magic by combine my magic with my sword skill." he explained.
"Hmm, trying to remember how it works, but it seems you used that modification that uses magic. Yui, can you explain for us so we can understand a little about it?" Asuna asked to Yui. Yui nodded, floating up in front of everyone.
"Yes mama. As you all know, there are several types of magic: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Darkness, and Holy magic. Those types of magic also relate to several of the Races in the game, fire would associate Salamanders, Wind associates Sylph, Water for Undnes, and Darkness for Imp and Spriggian. Take it your Original Sword Skill best associates yourself in your race, correct Toshi?" she asked.
"Yes, that's the move I made. A seven hit combo that creates a mist of dark magic to hid behind, that's my attack, Eclipse Breaker." he said with pride and everyone was impressed.
"Whoa, you aren't even close to Yuuki's level and both of you have your own Sword Skill, have you and Yuuki fought before?" Strea asked.
"Yes. She beat me unfortunately." he admitted and they all were shocked, but it made sense. Yuuki in a sense lived her life in the virtual world unlike Toshi so in terms of skill, she was better, "It was during a lot of the Zekken spread, I didn't expect Zekken to be her. After that, we just hanged out. At the time, I didn't know Yuuki was sick IRL and would die. I even saw her guild and they seem to be hiding things about her, but I didn't pry about it. Some time passed, Yuuki opened up to me more, saying it was thanks to a great girl she made and their friends," Toshi added and Asuna blushed with astonishment, knowing it was her, "But no matter the times we fought, Yuuki would always be the better player."
"Wow." was Silica and Lisbeth's reactions, even seeing how different the two were in power. Even then, Yuuki was stronger.
"So we know that you made the Sword Skill, have you used it in Player vs Player fights outside Yuuki?" Kirito asked.
"Only just Yuuki, in duels I never used it without ma need to. Don't get me wrong, it's not overpowered move, that boar was only a half it's health done and in that aura, my attack could only made it run off. No way I could ever beat it in one hit." he said honestly.
"I see, well if it's all right with you, I like to see your skills in action," Kirito requested and everyone gasped, just out of the blue like that? Kirito wants to challenge Toshi, it sounds so sudden.
"Really Kirito?" Klien asked, seeing his friend just want to battle right now. Most took a chance to realize that it was just how Kirito does things.
"It's only natural of Kirito-kun to fight someone when his life isn't on the line." Asuna pointed out, Yui and Leafa nodding in agreement," That's who he really is."
"You really want to fight me Kirito?" Toshi asked, his face still stunned. . His stunned face turned into a smile holding out a hand to shake Kirito's, "Sure, I'll take you on. It'll be sweet to fight the hero of Sword Art Online."
"Cool." Kirito replied and shook Toshi's hand. Every looked already psyched about it, seeing Kirito going up against their new friend. And it was a chance to how Toshi battles. Even Juri had a smile on her, seeing her brother get a challenge off the bat like that, "So where should have our duel?"
"The arena in town would be a great place to have it, And it's in the city, so you know all the players will want to see it." Agil suggested.
"Well it's the arena in the center of tAlfheim Online, how many players would come to see a duel?" Sinon asked.
Sinon's questions was answered by hundreds of players in the stands of the Yggdrasil City Arena. Races from all over were in the stands as well Asuna, Yui, Leafa, Sinon, Silica, Yuuki, Philia, Strea, Klien, Agil, Juri, and two more girls that turned up to watch the fight. The first was a girl much younger than them with long silver hair and golden earrings in her pointy ears and a head dress on her head. Her eyes were pink and her dress was gold, blue and white. Her boots are light blue while her leggings are dark blue. Despite her appearance, she looked like a grade school student at best. Her name was Professor Nanairo Arshavinor Seven she's known as in ALO.
Next to her was a girl much taller than her. Her hair was red and lond reaching her shoulders with a white and black headdress on her head. A white choker was around her with a yellow lining and black as well. Her clothes was similar to Asuna resembling a dress, black with a red belt under her chest and red shorts underneath. Her boots were black and white while her legggings were completely white her name is Karatachi Nijika or Rain she's known as in ALO.
"When you message us that Kirito was going to duel someone, you never said it was someone that saved Leafa." Rain said, only for Leafa to scowl at her, "So what's the story about him?"
"From what everyone told us, he's been in ALO just as long as Yuuki and Leafa. He has to be good, even my Shamrock members heard of him." Seven chimed in.
"Are you sure you're okay being here Seven-chan, you know how serious your guild is." Silica warned her. Seven shook er head, seeing she wasn't worried.
"I'll be fine, plus they don't really concerned themselves with minor PvP matches anyway." Seven assured her.
"I see..." Silica understood, Pina chirping on top of her head.
"Well, looks like the news of the duel got Sakuya and Alicia Rue to come as well." Leafa said, pointing two the other side of the arena stands where the two leaders of the Sylph and Cait Sith sat together.
Sakuya had an excessively tall figure, with glossy, dark green hair so dark that it is nearly black hanging down her has white skin, almond eyes, a high nose bridge, and thin lips. She wears a Japanese-style clothing and a katana that hang from her feet clad in high crimson clogs peek out from beneath the hem of her leaf green kimono
Alicia Rue had a petite figure, wavy, blonde hair surrounding her triangular cat ears. She wears a one-piece armor that exposes her delicately-tanned skin Claw weapons hang from the sides of her waist, while a colorful stripe near her hips emphasized her tail. She also wears a bell collar on her neck and a cape on the left arm with a red stripe through it near the front.
"So what about you Leafa, who are you going to root for?" Lisbeth asked, already ready to tease Leafa for her next thing she'll say.
"Isn't it obvious, both of them." she replied, casing Lisbeth to groan.
"You're so lame you know that." she whined.
"I'm not going to pick sides just because my brother and friend are going to fight," Leafa added to the blacksmith, "It matters that I cheer them both on, that's the fairest outcome." and Lisbeth groaned again.
"I think that's very mature of you Leafa, unlike some people I know." Asuna said, eyeing Lisbeth darkly. Lisbeth laugh nervously and looked back to the battle field, where both boys faced each other.
"Whoa, I haven't seen such a gathering since my my battle with Kayaba." Kirito admitted almost amazed.
"Same, when word got out, a full house came. I'm a little nervous, but I'm ready." Toshi said smiling to Kirito.
"Me too. Thirty minutes sound fine with you?" Kirito asked, both players opening up their menus to accept their duel request.
"Sure. Anything goes, so magic and flying will be allowed. Don't hold anything back Kirito, I want a true match." Toshi replied, making their adjustment to how long their battle will go and what rules they would set.
"If I heard right, magic and flying, looks like this will be long duel if they will allow that." Klien said leaning in.
"Thirty minutes, magic and flying allowed, we are looking at a fight seeing all what my brother can do." Juri said folding her arms.
"Same, but don't forget Kirito-kun won't hold anything back." Asuna corrected her as Yui cheered up and down from Asuna's lap.
"You can do it Papa!"
From the battlefield, both boys took their spots as their duel was commencing, seeing from above everyone te icons of both Kirito and Toshi appear on a menu, their HP and MP both full and ready to go. The timer ticked down, 10, 9, 8... both boys took out their swords from their inventory, Kirito's dual blades and Toshi's one handed sword. 7, 6, 5, Everyone could feel the tension in the air between them, the air was thick with anticipation. 4, 3, Toshi took a deep breath, he had to keep his cool against one of the strongest players he's ever met. Same with Kirtio who looked composed and ready. 2, 1, Go!
It didn't take long for Kirto to dash forward towards Toshi, striking madly at him. Toshi did his best to block and counter, the two swordsmen already making sparks fly from their blades. Toshi was pushed back by Kirito's blades, skidding feet in the dirt. He panted a little, looking to Kirito who seem ready to attack again. He could see Kirito's best skill was swords, magic more like a secondary, So, best play defensively with him.
'But for now,"he thought, putting his Sword back in it's sheath, "I better buff myself first just to be sure." as a magic sphere formed around him, everyone looking to see what he's about to cast, "Þeír fylla skína hugr, hogg margrillt." as from the Player vs Player screen, a barbell icon appeared by Toshi health, everyone realizing he cast a strength enchantment spell.
"So he's increasing his strength, very well. Best do so myself." Kirito said, putting his dual blades as held out his hands, casting a magic sphere around him, chanting a Strength buff spell as well. The same barbell icon appeared on Kirito's side as everyone looked to see him cast another spell, seeing Magic Point regeneration on his screen.
"I see, so to quicken the recovering of his MP, smart strategy." Juri pointed out keeping her arms crossed.
"Knowing Kirito, he's going to go back to offense and use Sword Skills, but will Toshi do?" Lisbeth asked
"We'll just have too see." Rain sad, seeing Kirito grab for his blades again and held them at the ready again.
Toshi took out his sword again ran towards Kirito, his sword glowing blue. Toshi leaped on high intot he air, his pointed upwards atop his shoulder. Toshi came straight down at Kirito ready to strike him, but Kirtio, guarded at the last second, his own swords glowing blue as well. Everyone gasped, even Leafa was shocked as well as even Toshi didn't see him guard his sword skill Sonic Leap. Kirito pushed Toshi back with a 360 spin, breaking the guard before coming back to face him. With a chance to react, Kirito slashed Toshi squarely in the chest with one of his blades, sending him flying across the arena as he cried out, shocking everyone again from Kirito's group.
"That reaction time, didn't he use a Sword Skill to not only guard him but sent him flying with another?" Juri asked, even she was surprised, "That's the Skill Connect he used against Sumeragi right?"
"Yeah it was, didn't think he need to use it so soon in the fight this time than before." Asuna said holding on to Yui.
"Hope Toshi-san can recover from that." Silica said holding onto Pina in concern. Leafa was too seeing how fast he was gong for the wall.
Toshi looked up from the sky to tried to activate his wings, flipping back to see Kirito moving far away and plant his feet to the wall before he crashed. Everyone cheered seeing the Imnp caught himself in time and ready to see this battle continue. All of Kirito's friends clapped and cheered, Leafa feeling a sigh of relief and Juri only smiled at her brother for his quick thinking. With his feet on the arean wall, he dash dash straight up, his wings spread out, talking flight as he ran up the wall, everyone on the other side (the side Sakuya and Alica were on) could feel the updraft of wind catch them off guard as he took off into the sky, hovering the arena and Kirito.
"Not bad Kirito, but not giving up yet." he said to himself, holding out his hands to chant magic sphere surrounding him. His chanted ending as a large fireball charged from his hands, going straight for Kirito. Kirito looked up and tried to get away, butt he couldn't get away fast as the fire struck him, making a explosion of fire in the area. Smoke covered area where Kirto once stood, everyone wondering how he took the attack.
"That was second level fire magic spell, hope he's okay." Sinon said concernedly.
"That was a good spell, especially using it in the air, It looks like he put a lot of time in his magic a lot. The radius is much wider than a normal second level fire spell." Agil pointed out.
"Well Toshi probably took advantage since he was high u," Seven said observing the start of the fight as well.
"Hope Kazuto is alright, it looked strong." Leafa mumbled seeing the smoke slowly clear away to reveal Kirito again.
He was panting, holding both his blades to take the blunt of the attack and it took a bit of his health. He panted, orange marks covered his body from the blast, even if the attack didn't completely drain his HP. Toshi floated back down, his Imp wings vanishing from his back as he looked on at Kirito who took his Fire spell well and not giving up either. He gave the Spriggian a small clap, proud of for tanking the attack.
"I'm impressed Kirito, No way a spell could take you out easily, but you withstand it quickly well," Toshi said smiling, "Not bad for the savior of Aincrad."
"Toshi, if there's anything that I learned and faced in the past two years and multiple awkward situations is endurance." Kirito panted and in the stands, Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, Sinon, Philia, Strea, and Leafa all sneeze at once. Klien, Yuuki, and Juri all looked at them, seeing how they sneezed like that.
"What situations did you do to him?" they asked in unison.
"What didn't we do to him?" they replied back, stunning them at once. Yuuki sighed, having a idea and seen it during their Svert Alfheim adventures. As close she was to Asuna, it wasn't common knowledge she and the others have done things to him that aren't fun/
"You put him through hell, you know that." as everyone looked back to he arena.
"But, no way I'm going to get taken out by one fire spell." Kirito said, putting his swords away and chant, a magical sphere forming around him, "Þú fylla heill austr!" and after casting the spat, light shined around his body, the orange gashes vanishing from his body healing himself. He smiled confidently, taking his swords back out again, "So you'll have to try harder than that."
"Oh don't worry Kirito, I'll show you just how hard I can get." Toshi replied, getting back into battle position. In the stands, Lisbeth was laughing at how the two boys phrased their words so awkwardly. All the girls, Klien and Agil just stared at her like she was crazy. Not getting why she was laughing or what was funny.
"Well, that's good to hear. Let's go." Kirito responded and battle continued on. Kirito dashe froward once more, both blades still in his his hands and swung at Toshi once more. The two traded blow and after blow, sparks continued to fly off their blades. Toshi's sword then glowed blue taking the blade and slashing Kirito away before preforming a Sword Skill. Toshi performed an diagonal slash from top-left to bottom-middle at Kirito's body. As his sword approaches the floor, Toshi quickly readjusts his wrist and performed another diagonal slash from bottom-middle to top-right. The combined trajectory of the two hits formed the Latin letter "V" as Kirito was sen y back from the attack. Orange gashes formed on his body once more. He looked up at the timer, Twenty-five minutes and fifty-nine seconds and dropping, they haven't fought long but this fight was mostly a stand still on what they can could dish out. Kirito had to think of a way to turn the tables on Toshi and get the advantage. Then there was his Original Sword Skill, he hasn't used it yet and from how Toshi looks, he's not going to dish it out yet. He could see his Strength buff wear off but his MP regeneration was still going. With Toshi coming at her, his decided to to quickly distance himself from her more, making his own running start from mthe Imp.
Kirito stopped, seeing Toshi was coming his way. Chanting once more, from Kirito's hands, purple sphere shot from his hands and slowly made their way towards Toshi, the spheres hit Toshi and stop him in his tracks. Despite how slow Kirito's Dark Sphere spells are, they still connected with him. The darkness spells hit purple mist blinding his view. Toshi shield his eyes, not seeing Kirto blindside the Imp, hit him with both blades sending him flying off his again and about to collapse into the ground. Toshi recovered, his feet skidding the ground, the grip on his sword tight as he stopped still far from the Spriggian.
"Smart trick on Kirito's part to blindside Toshi with that dark magic, not bad." Rain said smiling down into the battlefield.
"Impressive tactic Kirito, unglaublich!" Seven said excitedly seeing how Kirito used his magic to distract Toshi and get the upper hand on him.
"Even if it was a simple tactic, what will Toshi do to overcome that trick?" Juri asked, seeing her brother get back on his feet and look back at Kirito again.
"Kirito might be fast, but is doesn't mean his immune to status effects.' Toshi thought, putting his sword away again and getting ready to chant, seeing Kirito coming his way. A magic cipher formed around Toshi, the spell completed in time as he fired from his hands a sickly green spell that floated in Kirito as hit him. Kirtio stopped, feeling his body sluggish as he saw what was cast on him: a poison spell. Everyone saw the poison icon on him, seeing his health drain slowly and now worrying him. He then realized as he saw Toshi cast another spell on him. His body felt locked up, he couldn't move, his blades dropped in his hands as he was paralyzed by a bind spell. Kirito couldn't move a muscle seeing his health drain slowly and his body unable to move. Everyone in the stands gasped seeing Kirito literally in bind. Juri only kept smiling, impressed by her brother's strategy. As Kirito couldn't move or grab his swords, Toshi went on the offense again coming to Kirito, his sword glowing once more. Toshi delivered a powerful uppercut at Kirito, causing the Spriggian to be knock backwards, flying into the wall with a loud impact. Everyone in the stands were shocked, Asuna and the others were worried if Kirito was okay seeing the dust covered the spot he hit.
"Kirito-kun!" Asuna called out.
"Papa, papa!" Yui called out too.
"Kazuto, you okay?!" Leafa called out as well too, her hands to the stone stands, concerned for her brother and cousin.
"That looked like it hurt. Combining both poison and bind like that, a good tactic to overwhelm your opponent." Yuuki said, "He's improved since our last duel."
"Look at his health,." Lisbeth pointed out, everyone looking at the VS board. With the combine poison effect and bind, Toshi took out a quarter of his health and it's dropping little and little, "Toshi took a lot of Kirito Health points with that, the collision also did that damage too."
"Kirito-san is really having a tough time, Toshi doesn't hold back." Silica said and Pina chirped in agreement.
"Hope he's okay." Leafa mumbled softly in concerned, as the dust finally cleared to reveal Kirto. He kept one knee to the ground and his head looking at Toshi. He was panting, still feeling the effects of the poison but the paralyze had worn off, now about to move again. He looked up at Toshi and smiled, the Imp coming his way to him holding his two blades. From the stands all of Kirito's friends cheered, overjoyed their friend was still in the battle, Asuna and Yui hugging in joy and Lisbeth, Silica, and Sinon just looking with without too much of a worry. Kirito got up, using the chance to remove the poison and heal himself, the effects vanished and back to full health. Toshi got closer, passing him his swords, still smiling.
"How'd you like that?" He asked, passing him the swords. Kirito gladly took them, still pleased.
"Not bad, combining poison and a bind spell, you really know your stuff. Then again, you are a particular one, Toshi," Kirito said looking at the Imp with astonishment, "Most wouldn't be fair to a duel, giving them back their weapons."
"Well, this isn't a fight to the death, nor a fight for superiority. Trust me, I'm not here to impress or take your friends from you," Toshi replied as he moved a step back, increasing the distance between him and Kirito, "This is but a simple fight between friends, nothing more, nothing less."
"True, this is just duel between friends," he replied before chuckling, "And I won't deny I'm having fun." before going back to face Toshi again. Their blades clashed once again, moving and dodging each swing they brought out. Kirito collided one of his blades with his side, before making a 360 turn, hitting Toshi with the other sending him back. Toshi caught himself, activating his wings to take off into air again. Kirito saw him cast magic, from above large stalagmites came falling from the sky. Kirito started to dodge around the earth, magic as he took off to flying towards the air to get away from the spell. Toshi went into the pursuit of Kirito, the two swordsmen flying around the battlefield, Kirito being almost faster than.
Toshi started to chant his magic again, firing wind needles at Kirito, the Spriggian dodging each and every one as he kept the pace from Toshi. A Wind Needle narrowly past his ear, making Kirito diving into the ground and deactivating his wind as Toshi dropped down again. The two face each other As Toshi chanted, summoning rows upon around of lightning like magic. Everyone show him as row after row, seeing his MP drop slowly. As he cast, Toshi thought feeling himself straining, 'more, more, even more!' creating so many of that spell. Yui watched and had counted, seeing what looked so much of one spell from one Imp.
"No way, he conjured so many Lightning Arrows in such short time!" Yui exclaimed.
"Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five rows?!" Klien gasped feeling overwhelmed by the now of Holy magic at once.
"He's going all in for this, can Kirito really dodge all those?" Philia asked, see all those Lightning Arrows being conjured on one Imp alone.
"He can do this, don't worry," Asuna said although she did feel concerned. This was a lot of magic from one level 1 Holy spell and Toshi was going to put all of that to fire at Kirtio. She looked on determined, calling out to her boyfriend, "You can do this, Kirito-kun!"
'That's a lot, not way I can dodge them," he thought, hearing Asuna cheer him on. He smirked, ready for this challenge he was given to him by the Imp swordsman, 'Then I deflect each and every one!' he thought with smiled as twenty-five rows of Lightning Arrows were produced by Toshi at once.
"Fire!" he commanded, the Lightning Arrows flying straight for Kirito. Everyone in the stands were gasped in shock, no way anyone can get away from all those. Everyone in the stands could only brace for the Spriggain to be overwhelmed and lose, but all of Kirito's friends, even Juri waited to see how Kirito gets through this. As the arrows were about to hit him, Kirito's swords started to glow blue, holding them up and started to swing away. With each swing, he slashed away the spell and moved froward, each spelled becoming worthless as she started to slash and deflect even more. It became like a dance as Kirito as Kirito to swing and destroy each of the spells, his reaction time shocking and impressing everyone.
"No way, he's actually deflecting that spell, is he crazy?" a Pooka in the stands asked.
"The Imp boy summoned so much of that, no way anyone would last, what kind of player is he?" a male Gnome asked.
"He is that Spriggian that's around the Blacksmith, isn't he the same one that went up against Shamrock?" a female Imp asked her friends.
"You have a point, but that's insane. Even with Sword Skills, that many will drain you to beat them back." A male Undine pointed out, still Kirito keep going and going.
"Can he really do that?" Strea asked, "That many to deflect I mean, one slip up and Kirito is done for."
"Let's not call it over yet, he can do this," Leafa assured them," He endured a lot, he's giving up to this."
"Let's see, a barrage of Holy magic," Juri remained them, "Can he do it?"
"We'll have to see, as the minutes tick down, Kirito is still swing away." Agil said his arms crossed.
"To even make that many Arrows, he had to really level his magic without delay, that's impressive spell casting." Seven said, "Beeindruckend!"
"From a noob to a skilled player, hard to believe he's holding his own against Kirito." Sinon admitted.
"Your brother is going up someone who defeated the creator of Sword Art Online, he's going on longer than I thought." Rain said hand to her lap.
"Toshi-san is incredible and he hasn't used his Original Sword Skill." Silica amazed as more and more Kirito deflected the arrows as the arrows and Kirito disappeared into the mist of yellow after magic effect. No one could see Kirito as the arrows barrage ended, no seeing hair of the Spriggian. The look up into the VS screen, Kirtio's health hasn't dropped and it was now eleven minutes and fifteen seconds. It was dead silence as everyone waited for Kirito to pop out again. The air in the arena was anxiety and curiosity as everyone waited for something to happen. Kirito's friends looked with patience, Yui knowing her papa was still fighting, he wouldn't give up so easily. As the minute passed, something shot up into the air, everyone seeing it was Kirito. The crowd erupted into applauds and cheers as Kirito did a flip into the air, one of his swords glowing purple. He then performed a mid-air forward somersault, reversing his grip at the same time. Kirito lands, he thrust their swords into the ground. At that moment, a surge of electricity is generated by the sword and electrifying the ground Toshi didn't react in time and suffers physical damage, unable to move as he was stunned by the attack. Kirito got back up, unearthing his swords as he came for Toshi again both swords glowing blue. Asuna and Klien then realized what move Kirito was about to use, their minds flashing back to Kirito's fight in SAO, The fight with the Gleam Eyes. Kirito's first hit was a horizontal swing from left to right with the right sword, immediately followed by an uppercut with the left sword. Kirito then jumps up and slashes Toshi with both swords from left to right while spinning twice. Kirito landed, facing Toshi and slashes an X from top to bottom, before inversely slashing the X again from bottom to top. Kirito leaped at Toshi, making two diagonal slashes from the same starting point, with the left sword heading from top to bottom to the left, while the right sword heads from bottom to top toward the right. Afterwards, Kirito reversed his grip on the two swords and slashes another X with both swords from top to bottom. He then does a barrel-roll like maneuver while slashing at the Imp, like a corkscrew.
"Faster, Faster, need to keep going!" Kirito grunted, his thoughts flashing back from his fight Gleam Eyes and now. Kirito then slashed another two X's at the target, first from top to bottom and then bottom to top. Kirito then made a diagonal slash with the right sword, top-right to bottom-left, then spins left and using this momentum to deal a horizontal, right to left slash with the left sword at Toshi as he cried out from the attack. Kirito then, at a very high speed, makes an uppercut with the right sword; then another with the left sword, a downward slash with the right sword, then a downward diagonal slash towards the right with the left sword, spins and repeats the previous attack, and thrusts the right-handed sword out. The final slash was a forceful downward lunge with the left sword. Toshi was sent flying from the end of the attack, Kirito's swords stop glowing as he panted, knelling a little from doing that. The Starrburst Stream, one of his best Dual Blade skills, doing it again felt even draining as before.
"Unbelievable, look at him go!" the onlookers cried out, seeing how fast he was going, none of him seeing a player perform a sword skill so well like that.
"Now that's a blast from the past." Asuna remembered, the battle against the Glema Eyes.
"Kirito dishing that move out and using two swords, hard to believe it was that long ago." Klien agreed as well.
"Look at Toshi's Health, it's 50% now!" Yui pointed out, everyone peering at the health now, Kirito's Sword Skill did massive damage on him.
"Looks like the tables finally tuned for his favor." Juri said arms crossed, "but it means one thing now, Toshi is going to use it now to turn the battle around."
"His Original Sword Skill right?" Leafa ashed. Juri nodded, the nicest she's looked to the Sylph since meeting her.
"Toshi always had three specials rules about using it. 1. He would use it to help someone in need. 2. when his back is against the wall. And 3. When a player vs player duel has him bringing his strongest." Juri explained. Everyone was impressed, he puts pride in his skill so much? It makes sense, Toshi doesn't treat it like a it's a super move to save the day, it's like a part of him and he does make it a one hit skill move. Toshi got up, panting from the rush Kirito gave him. His body covered in orange marks and he still smiled at the Spriggian.
"That was awesome, I can see why you have the Dual Blade skill in Sword Art Online, no way I could keep up or even dodge it. You even use that Lightning Fall skill to paralyze me just I paralyzed you, you are awesome Kirito," Toshi said happily, "Now, I feel even more confident to show you my Original Sword Skill in action. I want you to know this, my pride to this is like a part of me," he put his hand to his marked chest and his other hand still gripping his sword, "my three rules, remember them well Kirito: 1. I will only use this to help. 2. I will only use it when my back is against the wall in a battle I feel I can't win or lose. And 3. when the battle between players has me bringing my strongest, my A game," his sword started to glow purple and a magical mist formed around him," This is my Original Sword Skill, Eclipse Breaker!" and dashed at Kirito.
Kirito still felt the fatigue of the move, seeing his health was 55%, above Toshi's. Before he could react, Toshi struck first. His first strike was a vertical swing at Kirito's stomach, than a horizontal swing across his chest. His next swing, a double slash, produced a thick mist of magic, no one could see from the stands or the screens. The mist blanked the arena is heavily that it was unable for anyone to see it. Leafa remembered, this was the mist that he produced with that boar. That's why one's seen the Original Sword Skill much, he hides it in the mist and only a few races see in the dark well.
Toshi's fourth hit, doing another vertical sling at Kirto, pushing him back as his fifth and sixth swings formed a X as he spun around. Kirito finally could move, his body skidding back as he now was in the black mist. Barely could see Toshi. Remembering he was a Spriggian, he quickly activate his night vision skill, seeing his vision light up and could see Toshi gear up for one final strike. He smiled, even he was impressed.
"I see, so that's how you did it. You channel your darkness magic into your sword, creating a mist as you strike your opponents. They wouldn't see it your last attacks unless they can see in the dark or cast a night vision spell. I must say, you impress me Toshi. Now," his swords started to glow glue as he was ready to fight this fight and go toe to toe with a Sword Skill's finisher, "Let's go!"
Both boys stared at each other, ready to make the final strike. Time passed one between them, both stepping back and finally the two swordsmen want for the attack. Their blades still glowing as they let out one last cry, one last attack, both saying at the same time, "This is it!" as tiher blades finally clashed, creating a shock wave of sound and air, and expulsion of purple and black. When everyone thought they could see the two fighters, a rush of sound and wind blocked everyone from seeing. Hair, and clothes were whipping madly, all of Kirito's friends and Juri were trying desperately to stand in their seats or feet as no one could see what happened. As the wind finally died down, everyone's eyes were glued to the arena and the VS screen. Everyone saw both Kirito and Toshi, both looking up into the sky on the ground, bodies covered in gashes and their blades out their hands. On the VS screen, their HP were both 45%, and the timer was done. The results was a tie, even the menu box confirmed it. Everyone took a moment to understand what happened or that it was a tie. Finally, the arena erupted into clapping and cheers, everyone impressed by the battle as a whole or even blown away it was full on tie. Kirito's fiends all cheered from the stands, many hugging each other and even hi five for the fight. Both Asuna, Juri, and Leafa had looks of impress on their faces, it wasn't a outcome they expected but it was great one. The ones who were blown away the most was Kirito and Toshi. Both boys had a smile on their faces, just overjoyed by the fight itself than who won. Their bodies did feel a beating from their last attacks they just lay there.
"Toshi, can you hear me?" Kirito asked, seeing eyeing the results screen.
"Yeah, I can hear you." Toshi replied, just looking on at the sky and the results screen.
"That was a great fight, you're good." he added still smiling.
"Same to you, I had a lot of fun fighting you Kirito." Toshi replied again and sat upright to look at Kirito. Kirito did the same and sat upright facing Toshi, "Let's have another duel sometime."
"I'd like that, it's a deal." Kirito replied and the two fist bump each other, both with smiles on their faces (and still worse for ware).
"Kirito-kun!" the sound of Asuna caught the Spriggian off guard as he met with the back embrace of Asuna and Yui hugging him, "That was amazing!"
All of their friends had entered the battlefield, all were impressed by the match too. Once Asuna and Yui let go of Kirito, Klien gave him a thumbs up before Strea wanted a hug too (and the Spriggian unable to move because of the battle). Lisbeth smirked and crossed her arms, Silica was overjoyed as well as Pina. Both Seven and Rain both looked excited of the match. Sinon looked coolly at the pair and Yuuki gave her fellow Imp a V for victory at a great battle. Philia two tried to pull Strea off him, while Agil tried now to laugh at the young boy. Juri clapped a hand t her brother's should with a smile on her face, before both looked to Leafa kneeling down at them.
"That was awesome you two, you really went all out!" she said excitedly at them. Both still kept smiling, even if was a tie, it was a great fight. Leafa looked down at their appearance, seeing how beat up they look, "but boy you two look like you are battle scarred in a war or something. Here," and opening her menu, grabbed two potions from her inventory and gave them to the two boys, "here you go."
"Thanks!" they replied, opening the potions and pouring them on themselves, bring them back to full health and the orange gashes gone. They got and faced everyone, turning to see Sakuya coming their way clapping at them.
"That was a great duel you two." the Sylph leader said.
"Yeah, you two were great, a shame it was a tie though." Alica Rue said cheerfully.
"I think it was a fair duel. It showed Toshi can hold his own well and Kirito and him are equals in strength. Besides, It's not about who wins or loses right?" Rain asked.
"That I can agree on. Anyway, let's get out of here." Asuna suggested to the pair and everyone.
"Right!"
After leaving the arena, Kirito, Asuna, and everyone met up back at Liz's shop, drinks and food all around as it was a little more of a real get together for Toshi and Juri, their new friends. Everyone including Sakuya and Alicia were there too as everyone was talking about the battle and what transpired: the impressive strategies, the skills, and of course the Original Sword Sword Toshi used in the fight. It was long that Lisbeth got everyone's attention propose a total to everyone, tapping a spoon to her cup to get everyone to look at her.
"Everyone, I like to propose a toast: to our new friends, Toshi and Juri. And for a excellent match between Kirito and Toshi! Cheers!" Lisbeth exclaimed, holding a cup.
"Cheers!" everyone exclaimed as one as they held up their cups as one. As the conversation were back on full swing, Tooshi was getting asked about the match from his point of view by Klien and Philia.
"So, you used that Lightning Arrow magic very well, it's like you were about to conjure so many at once. How you do it?" he asked.
"Well, I learned that you can fast cast as much magic as you can, the more you cast faster, the more you can create. I learned to actually up to several continuous spells at once when chanting before spraining myself. Like the twenty-five Lightning Arrows rounds you saw me use." he explained, taking a piece from the table, I tried it with other level magic once, I once did that with a Holy Lance spell, I was about to make three rounds. It's not hard, I can teach you one day."
"I like to try that out, would you teach me?" Leafa asked curiously.
"Sure, I can teach you Leafa." Toshi replied smiling only to have Lisbeth to look at him with jeering look.
"Oh, you'll give her some 'private lessons'? Eh Toshi-kun?" she asked, nudging his sides. Toshi frowned at the blacksmith only to see Juri eyeing Toshi darkly again.
"Do you ever turn off Lis?" he asked sighing, "Maybe later Leafa, because I think Juri is giving you the green eyes."
"Damn." Leafa pouted.
"By the way Toshi, you and your sister are not that far from where Kirito and his group are right now, what's your plans for the summer while in Kyoto?" Klien asked.
"Nothing really, outside doing some quests we just gonna have a dull summer." Juri replied.
"Well, since we're all close, how about you hang out with us. We're going to the pool tomorrow at our school, do you like to come?" Kirito asked him.
"Sure, when you'll meet us at tomorrow?" Toshi asked.
"After we visit the hospital to get Yuuki." Asuna explained.
"Yuuki's getting released from the hospital finally?" Juri asked to the others.
"Well for the pool trip, the paper work for her will take some time. Unfortunately, her family members won't be able to take her, you know all the medical stuff that happened to her mom, dad and sister, you understand." Kirito said looking to Yui eating with Strea, Rain and Seven.
"That's a shame, hope it goes well, let us know how it goes together." Alicia said happily.
"We will, although..." Leafa trailed off, knowing she can't swim. As much chickening out would be good, everyone would feel dejected if she bailed out.
"I'll try to make it, I mean I'm apart of their school too I should be allowed in. But we do need someone to watch us," Philia commented, "The teachers and staff are going to be busy, we do need someone a little older to watch us."
"I won't mind, it'll be nice to go swimming again." Juri said smiling and looked to Kirito, "Oh, you'll need to add Toshi and I on your friend list to keep in touch in ALO if anything happens. Is there a way you can contact us IRL?"
"We have a group chat with Kirito and Asuna when we aren't online here. We can share you how to get on it, it'll be nice to have others to talk with outside the game." Lisbeth offered to the Undine.
"Sure, that will be great!" Juri said excitedly.
"Be warned, we talk about the oddest things, mostly by Sinon here." Philia added on.
"Seven and Rain we have part of our chats, but you know just how Dr. Rainbow is." Sinon pointed out.
"Speaking of that, what did you tell Shamrock where you were anyway?" Rain asked looking to her little sister. Seven winked, smiling to her.
"It's a secret!"
The party went on for a few hours, everyone just having a good time talking and having fun. Alicia and Sakuya left to return to their territories, saying good bye to Leafa and the others. It was around six in the afternoon everyone decided to leave, Asuna had to go downstairs for dinner anyway so it was time to end their little party. Everyone logged out except Kirito, Asuna, Yuuki, Strea, Toshi, Leafa, Lisbeth, Silica, and Juri who outside the shop were still talking to each other with Yui sitting on her father's head.
"Meeting at the train station at nine, Kirito-kun, Leafa, and I will be at the hospital first. Then, we'll be head back to the train to meet up at our school grounds." Asuna explained to everyone.
"Got it, well we'll be logging out now, see you tomorrow morning everyone. Bye!" Toshi waved, saying good bye of everyone as he opened his menu and logged out, vanishing into a blue light. Juri followed suit, opening her menu before looking to the others.
"Well I'll be logging out too, Toshi will need help cooking. Later Kirito, Asuna, Yuuki, Silica, Liz... Sylph, it's been fun." before logging out, Leafa feeling the dis hard.
"Did she just ignore me?" she asked and Kirito put a hand to his sister's shoulder to calm her down.
"Let it go Sugu. How about I make you a parfait when we get back." he said and Leafa's green eyes were wide with a smile on her face looking to Kirito with glee in them.
"Did I ever tell you how much I love you Kazuto?" she asked only for Kirito to rub the back of his head sheepishly.
"More or less?" he replied, only to hear Lisbeth laughing in the back of his head.
"Anyway, we better rest up for our little pool fun. I wonder if I see have my swimsuit, It shouldn't be too small on me." Asuna pondered out loud, Kirito trying to look away from Asuna and not imagine her in a too small swimsuit. It wasn't long that he he know Yui could tell his heart beating fast on the idea cleared his throat to continue their conversation on their plans.
"Anyway, we have the pool until sundown, so we have the whole day. Sounds good?" he asked the girls. They nodded as one by one, everyone left leaving Kirito, Strea and Asuna on their own with Yui floating beside them. Kirito look to Yui and smiled to him, "We're gong to gone for the day, you and Strea take care of yourselves okay?"
"Okay papa." Yui said happily.
"We'll be fine while you're off having fun in the real world, don't worry. We won't cause any trouble." Strea told them.
"But I must say, you and Toshi looked like you were having fun." Asuna pointed, following the fight very carefully. It was different than any fight she's see Kirito, being it to win, survival or battling a powerful rival. With Toshi, it was like watch two friends having a match together without a care in the word, "The two of you were smiling, like it was joke fun."
"It was, Toshi is a good kid, pleased we gave him a real chance." Kirito said smirking at his girlfriend, "Aren't you glad you didn't kill the boy?" and Asuna's face was beet red red.
"That-that was a different story, you were worried he might be some fake kid trying to get into your sister's skirt if not any one of us!" she said still embarrassed as both Yui and Strea were trying not hard not to laugh. Asuna huffed and put her head on Kirito's shoulder, surprising him, "I was sure worried about Leafa, that's all." she looked up and smiled, "I'll make you a deal, you promise to forget about and I'll make your favorite sandwiches, okay?" and and it got Kirito's attention. He looked at her, her blue eyes so full of hope he accept her offer. He scratch his chin and looked at her sheepishly, it was clear she was bargaining with him.
"Sure." only for for Asuna to kiss him off the bat for his reply. She giggled, hands behind her back and smiling at the Spriggian.
"Have you told you how much I love you Kirito-kun?" she said sweetly.
'You and Sugu planed that, haven't you?" he thought shaking his head, but he smiled to her.
But at the end, I did enjoy that fight, Toshiyuki, he has potential. And as a friend, he's kind and mature, everyone does get along with him. Our summer is looking to be a great one and with our two new friends... it's going to be great. But Asuna in a swimsuit IRL, what did she really mean by it being too small. Regardless, it's going to fun. After that, it's what to do with Yuuki. We'll cross that bridge when we get there.
Next time: IRL fun! Kazuto's party at the pool
Micheal: And that's chapter three, and it took less time to get through this than when I first started do this story idea back in March and now. And there to that last review, some cute Kirito/Asuna, trying not to force it and let there moments be natural. Now the fight, I'll be honest, originally I wanted to use the Holy Lance struggle before the Starburst Stream usage but I went for using many Lightning Arrows. If you noticed, if there's a incantations, it's a spell used in the anime and light novels, if no incantation, it's from Lost Song and Millennium Twilight. Same for Sword Skills, I had to look up what they like. Then it was just how to balance Toshi and Kirito as players, now many would be upset he tied with someone, especially a OC but Kirito is really hated, hated to a point only his Abridged Version people like and no offense to the fans of it or Something Witty, I like the abridge series just it's not better than canon because I have a stance against fan work being treated better than canon, even I don't treat my own work better than canon because I don't have ego and respect the original writers. But enough about that, now Chapter 4-7 will be some adventures outside of Alfhiem Online focusing on the ALO crew at the pool, Yuuki being adopted into Asuna's family, The girls and Toshi at Kazuto's place, and a Summer Festival. Chapter eight and up will coming back into ALO for some misadventures until the big quest the group go on. There might be one or two more IRL chapters to split the quests but still in the plannings of what I want to do for the quests, have fifteen chapters of my 25-30 plan.
Now I don't feel like abandoning Toshi and Juri when this is over, so part of me wants to continue using them through the Sword Art Online games (Hollow Realization and Fatal Bullet), so here's the request, if you grown attracted to Toshi and Juri as characters, want to keep seeing them around? Let me know when I make a poll for them, the poll will end by the end of the year. Note they will only exist in the Game universe, not the anime universe, that would be no different than other Canon x OC fics, plus it wouldn't be fun messing with the canon story. The Game Universe is their own Alternate Universe, got it?
Hope the fight wasn't boring, but after reading a very lazily done Sword Art Online X-over that just skimped on the fights and just said the sword skill names or when having a transformation it was always 'in a cut scene', I didn't want to be bad at this fight but be as good as I could. Just a lot of that writer's writing style was disappointing and they are younger than me. Sure I don't have a thesaurus of words, but I know most sentences should have four to five sentences and you space out when people talk. It may had a good word count but I think a lot of it was just bad planning, rushing, and favoritism. I like Leafa but I don't want everyone else to feel left out, that's why I have a Silica two part mini adventure coming and giving everyone more a chance to interact next chapter.
That is all, see you in a few weeks for the next chapter, now I need to update my Neptunia stories and Persona soon.