The Captive Swordsman

Chapter 5— Inner Turmoil

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Original Title: Sword Art Online(ソードアート・オンライン)

Original Concept by: Kawahara Reki

written by: wrathie

Author's Notes: Thank you, bowpurity for the beta!

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'And I'm sure that he would agree with me. He would rather die than to know that I was forced to marry someone else because of him. If he knew, he would rather die than let it happen. And when that happens, I will die along with him.'

Asuna replied coolly even as she squeezed Kirito-kun's hands and with her free hand, reached out to caress his cheek, and then to play with her hair. Her statement was made with absolute certainty, with no hesitation whatsoever, and that by itself unnerved Noboyuki Sugou.

He had been expecting some reaction out of her, at least, even a little when he dropped this bombshell, but to the contrary, and to his utmost surprise, it was lacking.

Yuuki Asuna was not moved, or even if she was moved, she didn't care. That much Sugou knew and he was racking his mind as to why he knew.

'… Did you knew before this, Asuna-san?'

Sugou finally managed to reclaim his tongue and he asked Asuna. The slight tilt of Asuna's head made him even more confused than ever, for it meant that Asuna probably didn't know about all that before. At least, that he could blackmail Asuna with this little information.

'About... what, Sugou? About you holding Kirito-kun hostage? I didn't, but I knew it was within your capabilities. I should have expected it though.'

Asuna's thoughtful expression made Sugou even more confused, and he felt even more out of his depths. He knew of how Asuna had changed since she woke up, and even if she had shown dislike for him before the incident, she had always never voiced out her thoughts about him. That much he was grateful for, if Asuna had shown her dislike for him as obviously as she did now before, it would have been hard for him to have such a foothold, and a relationship of trust to her parents.

But even if he had logically assumed that Asuna had perhaps gotten more mature and had probably grown more confident and perhaps even more courageous than before, he did did not expect Asuna to react in a way like she did today. He had severely underestimated how much she had grown in her two years stuck in a life-or-death game.

She was too calm, collected, and perhaps a little too accepting of what she had learnt today. Even if Sugou took her words at face value and believed that she didn't know, that just meant that she doesn't even feel threatened by his words.

Why would she feel that way? Her boyfriend's life was in his hands and he was blackmailing her to marry him! It was supposed to be a scene of anguish, of pain, of heartbreak, and of course, despair. He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time, and had been nursing the grudge that he felt from all of her dismissals so far. It was supposed to be where Asuna finally realized her place under him, for her to beg him to let him go, for her to swear that she will be engaged to him to save his boyfriend.

He would also subsequently record and ensure that Asuna would forever remember today as the day where she had started the journey to become his, and to dwell with that shame for the rest of her life.

But this... this...what is this?! How could she be so calm?! Did she already suspect? Did she already do something about this? That's ridiculous, even if Asuna did try something, there's no way of saving her boyfriend without him knowing. So what, is wrong, with her?!

..

'If you have nothing else to say, Sugou, I suggest you leave. You're polluting the air with your breathing.'

Asuna replied viciously, causing Sugou to take a few steps back again at her words. Asuna looked up as well, dragging her eyes from Kirito-kun before laying them on Sugou again. Her words had shaken him, and for the life of her, she really don't know why he was so confused, or intimidated.

Apparently Asuna didn't realize the gleam in her eyes whenever she started getting defensive over Kirito-kun, it was quite an impressive stare, enough to even give Commander Healthcliff, or Kayaba Akihiko, reason to pause when faced with that look.

Instead of retorting, or deadpanning about Asuna's viciousness towards him, Sugou got angry instead, and he spat out in disbelief at what he was seeing.

'What's wrong with you?!'

'…?'

His outburst made Asuna raise an eyebrow in confusion, half-raising to raise an arm protectively over Kirito-kun as Sugou continued in his frustration and inability to know what is going on in Asuna's mind.

'I have your boyfriend's life in my hands, Asuna! And what are you doing now? You should be telling me that I'm not allowed to do that, to say that I will not get away with this, you should be shocked, you should be crying, you should not be behaving in this... in THIS-!'

Sugou slammed a hand on the wall to highlight his frustration even as Asuna finally understood what he meant. And was quite amused by it too.

'Do you really believe that by having Kirito-kun's life in your hands, you could make me agree to be with you?'

Asuna honestly sounded amused as she turned back to look at Kirito-kun again briefly, before turning to look at Sugou again.

'Well, do you, Sugou?'

'His life is mine, Asuna. Whether he lives or die, depends on what I say and what I decide.'

Sugou did not back down, not even realizing that he was saying so much, but Asuna didn't care what he said, for she already had the conviction to follow what she had said earlier.

'And I already said, if he dies, I will die along with him. It's not the first time that he has done so for me, and I would do the same for him.'

Asuna smiled happily at Kirito before standing up, pushing the chair she was sitting on backwards as she faced Sugou firmly. She was not backing down from this, from her statement, and from what she knew was the right thing to do.

'Kirito-kun promised that he would save me, that he would help me return to the real world. He did so, he kept his promise. And I promised him that I will protect him, that I won't ever cause him harm, and I would be with him, always.'

Asuna took a breath as she tilted her head slightly again, this time the act seemed to make Sugou even more confused, perhaps terrified as Asuna smiled.

'I would cause him pain if I were to marry against my will, and I would never do that. I would rather die than do that... and if I were to die, he would no doubt do the same. Likewise, I know that Kirito-kun might kill himself to save me from my pain from marrying against my will, and if he did, I would join him as well. We would, be together, if not in life, if not in Sword Art Online, if not in the real world, then we would be together in death. This is my promise, this is my oath, and this is my determination, Sugou.'

Asuna's smile and her determination was enough to cause Sugou to panic as he lashed out again, telling Asuna that she was crazy.

'You're mad! You're insane, Asuna! How could you do this? How can you just accept this! Why won't you struggle, why won't you fight? Why do you just say that you rather die!? Why won't you submit to me! Even if this is what you want, is this what your boyfriend would want?!'

Sugou seemed to calm down after his outburst, realizing that he had potentially hit a gold mine by accident, but it was not enough to cause Asuna to waver.

'I might not know, but you don't know either, Sugou. And I will never trust whatever you say... But I trust Kirito-kun, and I trust the promise that he made with me.'

Asuna's calm words once again made Sugou's blood boil as he snapped, telling her if that was what she wanted...

'Then I'll make sure he die now!'

Sugou reached for Kirito's Nervegear, and was both relieved as well as terrified by the dangerous look that Asuna had when she stopped him.

'So you're afraid still, Asuna.'

Sugou tried to sneer back at her, but it was not having the effect that it used to have as his legs were shaking at the sight of Asuna's glare.

'Do not touch Kirito-kun, Sugou. If you do, I'll kill you.'

Even if she was still less than fully recovered from her two years, she still had made significant progress in her rehabilitation as well as physiotherapy. And an angry woman was someone that one should never scorn. Sugou realized that today as he quickly backed off from the protective girl in front of her.

..

'So... is that it, Asuna-san? Despite your big words, you're still worried for Kirigaya-san, aren't you?'

Sugou knew that his facade was all but unnecessary now, but that did not mean that he shouldn't keep it, for it really did keep him collected when dealing with the changed Yuuki Asuna.

'Your point being?'

'Asuna-san, despite your misgivings and I do find your determination and conviction to be something very worth praising. The fact remains that Kirigaya-kun's life, and potentially his well being depends on me. I would advise that you still consider my suggestion to you. I expect your answer in five days time, we do have things to arrange for if we are holding the ceremony here, Asuna-san.'

Sugou gave her a mocking bow, his confidence restored partially by what he said, till Asuna spoke up again.

'You need me alive, don't you, Sugou.'

'Asuna-san?'

'The roles are reversed, Sugou. I can never trust you and I will never trust you. Regardless of your words, regardless of what evidence that you have, I can't trust that you'll keep your word.'

Asuna spoke so quietly even as she ran a hand through her hair. There was something odd about her now, even more so than before and Sugou shivered again when he saw Asuna fingering a fruit knife carefully with her hands.

'But you can trust me, Sugou. When I said that I will die for Kirito-kun, and I would rather die than be married to you, I will definitely do so.'

Asuna pressed the edge of the knife against her wrist, and that act alone caused Sugou to freeze.

'But you need me alive, Sugou-san... so I will take good care of myself, as long as you do the same for Kirito-kun. Now then, Sugou-san, I believe you are just leaving?'

Asuna's dangerous smile was enough to cause Sugou to bolt, for he slammed the door hard after he left, no doubt scared shitless by what he had witnessed earlier. He didn't even voice a single word of complaint, or perhaps complaints, but Asuna didn't care. As long as he got the message loud and clear.

'… I'm never doing that again.'

Asuna gave a weak sob as she dropped the fruit knife on the floor, her tensed nerves finally relaxing after what she did earlier. Perhaps she was right the first time, she was probably going crazy.

Or desperate, that sounded much better.

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'Asuna-san.'

Asuna was eternally grateful that she had been prepared and had turned on the recording function on her phone before she entered to confront Sugou. It was also probably due to that did she found the courage to speak so outrageous words, it would no doubt sound like a bad soap opera to her when she eventually goes through what had been recorded. But unfortunately, Asuna had to admit that it wasn't quite true. She had meant every word, and it wasn't courage that made her say those words that Sugou, it was belief, it was faith, and it was undeniable what she felt for Kirito-kun. Her truest feelings.

That's why she jumped and almost fell off her chair when someone else opened the door a few moments after Sugou had left. It was Suguha-chan, Kirito-kun's sister, and she was wide-eyed and shivering as she stumbled into the room.

'S-Suguha-chan!'

Asuna found it in herself to reply her, although she knew her voice was quivering as she tried to smile at the younger girl.

'Asuna-san... w-was...what you said, true?'

'W-What things, Suguha-chan?'

Even as Asuna prayed to herself that Suguha hadn't overheard the two of them, it was something that was doomed to failure as, Suguha looked to the side awkwardly, or sadly as she played with her hands.

'What... you said to... the man that just left, Asuna-san.'

Asuna felt the strength leave her even as she leaned against the back of her chair tiredly, this was really an exciting day packed with surprises. And she wasn't sure how she should start explaining what Suguha had overheard her.

'When... or what did you hear, Suguha-chan?'

It was a while before Asuna could manage a reply, and in the meantime, Suguha had taken the other seat next to Kirito-kun. Suguha swallowed nervously before saying that she had knocked on the door, but since no one had replied, had went in.

'I didn't mean to eavesdrop, really, Asuna-san! It was that... I overheard you saying that... you would die for Onii-chan... and then I...'

So Suguha had probably overheard her telling Sugou that she would rather die than get married to someone else? Or did she overhear how her onii-chan would probably kill himself because she get married?

Either way, Asuna felt her cheeks burn in embarrassment and she clapped her hands over her head for a moment before looking up awkwardly to look at Asuna. The younger girl was fidgeting too, her face flushed as well. But when they locked eyes again, Suguha swallowed before shaking her head.

'Asuna-san...what does that person mean by saying that he has Onii-chan's life in his hands? Is he saying the truth?'

Suguha asked softly even as Asuna found herself straightening her back while narrowing her eyes, it was a habit that she picked up during her time as the Vice-commander for her guild. Time for the vice-commander to go about her roles, there... this was perhaps not the best time for an emotional sharing session with the younger sister of her love.

'Yes, he is..'

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Asuna spent the next half an hour giving Sugha a general breakdown of what had happened before, what she had discovered with her friends, what their plans was, and of course, Sugou's own confession.

The younger girl's eyes simply got bigger the longer she spoke, and Asuna was feeling more than a little worried that Suguha's eyes would pop out from the many ridiculous things that she was telling her.

But of course, Asuna was more than perturbed that the biggest shocks for Suguha was that her Onii-chan had more than one girl after him at one point in time. Well, that was to be expected, Kirito-kun was more than attractive enough in his own right, and it didn't help that he was always willing to help others in need.

'Does onii-chan... really... met so many people in Sword art online?'

Suguha finally spoke after Asuna took break from her explanation of the situation to drink some water.

'Y-Yes, Suguha-chan... even if he tried to keep to himself and he played alone for a long time, Kirito-kun did meet a lot of people. Kirito-kun he... saved a lot of people too. You have to believe in your Onii-chan, Suguha-chan.'

Asuna smiled, but then her own smile got confused as Suguha shook her head, and said that that wasn't what she meant.

'Onii-chan, he's always alone... I never saw Onii-chan with his friends... I didn't think he has many of then.'

Suguha gave a weak smile before she smiled happily again.

'So I'm glad that Onii-chan made many friends in the game... if he's happy, then I'm happy too... I'm glad, that I was able to know that Onii-chan was happy there... I was always very worried, but I knew Onii-chan would be able to pull through. Onii-chan is strong after all.'

Suguha giggled weakly even as Asuna saw her fighting back tears, but those tears started falling for real when Asuna reached over to hug Suguha instead. She pressed the younger girl against her, comforting her even as she patted her back. Seeing her in that state made her remember what had happened when she woke up as well.

After she was done with her psychological analysis and was led back to her ward to rest, her family had gathered around her, thanking the gods that she was fine.

Asuna had missed her family, but to be honest, she hadn't missed her life before SAO. She hated who she had been like, how she had been satisfied to live the life that her mother wanted her to lead, how she had never done anything despite feeling so empty and restless all the time. Asuna had realized that she had not been truly living before SAO, and in the heat of combat, in that meaningless life-or-death game, she had found a reason to live for. And had found a person to live for. So, quite honestly, Asuna must admit that she felt a large amount of guilt that she had not realised that even if she had not missed her life, her parents had missed her, her brother had missed her... and she had not considered what they felt.

'Suguha-chan...'

Suguha's brother was not back, and even though this was cold comfort to her, it was still a manner of comfort for her, and her family to know that Kirito did not suffer in the game. Well, at least not in the manner that they had feared.

'We... we had many terrifying moments, and there are times that we thought we would not be able to come back here again... But, Suguha-chan. Your brother never once thought that, he knew that we would be coming back... and in the end, he was the one who had made it all happen. So, Suguha-chan, he will come back, I... will bring him back, no matter what.'

Asuna made a promise to Suguha, and the younger girl, who had been crying before, suddenly fidgeted, her hands reaching up to rub the tears away from her eyes, and then looked up at her.

'Asuna-san... you can save Onii-chan?'

'… Sugou says that he has your brother, Suguha-chan... and I think I know where he is.'

'T-Then, can't we go to the police?'

'The police won't believe us, and even if we did... we might be putting Kirito-kun in danger.'

Asuna answered softly, even as Suguha separated herself from her, this time to look at her in disbelief.

'T-Then, what... can we do? What will Asuna-san be doing?'

Suguha asked her fearfully even as Asuna smiled, this time pulling her phone from her pockets, and subsequently replaying the recording of the conversation she had with Sugou.

'A-Ah, then... with this we can.'

'Yes, we can do something... but besides that, I'm going to look for Kirito-kun myself.'

'Look for Onii-chan? Where, Asuna-san. Do you know where he is?'

Suguha really looked lost, and Asuna didn't blame here, there's just so many things to take note of today, that Asuna herself was also quite lost.

But she knew that this was the just beginning of her long journey.

'I think so, but even if it's just a small chance, I won't give that up. Actually.. that's not right.'

Asuna looked sheepish before scratching her head, and saying that she definitely knew where Kirito-kun was, but the problem was actually finding him.

'Where is he, Asuna-san? Tell me! Tell me!'

'In Alfiheim Online, Suguha-chan. He's somewhere in Alfheim Online.'

..

Recalling what had happened earlier in the hospital was enough to make Asuna feel extremely conflicted again. She was really... totally in love with Kirito-kun wasn't she? No, she shouldn't doubt that. Asuna had no ally right now, not even her own family, but then again... Asuna had been in that situation once didn't she, in Sword Art Online? There's no reason for her to hesitate now then.

She'll just have to explain things in a later time. Asuna tried to reassure herself when she heard someone knock on her door.

'Who is it? Is it you, mother? I... I don't want to be disturbed today.'

Asuna called out wearily even as she waited for the person to identify herself. She wondered who could it be, would it be her father? If it was him, she would have to apologize to him for the fall-out the day before. Even if he had not known the potential landmine that topic would raise, that did not mean that she could be so upset at him for it.

'Asuna, it's me...'

'Nii-chan?'

Asuna gave a soft murmur of surprise before she walked towards the door, unlocking it and smiling at her elder brother, Yuki Kouichirou. Asuna wasn't close to her brother, but they weren't distant, like how Kirito-kun was to Suguha. That said, the two of them had barely spoken after she had woken up, probably due to how he probably was still feeling guilty over how he had been the one who had caused her to go through all of the things in SAO in the first place.

But Asuna didn't blame him for that not really, sadly, she even if she had told him that, it didn't stick.

'I heard what you told mother, and father...'

Asuna gave a sad smile back even as her brother leaned against her door, studying her even as he fingered his own collar nervously. Unlike Asuna, who was a glass vase, he was one who had taken great strides to plot her own path, and not for the first time, Asuna felt jealous of her brother.

'… I'm proud of you, Asuna.'

His words caused Asuna to blink even as she gaped at her brother in surprise.

'I've never seen you stand up for yourself, and... I always hoped that you would. It's not for me to decide who you should marry, or who you want to marry... so I am supporting you, Asuna.'

Her brother's words made Asuna smile happily, and she even giggled when her brother added that whoever wanted to marry her, had to go through him first.

'No younger sister of mine will get married without me seeing the boy.'

He grinned even as Asuna continued to giggle, but the smile disappeared when Asuna stopped laughing and told him that she hadn't told him something too.

'What's that, Asuna?'

'That I never blamed you, nii-chan. For, what happened to me, was not your fault. I told you that before, but I don't think you believed me. So... Nii-chan... I'm happy that I went inside the game, that I played Sword Art Online, and that I went to Aincrad. It might sound crazy, but it's there that I met Kirito-kun, there that... I learned what I want to do with my life... I admit, that I was scared, and I experienced many horrible things... But, but... I also learnt lots as well, and I the people, the friends, the things that I learnt there, would not be possible because of you, Nii-chan.'

Asuna's words caused her brother to look pained, for his reply was that she shouldn't have gone through all that.

'If I hadn't lent you the Nervegear, you wouldn't have to... go through that, Asuna. I should have been there to protect you, instead I was the one who trapped you there.'

'And Nii-chan, I already said, that I am thankful for you... and, it's not your fault, you didn't know... it's all Kayaba Akihiko's fault. And... by supporting me here, now... you're the best brother ever.'

Asuna reached forward to give him a hug, even as she told him that she missed him too.

'I... I'm sorry, for not telling you that... brother...'

'Asuna...'

And the two of them spent some time talking about what had happened the week, before he had to excuse himself again.

'What are you going to do now, Asuna?'

'… I'm going to save my important person.'

Asuna answered seriously even as her brother raised one eyebrow, before sighing.

'… You will do that, won't you?'

'Yes, I will.'

Asuna smiled even as she reached for the game disc in her bag, a game disc that was given to her thanks to Suguha. It's time to go onwards, time to fly, time to save Kirito-kun!

Author's Notes: Thank you for your support thus far!