Hello, everyone. It's ArtLotus here. And you know I'm here to present you with the new chapter of Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. And Thanks to the ones who sent reviews about this Fanfic. I really appreciate it your reviews, thank you! Almost forgot those who follows me and favorite my Fanfic, I thank you for all your supports.
Well, enough with that, let's go on with the anime, shall we?
Oh, And I made a few changes in this chapter, check it out.
Presenting Alfheim Online: The Shinigami
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 7: The Truth about Alfheim
Alfheim, Neutral Territory Central Capital, Arun
"The World Tree..." Izayoi said staring up at the giant tree, that was next to the city of Arun.
"Yeah, this is Arun! The center of Alfheim, the biggest city in the world." Leafa explained as Izayoi nodded.
"We're finally here." Izayoi said with a smile, as Yui flew in right beside Izayoi.
"I've never been to a city of this size." Yui stated.
"Me, neither. The ore light looks like stardust." Leafa said as suddenly they heard a voice.
"The server will be down today, January 22nd, from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM for scheduled maintenance. Players are asked to log out ten minutes in advance." The voice announced.
"I reiterate: The server will be down today, January 22nd, from 4:00 AM to 7:00 AM..." The voice repeated.
Leafar yawned with her left hand covering her mouth, while the other was raised to the side, showing her tiredness.
"That's all for today, huh? Let's log out at an inn." Leafa said turning to Izayoi, who wore a frown after hearing the announcement.
"Yeah..." He said as Leafa stared at him in confusion.
"Well, let's find an inn. I blew all my cash, so nowhere too pricey." Izayoi said as Leafa look at him with her hands besides her hips.
"All your cash? But you said you've still got more, when you decided to show off by giving all your money to Sakuya. You should have saved money for an inn." Leafa scolded as Izayoi laughed.
"I'm just kidding. Don't worry, I've still got money." Izayoi said waving his dismissal, as Leafa turns to Yui.
"You heard your Papa. Is there a cheap inn nearby?" Leafa asked as Yui look at her.
"Hmm... There's a super-cheap one down there." Yui said pointing her hand towards the cheap inn, as Leafa tilted her head with an awkward smile.
"S-Super cheap, huh?" Leafa said awkwardly.
"Then, let's go. I need a rest after all that fighting." Izayoi said as he went ahead.
"Ah, slow down, Izayoi-kun..." Leafa said catching up to him, as she then stare at the top of Arun, feeling the gentle breeze pushing her hair.
At the top of the World Tree
Asuna ran through the branch pathway and spotted a cave-like entrance.
"That's..." She mutters as she sneakily walked towards it.
Inside the cave, Asuna spotted a large metal door and placed her hand on the keypad, sliding the door open. The sudden movement frightened Asuna, causing her to run and hide. After a few seconds, she took a peek at the door and saw a long and brightly-lit hallway. She then walked through it.
Real World
Kazuto was washing his face, until Izayoi came walking towards him.
"Morning, Izayoi." Kazuto greeted as Izayoi smile.
"Morning." Izayoi replied as he then turns around, spotting Suguha standing in front of the porch, while rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, Sugu." Izayoi greeted as Suguha turns at him, as she slightly blushed.
"M-Morning, Izayoi-kun. Morning, Onii-chan." Suguha said as she yawns.
"You look really tired. What time did you go to bed last night?" Izayoi asked as Kazuto nodded in agreement.
"Lets see... Probably around four?" Suguha answered.
"A kid shouldn't stay up that late. What were you doing?" Kazuto asked as he filled up the wooden bucket, while Izayoi look at Suguha.
"Um, I was probably on the internet." Suguha said with her finger under her chin.
Kazuto glanced at her, "Don't spend too much time on it." Kazuto advised. "Not that I'm the one to talk." Kazuto said touching the water below him.
"Hey, Sugu. Turn around." Kazuto called out, as a mischievous smirk was formed on his face.
"Eh?" Suguha asked.
"Just do it." Kazuto said as Suguha turn around.
"Like this?" She asked as Izayoi knowing what would happen, immediately grab Suguha before Kazuto could pour the cold water from the bucket down towards her track suit.
"You know that's a little mean." Izayoi said as Kazuto sheepishly scratched his head, while Suguha look up towards her savior.
Alfheim
"How far does this go?" Asuna wondered cautiously walking through the hallway until she came across a map.
"Is this a map? Somewhere..." Asuna said glancing left and right.
"There's definitely a console somewhere where I can log out from." Asuna stated as she open her mouth, spotting an area which said,
10051 - Experiment Hunger
"Experiment? Asuna said as she recalled Sugou Nobuyuki's plans, leaving her to stay silence.
Back in the real world, Izayoi and Suguha were making food, while Kazuto sat in a chair staring at them cooking.
Suguha puffed out her cheeks, unhappy with Kazuto's prank, as she turns to Kazuto with a glare, that made Kazuto flinched in fright.
"Onii-chan, you should buy me a green tea shaved ice and a raspberry parfait to apologise. Be sure to, okay?" Suguha demanded as Izayoi stifle a laugh at the order, while Kazuto stood in surprise of the order.
"But I didn't dump that water on you. So why should I buy that to apologize?" Kazuto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's a good thing Izayoi was there." Kazuto recalled glancing sideways, as Suguha glare at him again.
"Kazuto, you should watch what you said." Izayoi advised as a mischievous smirk formed on his face, while Kazuto turns to him and immediately his eyes widen upon seeing Izayoi's smirk, which indicates trouble.
"I-I'm just kidding." Kazuto said waving his hands furiously in dismissal.
"Good. Then you'll have to buy Sugu what she wants, after what you nearly did... But planned to." Izayou said with a smile, as Kazuto sighs in defeat.
"Okay, I'll buy that green tea shaved ice and raspberry parfait." Kazuto said as Suguha turns to Izayoi with a smile.
"Thank you, Izayoi-kun." She stated as Izayoi smiled at her.
"Anything for my..." Izayoi leaned in on her ear. "Precious girl." Izayoi whispered as Suguha blushed crimson from the close contact and for his charming words.
Izayoi then pulled back as Suguha stood there blushing, while Kazuto stared at them in confusion.
Suguha shook her head to control her blush, as she then look down in embarrassment. After a while, she look and breath a deep breath, after having her blush under control.
She then look at Kazuto after recalling his agreement on buying her green tea shaved ice and her raspberry parfait. "Okay, then. Then want to get it today?" Suguha asked as Kazuto thinks a bit on whether he has the time for that.
"Hmm... I think I can't. Not today, of course. I'm sorry." Kazuto said with a apologetic look, while Suguha wore a frown on her face.
"Okay..." Suguha said as Izayoi put his hand on her shoulder, as Suguha look at him.
"Don't worry, Sugu. I have to do something in the afternoon. And I'm planning to go to the hospital in the morning. And since you don't have anything to do, why don't you come with me to the hospital? I'm sure Asuna will be happy." Izayoi asked with a smile, as Suguha was saddened after hearing that.
"Sugu..." Izayoi said as Suguha look up at him with a fake smile, trying to hide her sad frown.
"I'm here with you. So, don't fake a frown." Izayoi said after sensing that she faked a smile, to hide her sadness from visiting Asuna.
Suguha sighs looking down, as she then look up towards Izayoi with a frown.
"Okay, Izayoi-kun..." Suguha said as a small smile graced her features, which Izayoi replied with a smile.
"Now that's the Suguha I know." Izayoi stated as Suguha stifle a laugh.
"You know the way you two, now." Kazuto said as a hand was under his chin. "You could make a cute couple." Kazuto comment as Suguha blushed while Izayoi just smiled at his statement.
"Maybe... Maybe not." Izayoi said as Suguha shook her again regaining her composure, as she walk past the kitchen and walked towards the diner table.
"All right, let's eat!" Suguha said placing the salad she made down onto the table.
"Yeah." Izayoi said as he watched Suguha with a smile.
Meanwhile, Asuna went to the "Experiment" room and in it were many pillar-like objects and each object was projecting the hologram of a human brain. She then hears a beeping noise coming from her left, as she turns to it, seeing one of the captives brains hologram was turning red.
"This is..." Asuna said as she recalled Sugou's plan.
"By expanding the brain's control regions, it could be possibly to control thought, emotion, even memory." Sugou explained as the hologram brain displayed negative emotions, that caused the brain to glow red.
Suddenly, a vision of Sugou holding a hologram brain inside his palm, as he destroyed it. Asuna gasped covering her mouth with both of her hands, as she step back.
"They're suffering!" Asuna said as she turns around, as rows of captives brains could be seen all around Asuna.
"All of these? Awful... How awful!" Asuna said in mind as she gritted her teeth in frustration.
"He won't get away with this!. No, I won't let him!" Asuna vowed as she tighten her hands that were on her chest.
"Just wait a little. I'll save you, okay?" Asuna said to one of the captives brain.
" Suddenly two slug-like monsters entered the room, "Now, how it's going?" One of the slug asked.
"He's having another dream of Spika-chan." The other slug answered as the two slug look down on one of the brain hologram.
"The B-13 and B-14 fields are off the scale. Same with 16. High excitement." The slug on the right stated, as the slug on the left turns to him.
"Sure it isn't a coincidence? It's only happened three times." The left slug exclaimed.
"No, it's due to the emotional inducement circuits. If it's happening at this rate, he's over the threshold." The right slug explained.
"For now, we'll put him on the list for continuous monitoring." The left slug said as Asuna who hid behind one of the pillars, tried to sneak away.
Back in the real world...
"Hey, Izayoi-kun, what about school?" Suguha asked as she and Izayoi were on a bus stop station. Then, the bus arrived beside the station, while Izayoi and Suguha gets on the bus.
"School?" Izayoi asked with a laugh.
"Weren't you supposed to start high school two years ago?" Suguha asked as she and Izayoi gets on the bus and they sat at the far end of the bus.
"Well... They said something about using one of the city schools that shut down as a special school, for the students from SAO." Izayoi explained, wearing as white scarf around his neck. Also, he wore his black jacket and black pants.
"We are departing." A voice said as the bus started to move from the station.
"You can get in without any exams, and if you graduate, they'll let you take the university entrance exam." Izayoi explained leaning his back against his seat.
"Oh, I see. That sounds like a good deal..." Suguha said as she look down.
"But they'll be putting lots of different students together." She stated with a frown.
"We all spent two years trapped within a deadly game. They don't know what it did to our minds. Maybe they want to observe us." Izayoi said with shrug of his shoulder, as Suguha turns to him in concern.
"Seriously?" Suguha said.
"But if i wanted to attend a normal high school now, I'd have to spend the whole year at cram school. But if I wanted that, I'm sure I'd have the choice." Izayoi exclaimed with a sigh.
"I'm sure you'd do fine. Your grades are always excellent." Suguha stated as Izayoi smiled.
"Yeah. I could spend one week at cram school, if I wanted to attend a normal high school." Izayoi explained as Suguha eyes widen surprised.
"Really? But that's a lot of tests in just one week. Are you sure you can do it?" Suguha asked as Izayoi stifle a laugh.
"I'm sure I can do that, even if I haven't studied for two years. My Kaa-san brought me all around the world, and teaches me all of the subjects that I would soon be learning. It was hard at times, but eventually I got it. Even though I was a little kid at the time." Izayoi explained as Suguha stare at him in awe and surprise.
"But you're just a kid back then." Suguha said as Izayoi nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, but it was fun." Izayoi said looking out from the window, as Suguha nodded.
"Then, I can be your tutor!" Suguha exclaimed excitedly.
"Then, maybe you'll help me on information processing and advanced math a little?" Izayoi said with a sly smirk, as Suguha step back, didn't know that she have to tutor the hard subjects.
Back in Alfheim
In the experiment room atop the World Tree, Asuna noticed a floating black cube.
"That's... A system console?" Asuna stated as she look back at the two slugs.
"Good, they haven't noticed me yet." Asuna said in mind as she then turns to the black cube.
She ran to the console and slid the card slot, "Please!" Asuna said siliding the card slot before many windows began to pop up, which a smile garced her features.
Asuna looked through the window menu and noticed "Transport" and the window asking to log out.
Logging out will terminate all services
IF YOU DO NOTHING, THE SERVER WILL AUTOMATICALLY LOG OUT AFTER 2 MINUTES WAIT.
Cancel Log out
However, before she was able to confirm the log out, one of the slugs approached her from behind.
Back at the real world
Izayoi and Suguha had arrived at Asuna's hospital, as Izayoi held a warm smile just by looking at it.
"What a big school." Suguha commented looking up at the magnificent hospital.
"It's amazing inside, too. Like a hotel." Izayoi explained as the two headed inside the hospital.
"Sugu, what's wrong?" Izayoi asked as Suguha turns to him, after looking unsure of herself of meeting with Asuna.
"It's nothing, Izayoi-kun." Suguha asked as the two were in the elevator heading up towards the floor where Asuna's room was.
"Don't worry, Sugu. And turn that frown upside down, will you?" Izayoi asked smiling at her, as Suguha briefly nodded as a small smile appear on her face.
The elevator doors opens up at the 12th floor as the two gets off, and head straight for Asuna's room.
"Yuuki Asuna-san." Suguha pronounced on the plat name beside Asuna's room.
"Her character name shared her real name. Not many poeple does that." Suguha stated as Izayoi turns to her with impressed look.
"You know a lot about it, Sugu. Asuna's the only one I know that ever do that, except me." Izayoi said as Suguha look at him with a surprised look but she hid it before he could see it.
"Izayoi-kun, you use the same character name?" Suguha asked as now she could finally believe that Izayoi was playing Alfheim.
"Yeah, I don;t want to use a different name than myself." Izayoi answered.
"Why?" Suguha asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I want every strong players to know my name after I beat them." He simply stated as Suguha stifle a laugh at his simple reason.
"Well, let's get inside, shall we?" Izayoi aksed offering his hand at Suguha, as she accept by taking his hand into hers.
The two walked inside the room, and stood before Asuna's bed.
"Let me introduce to you, this lovely girl is Asuna. Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, Lightning Flash Asuna." Izayoi introduced as he gestured his hand towards Suguha.
"And this is Kazuto's sister, Suguha." Izayoi introduced.
"N-Nice to meet you, Asuna-san." Suguha greeted with a bow.
Meanhile in Alfheim
Asuna was caught by the two slugs and was pulled away from the system console. She was hanging upside down as the left slug look at her with its two eyes.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The right slug asked as Asuna look at them nervously.
"Hey, put me down. I'm a friend of Sugou-san. He was letting me look around. I'm leaving now." Asuna claimed.
"No one notified me about this. What about you?" The right slug asked to the other slug.
"Nothing. He wouldn't want outsiders seeing this anyway." The left slug answered.
"Wait a second." The right slug said as it take a closer look at Asuna. "You're that girl that Sugou-chan keeps at the top of the World Tree." The right slug said
"I've heard about that. It's so unfair that the boss gets to have all the fun with the cute girl." The left slug as Asuna then tried to reach the log out button with her foot, but was restrained.
"Come on, keep still." The left slug said,
"Stop it! Let me go, monster!" Asuna shouted.
"That's so mean... We're in the midst of an experiment on deep-sense mapping." The left slug stated.
"You're scientists, aren't you? Aren't you ashamed, participating in this illegal, unethical experiment?" Asuna asked.
"I think it's more ethical than sticking electrical probes into an exposed animal brain. They're all just dreaming." The right slug stated.
"That's right. Sometimes, we show them the most wonderful dreams. I wish I could have been them." The left slug exclaimed as Asuna narrows her eyes at him.
"You're insane." She said.
"The boss is on a trip, right? Get back to the other side and see what he wants us to do." The left slug ordered as the other slug deflated.
"Fine..." The other slug said as he turns to the left slug. "Hey, don't have any fun while I'm gone." The right slug stated.
"Got it, got it. Get going." The left slug said gesturing to him to go. The right slug then press the log out button, as he disappear.
"Release me! Let me go! Let me out!" Asuna shouted.
"I can't! The boss would kill me!" The slug said as he grins.
"Just forget it. Why don't we enjoy some electro-drugs? I'm sick of dolls." The slug stated as one on its tentacle lick Asuna's cheek, as Asuna wore a frighten look.
The tentacle wrapped around Asuna's body, "Stop it!" Asuna shouted in despair, as slowly she was glowing yellow. The slug ignored it, as it continues to molest Asuna with its tentacle wrapping itself around Asuna's legs, "What are you doing?" Asuna said feeling as if the tentacles weren't touching her at all, but she was still disgusted by it.
"Izayoi-kun." Asuna said in mind, as the tentacles had wrapped all around Asuna's body.
"Stop it!" Asuna said as one of the tentacle went near her face as she bits it, and then the slug was suddenly blasted of from Asuna.
With the slug completely blasted across the room, Asuna immediately press the Log Out button, as she disappear completely.
Real World
"Sugu, can you wait outside for a bit? " Izayoi asked looking at Suguha.
"Okay..." Suguha said noticing that he wanted to be alone with Asuna, as she nodded and walked out of the room, leaving Izayoi and the bedridden Asuna alone.
Izayoi extend his hand and slowly grasp Asuna's hand putting her hand inside his. He slowly massaged her knuckles, as a sad smile spread across his face.
"Asuna..." Izayoi whispers as a tear escaped his eye and drop onto Asuna's hand.
Feeling that he had said his goodbye and sensing that it was time to leave, he slowly stood up from his chair.
"Bye, Asuna..." Izayoi said as he slowly let go of his hold on Asuna's hand, as he turns around to leave. But before that could happen, a hand mysteriously grip his arm from leaving.
"Izayoi-kun, don't leave..." A voice said as Izayoi's eyes widen, knowing who the owner of the voice is. He slowly but surely turns around to face Asuna, who surprisingly was awake from her deep slumber.
"Izayoi-kun..." Asuna said as Izayoi stood there with a surprised look.
"Asuna?" Izayoi asked as Asuna smiles at him and nods.
Asuna slowly pulled out her NerveGear from her head, as she look at Izayoi who slowly sat beside her bed.
The two stare at each other, as tears begin to shed from Asuna's eyes, finally seeing Izayoi after a long time. Asuna then instantly hug Izayoi, to which he hugs back with a smile on his face.
"I miss you, Izayoi-kun." Asuna whispered as tears kept streaming down her cheeks, as it fell onto Izayoi jacket.
"I miss you too, Asuna." Izayoi said with a soft smile.
The two pulled away from the hug, and stare at each other, as Izayoi slowly leans in towards Asuna's lips, to which she replied by closing the distance between them. Time seems to slow down a bit, as the two shared a kiss after a long time of separating.
Asuna smiled under the kiss, as she finally was able to taste Izayoi's lips against her again. The atmosphere around them was lovely and quiet, with them being reunited again with each other.
The two then pulled away from the kiss, as they laid their foreheads against each other while staring lovingly at one another.
After a while, Asuna pulled away as a frown was smeared on her face, "Izayoi-kun," She said looking at him.
"Asuna, what's wrong?" Izayoi asked as he lay his hand on top of hers.
"We've got a problem..." Asuna stated as she started her story from the beginning till the end, to where she escaped from the slugs.
"Sugou..." Izayoi mutters as he clench his teeth from anger. Asuna sensing that he had a conflict with the word Sugou, rest her head on top of his chest.
"Izayoi-kun..." Asuna exclaimed trying to calm him down as Izayoi sighs, ignoring Sugou for the time.
Izayoi wore a frown, as he realized that in order to exposed Sugou's plan, he'd have to send Asuna back to the game and the statement saddened him.
"We have to do this, Izayoi-kun." Asuna said sadly already knowing that she have to get back in the game, but after reuniting with Izayoi, she doesn't want to.
"Asuna, it's the only way. We can't always call the police to solve the problem. I don't know if they'll even believe us." Izayoi said as Asuna nodded, understanding that this is the only way to save thousands of lives, and their lives lays in their hands.
"Izayoi-kun," Asuna called out from his chest.
"Hmm?" Izayoi asked.
"You'll come and save me, right?" Asuna asked as Izayoi wore a smile.
"I'll save you, no matter what. So, just hang in there, alright?" Izayoi asked as Asuna smile and nods.
Asuna then pulled away from his chest as she look to the side, seeing her NerveGear laying on the bed beside her. She slowly grabs it and held it in front of her, but instead she look at Izayoi who smiled at her.
"Go. I'll save you." Izayoi assured her, as he leans in closer towards Asuna and kissed her forehead, surprising her. Asuna look at him, little surprise by the kiss but she appreciate it with all her heart. She breath a deep breath, as she slowly puts on the NerveGear, while Izayoi look down at her.
"Link start." The two of them said at the same time, as Asuna was transported to Alfheim.
Izayoi stood up from the bed, while he look at Asuna with a smile.
"Sugou," Izayoi said turning around to leave. "You're going to pay." Izayoi said with a grin, as he cracked his knuckles.
"Izayoi-kun?" Suguha called out as the doors open, and she walked inside the room.
"Oh, Sugu. Did you wait too long?" Izayoi asked, feeling guilty that he took too long, while Suguha waits outside for him.
"No, I got a drink from the vending machine earlier. And I got lost trying to find it." Suguha exclaimed as Izayoi laugh, to which Suguha lightly glares at him.
"What so funny?" Suguha asked as she puffed out her cheeks.
"Nothing, Let's go home." Izayoi said walking past her as he exit the room.
"Hey, wait up!" Suguha said catching up to him.
Alfheim
Asuna then appeared in the same room, with all the captives hologram brains.
She then look at the slug who was still out cold from the blast that send him through a wall.
"Uh... I forgot I turned off the pain observer." The slug said as he started to wake up, as Asuna lay on the ground faking that she was unconscious.
"The girl..." The slug said looking the unconscious girl who was on the ground. He breath a relief breath, "The boss would kill me." He stated as he slugged his way towards the girl.
Asuna then started to wake up from the fake unconscious state, as she tried to reach for the console, but again she was restrained by the tentacles.
Then, the other slug appear beside him, "What are you doing?" The right slug asked.
"Nothing." The left slug lied as he turns to the other slug. "What did the boss say?" He asked.
"He was pissed. He said to return her to the birdcage above the lab, change the pass, and keep an eye on her 24/7." The right slug answered.
"And I was just about to have some fun... Let's at least walk her back instead of teleporting her. I want to enjoy this feeling a little more." The left slug lied again, as he knows that if he touches her like he did earlier he would be blasted off.
"You're having fun, aren't you?" The right slug stated looking at the other slug.
The two slugs then heard something from Asuna, as they look at her, "Come on, no more struggling." The left slug stated as he put her on his back with his tentacles.
"I said release me!" Asuna said as she watch the black cube getting further and further away from her.
"Izayoi-kun..."
"She's so pretty. It's a shame that she's still asleep." Suguha said as she and Izayoi were outside the hospital.
"Yeah." Izayoi said with a nod agreeing with her, as he look at her with a smile.
"But don't be sad, Sugu." Izayoi said as Suguha raised an eyebrow.
"Sad? I'm not sad." She answered as a frown appear on her face
"Don't worry. As I said, you will always be my precious girl." Izayoi said smiling at Suguha, and to prove his point, he leans in closer to a surprise Suguha, and kiss her on the lips, to which Suguha kissed back.
The feeling Suguha felt while kissing Izayoi, was never without a doubt was Love. The feeling of love is what she felt from Izayoi's lips. In her mind, she throws away all the doubtful thought that she might have, regarded Izayoi not loving her. As in front of her, she now knows that Izayoi truly loved her by how he kiss her right now.
Izayoi then pulled back, "Sugu, I'll never forget about you. And I mean it. So, throw all that thought you have in mind about us, okay?" Izayoi asked with loving eyes.
I already did." Suguha said looking up at him, as she rubbed one of her teary eyes with her hand.
Izayoi smiled a soft smile, as he pulled Suguha's hand from her eye, as he brushed her tears away with his thumb.
"That's great. Now why don't go home?" Izayoi asked as Suguha nodded with a smile, as he reached inside his pocket to pulled out his phone, which was a smartphone.
He scroll down his list of contacts, trying to find the number he was looking for to get the two of them home. Then, Izayoi stop scrolling as a smile appeared on his face, when he came in contact with a familiar number.
He tap the number with his thumb, as he raised his phone up to his right ear, while Suguha who stood beside him stared curiously at him.
"Hello? Are you busy? Can you send us home? We're at the hospital. Don't worry, we can wait. Yeah, thanks." Izayoi said over the phone as he brought his phone down from his ear and press the hung up button.
"Who were you calling, Izayoi-kun?" Suguha asked as Izayoi turns to her.
"An old friend. He'll send us home. So, we have to wait." Izayoi answered as Suguha nodded in understanding.
After a while waiting outside the hospital, a black car parked by the side of the hospital, which was in front of Izayoi and Suguha.
"Izayoi-sama." A young man said bowing his head at Izayoi. He wears a very standard old European gentleman outfit with a hat and he wore round rimmed spectacles.
"Baron. It's nice to see you again." Izayoi replied with a smile, as the young man named Baron bowed his head.
"It's nice to see you again, Izayoi-sama." Baron stated as he turns to Suguha, causing a smile to appear on his face.
"What might we have here? Is Izayoi-sama taking this girl as his date this evening?" Baron teased as Suguha blushed while Izayoi clenched his fist to punch him for his joke.
"No, we're just visiting Asuna." Izayoi stated nicely as Baron chuckle.
"Right... Well, why don't we go?" Baron asked as he opens the back door of his car, and gestured his hand to come in.
"Sugu, you go first." Izayoi said taking Suguha's hand, and leading her inside the car first. After she went inside, Izayoi followed her by coming inside the car and sitting next to her.
"Young love..." Baron said as he chuckles, and closed the door. He then went inside the car, sitting on the driver seat, as he put on his seatbelt across his chest.
"Put on your seatbelts. Safety first." Baron advised as Izayoi and Suguha put on their seatbelts.
Baron smiled, as he look up at the mirror above him, to see if any cars were behind him. After he checked that there weren't any cars, he slowly drove off from the hospital.
"Asuna..." Izayoi whispers looking out in the window.
"Just hang on..."
In Alfheim
At the top of the World Tree, the slugs locked Asuna back in her cage.
"Bye." The left slug said as he and the other slug turn to leave.
"Let's play again if we have the chance." The left slug stated as the two slugs left.
Asuna look out from the birdcage, "I won't lose, Izayoi-kun. I will never give up. I will escape this place!" Asuna said in mind as she then revealed an admin card in her hand, which she had taken from the system console when the scientists weren't looking.
"We're here!" Baron said arriving at Kazuto house, which Izayoi showed him along the way.
"Thanks, Baron." Izayoi stated as he and Suguha pulled out their seatbelts.
"Thank you, Baron-san." Suguha said as she opens the door, and step outside of the car.
After, Suguha had gone out of the car, Baron look up at the mirror that was reflecting Izayoi, who was about to step outside of the car. "Canaria is very worried about you, Izayoi." Baron said as Izayoi turns to him with a frown.
"I know. But tell her not to worry too much. And tell her I miss her." Izayoi said as he step out of the car, while Baron smiled and nodded towards his request.
"Well, I better go." Baron exclaimed looking behind at Izayoi, who nodded and closed the door to the car.
Baron then drove off, while Izayoi and Suguha look at him till he was gone.
"Let's go inside. I'm tired." Izayoi yawned as Suguha nodded in agreement. The two then went inside the house to rest, after a long day of visiting.
At the bottom of World Tree, in the city of Alne, Leafa logged into ALfheim Online at the inn they logged off prior to the server maintenance.
She got up from the bed and sat by the side of the bed, looking a bit sad.
"Leafa?" Izayoi said as Leafa turns to him.
"Are you okay?" Izayoi asked kneeling in front of her.
Leafa smiled a happy smile, as she suddenly hug Izayoi tackling them both to the ground.
"Leafa?" Izayoi asked with raised eyebrow.
"You know, Izayoi-kun... I... I... I've fallen in love. I'm sorry, saying all this to someone I just met." Suguha said crying tears of joy, while Izayoi just looked at her.
"It's against etiquette to bring real world problems here." Leafa stated as Izayoi smiled.
"Whether here or in the real world, you can cry when it hurts or happy. Just because it's a game there's no rule that you can't express your feelings." Izayoi said as Leafa turns to him as tears were still streaming down Leafa's cheeks.
"Izayoi-kun..." Leafa said as she slowly leans her face towards Izayoi.
"Leafa?" Izayoi asked surprised by her action.
"Can I?" Leafa asked closing the distance between them, as she pressed her lips against Izayoi, wrapping her hands around Izayoi's neck.
Izayoi's eyes widen at the unexpected kiss, but he soon indulge it by kissing her back while wrapping his hands around her.
After a while, Leafa finally realized that she was kissing Izayoi, she instantly pulled back leaving Izayoi surprised.
"U-Um... I-I-I'm sorry!" Leafa said as Izayoi waved his hand in dismissal.
"It's nothing." Izayoi said as Leafa who didn't know what to do, bows her head in shame as a frown made its way on her face.
"What do you think you're doing, Leafa? Get yourself together, you're not Suguha here!" Leafa stated in her mind, shaking her head furiously.
"Leafa, are you okay?" Izayoi said putting his hand on her shoulder, as Leafa look up at him with an ashamed look.
"Izayoi-kun, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me." Leafa reasoned as Izayoi held up his hand to stop her.
"Leafa, don't worry. I kissed you too, so that made me feel bad too. But, don't blame yourself for this." Izayoi comforted her with his words, as Leafa breath a relief sigh.
"Really?" Leafa asked looking up at him, with sad eyes.
"Yeah. And I really like your lips, now that I've tasted it." Izayoi joked as Leafa playfully hit him on the arm, while she lightly glare at him, causing him to laugh. Leafa look at him laughing, as she stifle a laugh and then she laughed joining him.
"Now that's the Leafa I know. So, are you okay now?" Izayoi asked with a smile as Leafa nodded in appreciation.
I'm okay. Thanks, Izayoi-kun. You're nice, you know?" Leafa asked as Izayoi smiled.
"Well, I can't let you be sad, can I?" Izayoi asked as Leafa nodded in appreciation.
"Want to log out for today? I think I can make it the rest of the way myself." Izayoi said as Leafa shook her head.
"No... I've come this far. I'll go the rest of the way." Leafa said as she immediately stood up from bed, and turns around to face Izayoi, as she extend her hand towards him.
"Now, let's go." Leafa said as Izayoi took her hand and stood up from the bed.
"Yui, are you there?" Izayoi asked as Yui magically appear on his shoulder, with a yawn.
"Good morning, Papa and Leafa-san." She stated.
"Morning, Yui-chan. Hey, I was wondering yesterday... Do Navi-Pixies sleep at night?" Leafa asked as Yui shook her head.
"Of course not. But when Papa's not here, I shut down my input circuits, and process accumulated data. It could be considered similar to human sleep." Yui explained.
"But you just yawned..." Leafa stated.
"That's what humans do during their boot-up sequence, right? On average, Papa's last for for eight seconds." Yui said as she flew up between Leafa and Izayoi.
"You don't have to be strange." Izayoi said as Leafa stifle a laugh.
"Let's head out." Izayoi said as the three left the inn and out to Arun.
"There are tons of people here." Leafa commented looking at the players that were walking through the streets of Arun.
"I guess it really is the center of Alfheim." Izayoi said as he and Leafa were walking through the streets.
"It seems all that all the fairy races from around the continent are here." Yui explained sitting on Izayoi shoulder.
The Leafa, Kirito and Yui walked towards the base of the World Tree and gazed at awe.
"So that's the World Tree." Izayoi stated.
"Yeah. Seeing it up close is amazing." Leafa said in agreement
"Isn't there a city up there? And also..." Izayoi said as Leafa decided to answer.
"The Fairy King Oberon lives there with the light fairies, the Alf. And they say the first race to meet with the king will become Alfs." Leafa explained.
"You can't climb up it?" Izayoi asked.
"The area around the trunk is off-limits, so you can't climb it. And your wings' flight limit would expire long before you'd have made it up." Leafa exclaimed.
"I heard that a bunch of people passed the limit by launching off each other's shoulders..." Izayoi said as Leafa turns to him sheepishly.
"Oh, you heard about that. They made it close to the branches. But the GMs freaked out and patched it. Now there's a wall just above the clouds." Leafa stated.
"I see..." Izayoi said as he then turns to Leafa.
"Let's head to the trunk for now." Izayoi said as he walk ahead.
"Yeah, got it." Leafa said as the three went further to Arun.
Leafa pointed her hand towards a gate ahead of them, "Once you pass through that gate, you're at the world's heart, the central district of Arun." Leafa stated as the two continued walking towards tha gate.
Izayoi and Leafa slowly passed the gate, as Yui suddenly came out of Izayoi's pocket.
"Yui, what's wrong?" Izayoi asked.
"Mama..." Yui said as Izayoi's eyes widen, while Leafa looked surprise.
"Mama is... here." Yui stated as Izayoi look at her.
"Yui, are you sure?" Izayoi asked.
"I'm certain. This player ID belongs to coordinates are right above us!" Yui pointed out.
"Asuna!" Izayoi said in mind looking up, as he grit his teeth and suddenly his wings appear on his back.
Izayoi then crouched down a little, "Izayoi-kun." Leafa was cut off as Izayoi blasted off rapidly towards the sky.
"Hold it! Izayoi-kun!" Leafa yelled as Izayoi continued to head upwards towards the tree.
"Izayoi-kun!"
To Be Continued...
Next Time:
Grand Quest
Now that's the end, nice cliffhanger, right? I think so too. Well, if you had questions concerning Character Appear such as Baron. I can answer it for you.
Baron is well... a old friend of Izayoi. And he is loyal to Canaria as writen in the wiki. And that's your answer. Oh, and he likes to tease Izayoi as you can read from the story above you.
Well, as always I'll have to go, I have a test to study and i think I can't update for a whole week or so. So, I apologize in advance if I can't update this week. Well, I'll see you soon, Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!