Hello, everybody! It's ArtLotus here! I'm here to tell you about the new chapter of the Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. I'm sorry that I haven't updated this story for a long time. I was really busy trying to finish up A Problem Devil, New. Other than that fact, I had to juggle my real world also. So, I really don't have the free time I thought I have.
But I'm here now, and I want to tell you that please continue to support this story because I noticed that some readers had favorited The Thousand Blades and Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. So, I hope to all of you readers that you will continue to wait for other chapters of this series. Thank you very much.
Anyway, without further ado, I present to you Alfheim Online: The Shinigami
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!
Chapter 16: Alfheim Online: Extra Edition
"Yui-chan, you can't show your swimsuit to Papa yet! You have to wait!" Asuna called out which could be heard from outside the room she and Yui were in.
"But I want to show it to Papa…" Yui said sadly as Asuna smiled down at her reassuringly.
"You will. But not now, we have to pack everything first." Asuna said as Yui pouted before nodding towards her mother. "Anyway, you can show your swimsuit to Papa at the school pool as a surprise, okay? How's that sound?" She asked as Yui look up at her and smiled.
"We can surprise Papa!" Yui smiled as Asuna smiled back, happy to see her daughter happy.
Grabbing the duffel bag over her shoulder, Asuna gestured Yui to get her own duffel bag before they walk out of the room and walk downstairs, to which they saw Izayoi and Canaria talking in the living room.
"Drive safely, alright? You're not the only one in the car. You have a beautiful wife and a adorable daughter, so you should be responsible for their safety, you hear me?" Canaria advised as Izayoi smirk and catch the car keys that his mother threw towards him.
"When did I ever do wrong?"
"By making people mad that you always win in tournaments." Canaria smiled as Izayoi dig his right hand in his pocket.
"There isn't any rule against that, right?" He asked as Canaria shook her head in amusement before she turns towards Asuna and Yui, who had walked down the stairs and was walking towards them with a duffel bag on each of their shoulders. "Good morning, you two! Did you sleep well for today?" She asked as Asuna and Yui stop to stand in front of her.
"Fortunately, yes. Yui-chan couldn't stop talking about learning to swim today." Asuna said as Canaria nods in understanding before she look at the smiling Yui.
"Is that so? Well, Yui-chan, you have to do what your Mama says when she teaches you to swim, okay?" Canaria asked as Yui nodded. "And always be careful, alright?" She added as Yui nods.
"Okay, Obaa-san!" Yui responded cheerfully as Canaria smiled before she looks at Izayoi, who was wearing a brown jacket over his white shirt with a pair of black pants and shoes.
"Remember what I say." She said as Izayoi nodded before he look at Asuna and stretches his hand towards her bag, to which she gives the duffel bag to him.
"Thank you, Izayoi-kun." Asuna smiled as Izayoi smiled back before he looks at Yui and stretches his free hand out to her.
"Let's go, Yui. We have to put the bags in the car." He said as Yui smiled and grab his hand before the two walk through the front door, leaving both Asuna and Canaria.
"Don't worry about Izayoi-kun." Asuna said looking at Canaria who look at her before she smiled.
"I know. But it's a mother intuition to worry. That trait is always throughout all the mothers, including yours, Asuna." Canaria said as Asuna nodded in understanding. "Your mother told me to say to take care of your husband and daughter from now on."
Smiling at her, Asuna nods, "I will. I'll do my very best."
"That's the spirit." Canaria responded before she grabbed her hands together, much to Asuna's confusion. "Have fun, alright? Don't think about other stuff today other than having the best moment of your life with your friends and your family, because that's how memories are made of. They are made out of the sweetest and most fun moments we ever had in our lives." She stated as Asuna smiled and nodded.
"I'll have fun. I won't think about anything else." Asuna shook her head at the last sentence before Canaria let go of her hands and gestured her to go outside.
"They're waiting for you. You can't keep them to wait." Canaria said as Asuna nodded before the two walk out of the front door to see both Izayoi and Yui inside the car, looking at them through the front window. "See? I told you." She exclaimed as Asuna smiled and bows her head a little at Canaria.
"We'll be going." She said as she walk towards the front door of the car and climb inside before closing the door.
Turning the gear to reverse, Izayoi reverse the car through the gates and turns the car at his left, to which let Asuna and Yui look at Canaria waving at them with a smile.
"Bye, Obaa-san!" Yui waved happily with her head outside the opened window as Asuna waved at Canaria from behind her closed window.
"Bye, Yui-chan! Take care of your Mama and Papa for me, okay?" Canaria asked as Yui nodded.
"Okay." She said before pulled back her head from the window and closed the window with a click of the window opener. Waving at her grandmother, Yui felt the car moves and she watches as she passes Canaria and her house.
Watching the car left, Canaria let down her hand and crosses her hands around her hip, a disturbing look was visible on her face after recalling the conversation she had with her son about the emergency counselling that he had to attend to which baffles her, knowing that her son never failed a grade before.
"This is just too strange to be a coincidence…" She mutters before she looks at where the car left, slightly worrying about her son. "I hope he knows what he's doing if it didn't turn out to be a real emergency counselling."
Passing through the green light, Izayoi drives towards the school followed by other cards that were behind him. He turns a curve and followed the road for a while before his school came to view.
"Mama, do you think I can learn how to swim? What if I'm not good at it?" Yui asked with a small frown as Asuna held a smile.
"If that's the case, you'll just have to practise until you can swim properly because practise makes perfect. Anyway, you won't learn by yourself." Asuna explained which caused Yui to quirked an eyebrow in curiosity. Turning to look at her, Asuna smiled. "Suguha will learn how to swim with you."
"Really?" Yui look at her mother in slight surprise.
"Yes, really. So, I hope you'll do your best, alright Yui-chan?" Asuna asked as Yui nodded in determination.
"Alright, Mama!"
Hearing her respond, Izayoi let out a smile on his face while he kept his eyes on the road. He then stole a glance at Asuna, who looks back at him and smile, knowing that they were happy to have their daughter with them in the real world instead of only in the virtual world.
Parking his car under vacant parking lot, Izayoi stop his car and turns off the engine. He then unbuckles his seat belt, followed by Asuna. "We're here." Izayoi stated with a smile as he look at Yui, who was beaming at him from the back seat.
Yui unbuckle her seatbelt before she climb out of the car, a smile could be seen on her face as she stare at the school, knowing that today was going to be fun.
"Hurry, Mama! Papa!" Yui said excitedly as she grabbed a hold of Asuna's hand followed by Izayoi's. She then tried to drag them forward but she stopped as she looks back at her parents. "...Where's the swimming pool?" She asked which enlighten a laugh from Asuna.
"Mama will show you, but not now." Asuna said as Yui frowned.
"Why is that?" She asked.
"Because Mama's and Papa's friends are waiting for us, they are going to join us swimming." Asuna answered.
"Is Suguha going to be there too?" Yui asked in curiosity as Asuna nodded.
"Yes, she's going to be there." Asuna answered before taking her daughter's hand, followed by Izayoi who takes her other hand. Then, the three of them walk towards where everyone was gathered in the school grounds.
Just as the three of them arrived at the meeting place where they had discussed, Izayoi and Asuna look up in front of them, seeing Rika and Keiko laughing over a depressed Kirito while Suguha was standing next to her brother wearing street clothes.
"Huh?" Rika look forward and she spotted both Izayoi and Asuna with Yui walking towards them. "Asuna! You're here!" She smiled as she waved her hand at the three, to which gained everyone's attention as they look at the three and smiled.
When Izayoi, Asuna and Yui stand in front of the group, Rika crouched down in front of Yui with a smile.
"Hi, Yui-chan! You ready to swim?"
Smiling at her question, Yui nodded. "Yes! I'm ready!"
"That's the spirit! Now you're not the only one who's going to be practicing swimming, Suguha-chan." Rika looked over at Suguha, who look surprise.
"I'm going to teach Yui-chan how to swim. So, yes, you're not alone on this, Suguha-chan." Asuna assured as Suguha smiled.
"Thank you, Asuna." Suguha thanked as Rika looked over at both Kirito and Izayoi.
"Anyway, I don't get why you and Kirito-kun had emergency counselling all of a sudden. Oh well, bad luck for you." Rika stifle a laugh as Kirito deflated with a sigh.
"Yeah..." Kazuto replied before he crossed his arms. "First quarter, I tried very hard." He stated.
"Too bad you won't get to see us in our swimsuits." Rika said with an amusing smile as Kirito look at her in surprise.
"Who says? We might be able to make it." Izayoi interrupted with an amused smile as Rika look at him in slight confusion.
"Oh really?"
"Who do you think you're talking to?" Izayoi smirked as Rika look upwards before looking at him again.
"Hmm...The Hero of SAO and ALFheim Online?"
"And that's why I'm going to make it. The hero always comes late, you know?" Izayoi stated with a smirk as Rika smirk back.
"We'll see. Anyway, Kirito-kun, don't get too distracted to that pretty counsellor." Rika said after seeing the counsellor while she was learning.
"O-Oh, come on...Why not?" Kazuto said as Rika look at him pointedly to which he stepped back in fright.
"Never mind..."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of his behaviour towards the counsellor." Izayoi assured as Rika look at him.
"Hm, aren't you going to be attracted to that pretty counsellor too, Izayoi?" Rika asked smiling with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't go that way sadly. But I will admit that counsellor is pretty." Izayoi answered with a acknowledging nod before a slap to his shoulder made him smile as he look at Asuna, who glared lightly at him for his comment of the counsellor. "I can't lie can I, Asuna?"
"Fine. The counsellor is pretty, I will admit that. But don't get distracted by her too while you're in the counselling office, Izayoi-kun."
"Why would I? I think Kazuto will be speechless when he sees her and would gawk at her. Wouldn't you say, Kazuto?"
"You've know the counsellor before?" Kirito asked in mild surprise.
"Yeah, he'll be a victim." Izayoi nodded in acknowledgment before he smiled at Asuna. "Anyway, you're more beautiful than her. To me, the pretty counsellor doesn't compare to my beautiful wife." He complimented as he lean closer towards Asuna, who glance shyly with a blush on her face.
"Mou…" Asuna mutters in embarrassment.
"Get a room, you two." Rika stated as Asuka look at her.
"Liz!"
"Papa's right! Mama is the only one for Papa!" Yui said as everyone look at her and smiled.
"Anyway, we'll be going." Izayoi said as Kazuto nodded in understanding.
"You're going, Papa? I thought you were going to be with me and Mama." Yui asked sadly as Izayoi turns to her and walk to kneel down to her height.
"Sorry but Papa has got meet someone with Kazuto." Izayoi said as Yui frown deeper. "Hey, who says I wouldn't be able to be with you after I'm done?" He asked as Yui look up. "Don't worry, I'll be swimming with you in a moment. Don't you forget about it, alright Yui?"
At his statement, Yui let out a smile and nodded. "Okay, Papa! Me and Mama will wait for you by the pool!" She said as Izayoi smiled and stroke her head a couple of time before standing up. He then looks at Asuna who was standing next to Yui, and nodded at her to which she nodded back.
"Come back in time, alright? You can't miss the moment when Yui-chan can swim." Asuna explained as Izayoi peck her lips, to which made Asuna smile wider.
"I won't miss it." Izayoi smiled before he turns around and walk a couple of steps ahead of them.
Seeing him move, Kazuto look at her little sister.
"Oh, and Sugu, be sure to practice hard, since everyone's being nice enough to teach you." Kazuto said to her little sister.
"Right." Suguha answered looking at him.
"Compared to the ALfheim sea, the school pool is really shallow. So, let's have fun while we practice." Asuna said with a smile.
"We're going swimming!" Yui cheered. "Let's practice together, okay, Suguha?" Yui asked with a smile as Suguha nodded.
"Hai."
"Do your best, Yui." Izayoi cheered from where he stood with a smile as Yui nodded. Then, he looked at Kazuto who nodded at him. The two of them then turns around and walk away from the group.
"Kazuto-kun, don't forget to say hello to the pretty counsellor for me!" Rika said as Kazuto nearly fell to the ground at her statement while Izayoi laughed.
"You really got yourself whipped, huh, Kazuto?"
"Huh..." Kazuto sighed as both him and Izayoi walked inside the school building and climbed upstairs before walking along the upper floor until they stop upon a door that had the sign 'Counselling Office' above the door.
Kazuto then step forward and knock on the door, "Excuse me."
"Come in." A voice from the other side of the door answered as Kazuto opens up the door to let Izayoi enter first before he followed behind. The two of them then walked inside the room before turning left to look at the counsellor, who smiled at them.
For a moment, Kazuto was speechless to say anything as the counsellor was as pretty as Rika said she is.
Suddenly, the chair beside the counsellor turns around and both Izayoi and Kazuto look upon the man who was sitting on it.
"Why are you here?" Izayoi asked with a raised eyebrow as the man smiled at him and Kazuto.
"Hey, Izayoi-kun. It's been a while."
"What is an elite member of the Virtual Division of the Ministry of Internal Affairs doing here?" Kazuto asked in surprise, not expecting such a figure to be in front of him.
"I'm here to ask Izayoi-kun here a few things. That includes you too, Kazuto-kun." Kikuoka stated "And so, I had the school set this up."
"Then, that school emergency counselling was just a fluke?" Izayoi asked as Kikuoka smile.
"I wouldn't call it a fluke rather a need to get your presences. Sorry." Kikuoka apologized. "I thought it would be the only way to get you two to come." He stated.
Then, the counsellor stood up from her position and look at Kikuoka. "I"ll be on my way." She said as she walked towards Izayoi and Kirito. "If you need me, I'll be next door in the prep room." She said to both of them before she exited herself out of the office as Kirito look at where she left while Izayoi look at Kikuoka before he took a seat in front of him.
"Why don't you sit down, Kirito-kun?" Kikuoka gestured his hand to the seat at his right as Kirito sit down and look at him.
"Just a head start, I have somewhere to be now so I hope you'll make this short enough." Izayoi stated as Kikuoka nodded.
"I'll try." Kikuoka said. "I'm trying to get a clear picture of what happened in SAO and ALfheim, and thought it would be best to ask you."
"Why don't you check the player log, you'll see what you need." Kazuto said to him as Kikuoka look at him before Izayoi answered his question.
"He wants to hear our side of the story not theirs." At this Kikuoka smiled and nodded.
"Yes, all the player logs tell me is who was where and at what time. It doesn't tell me what actually happened." Kikuoka explained before picking up a briefcase behind him and presented it in front of Izayoi and Kazuto. He then opens up the briefcase as a lot of candies fall to the table in front of him, "During the SAO incident, two thousand people died, but due to the death of Kayaba Akihiko, the man behind it, we still don't really know what happened." Kikuoka explained as he put a sound recorder in front of him. "And we have no idea why he did it. Why did he make the SAO death game? To really understand, I must speak with you two." He said as he pick up and chocolate candy and popped it into his mouth, biting on it. "You'll help me, right?"
"What if we're refused?" Izayoi asked looking at Kikuoka with a blank look.
"Hmph, who was it that gave you the NerveGear that was meant to be destroyed? And who told you where Asuna-kun was hospitalized?" He asked as Kazuto's eyes widen in surprise, never expecting the favors Kikuoka had helped Izayoi before.
"Hm, so? You think you'll get rewarded with just that help?" Izayoi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"My department has also been keeping the media away from those involved in the SAO incident." Kikuoka smiled at Izayoi.
"So, that's why… I thought the media was acting strange when they didn't barge into my house when the moment came..." Izayoi thought with narrow eyes before he lean his back against the chair and let out a breath.
"If you may, I like to begin by hearing about the first of the incident." Kikuoka explained to Izayoi, who look deep in thought before he looked up at Kikuoka.
"Should I start?"
-Flashback-
"Welcome players to Sword Art Online, my world," The hooded figure spoke in a deep and booming voice.
"My world?" Kirito asked whisper.
"I am Kayaba Akihiko, as of this moment the only person who can control this world," The hooded figure introduced as all of the players eyes went eyed wide, knowing who he was.
"Is that really him? He must've spent a lot of time for this." Some of the players questioned as they looked at the Kayaba Akihiko, the Game Master.
"What is this? Why did he call us here?" Izayoi asked himself staring at the sky, which has a screen with the maker of Sword Art Online, Kayaba Akihiko. "I've got a bad feeling about this." He said mentally narrowing his eyes.
"Why can't we log out of here?" Someone asked as his friend agreed with him. Izayoi stood in his spot but then he felt something, to which he turns to his right and his eyes widen.
"Asuna?!" He said to himself before shaking his head and looks at her again, trying to shake off the illusion. But just as he saw her, a few players past right beside her and when they passed by her, she was gone, vanished from sight.
"I must be seeing images. She couldn't be in here right?" Izayoi thought feeling strange that his girlfriend would play an MMORPG without telling him, but he hoped that the certain MMORPG wasn't the game he was in. But the more he thought about her, the more he felt frustrated that he wasn't going to log out from the game anytime soon now. Aside from that, he felt he was slightly going insane after he saw his girlfriend standing in front of him just moments ago. "Asuna, are you really here?" He thought to himself before he shook the thoughts out from his mind and focused on Kayaba.
"I know many of you are wondering about the logout button went missing. I wish to tell you that this is not a defect in the game, but all part of Sword Art Online," Akihiko stated to everyone making many eyes widen in shock.
"All part of the game…?" Izayoi asked mentally as he narrowed his eyes while standing at the other side of the place.
"You cannot logout SAO yourselves, and no one on the outside can shut down or remove the NerveGear," Akihiko said before continuing, "if one were to attempt to remove your Nerve Gear during gamplay…the Gear would sent off microwave waves that would destroy your brain and thus, ending your life."
Many players gasped as some took a step back, but Akihiko wasn't finished.
"What's he talking about? He must be insane, right?" Klein asked in pure shock.
"He's right." Kirito answered. "The transmitter works like a microwave."
"If the safety turns off, then it could fry the brain." Izayoi said mentally. "And the gear had an internal battery, so power cutting is out of the question."
"But that's crazy! What's going on here?!"
"Unfortunately, some players family and friends has ignore this warning, 213 people had already suffered that fate regrettably and were gone forever," Akihiko said bringing up a screen with various pictures of players... were players. There were news coverage all around and various videos of families and friends breaking down crying.
"That many…Huh?" Izayoi said to himself as he watched the screen with sympathy.
"213..." Kirito whispered.
"Damn it! I don't believe it!" Klein said in frustration.
"The entire world news has already reporting this, including the deaths, thus you can assume the danger of Nerve Gear being remove is minimal. So relax and focus on beating the game." Akihiko said calmly. "But, I want you to remember this clearly, there's no method to revive someone in this game, if your HP reach zero, your avatar will forever lost and the Nerve Gear will destroy your brain."
The players can only stare in shock of what Akihiko just calmly said.
"There's only one means to escape. To complete the game. You are presently in the lowest floor of Aincrad, floor 1. If you make your way through the dungeon and defeat the Floor Boss, you may advance to the next level. Defeat the final boss on floor 100, and you will clear the game." Akihiko said.
"Clear?"
"What is he talking about!?"
"Y-You're just making that up!"
"Clear all hundred floors? That's impossible. The beta tester never made it anywhere near that high!" Klein yelled at him.
Kirito only glare at Akihiko while Izayoi just narrowed his eyes.
"You are wrong, in the Beta Test, there was a beta tester that made it that far before. To all of the Beta-testers you may remember him as the one that cleared till the 75th floor and by many, they called him The Thousand Blades. He, the one who had killed Floor Boss after Floor Boss with excelled speed and skills that only he wields. Rather than that, his title was bestowed upon him by all of the Beta-testers that know of him. The title wasn't merely bestowed but it was proven by his strength in battle, to which he could kill monsters much faster than the other Beta-testers in the Beta-Test.
"Clearing the game wouldn't be simple as you expected. There are few systems that I changed courtesy of the fastest player in the game. So, if you want to beat the game immediately, I suggest that you party with him. But knowing that he finished the 75th floors 'alone', I doubted the suggestion very much. So without further ado, you'll just have to finish the game on your own. Also to The Thousand Blades, I hoped that you are able and ready to play this game again." Kayaba said getting Izayoi to narrow his eyes.
"What are you playing at, Kayaba?" He asked mentally. Izayoi then looked around at the people's terrified faces, to which made him clench his hand into a fist tightly. Then he spotted someone he recognized in front of him, which made him walk towards the black haired player and his red headed friend. "Kirito?" He called out as Kirito turns to him, his face full of surprise.
"Izayoi-senpai?" He asked in surprise as Izayoi nodded with a small smile.
"Who are you?" Klein asked, standing beside Kirito.
"Klein, meet Izayoi. Izayoi meet Klein." Kirito said introducing the both of them.
"Nice to meet you, Izayoi-san." Klein introduced extending his hand at him.
"Pleasure to meet you too, Klein. And just call me Izayoi." Izayoi said clutching Klein's hand before shaking it while Klein nodded at him, agreeing to call him that from now on. Then, the three of them focused their attention to Kayaba.
"And finally, I've added a present from me to your item storage. Please see for yourselves."
"The 100th floor…" Izayoi said to himself as he knows what to do after this meeting was over. After that Kirito and Izayoi exchange looks, and open their inventories.
'Item:'
-Mirror.
"Mirror?" Kirito ask as he and Izayoi took out the mirror and look at themselves.
"Ugh!?" Klein screamed suddenly as he was surrounded by a blue light, so does the other players, including Kirito while Izayoi was calmly taking it all in.
When the light faded, everyone characters changes. "Kirito, Izayoi, you guys okay?" A sound voiced out to them as Kirito replied.
"Y-Yeah…" Then, Kirito and Izayoi look toward the sound, and see a man with short red hair and a goatee.
"Who are you?" Kirito asked in confusion.
"And who are you?" The man asked to Kirito, who looked at his reflection in the mirror, and see his face, real face. Kirito has short black hair and black eyes, he was quite pretty with his thin and small body, to which he could past as a girl. He was also shorter than Izayoi.
"Looks like I didn't change at all. Izayoi said, looking at himself, seeing his face didn't change as Kirito. "If Kirito changes like this then that mean the other players..." He said before looking at the red hair man. "You're Klein."
"Izayoi! Kirito!" Klein exclaimed. "How...?"
"It was probably the Nerve Gear, it covers your entire head with a high-density signaling device. So it can see what your face looks like." Izayoi explained as all the players changes into their original form. All the men that lied behind their characters were found out, and some girls even turned into guys.
"But our height and body shape…" Kirito ask.
"When we first used the Nerve Gear, it had us calibrate it right? You had to touch your body all over." Klein answered touching his body as a demonstration.
"That's right... That must be where it got the data. But I don't know, it will be this advance though..." Kirito said deep in thought.
"But…But…Why? Why do all this, anyway?" Klein asked both Kirito and Izayoi.
"I'm sure he'll tell us." Izayoi answered, looking up at Akihiko.
"Right now, you're probably wondering, 'Why?' Why would Kayaba Akihiko, the developer of Sword Art Online and the NerveGear, do all this? My goal has already been achieved, I created Sword Art Online for one reason... To create this world and intervene in it,"
"Kayaba…" Izayoi said to himself, displeased.
"And now, it is complete. This ends the tutorial for the Sword Art Online launch. Good luck, players. Oh, I almost forgot. I know you're in there, Thousand Blades. As all the others I expect great things from you in this survival game when you did in the Beta version. And Thousand Blades, It's an honour to have you in this game of mine. Good Luck…" Akihiko transform into a red mist and get back to the sky, making the red warning sign, disappear.
After he disappeared, all of the players look to where Akihiko was before, all of them were at lost for words.
-Present-
"It's already been two years and a half since that announcement…" Izayoi thought looking down before looking beside him at the window.
Ladies's Changing Room
"Um, it's a little to ask, but is it okay for me to use the school pool?" Suguha asked nervously standing inside the ladies changing room with all the other girls.
"It's fine. We got permission." Rika said appearing before Suguha with her swimsuit.
"Your swimsuit is really cool. Rika-san!" Keiko commented in awe.
"Isn't it? The one I used before SAO is a little too tight now. I got a new one." Rika said with a smile showing off her new swimsuit to everyone.
"My size barely changed..." She pouted looking down at her body.
"Mama, you look beautiful!" Yui said as everyone look at where her voice is. Then, their eyes widen at the sight of Asuna in a red stripe bikini with Yui in her swimsuit.
"Asuna has a bikini! Nice!" Rika said before she nudged her shoulder. "Trying to seduce Izayoi with your swimsuit?" She asked with a teasing smile.
"Th-That isn't true..." Asuna glance away with a blush as Rika smiled at her. Then, Rika notices Yui shaking her head at her, to which draws her attention.
"You're wrong, Liz-san." Yui shakes her head before she looks up at her mother. "Mama just wants to look beautiful in front of Papa, right Mama?" She asked as she grabbed her mother's hand, to which caused Asuna to look at her and a smile was plastered on her face.
"Yeah, Mama wants to look beautiful to Papa." Asuna answered with a nod as Rika frowned a little. "Anyway, we have to surprise Papa with our swimsuits, right?" She asked at Yui who smiled back.
"Yeah!" Yui answered with a nod.
"Man...It's a good thing you have Yui-chan here as your backup." Rika sighed after seeing that Asuna wasn't blushing anymore courtesy of Yui, which ruined her fun of teasing her best friend.
"Um…no one's wearing their school swimsuit?" Suguha asked as everyone look at her, gaining their overall attention. "You said we were swimming at the school pool, so..." She said covering her school swimsuit with her hands wrapping around her body as she felt embarrassed to be the only one wearing a school swimsuit amongst the group.
"Y-Your school swimsuit is cute, too!" Keiko commented, trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah, it's perfect for you, Suguha!" Rika stated with a smile.
"What does that mean?!" Suguha stated in slight frustration.
Counselling Office
"He made SAO to intervene in it?" Kikuoka asked. "That's what Kayaba-sensei said, yes?"
"Yeah." Izayoi answered leaning his back against his seat while he looks at him.
"And what did you think about that?" Kikuoka asked in slight curiosity.
"It's crazy, but it is effective that he made everyone panic for their lives." Izayoi explained. "After that, I tried to give them a lecture about playing the game than just sit around doing nothing but wait for outside help. But that was a mistake, it doesn't change anyone. What a waste of effort…" He mutters.
-Flashback-
"Will you guys, just shut up!" Izayoi shouted at the top of his lungs, which gained everyone's attention. "Whining and panic will never get us anywhere!" He shouted in frustration.
Suddenly, a male player walks up to Izayoi, "Then, what are we going to do now? Did you heard what he said? If we have to beat all 100 Floors, we'll be dead before we even get there! What do you expect from us?" He asked desperately.
"Didn't you hear what he just said?" Izayoi stated as he glance at the male player, who raised his eyebrow in confusion. "To clear this game, you have to clear all the 100 floors." He simply said as everyone eyes widen. "A-Are you crazy? We'll never get there!" He exclaimed to Izayoi.
Suddenly Izayoi gripped his Hell sword and unsheathed it from its sheath.
"So, you suggest that we all just sit around and wait for someone to get us out of here?" Izayoi said coldly, pointing his Hell sword at the player, who flinches at the gleaming sword that was pointed under his neck. "If you want, then be my guest." He said to him.
"To reach the top, you have to prepare yourself. We have all the time to prepare. Like any other game, if you want to win you have to be stronger, right? Then, be stronger! Level up, maximize your skills, make a party, adventure through the floors to get some experience, and gained some information about the Floor Boss and last but not least don't be a fool!" He explained to everyone, to which they were caught in surprise of his statement. "I'll tell you, I'm better of doing something rather than spending my time doing nothing. Now I'm asking you this, will you fall…? Or will you survive?" Izayoi asked before seeing that some players amongst the crowd finally understand his meaning which made him smile.
Sheathing his Hell sword, Izayoi look at everyone.
"Well, I guess my job here is done. I'll catch you all later, Ja'ne!" He said saluting two fingers at them before he suddenly vanish which made everyone surprised.
-Present-
"But they are some that understood your speech, correct? I don't think that's a waste of effort. You did all the best you could to make them understand." Kikuoka said to Izayoi.
"Well, being trap in the game makes all your senses blinded." Izayoi stated as he bit into a pokky stick.
"I see…" Kikuoka slowly nods before looking at Kirito. "What about you, Kazuto-kun? What did you think about that?" He asked as Kirito look at him.
"I don't know. I was just busy trying to survive." Kazuto answered. "I didn't have time to think about Kayaba." He said as he thought about him abandoning Klein and Izayoi in SAO.
-Flashback-
"All right." Kirito answered masking his disappointment, as he looked at Klein, one of the friends he just met in the game.
"Then, we'll just say good bye here. If something happen, send the both of us a message. Kirito is still in your friends list. Here," Izayoi said as he invited Klein to be in his friends list.
"Thanks, Izayoi." Klein said as he accepted the offer by tapping the 'Yes' button.
"But don't send me any messages now, cause I have to concentrate on where I'm going." Izayoi said smiling at them.
"Okay." Klein stated nodded before he look at Kirito.
"Okay, goodbye, Klein." Kirito said, as he and Izayoi prepare to walk away.
"Kirito! Izayoi!" The two boys stop as they look back at Klein. "It was nice to meet you! I hope we can see each other again!" He shouted to them as he takes his leave.
"Well, Kirito, I have to go. As Klein said I hope we'll meet again. Ja'ne." Izayoi bids before walking away from Kirito. Looking sadly at the leaving Izayoi, Kirito turns around and runs before he stop and took one last look back, to which he saw that Klein and Izayoi were already gone.
"I don't like saying good byes..."
-Present-
Pool
"Having the whole pool to ourselves is so great!" Rika commented in happiness as she saw that the school pool was empty for them only.
"It feels different than usual." Keiko said in agreement.
"I'm first!" Rika said before running towards the pool and jumping into it, making a splashing sound as she went.
"That's not fair, Liz-san!" She said before jumping into the pool too.
"Hey, guys, you should stretch first." Asuna said stretching her arms followed by Yui who was standing next to her. After she was done stretching, Asuna look down at her daughter. "Let's get in the water okay, Yui-chan?" She asked as Yui nodded.
"Okay, Mama!" Yui said as Asuna look towards the pool and runs towards it before jumping into the pool with a smile. After that, she resurfaced and looks at Yui, who was standing on the edge while she was staring at the pool. She swim towards the edge and held up her arms towards her daughter, who look at her. "Don't worry, Mama will be with you every step of the way." She assured with a smile as Yui slowly walk towards her mother's arms. "That's it." Asuna said before she grabs a hold of both Yui's underarms and slowly lifted her from the edge and into the water. Even though she admit that her strength wasn't the same as in the virtual world but she wanted to help her daughter to swim to which she was glad that lifting her into the water was a quick process. If it had taken a while longer, she would have loss her grip, to which she didn't want anything like that to happen anytime soon.
Looking at her daughter, who was floating in the water, she was a little relieved that now it would be easy to guide her with her weight along the water because the water supported her body. "I know you're not tall enough to stand but it going to be okay, Mama's here." Asuna assured her daughter, after looking at her daughter's feet that didn't reached the ground level of the water. "You don't have to look at the water, look at me."
Hearing that, Yui look up at her mother. "Mama, the w-water is cold." She stated shivering a little as Asuna stifle a laugh.
"The water is always like that during a day like this. Anyway, do you want to start now? Without the floaties?" Asuna asked looking down at her daughter, knowing that she had packed floaties just in case if her daughter wouldn't be familiar to swim without them.
At this, Yui nodded determinedly. "Yes, if Papa can swim without floaties then I want to swim like him and Mama." She said as Asuna smiled at her.
"Okay, if that is what you want. Let's get started, shall we?" Asuna asked as Yui nodded. "First, Mama will walk backwards while you move your legs back and forth just like you practiced with Papa last night." Asuna said recalling Izayoi teaching Yui to swim by placing her on his lap while she moved her legs back and forth. "Before we start, let's take a deep breath." Asuna stated as she took a deep breath, followed by Yui. Then, the both of them released their breaths at the same time, enlightening a smile on both of their faces. Nodding towards her daughter, Asuna step back. "Let's get started." She exclaimed as Yui move her legs back and forth slowly while her mother took a step back every time she was closing in on her.
"Mama, I'm swimming!" Yui said excitedly as Asuna smiled, happy that Yui had learn to swim a bit but she knew that the next step would be a hard one, to which she don't know whether or not she would like it.
"That's it, Yui-chan! You're getting the hang of it." Asuna smiled stepping back just as Yui was getting closer to her by peddling her legs repeatedly.
"This won't help you learn to swim! Look at Yui-chan, she's starting to get to swim without a floatie." Rika's voice gained Asuna's attention as both her and Yui look at the smirking Rika, who was deflating Suguha's floatie around her.
"No, stop! I'll sink without this." Suguha cried in desperation.
"Don't worry!" Rika get behind Suguha and squeezed both of Suguha's breasts. "You have two big, buoyant things right here! You won't sink." She said as she squeezes Suguha's breasts.
"Hey! Don't touch me there!" Suguha cried out.
"What do you have to eat to get them so big? It isn't fair…" Rika wondered.
"No!" Suguha cried out as Keiko look at them before looking at her own chest which was underdeveloped.
"Liz…" Asuna said as Rika look at her, seeing Asuna glaring lightly at her for her misbehaviour.
"Ah…Alright, I'm sorry." Rika apologized letting go of Suguha's breasts before swimming away from her.
"If you're done playing, you should start teaching Suguha-chan to swim." Asuna instructed as Rika nodded before looking at Suguha.
She smiled speechlessly, "Sorry again, Suguha-chan."
""Let's start by having you hold your face underwater alright, Suguha-chan?" Asuna asked as Suguha nodded before she looks at Yui. "Are you ready to continue, Yui-chan?"
"Yes, Mama. I'm ready!" Yui answered cheerfully as Asuna smiled at her.
Counselling Office
"Once SAO became deadly, most players joined parties to survive. But up till the end, you stayed solo nearly the entire time, Izayoi-kun. In a world where you die if your HP reaches zero, why take such a risk?" Kikuoka asked after checking his laptop that Izayoi was always alone in SAO.
"Even if it's a high risk, the fact still remains that I made that decision all by myself and not by anyone's accounts. If I was partied with the other players, they'll stick with me through everything after they know how strong I am in the game. But in time, they will find out how I would know the boss's skills and attack patterns." Izayoi explained before he looks at Kikuoka in the eyes. "And so, that's why that event happens when it did."
-Flashback-
"Why?" A voice asked that instantly stops the cheering crowd from celebrating. "Why did you let Diabel die?" Kibaou asked towards Izayoi and Kirito, who were standing at the other end of the room while everyone looked at the two.
"Let him die?" Kirito asked.
Kibaou glared at him. "Of course! You knew the technique that boss used! If you told us up front about that, he wouldn't have died!"
A whisper broke among the crowds at that single piece of information.
"He must be a beta-tester!" A male player accused. "That's why he knew all the boss attack patterns! He knew but didn't tell us! Other beta-users are here too right? Come out!" He asked to everyone, who looks at each other in uncertainty.
The crowds begin muttering again, but now they all suspect each other of beta-testers.
Kirito grits his teeth. "This is bad... At this rate…" He then recalled Diabel's last words and made a final decision, to which he swallowed hard.
"Hey, come on..." Egil said trying to calm the murmuring crowd down.
"Hehe... Hahahahahahahaha!" A laugh gained all of their attention to Kirito, who is laughing beside a confused Izayoi. "Ahahahahahaha... A beta-tester?" Kirito stood up as he look at everyone with a smirk. "I wish you didn't compare me to those newbies!"
"W-What?" Kibao asked in surprise followed by the crowd.
"Most of thousands of beta-tester were beginners who didn't know how to level up. You guys are better than they are." Kirito said as he walks past the crowds toward Kibao. "But I'm not like them. I made it higher than anyone else during the beta-test, the reason I know the boss skills, is because I fought monsters with katana skills on floors far above us." Kirito look at them with an evil face. "I know a lot more. Way more than any information broker."
"W-what... that's... That's way worse than a beta-tester! Your cheating! A cheater!" Kibaou called as everyone begins to nod in agreement.
"Yeah! A cheater!"
"A beta-tester and a cheater!"
"A beater!"
"Kirito." Izayoi said interrupting as Kirito look towards him. "Who says you made it higher than anyone else, huh?" He stated as a menu appeared before Kirito.
"Huh?" Kirito said looking at the item in the menu that was sent from Izayoi.
Item:
Coat of Midnight
[Yes] [No]
"It's a little gift from me to you." Izayoi whispers to him as Kirito press the 'yes' button and kept it in his inventory. "Oh, and everybody..." He said turning around, as the crowd looked at him as Izayoi let down his hood, as everyone could see his face. "He's not the only one, who's a beta tester. Don't forget The Thousand Blades is me." He said as the crowds begin muttering again. Asuna look all around the wild crowd as her eyes landed on Izayoi.
"Y-You're a beater, too!" Kibaou said pointing his finger at him.
"Beater, huh? How about you, Kirito? Are you alright with it?" He questioned as Kirito laughs.
"I like it. I guess… that makes us both a beater, huh?"
Izayoi then chuckles. "Yeah… We are beaters…" Izayoi and Kirito said as they open their equipment options.
"From now on, don't confuse us with the other testers." Kirito said as he and Izayoi equip their coats. Kirito coats are black in color with a dark brownish color at the shoulder part, while Izayoi was white in color with black linings at the arms and some sort of a sword symbol on his back. It also has a hood attached to the coat.
"Oh, I almost forget. If the words spread that The Thousand Blades was here. Please tell them, that'll make some shocking news. And if you ever get in my way…You're dead." Izayoi said as he sheathed his sword, as the crowds back away a little, afraid of him. Both Izayoi and Kirito smirk as they walk past the stunned and scared crowds, towards the next floor.
-Present-
"So that's when you claimed the word, 'beater'. You both played the villain, to keep the other beta testers from being hated. That must have been painful..." Kikuoka frowned at both Izayoi and Kazuto.
"Not really, but being a 'beater' has its ups and downs on things." Izayoi explained with a small frown.
"Care to elaborate?"
"I think you should hear it from Kazuto." Izayoi answered before he glanced at Kazuto.
"Kazuto-kun?" Kikuoka asked in confusion as he looks at Kazuto, who look down as he recalled death of the Black Cat's guild.
-Flashback-
Kirito slashed at a golum, destroying it, before he sees Sachi struggling against an enemy, blocking a stone golum with her staff. "Sachi!" Kirito cried out as he charged towards her while killing the two golums that was standing in his way.
Sachi pushed the golum back and tried to run towards Kirito with her hand outstretched towards him, but out of her nowhere there was another golum that appeared behind her, ready to strike down at her as Kirito's eyes widen.
"No!" Kirito run towards her, but it was too late as the golum strike down at her back, hitting her. Meanwhile, Kirito can only watch slowly as her Hp went from red to empty. He then watches as Sachi turns to him at the last moment and whispered something before she shatters into polygons.
"Real pain is the result of losing someone you care about." Kirito mutters in slight sadness as Kikuoka look at him in sympathy.
"You don't say..."
"Well, that's the truth. We can't lie about it no matter how hard we tried to forget it." Izayoi stated deep in thought, recalling the people he didn't saved and was blamed for it. "But past all that, we've found something that's worth fighting for. I've already found what's important to me…" A smile slipped onto his lips as Izayoi look at the window, to which he knew his wife and daughter were already swimming in the school pool.
Pool
"Mama, I think I'm getting the hang of it!" Yui said emerging her head from the water as a wide smile could be seen visible on her face. Then, Yui rubs her eyes with her right hand before looking at her mother, a small pout visible on her lips. "But I'm scared to open my eyes underwater…"
"Don't worry, Yui-chan. We'll do it slowly next time. It's good to be scared of something, alright? It'll give you the courage to overcome later on. For now, we'll practice on your swimming, okay? Then, we'll do something about opening your eyes underwater, how about that?" Asuna smiled at her daughter.
"Okay, Mama." Yui nods. "I just want to be like Papa, he said that he could swim with his eyes open." She told her mother to which Asuna couldn't help but cover her mouth from laughing.
"Really? Well, you're Papa is different. He is an athlete. I've seen him did swimming a long time ago." Asuna explained as Yui went eyed wide.
"Did Papa enter a swimming competition?"
"Yes, your Papa won that competition pretty easily." Asuna recalled the said competition to which Izayoi volunteered to be a competitor because he wanted to have fun beating the other competitors. After they won, she recounted that they had a nice evening dinner at a fancy restaurant by using the winning prize which was a discount coupon for that specific restaurant. Looking down at her daughter, Asuna smiled, "After that, we got to eat good food of a restaurant after we used the winning prize."
"Wah…Papa is so cool!" Yui smiled widely, surprised that her father had won a swimming competition before and got to eat good food out of a restaurant. At the thought of good food, Yui's frown a little to which Asuna noticed.
"Yui-chan?"
Looking up at her mother, Yui voiced out her problem. "Mama, I'm hungry…"
At this, Asuna smiled. "Okay, we'll take a break then."
"Have you getting used to the water yet?" Rika's voice gain both Asuna and Yui's attentions as they look at the right side of the pool. They could see Rika standing in front of Suguha who stand up and nodded.
"Hai... I can keep my head underwater now, but I still can't open my eyes." Suguha exclaimed with a shake of her head.
"You don't need to rush yourself." Asuna said as Suguha look over her. "Take your time and get used to it." She said before she glances at Yui and then looks at Rika. "Let's take a break!" She stated.
"Roger!" Rika smiled.
"Roger!" Keiko agreed standing by the edge of the pool.
"It sure feels like summer..." Rika said sitting down by the edge of the pool along with Keiko, Suguha, Asuna and Yui.
"It really does." Keiko nods in agreement.
"The next quest area is set to always be summer, isn't it?" Rika asked Asuna, who look at her.
"It's far to the south, in Sylph territory. So it should be pretty hot." Asuna explained to everyone.
"There are things there we've never seen before. I can't wait." Keiko said in slight excitement.
"We'll just have to be careful that Kirito doesn't get overly excited and run ahead of us!" Rika stated as Asuna look at her in amusement.
"Well, that's your boyfriend, Rika." Asuna teased as Rika look the other way with a small blush evident on her cheeks, much to everyone's confusion. "Huh? Did I say something wrong?" She asked in confusion.
"…Kirito-kun is not my boyfriend yet." At her statement, everyone look at her in surprise.
"What? I thought you were!" Keiko said in disbelief. "It's been a few months since the wedding!"
"Well, it's complicated and he is being slow about it." Rika complained over her mouth.
"Really?" Asuna stifle a laugh. "Ain't that new? I thought boys should be the first to initiate!"
"What about you? I'm certain that Izayoi would run ahead of us if we're travelling to the south of the Sylph territory." Rika crossed her arms as she look at Asuna with a challenging look.
"He wouldn't." Asuna answered with a smile.
"I know he would. He can't resist the temptation you know?" Rika denied her claim.
"He wouldn't." Asuna smiled. "I know him. He wouldn't do something like that."
"Yeah! Papa always protects us! In Alfheim, he always protects me. So, I know that he wouldn't abandon me and Mama alone. He said he loved us very much and that he wouldn't leave us!" Yui explained with a smile as Asuna's eyes widen slightly.
"He really said that?" Asuna asked as Yui look at her and nodded.
"But that's after Papa said he..." Yui glance over at Suguha, who look at her.
"He, what, Yui-chan?" Rika asked in curiosity.
When Yui thought she couldn't escape from answering, she was about to answer before a hand was on her shoulder stopped her. She looks up at her mother, who smiled at her.
"It's alright. I know what she's talking about." Asuna said as Rika raised an eyebrow at her while Yui look at her in wonder and slight sadness.
"You do?" Yui asked. "If Papa had told you about it, then..." She said as she frowns a little before she glances at the confused looking Suguha. "Mama knows that he..."
"Don't worry." Asuna assured her as Yui look at her in surprise.
"Yui-chan, are you okay? What are the two of you talking about?" Suguha asked as Asuna and Yui look at her. She could see Yui held a small frown, much to her confusion.
"Suguha." Asuna called out as Suguha look at her. "I'm sorry." She said to which surprise her.
"W-What for?"
"I know your relationship with Izayoi-kun while I was in a coma." Asuna said as everyone held a shock look, especially Suguha, who was surprised that Asuna knew. "I know that Izayoi-kun and you had kissed."
"Suguha, is that true?" Keiko asked the ever slightly blushing Suguha.
"I can't believe it!" Rika said in shock, never expecting the words that came out of Asuna's mouth. She then grits her teeth in anger at the thought of Izayoi kissing Suguha while Asuna was helplessly in a coma. "Why that lying cheating blondie! He never should have-" She was interrupted by Asuna.
"Rika, it's not his fault or Suguha's." Asuna exclaimed as Rika look at her in surprise.
"What! You're not angry about this?" Rika asked with a raised eyebrow. "He cheated on you! He must have told you after the wedding right? When everything is happy and he wouldn't worry about anything."
"Rika." Keiko holds her hand for her to stop as Rika look at her before she looks at Asuna, who look down in slight sadness.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that…" Rika apologized with an apologetic look, feeling guilty.
Asuna look at her and smiled in reassurance. "It's okay. I would have thought you would react like that, Liz."
"I mean, I've known you and Izayoi in SAO. You were so close, and I thought that you two would be happy together."
"But it's not his fault or Suguha's." Asuna said to her as Rika look at her with a guilty look. "Izayoi-kun had told me after I woke up from my coma. After he proposed to me." Asuna explained to her. "I was upset at first, but after I found that Suguha had kept her feelings inside all this time and Izayoi always had a soft spot for her. At first, I felt kind of guilty from being in the way of their growing relationship." She glanced at Suguha, wanting to see her reaction and she saw a small frown that started to form on her lips. "At that time, I admit I really thought that I was gone for too long to let something like that happens. It was selfish of me to think like that but at that time, it was all I could think about." Asuna said as she look at Suguha and a tear fall down her cheek before she brushed it away with her finger. "I'm sorry, Suguha-chan."
"Asuna..." Suguha mutters not wanting to see her break down like that.
"Mama..." Yui mutters as she held onto Asuna's left hand.
Asuna smiled down at Yui, "Papa's not a bad man okay, Yui-chan? I tend to forget that every woman would be attracted to him." Asuna explained with a smile before she looks at Suguha. "You don't blame Izayoi-kun for what he did, right?"
"If I did, I wouldn't be happy." Suguha answered with a small smile.
"So, Izayoi-kun is dating the two of you now?" Rika pointed her hand at both Asuna and Suguha.
"No." Asuna shook her head before she look at everyone. "When I thought about all of those negative thoughts at that time, I was so upset and I couldn't respond to Izayoi-kun if I like about him and Suguha." She glanced at Suguha, who just smiles and nodded, urging for her to continue, to which she smile in appreciation. "While I was having those thoughts, Izayoi-kun had already known about it beforehand and..." Asuna paused before she continues. "…Suggest that I should talk with Suguha about the subject." She finishes, while hoping inside that nobody would have notice her paused in the middle of her sentence.
"Wait, so what happen before he suggested that you should talk with Suguha to settle things? Shouldn't he comfort you when you're so upset?" Rika asked raising an eyebrow, noticing Asuna paused before she finishes her sentence. She knew that it wouldn't be a problem, but she was curious as to why she didn't mention Izayoi comforting her where he should have.
At this, Asuna's face instantly flushed into a rosy red colour, to which everyone notices. Feeling like she was caught red-handed, Asuna furiously waved her right hand in front of her while her left hand covered her blushing face. "N-Nothing happened! Izayoi-kun d-did comfort me—"
Suddenly, a knowing smirk made its way on Rika's face, "Are we missing something here? Why didn't he comfort you, Asuna? Tell us." Rika interrupted Asuna as she ignores her excuse of a reason to cover up the actual truth.
Knowing that she was backed into a corner, Asuna glanced away. "Why would you want to know? It's none of your business." Asuna said with a flushed face as Rika smirked even wider.
"Did something happen in the hospital room that you didn't tell us?"
Before she finishes the sentence, Asuna had covered Yui's ears from hearing the whole sentence.
"No! Why would you say that?" Asuna yelled as she looks at Rika in slight surprise.
"I'm not going to stop unless you tell us, Asuna." Rika stated as Asuna look the other way with a blush. "Don't tell us you two make out in the room?"
After hearing her statement, Asuna closed her eyes tightly, much to Rika's amusement.
"So, it is true. Did any camera capture the two of you kissing passionately in love?"
Opening her eyes, Asuna glared at Rika, who held up her hands in surrender. "As a matter in fact, no. There weren't any cameras or hidden cameras in the room. Anyway, Izayoi kissed me while I having those thoughts, alright? He made me forget all of my worries with that single kiss and through that kiss, I felt and know that he still cares about me, you know? After we kissed, he said that he loves me. When he said that, I really didn't know how to act because I thought I would be in his way. But it makes me very happy that he still loves me…"
"Asuna," Rika called out as Asuna look at her. "Izayoi will always love you, no matter what. Heck, I don't even know how strong your love is before but I can tell that it is very strong from the moment I saw you two in SAO. After the two of you married in this world, I know your love grew stronger than ever, and I know that some part of your love grew because of Yui-chan here." Rika explained glancing at the confused-looking Yui with a smile.
"That's true." Keiko nods in agreement at Rika's statement. "There's nobody that fits you better than Izayoi. In fact, there's no one." She said before smiling at Asuna.
"Yes, you two deserved each other." Suguha exclaimed as Asuna look at her. "So don't let anything get in your mind that will say otherwise because you two fit each other very much. " Suguha look at Keiko, to which the two of them nodded at one another before they smiled at Asuna.
Looking at everybody, Asuna smiled. "…Thank you, everyone." Asuna thanked as tears started to fall from the corner of her eyes, relieved and grateful that she have friends like them around.
"Anyway, you made your point already. Please continue if you will." Rika urged with a smile as Asuna let down her hands from Yui's ears.
"Mama, why did you do that? And why are you crying?" Yui asked in concern, looking at the tears that were visible at her eyes.
"Because you shouldn't hear what Liz said earlier alright, Yui-chan?" Asuna smiled before brushing the tears away with her finger. "Anyway, Mama is crying because your Mama has good friends." She said before glancing at the smiling Rika, Keiko and Suguha. "And also, a sweet daughter like you, Yui-chan." She added turning towards her daughter with a smile before pecking her forehead.
Even though she didn't know the first reason but she was happy that her mother pecks her forehead, to which Yui smiled at her mother. "I love you, Mama."
Pulling back her lips from her daughter's forehead, Asuna hovers above her forehead. "Mama loves you too." Asuna mutters over her forehead with a soft smile.
"Sorry." Rika look at Yui and Asuna sheepishly. "Me and my big mouth, there's nothing stopping it."
After she said that, Asuna shook her head in reassurance. "It is fine, Liz. Anyway," Asuna started deciding to continue her story. "There wasn't anything going on in the room. Izayoi-kun comforted me by saying that he wouldn't want me to feel sad." She looks at Yui, who smiled up at her. "So, he suggested that I should talk with Suguha. But I didn't have the courage to talk to her until after the wedding."
At her last sentence, everyone look at Asuna with focus, except Suguha.
"Asuna and I," Suguha started to say as everyone focuses on her instead of Asuna, who look at her for confirmation to which Suguha smiled at her before she continues. "We agreed that Asuna would be the only girl for Izayoi-kun."
"...Are you sure, Suguha?" Rika asked with a small frown as Suguha look at her before she nods.
"Yes, I'm sure. I've already decided. It's fine the way things are right now. Even though I can't be with him, I will always be at his side whenever he needs it. Anyway, I've had my first kiss with him... So it makes me feel happy that he was the one I had my kiss with." Suguha smiled at everyone.
"You sly girl!" Rika stated with a smile as Suguha blushed while everyone smiled at her. "Asuna," Rika called out as Asuna look at her. "You better keep other women away from Izayoi, from now on. I'm afraid that there will be others that will chase after him." She said as Asuna smiled.
"Don't worry, I intend to. That's what a wife's duty is right?" Asuna asked.
"I'll help with Mama too!" Yui stated raising her hand to volunteer as Asuna look at her and smile sweetly.
"You really have a cute daughter, Asuna." Keiko commented while she smiled sweetly at Yui.
Stroking her daughter's head lovingly, Asuna answers. "Yeah, she is."
"I've been wondering...How did all of you meet Izayoi-kun?" Suguha asked everyone.
"When I was attacked by monsters, Izayoi-san rescued me." Keiko said as everyone paid their attention to her.
-Flashback-
"I don't have any healing items?!"
Silica asked herself before she was suddenly hit by a mace from one of the Drunken Apes, and collided with a tree. She then searches for her weapon but it was too far away for to reach. Suddenly, the Drunken Ape approaches and raised its mace to smash her. But when the mace was closing in on her, her feathery dragon, Piña took the hit that was meant for her.
"Pina!" Silica said rushing to her dragon. "Pina...Pina!" She said as she watches Pina's Hp went to zero. "Pina...Pina!" She cried out to the small dragon that shatters and turns into a feather. Meanwhile, the three Drunken Apes surrounded her from behind to which Silica look behind her in fear.
But before the Apes can attack, all of them stood still before they shattered into polygons. "Why is it always with Drunken Apes?" Izayoi asked himself with his Heaven and Hell sword drawn, while he stood behind where the Drunken Apes were standing. Kirito stood behind him with his sword unsheathed.
"Pina..." Silica whispered as tears were starting to fall from her eyes. She then looks down at the feather that the small dragon turned into and picked it up. "Pina...don't leave me alone...Pina!" She cried out to the feather as she starts to cry.
-Time Skip-
"Why would you do all this for me?" Silica asked as Izayoi look at her and then at Kirito.
"Kirito, take it away. You have the answer." He smiled amusingly as Kirito glared at him before he walks up towards her and touch a part of his hair.
"If you promise not to laugh, I'll tell you." He exclaim as the girl answered.
"I promise." She said as Kirito covered his face with his hand, to hide his embarrassment of telling.
"It's because you look like my little sister..." Kirito said as the girl stifle a giggle as it then turns to a laugh.
"I'm sorry." Silica said to Kirito before she smile.
-Present-
"Hahaha!" Everyone laughed at the recollection as Suguha held an awkward look, not expecting her brother to say that.
"Only he could say that with a straight face... But Suguha and Keiko really don't look that much alike, do they?" Rika said as she looks down Silica's chest.
"W-What are you comparing?!" She said at her with a tiny blush. Then, Keiko looks forward and smile, recalling the time with Izayoi and Kirito. "After that, Izayoi-san, Kirito-san and I began an adventure to save Pina."
-Flashback-
After Silica arrived at the altar first, the small altar glowed and a beautiful white flower bloom from it. The three watched in on awe, with Izayoi whistled in impressed.
"What are you waiting for, Silica? Take it." Izayoi said to Silica, who nod and take the flower.
Pneuma Flower
"This will bring Pina back, right?" Silica asked turning towards Izayoi.
"Yeah, what else does it do?" He said with a shrug as Silica stifles a laugh with Kirito nods towards her.
"I'm so glad..." Silica said hugging the flower.
"But there are lots of strong monsters around here. Let's revive her after we get back to town." Kirito said to her.
"I'm sure she'd prefer it that way." Izayoi stated as Silica look towards the both of them.
"Yeah." She said nodding to them.
"Ah? Kyaaaaa!"
Silica screamed in surprise as a venus plant monster grab her legs and raise her upside down, making Silica hold her skirt. She then looks at the monster who open up its mouth, much to her horror.
"Kyaaa!" Silica screamed swinging her sword wildly.
"Calm down Silica!" Kirito yelled at her, trying to calm her down. "It's really weak!" He said while Izayoi stares at her, more specifically at her skirt, which Silica's response was a redden face.
"Nice..." Izayoi said with a smirk as he grasps his sword, knowing full well what to do.
"I-Izayoi! K-Kirito-san! Save me!" Silica said swinging her sword blindly still holding her skirt. "Don't look, but save me!" She said as Kirito covered his eyes but took a peek from between his index and middle fingers.
"That's impossible..." He said while Izayoi crouches in front of the monster.
"As she said, don't look." Izayoi said to himself as he focused on the monster before closing his eyes. "Now!" He said suddenly as he dashes towards the monster with his eyes completely closed.
"Huh?" Kirito look at the dashing Izayoi with his eyes completely closed, much to his confusion. He then watches as his mentor launches a series of attacks at the monsters such as slashing off its vines that held Silica by the leg.
"Izayoi!?" Silica said surprised as Izayoi catches her and carried her bridal style with his free hand while the other holds his Heaven sword. Then, Izayoi opens his eyes as he saw that they were about to be eaten by the monster, with them falling down at the middle of its opened mouth.
"You're not eating me today." He said with a grin as his sword glowed white before he slashes his sword at the monster wide-opened mouth, releasing a white energy slash that was eaten by the monster. As the slash was eaten by the monster, it was instantly exploded in polygons. When Izayoi landed on the ground next to Kirito, he let Silica down as she sheepishly blushes.
"Thank you for saving me, Izayoi." Silica said as Izayoi chuckle.
"No problem, and don't think to give me anything, okay? Cause I've already got something you gave me." He stated to her.
"And what's that?" Silica asked confused as Izayoi smile.
"Well, I got to see your pink panties." He simply exclaimed, making Silica blushed furiously before she turns to Kirito.
"Did you see?" She asked with her still redden face.
"No, I didn't." Kirito said as he closed his remaining eye while he slightly blushed, he'd just saw a glimpse of it but that's all.
-Present-
At the recollection of her past, Keiko stood still with a tiny blush evident on her cheeks.
"My first meeting with him wasn't as dramatic as Silica's...But that was when I met Kirito too…" Rika said as she looks upwards at the sky.
-Flashback-
"Welcome to Lizbeth's Smith Shop!" Liz said with her 'Customer Smile', as she looks towards the left where a black haired male wearing black clothes was searching through the weapon's case.
"Can't you just pick one?" Lizbeth turns to a blonde haired player who was wearing the opposite color of the other player, white but it fitted him more than it fitted black to the other player.
She can only conclude that he was the only one to wear white clothing as a player, and she can guess that he wasn't in the same guild as Asuna because she was the vice-commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath. She knew that the guild's uniforms are styled in red and white to symbolize their guild, and not black and white as the blonde haired wore.
"We've been through a couple of swords and still you can't pick either one. Can't you keep using that new sword of yours? I think it's pretty good than the rest of the swords we've looked." Izayoi sigh tiredly leaning his back against the weapon's case while looking at Kirito with a look of boredom on his face.
Izayoi stares at Kirito with a hint of boredness, then he look to his left as he noticed a pink haired girl was standing beside the counter. "Probably the owner of the shop." Izayoi said in his mind before he slightly nudge Kirito on the shoulder.
Turning towards him, Kirito looks at Izayoi in confusion before he turns towards the counter, finally noticing someone was at the counter.
"W-Well...I'd like to order a custom-made weapon." Kirito requested to the pink haired girl, to which he guessed that she was the owner of the shop judging by her appearance as a blacksmith.
Lizbeth eyed her two customers, seeing that the both of them were only wearing coats and just a shirt underneath. She also saw that they didn't wear anything fancy or expensive except the white clothed one. She was sure she'd seen him before.
"Does he have enough money?" Lizbeth said mentally eyeing Kirito up and down, cause he was the one who offered to make a custom-made weapon. The blonde haired one doesn't look all that poor so she instead focused on Kirito. "At the moment, metal prices are high." She said to him, wanting to find out if he was into making a custom-made weapon.
"Don't worry about the cost. I just want the best sword you can make right now." Kirito replied to her.
"That's somewhat vague. Could you give me an idea of the stats you're looking for?" Lizbeth asked.
"Oh, I see." Kirito said before he unhook his sword from his back and give it to Lizbeth. "Then, something as good as this or better?" He asked handing her the sword.
Lizbeth blink before she reluctantly accepts it with Kirito dropping the sword in her hands. To her surprise, the sword was actually heavy than she expected. She then unsheathes the sword, and shock filled her face seeing the black blade before she quickly open the sword stats. "An Elucidator... It's one of the best magic swords you can get from a monster drop." Lizbeth thought looking at the sword.
"Can you do it?" Kirito asked looking at Lizbeth with an expectant look.
Lizbeth looks at him before she turns around and grabs a weapon out of her weapon storage. She then turns towards her customers showing them a long sword with a green guard while the blade of the sword was thinner than the Elucidator. "How about this one? It's the best one that I've ever made." Lizbeth exclaimed.
Kirito then took the sword, and try out a few swings. "It's a little light..." He mutters feeling the weight of the sword each time he swung the blade. He then turns towards Izayoi. "What do you think?" He asked.
"You said it's a little light, and the Elucidator was heavier. I think you should stick with the Elucidator. I'm pretty sure this sword will be a pain to use later. It will shatter eventually because of its durability." Izayoi explained as Kirito nod to his mentor before looking down at the sword.
"I used a speed-type metal to forge it." She informed them.
"May I test it a little?" Kirito questioned towards Lizbeth.
"Test it?" Lizbeth ask confused.
"Just as Izayoi said, its durability." Kirito said as he took the Elucidator in his left hand while the other was wielded Lizbeth's sword. He positioned his sword in front of the counter before raising the best sword that Lizbeth ever made.
"Wait! If you do that, your sword will break!" Lizbeth warned putting her hands on the counter.
"If that happens, it'll just be..." Kirito said as Lizbeth's sword glowed in his right hand before he strikes down on the black blade. "too bad!" He finishes as he strikes down on the Elucidator. To everyone's surprise especially Lizbeth but except Izayoi was shocked to find the sword Lizbeth worked on, broke. The end of the sharp edge of the sword laid at the corner in front of Kirito.
"Kirito, why did you do that?" Izayoi asked mentally with a sweatdrop.
"Kyahhhhhh!" Lizbeth screamed taking the sword from Kirito. "Irreparable..." She said as Kirito look on in slight guilt before the sword in her hands, shattered to pieces. "Ah..." Lizbeth fall to the floor in despair.
-Present-
"He broke one of the swords from my shop. What a terrible first impression." Rika finishes with a sigh as Asuna smiled in amusement followed by Yui smiling at Rika.
"I'm s-sorry..." Suguha said with an apologetic look.
"Sometimes, Kirito-san does the craziest things..." Keiko stated with a small smile.
"Falling into a dragon's nest with him, or him throwing dragon poop at me. I don't have any good memories at all... But looking back, they're good memories, including the last one..." Rika mutters as she looks down with a smile.
-Flashback-
Lying on the snow covered ground in the middle of the dark pit were Lizbeth and Kirito. Both of them had blankets wrapped around them to keep them warm from the cold of the surrounding floor.
After a few seconds of silence, Lizbeth spoke up. "Hey... Hold my hand?" She asked towards Kirito.
Kirito look surprise for a moment before he looks to his right, where Lizbeth was looking at him. "Okay." He answered as he offered his hand towards her, to which Lizbeth grabs the hand, feeling warm all of a sudden.
"It's warm." She commented. "You and I are both data in a virtual world, but..." Lizbeth trailed off while they hold hands.
"Liz..."
Lizbeth then smile and closes her eyes, enjoying the warmth of Kirito's hand.
"Amazing!"
Kirito gives his hand towards her as Lizbeth blink then smile, taking the said hand.
"Kirito!" Lizbeth called out as the couple falls from the sky. "You know something?" She yelled.
"What!" Kirito yelled, not quite heard what she said.
"I... I like you!" Lizbeth confessed out loud.
"What? I can't hear you!" Kirito yelled again.
But Kirito is taken by surprise when Lizbeth hugs him suddenly, wrapping her arms around his neck. "It's nothing!" Lizbeth said with a big smile.
"Um... Kirito?" Lizbeth asked as Kirito turns to her.
"Yeah?" Kirito asked as Lizbeth suddenly hold his hand in both of her hands, which took him by surprise.
"If you need your equipment repaired, come by anytime. I mean, anytime, alright?" Lizbeth asked with a smile as Kirito smiled at her too.
"Sure." He replied.
"You'll always be welcome at Lizbeth's Smith Shop!" Lizbeth said smiling at him.
-Present-
Squeezing her hand, Rika look up at the school building where Kirito was currently in the counselling office. "I wonder if he's having fun with that pretty counsellor right now..." She mutters with a slight concern voice.
To Be Continued…
That's the ending or cliffhanger if you will. Anyway, I am so happy that I can write Alfheim Online: The Shinigami again after so long, and I'm starting to like it so far. As you can see there are flashbacks in the story and I know some of you noticed that I rewrote quite a few of them because now I'm not a pro writer but I am an experienced one now. So, I added and change the flashback scenes. I'm sorry that some of you might not like it, but I thought to myself that I should fix it and make it new but still maintain the plot. So, I hope you would appreciate it.
Back to the topic of the story, Asuna had told everyone about how she knew Izayoi and Suguha's relationship and I hope some of you are relieved or happy about the end result of it which is Asuna will always be with Izayoi. J
Even though Suguha isn't with Izayoi, she is happy because she got to spend time with Izayoi even if it was short but she wouldn't forget the kiss they shared, to which makes me feel relieved that she isn't holding a grudge against Asuna and she is happy now as she is. And even though I wrote it myself, but I think that she would do the same time in the Canon. Anyway, I hope all of you are satisfied and happy enough because this is just the beginning. ;)
To the topic of the real world: I am so sorry that I can't update on quite a short notice because I am facing an exam which I'm working hard to not fail. But as you can see if I'm able to write then that means I'm alright. Back to the topic, I dedicate this chapter in honour of my friend which is one of my fans that really likes Sword Art Online. But I won't forget about all of you that makes me want to continue the series and for that I'm grateful. Anyway, I need a time off from A Problem Devil New because whenever I write Alfheim Online: The Shinigami It was so easy to write! I didn't know that, you know?
Anyway, I hope that you all would continue to read Alfheim Online: The Shinigami and I hope that the reviewers that had reviewed this story before would enjoy reading it once again. J
Don't forget to favorite, follow and review the story because I want to hear your opinion or comments about my continued story.
I will bid all of you farewell,
Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!