Hello, everyone. This is ArtLotus! And I'm here to update the new chapter of Alfheim Online: The Shinigami. I hope you all like it.

I don't want to type much, but Review, Favorite and Follow this story.

Other than that, I'll see you later.

Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!

Chapter 17: Extra Edition Part 2

Counselling Office

"Here, Kirito-kun...here." Kikuoka said gesturing his hand at his laptop as Kirito look down at the laptop in confusion.

"Where?"

"Here, here."

"Where is here?"

"These coordinates...Are all of these high-level players gathering for a boss fight?" Kikuoka asked looking at Kirito, who held a frown. "I was just thinking that even one of the ultimate solo players showed up for the boss fights on each floor."

"Of course I did." Kirito said as he walks to stand against the window. "The Floor Boss wasn't something you could beat on your own. Even in raid parties, most of them were dangerous. But I do still think Izayoi could have beaten the Floor Bosses by himself. His skills are far higher than mine's, and I still think that he didn't fight at his fullest." After he said that, he looks at Izayoi who held a smile.

"Really? I thought I was giving my all in the game." Kirito raised an eyebrow at him.

"If your speed is anything to go by, you could land thousands of hits on the Floor Bosses on your own." He stated with a cross of his arms as Izayoi lean his head against his seat, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"That is true..."

Shaking his head in amusement, Kirito look down as he recalled every Floor Bosses he and Izayoi had ever fought. "The sword skills of Illfang the Kobold Lord, the Floor 1 boss, wiped out half the raid."

Looking up, Izayoi recalled the Floor Bosses he had to fight majority by himself, even if other guilds were present at the final room of the Floor Boss. An example was the Knights of the Blood Oath that was mostly present along with some other guilds. "Yeah, most of the Floor Bosses can be pretty hard to battle if you are like any normal players without any kind of leader to lead and strategize. But for me, it is entirely a different thing. Like normal, leaderless players, they tend to think about killing the Boss without analysing their skills because they want to get out of the game as quickly as they can and I still think there were still others that thought the same way."

At this, Kikuoka nodded in acknowledgment before watching Izayoi looks down.

Narrowing his eyes, Izayoi recalling a certain Floor Boss that was difficult to kill in SAO. "Every Floor Boss has its difficulty rate, including boss Level 74, Gleam Eyes..."

Nodding his head at his statement, Kirito voices out his agreement. "Yeah, that was one hard Boss. Even if I had used my new skill on it, it doesn't do any type of serious or critical damages. I almost got myself killed if it wasn't for Izayoi-senpai."

Kikuoka looks at Kirito with a surprise look before he recounted about the Floor Boss Level 74, The Gleam Eyes, receiving information about the said Floor Boss from his department. Looking at Izayoi, he voices out his suspicion. "If I am not mistaken, I recalled that Floor Boss had been programmed even stronger than it initially is. Am I right?"

"It was stronger than it was in the Beta Test." Izayoi answered with a small frown while he still looked down, recalling about the fight between him and Blue-Eyed Demon.

"But while the three of us tried to damage the Floor Boss, we managed to damage it by an ounce of its HP. But when Izayoi came," Kazuto glance at Izayoi. "The Floor Boss was easily overpowered."

-Flashback-

"Let's get this show started!" Izayoi said with a smirk as his two swords glowed. Blue and White energy engulfed The Sword of Light, while the Heavell Sword was engulfed by Black and White energy. The two swords glowed even brighter as each time pass.

Sensing that it was time to finish this, Izayoi looks up at the boss.

"Flash Drive Twin Caliber!" Muttering under his breath, his two swords glowed even brighter until it takes form of a bigger version of the swords itself. Gripping the bigger version of the two swords, Izayoi deflected the Boss's Zanbato with ease but more easily than wielding only with the Sword of Light. He could only say that deflecting the giant sword was much easier like a flick of his finger.

Glancing at the left, he looks at the approaching Zanbato before he countered it with a flick of his Sword of Light, which caused the boss to instantly stumble backwards. Taking this chance to finish the boss, he instantly appears in front of the stumbling and vulnerable boss.

"Take this." He swung his right sword downwards and disappears. Then, he reappears beside the boss, and swung his left sword downwards before disappearing. Suddenly, he reappears and disappearing all around the boss while simultaneously launching a series of slashes as he did so.

Meanwhile, Asuna, Kirito and Klein watched on in awe, either of them couldn't believe the speed that Izayoi was currently going. The only thing they could see was what they would describe as a series of immense high speed slashes in a circle. They couldn't see Izayoi at all while he whizzes around the boss but they could hear the slashes that Izayoi was inflicting. Then, the three of them look up to see the Blue-Eyed Demon's HP bar that was decreasing immediately with each slash before it reaches the red line of the bar, much to their total shock.

All of a sudden, the slashing stopped before Izayoi appears behind The Gleam Eyes with his swords at his side.

Standing there, Izayoi didn't attempt to move as his glowing swords had quietly dimmed down before the swords immediately transforms back into its normal state with a bright flash of light, to which suddenly caused another series of high speed slashes appeared all over The Gleam Eyes, cutting the boss at light speed but more faster.

With the currently dancing of the high speed slashes, combined with the series of slashes that he had performed earlier, Asuna and the other thought that the deadly combo would have made any Floor Boss be defeated in seconds.

After the high speed slashes stopped suddenly, a blinding light started to appear around the boss before The Gleam Eyes shattered into thousands of pieces.

Present

"To me, I think the skill he used was too overkill. It was like anything I ever seen anyone do before. At that time, I thought that single move would kill any Floor Boss easily." Kirito explained, believing the fact to be true.

Nodding at his statement, Kikuoka couldn't help but be impressed by Izayoi's performance that was shown in the battle against the Gleam Eyes.

"Yeah, but in Aincrad, there are somethings that are even scarier than the Floor Bosses." Kirito voiced out as Kikuoka look at him in slight curiosity.

"Oh? What were those?" He asked.

"The players." Izayoi answered with narrowed eyes.

"The players?"

"Yeah, Bosses had incredible stats, but they were only programs. Once you knew their attack patterns, you can simply adjust to them, and since they didn't leave the final rooms, you can run if necessary." Kirito crossed his arms as he glanced away.

"But red players are the worse...Even if they were humans just like us. They should never have existed in the game." Izayoi explained narrowing his eyes as he grip onto his left fist tightly.

-Flashback-

"Okay, time for a break." Godfrey announced as Izayoi sat beside Godfrey, while Kuradeel sat far from them on a big, flat surface rock. "I'll distribute the food." He said as he gave them each a portion of food.

Izayoi opened up his bag of food and was disappointed that he had been given a regular loaf of bread, instead of being able to enjoy Asuna's homemade food. "Why is it always a loaf of bread? I'm sick of this. I want to taste Asuna's food than this." Izayoi thought with a frown before he picked up his drink, and drank it. But then, he noticed something weird in Kuradeel's expression. "He poisoned the water?" Izayoi said in thought as he looks down at his drink before he tossed it onto the ground, letting the drink shattered as it came in contact with the ground.

He then looks up at his HP, looking at the far side of it, where there was a paralyzed status.

"Paralysis poison?" Izayoi thought in slight surprise as he tried to move his body, but can't seem to. He looks beside him to see Godfrey who was paralyzed lying on the ground with a shocked look.

Kuradeel then cracked a sinister laughter, while Izayoi and Godfrey watches him. "Wh-What is this? Kuradeel, weren't you were the one who brought this water?" Godfrey asked, not believing that he would do something like this.

"Godfrey-san, I knew you were an idiot. But you really do have muscles for brains." Kuradeel insulted before unsheathing his sword.

"What are you doing?" Godfrey asked looking slightly terrified.

"Listen… Our party was attacked by a gang of criminal players out in the field! Though you were both fought hard, you were slain. I returned alive, having defeated all the outlaws completely on my own!" Kuradeel explained, making up an excuse on their sudden to-be deaths.

"Godfrey, teleport out of here." Izayoi said activating the teleportation crystal he hid before giving it to Godfrey, who look at the crystal in surprise.

Suddenly, Kuradeel jumps towards Godfrey, trying to stop him from teleporting out of here. But he was stopped as a fist came buried in his stomach, sending him farther away from them.

Kuradeel looked up to see Izayoi crouching, despite he was paralyzed.

"Hurry." Izayoi ordered to Godfrey.

"But how about you? I can't leave—" He was cut off by Izayoi.

"Hurry, and get help!" Izayoi stated while eyeing Kuradeel as Godfrey nodded and teleported from his spot to call for help.

"You! Why do you always have to be the Hero?" Kuradeel asked standing up while clutching his aching stomach.

"Because I'm always defeating bad and sinister evil guys like you." Izayoi smirks, trying to keep standing while enduring the weight of the paralyze status he had been poisoned.

-Present-

"Other than the red players, I had a few difficult duels, one of them was a pure sword fight." Izayoi exclaimed recalling the fight as Kirito and Kikuoka look at him.

-Flashback-

"Entertain me." Izayoi said slightly provoking Heathcliff, who was in front of him.

Regardless of his taunt, Heathcliff kept his calm, trying not to give in to his tricks.

Then, Izayoi unsheathe his sword from his sheath before he grabbed Heathcliff's shield. He admits that he was really getting into the fun of the fight as he stares at his opponent with a small smile.

Heathcliff then charged again at Izayoi who waited for him. The two went on with their swords, striking at each other, with Izayoi dodging all of the attacks that Heathcliff gave while Heathcliff just blocked all of his attacks.

The two then backed away, leaving some distance between them. "Splendid reaction time. Never did anyone sheath their sword, before grabbing my shield and made a dent on it." Heathcliff said impressed.

"And that shield of yours is too strong. I can just crush it with my hands, but I intend not to." Izayoi said jokingly as he readies his swords.

The players cheered from the stands, watching excitedly at the two. Izayoi and Heathcliff stood there, until the two charged at each other again.

Strike by strike, slash by slash, dodging and blocking, at each other. The two went on, each giving their best except Izayoi who held back, a lot. He can go faster than this but he wanted to find out something, first.

"Izayoi-kun…" Asuna said worriedly as she held up a hand and placed it on her chest. She watched the two fought, intending to win against each other.

"Well, might as well use Kirito's skill for a bit." Izayoi muttered after backing away from Heathcliff for a while. He then crouched, and dashes towards Heathcliff, with his two swords in a cross position. "Starstream Burst!" He said as he swung his right sword to the left, which Heathcliff block with his tower shield.

But Izayoi kept on attacking as he slashes an X from top to bottom, before inversely slashing the X again from bottom to top. That last hit had finally knocked Heathcliff's shield to the side, creating an opening at his chest.

"This is it." Izayoi thought as he tried going in for the finishing blow by slashing down at him, but suddenly time had stop. He stares in surprise as Heathcliff moved his shield at an impossible speed and once again blocked Izayoi's attack. At the corner of his eyes, Izayoi could see that Heathcliff came to deliver a clean hit, to end it. "I'm not going down in that way." Izayoi said mentally as he suddenly vanished from his spot, surprising Heathcliff as he was about to hit him.

"What?" Heathcliff questioned in surprise.

"I'm over here." Izayoi called out to Heathcliff from a distance.

Turning towards the blonde, Heathcliff narrowed his eyes at him. "How can he possibly dodge that hit? Nobody can dodged that fast." He questioned in his mind, while looking suspiciously at Izayoi for his action.

"I've finally found you, Kayaba Akihiko." Izayoi thought with a smirk, but then he focused back on the fight. "I really don't want to do this. But, oh well…I think it's time for me to get into a guild for once." He smiled as he lodged his two swords into the ground. "Heathcliff." He called out as Heathcliff look at him. "How about we call this a draw?" Izayoi asked as he scratched his head.

"Why is that?" Heathcliff asked staring suspiciously at Izayoi for his strange action.

"The players gathered in here would probably know who is going to win between the two of us. And we all know that I'm gonna win." Izayoi smirked intending to provoke Heathcliff.

"And how may I ask? That you will win? We haven't determined who will be the winner until our HP bar hits the yellow zone." Heathcliff stated with a hint of annoyance in his tone.

"Care to wager on that?" Izayoi joked as he gripped his two swords hilt tightly. "You should watch in front of you." He said as Heathcliff immediately turned behind him, mistaken the 'front' word to be 'behind'. After just a second of realizing his mistake, he turns around. "Surprise?" Izayoi questioned instantly standing in front of a surprised Heathcliff. "You shouldn't stare so long. You could leave your guard down…" He stated instantly disappearing from his position. Heathcliff blinked several times, trying to get his bearing on things.

He then looked around him, nervousness creeping up on him after Izayoi's strange actions. "Just what is he doing? Calling this match a draw?" He said in thought, unaware that someone was behind him.

"Oh, about watching in front of you… You should watch behind you." Izayoi said behind Heathcliff before he gave a shocked Heathcliff, a clean slash on his back.

-Present-

"This amazing player that you fought with and won, was the leader of the Blood Alliance Knights Guild, Heathcliff, yes?" Kikuoka asked as Izayoi nods.

"That fight revealed the clue as to his true identity."

Pool

"I made a lot, so eat all you want." Asuna gestured as everyone look at the various types of food that were laid out for them.

"Yay, Mama's sandwiches!" Yui cheered upon looking at the delectable food as Asuna smiled down at her.

"I brought lunch, as well. If you like, help yourselves." Suguha said showing the lunch she packed before laying it down on the blue blanket in front of everyone.

Then everyone held their hands together in front of them. "Let's eat!"

When everyone started eating, Asuna's phone rang as she picks it up from her bag before reading the message on her phone.

"How's Yui's swimming? Anyway, it looks like I'll be in the counselling office for a while. Eat your lunch without me." – Izayoi

"Mama, who was it?" Yui asked in curiosity as she peeks over to look at her mother's phone before she realizes that it was from her father. "It's from Papa."

"Izayoi?" Rika asked.

"Yes, he said that he would be in the counselling office for a while. In the meantime, he said to eat without him." Asuna relayed Izayoi's message for everyone to hear.

"So, that means Kirito-kun is going to be late too. I'd better save his food for him." Rika teased before she took one of the rice balls and promptly stuff it into her mouth.

"Rika!" Keiko said. "That's not nice. You should save some for him."

"Wah...Asuna-san's lunch is so cute! Izayoi-kun is pretty lucky to have her cook something like these..." Suguha thought seeing the types of food that Asuna had cook for them. She then glances at Asuna in slight jealousy of her cooking skill.

"What's wrong, Suguha-chan?" Asuna asked after noticing that the black haired was glancing at her for a moment.

"Um...I was just wondering how you met Izayoi-kun." Suguha said before inwardly sighing in relief, thanking her quick mind to save her just in time before she embarrassed herself.

Suddenly, Rika and Keiko look at Asuna with excited looks. "I want to hear about that too!" The both of them said simultaneously.

"But..." Asuna glance away with a tiny blush.

"Come on... We told you our stories." Rika stated as Keiko pointed her hand at Asuna.

"That's right! You're the only one who hasn't." She stated.

Asuna look at her friends before she looks down at Yui, who stare at her in wonder.

"Would you like to know too, Yui-chan? How Mama met Papa?" When Asuna asked, Yui immediately nodded her head in excitement.

"Yeah, I want to know!" She said as Asuna let out a smile, knowing that she couldn't escape from telling her story.

"Then, it can't be help." Asuna said as she put down her lunch and cough in her hand, readying herself to tell. Then, she recalled that horrible event before she met Izayoi. She looks down at the floor, deciding whether to tell the story or not. She was certain that she didn't have enough courage to talk about her first meeting with Izayoi. But recalling that the past was the time that she met him, she didn't want to forget because that was the first time she admit that she fell in love with her husband at first sight.

"I was 14 years old when my mother sent me to a co-ed school." Asuna started as everyone listen in on her. "It was my first year there and I didn't know which way was to the assembly hall…"

-Flashback-

Looking down at her pamphlet, Asuna look around at the hallway that she was standing in. She then stuff the pamphlet inside her school bag before she roamed around the hallway, trying to find any signs that will lead her to the assembly hall.

"Where is it?" Asuna asked herself. "Why is it so hard to find it?" She questioned as she started to become anxious, not wanting to miss out on the assembly to which it would help her navigate to her designated class where she would be placed there for the rest of the year. After a while, Asuna sighs as she looks out at the school window and she suddenly spotted someone that was standing in front of the school's gate.

Tilting her head, Asuna noticed that the blond haired student was looking at the school for a moment. She also noticed that he was wearing the same school uniform as her, much to her curiosity.

"Is he a new student?" Asuna thought in mild curiosity before she heard the sound of footsteps that was coming behind her. Noticing how the sounds of the footsteps are made, she quickly turns her head around and her eyes widens.

"During my way to find the assembly hall, I ran into trouble…" Asuna said with a small frown, much to everyone's confusion especially Yui's.

"What's a pretty girl such as you doing here all alone?" An unkempt brown haired male student asked Asuna, who look at the three warily before she replies to his question.

"Um…I'm just lost...I need to get to the assembly hall..." She explained to them before she saw the ogling looks that she received from the three students, much to her disgust. She clenched her fist, knowing that she was getting into trouble by the three disgustingly looking thugs, to which she questioned on why they were still in school.

"Well, how about we show you the way to the assembly hall after we have some fun together? If you don't mind, it's only for a while."

Asuna glance at the male behind the brown haired, to which she decided to call him the second thug followed by third thug and lastly the supposedly leader, the first thug. She then noticed that the second thug slowly walks up towards her, to which made her step back, but the three thugs didn't noticed her action. Asuna glance at the empty right side of the hallway at the corner of her eye before she looks at the three thugs.

"Um… I think I'll leave…" She said to them before she quickly runs towards the right. But before she could, the first thug block her advances.

"Where do you think you're going, missy?" The first thug asked with a smirk as Asuna glared at him. "Oho! It looks like she is getting angry, wouldn't you say?" He asked as Asuna tried to think of a plan to escape but all she could think about was how fast she can escape while she wore her school uniform to which restricts her body a little.

"I doubt you call yourselves students." Asuna replied. "If you don't want to get into trouble, I'll send a complaint to the principal." She said as the first thug look at her before he looks at his two members.

"…Hahahaha!" The first thug laughed followed by the other two thugs. He then look at her Asuna, "Did you really think you can send a complaint to the principal where you are now? I'm afraid to say this, but you will be the complaint that we will send to the principal." He stated before quickly charging towards Asuna, intend to grab her by the arm. But before he could, Asuna swipe her school bag at his arm, hitting it to which caused the first thug to stop and look at his sore hand.

Clenching his fist, the first thug glared at Asuna before he smiled and he stretched his hand towards her, to which caused both of the second and third thugs to grab her hands. But before they could, Asuna quickly turns around and hit her school bag against the second thug's cheek, sending him back a few steps behind. Looking at the third, Asuna threw her school bag at his face before she step on his foot, which earned her a groan of pain.

But her eyes widen as she look around and her hands was bound by the first thug.

"It looks you have to nowhere to escape." He said to Asuna, who grit her teeth.

"I don't want to!" She shouted as she kicked her left leg back, hitting the first thug's crouch. The action caused the first thug to loosen his grip on her hands as Asuna turns around to face him.

"Damn it, that hurt you bitch!" The first thug cursed before he look up at Asuna. "So you like to play rough, eh?" He asked with a grin. "Just wait till I'm finish with you." He exclaimed as he smirk suddenly, to which made Asuna's eyes widen and she turns her head around to face the second and third thug smirking behind her.

Readying herself to run, Asuna took the first step to run but she only set herself against the wall as she faced the three thugs in front of her.

"No one is going to hear you scream for help. So try to have some fun with us, alright?" The first thug asked to her before he forcefully Asuna's hand and pulled her towards him.

"No, I'm not going to—" Asuna was cut off as her eyes widen, seeing a pair of hand working on to open her school uniform. She then turns towards her right and tried to run, but due to her hands being grabbed, she only look at the empty hall and open her mouth.

"Help! Help me! Anyone, help me!" She screamed, trying to get anyone to come to her help but after several failed tries of screaming, her voice died down due to the fatigue of screaming her voice out loud.

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of you." The first thug smirked as he look at the third member and nods at him. At the signal, the third thug smirked and pulled down his pants, much to Asuna's horror. She then squirmed furiously, trying to get out of the first thug's hold, but he didn't budge at all. After that, her eyes followed the last button that kept her school shirt from exposing her.

But then, a hand was put on the first thug's left hand, to which he look at his right.

"What the—" He was cut off as his eyes widen, feeling the bones in his left hand breaks. Letting go of Asuna in instinct, the first thug grabbed his left hand in pain, "Argh!" His voice gained the second and third thug's attention, to which they look up at the appearance of the blonde. Immediately, the first thug glared up at the blonde before he aimed his right fist towards him. But his eyes widen as he felt a fist buried in his stomach which knocks the wind out of his lungs and he was instantly flew back, hitting the third thug simultaneously as the two of them flew through the other hallway. A crashing sound could be heard at the end of the hallway where the thugs had flown away.

Free from being bound, Asuna look up and her eyes widen at the sight of the blonde from the gates, standing in front of her.

-Present-

"Who was it that saved Mama from those thugs? Who was it?" Yui asked with big eyes as Asuna look at her and smiled.

"The one who saved me was…your Papa."

-Flashback-

Asuna look at the blond with wide eyes, surprised that he was standing in front of her. She then watches as the blond turns to face her before he walk up to her while she stare at his purple pair of eyes that was staring directly at hers. She did not make any move even as the blond was standing closely to her. Then, Asuna's eyes widen as she felt a pair of hands close to her body, to which she look down and saw that the blond was buttoning up her shirt. After he was done buttoning, Asuna then looks up and she was greeted by a smile on the blonde's face.

"Don't worry, I'm here." He smiled as Asuna was speechless to say anything. He then look down at Asuna's wrists, spotting red marks around them which makes a frown to appear on his face for a moment before he smiled at Asuna. "Wait here." He said before he turns to the left and walk away from her.

"Wait—" Asuna was cut off as she watches the blonde stood in front of the second thug, who was glaring daggers at him with clenched fists.

Smirking, Izayoi held up his right hand in front of him and gestured the second thug towards himself, provoking the thug. "What are you waiting for? Come and get me!"

"Hyah!"

Dodging his head to the left, Izayoi smirked at the pissed look on the second thug's face. He then moves his head to the right, evading another fist before he grab the thug's left hand that was next to his head.

"You're boring." Izayoi smirked before he threw him towards the school window to which he breaks through the glass and fell down outside the school building, earning a painful groan which could be heard outside.

Smiling at the broken window, Izayoi focuses at the thug that was in front of him.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think you're not wanted to be here." Izayoi taunted as the third thug girt his teeth at his insult.

"I'll show you who's not wanted!" He declared as he charges towards Izayoi, who stood in his spot. Jumping in the air, the thug aimed a kick at Izayoi's head as Asuna watch with wide eyes, not wanting the blonde to be hurt.

Suddenly, a hand grip onto the third thug outstretched leg, much to his shock.

"A kick? Is that all you can think of? It's not good enough!" Izayoi stated with a smirk as he grip tighter on the thug's leg before instantly throwing him away to the broken window where he threw the second thug outside.

"No!" The third thug yelled as he flew through the window and fall towards the ground. A groaning sound could be heard from outside the school window as Izayoi smiles an amusing smile, guessing by the sound that the thug wasn't dead yet.

"Watch out!" Asuna yelled as Izayoi look forward and he dodges his head to the right as a fist went passed by his head, mere inches from hitting his ear.

Looking at the supposedly leader, Izayoi narrows his eyes and grabs the thug's collar to his surprise. Gripping at the collar, Izayoi threw him towards the other end of the hallway.

Asuna watches with wide eyes as she look at the blond that instantly runs towards the other of the hallway with speed she did not believe. When the blond was out of sight, she immediately recalled her school bag and she look behind her, seeing her text books scattered all over the floor. She then kneels and begins to pick up the scattered books one by one. Just as she stuff the last of her books inside her school bag, she heard a scream to which caused her to look at the hallway where the blond had disappeared to, hearing he scream originated from it.

Looking at the said hallway, Asuna stood up but then she sees another one of her books lying on the floor, a few distances from her compared to the rest of the book she had collected which were lying near. Raising an eyebrow at the strange book, she walks towards it and bends down to collect it. She extends her right hand to grab the book but she wasn't expecting to see another hand touch her book first, and then she noticed that her hand was touching his, which took her hand by surprise. The girl looked up to see his savior's smiling face.

"Uh..." She slowly retracted her hand as she didn't know what to say at the moment.

"Are you alright?" When he asked, Asuna started to fidget her fingers.

"Y-Yeah I'm okay." Asuna assured him before standing up.

"Don't forget your book." Izayoi reminded standing in front of her as Asuna finally realizes that he was taller than her. He then extended his hand which has the book towards Asuna, who look at it nervously before she looks at Izayoi. "It's okay, don't worry. This is yours isn't it, and apparently I found it first," He said referring that he first touched the book before she did. "Here, I don't bite unless I want to. But since I'm in front of a beautiful girl, I think I'll keep my fangs under control for once in my life." He said smiling to which triggered Asuna, as she slowly grabs the book while her cheeks were tinted pink which is not noticed by Izayoi.

"Um... Thanks for... Earlier." She said glancing away as she didn't want him to see her blushing face. She grip tighter on her school bag as she was scared that she had to undergo a situation she haven't been before and to her, she didn't like it one bit.

Noticing the mild frown that had settled upon the girl's face, Izayoi slowly grabs her right hand, to which made Asuna's eyes widen and she look up at him with a sense of fear visible in her eyes. A small frown made its way on his face as he saw how easily terrified she was.

A smile appeared on Izayoi's face as Asuna look at him, slightly scared that he was going to do something to her while she kept reminding herself that the blond in front of her saved her life that would have been scar in her life onwards.

"Don't worry, you're safe, alright?" Izayoi assured as Asuna look at his eyes directly and sensing the sincerity in his words, tears started to appear at the corner of her eyes.

"What am I doing?" Asuna thought. "I shouldn't be like this to him. He…saved me. Why can't I be thankful about that?" She thought before a thumb brushed past her eyes to which Asuna look up at Izayoi, who was brushing her tears away.

Pulling back his thumb, Izayoi smiled down at Asuna. "Better?"

A small smile grace upon Asuna's face as she nods, "I'm better. Thank you." She replied. "Sorry that I was acting the way I am now. I should be thankful that you saved me. But instead, I'm like this." Asuna explained with a sad smile as Izayoi squeezes her hand reassuringly, to which Asuna smiled at him for his understanding concern.

Letting go of Asuna's hand, Izayoi shouldered his school bag on his shoulder. "I hate guys who took an advantage on a girl, especially them. I had a little fun fighting them but sadly, they don't even put up a fight. That's boring." He sighed in disappointment as Asuna smiled at him.

"Cheer up, I'm sure there's a lot of fun stuff you can do in this school. Trust me." She said happily as Izayoi look at her for a moment before he chuckles which make her glared lightly at him. "Is something wrong?" She asked raising an eyebrow, curious on why he was chuckling when she tried to cheer him up, making her a bit annoyed.

"No, nothing's wrong. It's just... you know, being with you right now is fun already. And maybe that fun will help me get over through the year." He smiled shocking Asuna as she blushed.

"You think so?" She asked confused Izayoi.

"Yeah, why? Being with you is all the fun I need already. I'm sure that I'm not gonna get bored with you around and that, I can assure you." He said to her as she blushed crimson.

-Present-

"It seems like you fell for him at first sight." Rika stated as Asuna blushes. "You were so easily flushed; even I can connect the dots that you started to fell for him at that time." She explained as Keiko nodded accordingly in agreement.

"Mama, then what happen? What did Papa do?" Yui asked as Asuna look at her before she smiles.

"He told me something about my past and how I wasn't so used to it. It cheered me up and we…"

-Flashback-

"Oh, I forgot. What's your name?" Izayoi asked as he forgot to ask her before.

Looking at him, Asuna smiled before answering. "My name is Asuna, Yuuki Asuna, How about your name?" She asked as Izayoi smiled back.

"My name is Sakamaki Izayoi, just call me Izayoi ok?" He asked as Asuna nods and then smile widely at him.

"Ok, Izayoi-kun!"

-Present-

"We introduced ourselves and we managed to get to the assembly hall in time. After that, we surprisingly found out that we got to stay in the same class." Asuna explained as Keiko frown, recalling the time where she was almost got raped.

"I'm sorry, Asuna. I never thought how horrible for us to make you tell your story." Keiko said as Asuna shook her head.

"It's fine. It was a horrible moment for me at that time but I want to move pass that past." She explained as Rika look at her in sympathy.

"Yeah, I never thought it was a sad one." Rika frowned sympathizing with her best friend before she let out a smile that crosses her face. "But luckily, her knight in shining armor found her and saved her. Just like a true knight, right?" She asked as Keiko and Suguha smiled and nodded at her.

"Yeah! Papa saved Mama in time and saved the day, right Mama?" Yui asked with a happy smile as Asuna nodded, after having to replace her situation with a lesser children rated version for Yui. When she told everyone about the time where she almost got raped, she gave out hints to the other girls while she told Yui that she run into trouble with some students that like her to do something for her to which she didn't want to do. She then told her that it was because of that, she attempted to run from them but she can't since the students bound her. At that time, Izayoi came in and started to fight with the students to which he won easily. At the end, she told her that Izayoi had comforted a bit from her sad experience before they introduced themselves, much to her daughter's happiness of hearing the story between her mother and her father.

"Yes, Papa saved the day, and Mama is extremely thankful and grateful for his help." Asuna exclaimed as Yui smiled at her.

"Anyway, how did you meet Izayoi in SAO then?" Rika asked as Asuna look at her in slight confusion.

"But didn't I already tell you about how I met him? Isn't that enough?" She asked as Rika shakes her head.

"No. We told you our stories of how we met him in SAO, not how we met him in real life. But we're sorry that we didn't know how hard it was for you at that time, Asuna. I seriously didn't know…" Rika frowned as Asuna smiled at her reassuringly.

"It's in the past now. You don't have to worry that much. I mean, I'm here with you now, right?"

"Yes, and it's all thanks to Mr. Attractive Blonde, right?" Rika teased as Asuna blushes a little before she slowly nods.

"Yeah…It's all thanks to him…" She said as Rika laughed.

"Anyway, stop thinking about him and tell us how you met!" Rika smiled as Asuna glared at her lightly before she looks up.

"How do I start? Well, I met Izayoi-kun in the 1st Floor of the Labyrinth. At that time, I wasn't myself. I was so determined to get out of the game. But after I defeated a Level 6 Ruin Kobold Trooper, I was greeted by someone. At first, I didn't care about him because I only care about was beating the game."

-Flashback-

"That's an extreme overkill, you know."

Asuna look at the white hooded figure walking towards her. She then recalled what he said and was instantly confused, to which was noticed by the hooded figure.

"Overkill means that you did a lot more damage than the opponent's health," The hooded figure explained. "The kobold was almost dead before that last Linear. You probably could have poked it or kick it and it would have died."

"Is that a problem?" She asked

"Sometimes," Izayoi answered. "It's not really practical. You have to concentrate to use Sword Skills, so using them is a good way to get tired. And then, of course, there's the return path, so you don't really want to get too tired."

"Return path?" Her voice was faint from fatigue after being in the dungeon for four days straight.

"Yeah, it took me about an hour to get here from the entrance, and that's the only way out of the dungeon. From there, the closest town is about thirty minutes away. And if you're exhausted, you'll make more mistakes. For a soloer, any small mistake could cost you your life. It's a one in a lifetime chance, or not...you'll die.

"Then there's no problem. I'm not returning," Asuna managed to say as Izayoi realized the exhaustion evident in her voice.

"Everyone will die in the end," she said bluntly. "So what, we're gonna be dead anyway. No one can clear the 100th floors. The first floor still has not been cleared. It simply isn't possible to beat this game. Sooner or later, everyone will die. The only difference is when it actually happens." She said causes Izayoi to suddenly grab her hand forcibly and brought it up to their faces, their hoods facing each other. The hooded girl was shocked by his actions, even though he can't see the shock expression on her face with her hood on.

"You know if you keep that attitude, you're dead. And for the record, you're wrong. The game can be beaten. As long as we do not give up, we can beat this game and get out of here." He said to the hooded girl as he continued.

"If no one can clear 100 floors then I will, cause I got someone precious out in the real world waiting worriedly for me, and I will clear this game to be with her again because I hate to see her sad just because of me, playing in this death game. I have always protected her but now when I'm stuck in this game, who will protect her out there, I couldn't imagine how she will protect herself from the world. And so, I will never give up until I see her smiley face again. I will get out of this game no matter what, to be with her again."

"…What about you? Don't you have someone precious waiting for you out there to be safe?" He asked as the girl hesitantly nods before she suddenly hugs him and he could hear the sound of her crying.

Asuna doesn't know why she was hugging a stranger. Maybe she was feeling alone and she wanted to be comforted for once since she can't escape from this game. But every word he had said was right. She never considered the words he just said in her mind before since she always wanted to get out of the game by getting stronger. She also doesn't know why she felt familiar around the stranger and she was easily turning emotional around him but she ignored her thoughts and just cried into his jacket.

"I-I want to get out of this game. I-I want to meet Izayoi-kun again! H-he always was with me the entire time when I was sad or angry about something and he always cheers me up when I'm having a hard day. W-When we met on the first day of school, h-he made me laugh after he saved me from those creeps." Just as the words reaches Izayoi's ears, his eyes widen in surprise.

-Present-

"This is turning out to be quite a drama story for you, Asuna. I really can't believe this." Rika shook her head as Asuna look at her. I mean, you two are like destined to meet at that time!" She burst out as Asuna blush.

"Really? I thought it was just a coincidence that we met." Asuna admitted as Rika raised an eyebrow.

"Are you kidding me? You two are alone! There's no one in the dungeon except you two, how's that coincidence?"

"If you say it like that, then I don't think it's a coincidence also." Keiko agreed as Suguha nods while Asuna kept blushing, thinking about her reunion with her husband was already fate as it is.

"Mama." Yui called out as Asuna look down at her daughter. "What happen next?"

Smiling at her daughter, Asuna continues to speak. "After that, he took off his hood and I got to see his face…"

-Flashback-

"Izayoi-kun?" She asked in surprise as Izayoi let down his hood before pulling down her hood right after. Her eyes widen as tears started to appear at the corner of her eyes before it ran down her cheeks. "I-Izayoi-kun?" She asked if this was a dream or not.

"You don't recognize me anymore, Asuna?" He smiled as Asuna hugged him tightly and cried silently into his shoulder.

"I miss you." She simply said teary-eyed as she doesn't know what to say to him after their awkward conversation, but she now knows that he is here with her and for that she was entirely happy and grateful.

"I miss you too." He wraps his right arm around her before he recalled seeing her at The Town of Beginnings and dismissed for some illusion but in actuality; it was true. Now the proof is hugging him now and he was finally with her again.

"What are you doing?" A voice rang out to Izayoi's ears as he open his eyes. He looks up at the source of the voice, which was revealed to be Asuna walking up towards him.

A smile slip onto his lips as Izayoi was greeted with a nice view under her skirt. "This is a nice way to wake up. Seeing your beautiful girl in front of you and enjoying the time looking at her panties." He said smiling as Asuna followed to where his eyes were before she suddenly blushes and quickly covered her skirt with her hands while she glared at him. "Don't be like that. Can't you just enjoy the peaceful day as it is?" Izayoi asked looking at her as Asuna walk to stand next to him.

"The other lead group members are all working hard to clear the dungeon. Why are you out here taking a nap? Even if you're a solo player, you need to be serious at least." Asuna said at the laying Izayoi.

"Asuna, I am serious. I'm The Thousand Blades and The White Swordsman. Can't I get some rest for my hard work? Some people are thankful and grateful about me clearing the floors, and giving them the right information, including your guild and some of the guilds. Without me, you wouldn't have reached any of the floors, plus this floor or above it." Izayoi explained with a sly smile on his face, as Asuna huffed in frustration. "Besides, it's Aincrad's nicest season, and today is its nicest weather setting. Entering the dungeon on a day like this is a waste." Izayoi looks at the blue sky.

"Do you not understand? Every day we spend here is one we've lost in the real world."

"But right now, we're alive here, in Aincrad." He said as a breeze of wind pass by them, while Asuna was startled at his answer before she felt, the wind. "See? The wind and sunlight feel so good." Izayoi smiled at the cool and refreshing air.

"Do they? There's nothing special about this weather." She said as Izayoi closes his eyes while keeping his smile.

"If you'd lie down for a bit, you'd understand." He said to her. "We've been like this before, remember? We were out and adventuring through the forest on that single day. We found a tree just like this." Izayoi stated before looking at the tree behind him.

"You lay there, sleeping. Then, when I came to join beside you... You snuggle up to me. It was cute to me but after you enter this game and join the guild, you've been busy. I never get to see you have fun like we used to, or take a nap under a tree for once." Izayoi sighed. "So, why not have a rest or take some time off from your Vice President of The Knight of the Blood Oath job, and just relax." Izayoi stated with his hands comfortably positioned behind his head.

Asuna looked around the serene area, birds chirping and trees dancing in tune with the wind. Then she looked down at Izayoi's peaceful face.

"I miss you..." Izayoi whispers within his sleep. At his words, Asuna stares at him before her eyes soften and a smile formed on her lips.

"I miss you too... Izayoi-kun."

"Hatchi!" Izayoi looked back at Asuna who sneezed and started to wake up. She sat up and looked around sleepily, drooling slightly and with a few blades of grass stuck on her face. Her eyes then landed on Izayoi, who was sitting on the stone fence.

Asuna blinked. "What..."

"Morning. Had a nice nap, I presume? Ojou-sama?" Izayoi greeted with a smile as Asuna quickly stood up and held her rapier, which was at her waist. "I hope you're not gonna do what I'm thinking, Asuna." He raised an eyebrow.

But Asuna just held her weapon in position before she let go of her rapier, shaking.

"That's much better, right?" Izayoi smiled at her.

"One meal..." Asuna whisper as Izayoi looks towards her with a raise eyebrow.

"One meal? You mean you're treating me to lunch?" Izayoi asked as Asuna nodded. "But I remember that I always treated you to dinner, and lunch. I never heard a girl invites a guy to dinner or lunch before. It's always the opposite." Izayoi explained with a smirk.

"One meal! I'll buy you one meal of any kind." Asuna said looking away, blushing lightly because of her embarrassment of sleeping and remembering that Izayoi always treat her to dinner and lunch in the real world. "Then we'll be even, okay?"

Standing up, Izayoi walks into the path that leads to the nearest town. But before he could continue, Izayoi stops before turning his head at the confused-looking Asuna. "Let's go. You're treating me to lunch, right?"

At this, Asuna let out a smile before she followed him to the town.

-Present-

"Izayoi-kun showed me that there was joy in living, even if it's a game in Aincrad." Asuna finishes as Yui smiled up at her mother, happy how her mother and father met in SAO.

"It looks like you two are really a fated couple to be, after all. I mean, the two of you are really into your relationship. I am impressed." Rika smiled. "So how did your love grow even more from there? I mean, you two dated like a hundred times before right? So, there's must be some event that makes you love him more."

"Huh? Aren't you a little persistent?" Asuna asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Hey, I just want to know that's all." Rika shrugged her shoulders.

-Flashback-

Without knowing what happened, Asuna holds a knife at his face. "You know it's dangerous to hold a knife in front of someone's face, right? Even though that someone is your boyfriend?" Izayoi asked as he opens one of his eyes to see the knife in front of him. "Well, you're my girlfriend. So, you're certainly an exception." He opens his other eye before he smiled at her.

"Then, party up with me. It's been forever." Asuna said as an amused smile formed on Izayoi's face.

"Oh? Where did that come from?"

"Also, white is my lucky color this week." Asuna stated ignoring Izayoi's early remark while twirling her knife.

"What about your guild?"

"We don't have any leveling quotas." Asuna answered.

"Your escort or might I say bodyguard?"

"I'll ditch him." Asuna quickly answered as Izayoi stared at her before he picked up his tea cup to drink, but he realizes that it was empty. He looks up at Asuna who wink at him before he set the tea cup down on its saucer, and gave it to Asuna to refill it.

After pouring the water into the cup, Asuna gave the tea cup to Izayoi, who take it by the hand and drinks it. Then, a menu pop out in front of Izayoi as he look up above his tea cup.

Asuna invites you to join her party

[Yes] [No]

After reading the invitation, Izayoi drinks his tea before setting it down. He then looks up at Asuna. "The front lines are dangerous." He explained before he quickly picked up his knife next to him and defended himself from the knife that was about to stab at him between his eyes while a burst of wind follows up on the knife's assault. "Don't point your knife at me." He added as he looks at Asuna who was glaring at him. Then, a smile slips past his lips before he taps the [Yes] button to the invitation menu.

"Oh well, we haven't partied up in a long time, right?" Izayoi asked as a smile appeared on Asuna's face before she retracts her knife from his.

"Yes, it's been too long already." Asuna smiled.

-Present-

"Wow, you two are really compatible with each other. I don't know he could be so calm about it after you were so straightforward about it. It's like you two are a match made from heaven or something." Rika explained with a shook of her head as Asuna smiled.

"Really? Hm...Thanks." She replied feeling quite happy about Rika's statement.

"So, how far did you go? Even if it's a game, you guys did marry, so I'm sure you...aside from kissing perhaps, right?" Rika teased with a mischievous smile.

"Rika!" Asuna yelled as she had to close Yui's ears from hearing again.

"I'm just kidding. But did you?" Rika asked as Asuna blushed.

"Eh? It was n-nothing!" Asuna waved her hands furiously in front of her. "We didn't do anything, okay?"

"I wish I could get married. And you even have a cute girl like Yui-chan. I'm super jealous!"

At her statement, Asuna wrap her right arm around Yui's shoulder and brings her closer as she rest her head against her daughter's. She closed her eyes as she smiled happily, to which Yui closed her eyes and relished her mother's embrace with a smile on her lips.

"She's our beloved daughter." Asuna said as Rika and Keiko smiled at the mother and daughter, including Suguha who was smiling at the scene.

"Yes, she really is." Keiko smiled as Rika nodded in agreement.

"Okay, let's work hard at our quest today so that everyone will be happy, ne?" Keiko asked everyone.

At this, Asuna lift her head up and look at Rika and Keiko before she nods. "Yeah."

"I'm going to work hard too!" Yui yelled smiling while pointing her left hand at herself as everyone smiled at her.

"So you met Yui-chan inside SAO?" Suguha asked suddenly as Asuna nods.

"Yes. And ever since then, she's been our child." Asuna smiled at Suguha before smiling at Yui, who smiled back. "Right, Yui-chan?"

"Right, Mama!"

Then, Asuna stand up from the blanket as she looks at Yui and Suguha, "Let's get back to practice."

"All right, Suguha... Let's get swimming like a fish, to surprise Kirito!" Rika shouted as Suguha nods.

"Yeah."

Counseling Office

"It's nice to be young, and it's thanks to you that they made it back to the real world safely, isn't it?" Kikuoka asked with a smile looking at the window where the school pool is before he looks at Izayoi.

"Yeah."

"It's true that you learned Heathcliff's true identity, and defeated Kayaba Akihiko in the final battle, right?" Kikuoka questioned.

"...Yeah. It was a battle, alright. Between me and him."

"Kayaba-sensei lost his fight with you, and then burned out his brain with a prototype NerveGear. That matches the coroner's report...Anyway, I hate to say it...But it's strange that you made it back alive after you died on battle a few moments after he was killed. Was it something on the system side, or was it Kayaba-sensei's will?" Kikuoka asked finding the fact more stranger than he expected. "By the way, before he vanished, did Kayaba say anything about why he started this deadly game?"

"I don't remember..." Izayoi said before his phone rings and he look down to see a picture of the group smiling at the camera.

"Who is it from? Your queen, huh? You had quite a time... You finally made it out of SAO, and then..." Kikuoka trailed off as Izayoi interrupted him.

"Yeah, because someone failed to noticed the huge crime occuring in ALO." At this, Kikuoka stifle a laugh before offering assured smile at Izayoi.

"I'm afraid I can't really explain myself there. We only learned that the three hundred SAO players who hadn't woken up were being experiment on by Sugou Nobuyuki after you, a high school student and the nation's athlete solved the case." Kikuoka explained as Kirito raised his eyebrow at him while Izayoi sighed.

"Why didn't you stop him beforehand?" Kirito asked towards Kikuoka.

"Sugou was in the same lab as Kayaba Akihiko, so we did run a check on him. But the six thousand players sudden reemergence meant we were busy with their physicals and trying to get them reintroduced into society. I can't dent that our watch on Sugou temporarily lapsed. And none of us believed that Sugou had an illegal experimental lab in the game." Kikuoka frowned. "Nothing he did in the real world was suspicious in the least. Would you tell me, Izayoi-kun, how it was you realized what he was doing?" He questioned as Izayoi narrowed his eyes.

"At first, I didn't know anything about it until he...That bastard..."

-Flashback-

This is our laboratory chief, Sugou-kun." Shouzou introduced as Sugou smiled at Izayoi, who inwardly narrows his eyes at the man.

"I'm Sugou Nobuyuki. Nice to meet you." He said introducing himself.

"Sakamaki Izayoi." Izayoi said as Sugou walked towards him before he shakes his hand.

"Really? So you're the hero Izayoi-kun?" He said as Izayoi turns to look at Shouzou to explain.

"I heard that within the game, you were living with Asuna." Sugou asked as he looks down at Asuna, to which Izayoi narrows his eyes.

"Yes. What has that got to do with you?" He asked as he walked towards the left side of the bed.

"Then I suppose that complicates our relationship." Sugou said before he went to grab Asuna's hair, but before he could Izayoi grabbed a hold onto Sugou's wrist.

"Don't touch her." Izayoi warned with narrowed eyes that would make anyone cower, as to which Sugou flinched at his stare.

"W-What we were just discussing was Asuna's marriage to me." He said gaining his composure as Izayoi grit his teeth, seeing Sugou licked his lips.

"How's that possible?" Izayoi stated as Sugou stayed in his spot, seeing as Izayoi held him in his place with his hand gripping tightly around Sugou's wrist.

"Indeed. It can't be done legally. On paper, I'll simply be adopted into the Yuuki family. You see, she's never actually liked me. Neither my parents nor hers know that. But if marriage was ever discussed, it's likely that she'd reject me. So this situation is quite fortunate for me..." Sugou mutters.

"You know... Trying to take advantage of the fact that she's in a coma? That's not a good thing to do." Izayoi said as he released his grip on Sugou's wrist, as he went around the bed to grip Sugou's wrist again, to which Sugou tried to let go, but he was powerless to Izayoi's strength.

"Take advantage? No, this is my right. Listen, Sakamaki-kun. Do you know what happened to Argus after they developed SAO?" Sugou asked.

"I heard they went bankrupt."

"Yes. The development costs, plus the massive damages they were forced to pay, bankrupted the company. And the maintenance of the SAO servers was entrusted to the electronics manufacturer Lect, whose CEO is Shouzou Yuuki." Sugou said, slightly surprising Izayoi before he then continued. "And I work for its Full-Dive Technology Research Division. You could even say that I'm the one who's keeping Asuna alive..." He whispered to Izayoi's ear, after he stood up to face the blonde. "So I can ask for a little something by way of compensation, can't I? I don't know what sort of promises you made to her in the game. But I'd prefer that you never come back. Or have any contact with the Yuuki family. The ceremony will be held in this hospital room in one week, on January 26th. The Japanese calendar has more auspicious days for a wedding, but it's a day that brings misery to friends, so I'll invite you. Enjoy your final goodbye, Hero-kun." He said with a sinister smirk, but then a smirk started forming on Izayoi's face.

"You know what I think about this?" Izayoi mutters as Sugou look at him. Suddenly, the grip around Sugou's wrist tighten, making Sugou winced. "This is... What I think you'll have when I'm finished with you, but I'm just letting you with some advanced pain for making me sick from hearing your sick plans." Izayoi said venomously as he tightens the grip around Sugou's hand more, to the point you can hear bones breaking.

Sugou winced painfully, as he desperately pulled on his hand that was in pain.

"L-Let go!" Sugou said as Izayoi raised an eyebrow at this.

"Really? Then you wouldn't mind I'd go like this, right?" Izayoi asked as he twisted Sugou's wrist, making him screamed in pain, but not to the point where anyone will hear it. "Get out." Izayoi ordered pulling on Sugou's wrist and leading him the way to the door. He then let go of the grip on Sugou, to which he nursed his broken wrist by massaging his wrist. But he'll need to go to the doctor to find out if it was as serious as it was.

Sugou glared at Izayoi, "It's just a friendly advanced advice." Izayoi smiled triumphantly at him, with a shrug of his shoulders.

"I'll let this one slide, Sakamaki-kun. But next time won't be the same." Sugou said as he left the room.

Izayoi stood there before he walked towards Asuna. "I'm gonna find you, Asuna. Just hand in there, okay?" He mutters as he kissed Asuna's forehead.

"Bye... Asuna..." With a whisper and a heavily heart he left.

-Present-

"The only clue I had was a picture of an avatar that looks just like Asuna. So, I got the game and played it." Izayoi explained as Kikuoka stare at him in mild surprise.

"You went into ALO with that single information?" Kikuoka asked.

"What am I going to do? Sit around all day while waiting for the wedding? I didn't sign up for that." Izayoi narrowed his eyes at the thought of Sugou marrying the helpless Asuna in the hospital. "So, I went into the game after I found about the pictures."

-Flashback-

"…Help me one more time." He said as he put the game in, and plug the NerveGear so that it was functional. He then gently put it on, as he lie on his bed.

He stares up at the NerveGear before he closed his eyes, and a smirk instantly made its way to his face. "Link Start!"

'Head link, check'

'Body link, check'

'Hands link, check'

'Legs link, check'

'Checking complete.'

'Language: Japanese'

Welcome to Alfheim Online!

"Welcome to ALfheim Online." A voice of the system said as Izayoi entered a room with a lot of screens hanging around the room.

"At least they have a nice view of the moon down here." Izayoi exclaimed seeing the moon shined down on him. By the ground he landed, he guessed he landed into a forest.

"Well, I'm back...After everything that happened." He said with a smile as he back flip to land on his two feet. "Where am I? And why did I land into a forest?" He questioned himself as he dragged his right hand to open his menu, but he realized that he couldn't. Then he tried his left hand, as finally his menu open up. He checked the menus settings.

"There it is!" He said as he was relieved to find the "Log Out" option. He then taps the Log Out button.

"You cannot instantly log out in the field. Is that all right?"

"Well, now I know that I can't log out of here. Now where's the status window?" Izayoi said dismissing the settings, as he then look at his window status. "What is this? Is it a bug?" He wondered as he looks down through his skills.

One-Handed Sword 1000

?

Thrown Weapon 1000

Weapon Defense 1000

Combat Reagen 1000

Search 1000

Pursuit 1000

Hide 1000

Night Vision 1000

Carry Weight Bonus 1000

Run 1000

"They're just like my SAO parameters... What's going on? Is this inside SAO?" Izayoi said scratching his head, finding out that he had abnormally high skill values, but quickly realizes that they were all his skill values from SAO that were somehow transferred into ALfheim, aside from his Dual Blades skill which had illegible text. Izayoi then looked at his items, which also had illegible text, "Wait. Please be here..." Izayoi said as he remembered something and tried to locate a specific item as he scrolled down the item list. He found the item called MHCP001 and clicked on it, as a tiny light came out of the menu.

The small light floated down on his hand, materializing Yui's Heart. As the crystal appeared, Izayoi taps the item, and a blinding light is gleaming from the crystal. A figure begins to form in the light as Izayoi look up towards the forming person, and his eyes widen as the figure turned out to be his daughter, Yui.

Yui opened her eyes, Izayoi smiled. "It's me, Yui. Do you remember me?" Izayoi asked holding out his arms at her before Yui's eyes widen, and tears were registered from her eyes as she immediately recognized her 'papa'.

"I got to see you again, Papa!" She said tearfully.

"Yui..." Izayoi said with a smile.

"Papa!" Yui said as she then floated down to Izayoi, as she hug him, to which he hugged back. "Papa! Papa..." She said.

"Miracles really do happen." Izayoi said as an image of him, Asuna and Yui holding hands like a family came into his mind.

"Actually it seems Asuna... Your Mama is here." Izayoi said to Yui.

"Mama? What do you mean?" Yui asked as she sat on top of his shoulder.

"Even after SAO was cleared, Asuna never woke up in reality. I heard about someone who saw her in ALfheim." At his words, Yui looks down.

"So that's what happened..." Yui stated with a small frown.

"But I have a good idea of where to look. It's called the World Tree. I think that's where she is." Izayoi exclaimed as he look at the enormous tree from the distance.

"Mama is over there?" Yui looks up at the enormous tree.

"Well, what do we have here?" Izayoi questioned stopping to look at the four fairies that were ready to fight. "Three players ganging up on a girl." His eyes narrowed. "I hate that kind." He said coldly as the atmosphere around them began to take a different turns on things.

Leafa looked at the stranger as he was somewhat familiar to her, like she had met him before. But she can't guessed who it is, cause he wore a scarf around his neck which covers up little of his face, except his hair which was light blond. She was then met with an image of Izayoi in her mind to which makes her blush before she shook out of her stupor and focuses on the stranger. But somewhere on the back of her head, she had her doubts, but she would question it later.

"What are you doing? Run!" Leafa shouted at him.

Izayoi looked at her before shaking his head, indicating that he didn't want to run.

"Don't worry." He said under his scarf as Leafa stared at him in confusion. And strangely when she directly saw his face, she was even more confused. His eyes were purple, like a certain someone she liked in the real world.

"What are you thinking?" Leafa thought herself as she shook her head again, and then focused on to the three Salamanders.

Izayoi then turns to look at the three Salamanders. "Like I said, I hate your kind. Attacking a single girl, that's kind of lame and I hate it." Izayoi said coldly.

"What did you say?!" The one on the left said pissed.

"Stay out of this, newbie." The one on the right stated, as he and the other one, who were pissed, flew towards him, deciding to attack him.

"Newbie? I haven't heard that one in a long time." Izayoi muffled under his scarf as a smirk made its way onto his face.

-Present-

"As I recall, this Leafa player was Kazuto-kun's younger sister, right?"

At this, Kirito look at Kikuoka in surprise. "Huh?" Kazuto questioned with a surprised look as he did not expect that her sister would be Leafa in ALO all this time. "Leafa is Sugu?" He asked as Izayoi smiled amusingly at him briefly before he looked at Kikuoka.

"Yeah, I never imagined running into her in ALO." Izayoi answered. "Anyway, how I found out about Sugou. It was at that time where Asuna had woken up from her coma and she told me all of the details about Sugou's activities and plans in the game."

"She did?"

"Yeah, but it was short." Izayoi mutters with a small frown.

-Flashback-

"Bye, Asuna..." Izayoi said as he slowly let go of his hold on Asuna's hand before he turns around to leave. But before that could happen, a hand mysteriously grips onto 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. Slowly but surely Izayoi turns around to face Asuna, who was surprisingly awake from her deep slumber.

"Izayoi-kun..." Izayoi looks at her in surprise.

"Asuna?" He asked as Asuna smiles at him and nods.

Asuna slowly pulled out her NerveGear from her head as she looks at Izayoi who slowly sits beside her bed.

The two stare at each other before 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 before falling onto Izayoi's jacket.

"I miss you too, Asuna." A soft smile spread across Izayoi's lips.

The two pulled away from the hug, and stare at each other before 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 lays 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 clenches his teeth from anger. Asuna sensing that he had a conflict with the name, she rested 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 expose 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?"

"You'll come and save me, right?" At this, Izayoi smiled.

"I'll save you, no matter what. So, just hang in there, alright?" At his reassuring answer, Asuna smiles and nods.

Asuna then pulled away from his chest as she looks to the side, seeing her NerveGear laying on the bed beside her. She slowly grabs it and held it in front of her before she looks at Izayoi who smiled at her.

"Go. I'll save you." Izayoi assured her before he leans in closer towards Asuna and kissed her forehead, surprising her. Asuna look at him, little surprise by the kiss but she appreciates it with all her heart. She breaths a deep breath before 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 looks at Asuna with a smile.

"Sugou," Izayoi said turning around to leave. "You're going to pay." He said with a grin as he cracked his knuckles.

-Present-

"So, it was her that you knew all about Sugou's illegal activities." Kikuoka said to Izayoi before he smiles. "I must admit, you have an impressive girlfriend." He commented.

"Wife."

"Huh?"

"We're married." Izayoi stated showing Kikuoka his wedding band, to which surprises him.

"Really? Then, congratulations!" Kikuoka congratulated with a smile as Izayoi smile back.

"Thanks. She's my one and only…"

To Be Continued…

That's the end of the chapter. I hope you all like it after my last update with the story. I'm sorry if it's late but I hope you all will be patient for the next. Because I'm starting to write GGO Arc.

Don't forget to review, favorite and follow this story. If there is any mistakes on the story or you want to clear something, then PM'd me.

Ja'ne! ArtLotus out!