A/N: Thank you all for reviewing again. Sorry if the last chapter sounded a little rushed, but I kinda ran out of ideas and wanted to finish SAO. While most of the people who reviewed got some of the details right for this next chapter, I hope you all like how I fixed it into the story.

Mary Rei: Sorry for the typo. The 'for' should have been 'got'. Hope that clears it. I will probably do the entire story to get all the mistakes out when it's finished. I try to get them all before I post, but sometimes a few slip through.

I was reading a lot of HP/LOTR crossovers, which got me the idea of the following chapter. I hope you all like it and please leave a review on the way out ;)

Oh and you guys and gals will probably notice I made some major changes for this story to work. I have tried to keep it as close to the original as possible, but for some things to work I had to change a few things. Sorry if this bothers anyone.

Chapter 4
A day for meetings

I'm excited, Kirito-kun…
It's not that I'm in love with him or anything.
Or that I'm glad to have someone to go on adventures with.
I'm just looking forward to visiting a new world.
- Suguha, Episode 18

Suguha stared silently at her brother/cousin who in turn was staring silently at the television screen. He seemed almost frozen in shock, his mouth slightly agape and his eyes wide. Her grey eyes flickered to the screen and she half wondered if she should turn it off. It was obvious that the news was causing Kazuto great distress.

"Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of the infamous SAO game which caused 3000 people to be locked inside a virtual world, seems to have committed suicide. His body was found this morning by the authorities after a tip-off from one of the surviving gamers. It appears that one of his assistants, Koujiro Rinko, had been taking care of his body all this time. It also appears that another one of his assistants, one Poteru Hari, is also trapped inside a virtual system. There is reason to believe that, because his assistant wasn't able to awake when the game was cleared two weeks ago, this was the trigger for the infamous scientist's suicide. He left a note saying how he wished to have freed Poteru-san from the world he had created. Koujiro-san has been allowed to stay with Poteru-san as he is one of 300 who still haven't awoken. They have been taken to hospital for observation.

Other news today…"

The glass Kazuto was holding was placed loudly on the table. "So it was true," he muttered softly, but Suguha heard. "And I thought he was an AI like Yui."

Unable to see her brother so sad Suguha announced her presence by opening and closing the fridge. "Ah Onii-san," she said cheerfully, entering the living room with a glass of juice in her hand. "Good morning."

Kazuto startled and turned to look at her, a small smile appearing almost immediately. "Ah Sugu, good morning," he said softly while turning off the television. "How was morning practice?"

She shrugged her shoulders, feeling better now that her brother was smiling again and a warm feeling stirred inside of her. Was it wrong for her to feel this way about the boy she had grown up with believing to be her brother? The one who had always been distant and disinterested in everything she did? The one she had tried to save when their grandfather started beating him when Kazuto stopped taking Kendo? The one who had been trapped inside a death game only to be changed forever? The one she had fallen for when his kind and gentle side took over?

"It was okay," Suguha said and finished drinking her juice just as she finished making breakfast. "The tournament is this weekend and exam week is coming up soon, so I'm trying to get as much practice in without ruining my chances for school. How about you? When are you going to the hospital for your check-up?"

"I have an appointment for this afternoon," Kazuto said, finishing his own breakfast and clearing away his dishes. "They are talking about creating a special class for the people who have been inside the SAO system so we can study and rehabilitate together. Those who had jobs to return to have been requested to take rehabilitation sessions with us, but there are still those who remain comatose."

Suguha withdrew slightly as always when Kazuto started about the survivors and those who were still asleep. She felt awkward and unable to help whenever he spoke with that guilty tone. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn't noticed that Kazuto had left until it was too late. Sighing and berating herself that she had let him slip past, Suguha glanced at the clock. It was time for practice. She would meet her team later today. Though she wasn't overly fond of Sigurd and was often against his plans, she had promised herself that she wouldn't leave Nagata behind. At least not yet.

…ALO…
A few days later

"But Leafa-chan," Recon, aka Nagata, whined as they flew out of Sylph country. They had accepted the missions to explore the Ancient Forest together to see if the rumours about a mystic new tree were true. Some were already speculating that the sudden update from a few weeks ago was when the new tree appeared, while others guessed that it was either just a myth or simply a difficult quest which hadn't been discovered yet until now. Whatever it was or would turn out to be Suguha had already decided to take this quest. Recon had followed, which she was thankful for. While she was a skilled fighter, going to neutral terrain on your own was downright player suicide.

Suguha rolled her eyes, laughing playfully at her friend and 'mentor'. "You worry too much Recon," the Sylph elf said, twirling in the air to look at him before looking ahead again. "Why can't you see it as a new adventure? Wouldn't it be great if we were the first to find it? What secret missions and items would it hold and what new abilities would it be able to grand us? Gaining an advantage like that would give us an edge if we would ever try to conquer the World Tree."

This only prompted Recon to protest even more. "It could be a trap as well!"

"We will never know unless we find it," Suguha said in a final attempt to close the subject. It kept Recon quiet and contemplative during their flight to the Ancient Forest and it wasn't until they first encountered a monster on their way that Recon decided to break their silence.

"Where should we start looking for a mythical tree is a forest?" Recon asked, seemingly feeling daunting by the prospect of having to comb through the entire Ancient Forest for a single tree which they didn't even know for certain existed.

Suguha hummed thoughtfully, her eyes gleaming with excitement. She pointed towards the river which flowed through the forest. "Let's start near the mountains edge and work our way back. We'll keep to one side of the river before moving to the other side. That way we make sure to keep an eye on the areas we've already searched."

Recon nodded and surprisingly took the lead towards the edge of the mountain were the river still flowed. They must have been quite lucky to start their search there because the area was completely vacant of monsters or anything in general. It seemed strange to both players that this area should be deserted while other areas of the forest were latterly crawling with dangerous monsters. "Should we continue?" Recon asked, not for the first time hesitant about this mission.

They were both tense at the false sense of peace which lingered in this area and both Sylph warriors stuck close to one another. Suguha, with her trained eye, scouting both the skies above and the forested area around them, while Recon readied his dagger in an attempt to look impressive. To Suguha it just showed his inexperience in fighting. Recon was one for using magic and his sneaking around to gather information rather than outright fighting. So when a group of Salamander players flew passed from above, the female Sylph pushed her partner into the trees to hide. They weren't in neutral territory to seek fights.

Recon was sneaking backwards, unconsciously dragging Suguha with him deeper into the forest. "Recon," Suguha whispered warningly. The other Sylph stopped and withdrew his hand from her clothing.

"S-sorry Leafa-chan," Recon breathed.

"You shouldn't apologise for being scared," a voice said suddenly, startling both Sylphs. Suguha's heart jumped in her throat and she drew her sword in that instant, trying to find the possible threat. The bodiless voice merely chuckled at her instant defence and Suguha continued to circle their space in order to find the person behind it. "You will never find me like that," the voice said teasingly and sounding oddly bored.

"Then how do we find you?" Recon asked, his voice shaking with uncertainty. Suguha shot him a warning glare. They weren't even sure if they wanted to find the person who the voice belonged to.

"Ah, a good question young one," the voice muttered and a yawn broke through. "If you are quick to look left then you might miss what is on your right. And if you look ahead, then what is behind you goes unseen."

Why was this man speaking in riddles? Because it was definitely a male voice. It frustrated Suguha that she still hadn't been able to find whoever it was that was toying with them. Surely someone… Recon suddenly pressed himself against her back, making the sixteen-year-old jump about a meter ahead. "What are you…?"

"It's the quest," Recon said, looking ashamed and excited at the same time. "This may be how we will be able to find the mystic tree. He speaks in riddles which are a clue on how to find him. Think about it," the excited teen continued, looking expectantly at Suguha who was looking at him sceptically. "Who else would speak in riddles in a game like this?"

"Hmm, who indeed?" the voice muttered sleepily. "Whenever you are ready little ones."

"We're not little," Suguha growled. When they would find whoever the voice belonged to she was so going to kick his arse. "Go on then Recon, what are you on about?"

The other Sylph seemed a little amused at her changes of mood which would give a normal person a whiplash. Her now green eyes narrowed when the younger boy didn't answer right away. Recon grinned sheepishly before clearing this throat. "It's actually quite simple. Like the riddle states, you can't look one way and expect to be able to look in the other direction at the same time. Its why, if we were to stand back to back, we would be able to see from both sides and maybe reveal the hiding place of… well, whoever is expecting us."

Suguha pursed her lips and thought it through. It did make sense, but why did he have to stand so close? "Fine," she said eventually, and a smile broke through Recon's tense face. "But keep your guard up and your weapon drawn. It might still be a trap."

The younger boy nodded and with a final smile turned his back to her so all she had to do was judge the distance. Recon knew that Suguha was a lot stronger than her and he would follow her instructions even if he showed her how to play the game. Smiling slightly she straightened her stance and turned her back to her friend. She trusted him enough to protect her unprotected side. "Let's see if we can clear this mystery then," the blonde muttered, trying to see through the gathering darkness around her.

It seemed like the world around them suddenly became more active. Night flies buzzed around them, blinking in and out like little fairies making their way through the forest. A monster growled in the far distance and another answered its call, making for a howling symphony which blended into the background. A rabbit scurried away when Recon shifted his position, moving them in a full circle before finishing where they started. An owl hooted nearby and suddenly someone sneezed, loudly.

"Ah, there goes my surprise attack," the male voice sounded again and one of the trees near the river moved. Surprised by the sudden movement Suguha took a step back, bumping into Recon and losing her balance when the younger boy fell forward because of the sudden weight landing against his back. It resulted into a tangle of limbs and crushed prides as both Recon and Suguha tried to get back up again. The bodiless voice which seemed to be coming from the tree which had moved was chuckling at their antics, causing Suguha's face to burn with shame.

Finally freed from one another and standing once more, Suguha's green eyes focussed on the tree, her sword raised defensively in front of her. "You can put that away now child," the voice said and the trees branches moved again. Suddenly two bright emeralds blinked alive and the distinctive features of a male face appeared in the middle of it. In a flash Suguha saw a young man instead of a tree, his feet rooted into the ground and his arms held upwards to reach for the sky. Soon the image was gone and all there was left was a face inside a tree. "It seems I've finally been found."

"It's… a talking tree?" Recon asked, sheathing his dagger a little too quickly in the Kendo expert's opinion. When she glanced at her friend she could see he was a little let down, but what did you expect when you set out to look for a mystic tree? Maybe it was that he had expected more of a challenge or a sudden attack before they would find the tree? Suguha wasn't sure how she should feel either. Should she feel relieved or on guard?

"What did you expect me to be?" the tree muttered, clearly put out by their lack of reaction. "Now what is it you want young ones, for you came here with a reason right? Is it Yuld, strength, rare items or do your reasons lie deeper than that? Maybe a desire to seek friends, heal loved ones or acquire love?"

There was something sinister about the way he said that last bit, mockingly like he didn't really mean it. Like he had given up on the world around him. But wasn't he apart of this game, an NPC with a quest attached to it? It was so confusing, because surely this boy, no man, was nothing more than created for their entertainment?

"I don't understand," Recon said softly and the emerald green gaze of the man in the tree turned to the young Sylph by Suguha's side. He flinched and almost looked away, but something seemed to strengthen his resolve and Recon raised his head to stare into those green eyes. Something Suguha couldn't help but admire. "Isn't there a quest of some kind? Surely this isn't all there is to it?"

The tree swung violently. It almost seemed like the person Suguha had seen inside of it was trying to break free of his bond and lash out in frustration. "What more do you want," he shouted out, startling the two Sylph warriors and Suguha raised her sword just in case. "Can't things be easy for a change? You don't always have to struggle and fight before getting a reward. Do you two even realise how many barriers you passed before you got here?"

Suguha blinked. "Barriers?"

Her question was echoed by Recon who seemed just as confused as she was. The face looked irritated and quite tired in Suguha's opinion. "But of course. Did you two really think you were the first ones looking for me? I've heard the calls of the forest since coming here. I am no fool. So what is it you wish young ones?"

Suguha stood there with her mouth gaping. What was it they wanted? She blinked. What was it they wanted? For her brother to be alright again so they could live like they used to. To be able to remove that defeated look which had taken to haunting her brother's eyes? But that was real life stuff, not meant to be discussed in-game since it had no real meaning here.

She closed her mouth and straightened, sheathing her sword and standing with her hand on her hip. She would have smirked if it hadn't been for those sad green eyes which were stuck inside of that tree. So all she could do now was smile kindly. "And what if I said I didn't need anything from you?"

The man laughed a sad laugh. "Everyone always wants something. No matter how hard they try to scream that they need nothing from anyone, in the end everybody needs somebody. But very well, if you want nothing then you will have nothing. And your friend here wanted this quest to be more difficult? That can be arranged." Recon started to protest, obviously regretting his hasty words from before but the NPC seemed to have been waiting for this moment. Maybe now the real quest would start. "Because you like riddles for you, I have a special guessing game for you. You have three turns for this and every time you wish to try, you'll have to pay me 10 Yuld. Guess right and you will receive a reward you beyond your wildest dreams. Will you accept this challenge young one?"

Recon glanced at Suguha for a moment before he raised his head confidently. "I will accept this challenge."

"Wait Recon," Suguha started but she was interrupted by the NPC who was grinning like a madman. "Very well young man, like I said; you have three turns for this guessing game. As for my question; can you guess my true name in those three turns?"

…RL…

"But Kirigaya-san…"

"No," Suguha said sternly while gripping her bag a little tighter. "You were stupid enough to antagonise him and accept his silly game. If you want to go for the supposed prize then you will have to figure it out by yourself." She stared at Nagata with intense grey eyes in the hope he would drop the matter. She wasn't going to waste her precious time running back and forth to that tree with him all because he wanted to see what sort of reward he would get should he get the name right. Sure she was a little interested too, but the man inside the tree freaked her out a little. He was a little too alive in her opinion. And a little too lost.

Nagata looked defeated and Suguha turned to move away when he stopped her hesitantly. "Will you be online again today?"

The sixteen-year-old sighed and looked at her ALO friend. "I'm not sure yet," Suguha said with a soft smile. "I have practice too, you know. I'll send you a message when I get there. And now I really have to go."

Clearly pleased that she at least responded Nagata waved her off and went back to school. Suguha merely shook her head. One of these days… but he was a nice guy and a loyal friend, especially inside ALO. He just needed to be reminded that she was not interested in anything but playing the game with him. He had nothing in common with her after all. Especially now that her brother was awake again.

Her brother wasn't home though when she returned from practice. It worried her that he would already be up and about after such a long time connected to a monitor at the hospital. When she would close her eyes she sometimes still saw him, his hair growing longer underneath the helmet and his face becoming gaunt because of the lack of real food. Now all he did was walk around without a purpose except when he went to the hospital to get a check-up or to check on his friend there. She couldn't imagine the pain and fear he had been in those two years that he had been stuck inside of that game.

She had cried a lot those two years Suguha thought as she slashed through the air again, practicing her slice. She remembered what had happened the day before, their practice match and Kazuto's wish to go back to practicing Kendo. He even wanted her to teach him! She had come close at that time to tell him about her secret. About how she had found ALfheim Online and how she had started playing it with him in mind. Would he have been pleased about that or shocked that she would want to play a net MMO like him?

She hadn't wanted to tell him in case he would react badly to the news. He had been so much better at that moment. That evening though, when she had witnessed Kazuto's breakdown… it had been like her vision of him crumbling right before her eyes. It was why she had pushed him into trying harder than ever. She didn't want him to give up and loose that fire which had begun to spark in his eyes. She wanted him healthy and able to help the one he loved. Asuna, who was still in hospital. The one he wanted to see the most.

And suddenly Suguha realised just what the man in the tree had been talking about. She rushed upstairs, abandoning her training for the second time that year, though this time for a different reason.

Finding the tree had been a little simpler than it had been that day. Maybe it was because it was mid-day and not a lot of players were around at the moment so she had to do a lot less sneaking around. A few monsters had been in her way, but they seemed almost too easy to defeat as she hurried towards the place.

For a moment she feared that she had the wrong place, but when she found his emerald eyes and wide grinning face at the side of a tree, Suguha sighed in relief. "Back then, little lady?" he said teasingly and for a moment she saw it again. The body of a young male stretched to reach for the skies while his feet remained rooted into the earth.

"You must be in a lot of pain," she muttered and those green eyes blinked questioningly at her. Suguha blushed, realising she had actually spoke out loud and crossed her arms across her chest. "You said I could ask for anything right? Well, I want the strength to stand by my brother's side so I can support him through the hard time he's going through at the moment."

He blinked and stared at her contemplatively for a while before bursting out laughing. "That certainly is a new one," he barked out, mocking her for all she was worth. Suddenly she didn't want his help anymore and the NPC became an object of pity instead. He looked so lonesome. Before she knew what she was doing she had wrapped her arms around the tree, resting her head against the 'chest' of the man's 'body'. "I want to help you too," she whispered.

The tree shuddered under her touch and she stepped back to see the contempt in his eyes. "You cannot help everyone you meet, girly," he sneered, shooting her one last glance before closing his eyes. "You will only end up in a heap of trouble if you do. But do as you wish. I cannot help you on things which aren't game related. You will have to figure that sort of stuff out by yourself. If you are so willing to help others then I'm sure you'll be alright in helping your brother."

When he stopped talking, the face seemed to disappear completely. It seemed like she wouldn't be able to talk to him anymore today, or he wouldn't reply to her words anymore. "I will come back," she promised and when she turned away Suguha heard a snort. "I promise."

…ALO…
Later that evening

"Can I ask a question?" Recon said, standing in front of the tree again. Suguha was smirking slightly, standing behind her friend and giving the man in the tree a look that clearly said; 'see, I told you I'd be back'. The man in the tree seemed to be ignoring her in favour of talking with Recon. He continued to stare at the younger boy, until the fifteen-year-old started to shift uncomfortably.

"Let's hear it then," the older man said in a bored tone, but to Suguha it seemed like he was faking it. Not that she could really tell, she didn't know the man after all, but she just had a feeling. That was all. A feeling that this NPC was lonely and wanted company even if he pushed her away and gave Recon a riddle to solve. A riddle that was on a very personal level, meaning that he really wanted the younger boy to succeed. Because it would give the NPC… no, the man his identity back.

Nagata perked up and straightened a little. "Is your name related to the game or the real world?"

"Hmm, good question," the man said with a thoughtful expression, though the expression was odd because of all the bark his face was made of. "When you figure it out, let me know."

"You're not going to answer his question?" Suguha asked, a little surprised.

"Humph, of course not," the man said turning listless green eyes towards her. "What is the point in answering such a question or have you forgotten where we are?" He was silent for a moment, glancing up to the sky before a grim expression settled on his face and he closed his eyes. "It seems this conversation will have to wait for another day. Good night and stay safe."

Suguha pushed Recon out of the way just in time and took to the sky with her friend, trying to get as far away from the Salamander's as possible. She hadn't even heard them coming and had only become aware of them the moment the tree man warned them. It wasn't like her to be this absentminded, but it seemed that the place had given her a false sense of security. For a moment only the three of them had existed and their playful banter which had started the moment they were reunited only confirmed their bond. This couldn't be much of a bond, since they only just met. Whatever it was, it had messed with her senses. Enough to make her feel secure about her surroundings even if it had been in the middle of neutral territory.

She parried a blow from the upcoming Salamander and pushed her weight into the blow to push him away. With another slash she wounded him and she swirled towards the left, moving expertly through the air. Trying to keep an eye on Recon she set out towards Sylvain while dodging and gliding around the attacks. She managed to kill two when Recon got into trouble above her. The spell which sailed passed her seemed to come out of nowhere and, startled by the prospect of losing her friend here, cried out a warning to the unsuspected Recon.

"Sorry," was all he could say before Recon became nothing more but a green flame in the sky. Should she grab him and try to take cover in the forest below? Another spell knocked her out of the air before she could make up her mind and she was just able to stop from plunging into the unforgiving earth. Quickly taking out her sword and taking a standard position which had been ingrained into her since her youth, Suguha knew she would die in this forest today.

Gritting her teeth, she raised her green eyes towards the three remaining Salamander's. "I'm sorry but we're here on a mission today," said the obvious leader of the group. "Just leave your Yuld and items and go."

"Why are you being a gentleman, Kagemune?" another asked. He seemed excited about being able to fight. Excited and inexperienced. "It's been ages since we fought a woman. Let's kill her."

Suguha narrowed her eyes. I would like to see him try, she thought and she shifted slightly to remove the tension in her arms and legs. "I'll take at least one of you with me," the Sylph warrior said, raising her sword to attack. "Anyone who doesn't fear the death penalty can come and get me!"

"You're a strong-willed girl," the leader said. "Very well." And with that they moved in a wider half-circle to attack. Lowering her sword in a more defensive stance, she waited for them to attack first. She would not survive even a minute if she would instigate the attack. The leader continued to stare at her, but just as it appeared that he was about to attack a cry echoed through the forest and a loud BANG followed soon after.

It was a Spriggan judging by his clothes and an inexperienced one at that. To have fallen out of the sky like that and dressed as a standard Spriggan with no extra items… definitely new. "Darn it, that hurt. I will definitely have to work on my landings," the Spriggan said as he got up.

"What are you doing," Suguha cried when it appeared he didn't understand the situation. "Hurry up and get out of here!"

"Three heavy fighters attacking a single girl?" he asked, still standing there like an idiot. His black hair was sticking up on all ends and he hadn't even tried to understand how outmatched he was. And he underestimated her as well! "That's kind of lame."

"What did you say?" the feisty one said, turning himself fully towards the new arrival.

"Stay out of this newbie," the other said, appearing quite annoyed with the interruption. They both moved their full attention to the Spriggan, earning a confident chuckle from the new arrival. "Then we'll fight you too." And he attacked, startling Suguha enough to that she turned away from the attack. She didn't want to see another person killed today.

When nothing seemed to happen she opened her eyes to witness the strangest thing. The Spriggan newbie, who hadn't looked strong at all, had stopped the lance of the Salamander and threw him aside like it was nothing. He smirked confidently. "Is it alright if I kill them?" he asked without much care, moving his arm to loosen his shoulders.

It made Suguha concentrate on the situation at hand, glancing at the Salamander who had been thrown aside and was getting up, ready for a fight. "Alright with me," Suguha replied, taking a defensive stance again. "They plan to kill us as well."

"Well, don't mind if I do then," the Spriggan said and he took a step forward. After taking another he took off with a speed Suguha had never seen before. If it hadn't been for the fact that his wings had disappeared, she could have sworn he had used them to accelerate. It took one blow to take out one of the Salamander's and it left her staring in surprise. This guy was unreal. "Who's next?" he asked when he turned around.

There he went again. Though this time a little slower. His speed and agility were amazing, leaving Suguha gobsmacked. Where had he come from? The Spriggan turned towards the leader of the group. "What about you? Will you fight me too?"

"I don't think so," Kagemune said, shaking his head and lowering his weapon. "My magic is about to reach 900. I'd rather not incur a death penalty."

"Smart move," the Spriggan said, clearly respecting the wise decision and he turned towards Suguha. "What about you miss?"

Not seeing any reason to continue the fight the Sylph warrior lowered her weapon. "I'm good too. Next time I'll win for sure," she added, looking up at the leader with a glare.

"I'd rather not fight with you one-on-one either, if it's all the same to you," he said with a nervous chuckle. It appeared that her reputation was widely known throughout this world. With that the leader took off.

The Spriggan turned towards her with a smile. "What are these lights?" he asked, gesturing towards the red flames which still burned brightly on the forest floor.

"Shh," Suguha hissed, shaking her head and eyeing them wearily. "They're Remain Lights. Their conscious are still here, meaning they can overhear everything we discuss."

Just as the Spriggan nodded, the lights flickered out. Suguha turned towards the new and potentially dangerous arrival. "So, what should I do now?" she asked. "Thank you or run away? Maybe even fight?"

Just as she raised her sword, he but his away and raised his hands in a gesture of good will before folding them across his chest. "Personally I see myself as the hero who just saved the princess," he said with a thoughtful expression. This startled Suguha. "Crying and running into my arms would be a good start."

"Are you stupid?" she cried, raising her sword again with a dangerous glint in her eyes. She hadn't asked to be saved!

The Spriggan chuckled, relaxing his stance. "I was just kidding." But Suguha didn't really find it funny. Who did he think he was?

"That's right," a child-like voice cried out suddenly, making Suguha lower her sword completely. Was there a child here? "You can't do that!"

"Stay out of sight…" the Spriggan said, quickly moving his arms to clutch at his chest, but something already flew out.

"The only ones who can hug Papa are Mama and me!"

"Papa?" Suguha said in astonishment. A Pixie appeared near the Spriggan's head and planted herself on his shoulder. She moved closer as he muttered some excuse. "Isn't that a Private Pixie?"

He seemed surprised that she knew something like that, though Suguha couldn't think why. "Yeah, something like that," he muttered.

Sheathing her sword she continued to study the little Pixie for a while longer before raising her green eyes to meet grey. "Fine," Suguha said, accepting the situation for what it was. "Why are you wandering around here anyway?"

The Spriggan blinked and then grinned sheepishly. "You could say that I'm kinda lost."

Suguha blinked before laughing. "You must be really lost then. Isn't your territory like, way to the east? You're so weird!" And she continued to laugh for a little while longer. It was good to clear the air of the tension which had been hanging around them. "Anyway," she said, standing comfortably with one hand resting on her sword. "Thank you for saving me. My name is Leafa by the way."

He smiled. "I'm Kirito," the Spriggan said and gestured towards the Pixie who had been resting on his hand but had now flown to his shoulder again. "This is Yui."

It seemed like she had met a right pair here. They felt honest and good, kind of like Recon but a lot stronger. Maybe she should introduce them to the man in the tree as well. It felt like something she ought to do. But first she would show him around a little. Because even though he was strong and knew his way around a sword, Kirito still had a lot to learn.

A/N: And that's me done with this chapter. Thank you all for reading and leave a review to tell me what you think. I'm thinking two more chapters to finish this story and I'll try not to leave it too long again. Bye for now!