Yuuki Byakuya, elder brother of Yuuki Shouzo, and a very rich banker, was displeased by the news he just learned.
It looks like the start of a violent hostile takeover, first the issue with RETCO stocks, and attacks on buyers, then the 'accidents 'and deaths of my senior clerks, and the coma of my niece… if the prolonged confinement in that Game didn't ruin her for the plan…
But who is behind it? And whom did they cross, in their attack on the status quo of the Tokyo Nights, I know that the 'gang turf war' yesterday was likely just that- the cleanup was too professional for any of the Yakuza groups, as even i only learned of it from the news report.
"Sir…" His aide entered and bowed, without invitation, but if it was as urgent as the expression on the woman's face hinted, forgivable offense. "A report just came in; I think you may want to see this."
"Mommy… mama, is here." The tiny Nav-Pixie that was sitting in Kirito's pocket, and farther supported by his hand suddenly exclaimed, as Leafa and Kirito were walking through Arrun, catching the attention of both.
Kirito started looking around, as if trying to spot his mysterious 'wife', and after failing to do so, looked back at the Nav-Pixie, face serious.
"Are you sure?"
Suguha wanted to say something, but didn't know what.
"Yes, I am certain. This is Mommy's Player ID.
The coordinates are right above us."
And pointed at the giant strange tree that was in front of them.
Leafa didn't get to say anything after calling him, before the Spriggan sprouted wings and flew upwards. Her calls for him to stop were unheard.
Kirito-kun, is the person on top of the world tree really is that important for you?
"Kirito-kun, you're about to hit the barrier!"
He did.
He managed to stop his descend, and rose to get through again, and again…until she took hold of his hand with both of hers. "Stop! This is impossible, you can't get any higher!"
"No! I must! I have to go…"
The pixie was just beneath the barrier, hands pushing at an invisible force field, as she called to her Mommy.
That pretense of being a child of kirito and the mystery woman, that Suguha thought to be cute, suddenly started to look a bit creepy.
"I tried to use warning mode to contact her, but…" Yui the pixie spoke, as her upset 'father' glared upwards at the world tree.
The swordsman himself concentrated on Asuna, instinctively trying to find her…and got a sudden headache, a feeling similar to 'icecream brain freeze' that happens when ice-cream is eaten too fast.
For a brief moment, he thought that the virtual optical illusion of Alfheim changed, morphing into it's source code, and strangely, he felt through it, that he was on the right path, that Asuna really was just above him, and for a moment, he thought that he could touch her mind…
And then something alien, inhuman, touched back… and he was furiously blinking, as reality reasserted itself.
Asuna is up there, and she is waiting for me!
I must hurry.
"Leafa, tell me, where is there a gate that leads inside the world tree?"
"well, it's the Dome at the tree's base…" Leafa hesitated, and then realized just what he probably intended.
B-But you can't get in! Its protected by guardians, and even the biggest, best raids couldn't get through!"
Kirito seemed nonchalant, and replied, "I have to go anyway".
He then took her hand in both of his, and thanked her, with a smile, his Pixie 'daughter' sitting on his shoulder. Just like the hero in all the adventure stories and movies, before the big battle showdown.
Who do you think you are! A Shounen protagonist?
Before Suguha could give him a piece of her mind, he dropped, free-falling to the ground, and disappearing there.
When Kirito entered the Dome, it was a hollow place, with very high above him a ceiling, and glowing mirrors all around, covering the walls.
I'm coming, Asuna!
He released his wings and took flight, sword at the ready
Soon a glow around a mirror intensified, and an armored figure appeared in front of it.
Kirito decapitated the Guardian quickly and continued upward.
As he rose, multiple mirrors, on multiple floors glowed, and spawned many guardian sentinals, dozens upon dozens of the sword wielding mobs appeared.
The Black Swordsman paused only momentarily, before rushing through, full of determination, the sweat, precious moment with beloved Asuna in Aincrad on the forefront of his thoughts.
Strike, parry, cut.
Dodge the next one, and pierce its heart.
Parry, and slide by, cutting from neck to groin.
Double parry of the sentinels, with blade and fist, before the fist grabbed hold and tossed the mob into the other, immediately cutting both down.
Killing fly by strike. And again.
The third avoided entirely, and the fourth killed just as fast.
"Asuna!"
An arrow pierced his arm. There were over fifty , maybe over a hundred archer around him now!
He still flew towards the top, dodging a little, and ignoring the hits.
Just a little more…
A sword pierced his chest, followed by two more.
Just a little more…
He yelled in fury, as his health bar emptied, leaving a dooming massage in red English latters.
YOU ARE DEAD.
He turned into remain light, with a six minute timer before he could resurrect himself.
As he continued his slowfall, he noticed that the nearby Guardians turned to look at something.
It was…
No! Stay back!
It was Leafa.
She dodged the guardians that tried to intercept her, and upon getting close to his remain light, sheathed her sword and called his character name, one that was real for him for two years, and grabbed it.
She than descended, the physical remain of his ingame death in her hands, as she did her best to dodge the archer sentinels, mostly succeeding, but getting in some unpleasant hits.
Still, she got them out of the dome-back into Arrun, the doors to the Grand Quest closing behind her.
Suguha revived Kirito as soon as she got out of the Dome, but while he thanked her, again, he continued to spew his nonsense about her not needing to worry about him, and as she tried to confess her growing feelings for him, he said Her name!
That he had to see Asuna again.
"What…What did you just say?"
"Right, Asuna. That's the name of the person I'm looking for"
"But then… Then… That's…
Is that you brother?"
The expression on Kirito was an incredulous surprise, as he asked.
"Eh? Sugu?"
"Suguha?"
The shocked Leafa covered her mouth with her hands, and stepped back at each call of her name, before exclaiming in despairing denial.
"This isn't fair! Not fair!"
And swiftly logged out.
It was then, that a tearful Suguha found herself forced to confront her feelings towards her brother, and revealed them to him, that despite him being her adopted brother, her cousin by blood-which she knew for the last two years, she felt romantic love for Kazuto, and only after meeting the ALO Player, Kirito, did she feel like she could bury it, replacing it with love for the Spriggan instead-whom she fell for.
All Kazuto had to say was a hollow 'I'm sorry'.
A smartly dressed man entered an office, and as he gave a report to his superior he exclaimed.
"Sir, I think you need to look at this."
The owner of the office skimmed through the report, stopped, reread.
"That will be all, thank you."
As soon as he was alone in his office again, he reached for his phone and called a number that his direct superior was kept ignorant of.
"Get me Alpha strike team ASAP, we have a target we need to deal with immediately."
"Yes sir."
Author Notes: Yuuki Byakuya is my OC, so no need to search memory and Wikia for him.
This chapter is mostly rehash of canon, with a small difference, it will be important later on.
Suguha's crushes on her brother, and on Kirito, are canon, even if i didn't really get to properly show them in my fic here.
Do review- it makes me update faster like nothing else!