Reintroducing Klein to his mother was as awkward as he thought it to be, with the former overdoing it with the compliments to the point of seemingly coming on to his mother (and Kirito made sure to thoroughly thrash his friend for it once both meet inside ALO), and the later teasing Kazuto over having such a mature friend, only to suddenly wonder aloud if mayhaps there is a reason that Kazuto-kun have not been bringing home any girls…
That, maybe he have been bringing home boys and she did not notice…
The teasing soon had both him and Klein denying it all vehemently... right until Sugu couldn't take it anymore and burst laughing, his mother joining in soon (One reason he dreaded introducing Asuna to his mother after finally getting her free was that he knew that they would be teased mercilessly).
For some reason, Klein-er… Ryotaro (and wasn't it strange to call him that, after thinking of him as only Klein for two years, hack, even the friendship between them would have been strange in other circumstances-kirito was just glad that the guy didn't take offense, he was older and bigger, and IRL it mattered) seemed interested in staying with them.
The appreciation Klein-err, Ryotaro seemed to have for the technology pieces Kazuto had in his room (like his computer, an old Hard-drive, a motherboard from an old model) and the various books on the theme shelved above them –
"Is That the NerveGear? Are you still using it?!"
"Shhhhhh, not so loud."
"Were you really intending to do a Full dive into ALO in the NerveGear?" an outraged Ryotaro asked.
"I had no choice, the new AmuSpheres are too expensive, and I had to get Asuna out. It was Kayaba's programming that activated the bomb in it, so without it, without SAO system, logout is possible."
"You-you tried it already… of course you did. I shouldn't have been surprised. Well, that's it, I will have to stay here for your next dive to keep an eye on things-no don't argue, not unless you think your mom will be understanding of you using that deathtrap and commencing FullDive again. Somebody needs to be aware of your folly and on stand-by in case something goes wrong. Asuna won't want you to die in the attempt to save her!"
Klein uttered the last sentence with the conviction of a veteran SAO Clearer.
Kazuto gave him a pained look at that last part.
"Sorry, but you know she wouldn't. Let me watch your back as you take the battle to the enemy, just like in Aincrad. You are not alone here, Bro."
Kirito knew better than to argue, partly due to the reaction of his mother-who kirito knew will not allow usage of either, and might prohibit computers altogether.
'I got no other choice, it seems, but to accept Klein watching over me from this side, as I continue my quest.'
And so, they made a convenient excuse for a prolonged sitting in his room, as Kirito prepared for a FullDive, with his friend watching over.
"Good Luck, Kirito."
"Un. Link Start!"
"Leafa-chan! I have been looking everywhere for you!"
Suguha turned to look at the source of the voice that startled her, Recon.
"R-recon? Didn't the Salamanders catch you?"
"I poisoned them all and escaped."
"Poisoned them?"
"And then, I followed you. Hey… Where's that Spriggan?"
That tartled her, reminding her of the aching elephant in the room, so to speak.
"Well… I said something really mean to him, i…"
It was hard to continue, as virtual tears, indistinguishable from real ones, fell down her cheeks.
"Leafa-chan! If you aren't smiling you aren't really Leafa-chan! I… I will never leave you, in this world or the real one. I.. I like you."
Suguha just couldn't handle this too, on top of everything else. With Recon getting his face into her space, and trying to kiss her after the confession, she reacted in the only way she could think of at the time-she punched him.
Kirito met Sugu near the gates into the World Tree, both knowing to meet there, without communicating it.
"S-"
"Onii-chan." As she raised her hand and interrupted him, she continued talking, a serious look on her face.
"Let's finish what we started. Let's have a Duel-right here right now!"
The stunned Kirito blinked at her. This was the last thing he expected her to say.
Only at the sound of a sword being drawn, did he get out of his stupor.
'Somehow, this seems fitting.'
"This time, no handicaps."
And with those words, he reached towards his back for his sword, and with the blade in one hand, took his stance.
The very same strange stance Sugu saw before, as they practiced in the Dojo…
She charged at him, her Sylph body moving faster than the human one ever could. Still, he evaded her strike, strafing aside, and grabbing it with both hands, swung his own blade immediately.
She dodged and took to the air.
He followed there, and flew towards her, striking with a one handed downward swing when she got within range.
She parried aside and took a distance, flying upwards and landing on one of the small levitating islands.
Kirito landed on another just a bit below it, and prepared for a swing. She charged, as a tear fell to the ground beneath her feet, and her brother followed with a charge of his own immediately after.
He was left surprised, when she fell into his arms, sword dismissed.
As Kazuto caught his sister in the air, his wings keeping both afloat, she hugged him, as both turned in the air due to the momentum, His sword thrown aside to make room for his Sister.
"Why?"
"Why?"
"I wanted to apologize to you. But I didn't know what to say, so I wanted to give you a free shot."
"You did, brother?"
"I'm sorry"
"I'm too."
"I haven't really returned from that world yet. It hasn't ended. Until she wakes up, I'm not really back in reality."
"I will be waiting for you to come home for real, so I'll help you too.
'I will be waiting for you, Oni-chan, and figure out what to do then, but for now I will help you, so just hold me for a bit. Because this is not easy for me.'
Recon was very confused as Leafa-chan and THAT Spriggan landed in front of the entrance into the Grand Quest.
He was surprised even more by her statement
"We're raiding the World Tree… The three of us."
"Alright… Wait WHAT?!"
Yui-chan." Kirito called for his pixie daughter.
"Yes, Papa."
Did you learn anything of the tree Guardians?"
"Their individual stats are not that big, but there are too many of them. I don't think that the completion of this Quest was meant to be possible."
"So together it all adds to a single, unbeatable boss?"
"With your skills, it may be possible for Papa to break with his speed." The tiny girl answered.
"Let's go!"
Inside they fought well, Kirito rushing in, killing some with a critical single strikes, as Recon and Leafa healed him, only to attract the attention of the mobs.
"Leafa-cha I don't really understand it all, but this is important, right?"
"It is."
"Then I'll help" the green haired boy loudly proclaimed, and flew into the mess swarming the Spriggan, Chanting a powerful ranged spell on the way.
Leafa hardly had time to admonish him, before her attention was required at the black figure-whom she tossed a quick healing spell at.
Her yelling between assisting fell on deaf ears, as Recon continued to fight the Guardians, and draw their attention. Only to suddenly start chanting… and chanting… and chanting.
It was a long, probably powerful spell, one that created a large yellow glowing sphere, with the caster as its epicenter. Upon the completion of the chant, the sphere detonated, killing Recon, and erupting in a great explosion that made a considerable dent in the swarm of Tree Guardians.
As
Leafa cried for the foolishness of her Nagata-kun, as the penalty for sacrifice magic was big, Kirito used the opening and flew through the now opened hole in the swarming mobs.
As still, the intercepted him, and multiple weapons were thrown and pierced him, as he fell, HP dropping into the Yellow zone, and beyond, while the opening he wanted to use closing fast, Leafa sent healing magic into Kirito, disheartened at the utter defeat. At the revealed impossibility of their task.
Her healing barely halting the dropping of his HP, now in the red zone, as another Tree Guardian descended, like a punishing angel, swinging a sword at her. and a second one following, preparing to swing.
'No! I will give my all, and continue the healing spell until they finish me! I will do my best to support you here, Brother.'
The cry below her drew both her attention and that of her would be attackers.
Sylphs came rushing in!
At the sight of them, Leafa's attackers disengaged and rose, taking a higher position.
Soon the Sylphs were joined by flying dragons.
"Cait sith Dragoons?"
Leafa soon found the answer to her question, as a dragon stopped near her, with none other than Alicia Ru riding on it, and Sakuya at her side.
"Sorry we're late."
"Sorry, it took some time to ready our gear." The two replied.