I don't own Sword Art Online or Mataras the Red Swordsman. Sword Art Online is owned by Reki Kawahara. Mataras the Red Swordsman is owned by Mataras the Author. The Wyvern's Inferno guild is owned by TheSib. Brandon is owned by Naruto Sakura Uzumaki. I only own my OCs.
Chapter 19: The Crystal Claw, and Leafa's truth.
It was a beautiful morning when Akira was outside, he was having a walk around town, enjoying the scenery, and remembering all the times he had together with his guild. For some strange reason, however, he mind always kept going to Megumi. During their time together as a guild mates, Akira had somehow develop feelings for her. He wanted to go out for a walk to try and figure out how to tell her.
He was on his way back when he saw someone sitting alone on a bench, thinking. Akira soon realized when got closer that the person was Megumi. She was sitting all by herself, thinking about something.
Akira decided to head over, and see what was going on. "Hey Megumi, what's the matter?" he said.
Megumi sighed, "Well, I don't really know. We've only known each other for a little while, I seem to have these feelings for you Akira. I just don't know why?" she replied.
Akira looked a little shocked, but had a pretty good idea. "I think I know where this is going." said Akira.
"You do?" asked Megumi.
"Those feelings are that of romance isn't it?" responded Akira.
Megumi nodded hesitantly, knowing Akira knew what was going on. Akira smiled, and decided to get to know his guild mate. Akira told her about his family, and the same with Megumi, the two really started to get to better understand one another, more than ever before.
"So, your okay with me having these feelings for you, Akira?" asked Megumi.
"Oh, I am." nodded Akira, "because I happen to have the same feelings towards you. It happened when we first met." Megumi was surprised, knowing he fell in love with her after their first meeting. She smiled and revealed she fell for him, after seeing him in action after the boss raid on Floor 75, and after he entered the Hollow Area.
The two soon leaned into one another, held one other close, and gave each other a kiss on the lips.
While hiding from the two, Silica was smiling knowing that Akira, her adopted brother, had finally found someone, and found love, and secretly went back to the inn where Agil was working at.
The two got to know one another as well after deciding to head back to see to Inn, and letting the guild know. After walking for a while, the duo returned to the inn, with a big surprise for everyone of their guild mates. "Hey guys." called Akira.
The group turned to see Akira, and Megumi, holding hands and smiling. "What is it, brother?" asked Mataras.
"Well," started Akira, "Megumi, and I were getting to know one another, and we talked about it, but, I guess you can say, that Megumi, and I have become a couple." he revealed.
"Well, I figured it was about time." said Kirito.
All around the two love birds, their friends, and combat family smiled and congratulated them. The celebration continued until Ren, gave out some news. It was time for the next boss raid.
The group was soon located at the doors to the boss for the Floor 77. And soon, the doors were opened, and the raid party went inside. Upon arrival, the team were greeted by, a giant scorpion while orange-red crystals on its stinger, upper claws, and feet. Multiple crystals were also on its back, letting a growling hiss as five HP bars appeared, and its name. The Crystal Claw.
Yui, used her unique skill to analyze the boss and located it's weak points. Using the information, Ren, prepared a strategy to take down the boss. The monster was fierce using its stinger and claws to fight. However, during the grinding, Sachi, managed to obtain a unique skill called, Pure Heart, which makes her immune to status effects. This really helped her out with the boss stinger tail.
When Akira sliced off the boss' tail, the creatures only other weapon were its claws. However, soon Ren, gave a battle command and all members struck hard and fast to take down the boss, in a way similar to the disney movie, 'Honey, I shrunk the Kids'. Sure enough, the boss was soon reaching the red zone.
The battle grew even more relentless, especially when the boss grew a new tail. "This'll take forever." muttered Kirito.
"We can't give here, otherwise, we'll never get out of here." stated Akira.
"Our brother is right." nodded Mataras, "We must keep fighting."
Kirito nodded with a determined smile. "You're right guys. Now come on, let's take this boss down!"
The duo nodded in agreement, and charged at the boss, the rest of the assault team managed to block the stinger, and deflect its claws, allowing the trio to hit the boss and drain the last of its HP, causing the boss to screech in pain, and then shatter into polygons.
The group was tired from the fight, and no players were killed, the group then activated the next floor leading into Floor 78, and returned to Arc Sophia.
Sometime after defeating the boss, The Moonlit Black Cats decided to have a special item served on the menu, and were enjoying their time together, none more so than Kirito, and Asuna.
"Mmm," sighed Asuna, "This is really good."
"Yeah." nodded Kirito, "this is really delicious."
"Well, you don't have to show it with how you too are expressing yourselves with the romance." moaned Akira.
This caused Leafa's curiosity to grow, "Have Kirito, and Asuna always been like that?" she asked.
"Well no, not at first." replied Mataras, "but after certain events, and before you came into SAO. The two have been together in love."
"Yeah." nodded Diabel, "They really do love each other, and are really strong, both are basically at the same level."
"Really?" asked Leafa, "The two sure do care one another."
"Well, what do you expect." stated Silica, "After all, Kirito, and Asuna are married."
"Wait,… Kirito,… Your MARRIED!?" cried Leafa.
"Yeah. Asuna, and I have been married for three weeks." replied Kirito, leaving Leafa shocked.
"Mommy, and Daddy really love each other. I can guarantee it being their daughter." added Yui.
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Leafa, "You have a kid too!?"
"Yeah." nodded Asuna, "Yui is our child. Although she is adopted, we love her as our own."
Leafa was utterly shocked at that moment. "What happened these past two years in here?" she said, "First I have an in-game sister in-law, and now I'm an Aunt."
Akira turned to Kirito, "You didn't tell her?" he asked.
"You try telling someone you haven't seen in two years that your married, and have a child." retorted Kirito.
"Fair enough." said Akira.
Later on that night, The guild were all getting ready for bed. "Man, now we can relax after all that trouble from today with the boss." sighed Kirito.
"Aye, let's get some sleep." nodded Mataras.
Everyone was about to head in for the night, when the sound of knocking came form the door. "Kirito?" said a female voice. Kirito realized that the voice was from his sister, Leafa.
He got the door and invited his sister inside, Leafa was now wearing a light green night gown and pants, for sleepwear. "You know, I'm really nervous about this." stated Leafa. "I've never slept inside of a video game before."
"Yeah. It can be bit nerve wrecking, but you get used to it." nodded Kirito. "I outta know, it feels like I've actually lived here my whole life."
"That's true." replied Leafa, "And I still can't believe that my brother is one of the most strongest players in SAO, The Black Swordsman, and leader of The Moonlit Black Cats, an actual guild."
"Well, I've had help from my combat family, and married family." stated Kirito, turning to his guild mates. All of them, smiling at Kirito.
Kirito then turned back over to Leafa, "So, how are things back IRL?" he asked.
Leafa sighed as she answered, "Well, everyone one is doing fine. SAO is still on the news, and scientists can't seem to crack open anything dealing with the nerve gear."
Akira and the rest lowered their heads, and shadows came over their eyes. "So, they really do die IRL." said a saddened Lisbeth. "I guess we were all holding on to some false hope on seeing some of our friends who died in here back IRL. But I guess not." she then started to cry, with Diabel giving her support.
Leafa felt bad about the info she gave out, when her brother asked her some more questions. "Say Leafa, how's Mom been doing throughout all this?" asked Kirito.
Leafa smiled at this question. "She's doing well. In fact she even comes to visit you in the hospital whenever she gets the chance."
Kirito grinned a bit, then frowned, "I see. She must be really worried about me." he said.
"Of course she is!" retorted Leafa, "We both were. I mean you were there in the hospital bed, so we see, and feel you. But we couldn't speak to you, so this is almost like a dream for me."
Kirito smiled at that, he felt a lot happier knowing he had someone he knew with him in the game. "Hey Leafa, are you still doing kendo IRL?" he asked once more.
Leafa had a broadened smile on her face at this question. "Yeah." she nodded, "You may not realize this, but I at my last tournament I got into the Top 8. Now I'm in the Kendo club in high school."
"Oh that's right, your in high school now." said Kirito. "Two years have also passed their as well."
"Aye." nodded Mataras, "A lot of things have happened during the two years we've been here, and back IRL."
"That's true." added Agil, "We've got to clear this game before anymore surprises come in here and get into trouble."
The rest of the Moonlit Black Cats nodded at this info, and then Leafa spoke one last time. "Hey guys?" she asked. The group turned over to her, and asked, "I take it you don't know how I got in here, do you?"
The rest of the group shook the heads side to side and with a negative grunt. Leafa then took a deep breath and revealed some very negative info, how she came into SAO. "Well, this avatar comes from another VRMMO called, ALfhiem Online. I play it often, a whole year in fact. However, a bout a week ago when I came in, a friend of mine managed to get ahold of a Nervegear for me, and I used it to log into Sword Art Online." she said.
The Moonlit Black Cats were in shock, now knowing that someone, managed to get a hold of the Nervegear, and use it to dive into SAO. But no one was more surprised than her own brother, and he was mad. "Why did you do that?" he said in a angry tone. "You know what that device has done. Thousands have already died in here. You can't just come in here out of ideal curiosity, it's dangerous!"
"Your wrong!" retorted Leafa, "I had a reason to come here! You're my brother!"
"Sugu." gasped Kirito.
"Every time we were at the hospital, we've seen other players have died left and right! We thought you would be next!" cried Leafa, "I came here because you're my brother! We're family Kirito!"
"Sugu." said Kirito once more, but he knew that it must've been really hard for to know he was still in a coma, and worried. So he walked over to his sister, and gave her a comforting hug, reassuring her, that everything was going to be alright. "I'm sorry." he said apologetically, "You and Mom must've been really worried about me." His voice was more calm, and forgiving knowing the reason now on why his sister came into the death game.
"So, we can be a family again. Can we?" asked Leafa.
"Yeah. We can." nodded Kirito.
"Your not going to go off on your own for some silly adventures are you?" asked Leafa once more.
"No way, because whatever we face, we'll do it together as a guild, and as a family." said Kirito, making Leafa chuckle.
Yui soon starting yawning, and Asuna noticed, knowing it was passed her bedtime. So everyone heading into bed, and went to sleep. Agil slept on a chair. Diabel slept with Lisbeth. Mataras slept with his adopted sister Sachi. Akira slept with Megumi. Sachi slept with Leafa, with Pina in the middle. And finally, Kirito slept with Asuna, with Yui in the middle. This day was one they would never forget. As for Sinon, she slept on the couch next to Mataras, in case he tried to do something funny.
Akira: Boy was that interesting.
Mataras: Aye, but now we've grown stronger and better than ever.
Leafa: So what happens now?
Asuna: Guys! Kirito and I have a huge problem!
MBC: WHAT!?
Author: Next time on The Azure Swordsman: The Lost Fragment. Chapter 20: Marriage renewed, and stalkers beware.
All: LINK START!
Author's Note: Sorry if this one was delayed. I've been busy and needed some time to relax, and lost track of time. See you next chapter.