I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.

Chosen

Michael landed on the small island Yuuki had chosen as her next arena. Kirito and the others would be bringing Asuna in a bit, but until then, Michael had more than enough time to have a rematch.

Yuuki, despite being in battle, glanced over at Michael and grinned. She knew exactly what he was after. She turned back to the player she was battling, a Sylph with green heavy armor and a greatsword with a guilded cross guard, and deflected a slash, splitting him. He shouted in dismay, turning into a remain light. Michael stepped forward, drawing his sword and Yuuki readied herself, knowing better than to go easy on him.

"Welcome back," Yuuki smiled. "Ground or air?"

"Ground," Michael decided. "That'll make it easier."

Yuuki nodded and charged. Michael sidestepped her first stab, activating an ability and slashing at her. She blocked it and the ability cancelled. An explosion went off behind her and he spun, kicking her into the smoke. She stepped back out of it but he was gone.

"Where...you sneaky jerk," she grinned.

Just as she did, he stepped out of the smoke, sword glowing blue. Before Yuuki could react, his sword tore through her back horizontally, then flipped down and tor horizontally up the other way. Then, he spun. When his next slash came around, her glowing purple sword crashed into it, an explosion shooting outward from the swords. Yuuki spun the other way, slashing at him he leapt back but her sword still tore across his chest. Then, she was in front of him, stabbing at him again. He blocked it and she pulled it back and stabbed him before he realized she had moved. Her caught her sword arm and slashed downward at her.

She spun out of thenway, wrenching her sword out of his chest then slashing him across the back. He spun, blocking a stab just as her sword began to glow purple. He groaned, two stabs hitting him before he activated his OSS. The first two strikes blocked a stab from her then her fifth and sixth stab hit him before two of his strikes hit her. Her next stab blocked his next strike and then one of his strikes hit her. His next two strikes blocked her stabs before he began to spin. She stabbed him once on the first spin less than a second after the swird hit her. It tore across her chest and her last stab hit him immediately after. He spun again, slashing her across the stomach before moving his sword to his side and stabbing at her.

Her eyes widened as the blade streaked toward her while she was unable to move. Then, Michael froze as the duel's timer hit zero. The point of his blade was against her abdomen but hadn't been able to cause damage. He looked up at the health displays and his eyes widened. Both had a sliver left and he couldn't tell who had more left. Then, the actual HP points appeared. She had beaten him by one point. He groaned as she was named the winner and she smiled.

"That was really close," Yuuki smiled. "You almost broke my streak."

"If only the time limit had been a second longer," Michael sighed, putting his sword away and backing away. "I bet if we fought again I'd win."

Yuuki grinned but shook her head.

"Maybe," Yuuki smirked. "Without that OSS of yours though, you wouldn't be coming anywhere near."

"I agree completely," Michael nodded. "That's why it's my ace."

Just then, a salamander with the standard red armor without the helmet and the usual joisting spear stepped forward.

"I want an aireal battle," he declared.

"Sure," Yuuki beamed.

She extended her wings and flew into the air, the salamander following. He stabbed at her and she easily avoided it, stabbing him but only enough for a tiny amount of damage. Michael walked back to the crowd just as Asuna and the others landed beside him. Then, the salamander crashed to the ground. Then, he stood and called it quits, resigned. Yuuki landed in the center and Asuna gaped.

"Zekken is a girl!?" Asuna gaped.

"You didn't know?" Michael blinked. "Yeah. But she's good. She beat me twice and Kirito once."

"I heard about the first one," Asuna stated.

"Your turn," Michael grinned as Lisbeth shoved her into the circle.

Yuuki smiled and turned toward her.

"You want to fight?" Yuuki asked.

"Yes," Asuna smiled nodding.

"Alright," Yuuki nodded. "Anything goes. Magic, items, whatever you want. I'll only be using this though."

She patted her sword and Asuna nodded, drawing her own.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask," Yuuki smiled. "Do you want a ground or air battle?"

"Ground," Asuna decided.

"Okay," Yuuki smiled. "Jumping is okay but no using your wings."

Asuna nodded and accepted the duel request. The timer counted down and Asuna sprinted forward, stabbing rapidly at Yuuki. Yuuki blocked the attacks easily, despite their blinding speed. After a moment, Asuna slashed at Yuuki but she deflected that as well, followed by four stabs before stepping forward, making Asuna stagger back. Yuuki swung and Asuna leapt back but the sword still carved a scratch into her chest. Asuna stopped, panting from the effort of trying to hit Yuuki and Yuuki simply smiled. Asuna smiled back, wiping a little sweat from her cheek before she looked like she had thought of something awful and her gaze shifted to Kirito. Finally, Asuna took a steadying breath, shifting to the same stance she had in Sword Art Online. She opened her eyes, determination showing in every part of her.

Yuuki noticed the shift and her smile faded as she got serious as well. They both charged and Yuuki slashed. Asuna blocked it, shoving the sword upward. When the blades disconnected, a metallic ring rang out, painfully loud, along with a strong gust of wind. Most of the spectators covered their ears against the ringing except Kirito who remained unaffected, simply smiling instead, and Michael who only winced. Yuuki staggered back a step then steadied herself and darted forward, slashing rapidly at Asuna. Asuna blocked strike after strike, retaliating when she could, but neither was able to land a hit. After a moment, Yuuki's sword began to glow purple and she spun around twice before her sword hit Asuna's. A massive purple explosion went of behind Asuna who jumped and spun, her own sword glowing blue before she stabbed at Yuuki, a blue explosion shooting out behind Yuuki. As the smoke blew away, they watched as the two continued to fight, beginning to run along the island as they clashed. After several more strikes, they began to push against each other's swords for a moment before Asuna's free fist impacted with Yuuki's abdomen. Yuuki began to fall backward from the impact and Asuna stepped forward, sword glowing blue. At the last possible second, Yuuki's head snapped up and four metal-to-metal impacts sounded, though everyone watching saw only one, and a blue explosion shot up around them. Michael looked over to Kirito and saw his shocked expression, matching Michael's own.

As the smoke began to clear, Yuuki's sword began to glow purple again and she began to stab at Asuna with it. Six hits hit Asuna before she could react. Then, she righted herself, activating an ability of her own and they lunged at each other. Four more stabs hit Asuna before she was able to hit Yuuki. A massive blue explosion shot off of Yuuki and everyone watched in awed silence. Then, Yuuki stepped out of the smoke, sword still glowing.

"Eleven," Michael stated, having counted the strikes. "It's over."

Kirito nodded in agreement as Yuuki stabbed at Asuna. A massive explosion shot up around them, but when the smoke cleared, Yuuki had stopped her sword just short of Asuna, sparing her. They both stood up straight again and Asuna took a couple steps back as Yuuki took a couple forward, smiling up at Asuna. Yuuki rested a hand on Asuna's shoulder and smiled.

"You're really awesome," Yuuki smiled. "I'm choosing you."

"Choosing?" Michael blinked. "What...huh?"

Asuna blinked and asked if they were going to finish the duel and Yuuki responded that she was satisfied the way things were, but would finish the fight if Asuna preferred. Asuna smiled and shook her head.

"I've been searching for someone with the 'it' factor," Yuuki stated sheathing her sword and holding out her hand. "And at last I've found her."

Asuna sheathed her rapier as well and accepted Yuuki's hand. Then, Yuuki began to fly into the air, taking Asuna with her. Asuna looked back at the others unsurely and Yui and the girls all called out to her, wanting to know what was going on.

"Well...what?" Michael blinked as the two flew away.

"That was...um...unexpected," Klein blinked.

"Extremely," Kirito nodded. "Any idea what's going on?"

Michael shook his head and looked around.

"Well, while we're here," He grinned at Kirito who returned the grin and sent a duel request.

"Shouldn't let such a perfect arena go to waste," Kirito grinned.

Michael accepted and the two walked out into the open, drawing their swords. The spectators watched, Yuuki and Asuna's bizarre duel ending partially forgotten.

"Anything goes," Michael grinned. "Beat me, and the OSS is yours."

"Good to know," Kirito grinned. "Shall we?"

They both charged, sparks flying as their swords met.

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