Chapter 15: Soar High Pt. 1

As everything in the previous chapter was happening, Sinon and Leafa were busily battling the Jet Combat Bugster. As of right now, the Bugster was gaining the higher ground.

"This thing is tough!" Leafa shouted.

Sinon drew another arrow. She aimed at the Bugster, but it was zipping back and forth.

"Leafa." She said.

"Yes?" Leafa replied.

"I'm going to get its back." Sinon explained. "Once I get it, I want you strike it straight down its head."

"Uh… okay?" Leafa complied, slowly raising her sword. "Will you signal me?"

"Mmhm." Sinon muttered.

The Bugster was then beginning to fly away. Sinon saw her chance. She aimed her bow. It was a clear shot.

"Eck. Skete. Aftor. Ei." She chanted.

The arrow glowed, and she shot it. The arrow tore through the air, landing straight on the Bugster's back. Then, a line appeared between it and Sinon. With her might, Sinon yanked the line towards her, which thrusted the Bugster towards her.

"Leafa!" She yelled. "Now!"

Leafa took to the air. Her sword glowed as she prepared her strike. Once the Bugster was close, Leafa flipped and slashed her sword downward, straight down the Bugster. What resulted was an explosion. Leafa landed back on the ground as Sinon ran towards her.

An orange object fell from the sky. It landed in Sinon's hands. She looked at what it was.

"A Gashat?" Leafa asked.

"Mm." Sinon replied. "Jet Combat, to be precise."

Sinon looked at it with a gleeful look.

"What should we do with it?" Leafa asked.

"I'll hold onto it." Sinon replied. "Message Kirito. Tell him to meet at his log cabin."

"Right on it!" Leafa said.

From afar, the first person POV becomes a sniper scope. Snipe had been watching the whole time.

"Well…" He sighed. "Looks like they did the hard part."

He then stood up and walked away.

"Alright, Shino…" He whispered to himself. "I'll play your game…"

I've gotta believe!

(A circle camera shot of Kirito and Asuna, back to back, looking around, as the world pixelates and revealing the title)

I don't wanna know heta na shinjitsu nara I don't wanna know shiranai kurai ga ii noni

(The SAO gang talking together)

Why? Why? Why? Why?

(The floor suddenly crash and all of them fall, their bodies pixelating into their SAO avatars)

Kizukeba I came too far

(They slowly get up, looking around the pitch blackness)

Tomaranai kanjiru kono yokan wa

(The world shatters into color with the Riders walking behind them)

The new beginning

(Each Rider show their Gashats)

Michi no ryuoiki ima wo kirihirakunda

(The SAO gang prepare to fight)

I've gotta believe!

(The Riders go Level 2)

(Turn it on!) soutou

(The Gamer Driver lever turns)

EXCITE! EXCITE! Takanaru

(Ex-Aid VS Kirito and Asuna)

EXCITE! EXCITE! Kokoro ga

(Brave VS Silica and Lisbeth, Snipe VS Sinon and Leafa)

Michibiku ano basho e kakenukete ikudake

(In an explosion, Lazer tears by with Ex-Aid riding)

(Hey!) I'm on a mission right now

(Brave, Snipe, and Lazer go into Level 3)

(Hey!) I'm on a mission right now

(Ex-Aid also goes into Level 3, and does a rocket punch)

EXCITE! EXCITE! Kotae wa

(Graphite VS the SAO gang)

EXCITE! EXCITE! Kotae wa

(Ex-Aid VS Genmu)

(One!) kono te no naka

(Sinon (GGO) and Snipe raising their guns to their faces)

(Two!) susumubeki Life

(Asuna and Brave clashing swords)

(Three!) ikitekudake

(Kirito & Ex-Aid run towards each other as the title appears)

Sinon and Leafa hastily flew up down towards Kirito's log cabin. Once they have arrived, they ran inside.

"Whoa." Kirito assured. "No need to rush, we're not going anywhere."

Kirito gestured to his surroundings. Liz and Silica were having some tea. Klein was on the couch, thinking of something. Asuna was doing the same.

"Well, anyways, we got this." Sinon said.

She then scrolled down her item list and pressed something. The item pixelated into her hand, revealing the Jet Combat Gashat.

"A Gashat?" Kirito asked.

"We got it from that Bugster we fought a while ago." Leafa explained. "We wasted no time beating it!"

"In any case, I thought it would be best to tell you that I'll be holding onto this." Sinon continued.

Kirito looked puzzled.

"Why are you going to hold onto it?" He asked. "It's not like you can use it."

"I know…" Sinon muttered. "But the only other remaining person that is going to use this is Snipe."

She observed the Gashat closely.

"If anything…" She continued. "He'll do whatever it takes to get his hands on this."

There was a brief moment of silence. Sinon's face was very much serious.

"Alright." Kirito finally said. "Just look after yourself, okay?"

"Don't worry." Sinon assured with a wink. She then walked towards the living room, where everyone was silent as a still river.

"Uhh…" Leafa asked. "Did something happen?"

"Long story." Kirito groaned.

Night had fallen in the real world. But the GENM Corp building was alight. Dan was in his office, still typing in something. Pallad was just playing on his mobile device again, and Graphite was just sulking on a screen.

"You know." Dan started. "I could've gone to help you. I just chose not to."

"Why?!" Graphite roared.

"You acted because of your own hot head." Dan stated. "Consider your beating your punishment."

Graphite scoffed, and just walked away from the screen.

"You really think he's going to stop there?" Pallad asked.

"Of course not." Dan answered. "He never knows when to quit."

"You got that right." Pallad agreed.

"Oh yeah!" He said suddenly. "What are you going to do with those?"

He pointed at something. Dan looked to where he was pointing. It was a black case. He opened it up and found ten black USBs.

"The Proto-Gashats?" He asked. "I was planning to put them into storage; seeing as I have no use for them anymore."

Then, there was a phone ringing. Dan rolled over to the phone to pick it up.

"GENM Corporation, CEO Dan Kuroto speaking." He replied.

"Yo, prez!" hollered a familiar voice. "What was that BS?"

Pallad smiled at the voice. Dan smiled as well.

"You are aware, my friend." Dan said. "I have to keep my identity confidential."

Meanwhile, Kiriya was leaning on a pillar. He had a lot on his mind to speak out of.

"If you really wish to meet me." Dan continued. "Log into ALO tomorrow. I'll tell you the location."

"Alright then." Kiriya answered. "I'll be waiting!"

With that, he hung up. He smirked to himself, and began to head out. Unbeknownst to him though, he walked past Ryotaro. Ryotaro noticed, but Kiriya didn't.

'Kiriya…' Ryotaro thought.

It was another morning in ALO. Birds chirping and whatnot. Meanwhile, New Aincrad was in a world of its own. Especially the Kirito log cabin.

As of right now, Asuna is making some tea for her, Kirito, and Yui, who was in her normal size. Once she was done, she hummed as she hobbled over to the living room counter.

"So, this whole Bugster thing has been really getting to us, hasn't it?" Asuna smiled.

"I guess you could say that." Kirito agreed.

Yui just sipped her tea silently.

"Yui?" Asuna asked. "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Yui began. "Yes, yes, I'm fine."

"Have you doing research on the Bugster?" Kirito asked.

"Well…" Yui stammered.

"You've been keeping yourself busy?" Kirito added.

"Yes." Yui answered. "But it's strange. The more I research, the further back I get. There's also…"

"Also…?" Kirito asked.

Yui then began to whimper.

"Both you and mommy have taken the surgery to fight the Bugster." She said. "If either of you were to fall, I would be all alone! And there's also-"

She was cut off by Asuna's warm arms.

"Don't' worry, Yui." She assured in her motherly voice. "We're not going anywhere."

"Yep." Kirito chimed in, also hugging his in-game wife and child. "We'll be just fine."

Yui whimpered silently into her parents' arms. Kirito and Asuna felt warm. Having their child worry about them at this level… it was very reassuring. She has certainly evolved from her early days in SAO. Also, this hugging gave them all a sootheing feeling. They could've stayed like this for hours.

BANG BANG SHOOTING!

Suddenly, oil barrels set themselves up all over the area. Kirito and Asuna both got up and ran outside. They got out just in time to see Snipe transforming.

"Henshin…" He said coolly.

He twirled his Gashat around and inserted it into his Gamer Driver.

GASHATTO!

LET'S GAME! MECCHA GAME! MUCCHA GAME! WHATCHA NAME?!

I'M A KAMEN RIDER!

His figure was replaced by the chibi figure that is his Level 1 form, but, as per usual, he didn't go with this form.

"Phase 2." He announced, opening his Driver.

GACHANN! LEVEL UP!

BABABANG! BANGBABANG! YOW! BANG BANG SHOOTING!

The chibi figure disappeared and was replaced by the figure of Snipe Level 2. Soon, the magnum appeared in his hands as well.

GASHACON MAGNUM!

"Mission: Start." He said.

He then began to shoot at the house. First he shot at Kirito and Asuna first. But then, he shot the support beam underneath them. That caused both of them to fall down and land on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Kirito asked.

"What does it look like, genius?" Snipe taunted. "I'm here for what's mine!"

He continued to shoot. Kirito and Asuna are doing all sorts of flips and dodging to avoid all of the bullets flying everywhere. Yui was above, silently watching the whole thing.

"What it is that we have you want?" Asuna asked after both her and Kirito found some cover.

"Do I have to spell it out for you kids?" Snipe sighed. "The Gashat!"

'Gashat?' Asuna thought.

Kirito realized. He remembered Sinon.

"Well, we don't have it!" Kirito shouted.

"Keep telling yourself that!" Snipe teased.

He then pressed the button below the slot on the side of his belt.

STAGE SELECT!

They were now teleported to a forest. Strangely though, Yui was also teleported as well. But Snipe, Kirito, and Asuna don't know.

"We're telling you the truth!" Asuna shouted. "We don't have that!"

"Asuna!" Snipe continued. "You may be beautiful, but you are a terrible liar."

"He's not believing this!" Asuna said hastily. "Kirito, what should we do?"

Kirito sighed, and his Elucidator appeared on his back.

"We'll have to beat the sense into him." He admitted.

He then hopped out of his cover and darted towards Snipe. Asuna quickly followed suit. Snipe smiled at this sight.

Kirito and Asuna slashed and swung their swords at Snipe. However, Snipe was able to dodge everything superbly. In fact, he even grabbed Asuna's rapier by the blade, and twisted around to flip her. And then, he kicked her in the face as well as shooting her abdomen.

"Asuna!" Kirito shouted.

He swung his sword around, and Snipe just step to his side, and then kneed his stomach.

Yui was watching this whole thing from afar. She was getting frustrated, not being able to do anything.

'I have to do something!' She thought.

She began to run towards the fight, picking up some rocks along the way.

Snipe crouched down to the agonizing body of Kirito.

"Now, are you inclined to give me my Gashat?" He asked.

Kirito shook his head. After all, he didn't have it.

Snipe was about to say something, but then, he felt a small bump on his head. He looked up and saw Yui. She had some rocks in her hand and she also had a serious but timid look.

"Well…" Snipe chuckled, looking back at Kirito. "Then let me motivate you."

He stood up and slowly walked over to Yui. Both Kirito and Asuna knew what he was about to do.

"Yui! Run!" Asuna shouted.

Yui didn't run. She just walked back slowly. Snipe walked closer and closer. Kirito grabbed his ankle in order to buy Yui some time.

"Yui. Now's your chance!" He shouted.

Snipe rolled his eyes, and just shook him off. Then, to make sure, and because he felt like it, he kicked Kirito in the face. Kirito rolled back to right in front of Asuna.

"Kirito!" Asuna shouted.

Snipe turned back and continued over to Yui. She began to throw more rocks, which were just bouncing off of him. Once he got close, Snipe just picked up Yui by her clothes. She waddled in the air as Snipe lifted her.

"You will regret this! Mommy and Daddy will kick your butt!" She gripped.

Snipe only responded by nailing her in the stomach with the butt of Magnum. Yui then fell unconscientious. He then slouched her over his shoulder.

"YUI!" Asuna and Kirito both yelled.

"Man, kids." Snipe said, looking at Yui. "They can sure be a handful, right?"

"Let her go!" Kirito shouted.

Snipe scoffed, and only opened up his message menu. He wrote down something, and sent it to the couple before him.

"I'll be waiting here." He said. "If you don't come with my Gashat within the next 24 hours… well."

He looked over at Yui.

"I'll let your imagination do its job." Snipe teased.

Then, he began to walk away.

"Hey!" Kirito shouted. "Get back here…!"

Then, the environment changed back. Kirito and Asuna were back at their log cabin, but Snipe and Yui, their daughter, was gone. Kirito only slammed his fist down on the ground as Asuna did her best to comfort him.