Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online.

The back garden of the Kirigaya residence was filled with the sounds of Suguha's cries.

Leafa was swinging her staff back and forth over her head as hard as she could. She was in the middle of her daily Kendo practice. She was putting all her effort into the sport she took very seriously. Not only my did she have a reputation to keep up as a top champion, but bettering her skills would make her a lot tougher when fighting enemies in the virtual world.

Leafa gripped the staff firmly as she swung again and again. Her blue eyes l were shining with determination. Nothing was going to distract her from her routine training.

"Hey, Sugu. Turn around for a second."

Leafa froze, holding the staff over her head as her ears perked up over the voice which had spoken to her. An irritated grunt escaped her. She recognised that voice only too well.

It was the voice of her cousin-turned-brother, Kirito - or rather, as he was known in the real world, Kazuto.

A pout crossed Leafa's face. This wasn't the first time she'd heard her adoptive sibling say such words to her. The last time he had told her to turn around, he had poured ice cold water down her back. What was he trying to pull on her this time? Granted, she would be facing him this time, but he had to be up to something to say the very same thing to her again.

Deciding to do exactly as her brother told her to, Leafa's turned around quickly - with a loud battle cry as she swung her staff at Kirito's head.

"HIYA!"

"OW!"

Kirito cried in shock and agony as his sibling's staff struck his head. He staggered around in front of Leafa, a dazed, pained expression on his face. His legs gave way on him, resulting in him crumbling to the ground in front of his little sister.

"Ha!" Leafa grinned triumphantly. "Thought you could trick me again, didn't you, Kazuto! You ain't gonna pull a fast on again big broth-UH?"

Leafa's voice trailed off as he gazed way pulled away from her fallen brother. Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw what Kirito had wanted her to turn around for.

All of her friends from the virtual world were gathered in the garden. They were stood behind a large table that was covered in party food with a large cake in the center. Each of them were carrying wrapped gifts and wearing their best clothes, as well as stunned expressions over what they had seen Leafa do to her brother.

"Kirito!" Asuna cried.

"Are you alright?" Silica squealed.

"Ooh, that looked like it hurt!" Lisbeth remarked.

"Couldn't have hurt that much since Kirito's so soft in the head," Sinon snarked.

"Don't die on us, man!" Klein wailed.

"Yeah, you still haven't paid me for those services I gave you in SAO last week!" Agil grumbled.

Suguha stared agape at all of her friends that had been behind her and her brother the whole time. She had not been expecting them to gather at their house for a party. She peered down to where he lay on the floor, her Kendo training all but completely forgotten.

"Kazuto?" she exclaimed, puzzled.

"Happy birthday, Sugu…" Kirito grinned weakly up at his little sister before falling unconscious.

THE END