Elsewhere…

The sound of nature is a song that soothes her soul.

The coolness of the breeze dances on her skin as her hair flows freely behind her.

She breathes in, feeling the crisp, refreshing scent of the woods to caress her senses.

The bird's song is a serenade to her heart, the rustle of leaves in the wind harmonizing in her ears as she looks around, drinking in the beauty that surrounds her.

She rocks in her seat on the porch, hearing the creaking of wood in a pleasant rhythm. She looks down at her lap, the pink sundress airy and allowing the sun's cozy warmth to marry with the soothing breeze. She looks beside her, seeing him.

Only him.

The boy wears dark all over, matching his obsidian eyes and ebony hair. Despite that, behind his eyes, he harbored a warmth unlike any she'd ever known. A heart of gold that beat in tune with her own. Love that burned bright and proud especially for her.

The boy sighs as he leans against her arm, his eyes fluttering open and closed as they rocked the chair together, back and forth in a soothing rhythm.

She takes a deep breath as she allows a smile to grace her lips. The log cabin stands quietly amidst the wind, as the forest around her rocks and dances with the tempests.

A beautiful day, a clear sky.

Then she knew.

There was nowhere else she'd rather be than right here, wishing this beautiful moment would last forever. Wishing she could just lie back, close her eyes and watch the world around her disappear so long as she could spend eternity in the arms of the man she loved.

Oh, wouldn't that be a dream?

"ASUNA!"

Suddenly, a voice shocks her out of her senses.

New sounds explode into her ears and overwhelm her senses.

She hears the cries and screams of the battlefield, as the horrible ringing of blades clashing and screams of pain blast her senses like a gunshot to the head, filling her with terror and panic.

She's wearing her battle armor, colored red from her time leading the charge up the final quarter of Floors in a desperate race for freedom. Lambent Light is strangely heavy in her hand, her eyes widening as she sees blood as red as her armor staining its edge.

All of a sudden, to her horror, she scans the horizon, seeing the bodies.

Oh god, the bodies.

The corpses of countless players dot the dungeon. She sees soldiers dressed in uniform armor of all kinds of guilds. She spots the Divine Dragon Alliance's silver dirtied by the scars of a blade. She sees the dark iron of the Aincrad Liberation Force muddied by stains of blood. She gasps as she sees her own soldiers lying in pieces on the ground, their faces contorted in fear and anguish.

Then she sees her.

She sees Nautilus, poor Nautilus, crawling to a body above the battlefield. His legs are battered and broken, but he cries and weeps desperately, reaching past the dead towards his companion.

"Y-Yuna…"

She sees Kuradeel remove the sword from Yuna's chest, as her body lies limp in a pool of red. Nautilus is crying and screaming as he tries to do something, anything.

And all she can do is watch, reminded of how she failed to arrive in time for her.

Her heart is hammering like a jackhammer in her chest.

Her breaths are hurried and panicked as if she's drowning on dry land.

She looks around… and she can't see him.

Why can't I see him?

Where is he?!

Asuna feels her mind racing and running in circles as she struggles to keep her feet under her.

Her whole body is shaking, her bones rattling and threatening to collapse all at once.

She can hear her heartbeat hammering against her eardrums, rumbling like thunder as her own heavy gasps for air clash against the ringing in her head.

She feels like her entire stomach is ready to eject from her throat, her throat dry and her brow drenched in her sweat.

All she can do now… is scream.

Yuuki Residence, Setagaya, Tokyo, June 11th, 2024

"KIRITO!"

As soon as she jumps up from bed in a cold sweat, she takes a moment to remember exactly where she is.

She looks around, her senses taking in the familiar surroundings of her comfy bedroom.

Asuna could feel the softness of her mattress under her, the warmth of the blanket that covered her legs. A flowery scent that reminds her of home. That work desk in the corner with the pink chair, a small table to hold a tea set she'd gotten a few birthdays ago.

Her heart calms down after a solid few seconds and she allows herself to settle down, reminding herself that she has no metal vice trapping her in a game of life and death. No menu that would appear with a swipe of a finger.

She smacks her tongue on the roof of her mouth, feeling the disgusting taste of her own morning breath. A taste she had almost forgotten during her time in the game. The sheer complexity her senses are tasting. A sensation unlike anything the virtual world could replicate.

To finally confirm that she isn't dreaming, that she's right where she should be, she brings two fingers to the side of her neck and pinches lightly.

It's not enough to leave a noticeable mark, but enough for her to feel a small, yet sharp sensation of pain. A sensation largely foreign to the virtual world.

With that, she is certain. She's no longer in Aincrad.

She's finally free and awake, lying in her bed at home.

Allowing a relieved sigh to escape her lips, Asuna groans as she stretches off her morning fatigue, her limbs creaking as she moves. Pushing herself off of her bed, kicking her covers off, she taps a finger on her nightstand, the press of the button letting out a beeping noise as her window curtains part to allow the sun's light inside.

Raising her hand to rub at her eyes with a moan, she stops as she lowers her palm, feeling dampness on them as her tears streamed down her cheeks.

With a melancholic sigh, Asuna allowed a small smile to emerge from her lips.

"If only they could see me now… crying like a child…"

Player Profile:

The Lightning Flash, Asuna – Unlike her introverted lover, Kazuto, Asuna's impeccable swiftness is outmatched only by her ability to inspire and lead others on the path to victory. Despite her firm stance as a leader, she hides a kind and gentle soul treasured by those close to her.

Real Name: Asuna Yuuki

Born: September 30th, 2007

Stand Name: N/A

Favored Armament: Rapier

Biggest Fear: Ghosts

Yuuki Residence, Setagaya, Tokyo, June 11th, 2024

Asuna walked downstairs dressed in her home wear as she faced her feet descending the flight, turning to face the common area in front of the entrance.

The Yuuki family lived in a position of quite generous wealth and prestige, and their house was no exception. From the massive size of the household to the quality of the living spaces and areas, Asuna had always lived in conditions of comfort and ease of living.

It was because of this that she had struggled to initially find her footing in Aincrad, to be suddenly robbed from that lofty place of familiarity and thrust into a place of life and death. However, Asuna had learned to persevere, to fend for herself and to guide others to victory.

This was why now she couldn't help but feel put off as she returned home, once more with nothing to worry about, to have her parents care for her every need and decision without her having to lift much of a finger. It felt strange now, felt alien to the new person that emerged as Asuna awoke from the NerveGear's clutches.

After two months of freedom, everything felt so slow now, so bleak. She wasn't able to get in contact with the rest of Purple Rain, or anyone else from Sword Art Online, as she had never learned any of their real names other than Kazuto's or Josuke's.

What she wouldn't give to see their faces again, to laugh and celebrate with them one more time like they did in Aincrad.

Walking into the dining room with these thoughts swirling in her head, she looked up at the sound of a voice calling out to her.

"You're awake. About time, too. Your plate's getting cold."

A young man, dressed in a suit as he ate his breakfast, sitting by himself with a fresh plate placed in front of the seat across from him.

Sporting short brown hair as opposed to Asuna's vibrant chestnut color, he nonetheless shared her eyes, a bright amber brown that shone in the sun. This man was none other than her older brother, Koichirou.

"Morning, Koichi."

Sitting and grasping her chopsticks, Asuna took her first bites, looking up periodically as she scanned her brother's attire up and down with her eyes.

"Internship going well? How's Father?"

Koichi looked up from his plate and turned Asuna's way at her question. Nodding as he put his utensils down, he answered.

"The guys at RCT have been treating me well. Father… busy, especially with the SAO incident over. With the victims waking up and reporting their stories, people have virtual reality being thrown into question all over again, and it's especially harsh on the Progress branch."

Asuna hummed as she pondered those words. The survivors of the death game had spent a long time away from home, and now that they had returned, it was as Kayaba had told them. Their lives couldn't return to normalcy so easily, not with everything they had experienced in those long, grueling two years.

Some shared their stories, of epic battles, of wars between players, of the mystifying world they called their home and prison. Most intriguing of them all were words of extraordinary individuals who held a hidden power within them, a power only brought to light with the testimony of the players that saw their strength and might with their own eyes.

However, as Asuna came to learn early on, Argus had understandably come under fire by the entire world for their part in creating the death game and subsequently fell apart due to bankruptcy. This was when her father's company, RECT Inc. had bought their VR technology and ownership of the SAO servers, maintaining the game's server for the remainder of their imprisonment.

"In fact, he left for the hospital to visit the remaining victims not too long ago."

Asuna's eyes shot up as her brother said this.

"Is he still there?"

"It's only been about half an hour since he left, so he should still be there. Why? Wanna see him? Or is there someone you want to visit?" Koichirou asked, a knowing smile on his face as a small dust of red graced Asuna's cheeks.

Asuna then scarfed down the remainder of her breakfast, reaching for her bowl of miso soup with both hands and slurping it down before rising to her feet.

"If Mother asks where I am, tell her Father treated me to lunch."

"Asuna?"

On her way out, she turned back to her brother as he called her name one more time, her eyebrow raised as he sighed.

"I'm sorry. I'm glad you're okay."

Asuna paused. Coming from her brother, this was something that held weight. She had never planned to visit the floating castle in the sky, nor did she even have an interest in video games, especially not with her mother's uptight and overwhelming presence in her life. The same couldn't be said for Koichirou, however. Gaining access to a NerveGear and a copy of the game, it was through his console that she was able to play.

Had he not left for a business trip overseas and missed the game's launch, she was certain he would instead be the one trapped in the death game in her place. Hearing this from Koichirou, she couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, Koichi."

Player Profile:

The Black Swordsman, Kirito – A lifelong lover of computers and video games, Kirito is a boy who has spent his entire life waiting for a virtual world to escape to. While unremarkable in real life, his familiarity and affinity with the virtual world turned him into a fierce warrior, matched only by his brother-in-arms, JoJo.

Real Name: Kazuto Kirigaya

Born: October 7th, 2008

Stand Name: This Is War

Favored Armament: One-Handed Sword (Dual)

Favorite Skill: Fishing

Tokorozawa General Hospital, Saitama (SAO Wing) June 11th, 2024

As far as the world was concerned, the Sword Art Online incident was long over.

It had been two months since she awoke from her two-year long dream alongside around 6,000 survivors. Thousands of people returned from the death game harboring bitter memories and trauma that prevented them from truly receiving any full closure.

Having fought for their lives, having known the threat of imminent death, the aftereffects of the tragedy had yet to subside, far from it. She heard stories of some being permanently scarred from their time in the game, others emerging as entirely different people.

However, this was not the only factor. Despite SAO shutting down for good, for a reason unknown to all, three hundred survivors remained asleep, unable to wake up from their dives.

Among them were two boys, both of whom she recognized and were slumbering in the same room with several other survivors.

The first was well-built under his sheets, with a frame somewhat larger and more defined than his youthful face would suggest. Under his NerveGear, several strands of rebellious purple hair poked free. Even without his signature haircut that he wore with pride, hidden under his helmet, Asuna still recognized Josuke Higashikata well.

The second was quite the opposite. While Josuke's physical appearance stood out amongst the others, his was unremarkable in every possible way. His boyish features and skinny, lanky frame were coupled with a disheveled appearance from prolonged time without physical care, black hair grown out to reach his collar after years of it being uncut. Despite that, she knew that she was staring at the slumbering body of the man she loved.

Of Kirigaya Kazuto.

Two boys who fought Akihiko Kayaba to the death and emerged victorious, allowing the survivors of SAO to finally escape the death game. Now, they lie indefinitely, unable to reap the rewards of their immense efforts.

Asuna had come to this room several times already after learning from her father about how the Speedwagon Foundation extended an offer to RECT to facilitate and care for the remaining survivors, ensuring that they were taken care of and undisturbed until a solution could be found for their bizarre predicament.

Now, she could only pray for them. Hope that by some miracle or stroke of fortune, they would awaken once more and they could reunite in the real world, leaving their demons and regrets behind in Aincrad for good.

"Hey, guys. Been a while, huh?"

She remembered Purple Rain. She remembered having fun celebrating and laughing into the night with this family she'd found amidst the hell of Aincrad. She remembered Yui, the AI who had come to her and Kirito, seeking the love and affection of a parent, which she was more than happy to provide. A love she would give a thousand more times over if she had the chance to see her again.

"Mother didn't scold me for arriving late for breakfast again, I suppose that's one plus of the day. Koichi covered for me, and oh, I wish you could meet him. He'd get along swimmingly with you, I'm sure, Kirito…"

She remembered Kirito and every beautiful moment she spent getting to know him better, and every second she spent here in the real world yearning for those days to return.

"I hope you're safe… I wish…"

Suddenly, a noise snapped her out of her nostalgia as she turned behind her to the door opening for another visitor.

"Ah, Asuna. I'm glad you're here."

An older man stepped into the room, wearing a well-kept business suit. His face was indicative of his age, wrinkled with graying hair along his scalp, yet he walked with a confidence to him that erased any implication of frailty from his demeanor. As Asuna caught his gaze, his eyes softened as he allowed a gentle smile to grace his features.

"Good morning, Father."

Shouzou Yuuki smiled as he opened his arms and hugged his daughter, leading her to smile warmly from her father's affection. Separating from the embrace, the older man straightened out his suit as he faced Asuna.

"Koichi told me you'd come and stop by not too long ago. I trust you're doing alright? Your friends, too?" Shouzou asked considerately.

Asuna hummed, glad to hear her father's caring words. While they both meant well and cared for her wellbeing, it was her father who more openly displayed his affection for Asuna, more so than her strict and cold mother. When she had made it a habit to visit the hospital, her father eventually took notice of her visiting a certain room more frequently, and soon came to learn about her relationship with Kazuto and Josuke.

Although she withdrew from divulging more intimate details about her experience in the game, mostly from her own reservations regarding her memories, Shouzou nonetheless understood that Asuna's time in Aincrad had left a deep and undeniable impact on her.

"We're doing alright. Thank you, Father."

"Mr. Yuuki?"

Asuna raised an eyebrow as a third voice rang out from the hallway, as her father's smile remained, nodding as he called for the man to enter the room.

"Ah, right here! Come on in."

Asuna watched as the third man entered the room. Like her father, he wore a crisp suit, his hair well-kept and combed back and a set of glasses shielding a pair of piercing and calculating dark eyes. As he walked through the door, Asuna watched as his eyes shifted from his smartphone and shifted up to meet her father's face.

"You remember Sugou, don't you, Asuna? We couldn't have navigated this SAO crisis without his contributions as head of R&D." Shouzou smiled, leading Sugou to laugh lightly in response.

"Hahaha… Please, Mr. Yuuki. I was merely doing my job. Any sensible person would do the same as I." Sugou laughed, before turning to face Asuna.

"Asuna… it's been years, hasn't it? How have you been lately? Physiotherapy faring well? I can't imagine it… being trapped in Kayaba's death game for two entire years… It's nothing short of a miracle that you've made it out alive." Sugou smiled, leading Asuna to assume a small smile of her own.

"Yeah, it's been a long time, Sugou. I'm doing fine, a little sore around the joints from time to time, but nothing too bad." Asuna replied, leading Sugou chuckle under his breath.

"I'm glad to hear it. What's more, I heard you were a fine hero leading troops into battle! Imagine my surprise!" Sugou laughed, as Asuna weakly laughed herself, her memories of the game returning en masse.

"Yeah… it was something… Like an incredible dream. Like nothing I've ever experienced before. To be honest… it was simply indescribable." Asuna breathed out as Sugou listened in silence, before a ringtone interrupted them.

Shouzou reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone, ringing in his hand. Bringing it up to his ear, Shouzou spoke with a frown on his face.

"Yes? Ah- Apologies. I was just on my way. Yes, I'll see you in half an hour." Shouzou spoke promptly as he tapped his thumb on the device, hanging up and returning it to his pants pocket.

"Father?"

Shouzou shook his head in response to Asuna's concern as he gave a gentle smile. "It's nothing serious. It appears I have a meeting to attend. I'm sorry to take my leave so soon, my dear."

Asuna waved her hands with a giggle as she protested. "It's fine, Father. I'm not a kid anymore! I'll be alright, you go on ahead."

With that, Shouzou chuckled in reply, satisfied with his daughter's assurance. "I'm glad to hear it, Asuna. In the meantime, why not catch up with Sugou here? I'm sure you have plenty to chat about."

After a brief hug with Asuna, he turned to the door and left the room, leaving Asuna alone with Sugou and the resting patients. She stood there in silence, the beeping of medical equipment filling the ambient silence of the room, none breaking it as she stood without a word on her tongue.

"Asuna?"

"Hm?" Asuna perked up as Sugou addressed her directly, breaking the silence as she turned to face him.

"I have many questions I'd love to ask you, but for now I'll be brief." Sugou stated before he took a breath, walking over to her slowly as he lifted his glasses up with a finger, leading them to glint in the light.

"You met Akihiko, didn't you? In the game?"

Asuna stopped as shock crept onto her expression, memories of the Commander returning to her. "Y-yes. He led us on the frontlines, saved us many times over… until he revealed himself and left us to reach him on the top floor. He imprisoned us all and left us to fend for our lives, that I can't forgive. Despite that, we couldn't have moved forward at that pace without his inspiration."

With that, Sugou gave a sigh as a wistful expression made its way behind his glasses. "Sounds like him, alright. You never changed, even after realizing that insane dream of yours, huh Akihiko? All that power at your hands, and you choose to let go of it all and give them a happy ending? Classic Kayaba."

Asuna turned to face Sugou directly as she listened, catching onto a small detail. "You know about-"

"Wonderful World? Yes."

"How else could he have built that entire world in such a short amount of time? All the time we've known each other, it was the only thing he'd truly dedicated himself to. I'd be impressed with that man's drive if his ambitions weren't so narrow-minded." Sugou clicked his tongue as he faced Asuna.

Asuna stood there, gears turning in her head as she felt her brows dip into a frown. "He'd done plenty, and people aren't going to forget what he did. He was right, the world's changed because of Sword Art Online."

She remembered Kayaba's solemn lament to her, Kirito, and Josuke at the end of the game, how he revealed his ambitions to upturn the material world by exposing the hidden world of Stands to the public eye. More or less, his plan succeeded to an extent. Those who escaped the game and shared their experiences of their battle told of extraordinary shows of power, unheard of before.

While many initially deemed these stories the result of extreme stress and delusion, many others came to realize that this was not the case, as hundreds of people across the world came forward, either having bore witness to the power of the Stand before in the real world, or possessing a spirit of their own.

Whether it was the outcome he had imagined, Akihiko Kayaba had successfully brought the world of Stands out into the light.

With that, Sugou chuckled as he adjusted his spectacles up onto his nose. "Well, I'm not denying that. Still, that's exactly my point. He had always wished to use his dream world to unveil the supernatural plane, but let me ask you this: Would you have done the same as him? If you really dedicated your entire life to accomplishing this end, would you have passed on without thinking of the aftermath? Don't you find that the least bit curious?"

Asuna blinked as she pondered these words. "I guess I see where you're coming from. If I'd been living my whole life trying to reach a goal and bring something to life, I'd want to think of the future instead of stopping. Still, what would you understand about Kayaba and what he was thinking when he made SAO? Maybe it's not just shortsightedness, but an entirely different issue on his part."

Sugou's face returned to its firm coldness as he faced the window. "Sure, I understand your questions. However, as you know, RECT Progress has been managing projects in VR ever since SAO dropped, and a huge part of that is owed to my friendship with Kayaba. Truth be told, I'm not sure if SAO or the NerveGear would have exploded as it did in the media and the market without my contributions. He was planning to show the world the potential of the human will, the tenacity to survive, the hidden strengths of the soul itself, and yet… he refused to explore the world he helped reshape, or the world he was showing to everybody. We working at RECT have been learning new things about Stands at an astonishing rate lately, and I can only imagine how he'd react to it all."

Asuna's eyes widened at Sugou's revelations. She had been informed about RECT's involvement in the SAO incident and its aftermath, but she was still shocked to learn the extent they had been embroiled in Kayaba's ambitions, specifically Sugou. "Stands… Why hasn't my father said anything about this? Wait- Does this have anything to do with those "VR Projects" you mentioned?"

With this, Sugou grinned. "Kayaba's design was a stroke of genius on his part for what he intended to achieve. Imagine the human soul as a magnet of sorts. We as humans are a social species and crave companionship, so we gravitate towards one another in a perfectly natural way, in a way that is subtle enough for one to not pay it any mind. However, imagine a Stand as an electric charge that strengthens the magnet, increases the pull and brings in others like it at an accelerated rate. Knowing this and using his own Stand-empowered soul as an irresistible bait, he was able to draw in Stand users from across the country, allowing them to congregate together in his virtual world. By simply creating the world and eliminating the veil that obscures the Stand world, we have the opportunity for normal people to witness the power of the Stand firsthand and interact with them. All that we have to do is to simply observe from the sidelines, and we're only scratching the surface."

Asuna's face then dropped into a frown as she took a step toward Sugou. "And what are you planning to accomplish there?"

"Hm?"

Sugou raised an eyebrow as Asuna placed a hand over her chest, facing him down. "I'm not interested in whatever grand ambition Kayaba had. I'm not dreaming of a revolution to topple the status quo. All I want is for my friends to be safe and happy. So are you going to keep fiddling and scrounging for answers, or are you going to start helping the people whose lives are still at stake?"

Asuna then pointed a finger to the two beds, where Kazuto and Josuke lay limp and unresponsive, as Sugou let out a sigh, meeting Asuna's glare. "Asuna, believe me when I say that we are doing everything we can for them. It's just… a delicate situation. If we had known how to extract them safely, we'd have done it long ago for the rest of the SAO players."

Asuna let out a sigh of defeat as she turned back to face Kirito's unconscious body with saddened eyes. "I'm… sorry. It's just… I can't stand it. Knowing I'm out here, trying to fit back in a world I've been away from for two years, while they're stuck somewhere out of reach, not where they deserve to be, after everything they've done to fight on our behalf…"

"...They defeated Akihiko, didn't they?"

Asuna perked up as Sugou broke the silence, gazing down at the two of them as he turned towards the door. Pushing up his glasses, he let out a sigh.

"They must have been incredible to earn his intrigue… your adoration, no less. Your parents haven't changed, even all these years. But you… your eyes look… brighter. What you three shared in Kayaba's world, what you endured together, I can only imagine..."

With that, Asuna eyes widened as Sugou turned her way and nodded with a smile before walking out the door.

"It's nice to see you again. Take care, Asuna."

With a wave of a hand, Sugou walked out of the room, leaving Asuna alone with her thoughts, as she continued to tend to her treasured friends.

Asuna then placed a hand over Kirito's, not entirely sure if it was for his sake or her own. It was true, for as long as she'd returned to real life, the lonely, empty space in her heart only itched and burned as her thoughts drifted back to the ugly truth that her friends had yet to awaken like she had. She felt grief, sadness, guilt, even.

She felt powerless to do anything, not knowing the reason, not knowing the solution to their predicament. The only thing she could do now was wait, and it ate away at her like nothing else she'd ever known.

"Please… what should I do, Kazuto?…"

Player Showcase:

The Diamond Fist, JoJo – The illegitimate son of Joseph Joestar, Josuke is a man of unshaking will and shrewd wit. With his Stand, he has saved countless lives in Sword Art Online, truly living up to his family's centuries-old legacy.

Real Name: Josuke Higashikata

Born: November 6th, 2007

Stand Name: Crazy Diamond

Favored Armament: Greatsword/Gauntlets and Greaves

Favorite Musician: Prince

Tokorozawa General Hospital, Saitama (SAO Wing) June 11th, 2024

Not too long after her visit had ended, Asuna bid her friends farewell as she promised to visit them again soon.

With a sorrowful smile, she closed the door behind her and walked down the hall, passing several rooms she was sure were occupied by other unlucky survivors trapped like they were, for reasons yet unknown.

Thoughts brewing in her mind like a storm, Asuna was restless as she had been all day, every day since she had emerged from the NerveGear's clutches.

Thoughts about her meeting with Sugou, of his ties with Kayaba and his lofty ambitions. It was as Kirito said that day against the sunset as Aincrad crumbled to dust. She would never forgive Kayaba for all he had taken from them, but she would treasure all she had gained from the time he spent living in his world.

That was why she couldn't lie in peace until her friends had awakened as well. It didn't sit well, nor did it ease anything within her to leave their fates in the hands of uncertainty. Out of her control and out of reach, all that she could do now was pray for them.

As she tended to her doubts and frustration, she perked up as the elevator released a chime, prompting the doors to open.

Stepping in, she lowered her head and said nothing. With the state her heart was in, Asuna thought it best to hide it as she left the building, not drawing attention and making her exit all the swifter and inconspicuous.

"Excuse me…"

This was when a voice called out to her, prompting her to turn to face a man with whom she shared the elevator.

His appearance immediately stood out at a quick glance. On top of a quite massive frame, standing tall at well over six feet, he sported a fashion sense that rang with a particularly unique flavor that felt so familiar.

White attire from head to bottom, from a baggy pair of pants to a long coat that reached his shins and covered a blue shirt underneath. Slightly obscuring a handsome face was a white cap that seemed to blend in with his hair in the back, as a pair of striking blue eyes stared down at her. While intimidating in his demeanor, she couldn't help but feel at ease with a certain gentleness he held to his stance.

"...would you happen to be Asuna Yuuki?"

Asuna's eyes widened as she stared back at the large stranger, new questions suddenly flooding through her head at high speed. Who was this man? How did he know her name? What was the deal with that hat?!

The man seemed to notice her hesitation to respond, along with her reserved body language and waved his hands with a groan.

"Good grief, kid. I'm not gonna hurt you. I was on my way to visit Josuke until I happened upon you."

Asuna calmed down after the mention of her friend, as she heard the elevator chime once more, the door opening as they both walked out into the lobby of the hospital. As she walked beside the older man, she coughed to clear her throat and regain his attention.

"Y-yes, I'm Asuna Yuuki. How do you know Josuke?"

The large man placed his hands in the pockets of his coat as he walked towards the front doors, facing Asuna with a side glance. "I'd rather not get into details, but he's family. We've been taking special care of him ever since he first dove into that game. More importantly, I'm glad I ran into you on the way up."

Asuna turned her head as she heard this. What could this man want with her in particular? If he was family with Josuke, then surely she could trust him. "Why do you say that? Is there something you want from me?"

This was when they both exited the building and stood in front of the entrance, the man turning to face her directly with a serious look on his face.

"I'll be brief, but we think we have a lead as to how to awaken Josuke and the other survivors, and we need your help."

Asuna's eyes bulged out as she heard this, her breath catching in her throat as he now had her full attention. Speechless, she could only stare in shock as the man pulled out his phone and turned to spot a car pulling up into the driveway.

"Y-you do? How?! I-I don't even-"

Before she could continue stammering, the man then held out his hand to her.

"We'll answer them eventually. In the meantime, mind if I have your phone number? There's something you need to see first."

Asuna would hesitate to hand out her phone number to a stranger, much less someone she just met, but she didn't care. Not anymore. Not when answers were just within reach, not when for the first time in months, she could finally feel like she could make a difference. She didn't wait any longer, she couldn't stand it.

Handing the man her phone, he clicked his tongue as he punched buttons into his own device and handed her phone back to her.

As the man stepped into his car, he turned to Asuna one last time.

"Please call me back once you've made your decision."

Closing the door, the man was out of sight as his car picked up speed and rolled out into the road, leaving Asuna alone as she fiddled with her own device, finding a new message addressed to her.

"Jotaro Kujo…" she muttered, reading the name that sent the message, figuring it must belong to the stranger.

However, these thoughts were pushed aside when she saw what he had sent to her.

It was a photo, that of a landscape unlike any she had ever known.

Rolling hills and lush, green forests.

A beautiful and rich blue sky.

A massive spire in the center distance with branches that seemed to curl like a helix into the clouds above.

Most significantly, she saw people, flying in the air with shimmering wings.

Fighting amongst each other, some of them visibly backed by unworldly spirits behind them.

Stands.

Up Next: The Land of the Fairies

Hey, guys. Been a couple months, and I hope to deliver at a quicker pace soon. A bit shorter than I've done recently, but honestly, not much here until the next one, so look forward to it. So yeah, Sugou's not a creep here, and honestly I'd rather have it this way than writing the absolute clown he is in the show proper. Maybe not necessary, but consider it a personal liberty as the author. Also yeah, the shift of the protagonist role to Asuna will change things up quite a bit. And I bet you're wondering exactly where Kirito and Josuke will fall into this arc, and I'll be revealing that soon enough. Hope to make this one good. Also, 30k views! Thanks, lads!

Asuna has a brother. Named Koichi. Interesting. Hope that doesn't bite me later.

Again, always happy to see words of feedback and appreciation alike for this story, and I'm always happy to see more. Don't hesitate, I'm all ears. Thanks a lot and I'll see you in the next one. Deuces.

NotMrMundy: Thanks a lot, dude! Believe me, this has been a really long journey and I'm just getting started. Glad you shared my love of this crossover idea and I hope you'll stick around for more.

Aurum79: Thanks, man! I really am proud of this and the effort I put into it. I'm so happy I was able to inspire you to make your own fics, and I'm happy you enjoyed that final battle! Hope you enjoy my take on Fairy Dance starring Asuna!

Luis945: Is it weird that this is pretty much the exact dilemma I'm facing with Josuke's pairing? So yeah, my strongest candidate pretty much bar none so far is Alice (Leafa, Lisbeth, and Sinon are in the running, but I'm pretty much set on this). My biggest debate, however, is deciding whether or not I should sacrifice Eugeo because of how it ends in canon and his obvious love for Alice. It is the one single decision that I am very much divided on, and I'm wondering what you all think I should do. I pretty much agree with you in the regard that Alice would be a perfect match for Josuke, especially if he shares the leading role with her in the War for Underworld arc, with the same scenario of Eugeo dead and Kirito out of commision, then I'd have plenty of more time to have the two of them alone. However, it would make no sense if Eugeo dies with Josuke in proximity, and I wonder if I should change it for the sake of being more unique and exploring new ground, since Eugeo has a lot of potential that I felt was pretty wasted. This is a very important decision in the long run, and while I don't have to worry about it right now, I'm all ears for your guys' inputs.

KingJGamer: I think I understand what you're implying, but I'm afraid I'm not gonna bring in JoJolion elements here. It's a cool idea, to be sure, but yeah. Hope you'll keep posted for more!

SentinelSlice: Thanks! I hope I don't disappoint!

J the Rider: Yeah, I get it. Overall, I understand that at least Asuna has something to do in the show proper, and I don't deny that it at least contributes to the plot and allows it to progress, but with what I have imagined here for the story, it couldn't have been Kirito or Josuke in center stage, not the way I plan for this to go down. I'm not entirely sure if this will be better or worse than what the canon has, but I'd say I'm fairly confident. Confident that this can turn out into something cool, and that it'll really make use of the fusion of worlds of SAO and JoJo, because do understand, I'm not changing this just for the sake of being different from canon, but because this is something I genuinely want to try exploring in terms of crossover. As for the Black Cats, yeah. I made it a point to reference that loss and defeat on Kirito's part repeatedly, because it's the blemish that remains on his conscience and encourages him to develop. However, I do acknowledge that people who come to read fanfiction are looking for some divergence from canon, and I'm sure I have that down well in other aspects. Hope you stick around for more, dude. Thanks a lot for leaving a review, it means a lot. On a side note, if you ever do go around making your own crossover I'd love to see it!