He was broken. This man... this evil, corrupt, mad man had broken him. Into bits and pieces he wasn't sure he'd ever be able to gather up again, much less puzzle back together.

Listen to me.

He hurt, physically, mentally—and he just couldn't take that. What would you expect, though? He really was only just a child. Nearing adulthood, maybe, but just child. A child who'd lost two years of their life in a society vastly different from the one they'd been raised in.

Can you hear me?

What would you have done? Faced with things no child should be thrown into. Not even most adults would have been able to stand up to those fears that he'd gone against. Yet, the whole time, he'd stood strong. Or, he'd tried to.

Please, please.

Murder. Betrayal. Hurt. Hopelessness. Much more, too. Are you string? Could you face these? He'd been targeted. Targeted for helping people. Or...trying. Most would just push him away. Why? They didn't think he'd be able to help? Or were they just too lost in their own hopelessness that they could reach out to grab his outstretched hand—the one he'd always been offering?

Is anyone there?

There were some, however, who did accept his hand. They'd allowed him to pull them out of their darkest pits of sadness, hurt, pain, and sorrow. He'd guided them through tough times, and then had left to go help others once they'd gotten back on their own too feet in a solid walk. Occasionally talking to him, sending him messages to see how he was faring. Typical things that friends would do.

Somebody, please...

But, where were those people now? Those friends? Were they looking for him? Yes, they would. They'd try. He knew that. They cared about him, they knew he'd do the same if they were in this position. But, were they aware of how...terrible it was? How terrible was it, though? Did he hurt?

Save me, anyone, save me—

No. Maybe they didn't know. Right now, though, the only thing he could actually do was just lie there, hoping they were somewhere in their search, hoping they were on their way, hoping someone was coming, hoping they were looking.

Please... it hurts.

Because, though he was strong—in their eyes, and his, perhaps—he was still only just a child. Right now, he didn't know what to do. This man was insane. Hungry for what? Was it power? Control? He probably couldn't tell. He never really did listen when the person spoke to him, in that cheerful tone—mocking him.

It's too hot...

They were his friends, though, no? They cared, they'd risk much to help him—he was so sure... Except, each hour, minute, day, second, week he was here—he'd stopped counting forever ago—that hope dwindled, so much.

I'm not okay.

Would they really find him? And if they did, would they reach him on time? What if they were too late? Human beings could only do so much for each other, even in this New Reality. And humans leaned more toward the choice of helping themselves, and letting others alone, to rot, to hurt, to suffer—while they were off good, happy, yet ungrateful to even what their selfishness got them in riches. Would his friends be like that? Take these new systems of worlds for themselves and leave him to rot?

It's too cold...

This man, this mad man, this monster. He really scared him. He hurt him, mentally—physically. This insane beast had broken him, stretched him out—until he was thinned to the point where he was so sure he would just snap. Sometimes, he was afraid he'd catch the man's insanity. Was such a disease of the mind even contagious?

I don't want to die.

SAO

Kirito blinked as the bright morning sun reflected off of the golden bars of the cage. He'd just woken up to the sound of the gate of his prison banging open, so he knew his captor was here with him now. He kept his eyes closed, making sure his breathing was controlled at a slow pace, pretending to still be asleep.

The mattress sunk suddenly, but Kirito made no move. Arms wrapped around him and dragged him into a siting position, and he felt his head come to rest against something solid. A cheerful voice rang out, then. "Good morning, Kirito-kun! Did you sleep well?"

Kirito blinked open his eyes warily, then moved them up to see his captors beaming down at him happily. The grin almost sent shivers through him.

"I need you to get a good nights sleep, so that you heal properly." The man went on. Kirito still didn't know his identity—but in here, he called himself the Fairy King Oberon, which had Kirito deduct that he was in the Realm of Alfheim. "Then, we can start our daily torture sessions again! Won't that be fun? Of course, we could be doing something else—Oh, if only you told me The Programming codes..." The man sighed wistfully.

Kirito said nothing. He'd stopped speaking altogether about three days ago. Or, he thought it had been three days. He'd stopped keeping track of the time a very long time ago, so he wasn't too sure.

The man sighed in exasperation. "Aw, Kirito-kun!" He whined. "Why don't you speak to me, anymore? It's no fun with one-sided conversations!" He held him to his chest tighter. "C'mon," He cooed. "I want to hear your lovely voice again, my little Programmer."

Kirito made no sound. He didn't even move. He was lifeless.

"Hn." The man released him, smiling wryly. "You're no fun." He let Kirito fall back onto the bed again, the side of hi head pressing into the soft covers. The man flopped into the steel chair that sat next to the lone table—the only other pieces of furniture in the cage besides the bed. He was watching his victim with a curious gaze, frowning thoughtfully for a few moment.

Kirito wondered what he was thinking, before he noticed the stinging sensation that irritated his eyes, and the cold trails of wetness that ran down his face, gathering to the right side of his chin, and dripping onto the blanket that he was lying on. He realized, without any true emotion, that he was crying. What for? Was he sad? Was he hurt? He couldn't feel anything...

After a moment of silence, the man began to chuckled. "Oh. My poor, poor Programmer." He stood up from the chair and moved back to sitting on the bed, gathering Kirito in his arms. "Why are your crying, Kirito-kun? Are you sad?"

Was he? He didn't know. And if he was, he didn't know why. That frustrated him slightly—though he'd begun to not even care if he showed weakness in front of his captor weeks ago. Or, had it been weeks? He didn't know that, either.

The man let him go, sighing. "Ah well. I bet you must be hungry. I shall go get you some food..." Then, he sent Kirito a wink. "I hope you feel better when I get back, my little Programmer!" When had he started to call him that, again? Kirito watched, almost uninterested, as the man entered the passcode in again, making the bars slide up, allowing him exit. As usual, the air around the digital lock was blurry, thick, and hazy.

After the man had left, Kirito pressed his face fully into the blanket, letting the fabric soak up the tears that had finally stopped flowing. He lifted his hands up to his head, pressing his palms against his ears forcefully to block out the singing birds, and the calm whooshing sound of the breeze. The steady rhythm of his own heart beat erratically in his ears. That's when he realized why he'd been crying—not sadness, not pain; fear.

He was scared. And... he'd lost hope. More hope—it was gone. Not all, just most. But it was gone.

We both know the Programmer can't stand being away from his kidnapper for long, don't we? The man had once said to him, mockingly. And, what was worse, Kirito knew he was right. If the man didn't come for these daily visits, he knew he'd truly break—he'd crack, go insane. Because, if the man didn't come to him everyday, then Kirito would know that he didn't need Kirito anymore. And if he didn't need Kirito, that meant that he'd gotten all he wanted. And if the man had the codes of the USP, then Kirito would know, without fail, that his friends were at his captor's mercy—they'd be hurt, in trouble, and he wouldn't even be able to try to help.

But, Kirito tried to calm himself. Kirito was the only one who knew what the codes were. The only other who had was Kayaba, and he was dead. Gone. Never to come back... Right?

But, he was still so lonely. Sometimes, Kirito found himself wishing that the almost-psychotic genius was still here with him, keeping him company. He realized that, in the two months he'd spent working by the older man's side, Kirito had grown to appreciate him—to like him, even. And now, he wished for that company. Any company, actually, besides his captor's.

Then, he got an idea.

SAO

Asuna sat across from her mother, glaring at the woman with icy hatred. She had never really been one to go against her parents—especially her mother—and had done everything they'd told her, without question, mostly. But, that had been before she'd met him. Kirito. Now, she was different, stronger—and she didn't like this, not one bit.

"What," she growled, "are you saying to me? I can't go to Alfheim? Why not? Tell me!"

"Asuna," her mother stared her down with a nonindulgent gaze, but Asuna felt that it no longer affected her, and didn't even flinch. "Mother only wishes what is best for you. Alfheim is crawling with those false beings. Mother does not want you to mix with them. I do not understand why you immerse yourself in these fake worlds." The elder Yuuki was one of the human race that was... racists against the new additions to their list of species—and Asuna felt angered at it.

"They aren't fake worlds anymore! They're real! Like ours! And, even when they hadn't been, I survived perfectly fine in one of them for two whole years. Mother," the girl spat out the name as if it were a curse that would make even a hardcore sailor cry, and the woman's eyes narrowed. "should know that I can take care of myself!"

"Asuna, do not question Mother." The dark haired beauty told her, unrelenting. "I do not approve of the way you are speaking to me. I have—"

"I don't care what you've done," Asuna snapped, almost smiling at the way her mother's eyes widened—like she'd never even imagined to be interrupted by Asuna. "I'm sixteen. I'm old enough—and by New Reality's standards, I've been of age for two years now—to look after myself. I can make my own decisions, and Mother does not have to bother herself. I will actually be moving to Alfheim. I shall go pack my things now. I wasn't going to leave for a few days, but now, I believe that Mother needs time to think for herself."

And with that, the chestnut haired girl left the room, not even looking back, before her mother could even think of replying.

Asuna felt amazing. She didn't think she'd ever realized just how much she had wanted to stand up to that infuriating woman before—and now that she had, her spirits were high, and she felt proud of herself. She had a feeling that Kirito would be, too.

And at the thought of Kirito, she grew excited, racing faster down the long halls toward her room, tearing open the doors, ignoring the automatic sensors, and ripping cloths and belongings out of her drawers and tossing them onto her bed, on top of a few duffel backs. Teleport crystals, sword sheaths, her rapier, other weapons, a few tunics and armors, and her Aincrad Guard uniform—she was still sub-leader of her old guild, even under it's new name, and that pleased her immensely. Barry worked just under her, and she was graced with his fun-loving presence often—some odd trinkets, a few belts, and some other things that she'd kept from her childhood. Soon, her closets, drawers, wardrobe were all empty, save for the things she knew she wouldn't miss. As soon as she finished zipping up the duffel bags, she placed them into her Inventory, and used a privet Teleport crystal to transfer to a point in Alfheim that was close to her newly bought apartment.

They had some new leads on Kirito, ones that had confirmed his presence in Alfheim. Soon, all of her friends would be moving into the same apartment complex, in the central city, as she was—they'd all bought them together, pooling in their Col for each other. Silica was only thirteen, however—she'd turn of age in a few moths—so they'd bought her's under Lisbeth's name, and she'd move in on her birthday. Hopefully, Kirito would be back with them long before then. In fact, they'd bought out the entire complex—it was fairly expensive, since the apartments were more like condo's that had been smashed together—very luxurious. It had actually become some what a joke to the local's now, as they'd called it the Guard's Tower—as Klein, Lisbeth, Silica, Agil, Suguha, Argo, and the Black Cats of the Full Moon were all side members of Asuna's guild. There were a few others who lived in the complex with them, of course, that were "Guards" as well, such as Sugu's friend, Recon, and Barry Asagaya, and some more. To Asuna, it felt nice to live together in the same building along with all of her friends—even if the most important was missing at the moment—and she enjoyed every minute of it.

They had all gotten extremely close with each other, once they'd all bought he complex. It go to the point where they were thinking about connection each of the apartments with doors, and converting the large foyer in the center of the second floor into a "family room."

The Lobby was a great place for parties, as well. They had one, actually, the day the deeds to the complex had been given to them by the landlady, whose name was Tonya. She'd attended it, and had told them that she'd feel better knowing that her complex was in her sub-leader's hands—as it turned out, Tonya was a pretty, crimson-haired ex-NPC, who'd moved to Alfheim from her original Realm, Aincrad, almost two months before. She'd joined the Aincrad Guards not too soon after the New Reality had set in, and was happy staying in the complex with her new-found friends.

As soon as she got to the complex, Asuna threw her duffel bags onto her large, Californian King-sized bed—it was probably bigger. Alfheim didn't have bed sized, really—and marched down to the "family room" where she new everyone would be—they'd started converting it only a week before.

"Asuna!" Argo called, waving from on top a ladder. The others smiled happily at her.

"Hello," She nodded, walking over to join them in painting the walls. They gone for plain white, and they were going to paint the window seals, door frames, etc. a deep black. The floor would be tiles checkered black and white, and all furniture sans the tables, which would be black, were going to be white. They liked the design—it suited them. Of course, a large banner sporting the Aincrad Guards Logo and colors—two swords crossed, and the colors were... well, black and white—would hang above the large fireplace and it's mantle.

"I thought you weren't coming for a few more days?" Keito asked, jumping down from the ladder he was climbing down from.

"Mother issues." She told them, and they all nodded, as if that had explained everything. And, really, it had.

Barry stood up from his spot on the cemented floor, where he'd been puzzling tiles together with Sachi and Ducker. "Well," The only actual adult there besides Tonya, who had smiled as Asuna entered. "I was called earlier by Diabel, you know? Bluette wanted me at the HQ for something. Mind taking my spot at tiling?"

Asuna smiled. Diabel had been offered the place as the new guild's leader a few weeks before—apparently, dying in SAO had made him see how much of a high-class moron he'd been. Once he'd come back with the other four thousand unfortunates, he'd shaped up, and was now known for his renowned leadership skills, and his care for each and every one of his men(and women). "Sure thing, Craven." She said, responding with his username. She was glad he was leading the case of Kirito's capture—he was almost as close to him as she was—sans for the love relationship, of course. He'd dubbed himself the Black Swordsman's older brother, just behind Klein, in fact. No one had really objected, and Kirito had seemed comfortable enough.

Speaking of Klein, he was doing much better than he had been since Kirito's disappearance. He'd started smiling again, and Asuna felt that he'd make a quick recovering from his sulking habits as soon as Kirito was back with them, and in good health.

"Thanks, 'Suna." The spiky haired blond shot her a blinding smile before he took off, leaving the room, and shouting farewells—which were heartily returned.

Asuna smiled. The only thing missing from this perfect scene was Kirito. She let out a sigh as she plopped down next to Ducker, who smiled at her, his bold bangs falling into his eyes from beneath his skullcap. She bent down and got to work, puzzling the tiles together over the damp, gooey cementing like she was making a checkerboard—which, in a way, she was.

He wouldn't be missing for long though, and soon, this perfect scene would be complete.

SAO

I hope this works...

This was the thought that had been plaguing Kirito for the past few days, ever since he'd gotten that idea. It was extremely risky, but, if he could pull it off, it would be worth it. He'd planned everything out carefully, making sure his captor wouldn't come in the middle of everything and ruin it—the man seemed to have a schedule, as crazy as that was, and Kirito had, by now, learned it by heart.

He took one last survey of the area outside of his cage just to be sure, before closing his eyes and concentrating hard. Soon, there was a semi-bright flash, and Kirito opened his obsidian eyes to see a crystal tear lying in his open palms. He smiled, for the first time in a long time. It was one of the perks of being a Programmer of this New Reality—as he'd heard the man refer to it as. Even when outside forces restricted him, somehow, from accessing his Avatar Menu, he could still open and use his Inventory. Of course, the man didn't know that...

Kirito watched the crystal being to glow a soft blue, before lifting out of his palms and floating five inches away from his face. Kirito stared at it for a long while, hoping—pleading—that this would work.

He reached out a finger in baited breath, and clicked gently on the crystal, flinching in pain as a bright white shone next—his eyes had somehow become extremely sensitive to flashes, these past few weeks.

The next moment, a sleepy voice called out in confusion— "...Daddy?"

His eyes snapped open, and he looked up to see Yui, beautiful, adorable, little Yui floating where the crystal had been just moments before.

He sucked in a deep breath, face breaking into a tired, adoring smile. "Yui."

The small, lithe figure began to descend, quicker and quicker, before he landing in Kirito's outstretched arms. "Daddy!" Yui cried, tears springing in her bright eyes.

Kirito smiled gently, tucking a strand of the girl's raven hair, and the cute, button-nosed face crinkled into an adoring smile. "Papa, I missed you!"

Kirito clutched Yui, holding her against his bandaged chest. "I missed you too, Yui." He felt tears soak through the front of the white linen. He looked down, softly. "Yui, do you know what's changed, now?"

The girl looked up into his eyes, understanding. "The world? Or, the reality, right Papa? You changed it, and made it better, didn't you, Daddy?"

He smiled, nodding. "Yes. But," Here, his face darkened slightly. "A very bad man had captured me. He wants the codes to The USP—The Universal System Program. I can't allow him to know—but he's very insistent. He will not stop hurting me until I tell him—which I never will. That is the price I must pay for being one of the Programmers. Do you understand that?"

By now, Yui was crying, hugging him tightly with her tiny little arms. "I'm sorry, Papa! I'm so sorry that you got hurt! I hate this bad man! How could he hurt my Daddy!"

He sighed softly, reaching out a hand and patted her head once, twice, three times. By the third, she looked up, silently sniffling. "Yui, he is not right in the mind, you know. He's starved for Power—it's made him sick. He's had too much in the past, and he got drunk on it. Now, he wants the Ultimate power that not even I have—and we can't let that happen, can we?" He sat back down on the bed, pulling his adopted daughter into his lap.

Yui had brightened at his usage of the word 'we.' She smiled. "Yes! Yes, Papa! I will help you!"

He hugged her, a lone tear making it's way down the left side of his face, trailing down from the corner of his eye as he squeezed his lids closed. "You're already helping me, Yui, by just being here. I don't like being alone like this."

Yui made a soft, sad noise, and cupped her father's face into the crook of her tiny neck as he cried.

SAO

Asuna stared at her open palms, eyes brimming with full, watery, unshed tears. Yui's Heart. It had just...vanished. It had glowed brightly, then was gone in a flash pf bright light. What had happened? Who had taken it? Where? All she had left was the chain.

She held the linked ovals of steel to her chest, closing her eyes tightly and let the tears overflow—hoping with all her being that her daughter was alright. She'd already lost Kirito for who knows how long. She didn't want Yui to go, too!

"Please," she prayed, to anyone who'd listen. "Let her come back soon.

SAO

And, bada bing, bada boom. There's your next chapter, folks! I hope it's alright. I've gotten to a sort of standstill—still trying to figure out Ed's identity. I guess I built on that this chapter, but seriously—I guess it was a slight cliché to be expected, yes? I don't really know... I'm thinking about doing another flashback, next chapter—but maybe it shouldn't be a chapter meant for any downtime. Action, then?

Here, a vote for next chapter:

a) We find out Ed's identity,

b) We read about another flashback to our characters time spent in SAO(or a request for some other focus) , or

c) We have Yui do some secret agent work?

Vote for the one you want to happen, I guess. Love ya all!

~EpikalStorms*