A Sylph and a Imp: Love in Alfheim

By OathkeeperRoxasXNamine09

Full Summary: Set after Sword Art Online: Lost Song. Suguha (Leafa) meets a Imp named Toshi who after getting caught in a fight was after the same item she was. The Sylph's heart's all a flutter, could this be love? Who is this Imp and what connections does he have to the death Game SAO? A new friend as the summer is to be grand one.

Rated T.

Pairings: Kirito/Asuna, Leafa/OC.

Chapter 1: A fated encounter! Leafa and Toshi

November 6, 2022

That was a date I never forget, the day myself and 10,000 other players was trapped in the first and highly anticipated Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (VRMMORPG), Sword Art Online. Those two years, I fought on my own as a solo player being label as a Beater, a Beta Tester Cheater. Despite fighting solo for my two years trapped, I ended up making several close friends: Klien, Lizbeth, Silica, as well as someone I care about the most: Asuna. When I anted to take Asuna from the Knights of the Blood Oath when she wanted to get out of the front, I challenge the Guild Commander Heathcliffbut lost, and forced to joined myself. When I was almost close to be killed by Kuradeel, Asuna saved me and killed him after saving me. That was then I wanted to spent the night with her... which she got the wrong idea and punched me.

Marriage, finding Yui, event saving her, those are just the memories that made me happy. That is until I learned the identity of the Guild Commander, Heathcliff was Akihiko Kayaba. I decided to challenge him one last time and if I win, he frees the reaming 6,000 players. If I lose and die, he makes sure Asuna doesn't kill herself out of grief. As we battled, something happened that changed everything, a strange glitch that not only affected our battle and the game, but the other VRMMMRPG that was made during the two years. Because of the strange glitch, our journey to clear the 100 floors continued, with help of course. My sister, or rather cousin Suguha had entered SAO, as her Alfheim Online avatar Leafa and Shino, who goes by her Game name, Sinon. Not only them, but a Orange player Philla and another A.I like Yui, Strea. Together as well saving Phillia, our battle through the remaining twenty-five floors as my relationship with my cousin and my new friends grows. Together we beat Heathcliff and finally escape SAO.

It wasn't long that Leafa and all of us transferred to ALO and together went on clearing Svart Alfheim and making friends with more players, including someone I didn't expect to meet again after beating Heathcliff: Yuuki. Our quest to clear Svart Alfheim ended up getting into a battle with Seven, our new friend Rain's younger sister. Despite making more trouble than Kayaba would have done, we ended up with her as one of our friends.

Now it's the summer and with everything that has happened, it's just another new experience for me...

That is, until a encounter changed our lives and something of my past comes back...

"So, can you guys explain to me what you did?" spoke a young man as he stared at his friend as they looked back at him. His appearance was slighty normal, short black hair with several short bangs in the center of his forehead and brown eyes. What stood out was his pointy fairy like ears. His clothes were a black coat with a white fluffy collar and a a gray center. His pants and shoes were also black as he kept h his calm composure to the mess his usually mature friends have made. For Kazuto Kirigaya (or Kirito he likes to be called), he wanted to get to bottom of this. So he decided to meet up with them in Yggdrasil City to get some answers on the trouble they put themselves into.

"Okay, it looks bad but maybe it looks like it, Kirito-kun." spoke a girl on his left. She had long blue hair with two strands hanging over her clothes. She wore a blue and white uniform with a brown belt under her chest and blue boots. On her right index finger was a silver ring, which she held Kirito's hand to calm him down on the situation. Her name was Asuna Yuuki, or just Asuna in the game as she likes to be called, "Besides, Lizbeth and Silica were the ones who let us know the rumors spreading in ALO."

"We couldn't just let those rumors spread, I have some pride, you know." spoke up the pair before them, puffing a hand to her chest. She had matching pink hair, wearing a red and white dress and also had brown boots. Like her friends, her ears were pointy as well as a white hair clip. Her name was Rika Shinozaki or Lisbeth she's known as well as.

"Kirito-san, I told them it was a bad idea to react to them, even though I was in the rumord as well," spoke up another girl beside Lizbeth nervously. She was the youngest of them, with hair a light brown and tied into two tails by red ribbons, as well as two red ribbons and brown cat ears. Like her hair, her eyes were the same brown as her hair and ears. Her clothes were mostly blue with a silver breastplate, a blue robe of a similar design that exposed part of her shoulders, a short black skirt, fingerless red gloves, and black, asymmetrical shoes with long black socks. On her lap was a light blue small dragon with its blue body covered in soft, pale blue feathers and two long feathers instead of a tail. She patted the dragon on it's head, as it curled on her lap. Her name was Keiko Ayano, or Silica she is also called, "but I don't completely understand, what do they mean by our 'relationship with you'. Most players know Asuna-san and you are a couple."

"Maybe they assume we're in some polygamous relationship, like the books I read." spoke up the next girl in the group, looking up from a book on the table. She had blue hair that was tied in the front with matching blue ears. She wore a green coat with white chest armor, a black choker and a belted quiver across her shoulders. Her name was Shino Asada, or Sinon she's known in the game, "some of them are actually amusing."

"Which reminds me Sinon, those stories, why a lot of them been a bit on the racy side, what's up with that?" Kirito asked, looking to the Cait Sith girl.

"Who knows, just read them for fun." Sinon shrugged, turning a page.

"A story where some guy is dating three girls without any of them doing acts I really can't share with Yui, not something I think you read," Kirito said, pointing a finger at the one in question. She had long black hair and close to ten centimeters-tall and wearing a long, light-pink tube top dress with detached sleeves, pink anklets, and a blue flower in her hair. She was Yui, a former Counseling Program of Sword Art Online and a Navigation Pixie of Alfheim Online, "What if you were one of those girls?"

"I'm not that foolish to fall for someone like that." Sinon replied, looking back to her book.

"Well you read, you probably wouldn't fall for the guy if he was dress brightly," Asuna admitted, "but Kirito-kun, the rumors say that everyone, Strea, Philla, Yuuki, Rain, as well as Seven, are in some and I had to ask what it meant, Harem with you. Doesn't that bother you?"

"What's a harem, mama?" Yui asked kindly, only for Asuna to tap her softly on the head.

"I'll explain later," she replied before looking to her boyfriend, "but people think we're in a harem, that's why we reacted like that."

"By Pking ten people who spread the rumor, you guys are the last people to go blade runner on them," Kirito said crossing his arms on the table, "don't get me wrong, I don't like this idea that you guys are my harem. tThat's nuts, but promise me you guys won't go around attacking people over faceless rumors about our relationships?"

"No promises!" chimed in the girls, making Kirito realize it was fruitless with them. After everything they been through, he knows them just as much as they know him, so it was pointless to expect them to be calm about it. It was their pride as individuals to not be treated like they are some sort of romantic comedy where they gush over him, of course they be upset about it.

"I can't win with you girls sometimes." he sighed, shaking his head.

"That's why you like us, we keep from going off the deep end and distance yourself from others... we're your personal anchor." Lisbeth said winking her right eye.

"Wouldn't that mean we tie him down?" Silica asked, finding what her friend said to be flawed. Pina, her dragon, also agreed. Lisbeth sighed, putting a hand to her head.

"For once Silica, let me have this, please?" she groaned.

"Speaking of anchors, where's Lefaa-chan doing?"Asuna asked, remembering the Sylph and Kirito's little cousin wasn't in their chat.

"I think she's off on a quest for this item she saw for a question. A anklet that increase wind magic, she seems eager to get it."

"I see. By the way, just curious about this, but what rumors Leafa had?" he asked.

"Oh that you and Leafa were in a very intimate relationship with each other." and Sinon's words affected the black swordsman well. Yui was first to realize something stirring in her daddy, his heartbeat was beating fast and it look like he was screaming in his thoughts.

"Papa?" Yui asked sweetly.

"Kirito-kun, you okay?" Asuna asked, seeing the look on his face. Kirito nodded, before getting up from the table.

"Just take me to who spread that, if Leafa finds out... I think she'll do to them what Recon got for trying to ask her out." he said and Asuna cringed at the memory.

"Tell me about it... that poor boy, he just doesn't get it. But Leafa-chan is still young, maybe she'll find someone for her." Asuna said, getting up from the table.

"Now that would be interesting." Lizbeth agreed, getting up from the table as well followed by Silica and Sinon. Yui perched herself on Kirito's shoulder and followed after everyone. Of course what Asuna said did interest the former SAO players: Leafa finding love? That will be a tale...

Deep in the forest of Sylph Territory, someone what through the thick forest, a young woman was walking towards to her destination. Her appearance was much grown up, having bright green eyes and wearing green and white clothes resembling a coat with a brown belt. She had a white and green collar on her neck. She had long blond hair, tied up with a flower like hairband. Her hair bangs, however, are not tied up with her hair. On her white hipbone was a sword in a black sheath. Her name was Suguha Kirigaya, or Leafa she's known as in ALO.

"This should be the place the accessory should be," Leafa said before stopping to looking around, "Still, maybe I should have waited for for the others if they want to tag along. I'll be fine by myself... and now I'm talking to myself... Great." and continued walking on through the forest.

'From what I learned, the accessory should be in the center of this forest. Too bad my wings need to rest so I can't glide through the forest easily.' she thought, still keeping her pace to her destination. It felt quiet in the forest, no monsters have appeared so far to ambush her so far since coming to this deep in the her Races Territory, so this might be easy item to get today. Taking another chance to stop and check if she received any messages, hopefully none from her friend Recon asking her out on a date for the hundred time. She had to mute them for a reasons, times she wishes she could let him down gentley, but it's useless. But the fellow Sylph was doing things in Sylph Territory so he wasn't a bother to her now, even in the summer. So far it was clearing quests with Kirito's party since May so far, now it was their break from school, so hopefully things would be more fun. She remembered that Asuna wanted to take everyone to go swimming later on in the week, she flinched at the idea. She never learned to swim, not even in ALO. But it was so they all could have fun IRL, as well having Seven and Rain visit. Not just that, but Yuuki was allowed to leave the hospital for days at a time, so it meant she could come too. It was a good idea, but why did have to be a pool.?

Fortunately, no messages from Recon, but several from Sakuya wondering how she was doing, Philla and Strea wanting see where she was, and even Agil and Klien, the oldest of the group, wanting to see her progress. She let out a light chuckle, she was pleased to have many friends, most she met by chance because of being set into SAO and their adventures in ALO. Then again, all that she owes her cousin, him being trapped in SAO and her taking interest into VRMMORPGs wouldn't have scored her great friends. Asuna, Lizbeth, Silica, Sinon, even her brother and Yui were great people she got to know, of course thinking about them did wonder something. When she left town, most of the other players were eyeing oddly, she'll have to ask the others later on about it.

Finally, she made it to the center of the forest, seeing what look like a stone platform and on a pedestal was the wind anklet she was looking for. Emerald and gold, it's shine sparkled even the thick threes. Leafa's green eyes widen with delight, she actually found it. Running towards to the platform, the anklet in her line of vision. But before she could step onto it, she heard something rustling in the bushes. Stopping herself, she looked around. The rustling was getting closer, and from how it sounded, it wasn't small.

"Figures it wouldn't be easy." she told herself, taking her sword out her steath and stood readying herself for battle. She kept her back to the stone platform, hearing that the sounds were right in front of her. Keep her hands gripping her sword in hers, she kept a eye on her Health and Magic, both were full, so she doesn't have to worry. Suddenly, the mystery creature, finally revealed itself, charging itself towards her. It was a boar, the creature three times bigger than her. It's tusks white and longer than her own sword, and from how it looked, it was guarding the item. Leafa maneuvered out the way before she was hit, the boar crashing into the platform. Leafa skidded to a halt as the boar tried to recover from the impact. It was big, but look rather slow despite its charging. Seeing the three life bars in her sight, this was probably a boss.

"Well, it takes getting it easy much better." she said with a small smile on her face before running towards the boar. Her Sword glowed green as she made her first move. She got close to the boar and made her first hit, a horizontal swing from right to left. Her sword then bounces back, and after an instant of being held still at her left side, another horizontal swing from left to right followed. The force of the blow sent the Leafa body spinning clockwise, with the sword ending up at the her left flank and unleashing a third horizontal strike from left to right. She then finished with a forehand strike from the right, drawing a square of light that expand outward. The boar felt the attack stagger it, Leafa leaping back to see it try to move when were struck it. Large orange gashes already appeared from it's virtual body, even if it was a small attack, it enough to get it's attention.

"Now, let's see if slowing it more will help." she said, withdrawing her sword and holding out her hands. A sphere of words formed around her, and before her she saw her slow debuff being put on the boar. It's movements were mush sluggish, but still and danger if it got close. Leafa jumped away at the boar's slow charge, the creature not registering it can turn or stop. When it finally stopped, Leafa held out her hands out again, a sphere of words forming around her again, "Ek skýt tuttugu smár striða!" she chanted, conjuring twenty small, shining, emerald needles were fired from the fingertips of her stretched out hand. The needles strike hard at the boar, taking fifty percent of it's health down. It was down to two bars now, the orange gashes all lover it.

"Alright, This might be easy!" she said delighted, taking her sword out again. The boar then turned around, steam bellowing from its nostrils.

The Boar's body then started emitting a red aura, and before Leafa could move, the boar slammed it's feet to the ground, creating earth stalagmites that traveled its way towards her. Leafa tried to get away from the attack, but was caught off guard by the attack underneath her feet and sent her flying into the air. Even if wasn't real, the slight pain she felt was enough to take her off guard as she came down hard like a rock. A half a quarter of her heath was depleted, seeing the boar then charge at her, causing her to crash into a tress, taking her out of breath and her health dropping down fifty percent. Her back slid down the tree trunk, keeping one eye open to see the boar ready to charge again.

"Damn it!" she spat. That boar is going to wipe her out and she'll have to start all over back in her territory once her death penalty and start over in another re-spawn point. She closed her eyes shut, not ready to see herself lose by a monster like this. As she was ready to be hit, a voice called out towards her.

"Watch out!" the voice called out, and felt two hands scoop her off the ground. Leafa didn't feel the impact of the monster, but someone holding onto her. She opened her eyes slowly, thought for a moment it was Kirito, Klien, or Agil that saved her. Reedy to feel a little embarrassed at her cousin had have her, she opened her eyes to see someone new. From his appearance, he was Imp, his purple hair was cut short wearing a headband like something both Yuuki and Kelin wears. He wore a purple and black jacket like attire, his jacket tail reaching down his pants and having a brown belt on his waist. While she appeared in ALO as a young adult, his appearance was close to her age in ALO. Seeing his arms, they didn't look like they were as muscular, but she held her. The Imp put her down, looking at her with worry.

"You okay miss?" he asked. His voice was quite young, almost a middle school student. Even when she first met Kirito in Sword Art Oonline, she noticed by his hair, even if his voice was a bit different. Still fazed she was saved by the boy, she realized what was going on and stammered a little.

"Y-Y-Y-Yes?" she replied, feeling embarrassed she was saved so easily like a knight saving a princess, she know one person who might laugh at her for this situation. The Imp put a hand to her shoulder, smiling at her. It looked honest, not cheesy, or cocky, it felt like a genuine smile.

"That's good. Hold on, let me get this monster out the way. I was after this item too." he said, turning around to face the boar who was ready to charge again. From how the boy looked, he wasn't a noobie. He stood with a composure of any ALO veteran He took from his sheath a purple single handed sword, the blade looking thin and she could tell it was a Lizbeth made by the impressive craft. He held the blade at the ready and the blade glowing purple. For a moment, she say the Imp perform a Sword swill, but it wasn't one she seen before from anyone, even Kirito. Even the mist of the attack blocked the view of what was going on, but could hear the strikes of the blade to the boar. Then seeing the monster running away and escaped. What was that move, a Original Sword Skill? When the mist cleared, she saw the Imp sheath his sword and look back to her.

"There, it shouldn't come back, it'll probably regenerate it's health the next time anyone comes looking for a item," The imp explained, talking to her. He opened his mend to took something out, Leafa seeing it was a heal potion, "Here, to recover. Give me a second to get that Anklet." and walked away up the stone platform to grab the wind anklet. As it was the reward for 'beating' the boss, the 'Congratulations' menu appeared, allowing the Imp to take it. He made it back to look at her, seeing she wasn't using the potion.

"Aren't you gonna use that?" he asked curiously, startling Leafa again from her zooming out.

"R-right!" she said, opening the potion and drank, seeing her heath points go back to full. She looked at the boy and tried to smile, but felt embarrassed to be saved like a rookie, "Thank you, I probably be a remain light now."

"No problem miss." he said still holding the anklet in his hands.

"It's Leafa actually." she replied, didn't wanted to feel old for being called miss.

"Leafa, what a nice name." he replied and Leafa smiled a little, he thought her name was nice? That's a first, maybe Recon but it was someone outside her friends giving her a complement. Before she could say anything, the Imp handled her the Anklet, shocking her. For a moment their hands touched, his over hers and her face lid up in surprise, "You can have it, you wanted this right?"

"Y-yes?" she replied at once, her face still red.

"Well, I have to get going. Maybe I'll see you around Leafa-san. Take care of yourself!" he smiled, letting go of Leafa's hands and took off, his purple wings appearing from behind his back as he flew off.

"Hey wait!" Leafa called back, but the Imp was out of sight and ear shot. Leafa stood there, hands still on the anklet and the boy who saved her already gone. Holding the anklet close to herself, she said smiling, "Thank you I guess."

"Thank goodness you got back, we worry you be re spawning somewhere!" was Lizbeth's first words when she turned up at a tavern in Swilvane sitting with Sinon and two more girls sitting with them. The first girl was A Spriggian, her black hair and eyes similar to Kirto's. She wore a blue coat and a black shirt with silver belt over it. Her name was Kotone Takemiya or Phillia she's know as in ALO.

The next girl was a bit older than her, A Gnome player. She had brown hair, which goes down to the base of her neck with two long strands on either side of her head which go down to the top of her breasts, red eyes, and pointy ears. She wore a lilac-color, strapless dress with a black piece of fabric going across the breasts and down to her stomach, below an intricate coat. The coat is made up of violet and plum shaded components, reaching as far down as the hem of her dress but also leaving some areas open which expose the dress below. Above that she wore a collar of the same violet of her coat, outlined in lavender with a red jewel securing the collar in place. It appears that the components that go over her detached black sleeves are connected to this collar. These components that go over the black sleeves appear to cover them completely except for at the wrist and hand where it joins to her finger. She wears plum stockings, which have, much like the rest of her outfit, whorls etched on. They go up under the dress and are connected by something triangular. Her name is Strea, a Mental Health Counselling Program» as well as Yui's self proclaimed older sister.

"It's not like you to get overwhelmed by a monster Leafa-chan, not like you. Are you okay?" Phillia asked, holding a cup of tea in her hands.

"A little shaken up, but..." she thought back to the Imp who saved, he seemed really nicee and remembered when heir hands touch. Her hand was still holding to the Anklet she gave him. Lucky for her, the Imp never fully claimed the Anklet so there wasn't a trade, but still wished she got his name at least.

"Hey, what's with that look?" Lizbeath asked, looking at her friend's sullen look.

"Nothing. It's just... Someone saved me and I was able to get this." she said and the three girls gasped, shocking her.

"What?!" the three girls gasped.

"You got saved, and it wasn't someone like Kirito?! Unreal!" Lizbeath gasped and Leafa pouted to the pink haired Leprechaun.

"What's that suppose to mean, Rika?" Leafa said, referring to the girl by her IRL name.

"Come on, we all know you like him, if you know what I mean." Lisbeth jeered, jabbing her shoulder only for Leafa to stare at her with a dark stare.

"If we were in another universe, I steal your soul right now." she said darkly, the dark threat didn't scare her.

"Ohh scary," she mocked, "So, what about him? Do you like him?"

"I don't know," Leafa said, putting her hands to the table, "I just never got to learn his name. The fact he rescued me still a shock to me."

"What's he like?" Strea asked, "Maybe we can find him so you can thank him."

"He was a Imp race. Not really muscular, but looked more of my age if we met in IRL. He didn't look like he was super strong but he was quick enough to save me. His clothes weren't armor, but more like clothes you guys would wear. That's really it," Leafa said, before remembering something else that happened, "Oh, and he had a OSS that used darkness magic, I could tell by the mist."

"A Imp huh? Did he have a custom made sword by me?" Lisbeth asked.

"Yes, I could tell it was one of yours!" she said excitedly, remembering the sword that the Imp wield.

"I think I've seen him a lot when we transferred to ALO. He usually wanted to make a better sword than the ones he says he finds in dungeons," Lizbeth said, remembering all her customers' faces every day, "I think remember his name. It was Toshi?"

"Toshi, that's boy who saved me..." she said to herself, the image of Toshi's face appeared in her face, seeing his smiling face when a voice appeared behind her.

"Toshi, a name mostly used as a nickname," Leafa looked to see Sinon coming into their conversation and sat with them, "Bright, intelligent, probably why he named himself that, he might really smart."

"When did you come into our conversation Sinon?" Phillia asked, seeing the Cait Sith Archer had arrived in the tavern.

"After Liz decided to tease Kirito's cousin. Let's try to not do that, I'm sure he won't like that. But From how Toshi acted, he did that because he like you, was after that Anklet. But he saved you, he came off nice to you, I doubt he had any hidden motives." Sinon said, putting her hands to the table to lean in, "True be told, I worried you might be be liking a look-a-like Kirito, I worry about your health."

"I swear you guys just want me to react, cut it out." Leafa retorted, before looking to Lizbeth, "But is there a way to find Toshi?"

"Oh! Want to say thank your prince charming don't you?" Lizbeth jeered, smirking at her only for Leafa to stare daggers at the girl.

"I'm not Asuna, keep it up and you'll be flying out of here." she said darkly to her.

"You're looking for Toshi-kun?" a young girl's voice said, getting Leafa, Lizbeth, Philla, Strea, and Sinon's attention, seeing a familiar face walk up to them. She was a a slim Imp with milky white and a hint of purple skin, lustrous and gorgeous, long, purplish-black hair, and red eyes. She wore obsidian chest armor, a bluebottle violet tunic and a windswept skirt of the same color beneath the armor. Lastly, a thin, black sheath hung on her waist. Her name is Yuuki Konno or Yuuki as she's known in ALO.

"Yuuki-chan, you know him?" Phillia asked seeing the young Imp coming to them.

"Well, he's in my territory. We talk from time to time, he's a nice guy. And he's been around in ALO as long as me. He just doesn't go around in guilds or as a solo player as much."

"So he's in the middle ground as a player? We probably never saw him in Svart Alfheim and we been busy before the start of the summer with clearing New Aincrad to not spot him. If I had to guess, he has to be pretty decent guy, even to develop a OSS like what Leafa said about." Sinon said looking to everyone.

"So Yuuki, umm can you ask if we can meet up tomorrow?" Leafa asked, smiling to the Imp, "I want to thank him for saving me earlier."

"She just wants to thank her future boyfriend after all." Lizbeth said still egging Leafa on, and Leafa sighed deeply looking down, closing her eyes.

It wasn't long that everyone saw a girl flying out of the tavern, screaming as she was gone out of Swilvane. Inside the tavern, Leafa held her sword in her hands, putting it back in her sheath and dust her hands off of dealing with Lizbeth. Sinon, Strea, and Philla baffled that it was going to happen. Sinon only just smiled at the end, knowing full well that burning the hornet's nest wasn't going to end well for the Blacksmith.

"I had a feeling that's gonna happen." Sinon said shaking her head at her friend's teasing.

"More like only when, she had it coming." Phillia corrected to the Cah Sith.

"Anyway," Leafa said looking back to Yuuki keeping calm after Lizbeth frequency teasing, "Talk to Toshi-kun and tell him to meet us here tomorrow, I want to thank him personally."

"You got it, later!" Yuuki waved, passing players and NPCs who were surprised by the hole in the tavern (the NPCs not at all fazed). Leafa sat back sit with the girls,talking audibly about things while they still had time. Still Leafa was still eager to meet Toshi once again. What kind of person was he, was he a nice guy? She couldn't wait, of course, there was a problem... Her brother.

"Leafa-san wants to see me?" The Imp Toshi was sitting with Yuuki in Imp Territory, the girl relaying that Leafa wanted to meet her again.

"Yeah, she wants to see you for saving her, she seems really interested to see you again." Yuuki explained, the two Imps still together in a the tavern.

"Really, she wants to see me?" he asked, surprised the Sylph wants to see him again so soon. Toshi looked from Yuuki and to the bar, "Yuuki-chan, you know Leafa very well, wants she like?"

"Well I know her from clearing Svart Alfheim together with her and a bunch of friends. She's very dedicated and head strong, very kind and nice to all of us. Her brother, no should be more accurate, cousin was a well known SAO player who saved all those trapped players awhile ago." Yuuki explained, and hearing more about Leafa interest Toshi more, " She is just as much of veteran as you and I, oh course Have fought her in a duel before. She's good."

"I see. Um, you mention he's a SAO player right? Kirito, the Spriggian Black Swordsman?" he asked.

"The very same!" Yuuki said excitedly.

"Whoa, that's unreal," Toshi said amazed before seeing the time in his sight, "Crap, it's getting late, I should get to bed soon."

"Oh, you get to log out?" she asked.

"Yeah, I should check if sis is back too, so I'll see you tomorrow. We're meeting in Sylph territory to meet Leafa-san correct?" he asked, opening his menu to look for the log out button.

"Yes, do you have a time I relay her?" Yuuki asked to him curiously.

"Is 8 am fine?" he asked her, hoping this wasn't getting in the way of anything.

"Sure, you know me, I usually be fighting monsters, but I have time to hang with you." she replied to him, "Oh course in two more weeks, I'll finally be discharged from the hospital after such a long time, I'm actually really nervous about it. But Asuna said if it's not a problem about us going somewhere before I return to the hospital for any last time check ups. Actually, you are very close to me and Asuna's hometown IRL, why not we try to have a possible meet up in town, I'm sure it'll be fun."

"I'll think about it, take care Yuuki-chan!" Toshi and brought up the log out, and pressed okay., blue light formed around his vision as Yuuki and everything vanished in the light.

Toshi opened his eyes as the AmuSphere booted down and saw the ceiling of a room before him. He got up from the bed, feeling his body ache a like from being dived in ALO for a long time. He felt for a button to turn the lights off, seeing around a shelf before touching the lights button. The light turned brightening up the room and showing the real life version of Toshi in full view.

His appearance was a mid height middle school student, his brown hair (while bed ridden) was cut short, his bangs to his chin and matching brown eyes. His attire was a pair of shorts and a brown shirt, a symbol of a half yellow mascot character printed on his shirt with several ghost on him. His feet were rather bare, no socks on his feet as he finally got up from his bed and stepped out his room. On the front of the door, the name 'Toshiyuki Honda' was written in black marker and on a hand crafted sign. He stepped quietly though the hallway, coming towards another with the same wood sign as his room, reading the name 'Iroha Honda' on it. He knocked on the door to call for the room's occupant.

"Hey Iroha, you back?" he called from within the room, He sighed, hearing she wasn't back yet, "Guess not, I best get dinner ready, everyone will be home soon." before walking downstairs to the first floor to make dinner for his sister and family.

Suguha had left ALO after talking with her friends and walked for her cousin Kazuto to be back as well. Of course he could be with Asuna at the time, and probably enjoying themselves. She did get a message from him saying he'll be out soon, so they'll make dinner. She sat in the dinner, her usual attire of a jacket and shorts, waiting for him. It was around 7:30 pm and the black haired teen came downstairs, Suguha happy to see him and tell him everything.

"Good, you made it, there's something I wanted to talk about Kazuto." Suguha said, seeing her brother take his seat across from her.

"Sure, and a bit of a warning, there rumors spreading about me and a harem, please disrecard those for a few days." Kazuto explained, looking like he was exhausted the whole day.

"Harem, is Rika at it again. I swear I should have knocked some sense into her." Suguha mumbled darkly.

"Now that you mention it, Rika said she a slight headache after logging out, but enough about that, how your little quest go?" he asked, wondering if Rika's headache and Suguha were connected in any way.

Suguha went into detail what happened while looking for that Anklet, how she fought a boar that seem it guards any items that spawn in the area. She had the upper hand until it did something that reminded her of the bosses' auras months ago when they tackled Svart Alfheim. Before She was beaten, someone saved her, a Imp named Toshi. Toshi displayed skill as good as the SAO and ALO players, including his own OSS. When he caused the Boar to run off, he gave her the Anklet, saying he was after it but decided to give it to her and left. Suguha told her story as Kazuto cooked dinner for themselves and their aunt/adopted mom. When Suguha was done explaining the story, dinner was done and the two cousins sat back at the dinner table.

"I see, a original sword skill?" Kuzuto repeated, the story very interesting (minus his very skilled sister being saved by someone, so out of character of her), "Did you see how my hits it was?"

"Not really, I think he combined dark magic with his sword skill, so I couldn't see his hits." Suguha explained talking a bite of her food.

"And he saved you, he didn't say anything that came like a white knight, playboy, or rude?" he asked, trying to get all the bases of this mystery player who saved his cousin.

"Not really, very normal, just got me out a jam I didn't expect, I mean it's not like he wasn't some white knight guy or anything. He had a he's just like me, normal side to him." Suguha explained, thinking back to how Toshi acted.

"And based on what you're saying, you want to see him again to thank you?" he asked and she nodded. Even from how his said this story, this Toshi character seems like a okay player, but there was something about this that felt too convenient. Two players just happen to go after the same item, he really hope it's nothing like Shino's stories or he'll have emotionally scarred sister on the light. He'll have to break to her hat it's dangerous to meet someone you barely know, and what if she falls for him? He wasn't dense, he's very aware of her feels as well his comrades, if this is just a replacement to get over him but still falling for the same person, he better try to stop before it turns into a crazy plot that Shino would love, "Sugu, I care about you and I get you're indebted to this guy, but you realize that you don't now him in the real world, what if it's some old guy or worse, might invite you for 'certain activities'? I would hate myself if my friends and my own cousin got involved in matters I couldn't stop."

"Kazuto, he saved me, why could go and help another player, despicably a different race?" Suguha asked, trying to convince him to let her.

"A hidden motive to try to get to yo.? For all you know, someone knows you as Leafa and trying to get at you." Kazuto countered, trying to stir her sister from meeting some total stranger.

'I don't think Kazuto is going to let me see Toshi so easily, he really thinks he's bad person,' she thought, remembering the smiling face of the Imp, 'okay, normal means won't break him, guess there's only one option to break Kazuto,' and got up from her seat and walked over to Kazuto, standing over the black haired player. Kazuto looked up at her confused on what's she's going to say before, grabbing her hands from underneath the table and held up up to her front and looked at Kazuto with a expression that surprised him, not only that, but the next thing she said.

"Pretty please big brother?" she said sweetly, her dark gray eyes almost sparking wide at him. Kazuto flinched, seeing Suguha like this wasn't what he expected. He sighed, she really wants to see this player, it would break her heart if he say no again.

"If I go along with you to make sure things are okay, then sure I'll let you meet Toshi." he said, Suguha's face getting closer to his face, startling him.

"Really, you will?!" she exclaimed excitedly.

"Yes, if it means so much to you, then I'll allowed it." he replied, really shocked oh his kind of personal space Suguha had on her. It was strange then her chest on his head once in ALO, here she's up close and personal. Kazuto was then brought into a hug that even shocked him.

"Thank you Kazuto, You won't regret it I promise!" she exclaimed delightedly, Kazuto could only only chuckled (and be suffocated by her chest) that she was happy about this.

'Still, I just cave in to my sister... Oh they are going to be laughing about this.' he thought, but rather just enjoy this, or wonder why Suguha isn't realizing. 'Just let her have this, she's happy.'

"Thanks for the food!" was the voice of a woman as Toshiyuki walked upstairs to his room to get ready for bed. Grabbing pajamas and undergarments from his dresser, he looked to several pictures on his dresser: pictures of students from his school, a girl looking like him holding him in a bear hug, and picture of him with a girl a bit taller than him. His face turned sullen, looking at her made him feel sad. He sighed, getting up from the floor and walked away from the room.

'Get it together, she's gone... you'll never see her again, time to get over it,' he said to himself, 'She's dead, died in Sword Art Online, you have get over her sooner or later,' and step into the bathroom and started his bath. As the water started to run, his thoughts went to the Sylph Leafa, seeing that girl's face and how he saved her, "Leafa... I can't wait to meet her again...' smiling to himself as the steam envelop the bathroom.

"Holy crap, you actually gave into her demands?!" Rika exclaimed, laughing as Kazuto only rolled his eyes as he heard her laughing. The group with in a video chat on their computers after the rest of them had logged out. Shino, Asuna, Keiko, and Kotone, were also in the voice chat as well, waiting for Keiko to calm down.

"Laugh it up Rika, laugh it up." Kazuto replied dryly, wishing she cut it out thinking this was funny.

"But it was nice of you do that for her, she seem really happy about it." Keiko said, the sounds of her cat Pina meowing in the background.

"Maybe a bit too easy, it's going just like my stories I sent you. Are we sure we can trust him?" Shino asked cautiously.

"Shino, Sugu's still a kid at best, she never..." Asuna tried to say, but trailed off in thought before speaking again, "Hey, this is a very out of the blue question, but can you actually...?"

"If you're asking if it's possible to do that in ALO like in SAO, then it's possible," Shino said, "If they made by the same system, yes you in fact could. Your bodies won't really feel it, but what you do in ALO may or may not reflect in real life. What I learned after all, I think people have wrote about it before."

"I don't get it, what do you mean Shino?" Keiko asked, being the youngest of the group, not understanding this mature disscussion.

"We're talking about if this Toshi boy isn't what it seems, what if they get intimate with each other." Shino explained and from how Keiko took it on her end, her face was beet red. The young girl was learning things she wasn't suppose to learn and it shocked her.

"No way Suguha-chan would ever do such a thing!" she shouted waving her arms.

"I mean there hasn't really anything like Shamrock going on, so maybe we should trust Toshi." Kotone said matter-of-fact.

"And if he's some pervert?" Asuna asked, "Suguha is practically my future sister in-law, I don't want my friend is some dangerous relationship."

"Don't forget, I used to be a orange player in Sword Art Online, yet you guys accepted me as a friend. I understand how it feels to not trust some new guy, but if he really was bad, he be after us or Asuna." Kotone said, everyone silent for a bit. It was true, yet Kirito saved her and accepted her as a friend. She wouldn't even be smiling it wasn't for them. Trust us not easy, they saw people changes in Sword Art Online, knowing trusting anyone isn't a smart move. They saw a married man kill his own wife to preserve him in his warped psyche.

"Kotome-chan..." Asuna said breathlessly.

"I agree with Kotome, it's wrong of us to judge character from someone we don't know. We're better than that. Let's give Toshi a chance tomorrow." Rika said, finally saying something worth while.

"We may have had two years in SAO, but if someone really is caring, we treat them as a good person. I might be the youngest, but I think Toshi-kun is a good person." Keiko chimed in.

"What about you Asuna?" Shino asked, waiting for the orange haired girl to reply.

"I'm still skeptically. If it's another trap like Akihiko or Seven, we should cautious of ourselves. I still feel he's hiding more about him. A player with a Original Sword Skill and a veteran ALO player like Yuuki, something's amiss." Asuna said, Kazuto feeling her tone wasn't trusting Toshi all to well.

"You don't want to feel betrayed or misled, don't you?" Shino asked. Asuna nodded, her face looking solemnly.

"Yes. Don't forget, I was close to Akihiko and don't forget I was almost married off by a man I don't even love. If this Toshi is another horrible person... I'll make them pay before they hurt people I love." Asuna replied, her tone darker than they ever heard her.

"Asuna-san..." Keiko said, realizing her words meant. She wouldn't care if they are in game or out, no one should be suffering like she had been.

"Can I change the topic for a little bit?" Shino asked, feeling the air in their chat was darker now. No complainants, so Shino added on, "I did some research on the families of the deceased players of SAO and learned a little more about them. Most of them actually lived around many of us."

"Was... her name on that report?" Kazuto asked, and Asuna and the girls all knew what he meant. There was someone Kirito couldn't save, and it still hurt him to this day.

"Yeah, looks like many of them had friends, families, even school friends who really missed them, a site even has a forum where the families and friends come to comfort each other about those who couldn't back then."

"That's good to hear, glad more people are supporting the deceased." Asuna said, her tone much more cheerful now.

"It is. Now onto Toahi, let's all give him a chance, even if we don't trust him. Okay?" Shino asked, eyeing everyone in the chat.

"Okay..." everyone but Asuna replied.

"Fine..." Asuna said halfheartedly.

"Okay. Trust me, it's better we trust him than hurt the feelings of someone innocent. Even if it's me we're talking about." Shino added.

"True, you would be the first, especially asking if you could do it in ALO." Asuna said, the mostly smarter one was being soft.

"Maybe it's just my reading, but I'm gong to put faith he's a good guy." Shino replied.

"Kazuto, you already said yes, you're going to trust him for Suguha's sake?" Kotone asked.

"If I don't, she'll be sad. Even if it was just a monster, this boy saved Sugu with no reason just to be helpful," Kazuto said, even if he felt like he couldn't trust him as much as Asuna did, "Suguha will never forgive me if I deny her this."

"You really are a good big brother, Kazuto-san!" Keiko said happily. Kazuto blushed deeply, she didn't have to say that.

"He's a good brother when he needs to be." Rika admitted, making Kazuto scowl at the screen.

"I had my reasons, give me a break you know." he groaned.

"If you're finished picking on Kazuto..." Shino said to which Rika replied with a, "Never!" she continued on, adjusting her glasses on her end, "Asuna, you should go along with them. Yuuki told you the time to meet, so it's best you go and represent us if he's a bad person."

"And we'll come running if it's a problem, plus Yui is there, no way anyone can lie in front of her. She can tell if he's words are true." Kotone said.

"Got it, well time to get to bed before mom comes in. Gives me permission but still thinks I'm up all night." Asuna said, sighing to herself.

"Well you are a well bred girl you know." Rika said, chuckling a little.

"Yeah, yeah, night guys, Kirito-kun." and Asuna had left their chat.

"Same, night everyone." Shino said and left the chat as well.

"Same, we'll meet in ALO and be on stand by if it gets hairy. We got your back for Suguha!" exclaimed Rika.

"Thank you guys, night!" Kazuto said left the chat along with everyone. Kazuto wheeled on his computer seat and took a step out his room towards Suguha's, his sister's door wide open. He saw she was in a chat as well, talking what sounds like Sakuya of the Sylph territory. She was talking to her about things, even if it was listening into their conversations. Then Toshi's name turn up and that perked his interest. From how Suguha talked about him, she was happy. She talked about meeting the player tomorrow morning and get to know him. From how hearing Sakuya say, she gave him the same warning of caution, but pleased to see more inter race friends his between the other races. Suguha still wasn't worried, she really felt like she could trust Toshi. She talked about the Original Sword Skill and asked if she's heard of it before. Sakuya replied that three's rumors of OSS that combines magic. It's not easy and it takes a long time to craft one. Her observation that he made to master it since Sword Skills was added, giving the range of late winter and the start of summer. Kazuto thought it be best to leave them be and returned to their room. Best he rest up himself, as there was a new player he was going to meet. Whether he's friend or foe is still up in the air. Kazuto lay on his bed looking up at his ceiling, his NerveGear not too far from his bed

A player with darkness magic and combines it with a Sword Skill, the Imp Toshi. It's not like I don't trust him, but his mystery does interest me. Even if Sugu couldn't tell, something about his skill and speed was of a someone who had to be play ALO since 2024, before we all escaped SAO. Even if he's not up there as Yuuki, he seems like a decent player. Rika says she's seen him at her shop getting a decent sword. He was even using one made by her. Yuuki says he's in the middle ground of a player, one that doesn't join guilds but isn't a solo player. Was he someone who just plays for fun?

That could be the case and he's harmless and not a bad person. But this situation feels too easy. A girl gets easily saved by another player? Sure I've helped Keiko and Rika respectfully, even Shino and Kotome, but those were just me doing what was right. Toshi could just be doing to charm Suguha to fall in love with him, then plan something that's going put her and everyone in danger. I still didn't trust him, but Sugu... She really feels indebted to him, more than she really is to any of us. For now I should put faith he's a good guy, but why do I feel uneasy. Asuna's words still were echoing my head:

"Don't forget, I was close to Akihiko and don't forget I was almost married off by a man I don't even love. If this Toshi is another horrible person... I'll make them pay before they hurt people I love..."

To be honest, she's not wrong. We don't want to be in a trap we can't stop. I know we all be through a lot, but trusting Toshi... Why can't I? Suguha is my family, I don't want the people I love to be hurt. Asuna's words rang true, I have to be careful...

Toshi... Are you a player with good intentions or evil? What was your reason to save Suguha? The item you were after is just a magic booster, nothing like rare weapons or accessories, why? I could feel my own consciousness fading, dreams of people harming my sister in ways I couldn't imagine. Even seeing her in acts I never want her to be in. I had to protect her, I don't want her heart to be broken by someone who saved her.

I can't let her suffer like all of us, I can't.

Kazuto woke up in the dead of night, seeing the light of his cellphone flashing with a message. It was from Asuna, looking like she had time to send a message. He tap his phone to see the message. It was short but he could tell his girlfriend's feeling:

Kirito-kun, do you really trust Toshi?

He replied immediately, No, but Suguha really sees him good.

Kazuto waited for her to replied, the next words felt more serious. I'll hurt him before he put one sleazy hand on her. I don't care if he saved her, you seem too friendly. Having falling for that is just what Sinon would see in her stories

Kazuto flinched, Asuna was more serious than in their group voice chat, Let's have Yui hear him out, if he's really bad, we'll make sure he doesn't see her again

Asuna next reply was more civilized than before, I don't like that we're using Yui as a lie detector, but it's for Suguha. Night Kirito. Love you.

Kazuto went back to sleep after replying to Asuna. Tomorrow, it was time to see just who is Toshi.

Next Time: Connections of a Death Game! Toshi's Story

Michael: my very first Sword Art Online story and probably the longest time I ever did a OC X Canon, I think it was way back in 2008-09, then stopped for reasons you can understand like things like My Immortal and the self insert community. But not going to go into detail why but explain everything.

Now you probably have question so I'm gonna break it down:

1. Where does this set? After Lost Song but before Hollow Realization but kind of in a AU universe before it.

2. Is Yuuki alive? Yes, play Lost song and it says her condition has improved over how she died in the anime and light novels.

3. You said you aren't one of ones who does OC x Canon, why? Preference, and just seem most as self inserts so you can tell why.

4. Where this idea come from? Cassandra Lee Morris at Anime Weekend Atlanta 2015. She really wanted to see Leafa get a love interest that isn't her brother, and finally two years later, decided to finally make my character.

5. Will this be M? No, it stays Teen, Toshi/Toshiyuki isn't that kind of guy and isn't gonna be intimate like that with Suguha/Leafa.

6. Will this story have the full cast? Yes, not gonna leave none of the supporting cast out the story, even Silica gets two chapters to shine. I don't want to just be their story they grow as a couple, but still have what you think of SAO especially the games: The quests/

7. What does Toshi/Toshiyuki mean? Probably not what you're gonna ask, but let me break down his name to understand his character a little. Toshi means 'Bright, intelligent' and Toshiyuki means 'Genius and happiness ', and Honda means 'honor field" but his first name says more than his last name, but of course you can tell he's not always happiness do you?

8. Who's the mystery girl he's sad over? Know your SAO lore, who's the one supporting cast that's important but died?

9. How many chapters? Twenty-five or thirty is my plan

That's really is, usually I really don't want to overbear my author's note and probably someone might just skim though all this. But hope I kept everyone mostly in character, I had a bit too much fun in the starter, hope it doesn't offend anyone. And sorry to Lizbeth fans, I guess I might made her too much of a teaser to the point Leafa sent her flying. And don't worry, I won't make Leafa helpless like that, that was just a one time thing. I wouldn't make a character weak just to make a OC look good, and even then Toshi only made the Boar go away, he never beat it, but don't worry Leafa will pay him back at the end. And that aura, in Sword Art Online: Lost Song, Bosses get dangerous when they glow, that's what happened. And yes Leafa is very, close to Kirito like in the games. yes? Yes, it's based on the game universe so you know Leafa either still cares for him strongly, or hasn't moved on completely. Then again, she was jealous in Lost Song during that quest. Take it what you will, as my approach of Leafa's personality, well she did send Lizbeth packing.

Now when do I feel having her tell people to go to sleep? (Voice actor in joke)

See you in the next chapter, don't expect updates so easily, ask around other series and they can tell you I'm a blue moon update because of situations.

Accepting OCs

I was mulling over adding more OCs, so I want to see for myself if I can trust this more than another community. Now here's the rules, pleease foloow these rules. You can send me OCs through the three chapters and my PM, and before I make these rules, remember that my diecsion is final and that's it, please understand."

1. Stay in style with the overall series, nothing out the series but you can reference it's sister series with name and callbacks, but it has to stay in the lore of the series you are writing: Sword Art Online and the VRMMO Alfhiem Online. If they had a SAO avatar, it has to be modified to fit ALO. So thier appearence must be the Fairy Avatars in the game.

2. Can't be overpowered, has to say equal footing with e canon characters, as I'm doing the battles, I don't want to write characters that seems Mary Suish than the canon characters people mock. People who don't like SAO and even treat Log Horizon better call Kirito OP and Mary Sue, so don't be that guy who is no different.

3. Age wise should be 14-18 in the Main Characters' age or adult of the supporting cast adult ages.

4. Keep Race and attack style minimal, so noting like anyone's unique skills. Kirito's Dual Weilding, the only eception if you euip a sub weapon like a second sword in your hands, but not Dual Wielding in general.

5. If related to my OC Toshi and Ironha, I need time to plan them into the my 25-30 chapter plan, so don't expect results off the bat. As of July, I haven't started Chapter four, currently working on my other stories right now won't add any new characters until I return to the story.

6. Effort and detail. I don't want any sloppy/Rushed OCs you made in just a minutes, give them days of planning than just expect me to submit them just because you make them bad ass and awesome. I' am sure you can make good developed characters, I have some faith in that.

7. Name has to have a meaning to their characters. Personality, a side of themselves, that shows you put time into their characters to show their characters through their names

8. No shipping with the canon cast. Only one Canon x OC couple, that's Leafa and Toshi because I still hate it and this is just going to the be the only series I do it. I know everyone loves Sinon, Yuuki, Philia, Rain, the list goes on, but no. And sorry, no OC for Klien, I'm afraid how thse go.

9. Same with 6, please make your character look not so generic, make them look a little unique or just stand out, meaning please saying more than jacket, pants, and shoes. tell us the style, how they make themselves noticable, see what I mean. Basically at least the character appeearence has to be 4 mor more lines long, this means both IRL and ALO Avatars, other things of clothes they wear, you get the picture.