Chapter 33: Leafa's Lament

December 13, 2024

Floor 76: Arc Sophia

It was late at night. The shops were closing down, patrons were paying their final bills and heading home to enjoy a nice and quiet slumber. I, on the other hand, was exhausted. Dragging my sword along the ground of the city streets and my shield lowered to the point where one little bump would cause it to fall from my arms. People were looking at me with worry and raised eyebrows as to what I could've been doing to make me this tired. Well, if I had the energy to tell them I would say I was out in the labyrinths trying to find rare monsters to kill. With Lisbeth wanting to increase her smithing skills and Silica wanting to level herself up, I took it upon myself to gather materials for them both so they could accomplish their goals. One monster filled night later and here I was.

"I gotta love Sword Art Online for making me feel tired..."

I reached Agil's shop and made my way inside, slumped over and slowly walking towards the stairs that led to my room. Before I could reach it, however, I ran into someone. Knocking both me and them over along with any equipment I had. Rubbing my head in slight pain and gathering my gear, I took a look up to see who I ran into.

"Sorry about that... Leafa...?"

Leafa wasn't wearing her known battle attire. Instead, she was wearing a green tunic like nightgown. She slowly stood up and brushed herself off.

Leafa- No, I should be sorry! I didn't hurt you, did I? None of your equipment is damaged?

"Whoa, whoa... relax... if it's damaged, I'll just repair it... as for me, I'm fine. It was just a little bump. Besides, I'm more wondering why you are awake. It's late. Are you just having trouble sleeping?"

Leafa- Well, it's just... I'm nervous and excited, I guess. It's weird to spend the night inside a video game.

"Right... considering where you came from, I guess it never even crossed your mind huh?"

Leafa- Yea... but I guess people like you, Ashtry, Asuna and my brother have been here in this world for such a long time now. It interests me just how different you are from the people I play with in ALO."

"How so?"

Leafa- Well, it just feels like you all live here. At the very least it feels like you guys have been here for your entire lives. Maybe this is what it's like when you can't log out.

"I understand what you mean. I guess, ultimately, my father completed what he set out to do. In a sense, this place is full of life. One could even call it a type of reality. I mean, most of us excluding you and Sinon have been here for two years."

Leafa- Right. Asuna is the "Lightning Flash", Kirito is the "Black Swordsman", Ashtry is the "Red Hunter" and you... you are the "Dark Prince", the leader of the Aincrad Assault Army and one of, if not, the strongest warrior. I wouldn't expect nothing less from my idol!

"There's nothing to praise me for... at the end, I still helped build this game. I shouldn't be your idol. Plus, most of those titles don't fit me in my opinion."

Leafa- Oh, I think it does! I just hope I get to see you in action one day!

"Well, if you ever decide that you've finally got the feel for the game and want to join us for boss raids, you'll see then."

We stood in silence for a moment until I remembered something I overheard Kirito tell Silica back at the Floor of Memories.

"Hey, your brother says you take kendo lessons. Are you still doing it?"

Leafa- I sure am! I might not look like it, but last year I was in the top eight in the country! I even got a high school scholarship off the back of it!

"That's no small feat. I'm impressed that you are able to enter high school with a scholarship like that. Must have been hard work."

Leafa- And I plan on pushing myself forward until I'm the number one kendo master! Just you wait!

I chuckle as we both started walking the halls, tired of staying in one place. We stayed quiet for a few more second before I raised my voice again.

"So... how are things over there? In the real world?"

Leafa- Well, Sword Art Online is still on the news all the time. Scientists keep trying to analyze the NerveGear to find a way to remove it without casualties, but no one has been successful yet.

"Knowing how me and my father built the thing, it's safe to say they won't find a solution. Which means that players really do die, why wouldn't they?"

Leafa- Oh... uh, yea... I guess you don't get the chance to hear about that type of stuff in the game, huh?

"We don't... I was just holding on to some false hope that this was all a dream... that I would be able to meet the people who had died in here once more..."

Leafa- Kazzu...

"No, it's ok. Nothing to worry about. How's your family, aside from Kirito?"

Leafa- Well my mom is busy at work, but she always found time to come over to the hospital and say hi to Kirito.

"She must've been really worried about him..."

Leafa- Well, yea! Both of us have been worried sick about him! I mean... we can see him and talk to him but... he's not really there. That's why coming here and being able to speak to him feels like a dream!

"I wish you two weren't talking inside Sword Art Online. I wish this wasn't our reality..."

Leafa- I know you do...

"It was actually quite a shock to meet you and Sinon here, in this world. It's a nice shock, mind you. But I still feel really angry that you both had to get involved in all of this. You sure you have no idea how you ended up here?"

Leafa- All I know is that I was playing a different game, then all of a sudden, I ended up here...

"If you wandered in here from another game, I gotta wonder what else my father had planned. What if lots of people have wandered here like you two by mistake and have ended up dying?"

Leafa- Would he really do something like that?

"I want to say yes but I just can't see my father doing that type of thing. It wouldn't surprise me considering he's taken all of these hostages, but distorting his "perfect world"? I don't think that was caused by him."

Leafa stayed quiet as she looked down at the ground, nervous out of nowhere.

"Leafa... you would tell me if you knew anything, right?"

Leafa tried to say something, but my gaze pierced right through her. She let out a shaky sigh and fiddled with her thumbs.

Leafa- I guess I can't hide things from you. This avatar really is from ALO... but I didn't end up here by accident. I used a NerveGear. A friend managed to get ahold of one for me and... I used it to log into SAO...

I looked at her with a shocked expression. Any energy that had left my body was instantly drawn back by my surprise.

"Why in the hell would you do that!? This world isn't just a game, you know!? Everyone here is fighting for their lives. Thousands have died already! This isn't somewhere you can just wander into because you feel curious!"

Leafa- I came in here so I could see my brother! I've been so sad... I cried so much... watching him lie there on the hospital bed. All the Sword Art Online players in the other rooms died off one by one. I thought he would be next. Every time I opened the door to his room, I was scared he'd be...

"Leafa..."

Leafa- We're family! It's natural for me and him to be together. But I couldn't do anything for him! I just sat there, looking at him and worrying. Could YOU put up with that?

"I suppose I couldn't... I don't have any other family aside from my father so I wouldn't know how it felt..."

Leafa- That's why I joined Sword Art Online. I wanted to talk to him. I wanted to help you and him.

Leafa held a few tears back as she gave off a hiccup, fighting back the sadness building up in her.

Leafa- I didn't want to lose my brother again...

"Leafa..."

I moved up to her and pulled her into a warm embrace. Her eyes widening as I held her there.

"I'm sorry. You must have been so worried."

Leafa- I was but... me, you and Kazuto are going to stick together now, aren't we?

"Yes."

Leafa- You two won't leave me to go off by yourselves?

"Not if I can help it."

Leafa- I'm sorry... I know it's kind of selfish to ask things like this... but... could you stay with me tonight? I know you would rather be in bed with your family but... I don't want to disturb Kirito since he's already asleep...

"Are you this spoiled in the real world too?"

I chuckle as she started punching my chest in embarrassment.

Leafa- No, I am not! Back in the real world I'm totally grown up, I promise!

"I bet you are. To answer your request, yes. I'll stay with you tonight. Once you're knocked out, I'll join my family back in my room. Deal?"

Leafa- Deal...

We pull away from the hug and enter Leafa's room, which was nice and decorated with fairy type decor.

Where the hell did she find this in Sword Art? This stuff looks cool.

We both laid down on the bed and covered ourselves in the blankets. I removed my armor and replaced it with my casual clothes as I got comfortable. She did the same as her green tunic like pajamas disappeared, leaving only her undergarments. I made sure to look away as she climbed into bed.

Leafa- Kazzu, from tomorrow onwards, I'm going to do whatever I can to help you and my brother. I'm not here to watch. I'm here to support you.

"I can't wait to see what you are made of Leafa..."

Leafa noticed that I was almost off of the bed and looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

Leafa- You have enough room over there Kazu? You can move over here if you want.

She patted an area of the bed closer to her. Seeing nothing wrong with the motion, I scooted a bit closer. As I did, Leafa started to slightly blush, which I noticed.

"What?"

Leafa- Whoa... ok...

"You said I could move over, right?"

Leafa- Sorry, it just scared me. I've never had a guy this close to me before.

"Well normally people like us would sleep in separate beds."

Leafa- Well, I did ask you to share the bed with me...

"Yea..."

We stayed quiet for the third time tonight. This time, she was the one who broke the silence.

Leafa- Are you ok Kazzu?

"Yea... it's just..."

Leafa- Hm?

"I'm sorry..."

Leafa- Huh? What's with this all of a sudden?

"You wouldn't actually have gotten involved with Sword Art Online, would you? You wouldn't have exposed yourself to danger, you wouldn't have had to fight in this hell. But you got wrapped up in this mess because I couldn't stop my father from executing the Death Game protocol and no matter how much I apologize; I can't do anything about it."

Leafa- Kazzu, that's not your fault. You don't have to apologize for that.

"Just so you know, I'm prepared to protect you, no matter what. Kirito has told me that you have taken a bit of damage out on the field and, honestly, every time I hear that, I feel scared."

Leafa- I feel the same way about you and Kirito. Out in the real world, your bodies are getting thinner and thinner. I couldn't do anything but watch. It was sad and terrifying. Every day, I wondered if you were here protecting my brother and, if you were, I worried about what would happen if you both died like that, and I never got to see my brother and never had the chance to meet you in person.

"Leafa..."

Leafa- Now that I've come here and seen that you both are ok, most of those worries have gone away. I don't regret coming here... not one bit. Since I'm here, I can help you two out and we can all go back to the real world together, right?

"Is that what you want?"

Leafa- Even though what you said was really sweet Kazzu... I didn't come here so I could be protected. I came here to fight alongside you all, as Leafa.

"You are something else, you know that? Inspiring, actually. If you aren't going to back down, I'd better step up."

We both shared a laugh as we just looked into each other's eyes, both with their own fires heating inside them.

"Can't sleep now, huh?"

Leafa- No...

She suddenly got nervous as she held her hands close together.

Leafa- Kazzu?

"Hm?"

Leafa- Can I come closer...?

"Sure..."

A huge smile appeared on her face as she scooted right up to my face and smiled. I blushed slightly at the gesture.

I thought she would scoot maybe an inch closer... this is... a bit too close...

I played it off as a joke to hide my noticeable blush.

"Hey now, you're pretty much using my arm as a pillow if you come this close."

Leafa- Oh! I'm sorry... am I not allowed to? Will your arm get tingly?

"I was just teasing you Leafa, but don't you think you're a little too close?"

Leafa's face started heating up intensely as she moved her head slightly and out of my view.

Leafa- I think I can relax in your arms. I'll be able to sleep well and not have any bad dreams.

"I did say I would leave when you fell asleep..."

Leafa- I know, just... promise you'll wait until then, ok?

"You have my word..."

After a few minutes of just staring into each other's eyes, she slowly started to nod off to sleep. I smiled and moved a small piece of her hair behind her head, earning a small purr from the sylph. I smiled and slowly got up, proceeding to the door and opening it. Taking one more look at Leafa, I smiled as I walked out and went towards my room.

"I promise to reunite you and your family in the real-world Leafa... even if it means I have to sacrifice myself to do it..."