9Author's Note: HI, everyone! Anyways, it's been 2 months (perhaps) since my last chapter. But anyway, this month will be a great one since there will new movies, new TV shows, and of course, the new Gaim Gaiden V-Cinema, which it will be release on April 22! And finally, I've watched Sword Art Online II dubbed and it was good, especially Michelle Ruff nailed Shino/Sinon. So, everything is good. Here's my new oneshot.
I never own Sword Art Online and Kamen Rider Gaim.
Chapter 7: Conversation Between Friends
(Yggdrassil Tower)
Minato Asada has done his job. A few hours later, he took care of the 'trespassers' out of the Helheim Forest. He keeps on walking along the corridors of the tower as he is pondered by his thoughts.
And of course, those 'trespassers' are none other than Kamen Riders Gaim and Aura, or more apparently, Kazuto 'Kirito' Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki. He and everyone else at Yggdrassil knew that the moment unwelcomed visitors enter the mysterious forest; it can also spell trouble for them.
But Minato, of course, is more than just a head of the R&D at Yggdrassil and just an overseer. He is also a skilled and capable fighter who was both respected and feared. And a man like him is fit for the job. For most people who are working at Yggdrassil, the ones who use Sengoku Drivers are considered as 'test subjects'. But for him, those who have the will to fight are the ones who are worthy to wield a thing like the Sengoku Driver.
Yet he can't help to be impressed on the couple. Kirito and Asuna are both competent fighters. And reason that they are both survivors. They are survivors from a death game; a death game in the form of Sword Art Online. And those two years of survival helped those two to become capable fighters of their own. Worthy to hold a Sengoku Driver. Worthy to bear the name "Kamen Rider". Or sort of.
He felt no remorse on hitting Asuna with a slash from his Musou Saber. He thought the orange-armored Rider would be hit by it, yet the one who took it is the raspberry-armored Rider. Yet he can't help but to admire the young man's dedication for the young woman, who is his beloved, a loyal samurai protecting his lord or lady; or simply put, a prince carrying his fallen fighting princess away from the battlefield.
Minato remained his stoic face.
"They're more than just kids. They fought very well, but they're kids nonetheless…"
He opened the door as he entered Ryoma Sengoku's lab. The ponytailed professor is still in his lab coat sitting on one of his desktop computers. Of course, he is still focused on his job: research and analysis. Not just on the Helheim Forest but researching Lockseeds and maintaining and improving the Sengoku Driver, one of his finest inventions.
Minato approached the professor. "I took care of the 'trespassers'."
"Good. The success on what we do is taking out some…. distractions." Ryoma said while typing on his computer. "Anyhow, this data is helpful for us." He stopped typing and turned to Minato while sitting on his revolving chair.
"I want to ask you something: aside from the data I gather from those two, what can say about them, from your personal experience?"
"They are kids who went astray, but I tell you: they're more than just kids."
That reply sparked Ryoma's curiosity.
"They fought very well. I've read about their profiles, but I never expected that those two are capable fighters."
"Hmph." Ryoma scoffed. He turned back to his desk and opened a file from his computer. He opened the file and shows the profiles of both Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki.
First, he looked on Asuna's profile. "Asuna Yuuki, eh? The daughter of Shouzou Yuuki and former CEO of RECT…. She was like a warrior queen back in SAO as the "Lightning Flash" and a sub-leader from a known guild. But after the SAO incident…" he stopped when the scientist narrowed his eyes.
"…She turned into a captive." Minato completed the sentence.
"In other words, she became a caged damsel in distress. In Alfheim, of course. That bastard Sugou…" Ryoma snarled.
Minato notices this. "Well, it seems that… you have a grudge against him."
"Well, if you ask me Minato, he's an embarrassment to scientists like me." Ryoma said.
"But you treat those SAO survivors as guinea pigs for our Sengoku Driver, is that it?" Minato retorted.
Ryoma scoffed. "If you ask me, Sugou wants to be a 'god' himself due to his research."
"And that is…?" Minato is curious.
"It's a means to control the brain. Not just that, but also their memories, feelings, emotions. And he intends to make a program based on it in order to sell it in other parts of the world. If you ask me, I never call it an innovation. I call it… pathetic."
Minato remained silent. Actually, the former R&D head of RECT, no matter how, let's say 'brilliant' he was, Sugou was nothing but a crazed lunatic. He also found out that not only he wants to marry Asuna Yuuki in order to take over RECT but to also own her, just like a doll. He was disgusted when he also found out that Sugou molested Asuna in front of Kirito inside ALO, according to the files he looked, that is. Yet Kirito defeated Sugou not just in the virtual world but also in real life, as the lunatic was taken by the authorities when the latter found about his scheme "Seems you're trying to say that you, Ryoma, are a better man than Sugou, is that it?" Minato tried to guess.
"Hmph. You can say that." Ryoma confidently replied. "By the way, what do you think the reason why we made the Sengoku Drivers?"
"Of course, the salvation of mankind… through Project Ark." he answered. So to say, there is a reason why there are Lockseeds…"
"And... Lockseeds came from the Helheim fruits that we pick up from the forest itself." Then he walked into a series of jars with a Helheim fruit each inside of it. "Unlike those things that I refer to as 'petty', these… are the key to humanity's future."
"I know, and I'm very dedicated to this project. And so are you." Minato noted.
"Actually, I am." Ryoma said, until he decided to move on to another topic then he chuckled He continued as he returned to his desk. "It seems I have gone too far with that Sugou nonsense, but I have to tell you: Asuna Yuuki is one of the most powerful players back in SAO and according to the data I received, she's more agile, graceful, and precise while transformed as a Kamen Rider. As of being worthy to bear the title of 'Lightning Flash' and 'Berserk Healer', she deserved to be a Kamen Rider. Interesting, isn't it?"
"Ok, then." Then Minato asked once again since he had a thought on his head. "How about Kazuto Kirigaya?"
"Oh, that?" Ryoma was astonished. "You mean Kirito, the so-called Black Swordsman?" Then he grinned "I'm sure you will love this." Then he started to browse on his desktop computer and looked at Kirito's profile. After looking on Kirito's profile, Ryoma opened a video of Kirito transformed as Gaim. The location is more like in the outskirts of Kawagoe as the orange samurai-themed Rider fought an Inves. "This Kazuto Kirigaya guy sure sparks my interest." Ryoma commented. "His days being the 'Black Swordsman' two years ago really helped him a lot. Including the fact about how he holds two swords. A modern-day samurai if you ask me."
Minato remained silent. Yes, he could be a modern-day samurai as Ryoma commented. But for Minato, he's the young man who saved his sister back in Gun Gale Online during the "Death Gun" incident. In his opinion, he believes that the young man was not only worthy of the title "Black Swordsman"; but also of the title "Kamen Rider" as well. Actually, he wanted to meet Kazuto in order to thank him for saving his sister, but of course, he had to do his job, as adults do.
Minato came up with another question. "Do think he will be a force to be reckoned with?"
"Perhaps." Ryoma answered. "As far as I can see it, he has potential, including his so-called 'princess'."
As he looked on his watch, Minato tells that it is time to go. As he tried to reach the door, he went to a halt as Ryoma called him up.
"Leaving now?"
"We know that we were both busy men." Minato said as he turned to his 'friend'. "I'm currently on schedule. Keep me on tabs for any progress, especially regarding our 'new project'."
"Indeed, I'll keep you posted." Ryoma smiled.
Minato nodded. "I'm leaving…"
As the R&D Head of Yggdrassil went out, Ryoma leaned on his seat as he sighed. Of course, he is exhausted. But that doesn't mean he hates his job or anything. Then he picked up something at his worktable. It's some sort of a blueprint of a new belt.
"This may be tiresome, but unlike some demented crook that is rotting in jail right now, I have one goal in mind: to have power. REAL power… and the forest itself, has that."
As Minato standing in front of the window of his office, thoughts are lingering on his mind as he foresees most of the landscape of Kawagoe City. He couldn't stop thinking of his encounter with Kirito and Asuna, especially about how they fought very well. He is really sure that they will be more powerful and more formidable in the days to come. Not to mention that they are also friends with his sister. Yet he believes that the two lovers wanted to protect humanity from the Inves, and so does he. But there is a difference and unfortunately, it's not a good one.
"I want to shake hands with you, Kirito, for saving my sister. But that will save it for later. If you two wanted to protect humanity, then I'll do it in my own way; since it's also my duty. That is want 'noblesse oblige' means."
It's the end of this chapter. BTW, read, review and continue read Spartan719's stories. Thanks, everyone!
