Prolouge: Reiko Ryoutarou

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"With recent events, the government has come to the conclusion that all other games with the NerveGear as it's system shall not be used until all victims wake up-" I droned out the TV playing in the background, watching intently at my parents who sat on the other side of me along with a man wearing a suit and tie. My father's hands were folded together in his lap, hunched over as if in defeat while my mother couldn't meet my gaze, tears springing at the corner of her eyes. I was confused, not knowing what was happening or what was about to occur but one thing was certain, if could bring my mother to tears, then it wasn't anything good. I looked over at the mysterious man, trying to figure out what was running through his mind, worry was clear in his brown eyes but held nothing else, maybe sympathy? I couldn't tell entirely

"We have located the whereabouts to your older brother, Miss Ryoutarou." I felt my heart drop down to the pit of my stomach, gulping nervously as lump formed at the back of my throat

"He is among the many who is stuck inside the game Sword Art Online. He is currently stationed at Hagimeshita Hospital in Tokyo along with others who have unfortunately hold the same fate." He spoke calmly, a ringing sounding off in my ears at the now known whereabouts of my older brother, Tsuboi. Unlike myself, I just stared in shock, not breaking down or even asking questions, the idea of him being stuck in there should have been clearly evident but, we still held onto the hope that he just ran off away from the stress of living alone and his job, but, now we knew. He was a gamer stuck in a MMORPG that no one knew how to save him or anyone else from the game.

My brother and I were six years apart, him being 22 and me being 16 so there wasn't much we could bond about, not many likes or dislikes for the same things but there was one thing we both enjoyed doing together and bonded over, video games. But, unlike my brother who clearly entered the game on launch day, my parents bought the game the same time as a early birthday present and was going to give it to me when news broke out about the game being a death trap, many people already have their brains fried from dying in the game. Absolutely hell is all I can imagine going on inside the virtual reality based game. I shook out my thoughts, working myself up to finally speak

"Can we visit him?" He nodded before prodding forward, "I shall escort you all to the hospital where I will give you time to spend with him." My father nodded solemnly, carefully standing up along with my mother. I was still in a state of shock, trying to wrap my head over him being stuck inside a game that could literally kill him at any second if he wasn't careful. Dad wrapped his arm around my shoulders, leading me outside while Mom clung onto his other arm, doing her best to keep it together. Tsuboi... I hope you will survive for this, for Mom and Dad's sake.

Half an hour later through a tense car drive, the man that I have learned the name of as Mr. Kameya that was part of the task force in locating Kayaba, the one responsible for this whole mess and if possible, finding a way to saving all who was trapped without any means of death, we entered the hospital, going directly towards the receptionist's desk where a man sat in a swivel chair, typing furiously away at the computer

"Mr. Kameya, I see you have brought guests with you." He greeted Mr. Kameya, briefly taking his eyes off of the screen to gloss over my parents and I

"Indeed. Is Mr. Ryoutarou room, 543, opened for visitors?"

"Let me check..." It took a few minutes before he spoke again, nodding, "It's opened for visitors, they will just have to go through the usual paperwork before entering the room."

"Understood." Dad and Mr. Kameya agreed in sync unplanned. Dad was handed paperwork to sign and look through while Mom led me over to the waiting room to sit down, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief

"Reiko, when we go in there please... Try to be strong for him, okay?" I nodded with a small smile, not really comprehending what she told me fully from all of this happening so fast in such a short span of time

"Alright..." She kissed the side of my head, pulling me into a side hug softly. Once all of the paper work was signed and looked through, we headed to the elevator to the 5th floor. The soft elevator music did no means to calm me, mostly just annoyed me from hearing it so many times in the past

"When we arrive, no one shall touch anything electronic in the room, especially the NerveGear placed upon your son's head."

"Is he malnourished?" I couldn't help but ask, my voice coming out hoarse from not speaking much, "He is, but the staff are maintaining to keep all iron levels up and have also attached a feeding tube to try and at least get his glucose levels back up as well." Mr. Kameya told me without batting an eye, his voice firm and unwavering. He must have already gone through this many times, had to have, it wouldn't be surprising if my older brother wasn't the only one that lived alone with no means of others coming by to see them.

I looked up at Dad, remembering the fallout they both had when Tsuboi dropped out of University a few months prior to SAO's release. He was concerned for Tsuboi's future, thinking that if he didn't beg to be accepted back into the University, Tsuboi would become homeless. Tsuboi of course being the stubborn mule he is, didn't hold back and flat out told him that he hated school and could live without it. This didn't settle well and soon enough, I didn't hear from Tsuboi again for another month when he picked me up from school one day randomly. Both of my parent's worked as lawyers so they weren't home often and Tsuboi knew this so he used that to his advantage to spend time with me, of course by playing video games while my homework was left in the corner untouched.

Hard to believe this was happening, that Tsuboi was in the game, stuck with his life on a string. Any second, he could die in we wouldn't be be to do anything about it. The elevator dinged, snapping me out of my thoughts. watching the doors slide open revealing the 5th floor to us. We walked down the hall, maneuvering passed nurses and doctors hastily walking down the hall to get from Point A to Point B in a hurry with no time to waste. We rounded a corner, Tsuboi's hospital room coming into sight. Mr. Kameya stopped beside the door, clearing his throat

"Mr. and Mrs. Ryoutarou, I shall leave you and will come back to escort you back home when visiting hours are over."

"Yes." They both replied, Mr. Kameya turning to me

"Miss Ryoutarou, in two hours I will come by to speak with you privately."

"What for?" I asked him, tilting my head to the side

"I shall tell you when that time comes, now, go on and spend time with your relative. Please excuse me." He walked away, his footsteps intermingling with the other's on this floor. I sighed, deciding to not think about what he wanted with me in this moment, my attention has to be on my family and nothing else. Dad opened the door, letting Mom walk in first before following behind her. I took a deep breath, stepping into the hospital room.

To Be continued

Heyo! So, this will probably be my first 'successful' Sword Art Online FanFiction! I really got into the mood to write a new story because I am currently reading the original light novels because I am borrowing them from my neighbor (Thank you Carl, you the best.) which of course, whenever I rewatch/read a series I get ideas that lead to stories to stress to obsession. No regrets. Maybe, eh, maybe just a little but I need something to do on the side when I don't feel like updating any of my other stories XD. So, this story is left with no name or cover because I want you Sapphires to decide on a name and possible make a cover? Or, I can just do that if I get bored but hey! Never did that before when it comes to a story, letting the readers decide on a name and make a cover! Thank you all for reading and comment down below your suggestions of the name of this book and please let me know if you are going to make a cover for this book and send me a link to it from wherever you please, most preferably Tumblr if possible or Twitter or Deviantart... Just, let me know kay? XD. Thank you all again for reading and I will talk to you all later! -Golden


P.S Future Golden, I published this FanFiction FIRST over on my Quotev Account (www.Quotev.com/goldengurl109) and have already named and created the cover for this story. -Golden

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