Drifter rubbed his brow at the scene before him.
In the dinning room of the Reaver's Mansion, a little girl in a pink dress happily swung her feet as she sat on a chair that was three sizes too tall for her, relishing on a sandwich Asuna had made.
Meanwhile, the spearmaster himself, as well as the rest of his guild, surrounded her in a loose semicircle, none of them threatening in any manner, but undoubtedly ready to spring into action if it was necessary.
The contrast was startling, to say the least. Bur Drifter would err on the side of caution before lowering his guard around someone - who they still weren't sure if she was NPC or player - who could bypass all of the defenses in their manor.
At least Yui didn't look like she was hostile. Indeed, she didn't look like much of anything, other than a child.
A very lost child, at that.
"And you are sure you don't remember anything, Yui? How you got inside the house, for example?"
Again, the little girl tilted her head, an unfairly cute expression of deep thinking on her face, before she eventually shrugged.
"I just came in! It was open."
It most definitely wasn't, but Drifter could already tell this particular line of questioning would get them nowhere.
"Haa..."
He straightened, exhaling slowly through his nose, and shifted tactics. Pulling up a chair, Drifter sat across from Yui.
"Alright. Let's start with something easier. Do you have someone who might be missing you, Yui? Your parents, maybe?"
Now, Drifter was fairly certain Yui wasn't a player. She just didn't fit the mold, and her menu was unlike anything any of them had ever seen.
Plus, she was too young by half. If any child this young had been in SAO from the start - and it would have taken several miracles for her to survive this long - Argo and Sasha would have found her. The info-broker, at a request from the caretaker, had searched for all the children in Aincrad well over a year ago.
No, Yui wasn't a player. She was something else. An awakened NPC, like Kizmel, was Drifter's current best guess.
She could still have parents or family. Kizmel had a brother once, though she had been just lines of code back then.
But Yui, after scrunching up her brows in thought, shook her head again.
"I don't know."
And she seemed so sad about it too, for the first time something other than wide-eyed innocence showing on her face.
That did it. Asuna, the closest to Yui, shot a pleading glance over her shoulder to Drifter, and the spearmaster took a deep breath before nodding minutely.
The fencer lunged from her sitting position to kneel in front of Yui, pulling the girl into a hug. A hug which Yui, after a second of confusion, returned as if on autopilot.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Reavers relaxed. Their semicircle loosened, gaps opened. No more were they ready to either defend or attack at the drop of a hat, though any clearer would be quick to point out they hadn't stowed their weapons away.
"That's okay, Yui. That's okay. You are going to be fine."
Yuna was only half a step behind Asuna, though she halted when she saw how quickly Yui latched on to the fencer. Instead, she kneeled a bit to the side, gently running her fingers through Yui's hair and murmuring assurances.
Drifter and Kirito exchanged glances. Whatever sorts of motherly instincts Yui provoked on their wives, it was also having an effect on them. In fact, they had been feeling it since the start, though their surprise and caution overrode it at the time.
The lost girl just felt way too familiar to both of them. Like they had met her before.
Only they hadn't. Of that, the two Reavers had no doubt. So, why were they feeling the way they did?
It wasn't a question they would get an answer for anytime soon. And when they did, both spearmaster amd swordsman would feel like slapping themselves upside the head for not considering it sooner.
At this moment, however, they knew none of that. So while their guildmates sat down or got out foodstuffs and drinks for a late-night meal, the two friends dragged a couple of chairs closer to Yui.
Pulling Yuna onto his lap, Drifter circled her waist with his arms and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"What do you think?"
He felt her shrug against him. Like Drifter, her eyes never left the trio in front of them. Asuna and Yui were still hugging each other, though the fencer had now leaned back so she was resting against Kirito's legs, with Yui curled up in her embrace.
On her part, the young girl seemed content to just lay there. She wasn't crying or anything like that. In fact, her eyes, big and smart, were darting around the room, though they most often stopped on Asuna and Kirito.
"Do you remember how Kizmel came to become a player?"
"Of course. She was supposed to die according to the storyline. We didn't let that happen, and it confused the system to the point where it made her a player. You think that's what happened here?"
"Something like that. Though I would have expected Cardinal to patch it up so it couldn't happen again after Kiz."
After news of Kizmel's metamorphosis from NPC to player had spread, some people had attempted to replicate it - key word being 'attempted'. Nobody managed to repeat their feat, even when they 'broke' quests and plot like the Reavers had. Kizmel remained a unique case.
Until now. For all that Drifter agreed with Yuna that the Cardinal System should have repaired whatever loophole allowed NPCs to gain sentience, they had the living proof of the contrary in front of them.
The spearmaster exchanged another look with his vice-guild leader - the one who wasn't all wrapped up comforting a distressed child, that was.
Much like always, Drifter and Kirito were on the same page, and just a glance was enough for them to come to an agreement.
"I don't think we are going to get much more of Yui right now. She seems both tired and confused. Kiri, Asuna, would you take care of her tonight?"
He meant it in both meanings of the expression. To make sure that Yui was okay - and to keep an eye on her to confirm she wasn't a danger to anyone.
"Of course!"
Asuna didn't even look in his direction before agreeing, and Kirito rolled his eyes with a fond smile. That was the kind of decision they should have discussed with each other, but something about the way Asuna looked while holding Yui on her lap melted away any complaints he might have.
"Alright then, shows over, everybody. Go back to sleep. We'll learn more about Yui tomorrow."
The swordsman and fencer couple were the first to leave, Asuna still holding Yui. The rest of the Reavers watched until they disappeared before turning to stare at Drifter as one.
"You sure about this, boss?"
Even Yuuki, who was normally so boisterous and easy-going, had a peculiarly thoughtful expression on her face, with just the barest hints of worry. She trusted Kirito and Asuna, not to mention Drifter, but...
"They can take care of themselves. Plus, I very much doubt Yui's dangerous."
Liz raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"Is that optimism I hear? Are you sure you are good, Drifter? Should we have Pina give you a once-over?"
"Priiik!"
It was Drifter's turn to roll his eyes, even as he scratched Pina between the ears just as he knew she liked.
"Yes, I'm sound of mind, Liz. Despite how unsettling it is that Yui managed to break in, so to say, we are still in our home. Cardinal's made mistakes over the years, but it never let anyone get hurt inside a safe zone."
Liz and some others nodded, but more still raised bemused eyebrows.
"And?"
Drifter shot an exasperated glare at Griselda, but the sword-and-shield-user didn't buckle.
"C'mon, Drifter. You are one of the most paranoid people in Aincrad. It's already honestly shocking you haven't quarantined the girl, but to let her not just roam free, but to sleep with Kirito and Asuna? You never trusted Cardinal before, why start now?"
The spearmaster opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. That was the question, wasn't it? Finally, he just pursed his lips and shook his head.
"I don't now. Or rather, I'm not sure. It's just something... I don't feel like Yui's dangerous. Actually... It's the opposite. I feel... Close to her. I don't know why."
Reaver's Requiem stared at him, silent, for a full 10 seconds. Then they just took his words at their value and shrugged.
"Your instincts have rarely led us astray before, Drifter."
"Yup. We would be dead ten times over if it wasn't for you listening to your gut. If it says Yui is good, then she is good."
"Although, I guess there's someone who feels even closer to Yui than you do, hum?"
"Asuna really took to her, almost instantly, didn't she?"
From there, the discussion turned towards Asuna's surfacing motherly instincts, which, if the Reavers were to be honest, felt fitting. In their screwed up family dynamic, she had always been the responsible female figure.
"So, what were you and Yuna whispering back there, Drif? Came to a conclusion 'bout the girl?"
Agil dropped down next to him, slinging an arm over his neck, and Drifter was keenly aware of how, for all they were still chatting, everyone's attention was on him.
"She's another Kizmel. No offense, Kiz."
"There is none to be taken, Drifter. I felt much the same thing once she showed her menu to us."
The dark elf waved off his apologetic look with ease. Sure, the transition from NPC to player hadn't been easy to her, most of all the knowledge that she was - or used to be - nothing but bundles of data following a prearranged program. But she had made her peace with it, and thought her life was better than ever despite all the ups and downs.
"What about the loss of memory? Kizmel remembered everything."
"No clue. Maybe it got corrupted? Or maybe the circumstances were entirely different from Kiz, and only the end result was the same."
The others frowned, pensive.
"Maybe."
"I'm more worried about how she got in, to be honest. And how she watched us without any of us being able to find her. You and Kirito said you've been feeling eyes on you for days, Drifter. It can only be her."
Sinon fingered her bow in annoyance. She had the highest level of Searching in Sword Art Online. Not being able to find Yui wasn't only disconcerting, but a blow to her pride.
"Again, no clue. I'm hoping we find out more tomorrow."
The dubious looks he received were expression enough of what his guildmates felt about that possibility. Yui could barely remember her name.
The spearmaster shrugged, throwing off Agil's arm and looping his own around Yuna's waist, pulling her up.
"Whatever. If anyone wants to keep grinding their gears, that's up to you. We are going to bed. 'Night."
A chorus of 'good night' answered them, and Yuna allowed herself to be silently guided to their room. Once there, she sat on the edge of the bed, dragging Drifter down so he laid his head on her lap.
"What's eating you up, dummy? Beyond the obvious?"
Drifter shuffled, turning around and burrowing his head on her navel. His response was muffled, but she could still understand it.
"Is it stupid to say I'm jealous?"
"Jealous?"
"Hm. Kirito and I were the only two who could feel Yui watching us. That gotta mean she was focusing on us for some reason, no? And then..."
He trailed off, but Yuna hummed in sudden enlightenment. Lovingly running her fingers through his hair, she took her time composing her answer.
"It's a little stupid. But I'll admit, seeing Yui latch onto Asuna so quickly, I also felt a pinprick of envy. I could see myself in her position. Yui's pretty adorable."
Drifter snorted against her belly, then turned his head up so he could gaze into her eyes.
It was unknown how much time passed. Yuna lost herself in his gaze, in how much warmth and love there was in it.
Next thing she knew, their lips were separating, her breathing slightly haggard from the passionate kiss. Drifter's hand was still holding her neck from where he had pulled her down.
"When we leave Aincrad, everything will be a mess for some time. But one day-- One day very soon, I'll marry you properly. And then..."
He didn't manage to complete that thought before Yuna leaned down again.