"What are we even doing out here" Kirito said, boredom evident in his voice "well, if you must know, we're looking for a high powered boss that drops a gnarly sniper" the L115A3 AWM Sinon though to herself "it's said to have been used to get the longest sniper kill ever recorded, its also said that..." Kirito just looked at her, he loved the way she trailed off about something she was interested in, it was one of his favourite quality's about her, he shook the thought away no, she doesn't like me like that.

Sinon had heard a rumour that somewhere out in the far north-east portion of the map, past a huge wall, there was a cave that lead to a boss room housing the famous rifle, when she received the tip she was bursting with excitement, her source also told her that it was one of the only guns in the game that had exchangeable attachments, she could already see herself carrying that beast of a weapon with silencer and an insane scope allowing her to shot farther than ever before, she tried to hold onto that dream for as long as she could.

"Hey what the heck is that?" Kirito's question shaking Sinon from her thoughts "what's what?" She replied "that" he said pointing to the large polygonal wall that seemed to be blocking their path "God damn it, got my hopes up and everything, stupid info brokers" Sinon cursed as she began walking away "hang on, it looks like there's something behind- Woah!" Kirito had reached out and was sucked through the wall.

Sinon turned to see her companion dragged through what she thought was the outer barrier wall, it turns out that it was the map from the third BoB tournament "hey how'd you get in there, it wont let me pass" Sinon exclaimed bashing her fist against the wall, but, through some kind of miracle Kirito reached his hand through the barrier and pulled Sinon through "wow thanks, how did you-" Kirito cut her off "i think it might have recognised me as some kind of admin or something" Kirito thought back to when he logged into Kayaba's GM account to save asuna from her Alfheim prison, Asuna he thought.

Not to long ago, Kazuto and Asuna had separated, she explained that the spark she felt from their time in SAO had diminished and she requested that the remain friends, at first Kazuto was furious, An almost 3 year long relation ship, wether it be virtual or real, washed down the drain in an instant? But the more he thought the more it made sense, Asuna wasn't in love with Kazuto, she was in love with Kirito.

"This brings back some memories doesn't it Kirito?" He blushed, the memory of their time in the cave during the BoB finals drifted into his mind "it sure does"

Sinon noticed his blush why is that idiot blushing, he doesn't like me does he? Of course he doesn't you idiot why would he? She pushed the thought of them being a couple to the back of her mind, she had to focus on the task at hand, her new sniper.

Kirito stopped "do you think this cave you mentioned could be like one of the ones we hid in during BoB?" Sinon pondered "its a possibility i guess, come to think of it we didn't go very deep into that cave did we?" Kirito shook his head, then shrugged "who knows, but there's only one way to find out"

After searching for half an hour or so they came upon their cave, they'd called it their cave after the amount of time spent in it "hey look the bike is still here" Kirito said patting on of the back wheels "you act like its a living thing, almost as if its a child" Kirito blinked Child he thought "oh no" Sinon looked at him with concern " what? What's the matter?" Kirito held his head in his hands "I haven't told yui yet" Sinon thought for a second "haven't told her what?" She let out slowly, hoping not to trigger a breakdown "I-I-I haven't told her that Asuna and I broke up" Sinon's heart fluttered Kiri-err i mean Kazuto is single? No, now's not the time for that.

Kirito had in fact told Yui already and she was completely fine with it, she had sensed the tension between the two and knew it was coming, he had lied to Sinon to see her reaction, and it was everything he'd hoped it was, a hint of suppressed excitement and joy replaced by forced sadness and grief "well, i guess ill tell her after this, but for now lets hope this is the right cave" Kirito now knew Sinon's feelings towards him

After what felt like an hour of descending, they finally reached a large open cavern layered with sand and rock "well there's no boss here so maybe its unfinished" Kirito suggested with a shrug but Sinon's gut instinct told her different, she held a finger up to Kirito as a gesture to keep still, then, she heard it, the soft rumble from below, getting closer and closer to the surface "MOVE!" She screamed as the boss surface from the sand.

One more hit should do it the boss was on its last health bar, Dirge the sand serpent was no easy feat, with a staggering 5 health bars, it had taken them about an hour and a half to get to this point, with one swift yet powerful strike, Kirito defeated the beast with his famous photon sword.

Sinon ran up to him "did you get it?!" She half screamed, Kirito had his head down, he opened his menu and equiped the newly acquired weapon "i dunno Sinon, maybe ill keep it for myself" her eyes widened as she set her eyes upon "the L115A3 AWM! GIMME GIMME GIMME" she pleaded "ah ah ah not so fast, before i give it to you, you have to answer my question, HONESTLY" she nodded, eager to claim her prize "fire away black swordsman" Kirito returned the sniper to his inventory and took Sinon's Hands in his own "Sinon..." he began, her head filling with thoughts is he? No he wouldn't... Would he? "Sinon are you... in love with me?"

Any trace of a thought Sinon might have had about that stupid gun had been replaced with joy, excitement and most of all want, her eyes began to tear up "oh Sinon I'm sorry" Kirito exclaimed "i thought yo-" he was interrupted by Sinon smashing her lips into his own, they were a different kind of soft compared to Asuna's, they were smooth and warm, whereas Asuna's were...were..oh he didn't care, the kiss held for as long as it could before the pair was in need of oxygen.

They broke apart gasping for air, after filling her lungs, Sinon, no, Shino spoke "yes Kazuto, i do love you, i love you more than anything in this world and the real one" Kirito smiled "so does that mean more than this?" Shaking the gun in her face, she swiped for it and he laughed "here take it" he said finally forking over the rifle, a window appeared in front of Sinon "do you wish to accept 'L115A3 AWM' from 'KIRITO'?" She pushed the blue circle and the gun appeared in her hands "oh my, that's heavy"

The pair had walked back to the nearest city hand in hand smiling, they bought a room at the closest inn and prepared to log out "hey Sino-err Shino, do you mind if i come visit you? You know after we log out?" Sinon blushed, she didn't have visitors that often and when she did it was either Kyouji or her mother, but Kyouji was out of the picture and her mother only visited once or twice a year

"i would love that" she smiled at him as they closed their eyes and waited for the auto log out function to take effect, she wouldn't have it any other way.