The Black Knight and the Blue Angel

Chapter 1: Matter of Time

Warning: This is an Alternate Universe, this will be a different story to the original anime. This is a Kirito x Sachi fanficiton and it will not have Kirito x Asuna in it. Story will also contain violence, vulgar language, sexual references, and dark themes not suitable for younger than sixteen years old. Reader's discretion is advised and please enjoy.

Location: Floor 27, Labyrinth [June 22, 2023]

Everything was happening so suddenly; time was like it has come to a crawl and it almost feel like everything was falling apart. Kirito was watching people dying in front of him, ones he called his friends and he was doing his damn best to fight against the monsters that were killing them. One by one, each of them were being outnumbered and it he was trying his best to destroy them all before any of them could kill every last one of them. It started off with Ducker, then Sasamaru, and then Tetsuo. All disappeared into blue and white hexagons before vanishing into the air.

The only ones who are alive was himself and a young girl with dark blue hair and pale blue eyes, blocking one of the dwarf's attacks with her spear as many more of the monsters begin to surround her. Kirito begins hacking his way towards her, desperately trying to get to her.

"SACHI! HOLD ON!" Kirito yells.

Sachi frantically looks at the black hair swordsman, tears begin to roll down her cheeks as she tried her best to stay alive. Her fear of dying is something she knew she wants to overcome, but knew it was inevitable.

"K-Kirito…" she said before feeling something hit her across her back.

Her eyes widen as she loss grip of her weapon as she begins to fall down to the ground, looking at Kirito before smiling genuinely at him. However, Kirito was in distraught to see the girl that he promised to protect was dying right in front of her. The horrid realization made him shiver and cried out her name, but couldn't do anything but just let fear take control of him and just made him watch.

How in the hell did it go so wrong?

Three weeks ago

"Sachi, Switch!" Kirito said as he parried the giant mantis.

"O-Okay." Sachi replied as she gripped her sword and shield and begin to move forward.

The young girl begins to swing her sword at the giant mantis but it did to little or no damage whatsoever to the giant insect. The mantis screech and hisses at the girl as it raises its scythe-like claw above and begin to swing downward. Sachi's eyes widen as she raised her shield as the attack from the giant bug made contact with the shield, causing it to crack.

"Sachi!" Kirito screams.

Kirito quickly grabbed his sword and lunge towards the giant bug and cut its arm off, before stabbing it in the chest. The mantis screams in pain before being engulf by a flash of light and then exploded into thousands of blue and white hexagons. Kirito sighs in relief as he put his sword away back into its sheath and look at Sachi.

"Sachi, are you alright?" Kirito asks.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she said, still getting over her fear.

"Sachi, you know you have to level up or else you won't be able to level up." Kirito scolds her but gently.

The shy dark bluenette looks down in disappointment, once more, she has failed yet again to conquer her fear and level up. This has been happening for about almost a month since Kirito had join the Moonlit Black Cats and with Keita being the persuasive person he is, convince him to train Sachi to get some extra levels so she can fight against stronger monsters and be on the same level as the rest of the guild. However, it wasn't going too well since her attacks were well as pathetic.

Kirito knew that she wasn't the strongest in the group, but he promised Keita to help Sachi to level up and he also promised Sachi that he'll protect her to the very ends of the game. He never felt more comfortable in his life since he joined them and he wanted to keep it that way. He looks at the shy girl in pity, knowing that he would never forgive himself if something happened to her or the guild. He placed a hand onto her head, ruffling her hair a bit as she looks up at him having a genuine smile on his face.

"Sachi, remember the promise I made to you?" he asks.

"Y-Yes, of course."

"Just remember, that I'm always there for you and I will protect you and the Moonlit Black Cats."

Sachi smiles faintly but it was still visible to see, she was glad to have someone like Kirito to have around in the guild, the one that could come to help her in a time of crisis was Keita. But that didn't matter, all that matters is that as long as Kirito is alive… She'll be happy.

"Thank you, Kirito-kun."

Kirito snapped back into reality as he looks around to see himself not in the secret dungeon anymore. From what he could tell, he was outside and it was nightfall. He doesn't even remember what has happened, only remembering was watching Sachi getting strike in the back by a rock golem.

'Oh my God, Sachi!' Kirito thought.

His thoughts went into a state of panic at the sudden thought, his mind then quickly recover when he finally remembered. His anger and despair took control over him as he went full-on berserk and started killing everything in his path. the ones that attack him did not hurt him, but because of their numbers overpowered made his health deplete very rapidly and it made him collapse more than once, but he was able to kill all of them. His mind then return back to normal when felt something heavy on his arms. He looks down to see an unconscious Sachi being held in a bridal position, only having her health depleted down to a five. He looks at his own and it just a bad as Sachi was.

Kirito LV 50: 0127/8250 HP

Sachi LV 25: 0005/2235 HP

Kirito couldn't believe that after all this, she was still alive, he doesn't know how she was still alive but he didn't care all that much. But despite all this, he still couldn't save the rest of the guild. He couldn't save anyone and he doesn't know how he's going to tell Keita about this. He couldn't move his legs because of his low HP and he was carrying the limped and sleeping Sachi. But he needs to get to town fast or else the two of them will die.

He tried his best to fight off the tears as he begins to take a step slowly but surely as possible, he would've use a teleportation crystal to the nearest town, but he didn't think about that since he was too occupied to get Sachi to safety. Suddenly, he heard rustling behind the tall grass and saw a wolf sneaking towards them. Kirito knelt down to the ground as place one of his hands to grab his sword and unsheathed it carefully but slowly as he tried his best to keep an eye on both the wolf and Sachi. He grits his teeth and hilt as he waits for the beast to attack.

And just as predicted, the wolf lunge towards the two and Kirito used all of his might and swung at the dire wolf, getting a critical hit as the wolf explodes into a million of hexagons. Kirito knew that this wasn't going to last due to the spawn rate during at night time and monsters get stronger just a tad bit. When Kirito was full health, he couldn't care less how much has spawn, but with how low it is and Sachi's, he's not going to take any chances. He put his sword back into its sheath as he begins to pick Sachi back up and begin to get up.

he knew that he needs to get to Taft as fast as his legs could go, just so he could get Sachi back to safety. As fate decides to be nice to Kirito, a figure was walking on the trail wearing a brown cloak and hood. He didn't care who was under the hood, just as long he or she could them get back to Taft, that's all that matters.

"H-Help." Kirito stammered.

The figure looks at the two teenagers and instantly ran towards them. The figure took off the hood to reveal a boy with brown hair and turquoise eyes was wearing a worried expression on his face.

"All you alright?" the boy asks.

"N-Need h-h-help. Pl-please." Kirito said trying to steady his breathing.

"Oh my God, both of your health is low. Do you have any teleportation crystals on you?" the boy asks.

Kirito's hand shook slightly as he swipes it down as the menu appeared in front of them as he went to the "items slot" and click on it, pulled out a couple of rectangular blue crystals and gave them to the boy. The boy grabbed one of them as he raised it to the air as both he and Kirito said. "Teleport: Ronbaru!"

The crystal begins to glow as it engulfed the three of them and instantly disappeared.

Location: Floor 27, Rombaru Town

Kirito was never said a word since they arrived to a hotel in Rombaru and he had been thinking for quite some time. The room he was in had only one bed and had a small table and chair, in which he was sitting in. On the bed was Sachi, who still hasn't moved since the attack and was still recovering. Thanks to the boy that helped them, also giving them potions to heal, they were in a steady recovery. Kirito, however, was not recovering mentally.

All he did since they got to the hotel where the he and his guild were staying was just look down on the floor and just been traumatize by it all. If he had told them about the trap and told them about his true level, none of this would be happening. He blamed himself for his friends' downfall and Sachi's condition and he knew that if Keita ever found out, it would devastate him even more. He could imagine Keita calling him a "Beater" and say that he has no place to stay with them. His imagination gone darker just showing Keita jumping off a cliff to meet his friends in the afterlife and he would just sit there and watch. The thought of it happening was unbearable to handle. He couldn't stand it anymore. The tears begin come out of his eyes and roll down his cheeks before meeting with the floor. The door opens to reveal the boy he met only fifteen minutes ago, but didn't seem to acknowledge his arrival.

The boy closes the door behind him as he sees the black hair teenager silently crying with his hands covering his face. He didn't know what happened to the two of them, but from what he could tell from the boy's sadden state and the girl's severe low HP, he could guess that they either facing a quest boss that was above their level or they were ambushed by low leveled monsters. One of the two might be possible explanation.

"Hey, you okay?" the boy asks concernedly.

Kirito said nothing, but he was able to remove his hands away from his face. His eyes were still in shock and weld up in tears as it roll down his cheeks, unblinking and unfazed of his surroundings. The boy sighs as he sat down on a chair next to the Beater.

"Look, your friend is going to be okay. Whatever happened back their is in the past..." he said but then notice that Kirito wasn't listening. "It wasn't just her that was with you, huh?"

"I couldn't protect them." Kirito said quietly.

The brunette didn't have to say anything to know what that meant. Those two has lost their guild. Something that everyone fears the most next to dying. Dying is one thing, but watching your friends or possibly family members die in front of your eyes before they disintegrate into pixels is something heartwretching. He never had join a guild before, so he doesn't know what's it like to lose someone. But he can probably relate of watching someone die.

"Listen, I—"

The door bursts open, shocking the two boys into submission to see a dark brunette boy wearing brown armor with keys in his hands. But the look on his face was nothing but anger in his brown eyes.

"Kirito!" he yells.

Kirito didn't look at him in the eyes, knowing full well what is going to happen.

"I went back from buying our house and I found out that my guild were gone from my friend's list! What the hell did you do?!"

"Keita I—"

"Don't you 'Keita I—' me, Kirito!" the boy named Keita scolds him "Tell me what happened!"

"Look, it wasn't his fault!" the brunette boy said sternly, "He couldn't protect them and he's a devastating state. He was able to rescue ONE of your guild members before she died. You weren't there."

"I didn't know they were going to die when I left!" Keita argues "I thought they would stay in the same floor when I left, but now all I see is Kirito and you!"

"What about the girl?"

"What girl?!"

The boy step away to give the leader of the guild's view to see Sachi, lying on the bed and sleeping soundly. Keita's eyes widen in shock before went into rage mode and grab Kirito by his shirt. Pulling him to his black eyes still watering and shrunken.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO SACHI?!" Keita screams.

"Hey, knock it off!" the boy screams at Keita.

"STAY OUT OF IT!" Keita argues loudly.

Before the brunette could argue back, the two boys hear sobs. They look and see Kirito tearing up heavily, his eyes watering, and lips quivering. Keita's rage slowly faded away as reality hit him like a truck.

"It's my fault Keita! It's my goddamn fault! I couldn't save them! I promised Sachi I would her and the guild and I FAILED!" Kirito cried, "I can't keep a stupid promise and they all died because of me!"

There was an absent of sound minus Kirito's crying, as the two boys stared at him with utter shock. Keita's rage subsided as only the realization made sure that he would see Kirito's emotions falling to pieces. He never seen him like this before and to see him in a traumatizing state and broken down was new to him and the boy that was defending him, must've found them weak and close to death and teleport them to Rombaru. He felt guilty of leaving them alone and now they're dead and it was both their faults.

"K-Ketia, promise me..." Kirito choke in his tears.

He swipe the menu screen up and pressed a few buttons the menu screen disappear. Keita looks down and saw a message was sent to him by Kirito. He click it and saw the message that laid before him.

[Kirito has left the Moonlit Black Cats.]

"P-Promise me y-you would-d protect Sachi." Kirito finally asks.

Keita didn't respond as he still looking at the message that lay before him. He never thought this would happened and to see that another member of his guild is gone and this time, it wasn't caused by death. It was caused by a traumatizing experience that happened only outside of the city and only twenty-six floors where he was. The black clad boy slowly got up, not looking at the brunette, walk passed by him and closed the door behind him. Not uttering a word.

Kirito kept on walking out of the small hallway before finding himself outside of the small hotel and nighttime was present in the sky. He didn't even bother looking back when footsteps came from behind as a somewhat a familiar voice calling for him. He didn't respond, but he was stop when a hand was placed on his shoulder.

"Hey, can you at least respond when someone's talking to you?" the voice said.

He turn his head around and notice it was the same brunette fellow that helped him and Sachi from dying out in the fields. He didn't say anything to the boy.

"Look, I don't know what happened back there nor do I understand the pain you're feeling. But, are you sure you want to do this?", he said before asking the question.

Kirito didn't say anything, only nodding his head and kept his solemn expression on his face. The boy only sigh as he pat his shoulder before walking ahead of him before stopping his tracks and turns around once more.

"By the way, I didn't get your name."

Kirito was silent for only a few seconds before finally speaking once more. "Kirito."

"Well Kirito, my name's Ozaki Rei. It's nice to meet you." the boy said. "And don't worry, I talk to your friend back there after you left. He wants to wish you good luck and stay safe."

Kirito faintly smiles for the first time since his guild had died. It sounds just like Keita; Someone who's willing to forgive even at times like this. Kirito doesn't know how to respond why he was forgiving him even though it was he, Kirito, who got them all killed because of his stupid level. But, that would be answered for another time. He look and saw the boy named Ozaki Rei left without saying goodbye or he had but he probably droned him out. Nothing seem out of place of the player, but he felt weird that a player was there in the nick of time to save both him and Sachi before dying on their way to the nearest town. Though, there are people out there who are willing to help because it was the right thing to do.

"Maybe there are some Good Samaritans." he said out loud, before heading towards outside of town and into another level.

Six Months Later...

Location: Floor 49, Myujen [December 25, 2023]

It's been almost a year since everyone was trapped in Sword Art Online and they have officially made it to Floor 70 all thanks to the Clearers. Kirito was one of them and like always his level was by far the highest out of the group. But this time, he had been awfully quiet and never seem to acknowledge anyone's presence and he went quiet the whole time. There have been rumors about an item that can be obtain by an event somewhere in Floor 35 on Christmas. That item was said to be a revival item that can revive a dead player. He thought about getting his hands on it, but made second thoughts and went against it. He knew he could defeat the secret boss easily, but he knew it would be pointless. After all, no one can truly come back from the dead and the item could make all that effort worthless. Saying that it can only revive a player if they died ten seconds. If that was the case, then reviving the whole Moonlit Black Cats' guild members would be all for nothing but a bitch slap in the face.

Although, it didn't seem to drain his depression in the slightest and ever since he left the guild he hasn't gotten any messages from Keita or Sachi. He started to have doubts from the brunette named Osaki or whatever his name was six months ago about Keita forgiving him and he believed that Sachi is probably mad at him for abandoning her since then. And he doesn't blame her if she did. Many nights has Kirito been getting nightmares of all of the Moonlit Black Cats members dying, including Sachi and Keita. He tried and tried to save them but every time he made an attempt, all his can do is freeze solid and watch them die. It made him broke into tears and it hurt so much it almost made him go insane and almost commit suicide. He thought multiple times where he could just let a monster to take his life, no matter how high his level was. But his mind kept ordering him to fight and he had no choice of the matter. Not even the mini bosses that gave him some trouble of killing, couldn't welcome him to Death's embrace.

He stayed and watch everyone enjoying this once in a life time holiday before they are facing the reality of this death game. It was funny, this world now he looks at it, reminds him of Game of Thrones and it's ironic that it almost have some similarities; minus the whole house clans, winter zombies, blood and gruesome ways to die. No matter how you die, you die like everyone else in the game. Burst into blue and white polygons before disappearing for good.

"You sure you don't want to get that item Ki-bou?" a voice said.

Kirito has completely forgotten that Argo was standing behind him, hiding her face from the crowd with the hood. How else would he have known about the item without going to the most resourceful person in all of Aincrad.

"I didn't say I'm not getting it." he lied.

The info breaker just sighs, knowing that pressuring the Black Swordsman is going to get her nowhere. But despite all that, she probably could guess he's still not going to get the item.

"You know, I didn't come here to give you some information for free right?" she joke dryly.

Kirito sighs as he swipes his fingers as the menu pops up and begin sending his payment to the info breaker. Argo looks as the message pop in front of her to see her payment has finally arrived, smirking the usual smug she has, but still felt concern about the black hair boy. He's been like this for six months and she could only get about what happened to him. From her best guess, is that he used to join a guild and then left with reasons only he knows. She heard that he killed the guild members to get some of the rare items and left without a trace. Which many of the lower level players believed, but there are holes in that theory. If he did kill the guild members, why were only two of them still alive? Not surprising enough the bastard man who blames all the Beta Testers, Kibaou, said that they were able to escape Kirito's killing spree and was about to report to the guards about a murder but he left the guild before he was caught. Again, there was no evidence of it and the leader, Keita, and the other member, Sachi, said otherwise.

Argo knew something happened to that guild and she knew that if she can't get it out of Kirito, then probably she could get it out of the surviving guild members.

"Well, it's nice doing business with Ki-bou." she said.

Kirito didn't say anything as he got out of his seat and begin moving outside of town and back to his apartment.

Kirito looks through his inventory where he and Sachi used to share when he was a member of the Moonlit Black Cats. Of course, there wasn't a single item or weapon from the guild was in it. Except for one.

A message pop up in front of him, pausing his dead stare of the inventory. What the message said shocks him.

[Voice Message from Sachi of the Moonlit Black Cats. Would like to listen to the message? Accept/Deny]

Kirito rubs his eyes to see what was actually there and no matter how many times he tried, it was still there. He wasn't expecting a message from her, believing that she hates him now for not saving her friends and possibly Keita told her that he left without saying goodbye. Nonetheless, he was preparing for the worse of what Sachi has to say. He press 'Accept' button as the message disappeared as the voice mail began.

"Hello Kirito, how are you doing? I hope you're well. If you got this message then it means I'm alive and well. Originally, I had one if I ever died, but I deleted it and I had remake about fifty messages until I found the right one."

Sachi let out a soft laughter that made Kirito's heart skip a beat. Such a innocent laughter he has never heard in a long time.

"Anyways, I just want to tell you; it's not your fault. It was never your fault for our friends getting killed. You see; Keita told me everything about what happened. How you left the guild because of the promise you made me when we talk. He said that it was his fault for not being with us at the Labyrinth and it was my fault for not being strong enough to save them. You don't have to put all the guilt on you, since we're all responsible for the death of our friends."

Kirito didn't know how to respond as he continues listening to Sachi's message.

"There is something I wanted to get off my chest. When we were sharing the bed, I saw you true level when your scrolling through your inventory. I didn't know why someone with a higher level like you would join a low level guild like us. But I didn't care, it made me happy to see that I didn't have to be afraid since I know you would one day help us get out of here.

"I'm glad to have met you and so does Keita. Just remember, you're always welcome to come back to our guild whenever you feel like it. We forgive you. Oh and if you find the person who got us to Rombaru safely, please give him my condolences. There are only a few seconds left, so I'm going to sing you a song."

She starts humming a familiar song, one that he remembers when he was young. She was singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and her humming made him release tears from his eyes and drop to the desk. The soothing melody made his heart soften and he could feel the warmth he never felt in a long time return into his chest. The melodious song ended with the final note from Sachi's soothing voice.

"I hope we can meet each other someday. Until we meet again, thank you and Merry Christmas." Sachi said.

The message ended as there was no noise but the choking sobs coming from the black hair boy. He now realize that his guilt was finally lifted from his chest, wiping his tears from his face. He now know what he must do; he's going to find the Moonlit Black Cats and he's going to apologize to them one way or another. This he promised, that he will protect them. Even if it kills him.