Orange

Nowhere.

There was nowhere to hide.

I was an orange player.

But I didn't enjoy being one.

I ran inside the dungeon. The Labyrinth Area. It was dumb of me, but I needed those green cursor players distracted with defeating the enemies and then I could have the opportunity to escape the Labyrinth Area.

I hid in the parameter of the Labyrinth Area where no surrounding enemies were around. Then after a little while I peeked. No sign of the green cursor players. They were still here, though. I could hear the sound of their swords slashing at the enemies. This was my chance to escape the Labyrinth Area.

I took the opportunity and stealthily ran outside the Labyrinth Area. Good, the green players were still caught in the fight. That was dumb of them to have entered the dungeon. Now I was free, for now.

I was scared. I was scared ever since I became an orange player. And it was for killing another PK with a green cursor. I had to kill him. It was self-defense. He was willing to give up his innocence. He couldn't bribe anyone else to do the duty work. Unless he wanted me to sacrifice my own innocence and tried bribing me to become one of his own.

I went back to the woods. I regretted giving up my own innocence. I always regretted it. I wished to have gone to the town like a scared child. The safe area in the town made me feel secure. More secure than self-defense.

I climbed up a tree and sat on the tree branch. I closed my eyes. I couldn't stop thinking about that time. Tears shed from my eyes. I felt that emotional. No one would have my trust anymore. No one would.

I eventually fell asleep. Yes, I know the dangers of taking a nap in the woods if players were around. I don't mind anymore. I rather die. I rather die as an orange player than die as a green player.

Orange players deserved punishment.

Swordsman

I woke up a few how hours later. The sky was dark. The players must've gone back to their inn, since no one was in the woods. Not from what I just saw.

I felt half relieved, and half not. They could've stolen the items from my inventory. So I checked my inventory. None of the items were gone. Good, less thing to worry about.

I climbed down from the tree and trudged forward into the dark woods. I was hoping to get out of the woods and then camp out somewhere, where I could be safe other than being safe in a town. You could say I was searching for a safe area nearby.

Then that was when someone bumped against me. I toppled to the ground. I looked up, looking at the person's face.

He was dressed in black clothing. He looked familiar…

…Kirito?

"Tsuki-chan?" he said.

Tsuki. He'd always called me that due to those moon scars near my eyes. Yes, I picked my avatar to have crescent moon scars. Though, I do have my real face in this MMO.

Yes, I've met Kirito-kun before; before I was an orange player.

"Kirito-kun! Why are you here?" I asked.

"S-sorry…" He stood up. "I was looking for a lost player in the woods. Their partner requested…"

He paused. He hesitated. Then I realized he was looking right at my cursor.

Protection

Then I finally responded to his expression on his face as I stood up, "Just… stay away from me."

I walked away. Then I felt a hand pulling onto my arm. It was Kirito's arm. "No. What happened, Tsuki?"

I scoffed. "It's none of your business. I don't want you to be involved in this."

Kirito interrupted me. "You weren't an orange player before! I at least want to know why you're orange. I don't want to think you killed someone for no reason!"

I hesitated. He cared about me? "…I did kill someone. That, I will admit. But it was self-defense."

"Self-defense?"

"The guy that I killed bribed the PK to do the killing. I know because I've seen him before. And now he was going to kill me. He lacked money."

Kirito hesitated. "Bribing? That's rare in this MMO."

"No kidding," I said. "Now I'm recognized as a PK to other green players."

"Tsuki…"

"Kirito-kun, just kill me…"

His eyes blinked. "No, I'm not going to. Besides, you'll only be an orange player for a few days. Have you—"

I couldn't help but interrupted him. "Yes, Kirito. I've been worried! I was being chased by those players ever since. I was even relying on the Labyrinth Area to distract the green players this afternoon."

Then I felt I was being pulled into a hug. The hug felt warm.

"Tsuki," Kirito began, "for now, may I protect you?"

Protect me? Protect an orange player?

"No!" I replied. "That's insane, Kirito-kun! Are you trying to get players to rebel on you?"

Kirito chuckled. "I've already got players become mad at me before. I'm used to it now."

He's used to it. Should I rely on his safety? No… I shouldn't doubt him. Kirito-kun didn't need to protect me.

"You don't need to protect me," I said.

"I feel as if protecting you is the right choice," Kirito replied.

Why is he so eager? I thought.

"Fine," I replied, "you can keep me safe, Kirito-kun. Only for a few days until I'm green."

PK

Kirito-kun took me to a cherry blossom area. He took me there to calm my worries. He knew the petals falling from the cherry blossom soothed me from becoming stressed.

"Are you feeling better?" Kirito asked.

I nodded. I saw a smile on Kirito-kun's face. That had made me even happier. He was the first friend I met in this MMO. And it was the first time someone comforted me.

Then Kirito told me to wait here. I only nodded. Kirito left the area.

I felt relaxed now. Marvelously relaxed now. The petals kept falling from the tree branches as it kept soothing my soul. Maybe it was an effect.

Then I saw someone against one of the cherry blossom trees. It was a green cursor player. No… was it green? My vision seemed to be off. Was it because too many petals are falling in front of me?

Then I could make out what it was. The cursor was orange.

"Are you having fun?" the player asked.

I hesitated. I felt nervous. I didn't spoke a word. He was a PK.

The PK continued, "I hope you are having fun, my fellow orange ally…"

"I'm not your ally!" I exclaimed.

"Maybe," he responded as he aimed his spear at me, "maybe not."

He was going to kill me.

I trembled with fear. "N-no… why would you kill me if I have the same colored cursor as you?"

He smirked. "If you don't commit being my ally, then I will. Think of it as a threat, from me to you."

I tried to pull out my axe. It wasn't there. Didn't I have it before? How did I lose my axe?

"Or you could separate from the Black Swordsman, Onegai Tsubaki," the player added. How did he know my full name? I told no one my full name, except Kirito. Was he eavesdropping in our conversations? Or does he know me in the real world?

The player disappeared from the area. He wanted me to leave Kirito? No, I wouldn't…

But if it was for my safety…

No, I shouldn't…

"I'm back," a voice said. It was Kirito's voice.

I'm having second thoughts… I thought. Will I die if I don't commit…?

"Welcome back," I said.

"Sorry that I had to leave for a second," Kirito said sympathetically.

Kirito-kun… Oh how I wish I could tell you.

This is it for chapter 1 of the story. I will make chapter 2 very soon.