I do not own Sword Art Online

16 years ago:

Something was off, she could tell it. For the first time she smelt fresh air, but it was slightly muffled... not what a normal newborn should be experiencing, albeit there was no way she could tell. Before long, she felt something clasp her arm, about one inch below her hand. She let out a scream, but no one seemed to hear her silent cry of pain.

"Stop! You're injuring her!" She had no idea what they where saying, but the pain around her arm loosened softly, though her relief was soon turned to horror as she began to lose feeling in that arm.

"We've got to get her into surgery, now!"

She felt a small needle being injected into her right arm, albeit it she only felt a pinch and not much else before her vision blurred even more than usual and she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

When she woke up, her first instinct was panic, and she began to cry softly. She couldn't tell what it was for sure, but she was sure something was missing.

"Hush little Sachi, it's alright, mamma's here," a Japanese lady with long dark brown hair and eyes soothed. She gazed up at the older lady, and although worry still lingered through her body, she felt soothed by the gentle humming which came from her mother.

Seven years later:

Sachi woke up with a start, nearly letting out a scream as she did so. Sighing, she glanced at the six inch stub which was left of her left forearm and then turned to her right hand, sighing in relief when she realized it was still intact. Although she was much too young to remember the accident, she had nightmares of losing her right arm, though it was always different.

Letting out a sigh of relief dispute her trembling, she crawled out of her bed and quietly walked past her sister's room, noticing Mai's door was still open. Peering in, she noticed her sister was not in her room. "Must be sleeping with Ayumi," she whispered, as sometimes Mai would snuggle up with her bigger sister when she had a nightmare. Sachi simply shrugged before entering her mother's bedroom.

"What's wrong honey?" She asked, and Sachi sighed. "Bad dream mother," she whispered. The familiar face, who toiled day and night to make her life better while juggling her job as the AFJROTC instructor at Tokyo Yomato Memorial high school.

Her mother let out a sigh and moved over, allowing her daughter to have a spot in the bed. "Thanks mother... someday I'll be strong enough to," However her mother just petted her raven black hair.

"Don't worry my little angel, I don't mind it, really."

Sachi yawned, and mummered a quiet thank you before falling asleep.

Five years later:

Sachi watched as her sister's played tug of war over a tarp, the tarp being there so as to keep them from getting dirty. "I win, Mai," Ayumi observed part gleefully and part curious.

Mai threw up her hands in mock exasperation. "Hey sis, how's the score?" She asked turning to Sachi.

Sachi first turned her amber gaze to Mai. "2," before turning her gaze to Ayumi "4." She then shook her head. "Ayumi is a year older though, but still the strength disparity between you too is kinda outstanding.

Ayumi chuckled. "Well I'm kinda wanting to become a tank driver, so I've got to exercise more." This caused Mai to sigh.

"I guess becoming a school nurse doesn't require as much strength," she mummered.

Sachi shook her head, her black hair swishing gently in the breeze as she did so. "Well, while that is technically true, you'd do better if you started exercising a bit more. Trust me you'll be grateful you did once the adrenaline wears off from getting the job. Besides, as dead set in your career choices you may be, you never know if you'll want to change jobs in the future."

"Maybe we could all train together then... but I don't want to get a lot of big muscles, no offense Ayumi,"

"None taken," her older sister mumbled sarcastic, though she shook her head. "I doubt you could manage what I do right off the bat anyways," she added in a sly tone.

"Hey, I bet I could!" Mai shot back, though it was all in good nature. Sachi meanwhile just let out a sigh. Being the oldest sister meant she sometimes wondered about the antics her younger sisters get up to, but she still loved them all the same.

"Anyways Mai, grab onto the rope again, I want you to try something," Sachi order and the youngest sister did so, her amber eyes curious. "Now hold your left arm like this," she demonstrated using her right arm, "and then do this with your right arm and legs."

"Like this?" Mai asked, her auburn hair swaying slightly as she tipped her head.

"Yeah, now when Ayumi pulls, do this," she showed her.

Ayumi, who had turned away as Sachi coached her younger sister then turned around. "I hope this works Sachi,"

Sachi nodded. Of course it'll work," she promised before stepping in the center of the line. "Go!" she shouted and the two sisters began their competition. I got a caring mother, two wonderful sisters, I couldn't ask for anything else in life. Well... except, she thought, looking at her left arm.

Three years later:

Sachi ran into the door, tears in her eyes. She barely herd her sister cry out what was wrong, but she didn't reply to Ayumi's question. Instead she just ran up to her room and cried.

"Why..." she sobbed. The loss of another friendship just happened, her forth in three years. All because of some stupid mistake made almost sixteen years ago. Granted, she'd made five friendships, but her first had been cut short tragically by a car incident. The other four... well they all made excuses for breaking up their relationship.

The first one was because of a move, but lo and behold he just moved to an apartment and different school in Tokyo.

The other three... well... practically similar things. This last one though hurt even more though, because it was just sudden and had no explanation.

"I thought it would hurt less if they didn't make excuses," She whispered before glancing up. Please... just send me a friend who will be honest and loyal to me, she prayed softly.

Present day:

Morning light fluttered through her window as Sachi opened her amber gaze, and sat up on the edge of her bed. "School," she whispered, and the normally eager girl was now hesitant to go back. I can do this... sure I lost my friend last year... but I can do this. It's just school after all.

But none the less, the betrayal of her last friend last year had left emotional scars on her, Nonetheless, she went to her room's personal bath and began to shower. Her Black hair clung slightly to her body as the water began to soak, and while she hated having to clean so much hair, she loved to keep her hair waist length and flowing. Something about it seemed to be just right for some reason. Smiling once she got done, she then proceeded to get dressed in her school uniform.

Unlike most schools, Tokyo Yomato memorial was a military school, and most of the students who went there had aims to go into the military. Sachi and her youngest sister, Mai, where exceptions, albeit it was mostly due to the fact that her mother was an instructor here and what not. There where other exceptions, but still.

At least people where usually kind enough to leave her alone, physically that is, as ticking off the most popular AFJROTC instructor in the nation was not a good idea. Pert of her hoped she'd be able to make a friend this year, but even so she knew it was probably not going to happen.

Acer POV

Acer yawned, blinking as the morning light was barely shining in the window. He then jumped up, gulping down a cereal bar before washing up and putting his uniform on before pausing. "Why am I rushing out when school is only half a mile away and doesn't even open it's doors for nearly three hours?" he asked himself before heading to his computer and reading an article about the Panzer IV. He loved reading about the wars of the past.

The one thing he didn't get was that warp drive thingy which brought him to this world. Of course, he wasn't all knowing, but how the hell it worked he had no idea. What he did know was that it had to be impossible, as the gold alone in the device was enough to finance all 17 Apollo 11 missions, and that was just one element. He had concluded that the gold must be synthetic, which was scary as a side with that ability would be able to spearhead the war effort, even if they never used the synthetic gold for currency. All in all it was an impossible build, yet they managed it somehow.

At least he'd earned his keep for a while. About a year ago, he and many in his self defense group had found a machine that allowed people to travel between this world and his old one. His initial plan was to capture the room, allowing at least some of the people from his old planet to escape the world wide civil war. Unfortunately, he was the only one who made it out alive, being the one with the key card as they dubbed it, and with the warp building placed on a self destruct sequence, it was unlikely to be used again for a while.

The key card wasn't something all that unusual, it just a military issue 3PBSD card. What he and his people placed on this card however was outstanding. Cures for cancers, STD's, especially HIV and AIDS, new medical procedures, scientific theories, world history, a copy of every form of entertainment from video games to music and books, all of it was archived on that chip. And after a quick check to make sure he was actually human, they more than welcomed him into their ranks.

Of course for his security, his contributions where highly classified among the general populace, though he was popular among certain groups, such as the government, military, police force, and hospitals around the world.

He shook his head though as thoughts of the war began to enter his head. He'd watched the destruction of his friends, one by one. Not one made it through with him, and he had constant nightmares of the war. Especially about Thymella, his closet friend at the time. She was the last one who was killed, seconds before he ran into the time stream, and the images of the bullet striking her head could never seem to leave his mind.

He really hoped to make a friend today, though he wasn't too sure about that. Making his way to school, enjoying the cool of the morning he found himself pausing as he entered the doors. He began to wonder where he should go first. Library, maybe I can find myself a good book, he thought. While it was true that most schools had their libraries filled with older books you could rent using a special device and read them electronically, this school emphasized using more traditional means of studying, the only electronic sessions being to learn how to and getting comfortable with the use of said electronics.

As he went in, he spotted a book about the ancient Roman army and quickly claimed it for the week, before glancing around and taking a seat, not noticing the black haired girl sitting across from him.

At the third page, he heard a whisper. "So you're not going to stare?"

He glanced up, now noticing the one handed girl gazing at him. "Oh sorry, I didn't see you there," he apologized before tipping his head. "Stare at what?" he asked.

She lifted up her left arm and suddenly he understood. "No, I'm not," he admitted.

This confused her even more. "Aren't you even a bit curious about it?"

He shook his head. "Not really, I figured you wouldn't want to talk about it to a complete stranger."

"My name is Sachi," She began, but the bell rang. "Well, looks like I've got to go to class." She then tipped her head. "What class do you need to go to? I can show you the way if you'd like."

"A13," he replied, causing her to gasp. "No way, that's the same class I go to!" She then rose. "Well, follow me then."

He did so, feeling a flash of admiration for the girl. Her soft brown eyes complimented her long, waist length black hair, but it was how friendly she seemed to be which drew the majority of that admiration. However, the way she was silent and how she seemed certain he'd stare at her arm told him that she probably had a few issues of her own, He knew first hand what it was, being born with slight cerebral palsy then having to fight a war with that condition causing extreme tiredness and pain which he'd have to fight in order to just keep himself and his friends alive. And while he was thankful that the war had practically mad his body pristine, that didn't mean he couldn't remember what it was like to be under those conditions.

However, as he glanced at her again, another thought ran through his mind. She almost looks exactly like Kuroyukihime from Accel world, save a tad more plump and with a darker shade of black hair. That wasn't to say Sachi was fat, she was far from it in fact. Perhaps they wouldn't be no difference at all had he had the actual Kuoryukihime to compare Sachi with, the only reason he believe Sachi was a tad more plump had more to do with his own miscalculations of how skinny she'd appeared in the anime.

Sachi POV

Sachi glanced over at him, surprise ebbing from her. He... he doesn't care that I'm... she glanced at her arm briefly, glad he couldn't see her facial expressions. I hope we can be friends... maybe. The walk to class was quiet except when he introduced himself.

"My name is Acer," he replied as they walked down the halls.

"Acer, that's a neat name," she commented softly, glancing at him in surprise as he held the door for her. She gave him a gentle smile before entering. Most of the other student's don't seem to want to open the door for me like that, she noted bitterly. While it seemed true, the only reason she was even attending this school was because her mother was an instructor, and that caused a lot of the students to look down on her with jealousy. Initially, she was very popular being the instructors daughter until they found out that her mother gave no favors other than expressing gratitude to them.

Sitting down and preparing to take out her notebook, she was glad he'd decided to sit beside her, however hurried whispering begin to erupt.

"Look... it's the new kid."

"Why is she sitting beside her?"

"Probably wanting to garner favor."

"Nah... I bet he just feel pity."

However he promptly stood up and loomed over the kids. "Excuse me," he boomed, and Sachi was shocked at how he sounded more like a military commander than a normal 16 year old. "I can sit by my friend without doing so to garner favor or show pity," he added just as sharply.

Everyone was staring at him, stunned. She was too. He... he considers me a friend even though we first met? She thought wildly. Part of her was touched by this of course, but she was shocked at how he could feel that strongly.

Someone stood up, and smirked at him. "She's no good as a friend. After all, she's a cripple," however he just marched up to her and glared daggers.

"Call her a cripple again, see what happens," he growled, causing her to slink into her seat. He's... he's scary, she thought, but soon realized what he was doing. But he's doing it for my sake, she added.

He let out a huff and sat down next to her, handing her a napkin. "Here," he replied and Sachi suddenly noted she was starting to cry. "Thanks... Acer," she whimpered, however as she began to dry her eyes, the teacher walked up. "Do you need to go home Sachi?" he asked gently.

Sachi turned to Acer and sighed. "That might be best," she admitted, then sighing.

"Okay, but take young Acer with you. I need to have a talk with my class in private." He told her before returning to his desk, the other students stunned cold as they hated their teacher's lectures.

As they walked out of school, Sachi paused briefly. "What you said back there... is that how you really fell about us. I... I mean, that we're friends?"

He gave her a small smile as reassurance. "Yes, if you want me to." he told her before continuing on his way.

"I'm very disappointed in all of you," she could hear the teacher begin his lecture and hurried to catch up for him. "I'm glad to have you as a friend," she whispered.

"Likewise," He replied genuinely.

Acer POV

Acer was glad he could help her, but appalled at how her class had treated Sachi. Why was this so? She'd done nothing wrong. He didn't care what that one girl thought, especially after she brought up that she was a crippled. He knew from experience that those with missing limbs could really surprise a person with how much they could do if given the chance. Heck, back in the war, three of his squad mates where in a similar situation. His second in command at the time was an athlete who's right leg had been blown off by an IED in Iraq, while the other two where missing a hand and portion of one of their arms to a degree. Yet there wasn't anyone else he'd rather have beside him because in a firefight, dispute their missing limbs, they fought ferociously and with the upmost valor.

Not only that, he himself had slight cerebral palsy back then, and while he was able to operate normally, his body would eventually lock up in pain or tiredness. Everyone said he'd never be able to hold down a job, and while they where right, somehow he managed to fight through his tiredness and pain during the war.

He let out a silent prayer of thanks for his new friend, and the fact that his body was much much healthier.

"I can't believe they'd treat you like that," he whispered, almost to himself. They walked in comparative silence, until they came up to her house, his jaws dropping in disbelief.

"This is where you live?" he asked, and got a nod in response. "Mother served in the air force for ten years before she settled down to have me and my sisters, Mai and Ayumi." She explained, before giving him a slight glance.

"It's nice to have sisters who care about you." he sighed as they went in.

"hmm... don't you get along with your sisters?" she asked.

He shook his head. "No... I don't have any family here." he admitted.

"No family?" she asked quietly.

He shook his head. "None. I'm not at liberty to say why, classified information, only those in the military, politics, and emergency care are allowed to know."

"Oh... sorry bout asking."

"It's no problem Sachi, you didn't know." he then took his shoes off and left his backpack in a cubby hole. "So what now?"

"Why don't we hang out?" she asked.

"Yeah, that sounds pretty good."

Little did Acer and Sachi know what lay in store for them, nor did they yet realize just how much they would need each other.