Another new story that I shall endeavor to see through to the end. I do not own Sword Art Online. Ion and Angel, who shall appear later, belong to Marcus Cersy AKA. Ion Gree. Mataras belong to the Author of the same name. I thank the both of them for this chance to use such great characters. Also, for now this story will remain a basic SAO, but I am endeavoring to find a good crossover that I feel will fit this story. Now Enjoy!

Dusken: The Vanishing Swordsman

Chapter 1: The Classic Start! Link Start!

Link Start! Two words that would forever change the fate of Earth. I wasn't too worried. This was a chance to escape the sorry excuse for a life I had led up until now. Being alone for five years has led me to not really care much for the world. And then comes the fateful words stating the truth about the very first virtual reality game to ever come to life.

Akihiko Kayaba had created a death game. I listened in detached curiosity as he explained how dying in the game meant that you died in real life. That intrigued me. I knew this meant that the game was no longer just that, but I couldn't help but think that this was a chance. A chance at a real existence. Then I registered that Kayaba had just mentioned giving everyone a gift.

I checked my inventory and found a mirror. Why was this in my inventory? What was the point? And then I was surrounded in a blue flash. When it faded, I got a single glimpse of my real face from the real world before the mirror shattered. I jerked back in surprise and glanced around, seeing that everyone around me had experienced the same as I had. Suddenly I heard something to my side.

"You're not a girl!"

"You're not seventeen!"

"I'm okay with this!"

"Me too!"

I jerked when I heard a voice shout, "LOVE KNOWS NO GENDER!"

That jerk caused me to see a face that had me shooting back a few rows of people and carefully peering around the large black man wielding a battle-axe. There he was standing a row in front of where I had been. His black hair had lengthened slightly since I had last seen him. I cursed a blue streak and shot back as the guy looked behind himself.

"So, what's up with you?"

I looked up sheepishly at the deep voice, "Sorry. Just can't be seen by him."

"Why not? Not like he will recognize you."

I chuckled bitterly as I raised my hand to the now revealed scar that hadn't been on my avatar before. I traced it down from my forehead, between my left eye and the bridge of my nose and ending at my top lip. I glanced over in the direction of the guy, "I get the feeling that the sight of me may very well lead to my end."

The guy grunted and turned around again as the air filled with screens. I frowned as I overheard somebody talking about how removal of the nervegear lead to instant death. A second later, my attention was grabbed by a very familiar girl. Raven-black hair the same shade as the guy I just saw and emerald green eyes that shone with tears even in a screen that floated high in the sky.

I looked at the boy who had noticed the girl as well and sighed. Too much had been taken from them already. Even if I knew that I couldn't be forgiven, I would make sure that he made it back to her.

When the announcement ended and the barrier fell, I followed the raven-haired boy out the gates of the Town of Beginnings. I swear to you Marcus, I thought, I won't let you die here.

…

One Month Later

It has been a whole month since this game started. Two thousand people have died since the game started and I was happy to say that so far, the mission was a success. Ion, as he had chosen to go by in the game, was doing well and I was sitting at a respectable level. While Ion had chosen a Speed/Agility type, my avatar was a Strength/Agility. Similar I guess, but my build was meant more for acrobatics.

This included ninja like movements. I had a lot of fun playing with Ion's head a little bit by making him think there were enemies all around him. I stopped when he was almost taken out by a group of mobs. I was snapped out of my thoughts when a man called for the attention of everyone who had gathered.

"I would like to thank you all for coming today. My name is Diabel. I like to think of myself as a knight!" He pointed at himself and laughter rippled out of the gathered people. Some were honest and others mocking. Then he shifted into a serious expression, "Today, my party found the boss room."

Everyone went quiet and a few gasps were heard as the blue haired player continued, "We need to defeat the boss and make our way to the second floor and prove to everyone in the town of beginnings that this game can be beaten! That is the duty of everyone here! Don't you all agree?!"

There were quiet murmurs around the arena and even I found myself nodding from the pillar that I was standing behind. Clapping and whistling was heard before he quieted everyone and told them all to form parties of six. I looked around and almost made a move to join a boy dressed in black and a girl in a burgundy cloak when I saw Ion approach them.

There went that grouping. I was certain that if Cersy didn't remember me then Black most certainly would. I stayed where I was and probably would have remained solo if a girl hadn't approached me. She had straw-blonde hair that went down to her mid back with plate armor covering everything except her head. She had cold cobalt eyes that I couldn't help but find familiar.

"So, you want to team up?" I asked.

"Not really. I'm more of a solo player, but he has a point that I can't afford to risk soloing a boss." She replied quietly.

"I see." I said as I navigated my menu, "My name is Dusken."

"Kumi." She replied as she accepted the party request.

"Perhaps we should go and fight a few mobs. We should learn how the other fights."

She nodded and we headed off. We left the town and entered the labyrinth. It was nearing nighttime and the mobs coming out would be stronger than usual. The first one to appear was a Kobold Captain. I looked to her and she let out a [Challenging Roar]. I'm not sure where she learned that, but she sure got the agro that she needed. As the mob ran at her, I shot forward and slammed into it.

It reeled back and she moved past me to bash it with a glowing shield and, thanks to the stun effect, was able to follow up with an overhead strike that cleaved through the chest. I then came around, spinning, and slashed four times on the mob's stomach. The creature shattered before it hit the ground.

We spent the next couple of hours grinding. We both gained a whole level and we decided to take a rest at the safe zone. We sat close together but only so that we couldn't be caught off guard by any sudden mobs. There had been rumors of that happening and neither of us planned to experience that.

Suddenly, a boy in a red and black cloak stepped into the area. He sheathed the one-handed sword that he held and walked over to the opposite side of the area. He sat down and the three of us just stared at each other. He was the first to break the silence.

"I must say that I wasn't expecting there to be others taking part in some nighttime activity."

I smirked, "It is best if partners learn the fighting style of their ally so that they can move efficiently." Kumi nodded.

"I see." The boy replied before he let down his hood. The pale face was framed by black hair and eyes that looked to be as hard as diamonds with the pain and anger that I could see, "Would you object to my joining you for this battle?"

I shared a look with Kumi before I shrugged and sent him the party request, "Sure."

"So, tell me why you follow the guy dressed in blue and white so much?" 'Mataras' said as he accepted the party request.

"That is personal." I said, "I have my reasons."

Mataras looked at me for a moment before shrugging, "Not my problem unless you got it out for him."

"Heh. Got a vested interest in him? Get in line."

"I don't know what the two of you are going on about. All I know is that I'm ready to turn in." Kumi said as she took out a sleeping bag.

I watched as she settled down and shrugged. I placed my sword to my side and settled back. I was asleep almost instantly. The next I knew, Mataras was calling for the two of us to wake up as the raid group passed through the area. We fell in behind the stragglers and I made sure my hood was up since we were near Ion's group.

Two hours later found us in front of the boss room. Diabel faced us and stated that we were here to win and then turned and opened the door. We rushed in as the boss became active and I led the other two to the right side of the room. I spun in with the same skill that I had used against the Kobold Captain and the Kobold Sentinel fell back only to die from Mataras' sword tearing through its' throat. Kumi lead the way past it to the next minion.

I'm not even sure how we did it, but we worked like a machine. We took out minion after minion as the main groups whittled down Illfang's health. Then I noticed Diabel running forward. I frowned and glanced at the boss' health bars to find the last one was in the red. That was when I realized that he was going for something. He was trying to finish the boss himself which meant that there must be some kind of reward connected to it, but the only ones who knew for sure were the beta testers. And even they knew that things would change between the beta and the actual release.

My suspicions were proved a moment later when Ion's black-haired companion cried out about the weapon change and I growled. This guy was placing himself in needless danger. I had to do something before he ended dead and leaving everyone in a panic. I looked at Kumi and Mataras.

"Hey Mataras?"

"Yeah?"

"By what law do you live in this world?"

"…The Law of the Sword." Mataras replied after a moment.

I nodded and suddenly launched myself toward the area where Diabel was now flying back and about to take a second hit that I knew he wouldn't survive. My feet moved with purpose and my resolve pushed my body to the limits and then promptly broke them as I vanished from where I stood and reappeared in the air above Illfang's body. Without a word, my sword lit up and with all the strength that the stat allowed, I slashed through the boss' back. The boss was stunned from the attack and it froze in place as it cried out in phantom pain.

Then Ion and his party were there and hacking at Illfang's body. The others joined him and, within moments, Kirito had delivered the final blow. I saw Diabel staring from the side and turned and walked toward him. I felt more than saw Mataras and Kumi form up on my right and left side respectively. All the cheering in the room stopped as the other players noticed this. Diabel himself was looking decidedly nervous.

"What you did was foolish to the extreme." I said and my fist snapped out to punch him in the jaw, "You placed your very life in danger and the very chain of command for this group in jeopardy for what? What was it Kirito?!" I called out at the end.

"Last Attack Bonus." Came Kirito's calm reply.

"I don't care whether you are a beta tester or a new player," I said and leaned close to Diabel, "This world is ruled by one law and one law only. All the rest is up to a person's morals."

"And what is that Law?" Diabel demanded, "What Law could possibly make you think that you know how things work here?!"

Mataras' sword was suddenly at Diabel's throat, "The Law of the Sword is this. If he is more dedicated than you, then he will win.* You should remember, Diabel, that this is no longer a game."

With that we walked up the steps towards the next floor. Before we did, I brought the dissolve party screen and pushed the circle. I then noticed another notification. It said, 'Due to going beyond your limits, a new skill has been created. [Vanishing Act] has been added to your skill set.

…

*Originally said by Mataras in The Red Swordsman fics.

Dusken: Vanishing Act? I guess one could call that what happened, but why do I get the feeling that it isn't so simple.

Kumi: Probably because it isn't. Aren't you going to read the full description.

Dusken: I have. I'm just holding out on what will happen next. And where shall you be going?

Kumi: What? Miss me already? Don't worry. I'll be back.

Next Time: The Moonlit Black Cats. Mataras falls in with Ion and Kirito.