Hello My Name is BRL, and this is an OC story. It will be episodic and, much like SAO jump around a bit. I have not seen SAO season two, so I will try to avoid mentioning Gun Gale and such. So, as always Reviews are love, shout outs for scenes are always welcomed and I hope everyone enjoys.
Hack, slash, thrust, parry, riposte. Duck left, bind over, swipe. Attack, attack, attack. Attack! Duncan shot up from his bed, chest slick with sweat. He pushed himself back, hands rising in defense. "Duncan!" screamed a voice as a large man rushed in. Duncan gave him a wide eye look, a cross between terrified and furious. "Son," breathed Duncan's father. "You're alright, you're here," he murmured as he slowly approached the bed. Duncan gave a shuddering breath as he felt an arm on his shoulder.
"Was I screaming again?" whispered Duncan.
His father shook his head. "Just thrashing about. Which one this time?"
Duncan shuddered. "The Skull Reaper…that was a hard battle."
The father nodded. "Well, it's not real, not anymore." Duncan gasped but nodded in agreement.
"I'm…ok dad, go back to bed," he murmured. His father looked unsure, but after more insistences from Duncan he stood up.
"If you need anything,"
"I'll call," finished Duncan as he threw his covers off. He ripped off his sticky shirt and threw it over his shoulder. His dad left the room, leaving Duncan to grab a new shirt. Duncan sighed as he sat back on the bed. Looking at the clock he knew he'd not get back to sleep. "To hell with it," he murmured. He grabbed the nerve gear and booted it up. Soon enough, he could feel the world shift and warp as he entered the virtual world. Once he was logged in, he breathed deep. His hair was a massive blue braid, with a dagger woven in. He wore a tartan kilt of red and black, with a matching plaid over one shoulder, a short black leather jacket underneath. On his arm was a small, spiked shield, and a basket hilted broadsword hung from his hip. Four mechanical wings appeared from his back as he took into the air. He did a few acrobatics as he enjoyed the rush of air on his face. He de-equipped his shield and just flew with his arms outstretched. It was amazing. Then he stopped and opened a menu. A blue swirling tattoo appeared on his face, dominating half of it. He was Ryuu the Highlander once more.
When Sword Art Online launched, hundreds of people were trapped in the life or death game, many of whom were permanently changed. Once such player was Ryuu the Highlander. He had been a beater then, well, he had been a beta. He got the nickname beater after he returned from a bonus dungeon, the only one of his party alive. After that…he stopped associating with others. Until he met the Black Swordsman.
"You're the Black Swordsman?" asked the strange man in the kilt.
Kirito nodded as he stood up. "Yea, and you are?"
The kilt wearer spat. "They call me the Highlander."
Kirito's eyes narrowed as he took in the player's appearance. He didn't wear much in the way of armor, but a shirt of scale mail was clear under his leather jacket. He sported armored boots and gauntlets. Yet it was the shield, with several wicked spikes on the boss, that identified him.
"I've heard you're called the Berserker."
The Highlander laughed. "Cant choose our Epithet. I've come for a duel."
"Why?" demanded Kirito.
The Highlander laughed. "I hear you're one of the best players in this game," he drew his sword. "I want to test my skills."
"First hit?" The Highlander nodded. Kirito spun, the coat of midnight swirling around him. "Fine, the square?"
"I was thinking the arena personally," replied the Highlander.
Kirito nodded. "After you then." The Highlander grinned as he walked off. "The Targe, that's a rare choice for players."
"Yea," replied the Highlander as he lifted his shield. "Not the best for defense, but a good duelist's weapon."
"Seems pointless, if you take a shield to defend yourself, wouldn't make more sense to take a shield that, well defends you?" questioned Kirito.
The Highlander threw his head back and laughed. "If you're looking to defend yourself sure. If you aint," he gestured to the shield. "It's the closest you can get to duel wielding. Besides the spike, it has a special mod, lets you use an off hand dagger, the dagger can only be stacked with the shield, but still, its effective."
Kirito nodded as the pair fell into silence. A crowd had gathered as they entered the arena. "So, first hit right?" asked Kirito again.
The Highlander nodded. "Aye, first hit." He opened his menu and sent Kirito the duel request. Kirito accepted.
A timer appeared over their heads as the countdown started. The Highlander drew his sword and dagger while Kirito's own blade rasped out of its sheath. Both took their guard stance and faced each other. When the timer hit zero, the Highlander roared and charged. Kirito parried his first slash, stumbling back. "Strong," he muttered, only to jump to the side to avoid the next swing. The Highlander hacked wildly, almost flailing with his sword, but it kept Kirito at bay. Finally Kirito ducked under the broadsword and came up, sword singing, only for it to clang off the targe.
"It does have its moments," called the Highlander. Back and forth the two dueled, movements almost too fast to see. The crowd cheered as the two beaters pushed themselves to the limit.
Both separated, gasping. "Not bad," called the Highlander.
"And you, for a small shield it sure seems to help," replied Kirito.
The Highlander chuckled. "Indeed it does." He shouldered his sword. "Shall we?" They charged back in.
The duel ended in Kirito's favor. The Highlander over extended himself with a shield bash and left his chest open. Kirito got him. Luckily, Kirito pulled his strike or it might have killed the Highlander. He laughed as he collapsed. "Not bad Swordsman, not bad."
Since then, Ryuu as he was known in this world had been close with Kirito, well closer. Ryuu looked into the sky, one hand over his eyes as he saw a pair of fairies approaching. He cocked an eyebrow, he was on his own property. He shrugged and turned to the forge. He had commissions to do anyway. He equipped his black smith apparel and pulled up an item menu. "Ah, Igeal wants a new great weapon, blunt or sharp my choice. Hmm." He scratched his chin as he looked at his various materials. The pair was getting closer. But Ryuu paid them little mind. He checked the crossbow he had in his stock, and equipped it. Rapid weapon change wasn't perfect in ALO, nor in SAO, but Ryuu had gotten it figured out pretty well. When the first one touched down, he had the crossbow out and pointed. "What…oh for Christ sakes," he growled as he saw a head of black hair.
"Ryuu, why are you on this late?" asked Kirito. The blue haired Asuna landed next to him, and their little pixie flew around them.
Ryuu shrugged. "Just am. Why you two?"
"It was family night," said Yui brightly.
"Was it now little one?" asked Ryuu. "Then why are you all the way down here on the 22nd floor?"
"We live here too you know," said Asuna with a grin.
Ryuu looked around the wooded glen, shaking his head. "So you do. You all here for a new weapon?" he asked. "The Elucidator seems fine for you," he gestured to Kirito's black sword. "And I have no crystallite ingots."
"Ryuu why are you here," repeated Kirito firmly, but with a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Couldn't sleep beater, s'all," muttered Ryuu.
"The dreams?" questioned Kirito.
"I'm fine!" snapped Ryuu. The three fairies all recoiled at the anger. "I'm…sorry," murmured Ryuu as he turned back to his furnace.
"Just, if you need anything don't hesitate to call us," stated Asuna with a look of worry. "Come on Kirito we need to put Yui to bed then get some sleep ourselves, we'll see you in school tomorrow right Ryuu?"
Ryuu nodded as he hauled up a box of ingots. "Aye, I'll be there."
Asuna nodded, Kirito hesitated as the three turned to leave. "Ryuu," started Kirito but stopped. "Get some sleep soon," with that the three left.
The night passed slowly and the next day Duncan stumbled into school, his blazer wrinkled and his tie skewed. Some of the students snickered, but quickly stopped when he leveled the fierce Highlander Glare at them. IRL Duncan looked similar to his avatar, muscular, though not terribly big, with long hair tied back in an intricate braid, after his favorite anime character, however it was not quite as long as it was in SAO. And it didn't have a knife in it. Supposedly. What made him stand out though was that he was, clearly, not Japanese. The high cheek bones, fair skin and emerald eyes were clear signs. Then his language. He spoke, read, and wrote in fluent English. Well, American English.
Duncan collapsed in his chair, head buried in his arms. "Mr. Frasier," said the teacher. Duncan lifted his head, one eyebrow raised. "Are you awake?" Duncan lowered his head. "If you don't wake up I will be forced to send you to the principal's office." Duncan pushed himself up, settling into his chair. The teacher went back to droning about…something; Duncan couldn't bring himself to figure out what was going on. All he wanted was to put his head down and sleep, he didn't ever go back to sleep after his friends left, and school seemed almost impossible to focus on. So instead, he thought back to his time in SAO, which seems to always be on his mind. In some dark corner of his mind, he missed the Life or Death Game. It had made sense, in some twisted way.
Or, rather, he had adapted to it so well, being in the real world no longer made sense. He rubbed his face as he focused on his books, trying to throw himself into the work. Even if he didn't care it'd distract him from these thoughts. The day passed…slowly. But it passed. At lunch, he staggered into the cafeteria, grabbing a tray of food and collapsing near Lizbeth and Silica, or rather, Rika and Keiko. "You look awful, no sleep?" commented the older brunet. Duncan nodded as he unwrapped his sandwich. "That's the fourth time this week."
"Thank you Rika I've noticed!" he snapped.
"Jeez no need to be a jerk!" she shot back. "If you're gonna be that way, we'll leave, come on Keiko," before the younger girl could respond, Liz dragged her off, leaving Duncan alone at the table.
"Fuck" he muttered in English.
"What did you say this time?" asked Kazuto as he sat down.
Duncan spared him a glare. "Why is it always my fault?" Kazuto just raised an eyebrow. "I snapped." Duncan blew out a depressed breath as he went back to eating.
"You know, a few of us went to talk to people, about SAO."
"I'm Fine!" Duncan all but bellowed. The cafeteria paused as people looked up. Duncan let out another tight breath and lowered his voice. "I don't need to talk to anyone. I'm fine. I lived. That's all that matters." Kazuto went to say something but stopped.
Instead he simply placed a hand on Duncan's arm again and stood up. "If you need anything call ok?" Kazuto turned to walk away.
Duncan nodded. "Go find your wife, we didn't fight so hard just for you to lose her again," he called with a half-smile. Kazuto chuckled as he waved. Once he was gone Duncan's head fell back on his arms. He hated school, all he wanted was to run home and log back in to ALO. And yet, he wanted to never see a nerve gear again, never wanted to feel the wind on his face, to fight. He couldn't figure out what he felt, who he was anyone. The Duncan before SAO, he had been a shy kid, easily bullied. When he got trapped in the game…well, it wasn't pretty at first. But he had persevered. Like the others, SAO had…remade him, much like his swords, the game had forged him into something new, better, stronger, sharper. But now, well now Duncan had trouble balancing Ryuu, the Highlander, and Duncan, the teenager. For the others it had been easier, though Kazuto sometimes has nightmares, and Asuna hates now being alone. But everyone was, slowly, adjusting. Except him.
He just couldn't fall back into the normalcy of life. How does one go from fighting for their life every day in a fantastical world to…being just a kid. He couldn't deal with it. He shoved his chair back violently suddenly. Heads looked up, the former players watching the famed fighter warily. Highlander, or Berserker. Those were his epithets. And he earned both. But Duncan just tore out of the room, head down and eyes unfocused. He thought back to SAO, and not for the first time remembered his life as Ryuu.