The Second Chapter! Well, the beginning of Ryuu's story. Um not much to say, Im glad people find the story interesting. So, as always, reviews are love, any and all shout outs are welcomed and I'll add if you want to see an OC by all means ask, and I hope everyone enjoys.

The Town of Beginnings was in chaos, players running around trying to log out of SAO. For one player, with brown hair tied back in a braid, he was moving. Ryuu, as he called himself, listened in horror as Akihito stated everyone was trapped in the game. And that the only way out was death or win. Players cried and shouted as they were told the former entertaining challenges were now completely lethal. Then…Akihito stripped the avatars away, leaving Ryuu in his real skin. And he damn near cried. These games were his escape, a chance to be someone else…not a gaijin as he was so often called. Now, his western features were on full display. Long brown hair tugged at his head, so life like. Amber eyes watched as players all stared at each other in confusion and fear.

But for the moment Ryuu couldn't worry about that. Not when he and everyone else in the thousands of players were stuck in this world. Instead he had raced towards the gate as soon as Akihito made his announcement. Outside the town, he hit the open plains and he slowed from a sprint to a regular jog. A scattering of other players could be seen, all watching each other. Betas, all of them. They all shared the same thought. Once the main body of players realized there was no going back, they would rush out too, and it was better to get XP and gear now, before everyone started scattering.

After maybe an hour or two of jogging, Ryuu saw several players surrounded by a large pack of wolves. They looked like they were struggling. Ryuu paused. He looked behind him, he hadn't put much distance tween him and the Town of Beginnings. Then he heard one of the players scream, a girl. "Fuck" he muttered in English. A hand axe appeared in his off hand and he charged. The axe struck a wolf knocking it to the side. His sword was drawn in a moment along with his buckler. He crashed into a wolf, cutting down at it with a sword skill before spinning and staggering back from one of the wolves' attack. One of the players he was helping speared the offending beast, killing it. Ryuu spun, slicing at another animal. Soon enough the animals were dead or scattered. Ryuu stooped and collected his hand axe, the others regrouped. There were three of them, two guys and one girl. One guy was a giant, with spiky short black hair, heavy armor, even for a beginning player, and a gargantuan two handed axe. Next to him was the spear user, he wore the typical beginner outfit, had light auburn hair, and grey eyes. His spear was an 8 foot long weapon, double ended. And the girl sported a small shield and a mace. She had short blond hair that covered part of her face.

"Thank you!" said the big man. "I thought we were in trouble there!"

Ryuu dipped his head slightly as he nodded, then looked back at the town, still visible over the horizon. "No problem." He stopped, he wanted to say something more but shook his head. Instead he just waved. "Good luck," he said as he turned to leave.

"Wait!" called the girl. "What's your name?"

"Um, Ryuu," he answered. "Stay safe…good luck." With that he jogged off.

"What are you thinking Riza?" asked the big man.

Riza, the girl, grinned. "We need another player with us, and he's clearly good."

"Think he's a beta?" questioned the spear user.

Riza shrugged. "Possibly." They looked back at the retreating braid. "If he is he'll be even more useful, if not…well, safety in numbers right?"

"Doesn't hurt he's your type huh?" ribbed the bigger of the men.

Ryuu kept jogging across the field, fighting when he needed it, but towards the end, as he ran low on crystals, he started to hide. Eventually he stumbled into a town, near the first level's main boss. Ryuu sighed as he slumped against the gate. Some players, probably betas as well, gave the solo player a wide berth, he looked haggard. Ryuu pushed himself off the wall and stared around him. He felt…lonely. But it's better than the alternative.

So he limped off to a food stand, buying a cheap roll and downing it. Ryuu collapsed on a bench, letting his health regenerate, the little red bar inching forward ever so slowly. Ryuu pulled out his sword, checking the blade. It seemed in decent condition, but he didn't know how long the basic weapon would last, especially under the abuse this life and death game would probably put on it. He sat back, looking up in the sky. He had intended to play solo, to just…he didn't even know. He wanted his fantasy life, now though, his fantasy was a nightmare. Still. He looked up as people started to clump to each other. Did he really want to join up with others? His stomach growled again. Well…having friends would mean someone to bum food from…and a spot to sleep. Speaking of the sleep. It was already late, he needed to get some sleep, unfortunately, he didn't have much money. But he did have some pelts and tusks to sell. He wandered through the market…nothing was open.

Sighing again, he headed to the park. If he was lucky he could grab some shut eye in the park, using the pelts as a bed and blanket, since he couldn't afford an inn, when he was stopped. "Ryuu!" called a voice. Ryuu spun, hand darting for his sword. It was the group from before. Riza, the blond, rushed over. "I'm glad we caught you! I was…we were hoping to ask you to join our guild?"

Ryuu cocked an eyebrow. "Guild? I…I wouldn't want to put you all in danger."

"Put us in danger? You saved us remember," said Riza with a chuckle.

Ryuu paused, mouth open. "I…" he stopped.

Riza offered him a hand. "For now, we got a pair of rooms at a nearby inn. The boys were gonna give me my own spot, but…" she looked at the makeshift bed of pelts. "I think you need a bed as much as the rest of us."

Ryuu sighed as he took the hand. "Thank you," he murmured. Riza smiled brightly as she pulled him up. Ryuu gathered his pelts, though, shivering slightly, slung one over his shoulders, making a cloak. Riza cocked an eyebrow. "The fur looks good on you," she brushed a few hairs from his face. "Though the braid is a bit…feminine."

Ryuu raised an eyebrow. "Feminine? This coming from a girl?"

Riza chuckled as she twirled a lock of her blond hair. "Exactly." Ryuu turned away, not saying anything. But his hand did reach out…grabbing the long braid and wrapping it around his head. The braid stretched down to base of Ryuu's spine. "It is nice though," she commented as she poked it. "Weird, but nice. You have that in IRL?"

Ryuu's eyes widened as he realized what he was doing and forcibly made himself let the braid go. Then blushed at Riza's question "I…where's the tavern?" he asked, desperately trying to change the subject.

Riza pointed to a warm looking building. "There, Su and Marco are inside." Riza took his arm, leading him inside. Ryuu's face became bright red as he let himself be pulled. The interior of the inn matched the glow from outside, warm and lively. Groups of players huddled around each other, some still in shock, others snapping into the game. NPC's were scattered throughout, giving quests and making the inn feel more real. Su and Marco had a table in the back of the room, several pints already on the table. The big man waved as he saw Riza. "Yo over here!" He pulled over a pair of chairs as Ryuu and Riza approached. "This place is really slammed, more players are pouring in." He laughed as the pair sat down. "Found our hero did ya?"

Riza nodded. "He was gonna sleep in the park, on a bed of wolf furs he took from dead beasts." Ryuu blushed as he tried to melt into his chair.

"I…" he looked away.

Riza slapped his back. "It's alright; you left before you could get some cash from the dead monsters. This is our way of paying you back." The group fell into silence as Riza downed a drink and Ryuu looked about the inn. Next thing he knew a massive plate of food appeared on the table, and fresh rounds. Ryuu's mouth watered, but he didn't move. The rest of the party was already eating when Riza noticed Ryuu not moving. She shared a look with the two others and grabbed his plate. "Eat, you need to keep your stamina up if you're gonna be in our guild."

The two guys grinned widely. "He accepted?" asked the smaller of the two.

Ryuu choked at the sudden question. Riza grinned. "I think so, I got him here didn't I?"

"That you did, well if that's the case. I'm Marco," said the big man.

"And I'm Su Wukong, though they call me Su," continued the second.

Ryuu swallowed and looked confused. "The Monkey King?"

Su threw his head back laughing. "Finally someone who gets it!"

"Doesn't mean it's any less lame," replied Marco. The pair started to fight as Ryuu just watched, confused and somewhat worried.

"Should we…should we stop them?" he whispered to Riza.

But Riza downed her drink and poured a new one. "Nah, they'll stop eventually." She grabbed Ryuu's cup and filled it. "Well, to our new friend," she spoke louder.

Su and Marco froze before raising their own glasses. "To our new friend!" they cheered, downing their drinks. Then they were back to fighting. Ryuu smiled weakly as he drank, still wary of his supposed to new comrades.

Duncan snapped out of his head as he almost walked into a pole. A couple of people chuckled nearby, but quickly stopped when he leveled a fearsome glare at them. He might have hated being in SAO…or rather hated being forced to become the Highlander, but it did give him some good things. Such as a glare that could stop people in their tracks. And a damn good awareness of his surroundings…when not lost in his own head. He stopped walking and deliberately put his back to a wall. "What?" he barked.

Rika stepped out of the shadows. "I just wanted to make sure you ok, jeez no need to get so hostile!" snapped the brunet.

Duncan sighed as he pinched his nose, trying to hide his face. "Sorry Rika…I was lost in my head."

"SAO?" she asked.

Duncan grimaced. "I know I need to let it go I just"

Rika patted him on the arm. "I get it, trust me. Look I'm on my way to the forge, you coming?"

Duncan nodded. "Yea, I have grinding I need to do." After they returned to the real world Rika and Duncan both decided to learn how to metal smith in the real world. After two years of making blades as a trade…well it sort of stuck, so the pair got into it, going to the same master. Of the two, Rika was the more artistic, but Duncan could use the heavy machinery without much difficulty. He offered his arm to Rika who took it, looping hers through his and together the pair walked off. Rika chatted on about her newest project, Duncan nodding appropriately, but his mind drifted back into his memories. Everyone dealt with SAO in their own ways, but Duncan…Duncan couldn't just let things go. He had tried, god had he tried. But as soon as Alfheim Online became an option, Duncan had all but thrown himself at it. It took a lot of arguing with his dad, more than a lot, but he managed to keep the nerve gear and the game. When he's in the game, once more in Aincrad, he finally feels…right. He feels like he understands the world again.

He looked up into the sky, silently wondering if these feelings of loss, hatred and confusions were Akihito's final cruel jokes.