AN: A question to my readers. Do you think it would be a good idea to mess with the timeline a bit for this story so that the 'quest' where Kirito meets Silica happens before the whole two year gap that it had in the anime?

Aincrad's Dragon King

Chapter 2

-Kirito-

Walking through the town, Alduin on his shoulder, he sighed as he endured the stares of both awe and scorn that followed him as he moved towards the town's main tavern. It had been three weeks since he had hatched Alduin and the rumors about him had begun. It had all started when he had returned with Argo to the town where she had gotten the horse so that he could get some food for his new, and hungry familiar. The instant people had seen his dragon, and his bow, the whispers had started as people wondered about where he had gotten his weapon, his familiar, and even who he was as his cowl completely shrouded his face to the point where people couldn't see it.

It wasn't until later that people had labelled him as the 'Dragon King' since they didn't know his name, a fact that Argo had been more than happy to tell him about, in between bouts of laughter, when they had met up a week later. After the hatching of his Familiar Argo had insisted that they meet up every week so that she could give him an update on how the selling of the info he got was going, along with giving him his cut, and so that she could make sure 'her boys', as she referred to himself and Alduin, were doing alright.

He had also begun to have dual identities within the world of Aincrad itself, the first being his persona that was both loved and hated, the 'Dragon King' as he would go about with his leather armor and cowl, bow across his back and Alduin on his shoulder as he moved about, never partying with anyone, apart from Argo for a couple levelling trips, so that nobody knew his Character handle. The second identity was of Kirito, his regular avatar, where he kept his face open and had his sword equipped, Alduin staying in whatever room he had managed to rent from an NPC in a tavern, making sure to always get the floors where nobody else had rooms so his secret remained secret.

Pushing open the door to the tavern the cheerful sounds of talk and laughter fell silent as people stared at the 'Dragon King' of Aincrad, some in awe and some in anger, as he ignored them all and walked over to a grinning Argo who had reserved a booth for them. "Hey there little sis." He said with a small smile, barely noticeable under his cowl, as Alduin cooed and flapped over to his friend's shoulder, nuzzling against her cheek in a plea to be petted.

"How are my boys doing?" Argo asked happily as she ran her finger over the ridges of Alduin's neck, the little dragon letting out a reptilian purr of pleasure at the feeling.

"Can't really complain," he said with a shrug as he did his best to ignore the people that were trying, and failing, to be discrete while eavesdropping on the conversation "I spend most of my time training with Alduin, I want to get him strong enough that I won't have to worry about anything being able to kill him if I get incapacitated or if we get separated.".

"And here I thought that this little guy was the one that had to look after you." Argo said with a smirk as Alduin nodded in agreement, the little dragon's AI having developed a rather cheeky personality.

"Thanks for nothing, you useless reptile." He deadpanned at his familiar who, in return, smacked him across the face with his tail.

"He's not useless." Argo said in fake horror at his statement before cuddling his happy familiar "Are you Alduin?".

"Traitor." He grumbled before opening a menu to order something for himself to eat along with a plate of meat for Alduin to snack on. The second the NPC waitress set down the food Alduin let out a happy trill and dove into the meat as he snorted, "I spoil you, don't' I?" he asked as he scratched Alduin behind one of the little dragon's horns.

"You do but you know he's worth it." Argo laughed as she sipped her drink "The little guy's good for you, you needed something to make you lighten up but I honestly wish it was a girl instead of a lizard.".

Choking on his beer he glared at Argo who was smiling at him innocently, "Not funny Go," he grumbled as he sipped from his drink again "not funny at all. Don't joke about that.".

"I wasn't joking," Argo said, her face taking a slightly less playful and more serious countenance "you need more human interaction, more than the one meeting a week we have. You need to go and find yourself a girl that can help keep you grounded.".

At his honorary sister's words he heard every fan girl inside the tavern squeal softly as he sent the info broker an irritated glare "Thanks, now I'll have every fan girl in the town after my ass and I mean that literally.".

"Sorry." Argo said sheepishly "But you really do need a girlfriend.".

"Well I don't have a lot of dating opportunities Go," he grumbled "were in the middle of the death game and when I'm not training to survive the damn thing I'm having to dodge my fans and haters just to have a bit of peace and quiet.".

"Just promise me you'll look," Argo pleaded "or at least keep an open mind.".

"If it means that much to you I promise to at least keep an eye out for a possible girlfriend." He promised "You happy now Go?".

"Very." Argo said with a nod as Alduin let out a trill, the plate of meat empty…as well as all the meat from his own meal as his Familiar tried to look innocent.

"Why you little glutton!" he growled as he tried to grab his familiar before it flapped over to Argo's shoulder and hid behind her head, poking its own out to stare at him with that 'childlike' stare that it could only pull of due to being in its infant size.

"Gluttonous dragons aside," Argo spoke up, distracting him from his plots on getting payback on his cheeky little familiar "have you heard the news about what's going to happen in Tolbana next week?" Argo asked him.

Frowning he shook his head, "Not a word," he responded with a shrug "but that might be from a three day dungeon clearing that I was doing with Alduin, kinda hard to get news way out there unless someone sends you a message.".

"Fair enough." Argo admitted with a shrug "Anyway, some of the stronger players are meeting on Tolbana next Friday to decide how to not only find the floor one boss but kill it. You gonna go?".

"Without a doubt," he said with a nod "I want to get out of this death game just as much as anyone else and if my skills can help with the boss raid then I'll definitely go.".

"That's good to hear," Argo said with a small grin "I don't think I'll join the boss raid though, my skills…aren't exactly suited for open combat.".

"I know Go," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, Alduin cooing and nuzzling her as well to show support "you're an information dealer, not a frontline fighter. I'd rather you stick with what your good at and stay safe than risk losing my honorary little sister.".

"Thanks guys." Argo said gratefully as she squeezed his hand and pet Alduin's scales.

"So," he changed the subject as he began eating, what was left, of his meal "Anyone else try to buy info about me off of you?".

"Every damn day." Argo laughed "Some asked about where you got Alduin, some about how you got the skill to handle Alduin, some asked me about your character's actual name, some asked what you look like, and one fan girl asked me to get them into where you live.".

"That last one…kinda creepy." He said wide eyed as Alduin bobbed his head in agreement. But did you answer any of them? Because I don't mind telling people how I got Alduin's egg or how I got the skill as that's actually not that hard to figure out.".

"I know, that's why I told them to figure it out on their own and now waste my time," Argo said with a shrug "I would have told them though if they actually offered me some decent Col, the prices they offered were laughable at best.".

"Figures," he said with a snort "most people will be cheapskates when they can and as the death game hasn't been going on all that long people haven't gotten a 'system' yet for pricing info. Anyway, has anyone else become a tamer through either method yet?".

"Nobody's found any eggs so far as I know," Argo answered in the negative "I also haven't head of a player feeding a monster that took interest in them.".

"Shame." He said with a small shrug before they pushed aside talk of business and simply enjoyed their meal together, both of them heading their separate ways after it was finished.