One Month later...
The Fluffy Boar was one of the few establishments that was a decent meeting place. Ran by a family of NPCs with a odd addiction to stuffed animals and SAO's version of silken tofu. It was a little dingy and gaudy with its fluffy decor, but no one complained. Even after one month, the second floor hadn't been found and The Fluffy Boar was among the best taverns, being a few feet from the market area.
Like many other days, it was being occupied by a guild. Usually celebrating a level milestone for one of its members or a successful hunt. In this case the guild Takeo was in, the Starlights. "Cheers!", the six members cried in unison, holding their cup of whatever they choose to drink. Takeo drank his fruit juice in one shot and looked around the table.
Ryo sat on one side near Takeo and Tomomi sat to his left and was wearing mostly blue-gray chainmail under a long, flowing dark blue robe, a hatchet hung loosely at her side. Across from them were Seto and Peon. Seto was a tall boy, with an aristocratic air around him. He wore a pristine white cloak with tan belts crossing his chest which he made habit to thoroughly clean after every hunt. Peon was short, but very strong. His low-level steel armor weighed more than everyone else's armor combined (and comically more than his own body weight). His armor had black trimmings on the edges and a mace hung at each leg. Although, they were more like small metal bats with gruesome looking spikes.
"So what's the plan for tomorrow chief?", Peon asked Ryo, who was still chugging heavily diluted saki.
"Well *hic*, excuse me, Tak and I are going the meeting on the boss raid party.", Ryo replied
"Good idea Ryo-kun, but...", Seto said in his rich-boy manner.
"What are we suppose to do?", Yuna yelled across the table, "Wait here and hope something interesting happens."
Yun was a girl that Takeo felt like was more of his type. She had grey tanktop with a long, diamond shaped blue design. Her shirt's "sleeves" appeared to be hooked right below her shoulder and a short, black skirt with light blue folds that went down right above her knees. Her shirt alos had the same outline around the edges. Her eyes were the same light blue and her light blue hair drooped down all the way to her waist and was separated into two ponytails that hung on either side of her head. It was both interesting and creepy how all the blue in her outfit was the same color sometimes.
"That isn't the case Yuna-kun.", Seto said, again in a calming voice, "I believe that Tomomi-kun is taking the rest of us on a multi-day hunting trip to the more remote parts of the southern plains."
"Well,", Yuna said in a quieter voice, "Why do they get to go boss fighting?"
"Since we're the highest levels and have the best gear.", Takeo said, while filing his own cup.
Takeo looked at Ryo. He was wearing a Redforged Metal breast plate that was reminiscent of a red-velvet-colored bullet proof vest without the pockets, under it he wore a long robe of a more blood red. He had black shoulder guards and knee favorite weapon wasn't there though as Takeo sent both his sword and Ryo's to a nearby blacksmith for sharpening.
Ryo did the same examination to Takeo. Takeo wore a grey, steel-plate leggings and arm guards. in a way it was like a gladiator. His torso was occupied by a breastplate that was the same as Ryo's but in a deep, sea blue. Black fingerless gloves were gripping the cup that Takeo was drinking out of. His shield was attached to his back by a strip of leather. It was legionary-styled down to the red base and yellow decal, hell, it even had the letters "SPQR" on it.
"Don't worry people we'll tell you the stories afterwards.", Ryo grinned sarcastically, "But until then, bed."
Everyone obediently shuffled to the rooms that had been rented. As the inn was rather full a lot of the time, they had at least two people per room. As per usual, Ryo and Tomomi got cozy together. Seito and Peon in a room and finally Takeo and Yuna in a room. Takeo, who bore a crush on Yuna, found it slightly awkward. He open the wooden door and immediately proceed to flopped over on the nearest couch.
"Get up Takeo-chan.", Yuna said letting her hair down.
"Why?", Takeo muffled through the couch cushion, "The showers are already booked and besides you're not my mom."
Takeo thought his jib was clever but it only earned him a the hilt of Yuna's spear as she said, "Stupid tofu."
"Tofu?", Takeo asked as he rubbed the red dot that appeared on the back of the head.
"Evidently, its the same stuff as your brain.", Yuna said turning her back on him.
Takeo respond in a half serious rage, "H-hey! If you're going to call me Tofu I'll call you... uhmm...", Takeo thought for a second, "I'm gonna call you Yama."
Yuna gave a combination of a naughty smile and an unimpressed expression as walk out the door to the shower, "Yama", she muttered, "Honestly".
Takeo smiled to himself as punched the couch pillow and tried to think of something to do. Nothing immediate came to mind. Looking at the time, it would be awhile till he would fall asleep. His insomnia would lose in the end, after a good three hours. Takeo sat up and clutched his head with his hands, wondering what to do. In a spur-of-the-moment-teenaged-perviness he thought of trying to get an invisibility potion and watch Yuna take a shower. But he immediately squashed that devil inside of him and decided to take a walk, straying far away from the showers.
He opened the door to get out and was greeted by a comically oversized pink cow to the face. An NPC child soon came running behind him and was chased by her mother whose face looked like she had fallen asleep in a bucket of silken tofu..
Takeo just stood there in a shocked way, Seito materialized behind him clutching a potted plant, "Locals are friendly, eh Takeo-kun?"
"Shut it rich-boy.", Takeo replied before promptly smashing the plant with his fist and leaving a moaning Seito to clean it up, "It cost a fortune..."
Takeo continued his walk down the hall, and thought of various things on his way (he made sure to steer clear of any thoughts pertaining to Yuna). Most of the dozen rooms had their doors shut so eavesdropping couldn't entertain him. But on his second loop around the upper level of the inn, he heard familiar voices that sailed out of a door that was left ajar.
"...so at level 5 the lovers pact will go into effect."
"Yes but what about the guild?"
Takeo's jaw dropped as the voice's belonged to Tomomi and Ryo. But they were talking his very lowered and solemn voices. A spark hit the inside of his brain and linked this to the first day of being trapped in this giant death game.
"If worrying about Takeo, don't. He can live on his own for a little with out us."
"Well, the little midget does kinda look up to me."
"Than its time for him to spread his wings and fly, besides we don't even know if death here really mean death on the other side."
"But still...", his voice quivered.
"But who is lover, hmm? Takeo or me?", the was a slight pause in Tomomi's voice, "Speaking of lover's pact, let's get started on the "lover's", shall we?"
"Tomomi, you...", Ryo started with his voice rising.
Ryo last words were drowned out by a loud thud of someone landing onto a bed. Takeo got bored and headed back towards his room. The walk seemed much longer than it had been. Maybe it was what he just hear from two of his best friends. Or maybe it was just the fruit juice he drank, the NPC bartender did warn after his eight drink that it can cause "temporary" brain damage. What is this business of a "lover's pact" between Ryo Tomomi, it does seem fishy but also foreseeable, Takeo thought while rounding a curve, level 5, level 5. It must go with the pact in some way. Perhaps Yuna will know more.
With whatever was in his drink, Takeo collapsed onto the couch not bothering to see what was on it. It felt so soft and cool, Takeo didn't remember the pillow to be so comfy, nor did he expect his pillow to scream. "KKKKYYAAA?!" Turns out Yuna got back wearing a white embroidered nightgown that was more like a dress and was on the couch, waiting, and Takeo planted his head in her lap.
"S-so so-sorry, Y-yuna.", Takeo flopped to the floor and backed into a wall, his face blushing fifty shades of red and pink that he didn't know existed.
"Really? Do you bother using your eyes?", Yuna raged over Takeo, threatening him with her towel.
"I'm sorry! I'll do something to compensate!"
Yuna raised an eyebrow, "Anything?"
"Yes!"
"Fine then, sing. And record it."
Takeo swallowed a hard lump in his throat. He never like singing and the last time his tried he was about 6. He scouted his mind for a song, but all he could think of was an old song he heard a while ago. As he stood up, he prepared to deliver a singing sensation that would be, at least in his mind, worst than a drunk howler monkey's mating call.
Yuna pulled out a recording crystal and activated. Takeo cleared his throat, closed his eyes and started,
"When life leaves you high and dry
I'll be at your door tonight
If you need help, if you need help.
I'll shut down the city lights,
I'll lie, cheat, I'll beg and bribe
To make you well, to make you well.
When enemies are at your door
I'll carry you away from war
If you need help, if you need help.
Your hope dangling by a string
I'll share in your suffering
To make you well, to make you well.
Give me reasons to believe
That you would do the same for me."
His voice didn't sound half as bad as his six year old singing voice to him. But he didn't dare open his eyes to see Yuna's face. Screw it, he thought, if Yuna's bleeding from the ears, it'll be her fault. Takeo finally opened his eyes but kept singing. He couldn't believe what he saw and Yuna's face. She was sitting there, transfixed. Looks like my sing isn't bad, Takeo thought with a grin growing on his face,
"And I would do it for you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on
I love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I love you long after you're gone
And long after you're gone, gone, gone.
When you fall like a statue
I'm gon' be there to catch you
Put you on your feet, you on your feet.
And if your well is empty
Not a thing will prevent me.
Tell me what you need, what do you need?
I surrender honestly.
You've always done the same for me.
So I would do it for you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on,
I love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I love you long after you're gone
And long after you're gone, gone, gone."
Takeo was now in the homestretch and sang with a vastly better moral than he started with. He was sure he was going to blow Yuna back more than midget with an elephant rifle,
"You're my back bone.
You're my cornerstone.
You're my crutch when my legs stop moving.
You're my head start.
You're my rugged heart.
You're the poultice that I've always needed.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum my heart never stops beating...
For you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on.
I love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
Baby, I'm not moving on,
I love you long after you're gone.
For you, for you.
You will never sleep alone.
I love you long, long after you're gone.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum, baby, don't stop beating.
Like a drum my heart never stops beating for you.
And long after you're gone, gone, gone.
I love you long after you're gone, gone, gone."
Takeo was finally finished. He took a deep breath and looked at Yuna. Her jaw was just about on the ground and her light blue eyes were slanted. Takeo guessed she was in a mix of shell shock and awe and maybe stuck in a "WTF?" moment. But she wasn't moving at any rate, even after having a really awkward staring contest with Takeo for the past five minutes. So Takeo decided to carry her into her bed (he would be braving the horrors of sleeping on a couch).
He picked her up and walked towards the bed. Her aqua blue hair trailed behind her and smelled of both lavender and frozen fruit, both of which Takeo found very pleasant. He gently placed her on the bed, placed the very fuzzy pink pillow beneath her head, and tucked the furry white blanket over her. Before he left and turned out the lights, Takeo closed her eyes and kissed her on her forehead. Hopefully she wouldn't notice.
Takeo sat back down on the couch and flopped over. Tonight, unlike most nights, his head was clear. He closed his eyes and awaited departure to daybreak. He also won a victory over his insomnia, it only took him two hours and fifty-nine minutes to fall asleep.
Author Notes
If you're wondering why I didn't use the Japanese names ending, its because Tomomi, Ryo, and Takeo already know each other enough to the point of not using them. Liz on the other hand was just to shock to care about it.
The Lyrics are from a song called "gone, gone, gone" by Phillip Phillips, all credit goes to those who deserve it
I'm currently trying to find a way to post the pictures I have drawn for Takeo and Yuna. And if you managed to find that Yuna's appearance is based on Hatsune Miku before reading this, +10 awesome-sauce points to you good sir/madam.
Thanks to all who have read thus far and have bared with the fact I don't update a lot. I'm blaming it on school.
~Steam