Kirito stared at her reflection in the mirror.

She brought a hand up to touch her cheek.

It was ice cold and burned.

She was ruthless.

Kirito cut through the front lines with ease.

People called her «The Black Swordsman»

Kirito thought it was fitting. For she had truly become enshrouded in darkness.

If there was any light left, she could not see it.

Kirito heard his pleas.

The pleas of someone who lost everything and only wanted justice.

She was not a hero. But she would help someone in need.

She was not so far gone as to turn a blind eye.

She was 4 and she was crying. A bird lay in her front yard motionless. She didn't know why they didn't move but she knew that they would never fly again. A candle snuffed out from existence.

The forest was upon her.

The tall trees swaying from the wind whispered into her ears.

She was close.

A glint of red caught the corner of Kirito's eye.

She dashed ahead.

She was so close.

The group teleport crystal was already in her hand.

She tensed her legs and prepared to jump.

A scream echoed throughout the woods.

Kirito hesitated.

She grit her teeth.

Kirito ran off in the direction the scream came from.

The first thing that Kirito saw was a burst of light.

The light so reminiscent of a life taken.

But also so wrong. The life taken was not of a player, but also not of a mob. So what…?

Kirito had no time to ponder any further.

Her sword glinted beautifully as it cut through three different mobs.

An arc of red flashed through the air.

They were not human. But the look of surprise on the mobs faces were unmistakable.

Kirito was deaf to the sound of glass breaking.

The girl curled up at her feet stole her attention away.

Did she ever look like that? So small and fragile?

Kirito couldn't bring back the late Black cats. But she could bring back the friend of this girl.

If she could help this girl out, maybe, just maybe, she could redeem herself.

One step at a time.

The difference in demeanor when Kirito told the small girl that her familiar could be saved was like night and day.

The girl was bright and cheerful.

It reminded Kirito of her sister.

She wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

The first thing the girl called Silica did when they got back into town was take Kirito into a pastry shop.

When Kirito didn't order anything, Silica gave a pout and ordered an extra strawberry shortcake.

It tasted sweet and was gone all too fast

A rapidly approaching mane of red caught Kirito's eye.

Kirito's right hand twitched towards the hilt of her sword.

The mood was dark.

The red headed vixen had a way with words.

For Silica, the world seemed just a bit less colourful.

For Kirito, it just strengthened her resolve.

The 47th floor was one of beauty and romance.

It was filled with couples and lovers, all of them wanting to get away from the harsh reality of the death game.

But the air was stagnant.

The sun's rays didn't feel quite right on the skin.

The shadows were just a tad off.

For people who wanted to escape reality it was more than enough.

For Kirito it was the same as any other floor.

Cold and mechanical.

She was 6 and she was crying. Her best friend was moving. Her mother said it was unlikely that she would see her again. She didn't understand why she needed to leave, just that it had something to do with her friends cough that never seemed to go away.

Silica laughed.

The 47th floor was one out of a fairytale. With flowers as far as one could see.

A small breath of life after losing her best friend.

A small step forward.

Silica braced herself.

Kirito was on guard.

Despite being in a safe zone, constant vigilance was a virtue that she had built up during the time spent trapped.

Despite the smiles and laughs that Silica gave, she would continue being cautious.

If there was anything that Kirito knew, it was that somewhere on their path they would be ambushed.

Murderers think alike after all.

Bells rang.

A handsome man in black meets a beautiful woman in white.

The embrace was short but fulfilling.

People clapped.

Birds chirped.

Silica cheered.

Kirito watched in silence.

The slight warmth that permeated through the area slowly dispersed.

Coldness seeped in through the walls of the church.

Silica wondered if she would ever find someone she loved.

Kirito longed to feel that warmth again.

The brown haired girl turns and walks onto a stone path surrounded by flowers.

The black haired girl lingers a bit longer before catching up in several long strides.

"H-Hey Kirito?"

"Hm?"

"Why are you helping me?"

Because you remind me of my sister.

"Is it wrong to help others?"

Because I want to redeem myself

"Well it's just that usually people don't really go out of the way for others…"

Because you're the light in the midst of fog.

"Sometimes people just want to help"

Because I'm drowning.

Kirito slashed.

The admittedly not very life threatening monster burst into crystals and Silica fell to the ground.

Kirito sighed.

This was getting a bit more tedious than she would have liked.

She was 8 and she was crying. The cold wind stung as it battered against her face. Her best friend was gone forever. The concept of death was no longer a foreign idea to her. To have loved and lost at such an early age scarred her heart.

White roses surrounded the two.

The white of a new beginning.

The white of a new hope.

The white of someone taking their first steps forward.

Kirito slowed.

Their destination was close, and if they weren't ambushed there then it would be on the way back.

Whatever happens, she would be ready.

Like a candle, Silica's face lit up when they came upon a pedestal with a flower resting on top of it.

When Silica took the flower from the pedestal, as if someone flipped switch, the wind started to blow.

Birds flew up from trees in a wild chatter.

The sun's rays bore down upon both of them.

The pebbles beneath Kirito's feet suddenly became noticeable.

Things were alive.

And as quickly as things started, they died down.

The birds fell quiet.

The sun felt artificial.

The wind stopped.

"Kirito?"

Kirito stared.

"Kirito!"

She blinked.

"Kirito! If you don't stop ignoring me than I'm going to leave you behind!"

Kirito sighed.

It was just for a moment, but in that one moment everything lit up with colour.

She was 10 and she was crying. Everything she knew was turned upside in a single moment. Her mother was not her mother. Her sister was not her sister. In her mind, she was alone in this cold world.

Kirito scanned the horizon.

There was white everywhere.

"Shouldn't we stop and resurrect Pina here"

Kirito steeled herself for what she was about to do.

She kept walking.

Soon it would be over.

A bridge of stone.

A river full of rocks.

All surrounded by white.

Kirito stopped.

Silica stopped as well.

Silence filled the air.

Laughter.

She was 12 and she stood stoic. Words stung but ignorance dug deep. No matter how hard she tried her grandfather never gave her more than an offhanded remark. Winning it all felt like nothing. To be ignored by the only family she has left burned.

A red mane and a face of beauty.

Long black hair and ice cold eyes.

Forgettable thugs filled the area.

Axes drawn and swords held at ready.

A single black blade lay still sheathed.

Kirito breathed in.

She breathed out.

People like them could never hurt her.

They charged.

Kirito remained planted to the ground.

Silica screamed.

400 points of damage every 10 seconds.

650 health regained every 10 seconds.

Kirito released a breath she didn't know she took.

How disappointing.

With a flash, the unforgettable thugs were on the ground weapon less.

The red haired vixen however, still looked smug.

A gray coat raced towards the brown haired girl.

Kirito grit her teeth and leapt.

A black blade of death was held out.

A red line through the torso.

An anguished cry for help.

Crystals burst into the scene.

Silica was safe.

But her face was one of shock.

Murderer.

Kirito walked towards the vixen.

"You're no better than us you know?"

I know

"You killed him without any hesitation."

I know

"I bet you don't even feel anything about it."

Stop

"You're a monster."

Enough

Kirito raised the mass teleportation crystal and activated it.

With a flash of light the orange guild was gone.

The sound of crystal activation echoed behind her.

Kirito turned.

No one was there.

Silica teleported away.

She was 14 and she stood strong. She didn't cry even when she was stuck in a never ending death game. Because she knew that if she started, she would never stop.

Kirito took a shaky breath.

Her whole body was shaking.

She killed someone.

She murdered someone.

Kirito crouched down to the white roses.

The innocent white roses who looked as if nothing ever happened.

A pure white.

To Kirito they were stained red.

Kirito stood.

She took a breath and walked away, cursor as green as can be.

Start: 2/6/17

End: 4/27/17

Words: 1605