Long Time No See! University happened and grown very bored writing this fic and others as you can see. I'm trying but I'm my own worst critic. Those waiting for two years, got a treat for you.

One last note, deepest respect fr Lunar Wave for beta reading this after two years of inactivity on my part.

Enough of these Author Notes, let's get straight to the bulk, I'm sure people been waiting too long.

January 28th, 2024

It's morning time, the sun rising over the horizon and beaming down. Funny how this game can mimic real life. I never thought near the future would we all get to experience such a thing. It should be a blessing.

However, the situation we're thrown in makes this a dangerous game to be a part of. I can't imagine how many people have lost their lives. Everyone trying to live and continue their journey or getting a bad run in. Or a set trap thrown in by a chest.

...

I'm still not over it. I'm back a second time and I grew courage to prove to myself I'm a fighter. I'm powerful enough to fight alongside a leader. Even then, I can't help it, I'm scared of death. I can't imagine what happens a second time. Will I fall victim like Ducker and Tetsuo? I can't...I want to succeed.

I'm lost in my thoughts, grabbing my knees to my chest in hopes of comfort. Beating the game to return to my life, to live my life for the sake of my old friends is what I hope to accomplish. But, I can't eliminate the sorrow filling my heart, knowing a mistimed move or error makes my efforts for naught.

Neku's strong, maybe on par with Kirito last time I checked. Ironic, they're the same personality in different bodies. I don't know what flipped the switch inside him to help when he was ready to ditch his partner and everyone to succeed by himself. Now he's my partner.

I'm stuck making a facade of confidence and reassurance. Fake it till you make it is what I'm hoping comes. I take a deep breath, contemplating how things will go today. Sitting on a park bench and my partner too busy sleeping.

"Sachi."

I turn my head to the speaker, my partner contradicting my last thought.

"Neku."

"Looks like you're ready to head off."

No, I'm not, quite the opposite. I'm unsure where to go. If we win, what's left? I can't shake this terrible feeling, caught in the cross roads. Only now do I realize it while climbing up floors.

"I'm okay, was waiting for you to be ready. I knew you'd be awake at some point, prepared to fight today."

Such a terrible lie

"We're heading off towards the forest. The enemies will spawn and if we finish quickly, we can horde the experience prior to others getting a chance."

The confidence he has and the drive to win is something I've rarely witnessed. He doesn't fight for the fun or it seems fate is against him. He's working with the cards dealt. Yet, the same cards transformed to a flush under his powers. I glance upward to check my level, seeing Neku below. He's higher than me, by a strong margin. He always have my back, protecting and making sure I live.

"Guess we won't have a break huh? Any news on the latest floor clearance?"

"Not at all, they might hold a meeting in the days coming and formulate a group. I'll be there fighting and coming out on top. You can count on it." The confidence he shares and the smile made it certain he'll come out on top.

I reflexively smiled back and got up from the bench, patting the armor and facing him. "Alright, let's head off."

I'm frightened.

My health's redlining again.

Heading into the forest to farm sounded great but here we are, ambushed in circles. I can fight them one by one but not in a pack. Wolves snarled, showing their teeth. Their crimson fur matching the blood lust to take out anyone overstepping their boundaries. I try to concentrate but my heart speeds up, my emotions are getting the best of me, just like my death. Neku has his hands filled too, a strategic row waiting for him to slip up and bring on a flurry of blows.

I hold onto my spear, the weapon I use to keep monsters at bay. Frozen in place and feeling Deja Vu, I'm trembling to make an action.

"Sachi, hold on!"

Neku's doing his best to beat the game but at the same time he's getting injured while I'm the one at fault.

Unable to take action, the wolf leaps off, hoping to send me off to a fate I've managed to avoid once. Surely not twice. I take a weak step back, my hands shaking at what might occur.

I'm sorry, I'm not made out for this. I close my eyes, expecting another painful blow to strike me, one of the many I've endured in a game I'm clearly not meant for. Who was I kidding?

I hear nothing, and the snarls ended. I open to see the results

Neku couldn't have defeated every single wolves in time to save me unless he's willing to endanger himself.

My assumptions were correct, a different figure stood before me.

"That was a close one wasn't it?" The teen turned around, flashing a smirk and a calm exterior to contrast my nerves.

I couldn't say a word, almost paralyzed to make a response.

"You looked defeated, ready to call it quits. If this is your choice of suicide, what a way to go out.."

...

What?

His words while honest, were too brutal to take anything from it.

"Sachi, you okay?" I turn around, Neku handing me a potion to heal my life. "I'm sorry for getting you into a jam, I'd lost it if you died. I can't have it happen again."

"Oh? Are you two lovers?" His eye brows raised in trying to decipher what me and Neku were. My cheeks burned by his claim and I try to deny anything. Neku only stared down the person who saved me on my end.

"Who are you anyways?" His smirk showed he's been waiting for the question to pop up.

"Josuha. I was taking a casual step through the woods. Who knew I'd see a damsel in distress. Especially one ready to call it quits. The first save's free, next time I'll have to charge."

His wit lacks cushion and is enforced in making negative statements to those around him.

"Look, we appreciate your help...Joshua."

"No problems, only one thing I must ask of you both."

I raise my head at this so called request, gazing at the one who spared me.

"And what would that be?"

"Your friend codes, that's all. I have a small group and I wish to expand it further."

"How can we trust you?'

Neku brings up a valid point. Other than saving me, there's nothing separating him from a player withholding malicious intent.

"You don't, I'm only giving forth a request."

I figured he would validate his point but he did the exact opposite. He sure placed himself out there.

...

"No."

My partner won't tolerate such shady business no matter how many hoops he leaps to validate himself. I could do nothing but listen, feeling like a third party to this. Even from the rejection, the man wouldn't budge or frown. Frankly, he smiled at this.

"Aw, playing hard to get? The least you can hand me are names, so it won't be strange when we meet again."

I don't understand him and his sense of humor, if it's what he's aiming for?

"I gave you an answer, and the same for my partner, we're leaving now, thank you for your help."

My wrist was grasped, signifying it was time to leave and follow. He sure didn't feel safe or comfortable around him, like he's an enemy.

After separating and not finding the boy following us, more he returned to his path, I had to ask him.

"Neku."

"Yeah?"

"Why don't you trust him?"

He stopped his pace and turned to look at me.

"There's someone going around, killing players, no news exactly on whom but there's been a rampant streak going on for the past month. Only clues given was silver hair."

Killing players?

My heart sank, thinking the monsters were the only problems to face. Someone is going around attacking players? Killing them?! Though silver hair's a vague clue, my mind grows suspicious.

...

"I can't trust him, or trust others. There's too much at stake to be blindsided."

This feeling sinks down to my stomach, my intuition saying Joshua's innocent. And his words strike through my beliefs, arrows pinning my ideals and asking what now. I hate being useless, being someone who drags a team down. That's all I was ever good at, spring boarding off my deceased friends and fitting in. I'm not doing anything different when I died and put effort into this fake attempt to grow stronger

...

Enough!

"I want to use a sword."

"Hm?"

"I'm switching to a sword. Tetsuo wanted me to use one, to assist my team but I couldn't face my fears at this time. Even with a spear, I am no different. If I wish to live, no, survive in this game, I shouldn't run away."

Running away from my fears was the reason I died in the first place, the reason I acted as some mascot or some damsel in distress to my friends. I was dead weight, even if they wouldn't admit it. Neku's trying to help me and there's progress but what happened just now, I can't stomach it if we continue and I die in vain once more, meeting halfway and not following through.

"Are you su-"

"I'm positive." I will not tolerate bringing down anyone else. I won't accept it anymore. I don't want to play the sympathy card anymore. I wish to be strong,

Neku stares for a few seconds before nodding, catching my resolve. He shows me something I haven't seen since I met him, even after saving me.

Respect.

"Hey, what took you so long Joshua?"

"Oh? I met a pair down the road, I couldn't help but be intrigued by their presence. Apologies." He shrugged his shoulders, unapologetic to his tardiness and the time his partner owns. "I wished I gotten their names though."

"We need to hurry, we have to clear the top floor in the boss raid." The player raised up, holding his sword behind him.

"Whatever you say...Kirito." The teenager smirked, eyeing him up and down once he turned around, drawing his sword too. After meeting up on previous floors, both players recognized their talents. The Black Swordsman tried to play it solo but Joshua persuaded him, commenting he can't do all this work alone. What lies, Joshua didn't wish to do everything himself, latching onto the closest, prosperous player around.

What a catch.

As they walked, the famed swordsman posed a question.

"By the way, I've heard there were player killings going on from an informant, you wouldn't happen to know anything about this do you?"

"Suspecting your own partner Kirito?" Sighs of disappointment left his mouth, looking aloof. "My, you are as heartless as the player I've met down the road. If I wanted to kill players, wouldn't I have a red marker above my name?" The suspecting player only looked away, not answering his question. Trust seems to be nonexistent.

"Keep your eyes open." Kirito informed Joshua as they headed for their destination. Joshua only eyed his partner and kept his distance.

"Right back at ya."