SAO: Comatose
Chapter 7
Time went on, and many things happened. I had taken a month to train, using the time to level up quite a bit before I had found out that something happened.
Kirito had a falling since our last meeting. I knew he was getting closer to one of the members of the guild he was a part of, they all died. And the one he started to grow close too, she died before his eyes. And it changed him.
He became distant. He stopped thinking about his own safety and became reckless. He took on heavy jobs that most wouldn't and fought as if he was asking for someone to end his life.
I saw it, during one of the last boss battle he charged in not monitoring his health and came dangerously close to the red zone but I managed step in and stop him before he killed himself.
But even then he ignored me, telling me to not get in his way as he tried to cut me down.
That was the last time I saw him, and it was a reminder to me why I was a solo player.
-Link Start-
"You know you're not the first one to ask for this information today." A player in a brown cloak told Aster as he was leaning against a wall while in a town that was surrounded by players that were enjoying themselves.
It was December 24th, and he was on the 49th floor which was a floor dedicated to winter. It's snowy mountain and snow covered forest.
"Just tell me was it him?" Aster asked, he had been watching the back of someone he considered a friend since his falling out a few months back.
"It was, he will be heading to this location later tonight if you want to meet him. But I don't think he'll take kind to it. After all, the last time you both meet it didn't end well." The information broker told him as Aster nodded knowing fully what had happened the last time he tried to talk with him.
"I know…"
(Flashback
"Get out of my way Aster, before I make you." Kirito said in a cold tone as he drew his sword from its sheath.
Aster just stood his ground, "Not until you see that what happened wasn't your fault." He told the player only to see a twitch in his eyes before he was forced to draw his own sword as it blocked his friends attack.
"I don't want to hear it Aster!" Kirito shouted as he started to unleash a torrent of slashes towards Aster who blocked each with some ease but one false move and it would only end badly. Kirito might not of been as strong as he was, but his reaction time was much higher than his as Aster started to lose some health.
"No! How long are you going to blame yourself for Sachi's death! For all of them! They knew what they were getting into! They knew the price! Everyone does! But you can't keep going on like this! You're going to get yourself killed!" Aster shouted back as he triggered something and Kirito started to attack more wildly as his attacks got stronger but Aster was able to block a strike and using his strength he pushed against Kirito's sword knocking the teen off balance before he began his assault and forcing Kirito on the defensive.
"What do you care?" He shouted trying to block Aster's strikes but was failing to block them all, "You didn't know them! You don't know what I'm going through!" Kirito cried out as Aster saw tears welling up in his eyes as he purposely moved his blade as Aster was about to land another hit which would have dealt a large amount of damage but the strike never landed as Aster stopped it just above his head.
"I know Kirito, more then you know." He told him, "You don't need to bare this burden alone." He said and for a moment he saw a light appear in Kirito's eyes, but it was quickly drawn back as he smacked Aster's sword away and started walking away.
"Don't talk to me again Aster. This is where we part ways." Kirito said as he walked away leaving Aster frustrated that he wasn't able to break through to his friend.
(Flashback End)
"But he would do the same for me if I was in his place. Besides he is someone I consider a friend, and I never leave a friend behind." Aster said as he started to walk away.
"You better hurry! It's almost time for the event to begin!" The broker shouted out as Aster lifted a hand and waved the player off.
The sound of laughing players enjoying themselves filled his ears, but right now it was anything but a joyous time for him. He was going to reach out to Kirito, even if he had to use for this time around.
He headed out of town and into the wild he traversed the wild until he came to the entrance of the dungeon where Kirito was going to be.
Entering through the portal, he shut his eyes and saw the path he needed to take, and as he opened his eyes as he took a single step before a resounding boom echoed around him as he ran through rach portal leading deeper into the dungeon before he heard the faint sounds of shouting and the sound of swords clashing against each other getting louder and louder.
He rushed through the next portal which led to an open field where on one side he noticed a familiar face, it was Klein and his guild of samurai's were fighting another guild and seemed to be struggling slightly.
"The Divine Dragon Alliance, just what I needed right now." Aster said to himself as he unsheathed his blade from his waist and before anyone could notice, his body disappeared leaving behind a loud boom in his wake.
"Did you hear that?" One of the DDA soldiers asked but before he could receive an answer, he's health dropped into the red zone as four red strikes appeared across his body.
"What the!?" One of the other guildsmen shouted next to him only to have the same outcome.
All across the field soldiers of the DDA began to fall to their knees as the a figure flashed between players that had fallen or where knocked back.
"What's going on?" One of Klein's guildsmen asked only to see a grin on his face as he knew what was going on.
"Been a while Klein. Getting up there with the rest of us I can see." Aster said as he appeared in a skidding motion next to said man which frightened his guild members slightly as Aster appeared out of thin air.
"Demon Eyes!" One of them shouted out in a panic before Klein laughed it off.
"Aster! You're here! We could use some help if you don't mind." Klein asked only to see half of the DDA behind Aster disappearing thanks to them using teleportation crystals, "Um, you've gotten stronger…again."
Aster clearly knowing this gave him a smirk as he turned around, "Think you can handle to the rest of them yourselves? I have something I need to take care off." He said rushing past them and through another portal which opened into a long pathway of trees.
It didn't take him long to find Kirito standing there just before a large pine tree which was located in the middle of the forest and happened to be the area where the event was going to take place.
"Kirito!" Aster shouted out only, the player turned around slowly to show his down casted expression that was not only angry but sad all as the same time.
"Aster…" His tone was dead, as if he had given up.
"You defeated the event boss by yourself already didn't you?" Aster asked only to see Kirito holding a small sliver trinket with a blue crystal in the middle of it, in his hand before he tossed it over to Aster who caught it and opened up the status on it.
"Divine Stone of Returning Soul, it can revive a recently fallen player, within ten seconds of death… Kirito don't tell me you've been trying too."
Kirito didn't say anything as he started to walk away, but as he was passing Aster, he reached out to him only to have his hand slapped away.
"Leave me alone Aster. I told you before I don't want to talk with you anymore." Kirito said in a dangerous tone but Aster didn't back down.
"Then when will you be able to Kirito? You can keep going on like this. You know that." Aster said clenching his fist as he stared at his friend who refused to make eye contact with him.
"Shut up." Kirito said unsheathing his sword, "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" He cried out as he swung his sound at Aster who blocked it with his own.
"I won't Kirito. You are my friend Kirito and I know that if you continue like this. I won't just stand by while you kill yourself."
"I never asked you for this! For any of this!" Kirito shouted at him as he pushed against Aster's sword but they were in a stand still.
"You don't have to, I told you once that I would help you whenever you needed me too. And I intend to do so, even if I need to beat some sense into that head of yours!" Aster shouted as he took one step forward and literally lifted Kirito off the ground as he was thrown backwards clearing a good 20 feet, but he landed on his feet with ease and raised his sword in time to block Aster's who's was on faster than he had expected.
"You're faster than before." Kirito said as he lashed out using his arts against Aster who blocked with a single hand.
"And I'm stronger too." He said as his sword began to glow a dark red before he slashed downwards cutting clean through Kirito's sword as it shattered into bits of light.
"Looks like you win the bet then, Aster." Kirito said as he felt the sharp end of Aster's sword in the crook of his neck.
Aster stared at Kirito for a moment before he pulled his sword away and clicked his tongue, "You're not the Kirito I once knew. You're just a shell of what he used to be." Aster said shaking his head as he removed his sword from Kirito's neck and sheathing it.
"I can only say the same thing over and over again before I start to lose my patience Kirito. You are my friend. More so then anyone I have ever known. But you need to stop this. I know you're better than this." Aster said but didn't get an answer.
He stood there for a moment just looking at Kirito before sighing and tossing the Divine Stone back to him, "This belongs to you. If you learn to grow out of this, I'll be expecting an apology from you."
"Why are you trying so hard Aster?" Kirito called out to him.
"You know why!" He replied without looking back, Aster headed back through the portal to find that Klein and his guild had held off the remaining DDA but looked exhausted. They were exhausted but alive.
"Good job Klein." Aster said ignoring the calls from said man as he took out a teleportation crystal and teleported back to the main town appearing near the square where he walked over to the floor teleport and entered it.
"Floor 1, Starting City." He called out as the teleporter took him and before he knew it he was standing just outside of the first floor teleporter.
"The last time I was here was a month ago. They're going to be mad at me for not coming sooner." Aster told himself as he noticed it was snowing here too for some reason. But then again it was the night before Christmas.
He started walking towards the one place he had learned to call home, though he wasn't really liked by the workers that helped out there. But the kids adored him and he had a sister there he needed to see. But his mind was still locked on Kirito.
"Why do you have to make things so difficult? Bastard." Aster cursed as he tried not to think about it but it was hard.
He had met Kirito on day one of the beta test. And since then, he had become good friends with him, though he liked to think of them as rivals at the same time. He was 2 years older than Kirito and though he would never admit it, he thought of him as a brother, and the bond only grew stronger when this death game started.
Which is why he tried so hard to help but he could only do so much with Kirito unwilling to accept his help.
"Aster? Aster is that you?"
Aster looked up at the call of his name to see a familiar face, "Sasha? Is that you?" Aster had to take a second look because he saw that she wasn't in her normal nun clothing that she was in, but in more normal clothing. She wore a peach colored sweater and a long brown blouse.
A smile grew on her face as she got closer to him and saw that it was indeed him.
"Aster!" She said coming to stop before him as the happy look on her face changed into a more serious one, "Where have you been!" She started saying as she pointed a finger at him and took a step closer in which he took one back as if trying to retreat from her incoming scolding he knew he was going to get.
He held up his hands, "In my defense I had something important to take care of, and I'm sorry for not stopping by sooner." He told her as she let out a sigh and shook her head.
"It's not me you should be apologizing too Aster." She said letting out a light chuckle as she looked him up and down, "You've changed again. So what level around you this time?" She asked him.
"72, and I'm close to leveling up again." He told her and she had to admit it was a great improvement.
"You've leveled up 12 times since we last saw you. That's an improvement."
"It's getting harder and harder to level up for me. I need to take on harder mobs or join the boss battles just to level up now." He said in defense but Sasha just grinned at him.
"Keep this up and you just might be able to free us from this game." She joked but for Aster it wasn't something to joke about.
"Yeah, one day." He gained this distant look on his face which she noticed quickly.
"But anyway, today isn't a day for you to worry about that. It's Christmas Eve!" She said getting a laugh out of Aster.
"That it is. But what are you doing out here? I thought you would be back at the Church with the kids." He asked and noticed the how she looked away and folder her arms under her chest.
"The other's thought I should take a break from all the work I've done. So they gave me the night off while they watch over the kids in my stead. But I don't really have anything to do. I don't have many friends besides the helpers and the kids. And when I do have the day off, I usually just wander around until it's time to head back." She said a little embarrassed to admit.
Aster couldn't help but chuckle at this, "So is that what you are doing now? Enjoying the night?" He asked and she just giggled and nodded her head.
"Well it is a nice night to be out on the town despite the shops being closed."
There was a short pause as Aster just thought about what to do before he asked, "Mind if I join you on your walk?" While he starched the back of his head and looked away from her.
Sasha just blinked before she giggled into her hand at how flustered Aster had looked on.
"I would like that." She said as he grinned and walked over to her side and the two started walking.
They did for a while, either speaking a word as they just enjoyed each other's company.
And somehow they ended up on one of the upper tiers of the city which had an overlook of most of the city which was lit up with Christmas lights and covered in a thin layer of snow. They weren't the only ones as it was sort of awkward because the people that were there were mostly couples holding each other close while down below there was a festival going on.
"It's looks beautiful." Sasha said as she took a liking to the view while Aster enjoyed it a bit more.
Over the time had spent at the Church he came to have a sort of affection for Sasha. He didn't know why, he just woke up one day and those feelings were there. He enjoyed being with her, even when they said nothing to each other. And he liked so much more about her.
"Yeah, it is." He said but he wasn't looking at the view as she was.
And just a few moments after, there was a loud bell that went off signaling that it was midnight.
"Merry Christmas Sasha." Aster told her as she turned to him and smiled.
"Merry Christmas too you too Aster." She said as there was a flash above their heads and this small plant with sharp leaves and a few red berries on it appeared above them.
"Eh? Mistletoe?" All around the city were these small rays of lights came to life as more and more mistletoe appeared.
"Uno, this is something else…" Aster said scratching his chin as he didn't know what to here.
Sasha didn't say anything but she was blushing, he could see that.
Looking around Aster saw that most of the players were, well.
"Um, I think we should go now." Aster said looking back to Sasha who was held a hand over her mouth which went unnoticed before she saw that Aster was looking right at her.
"Oh! I'm sorry Aster I didn't mean to space out like that. It's just." As she said the words, her blush became more refined on her face as Aster could see that she was embarrassed about what was happening to them.
"Don't worry about it. But what do you say we head back now?" He asked and agreed as they took their leave from the place and started heading back down towards the celebration.
People were celebrating that it was Christmas and Aster thought it was a much needed event since it gave some relief about the whole ordeal they were in.
"Try and keep up Sasha, looks like the crowd is getting bigger." Aster said to the woman behind him as they tried to push through the crowd only it was hard since people were moving around, music was playing and it felt as if they weren't stuck in a game anymore for a moment.
"Aster!" Spacing out for just a few seconds, he turned around to see that Sasha had disappeared from his side and was currently being pulled away in the crowd while she tried to get back but was losing ground fast.
Aster shook his head as he pushed through, reaching out and grabbing her hand before he pulled her towards him. Only he pulled a little too hard and she came crashing against him as he grabbed hold of her.
Their faces were mere inches away from each other. Aster could feel the warmth of her breath against his skin. And the feeling was vice versa. Sasha could fell the warmth from Aster's body and she had to admit, it felt nice.
"Sorry about that." Aster said as he was about to let go of her when he saw her rest her head against his chest. It was a foreign feeling for him but he didn't hate it.
"Don't be." She said to him as they stood there without a single care. As the world just seemed to pass them by, "Could we stay like this for just a bit longer?" She asked him.
Aster didn't answer her but she got her answer when he placed a hand on her shoulder keeping her in place.
And then he thought about something, Sasha had always been there for him when he needed someone to talk too, when he needed someone to be there for him. She was there.
They shared the moment just enjoying each other's company before there was a resounding cry from the crowd around them.
"Look!" Sasha said looking up as Aster looked above in the sky as lights moved around much like something he had seen before.
"An Aurora, now that's something else." He said moving away from Sasha as they looked up at the lights glowing in different colors across the night sky.
Aster felt something grab his hand, as he turned to his side and saw that Sasha had taken her hand in his own and gave him a gently smile.
"Let's go back home." She said to him as she started to walk forward, gently pulling him along with her.
Aster smiled at her as he said "Yeah, let's go home." But inside, he felt conflicting thoughts inside. He knew the truth that any day could be his last. That he could die at any given moment.
But right at this second, he could enjoy his time he had.
Though one day this would all come to an end, that much he knew was the true. And he would return to the real world.
"He doesn't have any family, and he has no memory prior to the accident."
"You've been in a coma for nearly 2 years ****-Kun. And I am sorry to say that you won't be moving around anytime soon."
"It's just something he going to have to live with being paralyzed."
He recalled the conversations he heard when he was still in the real world. But that was in the real world. And this was a completely new world.
One that where he didn't have to suffer the limitations of his body. Not that anyone knew the truth.
"I want to make new memories, here in this world." He said to himself.
"Hmm? Did you say something Aster?" Sasha asked as she turned to look at the player who had distant look in his eyes.
He shook his head, "No, it's nothing." He told her as she shrugged it off and they started walking again.
It wasn't until the next day that Aster received a messaged from Kirito saying that he wanted to meet with him.
Aster left before after giving his sister a visit, he felt bad that he couldn't talk with her since it had been a month since he last saw her. But he would make up for it.
"Take care of her Repede." He told the now much larger wolf. He had grown quite a lot since he last saw him. He gave a bark in response to Aster words before resting his head back on the bed where Claire was sleeping.
Taking his leave Aster traveled to the 49th floor where he traveled out into the wild to the location he was sent.
He had dealt with some monsters on the way but nothing to troubling for his level. And when he came closer to the place he was told to come to. He noticed it was a large clearing in the middle of the snow plains.
Walking out into the middle of it all, Aster stopped and honed in on his senses as he heard the soft footsteps of someone coming towards him.
He waited until the footsteps stopped near him before he called out, "You know. I was half expecting you not to show up." He said turning around to see Kirito standing there, only he looked different, he held his sword in his hand and looked ready to fight.
Aster humored him and unsheathed his own sword when he noticed the look on Kirito's face as he saw the teen charge him as he raised his sword blocking Kirito's sudden attack as this feral grin worked its way on Aster's face.
"Good to have you back, Kirito." He said as he looked into his friend's eyes and saw that they didn't have the same look as they did the night before. It was as if a light had been lit again as Aster saw the grin on Kirito's face but the teen didn't answer back.
"That's right, let's let out swords do the speaking." He said pulling back as they both charged each other the swords clashing against each other, and for a moment. Aster knew he had gotten his friend back.
-Link Error-
Been a long time since I lasted updated, but here it is. Trying my best to catch up on all of my fanfic's since I've been busy of the late, so enjoy this chapter while the next one should be up within a week's time! 3ndless out!
