Shield And Swords

Chapter 7—The 'System'

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Original Title: Sword Art Online(ソードアート・オンライン)

Original Concept by: Kawahara Reki

written by: wrathie


Author's Notes: Ahhh.. I should retcon the part about the Guild thing. Let's just have the Word of God from the Author that the level problem is totally retconned magically, somehow!

This is the final chapter of the first arc of 'Shield and Swords', I can't promise how long the rest of the story would be, or how many arcs there are. I think it'll depend on how the next two scenes work out.

Thank you, bowpurity for the beta!


..

Klein and his buddies had spent the entire dinner teasing the two of them and about their relationship. It was true that Kirito viewed Sachi as special, and he really cared for her.

But what about her? What did she feel? It wasn't that he was not brave enough to confess to her, but was this really the right time? Heck, was confessing in SAO the right time at all in the first place? Kirito didn't know, and even if he had faith that Sachi felt the same for him, he didn't feel that this was the right time. Especially since the [Black Cats of the Full Moon] was lost, they had died... and there was only the two of them, with the surprising addition of Argo into the guild.

Argo had pointedly ignored or had simply redirected any queries that anyone had on why she joined their guild, and from how Sachi had not said much at all during dinner, Kirito wasn't going to have much luck in that avenue as well.

Kirito was also glad that the [Fuurinkazan] had dinner with them after all, since Sachi was as quiet as always, and Argo seemed to be busy as well as in her own thoughts, Kirito knew dinner time was going to be very awkward. With them around however, he was able to at least partially replicate what had always been the bonding moment for the [Black Cats of the Full Moon]. The only exception was how there was the noticeable lack of alcohol during dinner. Keita really liked alcohol, and as result dinner-time could get a little out of control with his tendencies to get a little drunk.

The few times he had gotten Sachi to drink, the poor girl had been unable to cope with the alcohol and had ended up sleeping on his lap instead, much to his embarrassment.

Thankfully it didn't happen, even if Argo did usher Sachi up relatively for the girl to rest, leaving the rest of the guys behind to chat about things going on in SAO.

Kirito was also glad that Klein didn't ask him about what had happened to the [Cats of the Full Moon]. Argo had been an exception as she had been taking care of him for the entire time, but Klein, despite him being a good friend and someone who probably deserved to know, it was still hard.

It might take a while, but Kirito promised Klein that he would tell him what happened eventually, something that his friend accepted.

..

Of course, the conversation had eventually turned back to battles in the front line. Since Kirito had left the front lines for quite a while, he was unaware that they were going to challenge the 48th boss soon, and that they would really could use his help in the front-lines right now.

The Black Swordsman had always been present during all of their boss fights, but since his disappearance from the front-lines for the last two months, his presence had been surprisingly missed. Kirito assumed that it was due to his solo nature that he was able to cover more ground, fight harder, and to grind at areas longer than the average party could, much to their chagrin.

It was also true that he by himself was a formidable force to reckon with, and with all those factors, with him participating in the boss battle for the 48th floor was always a given.

But now that Klein saw what had happened, he felt that it was better to ask Kirito first. Even if the front-liners still held some resentment for the beaters, it was also true that most of the beaters had became one of them, aligned to the few top guilds or within the Clearer groups that had formed ever since the losses in the 25th floor.

Kirito was also one the only few solo players who were in the front lines. The others were either recruited, or were in the midst of being recruited by the top guilds even as they speak.

It was because Kirito had laid low and disappeared before the radar before the recruitment drive could kick off that he was spared.

Klein knew that Kirito would probably brush off everyone, but it was still something he should know about.

As expected, Kirito had no interest in joining another guild, or even to split up from the guild that he belonged to. He was the highest level in the guild after all, and even if Sachi's level was quite decent, it was still a little lower than what was accepted in the clearer group. Argo was an exception, people would die to recruit her into a guild due to her information gathering. But knowing Kirito, even if Argo was part of his guild, he wouldn't force her to do anything and she would continue free-lancing per the norm. It was probably for the best too, but Klein still gave Kirito a friendly warning about how things would change soon if he left the front-lines for too long.

..

'The atmosphere there is getting bad... there aren't people dying yet... but the guilds are fighting amongst themselves... I reckon we'll see a fight break up soon amongst them, power struggles and all that... that'll make it harder for the clearer group to work together. You know of Heathcliff? The leader of the Knights of the Blood? He's trying his best to keep things calm, but... some people just don't like to follow orders from others.'

..

It was a lot to take in at once, and Kirito had spent some time thinking about his options before falling asleep. That was why, despite it being very late at night when someone knocked on his door, he was able to answer the door almost immediately.

Was it also due to how he had done so many times, or was he simply waiting for the inevitable moment when Sachi would seek him out again to talk.

'Sachi...'

Whatever Kirito wanted to say to Sachi was lost as he froze where he stood, staring at Sachi, who simply blushed before slipping into the room uninvited to stand behind him.

Kirito, for his part, could only swallow nervously as he closed the door behind him numbly. The reason for his shock was what Sachi was wearing at the door when he greeted her, or rather, the lack of what Sachi was wearing as he turned to look at Sachi again.

She was wearing nothing more than a little purple nightgown, as she looked down at her feet nervously.

'S-Sachi... W-What are you doing...?'

Kirito asked dumbly even as Sachi flushed even more. There was no mistaking what Sachi was thinking, but Kirito's mind couldn't really accept what was going on. This was Sachi, this the shy girl that he liked, and right now, was the very attractive woman in front of him that was now touching his hands, before reaching up to caress his cheeks.

That small action was enough to cause Kirito to blush redder than before, and despite him having the willpower to pull his straying gaze away from her, it wasn't enough to make him push Sachi away either.

'K-Kirito-kun.'

Sachi finally spoke, and her soft voice made Kirito swallow again in nervousness as she made him look down at him again by softly guiding his chin with her fingers. Her fingers felt soft, and when Sachi took a step forward towards him, Kirito did the opposite, backing away from her. They repeated themselves till Kirito found himself pressed against the door even as Sachi slowly rested her face against his chest, and then subsequently the rest of her body on him as well.

Literally pinned to the wall by Sachi, Kirito knew instinctively that if he wanted to, he could push her away and demand answers from Sachi as to what this was about. But he was a guy after all, and Sachi was a very attractive girl to Kirito.

So he kept still even as Sachi nuzzled against his chest softly for comfort, and even if Kirito knew that it would feel much better if they were on a bed now, he wanted to banish those thoughts away from his mind immediately upon thinking about it. This was both heaven and hell for Kirito.

..

After some time, which to Kirito was an eternity, Sachi looked up to him, her eyes showing relief before she spoke his name again.

'Kirito-kun... I-I'm so glad...'

'… Sachi?'

'I'm glad... that you didn't push me away... that you didn't give up... Kirito-kun, you're... amazing as always.'

Sachi spoke softly even as she moved away from Kirito, her hands trailing down his sides till she was just standing in front of him, her eyes looking down again as she confessed to him.

'I'm not, I... I failed you, and Kieta... and everyone else. I lied to everyone, Sachi.'

'I knew of your real strength, Kirito-kun... One night, when you thought that I was asleep, I saw you looking at your status screen...'

'Sachi...'

'So... it wasn't your fault... and Kirito-kun, you used your full strength when we fell into the trap didn't you? I... it was not your fault, Kirito-kun... It... was our...'

Sachi paused, and Kirito was there in a heartbeat, resting a hand on her shoulders even as she struggled to continue. Kirito wanted to tell her to stop, but she had raised a finger to his lip before she shook his head at him.

'L-Let me finish, Kirito-kun... Please?'

Kirito wanted to say no, because it would hurt, it would definitely hurt the two of them if she said it so bluntly. But he vastly underestimated Sachi who simply took a deep breath and said that it was their fault.

'It was our fault. We... were too confident, we didn't think about what would happen. Yes, Kirito-kun, it was our fault and...and I don't want you to say so otherwise.'

Sachi's eyes had gotten hard, and her voice had the same effect. Sachi had obviously thought this true long before she had knocked on the door, and for some reason, Kirito couldn't help but inhale again at how beautiful Sachi was now.

'We didn't believe Kirito-kun, we... believed that we would be fine... because we treated this like a game.'

This time Kirito did react, for that wasn't true at all. They were in a death game, where people died, and where you lose, you died.

'Sachi, s-stop!'

'I have to say this, Kirito-kun... it's the truth... we... are treating this like a game. We didn't believe we would die... and even if I was scared of it... scared of dying, I..., no we... we were all guilty of it... Sword Art Online, it isn't a game, it just isn't...'

Sachi's hold on Kirito was getting tighter than ever, and Kirito could feel her trembling, only this time it's not in fear, it was in anger.

'But the system treats it like a game, Kirito-kun. If there is someone at fault, it's the system.'

'T-The system?'

Kirito was right to be confused, for he had no idea what Sachi was talking about. Sachi however, sounded and looked confident as she continued with a very sad smile on her face that slowly turned grim as she spoke slowly.

'The system... is... SAO, Kirito-kun... we're... fighting for our lives... but the system, treats us like the monsters that we are fighting... everything is predetermined, everything... is about numbers, everything, from how we die, and how we win... and how we fight... how much of it, is controlled by the system? We... even if, even if we know it's not a game... we are already playing a game... SAO is a game, Kirito-kun... and right now, we are still playing it... That's what killed Keita, Ducker... everyone. We died because of the system, because we followed it blindly, and... I... I can't accept that. I refuse to... refuse to believe that, to accept that... their deaths are meaningless.'

Kirito couldn't fully follow what Sachi meant about what the 'system' was, and why it made their friend's death meaningless till Sachi continued.

'K-Kirito-kun... I... when I was fighting by myself, when... I was getting better... I asked myself. What made me different from the monsters that I killed, in the end... I couldn't find any difference. Do we have somewhere to go after all? What if all this was a lie? What if... we didn't exist? What if all our memories were a lie... things like that. Aha...'

That was enough to cause Kirito to pull Sachi into a hug, to run a hand through her hair as she asked her what was she thinking to ever come up with that conclusion. It was wrong, they were living, breathing people and even he could remember what his family was like, what he had lost, everything!

'We ARE alive, Sachi, we will escape this, and we will go back to the real world. I.. I promised you, and I will make it happen.'

Kirito's panicked eyes, as well as how he tried to reassure her was a huge relief to Sachi, who giggled softly even as she hugged him back lightly, her hands wrapping around his waist tightly and not letting go.

'I don't doubt that, Kirito-kun is strong, stronger then I could ever imagine... but to the system, we are the same. We... are alive, but so are they. They live... and they die in the same manner as us... we are nothing but data here, we... our minds are connected to the Nervegear, and the only difference we have is that our real bodies are in control, and the monsters are controlled by SAO... I... thought so hard about it, and I could only come up with this answer. All of us... we have... been playing a game after all. A cruel, insane... and stupid game by a mad man.'

..

Sachi's voice had grown cold, hard, and was filled with anger at the end. Kirito didn't blame her, after listening to Sachi's explanation as well as her thought process, even he was mad. Mad because it made sense, and it might be the truth after all. So what if he was good at the game, what he was getting stronger, and better, and was at the top of the Clearers? Sachi was right, they were all playing a game to the system. The system of SAO, whatever it was, calculated everything by numbers after all. Kirito himself knew how important, and how big a difference levels and numbers in essence were in games. If a game implemented a Levelling system, the only difference one needs was the difference in levels. No matter how strong he gets, there would always be something better than him in SAO, a program, a monster, someone else, because the system decides so. Even if he was better at a sword, even if he might have better strategies, it might all be undone because of the differences in numbers.

Just like how Kirito was able to help Sachi escape the alarm trap, his level was so much higher than the monsters that attacked them that he could ignore them when they attacked him.

This was similar to how he believed that even if he did not interfere earlier, Sachi would still be able to get free of the Soldier Ant eventually.

That... was what Sachi meant, and that revelation was enough to cause Kirito's knees to weaken, and for Sachi to be his support instead.

..

Kirito didn't realize that they were on his bed before it was too late, and Sachi was now straddling him, her legs beside him and keeping them there even as she looked down at him. Her face was flushed, and there was no doubt that his was too as Sachi apologized to him and thanked him as well.

'I'm sorry for telling you all that, Kirito-kun... but... but I just wanted you to know what...what I feel, what I thought about when everyone died... It hurts, it still hurts, and it would forever hurt... but Kirito-kun, I... I don't want it to end like this. So please, Kirito-kun... will you keep your promise? Won't you promise me again? That you would save me, that you would help me, and all of us from this mad world?'

Kirito could remember when he had made that promise to her, and how it had made her eyes light up in relief, like she was been saved. She was desperate then, unable to go on without something to cling to. Right now however, Sachi wanted confirmation, her eyes were already set perhaps her goals too, but she still wanted to know what was he going to do. Was he going to give up now that his entire world was probably turned upside down? Or would he continue fighting?

The answer was obvious and he nodded his head and promised Sachi that he would do that.

'I'll save you, Sachi, I'll save everyone... As long as we still have hope, we can do it. We'll beat this game and escape, even if you might be right... I'll find a way... or you will... you're amazing too.'

Kirito's surprising praise made Sachi flush and she sat up suddenly in surprise at what he said like she was burned.

'K-Kirito-kun?'

'You discovered something that even I didn't realize... and, just because of that, I... we will make a difference. I... I know we can. It's hard, it'll be even more difficult when it gets harder... but, Sachi... let's fight together. We... we have to go to the front lines... I... I'm going back there, will you come with me?'

Kirito's mind wandered to what had been discussed before, and this time his mind was made up as he reached for Sachi's hands and held it firmly in his.

'Would you, Sachi? I... I would really like it if you came.'

Kirito admitted shyly, softly this time, and he was the one surprised when Sachi confessed to him suddenly.

'I like you, Kirito-kun.'

'Sachi...?'

'I always have, and... I love you. ... and, I want you to know this... even if you don't feel the same for me, even if you might... not accept me... I will still love you, my feelings... they can't be ignored, and I cannot, not tell you. Even if it's wrong, even if it might be a lie... Kirito-kun, I'll go where-ever you ask me to.'

Sachi leaned closer, and when her soft lips met his, there was no going back for all the suppressed feelings that the two of them had for each other was unleashed in one go. His hands was at her waist, pushing her down without even thinking even as Sachi hungrily kissed him back, their tongues playing with each other till they broke away from their first kiss and onto the next, and then the next, not even stopping, or caring what noises they were making. All they cared about was each other, and each other's desperate panting, or barely muffled cries of pleasure when they became one lasted for the rest of the night.

Every touch felt wonderful, and even if it was awkward at the start, even if their own actions was embarrassing, even if this might not be what they planned for and even if Kirito never did confess to Sachi that night, their relationship invariably changed that night.


..

'Fuu fuu fuu.'

Argo gave the two, Kirito and Sachi meaningful looks as they descended the stairs together. At least the two of them had the grace to look embarrassed, but more tellingly so was how the two of them still looked quite exhausted.

'You two made quite a din last night.'

Argo's teasing grin made the two of them look away, unable to look at her even as she continued to smirk at the two while enjoying breakfast that she had made.

'At least someone had fun last night, as for poor me, I had to comfort myself while being kept awake the whole night~'

Kirito blushed at the innuendo that Argo made even as Sachi frowned as she sat down on the seat beside Argo.

'Well... we can share if Argo really wanted.'

This was enough to cause Argo to get unsettled for a brief moment before she turned the tables back on Sachi. Kirito on the other hand, was coughing badly as he tried to stop himself from choking on the slice of bread he was chewing on before.

'Oho~ So Sachi-chan is okay with that? What if I said that I would rather have you instead?'

Argo made Sachi give a small squeal of surprise as she groped her on the chest, causing Kirito to bolt and to leave the two girls to their own devices even as Argo laughed helplessly at the chaos she created.

'… So did you tell him?'

Argo whispered sternly even as Sachi's features hardened as well. Sachi had filled in Argo with what she had thought about, and although it seemed ridiculous, it also made sense. But it was also true that there was no way that they could defy the system out-rightly as well. This was Aincrad after all, and it was a world that was generated, maintained and created by the 'system', as Sachi had described it to be.

'Yes, I did, Argo-san... He believed me... but I agree with you, I don't think we can do anything bout this at the moment... I'm trying in my own way... but maybe it's impossible... to defy the system after all.'

..

Argo had listened to how Sachi had described to her how she had observed the monsters behaving in a mob, and had used that to her advantage during her training expedition. It might prove to be a good reference, and a good guide on how she could deal with mobs in higher levels. Argo hadn't quite believed that the monsters were alive, just like how NPCs were alive, but NPCs does truly live. They had limited intelligence, and they respawned if they were killed. But it was also true that some NPCs does remember her when she visited them and even had conversations with her that showed that they were still 'living' like she did.

It was of course difficult for one to put that knowledge in a practical application, except how Sachi described as the 'system' giving her a fighting chance when she was fighting alone with the mobs. There seemed to be a limit as to how many mobs a single person was able to engage in or to lure at a single time. It could be due to the size of the monsters, for examples there could only be a maximum of 6 wolves at a single time, while for the ants there could only be around 4 of them but even knowing that was enough to know that there were limitations to the system.

Logically, Sachi reasoned that there should be more wolves who were allowed to attack them, for example those that would try to pounce at her from a distance, those wolves that were weakened should logically back away from the battle to allow another to take place.

But that wasn't observed, and the injured wolves will continued attacking her even if it's death was the guaranteed result if it kept on fighting. That flew in the face of common sense, and it was something that separated them from players, who were independent and not part of the will of the 'system'.

That constant itself was also how players would engage monsters if they outnumbered them. By making openings for one's partner, one could attack monsters without of them being put at risk. They call it 'switching', and it was a method of levelling that was still very popular as it was the most effective way to level in a party.

There was however a few practical applications of what Sachi's discovery, and that was that the 'system' was able to recognize 'critical' areas, like the eyes and the mouth, soft spots between armours, and would still calculate damage modifiers based on what the monster was subjected to. The latter was hard to explain, but basically monsters, like players, was subjected to the law of physics in Aincrad.

The Ant Queen had been killed not by the damage that Sachi's short sword had dealt to it, it was felled by the combination of a critical damage at being pierced through by the short sword that was calculated by the force of it's own attack and weight. The short sword might have broken from the impact, but the damage was done anyway. It could be called a fluke, for it wasn't technically an attack on Sachi's part, but since the Ant Queen's 'attack' was targeted at her, and Sachi responded in kind, the damage was apparently calculated normally

Sachi survived due to the blocking skill, which was able to soften the damage from the Ant Queen. Then again, even if she was subjected to the weight of the Ant Queen and it's attack, she had already proven that she could take one hit from the earlier hit.

The 'system' works in mysterious ways, but that also meant that there were plenty of loopholes to abuse. Loopholes that Sachi and Argo was planning to learn how to utilize with Kirito-kun's help.

'… I won't allow their death to be meaningless, Argo-san.'

Sachi swore to Argo even as the information dealer gave her an apologetic smile in reply. The dead was gone, and there was nothing they could do about it... but they could draw lessons from it. Sachi just hoped that it wasn't too late... and that, her friends would forgive her for getting over them so easily.

No, that wasn't right... she was sorry for growing strong only after they left. For their deaths was the one thing that shaped her life the most, for better or for worse, she didn't know. But Sachi was going to find out, her real journey begins now.


Author's Notes: R&R would be greatly appreciated!