Hey all. I really need to set a writing schedule or something to keep up with my quick updates. Sorry for the wait. Glad you guys like it all so far.

Lol, I'm still chuckling at lip raping-chan and panty face-kun. I enjoyed writing that.

XD

Anyway, Enjoy

Having left Kirito far behind, I ran deeper in to the dungeon, progressing quickly now that I was used to the plant monsters that spawned. I was taken by surprise from a large tentacle monster that felt all too close when it wrapped around me, but I still took it down eventually.

After all this, he's leaving. I can't even follow him either. I'll just slow him down and get killed. I ran my frustration through another plant in the form of my dagger, still running on. Why can't things just be simple between us? I just wish that… My thoughts were cut off as I tripped over an outstretched vine, too lost in my head to pay attention to the monster next to me. I can accept him leaving, but I'll accept it later. Right now it's too fresh a wound. Dammit. "Leave me alone!" I yelled at the plant as it grabbed me.

Roots slowly entwining my body, I slashed furiously, freeing one limb at a time. Slowly, one by one, my limbs were released enough for me to squirm closer to the main plant to attack it. Slicing wildly, I stood up, diminishing it's health quickly, all the while mine slowly dropped from the thorns covering the vine as they cut into my body. Sensing another behind me, I did a large slash down and to the right of the plant, finishing it off, and then flipped my weapon. Holding it now with the blade facing my elbow, I reeled around fiercely and plunged it deep into the heart of a black cloaked… human.

Deeply shocked, I let go of the dagger and stepped back, hand covering my mouth. "Ki… Kirito-kun…" I just stabbed Kirito… in the chest. "I'm, s… so… so,"

He put his hand in the back of his head and smiled, similar to the embarrassed stance I had grown used to see over the past day. Staring down at the knife in his avatar, he let out a chuckle, "Guess I deserved that." Not in any rush, he slowly pulled the dagger out of himself and held the handle out to me. "So, does that make us even? You can do it as much as you want if it'll help." He pointed to his HP gauge as the tiny sliver I took out of him instantly restored. "I mean, it won't make a difference at this point." Not make a difference?

"What do you…" A window popped in front of me, one that I had only seen once before, CRIME DETECTED Glancing up at my hud, I saw my cursor change to an ugly orange, the returned to the window. CRIMINAL PUNISHMENT: 3 DAYS

I blinked, no other reaction escaping my body. Slowly, I turned and walked deeper towards the end of the dungeon, once again leaving Kirito behind me.

Hearing his footsteps quicken as he caught up to me, I sighed. "You know, maybe it will be easier if you go back to the front lines now. The dungeon is almost over." It's a stupid suggestion but I don't care at this point. I've grown too attached to this crazy guy. "If you stick around and try to help me, it'll just give me false hope for us. You wouldn't want that, right?"

He stayed silent at my words, walking beside me, staring at his feet. I didn't bother to press him for a response, too exhausted over the past events from the last 24 hours. Eventually, I felt a finger curl around my pinkie, and we continued to walk, linked lightly. This didn't last long, though, as we approached the dungeons boss field. I could see the shrine across the clearing, a magical barrier blocking the entrance.

Releasing our tiny connection, Kirito gestured forward, urging me ahead of him. I sighed again but knew him staying was for my well-being and I couldn't be mad about that.

Panting slightly from reflex, though not real need to breathe, I stood in place, still gripping my dagger tightly. I did it. I beat the boss for the Pneuma Flower. Sheathing my blade, I walked towards the now open archway towards a small floating chrome pedestal surrounded by four similar chrome pillars.

Standing close to it, the pillar glowed and activated, instantly sprouting and growing a delicate looking white flower, which I plucked hesitantly, its stem shattering like glass. I stood there in awe, staring at the beauty that represented the saving of my best friend. Pina. I wiped away a small tear, grateful to have the ability to get her back.

"Hey, you should save that until later. We wouldn't want to revive her surrounded by monsters now would we? Let's return to… oh, wait, right..."

"Huh? What is it?" He looked into space, lost in thought. Did I miss something?

Pointing above my head, he changed course, "Remember that story you told me last night? You can't go in to town with that." Oh, right…

Sighing again, he appeared to struggle, eventually coming to a settlement internally. He seems annoyed with me… "Come on, let's get out of this dungeon. We'll talk about it later."

In contrast with his mood, he extended his elbow and smiled, awaiting my closer companionship. Isn't he mad at me though? Aren't I just turning in to a problem for him since he wants to get back to the front lines? Plus I kind of ran him through…

We walked silently, him seeming content with his resolution and me having a war of emotions and questions ravaging my mind.

"Silica-chan?" he started.

"Hm?" I responded, looking around at the flowers, trying to use them to calm me. It worked, but not enough.

"Don't freak out or anything, but we were followed this whole time." Followed? I looked at him wide eyed and surprised. He motioned his head forwards. "Around the start of the dungeon, there's the guild I was investigating. It seems that I was right, they couldn't resist coming for the flower." The start of the dungeon? I craned my head and looked over a few hills, seeing the bridge signaling the entrance. That had to be at least a half a mile away. Woah... I looked incredulously at Kirito, getting a taste of his true power.

"Remember, you will not interfere at all, but, if you want, you can hold this for me." He opened his window and materialized a large blue crystal. No way! A corridor crystal? Those were a hundred times more expensive than the already expensive teleport crystals. I couldn't afford that if I sold out my inventory and lived in the woods in my underwear. Handing it to me, I felt its heavy weight signifying its value. "Remember, you will stay Behind me with that. I will, hopefully, talk to them and force them to surrender. Who knows, maybe seeing another rare item will make them attack sooner." He chuckled at this.

Still preoccupied about my personal problem with Kirito and his leaving, I simply nodded, clutching the crystal to my chest with my free hand.

Quiet again, we continued on, eventually reaching the bridge. Stopping, Kirito called out, "Those of you lying in wait to ambush us, come out." Behind the tree, a solitary Rosalia emerged, though from his words I'm sure there were others. Leaning down, Kirito kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "don't do anything crazy. I'll be fine." I shivered feeling his breath on my ear.

Crossing the bridge, I heard Kirito give out a large speech about what they had done and that he knew who they were, speaking as if to many people though only Rosalia was in the open.

At one point, Rosalia appeared angry and commanded hidden soldiers to attack him, furious at the thought of a worthless solo player putting her in jail. Taking out his sword, Kirito waited for the assault. Over half a dozen hungrily looking orange players revealed themselves and charged at him. Resting his sword on his shoulder, relaxed, I watched as Kirito took countless slices, stabs, smashes, and other means of attack. Cringing, I watched his HP bar drop, itching to reach for my blade to help him. He said he'll be fine. We have to trust him. It dipped lower. Have to… trust him…Have… trust… Must….HELP KIRITO.

Throwing the crystal aside, I unsheathed my dagger and sprinted forward. I prepared a sword skill, only to be halted by him turning his head and giving me a stern look, stopping me dead in my tracks.

Looking at him astonished, I noticed his HP gauge didn't appear any lower. In fact, it was much more full now. Turning back to the other orange players and Rosalia, Kirito began a spiel about numbers and videogames being unfair and how they were going to jail one way or another. Rosalia, unhinged and nervous, threatened him with her green status. A split second later, he appeared, blade against her throat. From the distance, most of it sounded muffled, but I swear I heard him say that, "well I could match my girlfriend then." Girlfriend? I mean… well… I should have figured… We just haven't said it yet. Maybe I misheard that

Dropping her spear, I watched Rosalia's face shrink to defeat. Turning his head to me, Kirito asked about the crystal, "Got it ready?" Having forgot about the corridor crystal, I turned and grabbed it from the ground, appearing undamaged. Activating it, I watched Kirito walk each of the solemn members in to the corridor.

Turing towards me, the last threatening looking player eyed my cursor and asked, "Hey, aren't you going to throw her in too? She's orange like us."

Smirking at the member, Kirito simply mumbled, "You wish. No, the pretty girl's all for me." Throwing him in by his collar and watched the corridor close.

Smiling in my direction, he reached out his hand to me. I responded by walking up and taking it, letting out a soft, "girlfriend?"

What a way to end the chapter. I should have made it longer. Hm. I'll try to make the next chapter sooner than they have been lately. For now, this should hold you guys off.

As usual, I'd love reviews or any comments you may have, mean, suggestions, requests, whatnot. Thanks again