Colours of Glass

by AkiieLoo

In an alternate universe, a weak and fragile girl is much more than a mere wallflower. One droopy summer, the unbelievable happen. Sachi was accepted as a Beta Tester for the new game: Sword Art Online. Unfortunately, a tragedy erupted months later. How will Sachi fare finding her own root as an Beater? AU Kirito/Sachi Discontinued until further notice!

11. Chapter 11

Hey everyone! Here's a new update! I'm trying really hard to get into system for updating my stories. For who is waiting for the next chapter of 'Tear Stained Moon' it will be updated soon! My beta has the new chapter, it should be up next week. I'm sorry about the long wait. I am hoping to get the next chapter of this out soon too~ It just takes me awhile as I've got to work during the day! Haha~

I'm so glad to see you all again. I hope you enjoying the story!

A thank you to Mataras, Fuuka95, Naruto Sakura Uzumaki, Cute-but-Psycho824, Mike Kromer, WolfPassion1, Anti-Bella, Pizzajon, Gadet Boy, Ryujin Kami and BreadNotDead! For commenting! You all made me smile, made my day!

BreadNotDead! Thank you so much for your kind comment. Really, It brightened my day and encouraged me to update faster. Thank you so much. It means a lot to me.

Warnings: Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Gruesome, Blood Spill, Suggested Sexural Themes, AU, What If

Please thank my wonderful Beta: Coolstuff for all their hard work.

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Chapter 11

Dying Safely...?

It was beautiful, beyond gorgeous. The mountains looked like an unfinished painting. But so much of the canvas was still perfectly white, as if waiting for the artist's hand to return. The morning light struggled to shine through the murky clouds, but even in its weakness it was enough to blind. The air was of course cold, but Sachi hadn't expected the same dampness that comes before rain. Breath pale against the numbing air, she blinked thoughtfully as the frost patiently kissed her face, captivated by the soft, dusty illusions of light that sat heavy on her eyelashes. She adored the snow, more so when it was falling.

The wind whispered as the snow fell like confetti on Sachi's gentle wool lavender cap. She gazed at the untouched snow in front of her. The swirling white snow and the lush grass collided. The shrubs and trees were stained with white. The ground was as smooth as a cake and the snow fell like icing powder, perfecting it to its finest point.

Just as she expected it, it was freezing cold. Sachi trembled, her shoulders shook a little as she pulled at the matching lilac snow cloak around her shoulders. It was rather long, almost reaching her ankles, and lined with white as the snow fur. It had a hood that sat happily over her head and the soft whiteness of the hood brushes against her cheeks. Her hands trembled, she couldn't believe she could still feel the coldness through the thick mittens she had on. Sachi briefly wished she had brought a pair of pants, rather than the jean skirt she had on. Still, she knew she had to change from this outfit soon,but she felt pretty attached to it as the outfit was what Keita chose.

Still, sooner or later, she has to change into a better outfit with stronger armor and easier to move around in.

Snow. It was so beautiful that Sachi had the strong urge to spread her arms out and stick her tongue out to catch the small beautiful flakes. It was so nice and Sachi really wished should could have taken a picture. Sachi would hold onto it, as she had never been out in snow before. It was her first time in a long time.

Not often than most, Sachi wasn't allowed to go out in the snow. She just wasn't allowed to experience it.

Back in the real world, she was not allowed out in the weather. Not when it rained or snowed. It was because of her asthma, Sachi stayed inside the house until the sun would come out. Being out in such crisp winds would make her condition worse, and she would be bed ridden for weeks after. Even when she begged her parents to allow her out in the snow, her worried mother would bundle her in thick coats and scarfs.

Sachi remembered that back when her mother worked and after having a painful asthma attack during class the day before, she was to stay at home the next day. She was to stay in bed and rest for the whole day. The family doctor had looked her over and concluded the bad weather was the course of the unusual flurry of asthma attacks Sachi had suddenly had. Right before the snowstorm near the end of the week.

The doctor had suggested Sachi to stay in bed, which worried both her beloved parents as they both needed to work. Sachi's father had an important meeting that same day, while her mother who worked as a KinderCare teacher, had a parents meeting this morning. Neither of those things they could miss.

Sachi's Grandmother was to come over and look after her while her parents worked.

Unfortunately, she had dozed off within ten minutes of Sachi's parents leaving.

As a child, Sachi was known as a sweet, shy and kind young girl, it was no surprise that she immediately missed her parents incredibly. Being the naïve, young 10 year old girl she is, Sachi didn't exactly understand the ticking clock and thought it wouldn't be long until her beloved parents come home. And so, Sachi decided to wait for them on the wooden porch of her home. She didn't even think of grabbing her coat, as she moved to sit in nothing but her white and blue polka dot pajamas.

She had waited for hours, not thinking of going back inside – into the warm safety of her house. Her parents eventually did return, in a rush to see Sachi that day. They were not expecting to find the young girl laying numbly against the door.

Sachi had been rushed to the hospital, where she had stayed for a month before allowing to go home. Since that day, Sachi's mother and father would keep her inside rather than allow her to go outside.

In Sword Art Online, Sachi's asthma wasn't too bad. Asthma hadn't crawled up her throat in quite some time. Still, every now and then, Sachi would feel the familiar twitch at the back of her throat but she hadn't collapsed or even had a coughing fit. Since, since…swiftly, Sachi's shoulders sagged.

'I hadn't had an asthma attack since that n-night under the b-bridge.' Sachi thought, biting at her bottom lip. She was, no she is still terrified of dying. Anybody could die in this game. Sword Art Online looks beautiful but the truth was, it was a nightmare. Sachi could almost feel the pinching pain within her macules. Death. It was everywhere, and Sachi had to keep that in her head.

A broken sigh escapes her lips. "You'll never be able to go anywhere unless you learn how to let go…" Sachi whispered to herself, her hands folding and pressing against her chest. She hums softly, as she could feel her heart beat vibrating against her palm. She is scared to die, she is scared of letting people down. She hates having to remember what had happened that evening many weeks ago, a year ago now. But, she knows. There is no use crying over spilled milk, she had to be strong and let it go.

For all the people she loves and cares about, she has to survive to the end.

'If you live after giving up on the things you want to do and the world around you doesn't sparkle, it's the same thing as being dead. If you don't give up, even if it's short, it'll be a fantastic life…' Sachi thought to herself. Her gentle eyes sliding close, and she sighs softly. She tilts her head to the side and feels a rather cold breeze brushes against her rosy cheeks.

"I don't want to live a life, as being a dead…" Sachi mutters, and almost chuckles at how cheesy her words sound. How ironic it was to her. Sachi was so shy and timid. She would avoid fighting and she was scared to even lift a sword. Sachi would hide, even in the real world. She would run away from everything in fear. Sachi was the kind of girl who would get picked on, bullied for being sickly but she would never fight back. In fact, Sachi would just sit there and take in the horrible words.

Now, it was like she's a new person. It scared her a little, at how determined she was. Sure, she still didn't have a backbone. She would give in way too easily, but she was slowly but surely, she's was growing a backbone.

'C-Can somebody really change? A-Am I changing?' Sachi wondered to herself as she presses her fingers together. Her shoulders raised and sagged. Could people really change? She wondered if she had changed. Or at least changed enough?

Shaking her head, Sachi pushed the thoughts away and peered around herself. Her eyes spotting the tracks in the snow. 'Of cause. I'm here, not just for my own personal taste.' She thought, with a small smile. It was a plus, a bonus.

Sachi reaches up and tugged on her hood. She pulled it further over her head, and turned to the rather large foot prints leading up the snowy mountains. With determination, Sachi nods her head and clenches her hands together. She inhaled sharply. 'I'm going to clear this! I will!'

Summoning out her long, white bow, Sachi pressed the bow to her chest and puffed out her cheeks. The snow seemed to cling to her heavy boots and yanked at her feet like chains were wrapped around her feet. Tugging on her sharply, it almost made her legs burn.

It was a tough struggle to get up the mountain. Sachi feared she would lose her footing, and tumble back down the mountain side. Her heart had jumped many times as she climbed up the mountain side. Forcing herself to move faster up the snowy bank, and her legs felt almost like jelly they had buckled many times as she forced herself to go further.

It was such a relief when she got the top. Sachi almost fell down into the snow as she got to the top. She panted softly and hums gently. Her nose twitched a little. Her body felt slightly heavy as she sighs deeply to herself.

A loud roar erupted through the air, it vibrates and Sachi could feel the snow shaking. Her heart leaps into her throat as snow began to roll past her, falling off the cliff behind her and making her knees buckle underneath her. Her body shuddered as she fell into the snow, she whimpered as the snow fluttered up around her knees.

Sachi let out a gasp, her eyes widening as she dropped her bow. She felt her heart beat harshly, and her lips parted. Her bow slide along the snow across from her, and disappeared underneath pills of frost white snow. Her jaw drop, and her shoulders hunched. Her eyes skittered about herself, and she snaps her head around when an earth shattering thud erupted around her. She could feel the ground under her shake, and it nibbled along her knees.

It was ten feet bigger than her smaller form. A large body slammed into the ground across from it, and long flimsy legs stretched its massive body high, coursing its dark shadow to be casted over her. Blood coloured, ruby orbs stares down at her and flappy, almost pancake like lips slapped together with dark yellowish fangs hanging out from them. Its body was covered in silk hair that spreads out like a fan across its dark skin. Its large feet moves through the snow, making the ground shake with every foot step it made.

Sachi's heartbeat became harsher, beating so badly that she could hear it echoing through her head. "W-What is that?" Sachi gasped out, biting at her bottom lip harshly. Her eyes widen so much that the skin around them burned so much, and tears had begun to build at the ends of her eyelashes.

With a broken cry, Sachi was barely able to roll out the way when the creature brought its massive arm down. Smacking it into the snow the bank, and coursing snow to shake and begin to roll along the slope. Sachi shook a little, as she peered back over her shoulder.

Sachi clenched her hands, her fingers would have dug into her hands if it wasn't for the gloves she wore. Scrambling to her feet, she rotated her head around to look up at the creature and presses her lips into a deep line. "So this is the snow creature?" she muttered to herself and hunches her shoulders even more.

Her warm soft eyes glowed with pure determination and she looked at where her bow is. Behind the creature, underneath the snow pill. Her heart jumps, and she had to get her bow. Sachi doesn't have other weapons. Something she was now regretting not grabbing another weapon, she supposed she should get a sword at some time. If she survives this that is.

The creature hunches itself low, his large mouth opening and lets out a loud roar. Its tongue flopped out from its mouth and flipped back and forth much like a dog. Long black claws seemed to click together, and the large feet shook.

Seeing the creature began to rise its clawed hand once again, ready to slam it into the very spot where she was standing. Sachi was barely able to dodge the attack. She glanced back at the fist that was imprinted into the snow, her heart skips a beat and she breathes in the cool air. Her hands shook, and twitched. Her eyes glowed as she watches the creature's arm begin to rise and without thinking, Sachi ran forward. She throws her arms around the large, beefy wrist and clung to it as it was flung back into the air and another roar echoed through the air.

Sachi let out a scream, as she was hanging from the wrist. Her feet dangled below her as she held onto the creature's wrist, clenching the many white hairs. She let out a shuddered gasp as the creature growled and shook it's wrist in hopes to flung her off itself. Sachi held on tightly and clenched her teeth.

The creature brought her to its large, and surprisingly flat face. Its nose reminded her of a pig's snout, and Sachi whined as it leant forward to sniff her. It's large wet snout sniffing loudly and pressing against the side of her face. Sachi cried out and felt a chill run up her spine. She curls her lips together and eyes the creature weary.

Legs flung forward and then back as the creature brought her high. It stretched its arm high, and Sachi felt her throat tighten. She puffs out her cheeks and swung her legs forward. It was now or never. Arching her back, she flung herself forward and slamming her feet into the surface of the snow creatures head. Sachi grunts to herself as she felt her body shudder before with all her strength catapulted herself of its head and over.

Whimpering quietly, she whines to herself and felt prickles of pain run up her body as she landed barely on her feet. Her legs shook, and back arched uncomfortably. She pulled her arms close to her chest and pressed them tightly to herself. The ground trembled as the creature turned with a loud ear-piercing hiss, its eyes flickering back and forth as it turned to stare at her. Feeling a shudder run up her back once more, Sachi ran forward towards where her bow was buried.

Just as Sachi crouched down to dig through the snow, the creature leant forward and grabbed ahold of one of her legs. A scream ripped from her lips as Sachi's legs were pulled out from under, and she fell onto her stomach, feeling the snow flutter up around her. The organ in her chest pounds and she clawed at the snow, struggling to stretch her arms up to where her bow is. Her free leg twisted and kicked against the wide, clawed fingers pulling at her.

Ripping her teeth into the sensitive skin of her bottom lip, she stretches her back and wiggled her fingers through the snow. Trying to reach for the solid surface of her bow. Her fingers stretched wide, and she hisses under her breath. Practically begging to whoever was watching out for her, to help her!

"Come on p-please!" she cries out and shoots her hand out randomly.

Sachi's breathe got trapped in her throat, and she felt her hands grab at something. Her eyes widen and her body was yanked backwards, sliding across the snow. Twisting herself around onto her back, Sachi pulls her bow to herself and summons a white arrow, aiming it up at the creature's head.

Relief fills her being as she watches the creature purse in the spot. Its body swayed side to side and creeks began to appear. Crawling up its body like little fingers that wiggled before it shattered like glass. The small shards flashing around her and glowing before it faints away. Sachi lets out a low groan, and her head flopped backwards into the snow.

Congratulations! Snow Beast Cleared!

Sachi groans and rolls her head, her hair spilling out all around her. Snow had already seeped into the hood of her cloak, licking at the sides of her face. Her chest shudders as she breathes and presses a shaky hand to her forehead. The creature wasn't as strong as she thought it would be. She really did defeat it with one arrow, normally it would take her longer to defeat such a beast. Still, she was pretty proud of herself, even though her legs was aching a bit.

Lifting her fingers, she opens her storage with a burst of white and pink. Sachi tilts her head as she looked at her health bar and noticed it was glowing a bright green. She hadn't lost any health during that odd battle. Smiling weakly, Sachi presses her hand harshly against her chest to add pressure. She sighs softly as she feels her asthma starting up, only to subside before it can really begin.

Sachi closes her eyes and just relaxes against the snow. She smiles happily to herself and glances around at the snow. Just quietly taking in the peaceful scenery, and humming softly under her breath before noticing her white and pink numbers appear close to her face. She blinked once and then twice, before gasping. Her chest swirled, and she smiles brightly. She had really done it, she had levelled up quite a bit.

'Level sixty-six!' she thought proudly and turned her attention to her bow. A new ability had been unlocked. Sachi sat up and turned said bow to observe the new ability. Quietly reading the words with bright gentle eyes. She wondered how much damage she could do with it.

Swiftly, a flash of white flickered above her. 'New Message' appearing above her head, and Sachi clocks her head back to stare at the words thoughtfully. Who would be messaging her? She thought she had told most of the people she would take quests with that she would be training for a while. Lifting a hand, she opened up her menu and blinked her eyes a little, her eyes running along the options before looking at the un-open envelop hovering near her face.

"From Kirito?"

In a flash of glowing white, and pink, Sachi enters level fifty-nine. Danac. She stands with her back arched, and arms folded in front of her. She presses her hands together and glances about herself. She had never been in Danac before, she had not even moved onto level fifty-three yet. Her heart was beating anxiously, and her hands felt clammy.

Danac was a small village Sachi noticed. Small wooden houses littered around, with small streams of smoke filling the air. She sharply breathes and bites her bottom lip harshly. Sachi felt out of place like she was sticking out like a sore thumb. Sachi knew she had to be the weakest player on the floor, and her nerves were rushing harshly through her veins.

'T-This is where the front lines p-players are…' Sachi thought in awe and wondered if she was lucky enough to see any of said players. She shovels her feet across the ground and glanced around the small village. Her face was slightly flushed as she slowly walked through the stalls. Many AI's stood around, hanging things up and waving their hands around. Their voices swaying around her, trying to sell her anything. Of cause, Sachi had paused to browse the stalls.

Hands curled around together, and laid against her lap, Sachi looked down at the objects on display. She clocks her head to the side and gazes at the many options, the softest silk and a wide range of vegetable and meats. Her heart swelled as she observed the herbs on display, the brightly coloured vegetables and fruits. Her eyes glowed and she found herself timidly searching through the stalls.

"It's lovely, isn't it? The best of the best. Freshly picked this morning."

Sachi jumps a little in surprise, having not expected a sudden voice. Sachi twirled her head to find an old munchkin like woman sitting behind the glittering range of fruit and vegetables. Her wide, blue eyes glows as they stared back at Sachi with a grandmother like a smile upon her face. Her large cheeks were puffed out, and bright pink, with curls of sandy blonde hanging along around her face, and bringing out the small golden flakes in her eyes.

"O-Oh. Yes, they smell really good." Sachi smiles nervously and reaches out to pick up one of the large mangos. She hums and turns it in her hands. It definitely looked freshly picked and ribbed. Perfect for cooking with.

The woman makes a happy humble from the back of her throat. "Yes!" she grins and bows her head back and forth. Sachi couldn't help but smile in return, and before she knew it, she had perched quite a few different fruit and vegetable products. All perfect for her to cook with, and she couldn't help but feel a bubble of excitement as she gazed at all the new products in her storage. She had earned quite a bit of money from her quests, and now she was eager to get into her kitchen and see what she could come up with.

"Thank you." Sachi breathes out in a gentle and sweet voice. She bows herself in respect to the woman.

"Come again~" the woman called out after the short raven haired girl. Sachi waved over her shoulder with a small meek wave.

Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Sachi lowers her head and frowns a little. It was unusually hot on this level, and it was odd for her as Sachi had just come from the icy floors of forty-four. Her small button up nose twitches as she sniffed the bitter warm air, and felt the familiar prickle skitter along her lungs.

Swiftly, a small pale pink petal suddenly flutters in front of her. Sachi blinked once and then twice before she cupped her hands together and watched as it lands softly in the middle of her hands. She blinks again down at it. "A…Sakura petal?" she muttered softly to herself, her eyebrows pulling together in thought.

Sachi rounds herself to see one of the most beautiful Sakura trees ever. Growing up, Sachi lived on a road that had a gorgeous row of Sakura trees in the middle. She had grown up around them, and her favourite thing to do (when her parents allow her out) was to walk between them just as the trees had reached their peak and had begun to fly away. Sachi adored it.

A pure cherry smile appeared across her face, Sachi felt her chest burst with warmth as she was reminded of her home. Her eyes became glassy and she found her legs moving, taking her towards the trees. It was strange. Sachi hadn't really seen many, fully bloomed Sakura trees but still, this made her feel so happy.

Sachi walked faster towards the tree. She stops right in front of it and clocks her head back to watch the pretty pink petals dance through the air. Swaying, and dancing around one another. They caught the sun which makes them glow beautifully. Sachi just stared in awe, watching them quietly.

"So pretty…" she mumbled softly to herself, twisting her hands together and pressing them against her chest. Her cheeks glows, and her hair flutters around her cherry shaped face. A sharp breath escaped her lips.

If anybody by chance, turned to see the young raven. Sachi looked completely beautiful as the Sakura petal seemed to be enchanted by her form.

Closing her eyes briefly, Sachi finally turned her attention away from the Sakura trees. She pushes a dark raven curl behind her ear, and finally turned her head to the side. Her eyes flickers as they scan around herself. A low sound slid from between her lips as she noticed a figure laid underneath a Sakura tree. It was a male with their legs stretched out and arms crossed behind their head. All in all, he looked rather relaxed and lazily.

Sachi clocks her head to the side in thought, she narrowed her eyes in hopes to make out the male's form. The clothes the boy wore were familiar, and immediately, her mind clicked and she makes a low sigh. 'Kirito.' She thought, and began to walk towards him. Noticing his silk jade locks were spread out around him with a few Sakura petals landing around him. A few even landing within his dark curls.

Blinking her eyes thoughtfully, Sachi glanced around herself. What was Kirito doing here? In the email she had received, he had said he would meet her much later as he had a meeting with the other front lines guilds.

"Kirito? What are you doing?" Sachi questioned with a gentle and soft voice. She carefully gets to her knees and leans forward to peer down at his face. His silky black locks brushes against her knees as she shifts, tucking her legs underneath herself.

Kirito's head slowly slide backward, and his eyelids slide open. His long eyelashes casting shadows across his tan skin. Dark orbs lifts to look up at her, and he stares quietly. His breath becoming trapped in his throat from the way Sachi leant forward to stare back at him with a gentle gaze and just as gentle smile. Her short, indigo hairs slowly dances around her face from the cool, nice breeze.

"Oh. Sachi, you're here." He finally says in a low voice. His voice sounded almost exhausted. "I thought you would have turned up much later."

Sachi smiles in amusement, and shook her head. "Well, I got your message after I cleared the snow creature quest. So, I decided to come earlier…I've never been on this floor yet…" she said, her voice trailing off and hitching a little. She leans back, and clocks her head around to look back at the village still bursting with life. She could almost hear the echoing voices from where she's sitting. Her hands twitches.

Sachi felt nervous, felt awkward, even the computerized people around this level were much stronger than the ones she was used too. Sachi bites her bottom lip, and inhales sharply. Maybe she shouldn't have come early. Perhaps, she should have waited longer. Was she doing enough? She didn't know and it worried her. She had failed so many times, or she just never had the chance to try. It made her want to cry. Would she ever get the strength she needed?

"You're doing fine." Kirito swiftly spoke, cutting through Sachi's thoughts like a knife and making her jump. She spins her head around to find the dark swordsman staring up at her with soft and almost sad eyes. Just gazing at her quietly. "It doesn't matter how long you've waited, there's always time to make a change and strive for more."

Sachi blinks blankly down at him for a few seconds. Her cherry lips parted, she inhales softly. "Kirito…" she breathes out in surprise. Finally, a small smile swirls across her face. "It's alright I can stand up again all by myself. Even if I'm alone… I will survive."

Smiling more, Sachi finally moves back and allows her shoulders to relax. "So, um, why are you lazing around napping? I thought you said you had an important meeting?" she asks sweetly, as she began to pick at the grass. She felt nervous for the mission, or quest Kirito had chosen for them to do. Apparently, a frontline one. Was she truly ready for it?

Kirito lets out a gentle hum and relaxed back against the grass. His eyes sliding close, as if he was ready to sleep out in the open, Sachi had no doubt he had done it at least once before so far. "The weather today is the nicest possible, during the nicest season in Aincrad." Kirito hums out, almost sleepily.

"Oh." Sachi murmured.

"It would be such a waste for us to spend the day in some dungeon." Kirito added, referencing to the quest the pair had planned to do today. He eyes Sachi with a single eye briefly. "I know what you're thinking 'Today is just another day lost to us in the real world' I've heard that already…but right now, we're living in the world of Aincrad."

Sachi sighs to herself and shakes her head. Trust Kirito to be melodramatic. It was almost amusing but who ever had said that, Kirito, had a point. They really were losing days in the real world. The thought made her chest tighten and her eyes lowers sadly. She missed her parents. Her mother and father. She hoped they wasn't too worried about her, but the chances of that were slim to none. Her parents were worrywarts. Sachi felt guilty for coursing them so much troubled.

Sachi stared quietly, her mouth opening and letting out a soundless sound that tickles the back of her throat. Her hands twist together and press against her chest, her knees curling tightly together. Her nose flaring a little, as her chest tightens and her eyes began to water. Her throat flares a little and a painful cough erupted up through her throat. She immediately pulled away with her head ducked, and hands held in front of herself. She could breathe, it felt as if there was a fire inside her throat as she wheezed loudly, struggling to catch her breath.

It had been such a long time since she last had an asthma attack that Sachi had almost forgot how painful it was. Her head felt heavy and her ears rung. An acid row of coughs hisses and sneers up her throat and she desperately tried to breathe. Her body shook in surprise as a hand gently rubbed the spot between her shoulder blades, softly giving her small slaps to help.

Eventually, it passed. Sachi sniffled, feeling her nose burn a bit and her eyes slightly red and watery. She let out a broken sigh. Her shoulders raised a bit before she allowed herself to relax, and felt her heart jump in her chest upon seeing how close Kirito had got. He was almost in her personal bubble, sitting right next to her with his right hand pressed against her back.

"Are you okay?" Kirito asked, his voice low and gentle. Whispering the words to the girl who nods her head mutely.

"Do you want water?" he added, and once again, Sachi mutely shook her head. It was a second time she had an asthma attack in front of the boy.

Sachi lets out a small sigh, when swiftly a nice breeze blow past the pair. Her skin prickled with coolness, and her hair was pulled out of her face. She tilts her head to look across the lush green hills. "That's nice…"

"See. The sunlight and wind are so relaxing…" Kirito said. He turns his head back to look up at the sky breezily, before he stretching his arms and legs out. His body shifts, and he flops back down. Laying limply against the grass and sighing deeply. Almost snuggling the grass.

Sachi rubs her face. She turns to look back at him with her arms lowering to her lap. "Really? It, um, doesn't feel any different than normally…it's a bit sweeter thought." She muttered thoughtfully. Really, the air was so much sweeter than the world outside.

"If you laid down for a bit, you'd understand. Sachi." Kirito said. A small smile on his face, and he reaches up to tug a little on her pale blue shirt. "You should rest anyway…."

Sachi noticed how his voice trailed off, and a small pig-like snort escaped his lips. Soft snores began to leave Kirito's lips. It was rather cute, Sachi decided before she shook her head. Another sweet pink sakura petal fell in front of her face, and Sachi caught it with a single hand before she tilts her head back to look up at the tree branches spreading out above her. Glowing from the sunlight, it made the petals look beautiful. No, beyond beautiful. Pure gorgeous. The sunlight and winds really did feel good.

'At least we're alive in Aincrad…'

Arching her back, Sachi let out a small yawn with her hand close to her mouth. She blinks her tired, soft blueish eyes and her nose twitches. She glances back Kirito and pouts. He really did look relaxed, and pretty happy as he laid asleep. She almost had the urge to reach out and, no, in fact, she did. With a tiny smile, Sachi reaches out and pokes Kirito in the cheek. Said black haired boy makes loud groan, and rolls his head to the side. It made Sachi smile wider in amusement.

"How can you be in such a deep sleep, already?" she mumbles, and rubs her eyes much like cat. She clocks her head to the side, and presses her fingers against her chin. It wouldn't hurt to sleep, too? Would it? It wasn't like she would get into trouble or anything.

Shrugging, Sachi wiggled a bit before slowly laying herself down next to Kirito. She glances at him before rolling onto her side and curling up. Her hands pressing together, and legs curled together. Her eyes slide shut, and she hums softly. Feeling herself fall into a peaceful sleep. Just allowing Mother Nature to cuddle her as she slept.

What felt like years, but were really a couple of hours, Sachi's body shook and she let out a gentle sound from the back of his throat. She shifts her legs, feeling quite stiff with a dull ache appearing in the middle of her macules. Sachi sneezes, and she opens her eyes slowly. Her eyes burns a bit, as she slowly eases herself up. Stretching her arms out, and wincing as a low pop erupted from her arms. Just as she raises, a rainfall of Sakura petals fell from her shoulders, and Sachi blinked. She sat up, surround or more like she found herself to be sitting in pool of the prettiest shade of pink Sakura petals. They felt soft against her skin.

Sachi reaches up, and cutely scratches at the side of her head. 'There's a sunset…' she thought to herself. Seeing the glowing ball of fire slowly beginning to dip down below the lands, kissing the hills at it went. She clocks her head to the side, with a smile upon her face. The sunset was beautiful. It was absolutely gorgeous.

"Ah. Morning…or is it evening now?"

Sachi's eyes flickered once again, and she turned her head around to find the double black haired boy sitting on a small stone wall that circled the now Sakura petal pool. His eyes glows as he looks back at her, with a grin upon his face. He sat with his back arched, and legs crossed. "I'm gonna go with evening. Good evening Sachi. Seems we slept the day away." He shrugged to himself, and stretches his arms out above him. "I feel so relaxed. I don't care what anybody says, it's great to sleep under Sakura trees with a nice breeze."

Reaching up, Sachi tiredly ran her fingers through her now clumpy dark hair. Cheeks flushing when she noticed a few petals fall down from her hair, giving her impression that they had got tangled up in her hair as she slept. It was slightly embarrassing to say the least. "I guess I slept most the day…" Sachi muttered to herself. How strange, and weird.

She would never doze off during the day. It was something her mother forbid, and she could almost hear her mother's outraged words of not acting lady like enough.

"Ah. I'm starving." Kirito moans softly, and stretches his arms above him. He climbs off the wall. "Sachi. Are you hungry?"

Sachi snaps out of thought, and looks back over at Kirito. She balls her hands, and rubs her eyes, looking much like a kitten. She moans lowly under her breath, before getting to her feet and dusting off her skirt. She watches as petals fell from her body. "Yeah…I'll treat you Kirito. A-As a thank you." Sachi says, smiling up at him as she carefully walked towards him. Her feet kicking through the sea of pink.

"Treat me?" Kirito frowned, an eyebrow raising as he turned to face the shorter person. He clocked his head to the side in thought.

Sachi ducks her hands together and pulls them in close to her. Holding them in front of herself. "Yeah. Anything you want." She added as sweetly as possible, which set a small pink shade across Kirito cheeks.

Kirito hums, his dark eyebrows raising to his hairline and his lips twitches. "Hmmm. Tell you what," He began, and leant forward, leaning in close to Sachi's face. He smiles in amusement as her eyes widen in confusion. "I know what I want. How about I treat you this time, and then next time, you make me lunch!" Kirito grins. He thumbs his chest and places a hand onto his hip.

"Lunch? Y-You really l-like my cooking?" Sachi meekly asked. Nobody other than her mother had tried her food. She had always been too scared to let other people try her food. The only reason she had cooked for the Moon Cats had been because Tucker had walked in on her finishing up a meal and had, well, stolen her lunch.

"Why are you so surprised? Your cooking is really good." Kirito frowns, but smiled soon after. In complete honesty, he was expecting Sachi to maybe freak out about him proposing them having lunch together again. Sachi was a rather sensitive person, she wasn't a very brave person either but Kirito had to admit she was becoming her own person. Kirito wondered what kind of person Sachi would become? She was one of the kindest people he knows so far, probably the kindest and sweetest person.

Staring at him, much like a puppy, Kirito almost swore she had adorable raven colored fluffy ears. "Okay then…" she smiles timidly, and nods her head before she rubs the back of her head. "Um. I don't know where to go…I mean, this is my first time on this floor…"

Kirito chuckles, and turns to walk down the road. "Come on. Follow me, Sachi. I know a, well, good place I guess." He shrugged a little.

Sachi stares at him back before she rushed after him. She followed him through the village. Kirito had paused for her to catch up to him, before the pair began to talk about recent strange quests they taken on. Apparently, Kirito had recently fought a weird dear that looked like it had come straight out a horror movie. With glowing blood red ears, claws and a strange snapping plant like thing attached to its tail. It was terrifying, and Sachi somehow found it amusing. She almost laughed at his expression as he told her his story.

Eventually, Kirito had brought Sachi to a restaurant. Sachi made sure to memorize everything. She hardly ever eat in restaurants, even back in the real world. Her family didn't really eat out, only on special occasions. Her father was very into healthy food. Always having Sachi and her mother eat over the top healthy meals. It can be a bit annoying at times. Honestly, Sachi would love to just pig out on one of the greasiest burgers, but then again, both her parents would be pretty disappointed in her if she did.

The restaurant's look gave it a homey vibe. Sachi gazes at the walls and noted the theme of the restaurant was red. Crimson was everywhere in the restaurant. Hanging on the walls, on the tables and even on the chairs. Either way, it looked quite pretty as Sachi smiles timidly as she trailed in after Kirito. The pair was placed in the far corner, next to the open window and as soon as they sat, Sachi turned to peer through the glass window with glowing eyes.

Kirito sat across from her, his left arm crossed with his other arm resting on top. His cheek in his right hand. He looks at Sachi and noticed how she kept glancing around with a flushed face. It was then that he noticed the pair of them had gained quite a lot of attention. Almost everyone were looking at them, and muttering to one another. Whispering and gossiping. He raised a dark eyebrow at them, before shrugging. He was used to having people look at him. His reputation as being the Black Swordsman had spread like wildfires.

Most often than not he was being spotted, and then labeled as the solo Black Swordsman. A lot of the times, he would gain attention and people would know him easily. However (Kirito turns his jade eyes onto Sachi to find her sitting with an arched back and hunched shoulders, she was looking straight down at her lap) Sachi had yet to be noticed as the White Arrow and it was only a matter of time. She obviously wasn't used to having many eyes on them. Kirito felt guilty, maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.

Sachi swallows a rather thick lump in her throat, and only lifted her head when the waitress placed two china cups down. She blinks a little, observing the soft pearl china with steaming green liquid inside. Carefully, she cups her hands around it. "Ryokucha…" she mumbled softly, and smiles. It was one of her favorite drink, really she loved all kind of tea. She supposed, she was behind her time. Sachi sighs as she tasted sweet but yet bitter flavor.

"You like Green Tea, Sachi?" Kirito finally asked. He watches as the raven haired girl sipped her tea and smiles pleasantly. It was cute. Sachi was adorable with her munchkin rosy cheeks with a button nose.

Sachi flushed darker in embarrassment, and she ducks her head. "Um. Y-Yeah. I really like tea. There are many different kinds. Matcha, Konacha, Hojicha, Genmaicha, Oolongcha, Kocha, Jasmine-cha and of cause, Green tea: Ryokucha. But there are some really nice tea which isn't made from tea plants. Like Mugicha and Kombucha…" Sachi trailed off, and flushed even redder. She draws her green tea in closer to herself, pressing her fingers against the warm china. She had rambled, once again.

Kirito quietly stares at her, his hand resting against the side of his face with his fingers parted but yet framing his charcoal eyes. His lips pulls into a small smile, he liked it when Sachi forgot herself and just rambled. It was nice to hear what she really liked or thought. "You really like green tea, huh? Well, honestly, I wasn't expecting Sword Art Online to have things like this. Makes me wonder what other natural products it might have." Kirito smirked, and reaches for his own Green tea.

'Ryokucha.' He adds thoughtfully, and peers down at his reflection in the steamy tea before he sipped it.

Sachi nods slowly. "Hm. I wonder if I could find tea plants…" she muttered more to herself then Kirito. Sword Art Online had milk, cream and other things. It wouldn't be too hard to make tea, she just never thought about making it. Either way, she felt burst of excitement. With a small smile, she sips her hot tea once again.

"O-Oh." Sachi glances to the side shyly, and timidly. Her fingers lightly taps against the china, before her lips pulls into a smile.

"Thank you, um, for looking over me all the time Kirito." Sachi said in a sweet and gentle tone of voice. Her cheeks burned red, and she bows her head. She had always wanted to thank the boy for helping her so much, for looking out for her and for training her.

Sachi's heart beats nervously in her chest. She just never thought she would ever gather the courage to really thank him. She's weak, and not a great fighter. She still couldn't believe she was still alive. That she had made it this fair.

Sachi's head lowers, but she continued to smile. "I think I would have, um, might have given up by now. So thank you for helping me, and looking out for me. I think I might be able to stand on my own now." She says, and nods her head a little.

Her eyes glows with determination. "E-Even though I'm scared…and have always been a failure at anything…" she trails off with a small sigh.

Kirito tilts his head and frowns. "I did nothing. It was all you, Sachi. You're becoming a stronger person." He uttered with a smile forming. "Just because you failed at accomplishing something, doesn't mean you're a failure as a person. You have to understand that you can't have success without first experiencing failure. That's common logic really, only a real idiot would ignore it." Kirito muttered, wiggling his hand a little and looked off to the side. He spoke the last part as if he was referencing somebody, and he looked off to the side with a small smirk. It made Sachi wonder just who Kirito had the pleasure to spend time with that made him make such a blunt comment about.

Sachi stares at the double black haired boy blankly, before she smiles and nods her head with her eyes closed briefly. "Still Kirito. Thank you for helping me, even if it was a little. Especially today…I've recently heard that…the towns are safe areas, so there's no risk of being attacked or player killed, but it's different when you're asleep…" Sachi frowns, and looks at Kirito with round eyes. Wondering if it was true. Could a player really be attacked while asleep? Granted, she hadn't ever slept outside in the day time but it sounded unfair.

"It's true." Kirito stated with soften, and sadden eyes. His head bows a bit.

"There's sleep PKing, which takes advantage of the duel system. Normally, duels are held to test one's strength. But during one, damage can be taken, reducing HP even in a safe area." Kirito explained, and sighs softly. His eyes closed briefly. "One can challenge someone who's asleep, and move their finger to make them accept the duel request. Then attack them until they die. It's been happening a lot recently…"

Head held down, Sachi stares at the table in shock. 'So that's why there's been a lot of deaths recently…' she thought, feeling her chest tighten and her hands shook a little. 'How cruel people could be. Forcing somebody into a fight, for nothing. Only to drain their health, and attack them over and over again…it's so selfish…' her shoulders hunched, and her hands twists together. Pressing her fingers tightly together.

It was then Sachi felt as if something inside her clicked. Her eyes widens so much and the skin around her eyes burns, she snaps her head up to look at Kirito. "K-Kirito! If that's true, then you shouldn't be napping outside!" she gasped loudly. Worry and concern filling her veins at the possibility that somebody could force Kirito into a fight and kill him while he let his laziness take over. "Especially considering your title. Everyone knows you!"

Kirito smirks, his eyes closing briefly. "Don't worry Sachi. I've been taking naps during the day a lot. Nothing's happened so far. Besides, I'm a light sleeper." He shrugs a little. Sachi almost smiles at him, noticing how full of himself he was. Her eyebrows raised to her hairline as she stared at him, in pure amusement. "It would take them an awful long time to defeat me, considering how high my numbers are. Granted, that's before I awake and beat them."

Sachi snorts, and shook her head. "You're unbelievable." She sighs, and Kirito smirks widely. Teasing her, and Sachi shook her head once more. Just as Sachi was about to speak, her lips parting, she was cut of by an ear piercing scream that echoes through the air. It makes Sachi wheeze, and all the hairs on her body stood on end. Both she and Kirito leaped up in surprise and shock.

"Sachi! Come on!" Kirito said urgently.

Sachi nods, and rushes after him. Both of them moving quietly with other players out the door, towards where the source of scream. Sachi clocks her head back, to find a high clock town standing above them and casting a shadow across the lands. "K-Kirito…" she said quietly, feeling as if her whole body was shaking as the blood in her veins felt like they were freezing. Her heart dropped to her stomach, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

A man, dressed in pure black and blocky silver armor. His feet dangled high from the ground. Wiggling back and forth, with a thick rope tied around his throat. His hands were shaking as he clenched a bright crimson spear that was imbedded into his chest with bright red pixel-like squares flashing around the chest area.

"I'll cut him down, Kirito! B-Be ready to catch him." Sachi said, turning and rushing up the steps. Feeling her legs burn as she moves. Forcing herself to go faster and faster. Her heart beating painfully in her chest.

"Right!" Kirito nods, watching briefly as Sachi runs up the steps to the clock tower.

"Pull it out! Hurry!" Kirito suddenly bellowed out, running towards the crowd below the man. The man glances at Kirito from the corner of his eyes. The man let out another scream. It cuts through the air. His hands grips the spear tighter and struggles to pull it free, only to let out another pain filled shriek that makes everyone's knees weak.

His body twisted, and swung back and forth. His eyes were wide, and blank before suddenly he shook like a fish. Small cracks seemed to spread across him like glass, and just as Kirito had ran forward his form shattered like glass.

Sachi's jaw dropped, and her eyes were so wide that tears had begun to build at the corners of her eyes. Her heart beated so harshly that it was echoing in her ears. She could see the man, tied up from the rope that was attached to one of the pillars. She pulled out of her sharpest arrows, and pumped her legs as fast she could towards him. Readying to slashing the rope, but just as she touched the rope, the man's body shook furiously. Like he had been hit by lightning, he screamed and shrieked. The man body disappeared into blue and green shards, much like the ones she had seen when people died.

"Kirito!" Sachi called out, running towards the window and throwing herself forward to look out. She gasped upon seeing the spear falling with an incredibly speed. The dark haired boy directly underneath it.

Kirito lets out a yelp, and stumbles backward. Narrowed missing the spear that swung through the air, and almost sliced through his head as it twisted and hit the ground. Imbedding itself into the stone between his feet. It glows a sickly red color, flashing brightly.

"Kirito!" Sachi repeated, panting as she grips the wooden rail of the window. Her eyes shook, and her shoulders were trembling. She peered across at the swinging rope above them. She felt as if cold water had been washed over her body. How? How did somebody die? "I thought the o-only way to die in a-a safe area…is to get killed during a duel?"

Kirito stares up at Sachi, his dark eyes narrows and he clenches his teeth together. His gaze swirled worriedly, and madly moving side to side. "Everyone! Look for a 'Winner' duel notification!" he called out loudly, and slowly the crowd began to glance at one another.

Hearing Kirito's echoing voice, Sachi clocks her head back to look at all the glowing squares above everyone's head. "They're all green. I don't see a winner icon in the crowd." She called out, her voice cracking and breaking as it filled the air. She leans against the balcony, and tried to see right at the back. There was no winning announcement. How could somebody die, when not in a duel? It's impossible, right?

"Sachi!" Said dark head girl jumped, snapping out of her thoughts and turning around to look at the door. She blinks a little as Kirito runs into the room. Panting heavily, and tired from running up the many steps. He turns his eyes onto her, and sighs in relief at seeing she was fine. Sachi blushes a little before turning away.

Kirito wets his lips, and his eyes grows large upon seeing the rope tied around the middle pillar. "What is this? This can't be a sleeper PK. It's way to elaborate." Kirito said bluntly, staring at the rope and walking closer to it. Circling the pillar, and scratching at the back of his head. He had never seen such a thing before. He was more than shocked to see it.

Sachi sniffed. "I don't think it was duel. I'm not sure. I don't see a winner icon outside…so it must be something else…um, the most normal, rational explanation would be that the murderer impaled the victim, p-put the noose around his neck and then, um, shoved him out the window." she mumbled, and glances back outside. She felt nervous, and her hands trembled further. It was strange to her, it sounded much like something out of those television shows that her Grandmother liked to watch.

"Yeah." Kirito nods his head. His dark curls bounced around his face, and it was then that Sachi noticed he was still holding that weird, red spear. "But if there is, god forbid, a way to kill someone in a safe zone then everyone will freak out, the towns can't be considered secure anymore."

Kirito frowns to himself, and leant back against one of the walls of the room. The red spear leant against his side. "For now, however, I'm certain this guy isn't dead."

"Huh?" Sachi gasped, and snapped her head around to look at the other. "Kirito? You don't think he's d-dead?" she asked, her eyebrows pulling together in confusion. Sure, it shouldn't be possible to die in a safe zone, but the man had disappeared in a glass like shards. It was exactly like how a player would really die. Sachi was sure the man was dead.

Kirito shook his head, somewhat stubbornly. He shrugs a little. "I don't see anyway somebody could die in a safe zone. I think it's a trick, but there is only one way to find out."

"Don't you need to return to the front lines, soon?" Sachi asked softly. She breathes in deeply, to calm herself down. She couldn't completely relax, but at least she wasn't as tensed.

"Hm. Not for a few days." Kirito said. He turned his eyes back onto Sachi, and pushes his black hair out of his face. A few, loose jet black hairs fell back into his eyes, but he didn't seem like they bothered him much. "I was hoping we could take on one of the highest quests. But this is as good as anything I could hope for. Looks like we're working together Sachi." He says, with a small smirk begging to be allowed out.

Sachi let out a soft gasp. "You can't be s-serious Kirito? This seems like something w-we should go to, um, one of the guild leaders. L-Like, um, Heathcliff?" she said seriously, and sighed deeply to herself.

She knew Kirito was, no is, one of the strongest players but seriously, this should be left for Heathcliff, the leader of the Knights of The Blood Oath. She just feels like somebody with more power, with many people looking towards them would be able to handle this better them. What if the man really was killed? Did he really die? How would they handle the massive panic that would follow? She really doubted that she and Kirito could handle so many people at once while Heathcliff, Sachi had heard so many rumors about the man. She hadn't met him, but he was much respected in Sword Art Online. And was always on the frontlines.

"We don't have time for that, somebody else might die. Sachi, this exactly what I was talking about. You want to test yourself for the frontlines. Then let's tackle this together." Kirito said, nodding his head in agreement with his thoughts. Something wasn't right here, and Kirito knows that if he doesn't deal with it himself, it will bug him for months after.

Sachi stares quietly at him. Silently repeating the words over in her mind. It was true, somebody could die during the time they go to the Blood Oath Guild. She bites her bottom lip harshly. She couldn't help but feel worried and concerned. Her heart beats, and her knees pressed tightly together.

"Sachi. Don't worry." Kirito says with a soft voice. Lifting a hand, and gently patting on her head. Sachi stares up at him with big round eyes, she nips softly at her lip and eventually nods mutely. Kirito smiles at her encouragingly.

Eventually the pair began to walk down the steps, moving back the way they went. "Excuse me. Does anyone know exactly what happened earlier? If you do, please tell us about it." Kirito questioned, forcing his voice to be strong as he stood in front of anxious crowd. All glancing wearily.

Sachi swallows sharply, and comes to stand behind Kirito. She holds her arms in front of herself. Her raven curls were pushed off her face, and she looked a little frazzled. Just as everyone else. Sachi looked worried, and concerned about it. Her face turned redder, spreading down her neck and nipping at her ears. She could hear the voices muttering to one another. Wondering why they should trust the pair.

"Please. The only way we can get to the bottom of this, is if you tell us. You can trust us." Kirito added. He sighed deeply, and his jade orbs sweeps across the crowd. He frowns deeply, and glances at Sachi briefly before he holds his hands out.

"Some of you might already know…My name is Kirito, known as the Black Swordsmen and this is Sachi, The White Arrow. We want to know what's going on here." He finally says, feeling a bit guilty that he had to out Sachi but how else would get these people to trust them. He sent an apologized look at the girl. The crowds began to whisper to one another. Eyes drilled into the pair. The crowd hums, and they started talking among themselves again quietly.

"When I got here he was already…"

"Yeah me too…"

Sachi inhales sharply. She lifts her head her and glanced across the crowd. Her eyes were soft and gentle as ever as she looked at each person. Sachi hums lowly, and tilts her head as she notices a short female nervously standing in the back of the crowd. Her shoulders were hunched, and her head was slightly ducked. Long curls of blue framed her face, gently brushing against her face and bring out her matching blue eyes. She reminds Sachi of herself, and before she knew it, she found herself walking towards the girl.

Kirito almost jolts when Sachi suddenly began to walk into crowd. He frowns, and scratches the back of his head, before following after her. His eyes flickering up to find the blue haired girl in front of them. Awkwardly shifting on her feet, with her shoulders hunched and hands tightly pressed together, curled against her chest. She was shaking like a lead.

"It okay." Sachi says softly, and smiles encouragingly at the small girl. "I know you're shaken up, scared, but please tell us who you are?" she says as gently as possible. Placing a soft encouraging hand onto the girl's shoulders.

The girls looked at Sachi. She chews at her bottom lip, before she relaxes a little and nods her head. "M-my name is Yolko." The girl finally uttered quietly. Her voice was quivering, and creaking as she spoke. Sachi nods thoughtfully, and runs the name through her mind.

"By any chance, was that first scream yours?" Kirito swiftly asked. Stepping up to Sachi's side, peering down at the girl.

Yolko sniffles, and rubs her teary eyes. "Y-Yes." She muttered and looked down sadly. Looking as if she was about to break into sobs any minute.

"I just came here to eat dinner with the man who was killed. He's a friend of mine, named Caynz. We used to be in the same guild. But we got separated in this plaza." She gasped out, hot tears beginning to roll down her round cheeks. She hiccupped and sobbed. "I looked around, and I saw him hanging from the clock tower window."

Sachi clocks her head to the side, and tried to smile an encouraging smile but it was hard. She wanted to cry too. "It'll be okay. Can you, um, tell us if you saw anyone else near, um, Caynz…?" she asked as quietly and kindly as possible.

Yolko clocks her head to the side and tried to think. Her eyes were becoming shallow and slightly red. "I-It was just f-for a second, but I thought I s-saw someone behind Caynz." She finally managed to say as clearly as she could. "I don't t-think I would be able to recognize the p-person, because I saw t-them from the back…"

Kirito frowns, and bites his bottom lip before sighing deeply. "I hate to ask this, but do you know why anyone would've wanted hurt or…kill Caynz?" he asked, quite bluntly but in a soft voice. Yolko simply shook her head, with a terrified glint within her blue orbs. Seeing her expression, it made Sachi whimper and her chest tighten.

Sachi felt tired, and her head felt heavy. The day had been unpredictable to say the least. She truly felt as if she had somehow stumbled into one of those CSI shows. Shaking her head, she walks alongside Kirito. Walking Yolko towards the room, she had been apparently living in since this floor had been cleared.

"Thank you, for escorting me…" Yolko sniffed, and bowed to the pair with a small smile.

Kirito nods. "No problem. Tomorrow, we can continue our talk. If that's fine with you." He asked, and Yolko nodded in return, with glassy eyes.

Sachi let out a soft gasp. "Oh. Yolko. Why don't we add each other? If you need anything, anything at all, just message me. Okay?" Sachi said, and smiles at Yolko who looks at her and slowly nods to her. Both opens their menu, and adds one another. "Okay?"

Yolko sniffs once more. "T-Thank you." She mutters quietly, and bows once again to the pair. She glances behind herself, and began to walk towards her room. Closing the door behind her.

Running her hand slowly through her hair, Sachi sighs softly and bites at her bottom lip. "Um. What now?" Sachi asked, turning around to face the dark onyx haired boy.

"Well, we only that spear. The one that impaled Caynz, so we should have someone take a look at it." Kirito said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin a little and smiles a little. "We'll need someone with appraisal skill."

Sachi clocks her head to the side, and almost chuckled. "And who would that be? You don't seem to have one. I most certainly don't have one." She said, almost teasingly but her cheeks were a little pink.

"Hey." Kirito chuckled, and smirked. He shook his head a little. "I might not have one, but I know somebody. An item merchant I know. You'll recognize him. He helped out in the first boss battle, and sometimes helps out in newer boss battle. He's a mace user."

Tilting her head to the side, and Sachi's lips parted thoughtfully. "Um, Agil? The one who stood up at the…first meeting." She asked, and immediately felt sadness as she remembered just who else had been at that meeting. It made her stomach clench.

Kirito's eyes softened, and he frowns a little. He could read Sachi's eyes, and knows who exactly was on her mind. Placing his hand firmly onto her head, and ruffles her hair teasingly, he smirks. "He should be open still. Come on, his shop is on the Floor Fifty." He said, and gestures his head to the side. Sachi peeks up at him and nods, before having rush to catch up to him. She pouts at him, for almost leaving her behind.

It didn't take them long. Sachi smiles as they entered the level. She had recently been on that level, a few days ago really. It was still as pretty as she remembered it, with pink glowing lanterns hanging across the walls. With candles placed about the street.

Kirito smiles at her, and points towards a small ally way. "It's that way. Sachi. See the sign." He explained, nodding to the sign hanging on the wall side. And Sachi looks up at the sign thoughtfully, before she began to follow him towards it. Just as the pair were about to climb the small stone steps, a player escaped the door with a long plain looking spear on his shoulder.

"Thank you! Come again, sir."

Sachi stared after the man, with a small frown. The player looked a little annoyed, or upset. She blinks a little, and only turned back around when Kirito pats her on the shoulder. She stares after him, before quickly rushing after him.

"Looks like you're carrying out your greedy business as usual." Kirito snorted, pushing the heavy wooden door open and holding it for Sachi as she shyly followed. The store wasn't very big, but somewhat homey with a thick wooden counter and many different things hanging on the walls. Shields, daggers, swords, spears and many other things. Sachi's eyes became wide and around, just standing quietly as she took in all the things. A few were beautiful while others looked plain.

A man shifts behind the desk, and finally stands up straight. He turns to look at them with kind amber eyes. A very familiar man, that Sachi remembered seeing around every now and then. "Oh Kirito. My motto's always been 'But Cheap, sell cheap.'"

"The second part is pretty fishing."

"So don't speak so ill of me. Don't go slandering my name, young man." He chuckled, and leant against the counter.

Kirito snorts, but chuckles. His lips pulls into a smile, and bumps fists with the man. Sachi clocks her head, and steps out from behind Kirito in hopes to introduce herself to the man. She smiles meekly, and waved a little to him, only to jump, and squeal in surprise when he suddenly grabbed ahold of Kirito. Throwing his muscled arm around Kirito shoulders and almost yanked him fully over the desk.

"Err…K-Kirito?" Sachi mumbled slowly. Blinking blankly and confusingly at the two. Voices muffling, anxiously speaking and making Sachi frown in confusion. "What?" and after what felt like hours, but where a few minutes, Agil released Kirito.

Sachi glanced between the two, and frowned even more in confusion. Kirito's face looked reddish, and slightly sweaty. She stepped forward. "Are you okay? You're red…" she muttered, trailing off and frowning when Agil made a soft chuckle but tried to hide it behind a cough. She felt as if she had missed something important.

"Wha? Nope. I'm fine!" Kirito suddenly blurted out. Speaking his words so fast, that Sachi almost missed what he said. Kirito shot a look at Agil, before forcing a strained smile at Sachi. Sachi simply shook her head, and decided some boys were weird.

Agil snorts, and stands up fully. "Anyway. What can I do for you?" he says with a smile upon his face. His eyes flickers.

Kirito lets out a deep sigh. "Um. Yeah, we'd like your help." He said, and rubs the back of his head. Agil nods, and leads them into the small room behind the counter. Not before locking the front door, so nobody could come in and steal anything.

"Wait. Someone got killed in a safe area?" Agil gasped out, after listening to the story. His jaw drops, as he breathes in deeply. Sachi dusts her skirt off, and lowers herself into the stool across from. "It wasn't during a duel?"

Kirito hunches forward a bit. He places the strange, red and white spear out and places it onto the small table. There was a clear, white bed behind them. The room was rather cleared, and cleaned. "We didn't see a 'Winner' notification anywhere." Kirito explained and groans loudly.

Sachi swallows, and glances at the two of them. She places her hands onto her knees, and arched her back. "Um. If he was walking Yolko-san beforehand. It couldn't have been a sleeping PK either." She supplied softly, and bites her bottom lip.

"The setup is too complicated to have been the result of a random duel. We can be certain that it was premeditated murder." Kirito said, adding onto what Sachi had been saying. He turns his eyes from Sachi onto Agil, and nods to the spear. "And then there this…spear…"

Agil nods slowly in understanding. He stares down at the spear, and frowned before he slowly presses his hand against the cool, strange textured weapon. "It's player-made. That explains how weird it looks, I guess." He said with a matter of fact tone.

Sachi let out a soft gasp, as she stared at the spear. She couldn't believe somebody had made the weapon. Sure, she made her own arrow heads every now and then, but they were easier to make. "Really? Who was the one that made it?" both herself and Kirito said at the same time. Their voices bouncing around the room, and filled with surprise.

"Hmmm." Agil clocks his head to the side, bring up a small menu that hovers above the weapon. His dark eyes sweeps side to side. "Grimlock. Never heard of him before. Ah, but I do know that he's not a first-rate swordsmith and there's really nothing particularly strange about this weapon. Still, it should give you guys a clue at least."

Kirito nods with a focused expression upon his face. "Just in case, tell us the items name too."

Agil glanced up at him, before he nodded. "Let's see…It's called Guilty Thorn, meaning 'thorn of sin'." He said before closing the menu and holding it out to Kirito.

"The thorn of sin." Kirito repeated, and carefully held it in his hand. It felt strange, and he slowly turned it over in his hands. It was pretty light, he supposed. But he really didn't think it could course much damage. He flips the weapon, his eyes narrowing down at the spear.

Sachi watches quietly, before she felt her heart skip a beat and she let out a gasp. "Kirito! What are you doing!" she said loudly, eyes widening as Kirito held the spear up and ready to slam it into his head. Ready to slice the tan flesh and black marital, only to make her stomach twist painfully. As if there was a fist inside her stomach. Sachi had moved fast, she almost fell off the stool as she grabbed ahold of his wrist with both hands.

"Why Sachi?" Kirito blinked confusingly and turned to look at the girl.

Sachi sighed and frowned even more at him. "I thought you were smarter than that Kirito. Someone's been killed by that weapon." She sighed softly, and finally eased herself away from him. She looked down nervously, feeling his gaze drilling into her. "Um. It's stupid. To injure yourself like this just to test the spear…I mean, what if it really is a weapon that could really kill any player? I know it's just your hand, but there's still a possibility that it could cause worse damage than that…" she muttered softly, and tapped her fingers together.

She felt so embarrassed that she had worked on impulse.

Kirito stares at Sachi quietly, just taking in her words quietly before slowly nodding. "Yeah. You're right. I'm sorry." He finally said and stood up, somewhat gracefully. He turns to Agil, and held the spear out. "I guess this should be left with you Agil."

Agil gulps, and takes the spear gingerly. "Uh. Sure. I guess…" he frowned.

"Anyways, thanks for the help Agil." Kirito added, with a small smile. And waves a little at him. Sachi stands up, and dusts off her skirt. She folds her hands together, and holds them to her lap before bowing in respect to Agil. Her face glows a dusted pink color.

Agil places the spear away in a chest. One with a strange glowing purple like light on the top. He turns to look at the pair and rubs the back of his head. "Um. No problem. Oh, Sachi-san. Come back any time." He said, smiling at her.

Sachi returns the smile. "O-Oh. Hai. Thank you, Agil-san." She said, and followed after Kirito. Sachi licks her bottom lip and climbs down the steps slowly but carefully. She still felt nervous about what was awaiting tomorrow. Just what mysteries Sword Art Online had. Her hands shook, and she pouts a bit. "S-So. Um, what now?"

Kirito turns to face Sachi as the pair moves further along the street. "We can get another room in an Inn, again?" he offered kindly. He wasn't as embarrassed about sharing a room with the girl as he used to be. Kirito supposed it was because he had become pretty comfortable with Sachi. He wondered briefly if Sachi was as comfortable with himself.

"Um. Okay. What Inn?" Sachi nods, with a mousy smile. Her cheeks darkens a little. It seemed to be happening quite a lot recently. Working with Kirito, and sharing a room together. It felt a little embarrassing, really but either way, she didn't mind it.

Kirito smiles at her and points down at an Inn at the bottom of the road. It wasn't more than one floor, but still looked cute in Sachi's opinion. In the end, she nodded her head and walked side by side with Kirito towards the Inn. It didn't take them long to rent a room, but it was rather embarrassing when the plump woman behind the counter when she gave them a look with one of the biggest grins she had ever seen before which made both Kirito and Sachi to flush as they made their way up to their room.

Sachi nervously exited the bathroom. She wore her familiar, long snow white night gown once again. She plays with one of her raven locks, as she walks further into the room and came to sit on the double bed, pulling one of plush pillows onto her lap and hugged it. "Nee. Kirito. Did you see Caynz's health bar hit zero?" she wondered out loud, lifting her head to look at said boy with a thoughtful expression upon her face.

"Hmm. Now that you mentioned it. I didn't" Kirito frowned, his nose wiggling as his lips twitched downwards. He pushes himself off the wall and came to sit next to Sachi on the bed. He wore his usual outfit, other than his long black coat. He rubs his chin. "I still don't believe he is dead. But I can't quite figure out how he disappeared that way."

Sachi blinked, and leant her head against the top of the pillow. Kirito had begun to notice it was a cute habit of hers, to hug pillows like that. "Um. He dissolved similar to an object…" she muttered, and tilted her head upward with her chin hidden within the pillow. She stares across at the window, with half-lidded eyes.

"I wonder if it's some kind of trick. Using the way an object would lose its durability…" Kirito amused. He scratches at the side of his head, before crossing his arms tightly over his chest and leant backward. Laying across the bed, and stared up at the ceiling quietly.

Sachi eyes him silently. Her lips parts, and she inhales sharply, and lets out a soft hum. "Um. Kirito…why are you so sure Caynz is still alive…?" she asked in a soft, and low tone of voice. Closing her eyes briefly.

Kirito tilts his head to the side, and peeked over at Sachi. "It is impossible to die in a safe zone and I doubt Kayaba Akihiko would have overlooked something like this. I mean, what is the point of creating a world like Sword Art Online, if we can easily kill each other in something that's supposed to be safe? I'm more then sure, Kayaba wouldn't allow it. I think the sleeping challenge is pushing it a little far with him right now…I just can't see him allowing something like this happening…" Kirito explained, his voice deep and filled with purpose.

"What would be the point in it….?"

They spent the rest of the night simply talking about quests. Sachi, at one point brought up what kind of quest Kirito had in mind but the night had gone quickly and before they knew it, the pair were sitting in the very same crimson restaurant with young Yolko. It was early morning, and Sachi was worried that Kirito would fall asleep. He looked beyond tired, it was actually pretty amusing.

Sachi looks across at Yolko with warm eyes. She understood what Yolko was going through. How painful it was to lose a close friend. "Um. Yolko-san…Have you ever heard of the name Grimlock?" she finally questioned after a few second of silence. She peered around the restaurant to find it completely empty.

"Yes…he was a member of the guild that Caynz and I were in together…" Yolko explained, lowering her head sadly with her eyes becoming even sadder.

Kirito and Sachi shared a look, Kirito nods to her silent question. "The truth is, we appraised the spear that Caynz-san was, er, killed with and found that it was created by Grimlock-san. Can you think a reason why this might be?"

Hearing the words, Yolko gasped and eyes becoming wide. She covered her mouth with shaken hands. "Y-Yes, I can." She breathes softly, and slowly lowers her hands. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you this yesterday. I want to forget about it. It's not something that I wish to remember…ever, really. However, I'll tell you about it." Yolko sighs softly, and looks at the pair with determination within their face.

"…About the reason for our guild's destruction…"

"The name of our guild was 'Golden Apple'. Six months ago, we defeated a rare monster that we encountered and dropped a ring that raised one's Agility by 20 levels. Some of us wanted to use it, while other wanted to sell it and split the earning, ultimately dividing the guild. But in the end, the matter was resolved by voting. The result was 5-3, in favor of selling it. Our leader, Griselda-san, left to stay overnight at a large town on the frontlines to consign the ring to an auctioneer. But Griselda-san never came back."

"Later, we discovered that she had died…I still don't know the cause of her death. Nobody would leave a safe area carrying such a rare item, which means she might've been sleep PKed…" Yolko added softly, pressing her hands together and bites at her bottom lip.

Sachi glances at Kirito, and watches as he closes his eyes briefly. "Sleep-PKing wasn't widely known six months ago. Still, it's hard to believe that it was a coincidence. Whoever attacked Griselda-san must've known about the ring as well…." Kirito muttered, and placed his hand to his chin. "In other words…one of the seven other members of Golden Apple. The obvious suspects would be those who voted against selling the ring."

"Um. So you're saying they attacked Griselda-san?" Sachi asked, turning to look at him. She had to turn her body a little, as the two were sitting next to one another. She couldn't believe what he just said. Was he serious? It felt strange, and even hurt to think that members of guild would attack their own team member.

Sachi whimpers lowly, and turns her eyes onto her lap. She looks down at her hands pressed together and resting against her lap. "Then that would mean it most likely isn't a coincidence. From the information, it truly seems Griselda-san was murdered and most likely from one of the guild members as they're the only ones who knows off the ring…"

"The most suspicious members would be those who are opposed to selling it." Kirito added in a gentle tone of voice. Leaning forward a bit to gaze at her. Kirito nods to Sachi. His own eyes saddened as he notices the glint within Sachi's orbs. He breathes in sharply, and turned to look at Yolko. "Who is Grimrock?" he bluntly asked, in a deep and firm voice.

Yolko bites her bottom lip, her eyes flickered a little and she finally looks up into their faces with a tiny smile upon her face. "Um. Grimrock-san is, um, was Griselda-san's husband. Just within the game, naturally…Griselda-san will always be a powerful swordswoman. She was very pretty, and incredibly smart. While Grimrock-san was a kind man who was always smiling. They truly made a great…a perfect couple, and they got along so well…" she said with a somewhat dreamy look on her. She seemed to be happy, smiling at the happy memory which fills her mind.

"If h-he was the one responsible for yesterday's murder, he must be after the three who were opposed to selling the ring. Two of the three were myself, and C- Caynz…" Yolko added. Her bright eyes watering a bit as she spoke. Her voice had even creaked and hitched.

Kirito suddenly sat up straight, and held his head high. He stared at Yolko with narrowed, dark eyes. "Then, who is the other?"

Yolko gulps, and licks at her chipped lips. "A, um, tank named Schmidt. I heard h-he's on the frontlines now…with the Holy Dragon Alliance…um, a part of the clearing group…" she said with a small grim across her face.

Kirito frowns. He crosses his arms over his chest and leant further backward. "Schmidt?" he muttered lowly under his breathe.

"Schmidt-san? Kirito, do you know him?" Sachi finally asked. Her soft and gentle voice filling the air, and she glanced at Kirito with worried eyes. If this Schmidt was on the frontlines, then surely Kirito had ran into him before?

Kirito locks gaze with Sachi, and shook his head. "I've heard of that name before, I've only seen him a few times. I think, he's the leader of the Divine Dragon Alliance's defenders…I'm not certain. I think he is the large lance wielder I've seen when clearing bosses, but I can't be sure."

"Because you're a solo-player…" Sachi said softly, and Kirito sends a small smirk at her. "Oh. But you should at least talk to him, Kirito. Try to arrange for Yolko-san to meet with him…Schmidt-san probably doesn't know what happened with Caynz-san. It would be best to let him know before it spreads outside of the village."

Yolko's head lowered, and her lips twitches as her eyes waters. "If Schmidt doesn't know…h-he might be the next one to meet t-the same fate…" she sniffled, her long curls hangs over her shoulders. A few curls falling into her eyes.

"…Let's call Schmidt-san. Kirito, do you know anybody in the, um, Divine Dragon Alliance?" Sachi asked, twirling her head around to Kirito with desperate large eyes.

Kirito clocks his head to the side, with a soft sigh. "Well. I, myself, don't know many people…I hardly pay attention to their names." He began, and felt a small chill run up his spin at the disappointed expression which crossed Sachi's face. "Ah, but I do know...er, have a friend who might know somebody in the Divine Dragon Alliance." He quickly added, rubbing the tip of his finger against his cheek and looked off to the side. Thinking of his taller, male older friend…kind off.

Sachi's eyes becomes round, and she smiled brightly, warmly. "In that case, we should escort Yolko-san to an Inn first. "She said with a gentle, but happy voice. She turned her head to Yolko. "Yolko-san, be sure to stay inside until we return."

Yolko nodded her head with another sniffle, her nose twitches. "…A-Alright…"

The air is crisp, and Sachi shivered once Yolko closed the door to her room. She presses her hands together, and rubbed her arms in hopes to warm herself up. Her nose had even become red from the chilly weather. She tilted her head back to look up at the greyish sky. It had been raining all morning, and it continued to rain.

Sachi withdrawn her hands close to her face, and blow warm air into them. Kirito places a hand onto her shoulder and frowns in concern. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. Kirito clocked his head down and tries to see her face. He almost smirked at her cute button up nose and where flushed pink and became red quickly. "Is it too cold?"

"Ah. No. I'm fine." Sachi said with a smile on her face. She tried not to shiver, as the pair turned to walk along an alleyway trail. The stone ground pitted gentle from the rain that fell from the roof-tops. "…But I do wish umbrellas were invented here…" she pouted, and Kirito chuckled at her childish expression.

Kirito stares for a few more seconds at her, feeling a little doubtful but didn't want to push her. Eventually, he nodded and rounded his head to look ahead of himself. "So, how do you think the murder happened?" he questioned, eyeing Sachi from the corner of his eye; testing her knowledge.

Sachi makes a gentle humming sound. "I thought you didn't believe it was a murder?" she said, almost teasingly.

"Entertain me." Kirito smirked.

Arching her back to look up at the sky once more. Sachi made a soft, thoughtful clicking sound with her tongue. "Um…well, it could be a result of a fair duel or a, um, use of a complicated system exploit. But those two are givens…right?" she asked, rolling her head around to look at Kirito with a tiny smile.

Kirito nodded, and finally placed a hand onto his chin. "There is a third possibility. The use of an unknown skill that can disregard safe areas. Maybe in the form of an item. But, on another thought of it, that is unlikely." He frowned, more to himself than to much shorter person next to him.

Sachi blinked once again, and her lips parted into a circle like shape. "Why?" she asked in confusion.

"Because it is unfair." Kirito shook his head. "I don't really want to admit it, but Sword Art Online's rules are fundamentally fair. There's no way safe area murders would be encouraged like that. Which is why I don't believe it could be a murder." He said, and looked at Sachi with narrowed dark eyes.

Sachi frowns, and bites at her bottom lip. "O-Oh…" she pushes a silk raven back behind her ear.

To say Sachi was surprised that Kirito's male friend had so quickly been able to contact Schmidt so quickly. That evening, Sachi found herself standing nervously and shyly in Yolko's Inn room with said man sitting across from Yolko. He looked anxious and shaken up. His legs shaking, and him biting at his fingers. Sachi felt concern for him.

"W-Was…was that weapon that killed Caynz really made by Grimlock?" he asked, his voice cracking and breaking. He looked out with bug-like eyes, staring across at Yolko while he bites at his bottom lip. Chewing at the sensitive skin almost madly.

Yolko closes her eyes sadly, and bows her head. "Yes."

"Why did Caynz get killed after all this time?" Schmidt cried out, and leaped to his feet. He throw his hands out, with a shaking body. "Was he…was he the one that stole the ring? Was he the one that killed Griselda? Was he? Is Grimlock planning to kill us for not agreeing to sell the ring? Are we being targeted, too?"

Yolko lifts her head. "Grimlock-san was the spear's maker but someone else could have used it. Or maybe…Griselda-san is taking revenge. After all, killing in a safe area, can only be done by a ghost…" she muttered, her voice trailing off and looking down.

Sachi stared at the young girl, feeling as her stomach dropped. Especially with how she sat in front of the open window, curtains fluttering out on either side of her small body. 'Ghost?' she repeated in her head, feeling a shiver run up her spin. She shared a look with Kirito, and almost chuckled at the expression on his face. He truly thought this was bullshit. He didn't believe in ghosts, or the supernatural. There was no way it was possible, and Sachi could see it on his face.

"G-G-G-G-Ghost?" Schmidt repeated, with his eyes as large as balloons.

Yolko trembled, she clenched the arms of her chair and slowly pushed herself up. Her legs buckled underneath her weight, and she stared at nothing with unfocused eyes. "I-I…stayed up l-last night thinking…in the end, all of the guild members share responsibility in Griselda-san's death! After we got the ring, we shouldn't have voted, and just let Griselda-san decide on what to do with it!" she screamed at the top of her long, digging the palms of her hands into her blue eyes.

Sachi's heart dropped, and rushed towards the shorter female. "Y-Yolko-san! Please calm down!" she gasped out, and grabbed ahold of her shoulders. She frowns, with her eyebrows pulling together worriedly. Kirito stared blankly at Yolko, his dark eyebrows slowly began to raise to his hairline. Just staring with disbelief at her.

"O-Only…one person…" Yolko muttered out, her body slowly becoming relaxing and Sachi finally stepped away. She breathes out lowly, and watches quietly as Yolko blindly feels behind her to sit meekly on her windowsill. "G-Grimlock-san alone thought Griselda-san should decide…That's why he has the right to avenge her…by making us pay for her d-death with our l-lives…"

"Don't screw with me. This has to be some sick joke…after all this time!" Schmidt growled. He covered his face with both his hands, his shoulders shaking and seeming to be crying into them. "Half a year's passed already, so why now? Are you just going to accept that, Yolko? Are you fine with getting mysteriously killed off like that?" he sneered, and shoved himself up. His voice bellowing out, and angry.

Kirito moved forward, and grabbed ahold of his arm before Schmidt could do anything he would regret.

Sachi frowned. She felt as if something was in her throat, something painful and her chest tightens. Her stomach flips, and feeling as if there really were a fist inside her stomach. Suddenly, she felt a freezing cold chill run over her body. Spinning on the balls of her feet to face Yolko.

The sweet, short girl stared blankly at nothing. Her arms hanging loosely at her sides, and her knees buckled. Her body trembled, and her blue orbs widens so much that they became slight reddish. She let out a low wheeze, and stumbled forward. Slowly turning around, with her curls being thrown around her from the winds that entered the room.

"Y-Yolko!"

A knife. It was revealed to be sticking out of her back. She made a low sound before trembling out the window. Sachi gasped, and ran towards the window. She grabbed ahold of the sill and thrown herself forward to look down at the street, in time to see Yolko's body slam against the ground. Her hair fell around her body. Her body shook, and her stomach twisted.

"Yolko!"

The young girl disappeared into shards, leaving nothing in her wake by the small dagger that fell against the ground in a loud clank.

---

Yay! Chapter 11! YES! So I heard a few of you wanted my chapters to be longer. Well, is this long enough? Hmmm?

Sachi so adorable. Soon, she'll have the courage to adventure out onto the frontlines with Kirito~