Chapter Thirteen: The Brotherhood Part III

Kirito took a step outside and held Gabriel's little brother Keita in place by stabbing into the fabric of the boy's shirt with his large and abnormally heavy sword. He kneeled down, opened his inventory and selected medicinal eyedrops in his list. He had no idea what effect they'd have but if they were medicinal, then they were obviously meant to heal something that was ruining your ability to use your eyes. So he held open Keita's eyes and dropped two drops in each, and the boy just blinked continuously. He tried to turn his head away but Kirito squeezed his cheeks and held him in place. Then he closed his eyes... so Kirito held them open with the ring finger and pinky whilst holding the eyedrops with his index finger and thumb. It felt awkward, but he managed to get the job done.

Keita let out a relieved sigh and smiled once again. "Thanks Kirito..." He mumbled, sounding relieved.

"No problem, Kei-chan." He grinned and patted Keita on the head. "It's the least I could do... after that. I'm sorry Keita, I acted before I thought." He apologized honestly.

Kirito grunted with effort as he made to get up, but a loud crack rang out throughout the alley as Knee met face and Kirito grunted. "Ow." He stated, and the owner looked at him, angrily. "What was that for?" The boy asked, completely oblivious to what he had done.

Gabriel sighed as he stepped through the floaitng doorframe, he opened the door and closed it behind him as he stepped through. "Keita... you're okay now?" He asked, his brow was twitching with frustration he was desperately trying to hide, meanwhile Keita and Kirito looked kind of Giddy and they just both started laughing at him, Gabriel was completely soaked with water that was pretty much at freezing temperature.

His brow twitched harder and he clenched his jaw. "Not funny." He said with dark look in his eyes as he opened them then stalked off. Meanwhile, the inn owner just smiled smugly as he turned his head to Kirito.

Gabriel left them at that, and heard footsteps following him after a few moments. He wondered who it could've possibly been, so he turned and groaned. "Ca-Asuna" He corrected himself as he turned just to find her... the girl Keita had been partners with while he was busy running away from the crossed swords and running around leveling up for the past month-ish.

"Gabriel-san." She said, and the suffix made him smirk.

"Just call me Gabriel... not like we're strangers." He stated bluntly and waited for her to continue speaking.

"Oh... okay." She responded and fiddled with her fingers. He rose an eyebrow slightly, and also shivered as the next breeze came to pass.

"Did you need something?" He tilted his head out of curiosity, and tried to ignore the irritation he was feeling.

"Well... you know Kirito better than anybody right?" She asked, and he nodded his head slightly. "Do you know what his favorite-"

"Hotsauce. It's his new favorite, because you're the one who made it." He stated and waved then started to leave. "His favorite color is black, or grey." He added after a few steps, dismissing the rest of the conversation, in secret his mouth tugged at the sides and became a slight smile of contentness.

"Oh... is that a smile I see?" his annoying little twin brother asked, and as Gabriel opened his eyes he found his brother leaning in close to his face, his eyes were at lip level and he was staring intently. Gabriel just grabbed him by the face and guided him to stand at his side.

"Come on Caleb... quit being so... close." He stated.

"Come on Gabriel... quit being so... distant." Caleb mocked and stuck his tongue out at his brother, who just let his head hang, and he let out a defeated sigh.

"Fine." He lifted his head then turned to Caleb and stood closer. He tightly wrapped an arm around his brother's neck, who just took in shallow breaths to act like he wasn't being choked at all.

They walked for another few minutes until they came to the Guild Hall. A place for naming and creating Guilds. Then there was a message that popped up.

[Enter with founders...]

He crossed his arms then turned to look for Kirito, Keita and Asuna. He hoped they weren't in trouble.

[But as we all know... hope is the first step on the road to disappointment.]