Chapter 21: Sky Above

22nd December 2022. Aincrad, Floor 6, Ashnu Inn. 08:00 AM, Aincrad Standard Time.

"The boss certainly isn't wasting any time. Man, would it have killed him to let us sleep in?" Godfree pondered to Kuradeel in their shared inn room.

"Quit your incessant whining." Came the stinging reply.

"Remind me, are we supposed to be friends?"

"I won't let you die next to me in battle, if that's what you're asking."

"Not quite, but I think I get the sentiment. C'mon, let's head down stairs."

The two made their way to a secluded meeting room off of the common area of the inn. A long table occupied the center of the room. Yuuna was already seated, along with several other Knights sitting next to her. Godfree and Kuradeel sat down as well, next to their comrades.

Eventually more and more Knights trickled in, until all of the seats were filled, save for one, at the head of the table. At precisely 8:10 AM, Heathcliff entered the room, and took his seat at the head.

"Good morning." Heathcliff led.

"Morning!" Came the enthused reply from the lower Knights.

"First off, congratulations on the clear last night. I'm happy to see none of you are dead." Heathcliff started in his usual calm tone and demeanor. Although he was congratulatory, his tone didn't match it. Despite it not wavering from his normal, Godfree and the other Knights got the sense something was off.

"However. We failed as a unit to get the last hit item. This mistake cannot be allowed to happen again. We will not fall behind other organizations. We are the premier. The elite. This will not happen again."

"Yes!" Replied the assembly.

"Good. Like many of you, I am aware of days are coming up. But we do not rest. Anyone that is opposed should leave immediately."

The assembly was motionless. No one dared to stand up.

"Excellent." Heathcliff continued. "My sources have already found the location of the Labyrinth. But there is an issue."

The assembly failed to hide the look of surprise on their faces. Having found the labyrinth less than 24 hours after entering the floor was insane.

"The issue being, we are to be tested before we're granted entry. While the Labyrinth was obviously not a problem to find, we can't simply walk into it like we have previously. This floor is special, in that we have to defeat a boss before we can enter the Labyrinth."

"Another boss?" Yuuna asked. "So there are technically two on this floor?"

"In a way yes. I would reestimate your expected power level of the pre-Labyrinth boss. The world boss, if you will. I seriously doubt it will be on the same level as a floor boss. In fact, I'd gamble that it would only take our forces to bring it down."

"Do we have any idea where it might be?" Kuradeel curtly asked.

"No. Which is what our task is today. We are going to find the world boss before any other guilds do, secure the kill, and have first entry into the Labyrinth."

"Understood." The assembly replied.

"The only information there is, is that it's out there in the wilderness somewhere. We will split up into squads, and fan out into the forest and grasslands. Use extreme prejudice. No matter how minor the creature may be, exterminate it. You never know what the spawn trigger may be, if there is one."

"As you wish!" The assembly replied.

Heathcliff broke the Knights into appropriately balanced squads, including himself, and the Knights of the Blood departed the inn.

24th December 2022. Aincrad, Floor 6, Nishi Forest. 10:00 PM, Aincrad Standard Time.

"Well, here we are Lis. Merry Christmas." Klein announced as the two came to a clearing in the forest, with a clear view of the night sky.

"Whoa!" Lis gasped, as they sat down in the light snow covering the ground. They could feel the cold through their clothes, but didn't care.

Their gazes shifted upward, and they were greeted with an alien sky. The stars of Aincrad looked very different then what they might have been able to see at home. They were far enough away from the main town that what little lantern light pollution there would be was negated, and the moon was dim.

While some constellations might have looked familiar to Lis, so much of it was entirely different and new.

"So, what do you think?" Klein asked, seeking some sort of approval. He had been so nervous about Lis not liking the stargazing that he got amore 'traditional' gift just in case.

"I love it, of course." Lis replied with her warm smile.

"Glad to hear it."

Lis shifted to rest her head on Klein's shoulder, he shifted his body so they could both see up at the stars.

"Hey…" Lis began. "We'll go home right? You think we can escape?"

"Of course."

"Do you want to fight the whole way there?"

"I don't know what else I would be doing. So yeah, I think I do."

"I need you to promise me something then." Lis pulled her head back, making Klein look into her light brown eyes that seemed to gleam under the starlight.

"What is it?"

"Promise me that, no matter how long it takes, we'll both return to the real world. Even if it means having to give up fighting like we are. Please, promise me that we'll both make it. That we can be with each other even in the real world."

"Lis, I would promise you the world if I could offer it. I'll make sure you make it back."

"You idiot! Not just me. But the both of us."

"Sorry, sorry. I promise, I'll make sure we make it back."

"Good."

"Now it's my turn. I have something to give you."

"What, oh no. Klein! I don't have anything." Lis replied panicked.

"It's alright. I saw this in town the other day, and thought it would be perfect." Klein produced a single earring, materializing in his hand. He offered a vivid ruby red earring with gold accents to Lis. "Lis...Rika. Merry Christmas. I love you."

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry. I don't have anything. I guess all I can say is, I love you."

The two embraced before eventually pulling away.

"Well, let's see how it looks." Klein suggested.

Lis took the earring from Klein's hand, and affixed it to her ear. "Well?" She asked.

"It looks stunning."

"I love you, Klein. Thank you."

"Alone on Christmas, eh there?" Argo happened upon Kirito in town. "Can't say that I blame you. Everyone's gotta cope somehow."

"Hi Argo. Merry Christmas, I guess." Kirito greeted. He hadn't noticed it until now, but Argo raised a valid point with her last statement. Come to think of it, there was a general sense of sadness that had seemingly befallen the players as the day progressed. "Got anything planned?" Kirito inquired.

"Actually yes. Egiru and I are going to have a drink. Celebrate the holiday. You're welcome to join us, but I don't think you could order much in the name of alcohol. They still card here. But of course, your company is welcome. Who knows, Miss Red Hood might show up and make your night." Argo concluded with a wink.

"Thanks, but I'll pass. Enjoy your night with Egiru." Kirito declined the offer.

"Suit yourself. But what do you plan to do?"

"I dunno. I might go out and level or item grind for a bit. Or I might just wander around for a bit."

"That's no fun. But I'm not going to tell you how to spend your Christmas night. But Kirito, I wasn't just teasing. You should go find her. No lady likes to be alone on Christmas. It'll be good for the both of you. Have some fun with each other."

"Thanks for the advice. I wish you and Egiru the best tonight."

"Good night, Kirito." Argo walked off towards a tavern.

"Go find Asuna, huh?" Kirito thought to himself. He considered their relationship to be awkward, at best.

Argo sighed. "Well here I am. The great Argo. Reduced to a teenage matchmaker." She thought to herself. She noticed a familiar red hooded figure travelling the opposite direction she was. Their paths would collide. "Damn it, all I really want is a drink. Oh well."

"Hey, merry Christmas. Oh come on, don't act like you don't know me!" Argo stopped Asuna in her tracks.

Asuna giggled and lowered her hood. "Hi Argo. Merry Christmas to you also. Where are you off to?"

"I'm meeting Egiru for a drink. Or a few. How about yourself? Going somewhere fun?"

"Nope, I'm just going to find a room and probably fall asleep. Maybe have a bath and relax for a bit."

"Gah, that's boring." Argo replied. "You know, I saw a lonely looking guy just over there." Argo pointed back in the direction she had met Kirito. "Black hair, black clothes, pretty decent looking. Seemed to be your age also. It would maybe do you some good to have some fun with him. It would do the both of you good." Argo proposed with her infamous wink.

Asuna giggled a little bit at the suggestion. "Thanks for the info. How much do I owe you?"

"That little tidbit? That's free. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas. Have a good night, Argo."

"You as well, Asuna."

They both gave a curt bow to each other before going their separate ways. Asuna stopped to ponder.

"Should I go see him? We're both alone...but would he even want to be with someone? And besides that, he came off as arrogant to me last time I saw him. Does he even deserve my company?But…he's not all bad. I don't know." Asuna thought to herself. "Eh, what harm could tea do?" Asuna had internally concluded. She diverted herself toward where Argo had pointed.

Kirito finally go up from the bench he was sitting on. He had decided to just call it a night, and find a place to sleep. As he took a few steps away, he got stopped by a familiar voice.

"Where are you going?"

A hooded figure approached him, stopping him in his tracks. "Hi Asuna. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you as well. You still haven't answered my question."

"To sleep. Was going to find a place."

"Really? Not going out to level or get new equipment? That's a new one for you." Asuna teased.

"Whatever. Now my turn. What are you doing?"

"I was going to do the same thing you were. Funny coincidence, right?"

"Somehow, I doubt it's as chanceful as you think." Kirito replied, considering the Argo factor and what she had suggested earlier.

"Oh well. We're both here. How about some tea?"

"You know what, that doesn't sound too bad. There's a place this way." Kirito led on.

Asuna caught up and walked beside him.

"You going to take off that hood anytime soon? It's not that cold out."

"And risk being seen with you?" Asuna giggled as she teased him.

"Whatever." Kirito replied. Truth be told he didn't care. Deep down, he felt an indomitable joy to have a companion, no matter how brief his encounter may be.

Kirito and Asuna took the last sips of their tea.

"Ahh, that was pretty good." Asuna said.

"Yeah, definitely wasn't too bad." Kirito agreed. For being simulated, it was legitimately good.

"Hey, do you want the night to end?" Asuna asked.

"Well now, look who is being a little adventurous." Kirito jested.

"I don't mean anything like that. I mean, maybe we should do something else besides tea. The night is still early, and it is Christmas, after all."

"What did you have in mind?" Kirito's curiosity was genuinely piqued.

"Well… I don't know. I was hoping you might have a suggestion."

"Come to think of it, I think I might. How about you follow me?"

The two left the cafe and ventured out towards the clear grassland part of the Floor's landscape.

"I think this is a good stopping point." Kirito stated.

"Why..are we out here?" Asuna asked. They had walked about a kilometer away from town, and were in the middle of a field.

"Look up." Kirito pointed upwards, as he shifted his head.

Much like Lis was earlier, Asuna was enthralled by the beauty of the Aincrad night sky.

"It's beautiful." Asuna finally found some words. "How did you know about this?"

"Truth be told, I've never actually been to this spot. I just figured a clear area on a clear winter night, might be worth looking at."

"Well, I'm glad you thought of it." Asuna said with a smile.

Kirito sat down in a patch of grass, Asuna joined him, sitting fairly close to Kirito.

After a few minutes of silent observation, Asuna broke the silence.

"Hey, do you want to be stupid teenagers?"

"What do you mean?" Kirito shifted his gaze to look towards Asuna, who was looking at him a she asked the question.

"Come here."

Asuna pulled Kirito to her and kissed him. Kirito was shocked and understandably tense at first, but eventually relaxed into it. Asuna loosened her grip she had used to pull Kirito as the embrace continued. She didn't know why, but it felt right. They pulled away from each other.

The sky above them began to dance, as a meteor shower seemed to have started. Once more their gazes were upward, observing this new development.

As their eyes began to meet each others again, and acting on that compulsory feeling once more, Asuna leaned in for another embrace. Kirito was much more prepared, and placed his hands on the sides of Asuna's shoulders. Asuna did the same.

The two eventually pulled away.

"So, what does it feel like to be a stupid teenager?" Kirito inquired.

"Not too bad." Asuna replied. She moved and rested her head on Kirito's shoulder.

The meteor shower had concluded, but not before they had both fell asleep under the night sky.