Chapter 37: In This Maze With You
8th May 2023. Aincrad, Floor 25, Labyrinth, 11:00 PM, Aincrad Standard Time.
Kirito sheathed his sword as the body of an enemy disappeared. Just one opponent, a Centaur like creature who had wielded a Yumi bow, as well as a Naginata for use when its powerful legs galloped and charged an opponent.
Kirito stood catching his breath, and took in his surroundings for any more enemies. The battlefield for the Centaur creature took place on a long light bridge. The material was like an opaque crystal-like glass, but stood much sturdier. The terrain gave the Centaur plenty of distance to charge Kirito, and he had expended a lot of energy weaving through the barrages of arrows as well as the almost unstoppable charges.
'I must be close.' Kirito thought to himself, considering the difficulty of the creature, the boss room must be nearby.
He heard footsteps approaching behind him on the bridge. Kirito whipped around and drew his sword. The figure approaching him stopped in their tracks.
"This is the way you greet me after a month?" The figure continued towards Kirito. He could now see her expression, and it was a rather cross one.
"Sorry." Kirito sheathed his sword, as Asuna finished approaching him. A flurry of emotions began to whip through Kirito's mind. He felt his stomach begin to drop, and a tightness in his chest. An overwhelming feeling of guilt began to wash over him.
"So...how have you been?" Asuna awkwardly asked.
"G-good." Kirito nervously replied. Asuna immediately picked up on his nerves.
"You act like you've never seen me, or a girl before." Asuna said, with concern and a hint of teasing sprinkled in.
"S-sorry." Kirito replied once more.
"Really though, how have you been?" Asuna asked again.
"I've been...alright." Kirito honestly replied.
"That's good, I guess." Asuna replied.
"I should ask the same…" Kirito responded.
"Good." Asuna replied.
"That's good."
"Kirito...what's the matter with you? It's me."
"Nothing."
"Can you talk using more than a few words?" Asuna asked, a point in her voice. She was beginning to get agitated.
"Sorry."
"Did something happen? I don't recall saying something bad to you last time we spoke...is your guild ok? Did something happen to them?"
"No. Sorry."
"Quit apologizing."
"Sor-" Kirito stopped himself before he could apologize again. Asuna's cross expression returned to her face.
"Now I'm getting kind of nervous ...you're still Kirito, right?" Asuna took her hand and placed it around her sword's handle.
"Wha-Of course I am. How could…?"
"I...don't know." Asuna eased off her sword's handle. "You never know what the murder guild's can do now."
"Murder guilds?" Kirito responded with a question.
"You haven't heard, have you then?"
"No."
"So you haven't been keeping up...Argo as well as the Knights think that the murders are now done by specific groups. We know one for sure, but there may be more."
"So there have been more Player murders then?"
"Yeah. There's always the same calling card left on the corpses. But the murders are different enough that we think it's different people."
"Have you been keeping yourself safe?"
"Of course. I'll be ok." Asuna reassured.
"What's being done?"
"We-" Asuna quickly drew her sword and initiated a thrusting sword skill against Kirito. Reacting just as quickly, Kirito saw the glimmer of light at the tip of Asuna's Rapier, and took a step to the right, dodging the strike. If he hadn't, her sword would be through his throat right now.
Kirito reached back for his sword, but just as quickly as Asuna initiated the attack, she sheathed her Rapier. Kirito took his hand away from his sword.
"What was that for?"
"I'm just making sure it's you. I knew you would be able to dodge it." Asuna smiled back, as if to diminish what had happened.
"You really are paranoid."
"Can you blame me?"
"Of course not."
This exchange between them seemed to ease the tension between them. Or rather, the awkwardness Kirito felt towards Asuna presently.
"But, I do want to know. How did you move so quick? I really wasn't close to hitting you." Asuna asked
"Honestly?"
"Why lie?"
"I saw your hand move towards your sword."
"You were watching my hands? Oh so you don't trust me after all then." Asuna giggled and teased.
"No I-...It's just something you." Kirito blushed slightly while trying to reply.
Asuna giggled once again. "I know, I was just joking." Asuna said with a familiar warm smile.
"So, back to my original question." Kirito took a seat on the ground. Asuna did the same, sitting on her knees in front of him.
"Not much of anything, to tell you the truth." Asuna looked off to the side as she said it. "We don't have enough manpower to really investigate it, or anything. We've focussed all of our effort on rebuilding the ranks, and reforming the guild."
"How so?"
"We now have a general Player base, aside from the clearing squads. Don't get me wrong, the requirements are still above average to get in, but we do it so-" Asuna paused as she recognised the reality of the situation. "We do it so that if the clearing squads need a replacement, a lot less training time has been done."
"So you guys can recover faster." Kirito replied.
"That's one way of looking at it, yes."
"How have you guys been managing on boss fights?"
"Well, wouldn't you know if you were there?" Asuna teased. "But, we average-" Asuna paused again as she recognised reality once more. "We average 1-2 losses per boss fight now, to be honest."
"I see. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. It's...a part of life now."
"Yeah. Stuck in this game."
"What do the Players not in a clearing squad do for your guild?"
"Well, we have a craftsmen base now, so all of our armor is now custom and Player made. See?" Asuna showed off a silvery polished breastplate.
"It looks nice. What about Players who don't craft?"
"I think they just grind monsters all day. Practice in mock squads. I'm not actually certain though. You'd have to ask Godfree about that."
"Because I see him so often." Kirito sarcastically replied. "I don't even know if I remember who that is, to be honest."
"How's your guild doing?"
"As good as they can be." Kirito immediately thought back to his experience fighting alongside Sachi. 'Nothing against her, but compared to Sachi, Asuna was much easier fighting alongside than Sachi was' Kirito thought to himself.
"Are they getting anywhere?"
"Yes and no. On one hand, they've definitely improved, and I'd say they're almost at a point where left on their own, they would survive. But...I don't see them ever reaching the point of being able to fight a boss."
"I see. Do they know about you?"
"No." Kirito shortly replied.
"Be careful with that, Kirito."
"I know."
"But, I can see you've managed to keep up your level, and your gear looks half decent also. Do you sneak out at night or something?"
"Yeah, you nailed it." Kirito laughed. Asuna felt so familiar to Kirito. She knew his behavior, personality, mannerisms.
As Kirito replied he thought back to Sachi, who he had left laying next to him earlier that night. As quietly and gently as he could, he unwrapped Sachi from him, equipped his gear, and silently left his inn room. The real trick was going to be getting back before she woke up.
"Really?" Asuna giggled.
"Yeah. And they always ask me why I'm looking tired in the morning."
"That's pretty funny." Asuna laughed some more. "But, I am glad you've at least somewhat kept up."
"Thanks."
"Do you plan on coming to the next boss fight?"
"Yeah. Any idea when it'll be?"
"I'm hoping tomorrow. If my little 'expedition' goes well." Asuna replied.
"Expedition? Wait come to think of it, why are you alone?"
"Well, I kind of snuck out also." Asuna giggled. "I was here earlier today with my squad, but they were all tired and turned back in the evening. But I got the feeling we were close, and didn't want to stop. So I came back out."
"I'm guessing the guild wouldn't be happy if they knew you were out here?"
"Nope, they wouldn't be happy at all. I actually have a bodyguard assigned to me, due to my position. But he turned in for the night. Technically our guild HQ is a safe zone, so no non-dueling Player versus Player combat can take place. So when wandering around the guild hall, there's no need for a guard. Out in public we have to be together."
"Well, how rebellious of you. You know I'm proud of you for breaking the rules." Kirito teased. "What's he like?"
"My bodyguard?"
"Yeah."
"He's...I'm sure he means well, but he's just a little bit...overzealous. Trying to prove himself to me every chance he can. He got demoted from the clearing squads, and has been like that ever since."
"I see."
"I would much rather have you protecting me." Asuna admitted, blushing slightly. "You know, you could. If you wanted to. Apply to the Knights, pass the entrance exam which would be easy for you, and then take the aptitude test. I'm sure you would score high. You could probably even be in a clearing squad right away. But, no matter where you score on the second test, I could remove my guard from his position, and order you to be my bodyguard instead." Asuna's voice got more and more excited as she went on.
Kirito's expression dropped, and he looked down at his lap. "Asuna, I'm sorry. I appreciate your offer, but I can't leave. It wouldn't be right."
Kirito's answer sounded so familiar to the answer he gave her in the cafe just less than a month ago. She of course didn't like his answer, but once again accepted it.
Asuna's expression dropped as well. "I understand."
"Sorry." Kirito replied.
"I told you earlier, please stop apologizing."
"Sor-" Kirito stopped himself once again.
"But...what about tonight?" Asuna began to ask.
"What do you mean?"
"We're both here, after the same thing. Why not work together?"
"That's not a bad idea." Kirito replied.
"So, partners?"
"Partners." Kirito confirmed. Asuna sent over a party invite that Kirito quickly accepted. He saw Asuna's stat plate pop into the left side of his HUD, just below his name. Her name, HP bar, and level were displayed.
"Which way were you heading?" Asuna asked.
"Before facing the creature, I was heading that way." Kirito pointed in the direction across the bridge.
"Well, let's go then!"
15th May 2023. Aincrad, Floor 15, Synethia Inn, 9:00 PM, Aincrad Standard Time.
Kirito once again sat alone at a table in the cafe area of the Synethia Inn. Sipping coffee this time, he hadn't slept the past two days. Sneaking out of his inn room to grind mobs or explore the latest labyrinth. Needless to say, he was feeling the physical effects of the simulated sleep deprivation, but the caffeinated coffee was helping to take the edge off of.
Just as he finished his last sip, a figure glowing in the lantern inn light descended the stairs. Kirito gazed at Sachi, clad in an inverted Sakura half-kimono. The top was a solid pink with white blossoms decorated across the garment, and was the top half of a traditional kimono. Sachi's bottom could best be described as cut short. Where usually would be a robe descending to the feet, was replaced by a shorter, plain white pleated skirt well above her knees. Her back hair was done up in a broom-binded pony held together by a red ribbon. Her front bangs decorated with a golden clip that ran its way across the top. She made her way to Kirito, a subtle grin came across her face once she saw Kirito's expression. She stood across from him at his table.
"You look beautiful, as always." Kirito complimented her.
"Thanks." His comment was still enough to make Sachi blush.
"You'll be ok walking in that though, right? The lake is a little bit of a hike from the town."
"I'll be ok." Sachi said with a reassuring smile She reached her hand out. "Shall we?"
"Yeah." Kirito got up from his seat and took Sachi's hand, their fingers interlocked. As they departed the inn for the teleporter, they were met with a pleasant late spring breeze in the otherwise temperate climate.
15th May 2023. Aincrad, Floor 22, Coral Lake, 9:41 PM, Aincrad Standard Time.
The moon was shining nearly full tonight. Its light helping to illuminate Kirito and Sachi's path. A simple wood plank walk led all the way from the town of Coral to Coral Lake. The path barely managed to carve a way through through the dense forest surrounding the town and the lake. Finally, Kirito and Sachi arrived at a clearing of the vegetation.
Even in the moonlight, the lake still managed to shine a crystal blue. Just barely illuminated behind the lake was a towering mountain, managing to occasionally reflect across the surface of the water. Sachi's eyes widened at the view.
"It's so beautiful!" She smiled, and turned her head to look at Kirito.
"It looks incredible!" Kirito replied back, grinning at Sachi. Seeing her so happy and illuminated made his heart flutter.
Sachi released Kirito's hand and ran to the shore of the lake.
"Hey, wait up!" Kirito shouted before he started after Sachi. After catching up to her, the two sat on the ground along the lake's shore. Once more, their hands interlocked, and Sachi leaned and rested onto Kirito's side.
"It's so peaceful out here. It reminds me of home." Sachi remarked.
"How so?" Kirito inquired.
"Before my family and I moved to Saga, we lived in Shizuoka. My dad used to take my mom and I camping. He liked to take us to Yamanakako, and set up the tent around Lake Yamanaka."
"I see."
Sachi reached out and pointed to the mountain over the lake. "Fuji-san."
Kirito understood the resemblance. The mountain imposed like Mt. Fuji did back in Japan, but of course, this one was missing its infamous snow cap.
Sachi turned her gaze upward. "You can still see the stars, even with the moon so bright."
Kirito looked to the sky as well. Stars dotted across, but only the brightest ones were visible over the moonlight. Sachi looked back down and across the lake, before tilting her head to rest on Kirito's shoulder. She let out a relaxed sigh.
"You always take me to the nicest places." Sachi confessed.
"I do get around quite a bit." Kirito replied with a hint of a humorous tone.
"Oh yeah?" Sachi giggled back.
"So I'm two for two so far?" Kirito asked.
"Yeah. That's not bad. Next time will hopefully be up to three." Sachi giggled before leaning in for a kiss. Kirito obliged, his lips meeting hers.
As soon as the two parted from each other, Kirito perked his head up, and turned to look behind them.
"What's wrong?" Sachi noticed Kirito's eyes sharpen. He was hyper focused on something behind grabbed his arm with both hands. "Kirito, what's the matter? You're scaring me."
"Stay here." Kirito stood up. He equipped a Hunting Dart from his inventory, and held in his hand. Suddenly Kirito's pupils dilated, Sachi was taken aback by this change in physicality, letting out a short gasp.
Kirito scanned the tree line behind them. The forest was an almost uniform thermal color of dark green. Kirito could just barely see a hint of yellow above the dense brush. He drew his arm back, dart pinpointed to the bush were the yellow was emerging from. Taking a step forward, Kirito threw the dart. A clang against metal could be heard, and a strong jostling of brush could be heard.
Emerging from the darkness of the forest and into the moonlight, was a Player grinning from ear to ear. He appeared to be an adult with a medium figure. He wore the colors of the Knights of the Blood uniform: white with accents of red and the occasional hint of gold. His armor was mostly leather, with the occasional metal reinforced piece adorned on the more ridgid parts of the body, like the forearm.
"That was a good shot, kid." The Player remarked, pointing to the dent made on a metal piece of his armor where the dart ipacted. "How many more tricks do you have up your sleeve, I wonder."
"Kirito, who is this?" Sachi quietly asked, she was now standing beside Kirito.
"I don't know." Kirito replied. He stepped forward a few more paces towards the unknown Player, reaching back and gripping his sword's handle, ready to draw.
"What do you want? Who are you anyway? Are you from the Knights? What do they want with me now?
The Player gave a slight chuckle before replying: "You could say I'm a Knight, at least publicly. But what I do in the shadows is none of their concern…"
Kirito drew his sword, and held it guarded in front of him and Sachi.
"They were correct. You do have it ...That'll be worth a pretty penny….Speaking of pretty," The Player's voice began to get louder as he reached out and pointed at Sachi. "You've got a pretty piece on your arm there. Is that your girlfriend? How cute...I'm interrupting date night. Maybe I can treat her to something nice when I'm through with you."
Sachi's expression was overcome with disgust at the Player's suggestion. Gripping his arm tighter, she quietly said to Kirito: "Your gear, you need to equip it."
"There's no time. If I'm in the menu system, that'll leave me too open."
"Your stats, they'll be so much lower...a-are you s-sure?" Sachi's voice began to quietly break as she realized the disadvantage Kirito would be at.
"I promise, I won't let anything happen to you." Kirito comforted.
"W-what a-about you?" Sachi replied.
Kirito gave no response, instead tensing his stance. Sachi let go of him.
"Are you guys done yet? I thought I was being polite by letting you two say your goodbyes. If I knew it was gonna take so long, I would have just started. No matter ..." The Player quickly cut his sentence short.
The Player lunged forward directly at Kirito, instantaneously drawing his Katana and activating a skill. Kirito stood guarded, his sword taking the brunt of the impact and damage, nonetheless the kinetic force was enough to make Kirito skid back on his feet across the dirt. Sachi dodged to put space between herself and the two swordsmen.
After the initial strike, the Player immediately broke the sword lock and began striking at Kirito. Just as quick to respond, Kirito deflected and parried as many strikes as he could, twisting and moving his body to dodge others.
Sachi was taken astonished by the speed of the two swordsmen. She had never seen Kirito fight so quickly, despite the countless creatures she had witnessed him defeat. She could tell this fight was entirely different than anything she had ever seen before.
Kirito caught a delay in the other Player's strikes, and managed to push him into the defensive. The Player struggled to defend Kirito's offense, limited by the technique dictated by the Katana, able to block only with one edge for fear of dulling the other.
The Player noticed an opening, and put Kirito back on the defensive.
Sachi saw the paradigm shift like this several more times, with hope rising every time Kirito was striking, only to have a tide of anxiety wash over her when the other Player began his strikes.
'One mistake…' Sachi thought to herself.
Kirito began to notice the Player's striked begin to slow. Barely over the sound of clashing swords, he could hear his breaths grow heavier.
'This is my chance'. Kirito thought to himself. He leapt backwards as far as he could. Seeing the opportunity, the Player lunged forward in a thrust attack.
Before he could recover, Kirito quickly activated a Sword Skill. Sachi watched as Kirito's Sword began to emit a glowing blue hue.
Suddenly Kirito was thrust forward, his sword raised only to come quickly crashing down on the Katana of the Player. The Player had scrambled to try and orient his blade into a blocking position, but wasn't quick enough. The Player's arms buckled at the force of the strike, allowing Kirito's sword a direct hit.
Kirito's sword hemorrhage the Player's chest, a clean cut through armor, the sternum now glowed red to indicate flesh damage had been dealt. Shortly after the in-game blood effect began to flow from the Player, he fell to his knees, his Katana clanging on rocks as it fell to the ground.
A slight grin smirked onto the Player's face, the blood effect starting to ooze from the corners of the Player's mouth.
"You're ...pretty good." The Player managed to say before coughing blood. Kirito kept his sword pointed at the Player.
"Why are you after me?" Kirito asked, hoping that this brush with death would make the man in front of him honest.
"That sword...it's the rarest in the game." The Player slowly began: "The top Players would pay a fortune for it….I would never have to fight again….those idiots stupid enough to risk their lives will eventually get us out of this nightmare of a dream….and I would be in a life of virtual luxury."
"Money? That's all?" Kirito inquired. Something didn't feel right to him about the explanation.
"Of course not." The Player quickly spat back, before his grin widened further. "Don't be so naive ...the kill...it's all in the sport...the most dangerous game."
"You're a Player killer...how many have you killed?" Kirito asked.
"I...we...it's all the same. You've heard of them all, haven't you?" The Player continued. "Yes, of course you have...she's told you I'm sure."
Kirito tensed his posture, realizing the Player's implications in that statement.
The Player noticed Kirito's body language change, and let out another pained laugh. "The little Knights cheerleader. She wouldn't be worth a dime...her equipment is too...branded. But the sport of her...I can only imagine...the fun in subduing her...no matter."
'The poison…' Kirito thought to himself, thinking back to the instances of murder that deeply enveloped the Knights.
Sachi began approaching the two as she saw the Player out of action, she stood beside Kirito now.
The Player turned to look at Sachi. "Heh...the other one is cuter...does she know you're...no matter." The Player turned his attention towards Kirito once more. "You're not gonna kill me...you're just a kid...you win this fight...between two swordsmen, you win...good job. Savor this victory!" The Player quickly exclaimed before jumping to his feet, unsheathing and striking with a dagger towards Sachi.
Kirito quickly reached out his left arm and pushed Sachi to the ground, out of the blow. The dagger pierced Kirito's forearm, and felt the numbed sensation of pain simulated in the game. Kirito immediately followed up with a retaliation, activating the quick Sword Skill 'Vertical' across the extended arm of the Player. Kirito's blade easily severed a portion of the Player's arm, immediately after the skill landed, acting on pure instinct Kirito thrust his sword into the Player's abdomen, before withdrawing it.
After letting out one more breath, the Player's body went limp and fell to the ground, before dissipating into the polygonal ash of Aincrad.
Kirito sheathed his sword, before dropping to his knees. The surge of adrenaline began to leave him, and his breaths were growing more rapid and tedious. Sachi got up from the ground, and kneeled down beside Kirito, her hands placed on his upper back and chest.
"Kirito..a-are you-" She began before being cut off.
"Sachi, I...he's dead." Kirito stated with a tone of shock. "I killed him. That was another person. He...h-he's gone."
"Kirito…" Sachi began once again. "Y-you saved m-me." She kissed Kirito more passionately than she had ever before. Kirito didn't reciprocate. She pulled her head away from his.
"I just. I just...I KILLED HIM!" Kirito's voice raised. "I..m-murdered him. Without thinking. I-I went too far. It just happened. I didn't think I w-would." Kirito began to break down. Sachi rubbed her hand across Kirito's back.
He turned and broke down into Sachi's embrace, his head dropping to rest in Sachi's upper chest.
"I-I'm one of them. A Player k-killer. I am-" Kirito began to claim.
Sachi could hear in Kirito's voice he was beginning to sob. Seeing him break down like this, tears began to flow from her as well. She gently pressed his head into her chest further, before laying her head across his.
"Kirito," Sachi began. "You saved me. You're not one of them. You saved me." Sachi's voice was calm and collected. She mustered all of the relaxation she could in her voice, unwavering and never stammering. "He could have killed me easily. He was your level."
"S-Sachi-" Kirito attempted to say between sobs.
"Kirito, I'm sorry." Sachi started once more. "This pain you feel. This burden. I can never make up for it. I'm sorry."
"S-Sachi-"
"Kirito, you aren't the same as him. It was self defence. It was in my defence. Kirito, in our reality, sometimes you have to take a life to preserve another. I'm so sorry to make you shoulder this."
"S-Sachi-" Taking a deep breath, Kirito brought his head up, looking directly into Sachi's tearful eyes. "Sachi, if it meant to save someone I love, I would do it again."
The two met for a kiss once more.
"Does that make me a monster like them?" Kirito asked one last question of Sachi.
"No, it makes you human."