Chapter Twenty-Eight
I had been dreaming of another memory. One of just Kirito and I, laying in a field of flowers on one of the lowest levels. It had been such a lovely day that it would have been a waste to not take advantage of it by taking a break from grinding. We talked about our families, him of his mother and sister and I of my parents. He told me of his dream to become a game developer, even after being stuck in Sword Art: Online. He asked about my life as a kid growing up in America and how I liked it compared to Japan. We spent hours talking about ourselves, it was probably the longest conversation we had had about our past.
I was startled awake by yelling and someone jabbing me in the ribs. I groggily opened my eyes to find Yui standing over me with her sword pointing towards my left shoulder, right above where I was being prodded. Looking down, I saw Kirito with his head resting on my shoulder and wide black eyes staring at the blade pointed at his throat. His hands were held up in surrender as my daughter contemplated his demise. He must have been using his elbow to rouse me from my deep sleep.
"What are you doing to my mommy!? Why are you in her bed!?" Yui yelled at Kirito, not giving him an opportunity to explain before going into a rage.
The door slammed open, the other two boys scrambling into the room in search of some supposed threat. Isao flew in over their heads and did a loop around the room, growling and spitting little flames as he searched the room. I could tell that they had just been woken up from the commotion as I had. I had to fight a chuckle at the hilariousness of the situation. I managed to keep quiet, but barely.
Instead of the laughter I could feel fighting its way out of my chest, I turned on what I considered my 'mother voice'. "Yui! What do you think you are doing? Get down and put that sword away, right now!" I scolded the young girl, tears now forming in my eyes from holding back the laughter.
"But mommy-" She started to argue but when she saw that I was serious she stopped and climbed down from the bed, luckily without stabbing Kirito accidentally-on-purpose. Though that didn't stop her from giving him a death glare as she returned her sword to its sheath by her bed.
"And you were saying?" I prodded her, expecting an apology from her for attacking one of our guests. Even if I was still angry at Kirito, he didn't deserve this as a wake-up call. I heard snickers coming from the doorway and glanced up to see Charr and Stark fighting their own amusement with hands over their mouths. Stark lost the battle first and doubled over as he roared with laughter.
"Sorry Mr. Kirito." Yui finally mumbled as she bowed to Kirito in apology. After I finally moved myself into a sitting position, with a grunt from Kirito after his savior dropped his head on the bed. At my raised eyebrow and a glance at the two boys leaning against each other in laughter, Yui continued with her apologies. "Sorry for waking you up, Uncle Charr and Uncle Stark." Stark must have convinced her to start calling them that, but I had no problem with it. They were practically brothers to me, anyways.
The light coming in from the window told me it was midmorning. No wonder Yui freaked out, she and I had been early risers, me more so than her. Something that had started when I split from the party. It was an oddity that I had slept so late, even on little to no sleep, I had always been up before her. She was probably even more startled to find Kirito cuddled up to me and thought he had snuck into my bed without my knowledge.
Yui was still angry, even after we had explained the reasoning behind Kirito sleeping beside me. But the promise of food distracted her enough from the eventful start of the morning to curb most of her pouting.
Due to our lack of waking up in a timely fashion, the group decided to split up in our search for Yui's missing companions. I had already promised Kirito I'd let him help me, not that Charr and Stark gave us much of a choice. We had barely arrived on the first floor when they walked off with only a call that they would take the market area and work on that side of Tolbana.
"Well Mommy, it looks like we're stuck with him." Yui stuck her tongue out at Kirito before she grabbed my hand. I gave her my best "I'm disappointed with you," look before taking off towards where I last knew the orphanage to be. I highly doubt it had moved, as it would have been too expensive. And Argo hadn't told me in her updates she got from the caretaker of the orphanage.
When we rounded the last corner, I was greeted with a familiar cloaked figure leaning against the wall. I groaned and prepared for the scolding I knew was to come. I had hoped to stave off this confrontation for a few more days, but alas I was not so lucky.
"So she lives. Good to know. Turn on your damn location so the rest of your friends know you're alive." Argo growled out, not moving from her position.
"How did you… Charr. I guess he got the word out that I'm still kicking." I sighed. Today was going to be a long day. I was bound to be harassed not only by messages but also by people popping up in whatever location I was to see that I was indeed still alive.
"Oh we knew you were still alive. It was the where that bothered us. Scared us all half to death. I know idiot over here drove you away," she jerked her thumb at Kirito beside me before continuing, "but the rest of us still had a right to know where you were. At the very least we deserved the chance to remind you that we were still in your corner. Agil missed your sass while you were gone." She crossed her arms in a pouty manner. "Besides, what kind of information broker would I be if I don't have information for people that are looking for it. It's hard to get information on a person's whereabouts if they make it impossible to find them." At this she glanced at the black clad swordsman beside me before returning her yellow eyes to me.
"Are you sure it was my sass he was missing and not yours?" I laughed as her brows drew down in mock anger. "I had someone I had to take care of, anyways. Which reminds me. Argo, meet Yui. Yui, this is Argo. She's a friend of mine." I pulled Yui out from her hiding spot behind me.
"Heard about that too. Looks like a cute kid. If I didn't know better, I'd think she was the child of the Black Swordsman and the Azure Knight. Looks so much like you two." Kirito and I balked and I yelled Argo's name in disbelief.
"What? It's not like it's possible here anyways. I'll see if I can help find some info for you on your kid. Never heard of a person not having an icon above their head, not NPC or player. It'll be good to have your patronage again." With that Argo gave a mischievous grin and walked off, her cloak billowing out behind her.
Kirito and I shared a look before I shrugged my shoulders and made my way to the orphanage's door. I barely knocked before a woman with brown hair and glasses opened the door, it was as if she was expecting us. Argo must have paid her a visit before she waited for us to show up. It wouldn't surprise me if that was what had happened.
"You must be Sarasheem and Kirito! I am Sasha and I run this place." The woman introduced herself with a bow. She held the door open, a clear invitation to join her inside.
She was a thin woman in a royal blue dress with a white collar around the neck and cuffed at the end of her sleeves. Freckles sprinkled across her nose under a pair of rimless oval glasses. Her brown hair was tied back in a loose braid with some chin-length strands framing her face. Peering over those glasses were green eyes that showed the compassion and care she had for everyone, especially the younger players that were trapped here with the rest of us.
"That's us. And this is Yui. I found her on floor twenty-two in the woods. I was hoping someone here would recognize her and possibly reunite her with her family or friends." I smiled at the kind faced woman before me. I noticed she carried a single dagger on her hip and wondered what troubled her enough that she felt the need to carry a weapon in the heart of Tolbana.
"The children are just sitting down for lunch, you are welcome to join us. It would be the perfect opportunity to introduce Yui to them to see if any remember her." Sasha waved her arm towards a large dining room.
"I'm not hungry. Besides, I know what you do here for these kids and I wouldn't want to take what limited resources-" A high pitched scream echoed between the buildings, setting all of us on edge.
"Oh no! They're at it again!" Sasha darted between Kirito and I and ran down an alley between two buildings.
Without a second thought, I followed her. I couldn't leave someone in need without even trying to help. That wasn't who I was. And that scream definitely sounded like one in need of assistance.
A large crowd of green caped soldiers blocked our way. On the other side I could hear two younger players yelling at the soldiers, telling them to leave them alone. I couldn't make out what the leader of this group said, but I heard another cry. This one of pain.
"Kirito, swing me over their heads. Now! Protect Yui." I practically growled at him.
Not missing a beat, Kirito grabbed my hand and next thing I knew I was flying over the soldiers' heads. I could hear the gasps of shock and murmurs of awe after I landed. I stood, dusting off my pants, and looked at the leader of these disgraceful soldiers. He still had a young brown haired boy in his grasp, holding him a few inches off the ground by his shirt.
"I better not be seeing what I believe I am seeing. That a high ranked player dares to pick on a child? Unless he stole something from you, which is impossible, I see no reason for such an occurrence as what I am seeing before me." I looked up to lock gazes with the leader. In my anger, my formal Japanese came out full force. I felt the little girl who had been cowering in fear shift to stand behind me, recognizing that a protector was here to save her.
"Who the hell do you think you are? We are here to collect taxes, and this scum doesn't have our money. If they don't have money, the least they could do is give us their items and equipment." He spit out to the side.
"I paid you last week for this month's taxes! There was no reason to be going after those kids!" Sasha called from her place beside Kirito.
I was seeing red. Taxes? Who did these assholes think they were to collect taxes!? They should be up on the top floors helping the raid party in defeating the bosses! Not bullying the players of Tolbana to line their pockets.
"Who is your leader? Tell them the Azure Knight has a bone to pick with them. And these tax collections start now. Do not make me lose my temper. I can still kick your asses, even if this is a safe zone." I spoke through clenched teeth. My fingers dug into my palms, to the point that I'm sure I would have wounds if we weren't in town.
"We won't stand by and let some trash talk to us like that! Men, ready arms!" With his cry, he dropped the boy, who wisely scurried to join his companion behind me. The rest of his crew drew their weapons, albeit a bit hesitantly, before roaring their battle cries.
I quickly pulled my sword and shield out of my inventory and went to work. Hacking, slashing, and bashing them out of my way. When each and every soldier was slumped on the ground, defeated, I returned my sword to its sheath and glared down at the leader. They should have recognized my title. Too bad for them that even this large of a group couldn't hold a candle to my prowess.
"Kibou will hear of this! This isn't over!" The leader, I still didn't know his name or rank in their guild, clambered to his feet and scuttled out of the alley, his minions following after him.
"Tell that spike-haired bastard that the Black Swordsman and Azure Knight send their regards!" Kirito called after their retreating forms.
I felt a tug on my sleeve and I looked down to find the girl glancing up at me through her long eyelashes. She couldn't have been older than twelve, with the boy being about the same age. I knew she wanted to thank me, but she was still reeling from the shock and adrenaline from being attacked.
I placed my hand on her head and ruffled her hair. She managed to squeak out a 'hey!' in mock outrage before she started to giggle.
Sasha gathered both of the children into a tight hug as soon as she came within arms reach, murmuring words of endearment and comfort. When both children were finally calmed and giggling, she stood up and invited us back to the orphanage. We agreed, as Yui hadn't had a chance to meet the other kids, and followed her back. The whole short walk was riddled with apologies and thanks, though we tried to convince her that it was no big deal and we were just upholding our honor as top levelers.
I had Yui under my arm, clinging to my waist, when we reached the door of Sasha's home. Before she could even reach for the door, it burst open and a stream of children and young teens surrounded us. There were so many questions of "are you alright?" "what happened?" and "who are they?" that my head started to spin. Eventually, Sasha got the kids to settle down and let us in to explain everything.
Two of the kids split off to help the ones we had saved from those soldiers to their rooms, they needed the rest. Especially after being scared to near-death like that. Sleep would help them recover. Besides, they told us everything that happened, so Sasha can tell their story to the other kids. There was no need to make them relive the event by sharing their story a second time.
When everything was said and the kids were caught up to speed, Sasha stood up. "Now these two players from the assault team have a favor to ask of us. They found Yui all alone on one of the floors and were hoping someone here would recognize her. She doesn't remember anything before she was found. So I ask, does anyone here know Yui?"
I looked from one face to the next. When not a single one had shown any indication to recognizing my daughter, my shoulders dropped in defeat. While I loved Yui and found joy in teaching her all that I could, I wanted her to find her friends or family too. Someone who knew her past, who knew her real name. It killed me.
At the same time, I felt elated for being able to keep my daughter. No one claiming her meant that she could stay with me longer. I hadn't realized that I wasn't ready to give her up yet. Though these thoughts made me feel extremely guilty and selfish. What kind of parent was happy at their child's misery? Not a good one, I'm sure.
Just at that moment there was a banging at the door. Sasha went to answer it, with Kirito and I following to make sure it wasn't those soldiers returning. Or worse, Kibou. I couldn't wait to get my sword into that wimp of a porcupine. Though that was giving porcupines a bad name.
Instead, of either the people I expected to see, it was a woman bent over her knees and out of breath. She had long silver hair, most of which was tied back on the crown of her head with long strands on either side of her face. The woman had a silver-lined black shawl over a green uniform, a similar color to the soldier's cloaks from earlier. Strapped to one hip was a gold-handled rapier while the other sported a black whip. A weapon I had yet to see a player use in this world.
"Is… Black Swordsman… and Azure Knight… here?" She managed to get out between gasping breaths.
Kirito and I shared a look, knowing something big was about to go down.
My child. Terrible two's. All I can say for an excuse. I'm so sorry! He has been nothing but a temper tantruming demon since his birthday right after I posted the last chapter! Hope everyone enjoyed it! Next chapter will be very similar to anime as there is not much I can do to get little Yui where she needs to go! But I will post two chapters after I finish them both so you have some new content. Peace out and stay healthy!
