I don't own Sword Art Online or any of its characters.
Thank you Reddu08 for answer your questions Artemis will be a big part of Kirito's life and his character development. Personally I do not think that Kirito and Asuna's relationship was very healthy but that doesn't mean I hate her I just want to give them a healthier ending and it may or may not be together.
…
April 8, 2023 Floor 11: Taft
Kirito and I were inside a tavern. A group of people we just saved invited us to have a drink.
"Here's to us, The Moonlit Black Cats!" The yellow one said.
"Cheers!"
'Kirito looks so awkward' I thought as I looked at my partner.
"And here's to Kirito and Artemis, the people who saved our lives! Cheers!" The yellow one once again announced.
"Cheers!"
"Ch-Cheers…" Kirito mumbled with a distressed face.
"Thanks."
"Thanks!"
"You saved us."
"Thank you. Thank you so much." The quiet girl said softly.
"It was nothing." Kirito replied.
"I was really scared. So when you came to save me, it made me so happy." She wiped a tear away.
"S-Sure…" Kirito replied.
"Um, Kirito… I know this is really rude to ask, but about what level are you?" The leader asked.
"Level 20 or so." Kirito lied.
'We're at level 46.' I thought while sipping on my drink without showing my face.
"You're not that much higher than us, and yet you two are solo players!" The leader told us.
"Keita, you don't need to be so polite. We're solo, but that means we're targeting isolated enemies. It isn't that efficient." Kirito replied.
"Oh…Oh, I see. In that case, Kirito and Artemis, sorry to spring this on you all of a sudden, but how about joining our guild?" Keita asked.
Kirito looked surprised at the offer.
"The only player who can handle the vanguard is our mace user, Tetsuo. This one's name is Sachi." He said while patting the blue haired girl's head.
"I'm thinking that she switched to be a sword-and-shield wielder so she can cover the front line. But she says that she isn't really sure how. Think you can coach her?" Keita asked Kirito.
"Come on! Don't make me sound so useless. I'd be too scared if you suddenly tell me to fight in the vanguard." Sachi moved away from his hand.
"Just hide behind your shield." The yellow one commented.
"I swear! You've always been such a scaredy–cat." They all started to laugh while she pouted.
"See, in real life, all of our guild members belong to our school's PC Research Club. Oh, hey, don't worry though…You're sure to fit in right away, Kirito, Artemis. For sure! Right?" He asked the others.
They all nodded.
Kirito made a face and I could tell that even though I was here he was lonely. I grabbed his arm before he could say anything. He looked at me and I pointed at where his messages would be.
'I know you want to stay with them for as long as you can. I know that even though I am here you are still lonely. We can't beat this game and return to the real world if we stay with them and continue to lie to them about our levels. You tell them that we will stay with them for a month. Train them in everything we know until we are sure they can stand on their own two feet. After those a month we have to leave and keep leveling up. Also at some point you have to tell them our real levels and you can't baby them if they rely on us too much they won't survive on their own.'
He frowned when he saw this but I could see however reluctant he was to admit it I was right.
"We would like to join but first I didn't tell you the truth. When you asked me what level we're at I lied and said 20 we are actually level 46. The reason I'm telling you this now was that Artemis and I have agreed to train you for a month in everything we know so that you can stand on your own feet. Afterwards we will leave and continue on our first objective of completing this game. I understand if you choose not to accept this and we will leave if you ask." Kirito looked all of them in the eye as he spoke.
'I didn't expect him to do this now. He sure does weird things with the things I say.' I thought not showing my confusion and irritation on my face.
"Level 46…Both of you?" Keita asked, still stunned.
"And you're willing to train us? Even though we aren't a big strong guild?" Sachi asked.
"You don't have to be strong for us to want to train you. Your good people and that is why we want to see you live." Kirito translated what I signed.
"You would train us because you want to see us live?" Keita repeated.
"Yes! Yes it would be an honor for you to stay with us!" Sachi said bowing.
That snapped everyone out of there dazes and they all said their agreements bowing as well. Kirito got really flustered turning back into the geek I met in beta testing.
"You don't need to bow! Artemis, stop laughing. It isn't funny!" He glared at me while my shoulders shook.
Soon everyone was laughing watching us.
…
May 9, 2023 Floor 20: Sunlit Forest
"Sachi don't be scared there are people around you that will help you. You being afraid means your not putting your faith in them. You want to get out of here and back to reality you need to use your fear and survive. You're not alone so stop acting like you are." Kirito scolded her while I blocked an attack from the giant praying mantis.
I signaled to Tetsuo to take the final blow. He attacked the middle with a skill killing the monster. A congratulations showed Tetsuo leveling up to level 30.
'Looks like they're all on the right track. Sachi is the only one at level 28 and the rest have reached level 30 already. The only problem now is Sachi's attitude.' I thought as everyone celebrated.
…
"So an Assault Team made it through floor 28…That's amazing!" Keita read from the newsletter during our break.
"Hey, Kirito, Artemis. What is it that sets the Assault Teams apart from us?" Keita asks.
"Information, maybe? They know all the most efficient ways to get EXP, and they don't share them." Kirito replies.
"Will. The thing that drives them to continue to clear dungeons even after losing people. The reason why some of us continue to strive for the end of this even when some people give up." Kirito read from the message I sent to him.
"Yeah I think it's willpower. It's how determined you are to protect your friends… No, all the players. I like to think we have that same kind of drive even though we still need their protection. Of course, our friends' safety is our first priority. But someday, when we're strong enough we'll join the Assault Team too." Keita said.
"I see. That's a good goal." Kirito commented.
I ignored everything else pushing Kirito's bent leg down so I could take a nap on his lap. I let him take my hair out of the braid I put it in to run his fingers through it. I sign real quick to him before I relax.
"Hey guys were going to go level up after this so take it easy and stay out of the dungeons at night. Also remember don't go off on your own." Kirito announced after the others settled down.
"Okay Dad!" The group replied.
"Who are you calling Dad?!" Kirito made a move to get up but I just pinched his leg.
There was a whipping sound before everyone started to laugh. Kirito just grumbled and went back to running his fingers through my hair.
…
May 16, 2023 Floor 28: Wolf Plains
Kirito left a while ago to check up on the others while I stayed and leveled up with the weird wolf things. We were on a good roll with both of us at level 57 even though we didn't do a lot of grinding.
I moved places when a small guild of what looked like samurais came by. I was in the middle of a battle with one of the bigger wolves with two heads when Kirito came and stole my last hit. I was going to spam him but I let it go when I saw his mood letting him get the first and last hit on the next two headed beast.
When we got back to the town with the others we got a message saying Sachi was missing. When Kirito went to track her down I sent her a message before going back to the inn we were staying at.
'Sachi it's okay to be afraid of dying. Whether you die in here or in the real world at some point everyone dies. And it's okay to be afraid of leaving this place but you can't let that fear control you. By letting it control you you don't ever have the chance to live. You have to let it drive you to want to live, not drag you down till you no longer want to live. You have people around you that will protect you but the only way to be safe is when you decide to protect yourself and the people around you. Sachi you have to be strong or your fear will come true and it will hurt more people than just yourself.'
…
There is a nock on the door of the room Kirito and I rented.
"Yes?" Kirito calls out after I give him the go ahead.
"I'm sorry I can't go to sleep." Sachi says as she stands in the doorway.
I sigh before waving at her to come in. The room had one big bed because Kirito and I don't like to be alone. I take the pillow Sachi had in her arms and put it in between Kirito and mine.
"Oh you don't half too. I can sleep on the floor." Sachi comments when she sees the one bed.
I ignored her protest pushing her on the bed before laying down on the outside. Kirito also lays down trapping Sachi between us. When he turns the lights off I put my arm around Sachi to grab Kirito's hand. We both don't say anything when we hear sniffles come from Sachi. Just scooting closer to her.
I woke up later when Kirito let go of my hand. I moved it around till he grabbed it again going back to sleep after I gripped his hand tight.
…
Keita had just left to get a guild house when Tetsuo suggested that they earn extra cash.
"Oh! Then we could buy furniture!" Sachi smiled.
"In that case let's go to a dungeon on a higher level!" The yellow one said.
"If you're going to a higher level dungeon you have never been before what protocols do you follow?" Kirito asked them in his leader's voice as I like to call it.
"Stay together. When attacked by a group of monsters take a breath, get into position and stay calm. Always take in your surroundings. Always be cautious and never let your guard down." Everyone repeated what we drilled into them at the same time.
I smiled (even though no one could see it) before moving to the teleport spot.
…
June 12, 2023 Floor 27: Dungeon
Everyone was taking this seriously not walking out of the formation we put them in when we started training them. Kirito and I were at the back while Tetsuo was in the front and Sachi was in the back in front of us.
The group came across a hidden door and opened it. When Kirito and I tried to warn them it was too late. The monster came fast but the others kept it together. Kirito and I were overwhelmed taking on the higher leveled monsters while also keeping an eye out on the team. At some point I stopped focusing on the team after I saw them diligently taking the lower level monsters out. The first thing I heard was her scream. Then I saw her burst into pixels. Sachi was dead.
…
After that Kirito went berserk and started to attack all of the monsters not caring about the damage he was taking. I covered him and the team while both lost their cools. At the end the others were crying or in shock while Kirito was just existing. I guided them out getting all of them to teleport back to Taft.
Ketia lost his smile when he saw we came back one person short. Tetsuo was the first to speak.
"She never said she was in the red. You taught us to always be aware of our health and to pull back before we got into the red. She knew she was in the red but she never said anything. We were doing just fine but… she never said anything." Tetsuo didn't look up from the ground nor did he wipe away the tears that ran down his face.
…
December 24, 2023 Floor 49: Mugien
Kirito left me two weeks after Sachi's death. I kept an ear out for him checking his status on my friend list to make sure he was alive. I kept in touch with the Moonlit Black Cats popping in once in a while to teach them new things. They also ask about Kirito and how he was doing. I usually changed the subject by asking how they were doing or on rare occasions I told them what I had heard.
I was in Mugien after I got a message from Argo, an informant I befriended. She told me Kirito was going after a mythological item drop from an Event Boss called Nicholas the Renegade. She didn't say it out loud but she also cared for Kirito's well being and knew I was the only one that knew how to bring him back from the edge.
Floor 35: Forest Maze
I turned on the track skill that I had when I got to the forest edge. I added other skills that would classify me as an assassin. I took out my saw-back short swords out from the sheaths that laid across the small of my back. Both of the swords looked like longer versions of a Rambo knife.
As I entered the clearing I could hear the fighting. Didn't interfere with the fight between the Samurai guild and the Holy Dragon Alliance. I stayed hidden and out of the way until the fighting was over and the Holy Dragon Alliance left. I stayed quiet even when Kirito gave the leader the revival item. Even though it hurt to see him like that.
I followed him back to the inn he was staying at. I deactivated all of the skills I was using once we got back into town. He didn't say anything when I opened his door or locked it behind me. He didn't move when I sat on his bed after removing my gear. I just waited for what will happen soon. A notification sounded soon after I got settled in.
"Sachi?" Kirito tensed in surprise.
He opened it and hesitated to press the play button on the recording device. After he pressed it Sachi's voice rang through.
"Merry Christmas, Kirito. By the time you hear this, I'm guessing I'll be dead. How can I explain it…Um, you see… To tell you the truth, I never really wanted to leave the Town of Beginnings. But if I fight with that attitude, I'm sure I'll end up dying one day, right? And it's no one's fault. It's my own problem. Kirito, ever since that night, you've been telling me night after night that I won't die. So if I ever get killed, I know that you'll really blame yourself. That's why I decided to record this. I thought really hard about why you would fight with us even though you're so strong but I never did figure it out. But when you told us how strong you really were, it made me so happy. I felt so relieved. So even if I die, you do your best to go on living, okay? Live to see the end of this world,and see why it was ever created… The reason why a weakling like me ended up here… And please find the reason why you and I met. That's what I wish. There's still plenty of time left, since it's Christmas, I'll sing you a song, okay? (Enter Sachi's song) Bye Kirito, I'm so glad that I got to meet you, that I could be with you. Thank you. Goodbye."
The message ended and Kirito sat there crying. And all I did was make sure he knew he wasn't alone.
…
February 23, 2024 Floor 35: Lost Forest
It's been over a year since we have been trapped in this game. This time Kirito has gotten better although he relies on me a little too much. Even though it's nice to have him around he keeps making sure that I was there all of the time. It wasn't healthy and soon things will need to change.
This time we were going after a guild called the Titan's Hand. Their leader -Rosalia- was a green cursor that drew in the victims while the other orange players took out the trash. Nine days ago they attacked a guild called Silver Flags. Four people, all but the leader, were killed. The leader was at the warp–point plaza on the front lines, from morning till night. We answered his pleading and went out to hunt down the guild so we could put them in prison. We decided that since Kirito is more well known he would be on the front line confronting the guild.
People called me a phantom player since any 'sighting' of me was rare. I just didn't like people. I only talked to Kirito, The Moonlit Black Cats, and Agil. Agil was always fun to talk to because we would both pick fun at Kirito.
Kirito was known as the Black Swordsman, a solo player that fought on the front lines. Technically Kirito and I are partners since we spend most of our time together leveling up and fighting on the front lines. The only reason Kirito was known as a solo player was because when he fought with the Assault Teams he seemed like he was alone. When I was using hiding skills so no one saw or heard me to fight beside him. I've gotten so good at hiding that even Kirito has a hard time tracking me down.
I watched as Kirito helped out the guild's next target, a young girl around my age. I look at the pop up in the corner of my eye. Both Kirito and I were at level 85 so in reality Kirito didn't need my help at all. He could have just done this alone but he wanted me as back up just in case. I sighed softly, not moving from my perch on a big tree two miles from Kirito's place. I could see both of them fine just like I was next to them. If I wanted to I could also hear them perfectly but I didn't even try.
I did that for the rest of the day watching as the girl started to get attached to Kirito. I mostly kept an eye on the leader of the guild we were tracking. That woman was full of herself even if she looked good. Her attitude made her ugly. I went after the guy that was eavesdropping on them. He led me right to the main base. I messaged Kirito about the base settling down nearby as I waited for a time to strike.
…
February 24, 2024 Floor 47: Floria
The next day most of them moved out for the next target leaving some behind. The base was on Floria really it was both in genius and stupid. I waited till they all were busy with something before taking the wire I had and wrapping it around them individually.
No one saw it coming. By the time everyone got their heads on right they were all tied up with wire. I made it with my captives when Kirito put his sword at Rosalia' throat. Kirito pulled away when she fainted. I dragged the others to him and he transported them to the prison.
Sent Kirito a message before leaving.
'Kirito I'm leaving. You don't need me and by hanging on you are sabotaging your own growth as not just a player but a person. Just today you helped a girl get her best friend back something you would have never done had I've been there. You can be an amazing person and I will always be here to take you off your high horse. Just like you will always be there to make sure I don't forget how to live. Just because I'm leaving now doesn't mean I won't have your back tomorrow or any time you need it. So this is a see you later not a goodbye. And no matter how many girls fall in love with the Kirito the Black Swordsman I will always know you as Kirito the gaming geek.'
…
Thank you for reading. I hope this Alternate path I have Artemis take will continue to enthrall you. Just kidding! Those who know Artemis's identity keep it a secret for those to don't. Thank you! Review and Favorite. Also check out my other stories.