I don't own Sword Art Online or any of its characters.

…

March 6, 2024 Floor 50: Algade

I had decided to not go to the strategy meeting that the Blood knights were leading. It has been almost a month since I left Kirito and at the meeting he didn't need me so I have just been leveling up and practicing my other skills. For the past year I have been leveling up on my black smith skill and my cooking skills. So I'm completely maxed out on my cooking skill and I have been making throwing knives, Dagers, Wire, and making my own saw back swords or at least different versions.

Right now I was in Agil's kitchen. We had an agreement that I would cook for him when I came to use his kitchen to make Kirito meals. I had just finished the meals putting them in containers so they didn't spoil fast when Agil came back.

"Kirito and the second–in–command were at eachothers throats again." He commented while taking one of his containers and opening it.

'What do you expect? He gave her some advice and this is what she did with it. She turned into a floor clearing demon. That's probably why he acts that way. She probably likes him.' I messaged him.

"Or he fights with her because he misses you. You always picked fun at him and knocked him down a peg. She is strong willed like you but compared to you she has no idea what this really is about or how to live. He is just trying to find your replacement. If he is getting desperate enough to pick a fight with the Blood Knights second-in-command then you know that he needs you. And you need him, don't think I don't know about you minimising sleep to go grinding. It's good to have some alone time but he won't survive without you. At some point he just might marry someone without you there."

We both pause what we were doing to run his last sentence over in our heads.

'I'll go back after I tie a few loose ends up.' I replied before leaving.

…

I head to the forest on Floor 22. The floor was mostly used for vacations. It had mountains and forest covering it with a clear sparkling lake in the middle. I have a lot of money since I made everything I use and have been grinding a lot. I also sell a lot of the equipment that I make to other players as well as the food I make but only a few times. I didn't sell a lot of food because I had to use Agil's kitchen. The weapons were also inconvenient since I had to use an NPC's forge.

I had messaged Agro about finding someplace to put roots down. She sent me a message earlier about a log house she found earlier. When I got to the end of the small dirt path she told me to take I came to a small grassy clearing with no house in sight. I waited a couple of minutes before taking a look around. I didn't leave because I knew that Argo would never be late or ditch. It was dark by the time I finally found the house.

I looked up and there it was flying above the forest and if I looked hard enough I could see Argo in the window of the log house. I traveled to the area where the house was flying over to look for a way to get her down. When I arrived at the area a NPC dog jumped into my arms. A gale of wind raised me to the house and Argo was inside just like I thought.

"About time, you got here! This is a nice house I found. The catch is there is a quest that you need to complete first. The house is taking us to the location where the quest will commence. So good luck." She said before pushing me out of the house as soon as the house landed.

I completed the quest going back to the house. It took us back to the place the house was originally. Argo was heading out of the house when she stopped.

"So are you and Kiri-boy finally tying the knot?" She asked as she stood in the doorway.

I shook my head.

"Oh well you know that married players share storage right. It also comes with extra storage." She commented.

The second part caught my attention and she saw it.

"I will keep the information about you getting the house and marrying Kiri-boy to myself if you make me breakfast and dinner for the next month. Of course I can't keep anyone from asking if Kiri-boy is taken or not. I will just leave your name out of the equation. Let me know when he accepts." She said before leaving.

'Extra storage.' Ran through my mind as I bought the house.

…

I got back to Agil's place a day later. I had just finished buying furniture and kitchenware for the house. I also made my own forge but it wont finish till later. So I went back to Agil's to tell him the news. I got back just in time to see him buy a guys stuff for cheap. I congratulated him just as Kirito came in. We locked eyes for a second before I sensed the other person and promptly turned on all of my hiding skills before making a swift exit through the back.

'Soon. I'll tell him soon.' I thought as I made a retreat.

…

A day later I asked Kirito to come to Floor 22. I was waiting at the teleport gate. When he came through I didn't do anything but lead him to the house. He didn't say anything just followed when the house came into view he finally said something.

"I discovered this house when the floor opened. I didn't buy it because it cost so much. When I did have the money I chose not to buy it because it was too far from the warp-gate. Is this house yours?" He asked as we made our way inside.

I was going to type my reply out but I stopped. If I was going to do this I can't half ass it. I opened my mouth when he closed the door.

"Yes but it can be ours." I spoke softly.

His head whipped around so fast that in the real world he would have had whiplash.

"Ours?" He asked while keeping an eye on me.

"Yes ours. I want to share this with you Kirito. You're the only person in not just this world but also in the real life that I trust the most. If it wasn't for you I would have lost my way many times you are the thing that keeps me on the ground. You're my anchor. What I told you before about how staying with me by your side all the time will sabotage your growth is true. By having me by your side all of the time you distance yourself from others closing in on yourself. But not being together at all is just hurting us. Not being with you is hurting me. I want to be here with you. I want to fight by your side. I want to continue to get to know the person behind the Sword and I want you to know the person behind the mask. So will you share this with me?" I finished taking a breath.

"This is not just about living together is it?" Kirito asked while shadows covered his face.

"No. Kirito I l-li-like you. It might not be romantic but I l-like you and I want you by my side for as long as you will stay so…uh…um…" I couldn't get the words out so I just sent the request.

He looked at it for what seemed like hours but was actually five minutes. I closed my eyes when his hand went to the notification. I didn't open them till I heard the notification ping.

'Congratulations, you're now married!' notification hung in front of me.

"That was sweet but I know that you just wanted this for the extra item storage." He smiled at me.

"I don't think I have ever so close to having a heart attack till just now." I said holding my hand above my heart.

"It's nice to finally hear your voice. I thought you couldn't actually talk?" Kirito asked while he explored the house since we were standing in front of the door.

"I chose to not talk to people outside of my family after an accident. Before that to everyone outside of my family I was already a quiet and 'less developed' child." I did the quotation marks in the air.

Kirito paused to snort at my quotations before continuing his exploration.

"So how is this going to work?" Kirito asked.

"Well there is one big bed we could share but there is also a smaller one on the other side of the bedroom if you want to sleep there. As for rings we could wear them. The only ones that would know you married me would be the people that know both of us. Everyone will just see that the Black Swordsman got married. Personally it would be a good idea for you to wear your ring. You're so nice that the girls you keep helping will fall in love with you. So it would be better to wear your ring so they know you're off the market before they fall in love." I explained.

He turned from the balcony where he was looking at the view the house had of the lake and mountains. He glared at me before turning to look back at the view.

"No one has fallen in love with me." He grumbled.

"I haven't said any have, but when they do you will know because I'm going to tell you some signs. Jealousy, spontaneous physical affection, blushing randomly, stuttering, puppy dog eyes, they give you free food, spontaneous shows of aggression. I think that is the most obvious one but there are more so keep those things in mind. As for the rings I will make them and you have to wear it when I finish." I say bumping his hip with mine.

"Come in when you're ready. I'm going to make dinner." I say as I go inside.

"Since when have you been able to cook?" He asked iricudiously.

"Who do you think makes the food that Agil gives you?" I answered while changing into shorts and a t-shirt with the collar widened.

I messaged Argo, Agil, and The Moonlit Black Cats the news before starting dinner. Even though the metal mask I wore hid it I was smiling the whole time.

…

I had the rings done within the week. Both were obsidian bands; they had silver vines engraved on them but mine was smaller with green gems embedded to look like leaves. On the inside of both of them we engraved our own messages to each other in silver.

I wrote on Kirito's 'For as long as you stay.'

Kirito wrote on mine 'My anchor.' I called him out for plagiarism.

Kirito had to go back to the front lines. When he put it on with his outfit it wasn't noticeable unless you were looking. Just what I wanted. His enemies wouldn't notice it when his sword was coming at them but the girls that hang around him will since he won't be fighting with his sword.

I sent him on his way when I was satisfied with my work.

I left after him to deliver Argo her food as I promised. If I asked her to keep an eye on how many people gossip about Kirito's new unavailability well only I will know.

…

Kirito's POV

June 24, 2024 Floor 48: Lindas

It has been three months since Artemis and I have gotten married. When I went back to the front lines wearing the ring I thought that someone would comment on it or something but no one did. It was just above the top of my fingerless gloves but no one noticed. Then again I never put it out there.

Klein was the first to notice. I was pointing on the map a few weeks after I came back and he just started freaking out.

"Kirito when did you get married?!" He yelled while grabbing my left hand.

It was only us and Agil at his place and I was showing them my plan for the next raid. So it didn't bother me that he was loud.

"Weeks ago man. Don't tell me you just noticed?" Agil answered for me.

"Hey, we're mostly fighting so I'm more focused on the sword he was swinging than the ring on his finger. Besides it almost blends in with his outfit so it's not noticeable until you see his hand without a sword which is a rare occurrence you know." He said, continuing to hold my hand.

"The ring in black just like everything you wear I would have thought it was nothing but once I noticed it I realised it was not at all like your outfit. This is really nice, man!" Klein said while looking at the ring.

"He's right the craftsmanship is so detailed it looks like the vines are actually there." Agil leaned in closer to look.

"Yeah Artemis made it, she decided that a regular ring was too flashy and I had to agree this is much better. It took a while to get comfortable but I don't even notice it when I'm fighting anymore. How did you know I got married, Agil? You never asked to see the ring before." I asked when I pried my hand out of Klein's.

"Artemis told me the night you said yes. I was one of the three first ones to know." He replied.

"Artemis that sounds familiar… Is she pretty or cute?" Klein asked with that perverted face.

I punched him in the head and we left it at that. I continued to explain my plan.

Other people started to find out after Klein kept asking to see the ring after meetings and during breaks. I of course told him to keep Artemis's name a secret.

Asuna continued to talk to me and we saw each other more. I thought as a girl she would have noticed but she didn't say anything so either she didn't want to bring it up or she didn't notice. I didn't comment on it either way. And when I brought it up with Artemis she just laughed and changed the subject.

Now I'm headed to the Black Smith Asuna and Artemis both recommended to me to get a new Sword.

I walked into Lisbeth's Smith Shop. I could already tell that this person had a lot of talent but not the materials they needed to make a good weapon. I was looking in one of the cases when someone came out of the back.

"Welcome to Lisbeth's Smith Shop!"

"U-Uh… I'd like to order a custom-made weapon." I asked.

I could tell from the girls frown and the way she was looking at the way I dressed she didn't think I was worth much.

"At the moment, metal prices are high." She prodded politely.

"Don't worry about the cost. I just want the best sword you can make right now." I replied.

"That's somewhat vague. You'll have to give me an idea of your target quality level." She looked even more wary.

"Oh, I see." I took off my scabbard holding out the piece.

"Then something of the same quality as this or better?" I could see how her eyes lingered on my wedding ring before putting her hands under mine to take the sword.

"An Elucidator…It's a beast of a magic sword obtainable from monster drops." She said out loud.

"Can you make one?" I asked.

"How about this one? It's the best I've ever forged. My masterpiece!" She gave me a sword from the rack.

"It's a little light…" I said after I swung it around a little.

"Well, I did use a speed–type metal to forge it." She explained.

"Would you mind if I tested it?" I was looking at the sword in my hand.

"Test it?"

"You know, its durability." I grabbed the Elucidator setting it so the tip was on the counter.

"H–Hey! Your sword will break in two if you do that!" I lined her sword up with the middle of mine before bringing it back.

"If that happens, it'll just be… too bad!" I sliced down with a sword skill and her sword broke in half.

She screamed when the broken piece shattered then snached the rest of the sword out of my hands.

"Irreparable…" The rest shattered and she dropped to the floor.

I was honestly shocked and disappointed. The sword broke so easily.

"What were you thinking?" She yelled in my face while holding my shirt.

"Sorry! I never thought that yours would be the one to break…" I apologized and she calmed down until…

"Is that your way of saying that my sword was lamer than you expected?" She yelled again in my face.

"Yeah, I guess." I said not looking at her.

"For your information if I had the right materials I could make a butt load of swords that could shatter yours into a million tiny little pieces!" She rebubbled.

"Oh yeah, that sounds like the kind of sword I'm looking for. As long as it could shatter mine though." I taunted her.

"If you're going to be like that, then you'll have to help me every step of the way!" She shouted in anger.

"Seriously?" I said.

"Absolutely, starting with obtaining the metal."

"I think I can handle that on my own. I'd rather not have you slowing me down." I replied, actually taking a look at her.

She did not look like a fighter.

"Don't you dare insult me. Believe it or not, I'm an expert mace user." She pouted.

"Suit yourself so where do we find the metal?" I asked, grabbing my sword and sheath.

"Floor 55, there's supposedly a dragon that eats crystals on the Western Mountain. According to the rumor, it stores rare metal inside its body." She explained.

"Floor 55 huh?" I thought it over.

"Yeah I should go alone–" I quickly said remembering the climate.

"–Furthermore, to get the metal, you need a master smith with you. Still want to go alone?" She looked like the cat that caught the canary.

I looked away thinking of something to say but another look at her face and I gave in.

"Fine, just keep quiet and stay out of the way." I put my sword in the sheath.

"Hey!"

"By the way my name's Kirito. Until we make that sword, I guess we'll be partying up." I introduced myself holding out my hand.

"Yeah whatever Kirito." She dismissed me.

"Well if you're going to be like that I can roll with it." I take my hand back.

"Lisbeth." I tease.

'If I ever destroyed one of Artemis's creations like that she would have never cooked me food again!' I thought in horror as we left the shop.

…

Floor 55: Western Mountain

"It's cold…" She complained after sneezing.

"Don't you have extra clothing?" I stopped to ask.

"I didn't know Floor 55 was an ice and snow zone!" She continued to shiver.

I pulled out the cloak I had. Then threw it on her head.

"Are you going to be okay without this?" She looked like a child.

"I've had more training than you." I said before I started walking again.

"What's wrong, Lisbeth? Giving up already?" I asked when she didn't continue to walk.

'It would certainly make things easier.' I thought.

"I'm still going strong! And if you're going to be so familiar anyway, just call me Liz." She stomped her foot before running to catch up.

"Right, right… Got it, Liz." I replied.

"Don't get carried away!" She yelled.

…

We had made it to the crystal field. I could tell that the Dragon was nearby so I told Liz to hide and confronted the Dragon myself. I blocked it's breath attack with a skill then attacked it multiple times before I cut off it's arm. I was preparing for another attack when Lisbeth came out from her hiding spot. The Dragon spotted her immediately. I sent a massive gust of wind at her blowing her into a huge hole.

I dived after her grabbing onto her and flipping us so that I was the one that would land first and take the most damage.

"So you're alive…" I said when I felt her move.

"Yeah, I'm alive." She got up from where she was laying on me.

"Drink one of these, just in case." I handed her a HP revival potion.

"Okay."

"Um, Thank you for saving me." She said after a few minutes of silence.

"It's a little too early to thank me. How are we going to get out of here?" I say looking at the walls.

"Huh? We can just teleport, right?" Teleport: Lindas! No way…" She used the crystal only for it not to work.

"If we can't use crystals, that means there should be another way." I say as I get up.

"We don't know that. This could be a trap meant to kill people with 100% certainty!" She yelled.

"I see… That's a good point." I was thinking about how to get out of here.

"Listen, you… At least try to cheer me up!" She complained.

"I have an idea." I say.

"Really? She sounded hopeful.

"Yeah, to run up the wall." I looked at the walls again.

"Are you stupid?" She said, making a face.

"Why don't we find out if I'm stupid or not?" I said backing up to get a head start.

I made it up halfway before slipping. I fell hitting the snow hard making a human shaped hole.

"If I had a little more room to get a running start, I would've made it." I say as I get out of the hole.

"Yeah, in your dreams." She said.

We set up sleeping bags for the night. And I gave her a sandwich Artemis made me.

"What a strange would never have happened in real life. Sleeping next to someone I just met for the first time in a place I've never been before. Not only that, but you started running up the wall! You really are a weirdo." She giggled.

"Well, excuse me." I said annoyed.

She laughed before getting quiet.

"Hey, Kirito… Can I ask you something?" She asked softly.

"You're being so formal, What is it?" I asked.

"Back then, why did you save me?" She got up from her sleeping bag to look at me.

"Because I'd much rather die with someone than let that person die before my eyes. Even more so if she's a girl like you, Liz." I looked at her smiling.

'She reminds me of my sister or cousin.' I thought, looking at her expressive face.

"You really are an idiot. No one else would think that way." She layed back down.

"Hey… Hold my hand?" I was surprised.

I looked at her but agreed when I saw her face. I turned on my right side putting my left hand on her right hand. She tightened her grip and my wedding ring shined lightly in the light from the lamp.

"It's warm. Even though you and I are both data in a virtual world…" she wasn't looking at me.

"Liz…" I said softly.

She smiled, gripping my hand tighter.

"What is she like? Your wife… Is she as weird as you?" She asked looking at me expectantly.

I frowned a little annoyed at the jab. Before smiling lightly when she laughed.

"She's… I don't know how to put this. She's warm. I mean she doesn't like people a lot so she tends to hide from crowds and the like. But the few people she lets in she treats like treasures or family. She would make jokes when someone did something stupid. She didn't like people but she always knows when someone needs something. One time when one of the members of a guild we were helping came to our room saying they couldn't sleep she put her in between us and held her. The girl cried and slept through the night. She does things like that. And even if she doesn't like people she can read them like an open book." I explained thinking of the night Sachi came into our room.

"She sounds like my mother. It would be nice to have someone like that. I wish I could meet her." Liz said before falling asleep.

'Yeah it is nice to have her around.' I thought before falling asleep.

…

I woke up early and Liz was still asleep. I took another look around the hole.

'If this was a trap then there should have been some monsters down here. The place is big and deep so the light from outside barely comes down. The only way to get out is up. So… this must be the dragons nest. Liz said that the metal we were looking for came from the dragon's stomach so if this is it's nest then the metal should be under all of this snow.' I started to dig through the snow close to the sleeping bags.

Liz woke up a little later and came up behind me.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"Look at this." I pulled the metal out from the snow.

"Wait… could this be…" she said looking at the item.

"Yeah, it must be the metal we came to get. The dragon nibbles on the crystals, producing this in its stomach. No wonder no one can find any!" I tossed it to her.

"You did it. But what's it doing here?" She asked.

"This hole isn't a trap. It's the dragon's nest. In other words, that ingot is the dragon's excrement. It's poop." I told her the conclusion I came to earlier.

She looked between me and the ingot a few times before freaking out and throwing it away from her.

"Anyway, this means that we've achieved our goal. All that's left is…" I say as I catch the metal she threw.

"Hey… You said this is the dragon's nest, right?" Sha asked.

I agreed not seeing where she was going with this.

"If I recall, dragons are nocturnal, which means it won't be long before…" she trailed off and we both looked up.

"It's here!" Liz yelled when we spotted the dragon.

I threw her over my shoulder ignoring her protest. I swiped my sword creating a gust that lifted the snow making a cover while I ran up the wall. I flipped when I got high enough.

"Liz, hang on tight!" I yelled before stabbing the dragon with my sword.

It flew up and out of the hole. My sword lost its grip when it stopped and we flew away from it. I held my hand out to Liz as we fell and she grabbed it. She started saying something but I couldn't hear her. She smiled before pulling me into a hug.

…

June 25, 2024 Floor 48: Lindas

"You want a one–handed longsword, right?" Liz asked.

"Right. I'm counting on you." I replied.

She took a breath before bringing her hammer down. She had a concentrated look on her face while she hammered the hot metal. Soon it glowed and formed an ice colored sword.

"It's name is Dark Repulser. If I've never heard of it, then it isn't in the information brokers directory. Try it." She told me.

I swung it twice getting used to how it feels.

"How does it feel?" She asked cautiously.

"Heavy… It's a good sword" I said after leaving her in suspense.

"All right!" She celebrated.

"It feels like your soul has been forged into it. Now then… The job's complete. I'll pay you for the sword. How much?" I asked after putting the sword in a sheath.

"Um, well… I don't need money. In exchange I want to be your exclusive smith. Which means that when you return from the field you let me take care of your equipment cause gods know what you do to your poor sword when no one's looking. I mean hit it with another sword and not care if it breaks! Definitely not happening to the beauty I just made you! Also–" Liz got cut off from the door opening.

"Liz! I was really worried!" Asuna came running in.

"Asuna?"

"Liz!" Asuna called out before hugging Liz.

"My message bounced back and I couldn't track you on the map… Where were you last night?" She asked Liz.

"Sorry, I kind of got stuck in a dungeon." Liz said softly.

Asuna continued to ignore me.

"A dungeon? Did you go alone?" She pulled back to look at Liz.

"No, with him." Liz pointed at me.

"K–Kirito?" Asuna finally noticed me.

"Hey, Asuna… It's been two days, right?" I greeted with a wave.

"What a surprise! I see, so you dropped by right away. If you'd told me, I would have come with you." She said.

"Do you know each other, by any chance?" Liz asked.

"Yeah, we're both on the Assault Team." I explained.

I saw Liz's eyes get wide before a frown set on her face. I scoot a little away from Asuna when she moved a little closer. Liz's frown just got bigger.

"He wanted a powerful sword, so I referred him to your shop." Asuna said.

"I see." Liz said.

"You didn't do anything weird to my friend, did you?" Asuna accused me.

"Of course not!" I said back.

"Well Kirito I also wanted you to add me as a friend as payment of course." Liz said loudly when Asuna went to talk back.

"Add you as my friend? Why?" I asked looking at her.

"First I want to be able to contact you to do metal runs for me as payment for breaking my masterpiece. Second I want food so I'm going to come to your house and you're going to feed me. The good stuff!" She smiled.

"What?! I get the first one but why do I have to feed you as well?" I asked.

"I don't want food from you! I want food from her cause I'm pretty sure you can't cook at all!" Liz yelled.

I growled before sending her a friend request.

"Her?" Asuna asked.

"Mm yeah his wife… Oh and let me see that ring! It was too dark to see last night." She accepted the friend request before grabbing my hand.

"Oh it's so well crafted. Look Asuna, look at the detail." Liz brought my hand close to her face.

We both looked at Asuna when she didn't answer. Her face was stuck between devastated and surprised.

"Your married, Kirito?" She said softly.

"Yeah, it sounds like he really loves her too. How long have you been together anyway?" Liz sounded cold in the first part of her sentence.

"Well we got married three months ago during the week of break I got from the front lines. But we actually met during the beta testing. We weren't together the first month of the game but she found me during one of the meetings for the floor boss. We have been fighting together ever since." I said remembering the time Artemis called me a pretty boy.

"For so long? Wow and you only popped the question three months ago?" Liz asked.

"Actually she was the one who asked." I rubbed the back of my neck smiling.

"Wow I like her even more!" Liz gushed.

"Three months…" Asuna whispered with her head down.

I was going to ask her what was wrong but Liz stopped me. She shook her head and gave me a sad smile before shooing me away. I nodded and left without a word.

…

June 25, 2024 Floor 22:

"I'm home." I called out.

"Welcome back!" Artemis called from the kitchen.

I smiled before taking all of my gear off leaving Dark Repulser out. I walked into the kitchen with shorts and a t-shirt both dark of course. Artemis was just finishing up dinner setting it on the table.

"Smells good!" I was so glad to get a home cooked meal again.

"Is that the new sword?" She asked looking at the sword.

"Yes this is Dark Repulser." I handed her the sword before sitting down.

She took it out before swinging it a few times. She gave it back to me before sitting down. I told her everything that happened starting with breaking Lisbeth's sword and ending with Liz shooing me away when I tried to talk to Asuna.

"I've… always thought it would be better to die than to survive alone… I've honestly always believed that. But when Liz and I fell into that hole, I was glad that we both made it. I realized that everyone is striving to stay alive. Myself included." I said we had already cleaned up and were now laying on the bed.

"Good, I'm glad you have changed the way you see this world. Make sure to thank her for that." Artemis said.

I was laying on her lap while she was sitting up leaning against the headboard running her fingers through my hair.

"Artemis… was I leading Asuna on by helping her and hanging out with her?" I asked her.

Her hand paused before it moved to stroke my cheek.

"No Kirito you didn't hide your ring and you never gave any sign of reciprocating her feelings. From the many outings outside of battle you went to with her she definitely saw your ring and probably has heard of your change in status. She was the one who chose to ignore the signs. So no you did not lead her on. I would suggest that you leave her alone. She needs to deal with the news her own way. You will have to respect her wishes if she chooses to distance herself." She said softly before pushing me off the bed.

"Goodnight Kirito." She said from on top of the bed.

"Goodnight Artemis." I say before getting up and laying on the bed beside her.

…

Thanks for reading. I hope that you liked this. I added Kirito's point of view on this because this was how his and Lisbeth's relationship started and how his Asuna's relationship was first noticed. So I needed to change this but I wanted Kirito to add his own words to how he perceives Artemis. Silica and Liz will not have romantic feelings for Kirito. I will also be speeding things up just a little. Those who know Artemis's identity keep it a secret for those to don't. Thank you! Review and Favorite.