Hey everyone, I'm back again!

This month was not a good month. Billie Joe Armstrong had the right of it; "Wake me up when September Ends."

I've been struggling with money right now and it's only thanks to so many friends of mine from church that I've been able to get through this month the best that I could, considering I was down a huge three-hundred-plus pounds. On top of that, my mum has fallen ill and I've been worried about her and her health as well.

But the real kicker? My step-granddad passed away last month suddenly and it was down to me to make the funeral arrangements. It was a huge blow and I'm crawling my way to finding some motivation to get back into writing and this is what I came up with. The funeral came and gone and I'm glad I was able to accept that he's no longer in pain anymore so quickly (since it took three years for me to accept my nan was gone) and I've been working on myself and taking a break from everything.

But I'm here. Still going strong and doing my best to write. But a huge thank you to everyone for still being so patient after my huge gaps of absences and for still sending so much support and so much love. I appreciate everything you guys and gals do for me and I love you all dearly in return. (insert huge heart emoji here)

This is less action-based as I wanted it to be but I liked the turn this chapter took and how there's probably gonna be a few flames for what I've done. However, I still think that there is so much character development to do with every one and this is just starting to set the stones in place to flesh out each character.

So! With all said and done right now, I bring you... chapter EIGHT of Sword Art Online: Advent Children! :3

~Chapter Eight~
~Finding Your Resolve~

~Floor One: Hidden Location: Hot Springs~

"Haaaaah~"

A soft groan, mixed with a small hint of contentment, escaped their lips as they lowered themselves further into the water. Taking a small detour back to the first floor, they remembered about the hot springs they had stumbled across and had decided to escape from everyone; allowing themselves a small measure of relaxation and independence. After everything that's been going on of late, and the fact that almost the entire group was focused on staying alongside one another, it was helpful for times like this to break away and have some time to yourself.

The fact that she was the only one who knew about this place, to boot, meant she had the means to hire out the entire springs for herself. Oh, the possibilities, she thought to herself with a titter of laughter from her lips as she could think of a few ways to put this spring to good use~

Perverted thoughts besides, the NPC helped provide the option of a smaller hot spring for a smaller party of up to three people; a smaller, enclosed section of the naturally-formed springs and a small waterfall that provided freshly heated water and allowed a sensation of total purification as they relaxed there. While tempted to bring someone along with them, they felt that having this time alone would do more in regards to all that's been going on of late. Plus it allowed a moment of reflection of their thoughts and feelings on what's going on.

"E-Excuse me miss? Here's the sake you ordered!" a female NPC softly spoke, allowing a smile to bloom on her face as she gently took the plate and placed it on the water to float. "Please call me if you desire anything else~" she politely bowed before leaving the woman to her thoughts once more.

Letting her head lean back against one of the heated rocks (which she placed her towel on top of), she sighed as a mouthful of the ordered sake slid down her throat and warmed her insides a little more; letting her mind wander slightly. She was grateful for Kazuko taking control of affairs for today while she allowed herself some time to relax and escape everyone; allowing herself to snort lightly in amusement when she never used to be the woman who enjoyed being in a group or around others for so long. She briefly remembered her own time in the beta testing stages that she usually kept to herself and often found herself sleeping wherever she was able to get any shelter; traveling more often than not to try and build up the network she's been trying so hard to pull off.

She allowed her grin to tone down into a soft smile when she thought of her blond in crime; that magnificent man that had not only been one of the many reasons that she's been smiling a lot more but also the man who had taken all her expectations and blown them out of the water when he happily sponsored her. Idly thinking on it, she allowed her hand to trace her lips as she tried to recall the feeling of his lips over hers around a week ago; something she partially regretted but also was glad to have been bold enough to do it.

Sighing to herself, her mind began to focus on the situation with her Ruto-kun and regarding Ko-chan; she enjoyed their company. She enjoyed everyone's company, even the annoying Kiri-bou when he wasn't being a total ass and going into his sarcastic mode. Asuna was becoming... dare she say her apprentice? She had done a lot for her, as much as she wanted to deny it; it was Asuna who came up with the idea of taking up a crafting class and using some of the proceeds for maintaining the funding for her network. So she knew a lot of things she was doing in the game did come from her ideas, so she decided she would make something special for the chestnut-haired beauty.

Lisbeth, she could tell was struggling. That she found herself comfortable with everyone else but she had noticed of late how little time she was spending with Naruto and how she was trying to keep her distance from him. She wouldn't be surprised if some of the others had noticed this little tidbit but it wasn't her place to comment on it. Don't get her wrong, she had a clue to what it was but it was something that Liz-chan would have to overcome herself and accept. She'd be happy to help but she would need to learn this and discover this for herself.

Ko-chan, she paused for a moment and slumped slightly into the water. She was one of the most amazing people she had ever encountered and she was so glad to have her as a friend and as a confidant. She was so full of life and so easy-going since she didn't judge you for anything, plus her natural bubbly demeanor just brought her close to the redhead. She also had an incredible head on her shoulders and was one of the reasons she was comfortable handling the network over to her for a little while so she could escape.

And yet, as much as she loved her... she would admit that she was jealous. What she wouldn't give to be the one in her shoes and to be the one that was going out with the most amazing man she had ever met and to do some of the things she was doing. She blushed slightly when she recalled the night in which she was left listening to some of the noises from the room next door to hers and listening to Ko-chan's moans when she was making love to Ruto-kun.

That had been a hard night on her. She would never admit that she could hear everything thanks to her Enhanced Hearing perk, and she spent that night crying herself to sleep after imagining it was her Naruto was making love to...

She had tried to keep away from her for the next few days but she found that her choice in the matter was taken away from her when Kazuko pulled her to one side and revealed that she knew what she did. She had been hugged and the two of them had pretty much spent the entire time crying, with herself yelling at the redhead about all her frustrations, her jealousy, her envy, and her confusion.

Kazuko simply held her and continued to cry and didn't say anything to her the entire time. She remembered the conversation she had once she had exhausted herself from the heart-to-heart with her and allowed a gulp of the sake to burn her throat slightly;

==Flashback!==

"I-I'm so sorry..." Kazuko cried, her arms tightly wrapped around the shorter blonde as she shook slightly. "I-I can only imagine how hurt you must feel and how much you hate me. I will accept all of your hate towards me if it would make you feel any better because I know..." she trailed off, letting her face rub against the top Argo wore at that moment. "I know how much you love him. I feel awful for taking him away for myself but I also don't regret it. I've loved him for so long and I was so scared I would never have the chance to let him know. So I stepped up and I told him and now... I find myself smiling so much more of late because I'm loved by him." she trailed off, letting up as she felt Argo pull away from her slightly and allowed some more tears to fall when she saw the hate in her eyes that was aimed at her.

"I... I can honestly say that a part of me hates you, Ko-chan." Argo admitted, using her hands to rub at the tears. "I hate you because you got to Naruto-kun first. I hate you because you knew him longer and I hate that..." she trailed off, slumping to her knees and curling up on her side. "... I hate that you were intimate with him. The thought of that makes my heart clench and this pain in my chest-" she hiccuped, clenching said organ through her chest as she felt Kazuko kneel beside her but not reaching out. "-this pain hurts! It hurts that it isn't me! Why can't I be the one he truly loves!? Why can't he love me back!?" she sobbed, making no move to get away from the redhead as she laid beside her and hugged her tightly, crying in both empathy and sympathy.

==Flashback End!==

Allowing herself to let the unbidden tears fall from her face but soon sighed as she wiped them away carefully, replacing the hand with the bottle of sake and downing the rest of the bottle as she cried. She could feel herself becoming a little more aroused than she would like to since her thoughts were bringing her back to a few days ago when she saw and felt his erection beneath her.

She admitted, a little guiltily, how she would want nothing more than to feel that certain piece of anatomy inside of her and fucking her seven ways to Sunday. Her body instinctively shivered at the thought and her loins ached for that thought to happen, yet she willed her body to calm down and allow her this time of peace to continue.

Swiping her menu open, she pressed a few buttons and took a moment to gaze at the one item she had been able to make. She hadn't told anyone that she had used a few of the behemoth skins already, and had been one of the main reasons why she had gained so many skill points in such a little time. Much like how players would gain bonus points for taking out red or even black-outlined monsters, crafters would gain skill points based on the difference between your current level and the craft level. That one craft had netted her seventy skill points and now managed to save up the two hundred she needed for her Adept Touch skill; meaning she can save a quarter of her materials and make more with what she had.

She looked at the item she had made uniquely for Naruto and sighed as she closed her menu once more, waiting for the right time to give it to him. She sighed as her previous arousal came back again; thinking about how he would make it up to her for the present, and decided to not fight back against it. Using her hand to slip between her legs she teased herself and moaned loudly as she tried to imagine her Ruto-kun taking full advantage of her...

~SAO:AC~

~Floor One: Ashley's~

It came as a bit of a surprise that she would receive a message from her but after the spar a few days ago, she could understand that there might be a chance to clear the air and just start anew. She didn't have anything against her, don't get her wrong: the thing that irked her slightly was the fact that she attacked her for no reason and she decided to discard her ripped top and allowed her brother/boyfriend an ample opportunity to stare at her uncovered bust.

Nevertheless, she could understand how some women might forego their nudity taboos if they wanted to impress a certain male; she immediately snorted in amusement since she could see Ar-chan doing the same thing if it meant she got his attention. Shaking her head playfully from the humorous thoughts, Kazuko grinned to herself as she opened the door, entering in and finding herself surprised to see a familiar face there alongside the blonde.

"Sup Klein! Didn't expect to see you here, buddy! Hey Ash!" she greeted chirpily, walking over to the pair as both of them were spotted leaning over the table for some reason. The two ceased their conversation between one another and turned their heads; Klein's smile turning into a grin as he fist-bumped with the naginata-user and ruffled her head playfully, earning a growl as she fixed the hair back.

"Yo, Kazuko-chan, it's been a while! What brings you here?" he asked, forgetting his conversation with the weaver craftswoman until said woman coughed loudly into her hand and regaining the attention of the katana-user, whilst allowing a slightly sad smile to appear on her face when she locked emerald with amber.

"Kazuko, I thank you for coming here. I wanted to apologize for my behavior and I just wanted you to know that I'm deeply sorry for the way I've acted a few days ago. I hope this doesn't affect our friendship from here on out and as an apology, I'll make the item you would've asked of me. No fee, no strings attached." she bowed, earning a pair of shocked eyes from both Klein and Kazuko as they watched her bow.

Klein was stumped, to say the least. He didn't know that something had happened between them both and his eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the redhead out of his peripheral. He knew about her and the few times he's fought beside her had given him a good sense of her character; she was a wolf. She is strong, she is fierce, playful, providing and most of all, she is one who is comfortable either as a pack leader or as a follower. Someone who was devoted to her pack.

Before he could say anything or continue the trail of thought, he watched with widened eyes as Kazuko smiled. The redhead simply allowed a soft, yet no less genuine smile on her face as she leaned in and hugged the woman, feeling a pair of arms reach around her also and had her hug returned. Ashley shook the moment she felt the arms wrapped around her and the soft rub on her back was the final push as tears flowed from her eyes. The two stayed that way for a good ten minutes or so, with Klein smiling and dipping his head as he leaned against the one side frame and allowed them this moment.

"Don't be sorry, I've already forgiven you. Just make sure that you warn me next time before attacking me eh~?" she grinned, earning a snort of laughter from the blonde as she stepped back and wiped her eyes gently, not to further ruin the makeup on her face. "So, back to Klein's question, what's up Ash-chan~?" she asked, earning a pointed look from the lone male as he looked between the two.

"Is anyone gonna fill me in as to what's going on?" he spoke up, bringing the two females to look at him. Ashley giggled into her hand as she sent Kazuko a challenging look and a wink in response.

"Nothing too important. Just a spar between myself and Kazuko-chan here. Which reminds me," she paused, turning to face the redhead with a mock glare, "You owe me a new top! I wasn't too worried during the fight but I can't have it become a regular thing when I want to spar with you again!" she mock-yelled, earning a glint in the amber orbs that screamed to Ashley that she was gonna regret teasing her.

"I mean, do I? Far as I recall, you ended up ripping the top off after my attack. Was it because Naru-kun was there and you wanted to impress? I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a sight I won't forget any time soon and you've got nothing worth hiding! Just forgive me if I'm not too fond of my boyfriend staring at a pair of tits that belonged to someone he met an hour prior, yanno?" Kazuko savagely grinned, laughing harder as Klein was sent flying back into the wall via a geyser of blood from his nose. Ashley blushed hard, coming through her bronzed skin and tinging her cheeks rosy pink.

"I maaaaaaay have wanted him to see me, all things considered," she admitted, smiling coyly to the redhead as she puffed up her cheeks. "Anyways, with the slight glow you have to you, it's not like you haven't found yourself with something much better, hmmm~?" she giggled, laughing harder at the blush that now appeared on the redhead's cheek.

"What I can say? He hits all the right spots~" Kazuko winked, earning a loud laugh from the blonde as she wiped a few mirthful tears from her eyes once more, folding her arms underneath her impressive bust and pushed them up slightly with a grin on her face and the blush even more prominent than before.

"Don't make me beg you for a chance at that fine piece of a man, Kazu-chan~ because I will do everything to steal him away from you~" she winked playfully, earning a playful grin that helped put her mind at ease, knowing that the past events are no longer in the way of their budding friendship. "All joking besides, I did want to apologize to you if I've upset you in any way and I wanted to offer an olive branch to you. Plus, I never did tell you about the crafting class I had in mind for you~" she bowed, smiling softly before gasping when she felt the redhead hug her once more.

"You already said you were sorry so it's fine! It's under the bridge and it's time to move on!" Kazuko beamed as she stepped back, allowing the relief to show on the blonde's face as her shoulders sagged. "So I remembered at the end of the fight that you were supposed to have an idea of what crafting class I could work on; so which class do you have in mind for me?" she asked, earning a playful glint in her eyes as she leaned on the desk and lowered her eyes to stare into a pair of emerald.

"Well~" she trailed off, matching the same smile that Kazuko held on her face...

~SAO:AC~

~Floor Two: Outside Yasashi Inn~

"Ne, Naruto-kun?"

"Hmm? What's up Asuna-chan?"

"How often do we take the time to do nothing?"

"Not often enough, honestly."

"I think I agree with you." she softly responded as she shifted slightly and allowed herself a moment to nuzzle the chest her head was laying on. The two had been together for the past few hours while everyone else was tending to their own needs; giving them a little opportunity to spend time alone together. Naruto had made a small stop to see Lisbeth about his weapon but the thought of her made him frown slightly.

He could sense something was going on and he had a keen idea what it was about. He could try and help with what's troubling her but with this willing distance between her and him, it would do more damage than good right now. It meant that he would have to back off slightly and just let her be for a while until she's ready to confront this issue she has and come to face him again.

Despite that small dip of mood in the day, the two had fun walking through the shops and looking at some of the equipment that was on sale. There were two main shop types; the NPC and Player-Owned shops. While NPC had more basic gear that provided stat boosts and not much else, it proved to be a nice little bump in stats and power considering they were only on the second floor, plus the gear was cheap.

Player-owned stores, however; that was more of a gamble. People discovering gear that they didn't need and offering to sell it to other players for a more pricey amount of Col. Naruto's empathetic side was less than pleased that people would be taking advantage of the demand of supply by selling gear that's worse than what they currently have; but his logical and more business-like side of him couldn't help but admit that it was a good tactic. People would be clambering over gear with above-average stats and even gear with perks attached to them.

Having decided to spoil Asuna to a small topaz necklace that she had her eye on, one with a small stat boost to her health and her dexterity, it suited her well as a rapier user and also went well with her hair and her eyes. In return, she had managed to haggle (read: charm) one of the players by giving her a discount on a pair of Duskrunners boots he was selling.

Naruto was floored by the gift; the boots gave him a small movement boost and a nice bump to his attack, strength, vitality and agility stats. So he treated Asuna to food as a small token of thanks before the two continued to scour the shops until the sun started to set, deciding it was a good point to call it a day and head back to the Inn. Seeing that the sun was still visible and a comfortable breeze wafted through the air, the two allowed themselves the chance to lay down near the tree outside of the Inn and enjoy this small moment. He had his head propped up by one of the roots, while Asuna placed herself under his arm; allowing herself to rest her head on his chest and wrap an arm around him.

With the balance between the grinding, the crafting, the commissions for other players and Ashley; they (including everyone else) had been non-stop for the past week since the end of the curfew and everyone was feeling the effects as well. Lisbeth, he found out from Kirito surprisingly, had taken to shutting shop on Sundays and allow her a day off in the week where she can relax and unwind from the constant crafting, and everyone had soon followed suit and done the same.

Everyone had been pulling together to pitch in and it made Naruto smile at just how well a group they formed when they were all together with one another; how they've all come together as a small-knit family and made the game that little bit more enjoyable, momentarily discarding the knowledge that it's a game of life and death. He sighed a little, remembering that the one stipulation he had on him that meant he couldn't start or join a guild until the completion of floor fifty. Nevertheless, he knew straight away that he would be inviting everyone (sans Klein for obvious reasons) to be a part of it.

"Room for one more, Ruto-kun~? Asuna-chan~?"

Both figures looked up from their comfortable positions and spotted a familiar blonde standing over them with a playful little grin on her face, earning one from the male beneath her as well. Asuna was conflicted. She enjoyed Argo's company and found her refreshingly honest from most people she can remember interacting with but it was a moment between her and Naruto. They were enjoying the quiet and they had such a wonderful day together today and she didn't want it to end.

Yet she knew she couldn't say no.

Kazuko could've said no. She could've said that she wanted Naruto all for herself and she'd be well in her right to do so. Yet she didn't. She put aside her wants and needs and she allowed her and the other females interested in this amazing man a chance to know him, to be close and to build that romantic bond with him. Shaking her head, much to the confusion of the other female present, she looked up and patted down Naruto's fee side and blushed softly. Argo soon connected some of the dots and she allowed her grin to soften into a more genuine smile as she took the free spot on Naruto's side.

Letting her hand rest on Asuna's arm, she rubbed it slowly as her sign of thanks. Argo knew the slight conflict that it would bring and now she felt a little intrusive since the two of them were enjoying the time together on their own. The hand in hers soon broke her thoughts as Asuna's eyes met her own, and the soft squeeze of the hand was all the words that needed to be said.

"Shame I don't have a camera on me, huh? I'm sure this would get a nice bit of Col from some of your fans." a voice spoke up behind them as a figure leaned against the trunk of the tree they were resting against. Tilting their heads up at the sudden interruption, the three found their lone swordsman looking down with a slight smirk on his face. Sighing softly, Kirito turned his gaze back up to the sunset and simply decided to be nice for once. "It's hard to think it's only been a little over a month and a half," he commented softly, earning silence in return.

That was a small sobering thought; six weeks in the game. Six weeks into the game, the second floor out of a hundred and less than seven thousand players remaining. Over three thousand lives were lost forever because of a madman's machinations. This hit Naruto harder than the others; three thousand people who didn't have to die. Three thousand innocent people who had their lives taken from them for something they never wanted in the first place. The thought made him growl lightly as anger welled up inside of him as he thought about Kayaba and what he could be doing now.

"N-Naruto-kun?/Ruto-kun?" both Asuna and Argo whispered the moment they heard his growling and they were worried when his lips snarled and showed off his sharpened teeth. It was a side of him that neither of them saw before and they... they were worried. Not afraid, but worried. Kirito sighed as he moved forward and slightly kicked the foot of the blond as he passed, earning his attention and glare. Moving into the field a little more properly, he turned around and drew his sword.

"You can lay there and get mad, Naruto. There's no point in trying to be angry for what's happened." Kirito commented a little coldly, much to the shock of the two girls. "You can make all the conclusions that you want and try to justify it however you want to but the issue can't be changed." he continued, earning a louder snarl from Naruto as he stood to his feet and stamped his way over to Kirito.

"What the fuck do you mean!?" Naruto yelled angrily in response. "Do you think I don't know that I can't change what happened? That three thousand innocent players lost their lives by being trapped in this fucking place!?" he growled darkly, pulling out his weapon and stabbing it into the ground in front of him. "It doesn't change the fact that we can never get their lives back because of some sadistic motherfucker decided to play "god" and trap us all in this game! But what right do you have saying that I can't be angry!? Angry for the ones who've fallen and the ones who've lost their loved ones and making sure that we save as many lives as we can!?" he yelled back, yanking the sword up and pointing it towards Kirito.

"Because you're getting angry over nothing." Kirito snapped back, crouching slightly and bringing his sword a little closer to his body. "We've lost over three thousand people. We're only on the second floor, we probably wouldn't have made it past the first if it wasn't for Namizu being considerate to listen to us. How long are we gonna continue to do this for, Naruto?" he continued, earning silence from everyone else. "A year? Two? Three? More?"

"Why does that even matter?" Naruto commented roughly, lowering the sword down and letting the blade rest on the ground. "Does it matter how long we're stuck here? What matters is getting everyone out. Pushing through the remaining floors and doing our best to get out of her and to get people back safely!"

"You think people are gonna care!? They don't give a fuck about anyone else!" Kirito swore as he slashed the air in front of him and stunned Naruto's anger for a moment. "People are gonna do what they can to make sure that they get out. They're not gonna give a fuck about the other six-odd-thousand besides them! They're only gonna be focused on themselves and they're not gonna give a damn how many lives or bodies they'll walk on to get there!" Kirito yelled angrily back.

"And what about those who want to be out just as everyone else, yet have enough heart to put themselves out of the way and help!? You telling me that everyone should just look out for themselves and not bother trying to make it a team effort!? That all the effort we're making for not only ourselves but for everyone else as well... it means fucking nothing!?" Naruto growled again, his eyes narrowing slightly. He wasn't sure why this argument was even happening and it was confusing him at how much of a thing Kirito was making it.

The silence that followed was eerily discomforting. Kirito closed his eyes and said nothing and both Argo and Asuna were getting a little frightened about how this was turning out. Naruto kept the silence going for a little while longer before his eyes closed and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword once more. "What is it you aren't telling me, Kazuto?" he asked seriously, using the raven-haired's real name as a sign of how serious this question was. Again, there was no response and more of the silence.

Kirito stood there and didn't move. He didn't speak. Nothing happened. He wouldn't say a thing.

It was starting to piss Naruto off.

"I'm going to ask you once more, Kazuto." Naruto slowly spoke, the steel edge evident in his voice. "What are you not telling me?" he asked, tightening his grip on the hilt of his blade and yanking it out of the ground ready to fight. Kirito swiped his menu open and clicked a few buttons and confirming something; the sword in his hand glowing a bright blue before bursting into light. Once the light died back down, everyone in current attendance noticed that the sword was completely different than the one he was holding a moment ago.

This blade was a pure jet black; blade, hilt, and guard. The archaic runes near the guard of the sword engraved into the blade with a wicked silver color, the same shade of silver that ran down the blade's edge that screamed danger to Naruto. The side of the guard and the hilt coming together to form a black bat's wing that protected the knuckles and the fingers that wrapped around the hilt, granting a small defense to the wielder.

"Nightmare Sword. The last attack bonus for beating the second-floor boss." Kirito spoke softly. Naruto's, Asuna's and Argo's eyes flew wide in pure shock at the words that were just said. Naruto recovered the quickest as his snarl returned full force as he stood looking at an emotionless Kirito. Argo launched to her feet and hissed in displeasure at the news.

"Ya what!? Ya mean ta tell me that ya solo'd the second-floor boss!?" she snarled in a response similar to Naruto's current mood, her accent coming through richly as her anger rose more and more. "Are ya fucking insane!?" she accused him, pointing a finger as her eyes turned into slits for a split second and her tail stiffened in anger.

"If this isn't proof enough, what else do you want?" Kirito shrugged carelessly. Naruto closed his eyes as pieces were starting to fall a little into place. He knew that Kazuto enjoyed playing as a solo player and that he was more comfortable with that, that much he knew about him. How he was a hardcore gamer and that he would be leagues above everyone else as a player because of his gaming pedigree. However, to solo a boss...

"I see now," Naruto commented. Everyone turned to him as his sword came to his side and his eyes snapped open and locked onto Kirito's, mentally glad the flinch didn't go amiss on him. "The point you're trying to get across is that you feel like we're holding you back. Right?" he asked rhetorically, earning another (more noticeable) flinch from the raven-haired swordsman. The betrayal on Naruto's face could not be any more evident and Kirito felt like such an asshole for even bringing this up.

"I'm giving you one chance. You duel me one on one, right here." Naruto spoke seriously, snapping everyone from their funk as his fingers blurred through his menu screen. "You will say this in front of everyone when they get here and tell them exactly how you're feeling; how you think we're holding you back. If you win, then you get to walk away. For your sake, you better win. Because I will be showing you no fucking mercy." Naruto growled, earning a small shiver from Kirito as he realized he's fucked this up massively.

It took no more than five minutes for the rest of the group to meet up outside of the Inn since Naruto called it an emergency meeting; Kazuko having brought Ashley and Klein with her since she spent most of the day with the two of them. Agil made his way in with Sachi close behind him, Lisbeth coming into the view panting; taking a moment to rest her hand on her knees and regain her breath. "I-I'm... sorry I took so long..." Lisbeth apologized, earning a small nod from Naruto in acceptance and turned back to the silent swordsman.

"You're fine Liz. I messaged you all because Kazuto has something to say to us all." Naruto prompted coldly, making everyone turn to the person in question as he gritted his teeth. He couldn't say that he didn't deserve this but he hated how Naruto was getting everyone involved when they didn't need to be involved. As if reading his thoughts, Naruto swiped the air suddenly with his zanbato and disturbed the thought process. "I know exactly what you're thinking and for your information, it involves everyone either directly or indirectly because they are just the same as I!"

"You," Kirito snarled as he took a step forward to Naruto, his anger flaring and his eyes narrowing further as he slashed the sword in return. "You bastard!" he bit out bitterly.

"No, you piece of shit, YOU are the bastard!" Naruto growled as he moved his sword to the side and gripped the collar of Kirito and hefted him up to face him directly. "You have the fucking nerve to cause an argument over the way I'm thinking and what I believe in, you show off the fact you've solo'd the second-floor fucking boss and insinuate to me, Ar-chan and Asuna-chan that we're holding you BACK!" he snarled, pushing him away and shoving Kirito onto the floor in anger. Everyone else was stunned into silence at the declaration and not a sound was made apart from Naruto's harsh panting.

"Get on your feet." he continued, opening his menu and opening up the duel menu; inputting the details and sending the challenge over to an enraged Kirito, who saw that it was set to First Blood. Glaring back at Naruto, Kirito accepted the challenge and the five-minute countdown appeared over their heads, to the continued shock of everyone who had just arrived.

"W-What's going on?" Lisbeth stammered slightly, a little afraid of the situation right now and confused as to what's happening. Argo snarled in response to the question and punched the bark of the tree, taking some damage and showing the icon that the tree was an [Immortal Object].

"Kirito just started talking and provoked Naruto when he was resting with me and Asuna-chan. This argument bursts out between the two of them and Kirito was questioning Naruto's morales and his beliefs before he dropped the bombshell that he took down this floor's boss by himself. The sword he's holding was the drop item from it and now he's pretty much shown us that he's being held back by being with all of us." Argo calmly explained, her eyes still narrowed at the Beta player and finding herself hurt by this revelation. Lisbeth was faring no better as her eyes widened and then narrowed in anger as she stomped forward.

"You fuck!" she called out, stunning everyone with her use of cussing, "You came into my shop and asked for that sword I made to take the boss down, didn't you?" she questioned, watching Kirito's head dip and look down at the ground. "DIDN'T YOU!?" she screamed out, hurt badly by the news and it soon sunk in for everyone else. "You had this planned all along, didn't you?" she asked again, earning a silence in return to her answer. Meanwhile, Kazuko moved forward and walked past Naruto before she stood in front of Kirito.

*Slap!*

Everyone winced the moment the sound reverberated through the clearing and saw the raven-haired player's face snap to the side from the force behind the slap. Holding his stinging cheek, he turned his face back to stare into a pair of furious amber orbs and felt like hiding from how fierce they looked right now. Her teeth bared as she snarled at him as well before spitting at the ground beside him and walking away without a word. That action alone made his chest tighten and wish he hadn't done what he had. He wanted to apologize but too much damage was done now.

He could have just spoken with Naruto. Could have just said that he wanted time to himself. Time to do whatever he wanted and not worry about the others. Yet he did this so ass-about-face and he hurt a lot of people with this, something he wishes that didn't happen. Naruto and Kazuko were probably the only real friends of his he interacts with back in the real world... so to do this to them both did hurt him. Nevertheless, the damage was done.

The countdown moved into the final fifteen seconds and both Naruto and Kirito shifted into their stances, Naruto schooling all of his emotions off his face but still putting the pressure of his aura on Kirito while Kirito allowed himself to snarl and lift his sword ready to attack.

Five... Four... Three... Two... One...

Duel!

Kirito's eyes widened at the sudden displacement and it was thanks to his reaction time that he was able to block the swing that blindly came out of nowhere and slammed hard into his hasty guard; sending Kirito flying and tumbling on the floor as Naruto had simply moved. He blinked and he missed him and he knew that this was a huge mistake and that he only had himself to blame. But his pride would take nothing less than a victory here and soon snapped to his feet and bounced back at Naruto with ferocity.

Swinging precise slashes that bounced off the gleaming edge of the Fusion Sword, Kirito tried to push Naruto back and gain some ground but was rewarded with a sudden movement of air as his body instinctively jumped and tucked as Naruto's leg came in a sweep and blocked the sudden slash from Kirito that would've cost him the match. Because Naruto was in rotation and moving, he had the added power behind his swing and a mid-air Kirito was sent flying backward once more and slamming into an invisible wall.

The one thing people hadn't realized about the PvP function; that there was a closed area where the duels would be contained and that four barriers would keep all the damage out and from any outside interference coming in and disrupting the duel itself. If you were sent into the wall, then you were hit with a three-second stun that would prove the deciding factor of the duel. The fact that Naruto didn't chase after him... it angered him and took it to be a provocation against him and Naruto mocking him.

Yelling wildly, Kirito dashed forward rapidly and swung wildly at Naruto and tried aiming for the face to distract him and make an opening the moment Naruto's eyes were obscured. In response, Naruto simply waited for the right moment and raised his sword in a perfect parry and stunned Kirito once more; raising his foot and booting Kirito back to the ground.

"Get up." Naruto calmly spoke, sending Kirito's anger even higher as he panted harshly and held his stomach with his free arm. Swiping the menu open with his free hand, Kirito dashed forward once more and keeping up with the movements on the screen in front of him. Waiting for the moment that Naruto prepared his sword and parry him once more, he clicked the button and allowed the shock on Naruto's face to ingrain into his mind as his sword shortened in front of him and slipped underneath the raised defense of Naruto.

'You...' Naruto thought to himself with shock, it seemed to be evident on his face due to the victorious smirk on Kirito's face, it seemed. Seeing as two could play the same game, Naruto threw the huge sword forward into Kirito's unprotected face and smacked harshly with force, redirecting his body and his arm from the blowback. Seeing the dagger now coming close to him, Naruto maneuvered his hands and caught the hand and the dagger before the duel was finished against him. Disarming him with a pressure-point grip, he took the dagger from his opponent and kicked the sword down to the ground beneath Kirito's airborne form and landed a clean blow on his face.

The dagger cut into Kirito's face from just above his left eyebrow and down over the bridge of his nose and to under his right eye and into the cheek, claiming Naruto the victory as Kirito clutched at his face as the pain from the injury kicked in. Everyone watching kept silent through the entire duel and Asuna and Sachi both were in tears from the raw anger between the two former friends. Argo continued to bristle in anger and Lisbeth felt numb. Ashley and Klein were both left in a state of shock, the latter more so since he knew the friendship between the two... and now how it was officially over. Agil was left speechless as he simply watched and Kazuko took it all in with an emotionless face.

With Kirito on the ground crying at the pain of his in-game scar, the two of them ignored the pop-up windows that called Naruto the victor of the duel and simply moved towards him. Sighing heavily, Naruto opened up his inventory and used one of his healing crystals on the downed Kirito, much to the shock of everyone; Kirito included. Spinning the hilt of the dagger around his finger a few times, he snapped his wrist and Kirito yelped as the blade was a fraction away from between his legs. Seeing the scar become a permanent thing during the game, Naruto watched as Kirito's health went back up to full.

"Just because I can't stand to look at you now doesn't mean that I won't do this for someone I still consider a friend. This is my resolve, Kazuto. This is how my will is stronger than yours and how I fight for what I believe in." Naruto commented as he turned back to his sword and dismissed it back into his inventory.

"How the fact that Asuna-chan was kind enough to buy me a pair of boots that compliment my style, and Kazu-chan managed to find a small charm she didn't need and gave it to me. It was because of them and their kindness to me that probably got me the win here. Otherwise, you would've easily beaten me on skill and levels alone. No doubt that by the end of the game, or the next few floors, that I'll have something from everyone here and I'll use what they give me with the biggest smile on my face. Do you know why?"

"Because they want to see the game burned to the ground as much as I do. They want to put an end to this game as much, or even more than I want it. They're willing to give up their Col, their time, their efforts, their wants, their own needs to make sure that someone else can benefit from it. That kindness spreads and that person does the same to someone else. And to someone else. And again, and again. A chain of kindness and effort spreading because of one person wanting to make a difference and wanting to make sure everyone has a fighting chance and the motivation to stand beside others knowing that they were part of a revolution. A movement of kindness and unity. That is what is going to lead us out of this death game, Kazuto." Naruto spoke passionately, earning awed looks from the others there.

The usual crowd simply smiled or grinned in hearing such a Naruto-ish response like that. For Sachi, her eyes widened and watered as she saw the same resolve, the same fire in his eyes that she saw that day during the meeting for the first boss. The smile and the confidence she saw when she was invited to stand and fight alongside him and the others. How she had this feeling that he would be the cause for change.

Ashley was stunned speechless. She had no idea that this man in front of her had such a passion and a drive behind him. That he was a man who wanted to see and bring out nothing but the best in everyone. Now she could see what Kazuko-chan could see in this man, what the others could see in him. Even Klein, who wasn't a part of this group per se; even he recognized Naruto's passion and has his unreserved respect.

This... this was the man who would change the game. This was the man who would see this world crumble into ashes and be the one to reach into the very heavens and bring down the sky and free everyone. Her smile and her admiration shot further up seeing this side of him and she knew now that she would be joining this group regardless of the outcome of their little "bet".

How at that moment, Kazuto saw the dying flames of the sun glow on his face and giving him an otherworldly aura that seemed to set him on fire... a fire that burned brightly against his blond locks and the fire that burned brightly in those cerulean orbs of his and knew. He had no chance against him. That he was stupid to even challenge or to mock his beliefs because it went against everything he felt and he believed in, and now he dearly paid the price for it. How this scar on his face would be a reminder to him of the sheer strength of Naruto's resolve and how it would be a reminder of how he learned the true power that dwelled within his blond friend.

"You can claim that you've solo'd the second boss. Take the credit for that. Take the loot, you truly did deserve it. Now you better take the consequence of what it cost you as well. People already have a huge stigma against Beta players and you've just chucked a whole bottle of fuel on that fire and it's gonna do some serious backlash. You think you're better off alone than us holding you back?" he spoke calmly and tiredly, turning his gaze back to a silent swordsman.

"Then go on. Prove to us that you're better off alone, show us- show me... your resolve," he ordered, earning no rebuttal from Kirito as he sat there stunned from the speech. "I don't consider our friendship over. But right now, you are one step away from breaking the ice and hitting the water beneath it and me calling this friendship over. I don't want anything to do with you until floor twenty-six. No messages, no commissions, no conversations, nothing. If everyone wants to still speak to you and do business with you, that's up to them." he continued, walking away and back over to the others. "Consider this your punishment, and my reward for winning." he finished, leaving no room to argue and nothing more to say as we walked back inside into the inn.

Kirito watched solemnly as he saw the backs of almost everyone as they followed Naruto into the Inn and he lowered his head. As his head was down, he noticed a familiar boot come into view and did nothing to move in case it wanted to kick him while he was down. He felt the smack on the back of his head and didn't move, sensing they could tell what he was thinking.

"Right now, I hate you Kazuto," Kazuko spoke up quietly, holding no previous anger in her tone but a neutral one. "What did you want to prove from all this?" she asked him. "Because you wanted to be the one who was doing what Naruto was?" she asked, earning a small shiver from him in response. Sighing at the answer she crouched down in front of him and he finally lifted his head to see her upset face and the small trickle of tears. "You baka..." she spoke, shaking her head and wiping her tears.

"Naruto is Naruto. However much you want to be the one who takes the lead and be the one everyone looks to, Naruto just has our respect and we listen. Just like the Labyrinth, we listened to you when you had the gameplan to fight Prince Namizu." she reminded him, earning a shocked look in response as he had genuinely forgotten about that tidbit. "How we listen to you when we fight because your plans are usually better than what Naruto-kun's are. How he refers to you when he knows he can't do that because he recognizes you're better than him at strategies." she continued to explain to a now crying Kirito.

"Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. That's why we decided to work with one another in this, we can balance out our weaknesses when someone else is more capable. Lisbeth is still the best crafter of all of us yet she struggles with her self-worth and needs a confidence boost from time to time. Argo has all the information we'd need to keep a step ahead but she's not too keen on being around people in general and how it triggers her anxiety. Asuna provides us with food that people can't make yet and she is someone who we can talk to in confidence; even though she is still insecure and shy because she's inexperienced with games in general." Kazuko sat on the grass in front of Kirito and softly scratched a spot on her head that began itching.

"Klein is someone we can be free around and someone we can get advice from if we ever need it but even he feels the pressure since he's looking to make a guild for him and his friends. It's why he's asking all of us for advice on what he'd need to focus on and prioritize. I'm the social butterfly and able to go out and meet people and get clientele for commissions and keep our Col growing but I'm afraid that I'd do the wrong thing by my inexperience so I hang out with Ar-chan a lot more so I can learn from her." she continued, driving the point home.

"Naruto seems to be the most well-rounded but do you think he hasn't got his insecurities? How do you think he feels about being the unspoken leader of us all? The pressure that it puts on his shoulders and how he can't afford to fuck up?" she softly spoke, wiping the mist in her eyes once more. "How he confides in me and the others about his insecurities in this game... and how he confides in me about the insecurities in himself." Kazuko smiled softly as she closed her eyes. "He's still human, Kazuto. It's why I keep reminding him that he is wanted, how he is so loved by us all and that he doesn't need to bear the burden alone. How I keep reminding him he is worth it if he has so many girls chasing after him." she joked, earning a small snort of amusement from Kazuto.

"What you did hurts us all, Kazuto. Deeply hurts us all," she spoke, not hiding the hurt in her voice by his act. "It will take a long time before we feel like we can trust you again and even feel like we want to talk to you. As Naruto-kun said, the friendship isn't over but it's hanging on by a thread right now. This is the choice you made and now you have time to reflect on that choice and see exactly what you did wrong. You've got a lot to do to regain our trust back, Kazuto. But... I believe you will do it. It's who you are." she finished with a small smile, getting back to her feet and walking away and back inside.

Kirito never felt so alone in his life like he did right now. His two closest friends... now hating him because of his selfishness and his fucked-up thinking. He didn't stop to even consider that anything of what she had just told him was a possibility and that cost him. He remembered the times where Naruto would defer to him about battle plans and strategies since he had experience with MMORPG's and was able to plan out the situation in front of him. How he would come to him to speak about some private affairs and to just spend time with his friend.

The first surge of determination welled up inside of him as he made a promise to take this time and reflect on what he did here tonight. He would stop and he would think about all that was said and all that was done here and he would find his resolve. His answer. Grabbing his dagger and placing it back into his inventory, he turned away from the Inn and teleported away to wherever he felt like he needed to be right now.

He had a promise to keep, after all.

~SAO:AC~

~Floor Two: Yasashi Inn~

After the duel had finished, Naruto simply headed into the lounge area and collapsed down into one of the sofas. Letting his face sink into the fabric for a few moments, he turned himself and led there on his back for a little while as everyone slowly came inside of the inn. The emotional tiredness of that fight was hitting home now and even he had to admit that he was a little shaken at how his friend was acting. This... was and wasn't like him. Why couldn't he come to him and tell him this by himself? Why did he make a huge deal out of it?

"N-Naruto?" a soft-spoken voice spoke up, bringing Naruto's attention to them. It was a small surprise that it was Lisbeth who called his name and he laid there watching her. The way she tried to keep eye-contact with him but failing, the insecure stance as she gripped her elbow behind her back, the slight curling of her body as she must've realized she was pushing her chest out a bit too far for her liking.

Naruto simply raised his arms open for her and motioned for her to join him. She stared into his eyes at that moment and realized he was hurting as much as she was, and how he wanted to break down. He was trusting her to see this side of him and show that he isn't perfect either. She knelt onto the sofa before leaning her body on top of his and wrapping her arms around his torso, feeling his own arms wrap around her waist and her back. She gently rubbed his arm as she listened to his mellow heartbeat and nuzzled him when she felt him began to shake.

Scooting herself further up his body and unintentionally rubbing herself against him, she pulled his head into her neck and gently stroked his hair as he continued to cry. The hand clenching at her top made her heart melt from seeing how much pain Naruto must be feeling right now and she continued to stroke his hair and nuzzle his neck.

She missed this so much. This closeness, this feeling of being around him and this intimacy. Feeling his warmth and his presence surrounding her and blanketing her in a wonderful warm cloak that seeped into her soul. With all the barriers down and everything laid bare, she could see the real Naruto he hides away and she would do nothing less than the same.

"I'm so sorry..." she whispered as she squeezed him gently with her other arm, nuzzling his neck repeatedly and kissing it gently as he calmed down a little. The squeeze she got in response made her tear up a little herself, pushing herself tighter into him and not caring how much of her he could feel right now. "I'm sorry Naruto. I'm so sorry for being so distant." she softly whispered, kissing his neck again and nuzzling him needily.

"I felt like I hurt you or did something wrong, Liz. I kept thinking I did something wrong," Naruto whispered back, nuzzling back with one of his closest friends and rubbing her back gently as he felt the kisses on his neck and the wetness of her tears. "I didn't want to come to you because I could see you didn't want to be around me and I-I didn't know what to do..." he confessed sadly, earning a small gasp from the blacksmith as she leaned her head up and saw the look on his face. Her heart wrenched in her chest and she dipped her head in guilt as his eyes felt like it was seeing deep into her soul and she was afraid.

"N-Naruto... I-I," she began, softly and slowly as she formed the words in her head. "Y-You haven't done anything wrong, I promise you. I've been distant cause I've been struggling with my feelings for you." she admitted, confirming his ideas on what was the issue and allowing a hand to lean up to her cheek and rubbed it with his thumb, thankful when he felt her grasp and nuzzle his hand.

"I know I'm falling so hard for you right now but it feels wrong since you already have so many women chasing after you. I-I feel like I shouldn't be trying to gain your affections but the longer I stay away, the worse it feels. Then when I'm around you, I start feeling guilty to the others and I feel like I'm pushing too far." Lisbeth confessed quietly, lowering her head away from his face and allowing him to see the droplets of tear that landed on his torso.

"I wouldn't have told you all to pursue him if I didn't mean it, Liz-chan." Kazuko surprised the pair as she spoke up from the frame of the doorway, with both Asuna and Argo standing in the doorway with her. "Naru-kun, relax. It's okay, just don't let those thoughts finish or take root okay?" she quickly spoke up, immediately seeing Naruto's panic setting in and his anxiety triggering about this unusual situation. "Naru-kun, it's okay. Trust in me." she cooed softly, moving closer to him and stroking his hair soothingly and allowing the blond to relax.

"I-I never would've thought I'd be in a harem," Asuna shyly smiled, moving closer to the group and letting her head rest near Naruto's. She nuzzled him softly as she could understand his confusion and his hesitancy because of how women would think of the term normally. However, the circumstances were far from normal and the risk of death was ever prominent day in and day out.

"At least he's not throwing himself at us or the other way around, sa~" Argo spoke up as she leaned over Naruto's head and kissed his forehead softly. "Least he knows that we're still our person and that we still have our feelings to deal with on this topic, yanno~?" she commented as she stroked his cheek tenderly. "You don't need to be afraid right now, Ruto-kun~ we're nowhere near being upset right now. We're just worried about you." she softly spoke, feeling Lisbeth watching on with a conflicted expression on her face.

"T-This is what I mean, everyone," Lisbeth spoke up hesitantly as she moved away from Naruto and move to stand up once more. "It... it hurts seeing you all doing this and I-I can't..." she struggled to speak but no-one dared interrupt her right now. "I-I want Naruto-kun as well. I just... I feel so uncomfortable feeling like I'm just a piece on the side, yanno? That he doesn't..." she trailed off, clenching her chest and crying openly.

"Liz-chan," Kazuko whispered as she watched the blacksmith struggle with her emotions. Hers and everyone else's eyes widened when she turned quickly and ran out of the room and left the four inside in stunned shock. Kazuko immediately rushed out of the door after her, with Asuna following her trail soon behind. It left Argo and a crying Naruto to be the only ones in the room and Argo's heart ached to see him so broken right now. She gently laid her body on top of his and cupped his cheeks gently, using both her thumbs to rub the whisker-marks and calm him down slightly.

"Ruto-kun, this isn't your fault okay?" she gently reassured as she continued her ministrations. "Liz is struggling with her heart and her morality. It's hurting her and it's hurting you the longer she struggles but it's something only she can come to terms with. Until then, I want you to know that none of this is your fault-"

"I-It is my fault!" he whispered defiantly, shaking his head negatively. "I-I shouldn't be trying to make people fall for me-" he tried arguing but the thumbs continued to stroke his cheeks and halt his speech.

"Naruto-kun. You can't help that anyway. You just attract us to you for who you are and that is something that can't be changed." she gently cooed, resting her head on his and allowing her hood down for once. "How selfless you are, how much you care, how respectful you are to us and others; how much you just want to help someone who needs it and not turning anyone away unless you know something is off. How can we not fall for a caring, wonderful man like you, hmm?" she smiled softly, shutting his incoming protest off with her soft lips on his own.

Naruto's argument shut down right there and then, the moment he felt Argo's lips over his own and kissing him softly and deeply. He felt her hands sliding into his hair and gripping his spiked blond locks as she continued to move her lips against his, making sure that he got the message she was trying to convey to him. Giving up the argument and any rebuttal he might have, thanks to his depressive and anxious thoughts, he allowed his hands to snake around her waist as he slowly returned the kiss.

"Just believe in us when we say you're not in the wrong here, okay? Just relax with me, Ruto-kun~" Argo whispered into his lips before claiming them once more, pressing her body into his own when she felt his arms prompt her to do so. Right now, she knew he was vulnerable and all she wanted to do was cement the fact that he was not alone. That he isn't at fault and that she loves him just as much as the other girls. She sincerely hoped that this kiss would get that thought across to him and from the relaxation of his shoulders, she smiled and kissed him that little bit more as he listened to her.

~SAO:AC~

~Floor Two: Grassy Expanse~

She didn't want to stop running. She knew that the two were chasing after her but she would not stop. Her heart hammered in her chest and she knew she would not be able to keep this up for much longer. The pain was both from the exercise and also her demons coming to torment her further still as she saw the only man she wanted slipping out of her reach.

"Liz! Please stop!" Kazuko yelled in front of her to the retreating blacksmith as she lept over one of the upturned roots that laid scattered across the field. If it were any other moment, she'd take a moment to appreciate the scenery around her now that night was settling in a little more and the moon was shining in the sky. "Liz! Snap out of it! I know what you're thinking and it's okay to feel like that!" she shouted, cursing when she saw Lisbeth kick up a notch and sped up in front of her. Kazuko growled to herself and turned around to Asuna, nodding to her and earning one in response. With that in place, she stepped down and allowed time to slow down around her as she waited for the right moment...

There.

With a burst of wind around her, her form blurred out of sight for a moment as a wind picked up from the sheer power of that one dash and soon closed the gap between herself and the rogue blacksmith. Letting her instinct take over, she slid underneath a stray branch and kept the speed as she lept repeatedly and caught up with Lisbeth. Clamping her hand down on the arm and one arm around her waist, she lept once more and sent the two of them into the air; Lisbeth screaming as she felt the sudden physical contact and screeching as she felt her airborne.

Landing down with passenger in her arms, she let the catatonic Lisbeth slide out of her arms and onto the ground as she let her hands rub her ringing ears. "Fucking... did you have to scream so damn loud!?" Kazuko yelled slightly, shaking her head and glaring lightly at the blacksmith for her voice.

"Then you shouldn't have fucking picked me up and sent us into the air, then! What were you thinking, Kazuko!?" Lisbeth retorted as she still felt the adrenaline flood her system and keep her on edge. Her heart was thumping rapidly in her chest and her legs felt like jelly right now and prevented her from moving anywhere. Deciding to flop back onto the grass, she made no move when she felt the body of the other female plop down beside her on the grass.

"So why did you run, Liz?" Kazuko after a few moments of silence. The two of them took the moment to realize that they were a good few miles away from the Inn itself and had been running for a considerate amount of time; in one of the western fields of the floor and one of the few safe zones outside of the towns itself since this was a protected area for wildlife. The moonlight calming the two of them slightly and the stars fading into existence as the cool nighttime zephyrs caressed them.

"I couldn't stay there," Liz began after a few more moments of silence, "It was hurting when I saw how affectionate all three of you were with him. It felt like I didn't belong there with you all and that I shouldn't have been there. I wanted to..." she confessed softly, clenching her calming heart, "but I was scared. So I ran away and tried to escape this feeling I have right now in my chest."

"What feeling is it?" Kazuko prompted her friend, knowing no-one would disturb them since Asuna was making her way back to the Inn and telling them where the two of them were. "What is it you're feeling right now?" she asked, genuinely worried for her friend.

"It's..." she trailed off slightly, trying to form the right words in her head and her heart. "It's jealously first off. How I can't be the one which he can come to when he's feeling how he was. How I feel like I'm not as important or as interesting as the rest of you since you all knew what to do to calm him down." she started, letting everything off her chest. "He has three women after him already, why would he want more and why would he want me...?" she asked, mostly to herself.

"Then my head is telling me that this is all wrong!" she continued, grabbing her head in frustration. "He shouldn't be having more than one woman in his life that intimately! Despite how my heart is yelling at me that I should be jumping at this chance unlike anything else I've chased in my life, my head keeps telling me that I'm just gonna get hurt by this and I'll be tossed aside the moment I've lost my value!" she vented out, earning a few tears from the redhead beside her.

"I'm nothing special, Kazuko!" she yelled in frustration as she turned to face her friend with tears in her eyes. "I've never felt like I was anything special! I'm a blacksmith's daughter and I've picked up his love for the art and people don't like that cause it isn't 'normal'! Not a daughter of a shop-owner, a CEO, a hot-shot; a blacksmith!" she continued ranting as she continued to let her tears fall. "People don't pay attention to a blacksmith's daughter! People don't fall in love with a blacksmith's daughter!" she screamed in agony, gripping the shoulders of the redhead and staring hard into her eyes as she panted harshly.

There was no sound between them apart from Lisbeth's panting and her heaving shoulders. Kazuko simply sat there with her tears falling as she felt each blow of her friend's words hitting her deep down into her very core, finally getting to know a little more about what is eating away at her close friend. She said nothing as she leaned forward and engulfed Lisbeth in a tight hug and held her there.

"Would a blacksmith's daughter have made so many friends if she wasn't special?" Kazuko rhetorically asked, earning a hitched breath from Lisbeth. "Would a blacksmith's daughter have people who love her if she wasn't special? Would this blacksmith's daughter not be special if her words were cutting deep into this woman's soul? If she didn't want to help this blacksmith's daughter to see that she is so much more than she believed to be?" she asked again, earning stunned silence from the woman she was holding.

"Lisbeth. I could tell you as many times as you'd want me to. You are so amazingly special." she smiled, moving her hand up to stroke the brown hair of Lisbeth as she buried her face in her neck. "You wouldn't mean so much to us if you weren't. We wouldn't have chased you if you weren't. Naruto wouldn't be the way he is with you if he didn't think you were someone special. How he's hurting because he felt like this was all his fault." she explains gently, feeling her shake in her arms.

"I've told you, Liz. I could have very well said no. I could have wanted Naruto to myself but what damage would that have done to him if I did say so?" she asked softly, cupping the blacksmith's cheeks and rubbing them soothingly. "How unfair would it have been to you all if I snatched him from under your noses without you all getting the chance to want to know him on a more intimate level? Yeah, society can say to us that it's wrong and it's sick. How a harem only ever happens in anime and that it would never fly in real life." she softly explained further, resting her head on hers and wiping the tears away.

"Yet I know that I could turn around to the rest of the world and say a huge 'Fuck you' because I know that what matters most is how I feel and my love for Naru-kun. How morals differ from real-life and a death-game and how I can see several women who he's wanting to know on an intimate level; knowing their dreams, their feelings, their wants, likes, dislikes and everything about them because he considers us all precious. Just like I consider you precious, Liz-chan." Kazuko smiled as she kissed the cheek of her friend and held her still.

"We wouldn't be doing any of this if we didn't care. The only problem is that you need to be the one who tells you all that I said. That you can tell yourself this and that you can say that you believe every word one-hundred percent. Until then, you're gonna continue to hurt yourself and Naru-kun because you're denying both yourself and denying him the chance to know someone who he thinks is special." she finished speaking, pulling away and stroking the hair of a crying blacksmith as she cried bitterly.

The two would not return until much later. But neither of them could find it in themselves to care very much.

Or at all, for that matter.

~Chapter End!~

So there we have it. Chapter eight for you all.

I don't mind answering questions you guys have about the story decisions but please respect what I'm writing. To the deleted user to flame me, I'm surprised that you haven't realized that the Naruto I'm writing is FAR from overpowered. Everyone reading this should also be able to sense that, despite how it seems like I'm giving him so many things; it's not to make him overpowered, not at all. Kayaba wants to see Naruto under pressure and to see just how pure a diamond comes from the trials and everything he has in store for him.

As of Kirito? If your levels are a good amount of levels higher than the boss (by game statistics) then it is perfectly achievable to clear a boss by yourself. Kirito, at this point, is a good twenty-plus level stronger than the boss and has gear that helps with his stat boosts. Plus his previous knowledge on the game and his natural affinity for combat and his impressive reaction time; it all adds up and adds credibility to a solo-boss clear.

Lisbeth? I could honestly relate to her when I wrote the chapter. How so many of us have been made to feel like we're nothing special or that we're not wanted or cherished. But my friends, let me tell you this;

Every. Single. One. Of. You. Is. Loved.

Society has pulled you down and planted those whispers into your head that you're broken goods. That you're not wanted. That you're different because you don't fit with society's image. But you all have a wonderful and beautiful soul inside of you all and you should take pride in the person you are. Of course, you can always work on things you dislike about yourself but that comes in due time! Just know that you are not alone. That the voices need to be told to shut up and that you know that there are people who accept you and who love you for who you are.

I love you all, I do. For all the support, the messages, the ideas, the conversations, everything. I honestly wouldn't be writing or so hellbent on wanting to write nothing but the best for you all if it wasn't for your constant support. So from the bottom of my heart, do I truly thank you all. Every one of you.

Still a bit of a delay in regards to Enter The King! And I do apologize. I have no inspiration right now and I'm struggling to write anything that could be of any use for it. Just please bear with me and I'll keep working on it with my friend and we will get it started when inspiration finally hits. Okay?

For now, it's coming up to 2:45am and I've not been sleeping well of late. I'm gonna try and knuckle down and just try to sleep. Ja mata ne, minna~