Hello! I'm back with a new chapter and somewhat happy with it. Thank you so much for all who reviewed and told me what they thought about Kayaba and Rinko. The results were: Rinko - 3 and Kayaba - 4. Some of you guys were in between. So, Thank You So Much To TheRandomGuy237, , KageFuego4, realisticFantasy, Council, , and Impstar for reviewing and giving your thoughts on the argument thing! You guys' insight was impressive. :D

DISCLAIMER: I don't own it, goddess-damn it.

Chapter 8

Kirito was completely out of his comfort zone. Earlier, when he heard the cries for help, he just had to go help them out. He wasn't expecting anything in return once he saved them. In fact, he couldn't get a word in when their leader decided to drag him along to celebrate their victory ('Or maybe their lives...?' thought Kirito).

And he regrets not talking when he should've.

"Cheers to the Black Cats of the Full Moon!"

"Cheers!"

Five teenagers lifted a mug with huge smiles. They took a sip before raising it again, this time towards Kirito, who was sitting at the end of the table holding a cup with a dumbfounded face.

"And to Kirito, who saved our lives!" cried their leader, Keita.

"Cheers!"

Kirito raised his cup by an inch and no more than that. Everyone broke into laughter and rejoiced the fact they were still alive. Keita stood next to Kirito and smiled.

"Thanks again for saving us back there!" he said as a girl dressed in blue came over.

"Yeah, thank you, Kirito-san. I was so scared." said the girl. Kirito nodded when the other members thanked him.

"I-it was nothing..." he trailed off. The girl had tears forming in her eyes when she continued on.

"I thought I was going to die until you came to save us." she said as she wiped a tear away. Keita leaned forward.

"Nee, Kirito-san, I don't mean to be rude," he said, "but may I ask you what your level is?"

Kirito blinked and looked over to his HP. He saw the small two digit number. Level 40. He looked back to Keita and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I don't want to say..." he answered. Keita laughed.

"Haha, no, it's fine!" he said. "It's my fault for asking. But, I was wondering if you're around our level. If you are then you can join our guild."

Kirito stiffened as he stared at him. Keita didn't seem to notice as he continued to ramble on.

"I'm sure you'll fit right in. I mean, everyone in the guild is actually the computer club at school." he said. He gestured to the girl next to him. "This girl here is Sachi. I've been trying to get her to fight in the front lines but she just can't seem to do it. Maybe if you join us, she'll get some self-confidence."

Sachi's face flushed in embarrassment. "You make me sound useless!"

The group shared a good laugh. Keita patted Sachi on the head with a smile. "I'm not embarrassing you, I'm just introducing you to Kirito-san."

Kirito hid a flinch and placed his cup down.

"I'm sorry," he said as he stood up. "But, I have to go."

"Ah, wait!" Sachi said as she raised her hand. "Please consider it, Kirito-san! It's better if we all stick together."

Kirito shook his head and walked right past her. She reached out to grab his arm, but Keita stopped her.

"Sachi, it's okay." he said. "If he doesn't want to join, then he doesn't."

Kirito turned to look at them and gave an apologetic smile. "I'm really sorry. I would join you but I can't right now. It's just that there's something I have to do."

Sachi tilted her head. "May I ask what that is?"

"Sachi! That's his business." said one of the other members. He turned to Kirito and gave an apologetic nod. "I'm sorry, Kirito-san."

Kirito shook his head and forced smile. "No, no, it's fine. I just need to find someone as soon as I can."

Keita stepped up. "Maybe we can help."

Kirito shook his head again. "No, I can handle it. He doesn't like other people, unfortunately. Ah! No offense."

Keita raised his hand dismissively. "None taken."

That was true. The person Kirito was talking about really doesn't care if someone is alive or dead or even existed. Oddly, Kirito's family members, Kirito, and the nurse at a certain hospital were all an exception.

Keita frowned. "I guess there isn't anything we can do to convince you, huh?"

"Sorry." Kirito apologized. Sachi smiled with a hint of disappointment.

"It's...fine, Kirito-san. Maybe next time?" she asked. Kirito closed his eyes and thought about it. It was highly unlikely that he would meet these people again, but just to keep their spirits up...

"Sure, why not?" he said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. If any of the members noticed, they didn't show it. They all gave Kirito warm smiles.

"Great! Let's meet again soon!" said the blonde haired member.

"Yeah!" agreed the other one. Sachi just nodded. Keita walked up to Kirito and held out his hand.

"Promise?" he asked. Kirito nodded and shook the outstretched hand.

"Promise." Kirito said. Without another word, he released Keita's hand and walked out of the restaurant. He took ten steps before pausing in his place. He looked back and regretted leaving them. Maybe he should've joined them. He could've gotten a chance to actually work with others for once.

No. He couldn't.

He had no choice. If he were to join them, then he would lose precious time searching for "Aki-nii-chan". Kirito didn't want to waste time. He knew he was being selfish, but he doesn't want to be "found". Nor does he want to loose everything he worked so hard for. He had to find him and beat him at his own game.

In both real life and virtual reality, he couldn't afford to lose.

Kirito stood there for a moment longer and turned away. He walked down the partially crowded streets as he tried to repress the urge to turn on his heel and run back to the restaurant.

To focused on his thoughts, he felt someone grab his arm and hold him back. He was about to shove the person away, but was stopped by a familiar voice.

"Hey, are you the Black Swordsman?"

The person who grabbed his arm pulled him to face them. A girl with long chestnut hair stood there with a clear look of surprise and a hint of relief in her hazel eyes. Kirito blinked.

"A-Asuna...?" he stuttered as he took in her appearance. She was wearing a color scheme of white and red. A sword was strapped to her left side.

"Kirito?! You're the Black Swordsman?!" Asuna exclaimed. Kirito raised an eyebrow.

"'Black Swordsman'?" Kirito asked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Asuna took a step back in slight surprise. "You haven't heard? Lately, there's been a solo player that dresses in black with an outrageous talent with a sword. Players are saying that he's probably one of the strongest players so far!"

Kirito gaped at her. "This is the first time I ever heard of this. Are you sure they were talking about me? It could've been someone else."

She shook her head in defiance. "No, I'm sure it was you. After all, you are dressed in black."

Kirito, by habit, looked down to check his attire. And sure enough, he was dressed in all black. He frowned and decided to change the subject. "Okay, you got me. What are you doing here, anyway?

She smiled worriedly. "I was just walking around and then I saw you. I thought you were someone else and I just wanted to ask if you were the Black Swordsman. Where have you been? Wait-let me rephrase that question-where did you disappear to?! Nothing bad happened, right?"

Kirito stood there stunned. He was a bit surprised to see Asuna, but was overwhelmed with the questions thrown at him. Blinking slowly, he answered her. "I've been, ah...h-how have you been?"

"I'm doing just fi-Hey, don't go changing the subject, Kirito-san!" Asuna exclaimed as her face flushed bright red. Kirito brought his hand to cover a smile and coughed to halt his upcoming laugh. He nearly froze in shock. That was the first time he laughed since the death game started.

"Sorry, sorry." he apologized. He cleared his throat and lowered his hand. "What were you asking again?"

Asuna stammered her words as she fought down her embarrassment. "Where did you disappear to? I haven't seen you since the day you disappeared! I was worried something bad happened to you!"

Her voiced raised and caught the attention of passing players. Kirito was aware of the looks of jealousy and envy he was getting. He noticed that some of them were pointing at them; more specifically, Asuna. He looked around for a place to talk but found nothing near by. Feeling a tinge of nervousness, he turned to Asuna.

"Asuna, is there some place that we can go? Away from everyone?" he asked with a hint of fear. Asuna seemed to take notice and nodded.

"Does my place sound good?" she asked. Kirito gave her a confused look.

"Your place? You have a 'stationary' place?" he questioned. She smiled.

"Um, you could call it that." she said. She took Kirito's hand and began to guide him to the teleportation area. He bit the back of his lip and reluctantly followed her.

"I did what you told me to do." Asuna said out of the blue.

"Eh?" Kirito said blankly since he didn't understand what she meant. She gave him a you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me look.

"I joined a guild, Kirito-san." she said. "I joined the Knights of the Blood Oath."

Kirito immediately halted in his steps and frowned. "You're not going to ask me to join, are you?"

"Ah..." Asuna smiled sheepishly. "Maybe...?"

And the chapter is finished and is now completely AU. I guess. It'll kinda follow canon but will eventually change directions. Well, tell me what you guys think of this chapter! I didn't know what floor they cleared when this happened. So this chapter to me feels a bit incomplete. Meh, oh, well. What's done is done.

-CloudyLightning.

(p.s. Those of you guys reading my Zelda fanfic, the next chapter will be up by some time next week.)

April 8, 2014: Made a few edits and nothing more.