Why is this update here when it's little more than 1k?

Let me answer that for you. I'm working 60 hours, six days a week, and I haven't been able to update anything I actually give a damn about in like...two months. So I have these few words that were shot between myself and Lady Lily Anne and I'm gonna use them to announce this story is not dead at all, just going through a quiet period until my bosses drop us back down 40 hours/5 days a week.

Not much happens but it does clarify where they all stand on the elf thing, also many of you called it with Keiko last time, she's clearly at least somewhat attracted to women or she wouldn't be reacting the way she has been.

Let me point one thing out here, she is a very introverted emotionally shy girl despite the front she puts up, so if anyone hopes to win her heart, either sex, in any context, they're gonna have to be upfront about it.

I know this is practically a blurb but please review, we'll try and get something real rolling soon.

Asuna felt that the atmosphere in the recently rented suite was kind of...tense... after Kirito's rather spirited exit from the washroom, even if the instigator of the current mood was completely oblivious to it all. Kirito was now fully dressed and sitting at the far end of the room staring at Kizmel as she tossed a throwing knife up and down, catching it deftly at the tip before tossing it back into the air, dark eyes smoldering with annoyed embarrassment.

Kizmel for her part was sitting in the middle of the floor, legs crossed in a lotus position as she meditated totally oblivious to the ire being shot at her by the Black Queen, which honestly just made the young girl deflate a bit more than she'd like to admit. How can you be indignant towards someone who didn't even register the fact that you felt they had slighted you?

Maddening, truly.

Asuna shook her head slowly at the antics before her as she turned back to the food she was preparing, if nothing else a hot meal would distract her partner from the presence of their...utterly perplexing NPC companion. So that was something at the very least?

A moment later the door leading out to the crisscrossed outer stairs of the hotel swung open heralding the chirping call of their info broker friend.

"I'm back my dears!" Argo stated cheerfully as she entered the suite, arms holding bulging bags stuffed with fruits and vegetables. Raising a brow Asuna snatched some tomatoes that had fallen loose and shot the auburn haired girl a questioning look which only earned her a grin in return before she managed to place her bags on the ground.

"Sorry sorry, my inventory was full when I went shopping so of course the damn game made me carry the groceries manually. Ah well, at least it didn't auto-delete everything I bought. Did I get all that you needed?"

Asuna lifted a tomato to eye level examining before smiling, "Perfect. Do you like lasagna?"

After a few hours of preparation, including guilting Kirito into peeling and chopping onions, and recruiting Diavel to boil noodles, the three women, NPC, and single man of the group sat down for a rather satisfying Italian dinner. It was not until they were all deeply sated that the Dark Elf of the group spoke up.

"We should head out to my peoples base camp sometime soon, I am sure the commander is worried about me and I must return the Jade Key as well." Kirito's eye twitched as she glanced at the buxom NPC, Argo raised a brow at her friends reaction while Asuna shot the dark skinned warrior a questioning look.

"That so," Kirito stated flatly as she speared a hard boiled egg with a chop stick, salting it lightly she took a bite out of it before continuing, "and what exactly happens after that."

Argo still had no idea why Kirito was so tense around their NPC follower but it did not seem to bother Asuna so she just rolled with it for the time being, she would get her answers later. Diavel seemed to be in a similar mindset as he casually accepted the tea from Argo's offered pitcher.

Kizmel paused a moment before replying, "Likely he shall praise you and your followers for saving me and reward you with some of our finer weapons and gear. After that he may very well have a mission to send myself, and if you all are willing, yourselves on to further establish our foot hold on this floor."

Argo perked up at that, "I'm never going to say no to free upgrades, what about Diavel here since he's a guy and all?"

Kizmel once again paused before speaking in her almost Vulcan like manner, "Sir Diavel of course is welcome to join the guard of the queens your majesty. We elves do not differentiate between males and females when it comes to the art of war after all. "

Argo nodded and was turning back to her plate when she paused and glanced back at the NPC, "Majesty?"

Kizmel tilted her head in confusion as she addressed the information broker, "You are after all, the Shadow Queen of Aincrad, are you not?

Argo did not acknowledge Kirito's choked laughter, at all, but she did acknowledge Asuna's bemused offering of dumplings, and Kirito's interest in them. The information broker grinned and winked at her friend before eating them all in record time.

Kirito glowered at Argo's open acceptance of her new title in annoyance while grumbling "Seriously,my fucking life," to herself.

After they finished eating Kirito made a spirited effort to avoid Kizmel which Argo obviously noticed and pestered her about, eventually the swordswoman broke down and told her what happened in the vane hope of future silence.

"I was taking a bath, someone entered the bath, and it ended up being Kizmel. I freaked, and I left, simple as that."

Argo tilted her head to the side looking slightly confused, "Haven't you ever been to a public bath? Why is this bothering you so much?"

Gritting her teeth in frustration Kirito turned to Asuna while snapping out a question that had her partner start in confusion, "Asuna my dear friend. Do I like being surrounded by people?"

The brunette furrowed her brows slightly while shaking her head, "No not all."

Kirito nodded, "Knowing what you do about what happened to me as a child, do you think I would be comfortable being surrounded by naked strangers with no quick method to escape if danger arises?"

She snorted, "Oh definitely no, not at all."

Kirito smirked humorlessly at that, "Do you think I'd be comfortable with a woman that I barely know who looks like she has the body of a porn star approaching me and asking me if I'd like to have her wipe me down with a soapy towel?"

Asuna blinked then tilted her head to the side looking completely perplexed, "THAT'S what Kizmel did? Holy hell Keiko how isn't she dead?"

Kirito slumped her shoulders and shook her head slowly, "Herculean self restraint Asuna... That and she's a quest NPC and I want my loot. Priorities of course."

Asuna and Argo tilted their heads to the side while each arched a brow while echoing, "Of course."

Keiko eyed the pair for a moment before drawling out, "Oh please, spare me your faux indignity. Look me in the eye and tell me with a straight face either of you would have thought differently at the prospect of losing valuable loot?"

The two in question exchanged glances, smirked, and turned back to their friend while simultaneously chirping out, "Point!"

"Knew it," Kirito muttered to herself while shaking her head slowly.