If there was one thing to love about the little city of Lindas, it was the weather. Despite the cold of January on other floors, Lindas was pretty warm, and having to work all day next to a forge meant that I often forgot how cold the winter was elsewhere.

Still, cold or not, January was my month to forge all the rare weapons our little guild would sell, and Ryou made sure I didn't forget it. A multitude of orders were nearing completion and many others were scrawled out on papers pinned to my corkboard. Guilds and players from all over reached out frequently to our guild for batches of swords or weapons. It was difficult to keep up with the requests but seeing how there was probably less than a dozen high level blacksmiths in all of Aincrad, it wasn't too hard to understand the backlog. As a result, seldom did I lay down my hammer for a break.

But there was always one customer for whom I made exceptions...

"There you go, all done!" I looked at my reflection in the blade. I had just finished sharpening the rapier, in its now mirrored surface was the perfect reflection of my pinkish red eyes.

"You're the best Liz, thanks." Asuna leapt off of the stand to grab her rapier and handed me a hundred in col for the maintenance. Despite seeing nearly a year of use, the Lambent Light was still her main weapon. I couldn't even begin to describe how proud that made me, knowing my blade was still breaking through the front lines.

"Sure! Any time." I said with a warm smile. Now with the front lines getting ever more difficult, it could sometimes be nearly a month between days where I could hang out with Asuna. I missed her, she kept me company and cheerfully listened to me complain about the world of blacksmithing. Plus she kept up with my humor, something Ryou could never do. I loved every moment of her presence, it really was a joy to have her visit me.

But, her unexpected appearance today seemed a bit troublesome.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be out hunting with the guild today?" subtle concern seeped from my words.

A slight huff came my friend, "Yeah, I know, they've been getting on my nerves lately, so I figured I'd blow off a little steam and come down and say hi before going back up." Her face seemed to darken as she thought about her guild. Whatever conflict it was, it certainly was ticking her off. "I just can't stand all the rules and procedures we've come up with! They have a body guard outside my home for crying out loud!" Her hands balled up before relaxing once more. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be dumping this on you. You can't do anything."

"Hey now! I'm always here for you ok? Come and tell me anything ok?" I tried my best to sound supportive, but if I was honest, I wasn't sure I could be of much help. I had only ever met high tier players as customers, never as the people I'd be trusting my life with. I had no idea what someone might experience facing such or stresses day in and day out . Even when I did go out hunting, it was always with family in a relaxed setting.

"Thanks Liz, maybe we can grab dinner tonight?" her pleading eyes berated me, "Sure! Just shoot me a message ok? I'll be here!" I said with a wide grin. Even if it was an escape from her responsibilities, her chestnut eyes seemed to light up at the thought of getting away from the guild. With that she smiled and waved at me as she left. "See you later then Liz!" she exclaimed, and I waved cheerfully back.

Still one thing nagged at the back of my mind as the door closed; wherever she went, she was never alone.

I mean I guess I wasn't alone either many times, but I had far fewer players to talk to. It was funny to think about my life in here in that way. I sold so many weapons and so many people knew my name, but I didn't actually know people. It was kind of sad actually; just being a weapon's broker. Sure I was making an impact, but did people care? I mean about me? Care about who I was? Or was I just a glorified NPC to them? Providing better things than what they could find?

Letting out a sigh I got back to work. The rest of my morning went into putting together blades for a six-man guild. I think they were called the Fuurinkazan or something. They wanted some fast speed style blades and that just so happened to be my favorite kind of blade to make. They were light and quick to use, and I could make amazing ones without any rare metals. Though if I did need such ores, Agil always found me a good deal, bless that man.

Keeping at my work, my hands forged swords, filled at their edges and sharpened the deadly blades until the early afternoon. Only then did I allow myself a brief respite and set my forging hammer down. I picked up a sword and gave it a careful look, trying to see where I had gotten sloppy.

It was a solid blade, but…well…just not what I would be personally happy with.

"Hmm…Good enough…I guess…" I muttered under my breath. I couldn't afford to throw out the blade, and it was far and above better than what they had, but it still dinged my personal pride to offer anything less than my best.

The bell in front of my door rang out, but there was no loud voice from Ryou, or laughter from Gaya, or even a witty remark from Zaki. That could only mean one thing: Customers!

Quickly disabling my work gloves I checked for any smudge marks in a mirror hanging by the forge. I couldn't be looking like a filthy mess in front of my customers, it was all about presentation!

Darting up the stairs, I opened the door to the shop. Almost on reflex my face cast a broad smile and my signature greeting, "Welcome to Lisbeth's Black Smith shop!"

I looked around and saw a dark-haired guy looking at one of the weapon cases. He stood taller than me, but not by too much. His clothes were unassuming but were dark colored as well and he had a long sword equipped to his back.

I never thought this guy would change so much in my life.

Almost as if ripped from his thoughts, he turned around with a slightly confused expression across his face. He didn't even seem like he knew what he was doing here. "Oh, Hi, uh-I was wondering if you do custom orders." He stammered out the request seemingly clueless on how to address me; clearly, he wasn't the best with words. I gave him a once over…and I had to be honest with myself. He didn't look like he had that much money. He probably couldn't afford a custom sword, and even if he could, I didn't feel comfortable taking all of someone's money. So I tried my best to let him down easy and get him to look at some of my cheaper swords; I mean I didn't want to shoo him away, but there's only so much I could do for a customer.

"I can, the thing is that metal prices are kinda high these days," apprehension spreading across my face, but it seemed to all fly over this guy's head. He looked at me blankly before responding, "Oh well I'm not worried about the cost, I just want the best sword you can make as soon as possible." As soon as possible! Gee! People could be so demanding. I know people praised me for good and fast service, but really? As soon as possible? He had to have big ones for asking for something like that. Couldn't he see all the weapons in the racks? Weren't any of these good enough for him?

"Well I make a lot of different swords, but if you have any idea of the quality of sword you want I can make it." 'It's just going to cost you an arm and a leg…' I mentally finished. His attitude was kinda irritating as well, I mean its not like he even knew what he asking for, but I tried my best to have patience.

"Uh sure, one sec," he began, "Sooo, I'm looking for something either the same quality or better than this:" He unequipped his sword and put in front of me. It was still in its sheath, so I didn't really know what to expect. Based on how he was acting I expected it to be some cheap sword from the lower levels, something that I could maybe replace with a regular broadsword. I mean, after all, with how little money he seemed to have, he probably wouldn't think twice of an upgrade.

I held out my hands to take his sword. He placed it over my hands, and the second he released his grip, the sword just fell right onto my desk. It was so heavy! My eyes went wide disbelief. The last thing I expected was a monster of a sword!

"An Elucidator! This is the gnarliest magic sword a person can get from a monster drop!" I let my own bubbly persona slip out. I couldn't believe it! Who did he manage to steal this from?! I looked him up and down really quickly. There was nothing that stood out to me. No distinctive armor or gear that seemed out of this world. It was all subtle. I couldn't decide if he was actually a high tier player or just some lucky guy who got this sword from the dying corpse of some actual high tier player. My skepticism was probably beginning to show as he prompted me for a follow-up."

"What do you think?"

I thought for a moment. The Elucidator was certainly powerful. There were a handful of more powerful swords in the game, but many of those were all locked to the final tier floors. Thinking on my feet I turned around to grab an elegant sword. I had forged it from a combination of ores that offered similar stats to Asuna's rapier. It wasn't exactly up to par to an Elucidator, but I didn't really think he had actually acquired the sword himself. He had to have stolen it from someone, and knowing how sword power scaled with the person's skill level, I doubted he would notice the difference. I mean how could a player like him have earned the sword legitimately?

I really still regret having let him handle that blade.

"Hmm… what about this? It's the best sword I ever forged. I call it my masterpiece!" I offered with a smile. Even if I had my doubts about his skill, I knew players often fell in love with my weapons. If they liked it, they would certainly buy it, and there was no way I would part with this masterpiece of a sword without some serious col.

He took the blade and swung it around a bit. His face didn't seem to register any emotion. He just looked at it and hacked away at the air, as if feeling for the blade's balance. That was the first moment my mind started to take him seriously. The only players who ever felt for a blade's balance were the high tiers. 'This guy might actually be a real high tier player after all…'

"I dunno, it's a little light…" came his feedback. Well duh he would say that, he was waving it around like a broadsword, but it was meant to be a sort of rapier. "It should be, I used a speed type metal to forge it." I countered, putting my perception of his skill level once again in doubt.

"I'd like to test it, if it's cool." He asked suddenly. Testing? There was no way I would let him walk out of my store with that blade on some trial run. "Test it how?" I asked cautiously, trying to not come across as rude. "You know, its durability." Before I even processed what that meant, he had already picked up the Elucidator from the table and placed my masterpiece in an X shape with it. He brought his arm back and I finally understood, he was going to charge up the sword for an attack.

This guy was an idiot! I didn't even hesitate to yell. "What the heck are you doing?! If you break your sword, I'm not responsible!" This guy was going to break his Elucidator! Even if my masterpiece was weaker in some areas, a player could only charge up one blade at a time, and even an Elucidator stood no chance, unpowered, next to my blade.

"If it breaks, then that's too BAD!" he growled as my blade turned a brilliant green glow and then came down on the Elucidator. I looked on, wincing as my blade came down, I couldn't believe he would be so reckless breaking his own sword!

A sharp crack rang out in my shop. I knew it. His sword broke. I was about to respond with a witty remark when I saw a piece of silver white metal fly across the room. It was the top of my masterpiece, its tip flung right into the wall. My voice didn't respond to my command as the realization of what happened slowly sank in. He broke it…He had broken my masterpiece.

My scream broke the stifling silence. HE BROKE MY SWORD! Desperately I took the handle and what was left of the blade from his hand. "You broke my…masterpiece." I whimpered in disbelief. How could he have done this?! I poured nearly a week's worth of savings into this blade! I knew I forged it right! How could he have done this?!

Wrath was now coursing through my veins. Even if it was a virtual world, I could just feel my body seething with rage.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" I roared into his face, gripping the collar of his black trench coat. He wasn't getting away with this. I was going to let him know just how angry I was. Then I was going to make him pay for that sword. I had spent a bunch of time trying to make it!

"I'm sorry! I didn't think yours was going to break so easy, honest!" came his rather awkward reply. He was genuinely embarrassed, and I felt a pang of guilt, it was after all my overconfidence, believing that he was some low tier who got lucky with a sword, that got us into this situation. But the guilt wore instantly as I caught the meaning behind his words.

"Are you saying my sword! MY MASTERPIECE of a sword was lamer than you thought?!" I couldn't believe I was even in this situation. The nerves of this guy, to just come in, trash my prized sword and then claim it didn't live up to his expectations. I was seething, never had I dealt with such a rude customer.

"Yeah…something like that." Came his response. He wore his most apologetic face as well. I seriously did not know what to make of this guy. He was so infuriating! But nothing set off an alarm in my mind. I didn't feel malice from his eyes. Nothing like some other customers who had made fear for my own safety. That irritated me even more! I almost wanted him to look at me with an evil glare, so I could feel righteous about my anger. Instead his eyes carried a soft look, one that seemed equal parts amused and apologetic. I couldn't blame him, I probably would have been laughing at my own tantrum.

"For your information, if I had the right materials, I could make a buttload of swords that would shatter yours into a million tiny little pieces! You got that!" I yelled into his face. This guy needed to be aware that I was seriously capable of making some beastly swords, despite my apparent failure. But my little fit was getting me nowhere, and he knew exactly how to turn my words right against me.

"Oh yeah?" He started with a crafty smile. "That sounds like the kind of sword I'm looking for. As long as it can shatter mine though." His grin was driving me insane. He was just so FREAKING JUSTIFIED! I couldn't find a way to make him feel guilty much less pin him as the bad guy.

"GRRRR! Ok smarty pants but you have to help me make it every step of the way." I stammered out. My face was burning. I could feel that was probably in part due to Sword Art's over emphasis on emotions, but it probably wasn't far off from what I would be showing in real life. I was seriously so angry and ticked off by this guy's personality I didn't know what to do with myself.

"Seriously?" came his disappointed reply. I felt a sliver of relief creep up. He hadn't walked away yet, so clearly he was still interested in my offer, however angry it was delivered, and I could feel that I might just find a way to 'win'.

"Absolutely. And we'll start by getting the metal for it." I added on, smugly. I wasn't one to bow down from a challenge, but he was going to repay me one way or another for breaking my sword, and I was perfectly content being paid in groaning and complaining. As a matter of fact that would be the perfect way to be paid considering how I felt.

"I think I can handle that myself. I'd rather not have you slowing me down." My eyes sprung open. Oh no, he was not going to get away with anymore jabs at me.

"Don't you dare insult me, believe it or not, I'm an expert mace wielder I'll have you know!" My retorts sounded painfully childish, but I wasn't going to let this guy get away with his clever slander! If he was going to talk smack, then he wouldn't hear the last of it. I knew that if he really wanted a super powerful sword, he'd have to get it on my terms. I still had an ace up my sleeve.

"Suit yourself, so where do we find the metal?" he asked, still trying to find a way to get out of bringing me along.

"Floor 55, on the western mountain, there's a dragon there that eats crystals." I stated, trying to pique his interest, "According to the legends, its supposed to store a rare metal in its body." I was finally calm enough to put together a plan. I didn't have doubts about his abilities anymore. I mean he clearly had the sword skills to break my sword. How he managed to not break his Elucidator was beyond me but that didn't matter. I did want to make him a sword, but whether that was out of spite or genuine desire was still out with the jury.

"Floor 55 huh? Yeah, I should go alone." He tried to weasel me out of the quest yet again. But he was right where I wanted him.

"AAAANNNDDD, they say that in order to get the metal you need to bring a master smith along." I watched in silent glee as his face contorted into a mix of confusion and deliberation. "Still think going alone is a good idea?"

"I…"

I giggled selfishly, knowing I had won this battle. Oh I was going to make him pay for breaking that sword.

"Fine, just keep quiet and stay out of the way." He responded rather commandingly. There he was again, ruining my moment all while ticking me off.

"Whh – Keep quiet?" I felt wisps of fury starting to boil up again. I was about to chastise him again, but he cut me off by extending his hand with a smile.

"By the way, my name's Kirito. Looks like we're a party until we make that sword." I looked away in disgust.

"Yeah…whatever, Kireto…" I stammered out, not caring whether I mispronounced his name. I wasn't sure how to process his reaction. I wanted him to be pissed off at having to bring me along, angry! Not fine and ok with it!

"Well, if you're going to be like that, I can roll with it, Lisszzz-Beth." I cast him a defeated glance. This guy just kept finding new ways to annoy me. Frankly I was already second guessing if I shouldn't have just thrown him out when he broke my sword.

"We have to help others Lisbeth, for the good of all the people trapped in here…" yeah, yeah, get out of my head Ryou.

"Achoo…It's cold."

Because Lindas was so warm during the month of January, and because it had been weeks since I had gone down to Ronbaru, I had completely forgotten how cold other floors could be. We had been trekking up the western mountain for a few hours now, and I was deeply regretting not bringing anything.

"Well you should have brought a coat or something." Thanks captain obvious. I wanted to smack him upside the head.

"I didn't know that floor 55 was going to be this freaking cold." I retorted with my voice in shivers. I barely registered the set of pings from Kirito's menu, but suddenly I was draped with a black cloak. It was comfortable and instantly provided me with a much-needed boost to my warmth stat.

"Are you going to be ok without this?" I asked, I may have been cold but that was my fault, I didn't mean to make him suffer.

"You don't feel cold if you're disciplined." His voice crisp and as emotionless as the winter around me. Just like that, whatever pity I had for him vanished.

"If you're trying to piss me off, it's working." I flatly stated. Yet despite his efforts to tick me off, I couldn't say I was too annoyed…his jacket was really warm, and he wasn't really treating me like deadweight. I watched him walk in front of me. The silence of the mountain was starting to get to me. I couldn't believe I was out here all alone with this guy, this was getting weird!

"What's wrong Lisss-Beth, giving up already?" his gentle teasing tore me from my thoughts as I tried to ready a response. "Not on your life!" I stammered, trying to shake my thoughts from him and focus them on how annoying he was. "And if you're going to be a jerk about it, you might as well call me Liz!" I managed to grumble. I couldn't let him get to me. There was no way I would let him forget about my sword.

"Ok Ok, got it, Liz" he replied with a smile. He said it almost with an endearing voice. Oh he was getting to me alright.

"Yeah well don't wear it out!" I angrily huffed before trekking to catch up with him. The snow crunching under our feet being the only sound to break the quiet on the mountain.

The crystal shards atop the mountain were a sight that immediately took my breath away. I couldn't stop looking at them. "It's beautiful!" I exclaimed with a little bit of a giggle in my voice. Staying near safe villages all the time had made me forget just how miraculous the world of Aincrad was. After all, a year ago I had donned the NerveGear for just that reason, to explore a world of fantasy. But with the subsequent death sentence looming over everyone's head, I had truly forgotten why I had logged in. It was rare moments like this that seemed to make it all worth it, to experience what I couldn't in real life. I leapt forward and was about to run over to another crystal formation when a strong hand tugged at the back of my neck. Twirling around I brushed off Kirito's hand with a bit of strain in my voice.

"What's your problem?!" I scowled. I wasn't his child. Besides, all around us there were nothing but these crystal formations, we weren't in any danger! "You should get your teleport crystal ready." He calmly stated. I was annoyed. It was the only thing he had requested I do since we started climbing the mountain, to have a teleport crystal ready for when he fought the dragon, but it didn't mean I wasn't annoyed.

"I know, I know, I'm doing it." I muttered as I pulled one out of my inventory. Regardless of what he might say, I was going to help him with this dragon. There were two of us, and Floor 55 had already been cleared by the Assault team, there was no way that anything too dangerous was still lurking around.

Still, as I looked up to show him I had a crystal, I saw the look in his eyes. He had hardened himself up. He didn't seem scared, but he also didn't look like he was about to have fun either… "And I'm handling this part on my own. Once the dragon appears, you're going to hide under one of those crystals over there. Don't come out no matter what."

Whelp, back to being pissed off at this Kirito guy. "Oh come on! I'm not a noob. If I want to help I'll darn w-"

"DO WHAT I SAY!"

I never got to finish my little ramble. I was frozen in place as the echo of his words made their way through the dips and valleys of the mountain range. The amused look he had in my shop was gone. In its place were two eyes that dripped of vengeance. His face had contorted into a scowl. Whatever bits of annoyance I was about to direct at him disappeared and in their place, a chill grew in my chest. This man had just shifted from being annoying to being someone fearful. I swallowed what was in my mouth and nodded lightly as I looked into his angry eyes.

Almost instantly his face melted, back to its almost cheerful playful annoyance. "Good. Alright, lets get going." I could barely keep up with him in my head. I had initially pegged him as a pretty aloof guy, and now I was starting to see his true colors. Any doubts in my mind of his abilities had evaporated. He knew what he was doing.

A loud roar echoed through the mountain range. I gasped instinctively out of fear, I knew there shouldn't be too much danger, but my heart was racing with panic now.

"Hurry up and take cover!" came Kirito's commanding voice. For the first time in this little excursion I didn't even hesitate, no fighting, no silly retorts came to mind. Instead, I ran for a pack of crystals and ducked underneath them. I clutched my weapon, a single black mace that I had crafted several months ago. It was my main weapon and I had trusted it with my life many times, but right now it felt weak and underpowered against the frightening shriek of the dragon. I stood under the crystals, not daring to come out, I clicked a button on its handle and a set of prongs ejected from the iron black head. I heard another screech and I closed my eyes. There was no way I was ready to fight this monster. I was stupid for accepting this quest. Those shrieks and howls were the sounds of death, and I couldn't believe that in my anger I was stupid enough to risk my life for this sword.

But I was safe where I was…at least for the moment, and I had a teleport crystal too! I breathed out and then dared to peer out from my hiding spot. It was only then that I caught a glimpse of the Dragon. An icy crystalline being rose from the edge of the mountain, clearly angry at the intrusion on its territory. I looked into its eyes and felt my whole chest lurch into a panic. It looked terrifying, everything in my body was screaming run, flight, curl up into a ball and cry. Instead its howling shriek kept me frozen in place under the protection of these crystals.

But as I looked on at the fearsome foe, I noticed the Dragon's attention wasn't on me, instead it was focused on the black figure walking towards it. In my panic I had even forgotten Kirito was going to fight this thing, and I watched in horror as he kept walking calmly towards the monster. If the dragon's looks and roar had me panicked, then Kirito's bravery, courage? had me stupefied.

The dragon stopped howling and then began to charge up an attack. Its mouth, riddled with teeth began glowing, its wings beating the freezing air atop the mountain and brushing up snow in a maelstrom of fury. The whole spectacle was unnerving. I couldn't tear myself away from the sight of its power, was this what ancient people felt when they fought a feral animal? Was this what real fear felt like?

I shook my head and saw the dragon getting ready to release its hell upon the figure below him. I felt utter hysteria overwhelm me. Kirito was going to die! All because I dared him to come with me! I was going to be the reason he died!

Guilt, panic, fear, and a myriad of other emotions flooded me. I screamed at the top of my lungs: "Watch out! It's a breath attack!"

My voice, for as loud as I yelled was just a whisper against the rage and fury of the dragon's screeching wail. I braced myself as the burst of energy was unleashed, the Dragon hovering as its shot hurled towards Kirito below. I was about to close my eyes to avoid watching Kirito die when the color of the sky changed. In one quick swoop the entirety of the bolt of energy had been deflected. I stood, slack-jawed at the sight of what Kirito had just done. In one move he had brought his sword to meet the dragon's fury of icy energy and sent it hurtling towards the heavens. My hands wrapped themselves tighter around my mace in sheer awe. Only then did my voice come back to me, to utter my incredulous thoughts. "Wow…and with that skinny sword…Who is he?" I murmured, equally impressed and awestruck. Is this what a high tier player could do?

The next few moments were filled with the greatest spectacle my eyes had seen in the world of Aincrad. I had seen Ryou jump over a rabid gorilla, and I had seen Zaki hit an elven warrior so hard that the monster had stumbled back several meters, hell I'd even seen Gaya race up half a wall just to get a better bashing angle in.

But I had NEVER seen someone solo a dragon.

He seemed to fly through the air. A black blur of rapid movement. He slashed and cut and in an instant the dragon's arm was severed. I was stunned. He trivialized this foe. What would have been a death sentence for me and my blacksmithing guild seemed to just be another simple monster for him. He made me feel safe again…my chest calmed down and I felt heat flow back into my hands and feet. This was just another one of Sword Art's tricks clearly, making an enemy seem way more powerful than they were through fancy visuals. Nothing major. I smiled as I realized what was going on. As I watched Kirito slash and hack at the creature I felt a tinge of annoyance well up in me as well. If it was so easy to fight and hurt, then why was he taking so long? Guess I would have to help him out after all. I jumped out of my little igloo of crystals and stood battle ready towards the dragon. I yelled up at my party member: "Come on, stop playing it and finish it off already!"

The next few seconds were just a blur. I heard Kirito's voice, strained and panicked call out to me: "Damn it, don't come out yet!" fear lacing his words. I just brushed off his remark. "What's the big deal, you've got it right where…." as I turned from Kirito, an icy blur hurled itself towards me. Instantly all the terror flooded back. I didn't even get a chance to raise my battle mace. The dragon's mad dash slammed in my body and flung me out over giant hole.

I felt my voice let out a blood-curdling shriek. I closed my eyes. A myriad of thoughts started to enter my mind, images of my home, my father, my mother all inundated my mind, as well as the people I had met in this game. Asuna's eyes, Ryou's warm hugs, Zaki's wit, …Gaya's laughter.

I screamed more as I heard my name called out.

"LIZ!"

It was Kirito…probably trying to save me. But I kept screaming as I tumbled through the air. It was over. I knew it. I was going to die…my name was going to get wiped out…and my parents would probably be crying by my bed in some random hospital. All because I had gotten cocky.

"HANG ONTO ME LIZ!" A strong male voice suddenly yelled right into my ear. I felt my stomach lurch again as I felt the effects of freefall. A warm body wrapped around me and I instantly hugged it. I kept screaming, . This guy was stupid, but…well…at least I wasn't going to die alone.

The blackness below me swallowed us up.

"Are we still alive…" came a voice. My head was spinning with a splitting head ache as I opened up my eyes. My face was buried into the chest of a black warrior. Sitting up, I inspected the body. He still had a good amount of health points left. The surroundings were completely out of focus as I rubbed my temples. But my throat was able to murmur a response. "Yeah…it looks like it." relief began creeping into my voice. How the hell did I survive the dragon's attack and the fall?

The body below me groaned and sat up. His eyes met mine and with a sight of relief his expression softened. Amidst my confusion and headache I could still feel my cheeks flush up. Few people had looked at me like that before, least of all a guy…who…looked…handsome. Just as my mind was about to lurch into a myriad of over thinking, he extended a little glass bottle to me. It held a red liquid inside of it.

"Drink one of these just in case." It was a health potion. A substitute for a healing crystal. Unlike teleport crystals, healing crystals were incredibly expensive, and seeing that there were no immediate threats, I could see why he was offering me a potion.

Sitting silently the bitter-sweet liquid ran down my throat. It was then that I worked up enough courage to use my voice. "Thank you, you know for saving me." I whispered. Defeat hung in my voice, if I hadn't been so stupid, none of this would have happened.

"It's a little early to be thanking anyone, we have to find a way out of here first." His voice was in complete control. He hadn't even let the grace of being alive dissuade his focus. I shook my head and looked up at him. "What? Can't we teleport out?" I took out a crystal, knowing he must have one as well. "Teleport Lindas!" I issued my command, expecting the little blue crystal to shatter in my hand. Expecting to be arriving in Lindas, with one hell of a tale to tell Ryou. But instead I looked at the crystal in horror, still completely solid in my hand. This was an Anti-Crystal Zone! My heart nearly stopped for the tenth time in the day.

Kirito's voice interrupted my rapidly fearful thoughts. "Well, if we can't teleport out, that means there should be another way out."

My mind couldn't think like that however. I was in sheer panic. Ever since Asuna and I had heard the info broker in Mishe, I had been terrified of ending up in such a zone. I had mapped out every single route before, how could I have been so careless? My voice quivered as I voiced my fears: "How can you be so sure there is? I mean maybe this is some kind of trap to kill anyone who falls into it!" fear was woven into every word of my voice, and Kirito didn't even seem to notice.

"Good point, maybe it is…"

Fear, concern, and annoyance took hold of my voice. "Would it kill you to at least try to cheer me up?" I quivered as I sat on the ground. Did this guy just face so death so regularly that he accepted it as his fate?

"I think I have an idea…" came his smooth voice. Instantly a wave of hope and renewal washed over me. I stood up and felt my hands warm up, maybe there was some mechanic I hadn't discovered, or some method that he would teach me. "Really?" my voice spilled out of drenched in hope and joy.

"We could try running up the wall." Just like that the hope faded.

"… You're insane …" I audibly let out, half disappointed and half in shock. Run up the wall was his big idea? I couldn't believe this was his way out. But regardless if he had seen my reaction, he didn't seem to care. All he did was just back up towards one end of the pit we had fallen while getting into position to face the endlessly imposing wall.

"Maybe, but that's all I got for ideas right now." He started running and then launched himself upwards in the greatest display of physical strength I had ever seen. I stared dumbfounded yet again as the sound of his boots grew distant. "No Way…" I exclaimed as he made it nearly halfway up the pit's wall. But then his boots slipped, and he lost all his grip on the wall. His body became a growing spec as his yell became ever louder. Half-amused, a throbbing headache on my mind, I watched as he slammed into the ground. His HP dropped only a little bit which then made me realize just how much of my fall he had absorbed when we fell.

In only the fashion that a confident guy could wield, he uttered: "If I had more of a running start, I probably would have made it."

I squatted next to his body, next to the person shaped hole he had made in the snow. Despite feeling relieved that he was trying, I had to give it to him straight: "Yeah, I don't think so." My face was concerned but also amused. I could scarcely believe this guy had tried to run up a wall.

"This is kind of weird isn't it?" My voice perked up. I stared up towards the sky. It was just a circle of sky, the walls of the pit forming a dark perimeter around it. A small fire crackled next to my ear. After Kirito's mad dash up the wall, we decided to conserve our energy for a night and try to escape the following morning. So we had set up our sleeping bags and split some fruits to quell our hunger stats.

"This wouldn't happen in real life. You know going to strange places, meeting a total stranger, and then sleeping next to them…I mean you actually tried running up that wall, you know you really are a weirdo you know that?" Despite my thankfulness in him I couldn't help but let little bit of playful teasing sneak in…after all…I was beginning to doubt if we would ever get out. Being a dungeon and an Anti-Crystal zone, there was no way to even communicate with another player. I was pretty sure Ryou, Zaki and Gaya were fearing the worst by now. Never mind Asuna, I had promised to meet her for dinner after all.

"Well excuse me." Replied Kirito's voice, clearly not too amused. I brushed off his remark as I sat up for a moment. I still couldn't believe that he had saved me. I don't think I would have done the same, and so…I tried to put together the right words.

"Kirito, can I ask you something?" my voice quivered.

"Ask away, I'm all ears."

"Why did you risk your life like that to save me?" I asked. I waited with bated breath, trying to not let my emotions show. As the hours had ticked by, I had fallen into an emotional disarray. He had seriously thrown his life into chance just for me. For my mistake! How could I feel anything but in debt to him? But at the same time, I didn't understand why he did it. It wasn't just a game…when he jumped he was seriously throwing his life into chance for another person. I had to know why he did it.

There was a moment of quiet as he steadied himself, "I can't just sit back and watch someone die. I'd rather die along side them, than do nothing," his eyes were glassy as he answered me. For the briefest of moments I caught a glimpse of something dark that seemed to weigh down on him, "especially if that someone is a girl like you Liz." He smiled as he looked over. His eyes were full of heart. I wasn't sure I could read exactly what he was trying to say with that added comment, but my chest grew warm with delight.

"Wow you really are an idiot, you're the only person who'd think like that." A year…a long year of living in this game, and I had never met someone who looked my age tell me something like that. This guy, this Kirito, really was something else, I didn't even want to question what he meant by that. Instead I flashed him a meek smile as my cheeks became warm yet again. I didn't care. For all I knew, I'd spend the rest of the game here if I didn't die first.

As the sky grew darker and our little fire started to die down, I turned my head to look at Kirito. He was the reason I was alive right now. He was the one who angered me enough to abandon reason and risk my own life out here. Sure he had his moments of annoyances, but he was also unlike anyone else I'd met. He didn't think about just himself. In that way he reminded me of Asuna, Ryou, and others. But Kirito took it a step further. He had put his life on the line for me…and he barely knew me.

"Hey … hold my hand…" I heard my voice speak up on its own. I scarcely believed I had been so bold to speak my own emotions, but as far as I was concerned, it didn't matter.

He let out a slight gasp before turning towards me and stretching out his hand. We looked at each other for several minutes before I broke the silence.

"It's so warm…even though you and me are just these ones and zeros in a virtual world." I could feel my eyes watering. Why was it that things like this had to happen when so much was on the line? Why did I have to be trapped here against my will? Why couldn't I enjoy this moment for what it was?…well assuming Kirito was feeling the same way I was…

"I know." His reply caught me off guard, but I nodded solemnly…staring into his eyes…and then feeling a sweet exhaustion come over me. I didn't even remember falling asleep.

The cold of the morning ruffled me awake and I sat up trying to get my bearings. Beside me was an empty bag and a burned-out fire. I tried to think of who was with me…my usual morning grogginess not helping at all. I then heard the crunching of snow and looked over. I saw Kirito digging at the snow in the pit. Almost immediately the rush of the previous night's activities rushed back to the forefront of my mind. Getting saved, laying down our bags in the snow…and…holding his hand. My face instantly felt red hot with embarrassment. I couldn't believe I had fallen asleep with him like that! I had to get my head in the game! Slapping my cheeks with my cold gloves to wake myself up, I looked over at Kirito.

"Whatcha doing?" I timidly asked.

"Here look." He held up a metal ore. It was crystalline but with a dark greenish blue color to it rather than the shiny metallic looks of the crystals on the surface. The cogs in my mind started to turn and I realized what it was. "Is this…what I think it is?" I asked cautiously asked. His smile cheered me up as he handed me the ore. "Uh-huh it's that special metal we came all this way for. Like you said, the dragon eats crystals and they turn into this in its stomach." He let out a melodious laugh as he sat back into the snow. "No wonder it's hard to find."

I couldn't tell why he was laughing, my mind still struggling to comprehend just how I had woken up in a situation like this, but I pressed him for answers. "Yeah, but you found it. What's it doing down here though…"

"This hole isn't a trap like we thought, it's the dragon's nest." He answered rather nonchalantly as he gazed upwards towards the pit's opening.

"Really?!" My mind was now trying to think of things we could use to escape. How did one even escape a dragon's nest? I had no idea. But before I could start suggesting things with this new-found knowledge Kirito laid a disgusting truth at my feet: "Uh-huh…and that's not just an ingot, that's dragon excrement. You know? Poop." I looked at the crystal in my hands. It didn't register in mind for several seconds what exactly it was that I held in my hands. Then finally somehow poop and the crystal clicked together. Even if it was a virtual world, this was just disgusting. I flailed wildly and threw the ingot at him. "Why did you tell me that! Are you saying I have to forge dragon poop now?!"

In true Kirito fashion he turned away from me and looked up at the pit's entrance. He didn't even convey that he heard me, but instead he wore a slight smirk on his face. I could tell he was enjoying watching me freak out. He seemed to take pleasure in annoying me slightly, and I couldn't help but feel some level of joy knowing that I made him smile.

But just as quick as the smile came, it was replaced with a hard-steeled expression. "Well, I guess this means we got what we came here for. Still stuck though."

"Wait, this is supposed to be a dragon's nest right?" I offered, making sure I had heard him right the first time. "Yep." Came the quick response. "Cause dragons are nocturnal…so it won't be long before it…comes…" My mind was finally working, and I didn't know whether to feel scared or relieved that we might get a chance to see the dragon again. Perhaps we would get a chance to kill it and find a way out, but before I even had time to properly react, a loud screech bellowed from the sky. My instincts didn't even engage. I just shrieked "IT'S HERE!"

Almost immediately I felt a strong set of arms pick me up. "What are you doing?!" I managed to yell. The response was Kirito's loud confident voice: "Hang onto me Liz!"

My stomach lurched upwards into the air and I could see the pit wall start to shrink underneath me. Then the dragon's icy body landed on the pit's floor and then we started falling. I kept screaming in sheer panic and horror. What was he doing? Why were we falling towards the dragon! It was only then I noticed that Kirito had me strung up on his back. As we fell he pulled out his Elucidator long sword and readied it to pierce the dragon's thick hide. I only screamed in horror at what he was going to do.

Our bodies slammed into the back of the dragon and I felt my whole world lurch upwards. The dragon's wail of pain was followed by my body being tossed upwards. The dragon soared out of its nest with a fury I never experienced before. The only comfort I had were Kirito's strong arms clutching me ever tighter to his body. Despite the cold air blasting past me, despite my almost reflexive desire to keep screaming, I felt his arm soothing my worries.

As if a switch had been struck, the rush of air ceased, and I heard the dragon's wails grow fainter. It was only then that I felt Kirito's grip weaken on me. I cautiously opened my eyes, terrified of the possibility that he might be dead. But then I was greeted to the most incredible sight I ever saw in Aincrad. The sun was rising above the mountain range and I stared in awe as our bodies flew upwards through the clouds. Only then did I realize what had happened. Glancing quickly downwards I could see the dragon, wounded and falling back towards its pit. Kirito had stabbed it and pulled me along with him. We had been shot into the sky before we had separated from the dragon. Now we soared through the sky, free to use our teleport crystals now. We were safe. I couldn't believe it!

The sun's radiance, broke through the morning clouds. "Wow… Look at that!" I pointed outwards to the sky. Kirito smiled as we fell through the air. We probably had a few minutes before we were in any real danger and so I felt completely at ease taking in the view.

"Kirito, you know what?" I yelled, trying to speak over the rushing wind. My heart was now pounding in my chest as I looked over to the dark knight that had saved me not once, but twice.

"No What?" He yelled back with a smile. I could tell he was enjoying the view as much as me. I couldn't believe all that had happened and all that was happening now, skydiving with a beautiful sunrise after fighting a dragon and collecting its poop. What a story.

"Don't freak out, but I think I'm falling in love with you!" I yelled back at him, the grin on my face was wild with joy but then I heard his response and felt a wave of relief: "I can't hear a thing, what did you just say?" He didn't look surprised or anything, just the sound of wind genuinely meant he didn't hear me. "Nevermind." I yelled back as I flung myself towards him with a giggle in my voice. Something like that shouldn't be just thrown around without an explanation. I was glad he didn't hear me. I needed time to actually tell him how he changed me.

Lindas was warm, warmer than all of Floor 55. But it felt excruciatingly warmer now that I wasn't alone. My forge's fire burned brightly as I prepped a metal within it. Carefully I pulled out the ingot from its fierce warmth and set it down on my anvil. The last time I had felt this anxious over the forging of a sword had been nearly an exact year ago, that day that I crafted Asuna's rapier. Today … I felt I would be crafting a much more important sword, one that I wanted to make great, not just for my own pride, but for who I was crafting it for.

I steadied myself and breathed out as I readied my hammer. A quick glance at my notifications showed nearly fifty messages, presumably from Ryou and the others. They were probably all terrified about where I had disappeared to last night, but for the first time since I had met them, their concerns had to wait. … I had a more important task to focus on.

"A one-handed long sword right?" I asked out of politeness, knowing I had spent the whole time prepping the ingot rehearsing various legendary sword combinations. I knew what he wanted, and I was going to give it to him.

"Yep. Make it awesome." He said tenderly. I smiled internally, already knowing this was going to be the best sword I've ever made.

I pulled back my hammer and struck a delightful note. Sharp rings sounded in the forge of my shop. Every single note crafting a perfect melody. The metal ingot's stats only helped me further, much like Asuna's rare ore, this one too was guiding me, telling me what it wanted to be like, and I obliged it. Forcing an artistic pattern into the blade, masking the ore's weaker stats while strengthening its powerful statistics with my hammer. Crafting, tuning, shaping. Though my movements may have seemed somewhat identical to an observer like Kirito, I was actually altering each strike minutely; varying the frequency and speed, as well as intensity, of each strike. I could see the blade's final shape taking form. The crystal ore was so rare, and the methods I was employing were so high level, that even I was astounded the form this blade was taking. I was now on my own, I had left all the known forging tricks behind me long ago, and now I was shaping the blade on instinct, gut, and sheer luck.

I felt sweat dribble down my back as I finished. I had lost track of time, my entire focus had been on this one blade, and now I was going to witness the fruits of my labor.

The metal contorted, it shone brightly, and the ingot transformed into a brilliant blade. Its green blue color was translucent, and it seemed to offer a faint glow against the light of my forge. I could see my pink eyes in its reflection and I knew then I had the courage to tell him. Tell Kirito how much he meant to me. He meant love, he meant affection that Ryou, Zaki and Gaya couldn't give me, he meant friendship Asuna couldn't offer. He meant so much in a world of death and risk, he had to know what I felt.

"The sword is called Dark Repulsor, one of a kind, and its not even in the info brokers' directory. Go on, try it." I offered as he got up from the seat in my shop. He looked at me curiously as he grabbed the handle, almost as if I seemed more interesting to him than the actual sword. It took him a second for his eyes to break from mine before he stood in front of me, holding and balancing the blade. He shifted its position in his hand and swung the sword. Little crackles of greenish blue energy flew from its tip, and I could tell its power was unlike anything he had ever experienced.

"Good? Bad?" my voice was barely a whisper. Despite all the effort I put into it, this forging felt different from other swords. Usually, I could tell a customer off if I feel they didn't appreciate my weapons; I mean, they often didn't know what a good sword was anyway. But this was different. This was Kirito. It didn't matter what I thought, all that mattered was what he thought of the blade.

His posture shifted yet again, and he held the sword down towards the ground. He smiled. "Its real heavy, it's a good sword." He looked at me with a set of fierce eyes. He was truly impressed, I could easily tell he was astounded with the blade's power.

"Yay!" my voice squealed in delight as I felt a rush of joy sweep through me. This felt so different from Asuna's blade, I couldn't describe the joy I felt, I only knew my whole body felt warm, from head to toe.

"It feels like you forged your soul into it." He added on, and I only felt my face heat up even more. I had made him risk his life for me. It was the least I could do. I felt jubilant, elated, giddy. But the moment didn't last in my mind as he asked a follow up: "Ok you held up your end of the deal, its time for me to pay up, so how much?"

I looked down at the floor as I stood before him, I held my hands together, trying to come up with a response. The elation had robbed me of my little script, of what I wanted to say to him. I wanted to convey to him all that I felt, and yet…I was at a loss for words.

"Um…well…I don't really need any money…" I started, knowing from his sudden shift in posture that I had caught him off guard, "Instead, I'd like to be your exclusive blacksmith from now on." He looked at me with his calculating eyes, trying to read my mind, and failing miserably. "What do you mean exclusive? What's wrong?" he tried to ask, probably wondering if I felt jealous such a sword would be serviced by someone else. But the concern in his voice was misplaced. He didn't really know what I was asking, and frankly I was doing a crap job trying to get my meaning across.

"I mean any time you get back from the field, stop by, and let me do maintenance on your gear," I added on, trying to hide the rising tide of emotion, "every day, from now till the end…" my cheeks felt burning. I didn't even care to hide my emotions now. I was staring right into his eyes, I could feel I was making him uncomfortable but not in an awkward way. "Liz I…" he fumbled around for words, his cheeks also started brightening up. He stuttered for an answer before I cut him off.

"Kirito, I just…I…" I wanted to just tell him to shut up, to just hug me and let me hug him, to look into my eyes and tell me he would be there for me just like I wanted to be there for him, to jus-

"LIZ I WAS SO WORRIED."

A familiar voice yanked me from everything I was going to say. Yanked me from my thoughts and emotions, and left me jarred from the quiet moment I wanted to have with Kirito. Looking up in a dazed confusion at the door of my forge, a warm body launched itself at me. Her arms and hands wrapped themselves around pulling me into a tight embrace.

"Asuna?" I croaked, feeling so out of place and somewhat angry, why did she have to interrupt my moment, couldn't she knock? What was so important that she had to interrupt me!

"Liz where were you last night? I tried messaging you, but you didn't answer, and I couldn't track you on the map." words were spilling out of her so quickly. She was on the verge of tears, and then I understood. I understood what was going on…here I was caught up in a moment of love and emotional heartache, and she was wondering if I was still alive. I had completely missed our dinner last night and I had offered no explanation. Guilt started to creep up into me. Ryou, probably was equally worried, worried his adoptive daughter was dead and that he hadn't been there to save her. I patted Asuna's back, knowing now that I had to get back to the others as well. Selfish and self-centered…maybe that's what I was.

"…Eh…sorry…I kinda got stuck in a dungeon." I spoke into my friend's ear, trying to ease her worries and offer some relief, but instead it only made matters worse. Shock was written all over her face as she pulled away from me, looking right into my eyes with fear. "A dungeon?! You went all by yourself?" concern was dripped from every word, and she sounded more like a mother than a friend.

Ok, time to fix this, I shook my head, "Uh-uh…I went with him." I pointed at the black clothed figure before me. He was rubbing the back of his head, a light blush still strewn across his cheeks. Clearly he didn't want to be here, but he also wasn't trying to leave in a hurry.

"Kirito?!" Asuna's voice shrieked out. My mind froze suddenly. Wait, how did she know him? How did my friend know this guy? What wasn't she telling me? How does she suddenly know more about my own life than I do? Was there nothing I knew that she didn't?

"H-Hey Asuna, long time no see? Its been what, like two days?" Kirito's blush disappeared almost instantly, as if he was relieved Asuna was here. Asuna was my friend! Not his? Fear crept into my mind. My breaths were starting to tighten up as I looked at the two of them. Two days since they had last seen each other?! What the hell did that mean? Are they friends or more than that? I could barely process everything my mind was feeling.

"Well this is a surprise, I didn't know you wanted to check this place out, I wish you would have told me, I could have come with you." Asuna spoke with merry content to Kirito. As if the two had known each other for the longest time. He looked at her with a friendly expression, not bothered, not irritated…almost comfortable. My entire chest was screaming for it stop. I couldn't watch the two of them like this, was I jealous? What right did I have to be selfish? But logic wasn't what my brain was running on. I had just had my hopes lifted, I had just been through a life-risking adventure with Kirito, I almost said to him that I loved him and now here he was being taken from me by my own best friend?! I couldn't take it anymore. I had to know, even if it killed me.

My voice was barely a whisper as I asked. My hand squeezing tightly against itself, fearful at the answer, "I'm sorta confused, you know each other?"

"Yeah, both of us are on the Assault team…so…" came Kirito's warm voice, smiling as he said it. He had no idea how my chest was icing up. Then Asuna added her bit: "He said he was looking to get a more powerful sword, so I told him about you and your shop." Of course she would have. She was always looking out for me, looking to help my business. This is the one time I wish she hadn't, I wish she had just stayed away from me!

"Oh." It was the only word I could utter with the torrent of emotion I was facing; this whirlpool of heartache, jealousy, hatred, and despair that was tearing at my heart.

"Why is she acting like that? I swear, if you did anything weird to her…" 'Oh Asuna, you have no idea what he did to me.' Her compassion and attempt to protect me was only shoving a dagger deep into my chest. "I-I-didn't do anything!" was Kirito's adorable response, and yet he had no idea what he had changed in me, what he was making me feel. "Why'd you stutter just now huh?" Asuna countered, bickering with Kirito as if they were a married couple, "You know? You could show a little more compassion, I almost got killed….." "Like that's my fault! Don't I always tell you to not fight solo?"

…Right…I get it now…

I never stood a chance did I? She was my best friend, but she was also a far more attractive option for Kirito than me. Asuna was strong, she was brave and fierce, and far more beautiful. How could I even compare? I was just a lowly blacksmith, cowering in my little shop waiting for hell to blow over. How could I even think I could get the attention of a high tier player like Kirito?

"If this guy said anything rude, you'd tell me right?" Asuna turned to me with a sweet joy in her eyes, maybe she was happy to see me alive, after all, I could tell her concern was genuine, or maybe she was trying to protect me as a friend, but either way I couldn't stand her. Not now anyway, I was fighting desperately for control of my eyes, my voice, trying not break down sobbing, and she was just digging that dagger deeper into my chest.

"… Liz?"

She was prompting me, trying to get through to me. I put up every defense I had, every tool I had in my bag of life skills to avoid becoming a crying mess on the floor.

"You wanna talk about rude, try this…" I gleefully stated, my outside completely opposite of my inside. "First thing he does when he comes in is shatter my best sword." Ironic wasn't it? That my best way to fake the inner turmoil inside of me, was to act like my cheerful self. Was that really who that person was? A mask for who I really was? A terrified little girl in a game of life and death?

"Whaaat?! I'm Sorry." Asuna put her hands together and bowed in front of me, every action she took was truly genuine, which only drove me closer to breaking down.

"Oh come on, you don't have to apologize for anything," my voice spilled out, completely on auto pilot. I had to get out of here, I wasn't going to last much longer in this shop. I looked towards the exit and began to move towards it, not even daring to look at Kirito. If I did, I knew I wasn't going to make it out with my dignity.

"Liz?" came Asuna's concerned voice. 'Would this girl not shut up?' Couldn't she tell how desperately I needed to leave? I just hated her in this moment, I regretted everything about her. The sword, her friendship, the freaking clothes I was wearing, all because of her, and she took the one guy I had ever met that stole my heart away! I hurriedly shot back an answer, desperate to get her off my back: "Sorry I have to go pick up some supplies. I'll be right back."

I blasted past the corkboard on my wall, seeing the picture of Gaya, me, Zaki and Ryou. They were the only ones that mattered to me and they had never hurt me. After I put myself back together, I'd go to them, they would know what to say.

"But, you're going to leave the store?" 'YES ASUNA! I'M GOING TO LEAVE! I'M ABOUT TO CRY!' I yelled in my mind, knowing I was cutting it way too close, my eyes watering already as any hope of me and Kirito together was growing more and more distant with each passing second.

"Hold down the fort for me. Later!" I called out, my cheerful voice thankfully not betraying my emotion. I didn't even bother to hear the response, I just opened the door and ran out. The tears started streaming down my cheeks before I even made it out of the shop. I faintly heard Asuna call out for me again, but I didn't care, I didn't care about anything. Having lost control of my face, every part of me was about to go into an emotional frenzy. I raced out of the shop and ran down a dirt path, running away from the town and towards its outer walls. I knew where my body was taking me, a little bridge that no one ever seemed to be around, a little private area where I could quell this embarrassing mix of emotions.

My knees gave out as the little bridge came into view, I collapsed in the grassy pasture and let out several tears and wails. I was seriously losing any shred of control. Another sob escaped my lips before I picked myself back up and finished running towards the little bridge; I finally found comfort when I pulled myself into a ball and leaned against the underside of the bridge. I had found my solace. My chest heaved out sob after sob. All I could do was just let it all out. I got a few messages from someone, but I ignored the notifications. I just let myself loose. My rasps sounded utterly disgusting, I was a mess of feelings. Just empty, stupid, and an embarrassment.

Time passed, and my sobs grew quieter; slowly I began stitching my heart together.

It was only natural. I was sixteen. A teenager. I fell for the typical fairytale story; a princess being rescued by a knight in shining armor. Except in the real world, girls like me were rarely saved literally by a knight in armor, instead we had our hearts broken in class or at some stupid dance. But here I was feeling truly sad because a guy had actually risked himself for me, told me that he did it especially because I was me, and lo and behold, my best friend knew him better than I ever could have. They were out on the front lines, day after day, fighting to end this nightmare, protecting each other. Here I was, thinking I had a chance with this knight, only to find out he was a hero with his queen. What an idiot.

I let out another sigh and more tears fell from my face.

Should I even feel like this? This emotional? I mean it's not like other girls didn't have their hearts broken, why did I have to be this mess? Why did I have to sob like some insane maniac?

A set of footsteps approached me, and I tried to steel myself, make my incessant tears and crying invisible to this passerby. But I had no such luck, for the footsteps stopped just behind me.

"Lisbeth…"

His voice brought me calm despite knowing he was untouchable. I put my voice back together and stood up, knowing I had to face him at some point. I was blunt with him, I didn't need to hide anymore: "I almost got away with it…a couple more minutes and I would have gone back to my usual cheerful self." I rubbed at my eye with my wrist, knowing my face was likely a red tomato with streaks of dried tears all over it. Kirito's face was one of concern however, he looked at me with warm eyes but also uncertainty. Uncertainty about how to process me perhaps, how to deal with a girl crying over something he couldn't understand. "Liz…I…" was the feeble attempt at trying to comfort me. I didn't want him to, I didn't think I could take that.

"How'd you know I was here…" I choked out as I looked at him, his build was narrow but I could still see his shoulders jutting out somewhat. Oh how I had disregarded him entirely at first. Now everything about Kirito screamed power and intimidation, just in the subtlest of ways. He knew how to play mind games, and I was just another victim.

In the most nonchalant manner he could manage he pointed his finger up at the city's central tower. "I scanned the whole town for you from up there." He said with a smile. I managed a slight chuckle, which surprised myself, "Figures you'd do something crazy like that…" I spoke out, knowing I was on the verge of tears again. "Sorry if I worried you, I'm fine now, must be all the excitement, I'm not used to having adventures…" I was covering up again, I couldn't truly be straight with him, I didn't deserve that privilege, "Anyway…Oh just forget everything I said ok?" A fresh set of tears was now welling up within me, I didn't know any more if I hated Asuna or myself more for crying so much.

"Liz...I…I just wanted thank you. See, I…I dunno, I always thought dying was better than surviving day after day, living with the guilt…" Thank me? I turned to look at him, my chest not knowing how to react, and frankly I didn't care how it wanted to react, I had just about had it with this emotional roller coaster. I verbally called out to him, trying to apologize for whatever guilt he had on his mind, "Kirito…" it was me who had jumped out of cover, not him, he didn't have to apologize for me risking my neck, that was my fault!

"But then we got stuck in that hole, and I was really happy we were still alive, I realized that even here our lives are real and have meaning, thank you helping me see that Liz, I guess it's what I've been looking for this whole time." He was smiling at me. Maybe Asuna had read what I had felt and told him to try and comfort me. I managed a weak smile as I tried to both tell him what thought while disguising my own feelings. "Yeah…me too…I know what you mean, I was also looking for something, something real, hoping I'd find it…the warmth of your hand…for me…that was real…"

New tears were starting to spill out of me. "Do me a favor and tell Asuna what you told me…" my voice trailed off as a fresh little sob took control of my throat.

"Liz…" Kirito was stubborn, trying to get me to stop crying, but I couldn't really stop myself, "Promise me you'll put an end to this world, till then I'll keep doing what I do best…" I wanted to hear him say that he'd get me out. Feel for one last moment like I was all that mattered to him…

Instead of a simple reply however, I felt a warm hand turn me around, turning me to face his chest. I found myself wrapped in his embrace, the whole world of Aincrad fading out of my mind. I struggled to move my hands as I felt his warmth seep into my body. I didn't want this moment to end, and to make it all more delicious I felt his chin rest atop my head. "I promise I will, I swear I'll beat the game." his voice all the while vibrating into me.

"If you ever need your weapons or gear repaired, my door is always open." I muttered as a reply, trying to make it clear I respected Asuna. But he probably knew what I was feeling anyway.

"Sure." Was his short reply. I expected him to end the embrace right there. To just start to walk away with a cheerful goodbye on his lips. Instead he held me.

He kept holding me and eventually my own arms wrapped around his torso. It was bliss and I was scared to let it end. I had no idea how I would react when he pulled away. His next few words caught me entirely unprepared.

"You know, Asuna's timing sucks." He breathed into me as held me tight. "I didn't think I was ready to say it back there in your shop, but I am now," my heart froze again. Hope, being the incredibly powerful drug and tool in my chest, decided to play a million different fantasies in my mind. "I really enjoyed our little adventure Liz, I'd like to go on more with you." I looked up from his chest and into his eyes, looking for deception or waiting for a caveat, instead I found two dark orbs staring at me with a slight smile on his lips. I tried to formulate words, but they didn't come. I only looked at him incredulously until I blurted out my gut's worry, "But what about Asuna?" my voice quivering with fear. His eyes widened a bit and I closed my eyes and hugged his chest, scared to hear him confirm my fears.

"What about her? We're on the Assault team together, but she's got her guild to run, I know you two are friends and all, but we can't bring her along." I doubted my ears and despite my better judgement, I pressed on, "But won't she…mind…you…going out with me?" I couldn't have phrased that any worse if I had tried.

He pulled away from me and stared at me with a mix of incredulousness and curiosity. "She and I met at the first boss fight, but she's just a friend of mine." His mind was churning behind his dark eyes and I felt my entire chest get thrown into an emotional rut again, did he really just say what I thought he said? I couldn't bring myself to ask again, I wanted to ride on this hope forever.

Just as I was starting to churn questions in my mind, Kirito put his arm around me and started to move me towards the road; I melted into his embrace.

"Come on now, there's a trio of guys waiting for you at your shop," he wore a teasing smile, "it'd be rude to keep them waiting Lisss-beth." I wanted to punch him and kiss him simultaneously. Instead I managed to change the subject, knowing all too well it was probably Ryou, Zaki, and Gaya getting ready to demand an explanation. "So…when can we go on another adventure?" my voice was filled with hope and trepidation, careful to not read too much into his words, but also overjoyed at learning more about his life.

"Well I gotta hunt a bit with the Assault team, but I should be free later this week, does that work?" I wanted to remind him of my earlier request, to become his personal blacksmith, but I didn't need to.

"I can bring some of my other gear when I stop by if you want," he paused before adding with a smirk, "Miss Exclusive Blacksmith."

I jabbed him playfully in his side, burying my face into his side, my voice quiet but also deeply happy, "Don't forget it now, you'll always be welcome at my shop."

A/N: So I basically more than doubled my word count with this chapter. This chapter took me forever to complete, real life responsibilities didn't help either. For starters, I had to go and watch the episode for nearly an hour to actually transcribe all the dialogue. As you can tell I am trying to stick to canon, but here is where it will start to diverge. Don't expect chapters this long ever again. I had seriously contemplated splitting this chapter into several parts, but seeing as everyone knows what happens in this chapter, I wanted to really get done in one go. Again, other chapters have had several typos fixed and things rephrased. Don't worry, nothing major, you might even struggle to pick up on all the changes, but I promise you, I am striving for quality. I will be rewriting some chapters, namely number 2, as I get better at varying my sentence structure.

As always Read and Review!