Hey Guys, just a quick note to explain where I'm coming from for this chapter:

-if you are familiar with the character of Kizmel (from the SAO Progressive series), you'll know that she has an incredibly advanced AI. I thought it would be cool to allow that certain type of enemies (in this case Orcs) would have a similar style of AI in them too, allowing them to feel some emotions and be intimidated by players, as well as retaining a memory of their previous encounters with players (kind of like Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor) making them more individual and unique enemies to face instead of just the usual canon fodder

-We're going off of the basis that Kirito and Asuna, although they live and fight separately, encounter and fight alongside each other every now and again (in boss battles and on random adventures), and are still pretty close in the lead-up to The Sword Dance of Black and White Anime episode

Anyway hope you guys enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 1 / The Black Swordsman:

-Two Months Ago-

Patience. It's supposed to be a virtue, or so Asuna, also known as the Lightning Flash, had been told. She could see her small party of Knights of the Blood Oath players growing restless. They were currently staking out a camp of Orcs in preparation for an attack. The loot and experience was too good an opportunity to miss.

The Orcs were oblivious to their presence, continuing with their programmed routines as the guild members watched on. Now was as good a time to attack as any, while they still had the element of surprise. Asuna opened her mouth to speak, ready to give the order for the players to attack, when an Orc suddenly let out a squeal of terror.

The guild froze, searching for the source of the squeal, had they been discovered? Asuna tensed up as the Orc camp suddenly went wild, fear spreading throughout their ranks as they began to draw their weapons and…turn away from them?

The Lightning Flash was confused, gazing on in bewilderment as the Orcs turned their backs to her group, closing ranks in a defensive formation. The Orc commanders were shouting orders to their troops, rallying them together when a lone figure burst through the middle of their ranks, taking two unfortunate enemies with them as he went on the offensive, slashing through any npc who dared to get close to them. Asuna observed the newcomer: one-handed sword, no shield, alone, dressed all in black…she sighed. Who else would it have been? Kirito the Black Swordsman was here…

The Knights of the Blood Oath watched on as Kirito fought in a frenzy, anger and determination pouring out of him as cut through the Orcs one by one. A single enemy fled the fight, attempting to escape but instead running straight into Asuna's group, coming to a halt before them as it noticed the group of high-level players blocking its path.

The Orc backed away, falling to the floor before them, weeping in fear. Asuna had never seen an npc react so emotionally before. She knew that certain characters in the game obtained emotional complexity, such as her friend Kizmel the Dark Elf, but she had never seen a hostile npc of this type. She looked around her guild members to find the same sense of surprise on their faces that she was feeling herself. The Orc continued to cower before them, begging for mercy as the distant sounds of battle slowly faded. Asuna looked up to see Kirito finishing off the last of the Orcs, watching as they exploded into bright blue shards of light, signifying their defeat. The Black Swordsman strode over, ignoring the Lightning Flash and her party as he raised his sword to point at the final Orc trembling before him.

"Two days ago a player came through these woods. She was alone, with a one-handed sword and teal coloured hair." Kirito paused, giving the Orc a moment to visualise the woman before continuing, "I hear your group attacked her…" He raising his sword threateningly, fury resonating on his face, "where…did…she…go?"

"I…don't know! I don't know! I never saw a female like that before!" The Orc whined, desperately trying to look anywhere but Kirito's enraged face. Asuna had never seen him so furious before. He was beginning to scare her.

Kirito stared on, his eyes fixed on the Orc, his sword still raised.

"Okay, okay!" The enemy whined, beginning to sound desperate, "the female came through here two days ago, as you said. We attacked her, but she was strong. She got away…" Kirito's eyes hardened, so the Orc continued, "She shouldn't have gotten too far though, we hurt her pretty bad! She should be easy for you to finish…"

"You harmed her?!" Kirito interjected, his voice going dangerously low, dripping with barely-supressed anger as he pressed the tip of his blade against the terrified Orc's throat.

The Orc squealed, fearing for its life. Asuna could see why, it had misinterpreted Kirito's prior reaction, assuming that he was after the lone player himself. Asuna sighed in relief, relaxing slightly at this new revelation.

"No…no…we didn't harm her too badly…she…uh…she managed to make it to the safety of the town! It's…uh…west of here…" the Orc trailed off, awaiting the swordsman's reaction in dread.

The Lightning Flash and her guild watched on, frozen, as Kirito slowly lowered his sword, exclaiming: "You'd better hope that I find her alive, or…" he trailed off, possibly from the fear behind that thought, unable to finish threat.

The Orc quickly got up, scampering away as quickly as its limbs could carry it. Asuna approached Kirito as he sheathed his blade, apprehension appearing on his face as he finally registered that she was there.

"What's going on Kirito?" Asuna asked as she stopped in front of him, getting straight to the point. "Who is this woman you're looking for?"

The Black Swordsman met her eyes with a worried expression. "Adira…" he started, "…she's a…friend." He stuttered, seeming to find it difficult to express. "Her name was greyed out on my friends list a few days ago…I've been trying to find her ever since…" He fell into silence.

A friend? She knew that someone considered to be a friend was something special to Kirito, and that he would do anything for them, but that didn't stop her stomach from twisting slightly as the words came out of his mouth. She shook her head. That didn't matter now.

"Can't you find her on your map?" She asked, meeting his eyes with her own.

"Ever since her name was greyed out on my friends list, I haven't been able to interact with her in any way through my menu." He said, worrying seeping into his words. He looked down to the floor, his facial expression seeming to age him. "She's being hunted..."

Asuna tenderly reached out and grabbed his face in her hands, bringing his eyes back to up to her level. She gazed into them deeply, observing how exhausted he looked.

"How long has it been since you last slept?" She questioned lightly. He gave no answer. "How long?..."

Kirito mumbled something, hoping she would drop it, but Asuna wasn't taking no for an answer. She shot him a stern look, making him feel even more intimidated than the Orc that he had been questioning moments ago. "Five days…I think…" he finally answered.

Asuna felt her heart stretch slightly in sympathy, he looked so tired she could hardly believe that he was still standing. This woman must be quite special to him, she thought to herself. She was suddenly aware that her hands were still holding his face. She gently pulled them away.

Kirito stood still for a while, seemingly finding her presence comforting, but soon he began to slowly move away. Asuna's face dropped slightly as he pulled away, causing him to hesitate.

"She's being hunted Asuna," he said, turning back to face her, "there's a dangerous group of monsters after her and she's alone…I…I can't stop until she's safe…"

Asuna awkwardly stared back at him, unsure of what to say. After a moment that seemed like forever, he turned away once more and began to head west.

"What do we do?" one of her guild members asked her, breaking the silence.

"I…I don't know…"