Author's Note: Ok second story is up. I know this was up two days ahead of schedule, but that was for memory's sake. Thank you for all the positive support. This story is not as good as the prior story, as it is more complex.

It seems I wasn't clear in the first chapter, as only half of the readers it seems understood the concept of these stories. This is a Multiple Alternate Possibilities Story (MAP story) and has some odd characteristics. Firstly, there will be a poll after the final story is posted. This poll will ask for popular vote for the stories. The winner will (probably) be expanded beyond the preview. The best way to describe this system is you see 3 previews for a film/play/book etc. and the audience chooses which one they want to continue.

That said, you will have to wait one more month to vote. There will be three (3) stories at the end. Each story will have a different pairing. You can probably guess what this one and the next are. Given the reaction to the Sachi story, it may win with a wide margin. Again, each story will contain a different pairing.

Those people (like myself) who hate Asuna to be stereotypical and weak later on, guess story negates that. It follows a different version where they start dating earlier, that was just a phase, so here is story two.

Notice, if you didn't read the author's note, read it now, or you might be confused.

I glanced around, surrounded by hundreds of other players. I was walking towards the center of a large roman styled arena. In the center stood my opponent. Ironclad in red and white armor, the man stood there like a wall. "Hello, Heathcliff"

Glancing behind me I glanced at her, a young girl around my age with a long rapier sheathed to her side. Her long orange hair flowed behind her worried look. Her name was Asuna.

We had met on floor one during an incident where she was over using her linear skill, and I invited her to the old house where I was staying. There was a minor problem when Argo came over, and tried to take a bath.

We fought as a team during the first boss battle. After our separation on floor one she had gotten stronger, and we finished the boss battle after the leader was killed. That day, everything changed for me. I had noticed an alteration from the guidebook, and called out. I was too late. Illfang bounced around the room and ended a life. A beta hunter, friends with the perished Diabel accused me of withholding information, an utter lie, but enough for the tide to turn against the beta testers.

I had to act fast to avoid the persecution of beta testers. That's when my life changed forever. With the growing hated behind me I laughed maliciously. The mob was caught by my attitude. I denounced the other testers, and took the blame. I became the beater, and was the enemy of all. After that I vanished, unfindable, and against all. I got my martial arts skill, leveled up, and avoided guilds.

Then everything changed.

The Moonlit Black Cats, a Mid-Level guild I saved, and intended to abandon them as soon as they hit higher levels.

But then there was her, a girl paralyzed by fear of death, I swore I would protect her. I lied about my level, and the beater tale as well.

They let me join, and that would be their end. Five lives ended, because I failed.

It was on floor 27, when the secret room opened. The room of graves. The chest opened, the door shut, and 4 died. The leader then killed himself.

Such began the hell of my existence, knowing every damn day I failed.

However, on floor 35, yet another entered my life.

It was soon after the floor 30 boss battle. I was leaving, heading out to explore the newly revealed floor 31, that's when things changed yet again.

FB

"Kirito, can I ask you something?" The orange haired girl questioned me. "You ... Want to get diner?" She said quietly, shy like Sachi, the girl I failed.

"Just hang out, sure Asuna" I replied with a minor misconception, thinking of it differently. I had let one die, I can't let her perish the same.

"No ... Not as friends, as ... you know." She said with that same nervous voice.

I was taken back, not expecting her to mean it like that, but for some reason, I was not opposed to the idea. "Are you sure, you are the vice commander of the knights, and I'm a beater, that may cause problems."

"It'll be fine, I'm sure" Asuna said with little hesitation.

After about five minutes she started to get nervous, "ne..." She tried to begin, but I cut her off. "Sure, where to?"

End FB

We began there, and the ride has been turbulent, we have fought, made up, and fought again. That was over one year ago, when it all began. For a short time she was emotional, but got over that phase swiftly. Now she is the strong determined girl I remember yet again.

Snapping back into the present I faced my opponent. "What duel would you like, Yellow-zone?"

Thinking for a second, although that is the best gauge, there is also more risk, had things been different I would have accepted.

"I would prefer first strike, neither of us should take such a chance yet, I'll wait for the final boss." When I said this Heathcliff scowled, like his chances just dropped infinitely.

"Very well, shall we begin?" He asked, sending me a challenge.

Clicking the accept button, I drew my blades back, as Heathcliff readied himself. The time clicked down, and the duel began.

I charged in, attacking in a coordinated effort, every time blocked by the massive shield. Faster. Striking blow after blow, some grazing his HP bar from force. I jumped back, and Heathcliff charged and I jumped up and over. The match should have ended there. While performing downward crescent I should have hit him in the head or even his back, but the blue glow stopped as it hit Heathcliff's shield. A sword flew at me, and as fast as I could I moved to block it. My dual blades half collapsed in, and I flew, 45 percent of my Health gone. His HP, however was at 87 percent, nothing would put him into the yellow zone shy of a boss.

I charged in, attacking as fast as I could, but still I needed to be faster. My swords glowed yellow, exploding out in all directions. "Lightning Rain" the following strikes slowed his shield for the instant I needed. "Great Beast" Vertical; Horizontal; Down Right; Down Left. My black blade, glowing scarlet red flew about, striking three times at first.

The final strike hit his shield, just the same as the others. The blade pulsed a blood color and the shield was blown off course. I attacked a usual vertical, but knew this wasn't it. As I thought, the shield came, faster than the game, but I was ready. My sword was caught, and I drove it down, throwing me above his counter.

In the air I turned and threw two strikes at Heathcliff. One blade from above, one from behind. He turned faster than ever, and blocked that sole strike to the head but just then a falling blade grazed his back. His Health, stopping just above the yellow stopped. All of a sudden I was illuminated by a winner icon.

Heathcliff glared at me, as if I was a child who broke the rules.

That's when Asuna approached me. There was a light in her eyes I hadn't seen before. Was it ... Tears?

"Are you crying, Asuna?" I asked jokingly.

"n-n-NO" She yelled at me "You must be seeing things"

I laughed "yes, you are, you are really that emotional." I said poking fun, "and here I thought you were over that phase."

She gave me a death glare, "I wasn't crying Kirito" she said getting ready to draw her rapier.

I raised my hands to surrender, and she backed down. "Still, love you, you big dummy" she said jokingly.

The Next Day

I was in the middle of floor 75, waiting on Asuna for a day of exploring the new dungeon. It was a complex and spacious maze, with many safe zones. I was waiting outside a divergence tunnel. There is a safe zone behind me, and three tunnels in front of me. I heard footsteps behind me, and started to turn.

Just then a small dagger struck me in the arm, and I fell limp to the floor. On my health bar I saw that my health decreased by 10, but there was a small icon by it, in the shape of a thunderbolt.

I was paralyzed, and started to reach for an antidote crystal, only to have it kicked away by a red and white boot. Looking up I saw a sinister face of an old enemy. On a usually gloved hand I saw a sick sight, the emblem of the ex-Laughing Coffin Guild. Looking again, I confirmed who it was.

"Kuradeel" I growled.

He grinned a murderous grin. "Ready to die, Kirito?"

Meanwhile

The girl with orange hair was wandering about in a dungeon. "Only about a two minute walk now" she said. Then she saw a group of people fighting as a group. The group was all equipped with red armor. She jogged over to the leader, a young guy named Klein.

"Hey there, need some help?" She said with a grin, making him drool.

"Sure Asuna, thanks" He replied after wiping his mouth.

She exploded into action swiftly dropping two monsters, leaving a storm of rainbow shards in her wake. Within seconds the monsters were eliminated, and the Fuurinkazan were resting.

"So, Asuna, what are you doing, just grinding?" Klein asked.

"Yeah, I am meeting Kirito here soon, what are you doing?" She responded.

"Same, but can we come with you, Kirito gave me an item on floor 50, and I haven't used it, so I am going two return it." Klein said elaborately.

"Sure, but you have be quick, this is supposed to be a date." Asuna said with a smile.

They fought forward, and within a couple minutes were healing in a safe zone.

"Our meeting point is just ahead, Klein. Remember, you leave immediately." Asuna pestered

"Yeah, yeah, good thing too, we just ran out of healing items, I only have an antidote crystal left. We will leave immediately." He responded with actual sincerity.

"Well let's go" Asuna said as she walked through the exit of the Safe Zone.

They walked on through, and into a disturbing scene. Kirito's HP was in the red zone, with a murderous Kuradeel above him. A blade in Kirito's chest. Asuna accelerated forward with the speed of the gods.

In a flash Kuradeel was blown down, and about 3 meters back.

At the same time Klein sprinted forward, and knelt down. Pulling out a crystal, he yelled cure. The green box exploded, and the paralysis left him.

In a flurry of blades Kuradeel's HP dropped into the red.

"No, I don't wan't to die, mercy, please" the man screamed.

This caused Asuna to pause, just for a single instant.

Kuradeel swung his sword up, and shattered Lambent Light, Asuna's rapier. Then with a power skilled, hacked at Asuna's HP. Klein, who was still shocked, felt a little prick. A blade had stunned him, at least for 30 seconds, and Asuna was falling into the red zone.

"Dammit" she said, "I can't leave Kirito or Klein."

"Time to die, goodbye, I always loathed you, you bitch." Kuradeel exclaimed.

Everything slowed down, Asuna was knocked out of the way, and Kuradeel's blade connected with a black cape.

"I love you Asuna, goodbye" Kirito said with a broad smile. "Survive"

And just like that he exploded into shards of rainbow glass.

Author's Note: YES! Story two is done, and guess what. CLIFFHANGER (again)

Ok, everyone can likely guess who the next story will pair with Kirito. Again, I know my writing is not as good as most of the long SAO writers, and is quite bland compared to others. One more story, and I hope to be quite punctual yet again. Hopefully it will be up ON the 20th of April, and the conclusion (depending on how many votes) on the 20th of either May or June.

I know my grammar has not improved, and I still am not very good at writing, but I am working on a personal style, and I hopefully will improve.

{The pairings are in order of my personal favorites. (Sachi, Strong [non canon] Asuna, unrevealed, Canon)}

Please review and follow, those of you who wanted story one to continue now, say so. Also if anyone has individual story name suggestions, please tell me.

Please review, and until 4/20/14, bye.