Okay, this is really bad. I had not even worked on this chapter until this weekend. And I have more chores than ever... So sorry(even though it'll probably be repeated over again in other chapters) and I promise now that i have a little more time, I will work on this story and try to update it regularly(Saturdays or Sundays).

I want to say thank you to all my reviewers, followers, and people who have favorited this story. I also got some encouraging reviews so thank you to:

fortseque

Shadeslayers of Chosen Ones

S.H.E.N.K.A.I.N.000

shypuppylover19

Otaku of Anime

the real kirito

Matzukaze Tenma

HumanAvianHybrdsRock

kirito27

Now onto the new chapter!

(Oh btw, DISCLAIMER: I never have and never will own SAO. All rights go to the creator of it.)

Summary: What if when Heathcliff gave Kirito the opportunity to fight him he instead captured Kirito, taking him to the Ruby palace as well. Kirito's friends are devastated thinking him gone, almost as if he were dead. Asuna takes charge of the Knights of the Blood Oath Guild and begins to restart the energy of the other players to fight again. Kirito, meanwhile, sits completely bored out of his mind, watching that world in his lonely prison room in the Ruby Palace. Akihito Kayaba then offers him a deal, a deal Kirito can't refuse.

Chapter Three:

A Kitten, Deals, and Letters

Kirito was in awe. The Ruby Palace was so amazing there weren't any words to describe it. He ran his hand over the wall as they walked trying to feel for any creases or mistakes. He hadn't found any yet and they hadn't even entered the first of the main structure. Kirito knew Kayaba was watching his reaction closely and Kirito could not only see him starting to smirk but could feel the waves pride coming off Kayaba. Suddenly, claws dug into his neck.

"Ah, ow, ow, OW!" Kirito yelped as he tried to get the kitten off his neck. It cried and curled around his neck, purring as Kirito's hands were around it. Kirito struggled to unlatch its claws from his skin and put it in his coat pocket without making it scratch him anymore. He sighed in relief when the kitten nodded off to sleep in his pocket.

Kayaba chuckling made Kirito remember where he was.

"Well it looks like another bug got into the system." Kayaba commented.

Kirito merely glared and kept following.

"Oh come now Kirito, don't you want to know all about the palace?

Kirito had to bite back a retort and a bunch of questions which made his face make an expression like he'd eaten something sour.

Kayaba frowned. "Then let it be your way. We have many more floors in this castle to go."

Kirito didn't answer and instead let his mind wander. What was Asuna doing now that he was gone and Heathcliff was Kayaba? What about Silica? Was Lisbeth's blacksmithing going good? And Klein, how were he and his guild holding up? Were they even still alive? Why was he feeling pain?

"So Kayaba, why can I feel physical pain when I shouldn't be able to due to the system?" Kirito asked, after deciding that wasn't to bad of a dangerous question.

"I'm going to guess that it's because you're on a floor not unlocked and the system wants you somehow to be punished. I don't entirely know as of right now." Kayaba answered. He didn't even look at Kirito.

"Oh."

They walk in silence, only their footsteps could be heard echoing in the halls. Then, something caught Kirito's eye from the window. He turned his head to look out the large, crystal, windows lining the hallway. A greenish blue bright light appear revealing an image of a monster before it shattered like someone had defeated it.

"Monster spawning?" Kirito questioned without looking away.

Kayaba turned his head and walked over to the window. "Ah yes, those I activated early."

"Why?" Kirito asked. "This floor hasn't been unlocked."

A smile tugged on Kayaba's face. "I need to keep up my fighting skills somehow."

Kirito muttered under his breath and followed Kayaba as he turned to continue down the halls of the Ruby Palace. Kayaba took him on a maze of a castle, going by hundreds of different closed doors, rooms, and lonely hallways. At one point, they had reached the first floor of the palace but had taken a different stairway up. It had gotten so confusing, Kirito gave up trying to remember how to get everywhere and Kayaba's comments on what was what began to fall on deaf ears.

It wasn't long after this that they reached what Kirito could obviously assume was the throne room. The huge doors reminded him of boss rooms, with the decorations of swords, crowns, and many other things he wasn't able to see. Kirito wished he could look at the doors longer since it was so complex and interesting but Kayaba had opened them and went in. Kirito sighed and walked into the huge room. It, surprisingly was not bathed in red light like the hallways and other rooms in the palace. It was still made out of ruby but there was more gold and other precious stones and minerals that decorated the room. Four huge chandeliers hung from the ceiling, all made of different things but lighting the room by their hundreds of candles that were giving off different colors of light.

"Ahem." Kirito snapped his head to the end of the room where Kayaba was sitting on a ruby throne that reminded Kirito of a star ruby*. Kirito walked over, trying to ignore the smirk on Kayaba's face.

"So, what is this 'deal'?" Kirito inquired crossing his arms.

"Exactly what it sounds like Kirito. A deal." Kayaba answered.

Kirito groaned. "I was wondering what it was about, Kayaba."

A chuckle reverberated throughout the large room. "Yes, yes. Right to the point then. The deal I am offering is simple. You can go back into the players' world but you cannot speak to them, fight with them, or help them, and you must do everything and anything I ask you to do."

Kirito hesitated. He knew waiting for Asuna and everyone else was going to take a long time, maybe a whole nother year, and sitting around in that little room was going to drive him insane. But at the same time, if he were going to go back into their lives he wanted to talk to them, interact with them without having to abide by Kayaba's rules. He also was sceptical of what Kayaba might want him to do. Kirito knew his answer.

"I decline Kayaba." Kayaba didn't hide the shock from his face. "There's no way I'm going out into that world without at least letting them know I'm alive."

Kayaba frowned, the shock disappearing and disappointment now beginning to surface. "I was hoping you'd agree."

"As if." Kirito scoffed.

Kayaba sighed and slouched a little. "Fine. Have it your way. And because I don't want an insane player in my palace, you are free to roam the castle."

Kirito gaped. "Seriously?" Kayaba nodded. "Cool!"

"Yes. Also Kirito," Kayaba addressed the boy as he was walking out, "I have left a couple items in your room. I believe you will find them helpful."

Kirito nodded, turned, and left the room. The huge doors slammed behind him, making him jump and breaking his thoughts on what Kayaba had said. Walking away, Kirito debated whether to explore or go to his room. As much as he was curious about the palace, he'd rather see what the items Kayabe had mentioned were. Breaking into a run, Kirito started to map the way back to his room, struggling to find the right hallways and rooms he remembered from the walk down.

Finally he found it, the door open, desk chair on the ground, and the sheets on the bed crinkled. Picking the chair up he sat down and took the sleeping kitten out of his pocket. It purred and blinked at him sleepily before stretching and jumping off his hands and onto the ground, sniffing the drawers. Kirito shook his head in amusement then began to open a drawer in the desk. When he opened it, he was startled to see paper. Then, grinning, he grabbed a bunch of them and searched the other drawers for pencils, pen, or anything else to write with. Once he found them he began to write.

Asuna,

I love you. I'm alive and missing you like crazy. Don't worry about me, just make sure you stay alive and….

Once again, I'm super sorry about not updating way sooner. My summer has been really crazy, more than I anticipated. My sisters and I are doing something now were we set aside two hours for something we want to improve or work on so hopefully I can work on this fic. Either way i hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review or pm me. Constructive criticism is always welcome and if you have any questions I'll be happy to answer them without spoiling the story!

*A star ruby is a ruby with three white lines making a six-line-star-shape. Really pretty, go look it up.

Oh I also need a name for the kitten. And don't just give a name, please tell why and what gender you'd prefer. Thankz!

Next Chapter:

Chapter 4

Explorations and Agreements