TheKaiSenpai doesn't own SAO or anything else used here, and this is just something he does when he's bored.

XXXXX

Chapter 2: Cowardice

[Floor One] [Tolbana, The Hearty Mug Inn] [December 1st, 2022] [7:30 AM] [DaTa]

I sighed, taking a long sip of my hot chocolate. It was pretty brisk outside at this time of day, and the fireplace in the corner of the inn did little for most of the room. It was something realistic that I'd wished Kayaba had made a little less so. Still, outside would be nice and warm later on. I glanced at the streets, which were already beginning to bustle with life. Vendors opening their shops. Human [Apprentices] learning their crafts from said vendors. Aya had passed through not an hour before, stopping to grab some breakfast before heading down to the street corner where she would be 'learning' how to play the violin. While she was apparently an expert musician in real life, there was a difference between playing in the game, and real life. The same with all crafts. Kai had even joked that he might take up piano again.

As the day began, more and more players came down to the first floor of the inn to grab breakfast, then head out to [Grind]. Asuna had been out particularly long the day before, so I decided to let her grab some extra hours of sleep. I finished my drink, and headed outside, nearly shivering in the colder morning air. I found myself wandering to the central plaza, where small-time shops had opened up for basic weapons and materials. Since the beginning of the game, several [Guilds] had also popped up. They were small for the most part, but I recognized the [Aincrad Liberation Force] and the [Holy Dragon Army]. There were a few other small [Guilds] that caught my eye, but nothing too special. It costed a decent amount of Col to start a guild, and a starting membership of at least three players. I grinned, seeing as Kai had already set up a table around the small courtyard. [The Hopeful Foxes] was the name of his guild, with his fiancé and some other girl standing beside him. Well, to call her a girl would be untrue. She was a woman who looked just a bit older than Kai. She was quite pretty, with black hair in a hime-style cut, and piercing bright red eyes that seemed to give off the appearance of royalty. She stood almost like a statue, rigid, a two-handed battleaxe under her control. The head was resting perpendicular to the ground, but ready to be swung at a moment's notice. The part that surprised me, though, was that she was smaller than Kai. Even Aya was taller than the Thai man.

"Come and join us!" he shouted enthusiastically. "All new members get a free meal, all expenses paid by me!" Aya giggled at her fiancé's shouting, before finally seeing me and waving me over. I smiled and walked over to the table. Kai's eyes met mine. "Hey, little buddy! Guess what? I've already got five members in my guild!"

"Really? You managed to snag three weirdos who want anything to do with you?" I asked him with a sly tone. He chuckled and shrugged.

"Well, I think it has more to do with the lovely ladies standing beside me," he admitted. "Aya-chan's pretty convincing when she needs to be. Oh! And this is Amako!" He gestured to the stern looking woman. "Say hi, Amako."

"Greetings."

"Ain't she a ray of sunshine?" he grinned widely when he said those words, but anyone could tell it was forced. "That's been, like, her seventh word all day." He jumped on the table and stared at Amako, his eyes squinted as he glared at the woman. "Speeeeeaaaaaak!" Amako frowned and punched the man, sending him flying across the courtyard. His body slammed into the fountain in the middle. While both man and object were unharmed, Kai seemed dazed and dizzy. "Daaaaamn she's strong as fuck…" Aya couldn't stop her giggles, and was releasing full blown laughter. It was a pretty laugh, if someone could call laughter that. Not really obnoxious or anything.

"K-K-K-Kai-kun! Are you ok?" the lime haired woman's laughter was interrupting her speech. She had run over to her fiancé's side, holding him in her arms. She did nothing to reprimand Amako, though. This was probably a common occurrence. "You dummy! This is the fourth time she's done this. Don't you get tired of it?"

"Meh, not like it hurts at all," Kai replied, standing up slowly, brushing the dust off of his shoulders. "Besides, we're bestest friends, right Amako?"

"Don't refer to me as that," Amako replied in a serious tone. I could see it, the coldness in her eyes. She didn't want to enjoy life here. She didn't want to make friends. She wanted to either win this game, or die. She was what Asuna would have become if I hadn't interfered. She was hurting, and was hiding it behind an icy exterior.

"DaTa," a feminine voice called out behind me. I turned around, spotting Asuna in the crowd. Her eyes were locked on me, furious. I had completely forgotten I'd left her in the room. I grimaced. "Where the hell were you! When I woke up you were nowhere to be found!" She had grabbed my shoulders and was shaking me, making me stumble when she finally released me. The auburn-haired girl glanced around her. "Wha- a [Guild] showing? Are we joining a [Guild]?"

"Actually…" I started, "I was thinking of forming one. Maybe later on, but Kai here has one started." I glanced at the man who was back behind his table, chatting amiably with some guy that was only a little older than myself. "He's been pretty busy, and has a decent starting amount of members." I looked back towards Asuna. I pursed my lips, looking between her and [The Knights of the Blood Oath]. I froze. It was him. His armor and weapons were different, but it was undeniable. It was Heathcliff. I sighed, my brain formulating a plan. I knew who he really was. And I wanted this game to go fully to the end. I wouldn't sacrifice anyone I cared about to end it early. But when he made his reveal… his [Guild] would need a leader. I glanced at Asuna once more, her expression turning to concern.

"Hey, are you alright?" she asked cautiously. "You seem kind of out of it." I waved her off.

"I'm fine," I told her. No. I'd save her another day with me. Just… until the boss room. Then I'd let her go. "Hey, let's take today off, alright? We're both [Level] eleven, so we should be fine for the boss room whenever we find it. How about we go shopping and grab something to eat? On me." Asuna sent me a skeptical look.

"You… have never offered that before…" she noticed aloud. "What's going on?" I gave her a cheeky grin and took her hand. "H-Hey! Let go!"

"C'mon, Asuna! Let's live a little!" I took off down the street, ignoring the curious looks sent our way. I essentially dragged her with me as I forced her to have a good time. The day couldn't possibly have been long enough. While she was worried at first, it slowly gave way to her having fun and enjoying our time together. For me? Well, I loved spending time with my friends. I hadn't been able to do this so often in any of my lives. I felt happy, truly happy, for the first time since I'd come to this world. When the sun set, and we returned to the inn, we both found a corner by the fireplace and sat together on a rather small couch. She was sat up in a proper posture, while I was a bit more relaxed, slumped over. Both of us had a book in hand from the bookstore we found in town. Kayaba was an amazing programmer, having included different novels from all over the world. His insight for detail was unparalleled.

After about an hour, Asuna let out a yawn. The soft chatter of the inn barely overtaking the crackle of the fireplace. I was relaxed. I was happy. And come tomorrow, I would leave this type of life for a very long time. Despite wanting to make my own life happy, I knew Asuna wouldn't learn to be truly strong as she was with me. She needed a position of power to become independent in action and thought. Right now, she was reliant on me. It would hurt her when we left the game. So I had to push her to the [KoB].

"Are you tired?" I asked Asuna as she placed her book back into her inventory. The girl let out an affirmative hum as she stretched, laying her head on my shoulder.

"DaTa?" she asked softly. I shifted my shoulder so it's make a better pillow for her. A bit hard when your shoulder was as bony and rather skinny like mine. I was by no means heavily muscled. "What's your favorite animal?" A bit of a random question.

"Why do you ask?" I inquired the girl. I heard her growl.

"Just answer me, you idiot," she grumbled. I thought for a moment. Throughout all my lives, my favorite animal had changed. But… I suppose the one I loved the most, and had held over through time and space was…

"Foxes," I said, making her snort.

"Really? You mean like Kai's [Guild]?" she asked through slight giggles. "Jeez, is it really? What a coincidence!"

"Yeah… coincidence…" I muttered under my breath. If she heard me, she didn't say anything.

"I've always really liked dogs…" Asuna told me after a moment. "Corgi's in particular. They're so cute with their stubby little legs and innocent face!" I remembered a particular corgi that had a penchant for trouble. "I asked my mother for a dog, once. She said that I wasn't responsible enough for one… I mean, I was only ten when I asked her. Even my brother told me that maybe I could get one when I was older." She paused, looking up at me. "Looking back, I think they were right. I don't think I'm ready for a dog yet, even now." Her gaze swept back to the fireplace in front of us. She didn't speak another word. After a few minutes, I heard her soft snores from beside me. I chuckled and picked her up in a princess carry. While for most people, the system would force her awake and send her a harassment notice, I was exempt. The game came with privacy and trust settings; in which you could allow certain players to touch you in certain ways. She had enabled me to carry her, and I'd done the same for her.

I carried my partner to the floor above, and into our room. I laid her in the only bed we had. After a rather bad nightmare in which she would not explain to me, Asuna had demanded that we share a bed. Fully clothed, of course. Still, I'd become her makeshift pillow. Oddly enough, her nightmares had become less common after. While every so often she'd still wake up in a cold sweat and breathing heavily, it was more along the lines of once or twice a week now, as opposed to almost every night. I wondered, in the back of my head as I laid in bed with her, about what her nightmares were about. Slowly, I drifted off into the realm of sleep. My own haunts plaguing me.

XXXXX

[Floor One] [Tolbana, The Hearty Mug Inn] [December 2nd, 2022] [4:37 AM] [Asuna]

I woke with a start, immediately sitting up in bed, feeling hot and sweaty. I couldn't remember what the nightmare was about. I never could. But I knew that they hurt. They scared me. I knew that whatever they were about, they were enough to make me cry when I woke from them. Thankfully, the tears weren't there this time. I felt empty, hollow. Like I'd lost someone important to me. It took me several minutes to regain my breath, but I managed. After glancing around the room and checking the time, I laid back down. I closed my eyes, wrapping my arms around the young man beside me. His body was so warm, yet so small at the same time. In the darkness, I could feel he was smaller than me. I could see his face, even from behind my closed eyes. I smiled, knowing how ridiculous it was to have memorized a face of someone I barely knew. But did I really? I mean, after a month it had to be impossible not to know the face of the man who saved you. That silky black hair that shined in the sunlight. The eyes of a madman who held so much love and excitement, but held it back for some reason. Sure, he and I teased one another every so often, but I could tell he wanted to say more than he let out.

I brought my hand to his face, tracing the normally creamy skin, and his rather effeminate features. He almost looked like a girl at first glance, but only if you looked for a moment. His facial structure was definitely male. They looked almost Anglo-Saxon in certain lights. His nose was longer, and a bit upturned. His eyes weren't angled like other Japanese. But his jawline was unmistakably Asian.

"Thank you…" I whispered, pulling myself closer to him. I felt safe around him. Maybe it was silly, but he had such an open view of the world around him, even in such a game like this. He took time to relax. To live. Even in a virtual hell, he didn't let it stop him from enjoying life. It was almost like he considered this world as just as real as the outside. And somehow, he'd made me the same way. I hummed contemplatively as I remembered us reading in front of the fireplace downstairs, and I realized something. At that time, I felt it. I felt what he must have. The warmth of the fire, and the chill of the tavern air. The dim lighting, but not so dark it was hard to read in. I felt the paper under my fingers as I turned each page. I felt the leather of the book he had bought for me. And most importantly, I felt him. The little fidgets he made to give me more comfort. The warmth of his body. The softness of his skin. I felt him. Not just some avatar in a virtual world. And I loved him for it. "For helping me feel alive…"

"Mmm, go back to sleep, Asuna…" he grumbled, shifting just a bit so my head was resting on his forearm. I opened my eyes, staring at the dark brown ones looking back at me. "It's too early to have an epiphany… Besides, we have to be ready for later…" I frowned a bit. As much as I loved him, I still barely knew a thing about him, or the cryptic words he'd speak. He tried to hide it, but I could see that he knew more than he let on. Like the phrase he just said. He knew something was coming. He always did. We'd always been ahead of the curve when it came to [Levels], but he'd insisted that we wait for the other players to get to [Tolbana] before we came ourselves. I decided not to ask right now. He was right, it was too early for this. Still… I'd have plenty of time to ask him later.

XXXXX

[Floor One] [Tolbana, Town Theatre] [December 2nd, 2022] [2:30 PM] [DaTa]

I grunted as I sat down on the stone stairs/bleachers of the theater. Beside me, Asuna did the same. Today she was dressed in her battle gear, rather cheap leather clothing with a primarily white, red, and yellow color scheme. I'd bought it for her earlier in the day. I knew she'd need it for the next few days. Likewise with her new armor, I'd bought her a new rapier. While I was certain she'd gain another one that was even better later on, it was good to have a backup. I looked down at the blue-haired man, Diavel. He was standing beside an orange-haired boy with an angry look on his face. Diavel was doing his best to placate the boy, but was ultimately failing. I sighed when the boy, Kibaou, sat back down in the front row.

"Now then, if I can get everyone's attention, I'd like to begin this meeting!" Diavel spoke aloud, punctuating his words with a loud clap. I glanced over at a few moving forms just now taking their seats in the theater, Kai and his [Guild]. He glanced over at me and winked. So that was how it was, hm? I already knew that Diavel was pretty much asking for a huge search party to look for the [Field Boss] that guarded the [Labyrinth] on the floor. It would take a lot of effort, but I knew that by tomorrow, it would be found. Kai, on the other hand, was using this huge event to his advantage. He was smart. As the first [Guild] to make an effort to clear the game by facing the first [Floor Boss], they would make a name for themselves, and have a high amount of power among the other players in terms of respect. Even with only seven members, they showed themselves as a highly dependable group, even more so than the [KoB] would become later on.

Asuna seemed concerned about my wide grin, nudging me with a worried expression on her face. "Are you ok?" she asked in a hushed tone. I nodded in return, noticing Kirito sitting across the way on the other side of the theater. "Are you sure? You're drifting, again." I chuckle and gave her a wink, ignoring the blush that spread across her cheeks from me doing so.

"I'm fine. Let's get ready, I want to help them find the [Boss Room]," I told her, standing. I had noticed the others beginning to form [Parties] and start to leave under Diavel's lead. Kai and the rest of his [Guild] followed soon after. So there we were, around fifty players making their way through the streets of [Tolbana]. Players and [NPC's] alike turned to watch us. Perhaps they didn't know exactly what was going on, but they knew something was happening. Kai was enjoying the attention, waving to everyone and giving others high-fives. The only other person giving the other players any attention was Asuna. While she was trying to follow Kai's lead and wave to them, it was more of a nervous action than anything else. I rolled my eyes, chuckling to myself. This would be an experience.

XXXXX

[Floor One] [Tolbana, Boss Floor] [December 4th, 2022] [9:30 AM] [TheKaiSenpai]

"Promise me that you'll be careful…" Ayako whispered in my shoulder as she embraced me. I smiled, ruffling her hair, to which she made a sound of annoyance. "Seriously, mister. I'm not gonna be there to save your ass, so you'd better be careful, alright? I can't have you trying to get killed just to avoid marrying me!"

"Aww, you know I'd never do that, Aya-hime," I replied, giving her a light kiss on the cheek. "I'll be fine. Besides, I have to be a leader! If I can't survive, who'll run this [Guild]?" She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Besides you, of course." I sighed, feeling the weight pressing down on my shoulders. "I have to go. I love you, alright?" I told her, giving her a loving kiss. She returned in kind, holding me tightly against her. After a few seconds, she let me go, giving me a light glare.

"Don't you die on me, Kai-kun," she whispered. "I couldn't go on without you…" I winked, and left. Dick move? Probably. But if I didn't do something like that, we'd be there forever. Not only did I have a [Guild] to lead, but I had a responsibility to the players to get us all out of here. At least past the first floor, anyway. So out I walked, onto the busy streets. The members of the [Hopeful Foxes] had all agreed to meet at the [Raid Party] area. I shifted the heavy armor I'd gotten from a [Feral Imp Shaman] drop. It wasn't particularly rare, but would last me until the [Fifth Floor]. As I walked to the northern outskirts of [Tolbana], I checked my skills to ensure they were in order. [Heavy Metal Equipment]? Check. [One-Handed Sword]? Check. [Heavyweight Shield Equipment]? Check. I smirked, my kite-shield strapped to my arm, and longsword sheathed on my left hip. I was ready. It wasn't long until I came upon the rest of the forming [Raid Party]. So far everyone from my [Guild] was there, as well as Diavel, Kibaou, DaTa and Asuna, and some others whose, to be honest, names I'd forgotten. I grinned, waving over the six other members of the [Hopeful Foxes]. Amako, my Vice-Commander, was the first to come forward. She normally handled the actual members while I took care of the 'politics' and planning within the guild.

"Since we're the only [Party] of seven, we've been assigned point Group A, a [DPS] role. For those knew to gaming, [DPS] means [Damage Per Second]. We dish out a steady stream of damage onto the boss while other players draw attention as [Tanks], giving us the opening we need to attack." As I spoke, I met each of my [Guild] members' eyes. "Since my specific [Skill] and [Weapon Build] are more akin to that of a [Tank], Amako will be leading the [Guild] in my absence. I'll be helping support the other [Tanks], and fulfilling the role of [Raid Commander] alongside Diavel.

"Yes sir!" shouted my members in reply, each with a grin. Except Amako. Amako was as bored looking as ever.

"Let's kick some tail, foxes!"

"ROOOOAAAAAR!"

XXXXX

[DaTa]

"ROOOOAAAAAR!" I glanced over and chuckled as I watched Kai get his [Guild] pumped for the fight. He was pretty much trying to get rid of all of their fear before the fight. Not a bad tactic. Asuna, however, seemed unamused.

"He's so childish…" she muttered. "How can he be that way? We're going to be facing something that will definitely kill a lot of us! He should be more worried."

"Too much stress can cause mistakes on the battle field," I explained to the girl watching beside me. "He'd getting them relaxed so their minds are clearer."

"Who's the best [Guild] in [Aincrad]!?"

"WE ARE!"

"Who's gonna whip Kayaba's ass!?"

"WE ARE!" I smirked, patting Asuna's back.

"Let them have their moments," I told her, facing Diavel as he walked up in front of everyone, doing a headcount to make sure everyone was present. "After all, in a game like this, one needs to learn to live. Even if only moments before death." An unnerved look crossed the girl's face as she contemplated my words. After a brief moment, Diavel clapped his hands, gathering everyone's attention.

"From here out, we march towards the [Boss Room]!" he called out, his voice managing to reach even those in the back of the group. "Kai, if you please?" There was laughter as Kai bounded in front of everyone, comically tripping and falling on his face beside Diavel, before standing up quickly as if nothing had ever happened. "Err… thank you, Kai… As the only [Guild Master] of this… [Clearing Group], we'll also be counting on your guidance. Please lead us to the [Boss Room]." I heard Kibaou snort as we began making our way to the [Labyrinth].

"What a joke," he insulted Kai. "Who thought a clown like him could actually be any good at this game? I say we just leave him behind. He'll only hold us back!" I clenched my fists, refraining from decking the fool onto the ground. "If it were me in charge, we'd already be at the [Third Floor]!" Right before I turned to send the cactus-haired dumbass flying, Asuna gripped my hand. I looked over at her, noticing the understanding look on her face. But also the stern gaze in her eyes that told me she wouldn't let me do anything I'd regret later. I sighed, letting my anger wash away. I flinched, feeling a cold, wet drop fall onto my head. Then another. And another. A flash, then the sound of thunder, echoing in our ears as the downpour of rain began. Thankfully we were under a rather thick canopy, so the rainfall was minimal, but it was still annoying to get wet. Perhaps Kayaba was setting a mood. I flinched, though, when I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I glanced back into bright green eyes.

"DaTa, my eternal rival," spoke the young man. I grinned, reaching out my fist to the dyed crimson haired player behind me.

"MechManiC!" I exclaimed, garnering a confused look from Asuna. "Hey, it's been forever since I last saw you!" He chuckled, hoisting a spiky mace over his shoulder. He had on light armor, with only a metal chest-piece and leggings, the rest was leather.

"Yeah, yeah. Last we met, I whooped your ass to the curb!" he replied smiling widely.

"Bah, that was a friendly match and you know it," I challenged. "Seriously, good to see you. What brings you to [SAO]?"

"My brother bought it for me," he replied. "Said I needed to take a break from kicking alien ass."

"Excuse me, but who are you?" Asuna asked quietly, sticking closer to me than normal.

"Oh, right, Asuna," I chuckled. "This is MechManiC, he's a Terran player from StarCraft II." MechManiC waved to her. "And my eternal rival. He and I are always fighting over the Fourth and Third place in the Championships. It's mostly luck that we always face on another, but some people think that the games are rigged just so we can go against one another. Last I checked the score was sixty to fifty-eight in my favor."

"Oh, look who's using unofficial matches, now," the redhead replied. "Well, I better get with my [Party]. I'll see ya 'round, alright? Don't die."

"I should be telling you that, RektManiC," I yelled back as he walked further ahead of us. I smiled, feeling nostalgia wash over me. "Heh, cool guy," I told Asuna. "A bit cocky, but he's got a good head on his shoulders."

"Boy, that sounds familiar," Asuna mumbled, rolling her eyes. I simply chuckled, noticing we were upon the [Boss Door]. It was in shambles, and really looked terrible. Kai and Diavel were standing side-by-side, looking over all of us.

"Now before we start," Diavel started. "I have only one thing to say." Kai shoved him aside and raised his arms with a wide smile on his face.

"Let's kick some ass and get outta here before dinner!"

"YEAAAAAAAH!"

The [Boss Room Doors] were kicked open, and all fifty players rushed in. "Honey~ I'm ho~ome!" Kai shouted. The room lit up in a myriad of colors, and right on cue, a giant red kangaroo-like creature wearing some sort of hood dropped from the ceiling. It was at least ten times as tall as me. Once it landed on the ground, making it shake, it let out an almost deafening roar. From the show, it looked scary. In person, it was terrifying. The massive beast was sporting a huge round shield, and a giant one-handed axe. Surrounding him were tiny kangaroo creatures dressed in full body armor. They each had a single one-handed axe. While just smaller than the average person, we all knew they wouldn't be any laughing matter. Above its head was the name [Illfang the Kobold Lord], and four [HP Bars]. "I'm sorry, baby. It's you, not me. I want a divorce, dammit!"

There was light laughter from Kai's banter, but all marks of humor quickly slipped away. Even Kai's face had become stone serious. "[Tank] [Party A], engage!" Diavel shouted.

"That's us, babies," Kai shouted to the other shield users behind him. "Lock! Engage!" As one, all of the shields locked together as a misshapen wall, with Kai's kite shield in the center. They began marching forward as a unit.

"Flankers [Party C] and [Party D], get moving!" Diavel called. I saw both the muscle bound mace user, Agil, and MechManiC charge forward with their [Parties], attacking the incoming [Kobald Sentinels] while simultaneously arcing around [Illfang]. Kai's shield wall was being battered by the [Kobold Lord's] attacks, but they were standing strong. Not one of them had fallen, or was even in the yellow with their [HP]. "[Support Parties], get rid of those [Sentinels]!" I glanced at Asuna.

"You good on your own?" I asked her. She rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"I trained with you, didn't I?" she snarled. I grinned.

"Good answer." With that, my hand was on the hilt of my blade, and I rushed forward to the nearest [Kobold Sentinel]. Within a yard of it, my curved sword was out of its sheathe, streaking towards the unsuspecting kangaroo-beast. One second. That was all it took. With every use, the [EXP] of the [One-Handed Curved Sword] [Skill] would increase, and would [Level Up] with enough, capping at one-thousand. Just like every [Skill] in the game. With every fifty [Levels], it would allow you to customize the [Skill]. In the case of any weapon, more [Speed], or more [Power]. When combined with the [Battle Tempo] [Skill], which gave you [Mini-Crits] for every tenth strike, [Power] became irrelevant. With every [Upgrade], you became twice as fast or as strong as before. My [Skill] was at [Level] two-hundred and four. "Executioner's Blow!" I roared, hundreds upon hundreds of strikes appearing on the [Kobold Sentinel]. It let out a screech, as if surprised, before dying in a shower of polygons. I smiled, glancing at Asuna, who was using the [Switch and Pot] tactic with Kirito.

"You are just insufferable!" Asuna yelled, her rapier piercing the monster.

"And you're a huge pain in the ass, miss 'I can do it myself'!" Kirito replied, sounding particularly young. Ah, he was fourteen. I had forgotten that. And gamers at age fourteen… Well damn.

"I was doing just fine until you butted in!"

"Oh, yeah, you were doing amazing in being knocked on your ass!"

"At least I killed mine before I decided to help you with yours! What do I get for helping? A little brat yelling at me for no reason!"

"Oh, good for you, you killed a [Mob] with a [Sword Skill]! Just like every other player in the game can who's actually halfway decent!" I smiled, chuckling at their arguing. Yeah, he was fourteen, alright. I tensed as the next wave of [Sentinels] appeared.

"YEAH, MOTHERFUCKER!" Kai shouted in English.

"ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAR!" Illfang bellowed.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRR!" the [Hopeful Foxes] roared in reply. I watched as Illfang's heath depleted even faster than it had, before. Those guys… Kai really inspired them. I tensed, quickly drawing my blade and slicing down an incoming [Sentinel]. Shit, I needed to get my head in the game.

"Stand clear, I'll handle the rest!" Diavel shouted, rushing past the shield wall. God dammit.

"Wait, that's not a talwar, that's a nodachi!" Kirito shouted as Diavel dove into the fray. But it was too late. The sky-blue haired man was cut down and sent flying. I winced, growling. Dammit, I wasn't paying attention!

"Asuna, with me!" I called.

"Right!" I burst forward, Asuna beside me within seconds.

"You distract, I attack!" I commanded her. She nodded as I leapt forward towards the giant [Kobold]. "Kai! Command your soldiers!" I shouted towards the stunned man. His face became filled with determination.

"All troops! Attack! For Diavel!"

"For Diavel!"

"For Aincrad!"

"For Aincrad!"

"For everyone who can't fight, themselves!"

"For everyone!" A loud cry of war echoed through the room, making even [Illfang] pause in shock and awe.

"Executioner's Blow!" I shouted, drawing my sword not even an inch away from [Illfang]. In a flash of steel, multiple lacerations appeared on [Illfang's] body. As soon as I landed, Asuna appeared to parry the incoming blow towards me, thrusting multiple times at [Illfang].

"[Linear]!" she shouted, her blade glowing green before her final strike. [Illfang] roared with rage, raising its nodachi in order to crush Asuna. She was open after overextending the [Sword Skill].

"Kai!" I shouted frantically as [Illfang's] attack came down upon her. My eyes widened, before I heard the Clang! of metal striking metal.

"Dammit… didn't you know, DaTa…?" I heard Kai grunting. "Heroes always come in at the last moment…!" Kai was singlehandedly holding back [Illfang's] blow, effectively protecting Asuna from a deadly strike.

"Hoh hah!" I heard MechManiC yell, leaping into the air before slamming his red glowing mace down on the [Kobold's] head. "Boo-yah!" Grabbing its ear, he slammed his mace once more into the [Boss's] face. "[Double Cleave!]" The beast roared with hatred, slamming its skull against MechManiC, sending him flying across the room. "Guh!"

"I got it!" I heard Kirito shout. I looked over just in time for the black haired boy to slice his way through the giant [Boss], essentially getting the [Last Hit] on it. I gave the grinning kid a deadpan look.

"Did… he just [kill steal]?" Kai asked incredulously. I nodded.

"Yup," I replied. "Kids, am I right?" I nudged the man. He chuckled and shook his head.

"Well, we beat the first floor, and that's what matters," Kai said, looking up at the massive 'banner' that said [Congratulations]. I glanced down at my [Reward] screen, noting that I'd gone up to [Level] twelve with all the [EXP] I gained.

"Why!?" Kibaou shouted at us. "Why did you let Diavel die!?"

"Let him die…?" I grumbled. I felt noticed that Kai's fists were clenching.

"You guys… you knew that the weapons would be different than the guide said, didn't you!?" Kibaou shouted. I could tell that most of the other players were starting to agree. "That's it, isn't it? You all were Beta-Testers!"

"Nope," Kai said simply. His voice was calm and relaxed, but there was a hardness in his eyes. An intense rage. "You're wrong. We had no clue that the weapon would be different, just like you all." Kai paused. "My name is TheKaiSenpai, and I am a Beta-Tester." Kibaou's angry expression faltered. "Yeah. I led this entire group of misfits because I was confident I could. Because I thought I had enough knowledge about the game that I could help you all through. Obviously Kayaba changed some things since beta."

"You… You…" Kibaou was stammering. "You admit it! You let Diavel die just so you could be a hero!" Kai's eyes sharpened into a dangerous look.

"You assume correctly," Kai finally said after a long pause. His face was set in stone, but anyone who knew him well could tell that he was lying, now. "I did let him die. I wanted to be a hero. But now I see that's impossible. But while I and these others fought to keep you all safe, you stood on the sidelines. So tell me, who is the greater villain? He who fights to defend others, making sacrifices? Or he who sacrifices all, living only for himself?" He glanced at his [Guild]. "Let's go. We aren't wanted here." Silently, we all watched as Kai and the [Hopeful Foxes]. Kibaou, however, would not let Kai have the last word.

"Whatever! We don't need your help you… you traitorous Beta Tester! You… Baitor!" Kibaou shouted, but his calls went unanswered. I glanced over at Asuna, before making my way up towards the staircase. I tried to hurry, opening my [Party Menu] as I came close to the top.

"DaTa!" Asuna called behind me, right as I reached the open door. Damn! I was so close! "Hey, you took off without me. What, are you trying to avoid me?" She had a teasing tone in her voice, but I turned to her with a serious face. Her expression fell.

"I've taught you all that I can," I told her. "From now on… you're on your own."

"Wha…?"

"I'm dissolving the [Party]," I told her, hitting the [Leave Party] button on my [UI]. With a small ring, the action was done. Asuna's breathing hitched. "Go and get stronger. Make friends. Find a good [Guild]."

"Dammit, don't leave me, DaTa!" Asuna took a step forward. Tears were forming in her eyes. "You can't! You're my partner! My best friend!" I closed my eyes, gathering the determination to do what needed to be done. "I don't know what to do without you!"

"Sorry, kiddo," I mumbled, taking off into the bright new world ahead of me.

"DaTa!"

XXXXX

[Floor Two] [Urbus, The Sitting Bull Inn] [December 10th, 2022] [6:30 AM] [Asuna]

I woke slowly, nearly blinded by the sunlight filtering in through the blinds of my window. It had been six days since he'd left me. Since he'd broken my heart. But he'd not broken my will. No, if anything, I was going to become even stronger. I'd become the teacher. I'd be so strong, that it'd be him looking up at me. I was already [Level] thirteen! I knew I could do this without him! But still… It was kind of weird waking up, and not hearing his breathing. It was strange to be hugging a cold pillow instead of a warm body. Was this what Aya had told me about? Becoming so used to someone, you couldn't imagine them not being there? I blinked, pulling down my [Menu] and [Friends List]. I decided to send Aya a [Private Message], something I'd only recently figured out.

[Hello, Aya,] I started. [I was wondering if we could speak once more? Kai is welcome to join us, if you'd like. I haven't seen him since the Boss Room, after all. Thank you!] Send. I slowly sat up, and yawned. I let myself stretch, then once more pulled down my [Menu] and equipped my [Knight Fencer's Cloak], a white, full body leather cloak that was almost like a blazer, but with more ornate designs and no high collar. Almost immediately after, a pinging sound rang out, notifying me that Aya had [PM'd] me in return.

[Most certainly!] she had written. [I'll include Kai in our little rendezvous. He's been worried about both you and DaTa. I'm glad you're safe. If you're in Urbus, there's a little hidden restaurant near the south side of town. It's called the Nile's Blessing. It's a cute little place that Kai found a few days ago. It turns out, that there's a restaurant or inn hidden on every floor that doesn't keep Kayaba's theme. I suppose the programmers tired of the same textures and music and such for all one-hundred floors and decided to include them as a bonus. Anyway, meet us there today at 5:30 PM, we'll have dinner. Be safe.] I smiled. Aya was such a caring woman. She was good for Kai.

After confirming the time of my meeting, I'd headed downstairs to the tavern portion of the inn. It was nowhere near as… decent as the ones DaTa had taken me to. In fact, it seemed just a little bit run down. I wondered where he was staying… I briefly considered snooping. But no! I would make it without him, dammit! I would not be weak! I could make it on my own! After downing a glass of orange juice and slamming the glass back onto the table, I left the tavern. I was hoping to find some materials to give to Aya. After all, she was a friend, and friends helped friends, right?

I was so lost in thought, that I didn't notice myself run right into someone else. "Oof!"

"Kya!" Both of us fell back on our rears, knocking the breath out of me.

"Dammit, watch where you're going!" I scolded, looking at who I'd run in to. It was a rather creamy skinned girl who was just shorter than me. Her hair was a deep black, but with hints of blue highlights in them. Her eyes were a slight purplish color, and she had a small beauty mark under her left eye. She had a timid expression as she looked away from me. I instantly felt bad.

"A-Ano… sorry," she stammered. I sighed, standing up and brushing the dust off of me. I offered her my hand.

"It's fine, just be careful, ok?" I told her. She nodded slowly, taking my hand. "Are you lost?" I asked, seeing her looking around.

"Ah… no. I'm just looking f-for my friends…" she was able to look me in the eyes as she spoke, but never for more than a few seconds. I nodded, patting her shoulder.

"Well, good luck," I told her, before walking off. For some reason, I could feel her eyes watching me as I walked away.

XXXXX

[The Nile's Blessing] [5:30 PM]

I sat in slight disgust and fascination at the scene before me. I knew that Kai loved food, but this was taking it far beyond what I'd ever expected! He was digging into his fourth dish, a fish called tilapia that had fancy garnish and such. And all the other dishes had been fairly large! Yet, across from me, Ayako seemed to have no issue with the insatiable black hole of a man sitting beside her. She had a sweet smile on her face, and her hands were clasped together. Was this normal!?

"We joke that he loves food more than he loves me," Aya simply said after a moment of silence.

"And it's completely true!" Kai added after swallowing a mouthful of fish. Aya slammed her fist into his face, effectively silencing him.

"True or not, he eats," Aya stated. Her gaze softened as she looked towards me. "He's also worried. DaTa deleted both of us from his [Friends List], so we have no clue as to his location. It's been several days since anyone's seen him. It's a stretch, but do you have any clue as to where he could be?" I sighed, shaking my head.

"Sorry," I apologized. "He deleted me, too. I haven't heard anything, either."

"Poor girl…" Aya cooed. "So in love, yet-" Aya was interrupted by Kai slamming his fist on the table. The woman shot him a glare.

"In love, huh?" Kai asked, suddenly serious. I hated that. I hated how he could be so goofy, yet be so serious at the drop of a pin! It was unnerving! "No, you aren't in love. You've just got a crush on him."

"Kai…" Aya spoke in a low warning tone. He held up his hand.

"Tell ya what, kid," Kai leaned forward over the table. "I'll tell you exactly what you are. You've got hero worship for him. He brought you out of a potentially dark time and now you've suddenly got the hots for him? Yeah, not fuckin' likely." Kai resumed eating, ignoring the indignant look his fiancé was sending him. "Give it time. DaTa doesn't need some wimpy girl holding him back." He paused from eating, sending me a look that sent shivers down my spine. It was intense, yet slightly hopeful. And yet even more frightening for some reason. "If you so much as hurt him even slightly, no [Safe Zone] in this game will protect you from what I'll do."

"Kai, that's enough!" Aya's voice rings out throughout the restaurant, stopping all conversation. After an awkward moment, the other patrons resume their meals, but in much more hushed tones. "I know you have trouble with women, but don't you dare drag Asuna into your paranoia." Kai sighed, closing his eyes as he crossed his arms.

"Sorry," he mumbled. "He's… just like a little bro to me." Kai took a deep breath, then slowly let it out. He opened his eyes and looked at me. What I saw was not a man, or a goofball. Who I saw right then was the Commander of the [Hopeful Foxes]. "Go and find him, and keep him safe." He paused and winked, the visage of the Commander fading. "And be gentle with him. I bet he'll rock your world some night!" I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Sh-Shut up!" was my brilliant retort.