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

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Chapter 3: Reconciliation

[[Floor Two] [Wastelands, Far West of Urbus] [December 12th, 2022] [2:47 PM] [Asuna]

"Gurr…. Huff!" I grunted, pulling myself up onto a large boulder. It was one of the few in this expanse of grey, craggy nothingness. Still, this was where my [Quest], [The Ruined Temple], was. Plus, it was one of the few places where the [Hopeful Foxes] and I hadn't yet looked in our search for DaTa. It wasn't really intentional, but with the whole mess of getting my [Wind Fleuret +4] stolen, and Kai's argument with Aya, we really didn't have the drive to search this far out. Still, now was my chance. Kai and Aya would have come with me, but for some reason they decided to take a bit longer to make up.

In the distance, I could see what looked like the top of a large building that had been carved out in the stone walls at the edge of the [Wastelands]. The location of my [Quest]. From what I'd learned from Kai, the temple had existed since the beta, and I should expect quite a few undead creatures inside. At the end would be a particularly valuable treasure, guarded by a [Field Boss]. I was excited. This was the first time I'd ever solo a [Boss] of any sort. But naturally, I was also frightened. If I failed, or wasn't strong enough… I would die. There were no other options. I would triumph, or die. I smiled bitterly at the thought. That was something that DaTa would have told me when we were training. Then afterwards he would hug me and tell me that I was never in any real danger; that he would have jumped in if I was even close to any trouble.

It wasn't long until I entered the musky, dark cave temple. Shifting through my [Inventory], I brought out a torch to carry in my left hand, my [Wind Fleuret +4] in my right. Swinging my torch around to get a better view of my surroundings, I found myself surrounded my dusty suits of armor, faded paintings on the walls, and unlit torch sconces. Cautiously, I dipped my own torch into one of the sconces, lighting it. A smile graced my lips as I continued to repeat the action for every sconce I passed, lighting up the room as I went along. After lighting the fifth torch, I could see three large doorways at the end of the room. They looked identical, but from what Kai had told me, two of them were trapped ends that led into [Monster Rooms]. He hadn't told me what door was the safe one, though. Apparently, it changed every time a player came through. Still, there had to be a pattern. Kai had said he guessed at random during the beta, and had gotten lucky, so he was of no help in this situation. Instead, I thought of DaTa's lessons.

"Everything in this game is fair," he had told me one night. "From the [Dungeons], to the [Bosses], to the layout of every [Floor]. Everything can be cleared without a single death. The challenge is, knowing what to look for, and having the reaction speed to cover your mistakes." Everything was fair. That meant that there must be a clue to which door was safe. I kept this in mind as I approached them, trying to find any differences. It had taken me several minutes, but I noticed a faint breeze running through the door on the right that was absent in the other two. Taking a chance, I walked down that hall. Like the walls of the main room, it was covered in intricate drawings that probably expanded the lore of the temple, but that wasn't what I was interested in. What was interesting was that I could hear the sounds of battle coming from further down. I assumed I was beyond the realm of traps, so I allowed myself to [Sprint] down the hall, coming upon and already lit room. In the center, surrounded by [Disturbed Ghouls], was a figure dressed in black robes, moving swiftly from [Ghoul] to [Ghoul]. I was in awe, the figure's cloak flowing behind them as they flipped, twisted, and twirled in what seemed like a hurricane of death. A flash of metal revealed her weapon, a dagger of some sort. I flinched when I saw a flash move from the figure to a [Ghoul] on the opposite side of the room. Throwing knives as well!? In a mere minute, fourteen [Disturbed Ghouls] had been killed. The figure stood among the 'remains' of their enemy, as if contemplating something. From their heaving chest, though, I could tell they were simply catching their second wind. I approached slowly.

"That was incredible," I muttered just loud enough for them to hear, hoping not to startle them. As I got closer, I saw their name above their head. Noire.

"You're here for the [Quest]?" the figure asked, their voice obviously female, but it held a dark and mysterious vibe to it. She looked at me, revealing a lightly tanned face, upturned nose, and bright yellowish eyes. On her cheeks were two lines of purple paint, like whiskers. The girl reached up and pulled down her hood, revealing black, wavy hair that reached down her back.

"Yeah," I replied. "I've also come looking for a friend." I decided to change the subject when her face remained impassive. "Are you completing the [The Ruined Temple] [Quest] as well?"

"Yeah," she replied, pulling down her [Menu]. Seconds later, a [Party Invite] appeared in front of me. "It'll be easier for us to go together. Outright fighting isn't my specialty." I gave her an incredulous look, making her flush and look away from me. "That was luck, that you saw."

"Sure it was," I sighed, pressing [Accept]. I blinked when I saw her [Level]. She was three [Levels] ahead of me! "You sure train really hard," I mentioned, following her as we made our way further into the temple.

"I've spent four days in here," she replied calmly. I looked at her back with awe. "All for this single [Quest]. The [Boss] is hard enough, but he summons [Mobs] that attack from all angles. Trying to solo the [Boss Room] is impossible." I nodded, understanding. It would be like trying to take on [Illfang the Kobold Lord] single handedly. The [Boss] itself wouldn't be much of a problem to an experienced player, but trying to fend off its minions alongside it would cause issues.

"Still, you're really strong," I complimented her. She scoffed.

"You aren't too bad yourself, princess," she replied. "Most players are only now reaching [Level] eleven. You've set yourself ahead."

"I had a good teacher," I whispered. Soon enough we came upon another room, torches already lit. "Has someone already been through here?"

"I was," Noire replied. "I've simply been fighting the [Mobs] that [Spawn], waiting for someone else to appear to complete this [Quest]." I nodded once more in understanding, watching as [Disturbed Zombies] began pushing themselves off of the walls, glaring at us with glowing red eyes. They looked just like withered players, only covered in linens and not armor. "They look like players, because they were," Noire told me, letting me take the lead. "The game is cruel, perverting the identities of those already dead into its own [Mobs] that we must slay." I could hear the scowl on her face, her voice quivering with rage and hatred. "Kayaba's a sick fucking bastard." I could feel my own anger growing. To spit on the memories and lives of your own victims! It was atrocious! I readied my weapon, intent on sending these abominations back into the code.

"Never let your anger overtake you," Kai's voice echoed in my head, making me pause. "Rage can be a strength that drives you, but never let it blind you to your surroundings, or you're already dead." I took a deep breath, and let it out, before lunging forward at the first [Zombie].

"[Linear]!" I cried, piercing through the first [Disturbed Zombie]. I grunted as the first [Mob] broke into polygons, already setting my sights on the next. "[Shooting Star]!" I flashed towards the next [Zombie], impaling its chest. "[Linear]!" With another powerful strike, the second enemy was felled.

"Avenge…" was moaned from my right. My eyes widened as, from my flank, a single [Disturbed Zombie] swiped at me, taking a chunk of my [HP].

"D-Dammit!" I grunted, backing away swiftly. In an instant, a knife sprouted from its skull, and it wavered before they both exploded into polygons. I looked in the direction it came from, a whirlwind of darkness leaping from pillar to pillar, letting loose a flurry of throwing knives upon the [Mobs] below. I grinned, now confident that we could work together. With a twirl, I slashed at the beasts behind me, memorizing their faces. The faces of those who had already fallen. I froze, seeing one in particular. The face of Diavel. Tears formed in my eyes as I impaled its skull, removing the bastardized memory of the man from [Aincrad]. It wasn't long until we were finished. Room after room we came upon, and wave after wave of enemies we fought. I found myself [Levelling Up] twice, and Noire ascended to [Level] seventeen. As we walked down the final corridor, I asked the question that had been on my mind since I'd met the mysterious girl, who happened to be my age.

"Why didn't you fight the [First Floor Boss]?" I asked her. I was unanswered for a few moments, before Noire spoke up.

"Honestly? I didn't want to," she admitted. "People and I… don't really get along."

"Really? You and I seem to be fine," I informed her. "We're a pretty good team, actually. And you're not particularly annoying to talk to."

"People annoy me, is the problem," she replied. "They're idiots. Fools. Males ogle me and try to flirt with me, and females just irritate me. They're so focused on their looks and social standing, that they lose sight of what's important in life." I let her take a few deep breaths, wanting her to keep talking, but she didn't. We came upon a large door. It was open, and someone was inside. Noire seemed just as surprised as me. Nobody had passed by us, so how was that person already here? We entered the room, approaching the person who was sitting right in the center. He looked back at us, and I gasped. That jet black hair. Those warm, yet dark brown eyes. It was him.

"Dammit," he grumbled. "Thought I'd lose you for a little longer."

"DaTa!" I called out, running towards him. His expression morphed into stern seriousness.

"Stay back!" he yelled, before the floor shook. "Dammit, woman! You've [Spawned] it before I was ready!" The floor shook once more, and Noire ran up beside me. DaTa backed up, standing right in front of us with his right hand gripping the hilt of his blade, hidden in a bright white sheath that I didn't recognize.

"Thieves! Scum! Grave robbers!" a loud voice hissed from in front of us. The entire room became lit with torches, revealing that we were in a rectangular shrine of some sort. In the very front of the room was a large coffin, of which exploded. From the dust appeared a massive ghostly figure, dressed in the robes of a Catholic priest. It floated without legs above the ground, towering above us just as tall as [Illfang] had. It did have skeletal hands, and a bare skull for its head, with glowing blue eyes in its hollow, dark sockets. Its gaze seemed to make the room temperature drop to freezing levels. Above its head hung the name [Cardin the Fallen Priest], and three [Health Bars] floated beside it. "Die by my hand, and become one with my legion!" The many coffins at the edges of the shrine broke open, and multitudes of [Fallen Possessed] appeared from them. They were all [Level] sixteen, and were armed with swords and shields.

"Dammit, I can't rush him yet," DaTa growled in front of us. He looked back at Noire and I as the legion of undead shambled towards us. "You two, take out [Cardin]. Regular attacks don't work on him; you have to strike with [Sword Skills]. I'll keep the [Fallen Possessed] off your asses. Got it? Go!" Without even listening to my protests, DaTa disappeared. At the same moment, four of the [Fallen Possessed] exploded and died, only to be replaced by four more.

"I'll distract him," Noire told me, glaring at the [Field Boss]. "I can't do much damage with my dagger, but you're good with your rapier. I'll draw his attention so you can strike him down." I nodded. Now was not the time to worry about DaTa, or why he was here. I needed to survive, first! Taking my nod as a cue, Noire ran towards the specter, her dagger glowing a sickly purple before slicing up the [Boss's] face.

"You fool!" it bellowed, and I sprang into action.

"[Shooting Star]!" I yelled, lunging towards [Cardin's] face as it tried to swipe at Noire. My mark hit, and I managed to impale it through its eye socket. I smiled, using the giant ghost's face as a springboard to avoid the hand trying to grab me. I flipped in midair, landing on my feet as I hit the ground. I immediately dashed forward towards it again as it turned its attention on me.

"[Fury Swipes]!" Noire called, leaping at [Cardin's] back and rapidly slicing at it. Four strikes hit, making it screech in pain and anger. I could feel the hatred rolling off of the [Fallen Priest], even if it was digital.

"Keep it up you two!" DaTa shouted from further back. "It's on its second [Health Bar]! Its eyes are the weak poi- kuh!"

"DaTa!" I cried, looking back to see that DaTa had fallen to his knees, struck by a powerful blow from a [Fallen Possessed]. "Hold on, I'll help you!"

"AHHH!" Noire screamed. I turned and saw that she was being gripped by [Cardin the Fallen Priest], and was being crushed. I could see her [HP] being rapidly whittled away on my [HUD]. I panicked, glancing between DaTa as he was surrounded by [Fallen Possessed] and Noire who was being crushed. I cried, running towards Noire.

"I'm sorry!" I screamed, lunging at [Cardin's] face. I grabbed it by its right eye socket and repeatedly stabbed into its left eye. "[Linear]! [Linear]! [Linear]! [Linear]!" I screamed each attack, jabbing the ghastly [Boss] over and over, hoping that if I killed it fast enough, I could save both of them. [Cardin] screamed in agony, flailing around before letting Noire go, throwing her across the room. I heard a cracking sound as she hit something, but I continued stabbing the [Boss]. After a long, agonizing wail, I felt the ghost become ethereal in my hands, and I fell to the ground as it died. I gasped, sobbing as I quickly stood, looking for Noire and DaTa. I found DaTa laying on the ground, pulling a [Health Crystal] from his [Inventory]. His [HP] was below ten. I then moved to the black figure that was Noire, whose [Health] was still falling. She had a [Cursed Status], and quickly went through my own [Inventory] and grabbed a [Full Health Crystal], the only one I had. I crushed it in my grip and pressed it against her.

"Heal!" I exclaimed, my heartbeat barely slowing as I watched the [Cursed Status] disappear, and her [Health] refilled completely.

"Thanks- ah?" I didn't even wait, holding her close to me in a hug. It was terrible watching Diavel die. It plagued me for days. But I barely knew him. Noire. I knew Noire. She was my friend, and to watch her almost die was horrifying. I didn't know her very well, but I felt a connection to her. "You… can let me go now," she said after a few seconds. Slowly, I let myself pull away. She wouldn't look me in the eyes.

"Sorry," I mumbled. "I just…"

"Yeah, I get it," she said slowly, finally looking back up at me. "I… know we just met, but…" I could see her blushing. "Well…maybe I should just show you." Before I could react, she lurched forward. My eyes widened in surprise before I realized what was happening. Her lips had suddenly become connected to mine! It… didn't feel bad, but I pushed her away, giving her an apologetic look.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, watching her face morph from bliss into fear. "N-No! It isn't you! It's not you at all," I tried to reassure her.

"I'm such an idiot!" she cried, slamming her head back onto the pillar behind her.

"No, you aren't!" I protested. "I mean, I'm really flattered. Really, I am," I told her, gripping her shoulders firmly. My stern look relaxed a bit. "But… I'm interested in someone else… But I'm sure you'll find someone special who can be there for you, ok? So don't give up!" I leaned forward and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. I stood, pulling down my [Menu], and sent her a [Friend Request]. "I'd really like to be friends with you, though. Maybe sometime when you find someone special, you can introduce me to them?" She nodded slowly, [Accepting] my [Friend Request].

"I'd like that," she finally sighed in a low tone. I frowned, turning towards the young man now starting to stand up.

"Speaking of my other interest…" I grumbled only loud enough for her to hear. "You idiot! Where the hell have you been!?" I shouted at the guy, grabbing him before he could escape me. "Kai and Aya and I have been so worried! Did you think you could just disappear for over a week and not expect us to go looking for you!?" He didn't even look at me. I took that moment to look him over, and noticed his [Level]. He was [Level] eighteen. Was he [Grinding] this [Boss] the entire time he was gone? Finally, he spoke.

"You've gotten stronger," were his first words to me. "But not strong enough." I was shocked. After all we'd been through, that was all he could say to me!? He finally turned around, and the loving, kind, and joyful boy I'd once known was gone. Instead, I saw a dark, serious, and cold… thing. "You either become stronger, or I'll kill you."

SLAP! Tears flooded my eyes. A stinging red mark the shape of a hand appeared on my cheek, and I realized that I'd slapped him. I hit the boy I loved in… was it anger? Yes. I hit him because I was angry. No, not angry. I was furious!

"How dare you!?" I screamed in his face. "Since when were you such an asshole!?" I could see the hurt forming on his face, but I wasn't finished. "I've been looking for you for days and that's what you say to me!? God, you're suck a jerk!" I felt my own body shaking, and I was breathing heavily. I finally noticed the sad expression he held, tears forming in his own eyes. I sighed, crossing my arms. "You didn't mean it…" I deduced aloud.

"Of course I didn't," he tried to speak with a strong voice, but even I could tell it was quivering. "I… I just…"

XXXXX

[DaTa]

"You idiot! Where the hell have you been!?" Asuna's voice rang throughout the [Boos Room], making my heart pound. Whether I wanted her to be stronger or not, I couldn't deny that I had missed her. I missed her smile, her laugh, and I missed waking up beside her every morning. Instead, I'd isolated myself here, right behind the [Boss Room], training off of it every day, every waking moment. I liked her before I left her, but now I knew that I loved her. I couldn't deny the welling up in my chest, the emotions that were building. Protectiveness. Joy. Fear. Sadness. Excitement. Comfort. "Kai and Aya and I have been so worried! Did you think you could just disappear for over a week and not expect us to go looking for you!?" I couldn't look at her, I was ashamed. It was one thing to cut her off, but I shouldn't have done the same to Kai and Aya. I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what to do. I wanted desperately to turn around and embrace her. To tell her I'd never leave again. That I hadn't broken my promise to her. But that would hinder her. She had to become strong, for her own sake.

"You've gotten stronger…" I mumbled, trying to build up the strength to speak the words I had to. "But, not strong enough." I hitched at the last portion of my sentence, but I don't think she noticed. I took a deep breath, turning towards her. I was heartbroken as I finally saw her shattered face. Her eyes, which had once held so much determination and vigor before the [Boss Fight], finally broken. I considered going back. Telling her how much I cared for her. But the words came out without me even thinking. "You either become stronger, or I'll kill you."

SLAP! I winced, feeling the burning sensation on my left cheek. Asuna's hand was raised in front of her, tears spilling down her cheeks. She had… just hit me. No… I'd taken this too far. I'd made the same mistake I'd made in all of my past lives. I'd separated myself from the people who cared about me, trying to manipulate them to make them stronger. I was, again, ashamed.

"How dare you!?" she screamed, breaking down all of my walls. Every sense of what I had planned was gone. I'd hurt her, and I felt terrible. "Since when were you such an asshole!?" I flinched, feeling myself cower a bit. I hated being yelled at, especially by people I loved. But I knew I deserved this. "I've been looking for you for days and that's what you say to me!? God, you're suck a jerk!" I simply stood silently, letting myself wallow in her words. I was scum. Finally, she stopped, and caught her breath. I felt like an idiot. Tears were streaming down my face, now, matching hers. Finally, she gave me an unreadable expression. "You didn't mean it…" I shook my head.

"Of course I didn't…" I admitted, trying to think of the words I wanted to say. "I… I just…" I sighed. "I wanted you to get stronger… less dependent on me." I looked her in the eyes. "Don't get me wrong, I loved every moment with you, but… I wanted you to be confident on your own two feet, ya know?"

"You idiot…" Asuna whispered, lurching forward and wrapping her arms around me. She rested her chin on my shoulder, pressing her head against mine. "You're such a dumbass… God, you're stupid…" I chuckled mirthlessly as she insulted me, but there was no bite behind her words.

"Yeah…" I sighed, wrapping my arms around her as well. "Well… I guess I'm stuck with you now, huh…?"

"You bet your ass, dumbass," she replied instantly. "There's no way in hell I'm letting you get away again."

"As sweet as this is," the girl from before spoke up, walking towards us. Her gaze was on me, and her expression was… complex. "We should keep going. I want to finish this [Quest]." I nodded, letting Asuna go. She held me for another few seconds, but finally did the same. I led them to a small door to the left of the main shrine, leading them into a medium sized back room. In the back was a table with a plethora of weaponry. Most of them were a ghostly white color, there were a few with a midnight black scheme. Beside the table was a single large chest.

I chuckled as a screen popped up in front of Asuna and the new girl, marking their quest as complete. After a second, Asuna pulled down her [Menu] and equipped the new weapon she'd gotten as a reward. It was a bone white rapier with skeletal fingers for a guard, and a single thick bone for a handle that was wrapped in linen fabric. I smile, touching my own weapon; a ghostly white curved blade with the same design, called [Holy Ghost Curved Blade]. It had the stats to get me through to [Floor Ten] if I kept it [Upgraded] and [Enchanted]. I also noticed that she was [Level] sixteen, which was very good. I motioned them towards the chest.

"Go ahead. It's the standard [End-Of-The-Dungeon] reward for anyone who hadn't picked up the [Quest]," I told them. Both Asuna and the girl, Noire as her name finally appeared to me, opened the chest together. A [Loot] screen appeared before both of them.

"Wha-, that's a [Mega Col]!" Asuna announced with shock. A [Mega Col] was the value of one million [Col]. It was enough to buy a decently furnished house in Urbus. "And you've been [Farming] this thing for how long!?" I sent her a cheeky grin and winked.

"Long enough," I told her, opening my [Inventory] and showing her the amount I'd racked up. Her face went red with awe.

"T-Two hundred and six [Mega Col]!?" she exclaimed.

"What!?" Noire shouted, standing beside Asuna to get a look at my [Col]. "That's insane!" I chuckled and knocked on the wall behind me, a passage opening.

"Going up," I said. Noire sent first, but Asuna crossed her arms and stared at me.

"Nuh uh, I'm not going back without you," she spoke firmly. I groaned, packing up my belongings from the room and I went up the staircase in front of her. It was a long way up, taking a half hour to reach the surface. As we emerged from the cave wall, we were faced with a small cliff, the [Savannah Plains] visible in the distance, as well as [Urbus] even further. It was dark outside, so we could see the lights of the city.

I blinked, feeling Asuna's hand interlocking with mine. I sighed, glancing over at her blushing face. She refused to look over at me. "Let's get going, then," I said, picking up Asuna and leaping off the cliff. She squeaked in surprise, but didn't resist or struggle. I smile as we touched down, Noire landing beside us. We began walking back to town. I looked on my [HUD], and saw that it was half past midnight.

"Asuna," Noire spoke up after a half hour of walking. "Why don't you scout ahead?" Asuna shot the girl a confused look.

"Huh? Why? We're safer-"

"Scout ahead, Asuna," she spoke firmly. Asuna's eyes widened in understanding, and she increased her pace to lead in front of us, just within shouting distance. I looked over at Noire, who was staring at me. "You're really lucky, you know," she told me. I nodded. "Do you even know why?" Her piercing yellow eyes glared at me. I motioned my head towards our favorite auburn-haired girl.

"Yeah, I know," I responded calmly. "I also saw what you two did. I'm… actually sorry to hear you were rejected like that. I hope you find happiness, though." Her face softened as I spoke.

"You know, I thought you were a dick when we saw you," she told me, making me laugh. "I'm serious. You were demanding, and yet for some reason I could see the admiration she had for you. I just didn't get it." She frowned, pausing. "I guess you're ok. You're kind of an asshole when you want to be, but you're ok."

"Glad I got your approval," I told her with a smile on my face. "Yeah, she's pretty incredible. Strong, and confident. I can't wait to see her succeed." I glanced at Noire, noticing the icon beside her name. "A [Guild]?" Noire flushed.

"It's a small one I made. We're called the [Shadow Clan]," she informed me. "It's just me and a few friends right now. They were busy in town, and didn't want to take the same [Quest] that I did."

"I see," I patted her back. "Well, good luck. I wish you well." She smiled a little bit.

"Yeah, you too, you dirty 'Toss player," I groaned, slouching. She knew what I was. "Don't worry, I just figured it out. It's a bit hard to see your face in the dark, but I pieced it together." I rolled my eyes, hearing her laugh a little bit as I let myself catch up with Asuna. It was a long, moonlit stroll through the [Savannah].

XXXXX

[Floor Two] [Urbus, The Grazing Stallion Inn] [December 13th, 2022] [9:45 AM] [DaTa]

I yawned, shifting in bed. Immediately, I tried to remember what I'd done. I'd defeated the [Ancient Temple] [Boss] several times. I was found by Asuna and Noire, and made up with Asuna. Then we'd come back to [Urbus]. Then… Asuna and I had gone to an inn of my choosing and had gone to sleep. We shared a bed, obviously. So what felt different? Oh, I was only in my pants. Yeah, that could be it. I blinked, using my left arm to rub the sleep from my eyes. I turned to face my right, and felt the blood rushing to my face. Asuna was still asleep, but the covers had shifted over the night. We, however, hadn't. Asuna was quite obviously in her underwear. I finally remembered what we did before we went to sleep. I laid in bed, and Asuna had pounced on top of me, stealing my lips for her own. After being lip locked for a while, she'd taken off everything, and forced me to do the same. The [Ethics Filter] had stayed active, but damn if we weren't edging close to the line.

Asuna yawned and drew me from my thoughts, blinking as she looked over at me. My arm had been wrapped around her, and her head was resting on my shoulder. "Good morning…" she whispered, shifting herself in bed and wrapping her arms around me. Her face nuzzled into the crook of my neck, and she inhaled deeply. I chuckled, now realizing that she really was stuck with me. Whether she really loved me or not, I wasn't certain, but I was going to let her figure it out. But I wouldn't make her find out on her own, I'd be right beside her all the way. "I just want to stay here…" she mumbled, making me smile.

"We could do that," I said, "or we could go out and enjoy our day." Asuna thought for a moment before pulling back, looking at me once more.

"Like a couple?" she asked. I frowned a little bit.

"You seem really insistent on this," I noticed aloud. She blushed looking away for a moment.

"You… I know…" she sighed. "It's… I just feel drawn to you. I don't know… You're kind, strong, and you don't expect me to do things that I can't yet. You're very understanding." Asuna paused. "Aya told me that Kai snared her when they first met. Like… she felt so welcome around him, she could be herself. She described it as feeling free. I kind of feel the same around you. I'm Asuna, and I don't have to be anyone else." I smiled, pausing for a split second before leaning forward, kissing the girl on her forehead. Asuna's face lit up with a light blush, and I immediately rolled out of bed, standing up and stretching. I could feel her eyes running over my body as I equipped my normal battle clothing. I stretched once more, adjusting to the new weight on my shoulders. When I looked over at her, Asuna was standing up beside the bed, only in her underwear as she went through her [Inventory] for her own clothing. Suffice it to say, I enjoyed the view.

"Pervert," Asuna muttered with a smile, equipping her clothes. I shrugged, chuckling when I pat her head a few times. She reached over and took my hand in hers as we left our room.

It was a fairly calm day outside. The air was brisk, which was probably attributed to the winter season. There were a few clouds in the sky, but nothing that would suggest rain. I instead took interest in the architecture around us as Asuna led me through the bustling streets. The buildings were mostly made with clay and silt, reflecting what one would see in the poorer districts of Egypt and Jordan. The buildings were never more than three stories tall, either, and stood in a row, all part of one base structure. The streets were mostly made of what seemed to be limestone, chiseled into rectangles and held together with dried mud and straw. Wood was a rarity to see, and was normally reserved for restaurants and stores. The crowd of players intermingled with [NPCs], making the town seem bustling and inhabited.

"I was thinking of visiting the bookstore," Asuna announced, pulling me into the [Town Square]. As always, there was a fountain in the center with benches surrounding it, and several tables for recruiters from various [Guilds] looking for new members. Several stores lined the outside of the [Square], including a bookstore called [Winston's Written Works]. Asuna had stopped, giving me a questioning look as if to ask for my opinion.

"Sounds good," I replied simply, enjoying the smile that spread on her face afterwards. The day went by too quickly, but I enjoyed sitting back in the bookstore, reading with my… girlfriend, I think she was, now. We'd found a nice little corner in the back of the store, where Asuna had pretty much shoved me on a small, cushioned chair, and sat on my leg as we read. We stayed there for a good four hours before Asuna's stomach started growling. She jumped, blushing as she looked back at me.

"Sh-Shut up!" she growled at my barely contained laughter. "It's not like I had the [Col] to eat out every day! I've been having to buy my own ingredients and make my own food!"

"That's what I've been doing," I replied. Her face flushed even further.

"Jerk!" her fist slammed onto the top of my head. I chuckled in response, rolling my eyes. "Buy me dinner!"

"What!? But you have [Col] too, you know!" She glared at me.

"You always bought me dinner, before," she spoke with a frown forming on her face. I raised my hands in defeat.

"Alright, alright, sheesh," I said, exasperated. "Fine, I'll buy you dinner. I've got [Col] to spare, anyway." I stood slowly, letting Asuna onto her feet first. We left the bookstore without buying a thing, much to the chagrin of the [NPC] owner. A few blocks away was a decent restaurant. It wasn't particularly fancy, probably a three-star place at best. Still, though, the menu looked enticing.

"You just wanted ramen, didn't you…" Asuna spoke dismissively.

"Shut up, I haven't had it for over a week!" I shouted in reply, defiantly kicking the door open much like Kai would have. Oddly enough, nobody even gave us a second look as we entered. Asuna sighed. I could tell she was a little annoyed to have been brought to a ramen restaurant, but she didn't seem to mind all that much. Perhaps she was just happy to be with me, still.

We were seated at a table right beside the window, able to watch people walk past us. For a while we waited after ordering food, staring out the window. I knew Asuna was staring at me, but I wasn't really looking her in the eyes. I could tell from her disappointed face on what she wanted to talk about. "You aren't going to leave again, are you?" she asked slowly. My mind was racing. To be honest, I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with her, in comfort, forever. But in the back of my mind, I still knew it was a bad idea. "DaTa…" she growled. I knew she was glaring at me.

"I have to," I told her finally. "But I'll tell you what." I brought down my [Menu] and sent her a [Friend Request]. "I'll keep in touch, alright? I won't do what I did before. But I need you to stop relying on me so much, ok?"

"I love you!" Asuna protested. "Even if we separated, it wouldn't change that! So why can't we be happy like this!?" I frowned, finally gathering the courage to look back at her.

"It won't be forever, I promise you that," I assured her. "Someday, when we're further into the game, we can be together like this again. But right now…" I paused, searching for words that would keep her from getting upset while still explaining my reason. "People are relying on people like us to complete this game. We're already set back on time, so we need to focus on that for now." She didn't look happy, but I could see some understanding on her face. "Believe me, I'd love to stay with you. But for now, let's focus on getting out of here, ok? We can be an official couple when things start settling down."

"Do you promise?" Asuna stated. Her gaze was shifty, like she was unsure about my proposal, but was considering it. "Do you promise that you'll come back to me?"

"I promise it, Asuna," I swore to her. Her expression relaxed a little bit.

"You're staying with me, one more night," she told me. "Then you can go. But I want to spend tonight with you again." I chuckled, giving the girl a light smile.

"You got it," I agreed. Soon, dinner came and went. That night we slept as we had the night before, with lots of insistent kissing from Asuna. She had tried to go a step further, but backed out at the last second. I was fine with that. We weren't ready for it, anyway. The night was peaceful. Asuna didn't seem to have any nightmares. Before the break of dawn, the next morning, I was gone once more. I didn't have the heart to make her go through a long, painful goodbye. It would be a long time since we'd talk face to face again.

XXXXX

[Floor Twenty-Five] [Dergun, The Healthy Flower Inn] [February 14th, 2023] [2:16 PM] [Asuna]

I sighed, leaning back in my chair as I watched some guy who I wasn't really interested in eat across from me. It was only on my fourth day in the [Knights of the Blood Oath] as Vice Commander that this guy had asked me on a date for Valentine's Day. Naturally, I'd refused. My heart belonged to DaTa, after all. But, after many angry [PM's] and a few choice words, DaTa had told me to give the guy a chance, claiming that "separation makes the heart grow fonder". While we both knew it was bullshit, I accepted the proposal, if only to prove to myself that this was pointless. The boy across from me didn't seem to mind, though. He was ecstatic to land a date with me after being turned down so many times. I kind of pitied him. He wasn't particularly bad looking, either. He dressed up appropriately. He had good manners for a gamer. He even made no move to place me in an uncomfortable position. But he wasn't DaTa, and that was what bothered me.

"Are you feeling alright, Asuna-san?" he asked slowly, pausing from his meal. I had been eating slowly as to not seem rude. He was paying, after all. "Ah, do you not like your food? I can order something else, if you like?" I gave him a soft smile, showing my appreciation for his concern, but shook my head.

"No, thank you," I spoke softly, resuming eating. "I'm fine. I'm just thinking, is all." Yes, my mind was on a lot of things. As Vice-Commander, I was expected to help with dealings with other [Guilds], and that included the new [Howling Samurai] [Guild] that had appeared out of the blue. I knew DaTa was the [Guild Master] of it, but he had yet to appear to any of the monthly [Guild] meetings that had been set up by Heathcliff, my own [GM]. Instead, he'd sent his own Vice-Commander, an action that I could tell was starting to grate on Heathcliff's nerves.

"Thanks for coming out with me," the boy chuckled as he spoke. "Nobody else would accept my offers."

"You were asking the wrong girls," I replied. "Most of them already had a significant other." The boy paused nervously. "You have a question?"

"Well… I had heard that you and the 'Blademaster' were dating," he said slowly. "Ah, but those are only rumors!" he quickly added. "So I thought I'd take a chance!"

"We are," I replied casually, making him do a spit take.

"W-What?"

"Unofficially. I haven't seen him in a few months, but we talk every so often," I sighed. "He's… very secretive." I'd forgotten that people were giving the more well-known [Clearers] nicknames, now. I had been gaining the name of 'The Flash', while DaTa's was 'The Blademaster'. Kai even had a nickname. 'The Laughing Fox' was the more well-known one, but also 'The Baitor' had stuck around. Kai hated both of them. The second one for obvious reasons, but the first one, he claimed, held resemblance to the new [Red Guild] that had sprung up over New Year's, the [Laughing Coffin]. The date went as well as it could have. It was quiet and awkward, and while the boy had a decent time, I felt even more alone. I had a room in the same place we ate, so I simply ascended to the third floor of the inn and opened my door. Imagine my surprise when a figure dressed in white leather armor, decorated with silver trimmings was sitting on my bed. He had a steel chest plate on, as well as arm and leg guards. His boots and gauntlets were made of a white metal to match the leather outfit. Strapped to his right hip was a beautiful ornate katana with the visage of a dragon on the sheath.

"Hello, Asuna," he spoke up in a smooth voice. It was much more relaxed than when I'd met him, oozing with power and confidence. I liked it. His eyes looked over me, and I felt like a kitten being gazed upon by a lion. His [Level]… was overwhelming. He was already [Level] thirty-six. "It's been a while."

"Y-Yeah…" unconsciously, I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. "Ah… happy Valentine's Day," I said, getting a smile from him. "Are you just visiting, or…?" I trailed off, shifting on my feet. He was so well groomed, he looked like a prince!

"Something like that," was his reply, with a wink. "I've decided to stay the night. Is that alright with you?"

"Y-Yeah, sure!" I wasn't going to turn him down! I quickly took off my uniform and went into the bathroom. As the water washed over me, I felt my mind rapidly thinking of his presence. It was all a blur from then. I was too tired to really remember much, but I could still remember the sensations. His caresses. Our flesh pressed together. The frantic love of two separated halves brought whole once more. And again, I felt him. When he was gone, the world around me was virtual again. Cold. Unforgiving textures made by ones and zeroes. But with him, it all felt real. The softness of the fabrics. The heat of the room. The sounds of passion and adoration. We never went all the way. As tempting as it was, I still wasn't ready to let myself completely give in. Not until we were in a stable relationship. But I could still feel his warm hands, touching me in places I'd kept hidden from everyone else. Making me feel things I'd never even dreamed I could feel. But like a dream, it was over too quickly. When I woke the next day, he was gone. The only proof of his existence was a single rose on my nightstand, and a pair of sapphire earrings. And a note.

To my strong flower

Sweet smelling and beautiful

With a deadly thorn