Chapter 5: Preparation and maybe Confession?

Koyero's P.O.V

I awakened from my slumber with Silica-chan beside me. I yawned and went off the bed, I need to train. Kirito said that he'll train me, to be exact; Asuna told me that Kirito shall train me. Blademake, as said was a secret move but how did I use it? I let the thought go and went to the door. Beforei could go out I heard a cute yawn from behind me, seems like Silica-chan woke up.

"About time." I announced and clapped my hands. "Yeah, yeah… so are we going to train now with Kirito?" She rubbed her eyes and looked at me after. "Ahh… Hai I was just about to go." I explained making her frown. "Without me? I thought we were all going to train together." She complained and I poked her lips to make her stop speaking. "I'm not saying that I was just well… fine you got me…" I couldn't give an excuse. "Are you thinking I'm not strong enough?" She replaced her anger with sadness. "I'm not… I just… don't want you to hurt yourself ya know…" I sniffled a bit.

"I'll be fine do not worry about it. Kirito, you and Pina will be there with me." She sighed and tried convincing me. "Fine… but we have to do something about Pina…" I recommended her. "What do you mean, 'we have to do something about Pina'?" She argued and I stopped her. "I mean… have you ever thought of… well… growing Pina?" I asked making her wonder about that. "Not really… I like Pina already like this." She answered. "I'd deeply recommend that you should grow or evolve her or whatever. It'll make you safer so… anyway… let's just go." I gripped her hand and we walked out.

We walked to the teleportation area and we both said, 'Floor 22'. After saying this, the place changed and it became Floor 22. I got Silica's hand so I could show her the way and she obliged. The weird thing was that the NPCs here keep mumbling to themselves like we're a couple or something, that's something to laugh about. After a quite long walk we finally arrived at where Kirito told us to meet him, the forest near their house. Or was it far?

"Are you sure this is the right way?" She walked beside me closer than usual. "Silica-chan, would you please trust my navigation skills for once?" I requested her. "Fine… just don't get us lost." She said as we entered the forest. "Kirito should be around here somewhere…" I looked around trying to spot him. "You didn't ask for the exact location… again…" She poked my shoulder. "Spotted him!" I shouted while sprinting towards him. "Not again…" Kirito walked a bit to the left and I crashed into a tree. "OWW!" My voice was so loud it may have been heard by everyone outside the forest.

"Kirito, Is it true what Koyero says? That Pina can grow/evolve or something." Silica questioned him as I was rubbing my head from hitting a tree. "Apparently yes… but there are some requirements…" Kirito answered as he signalled her to open the menu. "Just press that…" Kirito ordered making Silica press something. "Hmm… Lvl 60: check, Killed at least 2400 monsters: With the help of Koyero…, Gave a finishing blow to a boss: Not yet, 100% good bond with pet: Of course! And must go to the 'new' dungeon located in Floor 67: Not yet." Silica read making Kirito and I nod.

"There's a new dungeon? Never knew!" I stood up enthusiastically. "Indeed… It seems like Kayaba may have updated SAO a bit…" Kirito stood up as well. "How about that finishing blow on a boss and Koyero's training?" Silica reminded me. "Don't worry about it! Even though my experience bar is so big now… I need the experience anyway so how bad could it be?" I smiled at her and ruffled her hair. "It's settled then, we're all going to train in Floor 67's Extra dungeon." Kirito agreed and began walking to the teleportation area.

We followed him and walked beside him. After some time we arrived at our destination and teleported to Floor 67 so we could go to the dungeon. Silica slightly hesitated still about the idea but she was going to do it maybe because she wants to become stronger or… other reasons… Kirito on the other hand was walking peacefully towards the dungeon… What did that guy do last night? Oh don't tell me… Nice one Kirito!

"Let's see… all we have to do is… make Silica-chan give the final blow since we arrived in dungeon." I stated in a British accent. "Yeah… and why are you speaking in that accent?" Kirito questioned me. "Why, what accent do you want?" I shrugged. "Just speak in your normal accent." Silica sighed. "Ok then… I'll take first watch!" I went inside happily. "Are you crazy? Don't!" These are things I heard when I went in. How hard could it be?

When I went in I felt a shiver down my spine, never had that before… What I saw just made one of my nerves well snap… Is the past still really inclined with me? I snapped out of my trance and focused on what I was looking at more. It was a treasure chest… The last time I opened it was when I first met Silica-chan… And it had a giant leech (I still fucking hate it -_-). Tempted, I went near it… I must know what's inside… Before I opened it Kirito stopped me.

"Don't do it." He ordered while he grabbed my hand so I couldn't open it. "Why?" I asked him. "Can't you tell?" Kirito kicked the chest and like 10 monsters that looked like some kind of giant snakes popped out. "Umm… sorry for doubting you?" I apologized. "It's okay just go do bodyguard mode if you wish." He told me and I nodded. "You ready?" Silica went beside me. "Indeed… Cha…otic mode!" Dust went around and I had an emo look. Silica was attacking swiftly obviously since she is using a dagger only.

I silently went behind enemy lines since they were all literally in a straight line. I waited for Kirito's signal then charged at them after he charged too. "Starburst…" He slashed the monsters then slashed them to the air. "Phantom…" I charged through the monsters, the result was an explosion with all the monsters dissolving into Digital particles. Silica stared at our combined attack in awe and unbelievably, Pina was too.

"Nice…" I bro-fisted with Kirito. "Yeah." He did as well. "When did you…" Silica was interrupted. "We well… improvised!" I went back to normal. "Okay then… should we go deeper?" She looked nervous for a second and became confident once more. "We should, it's the only way if you want to upgrade/evolve Pina." Kirito went in front. "What are you doing?" I looked at him. "Taking the lead, now let's go." We all began going deeper into the dungeon.

Kirito's P.O.V

Well the deeper we went the monsters just kept coming and the more we fight, the more weird combinations appear. Is there really a boss stage in this dungeon? Even so we must remain cautious… we wouldn't like a monster that could actually surprise us and Koyero didn't even learn for real and master Blademake but I must believe in his swordsmanship, I know he does the same even if he is under levelled.

"How long have we been walking and fighting?" Koyero complained while Silica sat down to catch some breath since she also began fighting since Koyero and I are beginning to lose our stamina. "I don't know… we don't even have a glimpse on the door to the Boss room…" I began panting after slashing another monster; I think it was a Goblin… with a club. "Yeah… maybe we should split up?" Koyero gave an idea. "No… that's a bad idea… if we split up one of us may find the room but may go in before the other one…" I disagreed with his idea.

"Fine… but locating the room is taking forever…" He sighed and walked again. "EEK!" Silica screamed and we looked at her immediately. "Is that the b-boss?" Koyero backed away slightly. "It seems that there really was no boss room… just the boss roaming around the place." I observed and we all unsheathed our weapons. "Silica-chan, look out!" Koyero was blocking some kind of axe from hitting Silica.

The boss was a Minotaur (again as what Koyero says). It stood at 15 feet tall with a 7 feet long axe and looked like his axe was sharpened to the max. The axe won the clash but luckily Koyero went to a safe spot with Silica and he went out. Koyero zigzagged towards it and slashed its legs trying to slow him down to no avail. On the other hand I hit its back rapidly with my dual blades making him stagger a bit. The Minotaur strikes back with its axe but we both easily dodged.

"That thing looks like nothing really happened…" Koyero sighed out of fatigue from previous battles. "I know you're tired but we have to make its HP low enough." I barely dodged a punch and used Embracer on its leg. "If we strike its leg maybe it'll get slower." He aimed for the legs getting hit by the axe on the process but managed to land 'Phantom Charge' on its leg slowing it down. "It's all you now Kirito…" He gained an extreme large amount of HP loss but in return the Minotaur looked slower.

I lunged at the Minotaur as he tried swinging at me; I jumped on top of his axe and began… Starburst Stream! I have to remember to leave a small amount of HP so Silica could give the final blow. After my attack, it was now at 1/4 HP. Koyero went back the scene and attempted to do it without even training yet…

"Blademake!" He shouted but nothing happened so he simply began a combo with me. "Double Embracer!" We hit with all our might making it topple over with late red HP. "Silica, now! Switch!" Koyero threw Silica. "There!" She stabbed the chest with her dagger. "Grr…" It dissolved into Digital particles.

"That was easier than I thought." I sat down resting. "Yeah, but boy am I beat!" Koyero lied down the floor. "It's time…" Silica muttered and looked at Pina. "Well go on, decide between the two." I told her and she nodded. "Should I go for this one or this…?" She asked Koyero. "Oh… I'd go with that, it looks strong." He decided almost immediately. "Ok then, hope it works…" Silica pressed something and a light blinded us.

Pina was still a bluish dragon but it looked bigger, the wings now look razor sharp, you can see some fangs from its mouth, the tail now has one spike on each side, slight long arms, legs are like a normal dragon's and the face was only a bit the same but it was still Pina. Pina now looked like a vicious dragon but at least it didn't change its attitude towards her, Pina was still a loyal pet to the master.

"Awesome!" Koyero said back flipping and hitting head on the ground. "Oww…" "Pina…" Silica petted Pina making it growl in happiness. "Yeah, that's Pina." I smiled and recommended that we should go out of the dungeon and they both agreed and nodded. "So how long were we in?" Koyero asked as we were now out. "8 hours?! Really?" I was astonished upon knowing the time. "That long?!" Koyero jaw dropped. "Apparently yes, let's continue for your training next tomorrow… I'm tired…" I yawned a bit without knowing. "Ok then, let's go!" Koyero carried Silica and left in a hurry.

That Koyero… why does my hunch say that he's been in some bad situation making him like this? Anyway I must go back, Asuna's probably worried. I walked to the teleportation area and teleported back to Floor 22 where Asuna and I currently live.

Extra Scene

"Kirito-kun, where were you?" She looked like she was worried sick. "Umm… I was just helping Koyero and Silica train." I explained the whole day and she sighed in relief. "Just as long as you're safe, I'll be happy." Asuna smiled making me smile back. "So what did you do, Asuna?" I questioned her making her look around aimlessly. "Well… nothing much…" She answered simply. "It's okay, tonight there will be many things that we can 'do'." I gave a playful smirk.

"K-Kirito-kun!" She had a flustered face. "Works everytime." I kissed her and she kissed me back. "Later at night." She kissed again. "Now." I requested. "Maybe tomorrow, I need to… well… cook." She got a utensil. "Fine, we'll do it later." I said in defeat.

Silica's P.O.V

I don't know about this feeling… why do I get this? We're just friends that just met not so recently and now I have a feeling… I don't know if it's true or not… Do I love Koyero? We were currently going to a nearby inn to rest. After we rented a room, we went in. Pina probably knows how I'm feeling right now… Should I confess? What should I do…?

"Silica-chan, why are you spacing out?" He poked me to check up on me. "It's nothing… just thinking of something." I jumped nervously. "Hmm… ok then." He had a tear on his cheek. "Another mood swing?" I asked. "WHAT THE HELL?! OF COURSE NOT!" He shouted angrily so it was obvious he's in mood swing mode. "Go-Gomenosai…" I gave a sad face. "Don't cry! I don't want you to cry…" Koyero held my cheek and for the very first time, our lips were close to each other. "K-Koyero-kun… you're…" I got interrupted by a soft caring voice; maybe he's showing his weak side.

"Silica-chan…" He held my cheek and our lips we're only centimeters apart. "…" I was speechless and I gulped. "I want to say something…" He got my hand. "W-What is it?" I became flustered. "I love…" He muttered. 'Here it comes…" I became even more flustered. "I love to say, Happy Birthday, Silica-chan!" He hugged me.

'Oh yeah… I forgot it was my birthday…" I thought quite disappointed. "We'll plan something for tomorrow, I promise." He said giving a smile and sleeping instantly on the bed. "Koyero… I love you… I wish you knew… but I can't say it… I feel too… nervous… Oyasumi… Koyero-kun…" I slept beside him and cuddled him.

End of Chapter 5

Next Chapter: The Past that has to be forgotten and The Present to be done