Chapter 6

Hitomi

"Switch!"

A tall boy with shaggy blonde hair yelled at me. I sliced through one last monster before falling back. "Hito-chan!" Victor called out from a few feet away. He was surrounded by monsters along with a girl with long, greenish-blonde hair in pigtails. I hefted my sword and dived in. With the sharp side facing upwards, I whirled around, slicing through a numerous number of monsters.

"Thanks, Hito-chan!" Victor grinned. "I told you to stop calling me that." I grunted and killed another three monsters. "We're almost done!" Sharon shouted from her position behind us. "Watch out!" Akira, the blonde-haired boy, cried out. Sharon barely managed to dodge the claws of the monster in front of her.

"Pay more attention if you don't want to lose your life, Sharon-chan." Victor swung his axe. "S-sumemasen." Sharon apologized.

I slashed through the last monster and scanned the area. "Nothing here." I sighed. We were fighting through one of the dungeons in search for some rare items, but nothing could be found. The surroundings were all dark-colored, a mix of black, blue, and purple, with bare, skeleton-like trees and doors to various rooms. "We should head back to headquarters." The girl with pigtails, Mary, suggested. "I guess so." I slid my sword back into its sheath on my waist. Exhausted, we took out our teleportation crystals.

It's been over three months since the game started and Kayaba Akihiko declared the game to be a real-life battlefield. We've been fighting on the front lines, clearing floors and fighting new bosses. Even though clearing floors was getting easier, more and more people were dying. The number of suicides and murders were also increasing. We being the Black Vampire Bats, one of the most honored guilds in the game, our top priority was clearing all the floors with as little lives lost as possible. But that wasn't going so good so far.

I needed to get out of this game. Taku and father must be worried sick. Every night I went to bed, every moment I woke up, and every battle I fought, images of father stressing out and Taku weakly tending to me in his terrible condition would appear in my mind. It just made me feel worse.

Victor, Sharon, Mary, and Akira were all my vice-commanders. It was how our system worked in this guild. We often partied and went on missions together and were even closer, like friends. Before the game, we had chatted online frequently, but before we entered Sword Art Online, we had never met face to face.

Sharon was the first person I met in the game. She was sweet and kind, but sort of an airhead. Despite her looks, she was an excellent fighter. Victor could be annoying, but he's good at lightening up the mood and provides great back-up. Akira had sort of a temper, like a prickly thorn, but he had some good qualities, and was great in battle.

Honestly, Mary and I didn't get along well. She was quite stuck-up, like a queen, and spoiled. But she did care for everyone deep down, which was why I appointed her vice-commander. Her fighting was also top-notch.

We teleported ourselves to the front of the Black Vampire Bat's headquarters located on the 40th floor. "Welcome back, commander. Welcome back, vice-commanders." The guards at the entrance bowed. "Anything to report?" I asked. "A party spotted some Laughing Coffin members in town, but they didn't cause much of a ruckus." One guard reported.

"Was anyone hurt?"

"There were minor injuries, but everyone is fine."

"Laughing Coffin again, huh?" Victor said with his serious face on. Despite how he acts, he has his moments. "They're really becoming a hassle, aren't they?"

"You are dismissed." I told the guards. "Please bring out the next guards in line." "Hai!" The guards bowed again and left.

"Laughing Coffin scares me." Sharon shivered. "Who'd want to be part of such a terrible guild?"

I agreed with her. Laughing Coffin was a group of players who killed other players in tortuous ways. They were one of the biggest problems for our guild, and they pissed me off.

"Well, let's deal with that later." Mary ran her hands through her long hair. "I'm worn out. My uniform's also torn up."

"Let's go eat. I'm starving!" Victor whined. "I guess it's about time." I agreed.

The building was of an old medieval-design surrounded by a perimeter of tall walls with watchtowers all around for look-outs. We had many opponents, so we always needed to be on guard. We climbed up the wind of stone stairs to the third floor where my office was. We often had our meetings or simply hung out here. I had my desk in the middle, surrounded by two other desks on each side where the vice-commanders sat. Large, color-stained windows on the wall behind the desks overviewed the entire front of the building. The nearby towns could also be seen. We also had a table in the center for eating, and some couches and sofas for relaxing. Each of our rooms was also connected to the office on the sides.

"Ah, finally." Victor opened up his menu and produced five sandwiches from his storage. "Here. I just got them this morning." He handed a sandwich to each of us before taking a big bite out of his. "Eat slower or you'll choke, you pig." Mary gagged. "Do' ca' me a pi', you bihg." "I don't know what you're saying, pig." Mary stuck out her tongue. "He said "Don't call me a pig, you bitch." I said absentmindedly. "You understood him?" Akira raised an eyebrow. I shrugged. "I've gotten used to Victor language."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Victor demanded after swallowing his food. I said nothing. Irritated, her grabbed a juice from the table and gulped it down in a loud, obnoxious way.

"Hey, that's mine!" Mary exclaimed. "No, it's not." Victor placed the goblet on the table and picked up another. He took a sip out of it. "This one's yours." "Idiot!" Mary fumed and snatched the goblet away. "Ugh, now I can't drink this. I'll get poisoned and die."

The two began quarrelling nonstop. "P-please stop fighting!" Sharon intervened, but to no avail. "Argh, shut up! You're too loud!" Akira moaned. "You're giving me a headache." "Shut up!" Victor and Mary said at the same time.

"It's amazing how in-sync those two are." I sighed and rubbed my head. "How annoying."

But this was how our group usually was. We constantly argued as friends, not co-commanders. It felt so different from my life in the real world, as if I were an entirely different person. Here in Aincrad, I was the leader of a strong guild, surrounded by friends, followers, and admirers. Back home, I was a disabled girl who couldn't even stand on her own and was constantly laughed at. My vice-commanders were the only people I could really trust in this game.

We even knew glimpses of each other's pasts. Sharon had a fear of water due to her sister's death from drowning. Victor had been moved around constantly all over the world without parents before settling in Japan. Mary had moved to Japan from England for some unknown reason. Akira was a delinquent feared and misunderstood by others. Everyone knew about my disability, but nothing before that.

Mary shrieked. "Ew! You got tomato in my hair! I'm going to kill you!" She unsheathed her sword. "Oi, calm down or you'll actually kill each other." I looked up from my sandwich.

"But-" They both protested. "Sheathe your weapons. That's an order. Or I'll do it for you." I threatened. Reluctantly, they put their weapons away. "So cold and bossy as usual, baka-hime." I scowled at the mention of the nickname she gave me (stupid princess, Hitome, Hime). "You shouldn't fight at the table, mou!" Sharon puffed her cheeks in anger, which, honestly, looked way more cute than angry.

Akira seemed just about ready to slice their heads off of their necks when one of the guards from the watchtowers burst in.

"Commander! There's a group of members of the Divine Dragon Alliance requesting a meeting with you at the front!" The man panted.

"Nani?" I stood and peered out the window. Sure enough, a group of silver-armored men were waiting outside. I spotted a young man in the front. "Is that a new commander?"

"Hai. Seems he was only recently selected." The man replied.

The Divine Dragon Alliance was one of our top rivals. They wished for power, battling with us for the title of the strongest guild. They cleared many floors, but their strategies were completely different from ours. They were much more secretive and less considerate of other guilds and players.

"A new commander?" Akira peered out the window besides me. "Well, it's about time they got rid of that damn old man." Victor joined us. "Rumors have it that he was killed while trying to clear one of the floors." The watchman said. "Killed?" Sharon gasped. "Serves him right." Mary sneered.

"What shall we do, commander?" The watchman asked me. I thought for a moment. They were dressed in armor, but I could see no weapons on them. They even had white flags of peace in their hands.

"What could they possibly want?"

"Fine. Let them in." I decided. "Inspect them thoroughly first, though."

"Very well." The watchman bowed and left the room.

"Oi, oi, oi, are you sure?" Victor asked. "This could all be some trick" "They seem to come in peace." I watched as the guards at front began checking the men for any tricks up their sleeves. "Besides, I want to meet this new commander of theirs."

A few minutes later, we heard a knocking on the door. A guard opened the door and bowed. "The men from the Divine Dragon Alliance request a neutral meeting." "Let them enter." I commanded. "Very well." The guard bowed again and left the room. A group of tall, buff men with shiny silver armor and hard helmets entered the room with loud clanking sounds from their big boots. "Welcome, Divine Dragon Alliance." I stepped forward. "This is quite an unexpected visit. Where is this new commander I have heard of?"

"Here." A voice from the back replied. The men parted, leaving an open path for the commander. He strode through and bowed his head. "I am the new commander of the Divine Dragon Alliance." He stood up straight, revealing an all too familiar face. I gasped.

The commander grinned playfully. "Yo."

"Y-Yuta?!"

Yuta dismissed his men, ordering them to wait outside. They obeyed immediately and left the room. "Sorry about those guys. They may seem menacing, but that's just how they look." Yuta said sheepishly.

"Y-Yuta?" I stammered. "Is that really you?" "Yep." Yuta nodded. "Nice to see you again, Hito-chi." "He a friend of yours?" Akira asked. I realized the vice-commanders all had their hands on their weapons.

"Stand down. He's some guy I knew from the real world." I ordered them. They eyed Yuta warily but released their weapons. "Some guy you knew?" Yuta pouted. "Still so cold, huh, Hito-chi?"

"What are you doing here?" I ignored his question. "Ah, I just wanted to see you so badly!" Yuta chirped. "I only just heard you were the commander of the Black Vampire Bats, and boy, was I surprised! But, when it comes to video games, you're a total master, right?"

"I thought you had no interest in video games?" I inquired. "I didn't, at first." Yuta admitted. "But after hearing you go on about them so much, I decided to try it."

"Aw, you spread on your video game otaku germs." Victor teased. I punched him in the stomach. "Well, since you're here, have a seat. I'll prepare some tea." I said, ignoring the doubled-over Victor.

Once we were seated and the tea was given out, I introduced everyone. "These are my vice-commanders; Sharon, Akira, Mary, and that idiot, Victor." "Hey!" Victor exclaimed. I ignored him once again. "Everyone, this is Yuta. He went to school with me in the real world."

"Wow, you have so many friends." Yuta whistled. "Are you really the Hitomi I know?" "Shut up." I scowled. "Anyway, since when did you become the commander of the Divine Dragon Alliance?" "Oh, about a few weeks ago." Yuta replied. "I defeated the old commander in a duel."

"A duel?!" Sharon gasped. "But he's one of the best lancers in Aincrad!" "I thought he was killed." Akira added. "That's just a rumor to hide his embarrassment." Yuta scoffed. "That old man is just full of pride." "You must be strong, then." Mary noted. "I wouldn't say strong." Yuta laughed modestly. "Why did you take the role of commander?" I asked.

"Well, I guess I could've chosen a better guild." Yuta took his cup of tea and slowly sipped from the rim. "The Divine Dragon Alliance may be strong, but they're sort of jerks. I thought maybe I could change that. That's why I'm here." "What are you talking about?" I took a sip of tea from my cup as well.

"I want to combine our guilds."

I choked on my tea. "Wh-what?" "You mean for the Black Vampire Bats and Divine Dragon Alliance to become one guild?!" Akira exclaimed. "That's absurd!" Yuta portrayed his usual laid-back expression. "How?"

"For starters, who would be able to lead such a guild?" Mary pointed out. "There would be way too many people!" "Why, Hito-chi and I, of course." Yuta smiled as if it were nothing. "You all can remain vice-commanders as well." "I don't know if you've noticed, but our guilds sort of had each other." Victor snorted. "How do you plan on solving all those arguments?" ""There should be no enemies in this world" Yuta leaned leisurely on his sofa. "We should be able to work together. We are very strong guilds. If combined, we may be able to clear all the floors."

"Become one with the guild we've always hated?" This seemed impossible. I personally didn't like the Divine Dragon Alliance myself. They were ruthless, and would do anything to get their hands on rare items.

"But this is Yuta. He's reliable…No. I can't let my personal interest interfere with this matter."

"I'm sorry, Yuta." I stood. "But this idea seems quite impossible. It would make matters worse. Let us continue working our separate ways to clear the floors." "Wouldn't this be seen as plain obstinacy?" Yuta inquired. "Others may find the Black Vampire Bats to be too full of themselves." "Why, you-" Akira grabbed his sword. I held out my arm in a gesture of halt. "I do not agree with your ideas." I said with an edge to my tone. There was no way this could work. And even if this was Yuta, it could be some sort of trick. "We may be able to cooperate at some times, but joining forces completely is something I can't accept. Now, if that is all you have to say, please take your leave."

Yuta seemed hesitant, as if not wanting to leave, but he eventually gave up. "I'll let you reflect on your decision for a while. If you still do not agree to cooperate in the future, then I will simply leave you alone." And with that, he walked out the door, followed by his men.

"Wow, what a surprise! Our commander's boyfriend is the new commander of the Divine Dragon Alliance!" Victor flopped down on the couch, letting his arm hang limply over the edge. "This could be a problem." "He's not my boyfriend!" I pummeled him with a pillow until feathers flew. He was right, though. This could be a problem. If people found out I knew Yuta, they would see this as a commander betraying her guild.

"Don't worry." I finished pounding Victor with a pillow, who had yelled for surrender a thousand times already. "Yuta is just a friend from school. We weren't even that close, anyway."

"Ohhh, are you sure?" Mary inched closer, sneering. "Cuz I saw that lovesick face earlier!" "Wha-" I stammered. I could feel my face grow hot. "Ah, see! She's blushing, now!" Victor pointed accusingly.

"Shut up, both of you!" I roared. I ran my fingers through my long dark hair, trying to hide my red face. "Anyway, I need to visit the blacksmith in town. My sword needs some repairs." "Oh, my axe needs some fixing, too!" Victor jumped up from under the pile of feathers. "I have some papers to work out with Mary, so I'll see you guys later" Mikage headed for the door, Mary following behind. "Oh, I'll help!" Sharon stumbled after them.

"Well, guess it's just you and me, Hito-chi." Victor grinned. I sighed. At this point, I didn't care what he called me anymore. We changed into more appropriate attire for walking through town and teleported out of the headquarters.

While walking through town, all I could think about was Yuta. He had started playing video games. For me. The thought made my chest tingle. He had always been so nice, listening to my every word and protecting me from the people who constantly teased me, and now he had joined Sword Art Online to be with me.

"I'm sure Yuta won't be a problem. In fact, I'm glad he's here."