I updated Chapter 2. I changed a few phrases to make Silica less OOC. Thank you for telling me how depressing she was Kirlial. It helped. I think she just turned out that way because I was dead tired and I revert to that. Anyway, now to continue
"Ah, Silica. So you did make it out alive. Congratulations." I looked over at the red haired woman from the party I abandoned a few short hours ago and saw anything but compliment in her eyes. As I felt her eyes roam around me uncomfortably, she went on, "Oh but where is that lizard of yours? You seemed so attached to it. Don't tell me, something happened to it?" she asked in mock horror.
Feeling a pang of sadness at Pina's memory, I looked towards the ground, "Yes, Rosalia, Pina died saving me." I spoke her name with distaste as I confirmed her theory.
Then, filling with tears and anger, I stared down the snake-like woman, a smile on her face daring to break in to a laugh. "I'm reviving her though and we will be together again soon!" I squeezed Kirito's hand hard out of distress. For the first time though, he responded to my touch, brushing his thumb across my hand softly, unaffected by my tight grip.
"Oh, really now? Well that means you must be traveling to the Hill of Memories. But I wonder, can you even survive that place with your level? You could easily end up like your dear pet. Wouldn't that be such a shame." Again in her eyes I saw anything besides the emotion following such words. How could someone be so cruel?
Kirito continued to stroke my hand as he stepped forward and in front of me, blocking her direct view of me. "She'll be fine. That dungeon is easy anyway." Rosalia looked taken aback, only noticing the boy I was attached to now. He smiled, completely unfazed by the leer he was receiving.
Eyeing our linked hands, the malicious beauty smirked, "Aw, don't tell me she seduced another poor soul? She'll only get you killed for her looks." Sizing my companion up, she added, "Plus with that gear and unfamiliar face, you can't be that strong."
To my amazement, Kirito didn't even blink at the woman. He simply continued his serene smile and shrugged his shoulders. Then turning to face me, he cut her out of the conversation completely, as if she was an NPC, "Hey, let's get out of here and grab that cheesecake, shall we? I was starting to get hungry the moment you mentioned it." Still ignoring her he tugged my hand towards the inn, holding me close to his side.
She shouted something behind us but Kirito pretended to not notice. He really knows how to keep a level head. I wish I could learn from him. Maybe then I wouldn't look like such a little kid…
As we walked, I could feel tears threatening to burst at the memory of Pina and the encounter with that witch of a woman. I wiped my nose and sniffed in an uncouth manner. I wish I wasn't always acting like such a crybaby around him. One of these time's I'm sure to annoy him with it. Eyeing me closely, Kirito walked in the inn and sat in the farthest back booth, holding my hand across the table. With his other he pulled up the food menu. Clicking it a few times, a menu appeared in front of me PLACE YOUR ORDER HERE. He continued to speak as I ordered. "You know she's wrong right? Your strength isn't in the level you are or the stats you have." Picking a drink, dinner, and cheesecake for dessert, I went to pay but the col cost page simply read PAID IN FULL. He paid for me too? He didn't have to do that… "It's in the emotional power you feel. You love Pina. If you love what you are fighting for, anything will be within your grasp. You'll end up even surprising yourself by what you can accomplish."
I wiped my tears away a smile spreading across my face. "Thank you Kirito. You're one of the nicest players I've met." I wonder if I could get him to stay in my party after we get the revival item...
He laughed aloud. "Ah, but you haven't been to the front lines. The people there genuinely care for those stuck in the game. They want to save them and end the game more than anyone. Besides, they'd have enlightening words for you about what they think of me," chuckling again at a joke where people treated him badly. My heart ached to hear it. It's like he doesn't care what others think. But then why does he bother helping me? Or stick up for me? Or tell me all of this?
"But you saved my life today, and you stuck up for me when you didn't even know why." Silica "And then there's the free items and look, you just paid for dinner." Silica, stop "Plus you mentioned your sister, I'm sure you really care about her." Stop talking Silica
His face slowly became down-trodden as he lowered his eyes and his grip on my fingers loosened. "You still don't even know me. I've done a lot of bad things. I've hurt people…" He's so hard on himself...
"We all make mistakes Kirito. This one time, I was in a party raiding the eleventh floor." For the love of God Silica "I was still learning to fight you see and then we were fighting a huge spider." You'll never learn "I was really scared so I started swinging my dagger around with my eyes closed. Needless to say I hit a few of my party members, sending one person's health in to the orange." You're hopeless, you know that? "So I was labeled an orange player for three days. I had to hide in a tent with the monsters and didn't bring any food with me. I was so stupid." You done?
His voice became quieter, "yes, that was pretty stupid. I'm glad you've improved. But those are all accidents, and I didn't make harmless accidents. I've... I've killed…" he whispered the last part and completely let go of my hand, turning to face the wall.
I gasped at his words, rolling them over in my mind. He's a killer. He's taken another person's life…
Without realizing it, I brought my hand up to his face and cupped his cheek. If he's telling the truth, then being with him is a mistake. He flinched at my touch. Why do I trust him so dearly? Slowly looking up, I saw a great amount of awe in his eyes, probably at the fact that I wasn't sprinting away. There it is, why I trust him. Inside his surprise I saw an emotion you can't miss, absolute torture. He hates himself for what he's done. Realizing this, my eyes began to water That's why he saved me, because he torments himself for being a bad person. My tears were running at this point.
Opening my mouth to convince him otherwise, I was abruptly cut off. "HEY! NEWBIE!"
Startled, I Looked behind me, seeing the group we ran in to earlier, the ones that had threatened Kirito because of his 'stealing me.' The one we had talked to earlier was pointing to my partner and waving a fist. "See! Again that bastard is making her cry!"
Taking my hand off his face, putting it on the table and patting it, he got up and turned towards the group. He didn't even look at them. Instead his deep agony filled eyes held on to mine. Reaching out he wiped a tear off my cheek and held my chin with his finger. All I want to do is hug him and make his pain go away… I...I maybe even would kiss him. I heard quick footsteps behind me and then saw a fist contact with Kirito's face.
"AH!" I screamed covering my mouth with my hands, watching as he was thrown backwards, hitting his head against the wall and falling down. The image IMMORTAL OBJECT appeared on the wall in purple, and then faded. Two more guys stepped forward, surrounding him with his back touching the wall. "Kiri-Wah!" I lurched as someone grabbed my arm and pulled roughly, forcing me to my feet. Two more people hooked their arms around my elbow and proceeded to run out the door. The last I saw was Kirito looking at me wide-eyed and arm outstretched, another fist heading for the side of his face. The door closing before my eyes I heard a loud crash and a thud. Through the bouncing and running I couldn't even pinpoint the harassment menu as I was pulled outside and into a nearby alley.
Placing me down on my feet the two players who carried me turned towards me. "Silica-san! Are you okay?!" "Did he hurt you Silica-san? What'd he do to you to make you cry?!" Him do… to me?
My tears and sadness were gone, anger taking their place. "What...what are you talking about!? We were trying to enjoy a meal, which you better pay him back for since we never even received it!" What did these guys think they were doing? Saving me from eating a meal with an attractive and admirable person?
"Well, Silica-san, um" "you see, we just, you know," they took turns stammering. Getting madder I reached for the handle to my dagger and gripped it tightly. *CHINK* "We saw you leaving an alleyway running and crying. Then we saw him jump to a roof and chase after you," the one on the left explained. The right one finished for him, "we thought that this stranger was taking advantage of you in some way. We thought he tried to rob you, or touch you." I was completely taken aback. Seriously?
"What makes you think if he tried something I wouldn't have liked it?!" I froze for a few seconds. Did I really just say that? I didn't even mean it. It was just the first thing to pop into my head. They seemed shocked as well, mouths hanging limp and eyes bulging out. Apparently they didn't have anything to say to that. I shook my head awkwardly and stuttered myself, "that's, that's not what I meant. I meant… I meant. I like being in his party okay?! I'm not someone you have to go save! I can make my own decisions, especially about Kirito." I drew my weapon out of frustration, seeing them flinch. "Oh don't be such babies. Even if I attacked you here I couldn't hurt you. We're in a…" They were clearly not listening to me. What now?
Turning around, I went eyes wide as I found Kirito standing there, someone unconscious heaved over his shoulder, a bewildered expression on his face. Tossing the guy on the ground, he cast his gaze away with a hand on the back of his head, a look of embarrassment on his face. Oh no. Oh no, no, no. Did he just hear…
Keeping up the angry persona, I sighed, turned to the two guys gave them a stern look, and stomped off towards Kirito. Slowly we walked back to the inn, making sure to put at least a foot of room between us. I couldn't meet his gaze. He didn't try to make conversation.
SO MANY UNPLANNED THINGS. I AM SO THRILLED. It's fantastic to write and then see where it goes. Please leave a review, even if you hate it. I think i'm messing up the character of Silica a bit. Let me know what you think.
Possible chapter 4 tonight. XD I can't get enough of this story