Philia's Greatest Treasure Hunt

A festival is happening at the SAO Survivor School to celebrate the one year anniversary of being freed from the game, and many of the past players are wanting to attend. What was supposed to be a girl's night out ended up being a date to the festival with Kirito. Now during this time, Philia goes on the greatest treasure hunt in her life, to obtain the heart of the one who risked everything to save her, and the one she loves.

X

"Okay class that's all for today, make sure you to do assignments 54 & 55 by Monday. Have a good weekend and enjoy the festival!" The American English teacher shouted out to her students of the SAO Survivor School as the final bell rang. Many of the students were chatting amongst their friends and peers now, who were once their allies and guildies in the past death game that was Sword Art Online. Many got up right away, but for one particular student she looked outside the window to see a fresh blanket of snow covering the rooftops and ground of the school grounds.

The snow had come very early this year, as it didn't normally snow until late into the end of the year. But it was perfect timing for the first anniversary festival for the SAO Survivors. In just a few days, it would have been one year exactly since their release from Sword Art Online, when the players defeated the final boss and earned their release…At least for the 6,000 players that lived. The other 4,000 players were released much earlier than the rest, when they died they were free, free from the game and the fleeting dreams we call life.

The young woman stood from her desk to quickly put on her winter coat as well as the orange scarf that she was glued too since the end of her release from that VRMMO. Despite it was her hair color back in the game, it wasn't her natural hair color in real life. She was a light-brown haired young lady, with blue-turquoise eyes that could pierce through the fiber of just about any man. However there was one man in particular she was still pursuing to this day. In another reality, she was considered one of the greatest treasure hunters out there, constantly fighting for first place for the most currency found deep within dungeons. However the greatest treasure of them all was no sheer amount of yuld, but the love of someone who once saved her. However at this point in time, his heart and affection has slipped through her fingers.

Back in Sword Art Online, he went by many names. At one point in time he was infamous, untrusted, despised, and even hated. At the end of the over two year journey that was the end of SAO, he was a hero. He was a hero to the 6,000 players of SAO, but to her he was different. He was her hero, the man who risked everything to save her from the physical grasp of the Hollow Area, as well as her own mental instability, and put her on the road of redemption and sanity. He went by many names over their time in SAO. He was a Beater, 'The Black Swordsman', but she knew him by a single name…The name of the man who saved her life.

"Kirito…" Philia let out quietly to herself within the halls of the SAO Survivor School as she watched the man go, walking by their mutual friend Shido, also known as Sinon, who was just exiting out of another class as well for the day. She couldn't help but wonder if the two were a thing, as they always spent a lot of time together. And of course there was…

"Asuna…" Kazuto said to himself quietly as he watched his in-game wife descend down the stairs of the hallway, heading for the second floor rather quickly to try and avoid confronting him. Shino looked to him sadly as he just kept starting at that one spot, even after his supposed to be girlfriend had left in such a hurry. What he didn't know is that she was crying, it's not that she wished to be apart from him, to avoid him, and to never love him. It was much more complicated than that, and she figured it was easier to avoid them than to break his heart.

"Kotone!" The sound of her real life name made the woman spin around in place, as she just watched her two friends Rika and Keiko run to catch up to her. Back in Aincrad they were known as Lisbeth the Blacksmith and Silica the Dragon Tamer. But here they were just Rika and Keiko.

"Hey, how's it going?" She asked as the two were about arms-length apart, trying to catch up in their breaths behind their steps.

"Great!" Rika said with an enthusiastic smile as always, "Are you going to the anniversary festival tomorrow?"

"I'm not sure, I thought about it but not 100% just yet." Kotone gave with a nervous smile. It's not that she didn't want to go…She just didn't want to go alone. Kotone had a very special person in mind to go to the festival with…Even though she knew it would never happen.

"We should all go together!" Keiko gave out gleefully as the two looked toward one another. "It'll be fun!"

"Maybe you're right. Yea we can plan on doing that if you want." Kotone's look changed as she saw the focused stare on Keiko's face, and followed the sight back to the man she was looking at before. Who was just now descending down the stairs alongside Shino.

"He's so down…" Rika let out quietly as she couldn't help but frown at their friends' predicament. "I don't really blame him, I'm sure he's as confused as Asuna is saddened."

"What's going on between the two of them?"

"Well it's not really our business to tell but…" Keiko didn't know if Asuna would have wanted Kotone to know about their family's plans for Asuna. Ever since she returned back to the real world, nothing she was involved in was about her decisions, or what she wanted.

"Asuna is traveling out of town for a few days to go to some kind of big family-friend gathering…To try and pick out a suitor."

"What no way!?" Kotone was shocked as she took a step back. "You mean…"

"Yea. Her family is putting Asuna in an arranged marriage." Rika confirmed Kotone's suspicions as she frowned back toward the stairs. "She hasn't told Kazuto because she doesn't want to hurt his feelings. There's talk she won't be here next year either. At first I didn't believe it but knowing that she's going to get married to some guy she doesn't know…Anything is possible now."

"That's so sad…Poor Kazuto." Kotone looked down at the ground, holding her books a little tighter as she just thought about what could be going through his mind. He must be so confused, so frustrated, so heartbroken…

"It's definitely sad, I know we say we get annoyed when they're constantly so lovey-dovey around the rest of us, but I'll admit it's so weird to see them around but never together anymore."

"Yea we were trapped in the game for so long, we just got used to seeing them always together. But ever since the start of the last term, I've never seen them together. And as time goes by its just getting worse and worse for the two." Keiko admitted as well. Truth be told she really liked Kazuto as well, hell they all did. But to make a move on him like this just seemed wrong, a whole other level of dirty. Besides they couldn't do that while their dear friend Asuna still really cared about him. Something struck Kotone as odd though.

"What's wrong with Kazuto though? Do her parents not approve of him?"

"He's just an average guy who comes from an average family." Rika explained. "I'm not sure if you know Kotone, but Asuna comes from a rich and prestigious family. They want her to marry someone for resources, not love. Someone like Kazuto would never be good enough for her. He may have been a legend and a savior in SAO, but in the real life he's nothing special. In her parent's views, her feelings and love for him don't matter."

"That's terrible…" Kotone couldn't help but be sad and feel for the poor young man. "And they were together for so long weren't they?"

"They were together for the last half of the time we were trapped together yes. I mean Asuna liked him long before that, but they weren't officially together until after the 74th floor and on. Hell they were married!" Rika exclaimed as she threw her hand in the air in disbelief.

"I had never heard of another married couple within the game, and with a child!" Keiko added onto the extremeness that was their relationship within SAO. "If anybody was truly in love in that game we were stuck in, it was Kirito and Asuna."

"They were some of the strongest players in the game, but here they might as well be nobody, with no power and no free will."

"That's exactly right. Asuna just hasn't told him because she doesn't want to make it any harder than it needs to be. In time I'm sure she will, but until then she thinks this will be easier for the both of them."

"I'm not sure if I agree there…" Kotone gave her two cents out loud to her friends. "I feel like this is making it more painful for them both."

"It definitely is." Rika added on, throwing her book bag over her shoulder beginning to depart. "But that doesn't mean it isn't easier. If she told him now he would try to fight it, and she would want him too. But if she tells him with no time to react, she's hoping he will eventually just move on. It's sad, they were so close in the game even before they were together. They were the two strongest players anyone had ever seen. But here they live completely different lives, they might as well come from two completely different worlds."

"Hey I was just curious but…" Kotone paused as her cheeks lit up a bit. "Do you think Kazuto and Shino are a thing?"

"Kotone that's not of our business!" Keiko tried to lecture her taller friend as she let out a nervous laugh. "You know that's not polite to clue in on other people's concerns."

"S-Sorry…I'm just curious. A trait that comes with a treasure hunter right?" She tried to play off the lame joke, getting good laughs from her two friends.

"I suppose." Rika agreed with her. "I doubt they are, I mean you saw how he was still so stricken with Asuna. I think Shino is there for emotional support, a shoulder to cry on ya know? I think she likes him…But it's one sided."

"It's always one sided…" Kotone let out under her breath as she gave a heavy sigh.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing!" She tried to play it out with an awkward laugh, earning two strange stares from her friends. "Anyway I better be off, we'll all talk about the festival alright?"

"Sure, have a good weekend!" Keiko let out as she and Rika waved off their friend, heading in different directions.

Kotone headed down the same set of stairs as Kazuto and Shino had a while back ago, heading toward the gathering of lockers on the bottom floor and to the outside. The snow was lightly falling once again, yet Kotone made sure to keep her hood up and warm her heart in a time of cold winds blowing.

It may have been cold here in the heart of Tokyo, but she knew a place that was always warm, no matter what time of the year of the real world.

X

A figure materialized within the inn of the World Tree of Alfheim Online. This Spriggan was far from their races capital city, but she had logged out here quest and venture with all her friends. A moment later she opened her turquoise-blue colored eyes, Philia had logged into the game.

"Alright time to hunt down some treasure!" She said to no one but herself in an excited tone, paying for the room at the inn and bolting out the door. In this world her shoulder-length hair was dyed a dark blue-black, to go with the Spriggan look and atmosphere of the race of black-winged, mischievous fairies. Even though it was the winter months in the real world, here in Alfheim it was a tropical warm temperature, with a light cool breeze blowing through the city at the base of the large tree. It was starting to get darker outside since Kotone couldn't log on sooner, completing her weekend's worth of homework first. Sure she was a treasure hunter in game, but she didn't want to save her tedious homework until the end of the weekend when her friend would surely be diving later on.

However right away something caught her eye, as Philia gazed upon the lone figure walking out of town toward the warp gate. Kirito was walking alone, looking at the ground as he slowly walked toward the gate with no one around him. He didn't even have Leafa, Sinon, or anyone else with him. He was completely alone, looking as though to keep it that way as he was about to pass through the warp gate.

"Kirito!" Philia called out to the man as she rushed toward him, the Spriggan slowly turning around with a small smile to try and throw his friend off from his darkened mood.

"Hey Philia, what's up?" She finally caught up to the man as she bent over forward hands on her knees to catch her breath.

"Well I was about to go to a dungeon to do some treasure hunting." She stood tall again as the two looked toward one another, and smiled. "What about yourself?"

"I wasn't going to do anything honestly…" Kirito admitted with a nervous laugh, scratching the side of his cheek. "I really just dove into ALO for some alone time, you know some peace and quiet."

"That doesn't sound like you at all Kirito." She gave him such a strange look, as the young treasure hunter was right. Whenever Kirito logged into the game he was almost always rushing to go do something, to maximize every minute of time he had diving into Alfheim Online. This wasn't normal for him at all.

"Yea you're right…I'm sorry Philia I just need to be alone right now." He was about to turn around and phase through the warp gate, until a hand reached out for his.

"Wait." He was stopped by a single hand, as Kirito slowly turned around to meet eyes with Philia. She let out a small, silent gasp without her knowing. The pure emptiness that was in his eyes, as if a shell of his former self, it was so painful to watch.

"Yes?" He wondered what she wanted from him, for he felt as though he had nothing to give now. Though she didn't want anything from him, other than his time.

"Why don't you come with me Kirito? We could go on adventures together like we did back in the Hollow Area. It's bound to be better than sitting in the grass by yourself." She gave a small smile as she stood back up straight, still holding his hand with the two of her own.

"I…" She could tell Kirito was at least pondering the idea. He had done next to nothing for the longest time now. He wasn't getting stronger in the game, he was staying the same while his friends caught up. If he logged out he would only concern Philia, and his friends even more so as that was something not normal when he dived into ALO as well. And what did he really have forward to looking to out in the real world? Doing his homework? Kirito shrugged his shoulders as he let out a small sigh.

"Okay sure Philia, sounds fun."

"Alright!" She let go of his hands as Philia jumped high into the air with excited glee. "Come on the treasure isn't going to find itself! I have a reputation to uphold you know!" She yanked Kirito by the arm as the two ran through the warp gate, well more Philia running the both of them through.

X

About an hour later the two had formed a party and fighting their way through the dungeon. These kobold knights reminded Kirito of a boss fight a long time ago, back on the first floor of Aincrad when they took on Illfang the Kobold Lord, with his Ruined Kobold Sentinels. Even back on the first floor, they suffered casualties. While Kirito blocked attacks with his dual blades, Philia depended more on her nimble footwork to evade damage. Finally it was down to them against the Kobold Paladin, wearing its shining knight's armor. Wielding its blood-diamond encrusted two hand sword, and using Light magic to heal and smite down its foes.

"Come on Philia let's use a Sword Skill to finish it off!" Kirito called to his comrade as he began to charge.

"Let's do it!" Philia joined her Spriggan comrade in the charge, as they both charged a Sword Skill based on Dark Magic, the natural counter to Light Magic and vice versa. The two slashed straight through the Kobold Paladin, and the mob dispersed and dematerialized a moment later. With the dungeon clear and the final mob complete, they were showered with the spoils of their journey.

"Alright!" She sounded so excited as Kirito was happy that she was enjoying herself, standing up straight and sheathing his dual blades. Now that the dungeon had been cleared, all the hidden doors within the boss' lair were beginning to open, and that meant it was time to check out what they got. It only took a few minutes to run to every chest for their spoils. Most of them had a large amount of yuld in each chest, however a few contained rare items, and even dropped a…

"Oh my god is that a Quicksilver Blade!?" Philia almost yelled reading the name of the item before she had materialized it, successfully grabbing Kirito's attention as his eyes went wide.

"What really!?"

"Yea it is!" Philia quickly accepted the weapon as it materialized into her hand, catching it within the air as she took a closer examination of the weapon. The blade was a shining metallic silver, with rotating blue and black crystals down the length of the sword. She examined it a bit further for its special properties, and found a very interesting one called…

"Treasure Hunter's Blessing…" She said aloud quietly, as Kirito patiently waited to listen with excited anticipation. "Increased damage and effectiveness with all magic and Sword Skills used by…Spriggans. Increased effectiveness with Black Magic skills."

"That's a hell of a blade." Kirito let aloud, as the two looked toward one another with content smiles. "So not only does the sword boost your magic and sword skills already. But if you're a Spriggan or use Dark Magic spells they're even stronger, like an add-on to the add-on."

"I know…This thing would fetch a huge amount of yuld." Philia couldn't help but comment on as she tested the blade out with a sword skill, slashing the air in front of her rather quickly. The rankings on the ALO website for the best treasure hunters were not just measured in sheer yuld, but the amount of items found as well as the quality and rarity of them. If she ended up selling the blade for the yuld, it would be all the more reason to push her into first place like she so desperately desired. However…

Part of her wanted to give this blade to someone else…Someone very dear and special to her. What she saw that Kirito didn't is that this sword was meant to be used by a dual-wielder, given its name and special property to do more damage when in the off-hand weapon slot. It practically screamed out to be the perfect weapon for the Black Swordsman…

"Kirito…I want you to have it." He was surprised that she wanted him to have such a rare weapon. He had heard about the sword, but he had never seen one up until now.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't it be better to sell it to raise your ranking?" He wasn't comfortable accepting the gift at first.

"I'll always be able to earn more yuld, but I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to give you such a gift again. You saved my life back in the Hollow Area, and you never gave up on me, even when I gave up on myself. It's the least I can do." She sounded so sincere, so honest as she presented him the weapon. He took it from her grasp slowly, as if being presented the weapon of all weapons in the game. "Besides, I think the blade suits you, don't you think?"

"Suits me how?"

"Well I mean the weapon is called Quicksilver Blade. Besides all the properties and enhancements it gives you, I think it suits your fighting style characteristics quite well. I want you to wield it in combat, and think of it as I'll always have your back. Just like you did for me back in Aincrad."

"Philia…" He was touched to the boldness of her forwardness with him, causing a light blush across the young man's face.

"Sorry I guess that got a bit deeper than I first thought!" She let out a nervous laugh as she also heated up a bit, trying to play off the awkward moment twiddling her fingers.

"No it's okay…Thank you Philia."

"Sure thing." The two looked toward one another as it was time to depart. "Come on let's head back and get some dinner."

"Okay." While she turned toward the exit, Kirito stood still in place a moment longer, holding the blade that was given to him by a dear friend. She had helped him just as much as he helped her, back in those days stuck in the Hollow Area. Grinding and pushing forward day in and day out to set Philia free from that extremely difficult place. Part of him wanted to speak out to her, to try and get her support on his side for something else…

But Kirito decided against it, as he shook his head and headed to catch up with his friend. She had helped him on many occasions. He didn't want to be a burden on her willingness to help.

X

The two materialized back at the town of the World Tree in Arun. They had journeyed together for quite a while now as the sun was beginning to set here in ALO. The setting, the color, the warmth she felt of the sun reminded Philia of a memory that seemed so distant now, as she reached for Kirito's hand to follow her.

"What?"

"This way Kirito." Philia guided the two through alley streets and backways, until they came across a large opening in the back of the city. Few to no people were around, as it was a large public dining area that people could gather around in. Kirito was confused, until he looked toward Philia who was looking out toward the horizon.

"Look…Doesn't it bring back memories?" She said aloud while still gazing out into the distance. As Kirito's face lit up a moment later as he watched the beautiful atmosphere of the sun setting. The two walked over toward the railing over the cliff-side of the city. They were just lost in the orange glow that was overcast the city of Arun, and the World Tree was bathed in a warming orange glow.

"It does…Reminds of me the sunset you found back in Aincrad. When you had just first gotten out of the Hollow Area."

"Yea…I guess I always do find good treasures like these, don't I?" The two laughed at the young lady's joke, reminding back when Kirito had first said that line to her.

"Yea…Thank you Philia." She was surprised as the Black Swordsman turned toward her.

"For what?"

"For today…The adventure we had today, the blade, this sunset…It's been a great day. I haven't had many of these lately." He gave her his sincerest praise and thanks, as Philia's face lit up with embarrassment.

"Kirito…You know you can always tell me anything." She wanted to be there for him, Philia didn't care now if she was being too forward or if she was over-stepping boundaries. She knew what he was referring to, about his latest problems with Asuna.

"I guess I'm not surprised that you, and the rest of the girls know I'm sure…Asuna is having an arranged marriage. I wish I could say I'm surprised…But I'm not." Kirito began to crumble down, his grasp on the railing weakening as Philia was shocked.

"So…You know?"

"I'm not 100% certain but I'm sure that's what it is. Asuna comes from a prestigious family…It's still a very common practice in today's modern day standards."

"I'm so sorry Kirito…" She placed a hand upon his strong shoulder that was weaken than it used to be, carrying a heavy burden he was desperately trying to keep together.

"I'm sorry Philia…I didn't mean to ruin the moment for us."

"It's alright. Listen, maybe we should get some real air you know?" Her cheeks heated as the two looked toward one another. "Would you…Want to go to the festival together tomorrow?"

"Of course. I'd love too." Kirito tried to give a good smile to put on for the young woman. Making sure she didn't see the single tear that ran across his cheek. She had done so much for him, it was the least he could do to repay her back for the woman's kind heart.

"R-Really?" She sounded surprised.

"Yea. It sounds like a lot of fun. Why don't we meet tomorrow then?"

"Sure…Tomorrow it is." Philia could hardly believe of the date the two of them had planned.

"Okay. Well I think I'll log off now, and do some homework so I have time tomorrow. I'll see you tomorrow, and thank you again…Kotone."

"K-Kazuto." It sounded strange to use their real names even though they were both looking at their avatars in this virtual world. But in a way, it made the moment all the more special, and romantic in Philia's eyes.

"Sorry…I guess I got a little carried away." Kirito let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head.

"No it's okay…I don't mind you calling me by my real name at all."

"Well, tomorrow it is then Kotone. Have a good night."

"You as well Kazuto." And with that, her Spriggan comrade and friend had departed from ALO for the rest of the evening, leaving Philia alone to her thoughts for just a moment. She stared out toward the horizon of the sunset the two of them were just sharing and reminiscing about a moment ago. However now Philia had mixed feelings about the whole situation. As much as she desperate wanted this chance to be with Kazuto, she didn't know if it was justified and right.

Is it…Alright to have these feelings for him?

She struggled to walk this line of right and wrong. As much as she loved and cared for Kirito, she knew he had his heart set on somewhere else…someone else. However was she taking advantage of his wounded heart, or was Kirito himself trying to move on to someone else? He knew what was happening with Asuna, and yet he still chose to go with Philia to the anniversary festival tomorrow. She knew Kirito wasn't a moron, he knew what Philia was really meaning under the surface of her invitation. He may have acted dense and dim-witted around his friends, but she knew him better than that. They had spent so much time together in the Hollow Area. Going from area to area, completing puzzling dungeons and defeating the strongest of bosses the Hollow Area had to offer. In what little time they spent together, Philia felt as though she knew Kirito her entire life.

Was he trying to escape? Or was he trying to move on?

X

The next evening…

Kazuto waited patiently for his friend outside the festival's main entrance. Many of the students of the SAO Survivor School had passed by him long ago, but it seemed as though she was running a bit late.

"Kazuto!" A large collection of women gathered in front of the man, as he saw Rika, Keiko, Suguha, and even Shino dressed in vibrant colored yukuta's. "Hey! I didn't know you were coming to the festival too!" Rika sounded surprised…and thrilled that he was attending.

"Yea I thought it would be good to get some fresh air and get out of the house…Both the actual house and out of ALO for a little while." He made the small joke making this group of women laugh as Rika led the way.

"Come with us! It'll be fun!" She tried to yank him into the festival grounds, but he kept resilient to her surprise.

"I'm actually…waiting for someone." He admitted as the four ladies looked surprised. Who could he have been waiting on? Surely not Asuna…

"Kazuto…I don't think Asuna is attending the festival." Keiko thought she would break Kazuto's heart, but he was the one to actually surprise them.

"I'm not waiting on Asuna…" He admitted, knowing full well what was coming next. "I'm waiting on Kotone."

"Oh…I see." Rika gave back sarcastically as he noticed all four of them were giving him an annoyed stare. It always ended up like this, always the bad guy dressed in black. "Well we're going in, see you when you get there!"

"Bye Kazuto!"

"See ya big bro!"

"Have fun!"

"See you around." They all said their goodbye's as the group of ladies left Kazuto to his waiting. A moment later he saw a lone figure approaching the entrance. He was surprised to see Kotone in not a yakuta, but a completely different attire. The snow had disappeared for the time being, but it was still chilly outside all hours of the day. Instead of a yakuta, Kotone wore a dark blue short skirt, and a matching blue overcoat, with her signature orange scarf. She looked very similar to how her original attire looked back in Aincrad, and it brought back memories flushing through Kazuto's mind when he first saw her.

"What…What are you staring at?" She gave a nervous laugh as she approached her hero, dressed in all black as usual. She was stunning, that much she figured out. But she didn't know she would get this kind of reaction out of him.

"Oh nothing Kotone. You look great, I'm just surprised you weren't in a yakuta like most other people are, especially since its cold outside."

"Sorry…I just didn't really want wear mine. Do you think this stands out too much?"

"No not at all, you look great." He gave her a comforting smile, putting the young woman's embarrassment to rest. She knew she would stand out a bit to the crowd, but she didn't think by that much. "Well anyway, let's have fun tonight."

"Of course." The two walked side-by-side as Kazuto realized right away just how much attention Kotone was getting. Not only was she lovely, but her attire set her apart from nearly every other women in the festival. Virtually everyone was wearing a yakuta besides her. Not only that, but he was getting a lot of glares from the surrounding young men around them. They thought he was so lucky to be with someone so pretty.

"What do you want to do first Kazuto?"

"Are you hungry?" He pointed to the stand with grilled squid skewers, and fried octopus balls. "Brings back more memories doesn't it?"

"Yea we've had a lot of good time over the years in SAO and ALO."

"I remember that time you tried to prank me by giving me spicy octopus balls…Just for you to go to the fountain and drink all the water." He said with a goofy smile teasing the young lady.

"I-I wasn't trying to prank you! Just a little bit I guess…"

"Or that time you ate a squid monster at that festival we went to together in ALO. And the suckers got stuck to your mouth and I had to yank it out!"

"Why do you bring up such embarrassing memories!?" Kotone knew he was teasing her, but now he was just being plain mean as her face flushed with embarrassment.

"I don't think you'll get a repeat of last time, after all its actual squid and not squid monsters."

"Then you're paying for them this time since you made me think of those awkward times again." Kotone played with the handsome man in a playful yet irked tone and face.

"Alright, fine by me." Kazuto gave her with a happy smile as he paid for him and his date for their snacks. The two ate as they continued walking, until another stand caught Kotone's eye.

"Kazuto look!" She called out to him as he rushed to catch up to her to the stand. They were selling other snacks, but it was a bit different it was…

"Passion Fruit." Kazuto answered as Kotone paid for the two, and handed him one. "Oh thank you Kotone."

"You're welcome…Do you know what this reminds me of?" She said with a bit of nervousness. However Kazuto remembered just as well.

"About the tree you and I raised. And the Fruit of Feeling."

"Yes exactly…Those were some good times weren't they?"

"It was a lot of fun. The fruit tasted great too!"

"Right…The taste." Kotone said quietly to herself. It wasn't the taste that she remembered from that moment, but the feelings she felt of Kirito at the time, and the feelings he felt of hers. She tasted his feelings of forgiveness of her, when she betrayed him to the Hollow PoH and the trap he nearly died in. Yet he not only forgave Philia for her betrayal, but still continued on to save her from the Hollow Area, and bring her back to Aincrad and Arc Sophia. If she tasted his feelings of forgiveness…Then surely he must have tasted her feelings of love for him. Yet it doesn't seem like he remembers, or at least acknowledges those feelings, and in a way it hurt.

As the two were going about their date, they were being spied on by the four other jealous ladies.

"I can't believe he asked Kotone to the festival!" Rika couldn't help but comment on the two together, and her jealousy couldn't be more obvious.

"Well maybe she asked him. Come on we shouldn't be spying on them." Suguha tried to get Rika away from her glued scene, as she just batted away Kazuto's younger sister.

"Just a minute!"

"I see you over there Rika!" Kazuto called out to the group of ladies, primarily their leader as she showed a terrified face.

"Busted let's run!" Rika gave out as the three other ladies followed her. Kotone was a bit concerned as Kirito showed a face full of annoyance, yet called down a moment later.

"Sorry Kotone, it's just kind of annoying when I always have someone breathing down my neck. I can't even go to a festival without someone overlooking what I'm doing."

"I'm sorry Kazuto…I didn't mean for this to be a big deal." She couldn't help but feel a bit bad, if she hadn't been so bold to ask him, he wouldn't be in such an irritated mood now.

"It's not your fault." He gave to the young lady to pick back up her spirits. And the two continued walking. As they did so he could see Kotone shaking a bit in the cold out of the corner of his eye. She should have worn something a bit warmer. His face flushed, as he tried to maneuver his arm over her shoulders.

Kotone's face turned incredibly red within the blink of an eye. "W-What are you doing all of a sudden!?" She was just as surprised as he was.

"I'm sorry! You just looked really cold and…" He trailed off his words as Kazuto yanked back his arms.

"No I get it…Thank you Kazuto." She slinged his arm back over her shoulders, as the two smiled toward one another, both blushing mad yet oblivious to it. They walked together like that for a moment longer, until something caught Kazuto's eye.

"Kotone look!" He rushed over toward the stand which was the start of an adventure here in the festival tonight. "A scavenger hunt, you up for it?" It took the orange scarfed woman a moment to pick up on what was happening. But once she did, her face was full of determination and excitement.

"Let's do it! Let's find some treasure!" The two began the scavenger hunt right away. Going from station to station for the next clue to the location of 'hidden treasure' of some kind of prize for those who find it. There was actually a dozen different scavenger hunts going on at the same time, all the prizes located in a different part of the large festival grounds.

They passed through stands for food and rides for joy as the two finally came to the end of their scavenger hunt, which led them to a secluded area in the back of the grove.

"Kazuto…I think this is it." Kotone looked from her map to the marked location it showed, within a knot of the tree. She pulled out a small box that was in the shape of a treasure chest, similar to what they looked like back in Aincrad. He looked at the box with a strange look.

"I'm surprised they made them look like what they do in the game. Nothing else in the festival looks like something from Aincrad."

"Maybe they wanted to bring back some nostalgia to the survivors. I mean we were all once players and finding hidden treasure is always the best."

"Let's open it." Kazuto showed an excited smile as Kotone handed him the chest.

"You go ahead and open it."

"Alright." He carefully pulled up the lid with nervous anticipation to just what could be inside. His face glowed with awe as he pulled out a sterling silver chain, with an interesting ornament at the end in the shape of another miniature treasure chest.

"It's so pretty…" Kotone commented quietly to themselves.

"The lid opens up…" Kazuto paused as he lifted the lid of the silver treasure chest, reading the inscription on the top of the lid hidden underneath.

"Never look back on what was, and never look forward to what may be. But never give up on what is now. Some of the greatest treasures…are hidden right in front of us."

"That's beautiful…" Kotone couldn't help but comment on the surprising yet romantic inscription within the chest of the necklace. Kazuto thought for just a moment, as he turned toward his friend, and partner on these memorable treasure hunts.

"I want you to have it Kotone." He said simply with a happy smile, while she was caught completely off guard as her face flushed.

"R-Really? Me?"

"Of course." He swung behind the young lady as he latched it around her slender neck, and the treasure chest fell right above her breasts. Kotone lifted up the lid of the chest to read the inscription herself…As she almost wanted to cry to the gift he was giving her now.

"Oh Kazuto…Thank you so much." She gave him from the bottom of her heart.

"Of course. You gave me something today…So it's only fair that I return the favor."

"Return the favor?" She was a bit confused as Kazuto stepped back in front of the young woman, standing so close together, alone in this meadow that would hold such a wonderful memory.

"Kotone…I can't thank you enough for always being there for me…And always supporting me. It's like what the treasure chest says…I can't change what is going to happen with Asuna, and I don't know what the future holds for me…Or for us. But I know what's right in front of me now." He took a pause from his confession as he took her two hands within her own, and held them close to their hearts. Her face heated as his did as well, yet he continued on.

"Give me time Kotone…Wait for me. I promise that…You won't be hidden in front of me forever." She didn't know what to say, as tears of joy were spilling from her cheeks. Kotone couldn't hardly believe what she was hearing. That Kazuto felt the same as she did. When he did nothing, and said nothing when they ate the Fruit of Feelings…She figured that was the end, and accepted her role as his friend and companion. But it looks as though tonight, she found the greatest treasure she would ever find within another reality, or even the rest of her life. She found the treasure of love.

"Of course…I'll…I'll always wait for you!" She said happily with glee, as she wiped away her tears.

"We both found some hidden treasure tonight…Thank you Kotone…For everything." He gave her from the bottom of his heart, as they shared their first kiss together. Life is a journey, and these two found the greatest treasure of live at such a young age. Some search their entire lives for love and never find it. Philia's obtained something that no sheer amount of yuld or rare items could ever compare with.

She found and obtained the heart of her hero, the Black Swordsman Kirito. And this treasure hunter would never let it go, or trade it for anything in the world. In Aincrad, Alfheim, or this reality.

Love is always brightest in our darkest moments.