Chapter 4: Old memories

Well, like I said, it's my break, Ill get these out earlier. So, yeah, Yui exists. Thats how. This will be a bit longer than others, so you are welcome. Also, two followers! YAY XD makes me happy. Enough of that, lets begin.

-3:00 p.m., Yuuki Estate-

Asuna walks into her bedroom to see Xertic laying on her bedroom, tossing a blue orb from one hand to the other. He smiles, a tongue sliding acorss his teeth.

"Ah, there you are. So, why did you invite me here?" Asuna sighs and smiles at him.

"You know, it's rude to enter a girl's room when she isn't home." Xertic opens his mouth and swallows the soul.

"That's a human rule. I'm merely disguised as a human. Again, why did you bring me here?" Asuna looks over.

"Did you bring a Nerve Gear?" Xertic nods and motions to a black bag on the floor. "Perfect. If you are going to fit in with the rest of my friends, you must play at least one VRMMO. Alfheim Online should do nicely, since we are all on it." Xertic freezes at the name. Ever since his brother's death, he tried his hardest to avoid the game. Now Asuna wanted him to face the game that would make him throw up just looking at the cover?

"Uh... I'm not so sure that's a good idea, Asuna..." He says quietly, looking away.

"Why not? It's not dangerous anymore, and you won't be trapped in it." Asuna tilts her head in confusion. Xertic sighs. It's time.

"Look, I know you probably will hate me for this, but I lied to you. Gamelus isn't away." Xertic stares at the ceiling and Asuna puts down the game.

"Where is he? You can tell me," Asuna says, sitting on the edge of the bed. Xertic closes his eyes and grits his teeth.

"He's dead. Gamelus is dead, Asuna. He died by the hands of the creator of that damn game..." Asuna gasps and Xertic's fist clenches.

"H-he's... Dead?" She starts shivering from a chill that entered her body.

"Sugou Nobuyuki, or Oberon, caught him trying to escape. Gamelus was one of the 300 players that were trapped in ALO. I was monitoring him with an A.I. we had rescued named Yui and Drake, who was in the game with him. Oberon teleported Gamelus to a dark room and tortured him to death. The screams that came from my brother's mouth not only came from the game, but from his own body, trying to take off the Nerve Gear. Oberon laughed as he watched by brother go mad... I want to kill him... kill him with the same screams he scarred me with..." Asuna looks over and saw, for the first time, Xertic cry. He didn't cry heavily, but tears dripped down, longing for a chance to see his brother again.

"I... I was trapped in the game too... Sugou was a suitor that i had... He kept me trapped in a cage, toying with my mind. My friends were able to save me from his clutches... but if they didn't... he would have...' Asuna began to break down as well. Xertic opens his eyes and sits up.

"He did that...?" Xertic's eyes flare green and he gets up from the bed. "I'm done running. Asuna-" he holds a hand out "We have both been hurt by a similar man. If we are to get over this, I need to log into ALO, and you will need time." Asuna looks up.

"But... You're brother died in there... I can't force this on you..." Xertic leans down and smiles. a finger goes over her lips and he whispers in her ear.

"I need to do this. If I don't get over his death, I may not be able to hold on to my own sanity. I will help you get over your grief as well. You know very well I can..." A smile washes over Asuna's face and she puts her arms around Xertic's neck, much to his surprise.

"Thank you... for helping me..." without notice, his tongue flicks out and licks a tear.

"No thanks is necessary..."

-in ALO-

Xertic looks down at himself after spawning on the home base of the Spriggans. Black combat boots traveled up to half of his legs, meeting black pants with a silver chain on the side. The color-changing jacket that he earned on the 65th floor in SAO was a navy-blueish color, on top of a green t-shirt with a skull holding a dagger. Two daggers were strapped to his belt and A long sword was equipped on his back. Xertic smiles at the only white on him, the gloves that covered his symbol. Small, brown, thin-wired glasses were fitted onto pointed ears thats were halfway covered with messed-up brown hair.

"I feel like I'm back in SAO. This outfit was the best for sneaking..." A boy with black hair and a black coat lands a few feet away from him and smiles.

"Good call on choosing the best race," Kirito says, smirking. Xertic looks over.

"Well, black is very soothing. I assume the others are not as smart as us in choices?" Kirito shrugs and beckons him to the gate.

"Asuna's an Undine, Liz is a Leprechaun, Klein, who you will meet, is a Salamander. He's a bit of a drunkard, but still a good guy. Silica and Sinon are both Cait Siths. Tip, don't pull on Sinon's tail." The two boys snicker and Kirito continues. "My sister is a Sylph and Agil, who you already know, is a Gnome. me and you are the only Spriggans." Xertic nods and looks over at a two girls and a taller red-haired man.

"Let me guess, red hair is Klein?" he asks, pointing to the man trying to hit on the two girls. One was a small girl with a dragon perched on her head and the other was a taller girl in a green and white dress and a long, blond ponytail.

"Congratulations. Silica is the tamer with the dragon. Leafa is my sister." Kirito rolls his eyes and the two approach Klein. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't hit on my sister, Klein. And Silica is far to young for you." Klein freezes and spins around nervously.

"Ah, hey, Kirito... I thought you weren't coming on until later... heh heh... don't kill me..." he maons, putting his hands up in defense. Leafa frowns.

"Oni-chan, he was hitting on us again!" She growls, pointing at the man. Meanwhile, Silica had went up to Xertic.

"Hi, it seems Pina likes you now!" The girl laughs as Pina, the blue dragon, began flying around Xertic and perched on his head.

"Heh, yeah. I have this way with reptiles. I'm Xertic. I knew Asuna when we were younger." Xertic reaches up and strokes the dragon on the head. Silica giggles.

"I'm Silica. It's nice meeting you. That's Leafa-san over there," She points to the girl, who nods. Xertic shrugs and a small pixie pops out of his pocket.

"Daddy, can I come out?" Yui says, yawning. Kirito looks over at the voice.

"Is that a Navigation Pixie? Why did one recognize you as its father?" he begins walking forward. Xertic nods at Yui and she flies to his shoulder.

"I'm an A.I. from Sword Art Online named Yui. Daddy and Uncle saved me from deletion. I took this form to fit in a little better." Xertic pokes her face and she pouts.

"Yeah, Gamelus, my brother, and I found her and stopped Cardinal from deleting her." Kirito nods.

"So, she's an A.I. with her own personality?"

"Basically."

"Interesting. I never knew they could do that." Leafa clears her throat.

"Guys, hate to interrupt this meeting, but the others have arrived." She points up to the sky and a blue-haired girl lands on the ground.

"Hey everyone. Xertic's is that you?" Asuna smiles at the new Spriggan.

"Yep. In the flesh and blood. Well not really, thisis an avatar..." Agil lands next to him.

"Glad you can make it on, Xer. Hey Yui." Yui smiles and flies up to Xertic's head to mmet Agil's height.

"Hello Uncle Agil!" Sinon and and Liz tilt their heads in the same confused way that Asuna did. Xertic sighs.

"Ill explain it all later. Now is someone going to teach me how to fly?" Kirito breaks out in to laughter.

"It's the toughest thing in the game, but I'll teach you." The two boys walk towards a cliff, making Xertic regret his choice.

Ahh, there we go. Should be all good. And look at that, it's not out at 9:30 at night! Now how did I do that... Thank you for reading, more is coming. America!