Hia all! Sorry for the wait on this one. i swear i wasn't slacking or anything more like i was organizing on what i wanted to fully do with the story and how i wanted to do it. Let me just say i can't wait until the Fairy Dance arc. Yes i know that's ages away but i can still be excited.

Enjoy! 3

Two weeks has passed since Asuna partied up with Kirito to get a better understanding of the world they both lived in, to get a sense of who she once was. Asuna had learned a lot while traveling with Kirito; how to understand the UI better, learning about agro ranges from mobs, stats and many more. Again it was a little overwhelming at times since Kirito wanted to rush everything.

Kirito knew teaching didn't call to him, he actually found it to be a massive pain in the ass. Yes he had memories so he could understand it almost immediately after remembering it, but teaching something from the memories he had is kind of hard to replicate into words from a world they had no knowledge in. Like why were they called Mobs? Kirito just remembers calling them that in the beta and doesn't remember the meaning behind it at all.

Kirito opened his eyes from the long awaited sleep he so desperately needed. Kirito looked down to the bottom right of his vision. 05:00 am 19/11/2022. That's another thing Kirito didn't understand…the date. Well he understood what it meant, it's just he doesn't remember where he learned that or any of the history to be readable in that format. Another question hidden away from the memory loss Kirito guessed.

Kirito sat up trying to get himself awake, rubbed his eyes and yawned. Today he planned on going towards the labyrinth of the floor boss, he hasn't seen or heard anyone go in yet. Maybe they're scared or they're not strong enough. Either way Kirito knew he needed to go in there. There's plenty of better loot in there that could help him and Asuna greatly.

Kirito trotted out of bed, put his armor back on and grabbed his sword that was leaning against the bed stand. Kirito had a long look over the sword. "I'll need you today again my friend." Kirito told the sword as he equipped it to his back.

Exiting his room Kirito noticed Asuna who was already awake eating one of the stale, dry pieces of bread.

"You know we've got all the milk we can drink, you could've just had that." Kirito suggested taking a seat across from her. "Since we can survive just on liquids."

"Yeah well it doesn't feel right just having milk for breakfast." Asuna spat back

'Moody' Kirito though to himself, he just sighed and through her a small notepad like book towards Asuna as it slide towards her, Asuna snapped out of her train of thought and looked towards the book.

"What's this?"

"Something Argo's been working on for the past few weeks." Kirito said as he got himself some milk and drank it all in one gulp.

Asuna picked up the book and examined the front. "Argo's Strategy Guide." Asuna flipped through the pages; hunting locations, enemy item drops and their chances, good EXP quests locations and tips on staying alive. Asuna read through the tips and noticed they were pretty obvious tips or is more just common sense. But maybe Asuna just thought that after being taught by Kirito all this time.

As Asuna stuck her head into the book, Kirito looked down towards his arm as he felt something strange. A strange blue ripple effect echoed through his arm, kind of like water droplets hitting the surface of the water. It didn't hurt, however his arm did feel the droplets hitting his arm.

"Strange" Kirito said to himself.

Asuna looked up towards Kirito and saw him looking downwards at his arm. Asuna couldn't see it. "What is?"

Kirito pulled out his arm from under the table to show Asuna but by the time he did so they were gone.

"You know I'm getting real tired of your jokes." Asuna injected as she took the last of bread she had and forced it down.

"What's wrong with you this morning?" Kirito couldn't help but ask, not liking the aggressiveness from Asuna. He doesn't think he's done anything wrong that he knows of.

"Nothing." Asuna rejected as she got up and headed towards the door. "Let's just get out of here."

Kirito decided to let it go and hopped it was just a morning where she woke up on the wrong side of the bed. "Fine. We're headed towards the main labyrinth for the day. There's a few item drops that could help us."

Kirito had one last glass of milk. Took another look at his arm which showed no case of anything happening to it then and set off towards the labyrinth.

Stopping off in a town not too far from the boss's labyrinth. Tolbana. A fairly big town currently 2nd biggest of all of floor 1, it sits between two cliff sides with a bridge extending towards the other half of town where most of the bars and inn's were located. Kirito and Asuna just wanted a quick stop in order to refill on potions.

Even though they both refilled, Kirito got them for Asuna's sake. Just in case of emergencies. It's not that Kirito didn't trust Asuna to pull her own weight, in-fact Kirito was surprised how much Asuna has already adapted to the new changes. From the Town of Beginnings to the edge of the labyrinth in a two weeks was no small achievement.

They both didn't talk much the whole way there. Only little things here and there. Kirito was a bit cautious on what to say though as it seemed like any little thing could make her snap. He didn't think he said anything wrong. Did he cross a line he didn't know of? Was this normal for her? Kirito decided to finally ask after the trip to the boss's labyrinth. Need to sort this out as it could even cause issues when they work together and need each others backs.

Now standing just outside the entrance the two decided to prepare before continuing in into the labyrinth. Kirito checking out his equipment and durability making sure there wouldn't be any unfortunate gear breaking in the middle of a fight. Asuna just leaned against a tree, eying the entrance wanting to go in already.

Kirito noticed, looking at the entrance then back at her. "Have you checked all your gear?"

"It's fine." Asuna scoffed.

She's obviously irritated by something but it's never gotten this bad. Throughout the pass few days Asuna would have little moments here and there just feeling angry and annoyed but never like this. It's almost like she's reached her tipping point.

Kirito again ignored it and gestured Asuna to follow.

Kirito was strict on which chest to open, it was obvious at the fact there were chests to open that no one has made it this far yet. Some were deadly traps that spawn mobs all around the players leaving them helpless. Kirito was too low of a level to be able to take them all on. He didn't have any of the higher level skills and equipment yet so he had to be extra careful.

Asuna was struggling to keep up a bit. All the mobs were the same they've already encountered throughout the first floor but these ones were different. They were smarter, they hit harder and they could easily overwhelm you if you weren't paying attention.

It was strange. In Asuna's eyes at least. Why are they harder here compared to closer to the town of beginnings? What makes them so different? According to Kirito, these labyrinths are what lead them to the next floor. So is each labyrinth a test to see if you're strong enough to reach the next floor? If so, what's the point? Why not just stay on the first floor?

Asuna debated on asking Kirito but decided against it. She knew if he asked him he'll answer with that he knows, but Asuna wanted to figure out some things on her own. She didn't constantly want someone to hold her hand on everything. When worst comes to worst…which it usually does at times, she needed the practice to think for herself, quick on her feet and not always rely on someone.

"Level 11" Kirito whispered to himself. The leveling progression was a bit rough at the start and he knew it'll just get harder the higher up he gets. Kirito looked over towards Asuna's health bar. It was sitting just above the yellow so all was good, then he read the level that was next to her name. "Level 9."

Kirito sighed, he wanted her to be at least level 10 by now. Minimum. Kirito looked down as his map making sure they were following the right path. He wanted to get all the right chests that could help them both. Kirito noticed every chest he's seen so far hasn't been opened. Good. It gave Kirito the knowledge no one has made it this far yet.

Asuna was about to open another chest when Kirito stopped her.

"Not that one." Kirito said as he began to walk further on.

"What's wrong with this one?" Asuna asked looking towards Kirito who wasn't looking back.

"We don't need it. We'll leave it to the other players."

Asuna tried to piece together what Kirito meant. If it wasn't anything helpful then that would mean…

"Leave a trapped chest to the players who don't know…" Asuna spoke just loud enough for Kirito to hear. "How could you leave a trap like this to people who don't know? What's wrong with you?"

Kirito stopped in his tracks and turned towards Asuna who was staring daggers into his soul. Yep, she's pissed off.

"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?" Kirito spat back. "These past few days you've been angered by something and it's throwing off your game. You're making mistakes that could have easily been avoided."

Asuna grew irritated. Not just because she's been called out on her actions, but because she couldn't believe Kirito thought that way to the other players. Him knowing it's a trap yet not even going to tell anyone about it really pushed her over the edge…How could he.

"Are you that selfish?" Asuna honestly asked. "Do other lives not matter to you that you'd leave people to die from a trap?

This took Kirito by surprise. "Selfish? How the hell am I being selfish?"

"You're not willing to put yourself in danger in order to clear a trapped chest." Asuna still hasn't taken her eyes away from Kirito.

Kirito had to take a breath to let himself calm down. Kirito thinks she's not really mad at him, but at times it's really hard to tell. "Then what do you want me to do?"

"Open it. Destroy the trap." Asuna demanded.

"You open it. It really won't help us." Kirito reminded.

"Why me?"

"Because I'm trying to prove a point here."

Asuna was hesitant at first. If Kirito wanted to play games around a death trap that's fine by her. Asuna unsheathed her sword and slowly went to open the chest. As she tapped the chest she quickly jumped back and was ready to fight. But there was nothing. The chest opened normally and Asuna's menu popped up '3x Health Potions'

"Now do you see why we didn't need it? Kirito injected. "A player could of found those in an emergency and could of most likely saved them. Just because you see a chest doesn't mean you have to take all it's worth."

Asuna slowly clenched her first. Why did this piss her off so much? "You could have told me it was just some potions!" Asuna replied irritated.

Kirito looked down taking his gaze away. "I could have, but I think I'm starting to see the bigger picture here Asuna. You don't trust me, or, you're pissed I know so much and want me to be wrong from time to time."

Again Kirito figured out Asuna…It's not fair.

"It's not fair…you know all this knowledge yet you only share them with me and not anyone else. Why can't you be like Argo and help spread the info so others don't have to keep dying." Asuna struggled to make up the words as tears formed in her eyes. "You even know who you are while I still have no clue on who I am.

"You think I chose this either? I didn't choose to have this advantage over others right of the bat." Kirito now realizing how little Asuna knew. "Speaking of Argo, who do you think helped her pick up all that stuff about mob drops, quest locations and all that? I have! All for free. I'm not as selfish as you think I am Asuna but if you still think that then why do you still party up with me?"

Asuna had no words to that. Why does she still follow Kirito?

"As for the others that have already died I can't do anything about that. You can't help everyone Asuna, and if you tried you'd only fail and be left behind struggling to keep up with the people in front." Kirito now getting more frustrated.

"You don't know that." Asuna quickly responded. How could Kirito think like this? "We're all in the same boat, we're all in a world we have no memories on, we all woke up in the same place at the same time and we all just want to figure out what's going on. The more people we help the quicker we'll find that answer."

Kirito couldn't help but chuckle, not meaning to laugh of any sort, Since, well, this is no laughing matter. "Of course except for the Beta testers, we've been the center of attention since the beginning and not in a good way. And about everyone's in the same boat you're only half right about that. Some people are getting around and doing something about it while others are staying in their rooms in the Town of Beginnings hoping one day someone tells them what to do or just magically they start to remember everything."

Asuna was taken back. While it's true the beta testers have this unfair advantage, players have started to blame the deaths on the beta testers for not knowing or sharing enough. Asuna was about to reply back but Kirito beat her to it.

"My first night someone tried to kill me for a flower that rewarded this sword here." Kirito showed Asuna. "We decided to team up in hoping to get the flower faster, I was able to get it first but…greed got the best of him. I prioritized saving a little girl over farming for another one which could of taken hours. The girl need the flower badly and I thought that night was going to be her last. Coper kept telling me she wasn't in any real danger and it was just part of the quest…but I didn't want to take that chance."

Asuna remained quiet, She wasn't aware Kirito had experienced a near death already.

"There was a mob I hadn't seen before since at that moment I haven't slept yet so I didn't have my memories, but he had, and if you killed it it spawns twenty or even thirty more of that mob species. He thought he could use his hiding skill to hide away and let all the agro mobs attack me, but since these mobs didn't have eyes they relied on smell and noise. I still hear that scream every night…Not a scream of pain..but a scream of death. I was able to get away because of a trap that made me fall down a cliff. Had only a tiny smudge of HP left. In a way it was a wake up call."

Asuna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Even though she's lived here for three weeks she's never experienced anything like that let alone on the first night. She's had some scary moments yeah, but not close to death.

"Even though he had his memories he still tried to kill you?" Asuna asked just to clarify.

Kirito simply gave a slow nod. "We're in the same boat of some sort yes, but we're not working as a team to row the boat properly, each side is trying to out row the other. It's best to make a new boat and row with people you trust with as little amount of people as possible. The more you have the more complex it gets and issues arise. Everyone wants to be the best."

Asuna hasn't thought of it like that before. Now, she didn't know what to say.

"I've already considered you on this boat Asuna and I'd prefer if you stayed, since rowing by yourself is exhausting. But, that means we don't hide things from each other. Yes I didn't tell you about Coper and I'm sorry for that. But if there's anything on my mind or even your mind we tell each other. We need to trust each other when out here or we'll never make it."

Asuna again was taken back, Kirito wanted her to stay, even considering her one he trusts but still…Why her?

"There's so many others like me so may I ask, Why me?" Asuna asked

"Yes there are others, they're all scared and I don't blame them." Kirito replied as he went down to sit down on the dungeon floor. "But you acted. I'm sure you were also scared at the start."

Asuna listened along as she nodded, agreeing she was also scared.

"But you still went and did something about it. You had a question, Who are you or who were you? And you went looking for the answer, overheard Argo and I which led to you following me. Now here we are." Kirito rested his back against the wall doing a double check on the time. 5:00 pm. Good.

"I'm still looking for that answer." Asuna said quietly as she followed suit and rested along the wall opposite Kirito. "I'm worried I'll never find the answer to it."

"Does it really matter who you were before?" Kirito asked suddenly.

Asuna didn't respond, it's not that it mattered or not it more or less bothered her that she didn't know.

"We beta testers might have our memories but we don't remember the conversation's we had or the people we met. Only locations, mobs, loot, bosses and quests rewards. So in a way I have no clue who I was before and…I'm ok with that." Kirito looked down to his arm, he again felt the weird watery feeling on his arm. It was no real concern of his at the moment since he wasn't losing HP or anything and it didn't hurt. Another question for Argo.

"Rest up for a bit, some harder mobs spawn in an hour which we'll need" Kirito suggested as he closed his eyes.

Asuna mumbled a quiet "Ok." And pulled her legs to her chest facing her head down. She felt like the biggest idiot.