(A/N hello everybody sorry for the long wait time I've been busy with school and such. I've recently crossed the 20k word mark for my story, a rather big thing for me in addition at the time I'm writing this my story is ranked #20 in both favorites and follows and number 24 for reviews this is out of 433 stories. I would like to thank all the people who have favorited and followed my story as well as everyone who has reviewed. Also I've gotten a few comments on occasional bad grammar, as much as I'd like to fix this I actually have ADD so It's rather hard for me to correct something I already know so please feel free to point out any grammar mistakes you see. Anyway here's the next chapter ^_^)

Kirito's men reached the front gate of the home city on the 8th floor after about an hour of walking. As they passed through the front gate Kirito allowed himself to relax slightly. He then put on a confident visage as his men change into a more impressive if less effective formation. Kirito knew it was important to keep up their public face if only to give others hope that they would be free one day. Not to mention he didn't really mind a little hero worship here and there … *cough* I mean it's important that they have someone to look up to for Uhh inspiration and all that.

That aside as they walked through the town they attracted an enormous amount of attention the merchants and crafters standing at their stalls stood a bit taller and looked at them hopefully. It was well known that the Black Mark had a huge sum of money in their coffers and often purchased items that could not be forged like crystals and rare drops from the market as well as raw materials. The Black Mark had a unique economic structure which mostly relied on the lack of corruption in the guild.

The tax rate was rather high at a massive 50 % meaning for every 100 col each person earned 50 would go to the guild. In return for this guild members received something sort of like pay checks every week. The guards and others who did not get out grinding very often would receive money for their work even if they didn't grind that week. This also applied to the support classes like informants. 60% of the taxes went toward paychecks the remaining was used to support various utilities in the guild such as buying raw materials and such. Most of the money stayed in the guild as most of the time the equipment people needed was purchasable in the guilds shop where Lisbeth made high quality weapons and armor constantly.

The guild members had also found that they could sell their old weapons to people on the lower floors for a good sum henceforth bringing back the money used to buy materials over time. This cycle added to the money they earned selling the crops from the farm left them with a ridiculous amount of cash sitting around. This meant the majority of the rare drops in Aincraid were easily purchased. Kirito had also gotten several requests from guilds to purchase his blade for ridiculous sums. Although no one knew the exact details behind his sword barring Argo and the girls who had at one point refused to speak to him till he explained it. The siege lasted for 3 days before they caved and began begging him to tell. Kirito prided himself on his will but the combined power of 6 pairs of puppy dog eyes proved too great a challenge and he caved.

And so he had explained its capabilities and how he had got it although he left out the fact that he was at less than 50 health points by the end of the fight. Although his attempts not to worry them were ruined by Argo who remembered the dudgeon by which he spoke from the beta. She then explained the reasons why no one had beaten it before while glaring at Kirito clearly angry at him for taking such a risk. Once she finished explaining Kirito now had 6 pairs of angry eyes aimed at him. As one they spoke yelling at him fierce expressions on their faces.

"Idiot!" their voices screeched.

"I knew you were dense but really?" Sinon said glaring at him

"You could have gotten yourself killed Kirito" Argo agreed, for once using his real name (well kind of anyway) proving she was really angry this time.

The girls had been furious at him for the next few days before they calmed down. Kirito sighed smiling slightly before returning to his neutral face. With the pedestal he had placed himself on in the real world as well as the age difference due to him skipping grades Kirito had all but forgotten what it was like to feel truly accepted. To be part of a group that truly cared about its members, but that was what the Black Mark had become.

While maintaining their cool and collected attitude on the outside the Black Mark had a surprisingly relaxed and almost family like atmosphere on the inside. It was not surprising that their members were rather close as relying on each other in combat and life or death situations tended to bond people together.

They had also accepted him as the leader surprisingly easily despite being only around 14 and a half. Even if they didn't know his exact age it was pretty obvious that he was at most 16. The majority of the members of his guild were at least in their mid-20's but they seemed to have little to no problem with the fact that the more powerful half of their governing body consisted completely of teenagers. Klein and his friends had formed a party and only lead the group in the case that Kirito and the girls were absent for whatever reason. Agil was the only adult who was actively involved in the running of the guild managing their economic functions like the purchase of goods and such.

Snapping out of his musing Kirito turned around and looked the members of his guild he then spoke in his 'badass voice' as dubbed by Argo anyway "The rest of the day is yours, spend it how you will."

The assembled members just nodded before heading of off in groups of twos and threes to various parts of town. Kirito then teleported back to the fortress of the black mark. As the blue lights faded he stepped off of the stone circle and walked towards his fortress allowing his demeanor to relax. Once inside he went to the most recently renovated room in his guildhall, the Dudgeon.

Lit by torches on the walls the area retained a dark dankness to it. As he walked his boots clacked on the ground echoing throughout the small labyrinth. Turning into one of the side tunnels he entered the first cell block. Then he heard voices ahead.

"Yeah that kid thinks he so tough but when it came down to it he didn't have the nerve." A familiar voice said.

Kirito smirked before quieting his footsteps and activating his hiding skill, sure enough when he turned the last corner he saw the red head player killer leaning his back against the bars

"He ambushed us with 15 guys and acts like he's a one man army" The red headed man said arrogantly as Kirito drew closer and closer to his back still hiding in the shadows "If I had fought him one on one it would have been easy."

Kirito reached the man's back still undetected "iss that ssso?" he repeated his earlier statement his mouth just behind the man's ear, this of course caused the man to shriek loudly in a rather girlish manor. He dove away from the bars and backing away clearly terrified. "Actually the only reason I left you alive is because I need information."

"Why would we tell you anything? It's not like you would free us if we did." one of the other pker said while looking at the red headed pker and shaking his head before looking at Kirito defiantly. "If you kill us it'll wreck your reputation" he continued confidently

"You're absolutely right." Kirito said keeping up his sadistic demeanor "I can't kill you, hell you can't even feel pain from injuries here." Kirito's smirk widened further.

The man looked unnerved but then continued attempting to stay confident "there's nothing you can do to us" he said voice growing firm.

Kirito's grin grew more sadistic "You exactly right and that exactly what I'm going to do to you, nothing" at this the men grew confused "I won't send guards or anyone here, I won't even tell anyone you're here" one of the men paled realizes the implications of what Kirito had said.

"W-wait if no one knows were here who's going to bring us food?" he said alarmed

"Food?" Kirito said "You wanted me to do nothing to you didn't you?" he continued his voice dripping with sadistic humor "And it's not like it'll kill you" he finished smirking. Despite the fact that it wouldn't kill you being true he knew the game had a hunger system causing you're body to feel intense hunger pangs after a day or two of not eating. This was the only way to feel pain in SAO. With this in mind Kirito turned around to leave

"W-wait!? Where are you going?" the red headed man said as the situation finally set in.

"I'm leaving," he said looking back "after all" he said slowly and sadistically "you asked me to leave you alone"

"W-wait what do you want to know!" one of the other men said hurriedly.

"Oh it doesn't matter after all as he said" Kirito said gesturing to the pker he had talked to earlier "why would you tell me anything." He continued to walk away ignoring the pkers cries. As he exited the cell block he allowed himself a smirk before turning towards the exit

"I'd give them a few days or a week at most" a voice called out from behind him

Kirito turned around to find Sinon leaning against a pillar next to the entrance to the first cell block.

"Oh, eh that was…" Kirito began as Sinon approached him

Sinon suddenly put 2 fingers over his mouth silencing him "That wasn't all faked, I don't know what happened or why but I won't pressure you." She said staring in to his eyes.

Kirito opened his mouth to argue, to deny what she had said, before letting his mouth fall close. He sighed knowing she was right he opened his mouth again "yeah, you're right." She nodded as if confirming something.

"If you need someone to talk to my door is always open" she said turning to leave

"The same goes for you," Kirito said suddenly. At his words Sinon froze before Kirito continued "you're the first person to notice in a long time" he said "which can only mean one thing." He continued as he walked past her "you're probably the same as me." He looked back at her smiling sadly.

Sinon blinked and looked down feeling ashamed when she felt a hand on her head. Looking up she saw Kirito standing in front of her "But that doesn't change the fact that you're one of my closest friends." He said smiling gently "and I'm sure the others feel the same way," he continued "we're pretty much a family now Sinon" he said smiling a bit more earnestly now "You, me, Silica, Asuna, Lisbeth, Yukki, and even Argo when she's not blackmailing people" he continued "we're in this together okay?" he finished.

Sinon blushed slightly before replying earnestly "Yeah, thanks Kirito" she sighed "but I'm supposed to be the one comforting you not the other way around" she said pouting slightly

Kirito smiled again before turning to go "Oh and Sinon?" Kirito said seriously

"What?" she asked

"Thanks" he replied smiling before disappearing into the darkness of the dudgeon.

(A/N : So we get our first hint at Kirito's new and more sketchy past as well as the second installment of what might become a running gag in my story :p )