Hello my lovelies! Sorry it took so long to update this one. I had a few things to come up with before I could. But, here is the newest chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter eight: Max

"I'm going out again," Fang said suddenly. I looked up at him as his chair scraped back.

"No, you're not." He ignored me and went through his menu. "Fang." A sword and cloak appeared on him. "Fang, you are not going out there again so soon!"

"Try to stop me."

The entire Flock gaped at his blunt defiance. Don't get me wrong, Fang is always defiant. Just not… so obvious and definitely not in front of the kids. It has been three days since Amelia disappeared. After forty eight hours of nonstop searching, Asuna and I decided it was best that we take a break. A break Fang doesn't seem to agree with.

I stood to glare at him (also because I hate having him tower over us like that). "If you continue to search for her at this rate, you'll tire yourself into…."

"I don't care!" His hands slammed down on the table, making the others jump and Kirito jump to his feet to try to calm him down. "My girlfriend is out there! Those bastards are most likely torturing her in any and every way they know how! I am not going to just sit by and let that happen!"

"And then your dumbass will end up dead because you wanted to play hero in a weakened state!"

"We've always done that for each other!"

"Yes, when we are able to! When we can come together as a Flock and seriously whoop some Itex behinds!"

"We are able to now! But your hatred towards Amelia is preventing you…!"

"Shut up!" Asuna jumped to her feet as I slammed my own hands on the table. "You know the two of us bonded in the last few days! How could you say that?!"

"But obviously you didn't do so enough!" My glare intensified at his audacity.

"I am done with this conversation! As your guild and Flock leader, I forbid you to leave this cabin until I say so! Do I make myself clear?!"

"Crystal," he growled before turning around and storming to his and Kirito's room, slamming the door shut. Without a word, I walked outside and flew onto the roof of the cabin. I laid back and sighed, closing my eyes.

I hate pulling rank like that. But Fang had it coming for him. This decision is best for us. The guild needs this twenty four hour break. That's why Asuna and I said to do so. I felt someone land beside me.

"He's scared." Kirito.

"Fang? Scared? Not likely. The closest he feels to fear is caution," I shot back.

"Are you sure?" I opened my eyes as he sat beside me. "He's so much like me; it's scary. And I can see his fear." Well, I can't argue with that one.

"Even so, he didn't have to challenge me."

"Two months ago," the raven said after a moment of silence, "Asuna and I broke up." I sat up and looked out at the woods. "Before that, we were… close. Anyone could tell we were perfect for each other. Kind of like I assume you and Fang were like."

"But…?' I prodded when he paused and looked down.

"Deep down, she could be very jealous. I'm the kind to rush in and help others, no questions asked until afterwards. Those 'others' tended to be girls who ended up liking me a lot. She told me one day that she couldn't do it anymore. She knew I never cheated on her. But the temptation was there."

"She didn't want to be there when you caved."

"This is the first game she's played in two months. Since that day. And it's like we've come in a full circle. We met in SAO, a game that had 100 floors and the only way to log out is to beat every floor."

We sat there in silence for what seemed like an hour. Honestly, I didn't understand why the two weren't together until now. They're like me and Fang…. The old me and Fang.

"I didn't break up with Fang because of Amelia," I admitted.

"Why did you?"

"We were drifting. That urgence that shoved us together disappeared once we defeated Itex. I realized I did not love him like I had believed I did. I loved the idea of loving him. Of him loving me."

"And instead of telling him that, you blamed the newest member of the Flock? You gained this hatred of Amelia because she actually wanted him, not the idea of having him?"

"Don't judge me. She was arrogant. Anyone could tell she wanted to take him from me. It just seemed easiest that way. I hadn't meant to end up hating her."

"So where does this leave us?" he asked after we were silent for a while. I finally looked at him.

"Two people who put others' lives above their own without fail. Who understand each other more than they thought they understood their ex-mates. Who have a shot, a future, together if they let things develop the right way."

"I couldn't say it better myself." I smiled at him.

~Amelia~

I looked away and bit my lip as the rod touched my stomach again. A scream threatened to burst out as I was shocked hard yet again. 'Pain is a message that I am alive. Pain is a message that I am alive. Pain is a message that I am alive. Pain is a message….'

My mental chant was cut short by a fist caving my stomach in at the same exact spot I was shocked at. I fought away tears as I coughed. 'Pain… message… alive.'

"Nothing is working, boss. She's too used to pain," one of my torturers said.

"Leave us."

I panted for breath as everyone else in the room left us. I have been strapped down to an operation table for three days now. Seventy two hours of endless shocks and punches.

"Why do you not cry or scream like any girl in your position?"

I looked at my captor. His dark red bangs partially covered his soulless black eyes. His muscles rival those of Dylan's, and that's saying something. He wears nothing but a black vest and armor that look like sweatpants. Word of advice: do not kick him while barefoot.

"I was born. I did not cry or scream. I was experimented on until I could flawlessly turn into any animal at will. That took from when I was one to when I was five. I did not cry or scream. I lost my virginity to an Eraser. I did not cry or scream. I endured pain before joining the Flock a while ago. I did not cry or scream. What does that tell you?" I snorted as best I could.

"You can truly fight pain. Impressive. You know, I knew a girl just like you, minus the mutations of course. Strong. Beautiful beyond belief. Powerful. Witty. But every girl can be made just as submissive as I like them. She was no exception."

"What did you do to her?"

My question was met with silence. After a few moments, my legs were forced up into the air by chains around my ankles.

I was about to look at him (or even just ask what he was doing) when something much too long and much too thick slammed into my back hole.

And I cried in pain and screamed for mercy.

If you did not get the significance of that final line, you should reread Amelia's point of view. I hope the reason Asuna and Kirito broke up made sense. It was the only thing I could come up with since the two are perfect for one another.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

-RozaCourt