Talking

Thinking

It's amazing how anytime I say I'm going to update semi-regularly it crashes and burns. This chapter went through far too many rewrites, and I still don't love it. Bleh. I hope dearly that the next chapter won't take me so long. I don't even know if I remembered to respond to reviews or not...

I don't own SAO, but you knew that already.

Chapter X: Revelations

While some things do end up changing, the more things don't change. Or something like that. I tended to forget how that saying goes. Even after nearly two years in this death game, people still made stupid mistakes. Guess it was human nature at its worst.

"Switch!" I rolled out of the way of the Gleam Eyes' massive sword and let Lisbeth deflect it with her mace. It was our job along with Klein and Asuna to keep the damn thing distracted while the rest of Fūrinkazan dragged out the members of the Army that were foolish enough to enter the boss room with small numbers. Not to mention how exhausted they had been when Kirito was forced to give them the map data to stop unnecessary bloodshed.

It all started this morning when Lisbeth and I were doing the habitual mapping of the 74th floor along with the rest of the guild. We had run into Kirito and Asuna while the two of them were briefly resting. We made a little bit of small talk with them as we had decided to take a break as well. That was when Kirito and I froze up in unison and told everyone to be on their guard. From out of the trees came the army members, who as I said demanded our map data or they would violently take it from us. Not in those exact words of course, but everyone knew exactly what they meant. But back to the present.

I still wondered what exactly Kirito wanted us to stall for, but like Klein had said, we just had to trust the guy. Kirito hadn't let me down yet, even if he was always a little short with me when we talked.

I deflected the sword to the side with my newly acquired shield. Lisbeth bopped me over the head the other day when I said I didn't need one. My weak excuse was that Kirito didn't need one and neither did I.

"MOVE!" a black streak soared past me... wielding two swords!?

Kirito began whaling on the boss with some crazy long sword skill. I wasn't even sure of the amount of hits he managed to land before the Gleam Eyes sent him flying back in Klein, who caught him.

Kirito growled in an inhuman way and launched himself at the boss, both their health meters dropping at seemingly the same rate. No one dared to get between the two, afraid that their actions would only hurt Kirito who was attacking like a madman. One thing I did learn from my past MMO experience with real time MMOs where you could dodge, it was much easier to solo a boss than duo it. The boss wouldn't be random and would focus on you allowing for an easier fight. Unfortunately with the lag in between skills this usually caused the player to die before he/she could kill the boss.

Luckily this wasn't the case with Kirito.

My comrade (couldn't really call him a friend yet) managed to finish off the boss with only a tiny sliver of his hp left. Asuna rushed forward in a panic and immediately force fed him an hp potion. At first I wondered why she didn't just use a crystal, but then I remembered this was a no crystal zone.

"Whew." I sat down on the floor hard, Lisbeth soon joined me, her head leaning on my shoulder, "Never want to do that again."

"Agreed." Lisbeth panted in exhaustion, "I just want to go back to our house and sleep for a few days."

"Sounds like a plan."

I heard a loud, frantic knock at the door. I groaned and pushed Lisbeth off me, who pouted with disappointment at having our kissing interrupted. The feeling was mutual. I trudged over to the door and opened it, trying to put somewhat of a smile on my face. I failed miserably. I had just finished with that nail biter of a boss fight and I just wanted to relax.

"Hey." It was Kirito, who was looking around frantically as if afraid of something, "Could I stay here for a few days? Klein and Agil were both out, and I NEED somewhere to hide."

"Er okay I guess." I gestured for him to come in, "Did you tick off Asuna or something?"

"No." Kirito looked at me like I was crazy, "You know how people saw me use the two swords unique skill right?"

"Yeah."

"People have been hounding me day and night about how to get it," Kirito flopped down on the left side of the couch, and I sat down next to him "I keep telling them I don't know, but people won't leave the issue alone."

"Hopefully this doesn't bring back the whole beater argument." Lisbeth handed Kirito and I cups of hot chocolate and squeezed in next to me.

"Yeah." I stared at the fire, "Wonder if the same thing would happen if I used my claws in a boss fight. It's inevitable soon. The floors keep getting harder and harder. I don't want people to die like those Army members. Hell I just feel selfish at this point. Liz?"

"Hm?" She looked up at me, "What is it?"

"Am I selfish for not using my unique skill yet to help in boss battles?" Kirito's head whipped towards me and he looked bewildered, "Oh right, Kirito doesn't know about it."

I dislodged myself from the couch and stood to my feet. I opened my inventory and equipped the claws.

"This is the unique weapon I got from Kayaba for being 'interesting'" I joked, "It's more of a burden than anything else. I'm too damn scared to use them for anything useful."

"Yeah." Kirito seemed to be deep in though, "I know that feeling. The only reason I used the my skill was to save anyone else from dieing on the Gleam Eyes. Watching the Army members die was painful."

"It's been a long time since I've seen anybody die personally." I sat back down and took a sip of the hot chocolate, "When was the last time?"

"The 67th floor." Kirito replied dully, "It's been seven floors since we've lost party members to a boss."

"Damn..." I stared down into my half empty cup, "What scares me is the 75th floor."

"The 75th floor?" Lisbeth rested her head on my shoulder

Kirito answered for me, "Every 25 floors is an incredibly difficult boss. Floor 25 and Floor 50 claimed more lives that I like to remember."

Silence filled the small living room. Thoughts of those who had died prevented any of us from talking for the longest time. Finally, I decided to speak up since my eyelids were threatening to close at any second.

"You can have the couch Kirito. Stay as long as you need to." I gently pushed Lisbeth's head off my shoulder and picked up her still sleeping body, "I don't really have a spare bed to offer you. I'd offer you my bed, but Lisbeth and I sorta share it since she wouldn't let me sleep on the couch and I couldn't let her sleep on it either."

"I understand." Kirito replied, "Thanks Aurain. I think I'm finally starting to get why you and Klein are friends."

"Huh?"

"You're incredibly kind." Kirito grinned at me, "You didn't even hesistate letting me stay here."

"I-it's not that b-big of deal," My face heated up and I buried it in Lisbeth's fluffy pink hair, "Y-yeesh."

` Kirito just laughed and flopped himself down on the couch.

I sighed, "There's spare blankets in pillows in the closet over there if you need them."

"Right." Kirito yawned, "Thanks again."

"You're welcome." I carried the girl back to our shared bed, laid her down, and promptly passed out.

"Lisbeth?"

"Hmm?" The girl donned her usual outfit, replacing her Pj's with it.

"I'd like to go to the starting city today if you want to come along."

"What for?" Lisbeth sat down on the bed next to me.

"I...I want to check the stone where everyone's name is listed," I replied.

"What for?" She tilted her head in confusion

"I want to see if PoH's name is on it," I confessed, "I can't help but think that he's still alive, and I just want to confirm that he's actually dead so I never have to worry about it again."

"Is that what you've been having nightmares about? Alright, we'll leave right after breakfast." Lisbeth replied softly, before almost falling off the bed due to the sound of someone pounding on the front door for the second day in a row.

I mumbled profanities under my breath and went to go answer the door. To my great surprise, none other than Heathcliff, the leader of the Knights of Blood.

"Is Kirito there?"

"Depends." I didn't budge an inch, "How the hell does he know Kirito's here? What do you want with him?"

"Just to talk," Heathcliff held up his hands non-threateningly. I still didn't budge an inch. Something about him always bugged me.

"It's fine Aurain, I've got no problem talking with Heathcliff." I stepped to the side at Kirito's words and let the man walk inside the house. Why was his voice so familiar? I hadn't really heard him before aside from ordering orders during raids, but his calm voice sounded so eerily familar. That was why I was so abnormally defensive. His voice definitely reminded me of something I hated.

"So what do you want Heathcliff?" Kirito crossed his arms and stared up at the much taller man, "I already told you a thousand times that I won't join the Knights of Blood."

"I want a duel." Heathcliff replied bluntly, "Asuna wants to leave the guild, and I told her that if you beat me in a duel that she would be allowed to. I can't just let my vice-chief walk away as easy as 1,2,3."

"What's the catch?" Kirito asked suspiciously, glaring up at the man, "I can't believe you'd want to duel me without anything in for yourself.

The two of them looked heatedly at each other for a few moments, neither of them refusing to back down. I mentally prepared to step in if it got ugly. I didn't need Kirito entering some sort of death duel.

"If you lose, you'll join the Knights of Blood." Heathcliff shrugged, "It's a fair trade. Either I lose a member or gain a member."

Kirito stared at Heathcliff for a long while, and I could almost feel the mental battle within. Finally he responded, quicker than I had imagined he would.

"I accept."

The arena Heathcliff had chosen to hold the duel was filled to the brim with loudly cheering people. I began to really feel uncomfortable being that close to so many loudly cheering people. I wondered briefly if he had publicized the event before gripping Lisbeth's hand tighter and subconsciously moving closer to her. She squeezed back reassuringly and began to run a thumb gently over the back of my hand

"Y-you know I k-know I promised Kirito I'd come and cheer him on..." I spoke softly, "But I didn't expect such a crowd."

"I'm sorry." She replied, "Just try to focus on me for now, and when they start up you can focus on the fight."

"R-Right." I nodded my head.

Finally Klein and the rest arrived. By the rest I mean Asuna, Agil, some small girl I didn't know, and the rest of my guild. The small girl introduced herself rather bubbly as Silica. I shook her hand, trying my best not to stutter in my greeting. She was very friendly which helped balance out how aggressively loud my first impressions of here were.. Introductions were interrupted as the roar of the crowd grew even louder as Kirito and Heathcliff came into the arena and face each other.

The pair faced each other down, tapped a few buttons on their interfaces, and began circling each other. They eached seemed to be daring each other to make the first move. Finally, Kirito lunged forward with a roar, and the fight began. It was even for a while, but with a closer glance I began to notice something odd. Kirito was landing some really hard hits. Those alone should've been lowering Heathcliff's hp.

"Hey Liz." I muttered, "Does Heathcliff's special skill really make him invincible?"

"Supposedly as long as no one gets past his shield."

"Hmm... seems kinda OP." I rubbed my chin and watched the battle carefully. My nervousness from the crowd temporarily forgotten in my new-found focus on the fight. Something was up. I felt it deep in my body.

Suddenly Kirito seemed to slip past Heathcliff's guard, and was about to land a blow. At least that was how it seemed to my eyes. Or maybe it was just an illusion, because in the next instant, Heathcliff's shield was once again in the path of Kirito blades. He swiftly blocked the blow and stabbed his own sword into Kirito's stomach with an inhuman movement.

"Did anyone else see that..." I rubbed the top of my head in confusion, "I could have sworn Kirito made it past Heathcliff's guard."

"Must've been your imagination." Klein sighed, "Can't believe ol' Kirito lost. Ah well. Hopefully he won't be too mopey."

"Yeah..." I let Lisbeth take my hand and drag me towards where Kirito was so we could try to cheer him up. I vowed in my head that I was gonna get to the bottom of this one. No way I had hallucinated that one up. I was gonna need to get on that after I finished up with my business in the starting city.

The starting city wasn't exactly the homliest place these days. It look like a city during wartime in one of those old movies my dad used to sit down with me and watch. There were players everywhere running around in basic plate armor, carrying a spear and shield. It was the basic setup for a tank in this game, and the easiest way to survive. I gave the Army credit for that much, but not much else.

"Name and guild?"

"Aurain. Fūrinkazan." I spoke slowly to prevent a stutter. Despite my average stature, I wanted to appear as tough as possible, "My friend is Lisbeth. She's in the same guild as me."

"Right." the man nodded and stepped aside, "Welcome to the starting city. Don't try anything funny."

I walked past the man and immediately let out the breath I was holding in.

"S-sheesh. Do they have to be so intimidating?" I tried to stop the shaking my body had started.

Lisbeth giggled, "Aw... I thought you handled yourself well if it counts for anything. Don't worry about it. I think you're plenty brave."

She then kissed me on the cheek, sending a familiar warmth surging through my body.

"R-right. Let's just look at the stone and get out of here."

I should have just trusted that PoH was dead instead of confirming it. But I had to. There was no way I'd be able to sleep without knowing the truth. Unfortunately, his name stood on the stone completely unmarked. An emotion filled my body. I wasn't sure if it was rage, fear, or something else. I didn't really care at the time. I just started venting, which was kinda unusual behavior for me.

"How Liz." I finally found my voice, "How DAMMIT!"

My entire body trembled angrily. I had seen him fall off the cliff. Fall damage in this game was brutal. The bastard must have caught himself somehow and somehow gotten himself to safety.

Lisbeth sighed and looked down at me directly into my eyes. With a small smile, she gently tugged me away from the stone that I was just about to start pummeling. She sat me down on one of the benches and kept trying to get my attention. To my shame today, I just kept simmering in my own anger, and completely ignored her. That was when she huffed angrily, jumped into my lap, and stared at me straight in the eyes.

"Look Ryan." Lisbeth used my real name and grabbed me by the sides of my face, "So what if he's alive? You'll protect everyone if he shows up again right?"

"R-right." I sighed and finally let myself relax, "Sorry for getting so wound up Rika."

"No biggie!" She hopped out of lap and spun around sending her skirts fluttering slightly, "You want to go and get some lunch a few floors up to take our minds of it?"

"Sure." I smiled and let her tug me by the hand to the nearest teleport gate. Something told me everything was going to be all right, even if I had a thousand worries on my mind. After all Rika was still with me, and as long as I had her, I felt like nothing could send my world crashing down.

Well this annoying thing is done. I'm glad to be moving on from this chapter. So very very glad. Major editing done since original upload.

Oh yeah, and a shoutout goes out to Tensei Kano for his shoutout. Shoutoutception.

-Forscythe