Chapter 4:

4 months have passed now, with powerful players clearing the floors steadily, me and Asuna included.

Some things were exactly as I remembered, and some were completely different. Of course father wouldn't make SAO easy for me to complete.

We had been invited to join many guilds, we declined all of them. After the 25th floor was completed though, a new guild named Knights of Blood was formed, the leader named Healthcliff inviting us both and since Asuna accepted I did too. We were even given a uniform to wear.

For some reason though, whenever I meet the leader I feel uneasy, he seemed different? The members voted for me to become Vice Commander but I gave the position to Asuna, the reason being it was going to be too bothersome to have to talk so much.

Me and Asuna were currently patrolling some floors looking for anyone who was lost or needed help.

I, thought that this was troublesome so I rejected the idea completely while Asuna insisted we have to help others and was somehow able to persuade me to come, so here I am now. We actually did rescue some players before though.

I slashed another enemy lazily as it charged at us, my new sword that I obtained weeks ago. It was a hidden sword located on the 35th floor in a cave (That I just 'happened' to find).

There was a guard I had to defeat but I defeated it with not that much trouble. The most troublesome thing was getting away from Asuna who I travelled everywhere with.

When I first obtained the sword, I tested it by swinging it against the cave wall and what happened was that there was a huge crack on the wall. So I'm pretty sure that means that the sword was not a weak one. It was also pretty heavy but as I levelled up, it got lighter.

Apparently this sword didn't have a name. It's colour was completely blue with the handle bit dark blue.

I was most known for fighting without my sword but with close combat. The only time I use my sword was when we are fighting a boss, when I'm fighting a powerful enemy and when I'm completely serious. But in this case, I'm using the sword because I'm actually pretty lazy when I have no motivation.

As I killed another one I asked "Is this enough already?"

"Let's take a rest for now" Asuna replied.

We sat down leaning against the wall where we thought no enemies would attack us. Asuna rested her head on my shoulder even though I was shorter than her. "We have so many guys coming up to us to confess but do you really want a boyfriend Saki?"

"If I find someone I like I might, but all of them who confessed haven't really gotten to know us, they just like our appearance don't they?" I honestly replied.

"Yeah, your right" I heard light snores and knew she was asleep, she was pushing herself too hard again.

I gently laid her against the wall and stood up unsheathing my sword from my back. Asuna was pretty tired so she didn't notice them but we were in fact surrounded by enemies, I didn't want to wake her now that she was finally able to have a rest so as I killed them off one by one, I did it as quietly as possible.

I had actually warmed up to Asuna more than I expected, man, I'm getting soft.

More guys keep asking me out, when I reject them they still follow me around for some reason. Getting pretty annoyed at them I thought up a solution.

"If you can defeat me a duel, then I will go out with you and you can do whatever you want with me, but if I win, you have to leave me alone."

They all accepted, but I had absolute confidence in myself.

Asuna had her own guys following her and seeing me use this method, she did the same.

Word spread around and at the stadium, it was packed with an audience, mostly boys who wants to see if they still had a chance with us. We duelled with the first strike out mode, and not one of them made me draw my sword.

I've got a headache now, but I can't imagine what Asuna felt like. She had twice the amount of fans compared to me.

We were now at a inn resting, also sharing the same room. Asuna laid on her bed tiredly, I did the same thing. We called it a day.

About 1 year has passed, I completely forgot about my birthday a month ago, it was Christmas eve now. Apparently a special boss named Nicholas the Renegade, which drops a revival item is going appear tonight.

I wasn't interested though so right now I was with Asuna at a cafe eating. As we exited the cafe I stared at the beautiful decorations and lights, each one shone just as bright as the other.

Asuna had obtained the nickname of the "Flash" for her speed. While I had the nickname "Dry Ice Queen" for mercilessly killing enemies in close combat and in duels (Minus the kill). My partner even pointed out how scary my eyes look when I was fighting.

It was also snowing now, it's kind of hard to believe that this was a game, it was just too realistic sometimes. We walked around the town talking about various stuff before returning to an inn to rest. Our conversation mostly consisted of Asuna talking while I listened, but there were times where I actually get carried away and talk for a long time.

Another 2 months have passed now, and I was in a meeting on the 56th floor watching Asuna propose a plan to the others. She slammed her hand on the rock table, "We will lure the field boss into the village"

Kirito stepped foward "W-Wait a second, if we do that, the villagers-" "That's the idea, while the boss is killing NPCs, we'll attack and destroy it." Asuna cut in.

He argued back saying "NPCs aren't just mere objects like trees or rocks, they're-" "Alive? Is that it? They are just objects, if they are killed they will re-spawn"

"I can't go along with this" he said. "I, Vice-commander Asuna of the Knights of Blood, am overseeing this operation. You will obey my orders."

As I exited the cave with Asuna, when no-one was near, she gave a small shout. "That idiot, how dare he, NPCs aren't even alive!" I sighed at her, "You guys fight in nearly all meetings" "Well it's all his fault anyway!"

I wonder if she still remembers that he was that same guy we partied up with so long ago...

A month later on the 59th floor.

I walked around the place alone since Asuna had some things to do, I saw someone resting under a tree and approached him.

It was just Kirito napping, I would leave him be but for some reason, I knew that Asuna would give me a lecture on the duties of a KoB member if I did, so I had to at least tell him off or something.

"What are you doing" I asked coldly. He opened his eyes "Isn't it obvious? I'm taking a nap"

Who does this brat think he is, I can see that already. "No, I mean why are you taking one when the other front liners are trying their hardest"

"This is Aincrad's nicest weather during it's nicest season, crawling around in the labyrinth would be such a waste" I couldn't argue with him, mainly because he was right.

A light breeze passed through, great timing hey? "See? The wind and sunlight feel so good, lie down and you'd understand right away"

I looked around me, no-one was there except us. I was pretty tired, since Asuna also trains at night, I didn't want to leave her alone so I train with her causing quite the lack of sleep. I laid down beside him and before I knew it, I had fallen asleep.

Kirito's P.O.V

I woke up from my nap and looked beside me, I was shocked to see Saki sleeping peacefully.

She actually fell asleep. Some guys walked past staring at her with a perverted look and I touched the handle of the sword on my back. They instantly walked away quickly.

I looked at her face, it had a soft look instead of the cold one she always wears. One of the most powerful players that could be the most serious was here napping here with me even though she was telling me off before. How unexpected.

Plus... She's drooling.

Rins/Saki's P.O.V

I opened my eyes and slowly sat up, looking next to me where Kirito was before and was about to curse him for leaving me alone but then spotted him on a small brick wall staring at me.

"Morning" he said even though it clearly wasn't. "Did you sleep well?"

Standing up clumsily I asked "Wha... What time is it?" He had a shocked expression for some reason, then I knew why: My voice wasn't in it's usual monotone voice. I just woke up, and it takes some time for me to put my mask on.

I quickly turned around, closed my eyes and when I opened them my face was back to normal and hopefully my voice as well.

Turning back to face him, he laughed saying "So you do have emotions after all" I quickly unsheathed my sword and he just as quickly took cover behind the wall, I sliced vertically in front of where he was, the sword smashing against the wall heavily.

With a glare I said "Tell anybody about this embarrassing moment and I will kill you" "Yes ma'am" He replied instantly.

"I will treat you to a meal, any meal you wish, for guarding me while I slept. Then we will be even"