A/N: let me know what you think about the story and if you wish to let it continue through Alfheim Online or having it stop at the moment SAO is cleared. Thank you in advance.

Chapter 9

It was early in the morning when I woke up. I stretched out my body as I stepped out of the bed. In this game there was no need for that but it was a habit I repeated every morning. I walked out of the guest room and went towards the living room of Lizbeth's house. I was surprised finding her there already.

"Good morning, you're up early. Sleep well?"

"I haven't slept yet. I couldn't stop thinking about some things." She replied with a sleepy voice.

"About what? Can I help you with it?"

"Will you promise me to come back alive?" I was surprised by that question.

"I don't plan on dying if that worries you. So yes, I promise."

"That's one of the things. Where… Where do we stand together?"

"How do you mean?"

"Are we a couple of was it just the moment?"

Our conversation was disturbed by a knock on the door. Since Asuna went to Grandzam, the home base of the KoB yesterday, Kirito offered to pick me up in the morning and go there together.

"I promise we will talk about this when I come back, alright?"

"Sure. Please forget about it now and concentrate on the fight."

"I promised it too you so you stop worrying about it and get some sleep. And I meant it when I kissed you the other day." I walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

I walked over to the door and before opening it, looked back at her. She smiled back to me with a blush on her cheeks. I opened the door and stepped outside.

"Morning Kirito." I replied to him.

"Morning… Can you tell me why every boss meeting or raid have to be this early in the morning?" he replied whit a big yawn.

I started to laugh as we walked towards the transport gate. His face, still filled with sleep made me laugh every time I looked at him. When we arrived in the city I asked him to wait a second and got us some breakfast. After he ate it with an incredible speed, he started to wake up. Both ready for the challenge, we took the gate and went towards the HQ of the KoB for the fight.

Shortly after arriving we met Agil and Klein and talked about the boss. When we had a second alone, we decided it was better to avoid using Dual Blades. Soon Asuna and Heathcliff stepped forward to give us details and talk about the strategy. It didn't take long and we went on our way.

The boss fight wasn't difficult. Easy is something else but every time someone had taken damage, someone moved in and defended them. That we again, we had a boss fight without any deaths. That was the biggest goal we aimed for. In the first city on the new opened floor, Heathcliff treated us all on a drink to celebrate our victory.

As the end of the day was coming close, we decided to go home. I talked to Agil and Klein for a bit and met Asuna and Kirito at the gate after that. We thought it would be nice for Lizbeth to eat together and celebrate our safe return. She already expected us, since she tracked us on the map and was happy we all came over. It was already deep into the night when I again was offered the guest room and was happy I could finally sleep.

Lizbeth was still asleep when I woke up the next morning. I went to the city to get breakfast and bought some newspapers. When I returned she was still asleep. After I made some coffee and tea, she woke up and was surprised I was already up and even got her breakfast.

"You didn't have to do that." She said a little embarrassed.

"It's not a big deal. I was awake and had time to spare."

We sat quietly as we ate our breakfast and enjoyed the coffee and tea and read the newspapers

"Can we talk about what we started yesterday?" she broke the silence.

"What do you mean?" I was not sure what she meant.

"Well we have kissed then and I really liked that. I want to know if it was just that or that we can build something up together."

"For me it is simple. I like you but to make it work can be difficult. Right now I live on the front lines most of the time. And I really want to keep doing that in order to clear this game as fast as possible. How do you look at that?"

"I understand that. But the things is that I will worry about you most of the time then. You being on the front line is something that is needed, but I really want you here most of the time as you can understand."

"I think we both need to think about it. But maybe we can give it a shot and see what will happen?"

As I looked to her, my eye fell on the newspaper in her hand. Low level swordsman Crimson fights off horde without sword. The name Crimson ringed a bell but I couldn't figure out from were. I thought about it and then it hit me. I jumped up.

"NO WAY!"I screamed out.

Lizbeth looked surprised at me as I took the newspaper out of her hand. I looked at the article and read it happened on the 18th floor. During a fight, his sword had broken and he nearly got out of there. I put the newspaper down and thought about it again. Lizbeth took the paper again and read the article too.

"What is so special about this?" She asked.

"I think that name is the same as my little brother uses a lot." I replied in shock.

"Your little brother? We are already 2 years into the game, if he wasn't before, then why should he be here now?"

"I had a second game, and I offered him to use it and see it for himself. I thought he didn't used it since I haven't him at the starting point." I looked again at the article.

"I need to look at it for myself and be sure. I will never forgive myself if we was in the game and died." I said to her and got ready to leave.

"What about us?" she replied hesitated.

"I'm really sorry, but if he is in this game, I need to protect him." I looked at her, knowing I would break her heart but there was no other way.

"If I find him, and he is alright, the moment his level is raised enough to be on this floor, I will take him here. Then we can look at us."

"Maybe that is the best thing. Good luck and be safe." She said after kissing me on the cheek.

"I will. I will let you know if I find him and if it is even him." I walked out of the door and ran towards the gate and teleported towards the 18th floor.

After my arrival I immediately started asking about that Crimson. Starting with if they know him and were he was staying. A lot of people didn't want to give me information, thinking I was one of the players interested in him just because of the fame he had built up just now. After some time I finally met someone who knew him. But because Crimson was getting too strong, weren't now.

"I think he is still on my friends list. Let me look." The stranger replied.

"Yes he is still here. The tracker says he is in an inn not far from here. Oh wait, he just left there. He transported out. Now he is back in starting city."

"Thank you. I will look for him there." I replied.

"Just hold on for a sec. you haven't told me why you are looking for him."

"I think he may be my little brother." I replied while taking a transport crystal from my inventory.

"Oh, then quickly find him. Go on."

I transported towards starting city and looked around. Why would he go here? There is nothing here except some shops with starting swords and the wall with the names of all players who had died. Was that were he was going? I ran towards it to see.

After arriving, around 20 meters in front of me stood a player. He was the only one here except for myself. As I looked towards the back I couldn't help but doubt if it was him. I haven't seen him in 2 years, how sure was I how he looked like? I took a few steps before asking towards the player.

"Crimson?"

The player looked over with an annoying expression on his face.

"If this is about the article in the paper, I have nothing to say…" he stopped as his eyes got bigger.

I too was standing in shock. It looked just like him.

"Ben?" I asked nervously.

"Brian?" he asked at the same time.

We both started laughing as we walked to each other and hugged.

"What took you so long?" he asked.

"I thought you didn't log in. back then I was standing at the starting plaza for more than an hour."

Both remembering that day, our laughs stopped.

"I logged on just before the ceremony." He said.

"That's why I haven't seen you. Before the ceremony I was on the planes just outside the city. And immediately after I left."

"I thought you had already died to be honest. I stayed in starting city during the first week and slowly went through the first floor after that. Because I didn't know how to play it brought me a lot of times close to death. Even 2 years into the game, I'm still just level 50. How about you?"

Thinking he would get jealous if I told him my level I replied.

"I'm a front line player, so I'm not the best to compare too. If it wasn't for the article, I would never have known you were here. An old friend of yours told me you just transported towards here. Why did you?"

"To see if there was a name here that you could have used." he said with an embarrassed face.

"Not even a little bit of believe in your brother? Shame on you." I said and we both laughed again.

I opened my menu and selected a lot of items and opened the trade window.

"This will cover for the next levels. I have read you broke your sword. Do you have a spare?"

"Don't you need these yourself?" he replied after seeing the list.

"There is no way I ever can pay for these kind of items. I don't have money to even buy a new sword."

"Then let me add a sword too. What kind do you use? I have some one-handed long swords to spare but it won't be good for long. If your level rises, you will be too strong for this sword."

"You don't have to worry about that, I will be amazed if I reach 70 before the end of this year." He said while accepting the trade and started equipping them.

"You really think I'm letting you alone? No way, I will help and protect you from now on."

As he drew the sword I just gave him, he looked amazed at the blade.

"I have used one-handed longs words because you had told me before this game you liked them so much. This one is a bit heavier then the one I used before but it feels good. Really powerful."

"It is for your level. I am using this one now." I said while unsheathing the Exidator on my back.

He looked at it and his eyes were opening wide. I gave it to him and after he was used to the weight he started to swing it a little.

"This is really a powerful sword. Where can I get one for myself?"

"I got it from a monster drop. So I can't help you with that. But I know someone who can make you a sword almost as good as this one. One that is more soothed for your level."

"That would be good too. Thanks bro." he said while raising his right fist.

I bumped it with my own. As he turned around towards the teleport gate, a large group of players walked towards us. They were all wearing a lot of armor and it looked like they were from the guild called the Army. As we wanted to give them space, they turned and surrounded us.

"You, Crimson will now join the Army. And you stranger will too. If you don't accept this rare offer, we will use force to make you accept." Said the one wearing the most armor.

I stopped Crimson as he wanted to say something and took a few steps towards the one who just spoke.

"I don't know who you are, but this is your one chance to turn around and walk away. And let this be a warning for the next time. If you or your guild ever force other players again into your guild, I will find you and your leader and make that sure."

The entire guild started to laugh but I kept my look towards that player.

"That a city is a safe zone doesn't mean I can't attack you. Have you ever felt how scary an inner area fight can be?" he asked while drawing his sword.

"Have you?" I asked.

"I have warn you." He said while attacking me.

I drew one of my throwing knives, hold it backwards and moved in. I stopped just before my knife hit his throat. He stopped and the entire guild understand what was going on. By defeating him with a simple knife, showed how much stronger I was than him.

They didn't know how fast they had to run away but it didn't take long for the entire guild was gone.

I looked over and saw Crimson standing there, his eyes filled with shock.

"Shall we go?" I replied calm and started walking towards the transport gate.