Hi! So this is an extra chapter before Chapter 5. Though it's shorter than a normal chapter, it does introduce a major character...
Next chapter the plot takes a bit of a serious turn, so this chapter is very light and more on the comedic side. I hope you enjoy!
Also if you are reading this and you enjoy the story so far feel free to leave a review. Honestly, it would light up my day!
"Here! This is perfect!"
"Wow!" Saki ran ahead, stopping right in the middle of the clearing. "Miri! Let's eat here!"
They were in the midst of a small forest they'd discovered further down Level 3 of Floor 1. It was beautiful clearing in the woods, lit by waning sunlight, and the grass was soft and comfy underfoot.
Chris and Haru had wanted to discuss something in private. So, making them an extravagant meal, she'd sent all of the beta testers and children out on a picnic. They had decided to settle on Level 3 of Floor 1, as the monsters were few and far between and during the day the forest was known to be so quiet and serene.
Hitomi opened her menu and clicked on an item; at once a picnic basket materialized in her hands. "Alright! Let's eat!"
Chris had made them sandwiches, meat patties, chewy candies, even a hot bread roll. Miri was practically stuffing herself; it had been a while since she'd tasted food so good.
Hitomi lay back on the grass, sighing with contentment. "I'm stuffed…you think we should go home now?"
"No way!" Saki cried, "there's still a lotta food we have to eat!" One of Saki's friends nodded in agreement.
"Hey, Hitomi," said Kinu, "I thought you said there was no limit to how much you can eat."
"Yeah, Hitomi." Miri tried to stifle a laugh. "We can't waste it."
With a tired groan Hitomi tried nibbling on a bread roll. Unbeknownst to the three, something watched them from shadows with wide red eyes.
As Miri and Saki chattered, and Hitomi tried to eat as much as she could, the strange creature crept forward. Saki laughed; the little beast flinched, lowered itself to the ground, shifted its hackles and prepared to pounce.
Miri lifted the last sandwich to her mouth. Before she could even take a bite there was a sudden blur of white; a shift of fur; and just like that her sandwich was gone.
"H…Huh?"
What?" Hitomi looked up from picking at the last of her Monster Meat. At once Miri fixed her with an angry glare.
"Ha ha. Very funny, Hitomi. Now give it back."
"Give what back?"
"My sandwich!"
"I didn't take it."
"Yeah, you did."
"Um – no, I didn't."
"Well sandwiches don't disappear straight out of thin air!"
Kinu jumped to her feet. "Aha! An argument! And I know just the way to solve it." She drew out her sword. "Why don't you two have a duel?"
Hitomi paused. Then, with a smirk, she turned away. "Nah. I don't beat up noobs."
"Did you just call me a noob?"
As the argument intensified Saki looked away; huh…she thought she'd seen something strange. Out of the corner of her eye she glimpsed a flash of white, and a disappearing tail.
Woah. What is that?
She glanced back at the group. Hitomi had drawn her sword and Miri looked ready to initiate a duel. Kinu was acting as a referee.
No eyes were on her…
She grinned.
Before anybody could notice Saki had slipped away.
Feet pounding, Saki skidded to a halt beside two looming trees. She looked left, then right; there! A flash of white and red fur, a glint of dark eyes; Saki followed, her heart beating fast with the excitement of it all.
She came to a stop in another clearing; immediately her heart sunk. The sky had gone from beautifully blue to a dreary grey; flowers had withered, and crispy leaves crunched under her feet. It was as if the seasons had changed in a heartbeat.
But there, sitting right in the middle of the clearing, was the creature. Her breath hitched in her throat.
It was so tiny – barely any bigger than a sewer rat. Its fur was white, save for the blood red bands around its legs and the strange oblong marking on its back. Its tail was big and fluffy, and its ears were long and flowed back like silk. It almost looked like a small puppy.
And in its mouth was the sandwich. It looked incredibly proud of itself. Its big tail was wagging, and its red eyes were wide with contentment.
"Hello!"
The creature's head snapped up. It released a strangled yelp, dropped its stolen meal, ran in a tight circle as if it had no idea where to run – then bolted straight to the left, only to smack head on with a tree. The creature stumbled back, let out a small whimper, and then collapsed on its back.
Saki was about to panic – she hadn't killed it, right? – When she saw one eye crack upon. It looked straight at her, and then closed its eyes again and this time flopped outs its tongue.
She couldn't hold it. She burst into laughter.
The stupid thing; it was trying to play dead!
She fell to her knees, hands wrapped around her stomach, trying to stop her giggles but failing miserably. It was just like her old dog Yuki! He was a thief too!
The foxlike beast rolled to its stomach and shot her a poisonous glare. Out of breath from her uncontainable laughter, Saki managed to open her menu and materialized a small piece of warm bread. "H-Here," she giggled, holding it out, "you want it?"
The creature whined. It climbed to its paws, crept forward, then when it was in reach it tore the bread from her hands and dashed back a safe distance. It gobbled the food down then looked at her expectantly for more.
She pulled out another piece; and another, and another, until the little beast was snuffling in happiness and joyfully rolling around at Saki's feet. "You're not so bad," she laughed, stroking his head. "But you shouldn't steal. Stealing's a crime!"
The creature whimpered; suddenly it shot up her arm and came to perch on her shoulder. It gave her cheek a big, slobbering lick. She laughed and scratched him behind the ear.
"Okay, it's official! You're mine! And I'm gonna call you…hm…"
Picking him up, she inspected his markings. There was a red band around each of his four legs; his tail was tipped red, there was the oblong marking on his back, small red streaks around his muzzle and finally splotched red circles just above his eyes. In total he had nine markings.
"I know! Kyuu! I'm going to call you Kyuu!" Kyuu panted happily at that and gave her hand a firm nudge with his muzzle. Setting him down she pulled out the last of her bread; he happily gobbled it down, then jumped into her chest and snuggled into her arms.
"Kyuu…" She giggled and hugged him closer. "You're just like Yuki!"
"What is that?"
"He's not that. His name is Kyuu." Saki hugged him defensively. "And he's my friend."
"He's a monster! Kill it," snapped Midori.
"I'm not gonna kill my friend!"
"She's right, Saki," said Miri, gently, "all wild beasts in Sword Art Online are monsters. We're meant to defeat them, not make friends out of them."
"Maybe he's one of the tameable beasts." All eyes turned to Gou. "There were rumors during beta testing that you could tame some monsters."
"See?" As if in agreement Kyuu barked. "I'm keeping him!"
"Well…" Midori finally sighed in defeat. "Fine, but if he turns on you don't come running to me for help. After all it's in his programming."
Miri didn't exactly like the idea of having a monster around. Though he was awfully cute…and she could tell that Saki would not give him up. Once she had her heart set on something nothing could change it.
"Alright," Miri shrugged. "I guess he is cute." She placed a hand on his head.
At once Kyuu's eyes shot open. Before she could pull away he'd opened his mouth as wide as possible, and crunched it shut on Miri's hand.
…
"GET IT OFF ME! STUPID MUTT, LET GO!"
"Don't yell! You're scaring him!"
She pulled Kyuu away, and cradled him like a baby. "It's okay, Kyuu. I know. She's a big bully isn't she?"
Miri's HP bar had fallen a few inches from the bite. Scowling, Miri turned to face the monster. He was licking Saki's face and smiling his big, dopey fox-smile. Then he turned to glance at her, and for a second she almost thought a sly grin had crossed his muzzle.
Tension crackled between the two.
Great, I've lost my sister to a stupid mutt.
That day, whether Miri liked it or not, Kyuu had joined the party.
And subsequently he'd stolen her sister's heart.
"You're jealous," laughed Hitomi, as Kyuu played with Saki.
"I'm not jealous!"
"Yeah you are! Saki likes a freaking dog more than she likes her own sister!"
"How could she like a pile of data more than me?"
"Because that pile of data is any kid's dream pet."
When she looked at Kyuu all she saw was an overgrown rat.
Yeah. Some dream pet he turned out to be.