I do not own Sword Art Online or any of the characters.

My Nightmare

Fire flashed in the distance. By the time the first report reached his ears, blood had already splattered across his face. The flames flashed twice more, the reports once again coming only after the damage was done. Blood splattered on the floor, then across his chest. Screams finally rang out. All around people ran for cover. Vehicles screached to a stop. People abandoned them in the street. A police officer ran toward him, trying to get him away from the scene. Another flash of fire. The officer dropped.

Michael watched as blood ran out of the gapin hole that had been the left side of the officer's face. Then, he looked down. His body was coated in blood. In front of him lay his mother, the right side of her head removed by the first shot. On top of her was his father, who had been shot on his knees as he tried to save his wife. His blood now stained the ground and Michael's feet. Across both lay Michael's older brother, who had shielded Michael from the third shot. Michael looked around and saw his younger sister staring at their parents, too shocked to cry. Michael hurried over, taking her hand and running away as fast as his small legs could carry them.

"I was eight then," Michael said, looking up at Sinon, who wore an expression of shock, horror, and sympathy. "My sister was only four. The cops told me that the shooter was ex military, that he had snapped and started killing at random. But when it's only your family and the police officer who was trying to help that die, it sure doesn't feel like random. We were taken in by an orphanage. We refused several adoptions in which we would be separated. We were given a few years of free counciling until we hit fifteen, then our councilor decided to continue the free meetings for our sakes.

"We went through high school, then I got a job and an appartment for us," Michael said. I tried to raise my sister as well as I could. Then, one day, my sister came home with a new game and the system for it. She had been saving for it and was really excited to play. She logged on, and that was the last time I was able to talk to her."

"She bought Sword Art Online," Sinon gasped, covering her mouth.

"Yeah," Michael nodded. "She logged onto Sword Art Online with the other ten thousand. And when she didn't wake up for dinner, I nearly turned it off. Fortunately, I had the news on and they warned the general populace to stop in time. I got her to the hospital and watched for a year and a half as my only surviving family member whithered away. Then, one day, a representative from the government tracked me down and gave me a way to save her. I could go into the game. I had the option to risk my life for my family or to go to prison. Naturally, I went after my family."

"Wait, why prison?" Sinon asked.

"I'm a hacker. And a good one. I was chosen both because the government wanted me to know they knew about me, and because they knew I could hack my way through SAO. And I did. For six months, I fought and hacked my way up the ranks to one of the strongest players, meeting several friends along the way. Then, one day, I joined in my first floor boss raid. I had fought a couple of bosses before, and one player that thought he was a boss, but had never battled a floor boss. It was definitely the hardest thing I did in Sword Art Online, bar one thing.

"The fight lasted hours," Michael stated. "We lost almost all of the clearers in that fight. And then, as though that wasn't bad enough, it came to light immediately afterward that the strongest player in the game, the one we all respected and looked up to was the final boss and the creator, Akihiko Kayaba. He agreed to fight me and Kirito, the second strongest player. Before we did, I asked about my sister."

"And?" Sinon asked.

"Remember how I said there was one thing harder than fighting the Skull Reaper?" Michael asked. "Well, that was learning that my sister was gone. We fought and eventually defeated Kayaba, then woke up. Most of us. During rehab, I continued my therapy, now also needing it for the loss of my sister. I eventually started playing a game called ALfheim Online because I wanted an escape from my past, and I found it in that game, in magic and swords, and flying. Then I learned that Kirito's girlfriend and in-game wife, another of my friends named Asuna was being held there against her will by the company running it. Kirito logged on and we worked with another player, who turned out to be his sister, to save her. Once we had, the game was shut down.

"A program Kayaba had left for Kirito to find, called the Seed, was stored in one of our friends computers and grew into the virtual world we know now. The mass of connected games and servers, all exist through the Seed. I heard about Gun Gale Online a little while later and my therapist and I agreed that it may help me get over my past. So I logged on. And I met you. And so far, it has not helped. If anything, it's gotten worse."

"So why continue?" Sinon asked.

"Partially in hopes that it will help eventually," Michael said. "Partially to hang out with you."

Sinon blinked then smiled and pulled her scarf up.

"I'm sorry," Sinon said. "I can't imagine what you must have gone through. But...I have a pretty good idea."

"What do you mean?" Michael asked.

"I..." she trailed off, staring at the ground.

"You don't have to talk about it," Michael said.

"It's alright," Sinon said. "Fair's fair. When I was ten, a man tried to rob us at a post office. He shot one person, then turned the gun on my mother. I...I defended her."

Sinon squeezed her eyes shut against the memories. Michael sat up, hugging her and allowing her to cry into his shoulder. He ran his hand gently over her hair fomfortingly, and it seemed to help a little. She stopped after a bit and continued her story.

"I made him drop the gun and picked it up," Sinon said, still sounding like she might start crying again soon. "He tried to take it from me and I accidentally shot him. He tried to take it again so I shot him again. He tried to get up, and, I was so scared. I...I shot him again, this time in the head. There was...there was so much...blood."

She began to shake and her breathing began to grow ragged so Michael pulled her into another hug, shushing her.

"It's over," Michael said. "It's alright now. You're safe."

She nodded but remained in his arms, trembling slightly but a little more calm. Michael continued to gently run his hand over her head and she slowly grew more relaxed as he did. Finally, she stood, her leg having regenerated with her health long ago. Michael stood as well and she smiled, taking his hand.

"Come on," Sinon smiled, wiping her eyes. "We should get back to the city. I still have some stuff to take care of IRL."

"So that wasn't just you turning Ginrou down?" Michael smirked as they walked.

"Not really," Sinon laughed. "I wasn't going to accept even if it wasn't true but still. Thank you, by the way. For sticking up for me, I mean. It meant a lot. Even though I didn't say anything at the time."

"Of course," Michael smiled.

They walked in silence for a bit until they reached the gate. Michael released Sinon's hand and she hugged him one last time before logging out. He logged out as well and looked at the clock. Eight p.m. He logged onto ALfheim Online and headed over to Agil's bar, where he found Kirito's gang hanging out.

"Hey, look who showed up," Klein grinned. "You missed a boss raid today. Where were ya? Girlfriend?"

Michael couldn't help but grin, and sat at the bar silently.

"You alright?" Kirito asked.

"Bottle of the strongest drink you have," Michael said.

Kirito blinked in surprise as Agil handed it to him and Michael began to drink straight from the bottle.

"I'll take that as a no," Kirito said. "I haven't seen you drink...ever. What's up?"

"Long day," Michael said. "I feel like getting drunk but don't want a hangover."

"Anything in particular happen?" Kirito asked.

"Nothing you would understand," Michael said. "You understand pain, fear, even guilt, sure. After SAO, how could you not? That business with Laughing Coffin hit you hard, I remember seeing it in your eyes afterward. But you still wouldn't understand."

Kirito nodded and left to talk to Asuna, leaving Michael to drink in peace. Finally, he sighed, logging out and going to bed. This time, God showed him some mercy, and allowed him a dreamless sleep, an a bit of rest.

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