Author's Note: it has been long since I've posted a chapter for this story. It is mainly because I had a writer's block. I didn't know what to write next. Now I thought of an idea for this chapter, so here it is!

Side note: italics are either thoughts or flashbacks (flashback will be in 3rd person).

"Beginning of the Treasure Hunt"

~ Act 4 ~

New Suit of Armor | Tsubaki's POV

I awoke after the fall. I stood up as I rubbed my back. I took a lot of damage from the fall, though my HP was at half. If I had recalled, I took one more step before the trap activated.

I was separated from Kirito-kun. Separated from him again, just like when I had an orange cursor.

I took a look at my HP gauge as it regenerated. Due to my two-handed axe called the Wald Champion, my HP regenerated faster.

I looked around to see where I was. The atmosphere of the room felt eerie and it gave me the shivers. Though, it didn't keep me from trying to escape. I needed to escape.

I used my Enemy Search skill but it didn't detect any monsters. No monsters here, I thought, that's good.

I kept walking ahead as the room kept becoming darker and darker. I stopped before the room became fully dark I looked to the wall on my left side and saw a torch. It was the only torch lit up. I gently grabbed the torch and kept walking ahead.

I moved my torch around gently and saw a brown treasure chest against the crusty wall. I opened the treasure chest and thus caused a pop-up message in front of me. "You obtained [Chest Armor] Fragrant Camellia!" it read.

I blinked my eyes. I obtained a new suit of armor! I smiled as I pulled out the menu button and tapped on "equipment". I tapped on the suit button and what popped up was the suit of armor I had in my inventory. I tapped on Fragrant Camellia and read its stats. It read:

"5+ VIT, 50+ Dodge, 170+ DEF, 30+ STR, 10+ HIT, 5+ Poison, 5+ Bleed, 5+ Paralysis. Slash 0, Thrust 0, Blunt 0. Effect: Buffer."

I tapped on the suit again and now it was being worn. The Fragrant Camellia was a light reddish coat with a small camellia flower printed. The layout was a bit similar to Leafa-chan's suit, but unlike hers, the Fragrant Camellia had a V-Neck style similar to Kirito-kun's.

"Comfy," I said to myself.

Kibaou

As I walked ahead, I bumped into somebody. "Eh?" the person spoke. He was a short yet built man with orange spiky hair and brown eyes, while he wore scale mail armor and wielded a one-handed sword.

I had thought who he was: Kibaou. Great, I thought. It's him.

"Kibaou…?"

Kibaou looked at me with an upset expression on his face. "Hey! Aren't you that female spear user who silenced us after we found about that Beater!?"

I clenched my fist. I hated the title for Kirito-kun. "You know, Kibaou… You sure were 'talkative'."

I pushed him out of the way and resumed walking ahead.

"Hey! Wait!" Kibaou demanded. "Get back here! You and that god damn Beater know something I don't!"

I stopped and sighed. I said to him, "For the record, it might be a bad idea to follow me. I am accompanying with this so called 'Beater' you keep talking about and, frankly, that proves you are on your 'man period'."

It felt good bluntly telling Kibaou off, even if I had sensed that the Kibaou now was the AI version of him.

"Ehhhh!? Hey! Don't run away from me!"

I ignored him as I hurried on ahead. As I was hurrying on, I heard Kibaou's last words: "I will find you! I will find you and that damn Beater!"

It had seemed he was chasing me, but I was ahead of him.

Underground | Kirito's POV

If I had assumed, falling from this hole would damage you greatly. I decided to find a way to reach to Tsuki-chan and escape. First, I used my Enemy Search skill. I did not detect any monsters. I saw stairs after walking further away from the pit. I assumed the enemies were just special monsters guarding the stairs at the lower area of Sacred Sword Remains.

I need to hurry, I thought.

I walked downstairs and entered a dark, gloomy room. I sensed the eerie atmosphere that the room had spread. There was not even a creek as I had stepped downstairs. No sound, no voice… until I saw a Kobold. It was the NM Guardian Kobold. I had to face it. All I thought about… was finding Tsuki-chan. I would never… make the same mistake again… Not again… Not ever again…

I would not repeat the same mistake I soon regretted with guilt.

"Sachi!" Kirito yelled out for her.

One slash. It landed on Sachi's back as she was fighting a monster in front of her. It seemed another one was behind her and struck an attack.

Her HP was at red during the fight. Sachi had died after that one slash landing on her back.

I buffed up with War Cry, Shield Coating, PTT Seal, Muted Edge, and Sharp Rage. I kept slashing at the NM Guardian Kobold, and when they attack I had either used Parry or I sidestepped left or right. I used Lightning Attack.

I inhaled and then exhaled. "Starburst…"

Fragments | Tsubaki's POV

I heard noises. My body trembled. Were there monsters? If so, how could my Enemy Search skill not detect the monster nearby?

I heard more noises, though they seemed to be screams. Those screams said, "Starburst…"

Of course, there was a pause, until I heard the word "stream". I recognized the voice was Kirito-kun's. I hurried on, walking to where the voice came from. As I hurried on, I could hear multiple "cling!" sounds.

That was when the fire on the held torch was out.

Are you kidding me!? I thought. I stomped the ground and then sat down on the floor. My eyes widened in fear. I was alone. I was alone once again.

I was almost to Kirito-kun.

Four hours later…

"Tsubaki!" Tsubaki's older brother called out.

"Ryu," Tsubaki said, "these camellias…"

"Camellia flowers have fragrance," her older brother said. "The name Tsubaki means 'camellia flower'."

Tsubaki smiled at Ryu as she kissed his cheek. "I love you, onii-sama!"

Why was I having that flashback? I was not having thoughts of my older brother. Why had I saw that piece of fragment? (I'd always thought each memory were like precious piece of fragments)

Was it because I thought of Kirito-kun? If so, then that made sense. I thought of Kirito-kun as my onii-sama; I had loved him like that. I wouldn't love him more than that, unlike the other girls. I chose to adventure with Kirito-kun because he reminded me of my onii-sama.

"I love you, onii-sama!"

I miss you, Ryu… I thought.

Searching | Kirito's POV

"You're still alive…" I said.

I was still facing the NM Guardian Kobold. Of course, the monster was level 153. I was at level 140, though the slashing movements of my sword missed unless I use my sword skills.

"Guooooohh!" the NM roared.

Its HP was at half, at least. I thought one more sword skill could perish the NM. Just one more…

First, I used Ban Skill, preventing the monster from using skills. As it tried to slash me, I dodged by sidestepping. I inhaled and then exhaled. One more sword skill could end the battle.

"Nightmare Rain!" I yelled. My swords turned pink and the field became dark. I slashed at the NM Guardian Kobold's leg, and then the body, arm, face…

I noticed the Ban Skill wore off as the NM was charging up to launch a sword skill. I checked my HP and saw it was at half. I gritted my teeth.

"Oh, no you don't!" I taunted as I checked its HP was red. "I won't have you alive! Ergh… Starburst Stream!"

I finished my final blow by marking an 'x' on its chest as its HP dropped to zero. The NM Guardian Kobold disappeared in lit fragments. The fragments disappeared later on.

"Pushover," I said, panting.

I checked my swords and saw they were damaged badly from the fight. I sighed and realized even the rest of my armor were damaged.

"I must trudge on."

As I walked ahead, I noticed light four meters away. I ran towards it, which took me two minutes to reach it, and saw a lit, burning torch.

"Now," I said, "time to complete my objective."

I called out for Tsuki-chan while trudging ahead.

Reunite | Tsubaki's POV

"Tsuki-chan?" someone called out. Could it be…?

No… It could be just my hallucination. I was thirsty. I did not have water to drink. I tried to not succumb to the hallucination. I stayed at my post. I knew I wouldn't survive here anyway. I did not have a match to light up the torch I obtained earlier. I was going to be trapped forever.

"Tsuki-chan!?" the voice said again, but louder this time.

Don't succumb to it, I thought, don't succumb to it!

I figured Kirito-kun would search for me, but what if he was also trapped? I didn't know what would be next. We both could be trapped. Both of us.

I imagined Ryu was next to me. I imagined both of us at the fragrant camellia garden, with the earthy scent travelling inside our nostrils. I would be holding them as the petals danced with the gentle wind. Ryu would carry me, and we would both share our happiness.

My happiness was gone ever since Akihiko Kayaba launched Sword Art Online. I had hid my feelings for so long and pretended to be happy, even pretending that everything would be okay. Only my onii-sama could cheer me up.

My thoughts went away when someone gently grabbed my arm. He had a lit torch. "Tsuki-chan!"

Was he really…

…

Kirito-kun…!

I instantly hugged him. "I thought I would be trapped forever…"

"Tsuki-chan…"

I winked my eye and said, "Let's go, lady killer!"

Kirito-kun scoffed. "Of course you would call me lady kill—"

I dragged him by the arm as I walked ahead. "Don't be so sour and c'mon!" I said in a playful tone, smiling.

"You are hurting my arm…!" Kirito complained. "You're pulling my arm too tight!"

"You saved me, onii-chan!" I said cheerfully without thinking.

Wait… I thought. Did I just…?

There was a pit at the backyard of the Onegai residence. It seemed an accident happened.

"Tsubaki-chan! You're hurting me!" Ryu complained.

"You saved me, onii-sama!" Tsubaki said cheerfully, dragging Ryu by the arm while walking to the house indoors.

"…Tsuki-chan?" Kirito called.

I squinted my eyes. "Is there a problem?" I asked.

"N-no! Nothing at all!" Kirito responded.

I said, "Good."

Kirito-kun chuckled nervously. "Except… you called me lady killer."

I rolled my eyes. "Kirito-kun… It's just you have a lot on your hands with your ladies…"

"Don't make it seem like I have had a girlfriend before!" Kirito responded.

I giggled. "Hehe… I hope you won't be on your 'man period' later once I tell lady red-head about what happened~!"

Kirito-kun's eyes widened and demanded, "Don't say anything that will cause a misunderstanding, Tsuki-chan!"

"Well, on one condition, Kirito-kun," I stated, grinning.

Kirito-kun sighed. "…I don't know whether I should be scared or not… but okay. Sure."

"I won't have you in trouble... IF you consider me as your nee-chan," I bargained.

Kirito-kun blinked his eyes. "Why all of a sudden?" he asked.

I hesitated for a moment, but suddenly shook my head. I said, "I miss my onii-sama."

Kirito-kun hesitated. His eyes seemed to be fixated on something. Moments later I realized he was staring at my new suit of armor.

I squinted my eyes as I said teasingly, "You act like I have lady red-head's boobs."

"H-hey!" Kirito spoke, very embarrassed. "I am so sorry, Tsuki-chan…"

I giggled as I asked Kirito-kun if he had water. He passed it to me as I grabbed a hold onto the bottle. I chugged it after three minutes had past.

"Hey, onii-chan…" I began.

"Yes?" said Kirito.

"Are you ready to obtain Sacred Sword Ragnarok?" asked I, smiling.

Kirito-kun chuckled. "The real treasure hunting begins now!"