Level Twelve: Escape

Level Ninety Five: Demon's Trail Dungeon

The Noir Dragon and the Nine Tailed Fox continued to fight, Kirito watching from his cage as Black Fox's energy meter began to falter. But the dragon was strong, and the fox was starting to lose more and more health points. The fox would strike out at the dragon, but would be knocked back by Black Fox's Noir Spiral Fang attack. When it went for her, the dragon protected her. The fox knew she was losing, and so she began using her own techniques more frequently. The White Curved Talon coating her claws and becoming like swords, only to be knocked back by a Midnight Pinwheel… the fireballs being stopped dead in their tracks by the Black Sky Sickle's slashing… slowly, slowly, the health bars dropped.

Soon, the other members of the group came into the room with Versais leading the way. The fox's health bar had just hit zero, and she fell onto her side, still smirking despite no longer being able to regenerate her health. The dragon turned to look at Black Fox, bowing his head to her and vanishing, her energy bar falling drastically low, almost hitting zero. Her health bar took a huge dive, falling almost as low. The cage holding Kirito shattered and he was able to rush over to her, catching her as she fell. "You did it." He whispered, holding her tight. "You did it, Akemi…" he smiled at her, seeing how exhausted she was.

"It's not over…" The fox stated, still lying there. "There is one more opponent you must fight… the White Paladin…" she stated, glancing at the room she'd emerged from. "He's waiting… in there… the last resort in case I actually lost." She scoffed, but laughed it off. "And with your precious Chi-user out of power, there is no way you can win…"

"Shut up you old hag of a fox." Black Fox retorted, shocking everyone. The fox laughed as she began to vanish. "Kirito will win."

"We shall see, child…" she replied, closing her eyes as she dissolved the rest of the way. Kirito looked down at Black Fox, the markings from earlier vanishing.

"One more boss fight, huh?" Versais walked over, having caught the conversation. "Your health seems intact…" he glanced down at Black Fox. "And you kept her alive." He grinned.

"I didn't…"

"You did, Kirito." Black Fox said, smiling up at him. "If you hadn't been my motivation… the Dragon would not have answered me… It only responds to those who call it to protect others…" she pet his head, her hand trembling. "Now… you get to be the hero…" she whispered, chuckling. He nodded, leaving her in Orion's care as he went into the room. There in the center of the floor stood a white-armor clad knight-class with a blank mask over its face, the twin swords at his sides gleaming a little.

"You are my opponent?" it asked. Kirito nodded, glaring at the White Paladin. "Then draw your blade, young one." He drew his swords, readying himself to fight the black-clad knight that stood before him. "We shall end this… feud of light and dark." Kirito drew his blade, taking a breath before he charged. He was almost as fast as Asuna at this point, and she was ridiculously fast. He was stronger than Mabashi, quicker to react than Suzuka… but the man he was fighting was all that and more. Kirito continued to fight, but was struggling against the pressure of two blades to his one. He was forced to draw his second blade, but as he did things went bad.

"Kirito-kun, look out!" he heard Asuna call out, knowing that the others couldn't enter the room because of a barrier. He saw the knight coming in front of him, but the blade contacted his back for a split second, tearing just his coat.

"White Light Illusion…" he heard the paladin say. "Your sight is now useless… I can come at you from anywhere…" the Paladin stated. Kirito whipped around just in time to block the attack that could have cost him over half of his points. He barely managed to get out from under the intense pressure of the attack when the next one came at him.

Black Fox could see him struggling, feeling like she had to help him. But her health was still in the red and she was in no condition to use her chi-user abilities. It would sap her health points away. But watching Kirito fighting and struggling made her anxious.

Kirito continued to fight the Paladin, slashing and dodging, then parrying attacks… but he was getting nowhere. This person's health was staggeringly high, and no matter how he tried, hitting him seemed impossible… He saw the blade coming his way and barely rolled away in time, but in the process losing one of his swords. "Kirito-kun!" the others cried out to him, knowing that with only one sword, he was in much higher danger of losing his life. The Paladin's sword came down on Kirito… or so everyone thought. But as the smoke cleared, there was someone in his way. Black Fox had broken away from Orion and the others, using the midnight wolves to take her into the shadows and into the room, catching the sword on the Black Fox mask, which was ridiculously strong for what it was. Her energy bar was red still, nearly at zero. Her health dropped a little. "B-black Fox!"

"Akemi…" Kirito sat there in shock, looking at her health and energy bar. "Y-you can't-!"

"Kazuto… I told you before… I won't lose you…" she said, leaning over to kiss him, the mask cracking a little as the paladin tried to push through it. When he tried to pull the swords away, they got stuck. The mask was holding onto them, a black shadow reaching from the mask and wrapping around the blades. "I'm not letting you fight him alone…"

"… but I-"

"No arguing." She said, smiling at him. "The mask will break in 10 seconds… be ready." She stated, feeling the mask breaking in her hands, moving away with Kirito as the attack landed on the floor, causing a huge crater. The Paladin looked frustrated, but he did not move. His pure-white blades were chipped now… his health bar dropped as well.

"Damn you, what did you do to me?!" he exclaimed.

"Heh… foolish to think you could keep me away from my lover, White Paladin…" she said, hugging Kirito a little, more for support than anything else, but enjoying being able to taunt the opponent. "Your Knight attribute is strong… but that doesn't mean that Kirito will lose." She said, the sword that Kirito had dropped being dragged back to him by a single Midnight Wolf, who then dissolved immediately. The Paladin prepared his next attack and Black Fox let Kirito step forward. The battle would be decided with a final blow… The others watched in anticipation, seeing the two line up for their final move. They charged after a long, heavy silence and took a single stoke of their blades, their techniques setting off a huge shockwave that shattered the barrier.

After the dust settled, Black Fox managed to look up from where she was, seeing the Paladin falter before falling. His swords shattered, and his armor was in pieces. Kirito had won. But his health bar did take a hit and it plummeted to nearly zero. She managed to get over to him first, hugging onto him and falling to a sitting position, hugging him to her. "Akemi…" he mumbled, seeing the congratulations panel for defeating the final boss.

"You're amazing." She said, tears stinging her eyes as the sign appeared for her as well. "You're the best, Kazuto…" the others approached, but as they did the whole area shook like it was enduring a huge earthquake. Someone took a look at the map, eyes going wide.

"Th-the levels are collapsing! We have to get out of here!"

"B-but how?!"

"There." The Paladin pointed to the door at the other end of the room. "That's final passage to the exit… the five levels that were supposed to be above here have vanished… that's the way out." He said, sitting up and looking at Kirito. "You put up a good fight, young one…" he bowed his head to Kirito. "I wish you and your lover luck in the real world." The others all began heading that way, Orion and Jagger helping the Paladin as well. Black Fox managed to stand, Kirito helping her as much as he could in his weakened state.

"We're finally leaving…" Black Fox mumbled as they made it to the door, everyone else going through quickly. She turned to Kirito, smiling. "I love you…"

"I love you too." He replied, kissing her in front of the door. "I'll find you… I swear."

"I look forward to it." She said. "You go first. It only accepts people one at a time." She said, ushering him into the door first. He looked back at her, but going through reluctantly. She paused, looking back at the floor as it began to vanish. She smiled. "Goodbye, Willow Lake…" she mumbled, going through the door just as the floor beneath her began to disappear too.

Tokyo Hospital: September 23rd 2024 - 6:28pm

Kazuto opened his eyes, seeing a white ceiling above his head… the nerve gear eye shield slightly obscuring his view. Wait. The nerve gear. He bolted up and, though weak, he pulled it off, looking around. He was in a hospital… he looked at how thin he was… he felt a little weird, he assumed from being in a bed for so long… He glanced around, seeing no one in the room. Just the equipment and some furniture… His train of thought routed him back to what had just happened. He wanted to find Akemi, that was his first priority. He did his best to get out of bed and into the hallway, glancing around for signs of her. But after 10 minutes, he'd been spotted by a nurse, who was making him return to his room. But along the way, he saw a boy with blackish hair and muted lavender eyes wandering into a room with a monotone expression on his face. Kirito told himself that he'd have to visit that boy later… he looked so much like Akemi's description of her little brother. But for now, he was stuck in his room.

September 24th 2024 – 10:00am

Kazuto had finished breakfast and wandered to the room he'd seen that boy go into yesterday, knocking quietly on the door. To his surprise, the boy came to the door. He paused for a moment before speaking. "Are you one of the people who was trapped in Ryuuko with my sister?"

"Y-yes… I'm Kazuto Kirigaya… in game Kirito."

"Then you're that beta-tester that she said was a good friend… come in." the boy said, closing the door behind Kazuto immediately. Kazuto looked over at the bed that had a person in it, seeing Akemi laying there, eyes closed. "She's not awake yet…" he stated. "But she mentioned you a lot two years ago when she was playing the beta."

"R-really?" he looked at the boy, pausing for a moment. "A-ah, sorry I didn't catch your name…"

"It's Makoto…" he stated. "I'll just assume that Akemi told you of our last name."

"Y-yeah, she did." He nodded. Makoto took a seat on Akemi's bed, taking his sister's hand.

"She used to talk about you a lot… she never talked about anyone that much except me…" he looked at Kazuto. "You seem a little young to be with my sister…"

"Wh-whaa-?" Kazuto's face went red and he panicked a little.

"Relax. I don't care, so long as you don't break her heart." He stated sternly. "There will be hell to pay if you ever make her cry." He stood up and went to the door. "I'm going to get some coffee… Spend a few minutes with her." He stated, leaving the room quickly. Kazuto was confused, but the fact that he was nice enough to leave him alone in the room with Akemi reassured him that he did at least trust him a little. Kazuto knelt next to Akemi, holding her hand and leaning half-way onto her bed.

"Akemi… your brother's pretty insightful huh?" he asked, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb as he held onto her hand lightly. "He cares about you a lot… I bet he'll be really happy when you wake up… I know I will be." He whispered, kissing his hand. "I'll… I'll be here to see you when you wake up, okay? I'll come visit you as often as I can…"

Makoto stood outside the door, listening to Kazuto talk to his sister. He smiled a little to himself. 'And I thought I was the only one she would have to talk to…' he thought, walking down the hall to a vending machine to get his coffee in a can.

November 2024 – 11:30am

It had been two months since the Ryuuko incident, and Kazuto was on his way to visit Akemi in the hospital. It was a Sunday, and he'd become rather close friends with Makoto, seeing as they did attend the same school. He'd also kept in touch with the others like Asuna, Agil, and Suzuka from Ryuuko. Suzuka had kept tabs on everyone else, and apparently a few of them were college students. Suzuka was about 22, and Asuna was 17 now, a year older than Kazuto was. He arrived at the hospital and headed up to see Akemi. He'd completed his rehabilitation the week before and he was a very familiar face at the hospital now. He got to the room, seeing Makoto playing a handheld game to pass the time. The boy waved to him silently before going back to his game. Kazuto waved back and sat next to Akemi's bed, taking her hand and telling her some things about the past week. He'd just finished telling her that Asuna was also a student at his school when he felt her hand twitch. It hadn't done that in the past. He looked up at her face and saw that she was opening her eyes. "A-akemi?" Makoto looked up and bolted from bed, going to his sister's side.

"Akemi-nee?" he asked, almost looking afraid to touch her. She let out a sigh, opening her eyes and glancing around, looking disoriented.

"Ma… ko… to?" she looked up at her brother, who hugged her with small tears in his eyes.

"Akemi-nee!" he was ecstatic to see her awake. She smiled weakly, hugging him back.

"You… got tall without me around…" she chuckled. "I'm sorry… for being away…" she whispered, grasping Kazuto's hand tighter as a way to acknowledge his presence without interrupting her reunion with her little brother. Makoto let go and went to inform a nurse, leaving Kazuto alone with Akemi. She smiled at him, her grip weak, but her hand never left his. "Kazuto…" she leaned over and kissed his forehead. "Don't cry…" Kazuto hadn't noticed, but he was tearing up too. He wiped the tears away with his free hand, leaning up to kiss Akemi on the lips, making her blush a little. "K-kazuto…"

"How did you know it was me?" he asked her. She giggled a little.

"Who else would be holding my hand in my hospital room? Besides, my brother wouldn't let anyone I didn't talk about to him a lot anywhere near me, especially when I'm not conscious." She stated, simply. "Besides… you're even more adorable than I imagined." She added, kissing him on the lips again, only to be interrupted by a doctor clearing his throat.

"As much as I hate to interrupt a young couple in love… I do have to make sure Akemi-san is alright." He stated, quirking an eyebrow at the boy who was kissing his patient. Makoto stood there with a small grin, knowingly watching his sister's expression get nervous.

"R-right, sorry." Akemi rubbed the back of her neck as Makoto escorted Kazuto out of the room, the nurses beginning to help the doctor take his tests and whatnot. She just sat there, wanting Kazuto to be back at her side… she didn't understand why she needed him around… but she knew it had been a while since they'd spoken… and she knew she was too weak to leave the hospital. So for now, hospital visits would be her only contact with the boy she'd fallen so madly in love with. But that would be fine, so long as she was able to tell him things that made him blush.

December 18th, 2024 – 10:45am

Finally, all the paperwork was in order. After a month of rehabilitation, Akemi was able to leave the hospital, even if just for a little while. Makoto was given permission to be his sister's escort to keep an eye on her health… though it was a little awkward for two boys to be with a sickly young lady, it made Akemi very happy. "It's like a 3-way date." She said simply as they exited the hospital, making Kazuto blush and Makoto sigh in exasperation at his big sister, cheeks tinted pink. "I like the idea."

"You like weird things, then." Makoto said, which made Akemi smile at him. "But… you wouldn't be my sister if that weren't the case."

"That's right." She nodded at his words. "Because without a strange big sister, things would be boring to you, Makoto." She said cheerfully. Kazuto stuck close to Akemi, but he was a little nervous to take her hand. Instead, he found her being the one to initiate their first time holding hands in public. "Nervous?" she asked. He nodded in response.

"Geez, don't do that around me." Makoto said. "Get a room."

"But Makoto, we share a room." She reminded her brother, making him turn to stare at her.

"I didn't mean at the hospital." He said, almost afraid of what she'd try to do if he left them alone in the hospital room for too long. "If you're planning on stuff like that, go to the apartment." He stated, making a face that made Akemi chuckle.

"Aww, fine fine." She shrugged. "I'll kidnap Kazuto to the apartment when I'm better so I can make him all blushy and melty." She stated, Kazuto's face burning even redder. But he just went along with the conversation, seeing as Akemi was obviously still able to make him this embarrassed… and her Black Fox personality hadn't gone away, either. But he was happy to be with her… The three continued on their little expedition, everyone immediately being able to tell that Makoto and Akemi were related. But when they got to a crepe stand, the woman serving them said that Kazuto and Akemi made a sweet couple. Akemi looked very pleased and Kazuto's face burned bright red. That was the first time he'd heard someone out of the hospital say anything about them being together… and it was positive. They sat and ate their crepes, Kazuto enjoying a couple of small, but romantic moments with Akemi. Makoto just ate his crepe, enjoying bonding time with his sister again after 2 year of being apart from her. The three spend a couple more hours outside before heading back to the hospital… Kazuto was going to be on his way, but the weather had other plans.

"Alright everyone, it looks like we're snowed in." the head nurse said as she entered the room Akemi and Makoto stayed in. "The plows should be here soon, but for the night everyone's staying here." She bowed and left to inform the other rooms. Makoto turned his head towards Kazuto and Akemi as the younger boy called his parents to let them know. He mouthed to his sister 'Don't be a perv.' She paused, smiling a little with a small grin as she mouthed back to her little brother.

'I'll try.'

((Next Chapter is lovey dovey to the max o u o

But no serious love yet o u o;;; That won't come for a few more chapters

In the mean time, I've got to start school in the morning ; u ;'''

So I might not post again for a few days. Hope to see some reviews for this soon.

-Winter Cheshire))