For the first two days we hunted the area around Medai picking up all the available quests and levelling up fast. I found out that Kazuto was a fount of knowledge. He was able to show me the best places to pick up starter equipment and even some tips for making food taste good.

After two days had passed Kazuto decided we would be better moving on so once more we tried to find someplace with tougher mobs and new quests to take on.

He told me about a village called Horunka. Apparently there was a quest there to get a sword and this sword would be one of the best we could get on this floor. At our level it would be tough but he believed I was good enough to back him up.

It made me happy that Kazuto trusted me enough to back him up. When we first got trapped he had tried hard to protect me, often getting in the way of the mobs so they could not hurt me.

After the Second day I had challenged him about this and he decided to trust me as much as I was trusting him. This led to him teaching me how to properly switch out with him in order to fight forward.

Now that a couple of days had passed more people were making their way out towards the area me and Kazuto had been fighting.

I didn't really understand why but we avoided other people and for the most part only fought enemies in areas that were full of high level mobs and others avoided.

Instead of buying armour and weapons Kazuto had been spending a fair bit of money on information. He had a friend called Argo who was great at finding the best places to train uninterrupted and still charged Kazuto for the information.

I had yet to meet Argo and wondered just what kind of relationship she had with my brother. I wasn't too sure why it bothered me to know Kazuto had a female friend and would need to think about it more.

I was becoming quite skilled with a one handed sword so I was happy to receive the Anneal Blade. I had considered fighting with a shield too but I still didn't know enough about the weapons on offer to me.

As the days and weeks passed Kazuto was becoming more agitated that he could not find the entrance to the second floor. Rumour had it that many guilds had formed and were now looking for the entrance.

As the second month in Aincrad dawned upon us there was still no news about the second floor. 2000 people had been reported dead. While we could not confirm that they had died in the real world they had never been seen again in this one.

Half way through the second month Kazuto received a message from Argo. It told us of a meeting to discuss the current affairs in Aincrad.

Kazuto, who was still feeling frustrated with the lack of progress, suggested we go to the meeting. That's how we found ourselves sitting in a colosseum listening to a rather rude guy berating beta testers. This guy had a head that looked like a Mace and I couldn't stop myself laughing hearing his ranting.

He was shut up by a startlingly large man. He wasn't the only bug thing, he had on his back a large greataxe.

"That mans huge!" I told Kazuto, laughing. I could see that Kazuto was feeling down about being a beta tester and accused of not helping enough with the new players.

It of course was somewhat true since the game started, Kazuto and I had only been looking after ourselves.

The large man had managed to diffuse the situation for now and the first man started talking once more. Apparently they had found the boss room. I saw Kazuto perk up hearing this.

We were told to form groups that we would work with to clear the boss room. Neither me or Kazuto really had any interest in joining the other teams. It was clear that most people had come together and already grouped up.

"Think she is alone?" Kazuto asked me, making me realise a girl in a hood was sitting close to us and making no effort to move towards anyone.

"Looks that way we should see if she wants to join us. For the fight at the least."

He seemed to agree and we made our way over to her. She seemed surprised to see us approach and shifted away guardedly. Seeing her reaction I pushed past Kazuto and held my hand out for the girl.

"Hi I'm Leafa, this is Kirito. Are you a solo player?"

"I am yes" The girl responded shortly.

"You heard him," Kazuto said, pointing to the blue haired man.

"We should form teams. How about you join us for the boss fight."

For a moment I thought she was going to refuse but she nodded her head so Kazuto sent her a request to join our team. When she accepted I looked up and saw her name was Asuna.

Before I could say anything further the groups started leaving the colosseum. I looked around to watch the other leave and when I turned back to Asuna she was walking away.

"She isn't very sociable is she?" I commented while watching her leave.

"Wonder if she is any good in a fight?" was his response.

We decided to head back to the village. When we got there many people were drinking and celebrating finally having a plan to move onto the next floor.

Not being social butterflies and only having Asuna on our team Kazuto and I decided to go hunting for a bit. When we arrived back to town the night was upon us.

On our way back to the inn we booked, Kirito spotted Asuna and pointed her out to me.

"I want to talk to her a bit before we sleep." He told me, heading in her direction.

Having no objections I pulled my cloak tighter to shield me from the growing cold and followed him over to her. He sat on her left, not wanting her to feel boxed between us. I sat next to Kauzto.

"That's pretty good isn't it" I heard Kazuto ask Asuna.

She didn't respond right away and so Kazuto pulled two more buns from his inventory. He smiled at me and handed me one. I looked in my inventory for cream and put some on my bun, Kazuto doing the same.

"You really think it's good?" Asuna asked, watching us start to eat.

"It's not that good. But it can be if you add this." I said adding my input and handing her some cream.

Hesitantly she applied some cream to the bun. After tasting it she quickly made her way through the rest of her snack. It was quite amusing to watch her eat with such gusto.

"I didn't know there was cream in this world." Asuna said once she finished.

"We received it from a quest in the town before this one wanted to know how?" I heard Kazuto ask her.

Her response surprised me quite a bit. She said she had no interest in good food. She only wanted to hold on to her humanity.

After she told us this she bade goodbye and left us on the bench. With nothing else keeping us here we walked back to the inn room. Despite being well accustomed to the world we were in, I still insisted on sharing a room with Kazuto.

He didn't refuse me but always rented rooms with two beds. I still snuck into his bed sometimes after a long day. I can't help but feel much better after sharing his bed. While I don't really get why I don't fight it.

The morning of the boss fight started relatively normally. Upon Kazuto's insurance I checked my gear. I had made sure to stock up on extra healing items today since Ii had never fought an enemy of this calibre.

After making sure my back up weapon was in a place I could easily equip it if needed I confirmed I was ready to go.

In the Inn's dining area we found Asuna eating breakfast. We decided to ask to join her, which she agreed to. We only made small talk over the breakfast however.

It was hard to get Asuna to open up to us. I couldn't help but wonder if that was because she did not want to be in this world. It must be hard for those who feel like that.

I had learnt early on from Kazuto that since we could not change what had happened we should try living our lives to the fullest while we are here. After two months in Aincrad I had to agree. The world was amazing and the time here should be cherished.

It was quite easy to reach the bosses room considering we had 45 of the best players in Aincrad with us. When we arrived at the boss room my nerves peaked. I had never been this excited and scared before.

Sensing my dilemma Kazuto did something he rarely did in public, he hugged me tightly and I felt some of my fears alleviate.

Looking over at Asuna I felt calmed seeing she too looked slightly nervous.

As the big doors opened a huge Throne like room was visible and in the centre stood the biggest mob I have seen so far.

"Illfang The Kobold Lord" I hear Kazuto say to himself besides me. I look at him and high five him.

"Lets kick some butt Ka…Kirito." I shout excitedly trying to hide my slip.

I see Asuna watching our interaction and Raise my hand for her to hit, not lowering it until she half heartedly high fives me.

The fight progresses smoothly with Me, Kazuto and Asuna taking care of the Ruin Kobold Sentinels. As the bosses health bar drops further Kazuto looks shocked.

I don't know why and look where he is looking Illfang had just pulled out a second weapon and I could see it was not the weapon Kazuto had described.

"Kirito? That doesn't look like a Talwar"

As I say this Asuna suddenly looks shocked. While I work out what to do I see the blue haired man charge forward. It wasn't the plan so I don't know why he did it and really wished he hadn't when he was slashed badly and thrown across the room.

Kazuto runs over to him trying to persuade him to use a healing crystal. From where I am I can see him refuse the healing. I look just as shocked as Kazuto when I see Diavel shatter into polygons.

I rushed forward to hug Kazuto trying to show him it wasn't his fault. We are forced to stop hugging pretty quickly when Illfang resumes his attack, taking many players by surprise.

I can see Kazuto's expression change into one of anger and determination. He picks up his sword and charges the boss. Without actively thinking about it I am by his side and as Kazuto knocks Illfang's blade away I strike.

Asuna like us had not stayed idle and followed my attack with a series of her own. I could see Illfang try another attack and this time I block it, with help from Asuna.

Kazuto takes this advantage to strike once more. I can see the boss's health falling. Around the room people are just watching us fight. I feel myself getting a little angry they aren't helping but I've no time to think on it as I leap in to strike once more.

Illfang must have started seeing us as a threat because he suddenly retreated and started toward another group. It was at this moment I realised Asuna was incredibly fast. She dashed forward and blocked Illfang. In doing so she got sent flying away.

I watched Kazuto catch her and help her use a healing crystal and run in to block Illfang while they fix up to return to the battle.

"Is Asuna okay Kirito?" I shout to them not wanting to lose our party member.

He didn't respond, instead he and Asuna charged the boss once more.

"Asuna help me beat him!" I hear Kazuto shout and I know I don't want to be left out. I charge into the fight too.

The fight didn't last much longer than that. With a long slash across Illfang's body Kazuto had finished off the brute of a monster.

The room exploded in cheers from those who had watched us fight the boss. I could see Kazuto looking at a dialog box in front of him. I walk up to him and give him a side hug.

The mace haired man was not celebrating and quickly started blaming the beta testers for not providing the right warnings. I tried to protect my brother but was accused of being a beta too.

I was really quite mad when I heard my brother declare himself a "beater" to me it was a stupid term and one I did not feel my brother deserved.

It was clear Kazuto had been made the enemy in the room and by extension me too. I saw Kazuto remove Asuna from the party and knew we would be leaving soon.

"Kirito. Is this really okay?"

Kazuto did not answer but instead threw his arm around my shoulder leading me to the teleport gate to floor two.

"Wait." I hear from behind us. I see Kazuto stop and turn to face Asuna who had run up to us.

"What is it?" he asked her impatiently, it was clear he wanted to just leave.

"My name, how did you know it?" She asked, looking at us both.

I burst out laughing not believing she had not seen the names this entire time. Kazuto wasn't laughing and pointed out where the names would be. She then surprised me by joining in laughing.

"I'm so dumb" she said through her laughter.

I could hear Kazuto telling Asuna to join a guild if someone she trusts offers her which I thought was a little hypocritical but didn't say anything.

Without looking back we left the room and activated the warp gate to floor two. Instead of staying in the city the gate opened up and we left right away and headed for the smaller village called Marome. It was apparently pretty far to the southeast.

By the time we arrived at the village Kazuto was clearly sad about what had happened. I tried my best to comfort him but I knew he would need time to get over how terrible they had been to him.

After some persuasion I managed to get Kazuto to come to the inn with me. We ended up sleeping early and for once he didn't make me sleep in my own bed.


I may not update this story as fast as these two chapters were realeased as I am currently still writing but I wanted to ge these two out so I could get some genreal feedback on the story thus far. Please leave a review if your are enjoying it so far.

AN: Reviews will be responded to in dm's only so if your a guest your review will be read but not responded to.