SAO (FanFictions)

3-Year-Anniversary

It was 3 years after the SAO incident. Kazuto hurriedly walked the length to Rika's house, nervous and a little excited. He had tens of bills crammed into his pockets. His 3 year anniversary with Asuna was coming up, and he would need serious money if he was going to pull off what he had been planning since the last one.

As Kazuto knocked on the door, he shifted from foot to foot, a little anxious to see Rika. She was, after all, a very close friend from SAO, and had done quite a bit for him in the past.

The door opened a girl just short of Kazuto's height with short pink hair and a smile on her face. "Get in here, Kazuto-kun!" Rika said, slapping him on the back.

Stepping through the doorway, Kazuto said, "Great to see you, Liz." He ruffled her hair teasingly as she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance.

"Oh, that is just rude," Rika replied. "Don't call me Liz in this world." She jabbed him in the ribs with her finger. "Anyway," she continued, "we need to get started if you plan on having it ready by your anniversary next week."

Kazuto sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I know," he said. "You think we have enough money?" He poured the cash that was in his pockets onto the table. Bunches of tens and twenties and fifties landed in a huge pile on Rika's coffee table.

"Whoa." Rika sat on her couch and began counting the money. She didn't even need to tell Kazuto how much there was when she looked up, grinning from ear to ear, and said, "Uh, yeah. We definitely have enough." She sighed. "We might not have any left over though...and if we do, it won't be much."

Kazuto just shrugged, nonchalant. "I didn't raise that money for a whole year to worry about saving some for after. I want to use it all for this. It has to be perfect. You're the one who made it, so I called you. If it's going to cost that much to make, so be it."

"I just feel bad about using all this money in one blow, even on someone like Asuna. You spent most of the past year working your ass off to raise this kind of money. How many jobs did you take?"

"frtysvn..." Kazuto mumbled, looking down.

"What?"

"Forty-seven! Ok? So it was hard work! So what?! You spent, like, over a hundred dollars getting your hair dyed pink back in this world!" Kazuto was raising his voice a little, knowing full well how Rika would respond. He loved teasing her, and he didn't pass up any chance he could get.

"Agh! Fine! We'll use all of it on the gift. Happy?" Rika was flushed and her eyebrows were turned down.

Kazuto pumped his fist in triumph. "Yes! Now, did you actually start to learn to be a blacksmith back in this world?"

"Yep! I decided I didn't want to lose everything from Aincrad; my business seemed like a good thing to remember."

"Not much business back in this world..."

"Oh, shut up!" Rika punched him in the shoulder. "There's enough."

"OK, then all we have to get is the metal and the tools?"

"And you have to pay me for the work I do. Oh, and we need to buy a scabbard."

"Fine. Shall we get going?" Kazuto offered her his hand and gathered his money.

"Let's!" Rika took his hand, and together, they bounded out the door towards her new shop.