SAO FB: Scars

Triumph

Kato reached the ruins and saw Kureha standing there. The gravel shifted under Kato's feet and Kureha instantly turned her attention towards him. He stopped in his tracks as he saw a cloaked figure standing behind her. The figure pointed the dagger at him before taking the time to nick Kureha's arm.

"I wasn't expecting you to come back this quickly," the figure stated.

"And I'm surprised you're still trying to be him," Kato shot back.

The figure gritted his teeth. Rage filled the insides of the figure before he stepped back and whispered something. Kureha stepped forwards and raised her Uzi. Kato noticed her finger on the trigger and the safety disabled.

"You don't have to do this Kureha," Kato said. "Don't do this."

"There's nothing you can do," the figure shot back. "She's under our thumbs now."

Kato holstered his pistol and placed two hands on his sword. He stared at Kureha's eyes and saw his reflection on their surface. Her eyes pierced his heart and a small debuff appeared on Kato's HUD. He lost a few points of attack and defense. Kato stared at Kureha before lowering his sword.

"I don't think I can," Kato sighed and sheathed his sword.

The figure sneered and told Kureha to attack Kato. Kureha dug her heels in and rushed Kato. The cold muzzle of Uzi pressed into Kato's gut and the bolt moved forward. Kato shoved the gun out of the way and the bullet barely passes his torso. Kato grabbed the knife from his belt and sliced a part of her cheek. Kureha jumped backwards and aimed the Uzi at Kato again. Kato brought the knife to his head and aimed its trajectory with his offhand. Kato threw the knife at Kureha and the blade landed in Kureha's shoulder. She pulled the knife out of her shoulder and threw it back at Kato. Kato ducked under the weapon and returned fire. Bullets cut through the air as Kureha and Kato exchange shots with each other.

"You're bold to think that there's a way out!" A distorted voice cuts through the gunfire.

Kato dropped the empty magazine and reloaded his pistol with his last magazine. He peered out of the cover of stone bricks. Bullets impacted on the masonry as Kato returned to his cover. Kato pressed the magazine release to his pistol and saw the remaining amount of ammunition. He clicked his tongue for a moment before returning the magazine to the gun. Kato holstered the pistol and reached for his sword. The dark metal of the sword revealed itself as it was pulled out of its sheath. Kato followed the ruin walls and listened to the gunfire for a moment. His mind mapped out the surrounding area and traced the gunfire back to its original source. The air becomes silent for a moment and Kato nodded his head. He steeled himself as he turned the corner. Red bullet lines intersected with his body and the first gunshot rings in the ruins. Kato guided his sword to the bullet line and deflected the lead bullets. As he closed the distance to Kureha, the bullets rained on him faster. After a few moments, Kato activated the Spinning Shield sword skill. Scraps of lead and brass passed through the shield and some pieces scratched his body. A final shot caused him to drop the sword. Kato saw Kureha reloading her Uzi. She trained her gun to Kato who looked away.

"On your left!" Someone shouted.

A red blur passed his left arm and impacted Kureha. She stumbled backwards and shifted her aim to the red blur. The blur slowed down and Kato saw Layla standing there with her great sword raised. Footsteps approach from Kato's behind and the sound of two swords being unsheathed filled his ears. He turned around and saw Kirito smiling with both of his swords in his hands.

"Don't think that you were on your own for this match," Kirito said. "We always have each other's back right?"

Kato raised his fist and fist-bumped Kirito. He answered, "Yeah we do."

Kato turned around to face the enemy and saw Layla and Kureha engaged in a close-quarters battle. Kato stumbled forwards and tried to stand up. Kirito stepped beside him and handed him a syringe.

"Stay down for now," he ordered. "You need to take a break."

"I have to do this," Kato said while stabbing the syringe into his leg. "It's my fault that she's here."

Kato stood up from the dirt floor and charged back into the fray. Layla and Kato constantly swapped positions with each other to keep the pressure on Kureha. After a long fight, Kato managed to get a hard kick into her abdomen. She flew into a nearby pillar and she dropped her Uzi. Layla stepped back and Kato walked up to Kureha. She grabbed her knife and pistol and attacked Kato. He raised his arms and deflected all of the blows. The knife and bullets grazed his avatar and slowly chipped away at his health. Kureha reached for Kaito's pistol and pulled it out of the drop holster. She shoved it into his chest and pulled the trigger multiple times. He felt three punches in his gut as the plate carrier took the brunt of the damage. He stumbled backwards and onto the ground. Kato reached into his plate carrier and removed the broken plate. She clenched her fists and started to circle him.

"Kill him!" the voice boomed.

Kureha immediately reached for Kato's collar. He quickly deflected her arm upwards and kicked her away. She stumbled backwards and saw the pistol and knife resting on the ground. She pounced on the weapons and brought them up. He stared down the barrel of the pistol and raised his arms.

"Now what?" he taunted. "End it."

Kureha gritted her teeth and pulled the trigger. Kato ducked under the pistol and saw the bullet fly over him. She left herself exposed.

"I'm sorry," Kato whispered while bringing his fists up.

Kato punched Kureha in the stomach multiple times before sweeping her off of her feet. As her body floated in the air, he brought his leg up and axe-kicked her into the ruined marble. The impact of her body echoed through the ruins. She struggled to get back onto her feet. Then, her body became motionless. Kato grabbed her pistol and knife and tossed them away. The red and black lightning slowly dissipated through the ground. He knelt next to her and hugged her.

He whispered, "I love you...Just the way you are."

After a few minutes of waiting, Kureha showed some signs of life. Her eyes had some soul behind it. As she looked around, Kato gave a sigh of relief. His eyes were slowly tearing up.

"Where am I?" Kureha asked groggily. She noticed the bloodied Kato kneeling in front of her.

"Kaito?" She asked.

Before she could ask another question, Kato reached in and hugged her. He cried into her shoulder, "I thought I lost you."

"What do you mean lost me...?"

Kureha shifted her gaze to her arm and noticed the numerous scratches and laceration wounds. She thought about her past memories, but couldn't recall a single moment or event. When she shifted her gaze back to Kaito, she noticed the bullet wounds and numerous scratches on Kato's body. His uniform tattered and soaked with virtual blood.

"W-Was I under PAAC?" she stuttered. "I-I...Did I hurt you?"

Kato placed her head in his arms and hushed her. Kirito and Layla moved towards the couple and raised their weapons at the observing figure. Kato reached for Kirito's belt and grabbed the final medical syringe the trio had stored. Unbeknownst to Kirito, he jabbed the tip of the syringe into Kureha.

"But...why?" she whispered. "I can't fight anymore."

Kato cupped her face with his off-hand and replied, "Because I love you... and your survival is my priority."

Kureha leaned in and hugged him tightly. After a few seconds, they separated and Kato stood up. He glanced up at his heath bar and saw that he was at 2300 health points.

"You sure you'll be okay with that?" Kirito asked hesitantly.

"She matters more to me," Kato replied. "Come on, lets finish the job."

The trio approached the figure with their weapons in hand. A devilish smile appeared from the shadows of the hood.