I was planning to play ALO today only to find out the server was shut down...I messaged Hakari to find out what happened but she didn't know either. I removed my Nerve Gear to hear a beep on my computer 'A message? Who the hell would be messaging me?' I turned on my computer and opened the message. The message read "Hey, K. This is Kirito, I wanted to let you know that Asuna woke up! After climbing the world tree me and Yui (Our Daughter) freed her. The King, Oberon, was holding her hostage. Also Oberon in real life was supposed to marry Asuna, nonconsensually. I handled him both in ALO and here in the real world. So if you were wondering why the games been shut down, that's why. Be safe, Kirito."
I messaged Hakari why the game was down and I just waited. Until I got another message from Agil, then one from Klein telling me to come to Agils Bar. I got dressed and brushed my teeth, and headed out. Once I arrived I saw a bunch of people I recognized. "K! You're finally here." "Hey guys. What's up?" "You'll see in a few minutes." After about 10 minutes two people showed up. "Asuna, Kirito." They looked around surprised before saying "Are we late?" "No, we gave you guys a later time so everyone else could show up first. Though K was almost late anyway." "I said sorry" everyone chuckled at our small banter before we all turned to Kirito and Asuna
"3,2,1. Congrats on Clearing SAO Kirito!" Everyone cheered.
"Come on, it wasn't just me you know." Everyone looked towards me but I just waved it off. "Kirito, let's be honest, it was pretty much all you. I barely did anything." "That's not true K, if you didn't cut off Kayaba's arms I probably wouldn't have beaten him." I just smiled at him knowing he wouldn't give up. "Asuna. I'm glad you are okay. Kirito was very worried about you, you should've seen him." I said flustering Kirito and making Asuna very happy. "Awh, Kirito you were worried about me?" "Of course I was. You are my wife after all." Everyone just looked at them with happiness in their eyes
Until Klein just fake gagged making Kirito glare at him before everyone started laughing. The party continued with everyone separated into groups, Asuna was hanging out and catching up with Liz, Silica, and Kirito while Me, Klein and Agil sat at the bar talking about things that are going on in our lives. "So, Mr. Assassin for hire. Have you found a duo yet?" "No. Though I did make a new friend." "Who?" "Her name is Hakari" "It's a girl! How old is she?! Is she single?!" Klein started rambling before I punched him in the gut "Shut up. You should know not to do that after Kirito hits you for the same thing." "Right. Sorry." He said weezing
"But she is really nice. We've only talked a few times but I want to talk to her more. Maybe if ALO goes back up soon I'll party with her for dungeons or maybe she can tag along while I'm hunting down a target." I said with excitement in my eyes that only Agil seemed to notice "You really like her, don't you K." "I-I don't know. I've never felt this way about someone before." At this point pretty much everyone was listening to me ramble "I feel a tightness in my chest when she isn't around sometimes. And when she is around I feel super happy and my heart beats rapidly." Kirito interrupted me "You like her." "How do you know?" "Cuz, that's how I feel around Asuna, and I know I love her." Asuna leaned up and kissed his cheek
"Maybe I do." I realized before getting off the topic and getting another drink from Agil. Later after the party was over Kirito walked Asuna home before he came back and started talking to Agil about something. Apparently the memory of Kayaba entrusted something to him, a seed of some sort that he gave Agil to keep safe. "The "World Seed "is what I called it. It allows people to download and create their own VRMMO games. There are already tons of downloads and a few thousand games up already." "That's impressive. I wonder if I'll get the chance to play 'em all." I said sitting down next to Kirito.
"Yeah, someone even took ALO's game files and started it up again. And apparently they added a bunch of stuff to it as well. So there is even more content now." "Really!? Yes! I can play ALO again." I said happily as I finished my drink and made my way to the door. When I opened the door and walked out I thought of something 'Hmm, Maybe I should get an Amusphere.' Amusphere is the VR software that overtook Nerve Gear after Argus was shut down. On my way home I stopped by an electronics store and bought one. Before heading home and booting up ALO. I messaged Hakari letting her know that ALO was up again and that I wanted to party with her in a dungeon.
She quickly replied saying "yay! Can't wait! I'll meet you in the same tavern we were on the day we met!" I was ecstatic that she said yes to partying with me and quickly made my way to the Imp territory. When I arrived I entered the tavern to see Hakari sitting at a table waiting for me. I sat down in front of her, "Sorry I'm late, I came all the way from Alne." "Oh it's okay. I just got here. By the way, what were you doing in Alne? It's pretty far...oh, was it a target?" "Oh no, just helping an old friend with something. Plus I got paid a pretty penny for taking out a big shot Salamander so I upgraded my gear." "I can see that. Looking as handsome as ever. Maybe even more." I blushed at her compliment, looking away before ordering a drink.
After we finished our drinks we made our way towards the Desert, aka Salamander territory where we found a high level dungeon with drops that benefitted us both. For me a really high power long sword, and some spell scrolls. And for her a high power dagger and some armor. We made our way into the dungeon immediately, getting a quest.
