"A ring..?" Lisabeth took a moment before her face lit up and her smile grew big. "Kirito...! You! You! Oh my god!!"
She hopped around, using her virtual wings to give her some air.
"Calm down, Lis!" Kirito blushed.
She came down in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. "I'll make you the best engagement ring ever!"
Smiling and giving her a small hug he thanked her. She let go and grabbed the blue crystal Asuna really liked, still grinning like crazy.
***********************************
Kirito woke up with a small smile on his face. After he opened his eyes he realized 3 things.
1. I'm going to marry Asuna
2. I fell asleep
3. My hands are tied behind my back and I'm in a dark room.
Kirito looked around disoriented. He couldn't see anything. And if his hands were free, he was sure he wouldn't be able to see them if he held them up to his face.
"Hello?" He called out into the unknown. Is this a dream? Like a dream where you wake up but you're actually in a new dream? Was that confusing?
Nothing responded except the echo of his own hoarse voice. He turned and noticed a singular light. After his eyes adjusted he recognized it as a camera light.
Kirito cleared his throat. "Who's there?" He said this more as a demand, anxiety creeping up his back like a spider.
A man approached with a laptop bag on his shoulder. A light flickered on to the left, revealing a desk.
"Master Tech Boy, I have a request." Kirito scowls at the way he is addressed. "Well it isn't really a request is it?"
Two more men pick Kirito up by the shoulders, each putting a hand under his armpits uncomfortably.
"Listen Kirito, I have big plans," the man went on in his arrogant voice as kirito was strapped to the seat of the desk. "With your tech you could do so much more than whatever this thing is."
He gestured towards Kirito's newest project. Unfortunately Asuna had been avoiding him but this left him for time to work on it. The invention was made with the purpose to process code from the virtual world and bring it into the real world.
Kirito grit his teeth. That machine was very important to him. He also had big plans, none of which were similar to this man's he was sure.
"I looked into it and wow a machine that can created real things from code? A man who has great tech and programming skills. Who can and has changed the world of technology." He walked over to the desk with the horrible lighting and put his hand on Kirito's shoulder causing him to flinch. "So I have another project for you."
After placing the computer and clicking a few things he opens a file and displays it for Kirito.
"What...what is this?" Kirito inhaled shakily. "This...this is horrific."
"Nono not horrific. It's the new age," the man said wistfully. "And I need you to create it."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Kirito bent his back to get his hand off his shoulder. "No way in hell."
"I thought you might say that." He walked over and put on a TV screen. Displayed was Asuna chained to a cage in a dark room with tape on her mouth and tears streaming down her face. I stated at the display and called out to her. "I hope this," he said with a grin. "Could convince you."
"Let. Her. Go." Kirito said with pure fury.
"Ah what a shame but I cannot," the man pretended to sigh with sadness. "Not until my project is completed."
"I wont-"
"Oh I forgot! You don't have a name to call me."
"A foul wretch like you doesn't deserve-"
"Kazu. You may call me Kazu. Or Error Unknown." He grins and walks back over behind Kirito. "Now you should get started before they take out the special...tools."
He looks at the screen and Kirito follows his gaze watching a bunch of men preparing an operating table. Kirito squeezes his eyes shut tightly and tries to stay calm.
But every beat of his heart screams with terror and his eyes want to be relieved of the years they are holding back. He wants to grab a sword and slice the man- Error Unknown - apart.
And then the picture of the pure blue gem appears in his head. Kirito was smart. He could deceive this man somehow...save Asuna...and then....the ring.
"Don't hurt her..." He said with a strained desperation.
"They won't. If you get to work." Kazu clicks something by his ear- an earpiece- and begins to talk. "Give him a little push."
"No!" Kirito yells as he watches them drag Asuna out and go to strap her down. "Stop."
"Continue boys."
"Stop," defeated, he cries out. "I'll do it."
A huge snear on his face, Kazu tells the men to stop. "Get to work then." And Kirito with a miserable scowl, is left to click away trying to think of a plan.
