The Path Unknown

27. A View From the Outside

Back at the makeshift base, the majority of the party had become unsettled over what recently happened. An hour ago, Michiko's beacon went off completely; without any sort of clue why. They feared the worst for both her and what Kage would think when he got back. Many people grieved at the loss, some harder than others. Asuna was crying on the bed while the other girls sat by her, doing their best to comfort her while coping with the loss themselves. The guys sat outside in a circle, trying to find them best way to tell the "newly widowed" swordsman. The words were there, though they could not come out in the right way.

Buro kept looking in the registry to see what had happened to her, though there was nothing. Her whole history was wiped, every code that she unknowingly wrote was purged from the system, or at least what he could access. There wasn't even a database that even held her player's ip address. He looked up from his unsuccessful searches and shook his head. The others sighed except for Haru, who had his arms crossed while leaning on a log.

"Why aren't you affected at all by this, Haru? Do you even care about him?" Kirito slightly scolded his bland expression.

"No, why would I? I just met you guys and you expect me to see him like a brother? If you didn't get the hint, Sherlock, I have trust issues and this hasn't really been a week I enjoyed." came a reply without any attempt of eye contact.

"Haru, at least help Chi and Miya cope. They are affected by this too you know." Buro tired to make him useful.

"They're with Asuna right now. I will help them when they're ready."

"They might need it now, man." Agil put a hand on his shoulder, "They aren't doing so well."

"Guys, what are we even going to say to him? I mean, we can't just say that she went out and died. That would devastate him!" Kirito refocused the subject.

"That's true, yet what other choice do we have, Kirito?" Buro sighed.

"I mean, we could always have the girls tell him. They might be more compassionate than us."

"I could tell him..." Kai looked down, "I've done this before. I know how."

"Kai? What do you mean you did this?" Buro crooked his head.

"That's not the point, ok? Do you want me to or not?"

"You do it, it seems like you're hurt though. Do you want to take some time to breathe?" Kirito put a hand on his shoulder.

He shook his head and got up from his seat. Nobody said a word after he left, as there was no need to anymore. They just looked around the courtyard at the expressions of those there. Worry, fear, anxiety; all of the commonalities between the concerned faces that were shared. One, though, was not worried at all. Haru didn't seem to care what direction they took right now. He was more immersed with his own world of semi-depression and isolation derived from the newest additions to their team, which was now an official guild.

Kirito, on the other hand, felt a deeper concern for Kage, because of the similarities between the two. If Asuna were to die, he wouldn't know what to do with himself. She was his light, his treasure, his everything. His world lied with her, just like Kage's is held within Michiko. Ducking under the shorter doorway, he went inside to see the one he held close. She was doing better than this morning, but still obviously grieving over the loss that was, at the moment, uncertain. He put a hand around her to show that he was there and that he still cared for her. She smiled and leaned into his chest, exhausted over the recent tragedy, and sighed. Nothing needed to be said between them, they knew exactly what the other was thinking.

Just then, the gate guarding their entrance opened up with a slam - someone was back. Rushing out, Kirito and Asuna went outside expecting to see Michiko storming back through the gates, but what was coming up the path was the tall, black figure of a swordsman. Kage was finally home, but not so happy. Blazing right past Kirito and Asuna, he headed for Buro's room and opened, shut, and locked the door. An aura of curiosity encircled the couple as they could only imagine what was wrong with him.