Duo (A Sword Art Online Fanfic) ✔

Chapter Twenty-One

"Don't you dare!" I warned, taking a step back.

Rikimaru followed me, step for step, a smirk on his face.

"Rikimaru, I swear to god, if you don't stop right now, I'll-"

I was interupted as Rikimaru leaped forward, shoving me into the crystal blue lake. I stayed underneath the water, sinking deeper until I couldn't be seen. I swam, until I was under the dock. I looked up through the floorboards, waiting to see his reaction when I didn't surface.

Rikimaru looked around, and paused.

"Harumi?" He called over the surface of the water.

I didn't answer, trying to muffle my laughter.

"I finally got rid of her." Rikimaru finally said, before laughing loudly.

I reached up to pound on the dock, making him laugh louder. He lowered himself on his stomach and hung his head down to look under the dock at me.

"You suck." I told him, splashing him lightly.

He chuckled, dodging the water. I swam towards him, until I was a couple inches away. I leaned forward, giving him a small kiss. He grinned against my lips.

I took a deep breath, winked at him, and sunk into the water, swimming a couple of feet before surfacing again.

I had a second to see him shed his shirt, before he jumped over my head and into the lake. Water washed over my head, from the back splash.

I glared at him as he surfaced, a grin already on his face. I reached forward and he pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around me.

"I hate you." I told him, laughing softly.

"Yeah, but I love you."

*****

I barely managed to pull my scythe up in time to block Rikimaru's blade. He towered over me, his eyes cold and hard.

I didn't know what to do. I couldn't fight him, but he would kill me if I didn't.

While I was distracted, Rikimaru swung his blade at me again, and I would have gotten hit if Kuro and Gurē hadn't distracted him.

Kirito was standing in front of Asuna's cage, protecting both her and Yui. He wasn't going to come help me if there was a chance of them getting hurt. I didn't blame him.

Rikimaru swung his blade at me again.

*****

"It's all your fault!" I yelled, my clenched fists hanging at my side.

"My fault?!" Rikimaru asked incredulously, "This is so not my fault!"

"You hit me!" I exclaimed, pointing to the gash on my leg.

"It's not like I was aiming for you! You got in the way!"

"I was too busy trying to save your ass, forgive me!"