Trio (A Sword Art Online Fanfic) ✔

Chapter Fifteen

I whipped my head back and forth between Death Gun, and Kirito and Sinon. Another choice to make. If I chose Death Gun, I'd be saving everyone at the sake of myself. If I chose Kirito, it would he a much more dangerous path, but I'd be with my loved ones. Even if it wouldn't be for that long.

My finger tightened on the trigger of both guns, and I couldn't help but remember one choice I had to make in Sword Art Online.

"It would've been fine if it wasn't for you!" Rikimaru shouted, his grip on his sword tightening.

"This is not my fault!" Katsu sneered.

"How is it not?!" Rikimaru retorted, "You were the one who got in the way! Now, she's hurt!"

He whirled to gesture at me, forgetting about the sword in his hand. I barely managed to duck in time, wincing as my stab wound in my side twinged.

"Stop being such an idiot and put that thing down!" Katsu growled.

"No! I may need to use it later to murder you!"

I hurried around the room, trying to find either a healing crystal, or something to stop the bleeding. I kept one hand pressed against my wound. The boys continued to argue in the center of the room.

"If you had been doing your job, that bastard wouldn't have gotten past me and Harumi wouldn't have gotten hurt!" Rikimaru snarled.

"Yeah, well, if you had been helping me instead of doing your own goddamn thing, I would have been able to do my job!"

I rolled my eyes, finally finding a spare crystal. I quickly used it, sighing in relief as I watched my HP bar go back into the green. The pain in my side finally lessened and I was able to relax. I leaned against the wall, banging my head slightly against it.

I braced myself, before straightening and pulling away from the wall. I raced to get in between the two guys, as they looked ready to beat the crap out of each other. I put one hand on each of their chests, pushing them away from each other slightly.

"Thanks for helping me when I was injured, guys." I said dryly, "I really appreciate it."

They both paused in their argument to look down at me. Rikimaru sneered before pulling away, taking a couple of steps back. Katsu glared at his back.

"You both are being ridiculous!" I snapped.

"He almost killed you!" Rikimaru growled, whirling around to glare at Katsu.

"Me?! You are the most selfish, irresponsible rat-bas--"

"Enough!" I shouted, glaring at them both. "This is not the time!"

"Then when is the time? No, I think this is the perfect time." Katsu announced.

"Katsu stop!"

"Whose side are you on, Harumi?" He hissed, "I'm your best friend! So, don't tell me to stop!"

"Yeah, whose side are you on?" Rikimaru put in, "Who are you going to choose?"

I froze, my blood running cold. They were going to make me choose between the two of them. They were going to make me choose between the boy I loved, and my best friend.

I glared at them both, suddenly angry.

"You know what? No! I'm not dealing with this crap!" I snarled, "If you want me to choose, then neither one of you are worthy to be my choice! Are you both so immature that you are going you fight over me like a bunch of toddlers?"

They looked away, uncomfortable. They shifted awkwardly, as if they didn't want to listen to me.

"Both of you, look at me now!" I snapped.

I waited until they both had turned to face me again. I glared at them for a couple of seconds until I began to speak.

"I'm going upstairs to take a nap, and you better have your shit sorted out by the time I get back, or so help me, I will make sure neither of you can argue again, let alone fight!"

With that, I whirled around, marching upstairs to the tiny room we had rented out for the weekend. I flopped down onto the bed with a sigh, relieved to be off my feet for the first time since yesterday morning.

When I woke up from my nap, everything downstairs was silent. I climbed out of the bed, rubbing at my eyes. I stretched for a minute, before slowly making my way down the stairs.

"Rikimaru?" I called, "Katsu?"

"In the kitchen, babe!" Rikimaru replied.

I cautiously walked to the kitchen, mentally bracing myself for whatever I would discover.

When I finally walked around the final corner, I saw Rikimaru and Katsu sitting at a table in the corner, playing cards. I walked over, relief filling my body. When I was close enough, Rikimaru wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

"You two seemed to definitely kiss and make up." I observed.

"Yeah, well, we couldn't help it when you started threatening us." Katsu teased, poking at my side.

"Besides, you were right. It was a silly thing to argue about, and we shouldn't have made you choose between us." Rikimaru acknowledged.

"Well, good." It was all I could seem to say.

"Besides, we both knew I would've won!" Rikimaru announced, smirking.

"If your battle skills are any where near as 'good' as your card playing, then I don't think I would've had a problem." Katsu retorted.

I couldn't help but laugh.

The three of us had never fought as bad as that day after that. And I had never been faced with another choice that came anywhere near as hard as that one until now.

I shook my head. Despite everything -- all the risks and dangers -- I knew there was only one real choice. There was only one choice that I could choose.

I looked at Death Gun, and then Kirito. Kirito nodded at me, as if to tell me, that no matter what I chose, he would understand.

I closed my eyes for a minute, fully exhausted. It was hard to believe it had only been a day and a half since all of this started.

When I opened my eyes, I had made a decision.