The New Beginning (Kirito x Yuuki)

Murder in the Safe Zone {2}

I'm not writing the part when Yolko and Caynz interrogate Schmitt and when they attacked by [laughing coffin] and when they found grimlock. Just imagine Yuuki replacing Asuna's position.

The Next Day

Yuuki

We're in the same restaurant where Kirito and i ate yesterday. We are talking to Yolko about yesterdays topic. "Umm, Yolko, we were wondering if you ever heard someone named Grimlock." Yolko's eyes widen. "Yes, i know him. Actually, last month he was in the guild with me and Caynz." I looked at Kirito nodding. "We took the sword that impaled Caynz and bring it to an appraisal, and we founded out that Grimlock made it." Kirito said which made Yolko gasped in shock and covered her mouth. "Can you think of any reason why he did." Kirito asked. "Yes, i can." Yolko explained to us about her guild and how it was destroyed, about the incident with the ring, and how Griselda died. "If it was Grimlock, then i think he is going after the three guild member who voted on selling the ring. Caynz was the one who voted on keeping the ring, I was the other." Both me and Kirito we're shocked. "Then who is the other one?" Kirito asked. "The other one is a tank named Schmitt. He, the last i heard was on the front line with the [Holy Dragon Alliance]." "Schmitt huh? I've heard that name before." Kirito said. "Isn't he the leader of the defense of the Holy Dragon Alliance? The lance user?" I said. "Oh yeah, that guy." "Wait! Do you really know Schmitt? I need to see him right away. Can you take me to him? He probably hasn't heard of the murder. I need to let him know, before what happens to Caynz happens to him." "We'll get you in touch with him, but for now you should stay in your inn to be safe." I said.

Timeskip

Kirito

We're in Yolko's room discussing about the murder with Schmitt who is sitting on a chair in the middle of the room. Schmitt is tapping his foot on the floor looking very anxious. I wouldn't blame him, he and Yolko is being targeted by the murderer. "Are you sure that the sword was belong to Grimlock?" He asked. "Yes, without a doubt." Schmitt then started panicking. He frantically stomped around the room showing fear and stress. "But it doesn't make sense, you can't kill a player inside a safe zone. Unless..." He said. "Maybe, the killer wasn't a player." I was surprised with the idea. "Do you think, that Grimlock made the sword for someone else? Maybe, just maybe, Griselda came back as a ghost to seek vengeance." Yolko said. "Oh my god... You could be right. A player can't harm another player inside the safe zone, but maybe a ghost can." She moved and sat on the edge of the window thinking. We are all trying to come up with possibilities, when suddenly i heard a jab. I looked toward Yolko who is stumbling around. When she showed her back, i saw a dagger stuck to her back. "WAH?!.. YOLKO!!" I sprinted toward her and she fell off the window right before i can catch her. I looked down to see her character dissipate, turned to triangle particle. I looked forward to see anyone who could have thrown the dagger. At the corner of my eyes, i saw a figure in black cloak standing on the roof. I jumped from the window and onto the roof to chase it down. "KIRITO!!!" I heard Yuuki yelled. I ignored her, even though my ears are gonna get a beating later. I kept chasing the figure on the roof. He took out something from his pocket. I was about to unsheathe my sword thinking it was a weapon, but he took out a teleport crystal. "Damn..." I took out my throwing spike and threw it at the figure only to have it blocked by purple shapes. I then realize that we are in a safe zone. The bell chimed after that and he teleported away. "Grr... Shit."

I walked back to the inn, preparing my self for the worst. Yuuki's nagging is like being 2 inches away from a giant sub woofer. I got back to the inn and instantly got yelled at by the one an only Yuuki. "So, what happened out there?" Yuuki asked. "I lost him, he teleported away. Damn it!" I punch the wall in anger. "It's Griselda's ghost. Think about it, only a ghost can PK in a safe zone." Schmitt said in fear. "I doubt that's the case. We founded out that it's not a duel, so the only way is that someone is using the system to kill. That's the only way this murders could happen in a safe zone." I sighed pretty loud, showing stress all over my face. "Schmitt, you should stay somewhere safe for now since you are the only one being targeted, until this murder case is dealt. Please excuse us." I said and walked out of the inn followed by Yuuki.

Yuuki

It's roughly around 8 P.M. We are walking down the street heading towards the center of the village. I looked at Kirito's face. His face looks so distraught. "Kirito, you ok?" I asked concerned. He looked at me surprised. "Oh Yuuki. I'm fine, just stress is all." We made it to the center of the village where people hang out and chat with others. I saw a bench that is next to the fountain. "Well, take it easy, let's sit down." We sat down on the bench. "Hey Kirito, do you think that it could be Griselda's ghost? After two people were murdered, i'm starting to think it was possible." "No, it's definitely NOT a ghost, i'm sure of it. Why would a ghost need a teleport crystal?" "Yeah, that is strange." I was thinking of any possible idea, when suddenly i heard a soft growl. I looked at Kirito to see him holding his stomach with blush on his face. "Ehehe... Sorry, haven't ate in a while." Kirito said slightly embarrassed. I giggled. "It's alright, that was cute." I said which made him blush even more. "Plus, it's the perfect time to whip out this." I took out two wrapped sandwiches. I gave one to Kirito and he gave me a dumb founded look. "Umm.. Since.. When did you buy this?" He asked. "Actually, i made this my self. While you were gone this morning to get your equipment fix, i used that time to level up my cooking skill. And i manage to make this." "Well thank you, but why would you level up your cooking skill? You can't use it in battle." "It's because we are getting a house... and i want to act like a good wif..." "What was that?" "NO-NOTHING! Nothing." I said realizing what i just said. "Ok then. Well, thanks for the food!" He took a big bite of the sandwich. After a while of chewing, he finally swallowed the sandwich, and then he just looked at the sandwich. "Uhm, so how is it?" I said, fearing that he would say 'Disgusting'. "It's... It's the best sandwich ever. Actually, it's the best food i have ever eaten since i got stuck in here." I was relieved that he liked the food, even better it's the best food he has ever eaten. "hehe.. Glad you liked it." While we were eating, some guy walk pass behind us and accidentally bump Kirito, which made him drop his sandwich. His sandwich disperse into particle as Kirito dropped down to his knees looking grim. "HEY! Watch where you're going you ass!" I said in anger. I looked back at Kirito still on the ground. "Hey Kirito, it's alright. I can always make more if you wan-" I was cut off by Kirito who raised his hand up against my face. "That's it!!" I looked at him confused. "What is it?" "I was right, this game doesn't allow killing in a safe zone. There's no weapon or system exploit. It's all an act." "Huh?" I said still confused on what he's talking about. "Ok, check this out. You know how in the game, an items durability such as armor or weapon decreases if they get damaged. This is exactly what happened when Caynz and Yolko were murdered. You saw that sword that impaled Caynz, that sword wasn't draining Caynz HP, it was draining his armors durability. And when his armors durability is gone, he use a teleport crystal to teleport out of his armor just when it disperse, so it looked like he died. The same thing goes for Yolko, she already had her armors durability almost gone. And when she went up to the window, the guy in the cloak threw a dagger at her which drains the last bit of her armors durability, and she jumped out of the window while using a teleport crystal." My eyes widen. How on earth did he figure this out?! "But wait, who is the guy in the black cloak you chase?" "It wasn't Grimlock, that's for sure. I believe it's Caynz, since he didn't die. Hey Yuuki, you have Yolko in your friends list right? Where is she now." I opened my friends list and looked through it until i saw the name Yolko, and pressed it. A map appeared showing where she is. "It looks like she is in a field on floor 19, on a hill just outside of town." "I see. Well, that's it then, i think they can handle it from here. Our job is pretty much done now, wouldn't you say." I nodded in agreement. "Let's get back to the inn. I think it's a good time to call it a day." We stood up and went to search for an inn.

Timeskip

Kirito

I stretched as the sun rises up behind me. "Wow, that was a long day. Let's head back." I said to Yuuki. "Hey Kirito, uhm... Say you were married to someone, and you found out that there's another side to her, how would you think?" That question caught me by surprised. "Well, uhh.. I guess i would say that i'm lucky. I mean, if you marry someone, that means you already liked everything about her right? And if there's another side to her that you just founded out, and you fell in love with that to then, that would be awesome?" I said embarrassed a little. "Well if you think about it like that... Then i guess i don't need to worry then." She said with a smile. I don't know what she means but i just nodded. "We should head back to the front line soon. We've away from it for two days." She said. "Yeah you're right, but i want a good rest first. I'm tired as hell." We head back and found an inn and rest for the day.