Klein(SAO)x Reader

Chapter Eighteen

I wake up to a bright light, which is the sunlight that is able to infiltrate the thick frost layering on the window. I roll over, facing the wall. I blink a few times, trying to get used to the new sense of light and manage to adjust fairly quickly. I roll back over, sitting up and swinging my legs over the edge, stretching my arms quietly. But I notice that Klein's not in his bed as usual, but I shrug it off, assuming he's downstairs already. Slipping on my heavy gear, I walk out the door after pulling my hair back up into its braid and walking down the stairs. I see everyone except Klein sitting at the table they were yesterday, sending questioning through me. I stop next to the guys, leaning over the table.

"Good morning, guys. Have you seen Klein today?" I scan the faces as they all shake their heads, and feel a pit open up in my stomach.

"Hmm. I haven't either." I mutter, rubbing my head. "He'll probably message me, but I just want to check the town in case something did happen." The others agree with that, and I decide to go alone, despite Klein's warning. 

I honestly don't trust them. Last time I did that, one of them betrayed Klein, the group and me.

I stroll through the town, glancing into dark alleys and narrow passageways, looking for Klein's red armor. I see no sign of Klein, but then I remember a gift I had gotten from Asuna a while back. I pull up my inventory, then tap the icon. My vision blurs with green then clears around a trail of glowing footprints trailing around a bend from my current position. I follow them, starting to run when the heat signatures start to warm, and skid to a stop when the footprints start breaking up, and heel prints are embedded into the snow, showing signs of a great struggle, along with the drag lines digging into the snow, and creating tracks around a corner and into an alleyway. Fear pricking at my head and fingers, I dash towards the alley, watching my breath plume out of my mouth in great clouds. I slide to a stop when I see Klein pinned against a wall, knives embedded in his hands, and a cloaked figure pointing a sword at his chest. 

"Hey!" I bark, and the figure instantly whips towards me, then instinctively add, "Freeze!" He does this for a moment, but then spins on his heels and flees, merging with the wall next to him. Panting, I hurry to Klein, removing the darts from his hands and gingerly pulling the sword from him. "Klein! I knew something was up!" I murmur, giving him one of my healing potions. After his health inches up slowly, last night comes to my mind, and I frown. From where I'm crouched, I examine the wall the man had disappeared into, and I see a small mark fading quickly on the wall. 

What in the world? Is that a spell? And wait, why was he smirking when he left the alleyway? Does he want us to leave this town?

"What were you thinking? Did you want a repeat of last night? Because if so, you sure as heck got what you wanted. And you told me to be careful!" I turn back to Klein, sitting him up, and he opens his eyes slightly, grinning weakly. 

"How'd you find me?" He coughs, and I roll my eyes.

"I used a present from Asuna. It helps the user to track a specific player or enemy." I answer, helping him to his feet. He smiles, and we start limping out of the alley, towards the hotel. We make it there, and the guys all turn around, and their faces drain when they see Klein hobbling in, arm around my shoulders, looking very beat. 

"B-boss! Skylar, what happened? Where was he?" I'm barraged with questions once again, and I sit Klein down in a cozy looking chair near the fire.

"He went out alone, and someone else who is hunting us--" 

"The Laughing Coffin?"

"No. Someone else. He didn't have a greenish brown cloak. He had a jet black coat, and he used throwing knives and a big broad-sword. The Laughing Coffin members resort to only one weapon and stick with it. Anyway, the man must have caught Klein off guard, and so he was about to... you know, but then I got there in time to stop him." I explain, sitting in the chair next to Klein's.