Her Mission To Save Them All || Sword Art Online Fanfic

Chapter 37

POV: Kyozo

My arms ache from the repeated motion of raising and lowering my shield. I clench my hands to loose the tension of clutching a blade all day and shake my shoulders loose from their taunt position.

It was worth it, I tell myself as I climb up the stairs, only the lamp at the apex lighting the way. My level has slowly inched up over the past seven days so that I stand on the peak of the next. But it's not enough. It's never enough.

I haven't wasted my breath trying to convince Kayoko to try and take me with her, knowing whatever protests that came out of my lips would only be brushed away. I know she's made her decision and I know I have to accept it, even if I am unwilling.

I haven't seen much of her this past week as she goes through briefing after briefing of each and every possiblity or occurrence from Kirito and Asuna. I know I would just be in the way if I was there; I'd get in the way as much as possible.

Because I don't want to say goodbye again.

I pause in front of a familiar door, my hand ghosting past the wood as I make my way to my own door. I stop when I make contact, fingers somehow latching onto the door knob.

As if the metal burns, I pull my hand back. I must truly be insane because my hand only reaches for it again, like it truly enjoys the painful ache in my chest that erupts as I push open the door and dart inside.

I press myself as close to the door as possible, just in case the figure on the bed opens her eyes to discover me here. It's worth the risk, I realise, as the ache in my chest dulls to a throb.

I take a step closer and into the moonlight filtering through the curtains, un-drawn in either laziness or exhaustion. For a second, all I do is stand above her, eyes scanning over every curve, trying to truly recreate her figure in my mind.

Then, I take her limp hand and grasp it tight, like I can kid myself into keeping her chained here against her will. If anything, I don't want that. Still, my heart weakens, squeezing the fingers harder, not even letting go as I slide to the floor.

Like a child, I curl up against the side of the bed and stare up at the sky the way I used to do when sleep played a game of hide and seek with me every night. Somehow, the light of those stars always used to teach me how to close my eyes and be at peace.

And Kayoko, well, she's like someone's crammed thousands of stars together and made a human from them. I used to wonder whether she was indeed that, an answer to the prayers I had sent up countless times, sent down from the sky to not just give me peace, but to make me whole.

So, she has to understand it's hard to let her go like this. It's like ripping my soul apart.

I brush the drooping ends of her newly dyed black fringe away from her face and tell myself I'm okay with it. That I'll be okay with it as long as she's okay. As long as she's happy. Pressing a kiss against her forehead, I force myself to leave but her hand tangles tight with my own.

"Stay with me," She says, her voice slurred in sleep. "Please."

"Always." I promise, pressing another kiss to her forehead. For now, it's all I can offer. A promise. And when she comes back, I will have enough strength to protect her, enough make her truly stay with me.

*************

POV: Kayoko

Even with my eyes closed, I can tell Kyo's hand still wraps around my own. Despite everything, a smirk spreads over my lips. A small joy in this snapshot moment is all I will allow myself to have, for I truly have a mission to complete this time.