Sword Art Online: Takumo's Story

Six: the Beater

There was a whole lot of celebrating that moment. People waved their swords and shook hands with one another, smiling and laughing like crazy. I was pretty grim though.

I wished Diabel was here. I wish he could see how far all of has have come. We defeated Illfang and now it was onto the next adventure. Kirito was on his knees beside me, panting. The two of us really put in tons of effort, I completely forgot that this game makes you feel pain.

Kirito had a banner popping infront of him and it said: 'Bonus Item: C O A T O F M I D N I G H T.'

"Take it," I said in a low voice, "You got the final attack. You deserve it."

Asuna sat down beside me and him. She looked a lot relieved now that we defeated the boss with the power of three.

"Great job you guys," she told us, giving us a smile we haven't seen before, "Nice teamwork."

"That was great swordsman ship back there," said Egil, another friend of ours since yesterday.

"Thank you," I murmured.

I looked back and saw the rest of the other parties clapping for me and Kirito, cheering. It was so wholesome the fact that they were all near to dead but still don't care.

"WHY?!"

We looked at Kibau. I am extremely surprised that I haven't mentioned him in a while now. He is this short, spiky haired person with rash attitude. He's had a grudge against beta testers and has an abnormally short fuse.

"Why did you let Diabel die?!" He yelled.

But not to me. He was talking to Kirito. I looked at my best friend, slightly unsure but Kirito looked just as confused. He replied only with, "Let him...die?"

"OF COURSE!" Kibau shot almost immediately, "You knew what kind of attack was coming! And if you haven't said earlier, Diabel would still be here!"

Now people started staring at us. Asuna shifted and I clenched my fists. I know Kirito was a Beta Tester and all behind my back but he was still my best buddy. I wanted to punch Kibau in the face but I knew that I couldn't. He had a point.

"He must be a Beta Tester!" Someone yelled, "That is how he knew all the boss's attack patterns! He knew but he wouldn't tell us!"

Or me. Dude, congratulations on finally figuring that out. This is bad. People glared at Kirito a little more and stared at each other like predators as if trying to find out who here was another beta tester.

This is bad. Very bad. At this rate, we'll end up tearing each other apart.

I heard Kirito swallow down his shame and I put my hand on his shoulder assuringly. He felt surprised that even after the secret, I'm still talking to him.

"Hey, hey!" Egil said to the players who stepped dangerously to Kirito and I, "Come on! Stop!"

Then, Kirito smiled. He had some nerve to do that infront of Kibau. Then, he began to laugh like a maniac, reminding me of someone gone crazy.

"I am a beta tester," he admitted, "Congrats on figuring that out at last. But you should know that I'm not like the rest."

"Not like...the rest?" I stammered.

"Yeah," he said, "They're all losers—beginners. They were so bad in fact, they couldn't even level up. I was different. I have been researching SAO since it came out. I've made it through the beta test farther than anyone else has! I've known every single tactic each boss uses. I've lived that long. And now with experience I'll know how to defeat the game!"

People were so silent, you could hear them breathe. Breaths of terrified warriors, glaring at Kirito like he was the worst thing that happened to them. Even I couldn't help dropping my jaw a little wider.

"That's even worse than a Beta Tester!" Kibau said, shaking, "You're a cheater!"

"A beater!" Someone suggested.

"He's a beater!" Another one supported.

"Beater...yeah, I like that," Kirito said in a low voice, scaring me even more, "I'm a beater. And from now on—"

He tapped the 'A C C E P T' button and the coat of midnight formed on him, "—don't get me confused with any other person again."

I stared at him, watching as he climbed the stairs. I had to follow him somehow. So I did. I caught up to him just before he opened the door and called him.

"H-Hey! Kirito! Wait," I panted, "Where to?"

"The next fight I suppose," he shrugged, not facing me.

"Does that mean we aren't a party anymore?" I asked him.

He looked back at me with black, kind eyes, "Takumo—"

"Tell me," Asuna backed me up, appearing out of nowhere (I was so surprised, I nearly toppled sideways off the stairs), "The truth. Party or not?"

Kirito hesitated before swiping his hand through the air and clicking the party button on the game menu. He slowly pushed the button saying:

'D I S S O L V E   P A R T Y: are you sure?'

And just like that, he quit on us.

I was about to yell at him that he was a jerk but then I slowed down as Asuna held my wrist. "Maybe," she suggested, "We should leave him alone for a little while."

"But—" I looked at the slowly closing bronze doors, "We're buddies..."

"Don't worry," she smiled at me, "He'll come around I promise. Not like he'll leave us alone forever."

"Sure?" I asked her.

"Yeah," Asuna swiped a finger through the air and pressed on her friends list.

I backtracked when I saw the grey banner pop infront of me again, saying:

P E N D I N G   F R I E N D   R E Q U E S T:
Asuna

A C C E P T?

It hit me. Asuna was still here for me. Even though Kirito left me alone, she was still willing to be there for me. I clicked the accept button and she put an arm around me, steering me out the tower since it gave her willies.

Kirito will come around again.

He has to

Because no matter how far apart we are...

He's still with me and I'm still with him.