Sword Art Online: Takumo's Story

Seven: Kirito's Call

Asuna and I headed out. Now that Kirito ditched me I had to stick with Asuna. I'm a solo player originally but playing with someone else is fun as well. Asuna covered me great though. She taught me tactics in swordplay I never knew.

She and I were still angry with Kirito for kicking off like that and that he was a beater. But I didn't care. He was safe. Because he knows this game better than anyone. Our adventure began at the second boss fight. Asuna and I—excluding the ton of people who are along with us in the frontlines—battled Asterios the Taurus King (Part of 2F Boss) and Baran the General Taurus (Part of 2F Boss) and Nato the Coronel Taurus (Part of 2F Boss).

They were some of the largest idiots ever. It almost made me wish for Illfang again. We made it past floor two and it was onto floor three.

"So? How long do you think it will be before we get Kirito back?" I asked her as we walked through the forest.

"Not sure, but he'll come around eventually," Asuna shrugged.

"Yeah..." I paused, my ears straining.

Lately, I've perfected the art of the hearing skill. I've used my ears most of the time. My eyesight is a lot better in the dark just because of my ears—telling me where everything is. It was probably some monster.

"Hear something?" Asuna asked.

"Yeah," I nodded, "Blades out, eyes peeled."

I drew my sword and Asuna drew her own. I snapped as I heard a twig snap and threw an arm over Asuna in defense, leapt over her and sliced one of the biggest Mantis Monsters I ever saw.

"Behind!" I yelled, "Go defensive!"

"Roger!" She agreed, rolling to the left.

I leapt over it's pincers and climbed up its head. Shaking furiously, the Mantis thing threw me off and I rolled to a stop at the foot of the nearby tree.

"Takumo! Twelve o'clock!" Asuna warned, slicing the arm off before it could pierce my heart.

"Thanks," I said, "Where'd that come from?"

"Well honestly we're in the dangerous parts of the forest. On the dangerous part of the floor. I wouldn't be less surprised if nothing showed up to pummel us," Asuna noted.

"Yeah. Won't lose to this thing. I'm going to get that EXP," I grunted, getting back on my feet.

"Is that a 'we'll share it?'" Asuna asked.

"Sure," I rolled my eyes, "Why not."

Asuna swung her sword in a dangerous arc and cut off the other arm. She turned to me, brandished her sword to the ground and I stepped on it's harmless side, flipping over the Mantis and cutting off its head.

See, beheading became my thing. I always go for the head when against a monster like that. Asuna panted and gave me a quick fist bump.

The Banner said:

G A I N E D:  3 5 0 EXP

L E V E L   U P!  5 2  ——>   5 3!

Takumo

I was proud of myself. I even did it without Kirito's help. A miracle really, he could have taken this thing down in three swipes. I guess he's level fifty six or sixty by now. We started with the same level.

"Well that was inspiring," I sighed.

"Yeah," Asuna said, panting, "Next move?"

"Back to the village I guess," I shrugged, "I haven't eaten since the morning."

"Well I told you to eat the sandwich in breakfast! You didn't want it!" She argued.

"I wasn't hungry by then!" I argued back.

You can tell how it went. It was maybe seven months since Kirito and I saw each other or our parents. I was getting lonely but knowing Asuna is here makes me feel a little better. She's an expert, about two levels away from me (now one since I leveled up by then).

As long as we back each other up, we'll clear the game in no time. I sat down on the steps of the Inn and looked at Asuna get in a fistfight with some guy who told her she looked like a chestnut.

I sighed and unsheathed my sword to look at it a little. It was a shiny, steel blade. Better than my first sword. It had a sapphire on its hilt which reflected the color of my eyes.

Kirito...

He had a sword identical to this one. Except his handle and hilt were wrapped in black leather and had a ruby instead of the sapphire I have. The first time we received them, the sword smith told us they were forged in the same time, as if they were twins of some sort.

He told us that if we use them against each other in a duel, it will be against the sword's nature to hurt the opposing player holding the other twin.

Come to think of it, I remember something like that in Harry Potter. Like, the Dark Lord has a wand like Harry's...I don't remember the details.

"Teaches you to call me chestnut hair!" Asuna shot, kicking the beaten up guy in his butt.

She strode and sat down next to me, blowing a fringe out of her eyes, "Loser."

"Finding much lately, haven't we?" I asked.

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Want to go up and get some rest? Tomorrow is onto the next meeting," I asked her.

"All the time on the frontlines! Can't we take a break?!" Asuna groaned.

"You aren't the type that complains."

"Shut up."

We sat in silence a little. Bit by bit, the Inn emptied out by either people going to sleep or walking off somewhere.
Asuna was right, can't lie. She did point out about how long we've stayed at the front lines and how much work it took just to clear a level two boss.

We were soon pretty tired and I was about to get up before Asuna's head lolled sideways and rested on my shoulder. I smiled and stroked her hair as she slept peacefully next to my side. I didn't have an urge to sleep but I did need to take her to bed.

M E S S A G E    R E C I E V E D:
Kirito

I blinked. What did it say? I tapped Asuna's hand and she gave a jerk, waking up, and the only thing she said was: "Wusshappenin'?"

"Kirito," I muttered reading the message, "He joined a guild. They're all dead. He wants to meet up."

"Think it's a prank message?" She asked me.

"No this is real," I confirmed, "The dude didn't even bother to describe the deaths. He just said: 'In dungeon', 'lost Sachi', 'guild wiped out' and 'need a pal's help'."

"Yeah that's him," Asuna nodded, "Let's go."

"Wait!"

The frontlines. We couldn't leave the frontlines alone. Asuna must have also realized that but she pushed the Inn door open and held out an arm.

"Go," she nodded outside, "Go to Kirito. Tell him what happened, catch up and stuff. I'll cover for you at the frontlines."

"Asuna, I—"

"Use teleport crystals. Say my name, and whenever you or Kirito are in a pickle, it'll take you to me," she pressed on, "Go."

I bit my lip and grabbed my sword, flinging my arms around her.

"Be careful."

Then I took off. Kirito, I'm coming.