Sword Art Online: Takumo's Story

Eight: The Dead Guild

Kirito was now my priority. I had to get to him. He sounded like he was broken when he wrote me the message. My legs took me back to the forest and I unsheathed my sword.
A wolf jumped at me but I just sliced it in half and earned my EXP before I kept going.

I have no idea when I started running or when I stopped. All I knew is that if I'm not tired, I'm good. Kirito, his name rang through my mind, Kirito!

I can't believe how tired I was after three days straight of nonstop running. I tripped and fell onto my face as I came to a halt at the town five floors above our own.

Kirito, I reminded myself.

"H-Hey! Egil?! Is that you?!" I called, noticing my first familiar face.

"Takumo!" He grinned, "How's it hanging?"

"Not so good," I shook my head, "Kirito sent me an important message. He said that something awful happened. His Guild...it was wiped out."

Egil thought and looked down in shame.

"That's really unfortunate..." he muttered, "But if you want to see him that badly, just walk up a few miles and you'll find yourself in another forest. He's training there."

After thanking him for forever, I took a running start and in no time I was racing towards my best friend. This must be the forest Egil talked about, I thought.

For the rest of the day, I walked around in the mass of trees, yelling loudly for Kirito and calling his name. Soon, nighttime fell and everything began to glow. It looked pretty in a freaky way.

Kay, Takumo, I told myself, get ready to feel some pain...

It was a good thing I said that because just when I swung my sword behind me, a leopard creature jumped at me and nearly shredded me to pieces.

"HOLY FU—" I gasped, "Okay, close call. Way too close..."

I continued walking and jumped some shrubs to walk off the path. I didn't even know that Kirito could have done so much progress getting here and actually living.

I checked his Avatar Status:

A L I V E   (currently)

"Kirito," I murmured, "Please don't be in trouble..."

SNAP!

Without thinking, I swung my sword behind me and it clashed with another Player's sword. I didn't even take a second look before tackling that guy. He swiped at me and I knocked his blade backwards with my hilt and I took a leap behind me onto a boulder.

I slashed at him as I propelled myself off the surface of the rock and he parried my strike upwards. Flipping back, I landed on my feet and held my sword tip to his neck.

He did the same. We were both in intense silence as we kept our faces low and our eyes in contact.

"Have you lost your mind?" Kirito panted, "You nearly slaughtered me!"

"I nearly slaughtered YOU?!" I spat, "You could have diced me!"

We stared at each other for a while before lowering our swords and sheathing them. Kirito sat down, breathing heavily, and I did the same thing.

"So...uh," I started, trying to cut the intense silence.

"How's it holding up for you?" He continued.

"Great! I leveled up a few days ago and Asuna was awesome help," I explained, "You?"

I shouldn't have said that though. Kirito's face darkened and he didn't say anything for a while. He only got up and slashed the neck off of another leopard thing.

"It's been...difficult..." he said slowly.

"You can't get over it can you?" I guessed.

"What the hell, no of course!" He argued.

But with that tone I knew he was lying.