Wow, guys, I am SO sorry it's been so long since I updated this story. I know I promised we'd see a little bit on how they got into the Knights of the Blood Oath, but this chapter and the next are going to be more about them meeting a certain friend. Anyway, I hope it's not TOO much longer before I update this one again.

My eyes opened to see Asuna standing in the kitchen. I honestly had never slept so peacefully as I did ever since the launch of this survival test. When I looked out the window, I was a bit shocked as I saw it was night. I must've slept a good 12-20 hours, a decent sleep for sure. Asuna had finished making what looked like sushi. Hm, unfortunately I don't like sushi. I hope she won't be offended. She didn't seem to notice me until she looked up from her plate. She smiled at me with her welcoming brown eyes, closing them with a happy emoticon face...hm, anime-ish. That said this game was a different world than what I'm used to. Different shapes, five fingers instead of four. I blinked, and Asuna jerked her head, gesturing me to come to the table.

"Good morning-or should I say evening, Mirikai," Asuna giggled, "I made sushi. I don't know if you like it or not. If not, there's a pot of regular white rice with nothing in it."

Wow, she's good. I nodded, and I dished up a bowl of white rice. I know sushi is another word for how the rice is prepared, but to be completely honest, I like white rice on its own...or rice pilaf flavor. I sat down across from Asuna, and I ate in silence. Asuna just chuckled.

"You know, we don't have to stay silent the whole time, Mirikai. You can talk to me."

A drop of sweat dropped down my head in embarrassment, "Right, sorry, I'm just not used to talking to people much."

"What do you mean? Don't you talk to people IRL?"

Truthfully, even before this death game I wasn't very outgoing. I was shy, and a very quiet person. It was only my sister I talked to, nobody else, for many years. Things changed eventually, but recent events have led me back to the same little girl I was before then. Asuna helped me get more comfortable talking with her.

"So, I figure we could head into town and get some armor and weapons so that we don't seem weak, ya know. Anything you want, it's on me," Asuna said, "I've done quite a bit of hunting, ya know."

I nodded, and when I finished my dinner, I decided to go outside, get some virtual fresh air. The wind blew my shoulder length hair to the side, and for a small second, I felt peaceful and not scared of this world's challenge. I always did like the wind blowing my hair. It made me feel all epic like in movies. Sometimes when I was in the bathroom, I would grab my skirt and clothes and move them like the wind was blowing them. I stared at the moon. It was so pretty in this world. Even though this world is meant to strike fear into hearts like mine, I can't help but feel it's not just a game. Kayaba must have felt he didn't want it to be just a game, but another world entirely where people could still laugh and smile instead of constantly fighting. In the distance I could see a guild fighting a monster. Their uniforms were white with with red on them. I think they're called Knights of the Blood Oath. They fight on the frontlines, going into dungeons and defeating bosses. They fight for the players it seemed, so that players have hope of returning home. I thought about joining them, going for a little extra XP, but, instead I headed back inside. Asuna seemed to have fallen asleep. I opened my menu, and I stared at it. When I would tell Asuna about this...I don't know.

-Morning-

Asuna and I headed into the town. First we went to the armor shop. I found a very interesting top I seemed to really like. It was a red-violet color, and it came with an over piece with sleeves that get thicker as they get closer to the wrists, but my shoulders are exposed. I always found shirts like that interesting. Then at the top of the sleeves, there was were strings connecting the sleeves to a piece of fabric that connected the strings and sleeves to a neck line. Upon further examination, the over piece and the tank top were different shades. The over piece was a red-violet and the tank top was a violet color. The difference was noticeable. The top also seemed to cut off at the waist exposing some of it. It also made a V-shape cut at the bottom. I knew I just HAD to have it. I tried it on, and it looked great.

"Asuna, check this top out," I commented, "what do you think?"

"It looks great, Mirikai. But I think you might want to find a whole outfit if you're going with that top," she giggled.

I looked down, and she was right. If I was going with this top, I had better find something else too. I found a black waist cloak, so I hooked it around like a belt. Finally I found a skirt that matched the red-violet of the sleeves of the over piece for the top. It was a normal skirt but it always had a second layer of long threads that hung from the top of the skirt and just dangled in the air. It's like the skirt and the top were meant to be together. I figured since I got the black waist cloak (I don't know what else to call it. I'm changing the book cover soon as I draw the one I'm going to do.) I might want another splash of black on me, so I found some black boots that go a little under my knees. Trying it on, it looked great. It was comfortable, and underneath I had a breastplate to at least have a little bit of armor to protect myself.

"Wow, you look great, Mirikai! I love it!"

"Really? You think it's good?" I was always a little insecure about myself, but everyone told me I was paranoid.

"No doubt, you look great."

I smiled, and Asuna paid for our attire. Looking in the mirror, my shoulder length hair was okay with it, but I pulled it back into a small ponytail, leaving two thin clump strands of hair in front as bangs. It actually seemed a little better. I felt more free, more confident and more...badass a little bit. Asuna seemed to approve, and we headed out. Walking through town, some guys kept staring at me since I had a little bit of a more outgoing and sexy outfit. What do you expect for anime looking characters? After that we headed to a blacksmith. She had pinkish-purplish hair and she almost looked like a maid in a red dress.

"Welcome," the blacksmith greeted, "I'll be with you two in just a moment."