*SCREEEEEAAAAAAAMMMM*

I KNOW IT'S SHORT. SCREAM AT ME LATER. I GOT PLANS FOR THIS STORY.

Thank you to Shadowed Voices, Frost Glaive, Blitza, BlackRequeim, Zolata, Black Silverclaw, Impstar, jord477, Electronic Ink 0, Angelus Candida, Delta Marauder, Sorane, Llew444, Delta8, ataleoffiction, YoYoRu-chan, bankerrtx01 (chapters 17 and 27), Ciel Moony, SteveEst98, sugarcadet, Sparkly Martian (Chapters 1,2,4) Kanrei, dragonfox123, thecatleader (you broke a review page. I'm sincerely impressed.), Bluevirus, PusheenTheCat-Senpai (chapter 9), whatswiththemustashe (nearly all the chapters), SpinItHypo, Yaksher, Dimension Jumper J.D, TokusatsuLuv, BowTiesAreCool141414, YokaiAngel, and literally nine "Guests" who reviewed since last year of November... O_o

Chapter 28: The Quick Phone Call

There was a soft sigh that escaped Kayaba as he leaned back in his seat. The light of the lamp lit part of his room, making a file on his desk visible. He had been staring at it for hours, debating whether or not it he should go through with it. Everything he had previously planned for and set up for Sword Art Online was falling apart. He was sure that he programed Kazuto's NerveGear to feel absolutely no pain at all, and yet, it wasn't working. Since the day Kazuto had collapsed in the middle of their match, Kayaba had been doing extensive research, trying to figure out what was going on.

Unfortunately, when he tried to get into the Cardinal System, it had locked him out. Heck, he even tried to hack his own system, but he was only to get a few bits and pieces. Kazuto's avatar was definitely collaborating to something. And that something, was not the Medicuboid.

The Medicuboid was a side project that Rinko led, using his research for medical purposes. Kazuto had been participating in the project since he was considered a patient that was qualified for it. He was technically terminally ill until they could find a better treatment for him, but it didn't seem likely. For a few months, Kazuto tested out the Medicuboid before logging out to play Sword Art Online for a moment. He didn't really do that out of his own will, but rather because Kayaba had asked him to.

When Kayaba found the System Collaboration Program within Kazuto's NerveGear, he was quick to uninstall it. At first he thought that it was connecting with the Medicuboid, but Kayaba was wrong. He tried to find out what it was collaborating with, but he found himself blocked several times.

Matters worsened when he discovered that the Cardinal System had recognized the program and accepted it into its database. It was then that he realized with dread that the System Collaboration Program was not something to be trifled with. If he suddenly cut the connection, it would not only endanger Kazuto's data, but his mental health and maybe even his physical health.

In fact, if he tried to mess with the connection itself with the current equipment and codes he had at the moment, he would undoubtedly destroy Kazuto completely. It was simply too dangerous.

...Well, alone.

Kayaba took a deep breath before exhaling slowly. He swore that he would do anything to prolong Kazuto's life as much as he could...

...and that would mean calling a person in charge of the "Sword Art Online Case Victim's Rescue Force".

Kikuoka Seijirou.

Kayaba really didn't want to do it, but he shook his head to get a grip. He reached over to his disposable, untraceable phone and unlocked it. He stared at the open keypad, practically staring him. Sighing once more, Kayaba tapped in the number and hovered his thumb over the call button. He was very hesitant to go through with it, but he forced himself to reluctantly press the button. Knowing that he had to go through with it, he lifted the phone to his ear and waited for the other side to pick up, preparing his words.

Riiiinnng...Riiiiinnng...Riiiinnng...

...Or maybe Kikuoka would just sleep through the call and Kayaba coul-

"Hello? This is Kikuoka speaking." came a tired voice over the line. Kayaba's prepared words came to a stop at the bottom of his throat as he stared at the file before him. He told himself that he would do this. He was determined to do this, and yet he was already backing out?

"Hello?" came Kikuoka's slightly impatient voice. Kayaba shook his head and steeled his resolve once more. He had to do this.

For Kazuto.

"Hello, Kikuoka-san. I'm sorry to be calling you at a late hour," he said, glancing at the clock that read a third past two in the morning. "But there's something important I must speak with you about. It pertains to one of the victims of Sword Art Online...and the Cardinal System."

"...Who is this?" Kikuoka asked, his voice concealing caution. The game creator smiled sadly as he tapped a hand on the file, trying to keep his composure.

"Just...just an older brother scared for his little brother's life."

"...alright, what can I help you with?" Kikuoka asked, sounding defeated and slightly irritated.

Kayaba smirked a bit. Anyone would sound a bit impatient if they had been woken up in the middle of the night like this. "I would like to discuss about a certain player that goes by the name 'Kirito'..."

NOW YOU CAN SCREAM AT ME.

I'm not sorry. I'm totally not sorry. I don't want to die, bankerrtx01. I don't.

After several... months of not updating because of a horrible writer's block, I finally got inspiration and decided to update chapters short and fast. Gods, I want to end this quickly. Mostly because I have something pretty trippy planned for this story. So, brace yourself, dammit. ALSO, I found out that I accidentally skipped RIGHT over Kirito showing off his dual blade skill. So, now, I'm gonna add that in somehow and make it happen. So literally, I'm just gonna write and let if flow, reality chapters be partially damned! I'll try to finish this story before College starts again.

Preview!

"This way right?" Kirito asked, looking at the vast doorway that lead deeper into the Iron Black Castle. Shiku sat on his haunches, waving his golden tail in silent anticipation while Yui squeezed Kirito's hand a bit and nodded.

"Yeah." She looked reluctant to head in but she knew they had to keep going. Kirito looked down at her and gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm sure Cardinal hadn't noticed your disappearance yet. If it did, then I don't think getting back would as easy as it is right now." he assured her. With one squeeze of his hand, the two began their descent into the dungeon. "Besides, you're with me. Cardinal has to listen to me."

Later!

~CloudyLightning

NOW YOU CANNOT KILL ME. I NEED TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER.