Disclaimer: I own nothing. Huh.

Kagome closed her eyes as the truth of what was happening hit her.

"If I die …"

If she died …

"I die in real life."

She died in real life. The irony was inescapable. She had bought Sword Art Online because it was as close to the past as she could get. Sure, she wouldn't have Sango, Miroku, Shippou or even him, but it would be close. She could face "demons" and fight to her heart's content. She could hide her true nature from her mother, her brother and she could be free to be who she was.

But now, now it was real.

Around her, people screamed as they finally pieced together the clues, as they realized what the giant figure was saying. She looked down at her hands. The character she had created had had caramel colored skin, orange eyes and short silver hair. But now she was looking at her skin, pale and lovely and almost a lie. Her palms were smooth, as if she had never worked a day in her life, and the deep scar that ran across her palm from when that man had tried to kill her was gone.

Above her, the sky cleared and the shield that had been keeping them in a central location faded. She closed her eyes again and thought. She was in a VRMMO. She was trapped. If she died it was real. So, what would keep her alive?

Weapons.

Armor.

Skill.

She had a bow and a limited amount of arrows. She hadn't thought to buy armor because she was a ranged fighter. She had skill, but how much of it was hers and how much was the games? Kagome opened her eyes and moved. She walked out of the area calmly and went to the weapons store she had seen. The NPC inside greeted her cheerily. Kagome resisted the urge to lash out at it. Instead, she added up her expenses in her head and frowned when she found her funds lacking. She could buy arrows, some potions and a nagamaki or she could focus on armor and potions. She weighed her options carefully before going with the first. Sure the nagamaki was crap, and it would probably need to be replaced soon, but if she couldn't kill an enemy from far, she refused to let it get close. A wakizashi or tanto would have been better as a companion piece, but she found herself loathe to let anything get that close to her. Purchases complete, she left.

Leaving the store, she found herself bumping into a black haired teen. He studied her, looking at the blade at her side to the bow slung over a shoulder. She studied him in return, eyeing the sword hilt peeking over his shoulder.

"You're leaving this town aren't you?"

The boy tilted his head to the side.

"You were here before? The beta?"

He nodded slowly. Kagome sighed.

"Please, please let me accompany you to the next town. We can part there."

The boy frowned.

"I won't hold you back. I just, I just need to move before everyone else does. It's a game right? They're probably only a set amount of resources. And if he's willing to let us die here, he won't have programmed enough resources for everyone, right? So everything's a limit and I can't break under that. I have to do my best."

The boy closed his eyes and nodded.

"So, please?"

"I'll take you with me. We'll have to move fast." He lifted his hand and opened his menu. "Party?"

"Thank you." She accepted the party request and looked up at his name. "Kirito?" He nodded. "Kirito, thank you." He turned away from her and ran. She followed in his footsteps.

December 2, 2022

Kagome opened her eyes.

"Saya, Saya wake up."

"Mmm?" She sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Oh, Kirito, when did you get here?" The boy smiled.

"Is it really the time to sleep? They found the boss. This is sort of important."

"If not now, then when?" Kagome yawned, stretching her arms over her head.

"After the meeting?" He murmured, turning away to find a seat.

"Ah." She paused. "But won't we be busy with the boss then?"

Kirito sighed but didn't respond. Kagome turned to find him scanning the amphitheater. Truly, there weren't as many as she would have thought present. It was like a dream. A month had passed and people had decided how they would survive. Some had decided to pretend the monsters were not part of the game. They refused to leave the Town of Beginnings and chose to hide. Other tried to make a living. They followed the path of those that fought for their freedom but never helped. And then there were those who fought, who risked their lives to help others proceed through the game.

She was a fighter. She refused to wait for someone else to free her.

Diabel, the blue-haired "knight", below them continued speaking, discussing the strategies they could use. She followed along, listening to him but knowing that some of what he said didn't apply. She was a ranged fighter, she doubted she'd attract the monster's attention.

"Would you like to party with us?" Kirito's voice intruded on her thoughts. She focused on the invite screen in front of her and accepted. A little ways away, he was talking to girl wearing a cloak. "Saya likes to hang back, and it would be good if I had someone to switch with."

"Kirito … I switch!" He gave her a look that could dry a rainforest. Kagome pouted. There was a moment and then another name popped into her view. "… Asuna." Below, on stage, an idiot with orange hair started demanding that beta players give what they had to everyone else. He bemoaned the unfairness of it all, saying that they had stolen everything for themselves. "Oh? Kirito is a hoarder?" She murmured, shooting the boy an amused look. Almost as if he had heard her, he looked her way. She smiled at him and waved innocently and he turned away. Her eyes drifted back down to the man who was slapping down the idiot's proposal.

"Wow, he's tall." She said without thinking. Kagome ignored what he was saying in favor of perusing his body. "And fit." A lifetime of dealing with demons and danger had pretty much ensured that she didn't care for important things like race or species. She enjoyed hotness in all forms. Except for evil, but that was just common sense.

And a good dose of self-respect, but that was the same thing, wasn't it?

Speech done, the black man sat down and Diabel once more took over the floor. She listened closely as he went over the specifics of the boss. With that done, she stood up and peered over to Kirito. He was looking up at the cloaked girl who was leaving.

"Kirito!" She launched herself at him.

"Saya! No!" He held his arms up to block her.

"Aww …" She pouted but caught herself on the seat next to him so that she didn't land on top of him. Reaching up, she brushed her hair back over her shoulder. "How have you been? I haven't seen you since you dropped me off in town. It's been like," She paused to think, tapping her finger against her cheek. "It's been a month!"

"I've been busy. Besides, wasn't that what you wanted?"

Kagome blinked.

"Well, no. I lied. It's lonely here." She flipped the ends of her ponytail over her shoulder and picked at them. "I mean, I know I should make friends, but guys keep trying to get me to go back to their rooms and girls don't really like me." She smirked up at him from under her lashes. "It's cause I'm hot."

Kirito frowned.

"Really? Is that why it's so hard to make friends? Because you're hot?" She nodded. "I don't think I see it. No offence Saya."

"Hmmph. How could I not be offended?" She tugged at her ponytail before flipping it over her shoulder. "What's not hot about me?"

"Your attitude?" He pointed out dryly. "I don't think I've seen a person more vain."

"It's not vanity if its truth." Kagome looked over her shoulder at the group of guys who were joking around together. "But really Kirito, keep an eye out for me would you? There are some really creepy guys in here. It makes it difficult to stay in the green when someone tries to assault you in a field because you're cute."

"What?" Kirito's fist clenched. "Who the hell does things like that?"

"Trolls." Kagome spoke with all the acridness of a desert. "And perverts. And pervert trolls. Anyway, I'm not the friendliest person in the world and I'm socially awkward, but you'll look after me, right?"

Kirito stared at her for a moment before sighing. He dragged up his menu screen and in moments there was a friend request notification flashing before her. She smiled at him and accepted before reaching out to grab his hand.

"Thank you Kirito." He blushed faintly and looked away. "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow. I've got to go craft some arrows. It's always good to have extra, right?"

"I wouldn't know."

"Of course not." She squeezed his hand again and let it go. "Thank you." She bowed to him and then whirled around, purposely catching him in the face with her ponytail.

"Saya." He breathed out with an aggrieved sigh. Kirito watched her walk away, long hair blowing in the wind.

"That is a total babe." Kirito made a disgruntled sound and turned to the speaker. It was the black man with the axe.

"Really? I don't see it." He responded. The man snickered.

"Sure you don't."

December 3, 2022

First Floor Boss: Illfang the Kobold Lord

Kagome nodded at Kirito and Asuna as she knelt. The two ran forward, counting on her to guard their backs. Arrow after arrow was set free as she shot at the Kobold Sentinels, sometimes hitting right before Kirito struck. She continued, keeping an eye on the battle with the Kobold Lord. Moment later, Illfang threw down his axe and shield and grabbed his back-up weapon.

"That's, that's not a Talwar." She switched targets, shooting at the Kobold Lord. The first three arrows struck true and then he was on her. She threw herself out of the way, letting her bow go skidding as she rolled. On her feet again, she drew her nagamaki.

"Saya! Saya no!" Kirito rushed forward even as Illfang swung. Kagome braced herself and blocked with the sword. There was a moment's pause and then the aftershock blew her hair around her face. The giant kobold struck again and she countered.

"Diabel!" She screamed as the blue haired knight leapt at the kobold from behind. A smile crossed his face as he struck, only for the kobold to wheel around suddenly, blocking him and then launching him into the air. It leaped away from her and she could only watch helplessly as Diabel was all but slaughtered in front of her, his body sent skidding across the hall.

Kirito ran towards him, pulling out a potion as he went.

"Diabel!" She tried to split her attention between him and the Kobold Lord. In the end, she focused on the kobold. If everyone was watching Kirito, who would keep an eye on the monster? She heard the shattering that signified Diabel's death. Her breath caught in her throat.

Diabel was brave.

He was kind.

He'd beat her potential rapist almost to death and then healed him, dragging them off to a room and locking him in for everyone's safety.

Diabel was dead.

Her fingers clenched around the hilt of her sword. He didn't deserve to die. Kagome was so focused on the kobold, she flinched when Asuna and Kirito tore by her. She watched as they worked together to bring down to the monster. When Asuna's cloak tore, she ran forward to help. She may not be as fast as they were, but she'd be damned if she'd let someone else die.

She screamed again when Kirito went flying, a glowing red wound across his chest. And then she was over them, launching herself at the kobold. There was a flash of green as the black man swung his axe. Time slowed for a moment as she used his axe as a springboard, flying towards the raging kobold. The first hit cut through its neck and she used the weight of the monster to swing around it to slice at its back. Once there she used her off hand to drive and arrow into the flesh behind its knee before rolling away. She was on her feet and dashing back at it, her nagamaki cradled in her arm. Drawing closer, she leaped once more and spun, the blade turning into a whirlwind of light as she twisted and struck. Using the kobold's face, she leaped back once more in time for Kirito and Asuna to run by her. They hit it once, twice, and then the looming beast shattered into motes of light.

Panting, she settled her weight on the knee already touching the ground.

"That was, quite frankly, amazing." She blinked and looked up. The black man was crouching in front of her. "The way you used me to throw you at the boss? Not so great. I think my heart may have stopped."

"A big guy like you? I doubt it."

"Ha." He held a hand out for her. "I'm Agil. Who am I speaking with?"

"Saya." She reached out and shook his hand. Hand still in hers, he stood up, dragging her along.

"Is that a nagamaki? I don't normally see people with those. Katana, yes, naginata, yes. But that one, not so much." She laughed.

"Well, I liked it so much I kept it."

"Mmm. Isn't it hard to split your stats between weapons?"

"Should it be?"

Behind her, the partying suddenly came to a halt as the red head from earlier interrupted them.

"Why! Why did you let Diabel die?"

"Let him … die?" Kirito questioned.

"Yes! You knew what technique the boss would use! If you'd told us up front about it, he'd still be alive!"

Kagome pushed her way through the crowd. Kirito stood to face them.

"You knew the attack patterns and you just let Diabel die!" The crowd murmured in agreement.

"He must be a beta tester!"

"That's how he knew!"

"He knew and he didn't tell us!"

"Are there other beta testers here?" The crowd started looking at each other, searching for signs of guilt. "Come out."

Kagome watched as Kirito looked at the screen floating in front of him. He seemed to come to a decision as he tapped the screen.

Next to her, Agil spoke.

"Hey, come on …"

He paused when he heard laughter. Kagome watched Kirito, watched him grimace even as he forced himself to laugh before he pushed himself to his feet.

"A beta tester? Don't compare me to those newbies." He snickered unkindly.

"What?"

"I mean, most of the beta testers were beginners who didn't even know how to level up." He walked forward confidently. "You guys were even better than they were. But … I'm not like them. I made it higher than anyone else in the beta-test. It's why I knew the boss's skills. I fought the ones with katanas on floors a lot higher than this. And I know a lot more. Way more than any information broker." He spat the last two words out as if they tasted foul.

"What? But that's … that's worse than a beta-tester. That's cheating!" The red head screeched. "You're a cheater! No, you're even worse! You're a beater!"

"A beater?" Kirito drawled, as if testing the words flavor. "I like it. I am a beater. From now on, don't confuse me with the other beta testers." He pulled up his item screen and a black coat materialized. He smirked at the red head and turned on his heels, marching towards the stairs to the next level.

Kagome closed her eyes.

"Kirito …" She sighed. She opened her eyes and pushed past the rest of the guys, rushing towards the stairs. Ahead of her, she saw Asuna.

"Your name, it's been there all this time?" Asuna giggled. Kirito turned towards the door after catching sight of Kagome.

"Look, if someone you trust asks you to join their guild, you should do it. You're both really strong, but you shouldn't turn them down. There's a limit to what you can do as a solo player."

"Then, what about you?" Asuna asked. Kirito didn't respond. Instead, he dissolved their party and kept walking.

"Oh, Kirito does what Kirito wants? Is that it?" Kagome yelled. She frowned when he didn't respond, instead raising his hand in farewell as he walked away. "What an ass." She spun and stomped down the stairs. Her bow was still down there. Agil was waiting for her at the bottom, her bow in his hands.

"There you are." He handed her the boy. "Where'd the kid go?"

Kagome frowned. She was about Kirito's age. She didn't want to be a kid.

"Next level." She bit out, swinging her bow over her shoulder. "It was nice to meet you Agil. I've got to get going."

"I'll come with." He rumbled, patting her on the head. "Can't leave a pretty thing like you out here on her own now, can I?" He frowned. "Besides, a couple of these guys have got it into their heads that you're a beta tester as well. Now, I don't care if that's true or not, but I'd prefer that you weren't on your own today." He stepped by her.

"What about Asuna?"

"Is that the other girl?" Kagome nodded. "Yea, we've got to catch up with her. These fellas aren't thinking straight right now."

"Oh."

"Come on Saya, get moving." Agil called.

Frowning thoughtfully, Kagome looked back at the room of guys. They were glaring rather malevolently in her direction. With a sigh, she walked up the stairs.

December 21, 2022

Floor 20: Sunlit Forest

Kagome leaped, bringing her nagamaki in a wide swing down in front of her. The giant praying mantis roared at her but it was far too late. Her blade cut through its body and it dissolved into motes of light. Idly, she studied the field around her and sighed.

The only reason she had come to this field was in search of some herbs. She was getting pretty tired of eating bread and unseasoned boar meat. She'd run out a couple days ago, and she really needed them. Spotting one of the herbs, she trotted over to it and farmed it. Sighing, she held a hand over her eyes and looked up. She was supposed to meet up with Agil on Floor Six. He'd promised her a good meal if she dropped in for the night. Weighing her options, she gathered another herb and decided she should go.

She'd get to rib him about his utter lack of cooking skills, and that was always fun. Closing her eyes, she activated her teleport crystal and waited as the world around her dissolved. She opened her eyes again when she felt the world crystallize around her.

"Saya! You're early." Kagome whipped around.

"Agil? Can you really say that when you're waiting … already?"

The tall man shrugged.

"What can I say? You're a sight for sore eyes."

Kagome sighed.

"Sure."

"Yep. I see you've got some new clothes. They're very … gray. And drab. Does my delicate flower not want to wear the pretty jewel tones available?"

"I'll start wearing green. Would you like that?"

Agil flushed, flapping his hands up and down.

"What? No! That's not what I said at all!"

"It'll be our little secret Agil. After all, if you aren't wearing armor, we won't be matching."

"What? Saya!"

"I mean, isn't that like secretly romantic? Wearing the same color, but never at the same time! Two star-crossed lovers …" She trailed off, staring up at him with wide blue-gray eyes.

"Star-crossed what now?" Agil scratched his chin nervously. "Saya, you're a nice girl and all …"

"Is this rejection!?" Kagome clenched her fist to her chest. "After all we've been through Agil, you would throw me over?"

"What?" The man squawked. "What are you talking about? Wear green, wear green!" He closed his eyes. "I don't even know what we're talking about anymore."

"Meh, but it was fun." Kagome smiled up at him. "Did you get me a room at the inn?"

"Well, bad news, it's sort of full right now … so we have to share."

"Single or double."

"Double, of course. You're a pretty girl and all, but I've seen you and your nagamaki in action. No way am I going to risk cuddling up to that in my sleep."

"If I put it away would you cuddle with me then?"

"You're crazy." Agil stated flatly. "Just, I'm not going to answer you."

"Oh? Can Agil not resist me?"

"Just … no." Agil turned on his heel. "C'mon, I promised you dinner."

"Did you make it for me like a good housewife?"

"Do you like the take of ash and char that much?" Agil retorted. He froze for a moment and looked down at her suspiciously. "Did you just call me a housewife?"

"What?" She beamed up at him innocently. "A housewife should know how to cook. Do you?"

"Ash and char Sweetness, ash and char."

He opened the door for her and then ducked in. Kagome moved to an empty table and sat down. Agil passed her by to get to the counter where he ordered meals and paid. He made his back to the table moments later with a tray of food.

"So, what's up?" Kagome prodded, as he set her food in front of her before sitting down.

"Well, it's going to be Christmas soon." He began, tipping his cup this way and that.

"Mmm-hmmm." Kagome took a sip of her cider and sighed in pleasure.

"I was thinking of renting a place out for us."

"Oh." Kagome put her cup down. "How forward."

"Huh? Wait, no! I meant for us! Our friends. Kirito, Asuna and whoever you've got on your friends list. It's just. It's been a while. I see you whenever I can bribe you here with food, but Kirito? Man's a mystery."

"Oh." Kagome studied the man. "I see." And she did. How many of acquaintances had she cleaned off her friend list? How many people had died in stupid traps? Or killed themselves? "Agil," She whispered, reaching across the table to touch his hand. "You know I'm careful when I head out, right? And Kirito is Kirito. I think starting a tradition like this, seeing everyone in one place. I think it'll be good for us all. We should make sure everyone know that they can bring their friends. How big a place were you thinking?"

"I haven't hammered down all those details yet." Agil turned his hand up to hold hers. "Thanks Saya."

Kagome nodded at him and continued to eat with her off hand.

"What if we just grabbed a field and partied? I mean, if we brought enough snacks and drinks, anyone could come."

"Hmm, I didn't think of that." Agil closed his eyes. "It'd cost less than renting a place and then paying for all of that. Any spots in mind?"

"A few." Kagome took the chance to study the tall man. He looked … stressed. She wondered if he had a family IRL. She opened her mouth to ask and then shook her head. He squeezed her hand and then let it go. Together, they planned a party to celebrate life.

Later that night, when she climbed into his bed, he held her hand and they talked about things they could do to get their friends to gather on a semi-regular basis. If she fell asleep with her cheek in the palm of his hand, he didn't say anything. And if she woke up to hear him crying, she didn't let a sound cross her lips.

December 22, 2022

True to her word, Kagome struck off in the morning to find a tailor. She found an ankle length coat with fur lining and a hood and bought it before dying it green. She left her light gray leggings alone and dyed her tunic and boots black. Smirking to herself, she stopped by a bakery to buy some pastries before heading back to the inn. She opened the bed room door in time to catch sight of Agil's back as he dressed for the day. She let out a low whistle that had him spinning around to face her even as he yanked his shirt down the rest of the way.

"Don't you know how to …" He trailed off and stared at her, struck dumb.

"I brought breakfast?"

"… There's something wrong with you, isn't there?"

Laughing, Kagome threw herself onto the bed. She plopped the bag down on the table next to it.

"I messaged my friends about the party."

Agil sat next her and reached for the bag of warm pastries.

"See, it's early and you're already messaging people. There's just something wrong with you."

"Kirito said he's got like plus five." She turned to look at Agil who was choking. "Plus five. And here I thought he was a loner."

Clearing his throat and wiping away tears, Agil snorted.

"You sound a bit jealous Lovely."

"Kirito is Kirito. What an ass."

"You know, I'm going to start thinking you're actually talking about his ass."

Kagome froze and then snickered.

"Why Agil, were staring so hard at his butt that you figured out that it was a good specimen?"

Agile put his face in his hand and didn't respond.