A/N: I wanted to do a story following Klein, I love Klein's character, I find him unsettlingly hilarious. So, here, cause I'm good at them, another romance story this time following Klein. (I don't know if this will be multi chapter or not, bare with me.) This is set two years after they escaped Sword art online, Alfheim and Aclization online, or the underworld. We don't know if they do escape from Aclization, but I guess that this makes it a slight AU.
Chapter 1
Klein took a sip from his glass. He watched as the couples of their group danced in circles, Lyfa and Recon, Kirito and Asuna and oddly enough Liz and the new kid from their school. Klein scratched his head, "Ah... What's his name?... Ah! Jake? I think so..."
After almost two years of hitting on Liz someone else had beaten him to her.
Klein sighed as he imagined himself twirling with the girl of his dreams, next to his best friend Kazuto Kirigaya. Or Kirito. Klein preferred to call everyone by their player names, it felt natural.
Agil was wiping down the bar and edged towards Klein.
"Yo! Agil!"
"Yes Klein?" He looked up, almost rolling his eyes at his long time friend.
"Uh, I know I haven't finished this one, but could you get me another drink?" He grinned with supposed charisma, Agil shook his head and grabbed a bottle from underneath the bar.
"Last one. I know it's tough to see all these couples but seriously, enough enough."
"I know I know... Stop me from hitting on Sinon will you? I'd rather not receive another kick to the balls." Agil laughed out loud.
"Sure Klein." He smiled before returning back to the bar.
"Tonights been great as always Asuna, but I think we should get back. We've got that assignment tomorrow, remember?" Kazuto rubbed Asuna's shoulder soothingly.
"Yes Kirito-kun, And I've got to help you write it, haven't I!? If You really want to go to a University in America, you have got to hand these essays in on time!"
"I know Asuna I know. Come on." The young couple stopped dancing and turned to Klein and Agil.
"We'll be off then you too." Asuna smiled.
"Yep, see you guys tomorrow!"
Agil waved goodbye.
"Guys! You can't leave me! I haven't even finished my first beer! Plus, You haven't hit me for hitting on Liz!"
"That's because you wouldn't dare. That new kid would rip You to pieces."
Klein grunted.
"Fair enough kid. See you guys tomorrow." He watched as they exited the cafe and the door bell rang.
"If only I could walk a girl home."
~The next morning.
The familiar beeping of his newest alarm reached Klein's ears, instantly annoying him and setting him in a bad mood.
"Argh! Damn alarm!" He slammed his fist on the button, the noise instantly stopped. "Ugh..." Klein had a pounding headache, and sat on the edge of the bed as the fuzzy memories of the night before returned to him.
"Uh... Liz... Kirito and Asuna... Agil... Ah!" A wave of dizziness hit him as he stood up. He groggily made his way downstairs, and opened his fridge. He grabbed a bottle of beer and a bottle of water, and weighed them in his hands.
"Uh..." He looked at both beverages in his hands, then checked the date.
"Work... Hmm... Beer... No water... But beer." Klein sighed as he placed the beer back into the fridge and gulped down the water. It helped with his grogginess, but the throbbing in his temples stayed put.
He turned on the TV as he made himself beans on toast. He wasn't much of a cook, sticking to the simpler meals.
Not long after finishing his breakfast, halfway through shoving his trousers on, and buckling the belt, the doorbell rang.
"Oh for four five six. What now!" He walked over to the door, the day already shaping up to be horrible.
"Ye-" He swung the door open, topless, to be greater by a beautiful blonde, smaller than him, even with high heels she was looking slightly upwards, ocean blue eyes, luscious red lips. Klein was taken aback.
"Mr Ryouto? Is it."
"Klein, Please, I got used to Klein a long time ago." He eyes trailed down her body as he said so, hourglass figure... Well developed chest... Busty, he thought. It reminded him of an old friend, attire was similar to that of his old friend too, with a long skirt and a leather jacket.
"Ahem." He snapped upwards.
"Sorry, Mrs..."
"Lilac. But just call me Melany."
"Your last name is a colour?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yep. It is pretty strange. I have some business regarding Sword art online with you, may I come in?"
"Please do." He opened the door and opened his hand, welcoming her in. "It's in a bit of a state though so... Yeah."
"It's fine." She replied and walked in, and took a seat at the kitchen table.
Klein followed her and sat on the opposite side.
"So. What's up?" Klein asked in his usual, chilled manner."
"Klein... It took me so long to finally find you."
"Huh!?"
Melany embraced him across the table, crushing him in a death grip.
"It's me! Toxic love!"
"E-EH!" Klein fell backward, Melany falling on top of him.
"It's been two years Klein! Two whole years!"
He gripped at her back and took in the cherry scent in her hair. Sighing, he smiled at his losing time friend. No wonder she reminded him of an old friend, she was that old friend!
"Maybe if you hadn't worn a mask every time I met you I would have recognised you." Klein smiled.
Melany giggled and sat upright.
"So! I was think maybe we could hang out a bit! You know, like you said we could, before you went to fight the 75th floor boss!" She smiled again. Klein processed everything that had just happened.
~Flashback.
"Hey... Um... Toxic."
"Yes Klein?" She said enthusiastically, slowly sliding her poison coated knife back into her sheath, collecting the rare A class ingredient. Not S class, but worth the hunt.
"I was thinking... Maybe... We could get to know each other? After the 75th boss I mean. I noticed you seem to be quiet around everyone but me, you know a lot about me, we have been friends for almost two years now... And I guess what I'm saying is... Would you like to go on a date?" Klein smiled hopefully, scratching the back of his neck and looking down slightly. Toxic love blushed, although he couldn't see under her mask.
"The reason I wear this mask is to protect myself... Because I decided I would trust no one in this death game. But I was wrong. Laughing coffin still attacked me anyway, and you saved me. I guess I can trust those closest to me... I'd love to Klein. And maybe... I'll take my mask off and show myself to you."
"R-really!" Klein fist pumped. "Awesome! I completely understand Toxic, so... After we defeat this boss? At... 8pm?"
"Sure. Like I've got anything better to do."
Toxic love embraced Klein.
~Present.
Klein's mind returned to the present.
"H-How did You find me?" Not that I'm complaining, he added on the end in his mind.
"A lot of help from databases, recent activity, games you've been playing, server tracing IP tracing... Lot's."
"Stalker." He joked.
"I am." She flicked his nose.
Klein smiled, looking at her face. It was almost as he imagine dit to be, with those beautiful blue eyes and that shining smile. He then blushed, remembering he had yet to put on a shirt.
"Ah, um... I'll go get changed."
Melany giggled as she hid her red cheeks, also noticing the lack of a shirt.
Klein was over the moon. His number one favourite girl had come back to him, and now she owed him to date he had asked for! His first score in years, he smiled to himself.
"Thank you Toxic!" He shouted to himself, slipping on a much more casual T-shirt than originally planned, and swapping his business slacks for more comfortable jeans. He jogged down the stairs, finding Melany sitting patiently.
"Klein! We have so much to catch up on!"
"You're fought Toxic. But, don't you have a boyfriend?"
"No, where did you get that idea from? I made a promise, remember?"
"Yeah but... You waited for a guy like me? Who lives in a place like this?"
"I wouldn't have waited for you if I didn't believe it was worth it. Now come on! We have to get some lunch or a coffee or something."
"I'm right behind you, I just gotta call my boss." Klein called his boss nervously, explaining the whole situation to him.
"Hmmm, I don't know Klein, you are a brilliant employee, and we need you to be in whenever you can."
"Please sir, I'll make it up to you, but I haven't seen this girl since my Sao days." Klein and his boss had a very close relationship, with his boss being one of the solo players he befriended durning his time in Sao.
"Fine. One day. But you are back In tomorrow, ok?"
"Yes sir! Thank you Sir!"
"And enough with the formalities! It's just Strike, call me my name from Sao, ok?"
"Yes si- Strike."
Klein hung up, and turned to Melany, a beaming smile plastered onto his face.
"So, how about that coffee?" He said with a grin.
~The dicey cafe.
Klein had taken Melany to the dicey cafe, as he didn't really know many other places to eat and have a coffee instead of some form of alcohol. He smiled as they chatted, unable to keep his excitement locked inside.
"So, what have you been up to Klein? I see you have a job." Melany smiled as she sipped from her coffee.
"Miraculously." Agil commented from behind the bar.
Klein sent him a glare.
"Yes. I work in a business that psychological care to those who need it, some are from Sao, some from Gun Gale online, and others are war veterans."
"That sounds amazing Klein! You've really done well for yourself."
"I guess I have!" Klein chuckled. "But what about you Melany? What have you been up to?"
"Other than stalking you? Not much actually... I work in a restaurant." Klein didn't say it, but he thought it. This was just getting better and better.
"So... You're a good cook?"
"I can see the cogs turning in your mind Klein. I would love to cook for you sometime."
"I-I wasn't!"
"You were. I don't mind! I want to spend time with you!"
"Ah, Geez." He scratched the back of his head. "Thanks Toxi- Melany."
"You can call me Toxic if you want to."
"Ok. I'll decide which sounds better later. His about we start off formally? Hello Melany, My name is Ryouto, but you can call me Ryo! or Klein. What are you interests?"
Melany sighed and rolled her eyes. "We're past formalities Klein. But ok. Hello Ryouto, nice to meet you. I like Metal music, Video games and action flicks."
Klein sighed subconsciously, she really was perfect. Klein smiled and wrapped his arms around Melany, earning a squeak.
"We're out Melany, we are in the real world. Would you like to go out for dinner with me?"
"I'd love to Klein," She said after calming herself, "As I said in game, I'd love to."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Lot's of talking and not much description I know, sorry. It'll get better as it goes on. Please leave a review! Let me know what you think!