December 31, 2022

I was lying on the ground looking up at the stars, it was three hours till New Years and it was cold as hell even with a coat on. I was too busy think about my aunt and uncle and how much trouble, we must have cause them by getting trapped in SAO. This would be Sugu and I's first New Years without the rest of the family, and man do I miss Turkey dinner we had around this time.

"DAMNIT!, Dinner!" I yelled as I jumped off the ground. I start running towards the town, but heard the sound of a sword skill activating. I rolled out of the way and drew my sword from my hip.

"Damn, I knew I should have just stabbed you from behind. Would have made killing you a lot easier." The hooded figure said.

I stood up "Morte. I'm getting deja vu, haven't we done this song and dance already...Yeah we did, then ran off with your tail between your legs."

I was too busy taunting, Morte placed his Anneal Blade atop his shoulder, the blade glowed bluish green and seconds later he jumped about 12 feet. When I realized what was happening and react accordingly, Morte was descending from his 12 foot jump. I raised my sword to try and block the attack, then heard a crunching sound and was launched backwards 6 feet. I looked and was shocked to see my sword was broken in half.

'Damn, he broke my sword in two and damaged me with just one Sonic Leap. When'd he get so strong?'

"Maybe after I kill you, I'll kill that young girl you've been hanging around." Morte said with a devilish grin.

I completely lost it, I charged towards him and activated the Senda skill, launching him back. I ripped Morte's sword out of his hand and placed it against his throat. I slowly pushed the blade, causing it to cut into his throat. I was about to kill him, but in my blood lust I was blind to Morte pulling out a teleport crystal and escaping.

"Damnit!" I said, punching the ground.

With him on the loose, I can't take his threat on Sugu lightly. It's my fault she got stuck in SAO, and I promised her that I would get her out of here. I stood up, sheathed Morte's sword and a message popped up in front of me. "Speak of the devil."

"OONNNIICCCCHHHHAAANNNN. Where are yyyyooouuuu." I could feel my ears bleed while I reading the message.

"Be right there." I messaged back.

After I got back to town, I sat on a bench in the middle of town and ate some bread. Knowing my sister, she's probably already eaten dinner without me. The peace in the town ended, when I was spotted.

"KAZUTO KIRIGAYA! YOU STOOD ME UP!" I looked over and saw Sugu running towards me, sword drawn. But before I could flee for my life, Sugu swung her sword launching me back a few feet. Sugu ran to me and started hitting me over and over.

"YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE HAVING DINNER WITH US, AND YOU'RE EATING BREAD!"

"Looks like Sugu finally found Kirito." Said Klein

"Should we do something?" Asuna said, spectating my beating.

"Nah, let Sugu get it out of her system."

30 seconds later, Sugu finally cooled down and let me stand up.

"Really you two; when Sugu is beating me. INTERVENE!" I shouted. 'Why are my friends so incompetent?'

After my beating the four of us went to dinner at the nearby restaurant.

"Why were you late?" Sugu asked.

"Well, I was looking at the stars and lost track of time. Then after realizing the time, I got up and was attack by Morte."

"Morte? That jackass that tried to kill you a few weeks ago?" Klein said.

"Yes, the King of Jackasses himself. He cowered when I was gaining the upper hand."

"Do you think he'll come back?" Sugu said.

"No, I think he's learned his lesson."

"But how do you know? What happens if he tries again?" I could hear the concern in Sugu's voice.

"Sugu, it's sweet that you're worried, but he won't try again. Now, can we please finish dinner?"

"But what if-"

"For the love of all that is holy, Sugu! Drop it!" I yelled. Everyone in the restaurant was staring at us. 'Damn.' "Sorry everyone." I said to the people in the restaurant.

I stood up and walking out. A few minutes later Klein walked out and sat next to me.

"Don't." I said.

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you." Klein said. "Sugu may not be able to see it, but I can instantly tell you're planning on tracking down and killing Morte."

"Actually, I was planning on diving into a dungeon."

"Really?" Klein said, crossing his arms.

"Yes! Besides, I wouldn't even know where to start." I said, standing up.

"Ok fine, I'll just have to trust you." Klein sighed.

"Have some faith." I said walking out of town.

An hour later

I finished clearing the dungeon, but felt like I was being watched. I drew my sword, and prepared for anything.

"There's no need for the sword." A voice behind me said. I turned around and saw a cloaked man with a tattoo under his eye.

"And who might you be?"

"Oh, where are my manners. My name is PoH." He said bowing.

"What do you want PoH?"

"Straight to business. I heard you're looking for someone, a boy named Morte."

"How do know that?" I said contemplating whether to kill him or hear him out.

"I overheard your conversation at the restaurant."

"And so, you've stalked me out of the town?"

"Well, would you rather I had come up to your table, in front of your friends and asked if you wanted help tracking Morte down?" He said.

"I guess you're right. What's the catch?" I said, crossing my arms.

"The catch is, after we find Morte and you get what you want. I might ask for a favor somewhere down the road." PoH said

"I guess that's fair. But how are you going to find him?"

"Well that's rather simple, my friends and I have eyes and ears everywhere. It's very easy to find things out." He said, with an unnerving smile.

We left the dungeon and met up with two other players in black ponchos.

'What is this, some sort of poncho guild?'

"Xa, Johnny, this is the client." PoH said.

The guy with the serious look on his face, stared at me almost with a look of hatred and uncertainty in his eyes.

"This is the client? How is he going to pay us, in candy?" He said.

"The kids going to be on the front lines. In exchange for our help with his problem, he'll do us a favor in the future."

PoH said, taking the Mr. Serious aside while the other man gave me a sadistic stare and smile.

"The name's Johnny Black." He said extending his hand.

There was pure evil in his eyes. What the hell was I getting myself into?

"Kirito." I said, shaking his hand. "So PoH, was it? How are we going to find Morte?"

"Well, you see Morte is like a mercenary and he's worked for us before." PoH said.

"So why are letting me go after him?"

"Morte hasn't been following through on our agreement. We're going to kill ourselves, but then I heard you talking about him at the restaurant."

"So you want me to do your dirty work for you?"

"Basically, yes." PoH replied. "Johnny, go with Xa to get ready. Kid, you're with me."

"Where we going?"

"There's a dense forest nearby. That's where we're going to ambush him." We made our way to the forest, where PoH messaged Morte to meet.

5 mins later.

"Hey PoH, you got another job for me?" Morte said, as he arrived at the meeting point.

"No, but I do. I said walking out from behind a tree. The target is the royal ass, named Morte."

"Smart way to draw me out. How'd you get to PoH?" He said.

"He came to me. Asked if I wanted revenge." I said as I drew my sword. "Draw your weapon, unlike you, I have the courtesy to let you defend yourself."

I opened menu to send him a dual invite, but Morte charged towards me and attacked. 'Exactly as planned. Now I don't need to worry about turning orange.' I attacked him at full throttle, activating almost every sword skill I knew. We fought until Morte fell to his knees, his health in the red.

"Stop please, I don't want to die. I shouldn't have attacked you and threatened your sister." He begged.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you live." I said, I swung my sword into his shoulder, removed it, and then dug it back in cutting him in half.

I heard clapping from behind one of the trees, and PoH emerged.

"PoH? I thought you left." I said.

"I must say, that was glorious fight. Now, let's get down to business." PoH snapped his fingers and half a dozen players in ponchos emerged from behind the trees. Two of them were holding an unconscious Sugu and Asuna.

"Leafa? Asuna? PoH, what the hell is going on? This wasn't part of the deal!"

"The deals changed. After seeing that merciless kill, I want you to join us."

"No way, I'd die before joining a group of murderers."

"Then I'll have the girls killed." I drew my sword, but was stabbed in the back by one of the members, and fell to the ground.

"Onii-chan!" Sugu yelled. She had woken up and witnessed me get stabbed.

"Well, look who's awake." PoH said walking over to Sugu. "But you need to sleep again." He said, punching her so hard, he knocked her out.

"You bastard." I groaned.

PoH stomped on my face, knocking me out. I woke to the sound of a blood boiling scream.

"Wha, Where am I?"

"Congratulations, you're dead." PoH said.

"What?" I said, still disorientated.

"You said, you'd rather die before joining a group of murderers. Well as far as your sister and friends are concerned, you're dead. If you try to contact them or disobey me, and I'll have them killed before you can say 'Uh oh'" I went to draw my sword, but my sword wasn't on my back and my coat was missing.

"Looking for this?" I looked over and saw Johnny with his sadistic smile, holding my sword. 'I don't have a choice, if I can't protect my friends from PoH and his guild. I can protect them by joining his guild.'

"Fine, I'll join you. As long as you promise me, you'll not hurt my sister."