The Path Unknown

7. A Turning Point

"But I said I won't go! You can't do this to me!!!" Michiko yelled, echoing through the hallway.

The KOB headquarters was empty, but not quiet. Heathcliff and Michiko were in the gathering hall. Their argument echoed throughout the building with both voices reaching max volume. They had opposite views and opinions and neither one wanted to compromise.

"If you're going to pull stunts like this I can not allow you to continue through this game. You nearly killed yourself!!! And for what?!" Heathcliff replied, not lowering his voice.

"Well, if you weren't such an asshole, maybe you wouldn't make this a death game! You know how many people you've killed through this? OVER 2000!!! If everyone dies what will happen to you?!"

"I will be deleted with the game and its data, and you are NOT coming with me!"

"You're right," Michiko said, finally lowering her voice, "I'm not coming with you. I'm getting out and only by my hand will I do so." She pulled up a portable console.

"Michiko, you know you don't have admin privileges, you can't do-"

"I can block you out of communications with me." She kept typing. "I know you can't sign me out anyway, might as well totally break myself off from you."

"Michiko, you're being irrational." He consoled.

"Not irrational, independant. I'm letting me live my life and you'll have no say in it anymore." She finished typing. "Goodbye Kayaba, I hope your little 'dream' goes as you hoped."

Taking out her teleportation crystal, she left without another word. He felt bad for yelling at her, but she couldn't see how dangerous it was. She seemed like she did but didn't care whatsoever. What was worse was now she had Kage. He didn't trust Kage, a computer programmer at the age of 17, he could have easily hacked his stats into the game if he found a console. Of course, though, he had these stats since the beginning. Heathcliff brought up Kage's profile on his console. An agility that was maxed at an unbelievable 150 percent. Heathcliff's was only maxed at 100 percent - the max without a drop in other stats. He scrolled down to strength, again it was capped at 150 percent. The only one that wasn't odd was his recovery. It was, in fact, lower than other high leveled players - only 65 percent. A stat that low only generated about a mere 140 health every 5 seconds out of his total of 10,000. He would have to almost never get hit in a boss fight in order to survive. Two consecutive hits would result in an instant death at these floors.

Still, Kage's reaction time and situation comprehension is untestable. In any match, he could top the best players weather they have immortality or not - or so it seemed. Now, Michiko had found him and their relationship was almost unbreakable. Maybe they were even entirely inseparable. He closed the console and turned toward the window.

*Back on floor 22*

Michiko didn't like the fact that her brother - no not her brother anymore. She couldn't call him a brother for this. It was one thing to be protective, but controlling her life? Anyway, she couldn't believe this "man" was trying to do that. This was her decision and, to her, it was the best one she made in two years.

Kirito and Asuna were already home. Zagu and Shika waiting on the porch for her. Seeing her in the distance, the started towards her. They were happy she was safe and sound. She was the person who took care of them, after all. She was both their master and friend.

Kage stood in the doorway, smiling at the beauty of "the miracle." Pulling a maneuver like she did was crazy, but it saved her. He didn't argue at that. He could finally be called "her's" again. Remembering that feeling from two years ago always made him warm. This, though, was even better than just a memory. She was really here.