Squad Collab Book

Yellow: Destiny of the Shadow Gamers.

Kirito groaned as he got to the next floor. He had reached the 5th floor just barely. People were avoiding joining him. The only reason he got help was because they were worried about themselves since he wasn't going into the boss solo (That apparently meant that no one should solo) (Ha ha. You have fallen into his plan). He didn't get the solo hit, being exhausted from restlessly farming.

He finally collapsed in the safe zone behind some greenery, getting some rest for once. A voice startled him.

"He's around here somewhere."

Fuck. He knew that voice. Kibaou was lurking.

"Oh Beta! Where are you?" He stayed quiet before a rather familiar voice filled the air.

"Leave him alone."

"Back off bitch."

"I do not have a problem being labeled a murderer. Leave him or you will be joining the guy from the floor one boss." Kirito blinked before footsteps followed a scoff. He turned over to see Asuna standing in front of his hiding spot. "That goes for your whole lot! If you want to spread the word about my threat, do so! I will start killing with no remorse!"

"You wouldn't dare!" She pulled her rapier, almost instantly getting screams.

"You think I'm joking?! Come here then!" Kirito casted his gaze over the bushes to the others, who were retreating instead of taking her challenge. He sat up, alerting the female player. "You should rest."

"No... I'm alright." He got to his feet and stepped out of the greenery before his feet were pulled from under him. A yelp followed as he landed on his bum.

"I'm serious. Get some sleep or else you'll end up dead in the next boss fight."

He blinked before he shook his head. However, his body betrayed him by clouding his vision with black dots. She noticed his lack of response before sheathing her sword and kneeling down, laying him down to where tiredness washed over him.

~

He woke up much later, having little idea what was happening. He slowly got up as Asuna's voice filled his ears.

"Welcome back. Have a nice rest?" He rubbed the tiredness out of his eyes before looking over, seeing food being offered. "It's a good thing you rested. The next boss already took out a lot of small players. You wouldn't have made it."

"Just tell me that Kibaou went down."

"I can lie if that's what you want." Kirito laid back down with a groan. "Here. Eat up. You need the food."

As they ate up, a thought came to him. He glanced at her.

"Why are you helping me? Everyone has pushed me out of existence, yet here you are." She hummed as she glanced at him.

"Why? Are you sick of me? Am I annoying? What is it that's bothering you about me?" He paused.

"I never said that. I was just wondering why you are the only one willing to be around me." She scoffed.

"You were awake when I threatened Kibaou and his little guild. They think they are the bigger dogs, but they're all bark and no bite. Someone had to show that."

"But why help me?" She paused before realizing that she still hadn't answered the initial question. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"When I saw you on floor one, before the boss, I thought that you were a regular player getting yelled at for barely doing anything. But in the boss battle, when you took command, I felt a connection. I've had problems in the past, irl, where people will push me away for my actions. I guess... Seeing you fighting on your own... I wanted to help in some way that didn't mean getting in your way." He paused as she finished her food. "But if you prefer me staying away, I can do that. I can leave you alone-"

"No." She stopped her rant as she glanced at him. He finished his food before meeting her gaze. "I'm grateful for your assistance. While I would like to be alone, the only thing guarding me from people is my alliance with Klein's group, Fuurinkazan. I wouldn't mind the more frontline guard." She blinked as he stood up. "In fact, I thank you for helping me just now with the sleep and food. I'm sure I would've fallen way before this from a foggy mind." She got to her feet and smiled.

"Of course! One shouldn't be trying to push through without their needs being taken care of." She then paused. "Sorry... I get so attached to things... I should really just-" He smiled faintly as she drifted from the conversation.

"I don't mind." She paused. "You were willing to guard me even though everyone else hates me. I am grateful for that." He extended his arm out. "If you want, You can join the group. It's small, but the Shadow Gamers would love to have you. It's sorta unofficial, but that's due to Klein having a guild." She smiled before taking his hand.

"I'm in."

~

Since Kirito was still slightly out of it, Asuna took up a defensive role. She kept players at a distance, giving him a chance to fully recover. Even in the boss, she was a threat when he was thrown into a wall. While some players of the raid managed to get to his aid, Asuna showed the boss how it felt to get thrown into a wall.

"Woah!" Kirito's vision managed to clear as Asuna activated her sword skill, overwhelming the boss quickly. He winced as someone passed him a potion.

"How is she-"

Kirito paused before his mind circled back to the conversation. Possessive. That's what she meant. She had avoided that word during it, but that's what she meant. With a smile, he used the potion and got to his feet. While he still wasn't totally up, he had to pull this raid through. He raced forward to join her, quickly blocking an attack and getting the attention.

~

Kibaou tried to get the high ground on them, but Asuna merely threatened him again. They rested in the safe zone before Kirito spoke.

"Possessive." She looked at him almost instantly. "That's what you meant on the last floor." She huffed as her head dropped.

"I don't mean it. But every time I do almost anything, that comes up. I'm trying..." He smiled softly.

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing. You could've used that word and I would've understood."

"I don't like the word. That's my problem. I have lost so many friends and even boyfriends to that word."

"Not everyone views the word the same."

"And how do you view it, Kirito?" He chuckled at her pout.

"I view it as a wall I can hide behind." She glanced at him with a look of confusion. "I'm serious. My whole life has been hiding behind people that don't want me behind them. The fact that you are possessive means that you are willing to stand in front, which gives me a hiding place that won't yell at me for hiding." She took a good moment before her mood finally lightened up.

"I guess you're right." She smiled before humming. "If the Shadow Gamers is an unofficial group, then that means you are prone to joining other guilds." He hummed.

"The goal of the Shadow Gamers group is to just get me away from people. Klein started that with his guild Fuurinkazan. Any guild that Shadow Gamers join will have to respect that part. I don't care what members of the Shadow Gamers do. Just let me be alone from strangers." She hummed.

"I'll keep that in mind."

~

At the next boss, Asuna stopped him before they went in, seeing how slow he was moving.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"Yes. I'm just sore from sleeping on the ground for a bit." He then sat down as she frowned.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah... hopefully next floor I can sleep somewhere that's not the ground."

"That's your own damn fault for choosing to drop to the ground every time you're tired."

"Yes it is. Thanks for reminding me."

"You're welcome."

"That was not-"