Survive or Die

Ava's POV

We all ran to the scream to find someone being hanged with a red long sword to there chest.

"Oh look, a human piñata."I point out.

"Ava!"Asuna hissed at me."He's dying!"

"Correction Asuna, he's suffering.He can't die because it's a safe zone.It probably hurts like a bitch but he'll be fine."I say surely and nod my head.

"I'm gonna go get him down.Kirito,Ava catch him."She ordered us and ran off inside the building.

"You got it captain."I mumbled and followed Kirito.

"Just hang on!"I yell.

"Ava!Don't tell him that!"Kirito told me.

"Right.Sorry."I apologized.

"H-Help...me.."I heard him croak and then he shattered into crystals as the sword fell to the ground.

It was dead silent.

"So did anyone see where the candy went?"I asked.

"Jesus cirist Ava, a man just died!"I hear Asuna yell at me.

"Once again Asuna, a person can't die inside a safe zone unless they challenge him to a duel."I told her.

"Everyone!Look for a winner duel notification!"Kirito yelled at the crowd and they started looking.

This can't be.Someone can't die in a safe zone.I thought.Wait.

Why do I care?Maybe it was someone pulling a prank with a MPC.

Nice prank.I thought.

"There's no one inside!"Asuna yelled from the balcony.I walked over to the sword, picking it up and swinged it around.It looks normal.Me and Kirito both walked inside to meet with Asuna.We all start to think about this case.

"What is the meaning of this?"Kirito mumbles.

"The most obvious explanation would be that the murder impaled the victim, put the rope around his neck, and shoved him out the window.Right?"Asuna said.We both nodded.

"But a winner notification was no where to be seen."Kirito pointed out.That's true.

"But this is impossible.Damaging someone in a safe area can only happen during a duel.Even so we can't ignore this.We'll have to back down from the front lines for a while."I say.

"Look who's talking."Asuna puffed.I rolled my eyes.Whatever.

"Why do you even care?"Asuna asked.I gasped.

"Are you implying that I don't care an innocent man died right in front of my eyes?"I asked her.

"Yes."

"Fine.I kinda wanna prove that I'm right, there's not way that someone died in a safe zone.As much as I hate to say it, this game is pretty fair."I explained.

"Ava's right."Kirito said looking at me as I smirked."If someone's able to PK around the safe zones then no where is safe for us anymore."

"We need to figure this out.You'll have to assist me with this but just so we're clear, there will be no times for naps."She said seriously.

"Alright.But you sleep more than me and Kirito."I say earning a glare and a chuckle.

*****OUTSIDE THE CHRUCH-I BELIEVE IT WAS*****

"Excuse me people!"I yell out."Is there anyone who saw the whole 'accident' play out?If you did please tell us right away!"

A girl with long dark purple hair stepped out of the crowd and walk to us.

"I'm sorry of what you just had to experience."Asuna apologized."What's your name?"

"Um...I'm Yolko."She said shyly.

Yolko.I thought.

Yoga.Maybe she used to take that.

"Did that happen to be your scream from earlier?"Kirito asked her.She nodded.

"Y-Yes.I was having dinner with the man that was just murdered.His name was Canyz, me and him used to be in the same guild together.We both got separated at the plaza, I went looking for him in tell I saw...I saw him hanging out the church window."She explained starting to cry.Asuna patted her back gently.

"Did you happen to see anyone behind Canyz?"I asked her writing notes in my mind.

"I believe so.Maybe for a moment I saw a figure behind him."She remembers.

"Did the person look familiar?"Asuna asked her.She shook her head no.

"Do you know anyone who would try to kill Canyz?An enemy or something?"I asked her.She looked at me crazy but then shook her head no.

*****TO THE HOTEL*****

"I apologize for having you escort me to the hotel I'm staying at."She apologized.

"It's perfectly fine."Asuna said."We can talk tomorrow if your up to it."

"Of course."Yolko said,bowing.

"Everything perfectly fine, I mean your safe here, it is a safe zone..."I say realizing on what's coming out of my mouth.She entered her hotel room without saying a word.

"Great going Ava."I tell myself.

"It's fine Ava.You tried."Kirito said patting me on my back.I blushed at his touch.

"You tried?"Asuna asked confused.

"You see I'm not a people person."I explained.

"Somehow that makes so much sense."She says.

"What's that supposed mean?!"I ask.

"Anyways.."Kirito said breaking us up."Back to the problem at hand, if we trace the swords origin then maybe we can find the killer."

"Right.But I don't have that skill and I'm guessing you guys don't either."She thinks.

"Do you know anyone that might have that skill?"Kirito asked her.

"Yea but she's kinda busy this time of year so we'll have to wait a while.How about you guys?"She asked.We both looked at each other.

"Yea.I think we know the right man."Kirito said for both of us.

*****AT AGIL'S SHOP ON FLOOR 50*****

"Agil my man!How's your greedy little shop going?"I say getting his attention.He smiled when he saw me and Kirito.

"Ava!Kirito!How are my least favorite costumers doing?"He said fist bumping Kirito.

"Na your just mad at us because we don't buy any of your crap."Kirito said and Agil chuckled but then his eyes widen when he saw Asuna.He pulled me and Kirito under.

"What's wrong with you guys?!I thought we were friends!"He told us.

"What?"

"Why are solo players like you guys with Asuna for?I thought you guys weren't on good terms!"He whispered loudly.Asuna laughed nervously in the background.

"We just need a favor to ask you."Kirito says.

*****UPSTAIRS SOMEWHERE*****

I put the sword on the table as we told Agil what happened.

"Someone died in a safe zone?And there was no duel?"He asked.

"We didn't see a winner's notification."I say.

"It wasn't sleep PK because Yolko was with him before hand."Asuna added.

I groaned in frustration."This is way too complicated for it to be some random duel, it had to be some type of planned murder.Agil, mind tapping this thing for us?"I say and he grabbed the sword.

"Alright, but this is going to take careful consideration and a lot of focus."He said, swiping into the sword's menu and pressing a button.

"Oh yea, a whole lot of focus."I mumbled.

"It's player-made."He told us.

"Who made it?"Kirito asked.

"Someone by the name of Grimlock.Never hear of him before.But I do know this guy was a good blacksmith."

"Well that's a clue."I commented.

"Just in case, can you give us the name of the sword."Asuna said.

"Guilty Thorn meaning thorn of sin."

"Nice name.Can I see it?"I asked and he passed the sword towards me.I study it.

"It doesn't look weird to me.Not like a sword that could kill someone in a safe zone."I think out loud.I stick my hand out and get ready to stab myself with it when Asuna and Kirito stop me.

"Are you crazy?!"She screams.

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

"Ava someone was just killed with that weapon."Kirito sighs.He was glaring at me which he doesn't do often.

"I know I was just seeing if it would kill me-oh my gosh what am I doing?"I say.

"Jeez Ava you need to be more careful."Kirito said taking the murder weapon away from my hands.Asuna took it from him and handed it to Agil.

"Here.You take it.We'll leave it with you."

"Handing a black man a murder weapon.That's smart."

-----THE NEXT DAY AT THE RESTAURANT-----

"Aw man I really love this place.But my question is, is why it's so empty?"I asked looking around.Yolko was in front of me,Kirito and Asuna shifting uncomfortably.

"So Yolko, do you know anyone with the name of Grimlock?"Asuna asked her, her eyes widen.

"Yes.He was a member of a guild me and Canyz were apart of."She explained."Why do you want to know?"

"Well he was the creator of the sword that killed Canyz."I clarify.She nodded her head no while she put her hands on her face.

"Can you think of a reason this might be?"I asked her.

"Yes I can.Me and Grimlock were in a guild called 'Golden Apple' with five other people.Six months ago, we defeated a rare monster that we incountered and it dropped a very valuble ring.Some of us wanted to keep it, others wanted to sell it, we all decided to sell it and split the money.But when Grimlock's wife, Grisalda went to go sell it, she was killed.No one still knows the cause of her death."Yolko told us.

"She might have been sleep P-Ked."I say.

"Sleep P-K wasn't widely known six months ago."Asuna argued.

"Just a thought."I said.

"Still, it's not a coincidence, whoever attacked Grisalda must have known about the ring as well."Kirito cut in.

"One of the seven 'Golden Apple' members..."I put along."The people who would probably get attacked next are the ones who voted to keep the item."

"Canzy and I were one of the three to appose the ring's sale."

"Who was the third one?"Kirito asked.

"Schmitt.I hear he's part of the Divine Dragon Alliance of clearing group."Yolko told us.

"Schmitt.Where have I heard that name before...?"Kirito wonders.

"He's the leader of the Divine Dragon Alliance Defenders."Asuna says.

"You know Schmitt?"Yolko asked.

"Sort of. We've seen him fighting boss levels."

"Can we go see him?"She asked.I raise my eyebrow.

"Why exactly?"

"He probably doesn't know about the 'accident' and I want to inform him.Plus, I don't want him to be the next victim."She explains.

"Alright then, I think we could make that happen."I say.I look over to Kirito to see if he agrees.He nods.

"We'll do it tomorrow then.First, we should get you to your hotel."I smile.Why am I acting so nice to her?Do I feel sorry for her....?

No that can't be!Maybe I'm just tired.

"Yolko, we don't want you to come out intil we come in, alright?"Asuna says.

Yolko nodded."Alright."

-----LATER ON-----

"So how could this murder happen?"Asuna asked Kirito.

"There are three possibilities at the most I believe."He answers.

"One, a fair duel gone wrong.Second, is the use of a complicated system exploit."He says.

"What's the third?"Asuna asked him.

"An unknow skill that can kill people in a safe zone.Probably in the form of a item."

"I have to disagree with you on that Kirito."I cut in."I believe I said this earlier, SAO is actually a pretty fair game (and I hate to say it).A murder couldn't have happened like that."I say.

"Your right,"Kirito agrees.

"Thank you."I sang.

"We'll just have to see how it goes with Grimlock tomorrow, right now, we should get some rest."Asuna yawns.After saying our goodbyes me and Kirito start walking to our house.

"Hey Ava?"

"Yea?"

"I noticed that.....well..."He cut off.

"Well what?"

"Nevermind."He simply says.

Well that's going to haunt me.I thought.

We arrive at our house and I decided to take a shower.Kirito was hungry so I told him I would make him something when I got out.I'm the one making food all the time.Lazy-ass.

I got into the shower and started thinking.I think better when I'm in the shower.Grimlock's wife was killed, I could imagine how he felt, sad,broken,alone and in need of help.That's how I felt when my mother died.I squeezed the shampoo bottle in my hand.

My mom.

My sister.

My family.

If my sister died I don't know how I would be able to live.I felt the same thing when my mom died.

Shattered.

I hear a knock on the door."Ava?Are you okay?"I hear Kirito ask from the other side of the door.

"Yea just give me a minute, I'll be done soon so hold your horses."I replied.I sighed and just finished up with my shower.I can't be thinking about the worst right now.I change in the bathroom and walk out to the kitchen to make some sandwiches.

"Kirito!I'm done!"I call out for him.He comes running as fast as he can.Well the guys hungry....

I pass him the sanwich and he starts to chow down.I stare at my sanwitch for a while.I wonder how my body in the real world is doing.I mean how can they feed me?How are they keeping me alive?Is my sister next to me right now?Probably not, it's night in the real world just like in here.I stare out the window in the kitchen and find the moon and stars.

It's almost like the real ones.I thought.

"Ava?"I turn back to Kirito.

"Are you sure your fine?"He asks.

"Of course I'm fine.Hard as rock."I say.It sounds like I'm trying to convince myself.Inside, I'm kinda breaking down right now.I have no clue why either.

"Okay..."Kirito says not so surely.

I hurry up and finish my food and make my way to my room intil Kirito grabs my hand from behind.

"Hu?Kirito?"

"I uh.."He cuts off."I was wondering if you would sleep in my room tonight."My face grows red.

"You know with everything going on I don't want you to be alone."He says looking down.

"S-Sure."I sutter.My face is red, my hands are getting sweaty and I feel nervous.Why?Why do I feel this only with him?Why do I feel so weak when I'm with him?

We enter his room.

"You can sleep on my bed, I'll sleep on the floor."He says.Still in a daze, I mumble an okay.As soon as I get onto the bed, it felt wrong.I don't want Kirito to sleep on the floor, that would be mean.Wait.Since when do I care if it's mean or not?!What's happening to me?!?!?!?

"Kirito?"

"Yea?"

"Get on the bed.It's meant for you, you shouldn't be sleeping on the floor."

"But-"

"Get on the bed you bastard."I blurt out.I hear him chuckle and then he climbs onto the bed.With our back turned against each other, ackward silents grows.

"Ava?"

"Yea?"

"Goodnight."I hear him yawn.I giggle a bit but then quickly shut up.

Me giggling?!

"Goodnight Kirito."I say and fall into a deep sleep.

-----THE NEXT MORNING-----

I eyes flew open from the dream I just had.I was with my sister in SAO but she was crying for help, she was fighting a boss room all by herself.i couldn't help her, I was being held down but then Kirito tried to help her only to get killed.I screamed as I see them both die in front of my eyes but when I woke up, no words came out of my mouth.

I sigh and notice I actually am facing Kirito.Really, really close to him.My face grows hot red and I want to get up but I'll only wake him.Seeing him waking up, I close my eyes again and prentend I'm asleep.He doesn't really move, I just feel him next to me still.I open my eyes and stare back at him.We both get up really quickly and I could feel my face heat up.

"Uh-I,"I cut myself off."I'm gonna go make breakfast."I say and rush off to the kitchen.

Jeez Ava.What are you doing to yourself?I ask myself and sigh.

-----AT SCHMITT'S PLACE-----

''So that's what killed Canzy,''Schmitt finally said after Yolko explained everything to him.''And your sure about the spear, was it really Grimlock's?''He asked Yolko, she nodded.

''There's no doubt.''She answered.

''Then why would he wait six months to kill him?Wait, he he be the one who stole the ring?Do you think it's possible he killed Grisalda after all?Does Grimlock want to kill the three of us because we didn't want to sell the damn ring?Is that why he wants to kill you and me?''He panicked.

''Jeez, chill it with the questions, we aren't flash.''I mumbled.

''Maybe Grimlock made despair for someone else from our guilt and maybe there the ones who killed Canzy or maybe...''Yolko cut herself off.

''Or maybe what?''Asuna asked.

''Grisalda come back from the dead to get her revenge.''Yolko cried.

''What now?''Both me and Kirito said at the same time.

''A player can't kill another player inside a safe zone, but something else like a ghost could.''She said to Schmitt.

''This may have been a bad idea.''Asuna commented.

''I disagree, this is getting good.''I said.

''I couldn't sleep at all last night so I stayed up thinking.''Yolko mumbled, then she suddenly stood up.''It was everyone's fault, everyone in the guild is guilty!Her blood is on all of our hands!Her fate was sealed when the ring was dropped!We couldn't have voted, we should have done whatever she wanted to do!''She screamed.

''Nevermind Asuna, I take it back, this was a bad idea.''I comment.We all look at Yolko strangely as she walks to the open window.

''Grimlock was the only one, the only member of the guild who said we shouldn't leave the decision to Grisalda.''She said as she sat down.''You see, he's the only one of us who can avenge Grisalda, he's the only member of the guild who has the right too avenge her.''Schmitt was shaking badly due to what Yolko was saying.

''You got to be kidding..''Schmitt mumbled.''You got to be kidding.''He repeated.''Why now?After all this time?Why kill us now?''He stood up to face Yolko.''You can't just be okay with this Yolko!How can you accept being killed over some stupid ring!?''He started walking to Yolko but Kirito grab his arm and Schmitt glanced at him.

''Settle down you too, I think we can safely say a ghost isn't the killer, right you two?''Asuna asked me and Kirito.

''Right, obviously it was the magical wizard who came to get revenge to the mermaid for the fairies for taking there gold, but who started it all?The unicorns?No they would have left a trail of sparkles.''I say sarcastically.

''Damn it Ava!''Asuna yelled.''This is serious!People's lives are in danger!''

''No, there not!For the last time, people can't die in a safe zone!''I argued.

Suddenly, we all hear Yolko gasp.My eyes widen as I see the knife that impaled Yolko and as she falls out of the window.

''Yolko!''I scream out her name as Kirito run towards the window.I quickly follow and see she shattered into crystals.

''Is she okay?!''Asuna asked us.

''Well I'm not a doctor but I don't like her chances.''I say.