Survive or Die

Ava's POV

"Hmm....Damn, we don't have milk and bread.I'll have to buy some now I guess.."I sighed closing the refrigerator door.

"It was about time we went to the village anyways."

"Who are you talking to Ava?"I heard Kirito question as he came to view with a towel on his head.He just had come out of the shower, looking cute as ever.

"My imaginary boyfriend Kirito, Remember Jax?"I smirked, responding sarcastically earning a gentle embrace from behind.

"That means your cheating on me?That's not nice Ava~."He purred in my ear.It was impossible not to blush.

"N-No, I've officially broken up with Jax.I found out he was a jerk."I laughed.

"Good."He gave me a peak on the cheek.

"Hey Kirito,"I say getting his attention while he was leaving.The necklace of Yui's Heart bounced around."We gotta go to the village today, I need ingredients."

"Aw man~!"

"I don't want to either, trust me, but we do need this food."I added."Not only do we need milk and bread but cheese, fruits and herbs too..."I trailed off, trying to remember what we need.

"Alright, I'll change."

"Thank you~."I sang making a list of food and hurrying up to change as well.

-----TIME SKIP-----

"So we got the milk, cheese and fruits we just need the herbs..oh! Also the eggs."I mumbled to myself, checking off what we got.

I turned to see the herbs on one stand and the eggs on another.

"Kirito, I'll go get the eggs while you can get the herbs, 'Kay?"I spoke.

"Yeah, just be careful."

"I know."I huffed as I rolled my eyes walking away to the stand.

"Fifty yen."The man responded as I took the eggs.I grave him the money.

"Thank you."I spoke while I nodded towards him.

"Ava?!"

I turned to face the one girl I wouldn't think I would see in a long time.

"Minako?!"

The girl I met in the beginning of the game still looked the same, her short crimson red hair was still to her shoulders and her sea green eyes now sparkled with a whole new different energy. For being a year younger than me, she looked more mature and lady-like.

"Oh my god, I never thought I'd see you again!"She cheered running towards me and giving me a hug.

"Yeah, me too..."I trailed off."Where have you been?How come I never seen you in boss fights?"

Her gaze shifted away from me and then back again."Well, you see, I haven't done boss fights since the sixth floor.I've never really had the stamina to fight like you front liners.I've actually been a stay-at-home wife."She laughed.

Stay-at-home wife?...

"..You've been a stay-at-home wife?.."

"Yeah, I married my boyfriend."She smiled."In the sixth floor I decided I couldn't take it anymore, but I still kept in touch with my friends from the front lines.Tatsumaki was one of them.Anyways, one day I got a message telling me that they had one of my friends, Sora trapped in the woods and they wanted money.Turns out it was a totally lie and it was 'Laughing Coffin' trying to kill me.Tatsumaki got there in time and saved me, I own him my life because of that.After, we got married and decided to life here and be happy together."Her grinned brightened as she told me her story.

"I feel you.."

"What?!YOU got married?!How?"

I stared at her with a 'really?..' look on my face."As a matter of fact, I am married.I will not tell you how."

"That's awesome!"She cheered."So, who is he?"

"Ava, who's she?"

Kirito was right behind me with a confused look on his face.

"You must be Ava's husband!"She greeted and ran up to him, hugging him.

"Kirito, this is a friend of mine, Minako."I introduced.

"You have friends?"

"I'm about to punch you Kirito."

"Kirito huh?Wait...you two are The Black Swordsmen and Dark Angel!"Minako gasped, dramatically covering her mouth with her hands.

"Yeah, nice to meet you Minako."He smiled.

"Very nice to meet you as well."She turned to me, smirking."You got yourself a gentleman here Ava, it really makes me wonder how you two are even together."

"Shut up Minako!"I blurred out trying to cover my blushing face.

"Well, I wish you luck on your marriage and hope everything turns out good for you two."She grinned, I touched Yui's Heart on my neck.

"Thank you Minako, I wish you the same."I smiled, Kirito stared curiously at us.

Suddenly, the red-head got a message."It's Tatsumaki, he's home!I gotta go, but it was nice seeing you again Ava."She spoke sending me a friend's request.I accepted.

"Same.We'll see each other again soon."

"Right, well gotta blast!"She giggled while walking off."Bye Kirito!Be good to Ava for me!"

"Alright!"He laughed waving.

Somehow, this feels like this will be the last time I see her.

-----TIME LAPSE-----

Kirito's POV

I sighed as I looked at my fish hook, empty.

"Catch anything?"

"Ah!"I jumped turning towards the older man behind me.

He laughed before talking."Sorry for scaring you.I'm Nishida.Here, I'm a fisherman."He took his fishing rod and threw it in the water.

"Back in Japan, I was the chief of network security at Toto High-Speed Connections."

"I'm Kirito."I introduced myself."Didn't Toto High-Speed Connections.."

"Yes, I was in charge of this game's network security."He replied.

Suddenly, his rod was pulled, hard.

"It's a big one!"I grinned.

"Piece of cake!"He smiled, pulling it out.

"Nice catch!"I complemented, seeing the size of the fish.

"Thanks,"He responded."I can hook'em pretty good, but I can't cook them.I'd like to have some simmered fish or sashimi, but I need soy sauce for both."He sighed."Grilling it in soy sauce would be good too."

I started to think.

Should I tell him?

"Um, I know where you can get some."

"What did you say?!"He shouted loudly and dramatically.

Gosh, what did I just do?...

-----TIME SKIP-----

"Man, that was satisfying!"Nishida sighed happily as he drank from his cup."I didn't know soy sauce existed in this world."

"I studied how to make it with a friend, we made it.You can take some if you want."Ava spoke shyly.

"Really?Why, thank you very much!"He smiled making Ava grin as well.

"At any rate, your fishing skill is really high-level.Kirito has never come home with anything before."Se huffed.

Eh?!

"It's too difficult to fish in the lakes around here,"I mumbled sipping my tea.

"Well, that's not really the case."Nishida cut in."The only difficult lake is the big one you were fishing in."

Ava burst into laughter."W-Why design it like that?"

"That's a really good reason!"He pointed out.

"Huh?"

"That lake is home too..."He stopped to give it a dramatic pause."..a resident beast."

"A resident beast?"We both say in union, Ava clearly looked intrigued.

"Yes.I've snagged it several times.But it's so strong that it once yanked the pole right out of my hands."He remarked.

"Wow!"Ava seemed excited.

"Which brings me to a favor I'd like to ask..."He responded.

-----TIME LAPSE-----Ava's POV

"I don't mind fishing for a resident beast, but is it even possible to switch with fishing poles?"Kirito sighed, laying in bed with me.He looked up at the ceiling as he talked.

"I'm sure you can do it, I'll be there."I smiled warmly, trying to boost his confidence up."What'll you do after you catch it?Keep it as a pet?"I asked him.

"Keep a resident beast as a pet?"He laughed.

"Just a thought."I giggled laying down on his chest.

"He was a nice man."

"Yeah, you really surprised me when you brought his here."

"There are so many people living normal lives here."He spoke.

"You have a point, as front-liners we have the responsibility for them, don't we?"I sighed, realizing the reality of it."I only became strong for survival, because it was my first priority, now I kinda feel bad for that."

He hugged me tighter."Ava, your not the only person to do that, I felt the same way.But now that I have you and Yui here, it's completely changed.Now, people have their hope's on me and you, and we'd promise to save everyone.For Yui."

His had trailed to Yui's Heart, along with mine.

"Your right.But just for a little longer, let's stay this way."

"Yeah, for a little longer."

-----TIME SKIP-----

The banner hanged proudly, displaying the words 'GOOD LUCK, NISHIDA!'.It was a bright, sunny morning, like always in SAO.I wore my midnight blue cape so no one could recognize me.

"Your kidding me..."Kirito huffed seeing the many people that came out here today.

"I guess everyone's heard about the resident beast!"I sighed looking down towards my shoes.

I hate people.

"Now Then!"Nishida announced."It's time to start today's main event!"

"Yes!"

"I've been waiting for this!"

"You got this Nishida!"

"Kirito, if you please,"He called Kirito out, making him walk forward.

Nishida took out a living lizard type monster.

"How big is this thing?"Kirito mumbled.

He's using live bait.

Cool.

"Here we go!"He screamed, throwing the little guy as far as he could.

Everyone awe in disbelief, waiting patiently for an event to unfold.

Everything was silent.

There was a sudden pull on the rod.

"Isn't that a bite?"

"Not yet."

It tugged harder.

"N-Nishida..."

"Not yet."

"Now!It's biting!"He shouted."Switch!"He commanded, giving Kirito the fishing rod.

"Switch-"He was pulled forward by the fish.

This beast must be really strong.

Wait.

Then again Kirito is weak..

Sometimes...

"This damn thing—!"He yelled out, pulling on the rod and running back.

"I see it!"

Everyone ran forward as the beast grew closer to the surface.

Wait, I don't think this is gonna be good-

Damn.

I was right.

Everyone quickly started running away from the monster as they realized how big it was.

"Hey!Come back!"Kirito yelled back.

"No, I think we're good here."

Kirito fell back, letting go."Wait!"He screamed running towards the water.

"Kirito!Watch out!"I shouted.

"For what?!"

The monster suddenly jumped out of the water, leaving Kirito all wet.

It has legs?!

It let out a piercing cry as it's eyes turned red.

Kirito instantly started running our way.

"T-That's not fair!Don't just leave me behind!"He stuttered as he hid behind me.

"I never left this spot!"

"Kirito!"The beast has started to walk towards us.

"It's running on land,"Nishida pointed out.

No shit!

"Is it a lungfish?"Kirito wondered, making me sigh.

I'll just kill the damn thing and get this over with.

"Kirito!Not the time!We need to run!"Nishida screamed out.

"Oh, right."

"No need."I commented, taking off my cape, revealing my dark sliver outfit with my Katana hanging on my side.

"Ma'am, run!"

"No need to worry."Kirito informed him.

"Kirito!Your wife!"

I suddenly moved as fast as lightning, striking at the fish, cutting it in half making it explode into millions of tiny shards.

"Awesome!"I hear as I turned to be crowded by a bunch of people.

"You must be Angel-san!"The man shaking my hand awed.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'm one of your fans!"

"U-Uh.."

What the hell do I do?!

"I-I-uh, thank you!"I laughed nervously as my hand traveled to my neck.

"Nice Job!"I hear Kirito say, only to stop right in the middle of his tracks.

"Kirito..."

-----TIME LAPSE-----

"Come on Kirito, I would love to mope around with you but we gotta go."I sighed moving the hair out of my face.

Heathcliff texted Kirito, informing us that we need to come right away to fight a boss.

"But it's only been two weeks!~"

"It must be something big then."I huff.

"I guess so.."

"Come on,"I say helping him to his feet."It's time to go."

He let out a depressing sigh."Let's take care of it quickly so we can come back."He huffed, walking next to me.

"Thanks for seeing us off."I thank Nishida as he suggested he walk us to the Teleport Gate."We've had fun during the short time we've known you."

"No problem, it's a incredible experience for me too.Actually, before I met you two, the front-liners always seemed to be in a different world.I've been trapped in this world for two years, I don't even know if I'll even have a job if I get back.I might have giving hope of ever escaping here, so I'll just keep on fishing.It's pretty pathetic."He laughed.

"No,"Kirito protest."That's not at all.."

"I get you."I spoke."Before I joined Kirito, I would cry or sing myself to sleep, waking up from nightmares that haunted me every night.I always wondered if I'd ever see or hear my sister again.Everything was pain and suffering so I pushed that deep down so I could train to become stronger.After my guild all died, I got a knock on my door.I also almost told him to piss off and leave but I answered it to find it was him.He had suffered the exact same thing and we both felt terrible.That night, he stopped me from killing myself.After partying up with him, I noticed something.He's always making the most of life, even in here."I said."I was never losing days in the real world, I was just spending them here, with him.After telling myself that, my nightmares reduced and I always looked forward for the next day.It was...the best days of my life!I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!I'm thankful!"I cried as he held my hand tighter.

"Nishida, I'm sure you have something here dear to you, if not, find something to live for!"

"Your right Ava.Live is definitely worth living."He agreed."There's nothing I can do for you two, but good luck all the same."

"Let's go fishing again sometime."

"We're off!"

"Teleport!Grandum!"

Somehow...

This feels...

Like this will be our last goodbye.

-----AT GRANDUM-----

"The recon team was wiped out?!"We gasped in disbelief as Heathcliff told us these news.

Asuna was also called, leaving us all four in the room alone.

"Is preparation for the coming boss fight, a party of twenty players from five guild were sent in.But when the first ten players arrived in the center of the room, and the boss appeared, the doors closed behind them."

Hiro...

"A crystal-nullification area?"Kirito let out.

"Five minutes passed when the doors finally opened again,"Heathcliff continued, ignoring Kirito's comment."The room was completely empty.Both the boss and the ten men had vanished."

"No way!"Asuna gasped.

"However, we cannot give up on clearing the game.We'll have to attack with the largest party we can put together."

"I'll participate."I spoke out.

"Me as well."Asuna replied.

"Me too."Kirito responded."But Ava's safety is my highest priority.If things turn out for the worst, I'll protect her over the guild."

"People are strong when they have someone to protect."Heathcliff comments."I look forward to seeing you both fight."

"Only three hours left, huh?"I sighed.Asuna headed out to collect people for the party."What should we do?"

He only stared at me blankly.

"What's wrong?"

"Don't get angry when I tell you this,"He spoke.

I probably am.

"Can you stay here and wait instead of taking part of the boss fight?"He asked.

"Why would you want that?"I asked, darkly.

"There's not telling what might happen.I'm scared, if anything happens to you-"

"Are you telling me to wait here in the safety while you go risking your life like some sort of hero?Let you go by yourself?"I replied, asking his the questions.

"If I were to let you go, and you ended up never coming back...I'd die Kirito!I'd no longer have the fuel to flame me anymore and never forgive myself for not going with you!"

"But you have your sister!"

"And you have your family too!We all do!You've joined my family Kirito, and I can't bear to lose another member of my family again."I teared up.

He embraced me.

"I'm sorry, I'm losing my nerve."He apologized."What I really want to do is take you and run.I don't care if I never go to the real world, I want to live in those woods with you and Yui forever!"He cried.

"Yeah, I'd love that."I agreed."Together, forever, just like we promised.But reality hits us so hard, we don't even know what's going on with our bodies in the real world."

"Your right, we have a time limit, and I fear it might be going out fast."

A tears escaped my eye."I-I don't wanna die!"I cried."I never cared in the beginning but now, I just want to live with you and my sister and be with you in the real world!That's why!.."

"We have to fight this battle, right?"

-----TIME SKIP-----

Once we've arrived at the Teleport Gate we got many stares from all around.

It started to freak me out.

"Yo!"We hear and turn.Klein,Asuna and Agli were right behind us.

"So you guys are participating too?"Kirito smiled.

"Don't act so surprised!I left my shop so I could back you guys up."Agli replied, letting out a small laugh.

"Ava!"Asuna hugs me."You never did tell me what happened on your honeymoon~"Asuna purred into my ear making me blush hot red.

"S-Shut up!"I stuttered only making her laugh.

Heathcliff appeared making everything fall silent.

"All right, let's move out!"He commanded opening the portal.

"I have a bad feeling about this."Asuna says.

"With you on that sister."I nodded.

Everything was dark besides the two fires at the door.

"Everyone ready?"

"Not really, I think I left something at home, it's called my courage, bye!"

"Let's head on!"Heathcliff shouted making almost everyone give out a battle cry.

Kirito looked dark and grim next to me.I grabbed his hand making his startle.

"Don't worry,"I grinned."I'll protect you, and you protect me, right?"

"Right."He smiled back at me."Promise."

He turned to the rest."Don't Die on me!"

"Right back at you!"

The door flew wide open.

"Comencé attack!"Heathcliff yelled, making everyone follow behind.

It was silent.

It was dark.

It was cold.

I could only hear the deep breath I was taking.

Then, the door closed behind us.

This is it.

This is war.

"Above!"Asuna screamed showing a-

"Skull?!.."

"Reaper?!.."

"Spread out! Distance yourselves!"Heathcliff shouted at everyone.

The Skull Reaper started to land, sending out one strike, killing two men.

"No way!"

"One strike?!"

It was about to attack one of the men, only to be blocked my Heathcliff, but the monster still killed the man.

"We can't even get close to it!"

I summoned my Throwing Sword skill and started to fight the Reaper from far away distance.The only way this skill could work.

The Reaper went for weaker players before targeting me.I took out my Katana and blocked his attack.

...TOO STRONG!...

Suddenly, Kirito sword fell in front of me, lifting the Reaper's bone off of me.

"We attack if we do it together."Kirito spoke.

I nodded."Right!Everyone!Attack from the sides!We'll take it head on!"

Both me and Kirito switch, attacking it head on as well as switching with Heathcliff.

Again.

And again.

And again.

But still, people kept dying right in front of us,

As we gave it our all.