Chapter 04

A Chapter by Reaper

Reaper feels weak even though he is almost as strong as Kirito. Can he protect Lizbeth?

"Who?"
"Don't know yet. I'll Leave you a message. Anyways, its getting late. Ill walk you home."
"What a gentleman." She smiles.

As we arrive in the town where her shop is, I walk her to the door to see its cracked open. "Wait. Someone's been in here." I pull out my scythe and open the door. Barging in and swinging I knock someone down.
"Ow. What's the big idea?"
"Move and ill cut you down."
Lizbeth walks in after me. "Its okay Reaper. He's a usual customer, although how many times do I have to tell you not to come into my shop while I'm not here?"
"Want me to teach him a lesson?"
"Although he needs one taught to him, it wouldn't be right." She shrugs.
I pull up my friends list and start searching through it as I go to a chair in the corner. "Hey Lizbeth, you got a recliner?"
"Yea, why?"
"You might want to put it out here for your your BG."
"BG? Whats a BG?" Her guest asks.
"Don't worry about it." I stated. I send out at least a dozen requests for support. And one was to a small guild I had helped. "Okay the requests were sent and a guild might help with it too."
"WHAT!" She yelled from the back. "Don't you think your going a little overboard on this?"
"Ask me that tomorrow when you see everything okay?" I said as I got up and walked over to her. Giving her a hug, I smile. "Ill be busy tomorrow with stuff IRL so I might not be on till late."
She looks a little sad. "Alright."
"Hmm.." I chuckle. "Klein and his friends will do crowd control .... " I bust out laughing.
"What?" She asked?
"Specter will be doing first shift inside."
"You meet some of the strangest people."
"Tell me about it." I smiled.
As the guy left and then I did she logged out I left for the gate. I had to do something first before logging out. I went to floor 50 the current floor we were clearing. I knew all about Yui and how she ended up staying with Kirito and Asuna. I just wish I could get something to help protect Lizbeth. I knew I couldn't always be there for her.
"Why am I so weak?" I hit a tree with a fist as a tear runs down my cheek. "Why can't I be like Kirito and Asuna? Why am so cursed?"
"Be not sad warrior for you are strong."
"Who said that? Come out and face me!"
A girl around seventeen walked around the tree. "Be at ease. I mean no harm. I ask a favor."
"You and everyone else. What do you need kid?" I ask.
"There is an event soon. I need the item from the event. If you are stong enoung to get the item then I can help! you with your problems."
"What event?"
"Strongest swordsman"
I sigh. "Very well."
"Thank you." She bows formally and then leaves.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I sigh as I head for town to log out.

The next day a woman showed up at my house bright and early. She asked to see me and I allowed her in. I didn't quite catch her name, but she said she was from a rehab facility and she was sent by a friend of Kirito's. She then asked why I was in a wheelchair. I explained what happened and proceeded to tell her how I ended in SAO and gave up on the crutches but now I want to use them before the weekend for something special.
"Is it a girl?" She asked. I went beet red. "I guess that answers that question, now doesn't it?" She smiled. "She's a very lucky girl to have a guy like you. Your very handsome."
I gulped. "You said you were with a rehab?"
"Yep. I'm here to help you walk again. I even helped Kirito. Walk again when he woke up."
"Wow. I didn't know that. Not many people do. So kiddo, where's your crutches at?"
"In my room. There's plenty of room in there to work if you'd like or we can move things out here."
"Lets take a look."
After looking, she decided the living room was better. It had more room as long as we pushed the furniture against the wall. Once they got everything moved, there was a lot of space that even if I fell I wouldn't hit anything. That may have been why they got me this house. I legally owned it and with the beta testing I did, I got paid enough to have people come in and do repairs and other things.
"There's so much space." I stated.
"Yea its no wonder we never use it." Marie said.
"Can we get started? I'm a little anxious here. I know I'm gonna do bad and wanna give up."
"You won't." The nurse said.
"Why's that?" I asked.
"Because you have determination for a certain girl you like." She smiled warmly. "Ahh to be young. I wish I had a young man who would wait on me." She sighs.
I was in the process of getting out of my wheelchair when she said that and I stopped dead. "Wait. Your single?"
"Why do you look so surprised?"
"Your young yourself and your very attractive so why arnt guys asking you out to dinner?"
"Must be because I'm a rehab girl and not a nurse." She ruefuly smiled as she finished helping me up. "Anyways, I work a lot of hours as it is." She fits the crutches to me better so its more comfortable for me.
"Wow. That's amazing."
"When its at the right settings you can get a lot more done and its a lot easier on the body. Go ahead and try."
I gave a try and nearly fell. "Its been too long." I growled." But I looked up. Then I remembered Lizbeth's words. "But I wont let this defeat me." I stated. I keept trying even pushing past my limit. When I finally did fall sweating profusely, the nurse was finally able to take the crutches away. Breathing heavily, I reached up smiling. "Lizbeth, I hope you will smile." Tears run down my face as I pass out.

When I wake up, I'm a bit groggy but there's someone by me on my bed. "Gee, thought you'd never wake up." Kirito chuckled.
"So Natsuki tells me you over did it in therepy today."
I sit up streching my slightly sore body. "I guess I did. What time is it?"
"Nearly 3:00 pm." He replied. "Did you still want to go out?"
"Yea. I need to get this present for her."
Kirito chuckled. "Yea. I guess your right. We only have three more days. Alright. Lets get you dressed and get going."
"Dressed? I was dressed earlier for therapy."

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