In SAO
Disclaimer: what can I say? After watching SAO I fell in love with it. Amazing! I would sign up even if I only had one life. Actually I'd probably sign up because of that. But I thought what if Kagome and Ichigo met in there? And so, this was born.
Chapter Two March 21st Floor 23 2:37 p.m.
Kagome twirled dodging the thrown bolder, she hated Rock Golems. Some how she and the others had gotten themselves cornered down a box canyon with three Rock Golems. A grunt of pain caught her attention and she noticed Daono had fallen and his health was into the yellow. Frustrated she had to admit Rock Golems were hard to fight, they could throw a short but ranged attack. A mere twenty five feet, and they couldn't throw rock after rock, they had a thirty seconds to a full minute before they could throw another rock.
But between the fondness for heights and blending in you had to find them first. Oh and yeah, that thirty seconds gave them time to move before attacking making it even harder to pin-point them. Looking over her group she knew everyone had been hit at least once, Daono and Naruto more then once. They were cornered and getting pounded, someone needed to do something. "That means me." she muttered.
"Hun?"
Souta heard her and was looking at her questioningly.
She grinned at him. "This." Then using her sprint skill she flung herself up the wall where she thought that last shot aimed at her had come from. It was close but she managed to land on a shelf in the wall, Souta's shout of 'ARE YOU CRAZY?!' was answered. Yes. Yes she was. And damn was it fun.
Looking she used her search skill and it highlighted the Rock Golem for her. Zooming toward it she found she was getting angry when she had to break off to dodge the rock. It still did a bit of damage grazing her arm. Knowing this was her chance she ran in close and began to beat on it, dodging the punches, those didn't do as much damage as taking a full hit from a thrown rock but it still did a lot.
She killed it but in the end she still ended up taking another couple hundred points of damage. Then she looked for the others, Captain had used her tactic and found a second one he was killing it with Daono joining him.
Souta was looking for thrown rocks trying to pin-point the third and having no such luck, using her skill she soon saw why, it wasn't three it was four Rock Golems. "There was four of them!"
Souta's head jerked to look at her and then he saw a rock heading for him and Naruto, The two of them ran towards it clearly planning on killing it. Suke-Oniki was looking for the forth. She ran her way across the wall to the fourth on a ledge just a bit higher then the one she'd been on. She saw Suke-Oniki heading her way while she attacked the last one.
When he joined her she was very happy to switch out with him and she couldn't help but notice how much the guild damage bonus helped. It was a good thing they had officially become the Guildless. The last Boss fight had even let her recruit two others into joining the Guildless, they joined for the bonus in the boss fights and because she only required that fighters pay a monthly fee of a sixth of what that person earned that month. The money went toward Healing crystals and a club house. She didn't know when or where they would buy a house but she was thinking in the next ten floors or so it would nice to have a place all their own. Inns cost money.
Agil was a guy who went out two full days a week, and half days the rest to fight and get items to sell and then use a bit of the profits to help the mid-liners. People who aspired to joining the front line but were behind the curve. It was good work and he was pretty good in a fight, he'd agreed to join their guild because the fee was what the person could pay and she didn't order her guild around unless it was in a fight.
Callie was blacksmith, a craftsmen but one who didn't want to give up front-lining completely, much like Agil. She had joined them because she wanted a strong guild with a woman for a leader, something about expectations being more reasonable.
Kagome hadn't seen Zangetsu and Chad in the last fight so Zangetsu still didn't know she'd become the guild leader of the Guildless. She wanted to ask him and Chad to join, they fit the criteria... of course that was her only reason. Not. Last time she'd talked to Zangetsu she had blurted out the question that had been nagging at her since they met. Was that his natural hair color? His answer had surprised her it was no. Normally, in the real world it was brighter.
Sadly she had found the more time she spent with him the more she liked him.
Panting she took a moment get her wind back, she was deeply in the yellow, hard to do at level 32, at least anywhere other than on the front lines. But this was the frontline. Hopping down she watched the others join her, Souta still looked a bit annoyed.
He proved it by growling out his question: "What were you thinking?"
She shrugged. "We needed to change tactics, that was all I could think of."
Scowling he spat: "That was stupid and it cost you!"
She rolled her eyes. "Look, We're all alive. We now know not to run this way again. I think you need to chill."
He waved his hands making inarticulate noises before finding the words to properly express himself. "You!" he huffed. "I don't want to go home without you!"
She sighed, and found herself pinching the bridge of her nose. "Look Sou... Yasha you need to let it go. I take risks, but it's because I look at what not risking it will cost me. If you end up going home without me I wouldn't regret it. You got home!"
He stomped, and looked near angry tears.
The rest of the guild shifted around, seeming uncomfortable with the two of them arguing. Kagome decided it was probably time to call it quits for the day. "Lets head for an inn guys."
Everyone nodded and they started walking back. Kagome dropped back to walk with Souta, the silence hung between the two of them. Souta really was mad at her. She supposed this was why she'd never been fully honest about her travels in the past. Her mother would have made her stop, and Souta; if this was any clue, would have had nightmares and been frightened.
"Why are you mad at me Souta?"
"You!" he huffed, and waved his hands in mute frustration.
She waited for him to say something more but he just glared at her. Torn between laughing and growling at him Kagome knew this was probably one of those moments where she needed to come clean. "Souta if you think this risk of me not making it home is new I lie entirely too well."
That stopped him, stomping he huffed and she could see tears forming in his eyes. But the denial and anger died away and he hung his head. She couldn't see if he really was crying, or if he was just getting a grip on his emotions.
Standing and watching him she noticed the group had stopped far enough away that if they didn't use the listen skill none of them would hear this. She was betting they were listening, none of them would mention it though. She was surprised when he looked up at her tears running down his face, and he was snickering.
"What?"
Closing his eyes he just tilted his head back and laughed. His face was still wet but he was laughing. Seeing him calming she waited for him to start making sense because if he didn't she was going to slap him.
Heaving a few last breaths he explained. "I always knew you didn't talk about all of it, but coming here and fighting with you; I think I'm starting to understand why. I never want to tell mom about most of this."
She smiled but still felt like she should tell him a few more things. "You know how the well disappeared for three days after the final battle?"
He nodded and looked a bit confused about where she was going with it. "You remember the scars I had coming out of the well and how my shirt was bloody?"
Souta nodded again looking really lost.
"In the start of the fight we were fighting in poison. Air toxic enough to kill plants and every living thing without some sort of power. Humans, animals, minor demons. Inuyasha was over whelmed and turned wild. He was the one to hurt me. That wasn't the first time either. I know you saw how many bandages Mom bought for me but I didn't think you realized some times I used them on myself."
His face was slightly sad but not surprised. "You know Kagome Grandpa knew, he always said to me you were a brave girl. I knew you were brave especially as a girl, but you're right things like you dropping used bandaids in the trash while at home was beyond me."
Kagome stared at him, then asked. "You good now?"
He snickered. "No. My sister is nuts. I'm trapped in Virtual Reality and we have seventy-seven floors to go."
"Besides that brat?"
"No. I want you to promise to tell more of the unedited travels you had."
"Fine. You good now?"
"Yes."
"Then move it!"
Catching up with the rest of the group Kagome hoped Souta would let her take the big risks next time they got into a fight without flipping out.
Ichigo April 1st Floor 25 3:01 p.m.
They were cornered.
He'd managed to get a minute to himself while Chad covered him and Archer was coming, her and the Guildless but he feared it'd be too late. He'd ended up using his healing crystal because one of the Elephants caught him twice, first he'd been slowed by an Gold Ant attack and so it stabbed him with a tusk and then flung him around and then trampled him. Down in the red Chad had saved his ass, and used his crystal and had gotten back up in the green. But they were still fighting a horde and being driven into parts of the savannah they didn't know.
Ichigo hated to say it but today might be the day he and Chad found themselves in a corner they couldn't get out of alone. Switching out with Chad he growled seeing how hurt his friend was, Chad was going to need to heal himself, and between the two of them they only had one more crystal after that. Grunting he took the damage from getting caught in between two Elephants, he manage to kill one while Chad took the chance to heal up, but he was already back down in the yellow and Chad was back down a few hundred points.
Swearing Ichigo knew this was it, Archer and the others would be too late. Chad looked at him and Ichigo found it pissed him off to know his friend and him were going to die facing a few computer-generated monsters. They had faced soul eating creatures, a man aspiring to be god and many others some where in between but they were going to die in some lousy ass GAME!
All because the truth of the matter was they hadn't gone out and bought more teleportation crystals. Hacking the head off one of the golden ants he swore again, he didn't want to die this way. This was SO STUPID!
Back to back with Chad, Ichigo knew he could only take about one hit more from one of the Elephants and if the ants got ahold of him again he could take two or three bites before it was over. Chad would last a bit longer and if he managed to use that other crystal he might make it, but it was ify and knowing his friend there was a good chance Chad was going to try and use it on him.
Angrier than he'd been in a long time he decided to hell with it, he'd never let death stop him before. Lashing out at the nearest elephant he was stunned when rather than flashing with his normal blue-ish skill boost the sword lit up in black, pitch black. Stunned he watched in almost awe as the Elephant that would have needed another two or three hits shattered in just one.
What the hell had he just done?
Looking to Chad to see if he'd seen it, he saw his friend's face turn determined, raising his huge hammer Ichigo was surprised to see it turn red, normally it was green. Then it hit him, Chad could do it too! It must be Full Bring! Grinning with bloodthirsty glee he slashed into the monsters attacking them: First he noticed using Full Bring reduced any damage he took by more than half, and it more then doubled his attack damage. Second really third, he noticed his speed was boosted, allowing him to dodge the attacks. So at the end of the fight when he was just a sliver of red hit points, he sat down back to back with Chad unable to believe for whatever reason they could use Full Bring inside the game. Not to mention he was a bit surprised he could even do it, Ginjo had stolen it from him after all.
Ichigo had to admit that had been one twist he'd not seen coming. "That was a surprise."
Chad grunted back, "I'll say."
They were quiet for a minute and Ichigo had to say not feeling real pain was definitely one of his favorite parts of the game, other wise he'd be a bleeding groaning mess. "Can I have that healing crystal?"
Chad laughed a short laugh but pulled up his item list before passing it over.
Ichigo used it and felt much better about their chances getting off the plains now, "I vote we never leave home without teleporting crystals again."
Chad turned sideways and flopped over, Ichigo looked down at his tired and wounded friend, Chad was almost in the red after all, seeing the thumbs up he started snickering. Yeah, but it had taught them more then that, they could use Full Bring here.
That was when he saw Archer and her favorite five players following her at a high rate of speed. He'd almost forgotten calling her, now he was going to get it. But he had to say being alive and getting to look at her cute but angry face made it seem like a better day.
Kagome April 17th Floor 27 1:09 p.m.
They were starting back up after their rest for lunch, Captain and Naruto were talking about the time Naruto's sister had done something embarrassing, and how funny it had been, Souta was talking to Daono about what school would be like when they woke up, Suke-Oniki was playing guard and bringing up the rear-guard, she of course was playing leader.
Today it was just them, Callie was working her shop as was Agil, her other two players that were tempted to join hadn't yet, she really hoped Yumioni would, it would be nice to have another girl, especially since she would be more then a one dayer, she said she'd go three or four days a week to help frontline rather then completely retiring to her inn job. She was one of the few players with a high food skill, Kagome was another, and she'd met Asuna on the last boss hunt and she'd found out both of them liked cooking to relax. Not that there really was much cooking to be done, you just held your knife over things to prep it, then set it in the oven and whatever.
Lame but the designer was a guy, it was nice there was even a Cooking Skill, he could have ignored it all together. But since she was on the topic of food, the first thing she wanted to eat was ramen, stupid she knew but that was what she wanted because there was nothing like proper ramen here.
"Hey we have a secret room up ahead."
Naruto's statement had them all switching into professional mode, hands went to the special belts that allowed them three different items to be on hand, pricy but well worth it. They all had a healing crystal, and a teleport crystal, the third was left up to the individual, she had her new sword on it, she knew her current one was going to be broken in the next level or two. It couldn't take the damage levels they were facing but silly sentimental her, she didn't want to give it up until it had died.
Readying herself she looked over her troops, this level was weird, the monsters looked like they should be in a cave, rock type monsters: Boulder Golems, Stone Gnomes, and the rarer monsters were the Rock Lizards, and Crystal Wraiths; they looked like the Boulder Golems but clear, making them very hard to spot. But the tunnels looked like something from minecraft or that old anime Souta had liked Code Lyoko.
Refocusing on the secret room she nodded to Naruto to open it, he did so pressing the symbol. It flashed brighter blue and then turned into the outline of door before forming the door. They had seen two other secret rooms, both had minor quests inside them but Kagome knew Kayaba was the sort of evil genius to have added those to have some really kick ass trap room waiting for when some players had let their guard down.
Heaving a deep breath, she let her skill light her sword up in a soft pink then leading the way she entered the room. There was no monsters, just a treasure chest, like the other two. She let her skill fade, "Yasha open that chest, Naruto make sure to stay by the door, we don't want to get trapped in here."
Following the others over to the chest Kagome noticed that there was something different about this room, it seemed bigger than the other two. Turning in a slow circle she realized it wasn't just a little bigger it was a lot bigger.
Fear making her heart pound she shouted trying to stop it, "YASHA DON'T..."
It was too late, the chest was open.
The room's blue lighting turned red and and they all turned to look at the door Naruto was struggling to keep open. The door slammed shut knocking Naruto to the floor, Kagome was horrified to see Naruto was a quarter down in life points from his fruitless struggle with the door.
That was when Boulder Golems and Stone Gnomes started to pour into the room, Kagome hacked at the one nearest her but she knew the number was too much for six players, even if they were front-liners.
"Teleport crystals!"
At her shout, hands plunged towards belts. Kagome was pleased to see her orders being followed promptly and was reaching for her crystal when Daono the first to shout "Ralberg Teleport Gate!" stayed put.
Nothing happened, he didn't go any where.
Kagome realized what it meant same time as everyone else. "Shit!"
She hated being right, and more monsters were pouring into the room, no wonder it was so big there must be thirty or forty of them. "Back to back!"
Her, Souta, Captain, Daono, Suke-Oniki were fine having been close together but Naruto was off on his own and hurt. That realization bolted through her and whipping around she was terrified to realize already there were monsters between them and Naruto. Naruto's expression, from the glimpse she had, told her he knew it.
"Guys Protect Yasha! Yasha call for help! Zangetsu, Chad, anyone who might be on the frontlines today!"
With that she lunged forward trying to get to Naruto, she needed to buy him time to use that healing crystal. Souta yelled at her but she was pleased to see with a quick glance back the other boys were protecting her brother while he wrote up the message for help. Slashing she hated the fact she wasn't getting far, the room was so full of monsters she'd kill one take a step and then there would be another one.
The arm she had just cut off was falling in slow motion in front of her but she could see past the monster to Naruto trying to use the healing crystal but then a Boulder Golem caught him across the back. The crystal fell from his hand and the small thunk was lost in the sounds of the fight but the scared look in Naruto's eyes as he looked her way helplessly hit her somewhere deep. Even as he shattered Kagome kept fighting towards where he'd been, it was like her body was moving but her mind was stuck, she had taken damage she had no one to protect her back...
Turning back towards the rest of her boys she realized even if Naruto was gone the rest of them were still there. Everyone back there was hurt, even Souta. The hollow feeling of a hand punching through her upper shoulder broke her completely out of it, slashing upwards her skill guiding her blade she cut the Boulder Golem in half then and a mostly downward stroke she sliced and Stone Gnome in half. The damage didn't kill it so she cut across it again this time destroying it.
Twirling she let her skill fade and hit a new gnome while her other hand went searching for her healing crystal, she was about half way down, she got much lower and...
Damn it! She hissed lashing out with her sword only doing half the normal skill inflicted damage, that slash across the back had knocked her down further. Spinning in a circle she finally got the crystal out and used it, the time it took to start working seemed to be counted by heart beats. Stupid she knew, this was a game she couldn't really hear her heart but that was what it felt like. Then it faded and she felt the mental rush telling her it was working, hand now free she put it back on the hilt and activated her skill finishing off the monsters she'd been holding at bay.
Now she had to last for about a minute without taking damage.
Three more kills and she was back with the group. Her cover allowed Suke-Oniki to use his crystal for the ten seconds it took to absorb and the thirty seconds it took to get him back to full.
"AH HA!" Souta crowed, "SENT!"
Just like that they were no longer a square protecting the center but a circle united in the fight. Her normal high from fighting was chilled by Naruto's death. She didn't know if anyone else knew yet.
They were fighting and fighting and the numbness was starting to set in, Kagome remembered it well from fighting Naraku. Your body was fighting but your mind started to check out, it meant your ability to process the fight around you and strategize was starting to leave. Exhaustion did that every time.
It seemed like it had been hours but she doubted more then maybe - at longest, ten minutes had passed.
At least there didn't seem to be more monsters entering the room.
That was when, Daono the one at her left side made a mistake, she saw that hit take him through the side and she saw his face go blank, his hit points were in the red and worse he'd frozen. "DAONO!"
Her scream woke him up just in time for the arm to whack through his head. His eyes crossed and his hit points slid down to nothing; his knees trembled and strangely there was no fear on his face, if she had to name it, it would be acceptance. He knew he'd messed up and accepted the price.
The redline where the arm had cut into his digital figure appeared and then half way through slumping he shattered.
Souta's scream snapped her out of it, she woke up to the danger in time to catch a pick axe on her sword and save herself from further harm. But her brother's grieving sobs were distracting and when she looked around she found while everyone was fighting their edge was dull. All were hurt, Souta was getting dangerous low, his pain at his friends loss making him wild. Suke-Oniki was crying silently but he was doing better than Souta. Captain's face was set; not with pain or, anger but in determination. That was when she knew he knew Naruto was long gone.
There was only a dozen and half or so monsters left but a pick axe struck her sword and thing she had been thinking about just before entering the room happened. She was left without a sword.
"Shit." She reached for her belt only to be knocked down by a Boulder Golem.
Souta leapt in front her of her slashing wildly, he beat the Bolder Golem but left his back open to the nearest Stone Gnomes. He took a hit in the time it took her to find her feet and Kagome found all of Inuyasha's more colorful language running through her head as she tried to get between him and the Stone Gnomes while he fought another Boulder Golem.
She could see the double whammy coming and she had a hold of her belt but she couldn't remember if her sword was in the third or the second pocket. Her mind blank Kagome knew Souta was going to cry and stamp on her grave but she wouldn't regret taking these hits for him.
Then to her utter shock Captain flashed between her and the Gnomes.
His face was composed and calm, he was almost giving her a smile.
He was saying goodbye.
A scream escaped from her lips and her groping hand found her sword, but the picks were already peeking out at her through his body. The red shards were drifting away from him and Kagome hated him because in that moment he was saying what he'd never said to her in life. He liked her, he liked her enough he was pretty sure he loved her.
He shattered and it was just her, Suke-Oniki who was at Souta's side and her back, and her dumb brother.
Rage and fear blurred together and Kagome just wanted all those damned monsters dead already, was three of her group not enough?!
Lashing out at the four in front of her she was stunned when her sword lit up with a blue-violet glow rather than the normal pink of her skill.
Then the attack cut through all four and they fell to pieces.
Shocked, half an explanation already forming in her head she spun such that she was in front of her brother and Suke-Oniki and facing the last six or so monsters. Ignoring at the sounds from behind her she just thrust her still glowing blade at the monsters and in a shape much like arrows the glow leapt from the blade and struck down each of the monsters.
The room spun around her and she let her body give way underneath her, she had just used her miko powers. Flopping over on her back she started to laugh even as Souta and Suke-Oniki's forms blurred above her.
That was when she saw her stats, not what she had just gained for surviving this but her remaining hit points. She was down to just ten left, she was a tiny sliver of remaining life.
How?
Her body stopped shaking with laughter and suddenly she could hear Souta and Suke-Oniki.
"You had better snap out of it sis!"
Kagome blinked up at them, and she was amused in vague way when they realized she had stopped laughing, the uncertainty was funny.
"Souta if you ever loose your head like that again I will take it off myself."
He swelled up, anger turning his face more blotchy then it already was. "I'm not the one turning myself into a human shield or using a sword I knew might break at the wrong moment! I just lost my first friend and saw two other human beings die!"
Kagome felt her eyes drift closed, her heart hurt for her brother. She knew she had seen atrocities he had never and likely would never see but she had never lost a best friend. Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, even Shippo had been better equipped to survive than her. If anyone would have died back than she likely would have been the first.
"Damn it Archer open your eyes!"
Letting her eyes flutter open Kagome could already feel her battle healing feeding her points back. "I'm not dead dummy. I just feel like I got dragged on quest all around Japan again."
Suke-Oniki's eyes flicked from her to Souta and back again. "You know how you killed those monsters don't you?"
Kagome hesitated for a moment before just going with, "Shrine. We live on a shrine. I'm an actually miko, powers and the abilities to see demons and ghosts. That 'attack' was my powers finding a way to manifest in the game."
She let her eyes close again, she had killed all the monsters and in spite of not getting hit again had almost died. Why?
Her powers obliviously. Purification. Sacrificial type ability. In order for them to work in the game when they weren't programed, they worked their way in when they could. She took hit points away from herself and used them in a double or triple way to take them away from monsters.
Probably about the only way the computer could calculate how much damage she was doing.
Her soul didn't have a level after all.
That was when the sound of the door opening startled her, her eyes flying open she heard Zangetsu's voice, he was calling her name.
Then he and Chad stopped, their footsteps halted and she knew they had taken a head count. Tilting her head back she could see the horror tinted sympathy on his face. He knew Captain, he knew Naruto and he knew Daono. They were as friendly with him as she was.
"Get us out of here Zangetsu."
He moved over to her side and helped her brother pull her to her feet, then was the one to sling her arm over his shoulder to keep her steady.
"What the hell happened Archer?"
"What did Yasha's note say?"
"Directions about how to find you and an s.o.s saying you were trapped."
"You couldn't use teleportation crystals. It was a trap."
The silence spoke for it's self, she knew he was thinking about his own close calls and how she had, had three times the number of people he had.
April 17th Floor 27 4:31 p.m.
Kagome thumped down the stairs of the inn they were staying the night at, Souta had finally fallen asleep but only after spending two hours grieving for his friends. She understood and had cried with him but once again she was stuck on the difference between his experience and hers. Kagome ached for her brother, but she still knew compared to her brother what she felt was different, more regret and less 'why did this happen?' She already knew the great truth, shit happens. And it happens to good people, but today she didn't think she fell among that number. She was almost healed, her battle healing skill was working wonders but at the moment she could had done with feeling a bit more wounded, then she might have been able to sleep.
Finding Zangetsu and the barkeep the only two in the common room, she slouched over to join him at his table. She could see in his normally hard face that he felt some kind of pity for her and tonight she couldn't handle that. What she wanted to do was get drunk, she had been drunk twice, once on that fog while traveling with Inuyasha and the day she had realized she had missed her chance to stay with Inuyasha. Forgetting sounded damned nice at the moment. The only problem was you couldn't get properly drunk here, you could drink and it would taste like what you ordered but other then getting a buzz you couldn't get drunk enough to pass out.
Flopping down in the chair next to him Kagome didn't think about it. "Bring me two bottles of sake."
The inn owner was a normal generated character, after this was no longer the front line you might be able to find more privately owned inns but on the front lines it was all NPC run.
"I'm not planning on drinking."
"Good because I didn't order it for you."
There was a pause and the NPC placed everything on the table and went back behind the bar, Kagome poured her first cup and sipped it, it was sake in taste and there was even the normal warmth running down her throat but she knew even as she readied the second it wouldn't give her what she needed. Not with everything running around and swirling in her head; three of her guild dead, some how she had some sort of Miko power here in the game and she had almost died today even if it was to save her brother.
"I didn't take you for the kind of girl who drunk sake."
Looking up she took in Zangetsu's scowl, laughing she sipped the second and then poured herself a third. "I have been drunk two times in my life the first was not my fault, I didn't even know I was drunk until me and my friends were trying to forget how stupid we all acted. The second was the day I realized I had missed my chance with man I loved."
She downed the third, and poured her forth. "I wanted to finish school. I was too young to run away with him. My family would worry and wonder what happened to me. In the end I think the real reason I'm bitter is because I know deep down even if I would have died for him I was scared. The worst part is I think he knew. I hate to think he knows deep down I was afraid of what would happen to us if I didn't finish school, if I didn't grow up."
Drinking deeply she enjoyed the heat warming her frozen insides, the sake and the company gave her something to feel other then resentment or fear or even the fact she knew that fear had been edged with glee, the kind that came from living on the tip of a blade. "I had many friends once upon a time who enjoyed the warmth of sake and at the time I didn't truly understand it but as of today I think I do. Fear is nothing new, death is nothing, but no bodies... it troubles me. I know when we get out we can visit the graves, and speak to the families of the brave. But I find myself most angry about the fact is that death is so sanitized. The red spray is laughable, and there is none of the smell..."
Kagome tried to put a leash on her tongue but she knew by now; just as she had edge most players had to learn, Zangetsu and Chad were just like her, they knew what violence was like outside.
Zangetsu's expression was deep and dark but the pity had died out and now he looked at her considering what she had just told him. While he thought Kagome tried to contain the frustration, her anger, the sadness. It was grief and she knew it, and with the mild buzz of Sake she knew the things she had been thinking about when it came to Zangetsu and Chad were spilling over and things were falling out of her mouth. Finishing the first bottle Kagome tried to keep her focus, three of her people had died today. One of them for her.
Frustration surged and she flung the empty bottle to ground, it broke and the shards hovered in the air for a moment before fading away. Taking the second bottle she started on it, she didn't want to think it but the way Zangetsu was studying her made her nervous.
The guilt pinged and Kagome shut her eyes trying to stop thinking about the soft way Captain had looked at her before shattering. She had known he liked her, she had ignored the one advance he'd made towards her, then no doubt he'd seen the way any guy who flirted with her had the door slammed in his face. Some of it was her first mission was to get her brother out of here, that was her first thought. Her second was the fear, the feelings she still struggled with over Inuyasha. She loved him, but she didn't think it was pure. Not really, it might have been at the start of everything but she had no doubt it was tainted at least with her own doubts and Inuyasha's split feelings.
That had been why she came back, she wanted to test it, to see if she was still willing to live without electricity. To live some place where she was going to die years before she would in her own time. The answer had been yes. On the day after her graduation ceremony the only future she could see was with him but when she took her pack and stood over the well she found she had waited too long, the power left over from the jewel has drained away. Thinking back she had been able to realized if she had picked a day sooner, just a day before she could have gone.
But now all the power left was a moment enough to say good bye, Inuyasha had been on the other side of the well, he must have smelled her. He asked if she was coming and she had said she had taken too long. He'd been quiet and then said live well. She had felt his voice wrap around her, and linger in her ears before the connection had faded. She hadn't even gotten to tell him the same.
She stopped bothering to pour cups and started to drink straight from the bottle, trying to wash away the bitter taste.
Kagome wondered some times if Kikyo's doomed unhappiness lingered in her.
All the men who she either loved or loved her were never free to be happy with her there.
Her bottle ran dry and after opening her eyes to glare at it in irritation she set it back on the table. "Bartender another bottle."
Setting her arms on the table she couldn't help glancing out of the corner of her eye at Zangetsu. He was frowning thoughtfully at the table, the bottle was dropped in front of her and she opened it. Flicking the top off across the table she took a sip, Zangetsu then surprised her by sighing. Looking at him confused, she was startled when he stood up grabbed her arm and started dragging her outside.
"What are you doing?!"
Outside she couldn't help but flinch at the light, she believed with all her heart fake world or not it should have been raining.
"Drink isn't going to do what you want and I don't want to talk where someone could walk in."
"Oh." Kagome looked at the bottle she was still clutching, it was true it wasn't going remove the pain she was feeling but she might postpone the serious soul searching she was going to have to do. Captain's death and the love in his actions had spent her back into the emotional tailspin she had only been starting to climb out of in the real world.
Sighing she took a swig and started walking faster so Zangetsu wouldn't be dragging her. "Where do you have in mind?"
His eyes flicked to her and away again. "I'm heading to the edge of the forest, it's away from trails and having been on this floor for several days I doubt too many will be off the beaten path at this time."
Kagome nodded, conceding to his points.
The walk, all of fifteen minutes long, was silent after Kagome learned where he had in mind. Her thoughts were veering wildly between the thought he would lecture her, the next was... influenced was probably the word she was going to use, by the alcohol. He wasn't the sort to try and comfort her using his body. At least not that way.
She also knew if he lectured her about why she shouldn't drink... actually she couldn't decide if that would kill her fondness for him or lead to her beating the crap out of him. Tears were also possible.
She knew however this went it would probably decide their future.
And she was drunk.
Trying to not think unladylike words she couldn't help but find some of her turmoil fading with the peaceful woods, the way the light was shining down reminded her the woods by the well on the other side on the beautiful days when she'd crossover just after school.
Zangetsu stopped at a small, not really a clearing, but a place where the trees gave them a good five feet of distance. Leaning against a tree he crossed his arms and looked at her thoughtfully, wishing he'd picked a time when she wasn't buzzed she decided now was a good time to set the bottle down.
Setting it down she decided to sit at the base of the tree, he was taller than her anyway, standing wouldn't give her that much of an advantage. Plus she had just drunk two full bottles of sake by herself. Yep she was an idiot.
It had seemed like a good idea at the time.
"how... How do you know what death looks like outside?"
Slightly startled that was his first question she supposed it was as good a place to start as any. He would get to how she knew him for what he was later. "I am a..." Blurting it out? Stupid! "I might say something you don't believe but bear with me."
His face's expression didn't change much, but his scowl deepened a touch. Likely because he wanted to pay close attention to what she said.
What was he going to believe? Mentally running in panicked circles she went with a half truth, and that's what it was - not a half lie. "I have some memories of a past life. Vivid, and... Horrible. I remember great battle fields: so big, with so many dead there weren't enough people left alive to bury the dead. Yet I could eat lunch right by them. As long as the wind wasn't blowing my way. I have strong recollections of fighting and being drenched in blood, others and my own. I remember how I died, I was attacked and thought the man I was in love with had done it. I went after him with my dying strength and cursed him. I remember a lot of things about being a feudal era Miko."
"Then you must remember dealing with ghosts."
Frowning a little she looked up at him and found him watching her with a great deal of intensity.
"Yes, ghosts of a sort. Demons and revived dead as well."
That has him looking a touch puzzled. "I... I'll ask about that later."
Shaking those thoughts away he moved on. "So you have powers of sort."
"I'm a miko, same powers, with a couple extra. She was a brilliant archer and I learned to be one as well."
Zangetsu smirked at that, "Guess we know how you picked a name don't we Archer."
Rolling her eyes at him she figured this wasn't so bad, so she gave in to her desire to sleep dreamlessly tonight and took another swig of sake.
He pursed his lips and she found something in his eyes, not sympathy, but more like compassion.
"So how did you pick me and Chad out as being different?"
Kagome grunted, it was laughably obvious if you looked or had a clue what to look for. "It isn't obvious to you?"
He frowned and shook his head.
"I was mistaken for a beater at a couple points after joining the front line, and I bet you were too and the answer is because: First boss fight, first big fight. They're afraid. Most master it and fight on but those who have played before, those who had risked their lives before either don't have that hesitation far as anyone can see or shake it off much quicker. Plus..." She added it to be fair. Struggling to her feet, Kagome noticed the sake bottle was most of the way empty. Strange she didn't remember drinking more than a sip or two.
"Archer?"
Lifting her head up she realized she had been staring into her bottle. "Oh, right."
Carefully putting her sake bottle down she was slightly amused that she had to think about bending over. In the real world a bottle of good stuff would get her to this point. Here it took three bottles. That done she straightened with care and drew her sword, Zangetsu raised an eye brow at her but she just brought up a screen and sent him the invite for a Duel. First strike would do for this fight.
He looked at her, his eyebrow almost seeming to ask for him.
That got her to start giggling, the idea of his eyebrows being something alive and moving on their own while on his face was goofy. Mastering herself as he accepted she waited that sixty seconds then attacked, since he was curious he just blocked it when he could have counter attacked or used her drunken state against her.
"That is what I'm talking about."
His face furrowed in confusion and she smirked at him and attacked again, not using her skill, and even though she was a two handed fighter she used only one. Then he got it she could see it in his face.
"You move faster than the skills, you attack without the skill glow. It might kick in a moment later but we're already moving."
He nodded and that was when she attacked, going for surprise, getting in a small slice across his nose.
It was enough to end the duel.
Ichigo April 17th 4:59 p.m.
Staring at the drunk girl before him he couldn't deny part of why he'd been so curious after she saved them that first time was he had seen her attack without a skill guiding her. So thinking he'd been the only one to notice such things was stupid, wasn't it?
But it wasn't the only way he knew and she had pointed it out herself. Even if it was silently. 'You know what death looks like.' he did. That he did. Sighing he decided it was time to stop kidding himself. He had a thing for her, and not a little thing but like….
Urahara had ruined him.
And Yoruichi.
Probably Matsumoto too.
He knew way too many perverts not have a dirty mind. Not that he probably wouldn't have felt the same way without them. Archer was flat out hot. End of story. He'd seen her beating guys off with a stick, and done it with a completely bored face too. She wasn't the kind of girl to be bought with flattery.
Which on second thought was good for him because he didn't know the first thing about flattery.
But that attraction he'd felt for her made sense even if he hadn't realized it right away, they had a lot in common. She knew about horrors most couldn't imagine and he knew about that too. The woman he was afraid he might already be in half in love with seemed to be frowning into her third sake bottle. He was pretty sure it was because it was empty.
Ichigo sighed again and ran a hand over his face, he wanted to talk to her about his past, he wanted to comfort her, he wanted to kiss her, not that this was the time. But seeing her trying to act normal and not cry made him hurt for her. She lead a group and it seemed like she thought that meant she had to do all the comforting and take nothing back. Those deaths weren't her fault, it was a trap, that was what it was meant to do, kill. It was only her bad luck her group found it first.
He got what she'd been talking about earlier, she wanted to drink away her pain and if he'd been old enough to drink when his mother died he had no doubt he would have become a full blown alcoholic. She said she had only done it to dull the first bit of pain.
Aw hell. Pinching the bridge of his nose Ichigo found himself momentarily glad he didn't seem to be able to contact or hear Zangetsu and his hollow. He didn't like thinking about how he felt and why he felt that way if he could help it, and commentary would have been irritating.
Sliding down the tree at his back he looked up at her waiting to see what she would do. She looked at him taking a minute before deciding to come and sit closer to him. Watching her pick her away over like she was doing a difficult task was amusing but at the same time all he wanted to do was explain a few things to her.
Once she was settled, she looked at him a cute look of curiosity on her face. Trying to focus, he found his mouth was dry. Damn. He was taking too long to start talking. she was starting to look awkward. "Me and Chad will be joining your guild."
Too abrupt. She looked startled just then, and now she looked like she was confused. Wait a moment she's drunk... now she's teared up. He didn't want her to cry but it probably was unavoidable, three people died under her command today.
Sniffling she's wiping at her eyes trying to hide her feelings again. This habit was kinda annoying, they were alone, she could cry, he wouldn't really blame her even if he didn't have a clue what to do to help her feel better.
"You-sniff- would join a guild that just got cut in half. -sniff- And take orders from a girl?"
"Yeah..." he ran a hand through his hair thinking about how he feared girls a lot more than men. "I will have no trouble with that last part. Unless you're wrong. Then – it doesn't matter who you are or how tough you are. I'll never agree."
She was staring intently at him, a little smirk on her lips now. This reminded him of some of the eleventh squad members, they would go from blissful drunk to ripping your head off. Luckily she didn't seem to be violently inclined.
"That sounds like back story."
Ichigo tilted his head back resting it against the tree. "Yeah it would be back story. In the real world I have the scars to prove it."
"Scars hun? I have a few of those myself."
Look back at her it was his turn to smirk. "Bet I have way more than you."
But instead of smirking back she narrowed her eyes at him and frowned almost managing to look threatening. "Why? Because I'm a girl and can't handle pain?"
His eyes went wide, that was not what he meant at all. "No. I would never say that about girls, my friend Rukia would kill me. But I doubt you can top some of the injuries I've had."
"You would probably be right however I bet I've seen stranger injuries. Not to mention my love..."
She was looking conflicted now, a bit angry, a lot sad and rather drunk. She had mentioned having been in love before, admittedly she would not be the only person he knew to have fallen in love at a young age however he couldn't say the same thing. He figured a lot of it was he wanted a woman who could not only take care of herself (Rukia came to mind) he wanted someone soft and loving (Yuzu and his mother were his ideals in that one) he also couldn't help but hope she'd be hot too. There were a lot women that came to mind there; Archer was the new forefront on that list.
"My first love Inuyasha."
She had said that last bit strongly, like she was saying it out loud for the first time. She had been cold to other guys who asked her out or tried to flirt, was that guy why? Wait – Inuyasha? "Your brother's screen name?"
She giggled. "He was – ahem. He was my brother's hero, and a I don't blame him, a..."
Her expression was a funny mix of bewilderment and frustration.
"What's wrong now?"
She looked at him and her face was a mask of disbelief. "I don't know how to even start explaining without sounding nuts!"
He laughed, the startled sound in her voice, the over-the-top reaction all added up to her being inebriated. "I know the feeling. It's hard to explain how I'm even alive now after everything I've been through. You don't get stabbed in the chest as many times as I have and live. I've often wondered what would happen if I have to go to a hospital for some normal reason and they saw all the scars."
Archer started laughing. "I know the feeling, my grandpa made up stupid excuses so no one would question why I missed school but he used old people reasons so I wondered what would happen if someone hired me and saw my supposed medical history."
Her giggles were starting to sound more like sobs and tears were starting to run down her face. Ichigo hurt for her but didn't want her to keep bottling everything up. Even now she was trying to wipe the tears away and stop crying.
Mentally scrambling he decided the only thing he could do that would let her just keep crying was hug her. He comforted his sisters by giving them hugs so it should work... Hopefully she wouldn't hit him. Gently reaching out Ichigo was startled by how easily Archer let him pull her close to give her hug. There was a moment where he couldn't help but notice for a game she felt like a real person, he could feel her trembling as she tried not to cry. Then she started laughing into her tears, frozen Ichigo let her pull away. He was embarrassed and afraid she was laughing at him and it was only looking down into her face he got it. She was laughing because she was embarrassed about crying.
I need to say something. Anything. Words. Comforting words. um. um... "It's okay to cry you know."
Idiot, that wasn't very comforting. Crap, now she's crying harder! Frantic and wishing he could some how smack himself, he kept talking. "I know when my friends got hurt I always beat myself up and I know if one of them had died..." he trailed off.
If one of his friends had died because he had taken them to Soul Society or Hueco Mundo he probably would have done more than cry. It was a bad habit but he really did tend to blame himself for everything.
"You don't get it."
The choked words confused him, looking down he felt a jolt in stomach when he met her tear stained blue eyes. More tears escaped her eyes as he looked at her, her arms resting on his lap supporting her as she looked up at him.
"I'm crying because I'm angry with Captain, and I'm also so damn grateful."
She tilted her head back down and wiped at her eyes, it didn't stop fresh tears from forming but he got the feeling the eye contact between them was too much for her at the moment.
"I killed Naruto when I ordered him to stay by the door, he was cut off from us and died first." she took a deep breath and he noticed the shudders got stronger.
"I had tried to get to him through that hoard, that huge room was just filled, every step I took I had to kill something. Yasha was being protected by the others while he got that message off, so he..."
Staring into Archer's half hidden face he was startled when she looked up her eyes almost burning into him. "You need to understand - I don't care if I make it out but I will do everything and anything to get my brother out. If you join my guild I can't promise I wouldn't let you die to save him."
Ichigo felt like the world had just shifted, everything had just come to focus on the girl in his lap. Most would have felt hesitation, or fear, three people had just died and she was saying in her world it was almost okay because her brother survived. But deep down he knew he had just met the first girl who would understand why and how he spent his own powers; Rukia understood on one level, all his friends did but this woman understood the darker side of that. She had just said she would go to hell and back for her brother's sake.
A laugh escaped him, he didn't mean to but how do you answer that? "Good thing I feel that way about my sisters."
Then a moment of reflection reminded him he felt that way about anyone he cared about. "And my friends. My dad... he's on his own."
There was a moment where he could see awe in her eyes, she knew he understood. Then the tears were back. "I wouldn't ask but..."
Her breathing was getting uneven and he could tell her throat had closed up on her, since she hadn't pushed away or pulled from him he figured she wouldn't mind him rubbing her back. He didn't know how long he just sat there and rubbed her back but her heaving shoulders didn't stop and nor did the sensation of dampness.
Then just like that her breathing slowed, and then the tension in her back died away and she went limp. Startled he stared at her, she had fallen asleep? Slowly he moved her hair and yes, she had fallen asleep. Looking at her Ichigo was almost as surprised that she had fallen asleep, as he was by the feelings her implied trust inspired with him.
Falling asleep in front of a player like this could lead to a sleep P.K. To just fall asleep like this said she didn't think she was in any danger at all. He hoped. Actually he was pretty much sunk, he'd liked her since he saw her, then she saved his and Chad's asses, another thing to like about her. Then there was this. If she could cook he figured he was screwed. Completely. Sunk.
Covering his eyes he tried to figure out why he thought spending more time with her was a good idea. He wanted to get home to his sisters and all of his friends, she wanted to get out of here with her brother. Not to mention she seemed still hung up over that Inuyasha, oh and she habit of turning guys and girls down flat.
Falling for her here and now was dumb, incredibly dumb.
He should stop thinking.
"Damn it." Heaving a deep breath he decided Chad would distract him, but first he needed to get Archer back to the inn. Gently shaking her shoulder he was concerned when she didn't stir, then he remembered how much sake she had drunk. Oh.
"Archer!"
She started stirring at that: "Five mo..."
"Wake up."
"-minutes."
"Come on we need to get back to town."
Her eyes blinked open, but he could tell she wasn't focused, but some how it was cute. "Archer you need to stand up so I can get you back to bed."
"Ooooh." she pushed up and Ichigo squirmed, that hand pressing in his hip like that was dangerous. But she managed to get herself sitting upright, and when he got up glad this world didn't have pins and needles she offered him her hand. She stumbled into him but managed to stay upright, so they walked back to the inn. That was when Ichigo realized just how long they had been out, the sun was almost completely set. Chad was going to be looking for him.
Of course with Archer hanging off him the twenty-ish minute walk took twice that so it was full dark by the time he could see the inn. Knowing Archer wouldn't want to be seen like this, he certainly wouldn't, he took her in the side door that went straight to the stairs to the bedrooms. It was a good thing he had been here when she rented the rooms, other wise he'd need to ask her and she didn't seem to be in any condition to answer him. The stairs were a bit harder for Archer to manage and it was only the likelihood that she would scream if he tried to carry her like that, that kept him from scooping her.
Finally in front of her room Ichigo was glad to see she knew where they were because she pulled her key out, helping her unlock the door he pulled her the rest of the way in, once she was inside he handed her the key.
"Lock the door behind me."
Staring at her until she nodded, he then managed to smile at her. "See you in the morning."
Closing the door behind him, he waited for her lock it behind him and at the snick he headed back down the stairs. Chad should be in the common room ordering dinner for the two of them. Pausing just outside the doorway he tried to collect himself. That last hour had been a bit more emotional then he had planned on.
Running a hand over his face he let his breath out in a big whoosh. He had picked a really bad time to fall in love. There had to be irony in this, falling for a girl who had no time for him was straight out of a manga. Heaving in another deep breath he walked into the common room and found Chad sitting at a table by the kitchen, walking over he was amused by Chad's zen like attitude towards him disappearing on him.
Going through the now crowded room he joined Chad, the noise meant he and Chad would have to be listened to on purpose or no one would be able to hear the whole thing. "I told Archer we'd be joining the Guildless."
Chad's grunt mixed with his friend's raised eyebrow was equivalent to a question.
"Yeah like you're surprised, after today her guild is hurting and we knew after floor twenty-five we needed to find a group in the next five floors."
The snort spoke volumes. Really Chad? Mocking skepticism was not helpful no matter what Ishida said. "And of course I want to pick her guild because she's hot."
Chad just stared at him.
"You're really not being fair, of course I know what my other reasons are. So stop asking."
His friend's deadpan made him want to punch him, taking a deep breath and forcing his eyebrow to stop ticking Ichigo then let all that air out. "If you don't want to join her I can't make you."
His best friend held his stare for a moment longer before letting out a low chuckle. "As long as you're sure."
Ichigo crossed his arms and glared, teasing him again. Sometimes he sort of resented Chad's room-mate's humor. Chad had learned some annoying habits. Huffing he knew Chad did it to lighten the mood, but really he wasn't in a bad mood or even down, he just was cursing how his live resembled a manga. "You order dinner yet?"
"Nope."
Sighing he stood and went to barkeep and ordered dinner for Chad and him, getting back to the table he was surprised when Chad asked him a question like the conversation hadn't been interrupted.
"So is it really going to be okay if she and the Guildless see?"
"Hun?" He slumped into his seat mildly confused.
"Fullbring."
"Oh..." he thought about it, this could be a deal breaker but if she remembered a past life, and felt sure she could tell him that, even if she was drunk he could probably let her in on his and Chad's little cheat card. Admittedly they had quickly learned the down side of using their abilities, they had half an hour of fighting before the bonus state of Fullbring ended and they were left with their stats halved for the next fight. "That's not going to be a problem, I have a feeling she has a few secrets of her own."
After all why would she tell him about being a miko? Why would it matter in the game? When she had said she was an archer... No like he and Chad, she had probably mentioned it because one day she would do something outside of the game rules.
That was when he noticed Chad smirking at him, he put it together quickly. He had gone missing. He had a thing for a girl who was grieving. He had just said they could trust her with something so secret they had only used it three times. Oh and on top of that he had just admitted to Chad that the time he'd been gone he'd been with her. His cheek were beet red and he knew it. "You pervert."
His friend's smile widened.
Glaring he tried to stop blushing. "You have spent far too much time with Urahara."
Chad started to snicker. But not before he threw out a come back of his own. "Who's the one who realized how it sounded?"
"Just.. just shut up and wait for dinner."
April 18th Floor 27 6:56 a.m.
The light burned her eyes and just like that she was awake. Confused she rolled away and realized she was still in her battle clothes and that pinch in her side was her sword.
Oh right. I drank three bottles of sake and talked to Zangetsu.
Shit! Thinking franticly she sat up and tried to remember everything said, had she admitted her crush? no... but she had cried all over him. And... and admitted she'd let him die if it meant her brother made it out. Idiot! Cursing herself she wondered if after that he'd still want to be part of Guildless. Sure he'd said he'd feel that way about his sisters but they weren't here and to see them again he'd have to make it out.
Sighing she ran a hand over her face, that reminded her that it had been far too long since she took a hot bath, or even a shower. That was going to be one of her favorite things about getting a club house, now it was just a luxury because here you didn't really need to bath. Actually thinking about it made her squirm every time. After all she had no way of knowing if she was getting washed outside or not.
Shaking her head she went to the small wash stand and wiped her face and arms down, at the moment that would have to do, tomorrow she'd plan on going to the hot springs on the twenty-first floor. Ready for the day ahead she knew today would be them visiting the obelisk on the first floor, and then she ask for a vote about going to the dungeon for the afternoon.
Walking down the stairs she was surprised to find Zangetsu and Chad sitting with her two boys. Had she not scared them off?
Nervous and wishing she didn't feel so mortified she went to edge of the table. "Morning."
Zangetsu looked up at her his normal scowl in place. "Morning. What do you want for breakfast?"
Kagome felt off balance, not straight to the point? No weird looks for being a selfish person. No reaction to what happened last night? He wasn't any more interested in dating then she was. That was it. Or he'd never been interested in her from the start. Focus you love sick baka! "Normal stuff. I don't really feel like eating."
Zangetsu nodded his head and stood up to order her food.
Sitting down next to her brother she greeted Chad. "Morning Chad."
"Archer."
They sat in silence until Zangetsu came back, he sat down at his place again and started the discussion for the day's plans.
"What is the plan for the day Archer?"
Looking at him she looked at Chad and then back again. "You still plan on joining us?"
"Yep."
She looked at Chad and he gave a nod with a serious look on his face.
"Okay... You know the guild policies?"
The two of the shook their heads.
"Yasha fill them in, I'm gonna eat."
The NPC dropped her breakfast in front of her, picking at it she was glad to know Souta seemed to have no problem with the two joining them so soon. Suke-Oniki seemed somber but he didn't seem upset that they were talking membership now.
They spent twenty or so minutes talking about the guild and Kagome tried to eat but in the end she only managed half of her plate. "You guys still in?"
Zangetsu tilted his head and almost smirked. "You keep asking that and one might think you were trying to get rid of us."
Kagome stared at him before deadpanning. "Oh, no, I've been discovered."
Suke-Oniki snorted and Souta elbowed her.
Rolling her eyes, she just shrugged. "Excuse me for being a bit doubtful."
"Still, sign us up."
Shaking her head she sent them the invites, very quickly both of them opened the invites and hit accept.
Kagome felt the little knot of fear relax, he had meant it. But on the other hand getting over her crush either just got that much harder, or easier.
