Sometimes I hate this site's formatting. I really do.
Chapter 3: Rat Pack
Yashin sighed. He was bored. It had been a few days since he had saved that group of people, but there was nothing to do now. The "red" players were keeping a low profile, so he had nothing much to do. Even with Christmas coming up, there just seemed to be nothing going on. He groaned and flailed his arms around wildly. "Ah, blast. I'm so bored. I wish there was something to kill, or something to try to kill me! Why does this game have to be so boring!"
All other people in the square he was sitting in started to edge away from the obviously crazy person. I mean, who would want more things to try and kill them in this death game? It's not like they were the crazy frontliners who would go around fighting deadly bosses. This was, after all, only the 27th floor, and the clearers were already on to the 35th. Yashin sighed and was about to get up, before two thin arms wrapped around him.
"Neh, why the long face Ya-san, sa? Bored?" Yashin groaned and looked back over his shoulder, staring into the two brown eyes which now loomed above him, ringed by a brown cloak and dirty blonde hair.
"Argo, piss off. I was busy feeling sad for myself that there was nothing to kill. Well, at least nothing that screams. And there's no PvP tourneys going on, ya know? What's a borderline psychopathic ex-assassin supposed to do with their time, huh?"
Argo shrugged. "Well, there is something. I doubt it'll be very interesting, but…"
Yashin narrowed his eyes. "Well then, if it won't be too interesting, why on Kayaba's green, and occasionally other coloured, flying sky castle would you come to me of all people for help?"
"Because," Argo sighed, "you're one of the sneakiest people I know. And the only one I can actually trust to any degree. I mean, would you trust a guy called Judas Iscariot? Because that's the only other high level stealth player who isn't a PKer. Which is in itself surprising, at least based on his name."
"Eh, whatever," Yashin said. "I'll do it. How much you paying?"
"100,000 Cor."
Yashin laughed. "200,000 or 75,000 and an unrefusable request at a later date."
"Both are too high. I'm not willing to pay that much, and neither do I trust you to that extent. I'm not that stupid, sa."
"Oh? But you just said that I was the only one who you would trust to do this. So you don't really have a choice, do you?"
Argo sighed. "I shouldn't have mentioned that, should I?"
"Actually, it was good that you did. I would have found out eventually, I always do, and then you'd be in a whole world of pain. But let's make a deal. This is about Ki-kun, right? I'm almost certain of that. Yeah, he's my friend too. Well, maybe not quite a friend, but I like him. Kid's got spirit. And a heart. Heh, isn't that funny. A black knight with a heart. Eh, whatever. So, here's my price. 50,000 Cor, and one refusable favour at a later date. After all, knowledge is power, and all that rot."
"Deal. I'm sending your money now."
Yashin nodded and pressed the accept button on the screen that popped up in front of him. "So, what's the job?"
"I need you to follow Kii-bou," Argo said. "And he can't know about it. He just joined a guild recently, and if something were to happen to them… I don't know what he'd do. I tease him, but well… He's a friend, you know?"
Yashin grinned at her. "Yeah, I know what you mean. Sure then, I'll do it. I can't promise that I can save them if they get in trouble though. Remember that. Like you said, I'm a stealth player, not a combat one. I can take on players, but mobs? Different story, 'specially if Ki-kun and pals walk into a trap. I'll do my best, but no guarantees on anything."
"Oh?" Argo raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that they're going to run into trouble, sa?"
"Because Kirito attracts trouble almost as well as you do. He could walk into an empty room, and somehow run into a boss level mob. It's kinda silly at this point. Almost as bad as you and your luck for only running into dog based enemies. How did you get trapped in a tree anyhow?"
Argo blushed slightly and looked away. "I was low level, alright! They surprised me… and how do you know about that anyway?"
"Oh, did I not tell you?" Yashin pulled himself up from where he was lounging and stepped closer to her. "Like you said, I'm a stealth player. I may not be the best, but I'm a whole lot better than you. So keep an eye out. I. Could. Be. Anywhere."
With his last word, he pulled his cloak tight around himself, and just vanished. Argo blinked in surprise. "Wha… But… How even! That's not possible!"
Yashin smiled as he walked away from Argo's complaints about his hiding skills. Though she wasn't wrong. That it should be impossible, that is. With a sigh, he pulled up his menu and glared at the newest skill.
Invisible Man
You become impossible to see, provided you are either within 10 meters of a person who is not looking for you, or standing still for 60 seconds. And hey, combine this with pickpocketing and the world's your oyster! Whaddya say, Assassin-san? Hey, speaking of, you could sneak into Argo's room, couldn't you? Oh, did I mention that the ethics code won't activate? :lennyface:
With a growl, Yashin dismissed the box before looking up at the sky. "Damn you Kayaba and your awful sense of humor! I swear, when I get my hands on you, I will tear out your spine and beat you to death with it!"
This sent most of the people surrounding him fleeing for their lives from what they thought was some sort of glitch, as he still had Invisible Man active. With a few more curses, Yashin began making his way towards the friend marker that read Kirito. The things he did, really. It was such a pain looking after these kids like this. And hey, he had gotten Argo to pay him for something he was planning on doing anyways. After all, he'd already seen enough people die. He wasn't a hero, but dammit if he wouldn't try and save the kid who could be. After all, the Knights stood in the light. Kirito would lead the frontlines from the light. He would guard them from the shadows. After all, that's what he did best. The shadows are his best friend. After all, he was An Assassin.