Gun Gale Online: The Swordswoman

Chapter Six: Relapse


Author's Note

Yeah, I know, this chapter is short as hell. Sorry, guys. Still, I couldn't figure out how to keep going. So, I just decided to post this, despite the fact that the actual chapter content is less than 2000 words. So yeah, here it is. Hopefully, it'll suffice until I can write out the next chapter.

Well, that's it for this note! Without further ado, enjoy chapter six!


I went into my inventory, quickly materializing a «Corridor Generator». After the large, rectangular metal object appeared in my hands, I threw it into the air, where it hovered as I spoke the location I wished to travel to. "Open corridor: «SSC City»!"

From its spot in the air, the generator sprouted two blue, diagonal lines, which then curved around until they went straight into the ground. A blue light began to expand from the middle of the shape drawn by the lines, and soon enough, the corridor was ready.

"Let's go," I told her, looking over to her. She had a grateful smile on her face, one that made me feel weird inside… but it was a good weird.

What's going on with me? I thought, averting my eyes as I began walking towards the corridor.

"Yeah," she replied in a happy voice.

With that, we walked through the corridor together.


It was only after I arrived at Klein's doorstep that I realized how many things could go wrong with my current plan.

I can't believe I offered to let her stay here… I'm such an idiot! Well, at least it's only for one night. But…

I looked over at this girl whose name I still didn't know, and when she looked back, I saw her smile in a way that made my stomach do flips, yet also made my skin crawl. Why?

That smile… I thought, averting my eyes back to the door. Why does it have to look exactly like hers?

After a moment's hesitation, I opened the door, motioning for my blue-haired friend to go in first. She silently walked in, that smile still on her face. When I followed her inside, I was greeted with a whistle and shout from the perpetually-drunken one of Klein's men.

"Whoa, what a chick!" he shouted before turning his head to the stairway. "Hey, boss! Kazuto brought a girl here!"

I heard the telltale sound of Klein coming down the stairs, this time without tripping. As he walked, I heard him query, "And it's not Argo?"

"Correct!" Klein's intoxicated subordinate said. "Her name is— wait, what is her name?"

It was then that I remembered that I still had no idea what the girl's name was. Before I could tell him and inevitably get laughed at, I heard something I never expected to hear.

"My name is Sinon," the blue-haired girl said, saving me from an embarrassing situation I was sure I would never live down. But then, the gravity of her name started to sink in.

No way… this can't be real…

I stumbled over to a table, leaning on it for support as my body started shaking. After at least a month without incident, I was finally relapsing into remembering – and reliving – parts of the first «Bullet of Bullets».

After a few seconds of gasping for air, I vaguely registered everyone in the room, most notably Klein and the blue-haired girl now known to me as Sinon, rushing over to my side. I could feel myself slipping into unconsciousness, despite my best efforts to stay awake; I knew that if I passed out, the whole process would begin again.

Just as my friends got to me, I knew I couldn't hold on any longer. The memory of where I heard her name and the shock that came with it was too much for my tired mind to bear.

Everything faded into black.


I have to survive, I thought as I sprinted through the forest area, severing all of the branches that got in my way with my «Photon Sword». No matter what it takes. I promised her, and I don't go back on my promises.

I knew that surviving meant killing other players. Unlike the other players I had encountered in this horrific event so far, I had accepted it rather quickly. Out of the thirty-one other players, I had… killed… ten already. Even thinking of the word 'kill' made me nauseous before, but now, I felt oddly… calm. Maybe the adrenaline was so strong that it had started making me emotionally numb. Maybe after killing her, I felt that I had nothing left to lose. Whatever the case, I could only be grateful that in this state, I had no qualms about killing.

Even so, I knew it wouldn't last forever. After I won, the feeling would most likely wear off, and I would probably go insane. But, for the moment, I knew I had to take advantage of the serenity.

I stopped dead in my tracks, a light brown-haired boy about my age, just standing in front of me using his arms to block me. I couldn't see a weapon anywhere on him, so I could only assume that he had lost his sanity.

Just as I tensed my muscles to jump over the boy, I heard him say something that only reinforced my belief that he had lost any traces of sanity he had.

"Please, listen!" he shouted, his voice as desperate as his eyes. "You can kill me, but I need you to pass on a message to my friend!"

This intrigued me; this boy was actually giving up his life in exchange for his killer passing on a message? It seemed incredibly stupid, but for some reason, I found myself actually responding. "Don't you think that asking your killer to pass on a message to your friend could result in your friend's death?"

The response I got shocked me even more. This boy wasn't insane, he was a damn saint, and a naïve one at that. "I looked up to you for the longest time, so I know you aren't doing this because you enjoy it! You're incredibly kind, so I know you won't kill her!"

I sighed, looking at him with dull, lifeless eyes. "What is it?"

"I want you to tell her that not to blame either me or you for my death," the boy requested, leaving me wide-eyed. "And also… that I love her."

"What is her player name?" I queried, voice calm despite the thousand raging emotions tearing up my insides.

Why am I doing this? Why can't I just kill him and move on? What's wrong with me?

"Sinon," the boy said, his voice sounding relieved. "And my name is Spiegel."

I slowly pulled my handgun from its holster with my left hand, pointing it at his head. He didn't even flinch, only smiling at me gratefully.

"I promise you," I said softly, looking him in the eyes with a pained expression. "That if I ever find her, I'll tell her your message."

"Thank you," Spiegel replied, closing his eyes with a contented smile. He really was ready to die.

No, thank you, I thought as I took aim, watching the «Bullet Circle» appear in my line of sight. It fluctuated wildly before calming down and settling on his head. You reminded me that even in situations like this, every life is precious.

I closed my eyes tightly, not wanting to watch as I pulled the trigger on this saint of a boy. Even so, I felt my finger squeeze the trigger, and then—

Bang!

The sickening sound of shattering glass filled the area.


I awoke with tears streaming down my face, the dream still fresh in my mind. Damn it… I thought, clenching my hands into fists. Just when I thought they had stopped…

I took a look around through tear-filled eyes, quickly noting that the room I currently occupied was not the front room of Klein's legion base. Instead, I found myself in the comfortable bed in my room, with the lights off and curtains drawn. I sighed in relief, sitting up slowly. When I was fully vertical, I looked down at my hands, still shaking from the intensity of the dream. A lock of ebony hair fell into my field of vision, making me wonder where my hat had gone.

Looking over to my nightstand, I found my hat resting next to a picture taken of me, Argo and Klein eating at a diner to celebrate my return to the front lines as Kazuto. I smiled softly at the sight of the picture and the three smiling friends in it, forgetting about my troubles for the faintest of moments before I heard a knock on my door.

I quickly grabbed my hat, pulling my long hair upwards before stuffing it in my hat as I put it on. "I'm coming!" I shouted, rubbing my eyes to get rid of any remaining tears.

I got up out of bed, legs still a little weak. Damn… I need to get a grip, I thought, leaning on my wall for support as I walked. When I reached the door, I opened it, only to be met with a head of bright blue hair. I moved aside to allow the blunette entry into my room, where she sat on my bed before speaking.

"I don't know what happened," she started, looking down as if she was the one at fault. "But… I know you're hurt. Are you going to be okay?"

I wanted to tell her no, that I wasn't okay, and I wasn't sure if I ever would be. I wanted to tell her to leave me the hell alone, since she was half of the reason I relapsed. Instead, I found myself trying my damnedest to be strong, to brush off the pain. "I… I'll be fine."

"Did I have something to do with why you passed out?"

This question caught me off guard. I didn't think she would be so perceptive. I can't tell her… I thought, looking down at my slightly-trembling hands. She's smart. She would figure it out, and then she would try to kill me.

"No…" I whispered, smiling a bitter smile as the bill of my hat covered my eyes. "It's not your fault. It's just… I remembered something I've been trying to forget."

Fortunately for me, she didn't press for more answers, instead opting to get up and walk towards the door. She spared me one last glance, a sympathetic smile that I didn't deserve coming across her features. "If you want to talk about it, I can be your shoulder to cry on."

With that, she opened the door and left the room, shutting it behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut, I felt the tears I had been holding back build up in my eyes, and I made no attempt to hold them back.

I'm sorry, Spiegel… I wasn't able to keep my promise to you…

I fell back on my bed, raising my trembling right hand over my eyes. The hand that held the «Photon Sword» used to kill so many people…

I let my right hand fall across my chest, then brought my left hand up where its other had just been. The hand that held the gun that killed just as many, if not more…

Letting my left hand fall atop my right, I felt tears trailing down the sides of my face. Why is it… that I can't just move on…?


Author's Note

Yup, that's it for now. Backstories, backstories… they can be pretty interesting. In case you couldn't tell, that flashback dream was from the first Bullet of Bullets. What do you think?

Anyway, I'd like to take some time to address a particular review. I won't give any specifics, but I feel the need to respond to it, and any other person thinking what the reviewer did.

This story is yuri. There is no changing that, and if you don't like it, you don't have to keep reading. I'm not going to force you to read something that conflicts with your reading tastes, so please don't try to force those conflicting tastes onto me and this story.

Well, I've said my piece. There lies my opinion and decision, now it's your decision to keep reading or not.

Whew… sorry for all that. I'll just get on with not-so-generic disclaimer number seven, and then we can all get on with our normal lives! (Just kidding! I don't have one of those! :P)

I don't own it. Seriously, I don't. There is no way I could ever own the Sword Art Online light novel series or any of its adaptations without screwing them up big time. So yeah, just give up, copyright. I won't give in to your rein of fan-terrorization! I'll keep writing these disclaimers until the end of time!

See you next chapter, everyone!