Gun Soul
Part 1- Akira
Authors Note- Thanks to Frekat fro the OC! Your amazing! Gusy please go check him out, tell him I sent you! Anyway, hope you enjoy this new arc, I'll try to make the chapter longer (This is the longest one yet BTW), so please enjoy! Feel free to send any suggestion you have or comments/question, I'll try to makea habit of checking them. I also what to thank you guys! The support you have been giving me is amazing, so please except this hug! (Hugs readers) now on with the story!
It was a beautiful day in Japan. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, occasionally covered by a passing cloud. Outside in the parks kids were running around, like puppies, playing with each other. Teenagers were filling the malls and stores with their endless chatter, but not 17 year old Akira. Instead, he was locked inside his house, the windows all covered by curtains, reading some Manga that he stole from his older sister while eating a popsicle.
Akira was around 192 centimetres in height (If your americain, or anyone that uses ft and inches, that would be around 6ft 3in), and has a very thin body that makes most athletes jealous. He has spiky black hair that runs from the front of his ears to below his chin, reaching the back of his neck. His hair covers his narrow emerald eyes that radiate a sense of mischievousness. The only default on his whole body is his skin colour, which is a white that's almost grey, since he rarely leaves the house.
Akira's room is like most bedrooms. Theres a desk in one corner, across form that is a bed, a window right above it. Posters of anime characters lining almost every spot on the wall, except the area above Akira's desk, which contains a bulletin board with to do's like: Win Bullet of the Bills, Finish writing your fanfic, Finish watching Bleach, and stuff liek that.
As Akira indulges himself in his manga, a ping rings from his phone. Without looking away, he grabs his phone from his desk, quickly glancing to see what it wants. "Oh, it's only a text." Mutters Akira, quickly reading it. 'Hey you remember the update from 2 months ago, well they've added a couple new features!' is what the text say, it's sender is Sora, a in game friend of Akira's.
"Well, let's hope they didn't remove the update." Says Akira, spinning around to face his desk, quickly booting up his laptop. With a few clicks of his mouse, Akira accesses the GGO main site, looking for information on the update. "Hmm, let's see, here we go. Gun's Soul. Now all weapons have a soul which can help you find out secrets and missing parts of yourself. Leveling up your guns soul will make you more powerful, unlocking new original skills based of your nature."
"No, that's the old update, ah here we go. New quests have been added to support the previous update. That's stupid." Mutters Akira, shaking his head. Suddenly another ping comes from Akira's phone. Akira picks it up realizing it's from a old face. 'Akira, I need your help, please meet me inside GGO. -Sinon.'. "Well what do you know, Sinon needs my help, this could be interesting.
...
"Tet's a idiot." Mutters Sinon, walking down the streets of GGO. With her is Steph and Shiro. Steph's hair is tied into pigtails, much like her real self. She's dressed in red armor with gold edges. A pistol is equipped on her belt. Shiro's hair is let down, going all the way down to her knees. She's dressed in purple clothes, a armor plate on the front and the back of her clothes. On her belt is a silver pistol, slightly bigger than Steph's. "The update just made the game harder, not easier."
"Well, we have had the past 2 months to train, that should've been more then enough time." Says Steph, in a mature tone. Over the past 4 months, Steph had matured alot, training hard in GGO, in hopes of finding Sora. After the 2 months of Sora's absence, Tet had found the gamer in GGO, training hard for BOB. Tet then decide to add the gun soul update, with the hope of awakening Sora's memories, plus he wanted to make the game more fun.
"So who's the mystery contact?" Asks Shiro softly, as the gang turns into an alleyway.
"Just a friend of mine." Says Sinon, stopping in the alley. "He's pretty good at this game, he should be able to help us."
"Of course I'll help!" Shouts a male voice. Sinon turns to see a familiar looking boy standing on the rooftop.
"Akira." Says Sinon, nodding to him. "Been a while." Akira is dressed in a black coat, black jeans and black boots. The hood on his coat is drawn, covering most of his face, leaving just his playful smile.
"It has, champ." Says Akira, chuckling. "Or should I say, soon to be EX-Champ."
"Cut it cut." Says Sinon, grinning a bit. "We're not here to win, we're here to bring back a friend."
"I'm guessing that's why you need my help?" Asks Akira, raising an eyebrow from underneath his hood.
"I'm sure you've heard of the Old God Incident?" Asks Steph, ignoring Akira's question.
"Yeah, you mean the one in ALO? Yeah I heard, it was pretty unbelievable, but after the companies confessed about working with Sentro, and, well you know what happened next." The girls nod. After Sentro had brought back the dead, a large beam of energy burst through ALO, crashing the server for 2 weeks. During that time, Kirito and the others explained the situation online, leaving out the bits about Sora's sacrifice. Shortly after the information had been released, the companies involved confessed, causing the world to irrupt in chaos wondering what will happen next between Earth and Disboard. During the past 4, earthling had begun to fear the Disboardians, afraid that they might try to invade, using the virtual world as they're key.
"During the fight, lots of our friends died, so after Sentro was killed, a friend sacrificed himself to save everyone." Steph pauses to wipe away a tear dripping from her eye. "You might know him as Sora, he's my boyfriend."
"Sora, you mean that loner!" Akira laughs a hearty laugh that fills the alleyway. "Man, him dating someone, that's good."
Suddenly a loud smack resounds throughout the alley. Sinon and Shiro stare at Steph, stunned, as her hand rest above Akia's right cheek. The his hood falls off, thanks to the slap, revealing his spiky black hair, flutter slightly. All of a sudden, Akia starts to laugh, balling over in laughter. "Man, I've never been smacked so hard by a girl before. Your definitely Sora's girlfriend, someone who never gives up, that's who he is. I'll help you, it's my duty as Sora's friend to bring him back to the life he once lived."
"Thank you." Says Steph, staring at Akira happily, tears forming in her eyes. "Thank you!" With a swift motion she's crying, tears of happiness dripping fast onto the ground.
"Hey, it's okay, stop crying!" Says Akira. Suddenly he has an arm around her, smiling a kind smile at her. "Don't worry we'll bring him back."
"Thank you!" Says Steph, smiling up at Akira.
"Honestly, stop crying. How Sora can like you I'll never know." Says Akira checkley, squeezing Steph's boob.
"Hey!" Shouts Steph, holding her boobs, glaring at the boy. "You perv!"
"Well atleast you stopped crying." Smiles Akira, laughing. Soon everyone in the alleyway starts to laugh as well.
"I'll forgive you this time." Mutters Steph, turning away. "Let's go train."
"Wait, what's your plan?" Asks Akira, raising an eyebrow.
"Since when did you care for plans?" Asks Sinon.
"Since never, I just want to know what I need to do."
"We're taking part in BOB, then we're going to beat Sora." Says Steph, walking away, waving.
"Well, no wonder you need my help." Mutters Akira, jumping onto the roof. "Well I'll see you guys at the hunting field!" With that, Akira jumps away, running along the rooftops.
"He'll never change, will he." Sighs Sinon, stealing one last glance at the roofs, before following her comrades.
As the trio leaves the ally, 2 cloaked figures watch from near by. Once the girls or out of sight, the two figures throw of their hoods, revealing a boy and a girl. The boy has long black hair, making him look like a girl. He's wearing a black long sleeve shirt with a chest plate on either side of his body, and black jeans, a skirt is attached to his hip that goes all the way down to his boots. His boot go up most of ankle and leaves a small amount of space between the boots and the pants leg. Hanging from the right side of the belt is a laser sword handle. He also has on black gloves that leave his fingers out in the open.
The girl has long red hair, which is tied up in a ponytail. She's wearing armor similar to that of the boys, but in orange red. Unlike the boy, she's not wearing a skirt. On the left side of her belt sits a laser sword handle while a pistol sits on the other. She wears dark red fingerless gloves on her hands, and blood red leather boots, 3 buckles on each boot.
The boy waves his hair out of his face with his hand, while sighing a tired sigh. "Why do we have to do this Asuna." Complains the younger boy. "Just because you're worried doesn't mean we need to stalk the girls." After Sinon, Steph and Shiro had headed off to GGO, Asuna had pulled Kirito with her into that same world, so that they could help if they ever needed to.
"I'm not worried, Kirito." Mutters Asuna, sulking a bit.
"Yeah, yeah." Says Kirito, pinching Asuna's cheek, only to get a angry look from the healer. "If you won't worried, then you wouldn't of made me come here and train for 2 months."
"So maybe I'm a little worried." Asuna mutters shyly, turning away. "And Kirito-kun doesn't get a sandwich because he pinched me."
"Wah!" Shouts Kirito frantically, making gestures in the air. "I'm sorry, please give me a sandwhich!" Suddenly Kirito is on the ground , bowing to Asuna, causing people to turn and stare.
"Fine, I'll give you a sandwich, just stop making a scene." Laughs Asuna, as Kirito's face is filled with relief. "Come on, let's go, we should go train too." With that, the group heads off.
...
Steph sat on the edge of the castle wall, the same spot where Steph and Sora had sat during their date all those months ago, overlooking the city, and in the distance, a beautiful sunset. Steph sighed a beautiful sigh, her feet tapping the wall in an automated pattern, left, right, left, right. She'd sat here ever since the battle, this being the only place she went to other than Sora's room and her own during those first 2 months.
"Sora, I wish you were here." Murmurs Steph, remembering Sora's beautiful, carefree smile. "Today we met Akira. He's really strange, but I like him, he reminds me of you. He's really good at using his dual cannons, though he always goes right in a battle without a plan, but I think you'd like him."
Steph chuckles at herself. "What am I saying, of course you like, you met him before we did." For a moment Steph sits there in silence, staring at the sun, almost all the way underneath the horizon. Suddenly a buzz goes off from her phone. Steph smiled, remembering when Sroa had made cellphones, surprising everyone including herself. Making the internet was one thing, but making cell phone and connecting them with the cell signal of Earth was something else.
Steph glances down to see who the text is from, discovering it's from Lisbeth. 'Hey, call me, I want to hear everything!'. Ever since Sora's death, Lisbeth had been there for the red headed princess, counseling Steph as much as she could, once Steph started answering her calls that was.
"Hey Lisbeth." Says Steph, calling her best friend.
"Steph! How was today, you need to tell me everything!" Shouts Lisbeth, in a high pitched voice. "What was Akira like, is he cute? Did you see Sora? What weapons does Akira use, does he know Gun Soul?"
"Lisbeth, one thing at a time!" Giggles Steph, as she tells Lisbeth all about Akira, then about the events of the day. Soon the sun sets, but Steph continues to talk to her, the girls droning on and on about, well, everything.
"And Klein was all like, 'I'm going to slay them all!', and Leafa was like-" Says Lisbeth, laughing over the phone, before being cut off by Steph.
"Hey Lisbeth?" Asks Steph.
"What?"
"Do you think we can actually make Sora remember who he is?"
"Of course, what brought this on?" Asks Lisbeth, concern clear in her voice.
"It's just, that well, I'm scared , that Sora's really gone, and no matter how hard i try, I can't bring him back." Tears start to drizzle down Steph's face. "I feel like it's hopeless, and it's times like this that I turn to Sora and I know that he can do, but he's not here!"
"Steph, stop crying!" Shouts Lisbeth. "Theres no use crying about, crying nots going to bring Sora back. So what if you can't bring him back, so what! You can still be friends with him, hell, you can make him fall in love with you again. You did it once, you can do it again!" Steph laughs at Lisbeth's statement, a smile crossing her crying figure. "Sora wouldn't want you to cry, so buck up! Hurry up and bring him back so we can all go hunting again, and hangout in Asuna's cabin!"
"You're right," Says Steph, half crying and half laughing. "I'll bring him back for sure!"
...
Sora walked up the street, headed towards Akira's townhouse, which he shared with his older sister, hugging himself, trying to keep himself warm. Up ahead, Sora can see the familiar blue and red townhouse. The only rooms with lights on are the the two bedrooms on the top floor, Akira's and Akira's sisters, Mikki. Mikki was an Otaku, just like Akira, and was the one who introduced Akira to the world to video games and the Otaku life.
As Sora got closer to the door, he could hear the shouts of Mikki chasing Akira around the upper floor. Smiling Sora, clicks the doorbell, a cheery chime filling the house. He stands there for a couple minutes before the hallway lights turn on. The door opens to reveal a tall slender girl with long black hair. Strands of hair cover the right side of her face. She's wearing a black short sleeve shirt and blue jeans.
"Hey Sora." Says Mikki sweetly. "Can you come back in a bit? I'm busy beating up Akira."
"Actually, I really need to talk to him." SAys Sroa, awkwardly.
"I'm busy beating him up, please come back later." Repeats Mikki, this time in a menacing tone.
"You know what, I'll come back." Says Sora, turning to go. Suddenly a familiar cry sounds from the top floor of the town house. Sora turns to see Akira waving at him from his room, as he slides down a rope and onto the ground. "Come on Sora!" Shouts Akira, running off.
"Boys!" Shouts Mikki as the duo runs off into the town, chuckling. Soon the duo reaches an abandoned alleyway, both boys leaning on the walls, panting like crazy.
"I haven't ran like that in ages." Pants Akira, clutching his chest.
"Same," Groans Sora. "it hurts to much." The two friends laugh a laugh that fills the alleyway.
"So, what did you want?" Asks Akira.
"I just wanted to know where you were today, you didn't show up at the meeting spot."
"Crap!" Shouts Akira. "I'm sorry, I forgot about that, I was caught up with something else."
"That being, what?" Asks Sora, making a gesture that means 'Please continue'.
"I was meeting with some girls, um, old friends of mine." Says Akira hurriedly. "Anyway what's up with you?"
"Well," Begins Sora, not totally believing the younger boy. "I've been having strange dreams lately."
"How so?" Asks Akira, grateful for the subject change.
"I'm not sure, but every night I dream of a girl with red hair and a little girl with blue hair. Everytime I see them, my heart beats and something tells me that I know the, but I don't know from where."
"That is strange, but I'm sure you would remember those girls, considering your pervy nature." Lies Akira.
"I'm sure you're right!" Says Sora, laughing. "I don't what I was worried about, it's probably nothing, thanks bro." With that Sora leaves, leaving Akira to plop down on the ground with a sigh. "Man, this is so annoying."
"Tell me about it." Comesa familiar voice. Akira looks up to see a brown haired girl with glasses, her hair tied up in pigtails. "Sinon!"
"Hey Akira." Waves Sinon.
"How did you find me?" Asks Akira.
"I bumped into Sora, he said you were here."
"Wait you know him, but if you do, then why do you need my help?" Asks Akira. "Can't you just bring his girlfriend to meet him?"
"She's from the other world." Answers Sinon simply, earning a nod of understanding from Akira.
"So, how are you?" Asks Akira. "It's almost that time of year isn't it?"
"Yeah." Says Sinon, sitting down next to Akira. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing good, the mission is helping me keep my mind away from it."
"Makes sense." Says Sinon. "What do you think she would be like if she was with us?"
"Probably just like Mikki." Sinon giggles.
"Yeah Probably." Agrees Sinon, leaning on Akira. "I'm going to sleep on you for a bit, okay?"
"Sure." Says Akira, smiling. "This reminds you of when we were younger, doesn't it?"
"It does." Smiles Sinon. "Remember when we stole Mikki's video game console and ran all the way into town?"
"Yeah, we were so out of breath that we collapsed into an alleyway just like this one." Says Akira fondly, remembering the days of past. "Then we fell asleep on top of each other, when we woke up the console was gone and Mikki was glaring down at us."
"I remember that, we had to work for months just to pay her back! It's a good thing that she was there."
"Yeah," It's silent for a moment, before Sinon speaks up. "You remember when she made the nickname Sinon for me?"
"Yeah I do."
"Well when I started playing GGO, I modeled my username after that nickname."
"It exactly the same, we call that copying, idiot."
"Hey!" Shouts Sinon before they burst into laughter, before falling silent. For a while the two just sit there, enjoying each others company. Suddenly Akira speaks up. "Hey Sinon?" Sinon doesn't respond, having fallen asleep. Akira smiles and snuggles with, falling asleep with her.
FLashback- 5 years ago
"Hey Sinon, are you there?" Asks a younger Akira, banging on Sinon's door. Come on out! Next to Akira is a small shy girl, a little shorter than Akira, she stands timidly next to Akira, her chin resting on her hands. The girl has long blond hair, and wears a pretty white dress.
"Come out and play Sinon-san!" Shouts the little girl.
"Okay, I'm coming!" Cries Sinon, rushing outside to meet her friends. "Come on let's go!"
The trio ran off into the nearby fields, playing tag with each other, always dropping down in giggles. "Hey Sion, Akira, I have some money, lets go shopping!"
"Okay!" Says Akira, cheerfully.
"What about the dangerous burglars, we might get hurt." Says Sinon worriedly.
"We'll be fine," Says Akira confidently. "I'll protect us!"
"Yeah!" Shouts the the girl, rushing over to Sinon, trying to pull her up. "Big brother will protect us!"
"Fine." Says Sinon, allowing the girl to pull her up. "Let's go have some fun in town!"
Soon the trio is in the village, running from store to store, checking out all the goods. "There's nothing interesting here." Mutters the girl, upset. "Brother, let's go to the anime store on the other side and buy some posters!"
"But isn't that really far?" Asks Sinon. "It'll take us a long time to get there, before you know it, it'll be dark!"
"I know a shortcut we can take, it'll only take us 20 minutes!" Pips up Akira, the girls face lighting up immediately.
"But," Begins Sinon. "It'll be dangerous."
"Who cares?" Says Akira, waving away Sinon. "I'll be fine."
"Oaky." Says Sinon, unsure, following her friends into a nearby alleyway. As the trio runs through the alley, it gets darker and darker with every step. "Akira." Warns Sinon.
"We're almost there, don't worry." Says Akira.
"Yeah!" Shouts the girl. "Big brother knows what he's doing!"
Suddenly a big burly figure steps into the kids path, armed with a gun and a knife. Behind him, 2 other armed figures also appear before them. "Hey kiddies, hand over your money, or we'll shoot you!"
"No!" Shouts Akira, glaring at the men, instantly regretting what he said.
"What do you say kid?" Ask the man mockingly. "Did you say you were going to fight me? Well come one, let's see you fight!" The man fires a shot at the ground, making Akira step back in fear.
"Give them the money Akira!" Shouts Sinon. "There's no use in getting hurt!"
"No, I can't I made a promise that i would protect you guys, I won't fail." Says Akira, as he tries to swing at the man, but his legs won't move.
"Brother?" Asks the girl. "What's wrong?"
"I can't move, I want to fight, but I'm scared." Says Akira, tears dropping from his face. "I want to protect her, but I can't!"
"To bad kid, it's over for you!" Says the man aiming his gun, a gun shot ringing out. Akira stands there, eyes closed, bracing for impact, but it never comes. Akira opens his eyes to see his sister standing there, blood dripping down from her gut.
The girl turns around to look at Akira, smiling a bright smile. "If brothers scared, then I'll protect him." With those words, the girls collapses on to the ground, her eyes closing.
"No!" Shouts Akira, grabs her in his arms and rushes out of the alleyway, Sinon right behind him. Akira runs, runs all the way down the alley, and out into the street, stopping in front a crowd of people, He places his sister on the ground, her beautiful white dress stained with her own blood. "Come on sis, wake up!" Shouts Akira, shaking her. "Wake up!"
Present Time
Akira opens his eyes to see that he's still in the alleyway. Next to him Sinon is sleeping soundly. Akira carefully picks her up, as not to wake her, and carries her to his house. Outside, his sister is waiting. As he approaches she starts to rush towards him, but notices the sleeping figure of Sinon. Instead she helps him carry her into the house, placing her inside the guest room, a beautifully decorated room, coloured in white.
After putting their friend on the bed, Akira glances at the room, tears forming in his eyes. Mikki rushes to his side and pats him on the back. "You had that dream again?" Akira can do nothing, but nod. "I'm sure she doesn't blame you for what happened, I'm sure she never did."
"I know that stupid!" Cries Akira, rushing out of the room. "That's not why I'm crying!"
Akira runs up the stairs, locking the door. He slumps down on the door, crying into his arms. "It's all my fault. I should've listened to Sinon. If I hadn't, then she wouldn't of died. I wouldn't of lost my sister, and Sinon wouldn't of drifted away!" Akira looks up to the ceiling, tears streaming down his face. "I miss you Mira."