Pairings: Shigehiro/Tamaki. Kirito/Asuna. Furihata/Shino.
Warnings: AU Universe. OOC. Gender swap. Minor character bashing.
Disclaimer: I do not own Kuroko no Basuke and any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me
Chapter Nine: Sleep Player Killing
~April 12, 2024; Floor 50: Algade~
Tamaki was looking through the world map of Aincard—the latest updated version, that is—when she heard the sound of light footsteps approaching her and looked up only to see Shigehiro approaching her, two white disposal cups being held in each hand.
"Here." Shigehiro held one of the cups out to her even as he took a seat beside Tamaki on the wooden bench that she had been occupying. Ironically, the bench had been the same one that they've occupied every single time they came to Algade which is pretty often—seeing as how Egil had his shop here, and Kirito had his own house here—though not that he goes back to it all that often.
"Thank you." Tamaki murmured absent-mindedly even as she took the cup from Shigehiro, sipping from the straw—flicking through the blue-green hologram image of the world map of Aincard as she did so. Next to her, Shigehiro watched as she flicked through the details of floor after floor.
"Floor 56, huh?" Shigehiro murmured to himself even as the detail window popped up next to the hologram image. "We've come a long way since." He mused. "It's been nearly an entire year, hasn't it? Since we've been trapped in the game."
Tamaki closed all the windows of her menu interface and leaned backwards into the bench, staring up at the stars in the night skies above her. Like Klein had said so long ago—during their first day playing the game before any of them have even realised that Sword Art Online had became a death game—it is almost difficult to believe that they're currently in the middle of a game.
They could still feel the wind blowing into their faces and even the heat of the sun on their skins or even the coldness of the night—particularly in areas where there are cold climates. They could still taste food made by those who have Chef professions or even the NPCs who are designed to run inns or restaurants. They could still feel pain—though due to the pain receptors sent to minimal in Sword Art Online, even the slash of a blade on their body won't hurt as much as it would in the real world.
"It's the start of the new school year last week." Tamaki murmured, realising that it's already mid-April. "In just a few more months, it'll be the one year anniversary since we've been trapped in this game."
Shigehiro said nothing for several moments before he let out a sigh, looking at Tamaki. "Hey, are you sure that this is a good idea? We're part of the Clearers after all. Just sending Kirito, Klein and Kris as our guild representatives to the Clearers' meeting for that strategy meeting against the field boss…" He trailed off slowly.
Tamaki had never made it a secret that she had never liked the Knights of Blood Oath—thus far the top guild in the game. And honestly, Tamaki isn't the only one. There are loads of players—even the guild leaders who didn't like the Knights of Blood Oath, though arguably, no one could deny that they would need to work together with the guild members of that particular guild in order to clear the game.
When the Knights of Blood Oath was just created—they've started out like any other guild, slowly climbing to the top in terms of power—though arguably, some of the other guilds like the Liberation Army, ICE, Black Blades and even Phantom Blue are their match in terms of ability and power. Though as the guild grew more and more powerful, they grew in size as well, with the members of that guild growing more and more arrogant.
Tamaki had already lost count of the number of times when the few guild leaders that she is on relatively good terms with that they could almost be considered friends—Thinker, Yulier, and even the guild leaders of ICE, Black Blades and a few other guilds that while are not part of the Clearers, are responsible for the security and safety for the towns and players within the game—have approached her with some complaint or the other when they were hanging out as friends and not as the status of a guild leader.
Several of the Knights of Blood Oath members have apparently been abusing the fear and awe that the guild's name had to intimidate and even blackmail or extort several of the lower levelled players. Any complaints that the guild leaders have brought to the Knights of Blood Oath apparently isn't of any use either.
"…If I go, I'll likely spring at whoever Heathcliff had sent for his representative to that strategy meeting—as it is highly unlikely that he'll go in person." Tamaki scowled at the mere mention of that guild. "Honestly, I never thought that I'd dislike a green guild as much as I did the Knights of Blood Oath. Just the mere sight of one of their members—regardless of who it is—is enough to make my blood boil." She was silent for several moments. "And you saw what they did during the last field dungeon that we'd cleared." Tamaki said, a dark look on her face.
Shigehiro scowled as well. Yeah, he remembered it as clear as day.
While everyone in the Clearers understood the risks by being part of the lead group, no one expected for the Knights of Blood Oath to basically sacrifice the NPCs in order to achieve victory. While NPCs in this game would respawn and come back to life, unlike the players themselves—it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt for them to die. And NPCs aren't just some computer-automated characters for SAO. They live, interact, and behave like the players.
Tamaki had been the first one to see it—that the NPCs in the game are slowly losing their trust for the players. Quests issued by NPCs have been slowly dwindling in number for the past six months—concrete proof that the NPCs are slowly losing their trust in the players.
"The rest of the guilds have started to understand by now—since nearly every single guild leader had been to talk to me on some occasion—or even when we ran into each other in the marketplace." Tamaki murmured, glancing at Shigehiro. "It's just Heathcliff and his crazy guild, along with the orange and red guilds that doesn't understand and doesn't care to understand! NPCs or not—they aren't just some computer automated characters in SAO—created just for the sake of creating itself in this game. They have feelings like the players do—they desire good food, having fun and even making friends in this game itself! How many times have the players been saved by the NPCs? Countless times! And is this how we repay them? By using them as shields and throwing them to the field monsters? Sure, they'll respawn and come back to life each time they die, but it doesn't mean they don't feel pain and feel fear when they die!" Shigehiro had never seen his childhood friend so angry before. "You've seen it happen. I've seen it. Nearly half the guilds in this game have seen it by now and understood the consequences of that fucking guild's actions."
Shigehiro flinched. Uh oh, Tamaki is cussing—not a good thing.
"We need the NPCs in order to survive in this game long enough to reach the top, but they don't need us. They can function quite well without us. The Knights of Blood Oath—they refuse to see sense, and refuse to believe that. Surely the number of NPC issued quests that we tend to get monthly that had been dwindling in number is proof of that? How long has it been since we've last gotten a quest? When is the last time when we've seen an NPC in a town?"
Shigehiro didn't know what to say.
Kirito, Klein and Kris have been the ones to volunteer to attend that strategy meeting when it was brought up during dinner amongst the members of Phantom Blue at their guild house on Floor 22, Coral nearly two months ago.
Everyone in Phantom Blue knew by now that it is a bad idea to have a member of the Knights of Blood Oath to be in the same room with Tamaki at the same time—especially if it is one of the higher ranked members. Not since the incident barely a few months ago when Tamaki had caught a member of that guild harassing a member of a minor guild.
It had been a problem during Clearers' meetings and even missions, as everyone could see the tension whenever Phantom Blue and the Knights of Blood Oath are in the same room together with each other. But thus far, the higher ranked members of these two guilds have enough professionalism to put whatever problems that they have with each other away and focus on getting out of the game.
Even so, everyone in Sword Art Online knew about the bad blood that both guilds have with each other. It hasn't been that bad as to break out in a guild war yet, only because both guild leaders are cool headed and calm. But most are already anticipating it on happening sooner or later, if only because Heathcliff seems to have no qualms in provoking Tamaki—a very stupid thing to do, as most of the Clearers have been whispering to each other of late.
Phantom Blue might not be as big as the Knights of Blood Oath or even the Liberation Army, but make no mistake, they are powerful. Every single member of that guild has high levels, with the guild leader herself and her two deputies being in the level 80s by now. Even the weakest member of the guild is at least at level 75 at this point of time. It will be a terrible mistake to underestimate them.
They might not possess any guild territories like the Knights of Blood Oath, the Liberation Army or even the Holy Dragon Alliance—save for the only territories that they own on Floor 22, Coral—but they make up for it with the alliances that they have with the other guilds—and even their work in going after the red and orange players.
Everyone in the game knew of their work in going after the red and orange players by now, and are thankful to them. Besides, targeting one of Phantom Blue's members is a mistake that most wouldn't make twice—thanks to the headline news months ago regarding one of the Knights of Blood Oath's brasher and newer members going after Kris for some reason.
Unfortunately, Caet happened to be with Kris at that time—both males being out on shopping duty, and between the two of them, they have made short work of the guy. Kris had come a long way since he'd first been rescued by Tamaki and the others—way before Phantom Blue was even created. No longer is he a stuttering mess with zero confidence in himself. The countless battles that he'd been involved in as part of Phantom Blue had helped to hone his confidence, allowing him to walk with his head upright—especially since he'd basically been put in charge of the healing potions that the guild as a whole uses, being their Pharmacist. Before his arrival, it had been Shigehiro (Ciav) who is in charge of it—but mainly because he's usually the one buying it. The trust that the entire guild had placed in Kris had helped to hone his confidence, with Tamaki, Shigehiro and even Klein teaching him the battle basics, and helping him to get stronger. Thus, the Knights of Blood Oath member never stood a chance right from the beginning.
Tamaki and Shigehiro weren't amused when Caet had informed them of what had happened, and rather than handing the guy to Heathcliff that is standard procedure when a 'criminal' is a member of a guild, Phantom Blue had handed the guy to Thinker instead, the guild leader of the Liberation Army who is in charge of the security of the jail cells in Sword Art Online, and who also had Tamaki and several guild leaders' complete trust.
That had only been one incident amongst several that had sowed discord and bad blood between the two guilds and several of Phantom Blue's long time allies and friends—and only the excellent diplomacy skills executed by Tamaki had managed to calm them down enough to prevent a full-out guild war from breaking out.
She had argued that they have enough problems as it is—what with the red and orange guilds, with the most prominent being Laughing Coffin, and also that it had taken them nearly an entire year just to get up to Floor 56. They don't need a guild war atop of everything else, since the teal head knew quite well whom the other guilds would side with. The Knights of Blood Oath definitely didn't make themselves any friends with their holier than thou attitude for the past several months.
If Heathcliff had pissed Tamaki off enough, and if she gets mad enough, she'll likely just walk out of the Clearers' group that unofficially, the Knights of Blood Oath lead, and probably form another clearing group of her own. And if that happens, half the guilds that made up the current lead group will follow her. And let's not forget that Tamaki is the clearing group's tactician—she makes the strategies and tactics for them to clear each field dungeon and field boss. The lead group had only made it this far with minimal casualties because of Tamaki.
Even the recent strategy meeting that Kirito, Klein and Kris have gone in Tamaki's place had the three going with a complete plan from Tamaki to deal with the field boss that had been blocking the entrance of the next dungeon.
Heathcliff might be the strongest player in the game, but Tsuyu of Phantom Blue commands the most respect from the other players.
"The mission to take out the field monster seems to be on hold though, from what Kirito told me in a message." Shigehiro said at last. "He's said something about assisting Asuna in some incident that had occurred in Pani earlier this afternoon." He opened his menu interface, opening the message sent by Kirito just an hour earlier. "There seems to be a murder in a safe zone apparently."
Tamaki paused in her action of consuming her drink, turning to look at Shigehiro, perplexed. "A murder? In a safe zone?" she echoed, incredulous. "That's not possible."
In Sword Art Online, safe zones refer to places like towns—places where both players and NPCs set up shop to sell their wares or even offer services like blacksmithing, crafting and even cooking for players who doesn't possess that particular profession. Several of the guilds even have guild houses in populated towns. It is just a few guilds like Phantom Blue that prefers to have their guild houses or even their guild headquarters in less populated areas to give them some privacy.
It is one of the rules of the game—there is no possible way for a player's HP to drop to zero in a supposedly safe area unless someone had initiated a duel. Even so, even during duels, no player would ever go as far as making their opponent's HP drop to zero. It is an unwritten rule in Sword Art Online—but one that everyone had steadfastly obeyed. Because in Sword Art Online, if a player's HP drops to zero, they will die for real.
"Yeah, it isn't supposed to be possible." Shigehiro agreed, a worried frown on his face. "That's why Kirito is concerned. He witnessed it—along with Kris and Klein who are both still in Pani along with him. We did tell them to stay there as our representatives. Also…" Shigehiro hesitated as he glanced at Tamaki. "Asuna of the Knights of Blood Oath is there as well."
A flash of some indescribable emotion flashed across Tamaki's eyes so quickly that Shigehiro could only wonder if it's a trick of the light.
"They said that they would be staying to investigate. Kris is concerned that it might have something to do with Laughing Coffin."
"No, I don't think so." Tamaki disagreed, a frown on her face. "I have no objections with them staying to investigate as long as they looked out for each other. But I don't think that it's Laughing Coffin." She finished the last of her drink and looked at Shigehiro. "This isn't their style. With every single one of Laughing Coffin's attacks, they always made sure that whatever survivors or witnesses there are saw them—like they're trying to tell everyone within the game—'We are Laughing Coffin. Fear us'. If Kirito and the others have to investigate a murder, it means that whoever is responsible hasn't been found." Tamaki explained, and Shigehiro nodded slowly, since it made sense. "But…" She frowned, a concerned look on her face. "…Is it really a murder though?" She murmured.
"Tsuyu?"
Tamaki got to her feet. "Let's go and visit Egil," she said at last, turning to face Shigehiro. "Let's see what he thinks about it. Also, we need to get some replacement weapons for the others too as well, don't we?"
"Yeah." Shigehiro nodded before getting to his feet.
The past two months have been pretty much 'free time' for the members of Phantom Blue—allowing them to spend time as they wish. Aside from Kirito, Klein and Kris who were tied up in Pani with the rest of the members of the lead group called there for the meeting, the others are no doubt trying to raise some Col or even raising their levels. Due to all the fighting that they've been doing as training however, the weapons of several of their members were starting to wear down. As Shigehiro and Tamaki would both be in Algade for some time, the two have volunteered to look at some weapons for their guild, as Egil's shop is in Algade anyway.
"Hey." The friendly merchant greeted as both Tamaki and Shigehiro entered his shop. The tall man was currently polishing a rather large sword behind his shop counter. "Now that's a rare sight for sore eyes. Where is the rest of your guild?"
"Either training or trying to raise Col. Or in the case of Kirito, Klein and Kris—they're currently in Pani as our representatives for that meeting that the lead group had called for sometime back." Shigehiro answered for Tamaki even as the door closed behind them. The teal head on the other hand is more interested in looking at the several short blades on display in the display cases or even the walls.
Egil had a smile on his face. "Looks like Kirito's settling down well," he commented. "Saw anything you like? You came for some weapons, I'm assuming?"
"This is a weapons' shop, Egil." Tamaki rolled her eyes, and Shigehiro chuckled. Egil gave a loud boisterous laugh at that sarcastic comment.
The two guild leaders (or rather, one guild leader and one deputy leader) then went off to different parts of the shop, examining the weapons mounted on the walls or even in the display cases, occasionally pulling up the detail window for each weapon. It took the two nearly an hour before they could decide on the weapons that they would be getting for each member of their guild, placing it in front of Egil.
Tamaki and Shigehiro, and sometimes Takao are usually the ones responsible to get new weapons for their guild members—or rather, the backup ones. The main weapons that each member uses are usually bought by the users themselves. The only one who prefers to get his weapons himself is Kirito. And though the teen doesn't look it, he is pretty particular when it comes to his weapons.
"That's a lot of weapons." Egil whistled as he eyed the mountain of weapons in front of him. Tamaki and Shigehiro usually have a pretty sharp eye for weapons, since these weapons are some of the best that he had crafted.
"Don't rip us off, Egil." Shigehiro complained, leaning against the counter even as Egil started marking up the weapons for purchase. "We're running low on Col as it is—especially after our last monster hunt."
"Uh…" Egil started calculating the prices for the weapons and glanced at Tamaki. "180,000 Col." He said briskly, and Tamaki nodded before transferring the Col over on the purchase window. "Thank you for your patronage. So what are you both doing here anyway?" Egil asked even as Tamaki placed the weapons in her inventory. "You surely couldn't be here just to buy some weapons."
Shigehiro and Tamaki exchanged looks with each other before turning towards Egil. "…Kirito sent a message to me a few hours ago." Shigehiro said at last. "Klein and Kris are both with him, so I'm not too worried. But he told me about a murder within a safe zone that he had witnessed earlier this afternoon—in Pani."
The sword that Egil is polishing fell out of his hands with a clatter. "That's not possible," he said at last. "It's virtually impossible for there to be a murder within a safe zone."
"Yeah, we thought so too." Tamaki said, exchanging glances with Shigehiro who shrugged. "Kirito is a little concerned. That's why the three of them would be remaining in Pani for awhile to investigate. Just…" She frowned before looking at Egil. "Do you have any idea how it would happen—a death in a safe zone? It's not supposed to be possible. Even if Sword Art Online has became a death game, there are still rules and restrictions here that the players have to follow. And even though I hate to admit it, the rules in this game have always been fair." She added.
Egil frowned before he sighed. "Go upstairs," he said at last, gesturing towards the back room that leads to the bedrooms upstairs. "You both might as well spend the night here today. I'll close up shop and will be up soon."
The two teens nodded and headed towards the back of Egil's shop, walking up the stairs to the bedrooms above his shop. It definitely seems like Egil hasn't really gotten around to packing or cleaning up, as the place is pretty much in a mess—with weapons of all kinds all over the floor. The two teens then sat down at the table in the middle of the room and waited for Egil. They didn't have long to wait however, as Egil entered the room soon enough, removing his shop apron and hanging it over the door handle.
The merchant then sat down at the table. "You both know as well as I do," Egil begun, "that it is not possible for there to be a death within a safe zone. The towns are safe areas, so no one can attack or even PK another player. It is different however when it is a duel. But when a duel happens within a safe zone, with people around—the audience normally interferes before a player's HP can drop to zero." Egil stated, and the two teens nodded.
Before Laughing Coffin had actually started making their debut as the infamous red players, there are quite a few instances of that happening, but players within the audience always interfered before one of those participating in the duel could die. Probably, it is part of the reason why Laughing Coffin had suddenly became so aggressive in their attacks.
"Yeah, we'd thought of that as well." Shigehiro said, exchanging looks with Tamaki. "But if it is a duel, the players within the town would know of it, as there should be a 'Winner' window. It wouldn't be known as a 'murder' then but rather a death duel." He frowned. "But Kirito and the others didn't see anything like that."
Egil sighed, curling his fingers together with each other. "There is one other way to PK someone within a safe zone," he said at last, and the two teens looked at the older man. "It is true—towns are safe zones, and thus, it isn't supposed to be possible to kill someone in there. But it is different when you are sleeping."
Tamaki said nothing for several moments. "Yeah. Sleep-PKs," she said grimly. "Dirty tricks that uses the duel system. Back before Laughing Coffin had made their debut, sleep-PKs are just one of the many tricks that they've used to murder other players."
"Normally, duels are just tests of strength." Shigehiro mused absently, remembering one of the many duels that he was challenged to during the early days of Phantom Blue, and he had kicked the asses of every single one of his challengers. "But during a duel, HP can go down, even in a safe zone. Thus, it is possible to duel a sleeping person, using their own finger to accept the challenge for a duel. They can then just keep attacking until the person dies." He tightened his fingers together. "It's happened before—back before Laughing Coffin became famous. It had been one of the methods that they've used to kill others."
"Things are getting more problematic." Tamaki admitted at last.
XXXXXX
~April 16, 2024; Floor 20: Sunshine Forest~
The case has been wrapped up. It's a bit of a long story, so we'll tell you about it in detail once we return to Coral. Kirito and Asuna however said that they ran into three members of Laughing Coffin. They were lucky to avoid a fight, but chances are that the members of Laughing Coffin might still be somewhere near Floor 19, since that is the last place where Kirito had seen them. Be careful when you go after them, and at least bring Ciav or Kaz with you.
It is currently mid afternoon in the Sunshine Forest, with Tamaki leaning against a tree in said forest, reading and rereading the message that Klein had sent to her late last night when Kirito and Asuna have wrapped up their investigation for the murder happening in the supposedly safe zone.
Kirito had actually sent messages to both Tamaki and Shigehiro after everything, further confusing them. Shigehiro had finally made a short call to the teen to make sure that all three of them are still alive and breathing, and already on their way back to Coral.
Apparently, the 'murder' isn't really a murder at all, but part of a clever plan by the surviving members of the former guild Golden Apple that had disbanded after the death of their guild leader months ago. Kirito had promised the two to tell them everything in detail once they're back in Coral. However, he had told them that he'd ran into members of Laughing Coffin somewhere on Floor 19, and that they might still be nearby.
Tamaki and Shigehiro have decided to split up to search for the members of Laughing Coffin, with both making the other promise to sound the alarm once they'd found the members of that infamous guild. It is practically suicide to confront members of that guild alone.
Though judging from the coordinates that Kirito had sent her of the location where he'd seen the Laughing Coffin members and from Tamaki's own investigations, chances are that they might be somewhere around Sunshine Forest.
Ever since the upper floors have been opened, the lower floors have mostly been left vacant—thus making it the perfect hiding place for wanted criminals. The dressing of Laughing Coffin members are easily recognisable, thus, there is no way that they would enter populated places—not when nearly every single player in SAO is out for their blood. The larger guilds in particular have been performing manhunts for them in recent months.
Finally, as a presence entered her senses, Tamaki's ears pricked up as she heard the low crack of a twig breaking. The teal head pushed herself off the tree that she's leaning against, standing in the middle of the pathway of trees as she waited.
She didn't have long to wait, as from within the forest emerged a Laughing Coffin member dressed in the usual black garbs that the members of that guild were known for wearing, along with dark cloaks that concealed their faces. This particular member however had unusual red eyes—and Tamaki honestly wondered if he really had red eyes, or if it's something he wore to make himself look more frightening.
Red Eyed Xaxa.
With how long that Phantom Blue had been after Laughing Coffin, by now, they knew most of the names of the members, their characteristics, and even what they're capable of. It is just the top members of that guild that had evaded capture thus far. Most of the lower ranked members of Laughing Coffin are just peons at best. They don't really know anything about their leaders or even where the headquarters is.
"Phantom…Blue…" Xaxa croaked out as he laid eyes on Tamaki. "The guild leader, huh? We finally meet. You've sure given my guild some trouble for the past few months."
Tamaki narrowed her eyes, letting her hand fall to the short blade at the back of her waist. "Isn't it the other way around?" she countered, trying to control her temper as she remembered how Ryusei and Pandemonium, and so many countless others have died at the hands of Laughing Coffin by this point of time. How many hundreds if not thousands of lives have been lost due to the actions of this guild? "Personally, I don't particularly care what reason you have for committing murder. I'm just here to warn you. Stop your violent acts of murder or the guilds will act. The other guild leaders are fast losing patience."
Xaxa chuckled darkly. "…And I guess…that those fools think that they could best us?" he said in a smug voice. "We…are Laughing Coffin. We are the ones that would change this world!"
Tamaki narrowed her eyes, fighting the urge to take him down, but she knew of the dangers in facing a Laughing Coffin member one-on-one. "…This will be your last warning. Tell this to your guild and even to your guild leader. Stop your violent acts of killing or we will act," she warned.
Xaxa chuckled darkly. "You don't think that I'll let you leave alive, do you?" he stated, and Tamaki narrowed her eyes, hand tightening over the hilt of her blade. "You who had been the leader of the guild responsible for the imprisonment of so many of my comrades." He drew out an estoc from within the folds of his cloak and dashed towards Tamaki so quickly that she barely had enough time to draw out her blade and parried the estoc.
Both players leapt backwards from each other, and Tamaki narrowed her eyes. Looks like Xaxa really had no intention on letting her leave.
"Tsuyu of Phantom Blue… Die!" Xaxa hissed as he dashed at Tamaki once more.
This time however, she is ready, and dodged his swipe easily, drawing out her second blade and smashing down the estoc onto the forest ground. The blade in her other hand, she turned it around and smashed it straight into Xaxa's chest with enough force to send him spiralling backwards. Two presences entered her senses just then, and she took her eyes off Xaxa only to see two Laughing Coffin members coming towards her from different directions—both with weapons in their hands.
'Shit!' Tamaki's eyes widened a slight fraction, holding up her weapons to parry the attacks, though she knew that she wouldn't dodge it enough to escape unscathed. A thin red line ran down her arm as she backflipped, managing to avoid getting more damage. Suddenly, her vision started to go hazy, and she dropped to one knee, even as she saw her HP bar dwindling down slowly. A symbol of three purple circles appeared next to her name just then on her PVI, and she gritted her teeth. 'Poison! Of all the damn luck!'
The weapons of the Laughing Coffin members must be imbued with the ability to inflict the poison status ailment. And as luck would have it, Tamaki didn't bring any antidotes with her, as for the past month, Tamaki and Shigehiro are merely on a recon mission and also to do some shopping for their guild.
"Damn it!" Tamaki huffed as another symbol of a yellow lightning bolt appeared next to her name on the PVI—Paralyse.
"You won't be able to move for awhile." The middle Laughing Coffin member whom Tamaki is fairly certain is the guild leader—PoH approached her slowly with his two deputies flanking him on either side. "With you and Phantom Blue gone, Laughing Coffin will once more be able to dominate this world!"
He raised his weapon into the air, ready to bring it down onto Tamaki, and she closed her eyes, cussing to herself for the thousandth time why she didn't focus her skill points on status ailment resistances.
'Damn it. Is this the end? I'm sorry, Sei, I wouldn't be going home after all. Shige-kun… I'm sorry. I never even manage to tell you how I feel…'
Just then…
"Tsuyu!"
A loud familiar voice roared across the clearing just then, stopping the three Laughing Coffin members in their tracks, and a loud whistling sound reaches Tamaki's ears. She opened her eyes just in time only to see a familiar silver and blue sword struck the ground in front of her—Shigehiro's favoured sword, and one that Nirali had created for him months ago when they've gotten the drops after defeating the Holy Dragon via a quest. As it had been Shigehiro who had dealt the finishing blow, the rest of the guild have agreed to let Shigehiro have the item drops.
Loud running footsteps reach Tamaki's ears just then, and through her hazy vision, she saw three figures running towards her.
Kirito. Klein. And…
Shigehiro.
Shigehiro looked frightened, worried and furious all at once as he ran towards Tamaki. "Tamaki!" he roared, using her real name for the first time since they've gotten themselves trapped in the game.
"Klein!" Kirito shouted to his self-proclaimed best friend who nodded, and the two then activated Sprint, allowing them to reach the Laughing Coffin members before they could deal any further damage to Tamaki.
"Are you all right?" Shigehiro asked urgently, dropping down by Tamaki's side, and making an antidote and a potion that would remove all status ailments to appear in a flash of blue in his hand. "Take this!"
Still under the effects of Paralyse, Shigehiro had to pour the contents of the two potions into Tamaki's mouth, before the orange haired teen then made a green health potion appear into his hand from his inventory to allow Tamaki to recover her health points.
"Kirito! Klein! Don't kill them!" Tamaki called out to her guild members after Shigehiro helped her to her feet. "Let them go!"
Kirito and Klein breathed heavily even as they leapt backwards, weapons in their hands. Both of them knew as well as Tamaki do that if they should engage the members of Laughing Coffin in battle any further, all of them might die here today.
And clearly, the members of Laughing Coffin were of the same opinion as well, as they were starting to retreat back into the forest. PoH however turned over his shoulder to face the four glaring Phantom Blue members, making a strange hand gesture with his right hand.
"It's…show time…"
XXXXXX
~April 16, 2024; Floor 22: Coral~
It was close to 10PM when Tamaki, Shigehiro, Kirito and Klein have arrived back at their guild house in Coral, having a pretty close shave with the top three members of Laughing Coffin. All four of them were pretty shaken up, as while they have encounters with Laughing Coffin before, this is still the first time that they have faced the top three.
The rest of the guild was filled in pretty quickly about the attack on Tamaki, and if the teal head knew the rest of the guild leaders, she is pretty certain that word of this attack will soon reach their ears. News about Laughing Coffin and Phantom Blue always does.
"Damn it, fat's in the fire now." Kaz murmured after listening to what Kirito and Klein have to tell them.
The entire guild are having a meeting in the sitting room of the guild house, having a fire going on in the fireplace. The only ones not around are just Tamaki and Shigehiro who are by the lake outside the guild house, but still considered within the 'safe zone' as it is part of their guild's territory.
"Tell me about it." Kirito sighed, looking up at his guild mates, both his hands wrapped around a hot mug of coffee—courtesy of Shigehiro before he'd left with Tamaki earlier. "Honestly, if Ciav hadn't ran into us as we're on our way back to Coral—with Kris leaving ahead of us, I don't even know what will happen."
"I don't think that the other guild leaders will just let this go now." Caet murmured, a concerned look on his face. He glanced at his guild mates. "And make no mistake, the other guilds will learn of this. News and rumours about Laughing Coffin and Phantom Blue always makes the news."
"Yeah, I think so too." Nirali looked concerned and worried. "The fact here is that Laughing Coffin actually had the audacity to attack a guild leader—and not just any guild leader, but the guild leader of Phantom Blue, one of the leading guilds! And judging from what you both said earlier, those Laughing Coffin guys knew who Tsuyu is, and they did it anyway." He looked at Kirito and Klein who both nodded. "There is going to be an uproar, let me tell you this now." He shook his head, grimacing. "Particularly from the guilds involved in the lead group. The guilds are going to be pissed, make no mistake. The lead group is going to need Tsuyu's expertise as a strategist to head to the top, and they know it. Thus far, they've managed with minimal casualties because of her. This attack on Tsuyu by the top three of Laughing Coffin might just be what will send the guild leaders over the edge to declare an all-out war against Laughing Coffin." He added grimly.
No one else knows just what to say, and the rest of the night was thus spent in silence.
"Fat's going to be in the fire pretty soon." Shigehiro was telling Tamaki as they both sat by the pier, dangling their feet over the surface of the lake. It is a full moon that night, and the night scenery made a lovely picture—with the reflection of the full moon and the stars being reflected on the surface of the water. "I won't be surprised if Thinker-san approaches you within the next few days, or even some of the other guild leaders."
Tamaki was silent for a long time before she sighed. "Gods… I am so stupid." She ran her fingers through her hair. "I should have known better than to confront a Laughing Coffin member alone, especially one of the top three. If the three of you hadn't arrived just in time, I would have been dead."
Shigehiro managed a weak grin, not wanting to think just how close a call that they had earlier. It made him shiver—if he hadn't acted on his instincts—the ones that he always had since he was a kid when he knew just when Tamaki needs him, she might not still be alive now.
"Yeah well, but we did, didn't we?" Shigehiro said quickly. "So just drop it."
Silence fell between the two for several moments once more—an almost peaceful silence. Just like how it had been for them as kids, and before everything had happened during the championship league. It is almost difficult to believe that it had happened more than a year ago. It had felt longer than that.
"…You called me 'Tamaki'." Tamaki said at last, and she turned to face Shigehiro who looked momentarily confused. "Earlier at the Sunshine Forest, you called me 'Tamaki'." She reminded her childhood friend.
Shigehiro blushed faintly. He had never slipped up once—always addressing Tamaki as her avatar name in the game. "…Sorry," he apologised. "I just…panicked." He admitted. "When I saw PoH with his sword above his head, about to kill you, I just…lost it." His voice trembled, remembering just how it'd looked to them earlier. He thought for sure that his heart is about to stop. "I thought for sure that I was going to lose you!"
Tamaki was taken aback as Shigehiro wrapped both his arms around her in a hug and pulled her to his chest. And even though this is a game, she could still hear how fast his heartbeat is.
"I thought for sure that they're going to kill you!" Shigehiro admitted, his voice trembling. "And during that instant, so many things went through my mind. I regretted not talking to you after the championship league. It isn't your fault. I knew that. But some part of me… Some part of me wanted to blame you and even Seijuro even though I know that it isn't your fault. Then I met you once more in this game. It is like the universe is trying to tell me something. And even though I wanted to walk away the moment I realised that 'Tsuyu' is you, I just…couldn't." He admitted, his voice trembling. "I don't want to walk away from you again. I don't want to lose you. I don't understand what is going on—I don't understand what I'm feeling. But after seeing PoH try to kill you, I understand why now." He placed a finger beneath Tamaki's chin and raised her head so that he could look into her eyes and vice versa. Those blue eyes are now wide with surprise. "I love you, Tamaki." Shigehiro said at last, and Tamaki's eyes widened in surprise. "I must be the biggest idiot on the planet—taking me this long to realise just what it is I feel for you. Why I feel so pissed off when you called me during second year, telling me what that Aomine bastard had done. And why I feel like killing Aomine when Seijuro called me during the start of our third year, telling me what had happened. Or even why I couldn't just walk away from you when we were trapped in this game. Or even why I totally lost it when PoH tried to kill you." He admitted. "I love you, Tamaki. Even if you don't feel the same for me, I want to at least tell you. I…"
Shigehiro found his mouth covered by Tamaki's hand. The smile that he hadn't seen since second year tugged at the ends of Tamaki's lips just then. "You know something, Shige-kun?" Tamaki said, using his real name for the first time in nearly a year since they were both trapped in the game. "Do you remember what Sei had said when we've first met you during grade school? You talk too much, never letting us get a word in. You never change." She shook her head slightly before smiling at Shigehiro. "You never even let me answer your question." Shigehiro's eyes widened a slight fraction. "…I like you too. I like you as more than a friend. I love you. It's just that with everything that is happening recently, I didn't think that it's advisable for me to act on it. But…" Tamaki's eyes closed slightly, and she released her hold on Shigehiro's mouth. "I…don't really care anymore." She admitted. "Just this once, I want to be selfish."
Shigehiro grinned happily, feeling his heart about to burst when he heard Tamaki's small confession. He then tilted Tamaki's head upwards before pressing his lips against hers. It was a soft subtle kiss—but one that is enough for them for now.
The two then drew away, but Shigehiro didn't release his hold on Tamaki's hand. He looked at her with gentle eyes.
"…Tamaki, marry me."
A/N: Honestly, the confession scene is so damn difficult to write! This is also one of my longer chapters, and one of the 'original' chapters. I'll likely involve Seirin in the next chapter. What do you want to see happen? Also, if you hadn't checked it out, do read my new story, Hunted, and tell me what you think!
Kuroko Tamaki: Assassin, Tailor (Tsuyu)
Takao Kazunari: Swordsman, Brewer (Kaz)
Mayuzumi Chihiro: Samurai, Crafter (Caet)
Ogiwara Shigehiro: Swashbuckler, Chef (Ciav)
Mochida Kanata: Defender, Blacksmith (Nirali)
Sakurai Ryou: Swordsman, Pharmacist (Kris)
Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!
