SAO chapter 10
A/N
Hello and welcome to another chapter of the slightly coffee stained strongest guild, I hope you like it now replies then on wity the show.
KuramaFTW: Don't worry Prince's intentions will get clearer and clearer and you never know, revelations may happen this chapter for our intrepid heroes- (Hint hint)
Sabrina-Luna-Potter: Prince is a riddle wrapped inside a mystery, inside an enigma.
LenoraJime: Yes Asuna did indeed defeat Kirito once more and Asuna will remain a strong character throughout this story and any sequels that may follow (Hint), as I cannot stand how she becomes a background character. As for ambushing Kirito's guild, hmm we Prince could get some resources…
Guest: Indeed
Naferian: Thank you, I really like the concept as well (I hope I'm doing it justice!) and thank you for the compliment. As for the criticism, you do make some incredibly valid points, Kirito and Asuna do indeed seem a bit OOC, I'm basically hoping to take these characters and remodel to new ideas while also keeping them as true as possible to the Canon, I am sorry that it bothers you and I'll try to fit them into the canon as much as I can.
Duskrider: The sweater WILL be featured again.
Amerdism: I'm sorry is Kirito seems underpowered. However, he will return to his proper level of power, as for Duel Wield, yes he will be getting it, unless…
Patient 0 Zero: I will write more of EVH, and I have got a nearly finished chapter of it saved on my computer, so I will try to update soon.
Ka-Tay's Mind: according to one of my friends I have to much free time, I respond with I just manage my time well, so yeah I will try to update as often as I can. As for your comment about the plot, yes, the plot will change a lot more.
Ssj God Vegito: Yeah, Prince at the moment is banking on anger keeping the sides apart will that work? Scroll down to find out.
Hospitaller1080:
Thank you for the reviews, and yeah I appreciate the luck, I'll need it and yeah, I like Prince. (At the moment.)
:
Yeah sorry about Kirito and don't worry he will come to his senses
Bobboky: Danke
PrimalBloom: Why thank you and I am happy you find this story engaging.
"Thank you for coming Diavel." Asuna said calmly
"What's this about?" Diavel asked impatiently
"When I said it was for Kirito's own good I meant it."
"Go on." Diavel said
"Is it true that Prince said to Kirito and your guild that I was acting as a player lure?" Asuna asked
"Yes." Diavel answered shortly
"He told me the same about Kirito, it took me a while, but I'm not stupid. Prince for some reason or another has decided that I and Kirito must not become allies." Asuna said
"You say you're not a player lure?" Diavel confirmed
"Correct." Asuna said
"How can I trust you?" Diavel asked
"That's the thing you can't, I have no evidence what so ever to vindicate myself." Asuna said
"The group that have been attacked, Prince told Kirito you led them to the trap." Diavel pressed, Asuna flinched
"Yes, I've been doing some research on that, I heard found out about the guild, it was a guild called Titan's hand that attacked them, and guess who the guild leader is?" Asuna asked
"Go on?" Diavel prompted
"A woman known as Rosalia, she's a green player at the head of an orange guild, ring any alarm bells?"
"So she's the lure?" Diavel asked
"I believe so." Asuna said
"We need to tell Kirito!" Diavel said loudly
"No, he's completely loyal to Prince, he would think you were a traitor and to him it would remove any remaining doubt about me." Asuna said seriously
"I didn't realise you cared so much about what Kirito thinks about you." Diavel said with a slightly teasing smile
"No more than any other, I just don't like slander against my name." Asuna said
"Ah you're no fun." Diavel said
"Grow up." Asuna said rolling her eyes
"Shall we try and find out about this Titan's hand?" Diavel asked
"No, ask The Rat about it and try and get Kirito to take a look." Asuna said
"Ok, take care Asuna." Diavel said
"You too, Diavel." Asuna smiled
"Thank you." Diavel said walking out of the room.
-0-
Two Days later
"Kirito?" Argo said
"Yeah?"
"The scouting group found the boss room." Argo said neutrally
"Oh?" Kirito asked
"The boss is snake based that's all the info we've got at the moment."
"We should be able to beat it right; I mean floor nine was a piece of cake."
"Yes, but the previous boss we fought which you described as a piece of cake was perhaps a little too easy."
"So you think that it was to lure us into a false sense of security."
"I do."
"Can you send Diavel out levelling with the rest of the guild."
"He's away at the moment, something about going out to see a girl." Asuna smirked
"Fine, should I take a group out?" Kirito asked Argo
"Nah, its fine I'll take them, though Kirito, I do have an idea."
"Yeah."
"You know how we've not got Diavel doing anything important at the moment?"
"Yeah, I'm thinking, maybe make him spokesperson of the guild." Argo suggested
"I thought you hated him." Kirito said with an eyebrow raised
"My personal feelings don't coincide with my professional opinions." Argo said calmly
"Yeah, I agree, it would probably be a good idea to ease up on sending him out to lead the levelling; he'll have enough on his plate."
"Yeah, fair enough." Argo nodded
"So what have you been up to recently?" Kirito asked
"Kirito, can I ask you something?" Argo asked suddenly
"Sure." Kirito said easily
"Do you think you might be jumping the gun slightly?" Argo asked
"What do you mean?" Kirito asked
"Asuna."
"Argo." Kirito said warningly
"Just shut up and listen, you were told by Prince that Asuna has been acting as a player lure and that she might be involved with players who would PK, well don't you think that's a little convenient that a player was killed just after."
"Coincidence." Kirito replied
"Why do you hate Asuna, apart from the PK-ing I mean?"
"I don't other than that."
"Well then, how about you have a chat with Prince about this."
"Fine, you can be with us if you really want."
"Perfect."
"Alright, I'll message him and ask him to come here now."
"Ok." Argo said sitting down on Klein's bed and tapping her foot impatiently, Kirito sighed and opened his message with a flick of his hand and sent a quick message to Prince.
-0-
Prince opened the message that popped up in the centre of his vision and read it quickly.
"Goddammit Kirito." Prince growled activating a teleport crystal to floor ten, he walked swiftly towards the inn that his protégé and his subordinates where staying in, he stepped inside and rapped his knuckles against the simulated wood of the door, as it swung open Prince saw Kirito and The Rat.
"What's the matter Kirito?" Prince asked
"Argo has brought up a theory that Asuna may not be involved in PK-ing." Kirito said bluntly
"Yes Argo, recently I have received information that may prove you correct." Prince said lying smoothly
"Oh?" Argo asked innocently
"A player known as XaXa is an inside man in a Player Lure guild, I'll have to confirm with him." Prince said
"And why did you tell Kirito information that may not be true?" Argo pressed in the same innocent tone
"I was worried for him and emotion clouded my thoughts. However, Kirito as I don't want you finding out from another source and misconstruing my intentions, I also told Asuna that you were a Player Lure." Prince said internally kicking himself for the less than perfect plan he had set in motion
"Could you please enlighten me why you would do that?" Argo asked
"Because when I thought Asuna was a Player Lure, I believed she would not target another Lure." Prince said his face blank
"A worthy goal." Argo replied mirroring his neutral tone
"I believed so. Now if that matter has been resolved would you mind terribly if I were to depart?"
"Of course, feel free to leave." Argo said, Prince nodded and activated a Teleport Crystal
"What do you think?" Argo asked Kirito
"I wish he would have told me that he was going to tell Asuna that I was a Player Lure." Kirito sighed
"And that's all you care about?" Argo asked slowly
"What else should I be concerned about?" Kirito asked
"The fact that he lied to you?" Argo asked rhetorically
"He didn't, he was given bad info, surely you as an Info Broker could understand that." Kirito said
"Why do you trust Prince so much?" Argo asked
"Is this apart from the whole life saving thing and helping me from during the Beta onwards
"So it's a question of loyalty?" Argo asked
"No it's a question of trust." Kirito replied
"Alright fine, I'll drop the subject."
"Appreciated, and also I want some time to think this over, so could you not mention this to anyone but Klein?" Kirito asked
"Sure. But Kirito remember, people like to know who their enemies are, don't keep them in the dark for too long." Argo said seriously
"I know Argo, I know."
"Will you apologise to Asuna?" Argo asked
"Eventually." Kirito sighed
"See that you do."
"Yeah. I will." Kirito said and jumped as the door burst open with Klein striking a triumphant pose, accented by the setting sun
"The boss room has been found, the clearer meeting is just outside the room, the location is being revealed in the market square, Diavel messaged me and told me he would meet us there, you guys coming?" Klein asked
"Yeah, come on Argo let's go." Kirito said
"Yeah sure." Argo said with a nod.
-0-
"Damn." Argo muttered as she dodged a globule of acid spat from one of the heads of the twin headed snake
"Argo, Klein what the hell are we going to do about this?" Kirito asked as he dodged a bite. Kirito felt a rush as a silver haired player, rushed forward blocking the heads attack with his shield.
"Attack now!" He bellowed bringing his sword down on the neck of the snake severing it, the other players seeing this rushed the serpent intent on bringing a swift end to the boss, it lashed out with a wave of acid. However, the snake in its disorientated state aimed high and fired his acid above the heads of the clearers. The serpentine boss was swiftly destroyed by the group of clearers who swarmed it and collectively stabbed it, the silver haired man however struck the final blow by severing the head of the boss. As the boss disappeared in a burst of blue polygons a huge cheer rose up celebrating that this boss had not taken the lives of any of the clearing party.
"Wow." Klein muttered
"Indeed." Argo said impressed
"Ladies and Gentlemen! I wish to inform you that I am opening a guild known as The Knights of Blood, I doubt anyone will be that interested at the moment as I have little to no resources. My name is Heathcliff, I will be residing in the main town of floor eleven please visit me there if you are interested!" He called before leaving
"Heathcliff?" Klein muttered "Where have I heard that name before?"
"I don't know Klein, let's just move up a floor and set up a new base there." Argo said impatiently
"What's got you in a hurry?" Klein asked raising an eyebrow."
"I've remembered I need to do something so can we Kirito?" Argo asked
"Sure, I'll message the rest of the guys to meet us up there."
"Kirito, do you think we should do something as a guild, we really don't do much together." Klein asked seriously
"Like what?" Kirito asked, ignoring Argo's impatient foot tapping
"I don't know, go out for a meal." Klein suggested
"Well, the guild's budget is rather good at the moment, Argo?"
"Yeah, I'll get something organised, so can we go now." She asked
"Fine." Kirito said walking towards the exit
"A word, Kirito." Asuna said walking up behind him
"Of course." Kirito said calmly
"Klein, Argo I'll meet up with you guys."
"Sure." Klein said looking at Asuna cautiously
"Where do you want to talk?" Kirito asked
"Well, I owe you something to eat, how about floor ten." Asuna suggested
"Sure."
-0-
"So what do you want to talk about?" Kirito asked as he slowly ate his food
"Our argument." Asuna said
"Yes, I want to apologise about that." Kirito said with a weak smile
"What?" Asuna asked shocked
"Argo spoke to me and we got into contact with Prince, he explained that you didn't do anything." Kirito sighed
"I guessed mostly, you really didn't seem to be someone like that and I did a little digging myself that showed you were innocent."
"Asuna I'm sorry, so how about this, we start again, I'm not going to ask to be your friend but I have no reason to dislike you, so how about we build up our own opinion about each other." Kirito said
"I like that idea, so here we go. Hello, my name is Asuna, you?"
"Hi Asuna, My name's Kirito, nice to meet you." Kirito said sticking out his hand to shake.
-0-
And you're certain?" Prince asked darkly
"Yes, sir," The player in front of him whimpered "I followed him just like you said and he and Asuna made some sort of agreement."
"I see, well then leave now." Prince growled
"Y-yes sir." The man stuttered and ran out of the room
"Stop meddling, Kirito." He said to no one in particular
A/N
I'm sorry guys a reasonably long break for a short chapter, not the best trade off, but some important stuff happened this chapter and some more important stuff will probably happen next chapter, maybe so yeah, see you later.