Ok Folks here is chapter 4 I am putting a trigger warning as there will be an assumption of rape and people will die in this chapter you have been warned.
With that said, I do hope you all enjoy reading this.
A/N 07/08/2021 this will be the final one done tonight look for more to be added as the days go on.
Disclaimer I do not own Sword Art Online Reki Kawahara does please support the official release
: May 5th, 2024, Floor 60:
It has just been a little over a year since Argo gave the info on the PK guilds and Sinon realized that a former friend was a part of the worst one.
Though Spiegel had wanted his older brother to get his precious Asada-San to him it has been hard to get near her when she is surrounded by friends who are clearers.
The year has also been slightly good the Moonlit Black Cats thanks to Kirito and Sinon's training and help have made the front lines and participated in the raid that cleared floor 55 opening the town of Granzam for the Knights of the Blood to get there new headquarters.
Kirito and Sinon had taken to getting a player apartment on floor 50 near Agil's shop, they had also helped in the capture of Titans Hand as well as helping the girl Silica revive her dragon familiar.
Though both are still afraid of admitting their feelings for each other some of their friends however have not been.
In a large surprise just after clearing floor 50 Asuna finally admitted to Sinon that she had no romantic feelings for Kirito, which for some reason Sinon thought she did.
What the big surprise was, when Asuna revealed that she and Argo had been dating so to speak since floor 40, Asuna and Argo both were afraid of being judged but a certain blacksmith friend convinced her to take a chance.
Today while they normally leveled together Kirito had some things, he had to take care of and Sinon decided she was going to go and grind out some levels with Sachi and Tensou from the Black Cats.
"Wow Sinon that was a lot of fun today, and if Keita has not said it yet thank you to both you and Kirito for helping us get to the front lines." Tensou said.
"It was no problem Tensou to be honest it was a learning experience for me and Kirito as well." Sinon said with a smile.
"I'm just happy I got the last attack bonus on the last boss we fought this halberd is great." Sachi said with a shy smile on her face.
"Still a little shy around friends Sachi?" Tensou started to say till he fell to the ground with a small dagger in his shoulder.
Sachi and Sinon spun around weapons drawn when suddenly Sachi hits the ground paralyzed by a poisoned dagger just like Tensou.
Sinon had activated her tracking skill and had an arrow knocked in her bow.
"Come out now before I fire." She said calmly.
"Well, well what do we have here?" Said a man with a black hood over his head.
He drew his weapon and pointed it at Sinon.
"Now Johnny you know our orders we are to take her back to base alive." Said another voice but she did not see who this one belonged to.
"What about the other two XaXa can I make them fight each other to the death and kill the winner?" Johnny asked.
"Not this time Johnny the orders are for him to know what happened and we need witnesses for that, now Asada-San I do believe you owe a visit to my little brother you can come quietly or not either way you are coming with us." XaXa said as he walked up to her.
"What you going to paralyze me too already have an antidote crystal ready for that." She snarled back.
"Nope don't need to see my brother told us how to handle you already, I'm told you have a very large fear of guns or anything resembling a gun." XaXa said as he formed a gun using his hand and pointed it at Sinon.
She started to tense up. "No, I am strong I can't let my fears control me here, I am strong." She kept thinking to herself as she was shaking slightly.
"By the way Asada-San BANG!" XaXa yelled in her face as he made it look like he fired his fake gun.
At that moment Sinon started to have a panic attack and fell to her knees tears were coming from her eyes as she tried to control her attack.
"So, this is the resolve of a true murderer huh?" XaXa asked pushing her farther into her panic attack.
At this point Sinon dropped face down on the ground shaking in pure fear.
XaXa picked her up and started to carry her away, Johnny on the other hand turned to the two lying on the ground.
"The Poison lasts for 15 minutes don't you worry we will be long gone and oh yea let the black swordsman know that Spiegel has reclaimed what is his." Johnny stated.
"Oh, and one more thing those nice messengers you clearers sent to negotiate with us were fun to play with before we killed them." He said as he laughed manically and ran to catch up to XaXa.
About an hour later Kirito was heading back to his apartment from what he was out doing which was getting his second sword made by Lisbeth.
When he got a message from Keita to come to their guild house on floor 22 and that it was an emergency.
He went to the warp gate to get there, after about 15 minutes he arrives at the guild base.
He walks in to find Sachi being comforted by Keita crying while Tensou was sitting down seemingly yelling at himself.
"Guys what happened?" Kirito asked.
Tensou was the first one to look up.
"Kirito I am so sorry we tried by them got the jump on us and poisoned me and Sachi before they took her." Tensou said.
Kirito gasped with shock. "Tensou who took her where is Sinon?" Kirito asked trying to remain calm.
Sachi answered first. "Laughing coffin Kirito, she was taken by laughing coffin." Sachi said still crying.
"Listen Kirito I am so sorry I failed you as a friend, but they said that Sinon's rightful owner had her back or something like that, and that they killed the messengers that Heathcliff and Lind sent to them." Tensou said before turning away from Kirito.
Kirito grabbed his shoulder. "No Tensou you did not fail me as a friend you were ambushed." Kirito started to say but was interrupted by another message from Asuna.
"Listen guys Heathcliff and Lind are summoning the assault team to Granzam for an emergency meeting on Laughing Coffin we should go it could help get Sinon back." Kirito stated trying extremely hard to remain composed.
They all agreed and went to teleport to Granzam.
The Black Cats took a seat near the front of the meeting room while Kirito still upset with what happened sat with Klein and Fuurinkazan.
Klein looked over at Kirito while they were waiting for Heathcliff Asuna and Lind to get there.
"Hey Kirito, what's going on and where is Sinon?" Klein asked him.
Kirito looked at him with slight tears in his eyes.
"This has something to do with Laughing Coffin Klein and they kidnapped Sinon earlier." Kirito said as more tears came down his face.
Klein's face turned red with anger that these people took someone he considered a good friend.
"How did they get her?" Klein asked.
Kirito who had been told everything by Tensou including the panic attack.
Klein looked at him and moved in closer to him.
"She suffers from PTSD, doesn't she?" Klein asked.
This caught Kirito by surprise. "How did you figure that out?" Kirito asked.
"My grandfather had it I have seen firsthand what that can do to someone, listen buddy I'm here for you we will get her back I promise ok." Klein said as Kirito thanked him and nodded.
Finally, Heathcliff, Asuna and Lind walked into the room and set a board up on the wall.
"Thank you all for coming as you all know I am Heathcliff leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath this is my vice commander Asuna." Heathcliff stated.
"I am Lind leader of the Divine Dragon Alliance, and we called this meeting to figure out what to do about Laughing Coffin." Lind stated.
Asuna stepped forward. "Listen this guild has been gaining more strength for the last year and they have grown out of control, yesterday the Knights of the Blood Oath and the Divine Dragon Alliance sent messengers to them to broker a peace agreement, all we got back was there weapons and it has been confirmed on the wall of life that they are dead." Asuna explained which caused a few to gasp.
"However just after we called this meeting, I was informed that a very close and personal friend to me was taken by the one's shown here Red eye XaXa and Johnny Black, not only is she a good friend but she is one of the clearers the eagle eyed Sinon." Asuna said which caused the members of the Black Cats to tense up and for Fuurinkazan to grow angry.
Lind stepped up to talk at this point.
"We are going to form a crusade of 50 players, and we will attack their hideout on floor 35 tomorrow morning, our main objectives are to capture any member of Laughing coffin and have them sent to the Black Iron Prison, Thinker and Diabal of The Army have assured us they will be on the receiving end of these corridor crystals to lock them up." Lind explained.
Asuna spoke up again. "Each team will be given 10 Corridor crystals set for Black Iron prison we will split the crusade into 2 groups of 25 players, and to also complete the secondary mission of rescuing Sinon and any other player we might find held captive there Kami-Sama only knows what hell these sicko's have put them through." Asuna explained.
Heathcliff was the next to speak. "The first team will be led by Vice Commander Asuna with Vanguard commander Godfree and Fuurinkazan leader Klein as her back up Lind will lead the second team with Smidt his field commander and Keita leader of the Moonlit Black Cats as his back up." He explained.
"I will remain here with a backup group if it is needed and for that I will need volunteers from those not assigned or who have already volunteered for the main group." Heathcliff stated.
There were many that wanted in so once that was taken care of both Klein and Asuna had asked for Kirito to be on their team, and he was assigned to them after this the groups had been assigned and were told to rest up and meet at the main SQ. of Granzam the next day. After the meeting everyone went back to their homes or inns to rest and prepare for the crusade.
Asuna had told Kirito to come back to her house she was staying at on floor 58, he walked in, and they were greeted by Argo who had also just returned.
"Hey Ki-Bo I heard I am sorry is there anything I can do to help you?" Argo stated to her friend.
He had tears in his eye and looked at Argo. "Please tell me everything you know about this Red Eye XaXa." He said.
"From what I can tell he is PoH's top vice commander and one of his most trusted he also has his little brother in the guild as well Spiegel, from what I was able to gather Spiegel knew Sinon in real life and he was the one that asked his brother to get her." Argo explained as Kirito just collapsed on the chair crying.
Argo and Asuna both approached him and wrapped their arms around him.
"Listen Ki-Bo, Asu-Chan I want to join the crusader group with my sneaking skill and high agility I can be a good scout and I will make it my main mission to find Sin-Chan." Argo stated.
Asuna looked at her with a little worry in her eyes.
"Argo all I ask is that you be careful please I can't lose any of you." She says.
Argo smiles as she sees Kirito looking at her with a little worry on his face.
"Don't worry there is a reason I am called the rat I'm good at sneaking however I want one more person that has an high sneaking skill as me." She whispers into Asuna's ear who nods.
"Funny I thought we called you the rat because you try and cheat us out of our Cor?" Kirito said with slight humor.
Argo just smiled at him. "Ki-Bo you're lucky I like you and that my Asu-Chan likes you or I would sell all your secrets." Argo said to him causing Kirito to give a small half smile.
"Arigatō Argo for trying to cheer me up and Arigatō Asuna for letting me come back here I don't know if I could handle this alone tonight." Kirito said with fresh tears coming from his eyes.
Argo walks behind him and wraps her arms around him. "Ki-Bo listen Asu-Chan and I are here for you, you love her, don't you?" Argo states then asks.
Kirito nods. "I wish I had told her how I feel, I am so scared now that I will never be able to tell her." Kirito said still crying.
Asuna standing in front of him gets down on her knees and places her hands on the back of his. "Don't worry Kirito-Kun ok you will get to tell her after we get her back tomorrow but why don't you go lie down in the spare bed and get some rest me and Argo are here if you need anything." Asuna said to him as he nodded and was lead to the bed.
As he went to lie down, he noticed that there was only one other bed at this point he started to get up.
"You guys only have 2 beads listen I will stay on the couch so one of you doesn't have to." Kirito said.
Argo snickered a little. "Um Ki-Bo I know you're going through a tough time right now, but did you forget me, and Asu-Chan are a couple we share the same bed this is our guest bed." Argo stated which caused Asuna to smile as well as blush a little.
"Oh yeah I'm sorry guys I am just a mess right now." Kirito said as he sat on the bed crying.
Argo and Asuna comforted him while he cried till, he fell asleep, they tucked him in and went to sleep themselves.
: May 6th, 2024, Granzam warp gate:
The crusaders have assembled at the warp gate before going to floor 35, Heathcliff gave out some final orders as everyone nodded to and then teleported away.
The crusader group got to the entrance to the cave they split into their two groups and headed off into the cave.
After about 25 minutes of searching Asuna's team stopped when Kirito threw his arms up having activated his search and detection skill.
He looked up at a platform just off to the left and above them, the group then heard clapping coming from it.
"Bravo, bravo you know I did not think this would work at all but boys we have some new friends to play with here." The voice spoke as he walked forward.
It was Johnny Black and to his left was XaXa and his right Spiegel.
"Yea Johnny we should thank our informant for letting us know there routes and which group had the black swordsman in it." Spiegel stated which earned him a glare from XaXa.
Before anyone on the team could react, they saw that they were surrounded by members of Laughing Coffin.
XaXa jumped down. "Oh, don't worry you're not the only group getting to have fun with us. XaXa said.
The orange players drew their weapons as did the crusaders Kirito having unsheathed his Elundicator stepped forward.
"Where is she, where is Sinon!" Kirito yelled at him.
With this Spiegel jumped down. "Asada-San is mine now pretender she will always be mine no one is allowed to touch her, I always protected her from the bullies at our school and everything would have been great if you and your dirty sister had not taken her from me." Spiegel spat at him.
Kirito growled as he pointed his sword at him.
"Sinon belongs only to herself you sick bastard now where is she!" Kirito yelled out.
Spiegel growled and went to move forward towards Kirito but was stopped by XaXa.
"Careful little brother." XaXa stated as he moved to the side from where he was standing.
With his movement light was able to illuminate the area that was directly behind him.
All the crusaders gasped on her knees and having her arms suspended by chains was Sinon all she had equipped at the time was undergarments she looked roughed up and it looked like the durability of her undergarments was extremely low.
Kirito's eye's narrowed at Spiegel. "What have you done to her!" He yelled as he moved forward with his sword aimed at his target.
He stopped when he saw a member of Laughing Coffin place a knife to Sinon's neck.
"I got what was mine swordsman and she was very compliant with us, but I guess it also helps when we are the masters in this game of making poisons and other potions that can emulate drugs from the real world." Spiegel said with a huge smile on his face.
"Though I believe she quite enjoyed it to be honest." He stated laughing.
"YOU BASTARD!" Kirito yelled as he dashed forward activating a sword skill only to have it blocked.
Everyone else had been ready to jump in when they saw Kirito launch himself but froze almost immediately.
XaXa waved his finger at them though. "I would not do that if I were you one wrong move or if you try to attack us my associate there makes sure her nerve gear fries her brain nice and toasty like got it." XaXa said.
"Now drop your weapons and surrender." XaXa ordered.
Kirito who still had his detection skill activated noticed something but did not react.
He then dropped his sword to the ground.
"I offer you a trade I will give you my life to do with as you please if you release Sinon to Asuna, you can kill me force me to do whatever you want I just want her to be released." Kirito said after raising his hands in the air.
"Kirito-Kun what are you doing?" Asuna demanded from him.
"I have this Asuna I need to do this as long as I know she is safe that is all that matters to me." Kirito stated.
Godfree and Klein went to move forward to stop Kirito from surrendering, but they were stopped by Asuna who just shook her head.
XaXa looked at Kirito. "So, the black Swordsman will submit to Laughing Coffin in exchange for the murderer is that it?" XaXa asked.
Kirito just nodded.
Spiegel was whispering something along the lines that he does not want to lose his Asada-San.
As Kirito moved closer there was a bright flash of light that hit right in front of Sinon blinding anyone looking that way.
The crusaders had clamped their eyes closed before that happened, however the members of Laughing Coffin did not and were temporarily blinded.
Kirito reopened his eyes to see Ducker picking the locks on Sinon's chains.
After 30 seconds he succeeds in getting her free.
However, Spiegel got his sight back and saw someone touch Sinon. "NO! You can't touch her no one does but me!" He yells as he lunges for Ducker only to be tackled to the ground by a small girl.
Spiegel lands on his back and opens his eyes to see a girl with mousy brown hair and whisker marks on her face.
"Sorry there sicko no one harms my friends." Argo says as she is having equipped her claw weapons slashes Spiegel across his face.
"ARGHH! YOU BITCH!" Spiegel yells as he shoves his dagger into Argo's stomach area.
Argo screeches in pain as she falls backwards off him. "ARGO!" Asuna yells out at her lover getting stabbed.
Ducker now holding on to Sinon on his shoulder he reaches out and grab Argo's arm.
"Kirito, Asuna I got them you can take these sicko's out, TELEPORT CORRAL!" he yells out having a teleport crystal in his other hand.
XaXa jumps to where he was but does not make it in time as Ducker disappears with Sinon and Argo back to his guild house.
Now free to carry out the primary mission as the secondary was completed, Kirito slams his foot on the hilt of his sword on the ground, causing it to spin up off the ground for him to grab midair.
"Attack!" Asuna yells out as the crusaders go into combat against the laughing coffin members, Kirito must deal with two orange players as the rest of the crusaders engage in the fight.
However, the crusaders are at first outnumbered and fought with everything they had.
Kirito however has a huge issue he is being attacked not just by XaXa and his little brother but Johnny black and another LC member jump in the fight.
"Damn it this is too much I am going to have to use it here and now." Kirito thinks to himself.
He blocks a couple of blows while Spiegel gets a cut on Kirito's arm and Johnny Black gets two hits in on Kirito, this causes him to be pushed back.
"Asuna, Klein I need ten seconds can you cover me?" Kirito yells out.
Without even answering they both jump in front to cover Kirito.
He starts to cycle through his menu and after a few seconds closes it and yells out he is ready.
Asuna and Klein jump back as the 4 members of LC launch themselves at the two, Kirito manages to block two of the attacks with his main sword having jumped in front of Klein and Asuna.
While he is doing that a blue light starts to appear on his back as a second sword materializes, Kirito immediately draws it and slashes at the other two attackers.
This causes a lot of the fighters on both sides pause for moment due to seeing Kirito dual wielding, this of course gives the crusaders a chance and they use it to start paralyzing members of LC.
Kirito having incapacitate Johnny Black and the random LC member fighting him turned his attention to XaXa and Spiegel.
"I should kill you two for what you did to her." He snarled out.
Spiegel started to laugh. "Why so you can be a murderer like her sorry kid she only likes those that take pleasure in it." He says which was also heard by Asuna and Klein.
"I only said I should kill you, but I won't because I refuse to be like you." Kirito says hitting them both with throwing spikes laced with a paralyzing poison.
The fight still was not over as members of laughing coffin refused to surrender kept attacking Klein and Asuna were starting to get overwhelmed when Kirito jumped in to aid them.
He was fighting two members at once. "You guys have lost surrender." Kirito stated having pushed them back.
They glared at him and went in to attack again, Kirito blocked both attacks and tried to slash at their legs to incapacitate them only to miss as they jumped over him and stabbed Klein with a dagger paralyzing him.
"KLEIN!" Kirito yelled as his friend dropped to the ground.
He ran over to protect him kicking one away and slashing at the other one whose HP went into the red with the slash.
Kirito begged him to stand down, but he went for Kirito again Kirito had no choice he held his swords up impaling the LC member in the chest.
His HP hit zero and he disappeared in a shower of polygons laughing till he died, Kirito heard Klein yell his name he spun around to block an incoming attack he did with his Elundicator, but his dark Repulsor went right through the mid-section of the attacker killing him.
Asuna got an antidote crystal to Klein curing him, Kirito was looking at the two of them both breathing heavy, Asuna looked back over at him.
Kirito shook his head. "No, we need to finish this now." He spat out with a tinge of anger in his voice.
"Kirito-Kun?" Asuna asked surprised by his temperament.
He shook his head again and ran towards her raising his swords, Asuna flinched back not sure what was about to happen when there is a sound of metal hitting metal.
She looks up and sees Kirito having blocked an attack against her, this surprised her but what surprised her more was her attacker.
It was a member of the crusaders a member of her guild.
"Kuradeel-San what, what are you doing." She asked.
Kuradeel without skipping a beat. "This murdering beater was going to kill you Asuna-Sama I jumped in to rescue you." He said while pulling something out of his inventory that Asuna did not notice.
"You liar you were trying to attack Asuna I saw it, but Kirito reacted faster than me you're the informant XaXa mentioned." Klein yelled now having back up from Dynaman a member of his guild.
Asuna gasped suddenly and fell to the ground paralyzed and poisoned her HP slowly trickling away.
Kirito growled at him as he is hit with one of the spikes Kuradeel had in his hands and drops to his knees.
"KURADEEL WHY, WHY WOULD YOU BETRAY US LIKE THIS WE TOOK YOU IN!" Godfree yelled while fighting his own target.
"I never betrayed you simpleton have you never heard of infiltration members?" Kuradeel stated laughing as he stabbed his sword into Kirito's shoulder.
This caused his cursor to turn orange, he then kicked Kirito and turned towards Asuna. "Oh, dear Vice commander your death will be my crowning achievement, PoH will reward me well for taking out both the black swordsman and the lighting flash at the same time, after that maybe I will kill the archer and the rat just for fun." Kuradeel says as he raises his sword in the air for a downward slash sword skill on Asuna.
As he brings his sword down it hits metal, he looks up to see an incredibly angry Klein staring him in his eyes.
"You know I have had it with you people calling Kirito a beater he made sure me, and my guild of newbie's had the skills to survive, he is my best friend and so is Asuna mess with them you deal with me." Klein growled at him.
"You think a scumbag like them deserve anything I mean the black swordsman just killed two people, Asuna is only vice commander cause she is female, and the archer is a cold-blooded killer you want to join them I will happily put you in your grave." Kuradeel says with a distorted smile.
Klein just growls and readies a slashing sword skill swinging it at Kuradeel only hitting his sword but in the process, he breaks Kuradeel's sword in two.
The top half hits the ground Klein points his sword at Kuradeel's neck. "Stand down I will kill you to protect innocents." Klein says.
Kuradeel puts his hands up surrendering, Klein reaches into his inventory to get shackles out does not see Kuradeel pull a dagger out.
He goes to stab him only to be hit in his head by the broadside of a large axe falling to the ground in pain.
"Don't you dare touch my friends." The axe wielder stated.
Klein taken by surprise. "Agil what the hell?" Klein asks.
Agil smiles as he points behind him showing the second group of crusaders having joined them, and Sachi was ad mistering an antidote to Asuna and was heading for Kirito to do the same when she is stabbed in the back by the dagger Kuradeel had in his hand.
"Jesus doesn't this guy stay down!" Klein yelled as he and Agil ready their weapons to take him on.
Kuradeel on his knees with Sachi on the ground from the stab wound goes to stab her only to have his wrist grabbed by Kirito who according to his health bar was under the paralyzing effect, was now charging a martial arts skill in his other hand.
His eyes glowing yellow he plunges his whole arm through Kuradeel's chest depleting his HP.
"Goddamnit, you murdered me kid" Kuradeel said before he disappeared into a shower of polygons.
After that the crusaders were able to round up the remaining members of Laughing Coffin and get them sent off to Black Iron prison.
At the warp gate on the 35th floor the groups are met by Heathcliff, the reports given to him are that 15 members of Laughing Coffin were killed in the raid, Sinon was rescued by Ducker of the Black Cats and Argo the Rat, and they lost 7 members of the crusaders.
Heathcliff was disturbed by the fact that Kuradeel was a Laughing Coffin infiltrator but brushed it off, in the end he told all the groups that the next floor boss meeting would be in one week so that they may re gather themselves.
With that Kirito still in slight shock goes to the warp gate to head to the Black Cats guild house where they took Sinon, he is joined by Klein, Agil and Asuna.
Asuna, he expected due to Argo but the other two confused him.
He looked at them. "Guy?" he asked.
Both Klein and Agil shook their heads. "You're our bud man we are going with." Klein said as they teleported to Coral.
: Moonlit Black Cats Guild House:
Kirito, Klein, Asuna, Agil, Keita and the rest of the Black Cats involved in the crusade walk in Kirito looks around and sees only Ducker.
"Ducker where is she is she alright?" Kirito asks franticly.
"She is ok Kirito just resting at the moment, the concoctions they gave her threw her for a loop Sachi since you're our guild alchemist I think you should look her over." Ducker says pointing to the door to Sachi's bedroom where Sinon is, Sachi nods and heads right in.
Asuna was also looking around.
Ducker sees this and smiles. "Asuna-Sama Argo is also ok she is taking a nap over there." He points over to a spare couch where you can see the rat napping.
Asuna released the breath she was holding and started to run over to her but looks back at Ducker and smiles.
"Ducker Asuna is fine and Arigatō for saving her." She said.
Ducker just smiled.
Kirito collapsed on the main couch the shock of what he did starting to hit him, but he composed himself having to hold himself together till he knew Sinon was ok.
They were all standing around now while Agil and the black cats were not there for the whole fight that Kirito and Asuna's team had to fight.
Klein was and he heard a lot of things and needed to ask. "Kirito, I know this is probably not the right time to ask but what did these Laughing Coffin members mean when they called Sinon a cold-blooded killer?" He asked.
Kirito just looked at him with an emotionless face. "It is not my story to tell Klein it is Sinon's, it is not something she likes to ever bring up." Kirito says.
"It is ok Kazuto they need to know, with what Shinkawa and his friends did to me I need to get this out." Shino stated as she was helped down the stairs by Sachi.
Sachi helps her get into a chair as everyone looks over at her and takes seats on the floor or the couch surrounding her.
Asuna sits on the couch directly across from Kirito and Argo is sitting on the floor right in front of Asuna with her legs on each side of her head having woke up from her nap.
Shino drew in a deep breath. "Ok first I know it is taboo to reveal this, but I accidently said Kazuto's name in front of all of you, so my name is Asada Shino, and what I am about to tell you is what Shinkawa or as you know him XaXa meant when he called me a cold-blooded killer." Shino stated.
She sighed once again. "And I will not be surprised or hurt if you all want me gone once you hear this." She said.
They all acknowledged her refusing to speak till Shino said her story not to be jerks or rude but to respect her and give her the chance to explain, things.
Shino takes a deep breath then begins.
"Well 4 years ago when I was 9 my mother needed to go to the post office to pick up a package my uncle had sent from the United States, we got there and while my mother was standing in line, I was sitting on a bench reading a book." She started explaining.
"All of a sudden a man with a bag in his hands came in he was swaying a bit he looked like he was on drugs, he got up to the counter and pushed my mom aside he then pulled a gun out and pointed it at the man behind the counter, he then demanded all the money and to not press the alarm." She said.
"I ran over to my mom on the floor when we heard the gun go off, I looked up and the man behind the counter fell to the ground, the robber screamed that he said not to press the alarm he then grabbed my mom and stood her up putting the gun against her side saying that if they did not hurry up, he would shoot her." She said as tears started to come out of her eyes.
"I didn't think about anything else than protecting my mom I ran up and bit the hand the gun was in he dropped it and let go of my mom he hit me, I fell to the ground I saw the gun and I grabbed it and he started to wrestle it out of my hands when it went off shooting him in the stomach, he got up and started coming at me again and I fired it again hitting him in the shoulder." She said as her breathing became a little harder.
"He got up again I fired one more shot I looked up and I saw his distorted face then he fell backwards the bullet having gone through his head there was blood everywhere, I looked over at my mom she was frightened of me." Shino said crying.
"It was the break that caused my mom to go into the hospital to this day she is frightened of me and the sight of a gun or even someone pretending they have one sends me into a panic attack and sometimes I have night terrors of that day replaying, it was made worse when I went to school and people called me a murderer and killer, any friends I did have would not even come near me." She said crying even harder this time, but she took another deep breath she had to finish it.
"In the elementary school before I transferred to Kazuto's school I was bullied endlessly and Shinkawa who I thought was a friend, but he creeped me out sometimes just by being there, so when I transferred to my new school, I did not tell him where I was going." She said still crying Sachi went to get up and move towards Shino, but she put her hands up for her to stay put for the moment.
"When I started at Kazuto's school the bullying started literally three days later by a girl named Endou, see she found out about my past due to her cousin being one of the worst bullies at the last school he was part of a group of boys that beat me till I was laying on the ground, Kazuto and his sister saved me from Endou though." She continued.
"I am still plagued by nightmares and anything gun related can send me into a debilitating panic attack, Kazuto and his sister asked me one night why this happened, and I told them, and they did something that surprised me they offered to let me move in with them since I lived alone and here, we are." She said.
Everyone was just looking at her surprised she started to get up to leave thinking they were going to hate her.
"Yukki, Asuna my real name is Yukki, Asuna." Asuna said as she got up and walked over to her and hugged her.
Shino was surprised by this. "Sinonon you are not a murderer you're a girl that was protecting her mom and innocent people I could never hate someone like that." Asuna said.
"Andrew Mills, and Shino you're my friend what you did in the past will never change that." Agil said.
"Tsuboi, Ryutaro, Shino you and Kaz over here made sure I knew what I needed to know to survive you're a good person not a monster and defiantly not a murderer." Klein said giving her a thumbs up and a smile.
"Ayano, Keiko, and you and Kazuto-San Shino-San helped me save Pina that makes you a good person in my eyes." Silica stated which surprised everyone but the Black cats and Agil with no one even knowing she was there.
Silica had taken to aiding the Black Cats and Agil with things involving the mid floors after meeting Kirito and Sinon.
"Hayami, Saori and Shino I consider you my best friend if not for you and Kazuto we would all be dead or stuck on lower floors and you helped me become strong and overcome my fear of dying in here." Sachi said while blushing a little due to her shyness.
"Izawa, Kana the superb info broker at your service Sin-Chan." Argo said as she latched onto Shino in a bone crushing hug.
"Sashi, Ryukotsei that is my name, and we owe a huge debt that can never be repaid to you Shino no matter what anyone says about you you're not a good person, you're a great person in our eyes." Keita said.
The introductions continued as Shino started to cry a little, but she had a huge smile on her face.
Kazuto who had not said one word this whole time stood up and walked over to Shino he dropped to his knees and grabbed her hands he looked her in the eyes.
"Shino, listen I need to tell you something and I should have said this a lot sooner but was so afraid you would hate me or run away." He said which caused Shino to gasp a little in surprise.
"Kazuto-Kun?" She asked.
"Please I need to finish this I almost lost you without ever letting you know this I cannot hold it in any longer, ever since that first time you clung onto me when you stayed at my house I started to have these feelings, I did not know how to say anything so I kept quiet then you told me the truth, you were so scared I would run but I stood by your side then this, Shino I can't hold back any longer I love you." He said then clamping his eyes shut waiting to get yelled at or something.
Though Shino did the one thing he did not expect she kissed his forehead then she put a finger under his chin and lifted his face so she could look him in the eye.
"Thank you Kazuto-Kun thank you for telling me that I love you too I think I have since the first time you comforted me out of a panic attack." Shino said kissing him on the lips.
They stayed like that for a couple a minute till they heard a certain rat oohing and awing, they broke the kiss and blushed so hard they looked like a pair of stop signs.
Kazuto then turned back to the whole group.
"Arigatō every one of you, you all stood by me in my darkest moment when I thought I lost her you fought by my side to rescue her, and you stood by her even knowing her past, we cannot thank you enough." Kazuto said to them.
Klein was the first to speak up. "Man, you two hell everyone here is like family to me I would follow you to hell and back and I mean that." Klein said.
Asuna who was still standing next to the couple Shino was still in the chair while Kazuto was in front of her.
"Sinonon listen when we heard what happened to you, I started to have nightmares the night before we launched the attack on Laughing Coffin, I had not had these nightmares in a while they were of me failing and letting you all down, but the truth is I have always been the little sister in my family meeting you and becoming your friend and the things we have done together." Asuna was explaining.
"You were the first one I told about me being different and you accepted me still made me love you like you were my little sister, and I would stand by you to the end." Asuna stated.
Shino looked at her and smiled. "No Asuna you are not different just because you like women it is who you are, and I love you like a big sister as well that will never change thank you for standing by me." Shino said with a smile.
She looked around at everyone with a smile on her face then took a deep breath and whispered something to Kazuto.
He just nodded she then looked at everyone.
"Listen Klein said something that made me remember something Kazuto said to me when we first met." She said.
She took another deep breath and started. "When he was 9, he hacked the Japanese citizen data servers and found out he was adopted by his aunt due to his parents having died in a car accident he started to distance himself from them thinking that they were not his real family." She explained.
"He at the time was being trained alongside his sister in Kendo by their grandfather however when he was 11, he quit Kendo and his grandfather demanded an answer from him on why, he forced him into a spar with the older man and it became very heated till Suguha stepped in between them and yelled to their grandfather that she would practice twice as hard to cover for Kazuto." Shino explained.
"After that their grandfather bowed to him and went to remove his gear as Suguha was standing there still their grandfather then turned to him and asked, Kazuto is your growing distance from your mother and father as well as your sister and leaving have anything to do with you finding out that you are adopted." Shino kept going as everyone listened in.
"He told him it was, Suguha was surprised she did not know at that point their grandfather finished putting his gear away and asked them both to kneel on the floor with him so that he could speak with both Kazuto and Suguha together, they did as they were told and he then said something that made Kazuto rethink his whole approach, and when Kazuto-Kun told me made me rethink a lot of things as well" Kazuto said.
"He said Kazuto regardless of if you are adopted you are my family you are Suguha's family you are your mother's family and your fathers family because family is more than blood Kazuto family is love and bonding, family is the people that are there to help you in your darkest time and to celebrate with you in your brightest, family Kazuto looks out for one another just like Suguha looked out for you." She explained.
"When Kazuto-Kun told me this story and that it made him actually closer to his family I started to see Kazuto's family as my own, but now looking at everyone here I know this is my family too we all look out for each other one way or another Arigatō everyone." Shino said.
Argo smiling ran into the Black Cats Kitchen and came out with a lot of glasses, she then went into her inventory and pulled out a large bottle of wine.
"Um Argo I think some of them are a little too young for alcohol." Klein said.
Agil was the next one to speak up. "Klein they are fighting to live they deserve a drink now and then though if we were in the real world and at my bar all you kids would get is oolong tea." He said causing everyone to laugh.
After filling the glasses Argo stood up and held her glass up. "Well with all this talk about love and family and friendship let me finally announce something last week me and Asuna married but before you all drink that bit of info costs 1000 cor." She said which caused everyone at first smile then deadpan at her reverting to her info broker mode.
When no one did anything Agil laughed. "Argo if your being serious I will cover the cost of the info for everyone here but congratulations to both you and Asuna." Agil said lifting his glass.
Klein was still a little shocked. "Wait you're really married?" He asked as Asuna, and Argo lifted their left hands showing the rings.
"Well then Kanpai!" Klein said and everyone repeated it as they took a drink.
Then Sachi the shyest of the whole group got up next.
"This next toast is for everyone here we are not just friends we are family and I hope to meet you all in the real world when we get out of here." She said.
"TOO FAMILY!" They all chorused.
Kirito was sitting there thinking then turned to Shino.
"Shino, listen I have been thinking about what Argo and Asuna did, and I have realized I want to be with you forever and ever and never leave you can I marry you?" he asked.
It was silent in the room as everyone had heard him and were staring at them which caused Kazuto to blush.
Shino smiled and looked him in the eyes. "Not exactly how you're supposed to ask from what I have seen in movies and books but yes Kazuto you are allowed to marry me." She said which caused her to smile.
Everyone cheers them on after this, the rest of the night is a large celebration that was joined by Lisbeth who was late getting there due to a large customer order she had to take care of.
Of course, seeing her caused Klein to immediately run to her. "Hi, my name is Klein I am 24 and single and looking for a girlfriend." He said stammering while bowing with one hand extended.
Everyone was looking at Lisbeth and Klein was slightly shocked he is usually punched smacked or something by now.
He looks up and see Lisbeth blushing hard, at this point Klein realized who it was he did this too.
"Oh, jeez I am so sorry Liz I did not mean to do that." He said.
She was still shocked he had asked before the first time he met her, but his guild member Dynaman stomped on his foot before he finished, and she never did get to answer him.
"Um hi Klein well sure why not." She said with a smile.
Almost everyone in the room nearly dropped their glasses Argo was typing away at this now.
"Holy crap someone actually did not reject him!" Tensou yelled out which caused a lot of laughter.
Klein looked at Liz. "Wait you really mean it?' He asked.
She smiled. "I wanted to honestly reject you the first time, but your guild mate handled it for me." She said which caused him to frown.
"But every time you came back to my shop, and we talked about the frontlines and getting back to the real world and then when Kirito here reminded me that this is our real world for now, I started to like you." She said.
"So yes, Klein I will take a chance at being your girlfriend." She said.
Klein started jumping up and down in joy.
"I do have one question does he know how to be a boyfriend?" Agil asked causing everyone to laugh.
Klein then turned to Liz. "Well, I think you should know my real name is Tsuboi, Ryutaro we kind of told each other our real names earlier." He explained.
"Shinozaki, Rika." She said with a huge smile.
"Now I have been out of the loop for the last few days, so anyone want to bring me up to speed here?" She asked.
As the night went on Rika was filled in on what had happened, she of course accepted Shino no matter what her past was like as everyone was getting ready to leave Keita offered the spare bedroom to Shino and Kazuto so they could rest instead of trudging up to the 50th floor.
Though before everyone started leaving Klein stopped Liz. "God I just remembered I don't know your age and I have made this mistake with girls that are like 14 or 15." Klein explained.
Liz smiled at him. "I'm turning 18 in 7 months don't worry." She said which caused Klein to release the breath he was holding.
: Later that night:
Kirito was sitting on the bed waiting for Shino to come out of the washroom, she did and saw him crying he had been holding this on all day and it finally came out when they were alone.
She walked over to him. "Kazuto are you ok, if this is about me, I am fine I promise." She said wrapping him in a hug.
He shook his head. "No Shino it's not that during the raid I, I killed two of them they were trying to kill Klein and Asuna, and then Kuradeel betrayed us, and he almost killed Klein and I drove my fist through his chest." He said crying.
She comforted him. "Kazuto-Kun you did what you had to, to protect them ok try not to think badly about it ok I am here we are all here Klein and Asuna are alive thanks to you, I am away from them and those that did this to me are locked up thanks to you and the other crusaders." She said kissing his forehead.
"But I also was still raging from what they did to you, Shino please tell me did they?" He started to ask, but Shino put her forefinger on his mouth.
"Shh no Kazuto-Kun they did not, though not from lack of trying the system prevented them from turning my moral code thing off, thank Kami for Kayaba on that one." She said.
"Are you going to be ok what did they do to you." He asked.
She sunk down trying to forget the whole experience. "They used potions on me that caused me to relive the post office and the bullying over and over again, Shinkawa tried to use my hand to turn off my moral code off, but he failed they then got my armor off and left how you found me, they were trying to reduce the durability of my undergarments to zero, when they almost did they got a message and then started to prepare for your arrival." She said.
"Kazuto Arigatō for getting there when you did because XaXa was going to kill me if you didn't cause they could not have their fun with me." She said having started crying.
Kazuto wrapped his arms around her. "Shh Shino I am here I am never going to leave you ok." He said.
"I know Kazuto, and Arigatō for everything for loving me for rescuing me and for being there with me when I am around you it feels like I can take on the world." She says as they kiss.
They lay down and Kazuto lays on his back while Shino lays with one arm over his waist with her head resting on his chest, she looks up at him as he turns the light out and reaches up to kiss him one last time.
"Goodnight Kazuto I love you." She says snuggling closer to him.
He wraps his left arm around her and returns the kiss. "Good night Shino I love you too."
A/N's Well there you go folks I have set up three couples and I have made it so the Moonlit Black Cats got the treatment I think they deserved I know them dying was a huge turn of events for Kazuto that he used to spur him on, but I think this way and what happened to Shino and the crusade can have the same effect on him.
Also, in case I get anyone saying that it should be impossible for Shino to get over the attack by the Shinkawa brothers on her just remember that in the gun gale arc Shinkawa nearly raped and killed her in real life and she was handling it after rather well with Kazuto and his friends helping her out, I used that to a point here.
And yes, I had Asuna, and Argo get together I like it for this story you do not like homosexual relationships so be it but keep it to yourself I wrote this that way cause I think it fits and I can only see Asuna with either her or Kazuto and since this is a Shino and Kazuto story she is with Argo, and I base it off how close the two are in Sword Art Online progressive manga.
Anyway, please as always leave reviews they make it so much more fun to write these and for those asking yes Beaters guild will be getting another chapter or two just trying to write them correctly so please be patient it will come soon.
Till next chapter Catch ya on the flip side.