A/N: Just to let everyone know, I will be switching this story to 1st person PoV. I'm reading the Light Novels for SAO, and of course they're all 1st person. This story just seems meant for that type of POV, and it also lets me practice it since im mainly a 3rd person writer, I'll make notes of POV changes, but it'll be from 1st person from here on out.
Sword Art Online: Akira's Arrows
Episode 2: Murder in the Safe Zone
POV: Akira
March 6th, 2024 Floor 56: Pani
It's been two months since I was saved by Asuna the Lightning Flash from Laughing Coffin on floor 50. Two months since I failed in the one thing, I had set out to do after I figured out, I had been trapped in the game.
Aki and Kya were gone, but there were still days I woke up expecting my arms around Kya in bed, or to hear Aki yell into the room to ask what we were doing for breakfast. I had fooled myself then into thinking perhaps things weren't so bad.
I did the same after they'd died. For a few weeks, thanks mostly to Asuna, I'd been inspired, ready to throw himself at any monster in his way to clearing the game, and achieving the one thing that Kya and Aki had wanted most.
But just like I had been learning the hard way, nothing every lasted, not in the virtual or real world. The honeymoon period of inspiration I'd had was gone, and each day that went by I could feel myself becoming more and more detached from reality, wanting it to all simply end. What was the point, even if I did help clear the game, if I couldn't look Kya in the eyes and tell her I had done it? I had promised our mom, that I would look after Aki with everything I had, and as much as Asuna tried telling me what happened wasn't my fault, I knew better.
It was mostly for her that I hadn't leapt into the clouds yet.
I watched and listened aimlessly a few steps behind her as she spoke in her 'vice commander voice' I called it, directing the dozens of players who'd come to the floor 56 strategy meeting. I knew she liked to put up that act around the other knights of the blood, and other members of the assault team, and I didn't blame her, the famous Lightning Flash needed to appear confident, because if she wasn't, if the commanders weren't, what was the point?
Still, I knew the truth. I liked to think I knew the real Asuna, we were much more alike than I think we both even realized. We had dinner together most nights, and for the last two months had gone on dozens of dungeon raids and other missions for the Knights of the Blood. She'd seen me at my weakest point, and I'd seen her at hers, it was something that tended to bring people closer together.
I'd only ended up being a member of the Knights of the Blood for a month or so. Thanks to Asuna, and our progress defeating monsters, they had been ready to make me a vice-commander after that time. That'd been when I left, the idea of being in command like Asuna was… having all those people relying on me wasn't something I relished.
Besides, Commander Heathcliff simply rubbed me the wrong way. I didn't know what it was about that man, but my skin crawled simply being in the same room as him.
I also had refused to wear that tacky uniform, I don't care how good Asuna and Lisbeth said I looked in it, they probably said that to every new recruit. I was still wearing the leather custom armor Kya and I had made; it boosted my archery, speed, stealth, and dexterity too much for me to abandon, combined with the Black Bow of Fate, it was necessary to how I fought.
That, and it was all I had left of Kya, that and her wedding ring item I wore on my left hand, while my own had stayed on my right hand.
I looked at that ring as I leaned back against the wall, watching Asuna look over the map, surrounded by a group of Knights of the Blood.
"Alright…" She finally said, slamming her hand against the map. "We'll lure the field boss into the NPC village!"
Murmurs broke out right away, I scoffed, a great plan actually, outdoing yourself this time Lightning Flash.
"Hold on!" A boy, around my age said, stepping up to the table, an outraged look in his eyes. "If we do that then the villagers-."
"Yes, exactly," Asuna said, narrowing her eyes at the boy. "While the monster is busy attacking the villagers, we'll move in, and take it out."
"But you can't do that!" The boy said, shaking his head fervently. "The NPCs aren't 3D objects like rocks and trees! They're-."
"Alive?!" Asuna snapped, and even I had to step off the wall now as she went on glaring at the boy who'd defied her. "They're nothing but objects, if they're destroyed, they'll simply respawn later, we don't have that luxury."
He's brave I'll give him that, I thought, seeing the look in Asuna's eyes. I'd only known her for two months, but just like she did for me now, we had a pretty good understanding of what the other's glares meant. She stared daggers at the boy, and I looked him over as well, still amazed. Hard to believe that's the beater… the legendary Black Swordsman.
I could remember Aki ranting and raving about The Lightning Flash, and The Black Swordsman. In every information pamphlet we bought, we'd read stories about one of them slaying a floor or field boss, or performing some other great fear. My sister had always wanted to meet him, Kya too, and I wouldn't lie and saw I wasn't interested in it as well.
I didn't know what I had been expecting, but one thing I didn't expect was for him to be so well… normal. He wore a black cloak and carried one longsword on his back and no shield, which made no sense to me, why would you not use a shield? His hair was black and messy, and he had dark normal eyes, he was… unimpressive to say the least.
It wasn't like I had any room to talk myself. I was only a bit taller than him in terms of height and the same in terms of physique and build really, both rather lean and not overly tall. Kirito was his name, which clearly wasn't his real-world name. So far, Asuna and me were still the only ones I knew who used our real-life name. I had done it so Aki could find me when the game started, Asuna told me she had done it because SAO had been her first MMORPG, and she wasn't aware how things worked.
Still, despite it being her first time, however she did it, Asuna clearly had taken to the game quicker than even I had. I saw her orange eyes staring daggers at Kirito, and to his credit he didn't back down. I knew Asuna only looked like that when she was really annoyed.
"I won't go along with this kind of plan," Kirito said, narrowing his own eyes back at her. "I refuse!"
"He's brave that's for sure…" I mumbled under my breath.
I gazed over to Asuna again, who stood tall from the table. "It was decided that I, Asuna, Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath would lead this operation," she took a step closer to the Black Swordsman. "You will follow my orders."
I weaved my way through the crowd and watched the intense stare down. It's amazing how he's one of the most powerful players in the game… still, she needs to calm down.
"Asuna," I said, getting next to her, which got all the eyes in the room on me. I sighed at that and when Asuna turned to me I shook my head. "We don't have time; we need to get this started."
I locked eyes with the Black Swordsman then. "I understand where you're coming from, but this is necessary. Participate or don't, we don't force people to fight."
"That's the Black Archer… isn't it?" "Aren't him and the Vice Commander going steady?!" "Lucky brat..." I heard whispers start coming, and in response I pretended I couldn't hear.
Kirito glared at both Asuna and I for a moment, before turning and sinking back into the crowd. Asuna glowered next to me, before turning back to the map and pointing to a spot where a hill was drawn.
"Meet at the rally point in one hour," She announced to the room in her commander voice. "Dismissed!"
I let out a breath as I heard the mumbling begin as people began moving out of the house they'd commandeered for the meeting. I noticed Kirito had lingered, looking at Asuna and I both, and felt a pang of annoyance run through me.
Spending so much time together, rumors naturally had begun swirling that Asuna and I had become a couple. It annoyed us both, considering that was far from the truth, but had resigned ourselves to the fact we couldn't stop the rumors.
I loved Asuna, I did, but as nothing more than I would my closest friend. I still didn't know if I'd rather be dead, but I do know if I did die, she'd be crushed. She'd done even more then just save my life that day, so for her, and for what Kya and Aki wanted, I'd do what I could to end this game.
"He's insufferable," Asuna hissed next to me, rolling up the map she'd set out. "Can you believe what he said? I can't believe he'd question me like that in front of everyone!"
"He's braver than I am that's for sure," I said, watching her get the map back into her inventory as the room had finally cleared. "I'd think twice before annoying you Lady Lightning Flash."
She gave me that same glare she'd given Kirito.
I held my hands up in defense. "Sorry, how about Miss Vice Commander?"
I laughed when she rolled her eyes and punched my arm. She sighed and looked back out the window where sunlight was streaming in.
"He's one of the most powerful players in the game," She said, shaking her head. "I can't fathom how some people simply don't see, that every day we spend here is a day we lose in the real world."
I leaned against the table and shrugged. "I can see where he's coming from. You didn't play RPGs before this. When I played them, they may have been data, but I always felt bad when a harmless NPC got killed thanks to me."
"Yes, well this isn't a game anymore Akira-kun," She said, sighing as she turned back to him. "It'll take all of us to clear the game… things like this are necessary like you said."
"You are right, that's why I agreed with you," I told her, standing up off the table and stretching my arms up over my head. "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll come around, they all will. I mean, you somehow managed to convince me to work and clear the game."
"Yes, and you're incredibly stubborn, I have no idea how Kya-chan put up with you," She said. Asuna was the only one who could make a joke like that without me getting upset. "Do you want to go and have a quick practice duel before we head out? Even though you're an archer, you should still learn more sword skills."
I shook my head. I had rarely used anything other then The Black Bow of Fate the last two months. I didn't know if it was because the bow helped me think of Kya and Aki, or if i just didn't want to use a rapier anymore, but I'd been afraid to unequip it from my main weapon slot.
Still, Asuna had been helping me practice those rapier and sword skills when she could.
"I think I'll pass, don't feel like getting trounced," I said, nervously wringing my hands together. "Besides I got a meeting to go to now."
"A meeting? What for?" She asked.
I shook my head. "Nothing important, got a fletcher who's selling discount arrows for me. I… I also don't think I'll make dinner later."
She looked slightly hurt. "What? Why?"
I felt my throat close up. "It… it's been exactly two months today. I… I think I'd just prefer to get some sleep. Not a slight on your cooking of course."
As I expected, she nodded in understanding. She smiled, looking like my friend Asuna instead of the Vice Commander.
"I understand, send me a message if you need anything," She said, going to walk towards the door of the house. "Meet me at the rally point in a half-hour, we need to coordinate everyone showing up."
I mock saluted with a smile. "Yes ma'am Lady Vice Commander."
She rolled her eyes, but I could see she was amused before she left out into the village. I sighed when she was finally out of view.
I hated having to lie to her, but I knew what she'd say if she found out the truth of what I was really doing. The part about it being exactly two months since Kya and Aki's death was true enough. That being true, was exactly why I needed to do what I was going to do.
"Well, well, well the Black Archer and The Lightning Flash!" A female voice said in the doorway, followed by a chuckle. "Spending time alone together after the strategy meeting? Oh, the people would eat that up I bet!"
"They already do…" I sighed, turning to face the newcomer. "She didn't see you right?"
My contact chuckled, pulling down her hood to reveal blonde hair. "Ha, I would have loved to talk to A-chan again, but I'm a woman of my word."
I managed a chuckle myself and managed to smile. "That you are… good to see you Argo, what do you got for me?"
Outside of Asuna, Argo the Rat was the only person I really considered a friend these days. She was a former beta-tester herself and apparently her and Kya had gotten on well. Argo had been the one to give Kya and I all our information packets and books throughout the floors, and she even did it for free, which I knew was something she did for nobody else. Of course, she had her own business to run, so I saw her sparingly, but since Kya's death I'd been seeing much more of her.
She'd been the one helping me with the one thing I wanted to do in this game, outside of clearing it before I died.
The Rat hoped and sat on the table, meeting my eyes with her sly smile. "I wish I had more for you Akiri-boy," she said with a shrug messing up my name on purpose like she normally did. "But I really don't have much more then we've learned."
"You have to have something," I said, leaning against the wall, feeling the sun from outside hit against the back of my neck. "You're the best at what you do, you have to have found something we can use."
Argo sighed and had a very un-Argo like forlorn look on her face. "I'm sorry Akiri-boy, it's like I said, I really got nothing. They're good, I'll give them that, they've avoided detection for this long and rarely leave survivors. And the ones who want to contact them naturally keep it on the real down low. Usually through back channels and rare items. I'm doing all I can… I'm sorry."
That frustrated me, but I knew it wasn't Argo's fault. She was putting herself in serious danger by helping me, and I was grateful for it.
Still, it didn't mean I wasn't frustrated.
I sighed and shook my head. "No, don't apologize, you know I appreciate what you're doing," I told her, turning to the window, my hands digging into the stone. "I'm going to find them Argo, and before I clear this game… they don't deserve the privilege of getting out when it's cleared… if I do anything before, I die, it'll be that."
Zaza, PoH. I wasn't going to forget those names. If there was one thing other Asuna that was keeping me in that game, it was the burning feeling in my chest, the desire, the need to make them disappear into pixels like they'd done to Kya and Aki.
Argo sighed and got off the table to come to my side. "We talked about this Akira. I'm helping you for K-chan. And because I think it'll be safer if those Laughing Coffin ass-hats are out of the game too… but not dead."
"They killed Kya and Aki, Argo," I hissed, trying not to lose my temper. "They don't deserve to escape this game."
The Rat shook her head. "They probably don't… but that's not you Akira-kun. I don't think K-chan would've wanted you to become a PK-er, she knew you were better than that."
"Kya…" I said, looking at the ring on my left finger and shaking my head. "I'm not the person she thought I was… I'm not nearly as good as she thought."
"I think you are Akira," Argo said with a shake of her head. "Which why when the time comes, I know you'll do the right thing. You won't let this game win…"
She had used my real name and not Akiri-boy, so that's how I knew she was being sincere. I didn't want to get into the debate with her, she may have known me somewhat sure, but nobody knew me better then I knew myself. Only two people ever had, Kya and my mother, and I was better because of them.
But they were both dead and weren't coming back.
I sighed and looked down to meet her eyes. "I appreciate you putting yourself in harms way to help me. We still good for later? You sure it's the right area?"
Argo smirked and nodded. "You bet Akiri-boy. Floor 47, strange disappearances in what's supposed to be a cleared field. I'll meet you there just after sunset."
"You sure you still want to go?" I asked her again. "I know you said you're not much of a fighter."
"For K-chan…" She said, her eyes getting distant for a moment. "For K-chan I'll stomach it, besides I'm much better than you think. Us information brokers gotta be able to protect ourselves."
I nodded, managing a smile. "I look forward to seeing it. I just have to hope Asuna doesn't happen to check my location on the map…"
Argo sighed and shook her head. "You know, you should probably tell A-chan what's going on. She is your best-friend, and she also oh, you know, happens to be the vice commander of the games biggest guild, who could probably help."
I rolled my eyes. "Believe me I've thought of it. Asuna and I have tried, Heathcliff and the other commanders said they'd try and locate them, but two months have gone by and nothing. I know Asuna would do all she could, but I don't really trust those above her."
"You should still tell her," Argo noted.
"Probably…" I said, trying to think how the conversation would go. "But it would just worry her too much about me, and she does that enough already. If she learned I was hunting Laughing Coffin… she'd try to stop me."
"Do you really think she would? If you told her why you're doing it," Argo asked.
I chewed at my lip and felt a shive go down my spine. I spotted Asuna out the window of the house, heading towards the rally point with more of the Knights of the Blood.
"Asuna…" I said, letting out a breath, turning to Argo. "Yeah… she'd try to stop me. Because she knows like me, that this is probably what will get me killed."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
April 11, 2024, Floor 59: Martin
POV: Kirito.
The last place I had expected to be after napping that morning, was dinner with Asuna. Of course, we'd had our differences, but was I really going to turn down a meal with the Vice Commander of the Knights of the Blood? Who also happened to be an incredibly pretty girl my age? Of course, I wasn't, I was a lot of things now, but I was still a boy.
Still, those glares she gave did make me nervous. The mummering of people around us didn't help my nerves any. Who knew something like this would happen just from taking a nap? I had never thought Asuna would fall asleep after I did.
I was also never one to turn down a free meal.
"Well, anyway…" She said, getting my attention again. "Thanks for today… for watching over me."
My face felt a little red, and I sit up straighter. "Oh uh… of course, no problem."
Really? That was my small talk? What was it about her that made me so formal?
"In the towns it's safe…" She explained, looking down at her twiddling thumbs. "Except when you're asleep."
"Yeah… people could abuse the duel system," I said, trying to not sound as nervous as I actually was. "A duel is the only way to sustain damage in a safe zone like a town."
She nodded, looking back up at me. "Yeah… you can challenge a sleeping person and manipulate their finger to click the okay button. It's happened before so… so thank you."
I stiffened again… was she really blushing? That didn't help my own face any.
"Ah oh well… well um…" I thought, trying to think of something clever to say. "You're welcome!"
I felt like slapping myself. She just nodded, her head still looking down at her cup of tea. I sighed, feeling like any chance at conversation was gone, until she spoke again.
"It… almost happened to a close friend of mine only a few weeks ago," She said, a worried look appearing on her face. "Luckily, I had been going to see him, and yelled for him to wake up. That was just on Floor 50 in Algade."
I nodded, feeling a shiver run up my back. I remembered hearing about the incident.
"That was your friend The Black Archer, right?" I asked her.
She sighed but nodded. "He hates that nickname… but yes it was him. I learned he had been well… investigating things he shouldn't have been alone; someone had gotten sent to take him out… I'm happy I got there in time."
I didn't want to ask the next question, but it was out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
"I've heard a bit about him," I said, meeting her gaze and embarrassed by how badly I wanted to know the answer. "Is it true that you and him well… are you know-."
"What no of course not!" She said, her head snapping back up to me, an angry look now on her face. I held up my hands and went to apologize, but she sighed and cut me off. "We're just good friends. We… we've been through a lot together. I can see how people-."
I didn't get to hear the rest of her answer, which I found myself desperately wanting to hear for some reason, because she was cut off by a horrified scream.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"To die inside a safe zone…" I said, looking down at the weapon that had fallen from the players body, completely clueless. "What's the deal here…"
"The obvious conclusion," Asuna said, stepping off the wall she'd been leaning on, "is that the challenger impaled the victim with that spear, put a noose around his neck, and pushed him out the window, wouldn't you agree?"
"It seems obvious yeah…" I said, trying to put pieces in my head together. "But there was no sign of a winner icon."
Asuna shook her head. "That's impossible, the only way they could have inflicted damage on another player is from a duel…"
I nodded; she was right of course. SAO was a lot of things, most of them weren't very good, but one thing you couldn't deny is that it was essentially fair. I looked down at the crude looking weapon again and sighed. What could this be?
"Either way… we can't ignore this," She said, shaking her head and turning to him. "If someone's found a way to PK in a safe area… it'll make towns dangerous, everyone will start to panic. The last thing we need now is panic."
I nodded; she was right of course. It had taken months for things to calm down in the game after the initial panic of the first few months.
"You're right," I told her with a nod. "We need to figure this out, and quick too."
"It'll mean leaving the front lines… but I guess we have no choice," A small smile came to her face, and she walked over with a handout. "Until then, you'll cooperate with me as we figure this out. Also, just so we're completely clear, there won't be any time for napping."
I smiled at the idea but sighed and shook her hand. "Of course, but, you know it was you who was doing the napping."
That had been the wrong thing to say.
"GAHHHHH!" I yelled as she nearly crushed my hand from squeezing it.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"I… I'm sorry that I made you both walk all this way," The girl, Yolko said with a bow towards them. She was a pretty girl with purple hair and a sword at her belt.
Asuna shook her head and smiled. "It's no problem. We'd just like to talk to you tomorrow, if that's okay?"
"O… of course," Yolko said with another bow, before she turned and closed the door back to her lodgings.
I sighed after she closed the door. The poor girl had been horrified, and I couldn't blame her… I knew all too well the pain it felt at losing a guild member, it was the reason I'd been solo for so long after all. The hour was getting late, the sun had gone down, but I knew we still had plenty of time before it got dangerous to be out at night.
"So… what now?" I asked Asuna, as we both turned to walk back towards the fountain in the town square.
"We should review what we know so far…" She said, holding her chin between her fingers. "If we can figure out where that spear came from… it may lead us to the perpetrator."
I nodded in agreement. "Then we'll need someone with the appraisal skill," I looked over at her and felt the nerves set in again. "You don't… obviously?"
She met my eyes and seemed offended. "I don't… and nor do you," she said, before stopping and giving me one of those glares. "Also, must you address me so… curtly?"
That made me stiffen again, I almost started straightening out my cloak. "Oh… um… well… 'Miss' then?"
Another, stronger glare this time.
My eyes widened. "Oh, um… 'Miss Vice Commander'?" I said, stumbling over my words as she sighed and kept glaring with those large orange eyes. "Uh… 'Lady Lightning Flash'?"
"Ugh," She said with frustration, turning away from me. "You're as bad as Akira is… you can just call me Asuna."
I quickly nodded, laughing nervously. "S… sure thing."
A moment passed after she nodded, and I quickly took in a breath to calm myself… what was it about her that was making me like this? I wasn't this horrible at talking to girls, was I?
"So, um… about that appraisal skill," I said, trying to move the conversation along. "You don't have but do… any of your friends do? Your friend's list is probably longer than mine."
She held a finger to her chin to think again. "Well… I do have a friend who's a weapons merchant, but this is their busiest time. So, I don't have anyone I can ask soon I don't think…"
I nodded; it was my turn to contribute something. "Then, why don't we go and ask an item merchant that I know? He's on floor 50, should be open still."
"Good, we'll leave soon," She said, before pulling up her own window, and I saw her go to her friends list.
"Um… soon?" I said, looking at her confused. "I thought you said we needed to get all of this done as soon as possible?"
"We do…but during this, I've realized we'll need someone with a high investigation skill," She said, pulling up her friends list and that map. "I have a friend who has it nearly maxed out. If we find him, I think he'll be a huge help."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
POV: Akira.
I sucked in the cold air, as my foot dangled over the walls of the town. It almost made me miss the Town of Beginnings and that cloudy abyss I had almost jumped into multiple times over the previous few months. The air was crisper this high up, and with each gust I felt myself going closer and closer to the edge… which I wouldn't have minded.
"I wonder if they really are gone…" I mumbled to myself, holding the item 'Kya's Wedding Band' in my fingers, twirling it around, inspecting the silver in the moon and torchlight. "Or if this is just one big farce… and they're waiting for me on the other side."
I asked himself that question every day, when deep down I knew the answer. Maybe I thought that if I kept asking myself it, it would eventually change.
"Still over about forty floors to go…" I muttered again, sighing with my eyes on the ring. "Forty floors to find them and clear the game… I'm sorry it's taking so slow Kya."
"Heyyyyy Akiri-boy," A voice said from atop the battlements with me.
I didn't stop leaning on the wall, but I looked over, and managed a rare smile. "Well, well, well, if it isn't my favorite information dealer."
"Ha, I better be your only information dealer Akiri-boy," Argo said with a wink, as she leapt to sit on the wall with me. "Not at A-chans for dinner tonight?"
I shook my head and put Kya's ring back in my inventory. "No, I was supposed to, was waiting for a message from her to say I was good to come over but… I haven't gotten one."
"Ohhhhh maybe she's out seeing someone," She teased. "How would you feel about that Akiri-boy?"
I rolled my eyes and smirked at her. "I'd have to meet the poor guy, and make sure he knows what he's getting into. You know Argo, as much as you try, Asuna and I won't be a thing, you won't be able to publish it."
She held up her hands with a chuckle. "Ha, don't worry I know… but jokes aside Akiri-boy, I don't mean to overstep but I… think K-chan would've wanted you to move on. Meet someone new and be happy."
I shrugged and sighed. "I'm not leaving this hell hole alive Argo, you know that I know that, hell, none of us probably are."
"Oh no, I won't hear that talk of dying!" She said, slapping my back. "I won't let you off the hook until me, you and A-chan all have dinner on the other side!"
I managed another smile. "You know, your boundless optimism is refreshing every time I see you Argo," I said with another sigh ad shrug. "Who knows, maybe one day I will meet someone new… but I can say for certain that it's a long way off. Forget about that, got anything for me tonight?"
A wicked smirk came to The Rat's face. "You sure you wanna know? Laughing Coffin having someone try to PK you in your sleep wasn't enough to detract you?"
"Well, even if it wasn't, they won't stop till I'm dead now anyway," I said, pulling up my friends list and searching for Asuna's name. "Lay it on me, what do you got?"
I clicked Asuna's name after I saw it and typed the message, You, okay? Let me know where you're at if you need help -Akira. I hit send as Argo narrowed her eyes at me.
"Have you told A-chan about it this time?" She asked.
I shook my head. "You saw how pissed she got last time."
"Well it almost got you killed," Argo said. "She was only worried."
"I know she was… but this is something I have to do, she'll understand eventually," I said, meeting The Rat's eyes. "So, go on, tell me before I die from the apprehension."
Argo sighed and pulled up her UI menu and clicked a roll of paper. "So, I've been hearing that down on the lower floors, someone's been trying to contact Laughing Coffin."
"Sounds pretty broad," I said, taking the rolled-up information. "How do you know it's legit?"
"Because the one who wanted to hire them," She said, closing her menu, "wanted my contact to be the go-between to get them the money to do it."
"Your contact okay?" I asked right away.
Argo nodded. "Yeah, I got her out, she's safe. It was a pretty sum, only thing is I don't have the names of who the people he wanted dead, why he did, or when it's supposed happen, only his name and the location Laughing Coffin was supposed to go."
"Where is it supposed to be?" I asked, the anxiousness building.
"A gravestone on Floor 19, in a supposedly haunted forest," She said slowly, as the effect on me was instant and she saw it. "Didn't… you, your sister and K-chan-."
"We lived on Floor 19, I know the forest you're talking about," I said quietly, my eyes going out to the forest I could see from the town's walls. "Who was it that hired them?"
"A man named Grimlock" Argo said, shaking her head. "That could just be a fake name. Never heard of him myself, name ring any bells?"
It did, that was what made no sense to me. Grimlock? There was no way that he could be involved with Laughing Coffin, at least that was what I told myself.
However, as more days went by in Aincrad I learned more and more, that this game would bring out the true nature of people. I knew it all too well, it had happened to me.
"Yeah… I think I have all I need," I said, turning and smiling at the blonde information dealer next to me. "Thanks for everything Argo. I promise to buy you a meal if I do somehow make it through this game."
The Rat winked and chuckled. "Ha, I'll hold you too that Akiri-boy," she said, before her voice got quiet, and she narrowed his eyes. "Just… be careful if you do go after them, you know how strong they are. Don't… don't throw your life away alright? That's not what K-chan would've wanted."
I shook my head. "I won't, no need to worry. I'll catch up with you soon."
Argo nodded, before giving him another pat on the back and getting up from the wall of the battlement. She gave one more wave before walking down the walls, and soon I could hear a teleport crystal going off.
I sighed as I did… I hated lying to people, especially people I really cared about.
I wasn't going to survive this game, that I knew for a fact, one way or another, i would be with Kya and Aki by the end of it.
"I'm sorry… Asuna, Argo," I said with a sigh, standing up and leaning against the battlement, feeling the wind blow the black cloak out behind me. "Kya… Aki… soon."
Just as I was about to go into my inventory for a teleport crystal, a message popped up in my window.
Message from Asuna:
Turn around idiot. -Asuna.
I only had time to squint in confusion before I heard her voice.
"Hey! Akira-kun!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
POV: Kirito
"Hey! Akira-kun!" Asuna said next to me, and I couldn't help but notice the smile that had come to her face.
I looked up at the boy on the battlements and felt a little offended. Was he trying to copy my look, or was it just coincidence? He looked to be around the same size as me in terms of height, he may have been a bit taller than I was, but not by much. He didn't seem much more muscular than I was, but his dark blonde hair was just as messy. He had green eyes that I felt were piercing through me in the night as he looked between Asuna and I.
"So… that's the Black Archer huh…" I muttered to Asuna. "And he's your um… friend?"
She looked at me and rolled her eyes as Akira leapt off the wall. "Yes, he's, my friend. Also, the one I was telling you about earlier…"
My eyes widened again, so he had been the one almost PK-ed in his sleep? Someone as strong as he was rumored to be. I was beginning to think that perhaps the murder Asuna and I were investigating, and that could be connected.
"Asuna…" He said as he got close, crossing his arms as he stopped in front of them. "What… what are you doing?"
He was looking at me now, and I tried my best not to find those green eyes of his intimidating. I could see something in them, they were the eyes of a person who'd been through the worst that world had to offer.
Not to dissimilar from myself.
I could see why they called him the Black Archer as he stood there. He wore leather-style armor, black and brown overtop a black gambeson with a few white accents along the stitching. His black cloak didn't have sleeves that wrapped around his arm like mine, instead it was simply one that tied around his neck and fell over his back. I could see it was probably made from wolf hide, probably an S-ranked Dire Wolf if I had to guess.
His trousers were tightly woven and black as well, with leather padding along the sides and they led down to sturdy black boots. He wore even more black than I did.
Asuna also smiled ear to ear seeing him… why did that bother me so much?
However, her smile didn't last very long, she looked over to where Akira had been standing and took a step closer to him.
"Akira-kun… I thought we talked about this," She said in a whisper that I just managed to pick up. She shook her head. "You… you weren't trying to… well, you know-."
"No, don't worry I was just out for a stroll, waiting for you actually," He said, before his eyes turned and looked at me again. "Last person I expected you to show up with was The Black Swordsman himself."
He turned around to me, and that I refocused my attention, holding out my hand. "We haven't met formally, only a strategy meetings. I'm Kirito, it's nice to meet you officially."
Akira looked at my hand for a second then turned to Asuna. "I thought you said he was insufferable?"
"Huh?!" I said, looking at Asuna offended. "You said I was infufferable?"
The Lightning Flash shrugged. "Sometimes you are," she looked back to Akira. "But at other times… he's quite pleasant. We've been working together today, we came for your help, Akira-kun."
Akira nodded then turned back to me, and I saw the corners of his lips tilt upwards. He grabbed my hand and finally shook it. "Well, if Asuna vouches for you, any friend of hers is a friend of mine. Nice to formally meet you, I'm Akira."
"Mhm, The Black Archer," I said, nervously laughing and hoping my joke went over well. "You wear even more black than I do, I may have to get a different title."
He scoffed, and thankfully kept smiling. "Yeah, sorry for copying your nickname, didn't do it by choice…."
His eyes grew softer, and he kept looking at me, which made me slightly uncomfortable. "Um… it's… okay? Do I have something on my face?"
He shook his head and seemed embarrassed. "No, sorry I… I'm just remembering all the time my sister said she wanted to meet 'The Black Swordsman' and 'The Lightning Flash'… and here I am with them both in the same spot."
I managed a smile myself, he had a sister as well? Perhaps we had more in common than just our outfits.
"Ha… younger or older?" I asked.
"Younger," He said.
I smiled. "I have a younger sister, back in the real world. Ha… I'll sign an autograph for yours! Asuna can sign it too, she's in the game? I'd love to meet her, where is she?"
That made both Akira, and Asuna go quiet. All I could hear was the howling of the night winds, the sun had just gone down, yet it already was freezing out. I felt horrible for a moment, I saw Akira's eyes fall to his boots, and even Asuna couldn't look at either of them, a guilty look on her face.
My own embarrassment flared up. "Uh I… I'm sorry! I know it's rude to ask about the real world, or even families, I didn't mean-."
"It's fine," Akira said, his tone a bit sharper, a long sigh leaving him. "My sister's dead."
My eyes widened, and mt stomach curled. I looked to Asuna, expecting her to say something, but she seemed just as devastated remembering the news as Akira did. I looked back to him, and noticed down on his hands, he wore a wedding band on each one, one on his left one on his right. Was there even more to the story?
I had lost a lot, I still had memories that haunted me every night. Still… I could never imagine what it would have been like if something like that had happened to Sugu. It made me even more relieved she took much more to kendo then she did MMORPGs like me.
It only made me feel even guiltier, for how I'd been treating her before I left. At least I had the chance to see her again.
"I… I'm sorry," It was all I could say.
A few moments of silence passed again, the wind bringing the distant noises from the town. It surprised me that even Asuna seemed so devastated. Had she been close to his little sister as well?
"You couldn't have known, it's okay," Akira said, finally breaking the silence. His intense green eyes met mine as he nodded, before he turned to Asuna. "So not that I'm not relieved to see you Asuna, but what is it you're doing with Kirito here?"
He looked over to me again. "She said you two have been working together all day?"
Asuna lifted her head back up and managed to smile at her friend again. "That's right, Kirito-kun and I are in the middle of an investigation. It was rather sudden, that's why I wasn't able to contact you all day."
"That's right," I said, eager to move onto the actual topic we'd come for. "We were… um… having a meal together, when well… someone died in town."
"Died in town?" Akira said, looking between them both confused. "Someone had a duel to the death in the middle of town then. That's the only way it could happen."
Asuna shook her head. "That's the thing Akira-kun… there was no duel winners' icon. It… it's as if the victim was simply attacked. He was hung out of the clock tower, impaled with a spear. We're worried someone's found a way to PK in towns and safe zones."
Akira held his chin between his fingers in thought. "Could it have just been an elaborate sleep PK? Someone dozed off in the clock tower, and then someone came along? If anyone knows what that's like it's me."
Asuna scoffed and crossed her arms, glaring at Akira, and I was glad for once that glare wasn't directed at me.
"I wish you'd stop making jokes about that!" She scolded him. "You almost died!"
Akira held up his hands and chuckled. "Yes mother," he joked, only increasing the intensity of Asuna's glare. He chuckled again and looked to me. "Do either of you have any clues, did anyone see anything?"
"Yeah… let me explain," I told him.
Asuna and I went on to explain to him what we'd seen, Kains hanging from the tower, spear in his chest, the few bits they'd gathered from the people in the crowd. Finally, I explained what we were going to do next, my plan to take the spear to Agil so we could figure out who made it.
Akira took it all in stride and nodded as he paced between them. "Mhm… I know Agil, if anyone can figure out where that spear came from it's him."
Asuna nodded. "Then we'll head out to see him after we're done here. I wanted to come to you first, Akira-kun, you have a higher investigation skill then anyone I know. I thought perhaps you would see something at the crime scene we didn't. You'll help us, won't you?"
"Yeah… I probably will, with my investigation and perception skills so high, I'll probably be able to see footprints or marks you couldn't," He said, turning to us both before he smiled at Asuna first. "Do you even need to ask? Of course, I'll help."
Asuna smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, and so did I. If his investigation skill was as high as he claimed, it would be relatively easy to figure out what was going on.
"Thanks Akira-kun," Asuna said, looking over to me now. "We appreciate it, right Kirito-kun?"
"We do," I said, meeting his eyes as his shadow was cast over the battlements from the torchlight down below. "I look forward to working with you. We should-."
"Hold on," Akira said, holding up a finger, a smirk on his face. "I'll help you both out, but first… I want something in return."
My eyes widened, and Asuna scoffed. "Akira-kun, stop goofing around, what are you talking about?"
"It's simple really, I'm not even talking about money," He said, before he looked to me now with a smirk on his face. He opened his UI menu and shook his head. "It won't even take that long."
It wasn't long before a message window popped up in my vision.
Akira challenges you to a duel, do you accept?
"Huh?!" I said, looking up to see him smirking at me. "You… wanna duel me? Why, what'd I do?"
"Absolutely nothing," He said, pulling up his inventory now. "I just think it'd be fun, what do you say?"
"What? Fun?! Akira-kun!" Asuna said incredulously, shaking her head. "What are you doing? This is no time to goof around!"
I didn't know how to respond myself. Did I really want to fight one of Asuna's best-friends? Besides, I had heard enough about The Black Archer to know, that he was the real deal. You didn't become known throughout the assault team and on the front lines without truly being skilled. Still, I also didn't want to do it because a duel between us didn't seem very fair. On the battlements then, I clearly had the advantage with my sword on this terrain.
Akira kept his smirk, and after a minute a weapon appeared in his hands.
The Black Bow of Fate was a legendary weapon in the game, one that I could remember only one other person using and that was all the way back in th beta-test. I couldn't remember her name then, but I did remember the girl had red hair, and was one of the better players during the beta-test. It was as tall as Akira was, and the fact it doubled as a two-handed weapon when you weren't firing arrows had to mean his two-handed weapon skill was high as well.
Still, in a head-to-head melee fight, I would more than likely win, and that wasn't even me being arrogant, I simply had the advantage. So why would he want to fight a duel he'd probably lose?
"He doesn't have too if he really doesn't want too," Akira said to Asuna, his eyes meeting mine now. I saw something fall in them as he looked at his bow. "As for why well, this way when I eventually die in this hell-hole… at least I can tell Aki I got to fight The Black Swordsman."
That horrible silence came back again, and I saw Asuna's head fall. My own stomach churned… what would I really have done if Sugu had been trapped in this game with me? And what would I have done if I lost her, like Akira had lost his sister?
"Akira-kun…" Asuna said, her voice small now. "You can't talk like-."
"Alright you're on!" I said, smirking back at Akira as I went and pressed the accept button on his duel request. "One hit, or first to yellow health?"
"Huh?! Kirito-kun!" Asuna said, stepping between us both and looking between us. "We have work to do, what are you both-."
"First to yellow sound good? Three-minute time limit?" Akira said, the smile on his face growing, as they both stepped away from Asuna to face each other. "I'd hate to win after one arrow."
Asuna looked at them both baffled. "What are you doing?! Both of you, we need to-."
"Your arrows need to get past my swords first," I said, feeling my competitive edge come out, the thrill of a challenge building as I looked at the boy across from me. "You sure you don't wanna switch to a real melee weapon?"
"You're confident, aren't you?" Akira said, seeming just as excited as I was getting. "I like that, don't think you'll have it easy just because I'm an archer, I got plenty of tricks up my sleeve."
"I look forward to seeing them!" I said, shaking my head as I went to press the 'begin' button on our duel request. "I haven't dueled an archer before, I bet you got tons of ways to make up for-."
"HOLD ON!" Asuna yelled, rushing up between them and glaring at them both. "Are the two of you really going to waste time dueling in the middle of our murder investigation?!"
Akira looked at me, and I looked back at him, before we both turned to Asuna.
"Yeah." "Yeah." We said at the same time.
Asuna let out an annoyed groan as she ran her hand down her face. "Boys…."
I smirked and looked back to Akira. "I hope you're ready."
"More then ready," He said, as we both pressed 'begin' on the duel icon and the scoreboard appeared above our heads.
Asuna rolled her eyes and moved out of our way, and Akira jogged a few feet away from me on the walls of the town. No NPCs or other players were around, not that I minded, it made it easier for me to focus on Akira's movements. I saw him open his menu again and equip something else, and on his back, laying horizontal across his waist was a quiver of arrows. He pulled out one arrow and held it at his side, his bow in the other hand, smirking across at me the entire time.
I was glad that he was smiling. I had just met him of course, but one thing I didn't want, was anyone thinking they wished they could die. The chances of dying were high even I knew that, and it frightened me as much as anyone else, but still… Aincrad was the place we were in now, and it was like I told Asuna earlier, sometimes it was good to simply relax and enjoy what we could during these times.
Whether that was the perfect weather settings, or having fun in a duel with an opponent you'd never faced the likes of before. That was why I didn't hesitate to accept Akira's challenge.
Our profiled pictures and names appeared above us, along with a countdown from sixty.
I smirked as I reached up for my sword. "I know he has to have tricks to cover his weaknesses… but I really should have the advantage over an archer in a duel."
"Don't be overconfident Kirito-kun," Asuna said, still watching them both with a disapproving look, her arms crossed. She was a few steps from me as she shook her head. "I've dueled Akira-kun plenty of times myself. He's no pushover, he does have ways to overcome being an archer in a duel."
"How often do you win those duels?" I asked her, reaching to pull out my sword.
Asuna shook her head. "It's about even, 50/50 really."
That made my eyes widen, but oddly enough it only made me more excited. "Guess this'll be a good challenge then."
I turned and shifted to my regular stance, one foot forward, the other behind me. Akira hadn't moved, only smirking as the night wind blew back his cloak. He twirled the arrow in the fingers of his right hand and held the bow with his left.
Was he not going to take a more defensive stance? By the time it took him to load his bow and fire, I could be in his face with my sword skill, I could end it before he fired a shot. The timer kept going down, closer to twenty seconds now, and I narrowed my eyes, going back and forth between what i would do. Do I rush, or hold back? How fast was he really in firing his bow?
10,9,8,7,6, my eyes grew wide looking at the timer. I had to rush forward, I couldn't give him time to get off a shot. 5,4,3,2,1…. BEGIN.
My sword erupted into green light, I yelled as combined with my normally athletic ability I dashed forward in a run, careful to move side to side incase Akira fired. I saw he hadn't moved, only spinning the arrow one more time in his hand, and my eyes widened as when I finally got to him, I went to strike. I put everything I had into the attack, the duel would end when one of our HP bars went to yellow, so I wouldn't put him in danger.
I yelled again as I went to swing, not stopping my momentum. I swung horizontally, and thought for a minute I had him, but at the last second, moving with speed that rivaled even my own or Asuna's his moved to the side, his bow glowing bright blue. He parried the strike as he spun, and next thing I knew he was behind me.
"ICE ARROW!" He yelled, drawing back his bow, and before I could even see his hand load the weapon, the string rattled and I felt the arrow his the back of my calf.
I yelled out in pain, it wasn't the worst pain I'd experienced in Aincrad, I'd even been shot by a bow before, but the speed of his draw and power of the arrow was much more then any other archer I'd face or seen. I went to spin back around after the arrow disappeared, but suddenly, my leg was freezing.
"Huh?!" I yelled, looking down at my leg, and seeing that it was covered in ice! "What the hell?!"
I knew of course there were ways to deal elemental damage through enchantments on weapons and special weapon effects, but Akira had shouted it out like a sword skill, and the Black Bow and Fate didn't have any elemental abilities that I'd heard of!
"MULTI-SHOT!" Akira yelled, and I saw him pull four arrows out of his quiver at once. He pulled them all back in his bow and fired.
My eyes widened and I slashed out with my sword, one of them nicked my cheek, but I knocked the other three from the air. I yelled and chopped my sword down at the ice that had trapped my leg. I broke out of it, and when I turned around, Akira was already firing again.
I needed to get in close, that was where I'd have the advantage! I tried to rush forward, but he fired arrows so quick, that I had to keep knocking them out of the air. Another slashed against my shoulder, and I nearly fell from the force. I knew The Black Bow and Fate's ability let the user fire arrows at a quicker rate, but even with that, Akira was still firing at an unreal pace.
"LIGHTNING ARROW!" He yelled, firing two arrows in quick succession, before I saw him draw another, it crackled and was encased with blue lightning as his bow glowed.
So the elemental attacks weren't coming from his bow… but the arrows themselves? That baffled me, I had no idea how that was possible, and how he could fire both ice and lightning arrows. Either way, it released from his bow with a crackle of thunder. I ducked underneath and my sword started to glow. I knocked it from the air. It smacked into the ground, and if I hadn't dashed forward I would have probably been paralyzed.
"SONIC LEAP!" I yelled, as my sword began to glow green again. I jumped to give myself more power. I hadn't survived all this time as a solo player for nothing!
Even Akira wasn't fast enough to dodge this time. My sword hit against The Black Bow of Fate that he'd brought up to dodge. It sent him skidding back, and I gave chase right away not wanting to let him get off anymore shots.
I saw him scramble to his feet loading an arrow, he got one off, but I was able to dodge it and leap forward. He dodged and brought his bow back up to attack me from behind. I resisted the urge to smile, we were in close quarters now, here, I had the edge.
I spun and lashed out, but to his credit, he did know how to use his bow like a melee weapon well. It reminded me of facing down a quarterstaff or spear, he even lasted out and I felt my cheek knicked by the edge of one side, it had sharper points on the edge I could see now.
He went for as strike near my head, but I spun around it and tried to strike at his back, but the minute I did he ducked and rolled forward. I saw him reach to his belt and pulled out a throwing dart. I ducked under one and knocked another out of the air, before lashing out again. I activated another sword skill and knocked the Black Bow of Fate upwards and spun to go for a thrust towards his stomach. He leapt back, but I cut across his toros. He grunted and I saw his HP begin to drop, before is smirking.
I had to press my advantage I knew, so I continued forward. It was as if we were dancing for a moment. Our weapon smacked together, he had a counter for each move that I tried, it seemed that he really did come up with ways to counter being an archer in melee situations. I went for a thrust and he smacked my sword down before hitting my shoulder with the opposite side of his bow. I took the hit, before grabbing the edge of the bow and throwing him forward, allowing me to cut a part of his arm. He spun back around and went for another swing, and I brought my sword back up for the clash.
As our weapons clinched, I swore I saw him smiling, a real smile.
And I realized I was too. I was having fun. Was this what SAO would have been like had Kayaba decided not to trap us all in here? Would it have been fun duels like this?
I pushed against the clinch and leapt back to regroup. Akira did the same, flipping and going for another arrow. He fired in a flash, and I just barely saw it. I knocked it from the air, and an idea came to me. I reached for my own pocket, and pulled out a throwing dart of my own, it glew as I activate and skill and fire.
I saw Akira's eyes widen, as he barely had time to dodge. It cut against his shoulder, bringing his HP just above the yellow. Dashing forward I yelled an activate another skill while he was off balance.
My plan worked. Akira blocked the first one, but he was stumbling backwards, I swung my leg down low to sweep his feet out from under him. His eyes got wide again as he fell to his back, and brought his bow up to block another attack I launched. My attack cut upwards and knocked his bow away, and just as the time was about to expire I gave him a gentle poke against his chest.
That brought his HP just down into the yellow.
Winner: Kirito! The duel winner icon appeared above my head, and the panels above out battlefield atop the walls all disappeared.
I looked down at Akira, and realized my sword was still pointed at him. My breathing was heavy, it had been a long time since I'd been pushed like that in a fight. Below me, Akira leaned up on his elbows, panting deep, heavy breaths as well. He met my eyes, seeming a mixture of annoyed and elated.
I smiled, and slung my sword onto my back, reaching my hand down to him. "That… that was a good match. F…fun!"
I could barely breath still, but when I saw Akira staring at my hand, I got worried for a moment. Was he really upset that he lost? This was someone who had said just before their fight, that he believed he was going to die. I had always had the idea in the back of my head, but I always tried to remember what I had to get back for.
"Fun… I… I'm surprised I know what that is anymore," Akira said beneath me. I looked down, and his blue eyes met mine, the smile returning to his face. "Yeah… you're right. That was fun. Thanks… thanks for the match, Kirito."
"No problem," I said, as he grabbed my hand and I pulled him up to his feet. I smiled and held out a fist for him. "Thought you had me for a minute. That wasn't my finest showing, I hope you'll let me redeem myself another time."
He looked at the fist, before nodding and smiling at me. "It wasn't my finest one either. You caught me off guard attacking from range yourself… don't think it'll be that easy next time."
"I wouldn't dare," I said, as he gave me a fist bump.
We both looked at each other, smiling for a moment. I was realizing then, he really could be one of the most powerful players I'd met, right up there with myself and Asuna. The more I thought about it, the more I was realizing, that there really was a chance we'd all clear the game one day, especially with players like him.
Just after thinking about Asuna, she appeared in a flash of white and orange between them. She glared at them with a cute, annoyed look, before crossing her arms and shaking her head.
"Wonderful, we're all friends now," She complained, rubbing her temples. "Now, Akira-kun, Kirito-kun, can we please return to the murder investigation?"
Akira laughed, and ruffled his hand through Asuna's hair, which she did not appreciate. "You heard our daring Vice Commander Kirito, let's get-. GAHHHHHHHH!"
I winced as Asuna grabbed his hand off her head and squeezed it not unlike she'd done to me earlier. He had known her longer than I did, so even he hadn't learned his lesson yet?
Akira sighed and rubbed his surely throbbing hand. "Jeez… you don't have to be so violent. But you are right, take me to the bell tower."
Asuna in a very quick change of moods, smiled and opened her menu. "Sounds like a plan, after that we'll go get the weapon appraised."
A few seconds later, the notice appeared in my vision. Join a party with Asuna & Akira?
I smiled and looked up, as Asuna was scolding Akira for something again. Akira held his hands up to defend himself, but he could see him trying not to laugh. Asuna sighed and folded her arms, before they both started laughing. I couldn't help but smile watching the scene.
Was this what having a party was like? I had always associated it with nothing but despair… after I had failed my last one.
I clicked accept on the request, this time it would be different.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
POV: Akira
"One thing's for certain…" I said, looking at the sets of footprints I could see splattered across the room of the clock tower. "There definitely wasn't a duel going on here."
"How can, you be sure?" Kirito asked. "It's the only way someone could possibly take damage."
I shook my head. "I don't know how, but I'm only seeing four sets of footprints. Three of them are ours, and the other one… it must be the guy who was hanging."
"So… you're saying that it was an elaborate suicide? That should be impossible, since you can't take damage in a safe zone" Asuna said, leaning down and examining the noose that was still tied around the wooden pillar.
I sighed; this whole situation stunk to me. I couldn't tell why, but something was screaming at me there was something much more going on. Kya had always told me that I had great instincts. I thought she had been right for a time.
But clearly it wasn't good enough, considering the trap I walked her and Aki into.
"You're right, that's what makes this confusing," I said, crossing my arms as Asuna and Kirito both came in front of me. I walked over to look out the window the man had fallen out of. "It being a suicide would be the easy answer… a duel the second easiest but… it just can't be either."
I walked over to where the noose was tied and poked at it. My investigation skill let me see fingerprints all over the rope. "It's impossible for it to be a suicide, because you just can't take damage in a safe zone. And if you were going to do that… you wouldn't tie a noose around your neck and stab yourself. It also can't be a duel, look around."
"Um… Akira-kun," Asuna said. "We have looked around; we can't see anything."
I rolled my eyes at my own stupidity. "Sorry… you can't see it, but my investigation skill lets me. It can't be a duel of some kind because well, nothings damaged. I only see fingerprints on the rope and pillar. If it was a duel in this tight a space, I would be able to see more signs of it."
"So… we still don't know anything?" Kirito said.
I met his eyes, and resisted an urge to press the duel icon again. I hadn't thought it was possible to have fun fighting in this game. Of course, I'd had fun the last three months. Asuna and I laughed having dinner together, or when we were just chatting about the real world. I'd told her all sorts of stories and she'd done the same. I had a good time shooting the shit with Argo or drinking with Agil.
But those moments were so few and far between, and actual combat? I had associated it with nothing but death.
Fighting Kirito though… the thrill of that competition, it was something I was glad I experienced.
I would probably die not soon after this investigation. I knew what going after Laughing Coffin probably meant, but I had accepted that fate. A part of me was screaming to tell the two of them, Asuna and Kirito both, maybe they could help me.
However, there was a larger chance they'd try to stop me from taking the risk. But, while I would do what I could to survive, for Asuna and the few other friends I had, I knew this was just something I had to do.
Before it though, I could have one last adventure.
I looked out the window at the dangling noose again. "Well, I wouldn't say nothing. As far as I see it, there are three scenarios. One, that this was an elaborate sleep PK, perhaps the murderer used some stealth skill to hide his tracks."
"But you'd be able to see through it with your investigation and perception skill…" Kirito said.
I nodded. "Yeah… second, is this really was an elaborate suicide, and maybe if a player does decide to take their own life, you can take damage in a safe zone."
"But it's like you said… why would you stab yourself and hang yourself?" Asuna pointed out. "What's the third scenario?"
"The third, is the most likely, and the most frustrating," I said with a sigh, looking out into the night sky again. "It's that there is a lot more going on here then we think. Someone knows something they're not telling us… who did you say you talked too?"
"A girl named Yolko," Asuna told me, meeting my eyes inquisitively. "She seemed pretty shaken up about it. She said she was in a guild with the man who died, his name was Kains."
I could feel my heart nearly burst out of my chest. "Yolko? Kains?"
"You know them?" Kirito asked from next to Asuna.
I nodded, and my mine began to go a mile a minute. First Argo tells me Grimlock could be the one trying to hire Laughing Coffin, and now Kains was dead? I knew it wasn't a coincidence… and I wanted to tell Asuna and Kirito that but doing that would mean telling them what I was trying do… and that could get them killed.
"I do," I said, trying to put the pieces together. "Yolko was friends with Kya, we met her on the lower floors. She, Kains, and their old guilds leader Griselda wanted Kya and I to join their guild, even offered Aki a spot. They're good people… for something like this to happen, poor Kains."
Kains being killed, Yolko being here? That along with the news I'd supposedly heard about Grimlock? A part of me just wanted it to all be a coincidence, but my instincts were screaming how it wasn't.
"Um… who's Kya?" Kirito asked, looking between Asuna and me. "You kept mentioning her, she sounds as if she's important. Akira, was she a member of an old-."
"Kirito-kun!" Asuna scolded him, scaring the daylights out of poor Kirito. "It's rude to ask personal questions like that of someone you just met!"
Oh yeah, she liked him, I could see it written all over Asuna's face already. I didn't know how far it went, or if it would go anywhere, but I knew Asuna well enough to tell.
Kirito cringed at himself and bowed at me. "She… she's right, sorry for-."
"No, it's alright not talking about it won't change things," I sighed, seeing Asuna cast me a sorry look. Chewing at my lip I went back to the edge of the window. "Kya… she was my girlfriend, back in the real world. We were married in game, that's where I got my bow."
A silence fell over the three of us for a moment, and all I could do was rub the ring on my left hand.
"Did… she have red hair? A former beta-tester?" Kirito asked.
I nodded and turned back to him. "Yeah, best archer Aincrad had ever seen. When she… died, I got her bow, and her unique skill passed to me too. Remember how I was shooting ice and lightning at you?"
"I was wondering about that," Kirito said, shaking his head. "I know weapons can be made with elemental damage and skills have them too, but I've never seen one with multiple, or just the arrows themselves."
Asuna smirked and leaned nudged me with her elbow. "That's Akira-kuns unique skill. Elemental Archery. You should have seen how many times he almost set himself on fire after first acquiring it. He-."
"Yes, thank you very much Asuna," I said, cutting her off as she laughed, and I saw Kirito choke one out himself. Sighing, I went to my inventory. "We should get moving to Agil's. We know all we can from here. When did you plan on talking to Yolko?"
"Tomorrow," Asuna said, pulling out her own crystal and looking at me. "Do you have any other ideas?"
"A few…." I said with a sigh, my hands tingling with apprehension. "But I don't like putting theories forward unless I can support them. Let's get moving."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
POV: Kirito
"Hey, Agil!" I yelled, just as I entered the shop, seeing my tall friend pop up from behind the counter.
Asuna and Akira filed into the door behind me, Akira leaning against the doorway, Asuna standing there with a smile. I couldn't help but think as he'd been talking, that Akira knew a bit more then he was letting on. I even saw it as we walked to the shop. He had spoken mainly to Asuna, but there was simply something about the way he slouched, the way he spoke… I didn't think it was anything bad, but it was clearly something important. When you were an introvert for most of your life like I was, who had experience in games like this, you picked up on these things.
Agil laughed when he saw me. "Hey Kirito! What brings you in?"
I leaned against the counter and gave him a fist bump. "Good to see you Agil. I'm here-."
"What?!" Agil said, grabbing me and pulling me over the counter. "Kirito! That… that's-."
"GAH!" I yelled, as Agil looked at me with wide eyes.
"That's the vice-commander, what're you doing with her?!" He questioned me, as I could hear Asuna nervously laugh from above us. "I thought you didn't get along! What you got yourself into-."
"Good to see you Agil," I heard Akira's voice say from above us. "It's… been a while, sorry for not coming by as much lately."
"Huh?" Agil said, thankfully letting me go and popping his head back up over the counter. The trader smiled and chuckled. "Ha, Akira! It's been months, where the hell you been!?"
"Wallowing in my own self-pity," Akira drawled on, but he smiled when he gave Agil a fist bump. "So, nothing out of the ordinary from before."
Agil laughed, but after a moment his face fell. "Ha, same as always. I… noticed Kya had disappeared from my friends list, you sister too… I'm sorry."
Akira stiffened, and again I noticed Asuna's face fall next to him. Had Asuna been there when Akira's family died? It would explain why they were such good friends. Still, hearing about what Akira had lost, it only made me feel worse. I had spent so much time playing solo, I was ashamed to admit, I forgot just how many other players there were left in the game who probably had it even worse than I did.
Akira shook his head. "It's alright, best I can do is just keep on moving forward. We… could use your help, that's what we're here for."
"They're right," Asuna said, giving her infectious smile and giving Agil a bow. "We're hoping for your help, Mr. Agil, Kirito-kun says you've a high appraisal skill."
Agil elbowed me in the side. "Huh, been working together the three of you have huh? That's a dangerous team, I like it. Come on back, I'll take a look at whatever you got."
I went on to explain the situation to Agil as the three of us all filed into his back room. He pulled up a chair, and I pulled out the spear that had been used to kill Kains. Asuna sat down on one chair, and Akira opted to remain standing. I kept an eye on him out the corner of my eye as he leaned against the bedroom window. He seemed deep in thought, and despite how much I tried, I still couldn't get the feeling out of my head he knew something he wasn't telling us.
It wasn't my place to tell Asuna, why would she believe me over someone who'd been her friend for so long? Still, I had actually fought him. I liked to think you could get to really know a person well through how they fought. Just from the duel we had, I could tell Akira was someone who similar to me, always believed they had to do everything themselves.
Which is why, I wasn't going to try and figure out what it is he knew. If he felt it was something he needed to do alone, so long as it wasn't dangerous, I wouldn't interfere. I still didn't believe it was anything nefarious.
"Alright, let me take a look," Agil said, bringing my thoughts back to the investigation.
I nodded and pulled the spear out again to place on Agil's table. "This was the weapon used to kill our victim."
"Don't recognize it at a glance," Agil said, taking hold of it, and pulling up his window. "Let's take a look…. Well, that explains some things, this is a custom-made weapon."
"Who made it?" Asuna asked.
The larger man looked carefully again at the window for the weapon. "A man named… Grimlock. Never heard that name before. Definitely not a top blacksmith, I don't see anything out of the ordinary with this thing."
"Grimlock?" Akira said sharply, stepping off the wall, looking at Agil. "You're sure?"
"Akira-kun," Asuna said from her seat. "Does that name mean anything to you?"
All of me, Asuna and Agil looked at Akira, and while the two of them may not have seen it I could. It may have been because they were his friends before this, but I could see the subtle hints in his eyes.
That name did mean something to him, and it terrified him.
Akira to his credit composed himself. "Yeah, I know him. Remember how I told you Yolko invited Kya and me to join her guild with Kains? Grimlock was the man married to that guilds leader Griselda."
He was telling the truth; I could tell that much… but I could see he was holding something back. My instincts in this game had been honed like a knife, I was certain now Akira was holding something back. I didn't know what it was, and I couldn't just accuse Asuna's friend of anything without proof. I was just going to have to trust him.
"Then… what was he like?" Asuna asked, looking inquisitive herself. "Could he have done something like this?"
Akira chewed at his lip and looked down at the weapon in Agil's hands. "From when I knew him before I'd say now but… this game changes people. But it just seems clumsy, if you're going to PK someone, why would you do it and leave behind a weapon that you made yourself, that could be easily appraised and linked to you?"
"Maybe he had got caught?" I suggested. "Yolko told us she was walking with Kains, before they got separated, and that she saw someone in the bell tower behind him."
Akira's eyes widened, and he looked between them. "That… that's impossible. We went to the bell tower, remember, I only saw four sets of footprints and three of them were ours."
"So… that means Yolko was lying to us?" Asuna said, looking genuinely upset at the prospect. She looked at me next. "But… the way she spoke to us Kirito. Could she really have been faking it? Could it have been here who…?"
I shook my head to reassure her and looked back up to Akira. "No, it couldn't have been her, it's like Akira said, there weren't enough footprints. Either Kains really did kill himself, or, well…."
"Grimlock or whoever it is who PK-ed," Akira noted, looking thoughtfully down at the weapon, "found some way to cover their tracks…"
I nodded. "The more we unravel, the more confusing it gets…. Hey Agil, does that item have a name?"
Agil nodded and held up the weapon for me. "Yeah, and you're gonna like this one…. It's called Guilty Thorne."
"Poetic," Akira muttered.
I nodded and grabbed the weapon in my hands. "Yeah… Guilty Thorne… well, I think there's one thing left we need to try."
"What's that?" Akira asked.
I grabbed the hilt of the weapon and spun it upwards, placing my hand at the bottom near the point of it.
Sucking in a deep breath I got ready to bring it down. "Here it goes… let's-."
"Wait, stop!" Asuna yelled, reaching up and grabbing my arm before I could. She shook her head and looked absolutely furious with me. "Are you crazy?! That weapons already helped someone PK once, you have no idea what could happen!"
"But… if I don't," I reasoned, "we won't be able to know if the weapon somehow bypasses the system. Maybe it has a special effect."
"He's right Asuna," Akira agreed with me. He shook his head at Asuna. "We need to-."
"Don't agree with him!" She scolded, taking the weapon out of my hands. "You need to stop being so reckless, the both of you! Agil!"
Agil jumped at his name. "Huh, yeah?"
Asuna turned her nose up and Akira and me both before handing the weapon over to the merchant. "Can you please look after this for us?"
"Uh… sure," Agil said, clearly not daring to say no as Asuna dropped the weapon into his hands.
Akira and I looked at each other, and we both sighed. Maybe we really did have a lot more in common then we thought.
Asuna turned to us both, her arms crossed. "We'll continue this another way. I believe that our next move should be to retire for the night and talk with Yolko tomorrow."
After managing to move under her glare, I nodded and stood up. "You're right, we won't be able to move any further forward without talking to her more," I looked at Akira, "maybe she'll say more if you're there Akira, since she knows you."
"I wouldn't be so sure…." Akira said, crossing his arms and adjusting the cloak around his neck. He looked between me and Asuna. "You two take her to a restaurant and ask questions, I have a high listening skill, so I'll wait outside to see what she saws at first. If I'm there, she may hold back some things because she knows I knew her and her guild."
"You… really think she's holding something back?" Asuna asked.
Akira shrugged. "Don't know, but we need to be safe. I'll come in after a few questions, and we'll see if she acts different. She's a good person… but this game changes people as I'm sure you both know. Who knows, maybe she's holding something back for a good reason…."
I could notice how that last part, didn't exactly sound like he was referring to just Yolko… what could he be planning to do?
A/N: Hey everyone, chapter two of my sword art OC fic is done! I hope you all don't mind the switch to 1st person POV, if everyone really wants me to go back I will, but I just feel that 1st person like how it is in the Light Novels, is how Sword Art was meant to be read.
So, the Aincrad Arc continues! I have twelve chapters planned for Aincrad, perhaps 13 if I need to stretch a chapter or two out. I'm going to try and just skip over parts of the chapter which would simply be the same as in the anime, except if Akira being there would make a difference. I know there was a lot of Kirito POV in this one, but next chapter will be a LOT more Akira. I want to stay loyal to the anime/novels I love so much and their plotlines, but add in a few new twists and turns with Akira. I don't want to re-write the whole story and plot, I want to write what it would be like if my character really was dropped into the SAO story.
What did you all think of our developments this chapter?! As I said last AN, Akira won't be having a romance/ship in the Aincrad Arc, so Aincrad is really just going to be setting up his character, his trauma and what his minds like, and the START of him starting to heal from it. Of course in later arcs/books we'll see him still have PTSD and flashbacks, but it'll be as he heals from whats happened. Let me know what you all think, and what you're looking forward too, along with what you think will change in a review!
Side note, i hope you all love Argo as much as I do xD Her not being in the anime more is criminal I loved that she showed up at the end of the Progressive Movie xD
Also, be sure to leave your opinions on who you think Akira's ship should be! I still don't really know, but we have till after Aincrad xD Should it be Sugu-Leafa, Sinon-Shino, Alice? All of them are options, I'm interested to see what you all think!
Thanks for reading as always and I'll see you in the next chapter!
