Sword Art Online: Akira Arrow's
Aincrad Arc
Chapter 8: Crimson Killing Intent
Akira
"And the boss was defeated by a group of only four players," I read quietly as I walked up the HQs stairs. "Klein, the leader of the Furikazan Guild, a famous katana wielder, and Vice Commander One, Asuna Lightning Flash provided cover, while the real heroes of the encounter were the famous pair in black, Akira The Black Archer, and Kirito, The Black Swordsman."
I yawned, as much as I'd preferred to be anywhere else then, I knew I needed to be there when Asuna asked for her leave from Heathcliff.
So, with another yawn, I sucked it up, kept reading and walking up the steps towards the meeting chamber.
"The Black Archer unleashed his greatest skill, a barrage of one hundred arrows, followed up by a fifty-hit combo from a dual-wielder, the new unique skill of the famous Black Swordsman. Now being called, 'The Black Storm-duo', the Black Archer and Swordsman are quickly becoming one of Aincrad's greatest hopes…" I finished, chewing my lip at the praise Argo leaped on Kirito and me.
I sighed as I finally got to the steps and folded the paper. "Laying it on a bit thick aren't you Argo…"
I folded up, 'The Daily Argo', before putting it back into my inventory. With another yawn, I looked over at the time in the top left of my vision, right above my HP and stamina bars. It was almost 9 o'clock in the morning, which wouldn't have been very early, it was the normal time Asuna would kick me to get me up after a night of sleeping on her couch.
However, it had only been around thirty-six hours to that moment since I unleashed Hundred Arrow Storm, Argo did indeed work quick. My digital body still hadn't recovered, I could see little red icons under my HP and stamina bars, which were health and stamina penalties due to me using the skill. In reality, i probably should have been in bed all day that day to make sure my skills reset properly, but I knew I had to be there for Asuna.
But, what worried me as I got to the waiting room outside, wasn't Asuna, or my health bar, it was the message I had gotten an hour before hand. I had slept on Asuna's couch the night before like I normally did, but it had been the message that woke me up instead of Asuna's poking like usual.
A message from Heathcliff.
From, Heathcliff,
A meeting of the Vice Commanders will be held at 9am precisely at HQ in Grandzam, do not be late.
I plopped myself over onto the couch without even acknowledging the other people I knew were staring at me as we all waited outside the meeting chamber. Sinking into the cushions i contemplated why I had even shown up.
Normally when Heathcliff sent messages like that, Asuna would have to drag me to them, or I would simply ignore them despite Heathcliff's words. It was no secret to him I was sure, or the other Vice Commanders who stared at me then in the waiting lounge, I didn't care if Heathcliff kicked me out of the guild or not.
But I promised Asuna I would take over for her… and try to do better, I thought, fighting through the pounding in my head. I had plans to meet up with Kirito, Agil and Liz in Algade. Like me, Kirito had been experiencing a wave of people flooding towards them the last almost two days since we had beaten The Gleam Eyes. People wanted to see the dual wielding in action, so Kirito had been laying low at Agil's place to avoid the attention. Me, I simply didn't care and ignored people, but Kirito I knew was a bit different then me in that regard.
I had seen Asuna the night before when we went to bed, but it was worrying to me that she hadn't been at home. I assumed she'd gone to HQ in Grandzam, but I hadn't had any messages from her since.
And she wasn't among the Vice Commanders that stared at me now, well, three in particular. Bols, Harp, and Yato, were Vice Commander's four through five, but I liked to simply call them Heathcliff's lackeys. They were devoted to the man like some kind of god. A part of me couldn't blame them, following around and being recognized by the most powerful player in the game, surely gave them hope as well.
However, it didn't mean they didn't annoy me ninety percent of the time. They crowded around the table with tea and muffins, which only made my stomach rumble. I was going to try and be more active in the guild, but I wasn't ready to go talk to those meatheads at nine in the morning when my head was pounding with a movement penalty.
"Well, well, well, this is certainly a surprise," A much friendlier voice said. "I can't say I expected to see you here at all, let alone on time. It's good to see you Akira."
My head tilted up off the pillow, at first, I had thought it was Asuna. It wasn't, but still, it brought a sigh of relief out of me.
"Oh, hey Mito it's good to see you to," I told the purple-haired scythe wielder, running my hands down my face, absolutely exhausted. "And to be honest with you, I'm just as surprised as you are."
Mito smiled. It had been some time since I'd seen her outside of the few council meetings I did attend, longer since I'd spoken more then a sentence or two to her in passing as we'd seen each other. Since I was around Asuna most of the time, Mito didn't seem to want to talk with her around. I had no idea what had happened between the two, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious.
Still, I didn't have the energy to ask then. Mito was nice enough, a pretty girl who had to be around my age, with a purple ponytail, red eyes, the regular Knights of the Blood uniform on, but it was in addition to a long whitish purple cape, and a massive black scythe leaning on the couch not far away. I imagined it had to be quite a nuisance lugging it around all the time, but I'd seen Mito in plenty of boss raids, and you underestimated her at your own peril.
"Ha, well a pleasant surprise for sure," She said sitting next to me, and it was then I noticed she had cups of tea in her hands. "You look like you could use this, thirsty?"
"Extremely," I said, my eyes going wide, as I took it from her with a nod and downed as much as my throat could hand. It wasn't Asuna's tea, but it was still good. "Thanks, I really needed this, I'm exhausted."
"I would guess," Mito said, leaning back on the couch next to me, an amused look on her face as she met my eyes over her teacup. "Being half of the "Black Storm duo" gets very tiring, I'm sure."
"Argo works way too quick, she needs to come up with better nicknames," I said.
Mito chuckled as she put down her cup, leaning back on the couch again. It surprised me, Asuna had told me Mito and her were friends in the real world, so I half expected Mito to be more like her, sitting with perfect posture, back straight and hands folded.
"I think it's pretty catchy, just like The Black Archer," She said, smiling at me. "I read all about it, how much of it is true?"
"Most of it, I'm good friends with Argo, she knew my girlfriend," I explained. "She checks with me before writing anything too outrageous, but this one? Pretty accurate."
"I see, so even that hundred arrow ability?" She asked, even seeming a bit excited. "I remember seeing it one time, it was from the Black Bow of Fate too, although, it was all the way back in the beta-test."
A part of me froze. Mito was smiling, and I already didn't have enough friends, the last thing I wanted to do was push away someone else with my awkwardness.
"That's right… Asuna told me you were a beta-tester too," I said carefully, but like usual with Mito, at the mention of Asuna, she seemed to shrink.
"Asuna… told you?" She said, holding her hands together and gripping at the purple cape that she wore. After a minute she composed herself and sighed. "She's right, I was, even though that doesn't mean much anymore. I saw a girl with red hair using The Black Bow of Fate, I wonder why she doesn't have it now, she was good with it, seriously good."
That did make me freeze, and like Mito fiddled with her purple cape, I found myself gripping onto my black cloak.
"Her… her name was Kya," I said, taking another quick sip of tea and sighing. "She… she was my wife in game, my… my girlfriend back in the real world."
I didn't mention Aki, I found myself never really able to mention her at all. Kya was hard enough.
Mito's eyes widened, she scooted a bit closer and shook her head. "I… I'm so sorry Akira, I didn't know. I'm sorry for bringing it up, I wouldn't-."
"It's okay, don't worry," I said, giving her a smile to reassure her. "Only Asuna, Kirito and a few others know, you couldn't have."
She nodded, but sighed, sounding disappointed. "Still… I'm sorry." She looked up and a small smile came to her face. "You… you and Asuna really are close huh?"
I managed a smile. "She's the reason I didn't jump into the clouds after Kya died, she helped me find a purpose. In all honesty she's my best-friend."
Mito's smile stayed, but I could see her eyes fall to her folded hands. A sigh came next as she nodded, the disappointed look still on her face.
"I… I'm happy for you then, for both of you," She said quietly, but still loud enough for me to hear her. "She… she found a better partner for this game, a more deserving one."
I chewed at my lip, feeling bad, it hadn't been my intention to bring back any bad memories for her. Mito was the only one in the guild I could really stand outside of Asuna, and if I was really going to be more involved like I wanted, I'd want to make sure to be on good terms with her.
But… if I can help the two of them make up… I thought, a small smile coming to my face as the idea formed in my head.
"You know Mito…" I said, my smile growing as she looked back at me. "Maybe one night soon you could come for dinner at Asuna's. She's got a maxed-out cooking skill you know."
Mito's seemed to get embarrassed, and then… upset again.
"I… I don't know if that's a good idea," She said, looking up at me. "I'd probably just bring down the mood anyway."
"I don't think you would," I said back with a reassuring smile. "I think Asuna would enjoy it; I know I would."
"You would?" She said, seeming surprised.
"Of course, you're one of the few people in this guild of misfits I can actually stand," I joked with her, noticing the glares from across the room. I ignored them and went on. "Besides, if Asuna's request is granted and she gets leave, I'm going to need your help picking up where she's left off."
Mito's eyes went wide. "She's requested leave?"
I nodded. "Mhm, her and Kirito are going to go off for a bit, I'll ask Heathcliff to become second while she's gone. I thought me and you would make a good team while she's away."
Mito's smile came back. "Ha, well I certainly wouldn't be opposed to that, if anyone deserves leave, it's Asuna… but I… I don't think she'd want me around."
"I think you may be wrong," I told her, standing up to stretch my legs. Mito did so with me, and I met her eyes when she looked at me again. "Asuna… she didn't tell me what happened between you, but I know her pretty well. She's not the kind of person who would hold a grudge, I'm sure she'll forgive you."
Mito looked shocked for a minute, before grabbing onto her cape. "Yeah… I… I know that about her to… and well… that's the problem."
"What is?" I asked her right away.
She met my green eyes with her red ones. "It's a long story, but… but back to what you said. Asuna's requesting leave from the guild? Have… you seen her today?"
I wanted to bring the conversation back to what it had been about… but the urgency in Mito's voice concerned me.
"No… I haven't," I told her. "I was going to ask you if you have."
Mito nodded, a look of realization coming to her face. "I did, I saw her about an hour ago here at the conference room. That must be what she was talking to the Commander about."
"What?" I said, miffed myself now. "She already talked to Heathcliff?"
Mito nodded again. "Yeah, she did, our daily Vice Commanders meeting with the Commander is every day at 8am, don't you remember?"
I scratched my chin. "Oh yeah… I well… never went to those did I?"
Mito scoffed. "No you didn't, Asuna normally brings you what we talk about. But today, her and the Commander got into an argument before I got there. She ran out in a panic!"
"What?!" I said, my head starting to pound again. "What could Heathcliff had-."
"Akira-kun! There you are, thank god," Asuna's voice cut me off, and I looked up to see the familiar flash of orange hair coming towards me.
She stopped breathing heavy in front of me, she looked up and saw Mito next to me. The two seemed to forget all about whatever it was Asuna was there for. For a few seconds they stood there, until Mito nervously walked away, nodding at me before she did.
I sighed, I need to fix that…
First however…
"Asuna, what's wrong?" I asked her, holding my hands out and helping her stand back up. "Mito told me you were arguing with Heathcliff earlier."
Asuna finally cought her breath. "Akira… he's trying to-."
"Akira?" Another voice said.
I looked up and my eyes widened. "Kirito? What are you doing here to-."
I was cut off again, by the doors of the conference room opening.
Heathcliff stepped through the door, his presence dominating the room. Bols, Harp and Yato saluted right away, Mito only nodded at him, but the Commanders vision went straight for me, Asuna and Kirito.
"You've all arrived…" He said, turning and walking back into the room. "Come now, I believe we can begin."
XxxxxxxxxxxX
My chest exploded along with the pounding in my skull.
"You're insane Heathcliff!" I shouted, standing up in my seat. "What right do you have to deny Asuna her leave?! And what gives you the right to bet her freedom on some duel?!"
"He's our Commander you little brat!" Bol yelled, standing up in his seat again and pointing his meaty finger at me. "You'll show him the respect he deserves, or else I'll-."
"Or you'll what Bols?! Kill me? Get me kicked out of the guild?!" I yelled back, my temples close to bursting. "Go ahead, do it! If I get kicked out, then I can kick your ass without having to deal with the headaches that come afterwards, going orange for a day will be well worth it believe me! And YOU AGAIN!" I turned back to Heathcliff. "Who do you think you are doing something like-."
"Akira!" Mito hissed next to me, pulling me back down to my seat before I could scream anymore, and quite possible really make myself go orange.
She also more than likely saved me from going to prison. I glared at her for a moment, but in the end just let out an annoyed sigh and fell back into my seat. My own, Mito's and Asuna's empty chair, set out on Heathcliff's left, were the seats for Vice Commanders one, two and three, while Bols, Harp and Yato were on Heathcliff's right.
Asuna stood in front of us all, with Kirito by her side, the both of them looking just as annoyed as I was. It had started out calm enough, with Heathcliff explaining he didn't want to lose Asuna on the front lines. I told him I'd take over her job, Harp had said it was a horrible idea, I told Harp his mother giving birth was a bad idea, Kirito laughed, and it seemed to be going well enough.
But then, was when Heathcliff told Kirito he could only take Asuna on leave, if Kirito beat him in a one-on-one fight with his dual blades.
After that was when I finally lost it and would have lost it more if not for Mito.
Heathcliff cleared his throat, annoyingly still calm. "Akira, your objection is noted, Do you have anything else you wish to add?"
"Anything else I say, my mother would wash my mouth out with soap sir," I muttered, glaring at the 'living legend', from my chair.
Yato scoffed from the other side of Heathcliff. "If it's that much of a problem, you could simply speak with us and the Commander after the meeting regarding the decision."
"No offense," I said, looking at the three Vice Commanders and Heathcliff, "but I'd rather add a live hand grenade to my morning oatmeal, then spend any more time with you glorified role-players then I absolutely have too."
Mito snorted a laugh next to me, Kirito laughed outright, and Asuna rolled her eyes at me, so the words had been true and worth it.
After the laughing, Heathcliff cleared his throat again, and it only caused the three idiots on his right to glare at me.
I sighed, so much for trying to get them to like me… well, I can still use the guilds resources to actually save people in this place. But first…
I cleared my throat again, and this time looked directly at the Commander. "You have absolutely no right to demand this challenge out of Kirito, Heathcliff."
"That's better, still sounds weird coming from you though," Mito commented next to me under her breath, before she chuckled softly at my glare.
Heathcliff was as annoyingly stone faced as always.
The living legend of the game met my eyes and shook his head. "I can assure you Akira, that this would prove beneficial to both the guild and all the players as a whole."
"What the hell do you mean by that?!" I yelled back, Mito having to pull my cloak to stop me from shooting to my feet again.
Heathcliff turned to Kirito. "Having a warrior such as Kirito in The Knights of the Blood Oath, the most powerful guild in the game, would surely help us clear the floors sooner."
I wanted to shout again, but Kirito took the words out of my mouth. I noticed both swords on his back now as he stepped forward in front of Asuna.
"You seem awfully confident you'd beat me," Kirito said, crossing over his arms. "I'd be more then happy to take you on, I'll take you up on your offer."
"Kirito!" I shouted, and this time Mito couldn't stop me from shooting to my feet, I looked over at my friend standing in the middle of the room, then to Heathcliff. The words came out before I could stop them. "Make it a three on three! Pick any two you want, then Kirito, Asuna and I will take you on!"
Heathcliff scoffed and shook his head. "I don't think so Akira, the deal has already been agreed too. Don't you believe in your friends' skill?"
Asuna seemed petrified to talk, I knew deep down she respected Heathcliff like the others, and she was probably just as afraid of this whole situation as I was. My fists clenched, and I looked over at my best-friend.
"Asuna… are you sure about this?" I asked her.
Asuna's hands shook, and she looked at me, then to Kirito. "Kirito… you don't have to do this."
Kirito smirked and then looked over at me. "Akira, you trust me?"
"Of course, I do," I shot back right away.
The Black Swordsman smiled and nodded. "Then trust me on this." He turned back to Heathcliff now. "Alright, like I said, I'll take you up on your offer, I don't plan on losing."
Heathcliff smiled and nodded. "Very well, our match shall be held tomorrow at this time."
My fists stayed clenched as I slumped back into my seat. It wasn't the fact that Kiito had to fight Heathcliff, it wasn't that I didn't think he could win. If anyone could beat Heathcliff, it was going to be Kirito, he was the strongest player in the game, I believed that.
It was the fact Heathcliff seemed to think himself some sort of god in this world that bothered me so much.
The meeting was adjourned after that, Kirito gave me a look and a nod. In our unspoken language, I knew he was saying we'd meet up in a minute, so I sighed and stood up with Mito next to me.
Mito met my eyes. "Are you… certain your friend can beat the Commander?"
I scoffed, and even managed a smile. "I am, he will. Who knows, maybe he'll finally knock him down a peg."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira
"That idiot!" Asuna said, as we both stood down at the ground level of the massive colosseum. She paced in front of me, as we watch Kirito walk out onto the sands across from Heathcliff. "The Commander's unique skill is too overpowered for another player!"
I leaned up against the gate and let her continue to rant and complain in front of me. Sighing, I watched Kirito exchange a few words with Heathcliff, as my friend took in the absolutely packed arena. Argo had sent me a message saying that every single seat in the coliseum had been taken, players from all floors and guilds had come to get a glimpse of Heathcliff in combat, and Kirito's duel blades. I couldn't recognize any faces, and I didn't care too, all I could do was watch Kirito. He looked surprisingly calm and had been too before he went out to his match.
"Akira!" Asuna finally shouted. She dropped the 'kun' at the end of my name, so I knew she had to be rattled. "You were just screaming about this yesterday when the Commander ordered it!"
I nodded. "I did, but the more I thought about it, the more I like it. Still don't like how they're basically betting you, but Kirito is going to beat him, one way or another."
Something had been different the night before about ho Kirito handled his swords when we trained together. He had a different edge, a different air about him. I knew exactly what it was. He was fighting for Asuna now, I also knew for some unknown reason, he was against joining any guilds. That was being put to the test today.
"You… really believe that?" Asuna said, looking up at me, the sun casting our shadows further into he coliseum.
I smiled, and patted her head, which she normally hit me for, but today she simply let me.
"Of course I am, you'll get your leave," I promised her, as I looked out at Heathcliff who had just finished sending Kirito a dual request. With a sigh I shook my head. "And I'll get the honor of dealing with our glorious Commander and his lackeys, Mito and I got our work cut out for us, that's for sure."
Asuna didn't waver at the mention of Mito. I'd talk to the purple-haired Vice Commander more after the meeting, and we already had plans to go level together, and start getting used to each other's fighting styles after Asuna and Kirito left.
The question Asuna posed next, wasn't about Mito, however.
"Akira-kun…" She said, as the timer began to count down, Asuna and I's eyes both glued onto the battlefield as she went on. "I… I know you don't like the Commander, and he may be being a bit unreasonable now but, he really does give other players hope, why is it you hate him so much?"
"You mean other then the fact he took so long to look for Laughing Coffin, and I had to sell my bow to him for him to do anything?"
"Yes, other then that, you hated him before that," Asuna said, as the timer got lower.
I sighed and looked over at Heathcliff. "He… acts like he owns this world."
"What? What do you mean by that?" She said,
Shaking my head, I spat the words out. "He seems to think because he's the strongest, he has the right to dictate everything, order everyone around, being leader of the guild doesn't make him a god."
"He's not Akira… he may be unreasonable at times, but if we're going to make it out of here, we need some kind of command structure."
"I know that," I told her with a sigh, looking at Kirito now. "But you shouldn't follow and worship someone just because they're strong, it's how they use their strength that should make you determine it. And me? Well I think he uses it for situations like this, when you just want a break, and Kirito clearly doesn't want to join, he uses his strength and power to get what he wants against peoples wills… like he's the god of Aincrad."
Asuna didn't say anything, I could tell she was mulling over my words. I didn't know if she agreed or not, but it didn't matter, she would still always be my best-friend, one of my reasons for still being alive that day.
"You may be right…" She said, as the counter got to ten seconds. Sighing, she shook her head. "I don't know what will happen after this Akira-kun… and that scares me."
I smiled and threw an arm around her shoulder as we watched Kirito. "Don't worry, no matter what happens Asuna, you'll have the two of us, that I can promise."
A small smile came to her face, and I felt her grab and squeeze the hand I had around her shoulder with a relieved sounding sigh. "Thank you… Akira-kun."
"You're welcome," I said, squeezing her hand back, as the timer hit zero. Trying to reassure her, I smiled as Kirito made the first move. "And don't worry, Kirito won't lose… he won't."
He wouldn't… right? Kirito was the most powerful player in the game, I believed that the moment after I met him. For fear of him getting a big head, I had never told him, but I really believed that when we did make it to floor 100, he would be the one to deliver the final blow to whatever awaited the players up there. I wanted to be there with him of course… but I knew deep down it would be him.
No matter what, Kirito was going to end this world.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira
"Ugh… did they have to give me something this… flashy?" Kirito complained, pulling on his fresh new white and red uniform, black accents down the middle, similar to the kind I wore.
I sighed and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me, I've been asking, this is actually one of the least flashy ones."
"Or, you could just be like Akira-kun, and ignore the uniform policy like he is now," Asuna commented with a smirk from her chair next to the bed.
I held up my hands and looked at the armor Kya had specially crafted for The Black Bow of Fate. "Hey, this suits me better than anything else."
"You are The Black Archer after all," Kirito commented grimly.
I sighed and plopped down onto the bed, throwing my arm around him. "And it looks like our 'Black Storm-Duo' title is going to be short lived my friend."
"Well, I think you look great!" Asuna said, and I could tell it was genuine. She smiled with her hands clapped together looking at Kirito.
Kirito smiled weakly, before sighing and falling back onto the bed face first. I patted his back sympathetically, still trying to digest myself what I had seen the previous day.
He had him beat… Kirito had the attack, I was sure of it, I thought for approximately the hundredth time since the fight happened.
The fight replayed over and over again in my head. It had lasted only a minute and a half, and I knew for a fact Kirito should have won the fight, and it had been bothering me ever since. If anyone knew Kirito's fighting style, his combos, his tendencies, it was me, I was the only one he ever really partied with if you didn't count Asuna.
We had trained for his fight for hours the night before, and he'd been like a demon with his two swords. He used the exact same move on Heathcliff when their fight ended, that he had used on me the night before. That move had gotten me beat plenty of times, no matter how many times I'd tried to avoid it, no matter how many times I tried to move fast enough to either block or get out of the way, Kirito always got me.
Heathcliff was strong, but there was no way he was faster then I was, he never should have been able to get his shield up intime to block Kirito's attack and finish him off.
I can't think about this right now… my heads going to explode, I thought, as I patted Kirito's back again, seeing the discomfort clearly in his eyes. He seemed even more unsettled about having that uniform on then I had at first.
And also, just like me, Heathcliff had made Kirito Vice Commander four already, right below, Asuna, Mito and myself, knocking Bols off the council, which he naturally wasn't very happy about. However, Kirito wasn't happy about it either, so it helped nobody in the end.
"It won't be so bad," I tried to reassure him as he sat back up. "Look on the bright side, if we're all Vice Commanders, we can party together no problem now."
Asuna perked up, trying to look optimistic for him. "Akira-kun's right. Since we're so close to the top, we'll have even more work to do now, and we can do it together."
"Or maybe we can make our own guild," I said, the idea had been gnawing at me from the moment I met Kirito and Asuna. "Us three, we can talk to Liz, Silica, Agil. Argo will join, maybe even Mito, or better yet, we can mix together with Klein and his guild."
I thought the idea sounded amazing, however, it only made Kirito hug his own body with a shiver. The sight deflated me. I'd become so used to seeing Kirito cool, calm and composed, it was something I envied, considering how often I lost my own temper.
But now… for the first time I saw him look genuinely afraid.
Asuna saw this, and her head fell as she took my spot next to Kirito. "I'm sorry… Kirito-kun. This is all my fault in the end…"
"Asuna don't say that," I told her, leaning against a shelf across from them in the room. "This is all because Heathcliff decides he gets what he wants, when he wants."
"Akira's right Asuna, it's okay. I was reaching the limits of what I could do solo anyway…" Kirito said letting out a long breath. He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his hands squeezed together.
He was shaking. Kirito, my friend, The Black Swordsman, was shaking.
"Kirito…" I said, as Asuna finally noticed as well.
"I… I just never thought I'd do this… not again…" He said shakily. It sounded as if he was on the verge of tears.
"Again…?" I said, looking down at my feet, thinking of the last time I had a group of three like this.
Kya… Aki… would it have been any different if I listened to you both earlier? It was a question I always thought about. If I hadn't been afraid, been selfish and kept the three of us down on floor 17, away from the fighting, would things have been different? Would Aki and Kya still be alive if we had all been around the Assault Team, people like Asuna, Mito, Kirito and all the other powerful players earlier?
I would never figure it out, because I think I knew the answer.
So many times, still to that day I woke up expecting them to be there, my party, my first guild… my family, so many times I'd just get teary eyed, my arms would shake, the images of Kya and Aki's bodies turning into data, what PoH and Zaza had done to them. Even the knowledge Zaza was rotting away in a dungeon beneath Grandzam didn't bring me nay peace with it.
And I didn't think anything would. I'd discovered that was how grief worked, it never really went away, it was sort of like when the sun went down, and the moon rose. When the moon rose and the dark-the grief-came, it was cold, scary, and you felt like it would be there forever.
But eventually, I learned, the sun always came back up, and you were warm again. The sun for me, normally came in the form of Asuna rolling me off her couch in the morning, and getting my message from Kirito to start the day, saying where he wanted to grind levels and EXP that day.
"Kirito…" Asuna said from next to him. "I… I want to know. I want you to tell me why you always avoided guilds… and well, other people."
"I… I've wondered that myself," I told him. "You could have been the leader of any guild you wanted, but well, you even said it, until the two of us, you rarely even went to grin levels with anyone else."
"I guess you're just special…" He said, a small smile coming back to him, before he shook and sighed again. "The… truth is well, I did join a guild once… a long time ago. It… it wasn't a big one, only five people, they were called The Moonlit Black Cats."
"Catchy, as far as names go…" I said, trying to lighten the mood.
Kirito's smiled for a minute, but it faded quickly. "They…weren't really fighting to clear floors or anything. I… I didn't tell them my real level. I thought that well, if they knew I was a beta-tester, a beater, they wouldn't want to spend any time around me. I… I think it was their familiarity with each other, how… how close they all seemed to be that drew me to them."
"They knew each other in the real world…" I surmised, thinking on how many other people shared the same fate that I had that day.
He nodded to confirm, looking down at his hands. "I… I wanted something like that, that familiarity, that friendship and… and for a small while well… I did have it. But… but then…"
I didn't flinch, hearing in excruciating detail the deaths of Kirito's old guild. A no teleport crystal trap, a cursed chest, it was a classic thing to put in RPGS or MMOS.
But Kayaba? No, he needed it to kill actual people. It only made me angry, hearing about Kirito's old friends, angry at Kayaba, angry at Aincrad.
And even angrier at myself for getting my own party killed.
Asuna had started crying, regretting now she was making Kirito relive such a horrible event. Now, I could see why Kirito was the way he was, why he was so afraid of guilds and why he played solo. I already knew Kirito had a bit of a hard time making friends, he wasn't the most social person as is, he wouldn't have even gotten close to me if not for Asuna.
I may have turned out the same way as him, if not for her.
"If… if I had been honest about my level, about being a beta-tester, maybe they would have listened to me when I warned them," He said, tears coming down his eyes now. "It's my fault… my fault that they died… Sachi… it… it was all because of me."
"You can't say that," I said, my own voice shaky. "I… I sound like a hypocrite, because I say the same things about Kya and… and Aki, but… but if you let what happened keep eating at you, you'll eventually crumble. I did… and well… if not for you and Asuna, you know what would have happened to me."
Kirito's arms continued to shake, and eventually he looked up at me. "But… you see… Akira, that's the thing. You… you both did the same for me," he started, looking at the crying Asuna now next to him. "If… if anything happened to either of you I… I don't-."
Before I could cut him off, and give him even more hypocritical advice… just like she had done for me all those months ago, when I'd been crying in Liz's bed after Aki and Kya had died… Asuna came to someone's rescue. Just like she'd held onto my hand and told me the reasons I had for living… she helped Kirito the same way.
Of course, it was a bit more intimate with him, which surprised me… but I found myself smiling over it.
Asuna took his head in his hands, and as gently as she could, turned him to look at her. She gave that same adorable, hopeful, compassionate smile she gave to me, to Kirito.
"Akira won't die… I won't die," She said, the smile only growing as her tears stopped. "And you don't have to worry about protecting everyone… because I'm going to protect you."
I didn't say anything, I knew this was an intimate moment I probably shouldn't have been intruding on, but Asuna looked over at me and smiled, before Kirito let out a stifled sob, and she pulled him closer to her for a hug, and while he cried, she held onto him. Exactly like she had done for me too… except I could easily see how much she loved having him so close.
Seeing Kirito finally break and hug her back, I was about to leave the room to give them the alone time I thought they craved… when Asuna waved at me.
I didn't move for a minute, before my chest got warm, it's just like I always say… eventually you will always be warm again.
I knew that even if I did survive this death game, I had a long way to go… but I would worry about that when it came.
Smiling, I sat down on the bed, and despite my intention only being to grab Kirito's shoulder in a reassuring squeeze, Asuna didn't let me get away with it. She reached over and pulled me into the three-way hug… and that was what almost broke me.
I scoffed, and finally melted into my two best-friends. It had been months since I had a hug like that, one that warmed me like it did then.
Because I knew, they were my reasons for being there now, my best-friends, the reason I would end that world.
You're both making it out of here… I promise you that.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira
"I can't believe this, this is ridiculous!" Asuna said, pacing back and forth in front of me again in the way she normally did when she got angry. She finally stopped by the window. "Kirito-kun is already a higher level then almost everyone in the guild! What does he need to go and clear dungeons for, this is ridiculous!"
I nodded, sipping the tea in front of me. "It is pretty strange… I know it's protocol, but I didn't have to do it."
Asuna turned and gave me a deadpanned look. "Yes, you did Akira-kun, except the difference was when they told you that you had too, you said and I quote, 'No this is stupid, I'd rather scoop out my eyes with a spoon. Then proceeded to go and level with me for three hours."
"Oh yeah, I remember now, that was a fun time," I said, fondly remembering that day.
Asuna sighed and rolled her eyes. "It was, but you only didn't get in trouble because I was able to tell the guild that I was evaluating you when we were out."
I scoffed, amazed. "Huh, I never knew that. I'm starting to realize you've gotten me out of a lot more headaches then I think."
"Yes, yes I have."
"Do I tell you how you're my best-friend and I love you enough?"
"No, no you don't."
"You're my best friend and I love you," I told her with a cheeky smile.
Asuna then proceeded to throw a pillow at my head, which spilt my tea.
I probably deserved that, I thought, looking horridly at my spilled tea.
"Would you please take this seriously!" She pleaded with me, falling into the chair across from me and pulling up her friends list map again. "I don't like that it's only the three of them…"
I sighed and wiped the tea off my pants, which thankfully was easy in a virtual world. It wouldn't have been true of me to say I wasn't slightly worried as well, however, I believed more of Asuna's annoyance didn't come from Kirito having to go for a 'training evaluation' with Kuradeel and Godfrey, but from the fact they didn't get the chance to spend time alone together that day. I had a drink planned with Argo later, so she and Kirito had been planning to go and spend time with just one another that day.
As annoying as the rule was, and even though I hadn't followed it myself, Kirito wasn't a fan of causing trouble or flaunting rules, so he had agreed without much trouble to go. I knew Godfrey was as innocent as could be, he was a boisterous older player, the leader of the offensive units, which was a level below Vice Commander.
Kuradeel however, did worry me, in a world like this, where you could get away with anything and have no consequences in the real world, you needed to be careful with people like him. However, Kirito had handled him easily enough last time.
"I think you may be worrying a bit too much," I told Asuna, leaning back on the couch as she watched the three dots on her map. "Godfrey is no pushover, and Kirito kicked Kuradeel's ass last time."
"Yes, I know that Akira-kun," She said with an exasperated sigh as she looked at the dots. "But… but something just has me worried. "
"Are you sure it's not just because you and Kirito don't get to spend 'alone' time together anymore?" I joked with her, like I normally did.
Normally, Asuna was easy to make laugh, she had a great sense of humor, that would have at least got her flustered, or she would have rolled her eyes at me. However, this time, she only glared at me for a moment, before going back to the map.
That was when I knew, her worries were real, and not overstated, I knew her too well to not realize it.
And I wouldn't be lying if I didn't say I wasn't a little worried myself… I thought, before the idea came to my head. I thought Kuradeel was just a creep, and there had been something about the way he looked at Asuna, Kirito and I, before I saw him leave for the main gate with Godfrey that rubbed me the wrong way, it wasn't the same scornful look he normally gave us… but a calm one, and that somehow creeped me out even more.
I quickly pulled up my map to check Kirito's location again, and saw his trio was close to the Floor 55 dungeon now, so, putting my idea into motion I shot to my feet and scooped up The Black Bow of Fate which had been sitting on the couch next to me.
Asuna watched me as I went to my inventory, and switch from my Knights of the Blood armor, back to what Argo called my 'Black Archer Set', which fit my playstyle much better.
Not to mention is boosted my rouge stats, speed, stealth, lockpicking, archery, perception, and all the other good stuff I thought I'd be playing with when I first full dived into the game.
Thanks for making it perfect Kya… I said, like I normally did when I put on the armor, the armor had originally been hers, and we had intended to split time in it…now I wore it for her.
"Huh?" Asuna said, looking at me as I walked across the room. "Akira-kun? Where are you going? I thought you weren't meeting up with Argo until later."
"I'm not," I said, smiling as I patted her head as she sat. "I'm going to go do a little snooping to put our minds at ease. You keep an eye on the map, and use our linked teleport crystal to come find me if anything happens."
It had cost us a good amount of col, but Asuna and I a few months prior had bought linked teleport crystals, that would teleport us to each other, or wherever the linked crystal was. It had gotten us out of some pretty tight jams before.
Asuna chewed at her lip, but eventually sighed. "Okay… but where are you going?"
I smirked and turned from her. "Oh, I'm just going to do a little research."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Okay… H. I, J…." I whispered, scrolling down the archive's menu. "Ah, here we go, K, now, where are you….?"
I was careful to keep quiet in the library at the HQ, the last thing I needed was another guild member looking at me going through the player archives. If it was one of Heathcliff's other lackeys/Vice Commanders, I could have gotten myself in some big trouble.
The library in the Knights of the Blood HQ in Grandzam was massive, and it was where the guild stored all their mission logs. It was exactly what you would expect from an archive or university library, rows and rows of massive bookshelves, with a slew of people pretending to be interested in the contents of shelves. I had loved reading back in the real world, I thought I was the only one who actually enjoyed reading old history textbooks, but this library was severely lacking.
Mostly because there weren't any real books there, only pretend books which you opened a game window for, containing hundreds of files the guild had written out and put there in the almost two years we'd been stuck in Aincrad.
Heathcliff had always said that when we escaped, if the data from SAO could be retrieved, the world had a right to know about the brave players who risked their lives to free everyone from the game.
I always thought that was stupid. If every player in the game, dead or alive should have been honored if that was the case. It was my firm belief that every player made some contribution to clearing the game. You had the merchants who supplied the assault team, the people who took care of children and other older players on the lower floors, information brokers, the bards, dancers, singers who calmed everyone and gave us music and stories. It shouldn't have just been the fighters who were remembered.
Still, at that moment, I was glad that Heathcliff had gotten every players information or the archives. If you joined the guild, you needed to provide a place of residence, along with other basic information. It was incase that person ever committed a crime against the guild or other players, so they could possibly find them. It wasn't supposed to be accessed by anyone except the head archivist, or Heathcliff.
Thankfully however, being a Vice Commander somehow, still, had its perks. It would have looked suspicious, me going through the archives, and it would cause me a few headaches if I got caught by the wrong person. However, getting to the files was easy enough.
That was, until I couldn't find Kuradeel.
"What the hell…" I said, scrolling past the K's again to make sure that my eyes weren't finally going after being trapped in the game for so long. "He should be here… where-."
"Looking for something, 'Vice Commander'?" A voice said behind me, and it very nearly shocked me to death before my nerve gear could.
"GAHH! What?! Who-." I started but stopped when I turned to see a smirking purple-haired girl behind me. "Dammit, Mito, you scared the hell out of me."
Mito laughed, a cute smile on her face. She had her normal Knights of the Blood armor on with her white-ish purple cloak, with her large black scythe leaning against her shoulder as she laughed. After I recovered from my mini heart-attack, she came up and leaned against the shelves next to me.
"Ha, sorry, I couldn't help myself," She said, meeting my eyes and lowering her voice. "So, what are you doing snooping around the archives?"
If it had been anyone else other than Mito, I would have turned them into a pincushion. However, the day before, the two of us had spent several hours together planning out scouting assignments and other field boss raids for the newly opened floor 75, since Asuna had been busy helping Kirito get acclimated with HQ and the Knights as a whole, and with each minute I spent with her I was growing increasingly fond.
I was fairly confident she wouldn't rat me out to Heathcliff, and even if she did, I didn't particularly care if Heathcliff was angry with me.
Sighing I pulled up the archive again. "You know Kirito had to go out on his 'training evaluation'? Well, you heard about the incident with Asuna and Kuradeel, right?"
Mito slowly nodded. "I did… the creep, he was on stable and mapping duty for a week after that, he certainly wasn't happy. I heard Kirito humiliated him."
"Yeah, it was pretty funny actually," I said, sighing, annoyed when I didn't see the file again. "Well, Asuna is a bit worried about the two of them going on the same training party, she's been following them on the map for an hour. So… I decided-."
"To put her mind at ease, you'd go do some snooping about Kuradeel," Mito finished for me, pulling up her inventory, and spinning around a file she pulled up. "I thought she'd be doing the same thing… when she likes someone, cares about someone, she'll fret over them non-stop, you told me she felt that way about Kirito so well… I-."
"You went ahead and did it yourself…" I said, a scoff and smirk coming to my face as I looked at my purple-haired companion. "You really do try to look after her how you can still… don't you?"
Mito looked flustered. "Of course, I do… she… well, we were really good friends on the other side."
I smirked still. "So, you can break into the archives and steal a file for her, but you can't go and talk to her?"
"Shut up!" She said, her face even redder now.
I couldn't help but laugh. "Aw, you're blushing, how cute, I've never met a more innocent looking thief in my life."
She punched my arm, which only made me laugh more, before she put the file away.
"I am not a thief, I have all intention on returning the file," She said, turning away from me, her purple pony-tail fluttering behind her, the rows of bookshelves looming over her. After a minute, she turned back and looked at me. "He lives in Grandzam, I figured out where his house is, are you coming with me or not?"
I smirked, who knew uptight Mito had such a rebellious side…still, time to figure out if this creep is really just a creep or not.
I nodded and stepped up next to her. "Lead the way, Vice Commander."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"His house is as unappealing as he is…" Mito commented as we both stood in the street looking up at the-as Mito put it-unappealing house. She sighed and looked at me, "I know he's a creep but… do we really think he's anything else? Surely if he's in the guild he couldn't have hidden anything else."
I shrugged. "You may be right, but there's only one way to find out, come on."
The streets of Grandzam were littered with players as usual, and since the HQ for the Knights of the Blood was there, nobody was going to question two Vice Commanders of anything really, let alone them going to investigate someone's home. I hated the fact I had that much power with my position, since I hated the idea of so many people relying on us like that, but sometimes like then it came with advantages.
The set of houses reminded me of the old rows of houses back in San Francisco when I was younger, back in the US with my mother and Aki. Mito followed me up the steps, where she leaned on the railing, her massive scythe's shadow setting over me as I looked down at the lock.
"That armor improve your rouge skills?" Mito asked, as I knelt down.
I clicked on the lock, it had an HP bar, and a lockpicking icon. The icon had 'master' underneath it, to indicate to me the locks level and what level lockpicking skill I'd need to get it open.
"It does, but even without it, my lockpicking skill is near maxed out," I said, clicking the button to lockpick. A skill I picked up a few months' prior had given me the ability to automatically unlock all non-grandmaster locks, so within a few seconds, it popped open with a small puff of smoke. I smirked back at Mito. "Easy as can be, I always did play as a rouge in the old RPGs I played."
"Did you ever shoot a bow in the real world too?" She asked, as the cool breeze came through when I opened Kuradeel's door.
"I actually did. Kya used to be a part of an archery club, she always brought me. It's how we both got so good," I said, smiling as her as she ducked in after me. "What about you? Did you um… do a lot of gardening or, wheat harvesting?"
She rolled her eyes, which made me laugh, but she smiled. "No, I wasn't a 'wheat harvester'. I don't really know what made me pick it… I guess I just wanted to be unique."
"Well that is certainly unique," I said, as she leaned her massive black scythe. Its metal rang out as she stabbed the butt of it into the ground and I shivered. "And sufficiently terrifying, what's it called again?"
"The Black Moon Sickle," She said, with a smile, her red eyes trailing up and down the black, shining metal. "It's skills activate twice as fast, letting me set off combos and other skills with ease. Carried me through… oh I'd say twenty floors now?"
"You got it from that griffin floor boss on floor 57 right?" I asked her.
She smiled and nodded. "I did, I'm surprised you remember."
I chuckled and tapped my temple. "You'll learn soon Mito my friend, that I am very observant. My perception skill happens to be maxed out."
She smiled again and sighed as she looked over the room. "Well, we're going to need every bit of it. There doesn't seem to be anything well… special about this place. I hope we are just being paranoid."
I looked around the room with Mito, and even with my perception skill I couldn't see anything at first glance. My investigation skill kicked in as well, and even then I saw nothing except the footprints of what a normal person would have in their house. On the first floor, was a small dining table, two chairs, a couch, a coffee table, kitchen. A perfectly normal house, and somehow that only made the digital hairs on the back of my digital body tingle.
Someone like Kuradeel couldn't have this plain of a house, could he? It was a horribly dull grey color on the walls, with red furniture.
It was at the last second-looking at all the footprints scattered about the house from Kuradeel with my perception skill-I noticed a particularly big cluster of them in the corner of the room. Where they were together, I saw a small brown, ornate chest. The sun was starting to set, I could tell through the light streaking in through a stain-glass window. Biting my lip, I realized, that by now, Kirito and his group had to be near the dungeon.
"What is it, do you see something?" Mito asked, stepping up next to me.
I narrowed my eyes at the chest, I could see a faint white outline now with my perception skill.
"Yeah, a chest is in the corner there, it looks like it's got some item hiding it," I said, looking over at the steps and nodding to Mito. "You go check the upstairs while I crack that open, and let's hurry, suns going down, the sooner we find something, or don't, the sooner I'll calm down."
"Right, I'll call if I find anything," She told me, running towards the steps while I made my way over to the safe.
I looked out the window over Grandzam, the sun was slowly beginning to descend over the hill, and with my curiosity killing me, and my chest pounding I pulled up my friends list and searched for Kirito's name. It took me a minute, but eventually I was able to track his location and saw that indeed he had just gotten to the floor 55 dungeon with two other dots, one said Godfrey for me, and the other was blank, since I had Godfrey but not Kuradeel on my friends list.
I chewed at my lip, please be nothing, please be nothing.
Over and over, I told myself that, but the minute I turned to the chest it was like a knife had shot through my stomach. The minute I got closer to the chest, I saw the cluster of footprints get larger and larger. The older the footprints were, the more faded they were, and there were tons of them around the front of the chest, Kuradeel clearly came here a lot.
"And the most recent prints… just before Kirito left," I said to myself, kneeling and clicking on the chest itself. My eyes widened. "A grandmaster lock…? Dammit… what the hell does he need that for?"
Sure enough first, I disable an invisibility cloak, which was a special cloak that made items invisible so long as you kept paying a merchant to charge it. If someone's perception skill was high enough like mine, it was easy to move and see through, but a grandmaster lock?
Grandmaster locks cost so much money, that people rarely bought them. I cursed as I clicked the lock, out of the air a lockpick fell into my hands and I started going at the thing. It didn't take me long, considering my skill. Not a lot of people got lockpicking as high as me, considering most chests in dungeons would be no higher then expert level, but I had armor boosting that skill, and a lot of time on my hands. Kya and I had always thought being able to get into any chest would be useful.
Like I expected, the lock clicked in a second, and shakily I opened the chest, and when I finally got the lid open, was when the panic set in.
"Shit… no, no this isn't good," I said, grabbing one of the many vials in the chest and shooting to my feet.
It didn't take long to see the lightning bolt, then skull and crossbones on it.
"Paralysis poison…" I said breathlessly, turning to the steps. "MITO! We-."
"Akira!" She said, rushing back down the steps with a roll of paper in her hands. Breathing heavy she got to me and held up the rolled-up scroll to me. "This is bad, like worse than we thought!"
My eyes widened, my stomach dropped and exploded like a pipe bomb. I snatched the scroll from Mito's hand, and when my eyes finally fell to the bottom of the page, my hands started to shake.
Kuradeel,
Your target is approved, show no mercy. Avenge our fallen.
It had no signature on the bottom, just the emblem that haunted my dreams to this day.
Beating Zaza hadn't really taken them off my mind at all.
"Laughing Coffin!" Mito said, her voice trembling as she shook her head. "I don't get it, I thought you beat their leader during the raid! We knew there were remnants left, but they should have no command structure!"
"They don't need a command structure," I said, tossing he letter aside and pulling up my inventory to check my arrow count, and equip The Sword of Takis as my second item. I could still see it, see it as my hand shakily went through my inventory then. "And I didn't beat their leader, I guess he was there second? The leader wasn't there… PoH… that monster is still out there."
"You sound like you know him…" Mito said, gripping tighter onto her scythe.
I let out a breath to try and calm myself, before pulling The Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder and pulling out my linked teleport crystal with Asuna.
"I do… he… he…"I stammered, my eyes shaking, my hands trembling as I looked at Mito. "He murdered, my little sister almost a year ago. And now… and now I'm going to-."
"AKIRA!" A screeching voice came from outside the door, and it flew open only a second later. On instinct I reached for an arrow, and Mito had up her scythe.
"Asuna!" I yelled back to her, when she came and grabbed onto one of my arms.
"Akira, it's bad, Kirito's dot on the map, it started flashing, Godfrey's disappeared!" She said, shaking her head. "We have to teleport, there's a gate near the dungeon!"
"It's even worse than we thought," I said, holding up the letter. "Kuradeel's in Laughing Coffin, we need to move, now!"
Asuna nodded and held up her teleport crystal. With a tight grip on The Black Bow of Fate, I grabbed onto her hand, but just before she could shout out the name for the floor 55 dungeon, I saw a flash of purple hair behind me.
"I'm coming too!" Mito said, gripping Asuna's other hand, and looking at the both of us.
I had completely forgotten about her the moment Asuna walked in. Like she normally did when Asuna was around, I thought Mito was going to slink into the corner and just watch on from a distance.
But no, Mito held onto Asuna's hand, and I saw Asuna turn to her, her eyes.
"Mito…" She said slowly, as if she was just as stunned as me… but I could see her eyes start to quiver.
Mito squeezed her hand, looking just as afraid, and met Asuna's eyes. "Asuna… please, let me help you. I… I'm so, so sorry."
"Asuna…" I said, trying to urge her on. As touching as the moment would be any other time, we needed to move.
Asuna shook her surprise away and looked at Mito first. "Misumi…" she let out a breath and nodded, handing the crystal to me, before taking my free hand, and Mito's. "Akira-kun, go!"
I nodded and with shaky hands I took the crystal.
I had made the mistake of the last two months, thinking everything was fine after the Laughing Coffin Raid… but now I knew I was wrong.
But thinking of Kirito out there alone with them, it only made me angrier, made my hands shake more.
First… you Kuradeel… and after that? I'm going to end this world.
After this… I was going to make sure we made if through the last twenty-five floors within the next month. We'd be back home in time for Christmas.
"TELEPORT!" I yelled loudly, squeezing the crystal. "FLOOR 55 DUNGEON!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Kirito
This… this can't… can't be it, no… no, I WON'T DIE HERE!
The pain was unbearable, It felt like my inner organs were really being slowly, tediously ripped apart. I had no idea how the nerve gear was transmitting such pain to my digital body, but if I ever did get stabbed in real life, had to try and rip a sword out of my stomach, at least I would be ready. The paralysis was a long way from wearing off. Akira had told me poisons like that didn't wear off for at least a few hours, unless you used a healing crystal.
But that didn't matter, it didn't matter if I had crystals or not… because I would not die.
Ak…Akira… you… you need to get your kendo lessons, I thought, shooting my arm to Kuradeel's blade as the man laughed and yanked. I… I need to introduce you to Sugu. I… I need to make things right with my sister! I… I need to see your sarcastic smirk on the other side!
"Oh?! So, you decide to fight back after all?!" Kuradeel screeched, the delightful smile on his face haunting from above me. He laughed like the madman he was and twisted. "BAHAHA THIS MAKES IT BETTER! FIRST YOU, AND AFTER THAT, THAT BRAT WITH THE ARROWS!"
"GRAHHHHH!" The scream left me despite trying to hold it back. No matter how hard I pulled, the sword would move only centimeters, followed by Kuradeel shoving it back down.
I looked in the corner of my vision and saw it, my HP bar dropping lower, and lower, and lower… just like Sachi's had.
Maybe… maybe this is what I deserve… for letting them die. The thought hazily crossed my mind, as I saw them all, the Black Cats exploding into data, Kaita falling into the clouds before I could grab him… all because of me. I could see it.
But that wasn't the only thing I saw.
I have one purpose left, to get you, Asuna, Liz, Silica… to help you all get back. We really are rubbing off on each other, eh? I'll fight to get Asuna back into the real world, and so you can see your sister again Kirito.
Who would have thought we'd meet our best friends in a death game huh?
Friends. People who cared about and loved me… the people I struggled to connect with and find my entire life due to my own awkwardness and insecurity.
And you… you changed me, helped me with that… didn't you Akira? You… you and… and…
"As…un…a…" I said through gritted teeth.
Because I'm going to protect you.
That wasn't going to be a one-way street… I wouldn't fail them, I'd be there for them. And to do that… to do that I needed to get up.
"HA! It's useless!" Kuradeel screeched as I tried to grab the sword again. He twisted again and looked down at me. "SO?! YOU'LL FIGHT AFTER ALL?! HA, I LOVE IT WHEN-."
"METEOR SHOT!"
I coughed up digital blood as the sword was yanked out of me. Kuradeel was caught off guard and the arrow slammed into his shoulder, sending him flying backwards. I managed to see his HP bar drop into the yellow, and his sword fly out of my stomach. I recoiled on the ground and rolled, just as a shadow leapt over me, and I felt hands on my stomach.
"Well, looks like I'm finally saving you this time," Akira said, his eyes quivering, a look of pained relief on his face as he looked down at me. "God, you let this guy knock you down? You're losing your edge Kirito."
"Did… did I…" I started, as I watched him go through his inventory. Coughing again I scoffed as he pulled out a poison healing crystal. "Did I ever… ever tell you that… that you really… really aren't that funny?"
"No, you don't, that's because it'd be a lie, I'm hilarious… HEAL!" He yelled, breaking the crystal, and as the mist carried towards me, the minute it made contact with me, relief and a warm feeling washed over me, and I felt the paralysis wash away, feeling in my limbs returning, while my HP was still critically low.
I breathed out in relief, but still had a hard time moving, Akira smiled, The Black Bow of Fate around his shoulder now. I was about to make another joke about him crying over me, which I was actually pretty touched by, but then I saw the shadow behind him.
"AKIRA!" I screeched out, trying in vain to get up and push him out of the way.
"DIE AKIRA!" Kuradeel screamed, his sword thrusting towards Akira already.
Akira was fast, but when he turned around, he had to fall back to the left to try and avoid the sword. Kuradeel screeched again as he went for the thrust, and for a minute, it looked like he'd get to Akira, but that was when a flash of bright blue light shot past me, knocking me onto my side, but when the wind stopped, I saw the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my life.
"HEAL!" Asuna yelled, her beautiful face coming into my vision. The crystal broke and its mist washed over me, and as often happened in SAO, when I saw my HP bar shoot back up to a full bar, I let out a breath I felt like I'd been holding for hours.
I was alive, thanks to the people I loved.
"Thank god… thank god," Asuna said, tears coming down her face, her hand holding up the back of my head. Her smile was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen, she let out a shaky breath and shook her head. "We were tracking you on the map… I… I thought we… we…"
"Yup, I'm fine too Asuna, thanks for the concern, love you," Akira groaned, getting to his feet, and sliding an arrow into the Black Bow of Fate.
Asuna rolled her eyes, but smiled, and I almost laughed. First, she tossed Akira a crystal, which he used to heal himself, before his eyes turned back to Kuradeel, who was slowly getting to his feet.
Then, Asuna saw him.
She turned back to me, and slowly let me back down. "Wait here… we'll handle this."
"I'm going to give you one chance Kuradeel," Akira said, as Asuna turned and grabbed the hilt of her rapier. Akira kept his arrow trained on Kuradeel and I could see his hand shaking. "You can come quietly and tell us where PoH is… or-."
"No…" Asuna said, walking past Akira towards Kuradeel at a dangerously slow walk, never had I seen a look like that in her eyes as she got closer. "He doesn't get any chances…"
Kuradeel for the first time looked afraid, he weakly held up his sword. "A…Asuna! This, this was nothing! Just a training accident-."
Asuna shut him up by thrust out her rapier and cutting his cheek. Kuradeel's eyes widened as she lashed out again, a flurry of attacks, her arm moving faster then i could even keep up with. Her smile was gone, replaced by a look that could have cut through stone, and with a glow of her rapier, she thrusted out and Kuradeel's HP drained before he was shot backwards.
"HA, kick his ass Asuna!" Akira said, lowering his arrow, as Asuna made her way over to the squealing Kuradeel.
Kuradeel scrambled, but Asuna was above him, her rapier ready to thrust down.
Kuradeel got to his knees. "Please! Please Vice Commander, I'll leave, I'll leave the guild, you'll never see me again! I DON'T WANT TO DIE!"
I saw the look change in Asuna's face right away, and so had Akira. We both knew that as angry as Asuna got… she wasn't going to be able to do it.
Kuradeel saw it as well, and that was when I finally got to my feet. Akira ran first, I tried to move, but fell to my knees as Asuna faltered, and took a step back.
"Ha… YOU'RE SO GULIBLE VICE COMMANDER!" The man yelled, grabbing up his sword.
"ASUNA!" "ASUNA!" Akira and I both yelled.
But neither of us got to her.
"BLACK CRESCENT STRIKE!"
A black curved blast of black energy shot through the air past me, Asuna fell backwards and it slammed into Kuradeel's sword, making him stumble back. I saw Kuradeel's jaw start to quiver, as we all looked back and saw the shadow of a massive black scythe come shooting past us.
"Misumi!" Asuna yelled, as another Knights of the Blood uniform stood in front of me.
"M…Mito?" I croaked out, managed to stay on my knees.
Mito slumped on her scythe as she stood next to Akira and Asuna. "Sorry… for gods sake the both of you are fast."
Akira scoffed. "Well that's because you're lugging that massive thing around with you."
Mito glared at him. "Wanna see how fast this 'massive thing' can really move?"
Akira's eyes widened and he gulped. "Um… no, not particularly."
I scoffed a laugh and coughed. "Ha… wow… th…thanks guys."
"Kirito-kun!" Asuna said, turning back and falling to her knees.
I blinked, my vision getting blurry again, but when I saw the three of them all turn to me I coughed as I shot and tried to move forward.
"He… He's running!" I shouted, before falling forward.
All three of the Vice Commanders turned, and saw Kuradeel sprinting away. I tried to get up again to give chase, but Asuna stopped me.
"Kirito-kun you can't move yet!" She urged me.
"But… but…" I said weakly, my head still spinning.
Akira nodded. "She's right, Asuna you look after Kirito. Mito, let's go!"
"Right!" Mito said, before the two of them took off after the now disgrace Knight.
I tried to get up again, despite Asuna's orders. However, the moment I did, I felt her hands gently hold onto my shoulders, and help me back down.
"I… I'm sorry, Kirito-kun… this… this was my fault," She said, as I hazily turned around, to see tears welling up in her eyes again. She shook her head as tears kept coming. "I… I caused this… I… I shouldn't… I'm sorry…"
And for the first time… I really felt what it was like to fully love someone, to want to devote my entire being to one person. It felt really, really good.
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Akira.
"ICE ARROW!" I yelled, letting the arrow fly, as Mito sped ahead of me.
We hadn't gone far, Kuradeel was injured, Asuna had done him in good, so getting to him hadn't been hard. The sun was setting, the cliffs on either side of the ravine towered over Kuradeel, and offered him no means of escape, especially when the ice arrow hit his foot, spreading out over it, and keeping him in place.
Kuradeel squealed, clearly understanding how hopeless his situation was. He tried to pry his leg loose, and when Mito got close he raised up his sword. He was no match for Mito's black scythe, as it cut into his sword, breaking it in half and cutting across his cheek again. With an elegant spin, which led me to believe she really was as fast as she claimed, she stood with the blade against the back of Kuradeel's neck, and soon, the man held up his hands.
"Ha… good work Mito," I said, approaching with an arrow raised, as Kuradeel tried to yank himself from the ice.
"Thanks, you're not too shabby yourself," She said, before her ruby eyes turned and narrowed at Kuradeel. The man squeaked, his HP in the red, but when he mad a noise, Mito's scythe dug into his neck. "Shut up you little rat! How dare you try to lay a finger on Asuna, on anyone!"
"I'm sorry! I swear, I'll leave, you'll never see me again!" The man covered, dropping to his knees and crying like a sniveling child. "Please Vice Commanders! I don't want to die!"
I scoffed and kicked him. "Get up, at least go out on your feet. After what your guild has done… I have no problem taking you out of this world."
I wasn't Asuna, is what I really wanted to say… but that would have made it sound like I was badmouthing her. I never wanted that. The truth was… I wish I could be like Asuna now… but I wasn't sure I ever would be again.
Kuradeel looked up with tears in his eyes. "Please… please Akira!"
"Tell me where PoH is," I said, loading an arrow, and pulling back the string. The tip of the arrow came inches from his eye as I made my voice loud and clear. "That is your only chance of getting out of this."
"I…. I don't know! Nobody does!" Kuradeel cried, looking up with his hands together. "There's only a handful of us left after your raid! He sends letters to us when we get a job, that's all I know, honest! PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!"
I pulled back the arrow further to shut him up. I wanted to let it fly, I wanted to let it loose into his eye… but my arm was shaking like a leaf.
"Akira…" Mito said, looking over at me, her ruby eyes meeting mine. "I won't say anything either way… and I won't judge, it's your choice."
She moved her scythe, and stabbed it back into the ground, she gave me a small smile. "And I won't tell anyone, I promise."
I let out a shaky sigh, and heard the words again, don't let this world change you Akira… promise me.
If only I could tell Kya now how hard I was trying.
My bow lowered, ever so slightly, I wanted to believe this world, this hell Kayaba had trapped me in would grant me some form of reward for doing what I knew was the right thing.
However, the moment I let my bow down, and went to turn around with Mito, I heard the ice crack.
"YOU IDIOTS!" Kuradeel screamed, but it seemed Mito had been expecting it, just like me.
I would never understand what people like Kuradeel thought in moments like this, and I never would, because I would never start fighting for myself now, it would always be for the other people in this world, the ones I loved.
Before he could reach me, Mito's scythe swung through the air. Kuradeel screamed and fell to the ground, his leg missing, and without hesitation this time, I spun back around and pulled an arrow from The Black Bow of Fate.
Kuradeel looked up at the arrow. "NO! NO DON'T-."
And with the twang of my bowstring, I took another life. Kuradeel burst into small, digital polygons, his brain scrambled by high frequency microwave signals in the real world.
Did Kuradeel have family waiting next to his bed? Had he ever thought of murdering people back on the other side? I assumed it was easier for me, and everyone else who had taken a life in this world in self-defense, or taken a life in the Laughing Coffin raid… that everyone who committed a crime in Aincrad, was a criminal who would do the same in real life.
But… what if they weren't? What if before being trapped in this game, they had never thought about committing such atrocities at all?
I didn't want to know the answer.
Mito sucked in a shaky breath, and I met her eyes. We both nodded and started making out way back towards where we'd left Kirito and Asuna. It wasn't a long walk, and for the first few minutes we walked in silence… but after those few minutes, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey… Mito," I said softly, as the sun started getting lower. I turned and met her eyes as we walked. "Do… do you think he was like that in the real world? Do… do you ever-."
"Do I ever think… if the people who are criminals in this world… were like that on the other side?" She started, as if reading my mind, her eyes going back in front of her. "Do… do I ever think… if the people I met in this world, are anything like they are in the real world? Or, if the world that we're in now has changed them? Yes… yes I think about it all the time, for everyone… but especially myself."
"You wonder if you're even the same person anymore," I said quietly, as we turned around one of the canyons bends. "And… you also wonder, if you do get out… will I be the Aincrad version of you… or the version you remember."
"Yeah… I wonder all the time," Mito said, obviously as shaken as me. The purple-haired scythe wielders eyes started to quiver. "I wonder if… if Misumi Tozawa is even real anymore… or if… if I'm just Mito now."
"Why can't they be the same person?" I asked her.
Mito shakily let out a breath. "Because… Misumi Tozawa would… would never have left her friend to die… like Mito did."
I tried not to stop in my tracks… but I did. So… that's what happened.
She didn't need to explain more. Asuna told me her and Mito had split on Floor 1 after they fought together during the floor boss raid, so it didn't take much brain power for me to figure out the basics of what happened.
Mito, was going through the same thing I was…. I wondered everyday… was I still Akira Miller? Or was I Akira the Black Archer?
But… I had Kya, while Mito hadn't, the least I could do is be that for my friend now.
She stopped with me, and I held a hand out on her shoulder with a smile. I wouldn't try to tell her she did nothing wrong, or assure her Asuna would forgive her… she knew all of that.
So, I just smiled. "Well… I really like being friends with Mito, the massive gardening tool enthusiast… and… and when we get out? I think I'll like being friends with Misumi Tozawa to."
Mito's mouth fell open, I saw her face get a tinge redder, before she smiled with a small tear falling down her cheek. She slowly nodded, the smile growing while the tears didn't stop.
"Thank you… Akira," She said, a small laugh coming from her. "Ha… I look forward to working with you, Vice Commander."
I scoffed as we turned back around towards our path back to Kirito and Asuna. "Oh man, I completely forgot about that. Kirito will need to recover, and Asuna's going to fret over him, so it'll be me and you again."
We turned around the last bend to where we found Kirito, I didn't notice Mito stopping at first, her mouth falling open again.
"I don't know if I'll be able to deal with Heathcliff's…" I stopped, when I looked up and saw my two friends. Despite expecting it for weeks… I was still surprised, but it didn't fail to bring the largest smile I'd had in months out of me. "Well, well, well… looks like they finally made me the official third wheel."
On their knees, it looked like Kirito had finally made his move. Neither of them noticed Mito or I as they kissed… and I didn't mind that, I'd send them a message later.
Mito let out a nervous chuckle next to me. "Ha… Asuna's never had a boyfriend before… but he's as good as any."
"Yeah… he is," I said, sighing as the two still didn't notice us. "Good… good for you two… good job Kirito… Asuna."
"Should… we tell them we're here?" Mito asked.
"Nah, let them have their moment, we should get back," I said, looking and giving Mito a smile. "So, Vice Commander, care to join me and a friend for a drink?"
Mito smiled, looking at Asuna one more time, before nodding at me. "Yeah… I'd like that, lead the way, Vice Commander."
Next time, Episode 9: Two Commanders and a Rat: After Kirito and Asuna finally get engaged and married in game, Akira is absolutely thrilled for his best friends! Unfortunately for him however, this means they're on their honeymoon, leaving him to run things for the Knights of the Blood Oath! Between listening to Heathcliff's boring lectures and dealing with roleplayers, Akira is going crazy. Luckily however, he has the aid of his favorite scythe wielder Mito, and his trusty friend Argo the Rat. When children begin going missing from the Town of Beginnings, the three make their way back to Floor 1 where it all began…
A/N: Helloooooo everyone! Welcome back to the story of everyone's favorite bow wielding SAO player. The Black Archer has been through a lot so far, but in the end he has his best friends the black swordsman and lightning flash. We are getting into the home stretch of Aincrad and I am so so excited for it!
Now as I've said in previous ANs, not a TON is going to change in Aincrad. Aincrad is really going to be to establish Akira's character and his most important relationships until we meet Shino/Sinon, which is of course Asuna and Kirito. The three of them are going to have the tightest friendship of the bunch, stemming back to their time in SAO, and it will translate into later arcs.
Then of course, we have Mito! I loveeeee Mito, seriously she has one of my favorite character designs and I love her in the new progressive movie, so she's going to be another companion for Akira and the gang in this. Next chapter we even get a new little trio, Akira, Mito and Argo are going for a small buddy cop investigation, a wholly original chapter/episode, which I am soooo excited to write!
SO, we have our little side story next chapter, chapters 10&11 will be the arc with Yui, chapter 12 will be the hilarious fishing episode and the pre final battle, and chapter 13 will finally be the final battle, and after that we are done with Aincrad!
We're in the home stretch, make sure to leave a review to tell me what you think, and follow to stay up to date with when I post new chapters!
Question of the Day: What is your favorite SAO fight ever? Mine, has got to be Kirito, Eugeo and Alice vs Administrator, or Kirito&Sinon vs Deathgun, or Asuna vs PoH, or maybe the floor 100 boss fight in Ordinal Scale!
