~K2-Black-Panther~
I'm worried about Argo's character, she's not as Argoish as I want her to be XD I think it's the loss of her accent but Im not sure...
I've read and watched everything I could get my hands on!
I picture that scene (The Excalliber scene) as a little more sibling teasing between Sinon and Kirito, because Asuna doesn't get angry with her she just gives her a rather flat look compared to Liz's rather moody look and Silica's huffy one. But to each their own! I can see your point though, it's like the author and anime developers wanted Kirito to be a really bad girl magnet despite the fact that through most of it he's with or crushing on Asuna :P I personally think Liz totally has a crush on Kirito, Silica idolizes him which can be seen sometimes as a romantic crush, Sinon's bonded with Kirito through their similar experiences and so they understand each other's situation and tease each other endlessly, Sugu is well Sugu but she begins to move on after S1 of the Anime, and Asuna if Kirito's equal and "soulmate" because I like her as a character and the progressive novels make their relationship beautiful.
I totally forgot about that moment to be honest, but I can see Asuna and Sinon as good friends, especially when they tell each other stories of the weird, stupid, or dumb things Kirito's done.
Yeah, I'm writing the Guilded Hero AU here soon, watching the episode right now actually…
Hmm… What I'm mainly struggling with is that I want to include Asuna because in the books she kills Kuradeel instead of Kirito and I like that version better, so she has experience in having killed someone before as well.. It's not meant to have any romance between Asuna and Kirito, it's mainly that I personally believe Asuna could've tried to hold Kyouji off so that Sinon could've woken up relatively safe. Plus I have an idea regarding Sinon's PTSD relating to guns, which temporarily disables Sinon from a panic attack and Kirito arrives to stop Kyouji and snap Sinon out of the attack…
I'll read your stories tonight and PM you my thoughts on them! :D
Why Do I Have To Be An Undine?
(Possibly Part 1)
Kirito! I Can't Fly!
"My name is Kirito, I'm an ambassador for the Spriggan-Undine Alliance. Since your on the offensive today, I'm assuming you want to wage a full out war between all our races…"
"Wait, why do I have to be an Undine again?" Asuna asked for a repeat of why her character had to be of the Undine class of fairies in ALO. She was dying to see Yui again, she hadn't seen her since her deletion from the SAO servers, had been avoiding VRMMOs since her waking up from Sugo's hands. but for some reason she was having an issue with being able to choose her character. When she had told the others she was going to dive into ALO for the first time, technically her second MMORG game ever, she had nearly had her ears blown out about them all yelling about how she had to be Undine. Originally she had been leaning toward a Sylph character, but now she was confused. What exactly happened that made it so important to be an Undine?
Sugu hesitated and glanced at her brother who really looked like he couldn't care either way, but was a little nervous about it. "Erm…"
"It's Sugu and Kirito's story," Liz decided and put all the blame on the pair of siblings.
"What? Hey! While that may be true Rika you could help us-" Sugu tried to complain to the ALO blacksmith.
"Against Asuna?" Liz snorted and gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. "You'd need an unbreakable sword, massive health reserves, and earplugs."
Asuna lightly tugged on Liz's ear with a huff, "I heard that Liz." She looked at her friends, "but she's right," her amber eyes gained a rather dangerous tsundere glint, "so someone better tell me why I have to be an Undine in ALO."
All of them looked anxiously between each other before Kirito spoke up. Used to her varying attitude after three years of working together in SAO, being in a relationship with her for two, and being married to her in SAO for a year. "I fought the Salamander's Commander when I was searching for you and well…"
"He had the bright idea of telling him that he was the Undines' Ambassador!" Sugu broke in, "and he believed it! Until recently anyway."
"Lately that same creepy commander has been snooping around, actually looking for an Undine in our group of friends, but none of us are Undines. Which makes it hard to believe," Liz sighed and rolled her eyes, "he's both creepy and irritating."
"So we need an Undine to solidify Kirito's massive lie," Silica added in her two cents, "which has to be you!"
Asuna gave her an odd look, "why me? Of all people why should I be a healer?"
Kirito lifted his eyes to her, his onyx colored eyes a little hesitant to reveal his thoughts. Yet he did it anyway. "It'll make ALO different from SAO," Kirito pointed out rather quietly, "if you're a healer you can revive and heal everyone in the team. It's not like you can't still fight with a sword, it just means you can do than fight with a blade."
Asuna heard his unspoken words, It means I won't have to watch you die again… Asuna held Kirito's gaze, silently searching his face.
While Kirito no doubt knew and had gotten used to the whole dying and reviving thing again in ALO, it was still a tough pill to swallow regarding the other after three years of SAO. Plus they both had nightmares about Kirito's fight with Heathcliff, not of the duel itself, but of the moment where Asuna had managed to overcome paralysis and was hit by Heathcliff's blade.
None of the others currently dared to say anything, sensing that it wasn't the time to tease either of them purely by the silence and the serious expressions on both of their faces. Even Liz, who teased Asuna and Kirito mercilessly about anything and everything regarding their relationship, said nothing and just watched.
Liz could tell what Kirito was getting at and what he was remembering because of it. Everyone had heard about Asuna overcoming paralysis to jump in front of Heathcliff's sword, even the real world. Kayaba had apparently created a stream purely for the battle between Kirito and himself, a vr camera behind Kirito and one to his and Kayaba's left. So when Kayaba's sword swung everyone saw Asuna run into the camera's frame and get slashed by the deadly sword. When Sugu had showed it to her Liz had cried. Bawled even, at seeing her friend break into pixels and Kirito's completely heartbroken expression. It had been excruciating to watch, but Liz had no doubt that it measured even close to how Asuna and Kirito felt about it. She and Kirito had taken turns while Asuna was still comatose from the Nervegear, Kirito stayed when he could during the day while Liz more often than not stayed there at the hospital at night till about midnight. After Sugu had showed her the video Liz had stayed there for most of the night, sitting next to Asuna on the bed and looking at her still sleeping best friend. Once Kirito had fallen asleep there, and Liz had listened to him mumbling in his sleep about incoherent things till he had startled himself awake with the yell, 'Heathcliff stop!' By the way he face had been white as a sheet Liz knew what he had been dreaming about and said nothing.
Although if she was honest with herself Liz wanted Asuna to be an Undine healer too. It would keep her safe, keep her away from any players who would want to PK her and put Liz and Kirito through the reminder of hr death in SAO. It would make her feel a hundred times better knowing Asuna had her back and wasn't in any danger or being killed by another player.
When Asuna and Kirito still said nothing Liz finally spoke, despite the shake of her head Sugu was giving her. Sugu probably thought she was going to tease them. Liz gently put one hand down on Asuna's left shoulder, "Asuna, it'll make us all feel better if you were able to use one of the strongest healing spells in the game."
Asuna's lips twitched into a frown, "I'm a swordswoman, not a healer," she insisted stubbornly. And Liz could tell she was taking the whole being stuck in the back a little personally.
"You can wield a sword too," Liz pointed out, her voice was calm, a rarity in of itself. "Not all magic requires a wand, and you could always join the front when you'd like. We're not pushing you into the back to protect you, you and protect yourself just fine. We're just asking you to have another skill that means you can have all of our backs all at the same time."
Asuna frowned but her expression did adopt a rather thoughtful one, like she was mulling over the idea.
"I'll even make you a new sword," Liz grinned, to lessen the heavy atmosphere. "It won't be as awesome as Lambent Light or Dark Repulser, but it'll be an amazing sword."
Asuna's amber eyes did light up at the promise Liz made of a new sword, and she sighed, "Okay fine, I'll be an Undine." Her eyes twinkled with faint amusement, "but only to keep Kirito from getting his butt kicked."
Kirito gave her a relieved smile, "if that's what it takes be my guest."
A moment later while everyone was now sitting down and beginning to discuss what to do in ALO, Liz caught Kirito's eye and smiled. The smile widened further at what he mouthed to her.
'Thank you, Liz.'
Liz waved him off and rolled her eyes before she fixed her blue gaze on Asuna. "Sooo Asuna," she reverted back to her teasing self and leaned close to Asuna's ear, "you and Kirito gonna get married in ALO too?"
Asuna's face went bright pink and she stammered, "L-Liz!"
Liz plopped back into her seat and gave a loud laugh, laughing while Asuna tried to get Sugu to stop asking her what happened. Liz grinned, she couldn't wait till they all logged onto ALO, boy did she had a surprise for Asuna and Kirito.
Kirito's expression was priceless. Beyond priceless when Asuna spawned in at the town located at the base of the world tree. Because he was in vr, he couldn't really hide exactly how surprised he was and everyone saw it. His onyx colored eyes widened, his jaw slackened, and his wings promptly vanished, causing him to stumble forward from dropping five feet and not expecting to have his wings vanish.
Everyone else landed much more gracefully and the girls giggled at Kirito while Agil laughed and Klein stared at Asuna.
Asuna had clearly converted her SAO character, with a lot of similarities in her avatar and avatar clothing. However the largest shock was Asuna's hair and eyes. Just like how Liz had a different hair and eye color in game due to her SAO character, Asuna's eyes were currently a deep blue while her long hair was a sky blue to go along with her avatar being an Undine. Her outfit was blue and white themed instead of red and white, and whereas her lower arms had been covered by sleeves in SAO her arms under her elbows were exposed up to her wrist and had blue ribbon like ties that went down her arms. Another change was her foot wear, she was wearing mid calf length white boots, and oddly enough wore no metal armor at all. There wasn't a piece of metal to be found on her besides the buckle of her sword belt and the piece just below her neck. (I'm lazy and don't want to describe something that can be googled :P)
"Lookin' great Asuna!" Liz giggled at Kirito's expression despite the faint pangs of jealousy in her heart, "I think Kirito's speechless!"
Asuna blushed and awkwardly bounced on her heels before she remembered something, "oh I almost forgot! How come I have my levels and skills from SAO?" She asked curiously and fumbled for bringing up the menu, using the wrong hand about five times before Liz corrected her.
"Left hand Asuna," Liz snorted and grasped her friend's hand before she brought up her menu for her, "see?"
"We don't really know why we all have our previous levels and stuff," Agil told Asuna with a smile, "Kirito's speculated it's something about the similarities between games."
Asuna blinked, then nodded slowly, "oh okay, that makes sense I guess." She looked at Kirito, getting a little self conscious by Kirito's staring, "Kirito?"
Agil slapped Kirito on the back, "if you don't get your head back here in a minute or two Klein's going to run off with Asuna, Blackie."
"Wait what-?" Asuna asked confusion
"WHAT?!" Kirito practically roared when he snapped out of whatever he had been thinking about and turned to glare at Klein who gulped and took a step back in fear and raised his hands.
"Hey man, you know I wouldn't do that!"
Kirito's glare sharpened and he said nothing. Asuna was his. And while they were somewhere where Kirito could slice to ribbons anyone that dared to take her from him, he wouldn't mind doing that. Except he couldn't actually kill Klein without feeling guilty, so he would stare at him till he cried instead.
Klein shuffled behind Liz, crouching slightly and trying to hide behind the backsmith. "Come on man! You're really scaring me!"
Liz smirked at Kirito's glare, "oh so now you're the overprotective boyfriend, eh Kirito?" She snickered, "you do know that Asuna's going to be stared at all the time here right? She was stared at in SAO even when she wore the cloak over her face."
Kirito's face turned a little pink at Liz's teasing and he crossed his arms over his chest, blaming the game for the blush on his cheeks. "I can kill them then," he told Liz hotly, "here they respawn so I can kill them if they get that annoying."
"C-Come on man, you wouldn't would you?" Klein practically whimpered
Kirito looked at the cowering Klein and wilted, "No." He grunted reluctantly, "I wouldn't kill you Klein."
"Thank goodness-"
"Unless you actually run off with her. Then I'd have no problem doing that," Kirito stated rather cooly, and he looked serious enough for Klein to listen. For once.
"Okay, okay, geez! I'll stay away from your wife!" Klein didn't even notice his slip up, occupied with moving away from Liz and avoiding Kirito's narrowed gaze.
Kirito's expression was slightly smug and his glare vanished after Klein promised to stay away from Asuna.
The rest of the group though were rather stunned, blinking in surprise at Klein's slip up and that neither Asuna nor Kirito were even noticing it so far.
Asuna was now giggling, her blue eyes twinkling with laughter at a sight of Kirito she hadn't seen even in SAO for a rather long time.
Then Kirito noticed the slip up and gave a somewhat embarrassed smile directed at the others. Before he laughed and rather awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. "Old habit?" He suggested rather weakly and the others burst out laughing while Klein chuckled embarrassedly and Asuna blushed a gentle pink.
Liz chortled and lightly shoved Klein before she threw one arm around Kirito's shoulders and the other around Asuna's to bring them closer. "I have a welcoming present for you two!" She grinned and manipulated her menu with one hand and caught two small items in her other. She then released her friends and held out her closed hand before opening it. To reveal a set of silver rings that matched the ones Asuna and Kirito had had in SAO. "Tada!" The only difference was that these rings had special features Liz had built into the silver bands, with the help of Argo's computer skills.
Asuna was speechless, the blue haired Undine looked at the rings with an expression of both awe and nostalgia.
Kirito on the other hand blinked before he abruptly pulled Liz into a tight hug, "thank you," he said quietly into her ear, "this means so much to both of us."
Liz froze for a moment at Kirito's sudden hug, and her cheeks went red, "n-no problem!"
Kirito let her go and looked at Asuna with a smile before he scooped the rings from Liz's hand, grasped Asuna around the waist and took off.
Asuna shrieked at the top of her lungs and fumbled to hug Kirito around the neck in fear, having never flown in ALO before. "Kirito! Put me down!" Her face was as white as a sheet, her blue eyes were the size of dinner plates, and Asuna had the expression of thinking she was going to die.
Liz couldn't help but burst out laughing along with everyone else, Asuna's deathly terrified expression was priceless. It had taken Liz a few days to even learn how to not be scared out of her mind when she started flying, and she hadn't had anyone just scoop her off the ground like that.
"Kirito!" Agil called up to the overly excited Spriggan, "Asuna hasn't had any flying practice!"
"Yeah man! You're scaring her!" Klein shouted with a snort, still embarrassed about his earlier slip up.
"Asuna!" Liz provided some actually useful advice, "activate your wings and try to imagine that you have virtual bones and muscles!"
"Kirito put me down!" Asuna shrieked out of fear, "I can't fly!"
Kirito just laughed, "listen to Liz Asuna! Agil!" He called down to his friend with a rather cheeky smirk, "catch her!"
"Wait what?! Kiirrito!" Asuna yelled when Kirito suddenly let her go and removed her arms from around his neck. Sending Asuna falling through the air. "Eeeeek!"
"Asuna!" Liz yelled through her laughter at seeing her friend now tumbling through the air in a rather flailing fashion, "do what I said!"
Asuna, still tumbling head over feet, managed to do as Liz said and her light blue wings shimmered into view. "Noww what?!"
"Try to use though fake muscles!"
Agil's wings shimmered into view as Asuna was getting terribly close to hitting the ground now, and the tall man got ready to catch her if she needed him to.
Kirito meanwhile was laughing like a carefree teenager and practically doubled over mid air.
Asuna slapped her hands over her eyes, "I'm gonnna diiiee!"
Whoosh!
Everyone ducked slightly as Asuna's wings started working and she shot above their heads like a flash of blue lightning.
"Woah!" Silica giggled with a resounding laugh, and Pina gave a surprised cry as well.
"Go Asuna!" Liz cheered while also laughing, the laughter was getting harder to control, especially at Asuna's next words.
"Eeeek!" Asuna screamed, "howw do I sstoppp!"
"Well I'd be darned," Agil smiled up at the rather out of control Undine who looked like a blue blur. "Even here in ALheim, Asuna's still the Lightning Flash."
"Liiiizzz!"
Liz couldn't say anything from how hard she was laughing, almost rolling around on the ground in her laughter.
"Asuna!" Kirito yelled through a few chortles of laughter, "deactivate your speed skill! It'll help slow you down!"
"Shut up Kirito!" Asuna complained before it looked like she had an idea and zoomed toward him.
"Woah, Asuna, slow down-!" Kirito started to say before Asuna crashed into him.
Splash!
All of the water in a nearby fountain slopped out the sides and flew everywhere as Asuna and Kirito hit the fountain at a fast enough of a speed that the purple immortal object sign popped up over the fountain. Water canceled fall damage, so it was a major stroke of luck that they hadn't hit the ground a few feet to the left where it was a stone path.
That was the straw that broke the camel's back, Liz, Klein, and Silica all dissolved into rolling on the ground kind of laughter while Agil chuckled and slowly walked over toward the now mostly waterless fountain.
Kirito sat up with a groan and rubbed the back of his head from the impact of his head against the water fountain. He was soaked to the bone, completely drenched alongside Asuna who coughed out water, which was a truly strange experience, and spluttered. "I deserved that," he coughed, feeling the tightness of his chest like he had water in there but also knowing there wasn't any.
Asuna punched him hard in the shoulder, something she hadn't had the need to do for a while. "You dragged me up into the air and dropped me! Tell me why I shouldn't log off right now?!"
"You'd better answer her Kirito," Agil chuckled as he looked at the two with a rather nostalgic smile, "or she may just kill you with what I'm about to give her."
Asuna looked up at him and blushed, her clothing was soaking wet like Kirito's, but a decent amount of her clothes were white. So she partially hid herself behind Kirito.
Kirito accessed his inventory and a jacket came out of nowhere and fell on top of Asuna, covering her head by the way it fell. "I don't know," he admitted sheepishly, "but I was just goofing off, I didn't mean any of it."
Asuna pulled the jacket away from her head so it wasn't covering her head or wet blue hair, "dummy," she mumbled but pulled Kirito's jacket comfortably around her body, hiding her avatar's wet clothes.
Kirito grinned cheekily at her, "you still love me right?"
