Chapter Six ½: An Angel's Fall
(This is a bonus prequel chapter detailing the death of Asuna Yuuki in the months leading up to the beginning of Duet of Twin Blades. Enjoy.)
"I'll leave the guild! You'll never see me again! I promise! I DON'T WANNA DIE!"
Guttural pleads gave way to incoherent snivelling as a grown man, easily in his thirties, cowered under the gleaming point of a sharpened rapier; it's wielder a girl who had not yet seen the turn of her 18th year.
Kirito took in his saviours form with overflowing gratitude and admiration from where he lay, immobilised, from the poison that still coursed through his virtual veins.
The girl was impressive; even though she stood at not a hair over five and a half foot, her graceful figure exuded power and authority in a way that made her seem far taller. Yes, this was the girl who sent shivers through the hearts of thieves and scoundrels and set the hearts of others ablaze.
This was the girl who lead armies, felled enemies with not an ounce of exertion.
This was the Lightning Flash.
"Mph."
Asuna's dark scowl deepened as she seemed to let out a noise of deliberation; the shining tip of the rapier still inches from her target's greasy haired skull.
Kirito reluctantly returned his attention to the quivering mass of revolting flesh on the canyon floor. This was the man who had almost killed him.
A poisoned bottle of water was all it had taken, and after dispatching Godfree, their unfortunate comrade, he had turned his attention to the famed Black Swordsman Of Aincrad.
Without Asuna, he would have succeeded in killing him as well.
The man in question seemed to crumple further to the floor as Asuna continued to hover over him, the pathetic sounds of fear escaping his mouth rising in volume with each passing second.
Asuna seemed to come to a conclusion, her thin blade moving a few inches further from her captive as she started to withdraw.
Kuradeel didn't hesitate.
In an instant, the pathetic, quivering façade vanished as he leapt up, the vast longsword he carried catching and flicking the smaller sword from Asuna's grasp.
"HAH, the oldest trick in the book! And you fell for it bitch!"
Still trying to break free from his paralysis, Kirito watched in horror as the heavy blade fell towards Asuna.
And made contact.
The longsword's razor edge offered little mercy as it tore through the exposed flesh of Asuna's right shoulder, passing through and continuing on to the centre of her chest.
Kirito finally felt the paralysis break, at the same time he felt all semblance of sanity desert him.
The next few moments passed in a blur, finding Elucidator, he was vaguely aware of carving the man before him into pieces; every rage filled swing taking chunks of body with them.
He didn't stop until the sound of breaking glass filled the air.
Suddenly the world came back to him.
"ASUNA."
Rushing to the girl's side he lifted her upper half onto his lap, the gaping wound present there leering at him in a sickly crimson.
Her eyes opened briefly, beautiful long lashes parting so her hazel eyes met his black orbs.
"I'm… I'm sorry."
The sound of breaking glass filled his ears once more.
Far away, beyond the iron walls of the castle Aincrad, in another world a hospital heart monitor droned into a flatline.
Kirito screamed.
Author's Note: Well… that happened. This story has been 98% angst the last couple chapters, and the storm has only begun to brew…
I felt this mini chapter was needed to fill in the blanks, Asuna's death is such a pivotal plot point in this story after all.
I'm aware that Asuna dying during this scene seems to open up a plot hole concerning the whole Floor 22 Flashback, but don't worry it's been thought of and will be explained and dealt with. Don't worry, Chapter Seven is coming soon, this was just a little project for me to have fun with… at two in the morning… kill me.
Please leave a review, the keep me motivated and help me improve this story.
Till' Next Time!
-Nitrovast