A/N: I finally got a beta tester so I hope this one will be better than the previous ones, in the aspect of errors at least.
Reviews:
Pyrohellguner: I'm not saying anything. ^_^ Gender-less i tell you! (You didn't see anything)
Wiroxd: You're too nice ^_^ I will do that
Ph1n4l: There are better ones out there, I'm just a bad writer tryin to do this pair justice. I hope you like Him/Her.
Sgtranglin: Thank you.
AlexCaffri: Thanks for all the reviews, yeah they're my OTP too (I like the IRL versions more, as a pairing.) I know it's an issue, but I'm trying. ^_^ It's the least confusing way I could think of to write a genderless character, I'm glad you like it, I think it adds nice variety to the POVs. I was actually thinking of having the character's name be Alex (^_^) but I thought it should be Japanese.
The Archery Skill
Chapter 5: The Strats
"Do you have two rooms for tonight?" Kirito asked the Innkeeper
"I'm sorry sir just the one" She replied
"Does it have two beds?" He inquired
"Probably." She said helpfully
Sinon stood behind him, getting angrier as the conversation 'Probably' what did that mean? Why didn't the innkeeper know? It would be very awkward if- She was ripped from her thoughts when she noticed they were standing at an open door. She looked into the room. There was only one bed. She froze.
Kirito wondered what was wrong with her. She was just standing there looking into the room. He followed her gaze, and his eyes landed on the bed, singular. He face palmed and muttered something about stupid money-grubbing innkeepers and a town with only one inn. "Hey Sinon," He said tentatively, "I'll take the floor."
"Damn right you will." And that was the end of it.
Asuna stared coldly at the hooded figure who seemed to have decided that she needed company. He or she gazed back happily into her eyes, presumably.
"Hello Asuna-sama I'm Arekkusu"
"How do you know me, and why do I care who you are" She hissed.
"I'm in your party"
"Oh"
"You know, there's a way to make those taste good." Arekkusu said, gesturing towards the stale bread in her hands.
"I don't care. I didn't come here to eat good food. I came here so I wouldn't kill myself, so I wouldn't lose myself, so I could give myself for the good of all those who don't have the will to carry on. I came here to be stronger." She stated emotionlessly.
"Whoa… That's morbid… You wanna talk about it?" The player asked sincerely.
"No." She replied, "Not with you, not with anyone. I must carry this weight alone."
"NO!" He or she scolded. "You don't have to do anything alone, that's why you're in a party, so you don't have to be alo-"
"I don't know you." She left.
It was morning. The boss fight was today. I stretched and looked around; it was the town square. I had fallen asleep on a bench last night after talking to Asuna I guessed. I opened my friends list and opened the map to Kirito, who had been smart enough to rent a room. I walked into the in and went up to a room temporarily belonging to Kirito and knocked. "Hey bro it's Arekkusu, I want to talk strat-"
The door opened and Sinon appeared, still in her pajamas "Hey," She said coldly "He just woke up, so don't be surprised if he seems dumber than usual."
"Hey now," He protested, "What's that supposed to mean."
"Oh Kirito-kun, you're too easy." A pillow was flung at her head using a thrown weapon skill but she dodged effortlessly. "Wow, and you're what level?" There was definitely something between them. I just couldn't tell what. My heart fluttered, THEYWOULDMAKESUCHACUTECUPLE! I could feel myself blushing so I checked that I had my mask on, a simple grey piece of cloth that I had wrapped around my face, covering my chin nose and mouth, I didn't want anyone to anything about me. I was trying to live a second life but that stupid mirror had made me: me.
Kirito walked toward the door he saw a hooded figure. "Come in." He said. Glaring at Sinon who beamed back at him. "So Arekkusu-san what are your highest four skills and main weapon?"
"[Sprint][Hiding][Acrobatics] and [One-Handed Daggers]" Said the player."
Kirito laughed slightly then asked, "Fancy yourself a rogue then?"
"Yes sir."
"Well then our strategy is I'll use my [One-Handed Sword] skill and high strength parameter to knock the boss off balance, then I'll switch with Asuna while she uses her [Sprint] to poke him down and distract him while you use [Hiding] to get behind the boss and do some sick criticals, all while Sinon here gives covering fire, questions?"
"Yeah," Said a girl in a red cloak he had just noticed in the doorway. "Why wasn't I invited?"
"WAIT WHAT ABOUT COVERING FIRE?" Arekkusu asked. To explain, Sinon opened her inventory and pulled out a bow. "First unique skill in the game, pretty awesome, no?" She bragged.
"A bow…" The player gawked, presumably. Sinon giggled slightly. Kirito thought it was kind of cute, and smiled. She punched him in the arm.
"Oww. That hurt."
"*Pfft* it only did 15 damage."
"Yeah 15 points of damage, why did it do that much."
"Cuz I was aiming for 20!"
"Gahh. I hate you!" He exclaimed.
"Aww, Kirito-kun," She purred, "You know you love me."
"No." He said, not quite convincingly.
"I'm just teasing, no need to get all serious."
"We should going, we don't want to be late." Arekkusu said, changing the subject.
I was walking along the path next to Kirito. Our party was at the very back, and Asuna and Sinon were just behind us, probably having a glaring contest. We walked in silence, having talked strategy this morning already, but it was a comfortable silence that neither wanted to break. Until the I just had to ask, "So you and Sinon…"
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Are you guys like… Together?" I asked tentatively.
"I don't understand the question." He replied.
I tightened my fists, "Are you two like a couple, or do you just know each other in real life?" I asked.
"Where did you get that idea?"
"Its just y'all flirt, a lot."
"We do not." He defended firmly, but then pondered, "At least I don't think so."
"It's just you two would be a cute couple."
"You're a girl aren't you." He redirected
I smiled. "Maybe. Maybe not."
"So why don't you want anyone to know?" He asked.
"That's none of your business." I said, my voice losing its usual chipper tone and taking on one much darker. I looked at the ground, and we walked the rest of the distance in silence, this time not so comfortable.
Asuna stared coldly at the girl with blue hair. She glared right back. They had been doing this in silence the entire walk and seemed intent on doing it the rest of the rest of the way. Asuna didn't like her, and was almost certain that the feeling was mutual. They continued for another ten or so minutes until the pair in front of them stopped. Nearly running into them they looked up and saw it, the giant stone column that would lead to a new world.
A/N: Hello. Hope you like it. I meant for this to be the boss fight but… Well ill try to post every other day, so don't worry it won't be long till that.
R&A&W&R please. Reviews are really helpful.
I'm thinking of making this about 20 chapters long. Once school starts I won't be able to post as quickly. I'll try to increase chapter length once this fic starts to get a steady flow of views and reviews.
I finally got a beta tester TY to Ph14l for all the help.
If you still think I should stop writing and kill myself please PM me with the errors and suggestions and I'll put them into effect.
The OC is: Kirito's shadow, Asuna's emotions, Sinon's dark side, plus a little special input from me. Also, they will be the main interaction with Asuna, who I wrote OOC to have less emotions and be much more introverted.
Anyways, see you soon, Peace off ^_^
