Welcome one and all to my story, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. This one is a story that's near and dear to my heart, and is one that I've been working on rewriting for several years now. It was my very first published story on this site, and helped inspire me to continue writing both fanfiction, and other original content. Either way, I love it deeply, and hope that you do as well. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know! Naturally, I only own the OC and plot of this story, and other rights go to their respective persons. Disclaimers aside, let's get into it!
-Paladin
Toshiyan walked down the cramped, dark alleyway, the sound of clunking footsteps echoing as they trudged through the cave. He looked around, noticing beads of sweat forming on the swordsman to his left, looking as if he would slice at anything that jumped out at them. Others trudged along more tired than anything else, seeming blatantly ignorant of the danger ahead of them.
They have no idea why they're here. He thought to himself.
He once again shoved dread down his throat. That wasn't entirely true…every swordfighter in the group shared one purpose: to dissolve the murder guild by the name of Laughing Coffin. These guys look strong, but they don't understand what's a stake here. He took a silent, but deep breath. I don't know if that's for the best or not. His thoughts were interrupted by a hand on his shoulder, he turned to face a girl his age named Asuna looking at him.
"It's not your fault, we'll get your sister back, that's a promise," she whispered.
"Thanks," he replied.
You're too kind to me Asuna. Somehow you always know what to say to make me feel better. How do you and Lyn do it? How do you become that strong? Strong enough to lay down your life for anyone here and not bat an eyelash. A smirk appeared momentarily on his face. It'd be annoying if you weren't so good at it.
Asuna stepped forward, lingering just a few feet in front of him. Toshi stared at the distance between her and the swordsman in front of her, or, more appropriately, the lack of distance. He frowned once again.
I can't complain about Kirito. He helped structure this raid, gathered others to arms, and he doesn't seem like a bad guy. A step above acquaintance, but a leap below a friend. So many people are like that now. It's my fault, in reality.
The parade stopped; someone got up to speak. "If the tip we got was good, then we should be nearby Laughing Coffin's base, but before we charge in, keep one thing in mind; those guys are red players. Once the battle starts, they won't think twice about killing any one of us. Don't you hesitate, if you do, then you're dead."
Standing still like we are right now won't help either.
"We do have 2 things going for us though," the man continued. "We outnumber them and we have higher skill. Who knows, maybe they will surrender peacefully; a guy can dream, can't he?"
Toshiyan sighed. I doubt it. Peace isn't the first word that comes to mind when I think of Laughing Coffin.
"Look out!" said a member of the crowd. Toshiyan looked up quickly and saw members of Laughing Coffin jump down from above, metal clanking loudly already. Toshiyan quickly reached for his daggers, gripping them firmly. He then charged with amazing speed into the oncoming horde. He singled out a single lone member and lunged at him, he dodged his first attack, and narrowly cut him with his left dagger.
One.
The member turned and prepared another attack, aiming a downward slash. A downward slash? He fluently stepped to the left. You should know better than that. Two. Three. The red player groaned, collapsing to the ground. Toshiyan jumped over him and kept searching for the passage he was looking for.
Three.
Two.
Four.
Seven? I hate how math works.
The heat of the battle seemed to slow down for a brief moment, Toshiyan inhaled quickly, glancing through the swords around him. I don't have time for this.
"Toshiyan!" A dark figure dashed behind him, Kirito raising a sword to defend himself, his back against Toshiyan's. The latter weaved under the Black Swordsman, his daggers glowing. He thrust with his daggers with unmatched dexterity, dropping the member of Laughing Coffin quickly.
"Being short is a good thing, Toshi." Lyn's voice echoed in his mind.
Toshiyan turned around. "Kirito, this way, I saw the path into the fort."
"Right."
Both swordsmen leaped around the next individual battle, Kirito glancing with solemnity at the rest of the fight. Worry stained both their minds, but Toshi's determined gaze burned through it. He dashed down the path, approaching the large metallic doors. He turned back to check on the swordsman behind him. "Kirito, hurry up!"
"Toshiyan, wait,-"
"We need to go if we'll have any chance of saving Lyn! Let's go, now!" He beckoned him down the path that led to the internal structure of the base. "Kirito!"
Kirito's hesitation faltered, but only for a moment. Kirito gazed back into the large fight. He suddenly gripped his Elucidator tightly, facing away. "No! Go get Lyn!"
"Kirito!" he called after him, but in almost a blink's worth of time, the Black Swordsman disappeared back into the large scuffle. Toshiyan stared dumbfounded, confusion tore into his mind. The fear he felt suddenly turned into miraculous bitter energy that burned in his chest. "Fine, I'll do it myself!"
He lunged into the empty corridors of laughing coffins base, searching desperately to find a dungeon of some kind. Finding a narrow crystal staircase, Toshiyan bounded off the wall, skipping the stairs as he descended into the lower levels of the cavern. Rolling off his last leap, he began to gain the lost momentum, only to have a sharp pain in his back stop him suddenly. He collapsed, growling in rage at the distraction.
"Toshiyan, we meet again." a dark voice spoke smoothly. "You must be here for your sister."
No! Please!
"I'm pleased that you came to visit me," The voice drew closer, a glove grabbed Toshiyan's hair, pulling his head up. Part of the man's oily black hair obscured the right side of his face, his dark eyes allowed no one to see past them. "I mean, with how long we've known each other, I'd even consider us family."
"Shut up! Where is she?!"
He dropped Toshiyan's head, simultaneously kicking the boy in the gut. "Since you asked nicely, how about I show you what you want, little boy," he replied with cruel pleasure. He proceeded to drag Toshiyan to a dark hallway and past many empty cells and finally dropped him on the floor. The man then walked to the nearest cell and dragged its occupant on to the floor nearby him.
"Lyn!" he cried with relief. No reply came, her hands began to scrape against the floor, almost praying her fingers would deliver her from this place. Toshiyan burned his gaze back to the member of Laughing Coffin. "What did you do, you snake!" anger enveloping his words.
Why has the poison not dissipated yet?
"Oh relax, I only starved her a little bit." He paused, letting his words sink in while failing to suppress a laugh.
"You," Toshiyan continued to struggle. "I am going to KILL YOU!" He fought with all his strength to move and reach for his sheathed daggers, but nothing happened.
"I'm only kidding," he continued. "You know as well as I do that I think she's far too pretty to try and starve off, it would break my heart to see it happen."
My fingers are freeing up! "When I get my hands on you, I'll-" With one fluid motion, the assailant casually reached into his pocket, flinging another concealed knife at Toshiyan. Toshiyan looked defeatedly as his health bar suddenly refilled the poison timer. Toshiyan growled in a mixture of emotions.
"Stop trying so hard, you can't save her," he muttered, opening his menu. A large sword appeared in his hand. He began to chuckle. "I-I've been waiting to do this for a long time. I've wanted to kill her for so long, but now, you can enjoy it with me!" He raised the sword. "Come now, watch her die!"
He struck it down and a red mark appeared on Lyn's side. She cringed further, yelling out.
"Stop it! If you want to kill anyone, kill me instead!"
The dark figure turned, smiling. "The mighty Electric Assassin, begging for mercy from a lowly grunt me. I like to see you beg, do it again." he raised his sword above Lyn and turned to face Toshiyan.
"P-Please, leave her alone." he sputtered.
"Hm, no." he stabbed the sword in once again.
"LYN!" Toshiyan yelled.
Lyn mustered her strength and looked up at her brother who also couldn't move. "I-, Toshi-" her face was full of tears.
"You don't get any last words with me! Neither of you brats deserves it!" He swung his sword down one more time and stabbed her in the side again. "You've ruined EVERYTHING, Toshiyan! Took everything from me!" the man yelled. "YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" The assailant accentuated every word with a slash at the girl in front of Toshiyan. Her eyes widened one final time, her body began to glow. Shards filled the narrow dungeon pathway, floating away into the ranks of the many souls claimed by the game of death. Another snicker echoed through the hallway. "Sorry, I got a little carried away. That was kind of dramatic," The killer said as he sheathed his sword. "and yet, very satisfying." He turned to Toshiyan but stayed silent and unmoving. "Ahh, has the assassin's tongue been stole-"
You're a dead man!
Toshiyan lept to his feet, screaming. The killer immediately reached for his sword again. Toshiyan, seizing the opening, slammed into him, pinning him to the ground with daggers. He repeatedly sliced at The killer, the man on the ground trying to stop Toshiyan's strikes with his left arm, but to no avail. He sliced again and again and again, his voice not ceasing for a moment with rage.
A sound of shattering glass broke the screams. Toshiyan panted heavily, his daggers protruding from the ground. A little purple hexagon displayed: Immortal Object where the daggers stuck up from the floor. Tears continued to stream down his face.
"Lyn."
"We started with 50 of the best people I know." Kirito counted to himself "Now, only 38 of them remain."
Asuna hurried over to Kirito "Everyone's a little bit shaken, but I think that-"
She was stopped when Kirito embraced her. "I am so glad you're alive, are you alright?"
Asuna's initial shock gave way to a smile as she hugged him back. "I'm fine, don't worry about me." Pulling away, she regained her solemn look. "Kirito, where is Toshiyan?"
Kirito looked down. "He's not here, last I saw him, he was going after his sister."
"But I thought-"
"So did I," Kirito explained. "It, er, didn't pan out."
"He went by himself?!"
"Asuna, he's a skilled swordsman-"
"I'm going in after him." Asuna proclaimed, turning around.
"Wait up, you can't-" he paused.
"Who's that?" she asked. Turning to see what he was staring at, a lone figure stumbled out of the corridor, the doors behind him shoved open. Kirito and Asuna rushed over as Toshiyan continued to stumble along. "Toshiyan!" she rushed over and embraced him as well. "Where were you, did you save Lyn, where is she?" He didn't respond and continued to walk toward Kirito. Her expression shifted as she stopped Toshiyan, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Toshiyan, where is Lyn?" Asuna asked again more inquisitively this time. He stopped, keeping his head down
"She's dead, Asuna."
Asuna paled. "Toshiyan, I-"
"It's not your fault, there is only one person to blame." Toshiyan glared up at Kirito, who paled slightly at his piercing eyes. "I-I know who's really at fault."
"Toshiyan, we should leave."
"R-Right." Kirito agreed. "Come on."
Know this Kirito, I will cope with you now. You may be able to convince everyone else that you're a hero, but not me. I will never forgive you for what you have done, and I will show everyone who you truly are. You can have Asuna, you can have the world, but I hope you never forget this moment.
I won't.