Sword Art Online: Side Stories

Star, feeling a bit girlish, hugged Mya like they were long time friends. "Its good to see you Mya. And this time not as my enemy." Star did like Mya. She did not agree with her choices of befriending Masamune. That was one thing she would never agree upon. Once a PKer always a PKer. She had been asked as to why Masaru and her had come all the way out to see her. "Well, you see, Masaru and I..." She began to blush... "We have married. I thought it would be a nice idea to maybe get some clothes. All we have done is battle recently. I just want us to relax for a while alone. Can't simply do that when a majority of what we have is meant for fighting." Mya was a sewer and not a half bad one. She had to help her friend gain some business too.

 

Mya stared at Star in shock before grasping her in a tight hug. "You two got married?! Omigosh congratulations both of you! I'm so happy for the both of you!" She then realized she was acting a bit childish and stepped back embaressed. "Err...sorry about that. Now let me see what I got for the two of you." She opened her menu and flipped through her stock. "I got plenty for your handsome husband here." She tapped a button and a large line of clothing for men appeared to their right. "Unfortunately, not a lot of females come here for clothing and I completely forgot to make some so I have none for you Star, but I can go out and grab some materials to make for you Star. Something beautiful and fabulous that Masaru will love. How about that?"

 

"We have the resoucres to jail them," she answered, "though I would like to question them first about how their guild operates more."

 

Kuroi continued wandering around town, completely bored out of his mind.

He saw Shiina kneeling down, petting her wolves, smiling. But she was alone. Her smile seemed like a lonely smile. He stood there watching her. "...we've made zero friends..." Kuroi picked up that line and his chest hurt. She was the same as him. Alone in this death game, not knowing anyone, missing best friends, wondering if they would survive the next day.

"Sh-Shiina." He suddenly called out to her. He felt his voice shaking.

 

Masaru chuckled a bit at Star's reasonable explatnation and Mya's congratulations and he saw the clothing that was available to him, quite a wide range surprsingly but Mya pointed out nto many females came here, he unsderstood that, they would most likely have to unequip all of their equipment and be lef tin their ungarments while measurements were taken and such, he enver bothered learning suc a SKill due to surivival and trying to beat the game, but five years did sound like a long time to be here, especially when a year and a half had gone by, the human bodies they had could only do so much and if they remaiend that way for that long alot of people will be in wheelchairs, and he didn't fancy that happening.

"Handsome? If I didn't know any better Mya, I'd say you were hitting on a married man." he saidina teasing tone, actually catchign ehr out for saying that.

 

As Mya should have known, Star was the jealous type. She punched Masaru in the arm with a decent amount of strength. Just to make it hurt. "I am slightly disappointed that you don't have much, Mya. I could pay you to get some supplies and return later to see what you come up with?" She wanted some nice clothes. It was all good that Masaru got some but she wanted a just a small sense of fashion too.

 

Stiffening as someone called out to her, Shiina cautiously turned and sighed when she saw Kuroi. "Oh...um, hi there, Kuroi. I...I thought you had gone home or something... M-Minato-sensei has gone somewhere....a-and I'm no good at fighting." Obviously, they shy young woman assumed Kuroi wanted more training. Why else would he talk to her. "S-Sorry...I...I have to find Masamune." She stood, brushing off her pants, when a thought dawned on her, "U-Um...h-how long...have you been standing there?"

 

Mya chuckled quietly as Masaru got punched. It's hard to picture star as a normal girl. The number one pop idol right here in this shop. I may never reach that title or that level of fame, but at least I can be proud one of my friends is there. "Sorry Masaru. I'm not that good at words. Also I'm very sorry Star. Not many females work up enough money to buy clothes of this fashion. It's fine. I'll give you the clothes for free for being my very special customers and my...friends. I'll be out gathering materials myself and be back around afternoon time. Then I'll have a wide selection of clothes for you ready. If that's fine with you."

 

"That way we'll know how to deal with then again if needed." Fang added it. At least, that was what he was getting out of interrogating them.


Kaito on the other hand was intently listening to what was being said. So far their plan seemed pretty good. It seemed like Scarlet already had everything planned out. All that would leave was the execution of her strategy.

 

Free clothes? This was quite a nice offer but Star would feel beyond guilty if she let Mya do this for her without a single col in exchange. She had to make it up to her. Make the deal equivalent for both participation. "I am very uncomfortable with not paying. Maybe, if you ever need something repaired or made, you can come by and I'll do it for free too. I need to repay my debt somehow." That was one issue she might be able to resolve. The other was finding something to do while Mya tailored to the clothes. Star moved in close to Mya's ear to whisper something without Masaru knowing. "Mya, do you know a place where Masaru and I can have a romantic evening?" That would be a good way to kill some time. And this would be the time that was worth killing.

 

Somewhere outside the Laughing Coffin Guild Headquarters, Masamune lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. Several dozens of swords were impaled in his body, but due to the frequent healing crystals XaXa dangled around, he remained alive. If he could cough up blood, he was sure he'd be doing so. "Understood...Masamune the Kin-Slayer?" That voice...horribly familiar. Dulled from the pain, Masamune's red-brown eyes shifted from their fixed spot on the ceiling and to the left, resting on the maliciously smiling face of his co-founding partner, PoH. He nodded and received a hard kick to the side of his face. Hard enough that his head snapped to the side and banged harshly against the ground. "Let me hear you say it." Licking his lips, Masamune brokenly voiced the words he wanted to hear. "I understand." Satisfied, PoH leaned back and motioned for XaXa to release him. Laying where he was as each sword was extracted, Masamune slowly blinked, "You went easy on me the first time, didn't you." It wasn't a question, but XaXa nodded instead. Otherwise uninterested in his pet for now, PoH ignored him, or so it seemed. "I shouldn't have. It made you go soft faster." A civilized conversation...how nice. If only they would last... His mind was foggy, filled with the things PoH drilled into him. Stories he didn't know before. Stories he could've done without knowing. But that was the price he paid for wanting to know more. The price of a foggy head filled only with a list of names: Masaru the Singer's Knight, Star the Idol, Ittoki and Kuroi, Shiina the Wolf Tamer, Meerna the Merchant, Scarlet of the Moonlit Swords, and Mya the Tailor. The names of those involved with the first few days of the game plus the guild leader that opposed PKs. The names of those he would have to kill.

Minato sat quietly in the inn Star had pointed out for him. Though far too early for booking a room for sleep only, he did so anyway and sat reading the bulletin board...on an article about Star, the blacksmith he'd met earlier. His blue eyes narrowed as he read. Anger shifted his natural kind-heart away from any sort of optimistic thoughts he would've repeated to himself in this situation. "Idol and blacksmith...and a Beater." Gritting his teeth, he stood and quietly left the inn.

 

Mya nodded. "That sounds lovely. Thanks Star." She scratched her head. Romantic evening? She wasn't too familiar in finding romantic spots. She thought of recommending the restaurant she went earlier, but she met the PKer there. She then remember the Hill of Memories she went with Ittoki before. "Well there's the Hill of Memories nearby the first 10 floors. It has a wonderful view of the sunrise and sunset and flowers over the whole place."

 

"O-Oh. I just got here." Kuroi answered Shiina. "Do you want me to help you find Masamune? It's not like I'm doing anything right now..." He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at Shiina through his bangs which hid his eyes.

 

Shiina stared openly at him before cringing inward, "N-No...that's...well...I-I suppose it couldn't hurt." She whistled and Mina dashed off, leaving Kuro standing beside her. "The last place anyone said they'd seen someone looking like that was on some floor a little ways up in a restaurant." Anxious, afraid and still a bit angry, Shiina waved Kuroi to her and headed in the direction of the gate. "You...didn't come to see M-Minato?"

 

Scarlet smiled at Hayden's reply and gave a quick nod before turning back to the map. She then pointed out spots around the clearing, saying that they would hide in the trees and surround whatever Rouge members that show up. This also gave them the chance to check it out and make sure it will only be a small group showing so they would not get overwhelmed. After that she said she'd go along with the newbies to ensure that they stayed safe and then off they went.

It didn't take long for them to reach the forest and once in position she could see that no one had arrived yet, leaving some room to chat.

"You guys aren't nervous I hope."

 

Being an experienced member, there wasn't a nervous bone in his body. As for Kaito, there was some nervousness inside him. "Come on, you'll do fine." He gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "Trust me."

Kaito nodded at Fang's words of encouragement. "Thanks." With his nerves gone, he waited for the operation to start.

 

ooc; i feel as if my writing lately has been off and rushed but after this i'll make sure to stop moving so fast unless it is too bothersome then pm me and i'll work on it right away

Since she was not a huge people person Scarlet could not tell if the two spoke honestly, especially given with how she tended to focus more on the task at hand so she simply took their word for it before falling silent once more. Shortly after that some people came into view, their dull brown colored cloaks bearing the black sigil of the Rouges. After a bit more of waiting it was clear that no more were coming for the time being, leaving them with six to deal with.

The signal was her raven flying over the meadow so once that happened the Moonlit Sword members present jumped into the clearing, ready to fight. But she figured they'd give them a chance to surrender first. "For the crimes your guild has committed we're placing all of you under arrest. Give up peacefully and we'll show mercy."

Her words were met with a mixture of laughter and worried expressions, as one or two Rouges seemed willing to give up on the spot but the rest seemed unlikely to allow that. One boosted about being able to take all of them one by himself before pointing his sword at Scarlet. Her reply came in the form of an attack.

 

"...A restaurant? Which one?" Kuroi asked as he followed Shiina and her wolves.