Sword Art Online: Side Stories

Inferna looked over at Masamune and his love interest. Damn, he noticed me. We are in a non-PVP place so he cant touch me here. The drink she ordered came up as she began to chug it down. She looked over to Masamune. "Now is not to play Big M. Go back to your distasteful romance with that trash." She ordered for another drink right after saying such.

Star continued to hold onto Masaru. She stood up, pulling him with her. Tightly clenching his hand, she moved in for a kiss. His lips were warm and passionate. It forced a blush on her face. Moving away from him she began to speak. "Lets get out of here Masaru-kun." She grabbed a teleport crystal and smiled at him before warping back into the desert town where she would await for him to go back home.

 

Irritated, even if he didn't know the woman, Masamune stood, grabbing his sword as he did. "Did you say something? I dunno what kind of weird reference you're making by calling me 'Big M', but saying something like that about her isn't needed." He stared at her face, her clothes, everything for a moment, "Do I know you...from somewhere?"

 

She grit her teeth. His memory was horrible if he couldn't remember the near most successful attempt on his life's player. "Let me rejog your terrible memory, Big M, I am Inferna. I tried to kill you. PoH and I were lovers at a time. I am his most wanted target dead." She grabbed a drink and drank once more. "And I can call her whatever I please. A PKer like you has no need for love. That is why PoH and I split. She will become a weakness to you. Love is a illusion that forces us to ignore what's important." She was lying to herself about love being an illusion. She still loved PoH in fact. The reason she had to leave him was she had been targeted by many players. If they could take her out, then PoH would be enraged and who knows what would happen to his mental state. She couldn't let that happen to him.

 

Chuckling, Masamune pushed down the part of him that wanted to deny, blush, or anything else embarrassing. "Love? You think I love her? How foolish. If you were a real PK you'd know very well that we need those on the inside to accurately work a guild." He leaned close to Inferna, the words she spoke sounded right...but he had been one of those who'd targeted the woman PoH had been involved with....so taking pity on her was difficult. "PoH doesn't love anyone. He doesn't like anyone. He barely tolerates his own guild members." Undisguised rage sparked in his eyes and radiated off him. "If I'm supposed to remember every stupid woman that tries to kill me, you're sorely mistaken. There have been plenty like you, who do it just as well as you do." Running a lock of her hair run through his fingers, he grinned maliciously, "All of them pretty...all of them cunning...just like you." As much as Masamune didn't want Mya to see him differently....being a PK was much more like having a split personality....and this was his. "If you're still alive and claiming to have tried to kill me, it must've been early on in our time here. All the rest...are already dead. I'll admit I was foolish and naiive in the beginning. I felt bad when I killed little girls..." Leaning closer to her face, he knew the expression on his face quite well. One of a mass murderer... He'd seen it often enough in the real world. "Not anymore." he purred.

 

PoH, how much did Masamune know him for real. The man always hid his feelings around other members. No matter the rank, he was still silent. "You'll never know what happens between a select few and him. From what you have told me, it seems PoH had never trusted you enough to give you personal information." She leaned towards his face as well. "I was weak back then. Now, I have eliminated my competition. Only three times have I failed to kill my target. You, PoH, and now that pop-idol's lover, Masaru." He tried to bring fear into her. She could not be broken so easily. In fact, she wanted some blood to boil. What better way to mess with the couple then do this: She kissed Masamune in the lips. She then got up and headed outside. "Have fun my love." She said loudly. She intentionally wanted Mya to hear it. She turned around as she head outside. Inferna spoke under her breath. All is going according to plan PoH.

 

Mya stared at the both of them arguing against each other. It was difficult to take in all of the information spewing out from the both of them. She didn't mind that she was called trash and whatnot. She didn't even mind Masamune having a sense he didn't "care" about her. What did shock her was Inferna kissing Masamune, more of shock than anything else. She silently stared at her leaving the store before she looked back at Masamune. "Masamune...I know this isn't my place to ask...but what are you hiding from me?"

Yoku was leaning against a wall when Inferno left the restaurant. "Hey you. I don't think you can just do that. Storming into a public place and calling people names and stuff and making people all confused." He scratched his face and let out a small smile. "Even for a person like you, a bad reputation won't go well...maybe even worse than Masamune's."

 

Holding perfectly still, Masamune barely registered Inferna's kiss...as awkward as it might've been. Turning when he heard Mya speak, he waasn't thinking about Inferna at all. Everything from his suspicion to her knowing him to the real reason Shiina wanted him dead raced through his mind. "Even you know there are things you shouldn't know about me. But if you're talking about her..." he scowled at the door, "That b*tch is next on my list." Wiping his sleeve across his mouth, he re-equipped his armor, along with his cloak. "I'll kill her. Right after I kill that b@stard PoH. Stupid wench falls for a psychopath and now she thinks she's hot stuff." Anger cooled in his blood by the chilling feeling that he would need to move closer to PoH than he was already. Not good...even now by being a co-founder of the guild, he tells me enough of the stuff I wish I didn't need to hear. Reciprocating that is easy, but now... Pain, disgust and a slight glimmer of fear crossed his face, "I'll have to do it again..." To lower himself before them....the ones closest to PoH and PoH himself....and reestablish the tie he'd severed. Slamming his closed fist against a pillar, he pushed down the hatred he felt. Hastily, he flicked open his menu, typed out the short code to PoH and selected his rarely used dagger and held it out to Mya, "Take it. The dagger has sentimental value to me. This time...you won't see me again for a long time."

 

The man behind the door didn't surprise her. "My reputation has already hit bottom. I can take care of myself. You should know that better than some, Yoko." Kurama stared back at the diner the two had just come out of. "I know, Kurama, he will try to kill us soon." She looked over to Yoko and smiled. "Shall we move on?"

 

Mya sat back down silently. She never seen Masamune so furious in his life. It's as if Inferna affected his life psychologically in a bad way. So many questions rang through her head about PoH, Inferna, Masamune, and more, but she knew she needed to shut up now. She stared at the knife he handed to her. He means it this time...She slowly took the knife from his hands and nodded. "I don't know how you will play out your actions, Masamune, but I trust in you."

Yoko chuckled softly and nodded. "Why don't we? I don't want some infamous killer on my back. Too bad I couldn't say hi to that girl. She would've LOVED to see me."

 

Masar should of been surprised by Star's kiss but he wasn't surprisingly aand gave a curt nod to Star's words, noting the workd kun used on the end of his name amd used a teleport crystal as well, teleporting back to the desert town wondered what he should do? he practically confessed his feelings for her and she the same, but now there was a problem, Inferna would most likely target him more often now with Star caught in it due to her saving him, so they both weren't practically safe and it was no use hiding in your house as Safe Zone and the town's are PvP and PK protected, but people had to go out and train and to clear the game, so there were only two options here.

"EIther do things the same as before and keep my guard up to not get into that situation again or stay with Star until Inferna's either Jailed or killed." he thought to himself, he didn't much like someone being killed, even if it's PKer, he'll probably buy a preset Jail Crystal and jail Inferna, but he moved onto the love interest problem, they obivously didn't want to part afetr discovering their feelings and either one of them could die at any given moment, especially since the higher floors are bound to get more and more difficult, even monster spawns despite only being roughly halfway there.

"Star, i know we just recently discovered about us, but in this game... we could die at any point and well, there shouldn't be any regrets right? I mean... who knows what could happen, especially with me working constantly on the Front Lines..." he trailed off, trying to find the words he was trying to say, should he go through with it and risk a break-up right there and then or would it be considered? They have seen each othe rplenty of times after the First Floor, mainly for items, weapons and small banter between them and gradually became friends during that time, as much as people detest the Beaters. "I guess what I'm tryig gto say is...will you be with me...? Always?" he asked, a blush creeping up his face, proabbaly because he subtlely suggested marriage.

 

A proposal it seemed. Masaru asked for the next level of commitment, marriage. Although it was just a virtual reality, bonds shared between two people are the same no matter where it is. Masaru made a point about the hardship the two of them would have to go through. The front lines were always the most risk, but now a bounty hunter wanted his head, and now hers. Could she put up with the risk as well as the misery if he had to go? Maybe it would just be best to say no. That would be the most logical answer. However, her heart spoke more then her mind. This was one of the happiest moments for her.

Tears ran down her eyes and she smiled and lay her head onto his chest. "I know its not there, but I can hear your heart. Mine beats with yours in a perfect sync." She grabbed his hands and moved in closely into his face. "Of course I will always be with you. Whether it is on the front lines or back in the safety of our home, I chose to spend every moment I can with you."

Marriage was a big step. This meant two people's storage would be combined. Her equipment would be his as his would be hers. They already shared a great deal anyway. Now they could also share weapons. Use them according to the situation. She could always have a set of repaired armor for him whenever he was out on the front lines. His drops could be used to craft things and maybe use as cooking material to increase her much needed cooking level. This would also mean they move into a house with each other. She had no money though because of the cash spent on her Smithing home. It would be up to Masaru.

Star flicked her wrists to pull down the menu to send the request for marriage. "Tell me Masaru, what is your real name. Let me know the name of the man I love."


Inferna laughed at Yoko's statement. "That girl is the one you have been talking about. Pitiful, Yoko. She may be of use to us however. If we can kidnap her, Masamune will have no choice but to surrender his life. Then, one failure will be rid of." All this was was revenge. She needed to clear the air between her failures. Next would be Masaru then she'd aim for the big man, PoH himself. "What's the mission you've got for me? Or are you coming with as a party member?" The man had interest in Laughing Coffin. It would be best if he evaded that guild and ran around as a solo PKer like her. It gets you by much better.

 

Masaru was waiting for her answer and heard it, and her words of spendign every moment with him was proabably sending his heart beating at proabably faster pace than the heat of battle, but there were pros to marriage, such as storage ebing combined and he'd use her equipment just as she would do the same, but the best thign is, she coudl ahve aset of repaired armour done quickly or his drops would aid her, but thsi did mean moving into a house together and he doubted Star had enough Col to buy a new house and a notfication indicated and he opened it. seeing a sight he enver thought he see before.

'-Star wishes to marry you, do you accept?-'

X O
Masaru took a moment to consider the optiosn and variables and you know he thought? "Who cares right? Deserve to be happy after all." He moved his finger to the buttons and heard her question and he blinked for a moment, of course she didn't know his avatar name was his real one, not many people who choose to do that, after all, she was Hikari Hoshi yet her name was Star, a different menaing to Hoshi which basiclaly translated to Light Star, while his first name meant Victory, the surname, not so much.

"That is my real name." He chuckled a bit lightly. "I wasn't so creative at the time." He said a bit embarassed, but he chsoe that name due to using it in RPG's he played as so to feel like he was part of the experience, but now it was literally he was par tof the expereince, especially knowing your death in the real world will be a mircowave emission which would fry your brain if you die or someone tries to remove the NerveGear. "I don't know many others who have their own character names as the same as their real ones." He simply said tapped the Blue Circle as the notification was gone and a gentle white light appeared on his ring finger as did Star's and from it, a ring symbolizing marriage was on it and their icons shown them to be together.

 

With the dagger out of his inventory, Masamune felt empty. But...it was in good hands now. Turning on his heel he left the restaurant, passing by Yoku and Inferna as he left. He didn't see them...he barely saw the road in front of him. This time...it was personal and the last time it was personal he'd ended up killing the girl he cared about. This time...I won't make the same mistake twice. He walked swiftly all the way back to the warp gate and transported back to the Laughing Coffin's home base.

 

Mya stared at the dagger he gave to her. Important to him...Will he really do the right thing? She sighed and placed the knife in her inventory, hoping she would never have to use it in any other way and hoping it would get back into Masamune's hands. "Guess I better head back to the shop..."

Yoku pouted. "Such a meanie you are...calling me pitiful and stuff." He rubbed the back of his head. "Ehh...kidnapping isn't really my thing. Besides, a kidnapped victim gets really annoying after a few hours. They'll be all yelling and/or crying and stuff. Ugh...makes me wanna kill them. Besides, I'm not really here for a mission. I'm just wandering around and just happened to meet the three of you in the restaurant."

 

A glowing ring appeared on her finger. The significance of this was great. Tears continued to roll down her face as she cuddled up in Masaru's arms. She was happy. Happiness was rare for the pop idol. Sure performing and being praised by fans and critics alike was nice and all, but she had never been given the ability to spend time with the people she cared for back on the other side.

She stood back up to normal, wiping the tears. "Lets go back to my place. I should really craft this Magma Core. We should also stop by Mya's new clothing shop. We could get some nice clothes." She grabbed his hand and warped them out back to the 47th floor. She walked into her shop and began to bang her hammer onto the ore as it was melting into shape. "Its funny you know. A select few players who are all in the front lines are well known, but you are barely talked about. It is always about this Kirito, Asuna, Klein, Heathcliff, and Agil characters. They are some of the top players but you are in there too. I guess you just have't made a name for yourself is all." Her hammer hit one last time and the sword began to glow. "It is called the Mantle Cutter. It is high in attack and normal in defense. It will occasionally create a burn." She looked at the stats and her eyes grew wide. "T-this sword... its power is tremendous. It is much higher than anything I have ever seen." It would be perfect for her. Her Infinity Bow skill would make her projectiles extremely hot. This could deal significant additional damage. Now that her and Masaru were wed, he could use it too.


Inferna slapped his head. "You will never get into the Blood Council that way. You need to be much more ruthless." She looked over hearing Masamune come out in a rage. He was really angry. When he warped away Inferna began to laugh hiserically. "He is going to try and reconnect with PoH. That man will never tell Masamune anything." She walked over to the gate to teleprt herself to the council meeting. "Speaking of the council, apparently a free spot just opened. Someone with the title The Black Swordsman put one of our guys in jail."

 

Masaru nodded at Star as he followed and watched her smith away and the swords revealing abailies and status ailements too, plus they could use it together thanks to the shared storage.

"Proabably because they are more prominent, Kirito-san being a Beater and plays a sword no shield style and his clothing is always black, Asuna-san is known for her fast rapid fluid moments that is almost a blur, earning her the Flash, Heathcliff-san is head of the most known guild that consistently fights on the Front Lines and Agil is a majorly powerful Tanker, I just grind and learn whatever skills can help, sadly I never met any of the forementioned people but I wouldn't mind meeting them as our goals are pratically the same." he said almost wishfully, he'd like to meet fellow Front-Liners who could hold their own and actually commit themselves to clearing this game for everyone still alive to go back home.

"I did hear of Silca the Dragon Tamer once but she's not heard about as much since she isn't on the Front-Lines, I even hear she's 13 and yet she gets so many marriages offered but she declined, quite right too due to her age." He said and noted a notification on the news and tapped it, there was a a rather clear shot of him in the tournament fighting alongside Star and infomation about his part- no his wife's idenity as comments were written down, some amazed, some rude and some being idiots or trolls, but he found a a rather strange nickname, the "Singer's Knight" and that seemed to have caught on, what's more, this was front-line material.

"I stand corrected, looks like I'm gonna be well known after all." He said rather sheepishly, first Star's revelation as a Idol to the whole of the game and now his newfound title the Players named him, just like The Black Swordsmanm, Asuna the Flash, Heatcliff the Paladin, Klein of the Guild Fuurinkazan and now this, what's more, he didn't ask for it.

 

Wandering around floor 47, Minato was feeling rather accomplished when he found Star's blacksmith. It wasn't open but the lights were on. Debating on knocking or just leaving...he chose knock. Rapping his knuckles on the door, while multitasking the sudden notification from the front-lines, Minato frowned at the message. Ordered to take a break? Worry rode front and center in his mind. But they were going to make a breakthrough soon...why would they order him to take a break now?

 

Mya arrived at her store and reopened it, leaning against the counter tiredly. She opened her inventory and continued to stare at the dagger Masamune gave her.

Yuko laughed lightly, rubbing his injured head. "And you need to calm down more. If this wasn't a game, you'd already burst a blood vessel by now." He raised an eyebrow. Everyone knew the Black Swordsman. Famous for his strong presence in the frontlines and doing his "duty" despite his title as a beater. "Are you suggesting that I should be a part of the council since there's a free spot? Aww...you shouldn't have."

 

Star grabbed the paper. Yep, that was deffinitely them. The SAO Idol and her Singer's Knight. It had a good ring to it. Only if they knew that now they were married. That would hit headlines for certain. It was good people recognized him, but it may also be a disadvantage. Already, one attempt at his life was made. Men were envious creatures sometimes. They wanted her more than anything. Star had already found the right man.

"Let's head over to Mya's shop. We need to dress you in something ni-" As she opened the door, a man was standing there, apparently knocking. "Oh, um, hello. Welcome to the shop. I guess I can quickly help you with something. What might you need?"


Inferna grunted. "I did not ask you to join. The council only takes the most blood thirsty of people. You don't have the backbone. We were going to add Masamune, however, he turned soft as we saw form the tournament yesterday."

 

Yuko pouted more. "Meanie...fine then. I didn't even want a spot there anyways." He turned and started to walk away. "Go add that unstable killer. He'll reject the offer though. Not when he knows he has so much at stake..."