(Sinon's POV)

I saw Ken's sword morph into a whip, similar to the one Hikari had used on me, and it wrapped around Kirito.

Almost immediately, a new door was revealed, and Ken was dragging Kirito there.

"Kirito!" I screamed. This caught the attention of our friends. But he was to far out of reach.

I simultaneously took out an arrow and murmured an enchantment and used my lasso bow that wrapped around Kirito's foot, and I was hauled into the dark room, sucking me in along with them, and hearing the door slam shut behind me, hearing our friends call out to us from the other side, banging on the door, but their screams became muffled, and so did the clatter on the door, until I couldn't hear them anymore.

Now the only sound I heard was Kirito's body being dragged and the racing footsteps of Ken.

"Here should be good enough," he mumbled. I saw a small light up ahead. It came from a skylight, and I finally was able to see.

I saw Ken walk into that light, dragging Kirito along. I heard Kirito growl, he must be angry being dragged like that.

"Oh looky here, a stray kitty followed us," Ken stared right in my direction. I was surprised, considering I was in the darkest shadows.

"Sinon?" Kirito mumbled. I had my bow ready in hand when I stepped into the light.

"You really think I'd let you face this alone?" I murmured.

"How sweet," Ken clapped his hands, applauding. I glared in his direction, pulling out a bow, cautiously.

"You were never meant to watch this," Ken frowned, crossing his arms. I suppose I was meant to be in the other room along with the others. I was probably not meant to watch Kirito get killed.

I pulled back my arrow, not too far back though and pointed it towards Ken.

"Go ahead," he smirked confidently. I smirked back.

"Gladly," I responded, quickly aiming my arrow towards the whip binding Kirito, and let go. The arrow met its target and the whip dispersed into sapphire pixels, setting Kirito free.

"Oh I didn't see that one coming," Ken confessed as Kirito got to his feet, dusting his shoulders off, and raised his eyes, glaring at Ken.

"I guess you didn't plan out for a different scenario," Kirito held his legendary sword in his right hand and pulled out another from its leather scabbard that was on his back, next to the other one that belonged to the Excalibur.

He was wielding two swords, one pointed offensively towards Ken, and the other defensibly up, guarding.

Ken chuckled.

"Is that what you think?" He raised a brow. The atmosphere began to get tense and the air was thick. I began to feel chills go up my spine and shuddered.

"Have you ever heard of the ability, shadow bending?" He lifted his hands and I felt something bind around me, and I looked down and it was darkness wrap around me. I couldn't lift my bow up, or get out an arrow. My bow slipped from my reach and hit the floor, making a clang sound, echoing through this immense dark room.

"Sinon!" Kirito shouted, as he reached for me but Ken took out another sword and sliced his back when he did. The coward.

•"Kirito!" I shouted back, desperately trying to fight back against the binding shadow. It began to wrap around all of my body until it was up to my neck.

"You see, it allows me to use the shadows to my will, sort of similar to my puppeteer ability, no?" Ken spoke. He and Kirito were still fighting, as I was being consumed, although Kirito's focus was off, due to my dilemma.

I felt hot tears trail down my cheeks, as I clenched my teeth, and my limbs desperately fought back against the darkness consuming me.

Soon the darkness was up to my cheek, and my body felt paralyzed. I was unable to wriggle anything. It started covering my lips.

"Kazuto!" I called but my voice was muffled. The last scene I saw before being completely consumed in this darkness was Kirito desperately trying to reach out me while dealing with Ken at the same time.

"Shino!" Was the last cry I heard escape his lips before being completely consumed.

•••

(Kirito's POV)

I tried to grasp her hand but she was too far, and since I had my back turned, Ken sliced my back with his sapphire sword.

"Kirito!" I heard her cry back, desperately trying to fight back against the binding shadow. It began to wrap around all of her small body until it was up to her neck.

"You see, it allows me to use the shadows to my will, sort of similar to my puppeteer ability, no?" Ken spoke. He continued to attack me, and all I could do was evade and block, too busy keeping my eyes on Sinon.

I saw tears ran down her cheeks, and I saw her struggling within the shadows that kept consuming her, traveling up her body.

Soon the darkness was up to her cheek, now covering her mouth. I could only see her eyes at this point. I caught a glimpse of them. Scared. Worried. And uncertainty.

"Kazuto!" I heard her muffled cry.

My mind began to panic. Not because of Ken. Not because I thought so little in my abilities. But because of Sinon, no, Shino. I knew my mind would get consumed of thoughts of her. Thinking of the worst. And I didn't need that right now. But how could I help it? She's being snatched away to God knows where. I would've been comforted if she was with the others...

Ken was in my way, he wouldn't stop attacking. I desperately tried to get away some how, to reach out to her, somehow help her escape the overwhelming darkness.

"Shino!" Slipped my lips, calling out to her by her real name. Before she was entirely consumed, and oddly she seemed to fade into the darkness, no longer in my sight. I could no longer hear her muffled voice. She was no longer in my reach...

•••

I know, its a bit shorter than the last chapter. Shame on me! But more to come, I promise!!

Oh and a small bit of news for the next Kinon/Kirinon/Sinoto story ;3

If you don't want a little hint, don't read the small paragraphs in (italics) with parentheses.

(Its supposed to be a heart breaker of a story, and if I write it just right, it's supposed to get you right in the feels. Just a little insider. No spoilers beyond that.

Yup it's going to differ from this story, I'll tell ya that! But written with the same quality, I reassure you.)

Anywhooooo...

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter. Sorry for the cliffhangers? ╮(╯▽╰)╭

Surely, there's more to come!

Until next time!

-InGameProdigy

🙏