I don't own anything except my OC.

Chapter 10:

He can't do it, he can't do it, he can't win...

"Why did you accept?! Kirito?!"

I didn't give him any time to talk and just rambled on.

"I mean, the leader's HP has never gone to the red zone, no, has it even reached yellow?! And on top of that he has a unique skill: The Holy Sword, that's capable of both offence and defence."

"He also threw in the condition of: If you lose, you'll have to join the Knights of Blood! Are you stupid? Fighting just to party up with me, what if you lose?! I'll be in forever depression since I'm the cause of you joining against your will!"

"Calm down already, Saki!"

Now way can I calm down!

We decided for him to call me Saki, just to be safe of hiding my secret.

"His attacks are strong, but his defence is particularly overwhelming. He'll definitely be a tough opponent, his invincibility transcends the game's balance" He muttered.

"But if you send me off with a smile, I might have a 99.9% of winning~" He joked. Or at least I hope he was joking.

"Dream on"

"Well, I won't let him beat me that easily" He said smirking.

Wow, the arena was packed... And one of our members in charge of finance was taking advantage of it big time.

I guess you could say that the fight was between two of the most powerful players in SAO so I couldn't really blame them for coming to watch. I would be pretty curious about the outcome, but I'm just panicking right now... Sure I believe in Kirito, but Heathcliff was practically untouchable.

They exchanged a few words before the countdown began, giving them 1 minute to get ready. Kirito unsheathed his two swords while Heathcliff readied his sword and shield.

As soon as the battle begun, Kirito charged at his opponent slashing continuously as my leader just blocked them all with his shield, then finally counter-attacking with his own sword. Making Kirito jump back, this time Heatcliff charged and used his shield to jab Kirito in the stomach.

They both attacked and blocked each other with their swords, when Kirito activated a skill trying charge at him again. It didn't really do a thing.

"Amazing! Let's go!" The audience were so loud as they cheered them on.

Kirito was using his Starburst Stream and they were moving too fast that I couldn't keep up at all but I think I saw Kirito land a little cut onto Heathcliff's face. As he attacked Heathcliff more and more, his responses were getting slower and a chance appeared. That would've ended the match with Kirito as the winner, no doubt about it. But somehow, that guy was able to block it?! I think I saw something unusual... I rubbed my eyes, I'm probably just tired.

Looking back at the match, Kirito was already on the floor with Heathcliff declared as the winner?!

What the hell were you doing KIRITO?!

"I-I thought I asked for something plain..." Complained Kirito.

"Sorry"

"A guild huh"

"Sorry"

"Following orders, working with others..."

"Sorry"

"You can stop apologising now Saki"

"I got you mixed up in this"

"Well, I was starting to feel the limits of going solo anyway" He said patting me on the head.

But it's kinda weird seeing him in white after all...

"Hey, can you tell me? Why you don't want to be in a guild or even near others in general, being a beta tester isn't the only reason is it...?" I asked softly.

There was silence for a while, before he started to explain. His voice was the only thing that was heard in this small room.

"It was a long time ago, over a year ago, I think. I was in a guild once, It was a small guild of six, including me. We were called the Black Cats of the Night. To be honest, the other members' levels were way below mine. So when they invited me to join, if I had told them my real level, I think would've changed their mind. But I kept it from them and joined their guild. Back then, the way they felt at home with each other really appealed to me. But one day..."

"...They all died" I finished for him. For him, it would be very sad but for me, they're just 5 in the thousands that were trapped in this game, and unfortunately they died. I can't say I understand his feelings at all.

"In a trap room. I'm the one who got them all killed. If I didn't hide the fact that I was a beater, I could've convinced them how dangerous traps are. I'm the one who killed everyone... who killed Sachi."

"If it's anyone's fault, then it's mine! I mean, I programmed stuff like that and..."

"Stop blaming yourself like that Saki!"

"Then you stop blaming yourself too! A depressed look doesn't suit you at all!"

I went up to him and hugged him tight.

"I definitely won't die so you don't have to worry about me leaving you! I'll be the one to get rid of this game!"

Kirito patted me on the head again. "Not if I can beat you to it~ After all, who'd let a frail girl like you do all the work"

"Who are you calling frail?!" He blocked the punch (That was at very high speed) and whispered "Thanks for trying to cheer me up Saki" He smiled.

"I-It was nothing..." I said hiding my face with my hands to cover the blush that was appearing.

"Training?"

"That's right. We'll form a party of three, and you'll help us clear the labyrinth here on the 55th Floor" Godfree said.

"Ah, then can I come too?" I asked.

"Since he's now part of the guild, It's my duty as the forward commander to see what he's truly made of"

"That doesn't explain why I can't go" I pouted. "Plus, I'm sure he's stronger than you..."

"Well then, we'll meet at this town's western gate in half an hour!" He laughed on the way out.

"Hmph, when we finally partied up together"

"I'll be right back, so just wait for me here" He said reassuringly as he left as well.

"You've been checking his whereabouts for practically every 5 seconds you know Saki-chan!" Asuna told me.

"Eh? Really? I hardly noticed..."

"So you really care about him don't you" She said.

"Of course I do... I think I might have fallen in love with him as well..." I trailed off. Whoops, I shouldn't have said that.

A weird smile was on Asuna's face. "Oh~ My little Saki has fallen in love, she's growing up! You're not going to leave me are you~~?"

"Wha! Asuna, stop acting so weird! And I'm not little!"

"But you're still younger and shorter than me you know, so it's fine to call you little~"

As I turned my attention away from her, I saw Godfree's location mark disappear. Which didn't seem like good news at all to me. Kirito!

"Saki?! Where're you running off to? And at such speed..."

They should be near the labyrinth... I need to be faster!

I finally reached the place, where Godfree had died. Only to see Kirito being stabbed in the stomach by Kuradeel.

I activated a skill as I punched the betrayer back a metre. Quickly, I gave Kirito a potion and he recovered instantly.

"I knew he should have been turned into mince meat that other day!" I laughed tiredly.

"I rushed all the way here you know? Thank god I made it" I said feeling relieved. "I know I said that I won't die, but you can't die on me either Kirito!"

"Yeah, I'm alive right now, thanks to you. Aren't I supposed to do the protecting though?" He laughed.

Kuradeel was getting up now.

"Just wait here, I'll end this" I told Kirito.

I cracked my knuckles as I walked up to Kuradeel. It was to scare him, and it worked.

"S-Saki-sama, this was just training. That's right, we had a little accident while training!"

I didn't hesitate as I sprinted the distance left over and punched him hard on the side of his face. Series of punches and kicks were thrown at him until he went onto his knees.

"I get now! I get it! I'll quit the guild! You'll never see my face again! So please... I don't want to die"

It's hard to kill someone when they're begging for mercy, and it looks like I wasn't strong enough to finish him. But I should have known better.

I relaxed my combat stance only for a second, but he was able to grab his sword again and strike me in that short period of time. He knocked me away with a swing of his sword.

"You're too soft!"

Soft?! You're just heartless, being able to kill people and enjoy it!

He was about to attack me and finish me off but, Kirito was able to come in to block it at the last second. Except he didn't have his sword, so his hand was sliced off in front of my eyes shattering as it was separated from his body.

"Kirito?!"

Using his other arm, Kirito's hand glowed yellow as it successfully hit Kuradeel in the stomach. Kuradeel shivered for a moment before he completely lost strength and sagged. As his sword fell to the ground with a clang, he whispered:

"You damn... Murderer"

Kuradeel's entire body shattered into numerous fragments.

"Kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill kill..."

"It's very scary when I look and hear you say that Saki" Kirito sweat dropped.

"Saki?"

"...You... were going to leave me behind... in this world. It hurts you know, when I think about how you might die"

Tears streamed down my face.

He hugged me with his right arm and his crippled left arm, then tilted me head up and and covered my lips with his.

"?!"

I tried pushing him away but, he showed no signs of letting go. A message popped up, and if I pressed OK, then Kirito would immediately be transported to the prison area in Black Iron Castle. I didn't press it though.

Instead, I kissed him back. It felt nice...

As we parted, he leant his forehead on mine and whispered:

"My life belongs to you, Rin. So I'll use it for you. I'll stay with you until the end"

With a trembling voice I responded:

"...I'll protect you as well. We'll get out of here, together"

I never knew that my heart could beat so fast, and it's all because of one boy.

"Tonight, I want to be with you"

And it just got even faster.

"Your food packs a punch as always...!"

We were now sitting across each-other drinking tea.

...When he said tonight, did he actually mean to do that?

I've been talking about random topics just because I was nervous.

Right now, he's so calm! Does that mean he's already done it with another girl?!

"A-Ano, Kirito!"

"Hmm? What is it?

"W-Well, this will be my f-first time so, please be gentle!"

...

"First time... Gentle... Wha- You totally have the wrong idea!"

He was panicking.

"Err.. No, you see... I just thought... That it would be good if we stayed together tonight"

I'm pretty sure my face had embarrassed written all over it but I also felt intense anger.

"Hey Hey Hey, Saki?! It's really rude to raise your fist at the dinner table!"

"But your red face is pretty cute~"

That was the last straw.

Something was poking me. When I was sleeping, so I broke the hand.

"Man, going to make me have 2 injuries to my hand in just one day?"

"Ah, it's you"

"Don't forget I'm here that easily?! Tch, your not cute at all like this"

"Do you, want to take a break from the front-lines for a little bit?" I asked.

"What?"

"I want to finish this game, I really do. But, maybe it's because I'm tired"

"Yeah, I'm tired too"

"Let's, get married" He declared.

...

"W-W-Wait! We're not at the legal age yet! A-And"

"On the northwestern part of the 22nd floor, amongst the forest and lakes... there's a small village. It's a good place with no monsters. They sell a few cottages there. The two of us can move there together... And we're in a game, it doesn't matter if we're at the legal age or not"

"You know Kirito, You're the person I care about most in the whole world... I really do think that I love you"

"I love you too"

"...let's get married" I said with a genuine smile.

Getting married means to have absolute trust in the other player. You have to share all information and items. One could see the other's stat window at will. Not many got married in Aincrad since betrayal and fraud was quite common, another reason was that extremely unbalanced male-female ratio.

But...

I have complete trust in Kirito.

Thank you for reading this story.