SAO, Akira's Arrows: Aincrad Arc

by domgk115

In an Aincrad where bows were added to the game in the beta-test 16 year old Akira Miller is trapped in the world of Aincrad with his girlfriend Kya and younger sister Aki. After tragedy strikes in game he's saved by the famous Asuna Lightning Flash. After this the Black Archer is born, with his friends the Black Swordsman and Lightning Flash they'll fight to beat the death game

13. To The End of The World

SAO Akira's Arrows

Aincrad Arc

Chapter 13: To The End of the World

Akira

"So, Kirito, I've been meaning to ask you something," I told him, as we both sat against the white pillar in the middle of the massive group of players.

Kirito looked up from the whetstone he was dragging across his sword. "Mhm? What is it?"

I let out a breath I'd been holding and look at The Sword of Takis across my lap. "Back… in the real world, do you think you're the same kind of person you are here? Do you… feel like this place changed you?"

It was something that I thought about every day. Who was I now? Was I still Akira Miller, former street orphan and aspiring historian? Or was I Akira, The Black Archer of Aincrad, who fought for his fellow players on his front line with hails of his arrows? I would never have thought of doing the things I had to do in Aincrad before I came here… so which was it?

A small smile came to Kirito's face as he slid his Elucidator back onto his back. All around us, the bustling assault team was right in front of the boss rooms door. I saw faces I could remember seeing or talking to sparingly over the two years, some people I knew even better. Yolko was there, and Kains, Klein and his guild of course, and then naturally you had Agil towering over everyone as well. Kirito and I had finished talking with them a short bit ago, and now we were just waiting on Asuna and Mito, who were busy organizing the smaller parties of offensive and defensive players with Heathcliff waiting near the door.

I probably should have been helping… but I was already trying to formulate my plan of attack. Did I want to play defensive and do damage from afar as a sniper? Or did I want to rush forward, switching between the Sword of Takis and firing arrows to keep the boss's attention while everyone else bashed at it? I still didn't have an answer, leading me to try anything to get my mind off what could be possible death in a couple minutes.

Kirito smiled at me and nodded. "Yeah… of course I have, I think we all have. If… not for you and this place, despite all it's done and taken… I like the person I've changed into."

I let out a shaky sigh, standing and letting the Sword of Takis slide back to my hip, and pulling The Black Bow of Fate from my shoulder. The newly designed bow was a bit sleeker then it had been before its upgrade, but was just as long and I knew the same exact bow that had been with me since the beginning, since Kya had found it all those months ago.

The weapon that made me The Black Archer.

"But… who are you then? Are you yourself, or are you the Black Swordsman," I asked him, helping him to his feet before looking down at my bow again. "And… who am I? Akira… or The Black Archer?"

It was normally me doing the answering to questions, but this time it was different. I looked to Kirito and expected him to at least take a minute to think. When we were in larger crowds he tended to be a bit more quiet, not wanting to speak unless he had too.

However, even with all the people bustling around us, he smiled and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I am the Black Swordsman, just like you're The Black Archer, we're the Black Storm Duo after all, right?" He said with even a cheeky smile. "The way I see it… why can't we be both? Our real selves, and our avatars? Kayaba… he did something awful, but in the end he probably accomplished his main goal, he made a world… a world that's real. To me well, there's no difference between the real and virtual world."

His words made mine stop in my throat. I had heard the same words before, what felt like so very long ago.

"The real world is what we make it, right now, this is real like you said. That means every decision we make here, affects us in the real world."

Kya… you were always right… I think you and Kirito would have gotten along well, I thought, as Kirito's infectious smile stayed.

"I mean, look at the two of us. We met in a virtual world… does that make our friendship any less real then it would be if we had met the real world?" He asked me, not breaking eye contact with me.

I felt myself laugh, a warm feeling bubbling up in my chest. He was right… as he usually was. Every time I thought about it, I kept realizing how much he would have gotten along with Kya, and even with Aki.

But he was right, completely and utterly right. It didn't matter which world I had met him in… Kirito, was one of my two best-friends, it didn't matter which world we were in.

"Ha… you really are wise when you wanna be huh?" I told him, letting out the breath I'd been holding and smiling at him. "You're right… thanks, Kirito… hey, can I ask something else?"

He looked at me curiously. "Yeah, what is it?"

I chuckled, and found myself smiling. "So, I know Asuna's, you know mine… what do you say if we survive this fight, you tell me your real name? That way, when we get out of this place, I know how to find you."

He stuttered for a minute, which made me laugh, a few of the other members of the raiding party looking at us, but it didn't take long for him to recompose himself. After laughing nervously, Kirito looked at me and smiled.

"Yeah… yeah sure," He told me, the smile coming back to him, before his face even got a little red. "I… um… wanted to tell you something too, well, Akira… I wanted to thank you."

It was my turn to scoff. "You've save my life how many times, and you're thanking me? I'm basically your dashing sidekick."

He rolled his eyes. "Shut up, you know that's not true… but well, I wanted to thank you for… helping me become a better person, the version of myself I always wanted."

"What do you mean?" I said, smiling wide at him. "You were always this person deep down inside; you just needed a little push for it. You did the same for me."

"Oh, come on… I didn't do much," He said, holding out his hand and smiling at me again. "I love Asuna, she's my partner but… I haven't ever really had a guy friend that I could call that… call my best-friend. So, well… thanks for being my partner, Akira."

I looked at his outstretched hand and thought on what he said. Had I ever even had a guy friend like Kirito? The answer was no, I'd lived with my mother and Aki, then Kya and Aki my entire life. It didn't matter of course, because I had best-friends who were guys and girl but Kirito… it was something else, something special.

Maybe it was because we were so alike in some ways, and so different in others. It also meant something when you risked your life with someone like we had together. It brought you together in ways you couldn't put into words.

I smiled, and slapped his hand, to start our handshake together, smiling the entire time. "Yeah… thanks for being my partner, Kirito."

We finished the handshake with a fist-bump, before both smiling at the corny nature of it all… still, I wouldn't have traded it for anything.

After we finished, I saw and heard the others all starting to move. My blood started running cold, my mind right away going back into fight mode. I subconsciously reached back to the quiver of arrows underneath my mantle and felt the entire thing near full. I knew I had my one giant's arrow in my inventory to be used in an emergency, The Sword of Takis was of course also an option, but I had a feeling this would come down to my bow.

With our bow Kya… I'll protect them, I said, managing to smile as I squeezed the sleek black metal.

"Kirito, Akira-kun!" Asuna's voice said, and we both turned to see her and Mito coming towards us, armor and weapons at the ready.

Mito smiled, her black scythe leaning on her shoulder. "The Commander's ready, we're moving out in a minute."

"Are you sure you're prepared? Enough potions, arrows?" Asuna said, walking over to Kirito and dusting off his cloak. "Kirito-kun, are you sure you have-."

"Ha… we're okay, we're ready, right Akira?" Kirito said, gently holding onto her and smiling over at me.

I returned the smile and nodded. "You bet… what about you Mito? Are you… okay?"

Compared to yesterday, when she had been so vulnerable, so hurt, Mito looked back to her old self now. She smiled, and as Kirito and Asuna fretted over each other, she smiled and walked up next to me.

"Don't worry, I'll be okay. Let's watch each other's backs," She said, smiling at me with her ruby eyes. She told me, in real life they were teal… and I found myself wishing I could see them.

I nodded and held a fist out for her. "You bet, let's take this thing down."

She looked at the fist for a moment, before smiling and giving it a bump, the smile staying on her face now. "We will… hey, Akira? After this fight, there's something I want to tell you."

I looked at her, confused now. "Huh? Why don't you just tell me now?"

She chuckled a bit, looking sheepish. "Ha… because it's something I'd rather tell you when we're celebrating is all."

I was still confused, what could she possibly have had to tell me? She smiled now, which was good, but for a few seconds all my brain power went to what big secret she had that she hadn't told me before.

My wondering went after a short spell, we were about to fight after all. Mito only smiled, but before I could ask anything else, Asuna and Kirito came back up next to us.

"Okay… we're ready," Asuna said, bringing up her menu and pressing a few buttons.

A few seconds later, I saw the pop-up.

Asuna had invited you to join a party, do you accept?

With a deep, shaky breath, I pressed the 'yes' button, and I saw three HP bars pop up in the top left of my HUD.

I didn't have time to say anything else, before a booming voice dominated the room.

"Is everyone prepared?" Heathcliff's voice said, as the Commander stood tall behind his shield, facing out over the room. "The Knights of the Blood Oath will be out in front, distracting the boss and blocking its attacks. In the meantime, the rest of you must stay sharp, and figure out its attack patterns."

I felt my shoulder tense up again, standing between the three people in my party. Heathcliff and I had always had an understanding in boss battles, I operated outside the rules of engagement. With my bow being so versatile, sometimes I needed to hang back, sometimes I would need to draw its attention. Despite still not liking him too much… I knew he'd at least give me that freedom again now.

The way he spoke now… I almost found myself envious of having such a commanding presence, and almost found myself inspired by him like so many others were. Still, the tense muscles were something that happened to me before every boss raid, so this one was no different.

"I won't lie to you, this battle will be hard," He said, looking at the rows of players who he had the attention of. "But I have faith that we can and will prevail!"

"Huh, this is one of his tamer speeches…" I muttered, making Kirito to my left snort a laugh that thankfully nobody heard.

Heathcliff's eyes narrowed. "For our day of liberation, is almost at hand!"

The entire crowd started cheering for the Commander, and I only found myself rolling my eyes.

"There it is…" I muttered as the people cheered, before the sinking feeling of dread came back to me.

We all knew this boss was going to be the deadliest yet, the difficulty spike was coming now… and we needed to be ready for it. My hands balled into fists, and next to me, I saw Kirito do the same.

But… it didn't take long, before I felt Asuna grab my hand.

"It's going to be okay… we'll be okay," She said, as I realized she had Kirito's hand as well, she smiled at us both. "I'll protect you both… just be sure to watch my back too, okay?"

Kirito smiled first. "Ha… you know I will, both of you."

I squeezed Asuna's hand back, and then grabbed Mito's too. "Yeah… we promised after all, didn't we? Let's take this thing down."

We didn't have to say anything else. The creak of Heathcliff opening the door screeched against my ears like nails on a chalkboard. I heard the familiar sound of weapons being drawn, and I slid the Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder, looking down at my weapon, which was now a part of me.

"Please… lend me your strength again," I said under my breath, reaching to my back and knocking a single arrow as a gust of wind from the door hit me.

I looked up as everyone started moving… and marched forward like I always would.

With my friends by my side, and my bow in hand.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kirito

"I got a bad feeling about this…" Akira muttered next to me, as I kept both swords up and at the ready with each step we took into the boss room.

I shuddered at that. If there were anyone's instincts, I trusted even more then my own, it was Akira's. His perception and senses were so advanced, I had to believe it wasn't just the games system helping him. After Heathcliff had opened the door, everyone had burst into the room, only to find it empty now. A cold chill kept crawling up my back, as the door slammed shut behind us, echoing throughout the hall. The light around the room was already dim, but I managed to see the large circular platform we were on.

"Everyone watch your step! Don't fall off," Akira yelled out, a few feet to my right, Asuna and Mito flanking on my left.

"Where is it? What the hell's going on?" Klein said, a few feet ahead of me.

"I don't know…" I answered him, gritting my teeth and looking to my right. "Akira! Those eyes of yours see anything?!"

"No around us no..." Akira said, as a loud effect sounded, and we all turned to see that the door had finally disappeared.

No way out… it's gone, I realized, remembering what Mito had told us about the room before.

After the door had vanished, it didn't take long for Mito to yell. "It's coming! Everyone focus, stay on your toes!"

"She's right, remain vigilant!" Heathcliff yelled from the front.

"But where the hell is the damn thing?!" A player yelled next, his voice shaking.

"How can we fight it if we can't see it?!" Another came next.

Asuna's voice came next. "Everyone stay calm! Look for any signs, and then get into position!"

"She's right! Everybody stay ready," I yelled, turning to Akira, who had an arrow in The Black Bow of Fate and stood unmoving, his eyes out into the void around us. "Akira! Do you-."

And that's when I finally heard it, the lightest crackling of bones a light familiar growl of a monster.

Akira heard it before us, he got his knee and looked up. "IT'S ABOVE US! FIRE ARROW!"

A collective yell came from the crowd of players, as everyone scrambled to look up, following Akira's arrow. As with every shot Akira took, it zipped through the air no problem, the tip blazing with a bright flame before it finally smashed into something, that was followed up by a screeching roar, which chilled me to my very bones, my swords suddenly felt heavy, as next to me, Asuna, Klein, Agil and Mito fell in, just as more screams came.

"It… it's the skull…" Was all I could stammer out.

"Reaper… the Skull Reaper…" Klein finished, his voice just above a whisper.

Five green HP bards, it's body of bones stretched halfway across the ceiling, and when Akira's arrow struck its head and burst into flames, it roared again, six red eyes lighting up, as it revealed two massive scythe arms, and screeching before it launched itself down off the ceiling towards all of the players below. A few started scrambling, but many of us couldn't move as the red eyes got closer and closer, our reflections able to be seen in the massive scythe appendages.

"GO! GET AWAY FROM IT!" Heathcliff yelled out the order, and finally all the players began to move.

The Skull Reaper slammed into the floor, just as Asuna pushed me to move towards the edge of the arena. Mito, Klein and Agil ran with us, and when the dust finally settled, the screeching roar came again, and after looking around I saw that many of the players had gotten away, as the monster roared and tried to select its next target.

But then, I saw two players still stuck near the center.

"HEY! What are you doing, run!" I yelled for them, as it didn't take long for the boss to lock onto them both.

That wasn't what terrified me the most though, it was Asuna next to me.

"AKIRA?! Where is he?!" She yelled, coming up next to me.

Klein answered the question. "AKIRA! GET OUT OF THERE!"

"AKIRA!" Mito screamed after him.

I looked up, and finally spotted him. The lights of the boss room had come to life, and I was finally able to spot him. His new cloak blowing back behind him, Akira was rushing along the side of the boss, The Black Bow of Fate in his hands with four arrows in it. The Skull Reaper roared again, coming up with its blades to cut away the two players who had been stuck in the middle, but before it could bring one of them down, I saw four arrows cut across the chamber.

"MOVE!" Akira yelled, shouldering his bow and running towards the boss's front.

"GAHHH NO!" One of the players yelled, ducking as the second scythe came for him, but just before it could kill him, Akira tackled him out of the way, as the scythe cut into the ground. Akira spun back up to his feet, going to his waist and with a quick draw and slash, The Sword of Takis smashed into the bone of the Skull Reaper, forcing it to lift its blade back up.

But that didn't stop the other blade. Akira's first volley of arrows had stopped it momentarily, but before he could get over to him, the other player was slashed across the stomach, his screams etching into my mind as he got sent flying backwards, before his HP bar hit zero and his disappeared into data.

I still couldn't move, as I watched Asuna try to catch him in vein, his body disappearing before our eyes.

"That… that was one hit!" Klein yelled.

Agil held his axe up with wide eyes. "We can't even get close to that thing!"

I finally shook my head. "We'll have to distract it from the front and attack from the sides! We can-."

"AKIRA!" Mito yelled again, and I looked to my right to see her darted towards the boss again.

"MISUMI, AKIRA!" Asuna yelled, following after her.

"Dammit…" I cursed, gripping tighter to both my swords and looking back towards the center of the arena.

And my chest fell to my stomach. I wanted to scream too, but I didn't both, I rushed after Asuna and Mito towards Akira, who had the bosses agro.

The player he'd saved had rushed to join the other, but Akira stayed put. I watched as the scythes came down like a guillotine, but Akira darted out of the way, pulling his bow back out and firing volleys of three, four sometimes even five arrows at a time. They didn't do much damage, but I finally saw what he was trying to do. He was keeping the boss's attention on him, hoping that the rest of us would be able to charge after we regained out senses.

He was ready from the start, he didn't falter once, I realized, as I saw one of the blades swing to cut him in half. I watched as he fell backwards, a chunk of his blonde hair being taken off before he fell onto his back, and rolled onto his feet, and continued dodging and firing arrows. I hadn't seen anyone move that fast in the game ever, but it was like I had always realized, when it came to pure movement speed, Akira had us all beat. If we were in a gun game, he would have been near impossible to shoot.

But as Mito and Asuna were out in front of me, and I was about to cue up Vorpal Strike, when I finally couldn't hold back the scream.

"AKIRA!"

"ARGHHHH GAHHHH!" His screams would be etched into my memory as well, but even worse were the screams from Asuna and Mito.

The first scythe he had been able to dodge, but The Skull Reaper screeched and came at him with his second one. The boss's first HP bar wasn't even halfway gone despite Akira's efforts. The second scythe looked like it would stab him through the stomach, but just in time Akira had gotten the Black Bow of Fate up to deflect it, but the attack was so powerful it still cut into his side and sent him skidding backwards.

Akira screamed as he grabbed both hands onto his side, and in our shared party menu, I could see his HP bar drop all the way down into the yellow zone already.

"NOO!" Asuna yelled, as the boss scurried closer to him, the rest of the assault team still trying to get over the shock.

"AKIRA!" I yelled, getting ahead of Asuna and Mito both. "VORPAL-."

I stopped when just before I could do it, someone else came to Akira's aid.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Akira

The shadow of Heathcliff's shield, and the embarrassment of being saved by him almost made me completely forget about the burning pain that I felt in my abdomen. I looked down and saw the large chunk of my digital abdomen red, and saw my HP bar was already down to around forty percent, and with how fast and hard this boss attacked, I didn't know if I had time to heal up with a potion. It had probably been stupid of me to take such a risk so early in the battle, and in the end… I had only saved one of the two.

You can't think about that now, get up! I screamed at myself, as the scythe bounced off Heathcliff's shield, and another player came to deflect the next one. The Skull Reaper turned to him and killed him with one attack, before going for Heathcliff again, the Commander blocked with his shield, and thrusted forward with a sword skill, only doing minimal damage but finally getting the boss's agro off of us.

"I assume you're alright, Akira?" The man said, without even looking back down at me, as the Skull Reaper went on a rampage.

I groaned and scooped up the Black Bow of Fate from the ground and got up. "I'm fine… thank you."

I had hated saying it, but I would be dead right now if not for Heathcliff. I looked over and saw Asuna, Kirito and Mito rushing for us, but once the Skull Reaper turned around it was another story. It roared again and darted around in quick circle towards the players, cutting one after another out of existence, its attacks so powerful that one hit killed anyone. I countered six, seven, eight, more and more after each minute.

My chest started pounding at a dangerous rate, we… we can't stop those scythes, the shield it was the only thing that could, but… but…

People were dying, and I couldn't do anything about it. For a minute, I realized what it was like to feel helpless again, helpless as the people around me died, helpless like I was that day last year.

"LOOK OUT! I heard Kirito's voice yell, and a few feet ahead of us I saw him rush towards one player who would have been killed.

"KIRITO!" I yelled, rushing past Heathcliff towards him as the scythe smashed into his two swords. It cut deep, down into Kirito's shoulder and he yelled as it started zapping his HP.

I wouldn't have gotten to him in time, but thankfully I saw Asuna rushed up behind him and smash into the scythe with her rapier. It was sent flying upwards, as she pulled Kirito to his feet.

"If we work together, we can block the scythes, come on!" She said, as Kirito got back to his feet, and I could see Klein with his guild and Agil moving in behind them.

"Asuna, Kirito!" I yelled, catching up to them before the boss turned back around. "Come on, we can take it out!"

"Right!" Asuna yelled, as Kirito nodded.

I shouldered the Black Bow of Fate and unslung The Sword of Takis.

And after that, I took my place between the two of them, all of our swords at the ready.

"HEY! KIRITO, ASUNA, AKIRA, SWITCH OUT!" Klein yelled as he, Agil and his guild got out of the way.

The Skull Reaper turned and screeched, just as my sword skill queued up, and I took off in a run with Kirito and Asuna. The scythes came at blinding speeds, but with the help of the system, my perception skill, and being in perfect synch with Kirito and Asuna, we moved in and out of each other's paths with our swords ready to unleash our attacks. One blade nearly cut into my ear, but I moved to the left and Asuna took my place, then a scythe came for Kirito and he ducked, before I came and took his spot, in a perfect three pronged attack, we got to the boss and leapt.

"SONIC LEAP!" "STAR SPLASH!" "LIGHTNING GODS SWORD!"

In a massive crash all of us smashed into the Skull Reapers head, every single ounce of our blades with our most powerful skills active attacked the boss, and after the smoke cleared, we fell backwards and landed on our feet. For a minute, we all smiled, the rest of the assault team cheered and backed off as smoke went up around the boss, it stopped its rampage for a moment, and next to me, Asuna and Kirito even managed to smile.

But me… I couldn't, because I saw its HP bar.

My eyes widened, my heart pounded faster, Hell… that did almost nothing!

Its first HP bar was in the red… after everything we had done.

"What?!" Asuna said, her voice shaking. "After all that, that's all we did?!"

"It must have a weak point!" Kirito said, looking over at me and Asuna. "We just have to find it! Come on, let's-."

"KIRITO!" I yelled, going forward and pushing him away, just as a blade came for me again. I got The Sword of Takis up in time to block, but I felt it scrap against my hands, and nick my cheek. I yelled and flew backwards through the air, dropping my sword, my bow digging into my back.

My vision went blurry, but I heard more screaming. I heard Asuna and Kirito yelling my name, as I tried to find my sword, but that was when I heard the Skull Reaper's screech again.

I looked up, and just as I found my sword, the boss was on me again. It's agro was on my and I rolled out of the way of the first scythe, and was stuck on the ground when the second came. It came at a blinding speed, and for a second, I saw everything flash before my eyes. A white light took over, and I saw Aki and Kya at our old player home for those months things almost felt normal, I saw our life back in the real world, I saw the rings Kya and I got after we'd been married in game.

And after that… everyone else. I saw all the dinners I'd had at Asuna's house, the times she'd had to literally flip her couch over to get me to wake up. I could see Argo and me, laughing and drinking as she made fun of all my anime preferences. All the leveling and training with Kirito came to me, the laughs, the highs, the lows, everything we'd been through from fighting Laughing Coffin, to watching stars, to killing the Gleam Eyes. Mito came to me next, the two of us laughing at meetings, her trying to keep me from getting kicked out because of my mouth, all the time she'd been there to offer a smile when I needed it.

Finally… Yui, little Yui, the second person to call me Big Brother… and then the promise I made, the promise I made to all the members of my new family.

"No… NO!" I yelled, grabbing The Sword of Takis and holding it up. "I'M NO NOT READY TO DIE YET!"

I waited for it to smash into my sword and send me flying again, but before it did, a purple flash cut in front of me. Mito's massive black scythe cut through the air and into the Skull Reapers blade, sending it flying backwards from the power of her skill.

Mito stood in front of me as I got to one knee, her light purple cloak fell out behind her, and she gripped onto the scythe with both hands. She looked at me for a second, and I could see the hurt, the anger, the violence in her eyes, and she turned around just as the Skull Reaper roared and came back for her.

"NO MORE! I won't let you kill anyone else!" She yelled, as her skill cued up. "BLACK MOON LEAP!"

Mito's scythe sprung to life, and with as much speed and grace as I moved with she ducked spun and cut forward with her scythe as it grew in size, it cut up across the Skull Reapers blade, the tip stuck inside it for a moment, before Mito pulled it out and jumped. In the air she spun to gain momentum and then came down with a massive strike across the head of the boss, sending it screeching and scattering backwards.

And that was when I saw it.

A crack… a crack in the skull! That's it! The plan sprang to life in my head, just as familiar faces came and got me up to my feet.

"Akira-kun!" Asuna said, getting down in front of me.

"You okay?!" Kirito asked, standing in front of me with both swords.

I vaguely nodded, and saw Asuna go for a healing crystal, but I grabbed her hand. "No! I need my HP where it is, I have a plan, do you guys trust me?!"

"A…Akira-kun, I do, but are you sure?" Asuna said, looking at the healing crystal in her hand.

I nodded, my eyes falling to the Skull Reaper, and Mito who was now taking its attention to keep it away from the other players as they chipped away. "I am… I need you both to get me a clear shot at its head! After that, I know what to do!"

Asuna still looked unsure, but Kirito spoke next.

"Don't worry Asuna, he'll get it done!" Kirito said, looking at me a smirk on his face. "Right, Akira?"

He trusts me… they both do, with everything they have, and I won't let them down, I thought, nodding at him.

"You bet… go and listen for my switch call!" I told them, and finally Asuna sighed and stood. They both nodded and ran off towards the boss.

"Okay…" I said, going to my inventory and clicking the equip button on the correct item. "I'm only going to have one shot at this… I better not miss."

A massive arrow fell into my hand, almost tipping me over in the process, but I didn't take me long to get used to its weight.

I looked up at the Skull Reaper again and gripped tight to the arrow. "It'll work, it has to work, I'll make sure it does."

As I went through the plan again, I realized how easily it could kill me… but that didn't matter, because I wasn't dying that day.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kirito

"Misumi, switch!" Asuna yelled, as we finally reached the boss.

Mito didn't even turn around, but she heard Asuna's call, after knocking away the blade with her scythe, she leapt to the side, away from the other blade coming her way. I got up behind Asuna, and with both of our swords up we knocked it aside, away from Mito or any other players nearby before lashing out ourselves. With the second HP bar of five about halfway gone, the Skull Reaper screeched again and reared up for a second attack, but just before it could hit us, a massive shield stopped it.

"Did Akira fall?" Heathcliff asked after thrusting forward with his own sword skill.

"Is he okay?!" Mito asked, coming into view next to us both as well.

"Commander, Misumi!" Asuna said, as the boss reared back to find a new target. "Akira's okay, he has a plan, we need to find an opening for him!"

Heathcliff turned. "What kind of plan?!"

"One that will, work, I don't need to hear it, I know it will!" Mito said to the Commander, looking to Asuna. "Where does he need to shoot?!"

Asuna answered, explaining that we needed to open up the head for him… but for a split second all I could focus on was one HP bar, not mine, or Asuna's… but Heathcliff's.

I know his shield has high defense… but he should still be taking damage, I thought. His HP still wasn't anywhere near the yellow, but with the chip damage you took from blocking, his should have been in or close to the yellow. The legend was Heathcliff's HP had never hit the yellow… but it should have now no matter what… what was going on with it?

I was brought back to the battle by Asuna. "KIRITO!"

She got me out of the way of a blade from the boss, and I turned back to face it with everyone. I looked at Heathcliff, who raised up his sword.

"Alright! Everyone follow Akira's lead!" Heathcliff yelled out. "Give it everything you have!"

A new cheer went up, and the attack was renewed. I queued up more skills just as the boss's blades came again. They struck and Asuna and I kept them at bay, before the both of us started to charge, trying to keep its one blade distracted. On the other side, I saw Klein and his guild with Mito keeping the other blade away.

"KIRITO!" Asuna yelled and I turned just in time to join my swords with her rapier, to block an attack, and it didn't take long before both the boss's scythe like blades were stuck in combat with two groups of players.

Akira's going to do this, I trust him, I trust him with everything I have, come on! I gripped tighter on both my swords and unleashed Sonic Leap again. It took a small chunk of the boss's second HP bar, which was almost drained, but after I did it sent me flying back towards the ground. I hit down next to Asuna, and we both dodged the next attack, with a yell she unleashed a skill and a furry of attacks hit the boss's head, just as a scream came from behind us.

"OKAY! ASUNA! KIRITO! EVERYONE!" Akira yelled, and I turned to see him come to a skidding halt a few feet from the boss's head and fall to one knee. "SWITCH OUT!"

Asuna leapt back and I joined her, all the players got out of the way, and I finally saw what Akira was doing. Loaded into his bow was an arrow as long as he was tall, its jagged tip was massive, it had to weigh an insane amount, but it didn't matter to Akira. He loaded it into the newly upgraded Black Bow of Fate, and pulled the string back. The entire bow glew a bright red color, and I saw Akira's tongue bit between his feet, as the light traveled up the string and arrow, lighting up his face in a bright red shine.

And if only for a moment, I saw his eyes change from green, to yellow.

"YOU'RE DONE!" Akira yelled, the arrow glowing brighter now as he let it fly. "METEOR SHOT!"

The arrow left the bow and Akira stayed rooted on his knee to the spot he'd fired, but around him one player got knocked back by the gust of wind the arrow left in its wake. It flashed by Asuna and I's heads, it sent my hair flying back, a brilliant red light took over the arrow, before it smashed right into the skull of the Skull Reaper. It screeched to so loud Asuna and I fell back and hand to grab our ears.

But it had done its job. I watched almost the entirety of its third HP bar deplete, leaving only two left as the arrow exploded and sent up a massive plume of smoke. All the players backed up, rooted to the spot, and once the smoke cleared, the boss's Skull was full of massive cracks, with the arrow sticking directly out of his skull.

He really is the greatest archer I'll ever see… I realized, looking back at Akira, who had already gotten back up to his feet, less then a third of his HP left. He slung the Black Bow of Fate onto his shoulder, no weapon in hand, he looked frantically at all of us.

"IT'S NOT DONE YET!" He yelled, looking over at someone else. "Heathcliff, you draw its agro from one side, Asuna, Kirito you block the scythe on the other! Klein, you Agil and Mito head around its back and keep it pinned! Everyone else, HIT WITH ALL YOU GOT FROM THE SIDE!"

A massive roar came from the Skull Reaper as the smoke cleared and it lashed out wildly with its blade again. Dozens of players screamed, but Heathcliff stood with his shield and saved one who would have been killed. After knocking the blade away he waved up his sword.

"You heard him, CHARGE!" The Commander yelled, before a loud yell went up from the players, and everyone began following their orders.

Asuna and I turned just in time to block a blade from cutting at the boss's side, as more players moved in for attacks. I looked and I saw Mito swinging her scythe through the air and smashing into the boss's back end, and each time it tried to move, Klein, his guild or Agil would smash into it to keep it in place. On our end, Heathcliff, Asuna and I had its blades distracted so it couldn't defend its rear. I realized Akira's plan was working, and then, I saw a blast of five arrows smash into the boss's head, followed by another five, then six, volleys of arrows came from each end of the boss.

I managed to spare a look and see Akira dashing between the four sides of the boss, peppering it with arrows as the fourth HP bar slowly dropped down into the red after our efforts continued, but as soon as it did, I heard Akira yell again.

"HEATHCLIFF! NEED A BOOST!" Akira yelled, and I blocked a blade with Asuna, before she yelled for Akira who was rushing towards Heathcliff.

I looked as well, and I saw Heathcliff turn back towards Akira running towards him. For a minute I was terrified Heathcliff was going to attack Akira or ignore him, but the Commander didn't. He got down to one knee and held his shield over his back and head.

Akira almost seemed surprised too, but he sped up, and stepped up onto Heathcliff's shield and jumped.

Everything seemed to stop, it moved in slow motion, as I saw Akira fly over the Skull Reaper, which was so busy trying to move with everywhere around it being attacked it didn't even look up at him.

And then it happened again, I saw something snap in Akira, as with his bow in one hand, he reached his other down to his belt. I realized now why he hadn't had Asuna heal him. The special ability to triple its power erupted in a storm of bright lightning as he pulled The Sword of Takis from his hip. For a second, I wondered what he'd do with the sword from up there, but my question was answered a second later.

Asuna stopped next to me, and we both watched wide eyed, as Akira loaded the Sword of Takis into his bow like it was an arrow.

"YOU'RE DEAD!" He yelled, pulling the bowstring all the way back to his cheek as he fell through the air. "HUNDRED ARROW ELEMENTAL STORM!"

It happened again after Akira screamed, except this time his eyes flashed and changed to an even bright shade of yellow-ish gold, as just like in our fight against The Gleam Eyes, dozens upon dozens of arrows appeared around Akira. Lightning bounced from each one, then fire, then ice, then a large gust of wind, all while The Sword of Takis cackled with electricity. More and more arrows came, but it was Asuna who noticed first.

"His HP! It goes down the more the more arrows he makes!" She yelled, rushing towards the back of the boss, just as Akira screamed again.

"DIE!" He yelled, letting the Sword of Takis fly out of his bow.

It was the first to strike the boss, implanting itself directly into its back, before like a hailstorm, the arrows fell out of the sky and found home along the boney back of the boss, one after another, elemental effects exploded and the boss screeched as its body was impaled with dozens of arrows from it head down to its back. The lightning from the Sword of Takis spread through its body making it screech, and I watched its fourth HP bar drain, until its last one went all the way down into the red.

"AKIRA!" Asuna yelled, as we got to the back of the boss, as the last arrow found home.

I looked up and saw Akira falling, his HP bar had only a sliver left. I didn't have time to marvel and wonder how the hell he managed to create so many arrows with such a little bit of health left. All I wanted was to get him out of there, and get his HP back up, so I stepped in front of Asuna, as Klein and Agil rushed up with me.

"We got him!" Klein yelled, and just as Akira fell, me, Agil and Klein were there to catch him and help get him onto the ground.

"Akira!" Mito yelled, dropping her scythe and grabbing onto his hand, as Asuna got his back laying in her lap.

I didn't turn away, as I saw the boss roar again and try to swing its blades while it was pinned. After everyone realized that it wasn't going to move with so many arrows in its back, Heathcliff finally realized that it had been Akira's plan all along. He raised up his sword again and pointed towards the boss.

"Akira has given us a chance! Finish it off!" He yelled, and after that, the entirety of the assault team charged.

I looked back at Asuna and Mito. "Take care of Akira! Klein, Agil!"

Everyone nodded, and I finally turned and saw the boss stuffed with arrows. The rest of the players all attacked, unleashing sword skills left and right. The Skull Reaper could swing its blades, but being unable to move, it could only flail as its HP kept going down.

Finally, I raised up both my swords, and readied my skill. "VORPAL STRIKE!"

I dashed forward with the power of my skill and my body. Leaping at the last second, both my swords pierced into the back of the boss, and between everyone's attacks, its HP finally fell down, hitting zero, and with a leap back I landed in front of Mito, Asuna and Akira, his HP bar flashing in my HUD.

And with that, the boss exploded into polygons, a giant white 'congratulations' appearing above our heads.

Like that, the breath I'd been holding left me, and I fell onto my butt next to Mito and Asuna, just as I heard a groan coming from Akira.

"Ughh… my head," He winced from Asuna's lap, looking up at all of us confused. "I… I take it since we're not dead, I killed it?"

Breathing heavy, I looked at him and smirked. "Ha… no… I think that was me actually, if you wanna get technical."

Asuna and Mito's faces melted into relief, as Akira scoffed. "Bah… showoff… hey… Asuna? You um… you can use that crystal now."

Asuna sniffled and nodded. "You got it… you idiots."

The lights started to dim, and I watched Asuna break the crystal next to Akira. Like that, I saw his HP shoot back up to full, and with Mito's help he sat up, looking at everyone.

"Thanks… for trusting me guys," He said, a goofy, tired smile coming to him. "I got a few debuffs, but it was- GAH!"

"You… you idiot," Mito said, hugging him and gripping his coat for dear life. "Why do you always have to do stuff like that?!"

Asun smiled, and then leaned against me with a sigh. "They do that, get used to it."

I managed a weak laugh. "Yeah… we do, don't we Akira?"

He nodded, before smiling at Mito and hugging her back. "Ha… sorry, for making you all worry."

I shook my head and smiled at him. This wouldn't be the last time, I was sure.

After seeing that… I refocused on a thought that had come to me before. Every single person now was sitting, heads down, completely exhausted as their HP bars all sat in the yellow, or the red.

All, except for one person, who was still standing.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Akira

Ugh… this may not have been my best idea, these debuffs suck, I thought, my back leaning against Kirito's as I looked up at my HP bars. My HP and stamina were both back at full, but I had a movement debuffs now because o had to unleash that skill. Kirito had told me how many arrows I made… and I still had no idea how I did it, with my HP having been so low, it shouldn't have been that many.

Still, right now, I didn't have time to think about what kind of power caused me to have the energy I needed, all I could focus on, was the piercing silence I heard around me. I leaned my back against Kirito's, and even him, Asuna and Mito who leaned their backs in our tiny square were silent. Next to me on my left, Mito's head was slumped against my shoulder, so that gave me a little bit of comfort, but the silence around us all… it was worse then the screaming I'd heard.

I hadn't failed to notice how much smaller the raiding party was now. Nobody stood except Heathcliff, who wore the same annoyingly calm look he normally did. As much as his presence simply annoyed me, I wouldn't deny the fact I wouldn't be alive if not for him.

Still… what's up with his HP bar, I thought, looking at the still green bar above the Commanders head. How the hell could it not be in the yellow, the shock from absorbing so many blows with his shield, the chip damage should have gotten him into the yellow easily.

"Hey… you alright?" Mito asked me, her voice barely above a whisper.

I looked down to see she'd moved her head, and was looking at me now.

I managed a smile despite my fatigue. "Yeah… you?"

She nodded. "Yeah… you scared us all you know, using that attack."

"She's right Akira-kun," Asuna said with a heavy breath from next to Kirito. "But still… how did you do that? That first arrow, as big as it was you shouldn't have been able to fire it that fast, and all those arrows…"

I tried to remember what had happened, if I had done anything special when drawing the giant's arrow, or using Hundred Arrow Storm, but nothing stood out. I had loaded and fired the giant's arrow like normally, the only difference was how determined I'd been, how much I knew I needed to make that shot. As for the arrows… I only knew that I needed to make more and would do anything I could too.

My HP had literally been at 5 after I fell.

I was too tired to explain it all, so I shrugged. "I'll think about it more later… but for now, hey Kirito, you awake?"

I noticed Kirito had been as quiet as everyone else. Everyone was sprawled out on the ground except for Heathcliff, I expected Kirito to at least ask how I was feeling. But, a part of me couldn't blame him, who could pretend anything was okay at a time like this?

Kirito jumped, looking back at us. "Huh? Oh… yeah, I'm awake…."

His gaze drifted back towards the center of the arena… and something felt wrong. I knew that when Kirito got that look in his eye, something was up. I shifted, as Mito and Asuna looked at us both, but before I could ask him anything, I heard Klein's voice.

"How many… how many did we lose?" He asked, his question directed at nobody in particular.

Kirito looked down, and pulled up his menu, his voice shaky. "Fourteen… fourteen of us died."

Fourteen, the word was like a bomb being dropped on the group. I didn't have time to put names to faces looking at everyone who was still around. That was the only thing anyone could think about, fourteen people were gone now, their brains fried in the real world. We had known coming in it would our toughest boss fight yet… but still, that many people.

I… I wasn't fast enough, I realized, hugging both my knees, my sword and bow laying right in front of me. All I could do was look The Black Bow of Fate… and I shook my head.

"No matter how strong you are… sometimes you can't save everyone," I said to myself, my fists clenching as I tried not to let tears fall. I shakily sighed and shook my head. "No… no, I refuse to believe it… I'll make it up to them."

"Fourteen… god dammit," Agil said, laying on his back not far away.

"And… we still have twenty-five floors to go," Klein said, his head looking down between his knees.

The words made my hands shake. I looked down and grabbed my right wrist with my left hand, but even then… my left hand soon started shaking as well. Fourteen people was the highest number that had ever died on a floor boss raid, the most devastating day in Aincrad in two years, more people died today then any other day not counting the first few weeks.

And it was like Klein said… we still had twenty-five floors to go, with our numbers already having been thin.

"How… how the hell are we going to make it?!" Agil said with a frustrated voice, as players all around me started groaning and some even began crying.

The hope of the Assault Team was slowly waning… and there was nothing I could think of to say or do to help them any. I shakily sighed, feeling Mito and Asuna both tense around me… but not Kirito. I felt him stirring next to me, and finally, I looked at him when I saw his hand reach down for his Elucidator, a puzzled sound coming from him.

Asuna looked around first. "Huh? Kirito, what's wrong?"

I looked at him as well. "Kirito? What is it?"

Kirito's eyes darkened, as they stayed trained on one person. "Akira… do you trust me?"

I scoffed. "Stupid question, of course I do."

He nodded, still not looking away. "Shoot him, the minute I attack… shoot him."

I followed Kirito's eyes, and croaked out a sound. "Huh? Kirito what are you- WAIT!"

"ARGHHH!" Kirito scooped up his Elucidator, and I recognized his sword skill Vorpal Strike, it carried him through the room, and for a minute I had no idea what to do.

Trust him… do what he said! I realized how stupid I was for even thinking of not doing it, who was I going to trust, Kirito, or somebody I knew had been hiding something for weeks?

Kirito yelled as all the players spun around to see him coming right towards Heathcliff. The Commander went wide eyed and raised his shield, but the minute he did I had already picked up The Black Bow of Fate, it's special ability letting me knock an arrow at lightning speed, and the minute sparks flew when Kirito hit Heathcliff's shield, my arrow was flying through the air.

And like always, I didn't miss. The arrow should have hit Heathcliff directly through the eye, but it never even made it to the man's body. Right before it could hit him, my arrow his a forcefield inches from his face.

My heart nearly exploded out of my digital chest as I shot to my feet. "I knew it… I fucking knew it… you BASTARD!"

Everyone else got up around me, scrambling to see the message.

Above Heathcliff's annoyingly calm face… was the 'immortal object tag'.

"Kirito?! Akira! What are you-?" Asuna started, getting up and rushing next to Kirito and I with Mito, before her voice started seething. "Immortal Object?! Commander Heathcliff, what's going on?!"

"You better start talking, right now!" Mito said, her scythe coming off her shoulder its point smashing into the ground. "How the hell did you do that?!"

"I think I can answer that…. The reason he's unbeatable, the reason his HP never hits the yellow zone," Kirito started, his voice dangerously low as he stood next to me. "That's because he's protected by the system…"

Everyone else started gasping and whispering about what was happening… but my eyes never left Heathcliff. Like balls of fire in my skull, my eyes started burning, every single inch of my body shook, a feeling, a murderous feeling came up my chest, down my arms, and finally it became so bad, I had to lower my bow before I accidentally let one of my last few arrows fly. Kirito next to me stepped forward, and I almost tripped in my haste to follow him.

Ever since their duel, ever since I had met the man, I had just thought something was different, thought something was wrong. How calm he stayed, how he acted like he was in complete control, how he didn't seem to have any care for people's lives. The reason why he seemed to be the most powerful from the very beginning. Kirito and I had talked and discussed the possibilities for months, threw out theories, tried to rationalize why we had been trapped, and where he could be.

However, in the end, I truly, truly never would have guessed the answer, I supposed that if Aincrad ever became a story, Kirito would be the main character.

As for me? I was going to be the faithful best-friend, who went crazy upon figuring out the secret, because I felt myself ready to explode.

"Ever since day one, something has always bugged me about this whole thing," Kirito said, his eyes narrowing at Heathcliff. "I always wondered, where could he be while he watches us and controls everything in this world…. Well, the answer turned out to be simple, it's basic psychology, so simple even, every kid knows it…. There's nothing more boring then watching someone else play and RPG…."

"Especially…." My voice said, coming out in a hard seething tone that could cut through steel, as my eyes shot up and looked at the man, finally exploding, "if you're the one who made it, isn't that right?! AKIHIKO KAYABA?!"

"Kayaba?!" Mito yelled behind me, followed by the rest of the players all yelling out the name, as Heathcliff-or Kayaba-stood there, looking around at the crowd of players all looking at him now.

Despite my tone, despite the anger that was clear on my face… Kayaba remained stone-faced, I even swore I could see him smirk. My fist clenched so hard around the arrow I was holding for the Black Bow of Fate… that it snapped in half and disappeared.

"Mhm… I should have guessed it would have been the two of you," Kayaba said, looking now directly at Kirito. "For my curiosity's sake, would you mind telling me how you figured it out?"

"You bastard," I seethed, trying to step forward. "I'll kill you; you hear me?! I'll end everything you ever-."

I was stopped from moving forward, from probably dying by Kirito, who held an arm out to stop me.

Kirito narrowed his eyes at the man. "The first time I knew something was up, was during our duel… I had you, I had you beat… that move you pulled to turn the table on me, it was way too fast, even Akira wouldn't have been able to move at that speed."

Kayaba chuckled ironically. "Aha… yes well, Akira does have the fastest pure movement speed of any player in the game. Seeing how close you are, it was a mistake to think you wouldn't notice that. However, you were too strong and too fast yourself, I had no choice but to activate the systems assist mode."

Nobody said anything, how could you in a situation like that? My legs clacked together; my fingers almost dropped The Black Bow of Fate. So many times, I'd thought about what I'd do if I ever saw the man responsible for everything being taken away from me. Dozens of times I had thought about the hail of arrows that would rain down, about the ways I'd sacrifice everything I had to end that man and the world he created.

I didn't care if what he did was brilliant in a way, none of it had been worth the lives of the two greatest people I'd ever known, plus the thousands of others who were now dead.

And he was here smiling.

"Yes, that is correct I am Akihiko Kayaba," The man said, looking around at all the players with that insufferable look on his face. "And now that my identity is revealed, it should come as no surprise that I am the boss waiting for you on the final floor. You-."

This time Kirito didn't stop me, an arrow left the Black Bow of Fate as everyone digested the information they had just heard. Of course, it did nothing but hit the 'immortal object' wall again, as Asuna grabbed onto Kirito as she shook, and Mito stepped up next to me, an angry look on her face with both hands held on her scythe.

Kayaba looked at the arrow on the ground then looked over at me. "Ha… as temperamental as ever I see Akira."

"I'll end you, and your world," I seethed over at him, snapping another arrow in my hand as all the eyes fell on me now. "How dare you, how dare you stand there now where all those players died?! What about them?! I won't let you spit on their memory for some stupid cliché!"

"Akira's right, the strongest player is the final boss?" Kirito said, his anger a bit more controlled then mine. "A bit cliché don't you think?!"

"I do find is regrettable so many died, despite what you think Akira," Kayaba said, shaking his head. "As for the storyline, I actually kind of like that angle. As I said, on thing was for certain… do you remember our last conversation Akira? I didn't lie to you; I always did expect you and Kirito to be there at the end. You two posses the two rarest skills in the game after all, you could call yourselves the main characters of this tale."

"This skill isn't mine you bastard," I yelled back at him. "It was Kya's, I got it from her, after you MURDERED HER!"

Kayaba shook his head. "Did I swing the sword?"

"No, but you PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF THOSE WHO DID!" I screamed, having to have Kirito stop me from moving forward again.

Kayaba sighed and shook his head. "When I offered you my condolences on your family, I truly meant it no matter what you say. As for the skills… I believe they ended up in the right hands in the end," he looked to Kirito. "Dual Wielding is a rare skill, given to the player with the fastest reaction time, and as for Elemental Archery…" he looked to me now. "I knew that skill would end up in the hands of the most unique player in the game, the bravest. In a game like this, who would be brave enough to be different and use a bow in a game of swords? In the end, it's as I said… the two were meant to be the main characters of this tale."

"I don't give a damn about being your main character," I shouted, almost throwing The Black Bow of Fate in my frustration. "I CARE ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE YOU KILLED!"

"Akira's right!" Kirito said, his own anger rising in his voice. "Besides… if we're your main characters, it's our job to end this, to end you."

He pulled out both his swords as he did, and that was when I stepped next to him with my bow. It would have been impossible to put into words what I was feeling, the proper feeling, the anger, the hatred, the absolutely loathing that burned in my chest like a fire. For so long I wanted this, I wanted this opportunity. I had thought about what I'd do to this man if I ever found him, and now I was ready too.

But I couldn't help the nagging, tugging feeling in my chest. Was I doing this to protect people? Or just because I wanted revenge, to take the life of the person who'd taken so many?

Kayaba scoffed, and still smiled. "Yes, they are the main heroes of this tale, the ones who rise up and challenge the demon king, but you two… you have displayed power far surpassing my expectations, Akira… how did you do what you did just now? I know the system, you should be dead with how many arrows you projected."

For the slightest second, my bow wavered. I knew he was right, by all laws of math and calculation I should be dead. I couldn't remember anything special at all, but looking at Kayaba now, for the first time I saw him desperate, he wanted to know how I did it… but for the first time, I was happy I didn't know, so I didn't give him the satisfaction.

"I don't know," I said, taking an arrow out. "But I'll summon a hundred more despite the debuffs if it means taking you down…Commander."

Kirito stood next to me, and from my left, Mito stepped up as well as Asuna.

Kayaba shook his head and sighed. "Well, I guess these unexpected twists and turns, are what make RPGs, so thrilling to pay, wouldn't you say?"

I was ready to scream, to finally make my move and smash through even an immortal object barrier to get to this man. What else was there to do? I wasn't going to let him just leave the chamber and go wait on floor 100. The arrow was just going to the bow, when another player finally screamed.

"A game…. Just a game?! Is that all this was to you?!" The person who screamed… was Mito on my left. She stepped forward with her scythe and before I could stop her. "IS WASN'T A GAME TO US?! WAS ALL YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR STUPID STORYLINE, NOT OUR LIVES?!"

"Mito!" I yelled, trying to grab her, but she had already unleashed a skill with her scythe.

"I'LL KILL YOU!" Mito yelled, but Kayaba just stood there.

He opened his menu as Mito's scythe closed in. "As fiery and passionate as ever Mito, I always admired that about you. Akira and you would have made a fine pair."

With his last words he pressed one more button on his menu, and a sound like an electric shock hissed through the air, and Mito's scythe fell to the ground, as well as her body going limp like a ragdoll. She groaned and fell at Kayaba's feet.

"MITO!" I screamed, trying to rush forward, but before I could, Kayaba pressed another command, and I heard a strained voice behind me.

"K…Kirito… Akira…" Asuna's strained voice said, and I spun around to see Kirito drop both of his swords and scramble to catch Asuna.

"Paralysis, Asuna!" Kirito shouted, as I rushed to help him catch Asuna, before I looked around and saw that every single player, besides Kirito and I had fallen under the paralysis.

"A…Akira…" Mito croaked, and I could see her ruby eyes looking at me from the ground near Heathcliff.

My chest exploded. "MITO! Kayaba! Let them go, right now you psychopath!"

"What are you going to do now?!" Kirito yelled with Asuna in his arms next to me. "You gonna kill everyone here and cover it up?"

I tried to reach behind me for an arrow, but the process was annoyingly slow. Gritting my teeth I looked up and saw the debuffs still applied to my movement speed and my stamina bar. My HP was full, but if I had to fight I couldn't move like I normally did, probably at half my normal speed, which for me, who relied on their movement speed in a fight was dangerous. Kirito had great reaction time with his swords, but he wasn't as fast as me in terms of pure movement, so it'd be hard for us to fight if we had too.

But if we had too… I would. I looked around and saw the terrified faces of all the players now. What I had expected to feel was anger, a driving desire to stab Kayaba through his digital chest, like that day a year ago when I had gone to fight Laughing Coffin alone, only to be saved by Kirito and Asuna.

Now though… all I wanted to do, was protect the people around me.

What would the hero of Aki's manga do…? I thought to myself now, looking up at Kayaba with Kirito.

The Commander laughed. "Ha, oh no, that wouldn't be sporting of me now, would it? No, I have a much better idea, I'm going to the top floor to wait for all of you there. It's a shame I must leave you all so soon, I spent so much time developing the Knights of the Blood Oath and the other elite players… oh well, you're all strong, so I'm sure you'll reach me eventually."

"It's all just a game to you… isn't it?" I said, slowly standing up from next to Kirito. I had no idea why I could move… but I didn't complain. "This whole thing is still just some big game huh?! Well, it might be for you… but for us?" My head shot up, my eyes wide as I looked at the man who I had been starting to admire. "WELL FOR US IT'S REAL! THIS IS OUR LIVES, AND WE WON'T LET YOU PLAY WITH THEM LIKE THIS!"

"Akira's right!" Kirito said, still holding onto Asuna. "These are our lives, this is our real life now, and you don't have any right to control it!"

Kayaba, to my surprise, smiled, a real, genuine smile as he nodded his head.

"Yes… just as I always wanted," He said quietly, before the smile grew and he slammed his shield into the ground. "For that, before I leave, Kirito, Akira! Kirito, for discerning my identity, Akira, for your bravery in this last boss raid, I would like to offer you both a chance."

"A chance…?" Kirito said, his eyes narrowed. "A chance for what?!"

Kayaba smiled and held up his shield, looking between us. "The two of you can fight me, I'll off you a two against one fight! I will of course disable my immortal status, but in exchange for having an advantage in number, instead of one hit, you will require two hits against me, and my movement speed will be slightly enhanced."

"What?! And why the hell would we take that deal?!" I yelled, my hand gripping tighter around the metal of the Black Bow of Fate. "What's in it for us?!"

Kayaba's smirk grew. "Well, if the two of you can defeat me, you clear the game. All of the remaining players will be logged out of this world, no strings attached. So… what do you say? I'll even accept it if only one of you wish to take the challenge."

My bow dropped to the ground, my stomach falling to my feet with it. If anything had been in my stomach, it may have all emptied right then and there. For the last two years, subconsciously every day I had pulled up the menu, to see if that button with two simple words was back where it was supposed to be. Aki had done it every day, and then I remember her tearing up when it still wasn't there. Every, single, day, Kya and I would remind her that one day the Assault Team was going to clear the game.

I had learned in my two years in Aincrad, that it was never good to let the benefit of hindsight get you down. If I had known joining the Assault Team on an earlier floor would have let me meet Kirito, Asuna and Mito, been able to better protect Aki, would I have done it? Of course, I would have. If I had known it was a trap on Floor 50, that it would get them killed, would I have not gone? No question.

However, if you let hindsight get you down, you would never realize what was in front of you now. I would have given anything for this chance, for this chance to let Kya and Aki log out of the game.

But now, they weren't here, and as much as it pained me and would pain me for years to come, they weren't coming back. However, around me now were dozens of innocent people who just wanted to live a day without having to worry about an HP bar above their heads. They probably all had hopes and dreams outside of Aincrad, things they wanted to do, people they loved, dreams they needed to fulfill.

And even outside of this dungeon now. Liz was back in her shop, she may have acted tough, but I knew deep down she had fears about going to the higher floors to fight and level up. I knew Silica was somewhere on the floors, playing with Pina and hoping to one day fight herself to clear the game. Argo was running about dealing information to help all the other players who were on the lower floors stay alive.

This was all not even mentioning the players I didn't know the names of, the nameless players who rightly were afraid to risk their lives. You had the bards who sang for people as they went to fight, merchants who gave goods and weapons to the Assault Team… all the children in the orphanage.

I stopped the shaking by reaching down and grabbing The Black Bow of Fate from the ground. My eyes moved down to my inventory screen, and I realized, I only had six arrows left after my fight with the boss, so I would have to use them sparingly. I was terrified, completely and utterly terrified… but my answer wasn't in doubt.

But… my HP bars, the debuffs… can I beat him when he has even slightly enhanced movement speed? My eyes shot up at the man, who stood smiling at the both of us with his shield in the ground. Even with Kirito backing me up, which was a huge advantage, would I even be able to help in my state, or would I just get in his way?

If I lost, I'd die… but that didn't matter. I could still see it now, the small anime version of me in a hood, heroic armor and bow in hand… that was how Aki had drawn me what felt like such a short time ago before we plunged into this game.

That hero wouldn't run… and neither will I, I thought, letting out a shaky sigh, I saw all the deaths again. Aki, Kya, Kirito's old guild, even the people that I had killed… all of this death, and I could end it all.

Suddenly, I heard the voice of Rayudu. Even if it was only a 1% chance… would you not take it to be with the ones you loved again, to end this world?

The man in front of me was the reason Rayudu had to make the choice he did. If he did that, then my choice was clear, debuffs, or no debuffs, I would protect the people around me now.

"A…Akira… Kirito," Mito croaked from the ground, the minute I had picked up my bow from the ground. I saw her head turned as her stomach was flat on the ground, her ruby red eyes pleading with me. "A…Akira… you… you promised me… don't… don't do it…"

"K…Kirito-kun… Akira… she… she's right," Asuna said in a strained voice from Kirito's lap. "I… I don't like it… let… let's fall back and regroup!"

"Sorry… Asuna, Mito," I said, holding an arrow in one hand, my bow in the other. "But I just can't do that…" I looked down at Kirito. "I'll do it alone… you don't have to Kirito, I mean it."

Kirito's eyes hadn't moved from Heathcliff, I saw tears well up in his eyes for a minute, before he finally let out a shaky breath, and looked up at me.

"Ha… are you kidding? You're hopeless without me," He said, a small smile coming to his face. "Let's do this… partner."

I shakily breath in and nodded. "Thanks… Kirito…" I looked over at Kayaba. "Looks like you have a deal, we're going to end this."

"N…no! Ak…Akira!" Mito said a few feet away from me, her eyes going wide.

I looked over and met her eyes, and somehow… they calmed me. "Ha… don't worry, I'll be alright, I promise you, didn't I?" I looked to Kirito and Asuna now. "Looks like we'll be having dinner sooner rather than later in the real world, better cook up something nice Asuna."

Mito tried to say something, but it didn't seem like she could find the words. Finally, she just bit her lip, tears starting to well up in her eyes, before she nodded. That was when Asuna finally found her voice.

Asuna's eyes went wide from Kirito's arms. "A…Akira-kun! You can't joke like that right now… K…Kirito… please you… you don't…"

She stopped when Kirito smiled and gently grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry… we can't run away from this…"

Asuna floundered for a moment, and seeing her like that, the worry, the tears in her eyes… it nearly broke me. Asuna Yuuki, my best-friend, the person who'd saved my life and gave me hope… her and Kirito, we'd made that promise, and I intended to keep it.

"Okay… you… you both better not die… you hear me," She said, trying to reach up for Kirito's face.

I looked down and smiled for her. "Ha… don't worry Asuna, I promised you guys before this didn't I? None of us are going to die here today."

"He's right… we're going to end this world," He said, giving his wife the smallest of smiles, which seemed to do wonders for her. "Just believe in us, okay?"

Asuna shakily sighed and looked at us both. "O…kay… I believe in you… in both of you."

Kirito smiled and nodded. "Good… come on… Akira."

I nodded at him, and after squeezing her hand, he gently helped her lay on her back, her head right away turning to face us both.

He sighed, and met my eyes, holding out a fist. "Let's end this… all of it."

Nodding, I bumped his fist. "Yeah… let's go."

The sound of him pulling both his swords from his back echoed through the chamber. It sent shivers down my spine, as looking at my arrow count, I made a decision then and there. As we both made our way towards Kayaba, I shouldered the Black Bow of Fate, and with another ringing sound, I slide The Sword of Takemikazuchi out of its sheath on my waist. I could see my reflection in the metal… and again, I wondered if we did survive, how different I would look back in the real world.

Or maybe, I'd never know. I tried not to look into the eyes of the players watching wide eyed as we passed them.

"I only have six arrows left," I whispered to Kirito before we came to a stop. "And I have debuffs from using Hundred Arrow Storm… I won't be able to move like I normally do."

Kirito nodded as we finally stopped. "If I get you an opening, will you be able to hit him?"

"Not even a question," I whispered, as I stopped and gripped the hilt of the Sword of Takis with both hands.

He told me it was the most powerful sword in the game… let's hope it doesn't go to waste on someone like me, I thought, as I came to a stop and heard a voice from my left.

"A…Akira… please… Akira…" Mito croaked, and I looked down to see her, her eyes grew desperate when she saw me meet her eyes. "I… I need to tell you… I… I really-."

"No… you said you'd tell me when we're celebrating, right?" I told her, managing a real smile as I shook my head at her. "Tell me then… but Mito? Thanks again… for being you, and for supporting me like you always did… you're one of the most important people to me."

The tears came down Mito's cheeks as the words sunk in. "You… you big… you big idiot, you… you better not die… I… I'll never forgive you!"

I chuckled and nodded, my mind wondering to another person now. "Ha… you got it…. Hey, Asuna?"

Back where we had come from, I looked and saw Asuna's head tilt towards me, she was crying too, and I could see the worry in her eyes. I knew the words only came because I knew there was a good chance I could die soon, but they were words I didn't mind saying at all.

"I know I tell you all the time but…" I said, letting myself smile over at her. "But… thanks for saving me that day, and being the reason I decided I wanted to keep going."

"A…Akira-kun…" She said, her voice strained, clearly having a hard time speaking.

I kept smiled at her and waved. "Like I said, start thinking about what you'll cook up now!"

Kirito next to me smiled, and we were about to turn around, when other people shouted.

"Kirito, Akira, stop, don't do it guys!" Klein yelled from the ground.

Agil followed up. "You guys can't! Come on, we'll find another way!"

"Ha… you two know how stubborn I am," I told them both, as Kirito's smile only grew. I shook my head. "If there's a chance, I'm gonna take it."

The two were speechless for a minute, before I even saw Klein start to cry.

And then Kirito spoke. "Agil… thanks for supporting all the players in the game since day one. Ha… I always knew. You like to act like you're all about the money, but I know you spend every penny you have on helping intermediate players level up."

Agil seemed shocked by the revelation… but to be honest, I had known that as well. Agil had used to look after Aki from time to time, and each time when I went to pick her up, she'd have some fancy new item in her inventory to help keep her safe or help her level up. I owed a lot to the guy, and so did everyone.

Kirito then looked at Klein, a regretful look coming to him. "Klein… I'm sorry I bailed on you at the start… I think about it… regret it every day. How you think of me as a friend still after that well… I don't know but… thank you."

"Dammit… dammit Kirito, damn you both!" Klein said, weakly punching the ground as he cried. "I won't accept it, I won't accept any apologies till you're buying me dinner god dammit!"

"Ha… we will, we got lots of plans," Kirito said, looking back up at me. "Right Akira?"

So many plans, so many things I still wanted to do… and most of them involved Kirito, and the people that I'd met here. I took a look around at them all, more than just the people I knew, all the players here who had just risked their lives to clear one floor… I could send all of them home. They were all quiet, and I couldn't blame them.

They didn't dare have any hope of leaving right now… but I'd give them that hope, I'd be the hero that my sister drew.

"You're right…." I said, looking around to everyone, and smiling through my fear of a death that could come soon. "Hey, everyone! I hope you don't have any timed quests going on, you won't be able to finish them. Because… because we're all going home after today!"

I didn't expect anyone to cheer, and they didn't. A few people whispered, some started crying, but I didn't care… somehow, we'd been given a lifeline, and even if it was less then a 1% chance Kirito and I could win, we would take it for them.

After I finished, Kirito looked at me. I'd realized and even told him how I always knew what he was trying to say, even when he didn't speak. He told me that was the most anime thing he'd ever heard, but he felt the same way about me. I knew what he was trying to tell me then, and it was pretty easy.

No more putting this off… it's time, I thought, turning to Kayaba, The Sword of Takemikazuchi outstretched in my hands.

Kirito did the same, holding up both his swords, but spoke first. "Before we start, I wanted to make you one last request."

I looked at Kirito, but Kayaba spoke first. "Mhm? What is it?"

I realized the man had let Kirito and I speak with our friends one final time, and looking at him now, I saw no fear. He fully expected himself to win.

I'd rain on his parade.

Kirito gripped tighter on his swords. "I don't plan on going down easy, and neither does Akira… but I want you to promise me, that if both of us die, you'll make it so Asuna can't kill herself!"

"NO!" Asuna yelled, her voice full of pain. "KIRITO YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

My mouth fell open and I looked at him. "Kirito…"

He had a look in his eye I'd never seen on Kirito before. It was an angry look, with a burning behind his eyes that I never thought could be possible on my soft-spoken friend. I turned back to Asuna who had a pleading look through her teary eyes. I knew Asuna better then most people, I knew how long she'd be yearning for someone to help her through this game, so she didn't have to shoulder the burden she felt she had to shoulder herself.

Kirito had been exactly what she needed, the thing she needed the most in her life. I hadn't heard exactly what the two promised or talked about obviously, since I had been trying to give them the time they wanted to themselves. However, I knew what they meant to one another.

It was one of the reasons I fought, so they could do all the thins they wanted to do… and that would continue on today. Either Kirito and I survived, or we both died, if we did, Asuna would be crushed… so I just nodded at Kirito and looked over at Heathcliff.

"Yeah… same favor from me," I said, and after that, was when she screamed again.

"AKIRA! KIRITO!" Asuna yelled, but our eyes weren't on her anymore. "YOU CAN'T DO THIS PLEASE, STOP! KIRITO!"

Heathcliff looked at us, a smile on his face. "Inspirational, and brave, the both of you… very well, I'll do that. Now though… let us begin!"

"KIRITO!" "AKIRA!" Asuna and Mito both shouted, just as Heathcliff opened up his menu.

Each click of the menu sounded like a drumbeat directly next to my ear. They were like bombs exploding, but eventually, I saw a message pop up above Heathcliff's head.

Changed to Mortal Object.

I let out a breath I'd been holding, and switched to the right stance for Aincrad Style, the same stance Kirito had been showing me for weeks. It would take everything now, everything I'd learned in each fight that I had.

Because this isn't just a duel… this is a fight to the death, I said, looking over at Kirito for a split second, as a countdown from ten started above our heads.

He didn't say anything, and only nodded. The plan was simple, create an opening, we only needed one, and only for a split second for me to put an arrow into it.

With one hand out in front of the other… I saw the second ring on my hand.

Kya… Aki… I know you can see this, I know somehow you're watching now… I'll be your hero.

After that… I know I hadn't been feeling things… I felt a cold breeze whistle in my ear.

3…2…1…. GO!

"VORPAL STRIKE!" Kirito started out with his most popular skill, and he burst ahead with the help of the system from next to me.

Kayaba didn't say anything, I knew since he created the system he'd know the trajectory and effects of every skill we used, so Kirito and I would have to use our own power and skill to take him down. Kirito burst forward and both of his swords stabbed into Kayaba's shield, I could see a smirk on his face as he blocked, and the minute I saw him push forward to get Kirito off of him, I moved myself.

"VORPAL STRIKE!"

Kayaba's eyes went wide for a minute, as he pushed Kirito away, I saw the slightest opening and went to attack at his chest to push him further off balance, but the minute I launched forward my body felt like it was sinking into tar, my movements weren't as quick and I cursed the debuffs below my HP bar. Still, I should have been able to at least nick Kayaba's body somewhere, with all of our HP now in the yellow it could have done a bit of damage, but he was ready.

He had said in exchanged for giving us a two on one fight, he'd get to move faster with the system assist function. That was what happened then, because my Sword of Takis was met by Kayaba's shield, and the impact made my legs wobble as he pushed back. I stumbled back, and looked up just in time to see Kayaba's sword coming down for me. I thought for a minute, I'd have a disgraceful performance in this duel, but two interlocking blades saved my life. Holding them together, the stab that would have killed me clanged off both his swords, and with a lethargic like roll I ducked under Kayaba's guard and tried to end it with a thrust of my own, but the man jumped back just in time to avoid it.

After that was when the real carnage began. A steel whirlwind of all our blades and shield.

Kirito lashed out trying to force his guard open from the from, and I moved in from the left to try and hit him from the side. I yelled and brought down the Sword of Takis at the same time Kirito went for a massive overhead blow with both his swords. At the same time, Kayaba held up his sword to block my blow, and moved his shield to intercept both of Kirito's blades, before pushing us both back and then lashing out for me.

"You're a bowman playing with swords Akira!" Kayaba yelled out, even looking like he was enjoying himself as he struck out at me.

I raised up the Sword of Takis and blocked some of the blows, normally I focused more on dodging then parrying, I wasn't nearly as strong as Kirito to parry so much, but with the debuffs and all Heathcliff's attention on me, I had no choice.

He knows I have debuffs, and he knows I'm not as good a swordsman as Kirito is, he's trying to beat me quick to make it a one on one, I realized, trying to dodge the sword to the right, but having to limbo out of the way at the last second. It passed over my head, chopping off a bit of my hair, as I spun back around and stabbed for his midsection. He hadn't been expecting it, and I almost cut across his torso, but with the help of the systems speed, he knocked my sword up with his shield, and went to stab me again.

"ARGHHH!" Kirito screamed as he recovered and came again. Heathcliff continued his thrust at me but held up his shield to block Kirito. I saw the opening and thrusted again, but Kayaba moved just in time to block Kirito and kick at my stomach. The kick came so quickly with his movement assist it connected and I saw my HP drain, sending me falling backwards, The Sword of Takis just out of my reach.

I heard Kirito yell again and looked up to see him in a storm like clash with Kayaba, stopping him before he could finish me off. Looking at my HP bar, I realized I couldn't afford to take even one more light attack and survive. For a minute, I just angrily gripped at The Sword of Takis in my hand, as I watched Kirito give it his all.

I'm no use to him like this! I'm not the best swordsman, but I'd at least have a chance if not for these debuffs… well, if he wants an archer, I'll give him one, I thought, shooting to my feet and sliding The Sword of Takis into my belt, and pulling The Black Bow of Fate off my shoulder. I felt at the quiver on my back.

Six shots… I have six shots to end this… I realized sucking in a deep breath and looking at my best-friend fighting for everyone's lives… and a plan came to my mind.

Sucking in another breath, I pulled out and knocked one arrow, the draw speed painfully slow with the debuffs… but still, I needed to deal with it.

I looked down at The Black Bow of Fate one last time. Please… lend me your power again, I need it, just once more.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kirito

It has to be my own power, my own skill, I can't rely on the system! My forearms burned as if I had just stuffed them in a furnace with each attack. Any of the dual wielding combos were useless against Kayaba since he had designed them, so it was all I could do to just lash out with my own skill, but his shield was like a damage sponge, and with his enhanced movement Kayaba was moving as fast as Akira normally did, and I had always had a hard time hitting him, with maxed out attack, defense and speed, he almost seemed unbeatable.

And with Akira having his debuffs, he was in danger, I cursed at myself, I knew I should have tried to fight the duel myself. If he died, I wasn't going to forgive myself, I would never be able too, but he didn't seem to care, because Akira had kept coming and coming with his sword despite the debuffs, fighting to end the world and send everyone home.

And if he won't stop, then I won't either!

"ARGHHHHH!" I screamed again, the frustration finally let my swords erupt with bright light. They swung out and crashed into Kayaba's shield, but it was at that moment I realized I had played right into his hands, once a sword skill started, it couldn't be stopped.

He parried away my Elucidator with his sword, and then when Dark Repulsor came up for what would have been the killing blow for a thrust at his head.

But the shield went up just in time, and when Dark Repulsor stabbed it, the tip of the sword broke off into tiny pieces, and the impact sent me stumbling backwards, Elucidator falling down towards the ground from the impact.

And then I looked up at the sword that would end my life.

"Ha, end of the line Kirito!" Kayaba shouted, an enthralled look on his face, as he swung the sword down to end me.

Well… I'm sorry… Asuna… Akira… sorry I wasn't a better partner… My sword wouldn't come up in time, and I was ashamed to admit I had closed my eyes.

But the blow didn't come. Instead a gust of wind from Heathcliff spinning around hit my face. The familiar twang of a bowstring came, and I looked up to see two arrows zipping through the air, the first one Kayaba blocked with his shield, the second he knocked out of the air with his sword.

"There's your arrows!" Kayaba yelled, holding up his shield as I saw Akira sprinting towards him at reduced speed, an arrow loaded in his bow. "Come then, you think an archer can beat a knight?"

"KIRITO!" Akira yelled as he got closer to Kayaba.

I realized what he was planning right away, but panic set in. He only has five shots left!

But I needed to go along, I knew better then to doubt Akira.

"TAKE THIS!" I yelled, grabbing Elucidator from the ground and going for the stab at Kayaba's back.

Kayaba spun with enhanced speed and knocked away the thrust, so I went for a swing from one side. Kayaba's shield flashed as he knocked my sword aside and thrusted forward to kill me, but I leapt back, I had been so off balance I fell backwards and landed on my back, Elucidator clanging out of my hand just out of reach.

For a moment I thought we were done, but as Kayaba's shield was still in the air, his body still facing me, Akira leapt like he had done against the Skull Reaper over Kayaba's head.

"ICE… VOLLEY!" He yelled, his voice strained, and he screamed as he let the arrows fly, ice forming at their tips as they flew towards Kayaba.

Even with enhanced speed Kayaba couldn't move faster then an arrow, the first one zipped through the air and didn't hit Kayaba, but it hit the reverse side of his shield, and it was then I realized what Akira had done. It hit the side of Kayaba's shield he was holding, and ice quickly spread throughout its back, and as it grew, Kayaba either had the choice of dropping it, or letting his hand be frozen.

It fell from Kayaba's hand, the ice freezing the reverse side, the second arrow hit the hit of his sword, as the same thing happened. The ice didn't spread as far, since Akira wasn't at full health, but it made Kayaba's sword arm drop to the ground, and for a split second he was immobile, and in that second I saw Akira land with shaky legs a short distance ahead of me, and getting to one knee, he loaded another arrow.

Two shots left! I realized, grabbing Elucidator and getting to my feet, watching Kayaba.

"SMART!" Kayaba yelled, smashing his sword against the ground as the ice broke. "But you'll need-."

Akira didn't let him finish, he let the arrow fly, and I watched it zip towards Kayaba's chest.

And then, every organ in my body seemed to shut down.

He… he missed…

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Akira

I… I missed….

I didn't even have time to contemplate it, but for that split second as I watched Kayaba turn and the arrow shoot past him, it was as if my HP had already hit zero, and my body was shocked throughout its core.

I… I missed… I… I just missed…

I had let everyone down… and now I'd die… because I missed.

"Your story ends here Akira!" Kayaba said, quickly recovering, he punched the side of his shield with the ice and shattered it, before scooping it up and coming at me again.

I came back to reality a second later, ignoring the screams of my name from everyone in the room, as I fumbled to my back for my last arrow. Kayaba was on my just as I got it out and as I tried to load it in his sword came down on me.

At the last second I raised up the arrow and The Black Bow of Fate, managing to block the blow of the sword with them both, but the impact and fire running up my arms sent me flying backwards the bow and the arrow falling over near Asuna who was screaming for me.

After I fell, I didn't even have time to move, as Kayaba came again, and went to swing his sword.

"You were brave, till the end," He said, going for the killing blow, before I had any chance of drawing my sword.

"NOOO!" Kirito's yell came next as he came in swinging with his Elucidator at Kayaba's back, but Kayaba spun back around and blocked with his shield before the attack could make contact.

I was still on the ground, and after recovering from my failure, I pulled out the Sword of Takis, and looked at where Kirito was.

A silent scream ripped through my throat, as with every muscle fiber I had, I ran. It was like everyone's voice had been drained out, because all I saw was Kirito on the ground, his Elucidator knocked to the ground, and Kayaba's sword above his head, a smile on his face as he was ready to end Kirito's life.

But even that wasn't what I focused on… because all I saw, was Asuna.

And without any thinking, as the sword came down, I pushed her out of the way.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Asuna

"AKIRAAAA!" It was Misumi who had yelled, and I was glad she did… because my voice had died in my throat after he had pushed me aside.

"A…Akira…kun…" It was all I could croak out from next to Kirito, as his mouth floundered open and closed, tears already forming in his eyes.

Akira shook, still on his feet in front of Kirito, a massive digital red slash across his back. My body trembled, my fingers, my toes, every limb felt like it was non-existent, the feeling that coursed through my brain, through my chest, before it most excruciating, agonizing pain I'd ever felt in my entire life shot through my body.

It… it was supposed to be me… was all I could think, as Akira's sword dropped from his hands, his HP bar slowly falling. Finally, his head trembling, he looked up at us, terror went through his eyes for a moment, before he croaked out a harsh laugh… and then smiled at us.

"AKIRA!" Kirito moved before me, Akira fell forward, and Kirito caught him, his HP still falling as I rushed to his one side, grabbing onto his arm, as his head fell into Kirito's lap.

Akira's mouth opened and closed, his eyes looking between the two of us... then he smiled again.

"S…sorry… sorry I… missed…" He croaked out, his voice light… but still he smiled. "It… it was fun…"

The back of my throat bubbled like it was boiling. All I could hear, was my own voice that day two years ago.

'I'll be sure to get your brother back safe and sound.'

It had been the last words I said to that poor little girl before she was murdered…

And now… and… and now…

"No… no…. NO!" My head fell down to his chest as I gripped at any bit of him I could, before his HP bar hit zero. "Akira-kun… I… I… this was my fault… I… I… you can't die, you said we'd clear the game, I said I'd look after you and I… I…"

"Ha… Asuna…I…" He started, as I felt his hand squeeze mine. From Kirito's lap, I looked up with my tears and saw him smiling. "You… saved me… I… I was just returning the favor."

"Stop! No, Akira I… I…" Kirito started now, and I looked up to see him crying, a cascade of tears coming down his face as he shook his head. "You… you have to meet Sugu, you have to come back with me, you said you would, AKIRA!"

"You… you'll look after her… right… K…Kirito?" Akira said, as his HP bar zipped into the red, and with one final smile he nodded. "No…no regrets… I love you two…"

And then, his HP hit zero, and Akira, broke into polygons in Kirito's arms, the wisps of them floating upwards and away.

"A…Akira…kun…" Was all I could say, as Kirito got up, his hands trembling as he reached for the last bits of data.

"A…AKIRA! NO, NOOO! YOU BASTARD!" It was Misumi who screamed, and on my knees I turned to see she was on the ground, tears streaming from her eyes, her glare up at the Commander. "YOU SICK, BASTARD, YOU ANIMAL BURN IN HELL!"

Around us, I could see people starting to cry… but all I could see, was the goofy, smiling face that plopped onto my couch with his boots still on every night. I saw the friend who had been there when I was losing hope, who had stuck up for me when people whispered things, one of two people left in Aincrad who had known my real name… someone who could always make me smile, or feel confident.

My best-friend.

"Well… defying the system until the last minute… incredible," Kayaba said, and the minute he spoke, something inside of me snapped.

Next to me, I saw Kirito's head had fallen, tears still coming down his face. He reached down on the ground next to me, and with a clang, he picked up Akira's Sword of Takemikazuchi, the katana showing me my reflection as he picked it up.

I was a mess, a crying mess.

Cry later… that's not what Akira would have wanted, I said, my agony turning to anger in my chest, as I shakily stood, listening to Kayaba talk again.

"The three of you… all of you… defying the system," He said, his voice almost sounding amazed, and I looked up with my teary eyes just as he looked at me. "Asuna, you escaped that paralysis, Akira moved fast enough to save you… all three of you…."

"Shut up!" Kirito said, gripping tighter onto both his swords, as his glare shot up towards Kayaba. "JUST SHUT UP AND FIGHT ME!"

Kayaba smiled, and held up his shield, then looking at me. "I must see more…. Say, Asuna, I did offer the players a two on one fight for logging out. In exchange for Akira showing his bravery again, I'll allow you to take his place… what do you say? This will be the true final match."

Kirito next to me suddenly went wide eyed and looked at me. "Asuna! You don't-."

But he stopped talking, when like lightning, my hand shot to my belt, my rapier flashing in front of me as the tears kept falling from my eyes.

And the anger exploded.

"YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET THAT CHOICE!"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Kirito

"YOU'RE GOING TO REGRET THAT CHOICE!"

Before I could even scream Asuna's name, she moved faster then I'd ever seen a player move in my life. She pushed off from her spot, leaving a small crater where she'd stood, as her rapier flashed to life in her attack. What was at least a ten-hit combo shot out of her rapier, and it even sent Kayaba stumbling backwards from the pure speed of the attack. After regaining his composure, he lashed back out at her, and Asuna rolled to the side before thrusting out again, and in no time she was going back and forth with Kayaba, but when he smashed his shield into the hand holding her rapier, I finally found myself able to move.

"ASUNA!" Her name finally left my mouth, and I looked down at The Sword of Takis in my hand, Akira's sword, tears still in my eyes, my chest feeling as if there was an open gash down the middle.

I shut my eyes and blinked away the tears. Be sad later, do what he asked, protect her, protect your wife Kirito!

"SONIC LEAP!" I leapt with the skill, and when I did a burst of lightning shot from around The Sword of Takis. I remembered Akira had told me, that its final ability was that it double again in power when someone in your party had died near you.

Kayaba turned around wide eyed and raised his shield. The lightning and sword smashed into the shield and sent Kayaba stumbling, and Asuna took this opportunity to attack again. Her attacks came at speeds I never saw, speeds that went beyond what she should have been able to do, but I saw the tears in her eyes, heard the anger in her screams, and I realized what it was now that had her moving like it was.

It was nothing to do with the system, it was her own sheer willpower.

"STAR SPLASH!" She screamed, and just like had happened with Akira before, I saw it happen to Asuna.

Her eyes flashed gold, and I couldn't even see her rapier as it moved. Kayaba's eyes widened and for the first time he looked worried, he stumbled back and I saw one strike cut across his cheek, but when Asuna moved in for the final blow, he raised up his shield and smashed it down onto her rapier and kicked her away.

"ASUNA!" Mito yelled from the ground, but just before Kayaba went to move in on her again.

But I wasn't going to let him touch anyone else.

"GET AWAY!" I screamed, intercepting the strike, I looked down for a second and realized Asuna had spotted something, and moved away from the fight, but didn't have time to try and figure it out, because Kayaba saw me, and took his chance.

He swung down hard, but I got the Sword of Takis up to block him and thrusted with Elucidator. He had to move to block it, so I spun around and raised up Akira's sword.

"LIGHTNING GODS SWORD!" I screamed, bringing the powerful weapon down towards Kayaba's shoulder. "TAKE THIS BASTARD!

AKIRA! I WON'T LET HIM WIN, I WON'T-.

The attack had almost gotten there, but in all the chaos, with all the emotions… I had forgotten about the enhanced speed. The only way we would have been able to beat him, was to attack together… and I had let my anger get the best of me.

Kayaba's shield came up and blocked the attack, and then he thrusted forward with his sword. It plunged into my stomach before I could bring Elucidator back around to block… but the strangest part was, that I didn't feel any pain.

All I could do was cry. Kayaba looked down at me, as my arms fell to my sides, Elucidator dropping from my hand. I tried to bring up The Sword of Takis in my opposite hand… but I couldn't feel anything at all.

"KIRITO!" "KIRITO!" "KIRITO!" I heard the screams, but only vaguely as I looked up at my HP bar, and the life of it slowly draining away.

I saw Kayaba in front of me… but all I could think about, was how I had just failed.

A…Akira…. Asuna…. I'm sorry… I… I guess I wasn't strong enough in the end, to keep the promise we made to each other…

My HP bar neared the end, and Kayaba looked down at me.

"Bravely fought," He said quietly, his eyes meeting mine. "All of you. It was- GAH!"

I only heard it vaguely, but just as my HP hit 0, an arrow zipped past my head, and implanted itself into Kayaba's chest, just above his armor, just below his neck. Every head, even mine turned around to where the arrow had come from.

"NO! KIRITOO!" Asuna screamed… dropping Akira's Black Bow of Fate and sprinting towards me.

I saw her tears… and all I wanted to do was make them go away.

"COME ON, KIRITO!"

I spun back when I felt something grab onto my hand, and it may have just been me dying, but I saw a familiar hand reach down to The Sword of Takis, just a ghostly hand, but as soon as it touched me, I felt something erupt inside of me.

I won't… I WON'T LOSE!

"ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I screamed, my throat burning as seconds after my HP hit zero, before I disappeared with the help of that ghostly hand, I took the Sword of Takis and thrusted it forward with everything I had straight into Kayaba's chest.

Just under where Asuna had fired Akira's final arrow.

Kayaba coughed, his eyes wide, and he looked down at me, a sword and arrow stuck inside of him.

His HP hit zero.

And he smirked.

We… we did it… didn't we… Asuna… Akira…

After that, everything went black, and a few seconds later, I heard a robotic voice yelling in my head.

On November 7th at 2:55pm, the game has been cleared. Repeat, the game has been cleared. The game has been cleared.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Akira

Dying… doesn't hurt nearly as much as I thought it would… weird, I thought, as my vision remained black.

I had never been a religious person, I didn't pray often, I didn't go to church… but who didn't think of what happened after they died? The wishful part of me was that I'd finally get to see Kya and Aki, but I didn't see anything at all after I remember my HP hitting zero. I had read a book before, that was about a man who had died, and after he died, he watched each year of his life in reverse, until he was reborn as a new child. I had always thought that would have been an interesting thing for me to experience.

Of course, I thought it would have been at around eighty to ninety years of age, and not sixteen. Still… it would have been nice before I died, to go back and watch all the memories that I had made throughout my life with all the people that I loved, the people who had given my life meaning.

It surprised me as I thought about it… a lot of those great memories I would want to see again, were in Aincrad. Trying to teach Kirito how to fish and shoot a bow, learning how to use a sword from him. Asuna tilting her couch to get me off of it, all the dinners and times we'd trained together as she gave me the will to go on. Finally going to dinner with Liz, saving Silica, drinking with Argo or planning out a field boss road with Mito.

Oh man… her and Asuna are going to be so pissed at me for dying, I thought, even feeling a smile come to me as I floated in what felt like an endless black void.

I may have ended up dying… but strangely, I didn't feel any regrets, like I had told my two best-friends. I knew Kirito would go on to beat Kayaba, he'd find a way, Kirito always did. He'd get to log out, Asuna and everyone else would get to log out. Kirito would reconcile with his sister, Asuna would see her family again, they'd get to be together on the outside, Kirito would find some way to bring Yui back with that massive computer brain he had. Mito would find someone to play arcade games with her and make her happy, Argo would go on with her mainstream anime tastes.

And… I helped them all do that… yeah… that's pretty good I think… no regrets, I thought, realizing that while dying didn't hurt… it seriously tired me out.

I realized that even more, the minute the darkness gave way to a bright, bright orange light, and I felt myself falling.

"GAHHHH!" I screamed, shocked to hear my own voice, as I landed back first on what I could only guess was a raised white platform. Gusts of wind hit my face, and slowly, it forced my eyes to flicker open.

At first everything was blurry, but then like I had been shot I felt my heartbeat. I lurched letting out a cough and grabbing at my chest. After grabbing at my chest, I realized that I still had on my Black Archer Armor, the same one Liz had upgraded for me, the same armor that I had died in. I couldn't see any sign of The Black Bow of Fate, as all I could see around me was clouds through my blurry vision, and the shine of a beautiful orange sunset color.

"Wha… what?" I croaked out, nearly fainting again as I realized I could talk. "Where… where… am-."

"A…Akira-kun…" "Akira…"

Those voice… really made me feel like I had just gotten shot. Scrambling to get up on my wobbly legs, the beautifully colored sun casting my shadow out over the platform… and it intersected with two other shadows.

When I saw the two of them, holding hands in front of me… I didn't care if I was dead and this was a dream, or if I was somehow alive. All that mattered, was that I was here with the two of them.

Tears started, as I scoffed out a laugh. "Ha… I guess I picked a bad time to miss a shot for the first time… huh?"

Both of them had wet eyes… Asuna only looked at me, trying to form words, so Kirito was the first to talk, his words equally as shaky.

"Ha… it's okay, I went ahead and died too, so I guess we're both losers," He said, and I didn't even have time to digest his words, before Asuna let go of his hand, and threw herself at me.

She slammed into my chest crying, gripping at my coat, as I digested Kirito's words.

He… he died…I thought, looking at him… but realizing he was smiling.

And I realized, I was too exhausted to think about it, to tired to do anything but just be happy I was with the two of them again.

Aincrad, or any world, we'd stick together, that was the promise we made.

"You… you big, stupid, no-good…" Asuna cried, weakly pounding her smaller fist into my chest. "Worthless… stupid… stupid idiot. How could you do that to us you… you big jerk!"

I smiled, as she finally stopped pounding, and just hugged me. I wrapped my arms back around her, Kirito finally making his way over to us. He joined, and our heads all together, arms around each other… I felt as calm as I ever had in Aincrad, or in the real world, because my family was here, and I'd be with them still, even if this as temporary, people we loved never really left us.

"Sorry… I guess I was sloppy," I said, as the three of us slowly moved away from each other, my eyes fell to Kirito, who was wiping his tears. "So, you died too huh? Did you at least take him with you?"

Kirito chuckled but nodded with a sad smile. "I did… but… I don't know how. My HP, it hit zero but I… I just knew I had to beat him, and before I disappeared, I stabbed him."

I scoffed. "I guess you were just born lucky then huh?"

Kirito shook his head. "I don't feel it… besides, if not for Asuna using your bow… well, I wouldn't have survived."

My eyes went wide, going to Asuna. "You used The Black Bow of Fate? How, it requires your bow skill to be near max, plus the strength requirement is high too."

Asuna's small smile wavered, as she shook her head. "I… I don't know how I did it. All… all I knew was I needed to save Kirito. I've seen you use your bow a hundred of times so… I just did it."

"Yeah… and that gave me the opening," Kirito said, as we all turned to look out at the bright orange sky.

Even with everything that happened, that got me thinking. What really had happened? I don't know how I was able to leap over Kayaba for my last few arrows with my debuffs, Asuna used a weapon far beyond her stats, Kirito had the strength to push on even after his HP hit zero? They were all things that shouldn't have been able to happen, but they simply had.

Perhaps Aincrad was even more real then we had thought, with people able to do amazing things when their backs were against the wall.

But like a everything right now… I was simply too tired to think about it.

"Oh well, I guess it really doesn't matter now," I said, pulling up my menu as the three of us stood at the edge. After looking at the message I shook my head. "Initiating final phase…? What the heck does that mean."

"We said the same thing… look down there," Asuna said from my right, pointing down into the clouds below us.

I followed her finger, and when I saw what she meant… to my surprise, my heart nearly shattered.

Aincrad, our prison, our tormentor, the place that had taken everything… our home, the place where I'd met the people I loved, spent my last moments with Kya and Aki… was crumbling out of the sky. I usually didn't dare hope, I had spoken about it to help keep other peoples hopes up, but deep down I didn't want to believe I'd see the end of that castle one day. However, the few times I dared hope it would disappear, I had pictured it being something like what I saw now, the floors slowly drifting away, crumbling piece by piece.

I had thought it would make me whoop and cheer, throw a party….

"I… I can't believe it…" I said, my hands shaking as Kirito had one of them, Asuna had my other. "It's… falling apart."

Why did I feel so upset about that?

It's because… despite it all, you may have lost a part of your life there… but you gained a new part of it.

"A stunning view… isn't it?" A voice said from our right and hearing that one made the digital hairs that remained on my neck stand up.

Asuna, Kirito and I all looked to our right, and standing there, was a forlorn looking man, one who looked defeated, like he had just lost everything.

Because he had.

"Kayaba…" Kirito said, taking he words from Asuna and I's mouths.

My mouth fell open and closed, every brain cell I had was screaming at me to rush and throw the man over the ledge… but just like everything else at that moment… I was simply to exhausted. I could only scowl, my eyes narrowing at him.

Kayaba shook his head. "At Argus headquarters, the SAO mainframe is in a room five floors below street level. It is currently deleting all data from its drives. In about ten minutes… everything in this world will disappear forever."

Asuna asked the question I couldn't say. "And… the players? What's going to happen to them?"

"You don't have to worry about them," Kayaba said, only looking out over the sunset and not down towards us. "The 6,147 players who survived the game up until now were logged out a few seconds ago."

So… so tired… but him… this man…

I squeezed Asuna and Kirito's hands, not looking at the man. "And what about the four thousand people who died? What about them Kayaba, what about Kya… what about my sister…"

I had the slightest sliver of hope… that this really all had been one massive prank. One joke… but I knew that hope was futile a minute later, as Kayaba finally looked at us.

"They'll never return, to any world, real or virtual," He said, shaking his head as after a second, he turned back to the sunset. "Once you're dead… you're gone."

"You… bastard… you bastard," Was all I could whisper, tears coming down my eyes now… if I wasn't dead, or if I was… would I not even be able to see them then?

"…Why… why did they have to die," Kirito said, looking over at the man for me, as he seemed to understand what was happening with me. "What was the point? Why did they all have to die?!"

For two years I had wondered that, for a year I had lamented over it. Why Kya and Aki, why two people who had never done anything except bring joy to the world we lived in?

And why did I have to survive that day?

Kayaba only shook his head. "That… is a good question. It's been so long I've forgotten the reason… isn't that strange? Even before I developed this full-dive system… I dreamed of this, a floating castle in the sky, in a world that wasn't governed by earthly laws and restrictions, I dedicated my life to making that a reality."

"You… you don't remember?" I said, finally stepping in front of Asuna and Kirito, to look over at the man, I forced him to meet my eyes. "So… you don't have a reason? You don't have a reason as to why Kya and Aki had to die?! That's it?! WHY?! THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH, TELL ME! TELL ME A REASON!"

Kayaba didn't respond to my shouts, or to my tears, he only looked at me, and spoke in that same calm voice I had always been annoyed Heathcliff had.

"For you to live, for you to go on, Akira," He said, his face serenely calm, his lips in a line as he looked deep into my eyes. "Tell me… if you were in the real world, and encountered a situation like you did here… would your sister and wife had done the same thing? Do you think they wouldn't have given their lives so that you could live?"

The words hit me like a bus, my hands balled into fists, as I looked down at the ground, tears falling on the clear platform we stood on above the crumbling Aincrad. I didn't cry because I was upset at them dying, or because I was made at Kayaba….

I was crying, because I knew he was right. Kya and Aki would never have done anything different, in any world we were in.

"I… I'm never going to forgive you… know that," I said, not looking back up at him again, I felt Kirito come up on my left, Asuna gently hold my arm on my right. "No matter what happens to me, what happens to you… I'm never going to forgive you for this."

Kayaba nodded, and looked back out over his crumbling castle. "I know… and I accept it. For what it's worth Akira, I meant it, when I told you how sorry I am for what happened."

I didn't want to talk anymore, the fatigue that wormed its way through my body felt more like a poison. I looked back out over at the crumbling castle, the castle that had bene the dream of a man that I admired some time ago, the life's work of a man with a goal.

The castle that had taken everything… but given just as much in return.

"I created this world… and I got to see something that surpassed anything that I could have possibly imagined for it," The man went on, his hair blowing in the wind, his head tilting to the three of us. "My steel castle floating in the sky, I don't remember how old I was when I became obsessed with it. I had always wanted to leave the earth, to go to that castle for as long as I can remember… but you know, Kirito, Akira, Asuna… I want to believe that it's still out there somewhere, standing taller then ever… if you would, do me one final favor the three of you…"

He turned to us fully now and shook his head. "If you ever have any love left for the memories you made in this world… never forget them, do not forget all that you learned during your time in the floating castle."

How could I forget? It will be with me for the rest of my life, however long that may be, I thought, looking at the two people next to me.

After that, I tried to imagine the best things I could then. Mito waking up in her hospital bed, young Silica being able to take the Nerve Gear off her head finally. All the people that I'd come to love, finally getting to move their real bodies again.

And I had done at least a small bit to be able to get them there… that was a good life, I'd like to think Kya and Aki would have been happy with the life they gave to me.

So, I nodded, as did Asuna and Kirito, and finally… Kayaba smiled again.

"Thank you… one last thing, congratulations, on clearing the game, Asuna, Akira… Kirito," Kayaba said, a calm, serene smile as he nodded, and turned from us. "Well… I should probably get going now… goodbye, brave players."

We didn't say anything else to Akihiko Kayaba, the man who'd taken so much, but given as much in return. He smiled and walked away… until he slowly fell into pieces of data and was whisked away by the wind.

Just as the Ruby Palace at the top of Aincrad crumbled away.

After it did, my legs couldn't take it anymore, and I let out a breath, falling and plopping onto the platform below us, my leg swinging out over into the sky below me, as the last bits of my home for the past two years crumbled away into the bright orange abyss.

Down on my hand, a second wedding band still sparkled.

"I did it… I did it Kya…" I said, turning the ring around my finger, and oddly enough, finding myself smiling. "Aki… I became that hero you drew… at least I hope… I did something with the life you gave me."

I had realized it now… if the game finally deleted all the players who died would be gone. If what Kirito had described to me was true… his data never disappeared, and Asuna, her HP had never hit zero and fell apart like me.

I guess… Kayaba did me a favor, let me talk with them before I died… psycho, I thought, as Kirito dropped down on my left, and Asuna dropped to sit on my right, grabbing my arm and leaning her head on my shoulder. Kirito met my gaze, and with teary eyes, he nodded, his arm going around my neck.

They had figured it out as well. A shot of reality, or horror ran up my chest… maybe this time I'd really figure out what dying felt like. At least… I'd figure it out with people I loved around me. I realized too… that had been what happened with Kya and Aki, they died yeah… but I liked to think they were happy before that fight, we had spent time together.

"So… for your first date, can I recommend go-karts?" I told them, looking at them both with my watery eyes. "That's what me and Kya did, it was a blast, I learned that day I'm going to be a terrible driver."

For a second, neither of them said anything, I only heard Asuna sob as she squeezed tighter onto my arm… but Kirito through his crying eyes nodded.

"Yeah… but only if you come with us you idiot," He said, fiercely wiping his eyes with his other sleeve.

I scoffed and blinked away my tears. "Ha, you serious? You guys don't need a chaperone, I like to think you're old enough. But if you want I'll put on a disguise to make sure you're not making any unsightly moves on my best-friend here."

Asuna sobbed again, but I heard a giggle leave her as she squeezed. Kirito and I both looked at her, and saw her trying to suppress the smile that was coming to her.

Kirito laughed again, before sobbing. "Okay, I promise to keep my hands where… where… Akira…"

"It's alright," I said, my own voice shaking like a leaf now, as Asuna continued to sob, and Kirito finally broke down. "Hey… it's okay, don't worry, you guys will be okay, you… you will. I… I'm sorry, I won't be there to see you when we wake up."

"You… you… Akira-kun…" Asuna said, trying and failing to form a sentence.

I smiled, and pulled my arm away from her, wrapping one arm around each of them. I couldn't hold it anymore, I sobbed and cried too, looking at Asuna who looked up at me with watery eyes.

"Asuna… keep making people smile," I told her, giving her one myself. "Keep… giving people hope, like you did for me… okay? And… and tell Mito well… tell her I'm sorry I didn't keep my promise."

"You… you can tell her you…. You big jerk," She said, her head leaning into me now.

I laughed with a sob again and looked at Kirito. "And you… you better treat her right, you understand? I'll kick your ass if you don't."

"Yeah… I… I will… Akira," He said, shaking his head. "I… I promise."

"Good… good…" I said, my chest crumbling like Aincrad had just done, as I shook my head at him one more time. "Tell… tell Suguha I wish I could've met her, and you… go make things right, you understand?"

Kirito nodded, sobbing again as he frantically tried to wipe away his tears. "I… I will…"

"Akira…kun…" Asuna sobbed again, and now, with my arms around both of them, despite my own tears I smiled.

"And… name a kid after me, okay? The best-looking one naturally," I told them, as I looked up at the shining sun. "Yeah… I… I would like that… I… I love you guys… really."

"We… we love you… Akira-kun…" Asuna said, looking up and nodding. "Thank you… for being there for me."

"Thanks… for helping me be who I always wanted," Kirito said, looking at me one more time and smiling through his wet face. "Oh and… Kazuto."

I wrapped my arms tighter around them both and looked at Kirito. "Kazuto…?"

"My name… you asked me to tell you before the raid," Kirito said, smiling as he looked at Asuna as well. "I… thought I'd tell you both. I'm Kazuto Kiriguya, last month, I turned 16."

"Ha… you are the baby of the group…" I told him, pulling my arm off him, and holding out a hand for our handshake. "It's nice to meet you… Kazuto Kiriguya… I'm Akira Miller. I'm sixteen too."

He sobbed, and nodded, doing our handshake. "It's nice to meet you… Akira Miller. Asuna… what…"

Asuna smiled and nodded through a sob. "I'm the old one… my name… is Asuna Yuuki, I'm seventeen."

"Old lady," I quickly said, followed by a snorting laugh by Kirito, and Asuna slapping at my arm.

We finished laughing, and with teary eyes I put my arms around them again. "Asuna, Kazuto… and Akira… we make an incredible trio… don't we?"

"Yeah… we do, don't we?" Kirito said, leaning his head closer to mine, as we saw the counter on the final phase near a hundred.

It sank in now… I was dead, and I squeezed tighter around both of them.

Asuna wiped her eyes and leaned her head closer as well. "Yeah… we do, and this isn't the end. We promised… we'll stick together, in Aincrad… or any world."

"Yeah… yeah we will…" I said, finally letting the tears fall loose, as squeezing them, as the timer hit 100%, and the light came. "I… I love you guys… I'm… I'm sorry."

And… Kya… Aki… I'm sorry too…

I felt them both squeeze onto my arms… before the bright white light enveloped all three of us.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Akira

This time when I died, I had expected to see a bright white light, but sort of an ethereal light, maybe the vision of Kya and Aki finally. I would have been lying if that was going to be the one silver lining of dying. They always said in almost every religion that once you died, you got to see the people you had lost in life before. I could finally be with Kya again, see Aki and tell her everything I wanted to tell her before she had died. Kirito and Asuna would be devastated… but I knew they had each other, and maybe I'd even get to watch over them from whatever heaven I went too.

But now, the first thing I experienced after 'dying', was an extreme ache. I felt like an old car that had been turned on for the first time after getting taken from the junkyard. Every single muscle fiber in my body was screaming at me, the only one thing I could move at first, were my eyelids. It felt like I was pulling apart a stale bagel, as my eyelashes poked against my eyeballs, until finally… I saw light, a light that wasn't beautiful or serene, filling me with a calming sense of fulfillment.

It was like when Asuna turned on the lights to get me off her couch.

"Wh… wha…." My mouth was dry as a desert, my lips cracked and pain shot through my head, as I felt something buzzing in my ears, and the sound was muffled.

Instinct took over, as the first thing I tried to do was move my arm. My fingers tingled like they had been hit by a taser, and when I tried to lift my arm I groaned in pain again, and it fell back down to whatever bed I was laying on, but my fingers on both hands, I was slowly able to move. They were asleep, but after a minute, I was able to move them, and a minute after that, I was able to raise my hand in front of my face, in front of the bright light above me.

What? Wh… why… how...? My hands were like shriveled up raisins. The next thing to move after both my hands, was my neck, as I turned it left to right, and realized that some kind of helmet was on my head. To my left, was a desk with a laptop, a few chairs, and a curtain, I even saw a sink and a door.

I moved to the right, and winced as I saw windows, light streaming through and hitting my eyes. Raising my hand to block the light, I looked and saw right next to the bed I was on, was a beeping heartrate monitor, the beeps coming at a steady rate.

A… a heart monitor… what? Am… am I… Am I…

I didn't dare finish the thought at first, but then, I saw a small end table on my right. A pot with flowers were in it, and then… a folded card. My hand still shaky, I reached and grabbed it. On the front it was a normal 'get well soon' message, of a kid in a hospital, but when I opened it, I saw handwriting… handwriting a recognized.

And when I realized where I recognized it from, my heartrate monitor started beeping faster.

I will always come back, I promise. It's what Kyou would have wanted. It wasn't your fault. – Mrs. Tanaka.

"H…Hanu…ko…?" I croaked out, a name I hadn't said in two years.

The handwriting was familiar, because it looked just like Kya's… but it wasn't Kya who wrote it, it had been her mother.

My head became a blur, a shot of energy rushing through my body as I groaned and dropped the card and grabbed both the railings of the bed. With the little bit of strength, I had left, I pushed myself to sit up, groaning as my muscles screamed at me to stop, until I was sitting in an upright position. I could barely hear myself think, and the weight I felt on my head became too much to bear with my headache from the light, so now feeling a bit more power in my hands, reached up and grabbed the sides of whatever was on my head.

No… no it… it can't… is… could I…? Despite it all, I still didn't dare think it… or hope for it.

That was, until I took off whatever was on my head, and dark, sweaty blonde hair fell down in front of my face, and I placed what it was in my lap.

"My… Nerve… Gear?" I croaked out, every word a pain, as I looked at the gaming rig in my hands… I had almost forgotten what it looked like.

And in the visor, I saw my reflection, and my eyes went wide.

My hair fell down near my shoulders, my eyes were droopy black bags underneath them. My arms were like tiny tree branches holding onto the Nerve Gear, my hospital gown was freshly cleaned somehow, and when I looked into my eyes and saw myself aged two years from when I last looked at my reflection, from the reflection I'd seen in Aincrad for two years, that finally was what got my legs moving.

I… I'm… alive.

I was alive… it hadn't all been for nothing. In my reflection of my Nerve Gear, I saw myself smiling.

Kya… Aki… your sacrifice… it wasn't in vain… I… I'm here but… but…

My mind drifted to one objective now, and I found my legs moving, the sticky cords the hospital had coming off my bare chest as I moved.

"As…una…." I said, as I dropped off the side of the bed, falling to my knees and having to grab my rolling heart monitor for support to get myself back up. "K…Kiri…to…"

I gripped with both hands onto the heart monitor for dear life, as I used the wheels on it to help me move towards the door I saw. I didn't pay attention to the two suitcases I saw in my room, or the dead flowers near the sink, and when I turned the knob to the door it hurt like hell.

But I kept moving, my blonde hair falling into my face as I did.

"As…una…" I said, taking my first step outside the room. "Kiri… GAH!"

I bumped into something, and the wires of my heart monitor became tangled with something else. Panic rushing through my body, I looked up… and my chest pounded like a drum, as I looked and saw I had run into somebody else.

His hair was longer now, like mine was… but I would never forget his face. The dark eyes, the young-looking smile, the structure of his face, his nose, his build… everything looked familiar, and it was then… I realized it wasn't all a joke.

And the wide-eyed look he gave me… let me know that he was thinking the same thing as I was.

"Ak…ki…ra…" He croaked out, holding onto his heart monitor with the same fervor I was.

Each word was pain… but it felt like nothing now.

Smiling hurt too… but it was worth it. "Ki…ri..to…"

Tears came next, from both of us. He choked out a sob, and letting go of his heart monitor, he cried, and slowly he let both his arms fall around me as he grabbed me. I did the same, not caring anymore, hugging him back. It didn't take long before both of our legs gave out, and slowly we fell to the ground to our side, hugging each other like our life depending on it.

I… I made it… I… made it… thanks… Kya… Aki…

I smiled, cried, hurt… but I was happy.

And now, there was only one more thing for us both to do.

We're coming… we'll find you next… Asuna…

Next Time: SAO, Akira's Arrows: Fairy Dance Arc, Episode 1, Return: It was a miracle to Akira that he woke up from SAO. Now, he has a chance to live his life, and it's started out great as he moves in with his best-friend Kirito and his sister Suguha. It seems like all is well… but Asuna is still trapped, Akira and Kirito don't know where or how, but they'll risk everything to figure out, and to bring her back.

A/N: THAT'S A WRAP! With that everyone, the longest chapter of this story and the finale is concluded, Aincrad is over and we're moving onto Fairy Dance! This was a very, very, very long chapter I know but I believe it is gonna be one of the best. I hope the pacing was okay as that is something I need to work on as a writer, but either way, I am so so happy and proud to bring my first SAO story to an end, and even more exited to get to work on the next one.

Fairy Dance in my opinion is severely underrated by fans. I find a lot of the biggest complaints about it nitpicks personally, and honestly have never seen it as Kirito's story. I always thought the main character of Fairy Dance especially after reading the Light Novels, is Leafa/Sugu, it's her story of fixing her relationship with her brother, and then on the side it's Kirito's story of dealing with the events of Aincrad and adjusting back to not being the most powerful person in the world, yeah there's some stuff I'd change, but in the end I love it as much as every other SAO arc. SO, getting Akira into it, I am so so very excited.

As for the end of Aincrad, I always love the ending, but also always thought that it would have been cool for it to maybe be a two on one, or maybe one dies and the other continues as a fight with Kirito AND Asuna. So, in this I made it a real team effort in the end to take down Kayaba.

I learned reading the LNs and watching SAO explained videos on youtube, that the moments when Kirito goes beyond systems capabilities is an ability called Incarnation, which in the simplest terms is overwhelming the system with your willpower to do something you normally couldn't, like Kirito surviving for a few extra seconds, or in this case Akira being able to move past his debuffs, or Asuna being able to use Akira's bow. If you're an anime only sword art fan I HIGHLY recommend reading the Light Novels, because there really is so much more in them that they don't have in the anime!

SO now, we move to Fairy Dance, I've said before Akira's ship is going to eventually be Sinon in Phantom Bullet, but that doesn't mean we won't see some very very intense and dramatic moments with him and Sugu in Fairy Dance, as both work through their feelings, Sugu is one of the most underrated characters in SAO, and I can't wait to write for her in this sequel, and to finally explore more about Akira and Kirito.

I am going to post Fairy Dance SEPARATE as a NEW STORY on my profile, I won't be continuing it here, I'll post an update and sample of chp 1 here of Fairy Dance on this story, but the whole thing will be a different story, so be sure to FOLLOW MY PROFILE if you wanna be updated when Fairy Dance starts, it won't be long!

Okay, okay AN is over, please, please leave a review and let me know what you thought of the climax, and of this story! I did this out of my passion for SAO and how it helped me through hard times in my life, so I hope I could entertain at least some of you! Thank you so so much and I'll see you all soon in Alfheim Online!