A Place in my Dreams

by SeerKing

Slaying Kayaba Akihiko on the 75th Floor was more significant than one Kirigaya Kazuto anticipated. It elevated him to a position beyond humanity, one that had graced the world for ages. He was now a Campione, a God Slayer. For all his enemies, there would be a place for them in Kirito's dreams...(Eventual harem)

5. Background Chess Moves

"Asuna!" - Regular Speech

'Kirito-kun!' - Thoughts

"Starburst Stream!" - Authority Chant

"Godslayer!" - Heretic God/Empowered Campione

Beta'd by BigCC

Chapter 4: Background Chess Moves

The Next Day

Private Physical Therapy Room, Hospital

Asuna let out an annoyed huff of breath as she stumped her way into the room on her crutches. She was recovering, there was no doubt about that, but she was well past the point where she just wished that her muscles would hurry up and get back to normal already! She'd been catching herself more and more often fondly recalling how freely she'd been able to move while inside Aincrad.

'Fondly reminiscing over my time in that Death Game!? I really am starting to go stir crazy!' the Yuuki Scion couldn't help but scoff at the thought.

Then again, she couldn't argue that she owed a great deal to Sword Art Online. It was where she'd met her beloved boyfriend after all, not to mention where she'd developed enough spine to stare down her mother and tell her 'No!' directly to her face. Before Aincrad, the idea of either would have petrified her.

The image of Kirito's body leaking red sparks as it started to dissolve into pixels as his HP hit zero momentarily flashed through her memory and she couldn't hide her grimace. She'd been helpless, absolutely and utterly useless, against Kayaba because of his damned Administrator-level GM Account and its ability to lock every other Player in the room into position while he did as he wished with her boyfriend. Being forced to watch helplessly from the sidelines as Kirito…as Kazuto-kun had fought single-handedly against the most powerful enemy in Aincrad had been utterly agonizing; leaving her feeling as if each blow had sliced off another strip of her heart as the fight carried on.

Never again! She was never, ever going to be left as the helpless damsel in distress again, forced to watch as her prince fought for her. In Aincrad she had been the third strongest Clearer (well technically she should have been second since Heathcliff/Kayaba didn't really count as a Player) and she had long since become used to being able to protect and act for herself and her loved ones. Being forced to act as a mere observer in the final battle only to be reduced to this sorry state immediately after the Death Game's end was a true and utter humiliation against the pride she'd developed as Asuna the Flash.

Reaching the bland white chair that always served as her starting position, Asuna managed to sit herself down before placing her crutches into their storage slots. Then she settled in to wait for her boyfriend to arrive. She had been so very relieved that she no longer had to use the room with those two shoulder-height horizontal bars; the mix of humiliation from having needed that much assistance to just take a few steps and the pain of her atrophied muscles had been far too much to bear.

She had fallen in love with Kazuto-kun all over again as he had endured all the times her temper had snapped under the frustrations of her early therapy sessions with a sense of calm patience and an ever-ready desire to reassure her that he would never leave her behind. She honestly wasn't sure what she'd done to deserve him and, looking back, she couldn't understand her past self's stupidity not long after she'd joined the [KoB].

Just then the sound of the door sliding open pulled her out of her reverie, causing her to look up and smile as she caught sight of Kazuto stepping in, still completely dressed in black even IRL. It truly was his favourite colour, wasn't it? Once she was capable of actually walking properly for more than a few minutes at a time, she was going to have to take him out shopping just so she could see him in some different colours.

While he wore black well, don't get her wrong, but Asuna was just as good in any number of colours. Nothing too bright, Kirito-kun probably wouldn't appreciate that, but a nice deep red or blue or maybe a rich indigo or violet…yes that would look lovely.

"Hey, Asuna." Her boyfriend smiled, leaning down to her a brief, chaste kiss on the lips. That was the most he would dare do in a hospital. "Everything feeling alright today?

"I'm fine, Kazuto-kun." the hazel-haired heiress answered, deciding not to bother her boyfriend with the most recent spat between her and her mother until she'd had a bit of time to calm down about it herself. "Anything interesting happen to you?"

"Funny you should ask." Kazuto replied, a slight smirk appearing on his lips. "I actually ran into some that I think you'll be interested in meeting again."

"Meeting again?" Asuna blinked curiously before she quickly realized what he was implying. "Someone from SAO? Who? Liz?"

Rather than replying, he just turned and called out slightly louder to the still cracked-open door. "You can come in now!"

The door quickly slid open again, revealing a short girl with curly, golden-brown hair that quickly skipped inside. She was dressed in a mustard yellow jacket, a black skirt with black leggings beneath and dull green boots on her feet. However, what instantly caught Asuna's attention (and sparked her recognition) was the almost vulpine smirk that she was wearing, along with the ever-so slightly nasal voice that called out a very familiar greeting.

"Heya, Aa-chan! How's it goin'?"

"A-Argo!? Is…is that you?" Asuna gasped out, eyes widening in shock.

"Yep-Yep! Been a while, huh?" the former Information Broker offered with a grin as she walked over, only to suddenly squeak as Asuna surged upward in a surprising burst of speed to pull her into a hug. "E-EH?! Aa-chan!?"

"I'm so, so sorry! I completely ignored you after I got so caught up with working with the [KoB]!" Asuna cried, regret clear in her voice. "E-Even after everything you did to help me when I was starting out…!"

"Aa-chan, Aa-chan, take it easy there! Just calm down!" the other girl was quick to try and sooth her distressed friend, quickly returning the former fencer's hug with tight, if careful, embrace of her own. "Imma just goin' ta lay all of the blame for that at Kayaba's feet, right where it belongs. Kii-bou already gave me the rundown on how that two-faced rodent Heathcliff was pullin' the strings on everything. So, no blamin' yerself for that, got it?"

It took another couple of minutes for Asuna to calm herself down and allow her old friend to return her to seat for a rest. She took a moment to study Argo's face, a confused expression crossing her face for a moment before she giggled.

"You…you know it's so weird to see you without those whiskers of yours!" she managed to offer between giggles.

"Kii-bou said th' exact same thing when he recognized me!" the honey-haired girl gave a bit of huff before smirking. "By the by, the name's Hosaka Tomo, Aa-chan, but you and Kii-bou are free to call me 'Tomo-chan'."

"Alright…Tomo-chan." Asuna agreed with a slight blush. She'd had very few friends and even fewer girl-friends, with most of her previous (all girls) schoolmates being acquaintances at best, so being able to call someone her friend like this was precious beyond words. "How are you even here? I thought you lived in a different prefecture?"

"Eh, my old place wasn't available after I was out of commission for two years. No big loss there, nothin' really important about the place other than a few memories." Tomo lied masterfully, before grinning at the taller girl. "Decided that, if I needed ta move anyway, might as well move ta someplace closer to a few of the folks I actually give two yen 'bout. Now, I can even go ta the same Survivor's School as you an' Kii-bou in Nishitokyo, so, bonus points there."

The thought made Asuna smile anew. To be able to go to school with her friends had been a dream that she'd never thought she'd be able to achieve. To be able to attend with both her boyfriend AND her friends was something beyond anything she could have ever hoped for.

The two female SAO survivors spent the majority of the session catching up, with Kazuto mostly smiling in the background.

Once the session was over with, and she was changed back into her clothes with the aid of a nurse, Asuna was walked to the car by Tomo and Kazuto.

"My brother, at least, is fully on our side." she informed Kazuto. "And he's going to do what he can to keep Mother off my back at least until I'm fully recovered. Maybe he can even convince Father to come home and get mother to actually back down on this."

"That's something at least." her boyfriend agreed with a smile. "Are you sure I shouldn't keep my distance for a bit? I really don't want to cause you any more stress with your family…"

Asuna quickly whacked him on the arm, glaring up at him. "Don't you dare even think about it!"

"Jeez, Kii-bou. Still puttin' yer foot in yer mouth." Arg-...no, TOMO-CHAN, dammit...offered with a smirk on her lips. "Kinda reminds me'a th' time back on the 2nd Floor when ya got Aa-chan's Wind Fleuret back from Nezha of th' [Legend Braves] by making her recall it wit' th' 'Materialize All Items' command..."

"Argo!" Asuna flushed, remembering that particular incident. Not only had she been in mourning for her poor rapier, but that command had materialized the entire contents of her inventory...including all of her unmentionables...in order to get it back!

"Thanks, Tomo-chan. You may have put me in the doghouse with my girlfriend over something that happened before we even started dating." Kazuto said sarcastically as Asuna glared heatedly at him in remembered embarrassment.

"Nya-hahahaha!" the familiar laughter from the troublemaking Rat filled the air, making the former Black Swordsman roll his eyes in exasperation. Honestly, the more things changed, the more they stayed the same!

(Yellow Side Gains a Knight, in addition to its Queen)

Later

Streets of Kawagoe

"It's definitely true, Kii-bou. I can confirm, without a shred o' doubt, that Asuna's got some form of dormant magical power." Tomo stated seriously as she sat on the back of Kirito's...no, Kazuto's...no, her new KING'S bicycle, arms wrapped firmly around his waist. "It looks like Morpheus wasn't just talkin' out of his rear when he offered her up a 'boon'. Tch…only a Heretic God could call turnin' a normal person inta some kind of mage a 'boon'…!"

"Then why hasn't it activated yet? I mean, Lady Pandora explained why my Campione powers took so long to come in, could it be something similar?" the newest Campione asked as he tried to distract himself from the warm press of his old 'Beta Buddy' turned subordinate's chest pushing up against his back.

"Not likely. Mixin' magic and tech always makes things go a bit weird, but I could definitely feel somethin' there. It wasn't disconnected like yer' talkin' about, more like it was…sleepin'? Knowin' how Heretic Gods usually work, it likely won't activate until Aa-chan does something that Morpheus would view as 'worthy' of his little gift. I swear, if she gets hurt because of whatever game that jerk-ass is playin' I will find a way to break inta the Domain of Immortality just to rip 'im a new one!" a mixture of anger and protectiveness filled Hosaka Tomo's voice. She had always done her best to look out for Asuna, ever since she and Kirito had managed to save her from the 'hidden logout point' back on the 1st Floor. It had started out as a simple sense of responsibility towards someone who'd been dragged into something completely out of her depths, but in time she'd honestly come to care a great deal for the auburn-haired girl.

So, this entire situation was making her quite angry. Randomly bestowing magic onto someone and making it permanent if Morpheus' words about her 'seeing all Kirito would go through' were anything to go by, was not something that should be done lightly, there were simply too many things that could go terribly wrong.

Mages could do something similar, albeit likely to a far weaker degree than whatever 'gift' the Heretic God had granted Asuna, but there were so many things could potentially go very, very wrong that it was almost never done. And a Heretic God being involved might ease some of those risks, but it would also raise so many more that it wasn't even funny, particularly if anyone else learned that Asuna had a bit of dormant Divine Power resting in her. There were mages who would do just about anything to get ahold of even a taste of Divine Power, either to study, experiment on or just take for themselves, and most wouldn't even think twice about what taking it could do to Asuna.

So yeah, Tomo was very much pissed at the Grecian God of True Dreams at the moment. The previous day, after she'd gotten Kazuto to elaborate on a few key points about what had happened with Kayaba and Morpheus back on the Administrator's Lookout, she'd spent a solid ten minutes alternating between freaking out and ranting in fury about what the 'Toga-humping ass-hat' had done. Apparently, it was even less safe since the Heretic God involved had been one with a non-physical domain and thus, non-physical authorities.

Personally, Kazuto though that those would actually be more suited for this kind of thing, especially since Morpheus had granted Asuna her 'boon' while still in the 'dream world' of Aincrad, but he'd wait until Tomo had a chance to calm down from her righteous fury before he even voiced that opinion.

"Right now, the only thing we can do is wait and see." he offered instead. "Hopefully, we'll be able to keep Asuna away from any magic users, Heretic Gods or Divine Beasts that might be able to sense what has happened until we can figure out exactly what Morpheus' 'boon' is. If we can get you some more time with Asuna, you think that spell of yours will be able to tell us anything more?"

"I'm sure of it." Tomo replied with a smirk of pride. The Hosaka Family sensory spell that she'd used on Asuna while the (slightly) younger girl had hugged her was usually something that was used on infant mages to determine their magical potential, but with a bit modifying and continuous use it could be used to get a deeper scan on a subject's magic, including any abnormalities or oddities; like how some mages had an affinity for certain types of elemental magic or were unable to use physical boosting magic. That particular spell, one of the Hosaka Family's secret techniques, could even be used stealthily on a target by using it in short bursts and 'layering' the results in order to prevent anyone from noticing the scan.

"Yeh know, it's a good thing Aa-chan and I swapped numbers." she added as an afterthought, before returning her attention to her new King. "So, what else to do we have on the menu, boss man?"

"I want to do some experimenting with the Authority I got from Morpheus, both sides of it. While I'm doing that, I want you to go and put a flea into the History Compilation Committee's collective ear." Kazuto answered seriously.

"Aw Kii-bou! You certainly know just what to say to put a girl in a right and proper mood!" the brunette cooed happily. He could practically taste the vindictive glee radiating off the girl behind him as she happily began to plot and plan. He took a moment to mentally reaffirm his previous vow to never get on Argo the Rat's bad side; she could be petty as hell whenever a grudge came into play and that was just when the small things were involved. A 400-year-old grudge born of systematic neglect and deliberately weakening her family…

'Yeah, I'm really glad I'm not that Sayanomiya Kaoru woman right now.' he thought with a mental gulp. 'Hopefully she'll remember our little talk and not pull anything too extreme unless these HCC guys do something really stupid, but I think that will all depend on how innocent this 'bifauxnen' is of her family's idiocy.'

Having done all he was willing to do on that front, Kazuto turned his mind to going over what Tomo had explained about the inherent nature of a Campione. All Campione were, to a greater or lesser degree, tyrants in some way, shape or form. They mostly took what they wanted from people, mages in particular, including women. Honestly, the list of women his immediate 'predecessor' Kusanagi Godō had supposedly managed to seduce was as impressive as it was bemusing.

It did, however, explain a few things, like his sudden inclinations toward Sugu ever since he'd woken up. His Campione-inspired thoughts didn't see her as his little sister; they saw a strong, skilled, and beautiful young woman and were intent on 'claiming' her. Not that he was going to be indulging in those instincts; Campione instincts or not, Sugu was his younger sister (born cousin or not) and he wasn't going to make her unhappy by turning into some overprotective ogre out of nowhere.

The same feeling that came up whenever Asuna was involved didn't bother him nearly as much; Asuna was his girlfriend, and he had no intentions of letting that change. So long as he kept any overly possessive thoughts firmly throttled and under heel, things would be fine…at least he hoped so anyway. He suddenly remembered just what Tomo had told him after he'd voiced that hope yesterday, just a bit before Sugu had arrived home.

"Campione're superior humans, Kii-bou." she'd said seriously. "Devil Kings, Rakshasa Raja, Kings of Kings. Those are jus' a few of the names they've earned from the masses. An', to a degree, there's more than a' bit of truth to 'em. Campione dominate humans; we mages can't fight back against their superior magic resistance without pullin' somethin' sneaky or cunning to get ahead. You've been divorced from yer thoughts an' instincts as a Campione thanks to yer incomplete Ritual of Usurpation, but now you've managed ta get everything linked together, yer thoughts'll start bein' more Campione-like. Ya can guard yerself from foreign thoughts all very well...but ya can't guard yerself from yer own thoughts, not all the time, not even most of th' time. My advice? Lemme get back ta ya on that..."

Unfortunately, as was the usual with Argo/Hosaka Tomo, her words had proven correct just earlier today, when he'd met her to go and visit Asuna, and his mind had instantly identified her as 'his' ninja-mage. The smug and knowing look that she'd given him when he'd informed her of that was so familiar that he'd accepted it as his due.

"Told ya so, Kii-bou." she'd said. "An' it ain't like yer instincts aren't right on the money on this one; I swore myself to yer service last night, so by all means, think'a me as yours. Jus' wait 'till we get Aa-chan's on board wit' the whole 'Campione' thing before tryin' anything more intimate though; I like not havin' my skin full'a puncture wounds thank you very much!"

The evil cackle she'd let out as he'd flushed proved that she'd been at least half-joking, but he'd also deduced that she was serious about part of it; she didn't want to hurt Asuna and was deliberately manoeuvring things so that she would be seen as the 'mistress' as opposed to Asuna's 'wife' position to mage society. A part of his mind had rumbled approvingly about her 'knowing her place', but he shut it up quick, fast and in a hurry.

Kazuto knew that he had to find a way to break all this to Asuna, but he really didn't know how to. He had a bad feeling that something was bound to happen that would forcibly reveal things to her if he did nothing; that was just the kind of luck that he had.

Pulling to a halt in front of his house, he blinked as the sight of a familiar head of light-brown hair tied into short twintails standing in front of his front door. The girl wore a light tan jacket, light brown skirt, white socks, and black Mary Janes. When she turned around upon hearing the light groan of his brakes working, a pair of warm brown eyes looked up at him, set in an all too familiar face.

"S-Silica?!" Kazuto blurted out in shock, even as a grinning Tomo hopped off his bike.

"K-Kirito-san!" the girl replied happily. "I-It's good to see you again!"

"Kirigaya Kazuto." he reintroduced himself as he dismounted from his bike. "But you can just call me Kazuto, alright? Let me put my bike away and I'll let you in."

"O-OK!" the young girl agreed. Though she was actually the same age as Sugu, fourteen, wasn't she? Maybe a year younger at most? Not really a 'young girl' at any rate, particularly given his own age. Plus, she was a fellow survivor of SAO; no one who was just a 'kid' could survive in that Death Game unless they stayed in the Town of Beginnings.

And the young dragon tamer certainly hadn't done that.

After Kazuto had put his bike away safely, let the two girls into the house and made them some tea, he looked at his-honey-haired friend pointedly.

"Tomo, is Silica the person you were expecting?" he asked pointedly.

"Right on the nose, your majesty. Silica, or Ayano Keiko, here is also a member of the supernatural world. As a point o' fact, she is a 'Lesser' Hime-Miko." Tomo answered with a nod.

Hime-Miko. Kazuto paused to mentally review the quick and dirty rundown of the various major 'types' of magic users Tomo had given him the previous day. Hime-Miko were apparently the highest-ranking form of Miko, each born with naturally powerful magical aptitudes and at least one form of innate supernatural ability. All these abilities apparently stemmed from them being descended from Divine Ancestors, fallen Earth Mother Goddesses that have lost all their Divine Power and Authorities and were reborn and forced to walk among mankind until their powers were restored.

"How can she be a 'Lesser' Hime-Miko?" he asked in confusion a moment later. "I mean you're either a Hime-Miko or just a regular Miko, right?"

The girl herself flushed slightly. "I…Not all powers inherited by Hime-Miko are judged to have the same value, Kazuto-sama. Those who inherit powerful abilities like the Mariya Yuri-sama's [Spirit Vision], Mariya Hikari-sama's [Disaster Purification] or Seishūin Ena-sama's [Divine Possession] are held in extremely high regard and often regarded as 'True' or 'Divine' Hime-Miko. My own ability is far more…fluid."

"Fluid?" Kazuto blinked in confusion.

"Her power is called [Divine Servitude], Kii-bou." Tomo put in simply, resting a comforting hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "It's a power that's effectiveness is based almost entirely on who she is using it on at the moment. It basically acts as a powerful amplifier for any other form of magic. If she was to be in service of a Witch, she would be able to aid in the castin' of their rituals with other effects based on whether the Witch in question was a Witch of Earth, or a Witch of the Heavens. If she were to serve a normal mage, she'd simply act as an enhancer, increasin' the power an' effectiveness of any spells they cast. Since her power is entirely based on others and can't really be used on its own, it is viewed as 'lower' than the power of a True Hime-Miko. Thus the 'Lesser' Hime-Miko title; too powerful to be considered a regular Miko but not powerful enough ta be counted as a full Hime-Miko."

Kazuto's eyes darkened as he considered just how an ability like that would be 'used' if they were still stuck in SAO. The resulting images, combined with his young friend's apparent nervousness, were not pleasing the young Campione. "…Keiko-chan, correct me if I'm wrong, but have people been treating you as more of a commodity than as a person?" he asked flatly, his eyes darkening noticeably.

"Y-Yes, that is more or less how it has always been." Keiko offered, face downcast and doing her best not to meet his eyes. "M-My parents have tried to help, but no one in our immediate family are that highly ranked in the HCC, so they haven't been able to stop the more influential families from 'requisitioning' me for 'important' tasks. And I don't know any of the other high-ranking Hime-Miko to seek out their protection. Even appealing to Sayanomiya Kaoru-sama isn't an option, since she is still trying to assert her own control over the HCC after her sudden appointment due to her grandfather, the previous head's sudden, unexpected death a few years before SAO happened."

Death via choking on a fish bone was not how anyone expected one of Japan's most politically powerful mages to go. It would have honestly been humorous if the power scrambling that had followed weren't causing so much chaos.

A twitch over his right eyes was the only physical sign that Kazuto was now angry. Anger like this wasn't all that new to him, he'd run into a number of scumbags in Aincrad who'd managed to ignite his temper. The selfish, murderous idiots that had made up the Orange Guild [Titan's Hand] who had stubbornly refused to acknowledge the seriousness of the Death Game were just one example. And just thinking about [Laughing Coffin], that band of lunatics who rejoiced in the 'joy' of murder, and its three leading psychopaths in particular, was enough to get his blood to start to boil.

But this? Treating a girl, the same age as HIS Sugu, as if she were nothing more than a piece of property, some kind of servant or slave for them to do with as they please!? It was wrong, just plain fucking wrong, and he was going to put a stop to it right the damn hell now!

"I see." he stated evenly, doing his best to keep his temper under heel. "Tomo, I think I have a few things to add to the agenda when you meet with the HCC. What's the best way we can make everyone who treated Keiko-chan like property pay for it and make sure they can't ever try and do it again."

Even as Keiko looked up at him in something akin to awe, Tomo merely smirked. She'd known he'd react just like this. For a guy obsessed with black, Kii-bou really couldn't help but play the white knight. "Best bet? She just needs ta swear herself to you, Kii-bou. Oaths sworn to Heretic Gods and Campione are unbreakable an' only a complete idiot would try to pull something on a Hime-Miko who has sworn herself to a Godslayer. And as her master, you'd be well within yer rights to demand compensation on her behalf; with the HCC unable to do jack-all but bow their heads and accept it."

"Keiko-chan, what do you think of that?" Kazuto asked, turning to the girl in question. "This isn't something that you should take lightly, particularly if these oaths are unbreakable…"

The former Beast Tamer rapidly shook her head, causing her twintails to practically whip through the air. "I-I'm completely fine with that, Kazuto-sama! I trust you completely!" she offered, her face starting to rapidly turn red. "Y-You saved me in SAO, and I just knew you'd help now, and I…I don't think you're the type who'd ever mistreat one of your subordinates. I'm…I'm just really, really happy right now, especially since we got to keep our promise…"

"Promise?" Tomo asked, an eyebrow quirking upwards in curiosity.

"We promised that we'd meet again IRL once SAO had been cleared." Kazuto offered as he gave Keiko a warm smile. The girl really did remind him of Sugu when she was younger, which just added more fuel to the smouldering rage he was feeling right now. He was starting to agree with Tomo, it sounded like someone needed to put the HCC in its place, and apparently as a Campione he was just the person to do so.

"What about your parents, Keiko? Will they be alright with this?" he asked a moment later.

"I-I honestly think that they'll just be glad if I'm out from under the HCC." Keiko answered, sighing tiredly. "They've done everything they could to hold off any attempts to 'requisition' me since I was still recovering from SAO, but that won't work for much longer. But no one would dare stand against a Campione if he says 'no.' Plus, I'm actually kind of curious. I've never served a Campione before, so maybe my power will be useful to you."

'Jeez, Kii-bou. How th' heck do ya keep makin' girls fall for ya like this?' Tomo internally groused to herself, easily noting the eyes the younger girl was making towards her 'king.' She had pretty much accepted that she'd end up as part of his 'harem', but she hadn't expected the 'Servile Hime-Miko' to swear herself so easily to him, at least not so soon. Yes, she'd known that Kii-bou had saved Ayano Keiko/Silica in Aincrad, and that the girl had ended up practically starstruck by the older boy, but she would have thought that the fact he'd become a Campione would've put some degree of hesitation into the girl.

Evidently, she had badly underestimated how hard her fellow magic user had fallen for her old beta buddy. 'Argo the Rat' had worked with the Mid-Liner 'Silica the Dragon Tamer' every now and again, especially after [Titan's Hand] had been sent to rot in the Black Iron Castle (Which reminded her, she'd have to make sure that particular band of asshats hadn't gotten off scot-free after SAO ended. Prosecuting crimes committed in Aincrad was difficult, but if the legal system couldn't deal with it then Tomo wasn't above causing a bit of 'extrajudicial' punishment.). She had been nervous and a bit naïve, but a fairly solid, reliable fighter all-in-all, especially with that little dragon of hers healing her. Their mutual acquaintance in Kirito the Black Swordsman had come up a couple of times, and Silica had actually paid her a fairly nice fee in col for news on his exploits.

'Still somethin' ain't addin' up here. There has got ta be more than a really bad case of puppy love pushin' her ta swear herself right off the bat like this.' Tomo thought in consternation, before a grim suspicion came to her mind. "Keiko, someone ain't tryin' ta force ya into going through with an Omiai are they?"

"Eep!" the brunette squeaked out, face flushing. "H-How'd you know?!"

"Call it woman's intuition." she responded dryly. "Who is it? It wouldn't be the Sayanomiya, Seishūin or Kuhōtsuka so I'd guess it was the Renjō, or maybe one of their branch families. Some of the mid-level ones would definitely be ambitious enough to try this kind of thing and likely have enough clout to actually accomplish it."

"Why just eliminate three of the Four Families like that?" Kazuto asked.

"The Sayanomiya an' Seishūin already have strong Hime-Miko bloodlines in them. Pulling this kind of shit to get another, particularly a 'Lesser' one, wouldn't be worth the blowback they'd face if it became publicly known. The Kuhōtsuka actually disdain the idea of addin' Hime-Miko to their family lines, so they're right out." Tomo explained, ticking off her fingers. "That leaves the Renjō as the most likely suspects, particularly since they're th' weakest positioned as far as the Four Families go. The Sayanomiya are the think tank, the Kuhōtsuka are the spell repository, and the Seishūin are the link with Susano'o no Mikoto, the former Heretic God who acts as the protector of Japan in the Interstice. The Renjō only gained a position because they were the largest and wealthiest mage clan around at th' time, they didn't add anything unique to the table. That's left some of them feeling a bit…inadequate compared ta the other houses and there's been rumours goin' about that they've been tryin' to add new 'talent' to their bloodlines for a while now. Addin' a Hime-Miko, even a 'lesser' one like the 'Servile Hime-Miko,' to their house would certainly help better entrench them…or so they think anyway."

"It…It's pretty much just how Hosaka-san has said." Keiko agreed, noticeably drooping. "The Ayano family are actually descendants of the Renjō, albeit very distant descendants. From what my own and my mother's research found, one of my great, great grandparents was a runaway member of the Seishūin and that is where my Hime-Miko blood comes from. Despite nearly all of us being mages, my family has always had little to do with magical affairs; my grandfather was a chemist, for example. We've always had little to no interactions with the HCC outside what was required of us, at least until I was born, and my abilities came in. We simply don't have the clout to turn down an Omiai from a clan as powerful and prestigious as the Renjō, not unless I'm claimed by someone who is superior to them..."

"Like a Campione." the black-haired Godslayer finished with a nod of understanding. "Why not tell us this from the start then, Keiko? Why try and hide it?"

"I'm already asking you to take me in to keep me from being used for whatever limited abilities I possess as a Hime-Miko, and I can at least make up for that by trying to use them to help you." the brunette girl muttered, staring down at the table. "I didn't want to be pitied any more than I already am."

Kazuto softly got up and walked around to her, before reaching out and gently patting her on the head, making the girl go scarlet.

"K-Kirito-san?!" she squeaked.

"Keiko, we are in no way pitying you." he stated firmly. "We're angry as hell that someone is daring to treat our friend like this. Right, Tomo?"

"Yeh got that right!" the Last of the Hosaka piped in, smirk far sharper now. "This kind of bullshit should'a been done away with decades ago! Kii-bou, I've got an idea how to pull a good ol' one-two fait accompli, think you're up fer a bit of formal letter writing?"

As the Black Godslayer nodded, Keiko felt the last of her restraint shatter before she hugged the boy who had saved her once before and was now going to save her again, sobbing uncontrollably as she did so. As Kazuto was comforting the distressed Miko, Tomo quietly slipped out to grab a few bits of formal paper from the bag she'd hidden in the boy's room, giving the girl she was willing to bet would wind up being her King's second mistress time to compose herself properly.

Two Days Later

Meeting Room, History Compilation Committee Headquarters

"I'm sorry, what?" Sayanomiya Kaoru asked blankly.

"Hosaka Tomo-san is here, stating that she is acting as an envoy for the newest Campione!" the messenger, one of the many mid-level members that acted as the council's aids, assistants, and general gofers, repeated anxiously looking between the four nervously. "What should we do?"

"So, he took her in, as expected..." the Kuhōtsuka representative stated with a grim nod.

"You actually thought he might not?" the Renjō representative asked with a scoff. "Why did it have to be a damned teenager? Horny brats…"

"Kindly refrain from habitually insulting someone who could very well turn out to be our new liege lord, Renjō." the Seishūin representative shot her fellow elder a disapproving look.

"Invite her in immediately!" Kaoru ordered, snapping the entire room back into focus. "Have her guided to us at once! And by all the gods, make sure her escorts are respectful!"

"Hai!" the messenger fled the room at once.

"So, what do you imagine this new Campione has sent her to us for?" Renjō mused thoughtfully.

"I couldn't say, though it will doubtlessly include some form of demand on behalf of the Hosaka girl. Even a Campione couldn't gain the loyalty of that one without doing some form of bargaining." Kuhōtsuka said knowingly.

"Hmm..." Seishūin frowned in thought. "Have you made any progress in finding the truth of that matter, Kaoru-sama?"

"Unfortunately, the librarians have proven to be stubborn asses and are digging their heels in about me not interfering in an 'internal matter.' I've had to threaten the entire lot of them with punitive measures if they do not sit down and begin choosing a new Head Librarian, but even with that it'll still be another few days before I can finally get those journals." the bifauxnen responded with a sigh of aggravation. "Only the properly appointed Head Librarian can undo the seals placed on the Ancestral Journals, much to my annoyance. I very much intend to change that once things calm down a bit, have no fear there. The Clan Head of the Sayanomiya should not be prohibited from accessing our own predecessors' journals simply because of a vacant position within the Clan Archives or a bunch of recalcitrant Librarians."

The other three Family Representatives nodded in agreement. They had each already looked into their own clan's traditions regarding the handling of their and their predecessors' personal histories and journals and had made such changes when necessary so that, if an incident like this occurred involving their clan's history, they or their successors would not have to suffer the issues their compatriot had.

"Announcing Hosaka Tomo-sama, acting as representative of Kirigaya Kazuto-sama, First Campione of the New Generation!" the messenger announced from the doorway. He quickly stepped aside to allow the girl herself to step through it.

Hosaka Tomo looked a lot more confident and self-assured than she had when Sayanomiya Kaoru had last seen her active and upright, at her parents' funerals. She was wearing the formal robes of the Hosaka Family, which were both decorative and practical; a walnut brown furisode kimono robe, decorated with golden thread outlining hilltops, the meaning of her family name, with the long sleeves tied back by red and gold tasuki. The hakama was plain black, and she wore plain tabi socks.

She didn't doubt that the girl was armed, though. Kaoru doubted it was more than a simple futokorogatana (chest sword), a dagger worn traditionally under a wedding kimono, but it was likely enchanted in some subtle and dangerous way. She may also had a kinchaku (purse bag) in one hand, which presumably carried whatever missive from the Campione she was asked (or ordered) to bring.

The girl's honey-blonde hair and dark brown eyes made her status as a half-blood obvious. Her father had been a Russian expatriate mage who had married into the Hosaka family, and he had done the family proud until that stupid traffic accident had killed both him and his wife. Damned Bōsōzoku trash...

"Hosaka Tomo, first mistress of King Kirigaya, greets the Four Family Heads of the History Compilation Committee on my King's behalf." the girl bowed just enough to be polite to an equal. Technically, as the envoy and direct subordinate of a Campione, she could act as a superior to even them. That she wasn't doing so, and was even putting in the effort to suppress her native accent, was something Kaoru decided to take as a promising sign.

"The Four Families of the History Compilation Committee returns the greetings of King Kirigaya and extends their congratulations on his rebirth and ascension." she responded with equal formality, stepping forward slightly. "What service may our humble organization offer to the First Campione of the New Generation?"

"On this day, I act as a courier delivering a message to the Four Families on my King's behalf." the Last of the Hosaka responded, reaching into her kinchaku and producing a tightly folded piece of paper that was marked with the paulownia symbol, the same symbol used by the office of the Japanese Prime Minister. "To briefly summarize its contents for the sake of brevity, it contains two key matters. The first is his official notice of him retroactively claiming me as his mistress and direct subordinate, as well as a demand of both proper redress and proper explanation for the four-hundred years of abuse, neglect, and outright betrayal that the Hosaka Family has suffered at the hands of the History Compilation Committee in general and the Sayanomiya Clan in particular."

'Knew it.' Kaoru thought, doing her best to keep her internal wince off her face. "Recent events have caused me to take a personal interest in that particular issue. The continuous mistreatment of the Hosaka Family originates from the actions of one of the former heads of the Sayanomiya Clan, Sayanomiya Eisuke. Upon any member of the clan being officially named as the next Clan Head, they would be forced to take a magical oath to continue the suppression and tearing down of the Hosaka as well as continuing the oath into the next generation. I was spared this fate due to my grandfather's abrupt passing before I could be officially named as the next Clan Head." Kaoru explained, doing her best to keep her voice carefully even. "We have yet to discover precisely why Eisuke went to such lengths in his vendetta against the Hosaka, but we hope to learn such by gaining access to his personal journals. However, due to the sudden descent of the Sayanomiya Clan's Chief Librarian into senility and certain…irksome Clan Traditions there have been several delays in accessing those journals, but I believe that I will have access to them and, through them, the answers to your King's questions within a week. I can only beg His Majesty to wait for my own investigation to be completed before he decides on what levies and punishments are to be placed against us."

Hosaka, who had been carefully watching Kaoru with narrowed eyes throughout the entire explanation, remained silent and still for a moment before nodding. "I believe that my King would be agreeable to such actions, so long as sufficient evidence is offered to prove that the investigation has been untainted by a desire to exonerate the Sayanomiya of their failures in its entirety."

"I will personally swear an oath that the investigation was done purely to discover why such a senseless and pointlessly vindictive action was taken against one of the Sayanomiya's best assets should King Kirigaya require it." Kaoru replied sharply. "I will also freely inform you and His Majesty that I have been looking over any and all standing directives regarding the Hosaka Family and rescinding any and all that would negatively affect them. It is four hundred years too late, but I hope that both yourself and His Majesty will accept it as at least a place to start."

"Indeed." Hosaka replied with a slow, calm nod. "I think that my King can accept that for now, though his patience is not eternal. Moving on, the second matter is in regard to the recent actions of the Renjō Clan."

"...I beg your pardon?" Renjō asked slowly, a thin sheen of sweat forming across his face as the other three Family Heads turned to lightly glare at him.

"One of the younger scions of your clan, one Renjō Tatsumi, has been consistently badgering the Ayano Family, of distant descent of both the Seishūin and Renjō Clans, into their putting their daughter, Ayano Keiko, the Servile Hime-Miko, into an Omiai." the envoy explained stonily. "Young Ayano was both a friend and a comrade of King Kirigaya's during their time in the Death Game known as Sword Art Online and he is…most displeased. Both with these most recent occurrences, and with the repeated past treatment of Ayano Keiko as a mere object to be used rather than a person."

"Why was I not informed of this? Even before I became Head of the Sayanomiya Clan, I was and still am the leader of all of the Hime-Miko in the service of the History Compilation Committee!" Kaoru demanded, her eyes coldly furious at the thought that some people had been abusing the privilege to request access to the Hime-Miko as she glared at her fellow clan head, who was already starting to grow sickly pale at the implications.

"From Ayano Keiko's own testimony and that of her parents, since your sudden rise to Clan Head it has been extremely difficult to get in touch with you." Hosaka offered delicately, not quite accusing her of incompetence but implying plenty. "His Majesty has already decided to take this matter firmly into his own hands. Ayano Keiko has sworn her loyalty to him irrevocably, so any further attempts to obtain her services, to broker an Omiai or any other such discussions will now need to go through him as her liege lord."

'So, he has basically laid claim to one of our Hime-Miko and is now daring us and anyone else with sufficiently low survival instincts to try and make demands of the mistress of a Campione. Dear gods, it's Kusanagi Godō all over again, only this one has a grudge and is even more brazen.' Kaoru silently groaned. She knew Renjō Tatsumi, by reputation if not personally; he was an arrogant, overly ambitious little so and so who was always on the lookout for some means, no matter how underhanded, that could be used to better the Renjō Clan, and thus himself by extension. Doubtless this little display of idiocy was his brainchild and a part of her knew that the hard-headed little upstart wouldn't just let this go.

She'd have words with her fellow Clan Head once this meeting ended to make sure he sat on the pompous brat, hard!

"The Four Families acknowledge the wrongs dealt against the Ayano Family." she offered allowed. "King Kirigaya has my personal assurances as leader of Japan's Hime-Miko that this situation shall be thoroughly investigated."

"Very well, however His Majesty does request that such an investigation pay particularly close attention to whether the Ayano Family, and Ayano Keiko herself in particular, received any of the appropriate financial compensation for the previous usage of her [Divine Servitude] abilities." Hosaka stated firmly. "To the best knowledge of Ayano Keiko and her parents, none of them have been recompensed in any way for the previous 'requisitions' of her abilities."

"I see." Kaoru responded coldly, steel in her voice. Even if their abilities were needed 'for the good of the nation,' all members of the History Compilation Committee, or even those magic users simply under its aegis, were entitled to be paid a fair sum for their work. The Hime-Miko in particular, due to the strain their abilities could have on their minds and bodies, were supposed to be highly compensated when their abilities were needed. The mere implication that this had not been done was an insult to all their Associations' rules regarding the treatment of their Hime-Miko. "I do not suppose I can speak with Ayano-san regarding precisely who has 'requisitioned' her abilities and when they occurred? We will need that information to cross-reference our own records, you understand."

"Of course, a list of such, written by Keiko-san's own hand, is included with the letter. It lists all times and dates when she was previously 'requisitioned' from the times her powers first awakened to the time when she became trapped within Sword Art Online, along with what names she can recall." Hosaka stated with a demure nod. "I also bear a message from my King directly to the Family Head of the Renjō: 'At the moment, all things point to these offensive actions being the result of a single, overambitious member of your Clan. As the Renjō Clan as a whole seems to be uninvolved, I shall forswear requiring punishment from them directly for the actions of their kinsman, save the requirement that you keep a firmer eye on the actions of your younger generation. However, this shall be your only warning. I treasure the comrades I found within the Floating Castle of Aincrad, and any actions or attempts against any of them will see me drawing my swords and exercising my full Authorities to see those responsible punished.' That is the message in its entirety."

The Renjō Clan Head nodded slowly, mentally screaming curses at that young idiot Tatsumi for apparently being fool enough to not see a blatant connection with the newest Godslayer before trying something this risky. "You may tell His Majesty that his message has been received and understood. Please convey both my personal gratitude and that of my Clan to King Kirigaya for his mercy, as well as my own word that I will personally see to it that Renjō Tatsumi will be disciplined for his actions. Strictly disciplined."

"I shall convey that to my King, Renjō-san." Hosaka said as she laid the letter carefully on the ground. "I must leave now, per the instructions of my King. I bid you all a good day and to remember the words of my King."

With that, the Last of the Hosaka turned and left, leaving a room filled with disorganized and stressed old people in it.

(Green Side, one Pawn lost. Maintains Full Board save for King and Queen regardless.)

Later

Penthouse Suite, Five Star Hotel, Kawagoe

"Hmmm...what an interesting board set-up." the female figure mused. She was sitting in an armchair, watching as several glowing chessboards, each set up with a limited number of pieces on a single side, floated about her. "And here's me...White Side, One Queen."

Another board shimmered into existence, with a single piece on it, joining the others in their rotation.

"Still, I can't very well fight on an even playing field like this; brute force is for power idiots like that fool Mars." the woman remarked. "I see that I shall have to acquire pieces of my own first. The mages that make up this land will do nicely. Yes...nicely indeed..."

With a click of her fingers, the boards vanished, plunging the room into darkness once again.

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Next Chapter: Tomo, Asuna and Keiko

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