Author's Notes: This is a sort of unsettling chapter and I meant it to be. I can't let you all get too comfortable, right? I'm sure you'll be glad to hear also that we're getting to the last chapters here. Drama off the port bow.

Wonderland of My Own Making
Chapter Eleven

Kenji had never been more confused in his life.

"What do you mean?" he whispered, still feeling the icy cold fingers of fear around his heart. He moved Akira back slightly so he could look into her eyes. "What do you mean our son saved you?"

She gave a hiccupping sort of laugh, as if even she were having a hard time understanding what she was saying. "In the game, when Sasuke called me, Brill had him. He tried to fight me but the tattoo came to life." She clapped a hand over her heart where the blue rayed star graced her skin within The World. "It saved me. Our son saved me."

Kenji's head hurt. "Wait, wait, how do you know this?"

His wife smiled. "I just know. He's a part of me and, somehow, when we went back into the game, he came with me." She shook her head in wonder. "Even Bith didn't know what the mark meant, right?" She gripped his hand tightly. "I don't know how it happened but it did. Our son fought for me." Her eyes widened slightly. "I…I never saw what happened to Brill, or Sasuke…"

He took a breath, his first in minutes, and glanced at their computers. "If it's true…" His heart thumped in his chest at the thought. "If it's true it might be too dangerous for you to go back in." At her sound of protest, he turned back to her, his expression the most determined she had ever seen it. "I mean it, Kira. Until we figure this out, I'm not letting you go back." Her mouth snapped shut and she nodded, though grudgingly. He released her. "Good. I'm going to go make sure Kazu is alright. I left him alone with Dagger." He squeezed her hand and then slid back into his chair, pulling his headset back on as Akira stood behind him, one hand on his shoulder.

The World tilted back into view and Kite opened his eyes to find Kazu on the ground, paralyzed, and the Moderator gone.

Pulling a restorative item from his inventory, Kite gave it to Kazu and watched the Wave Master sputter back into movement, his wand coming up defensively as if still fighting Dagger.

Kite sighed in relief and spoke aloud for Akira's benefit. "Kazu's alright. Dagger's gone though." Returning his attention to the bewildered Wave Master, Kite helped the younger man stand up. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Kazu shook his head, perplexed. "I could ask you the same thing. One minute you're here, the next your mind is somewhere else and Dagger decides he's had enough questioning." He rubbed the side of his head as if remembering a particularly hard blow. "He clocked me a good one and then used my own card on me. I didn't see where he went."

"It's alright," Kite reassured him. "We got what we wanted." He glanced upwards, his eyes trained on a field far away from that one. "Listen, will you be okay on your own? I have to check on someone else."

Kazu nodded, still mystified but trusting Kite's decisions. "Sure. I think I'm going to log out anyway. Take a breather. Let me know if you need me?"

The Twin Blade nodded. "Of course." He clapped his brother-in-law on the shoulder. "Thank you for your help. I'll have Akira email you when she can." Then he turned his head slightly, speaking to her in the real world. "What was the field you went to?"

Her reply came quickly. "Lambda Nameless Forbidden Holy Ground."

With a quick teleport he left the field, stopping only briefly at the Chaos Gate in order to input his keywords. When he finally arrived at the storm-strewn landscape, he was more than prepared for what he saw.

Sasuke stood over the prone figure of Brill, raindrops sliding down his pale gold hair and pinging off his drawn broadsword. His young face was a mask of concentration, his white-knuckled grip on his hilt making the sword tremble in his hands. Not ten feet away, BlackRose lay sprawled in the wet grass as if she had been struck down, her User gone.

Kite stood silently for a moment, realizing the delicate nature of the situation, and his whisper was for his wife's ears alone. "Log out, Kira." He felt her nod and leave him and within moments gold rings descended on BlackRose, the character disappearing.

The movement startled Sasuke who jerked, eyes wide, tears in his lashes. Kite felt his heart go out to the boy and made his voice soft and comforting.

"She's alright, you know. She's safe."

Sasuke whirled, frightened, but Kite didn't move, simply watching as the Heavy Blade got himself under control, lowering his sword until it's tip was buried in the earth. He leaned against it heavily, out of breath, and it was only then that Kite realized he was badly injured.

"Pha Repth," Kite murmured. Sasuke exhaled and stood up straight, his expression clearing.

"Thank you," he said quietly before looking away, shame coloring his features. "I don't deserve it. She wouldn't have come if it wasn't for me."

Finally, Kite stepped forward, a wry look on his face. "You don't know her very well then. She would have come anyway, just to be stubborn." Sasuke looked up at his words and Kite grimaced as his User received a punch in the shoulder from Akira. "You couldn't help what happened." He glanced down at Brill, who looked to be unconscious. The Heavy Blade followed his gaze.

"I wanted to kill him," Sasuke said softly. "If anyone deserves to be PK'd, it's him, but I…" He laughed miserably. "I couldn't do it. Even when he's like this, I can't do it."

"That only means you are an honorable person," Kite replied truthfully. "I would have been disappointed if you had PK'd him. It would mean changing my opinion of you."

It took Sasuke a moment to realize what he was saying, but when he did, the Heavy Blade's expression lightened. A little of his guilt lifted from his shoulders.

"Well, what should we do with him then?"

"We'll leave him," Kite answered immediately. "His User is probably just stunned." He frowned slightly, realizing he didn't know that for sure. What had Akira meant when she said their son had fought for her? "He'll be back to normal when he comes around, and the others might be looking for him." He caught Sasuke's eyes. "Log out for now. I'll contact everyone once I get everything straight."

The Heavy Blade nodded, paused, and then smiled weakly. "Will you… tell her I said I'm sorry?"

Kite's answer was direct. "She already knows."

Hours later, lying in bed with his wife, Kenji was no less confused. He was, however, over the massive scare he had received and completely relaxed in the circle of Akira's arms, her head against his chest as he drew meaningless patterns on her shoulder. His eyes had been trained on the ceiling for the last few minutes, his mind hard at work going over all the events of the day. It was now well into the early hours of morning and he still hadn't managed to fall asleep. Of course, neither had Akira and the thought both worried and comforted him.

He had never really been comfortable with the idea of her going into the game in her condition. After all the comatose patients, the stories of a player's mind trapped in The World, the deletions, the strange occurrences, he had been unsure of what might happen to her. Now, with the knowledge that his son was somehow a part of Akira whenever she became BlackRose… Well, it didn't make him rest any easier. It was wonderful that he had protected her, but all the same, Kenji would have been much happier if it hadn't been necessary.

"Be quiet," his wife commanded sleepily against him. "You're thinking too loud."

He smiled slightly. "I thought you had finally drifted off."

She snuggled deeper into his side. "I can't." This time he heard the frustration in her voice. "I keep remembering that flash of blue light." Her arm tightened protectively around her belly and she lifted her head slightly to look at him. "How do you think this happened?"

He exhaled softly. "I don't know. I'm not sure if anyone does. After all, lots of incredible things have happened within The World." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "I do know that I don't want you going back in anytime soon. At least not until we know what the Moderators are going to do," he added, to silence any of her protests. Surprisingly, she had none.

"I agree," she answered, lying her head back down again. "In a couple days it will be seven months. I don't want to take any chances."

Kenji closed his eyes. "Me neither."

"I want— " She bit off her next word and curled in on herself, a harsh intake of air making him look over at her in concern.

"What is it?"

"A cramp or something." She breathed out heavily, her body relaxing once again. "It's over."

Kenji reached over and laid a hand on her stomach, concentrating, and so he felt the next muscle movement clearly. He sat upright immediately, wide awake as Akira gritted her teeth, her face scrunched in discomfort.

"They're not too bad," she said, when she could talk normally again. "I'm alright, I think. The doctor said most women have light contractions during their pregnancies. He called it 'practice'." She rolled her eyes, obviously preparing a nice retort to the doctor when she saw him again.

Ten minutes later, doubled over on their bed, Akira looked up at him with a grim expression.

"We need to go to the hospital."

"False labor," the doctor reported as he stepped out into the waiting room, a gentle smile on his face as Kenji felt his heart start beating again. "It's not uncommon and the contractions have stopped. The baby is in perfect health."

Relief never felt so good. "Thank you," Kenji said whole-heartedly. "May I see her?"

"Of course, although I must remind you that what she needs now is rest free from stress." He patted Kenji on the shoulder in farewell. "I'll send someone with the paperwork."

Taking a deep breath, Kenji headed into the emergency room Akira occupied, knocking softly on the door before stepping inside. His wife greeted him with a brave smile.

"It was nothing," she said before he managed to open his mouth, "And we're both alright." She held out her hand and he clasped it, leaning over to kiss her gently. "So quit worrying," she added as they broke apart.

His only answer was to squeeze her hand.

To be continued…