Ugggggggh. This was sooooooo hard to write. So, I apologize for the absolute crap I decided to call a chapter. I mean, I thought it would be easy, but, nooooooooooo. It just didn't want to come and I made you guys wait soo long, that I feel very stupid for not updating for a while. Ugh. I am sooooo not happy with this chapter, but oh well. I made you guys wait too long.

Thanks to Guest, Roxas fleur, Teal96ko (I'm sooooo sorry for jacking up this chapter! D:), AW27, Tasaiya, randomation57, Pixelgirl8000, Anomonist, InvisableTarget, Yuu3, Impstar, DemonFoxBK201, Anju Makaa, SpringStars, Faliara, Sn0wk1tty, and Shizuka Tsukishima749 for reviewing last chapter!

Oh and I just realized how sad this story was when I reread my story while listening to the English version of "Departures" (Tasaiya's dare...? Or suggestion?) and "Summertime Record" in English and Japanese. Fudge, I cried. Goddess-damn I cried. Is that wrong?

Again, I apologized for this sorry excuse of a chapter.

DISCLAIMER: Hahaha, as if I own this.

Chapter 17: The Gift of A Lifetime

"We're here!" Kirito announced as the small group of three arrived on the 47th floor. Silica gasped at the beautiful scenery before her. Fields of flowers stretched as far as the eye could see. There were several varieties of colors that made Kirito grin. Patches of yellow, blue, green, any color at all. He watched Silica take several steps before him and Klein and take in the sights.

"It's so pretty!" Silica breathed as a small yellow bird fluttered by. Kirito walked up to her and patted her head with a smile.

"Yup! There's so many varieties of flowers here that you could find in reality. Even some from other countries." he stated rather matter-of-factly. He led her to a patch of blue flowers near by and picked a bundle of blue. "Like this one."

"Eh? I don't recognise this one…" Silica said as she stared at it. She perked up for a second. "Wait, are these hydrangeas?"

Kirito nodded. "Right." He handed the bundle of hydrangeas to Silica. She took it as Klein placed his hands on his hip.

"Since when did you know about flowers?" he asked Kirito. The teen gave him a weird look.

"I read it in a book when I was younger." he explained. Klein just hummed as he began to lead the way. Kirito and Silica followed close by.

._._._._._.

"Are you suuuuure you want to do this by yourself?" Kirito asked for the umpteenth time. Silica placed her hands on her hip and gave a confident smile.

"Yup!" she affirmed as she fist pumped the air. "I want to prove that I'm not a burden to Kirito-nii-san and Oji-san!"

Klein stumbled a step and glared at Kirito, who struggled to hold in a laugh. "Oji-san?! I'm twenty-four! I'm not old!"

Silica laughed and ran ahead of them as they continued down the paved road. Nearby players were either ignoring them or glancing at the odd group. Not caring about making a scene, Kirito jumped onto Klein's back to prevent the Guild Leader from storming after Silica. Klein cried out when he face planted the road with a loud smack. Kirito winced at the sound, wondering if he actually injured the man instead. But then, reminded himself that Klein didn't feel pain, so he smiled as he crossed his legs and made himself comfortable on Klein's back.

"Let me go, Kirito!" Klein demanded. Silica stopped not to far away, giving the two a confused look. Kirito stretched his arms above his head and yawned.

"Hmm? I think I heard something. Was that Klein?" he asked as he brought a hand to the crown of his head and looked in several directions with mock wonder. "Kleeeiiin! Where are you?"

Kirito couldn't help but smile as Silica shook her head in amusement.

"Kirito!" he yelled. Kirito laughed as he finally got off of Klein and held a hand toward him to help him up. Klein took his hand and he was pulled up by Kirito.

"Sorry," Kirito apologized with a smile. Klein sighed but ended up waving it off.

"It makes me wonder how I can deal with you..." he said with a frown. Kirito shook his head.

"I wonder the same thing sometimes…" he said as he waved to Silica, who was waving her arms over her head, telling them to hurry up. They shared a quick look (Klein was scowling while Kirito smirked) before continuing on their way with Silica leading the way.

They continued on for a little while with Kirito offering childish games to play to keep Silica entertained (as if all the flowers weren't enough already). Each time they encountered a monster, Klein and Kirito would stand by with their hands hovering over their swords. But, luckily, Silica was able to manage on her own. She was able to gain two levels as a reward. Of course, she was proud of it and began to gain a bit more confidence. All in all, things were going fine. Well, until this particular monster...

"Kyaaaaaaah!" Silica screamed as she was grabbed by the ankle and was struggling to keep her short skirt down. Klein's eyes widened while Kirito was distracted by something else. A small butterfly fluttered past him, catching his attention quickly. Without even a word, he followed the little butterfly, easily slipping away from Klein without even realizing it himself.

He strayed completely off the path and soon found himself surrounded by a small forest he never noticed before. But, as he followed the butterfly, he couldn't help the urgency he felt. He just knew he had to follow the butterfly. Kirito stumbled to a stop when his surroundings suddenly became open. He found himself at the edge of a clearing in the forest. But, oddly, he wasn't alone.

There, right smack in the middle of the clearing playing with the butterfly with its sheathed paws, was a beautiful lion with golden fur and a lovely shade of orange mane. Kirito was rooted to the spot, watched the lion gracefully leapt at the butterfly. His jaw slacked.

"What the…?" he began. The lion suddenly stopped playing with the butterfly and turned to face him. Kirito quickly raised his hands up in defense incase the lion was going to tackle him, but it didn't. They stared at each other for a long moment. Kirito bit his lip as he looked at the health bar floating next to the lion's head. He read the name.

≪Shiku≫

"S-Shiku...?" Kirito stammered. The lion, Kyo, acted immediately. It leapt from its haunches and pinned Kirito to the ground with an uncharacteristic mew of delight. Kirito yelled in shock as the lion practically buried its face in his chest.

"Waah! No, wait! Stop! That tickles!" Kirito begged the lion as he struggled to get up. He was able to finally sit up while the lion kept cuddling him. He was completely shocked when the lion settled next to his left leg and laid its heavy head on his lap. Kirito's hands were high above his head, afraid to even touch the lion.

"Exactly what is up with you?!" Kirito asked as he tried to scoot away from the lion. Oddly, the lion got up and curled around him and gave an "affectionate" lick. Well, Kirito flinching from the wet, rough tongue of the lion licking the whole right side of his face. "Waugh! Gross!"

The lion seemed to be laughing as it shook its head and relaxed with a low, content growl rumbling from its throat. Kirito leaned slightly away for a moment to stare at the lion. Strangely, he couldn't feel that scared anymore. If anything, it was as if the lion just wanted to befriend him. Swallowing nervously, he gingerly reached over to the lion and gently placed a hand in between its ears. It growled happily as its eyes dropped. Kirito felt a little braver and began to run both his hands through the lions soft fur.

"Shiku…" he said as he glanced at the lion's name. Suddenly, without a warning, a picture of a cute, stuffed lion that looked eerily like the lion before him flashed in his head. His hands froze when everything finally clicked into place. He leapt to his feet and grabbed the lion's head to get a good look.

"Shiku?" he breathed as his eyes took in the lion's soft features. "Are you Shiku?"

The lion sunk into Kirito's grasp, answering the teen's question. Kirito breathed out an airy laugh of surprise as he couldn't help but wrap his arms around the lion's neck. The lion rolled to its side, dragging Kirito onto its stomach. Kirito wanted to just stay there and forget about the world for a short moment.

Shiku. He could still remember how his stuffed lion felt in his arms. The golden lion that kept staring at him day after day had became real before him. The lion that had been there since the day his Aki-nii-chan made that promise...that promise he actually kept.

He didn't understand why, but for some reason, Akihiko had created Shiku into a real lion. Shiku was no longer a doll that heard each and every cry of pain, felt every tear that soaked its artificial fur, watched him sleep through every night, and was there to witness a close-knit family. So, why? Why did the creator of SAO bring his lion into this game? Is Shiku under Aki-nii's control? Or was Shiku an AI?

Kirito closed his eyes and relished his short moment of peace. He grip on his lion tightened. He knew he had to go back soon. He left Klein and Silica on their own, and he knew it was just a matter of time before they come crash-

"Kirito!"

He sighed and reluctantly got up, petting Shiku's ear. Just how was he going to explain this to Klein? Shiku rolled onto his paws and gave Kirito another lick.

"Oh, he sooo going to love this…" Kirito muttered, his voice heavy with sarcasm.

Yuuuuuuup, like I said, it was crappy. Reeeeeaaaaally crappy. So um... feel free to bash this chapter. Or tell me what you guys thought. Oh and before I forget, I have two things to tell ya! Or maybe three...

1) Okay, I noticed that many of you guys have been asking me to do more chapters on the outside world. So, here's my proposal. Either every two chapters or every other chapter, There would be a chapter about Suguha, Yuuki (mother's Rosario), Midori and her husband, Rinko, Akihiko, and whoever else shows up. Sound good? Well, you guys choose. But for sure, I am so going to finish the little mission Kirito has right now.

2) I know I put up another story called "The Two Swordsmasters" , and that one is like...OLD, so yeah, it'll be updated pretty quickly and should be finished shortly. So, if you guys like, you can feel free to check it out. :D It's really sad though. I kinda cried while writing that a year ago...ish.

Oh, and there was a three. 3) Halloween SHORT one-shots For all three SAO Stories. Titles? Dual Blade: The Wonders of Glitches, Prince of Aincrad: The Ghost in the Gardens, and Two Swordsmasters: Kirito's Little Brother's Not So Nice Friend In The House.

Well, later! And, sorry for the crappy chapter.

-CloudyLightning

P.S.: Anyone wanna guess what Shiku means WITHOUT searching it up first? :D

Oops, forgot Preview.

"So, you're telling me that this...lion is your stuffed animal in real life?!" Klein practically exploded. Kirito pretended not to flinch at Klein's steadily growing stress level and smiled happily.

"Yup! You either love him or hate him, because even I can't tell him to give me space." he said as he struggled to push the golden lion away to get some breathing room. Unfortunately, it wasn't working.