Some of the below has been taken from the anime, I do not own SAO, and all credit is due to Reki Kawahara.

Hi thanks for reading the last two chapters. The plot should be picking up, in this chapter, or if not this one, the next one. Keep in mind that I am new to this, but I'm trying to speed it up, and make more happen, less tell and more show.

I don't see this as being a just a 10 chapter thing, I want to try to write something that is the right length to tell the story, and I am trying to make each chapter over a thousand words. At the same time, I only have a general idea of what I want to happen, so a lot of brainstorming is going on along the way. I'll try to keep the updates frequent, but I can't say that there will always be an update a day.

If anyone has anything they think would be awesome, PM me or put it in the reviews and I'll see what I can do. Thanks for your patience, and as always, PLEASE REVIEW.

Edit: Edited 3

"It isn't true right?"

She cried desperately, hoping with all of her heart that what Kirito had revealed to the clearers was wrong. She stared at Heathcliff, looking for something that would tell her that it was all a lie, that it was all some sick joke. Her voice wavered, cracking as she repeated herself, crying at him

"It's not true right?!"

He just stared impassively, eyes cool slate, emotionless, as if they weren't discussing his true identity and ultimately his allegiance to the people that completely outnumbered him didn't deign to answer her, just looking around him as if they weren't fit to look at him. An overconfidence bordering on arrogance. He didn't speak a word.

Shocked Asuna could do nothing but stumble back. Kirito's waiting arms reaching for her as she began her descent.

"Why?"

Asuna queried wretchedly, she had fought for her life with him at her side. Back when she had been a soulless stoic figure, no hope for the future, she had had nothing. Then Kirito had come. He gave her something to look forward to other than her imminent demise. Then he left to fight by himself. She wanted to be like him, carefree, but living with a mission. So she did something with herself, gave herself a purpose; She had joined the Knights of the Blood. They were fighting for the betterment of the innocents, for the total of Aincrad's prisoners. To say she was crushed was an understatement. They were fighting minutes ago side by side, and now he was an enemy. This was too much. She wanted everything to stop. She needed to think.

But things were happening too fast

Howard went after him sword first; everyone went down, no one could interfere with his wishes. Above every single life bar except for Heathcliff and Kirito, was the tiny lightning bolt symbol that spelled death for any soloer. The paralysis symbol, with it in effect, no one could move a muscle. Her own limbs were limp and numb, not responding to any of her commands.

But she forced herself to pay attention to the conversation between Heathcliff and Kirito. He was playing the devil's advocate. Impressed with Kirito's abilities to discern his true identity he was giving Kirito the option to fight him now for the right to leave the game.

"Kirito, don't fight him, we'll make our way out of here together!"

But he wasn't listening. She could tell what thoughts were playing through his head; "Why did everyone have to die?"; "I can save everyone from further pain.", "I have the power to free everyone", "even if something were to happen to me…", "I don't want any more people to get hurt." She knew her husband.

"You'll come back right?!" She pleaded, watching Kirito's face harden with determination, arms loosening around her waist, body already tensing in preparation for battle. His eyes darkened, flecks of gold apparent that were normally invisible apparent. He was hesitating, he wasn't going to answer her. No. Then suddenly his features softened a bit, and he replied quietly

"I will return to you Asuna."

Her eyes widened, and then her face also tightened and she did the only thing she could. She decided to believe in him, she wouldn't be the one to pull him down.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

It was all she and the others could do to watch, unable to act as one of their own risked everything for freedom.

Not long after, swords flashed, she didn't know when they started, or how long that they had been fighting, but they were evenly matched.

Normally she would be appalled at herself for her lack of concentration, but for some reason her consciousness occasionally flickered in and out of awareness. Swords flashed, Kirito dashing forward light glaring off of Elucidator and Dark Repulser as he flew at Heathcliff. The swords clashed, both bladed edges keening on contact, eager for the blood of their master's enemies. He was fighting for not only his life, but her life, and the lives in everyone else in SAO. Nothing had changed, except with the ending being a forgone conclusion, they would win. With someone else's wellbeing on the line, there was no way that he would fail them.

She stared at the flashing blades, fighting their dance of death, trying to discern any differences in skill between the two. It seemed that no matter what, Kirito was faster in movement, and had a higher reaction speed. Heathcliff on the other hand was more like tank. While Kirito was no fragile speedster, he couldn't compete with the overwhelming superiority of the Heathcliff's health and armor ratings. He had stamina, HP, and plenty of armor, and somehow had speed to match Kirito even with all of the aforementioned equipment. Combine that with his unique skill, and he was a walking demolitionist, able to switch between attack and defense almost instantly as the situation called for it.

He quickly used his shield to bash at Kirito, but her husband managed to use his swords backlash upon hitting the shield to move him out of Heathcliff's range, dodging what could have easily been a crippling blow. Using Heathcliff's momentary surprise, he ran forward, body almost parallel to the ground and managed to deliver a somewhat glancing blow with the one-hit sword skill Vorpal Strike. He had to retreat quickly in order to dodge the return , as hit after hit was blocked, Elucidator flying forward only to be deflected by Liberator (Oh the irony, the sword of their warden, called freedom.) or his shield, and then while Kirito was deflected he would try to get in close for a hit. They couldn't land any solid hits.

It didn't matter though, the battle had quickly become one of endurance, one of attrition. The one who managed to land the surest strike or the most crippling blow would come out the winner. The one who made a mistake, even the smallest error, would be the they were scoring small cuts here and there, but overall, no one could get in a finishing move. When she looked at Kirito's face, she could see the lightly glinting rhombuses flitting off a light wound on his cheek. The red light fading as it was lifted off and away. There was no telltale glow in the gleaming arcs of his blades,

"Of course" Asuna breathed, since Heathcliff was also Kayaba Akihiko, he could easily blocked the skills that HE had programmed into the game. But Kirito was going faster. And faster. And faster. Faster than fast. He was starting to overwhelm Heathcliff with his speed. One blocked hit only spiraling into the next attack.

And suddenly, Heathcliff grinned.

He stopped retreating. He raised his shield high. And. Then. He. Freaking. Fended. Off. Every hit Kirito could send his way. It was like he was only playing with him before. The clang, ring, and tang of metal hitting metal rang throughout the downed crowd of people. Suddenly during a straight on collision of Dark Repulser and Heathcliff's shield, the sword broke. The upper tip clattering to the floor in a shower of icy blue particle effects.

(Somewhere, a certain pink haired blacksmith's heart felt a black chill.)

Asuna knew that Heathcl- No, Kayaba Akihiko, wouldn't miss this chance to win. Not with everything he had created on the line. She struggled to move, struggled to get to her feet.

"Move. Move dang it!" she cried, managing to move even as Kayaba Akihiko's sword glowed a deadly red. She had to move. She limped a step. She took another. And another. Suddenly she was running, and straight in the way of Kayaba Akihiko's fatal strike. But that was alright; Somehow for her Kirito.

The sword connected. She rolled with the blow, but it didn't help much as bloody gashes rent her body as she flew back due to the sheer force of the hit. Of course Kirito caught her in his arms. His face… She strived to memorize it. His effeminate cheekbones, the way his eyebrows scrunched up when he was sad. The way his eyes were sometimes so dark that she felt they could put out the sun. How he would always pout when she teased him, how he made the word turn just by being by her side.

Her health bar was gone. She was going to die. She would never again see her mother, father, brother. But that was alright. She didn't want to die. She wanted to live… She wanted to be with Agil, Lisbeth and the others. To be with Kirito. But that was alright. It was fine, as long as he was alive. As long as she new that somewhere, somewhen, her family would be alright and Kirito… Kirito would find love again.

He was crying. Her own eyes glistened with tears.

How he would…. Cry for her. But she dint want someone else to love him. He was hers! She wanted to be his forever. She wanted to be the one he loved and didn't want to share him with anyone else. So what if it was selfish. He wanted to live! She didn't want to share her friends, her family, her Kirito with anyone else. She didn't want someone else to take her place.

"No….Asuna…."

Came from above her, even as she struggled to turn her head, to look him right in the eyes, she could tell she was fading. Light was fading, she couldn't see him. SHE COULDN'T SEE HIM. Then suddenly she caught a glimpse, she felt her tears fall, and her reality shattered.

Hope that was alright. I got this part finished and I thought it was wasn't that bad, so I decided to put it up. This is mostly a recreation of the fight berween Heathcliff and Kirito in episode 14, and some of the light novel. Hope you enjoy. Thanks :D

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