TheKaiSenpai doesn't own SAO or anything else used here, and this is just something he does when he's bored.

XXXXX

A/N: Two chapters in one day! I'll be away visiting family until Sunday, so here's a little extra love! I hope you enjoy it!

XXXXX

Chapter Eight: A New Player

[Floor Seventy-Five] [Collinia, The Sharpened Gladius Inn] [October 20th, 2024] [8:12 PM] [DaTa]

I chuckled, leaning back against the couch in the inn. It was a pretty cozy place, different from the rest. Instead of a tavern-esque look, it was more like a bar, with pool, darts, and blackjack [Minigames] where you could bet [Col]. It had a few patrons, but tonight was guy's night. Hisao was here, along with Kai, Kirito, Klein, Agil, Thinker, MechManiC, and myself. We were all sitting back, with our favored drinks in hand. Kirito and Kisao had opted for soft drinks, while Klein had brought the alcohol. He and myself were fine with what was essentially sake, while Agil was drinking a rather bitter beer. Thinker and Mech were abstaining, but Kai was going all in with some vodka shots. He wasn't holding back, either. He wasn't saying anything, but I could tell something was on his mind.

"Man, tonight's been great," Kai chuckled, downing another shot. "Ahhhh, fuck that burns!"

"You should slow down, man," Klein spoke up. "This all might be virtual, but you'll get yourself [Drunk]. Kai frowned and shrugged, pushing the shot glass away.

"Yeah, yeah…" he grumbled, his words slurring. "Just got issues, ya know?" He paused. "Ignore that, I'm tired." He groaned, standing. "Gonna… what is it… pool? I'm playing pool." Thinker and Klein both stood with him as Kai walked over to an empty pool table.

"I'll make sure he doesn't get into trouble," Klein spoke up. Thinker nodded.

"I'd rather our [Raid Commander] is in top form for the next meeting," he said. I sighed, standing as well. I dusted off my pants.

"I'll go to," I said. "I haven't played in a while." I walked over to join the three men as they set up the game. Added in, we split into teams of two. Klein and myself against Thinker and Kai. I took another sip of my vodka as the balls were set up.

"So, what's happening with you, Kai?" I asked, trying to dig into whatever was bothering him. He made the first shot, scattering the balls across the table. The first one to go in the hole was a solid. Green, with the number six on it. He ignored my question as Thinker lined up the next shot. Thwack! He missed. "Kai."

"Huh?" he mumbled as Klein moved around the table, hoping to get an easy in. So far, though, most of the balls were not going to go in simply.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked again. Instead of ignoring me this time, an expression of though came across his face. And conflict. Thwack! Klein got the striped orang thirteen in the corner hole. He handed the cue to me.

"Just… girls, man…" Kai mumbled. I moved around the table, listening to Kai as I looked for a shot. "They… confuse the fuck outta me, ya know?" He chuckled mirthlessly as I lined up to put in the nine ball. "Aya's… being distant…"

"Maybe she's just getting a little revenge, huh?" Klein suggested. Twack! It went in. I passed the cue to Klein. Kai shook his head.

"No… No… she's never been one for revenge," he defended her. "I mean, I know I'm an asshole, but she's always forgiven me without any question about it. It's just… she just leaves to go with Asuna and PaperGirl18 more often than not, now. I bet it sucks for you too, huh, Kai?" I gave him a confused look. Thwack! Miss.

"What do you mean?" I asked him. "Asuna's been training with the [KoB] for the last few weeks. I even got complaints from a few of the members on how she was a slave driver."

"I heard about that!" Thinker spoke up as he lined up his shot. Thwack! In went the five ball. "I even had a few requests from their former members to join the [ALF], just because she drove a few of them off.

"Wait…" Kai took the cue as he spoke. "Then…" He turned to Hisao. "Hey, Hisao!"

"Yes?"

"What's PaperGirl been up to recently?" Kai shouted. Hisao's face went beet red.

"W-We've… you know… Just been hanging out," Hisao stammered. Kai's expression started to fall as he turned back to us. I could see the years beginning to pile onto him.

"Ah…" he mumbled, the spirit in his eyes fading. "I see." I could see a faint glimmer of hope that he was desperately clinging on to. But I think we all knew what was going through his mind. Despite his very tolerant and relaxed nature, Kai had very little filter between his thoughts and his mouth. His distrust of women in general was evident to anyone and everyone. It was sexism at its most harmful, both for himself and others. While people tried to understand it, he'd driven off plenty of strong potential members to his [Guild] because of it. He tended to hand more important tasks to men instead of women, and rarely would treat women with the respect they desired. While he wasn't bad, such as making aggressive advances or incredibly offensive comments, he tended to overstep boundaries without thinking. He was ignorant to his own discrimination.

"Well, hey," Klein tried to deter such thoughts. "Maybe she's picking out a super secret surprise for you, man?" Kai's eyes lit up with light hope. He smiled weakly, and nodded towards the redhead with appreciation.

"Yeah," Kai replied, starting to muster back some strength. "Heh, maybe!" He lined up his shot. Thwack! The four ball went in. "Yeah, that'd be nice! Hey, maybe I should do the same, ya know? There's a really nice jazz club on this [Floor], I hear. Maybe go on a fancy date, with lots of romance and expensive dining!" His eyes lit up. He was such a hopeless romantic, but I guess that was what made him a good guy to be with. He loved to love, and didn't hold that back either. The boundaries he'd unknowingly cross would be along the lines of being intimate towards other women; like buying their food, carrying their things for them if they didn't have the [Inventory] space, things you'd normally do on a day-to-day basis with a girlfriend. But he did it with even strangers. While guys sometime would be on the receiving end of his kindness, it was mostly women. He loved to love, and it made things a bit awkward for most of the women around him.

"Hey, you know what else would be fun?" I asked him. Thwack! Thinker missed his shot by a hair. I took the cue and walked around the table, looking for a clear shot.

"What?" Kai asked, curious. His eyes were brimming with joy and excitement, the exact opposite of the broken man we'd almost seen.

"How about we have an exhibition match tomorrow?" I asked him. "Just me and you, fighting in glorious battle for honor and victory!" I grinned, trying to get him pumped up. He was nearly bouncing on his toes as I spoke. "A one-on-one match between the 'Samurai' and 'The Invincible Hero'! A fight to last the ages!" I paused. "And viewed with a live audience!"

"That sounds awesome!" Kai exclaimed, pumped up with excitement and happiness. "Oh man, that's gonna be so fun! I'd love to fight you! You and Kirito are the only ones who could pose a challenge anymore!" I glanced at Thinker.

"Think you can gather a crowd?" I asked him. The man nodded, smiling. Kai's happiness was infectious.

"Of course," he said. "This will also be a great chance to grab funds for the [Clearers], by selling tickets to the fight. They'll also get a chance to see two of [Aincrad's] strongest players in action, something that will inspire hope in them." I nodded, reaching out my hand to Kai. He grabbed it, and we shook.

"Good luck, Kai," I told him. He grinned.

"Skill always beats luck, bud," he replied.

XXXXX

[Collinia, Colosseum] [October 21st, 2024] [2:16 PM]

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to sunny Collinia! It's a bright and beautiful day, perfect weather for-"

"A fight between the two greatest people to ever master the art of beating the ever-loving shot out of each other!" The crowds cheered as Kai and I stood in the center of the arena. The stands were packed with players, with reserved seating for every [Guild] in the game only taking up one fifth of the seating. Huge screens were on all sides and directly above us, showing us up close. Kai was loving the attention, waving to everyone around him, before finally finding the camera and waving directly into it. "First up with have 'The Invincible Hero'. The 'Slayer of Red'. The great 'Hopeful Fox', himself, TheKaiSenpai! His tenacity is so evident; he even takes hits just to land his own!"

"And on the other side we have the 'Samurai'. The 'Master of the Katana'. The 'Lady-Killer'. DaTa!" I chuckled at my last nickname. "He's an aggressive attacker so strong, he doesn't even need any defense!" I glanced at Kai.

[ watch?v=elrgKOpqXpA ]

"Well, shall we begin?" I asked, pulling up a [Duel Request]. He smiled and [Accepted], setting the terms to [Half Health] with no [Time Limit]. The counter above us began from ten.

"I'm going to love this," he grinned widely. He drew his longsword and kite shield. I rested my hand on the pommel of my katana. I was ready. He looked eager, shifting his weight, ready to move. Finally, the timer hit zero. I [Sprinted] towards him without hesitation. My blade flew from my sheathe, but his shield was already raised to block it. I smirked, letting loose a flurry of slashes against his shield, pushing him back. His feet skidded along the ground. He shoved back, throwing him off of him.

I chuckled and spun, letting myself reorient myself as my blade once more entered its sheathe. Kai smirked, staring me down.

"Not a bad first move," he told me. "But I can do better." He ran at me, his sword dragging against the ground as he held his shield forward. I stood on guard, not sure what he was planning. Even I couldn't predict how he'd fight. He was always learning, always adjusting. I had to make this fight quick to win, but if I kept it going longer, it would be more fun. I smiled and weaved out of the way as he twisted mid stride, making a horizontal strike at me. I once more reoriented myself for a split second, slashing towards his legs, but his swor was there to block it.

Sheathe.

Strike.

Clang!

Sheathe.

Strike.

Clang!

This pattern repeated itself as we danced on the field, every one of my strikes blocked by his shield or his sword, intercepted before I could land a single hit. His face was set in stone, concentrating. I was pushing him as well. I spun, kicking his shield as I reached down and grabbed some dirt, throwing it at his face.

"Kuh!" His eyes shut as soon as I did so, and I took the opportunity to slice at his legs, leaving several lacerations in my wake. Kai stumbled back as part of the crowd cheered, and the other part jeered.

"You can do it, Kai!" someone shouted.

"You're our hero! No one can beat you!"

I smiled as Kai readjusted himself, standing a bit taller than before. He was really laying on the drama, but it was kind of fun.

"Kai! Kai! Kai! Kai! Kai!" half of the crowd chanted. I smiled as Kai took a deep breath, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.

"ROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAR!" he let loose a [Howl]. It was mostly for show, but the crowd bought into it, cheering even louder. I laughed as Kai rushed me, letting loose powerful strikes. I weaved between them, trying to keep from getting sloppy as they were extremely choreographed. I grunted, though, feeling Kai's fist shoved into my gut. I slid back, wincing. Before I could recover, the man was on me, thrusting his blade through me.

My eyes widened as I brought my blade out and made multiple strikes on his torso, forcing him to stumble back. I breathed heavily, looking at my [HP]. He'd taken out a quarter of it already! I sighed and rested my hand on the pommel of my blade. I never thought I'd be pushed like this by him. A skilled shinobi like myself against an untrained novice? Well, I guess I got cocky.

"Not bad," Kai chuckled. "You took me down to [80%]." I stayed silent, not wanting him to know he'd gotten more out of me. "You better step it up, mate, or I'm gonna wreck you." I chuckled, sighing.

"Well, you made me have to bring this out…" I told him. "Prepare to gaze upon my glorious, giant staff!" He was silent for a second, before he burst out laughing.

XXXXX

[Asuna]

"Did he…" Lilly mumbled to me, as she was sitting beside me. "Did he really just say that…?" I was having trouble believing it as well. Kai was loving it, but I knew what Keito was talking about, and it wasn't the kind of staff Lilly and I would enjoy. In a flash of light, Keito's katana disappeared, and was replaced with a six foot long pole of wood. Kai had immediately stopped laughing, looking uneasy. In fact, most of the people looked unsure. It was easy to make a staff, you just make a long, strong pole out of wood. Anyone could do it at [Lvl] one. But to actually see someone use it? It was weird.

XXXXX

[DaTa]

[ watch?v=WDygxp01CG8 ]

I laughed at Kai's befuddled face as soon as it appeared, but almost instantly, it was gone. There was understanding in his eyes. Yes, it was a massive, glorified stick. But it was still a weapon, and extremely versatile weapon. And a weapon that I was holding, a fact that automatically made it dangerous. "Hoorah!" I shouted, spinning the staff above my head as I went in. Kai readied his shield and shifted his stance. I chuckled. Kai's way of fighting was not unlike Heathcliff's. They both relied on shifting from defense to offense seamlessly. While Heathcliff, though, relied on his [Holy Sword] [Skill] to make the shift for him, Kai made all the changes in a fluid manner. The way the sword and shield [Build] worked, was you mentally shifted the stance in your head. You couldn't use both at the same time. However, Kai was able to switch between what weapon he was using so quickly, it almost mirrored [Holy Sword].

Clang! My staff drummed off of Kai's shield, and I twisted around, aiming for the back of his head. Kai immediately ducked down, aiming to kick my legs from under me. I leapt into the air over him, using my staff like a pole-vault. I grinned and twisted around, swinging my staff once more against him. I managed to whack him in the face, setting him off balance. I immediately started to thrust with my weapon, managing a few strikes before Kai started blocking me with his shield. He grunted, adjusting his feet. I could tell that even now, he was learning.

I began my assault once more, swinging my staff and using both ends to strike as I held it in the center. While I landed the first few hits, the rest of them were either evaded, [Parried], or blocked. Damn, he learned fast!

"Sorry bud," he grunted, grinning. "I've learned all of your moves." He chuckled as he swung his sword at me, easily evading my strike to rip through my shoulder. "Heh, just in time, too! I've only got [55%] left." I winked.

"Not everything," I told him. I rested my hand down where I'd place it if my katana were still there. "Shift!" My staff disappeared, and my katana was once more [Equipped]. Without giving Kai a chance to recover, I swung at him. He blocked my attack, but just barely. I got a glancing blow on him. "Shift!" Once more, my katana was gone, and I was twirling my staff above my head. I swung it against his, his eyes widening. I grinned as he stumbled, his guard lowered. "Shift!" In an instant, I'd drawn my blade and impaled him, siphoning off the last of his health. Kai coughed as the [Victory Mark] appeared over my head, and I sheathed my blade once more, holding out my hand to help Kai stand. Sheers came from the crowed as he took it, and we shook hands.

"What the hell was that, bud?" he asked curiously. I chuckled. "Seriously, I've never seen that before!"

"You know how hotkeys work on a keyboard work, right?" I asked. He nodded. "And how you can [Favorite] [Items] in your [Inventory]?" He nodded once more, understanding lighting up in his face. "Well, if you [Favorite] only two [Items], you can switch between them without opening your [Inventory]."

"I… knew that…" Kai muttered. "Clever, bud… Very clever…" He laughed and smiled at me. "I guess I still have a lot to learn." He patted my shoulder. "But to think, I was almost able to beat a man with centuries more experience than me. That's pretty cool." I nodded.

"Well done, Kai," I congratulated him. "Want to go out for a drink? Maybe get some food?" Kai raised his hand.

"Nah, I'm gonna head home and love up my Aya some," he said. I could tell that last night's discussion wasn't even bothering him. He actually seemed excited. Maybe they sorted things out? "Anyway, this was fun. We should do it again sometime!" He raised his sword up into the air, getting loud cheers from the crowd, before walking towards the exit.

XXXXX

[Collinia, Market] [October 21st, 2024] [5:21 PM] [TheKaiSenpai]

I lightly sang to myself as I walked down the streets of the [Market], nodding and smiling towards any players that greeted me. Most of the store owners at this point were players, who all knew me because I'd buy from them. I had a few things for dinner in my inventory, as well as a bouquet of flowers I'd had made with the flowers on [Floor Forty-Seven]. It was a nice, sunny day and I was enjoying myself. The house that Aya and I had bought was on the outskirts of [Collinia], so I had a bit of a walk ahead of me.

"TheKaiSenpai!" a high pitched voice shouted out as I made my way out of the crowds. I turned to face whoever was calling me, and spotted a young girl running towards me. She was three-fourths my height, and looked to be around ten years old. I inwardly grimaced, hating that kids this age had actually been able to buy this game. Irresponsible parents… I got a closer look as she approached me, and I noticed she wasn't Japanese. She actually looked Arabian, or Israeli. Her skin was similar to mine, but had a more of a reddish-bronze color than my light bronze skin. Her brown eyes were wide and full of innocence though, and her hair was a dark, wavy brown that reached her waist. The girl was barefoot, but wearing a clean, white sundress, though. Her smile was actually infectious, and I couldn't help but smile when she got closer to me.

"Hey there, kiddo," I greeted her, ruffling her hair a bit. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be staying with your parents, or someone who's taking care of you?" She pouted, her arms crossed.

"I don't need supervision!" she grumbled back at me. "I'm perfectly fine on my own! Sheesh!" Her posture returned to normal, with her hands behind her back.

"Well what's your name?" I asked her, chuckling to myself. This kid was adorable. She sure had some spirit in her.

"Iaweh," She said, and my eyes widened. I looked down at Her, Her innocent expression gone and replaced with an amused and calculating one. I felt my hands trembling a bit at the pure pressure She was pushing onto me. In an instant, the pressure was gone, but She was still looking at me expectantly.

"What are You doing here…?" I asked Her, straightening myself. I walked down the streets with less of a skip in my step. "You told me that You would only come to me if something happened, so what's going on?" Iaweh walked beside me as if nothing were wrong, but I could see the pained expression on Her face.

"I… I'm sorry," She apologized to me. I looked down at Her, curious and afraid. "She… she didn't pass my test…" My heart sank. No… She wouldn't… "I… don't think you should go home right now," said the little girl. "It would hurt you too much…"

"I have to see for myself," I told Her, feeling my heart in my throat. No… it couldn't be true! It wasn't true! We'd made up last night! She assured me that everything was fine! Iaweh didn't say a word as we kept walking towards my house. As we approached, I could feel my own anticipation rising. We entered without making a sound, at Iaweh's insistence. My heart sank as I heard Ayako's voice in our room… As well as that of another man's...

I glanced at the girl beside me, getting a somber expression from Her. I knew what She was doing by showing me this. It wasn't to prove me right. To prove to me that I couldn't trust the women in my life. It was to apologize. Iaweh had pretty much placed me and Ayako together. She'd even helped me win the girl's heart, even though She admitted that I didn't need much help, and assured me that if everything went right, I'd get married, have kids, and settle down someday. I grimaced as I heard Ayako scream in ecstasy, the same expression crossing Iaweh's face. I knew… that I had to do something now.

"Please…" I asked of the girl beside me. "Please… harden my heart for this…" She nodded wordlessly, and I felt all of my hesitation slip away. I was still distraught and hurt, but I knew what I had to do. I walked into Ayako's room, startling both her and her… lover. He was a fairly attractive man, I'd admit. But it didn't really mean anything. "Mikonimi," I addressed her by her last name.

"Kai!" she exclaimed. "Wha-I can explain!"

"No need," I told her simply, pulling down my [Inventory] and tossing her a ring. It was a [Wedding Band], an [Item] used for proposals and giving you and another player the [Married] status. It was something I'd bought a few months ago and was excited to use. I didn't want it anymore. "I'm sorry…" I started. "That I wasn't here enough for you…"

"Kai… I…" Mikonimi tried to talk to me. "It was just so hard, always being alone while you were out being a hero!" I didn't look her in the eyes. The man she was with wisely kept quiet. "It was lonely every day… I met Akira and…"

"I know…" I tried to keep my emotions in check. Even with Iaweh's help in restraining them, everything was threatening to break loose. "Just… don't hurt him too…" I left without another word, not sure what to feel. I brushed past the little girl. I didn't stop walking. I didn't care where I went. I didn't care what happened to me. I just wanted out! I just wanted to leave! I just wanted to die! "RAAAAAAH!" I screamed, punching the wall of an empty alleyway. "Fuck! This! Fucking! Game!" With every cry I slammed my fist into the wall. "FUCK!" I felt myself starting to shut down, turning around and letting my back slide against the wall. I hung my head, staring at my feet.

The sun was shining. The birds were singing. Players went on with their everyday lives. And I hated it. How could I be a hero… if I couldn't even be a good fiancé…? If I couldn't even keep the woman I loved… how could I expect to keep hundreds of people under my command? I kept staring at the ground, even as two bare feet walked in front of me.

"Are you really going to let this keep you down?" She asked, Her voice laced with not just sadness, but disappointment. "You're Kai! You can get up on your feet from anything!" I didn't say anything, but I was listening to Her. She sighed and crouched in front of me, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up at Her. In an instant, I wasn't looking at a little girl, but a young woman in the prime of Her life. Her hair was even longer, reaching down to Her knees, and Her eyes were sharper and fierce. Her face was more angular, with only a small amount of baby fat on Her cheeks. She stared into me. "I promised you a happy ending, didn't I…?" She whispered to me. "You of all people should know that I don't break my promises." I closed my eyes.

"Yeah…" I finally muttered. Iaweh sat beside me, legs straight out. She patted Her lap and frowned.

"Lay down," She told me. I did as She asked, laying my head on Her lap. Her thighs were soft, and it was pretty comfortable. I could feel my own cares and worried slipping away as I stared up at the sky, and Her face looking down at me. I felt Her fingers start running through my hair. It felt nice. "Shhh… just relax…" She whispered. "I'm right here… And I promise I won't let anyone else hurt you like that again…" She smiled at me. "I'm going to help you be a hero… Just like him… No, even greater than him…"

"Why are You helping me…?" I asked Her. Iaweh laughed. It was a beautiful laugh, like the sound of trees rustling with a spring breeze.

"Because…" She whispered. "Nobody deserves to live a life of pain and suffering…" I had to laugh at Her words. So, She reversed what I'd told DaTa all those years ago. But still… It meant a lot coming from Her. I found myself being pushed from Her lap. I groaned. "Stop whining. I've decided that I'm going to stay here with you for now."

"Huh? What about being God and all that stuff?" I asked Her. She smiled at me.

"Do you really think that I can't just split my essence?" She asked me. "Of course I have millions of other pieces of myself running the world. I can't be the Goddess of Order without being able to do that. But… most of my essence will be here with you." She crossed her arms. "I'll help you find someone good for you, alright? It seems like you need special help." With that, She stomped her foot, once more turning into a little girl. "Now let's go! As fine as I was being born in a stable, I don't want to live in an alleyway! You can buy another house, right?" I laughed. When Iaweh and I had first met, She had acted very regal and noble, but seeing this side of Her was kind of funny. Maybe it was all for my benefit, but I felt a little bit better. I took the little girl's hand, and we walked back into the open streets.

"So, if You're staying with me, what should I call you?" I asked her. Iaweh thought for a moment.

"Call me Sakura," she told me. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat, but I passed it off as nothing. "And when I'm with you, treat me like you would anyone else, ok?" I smiled, nodding. This… could be interesting.

XXXXX

[Floor Seventy-Five] [Collinia, The Emperor's Suite] [November 5th, 2024] [1:30 PM] [DaTa]

I couldn't help but keep looking at the little girl sitting on Kai's lap, eating Lilly's cooking happily. I knew it was Iaweh, but what was She doing here? She insisted on being called Sakura, though, and being treated like a normal girl.

"As far as anyone knows, Kai adopted me," she had told me. So just treat me like his daughter. Of course, treat me with respect too, but for now, I'm just Sakura." It was a bit weird, treating God like a little girl, but I guess since she was the one who gave me this second chance of mine, I owed her. Besides, it seemed to be good for Kai. He looked a lot more relaxed than I thought he would have. News had spread like wildfire about the fiancé of 'The Invincible Hero' going behind his back and cheating on him. The first day, Ayako was pretty much ostracized. Most people had turned against her. But after hearing of such things Kai had demanded that everyone not treat her badly.

While almost everyone did as he asked, there was always a tension wherever Ayako went. It was almost a suffocating feeling, and I'm sure that Ayako knew she messed up. In fact, she even tried to apologize to Kai, but I was there that day. I didn't let her anywhere near my best friend. I knew that her being around him would only hurt him further, and had threatened to throw her out if she didn't leave of her own free will. I might have over-reacted, but it didn't matter to me. What mattered was that Kai was happy having 'Sakura' around.

"You know, if you keep staring at her, I'll think you're some kind of pedophile," Asuna spoke up from beside me. I nearly broke my neck turning my head to face her, only to be met with a teasing smile. "You're too easy," she spoke in a sing-song voice. "It's really cute though." I turned back to look at the two. Kai was 'helping' Sakura play cards with Klein and Hisao. "I think having Sakura around is helping him." Asuna's voice turned sour. "I can't believe Aya would do such a thing… They seemed like they were so happy together…"

"It's not uncommon for video games to change people," I told her. "Look at Kai, after all. When I first met him, he was a very withdrawn, quiet person in public." I turned back to Asuna. Now look at him. A hero, someone who loves being around others." I paused. "Even yourself."

"Me?" Asuna looked surprised. "What do you mean, me?"

"Well, when I first met you, you were super formal and shy," I told her, making her pout. I had to smile at that. "And now? Well, you're a warrior now. A fighter, brash and crass and ready to kick ass!" Asuna blushed, looking away and squirming.

"Stop it…" she whimpered, but smiled. "Don't say such weird things in public!" I laughed and wrapped my arm around her, holding her close to me. She squeaked, and I could hear her making an irritated sound in the back of her throat, but she did nothing to push me away. Instead, she rested closer to my side.

"You were not planning on leaving me out, were you?" Lilly mentioned as she walked towards us. She sat on my other side, and nestled up close to me. I chuckled and wrapped my arm around her as well. Everyone was giving us amused looks, and I smirked, sticking my tongue out. Sakura, however, seemed uncertain about this. I ignored her though, closing my eyes. She told me that she wouldn't interfere, so I was going to hold her up to that promise. It was times like this that I could feel myself relaxing. I could imagine myself settling down and having a family with these two. It was a nice thought.

"I'm not ever going to leave you…" Asuna muttered into my shoulder. "I love you, Keito…" Lilly shifted, looking at me. Her hand rested on my cheek.

"I'm… here too," she added. "I doubt I could ever be with another man, if something were to happen. So I will remain with you as well." I chuckled, kissing them both, getting approving noises from both of them.

"Thanks, girls…" I mumbled, closing my eyes once more and relaxing. "That means a lot to me." There was silence between us all for a while, before Lilly spoke up.

"Please…" she mumbled. "When you leave for the [Boss Fight]… Please… be safe…" I smiled and held her tightly against me.

"I'll be perfectly fine," I told her. "I promise you, you won't lose me so easily." I paused, though. I knew that the fight would be deadly. But it was the last milestone until the final quarter of the game. Then, after the game was over… Then I'd allow myself to settle down.

I inwardly cursed. I'd still have to deal with Asuna's family, and Lilly's family on top of that. Well, no rest for the wicked, as they say. I'd deal with it when it came to that.

XXXXX

[Floor Seventy-Five] [Collinia, Teleport Plaza] [November 7th, 2024] [12:45 PM] [TheKaiSenpai]

I sighed, gazing out over the crowd of people gathered before us. I glanced at the information that DaTa had gathered for me about the [Boss Room], and kept in mind the things that Sakura had told me. According to Data, who was the only surviving member of the [Scouting Party], he had told me about [The Skull Reaper]. It had five [Health Bars], apart from the four that every [Boss] had up until now. It was an unpredictable [Boss] that would shift targets in an instant, almost like a living creature. I grimaced, it wasn't good news. Blocking an attack meant that the [Boss] might attack the players behind and around instead. That meant that this essentially became every player for themselves. I wasn't sure how to deal with this.

Sakura had told me not to worry, that everything would be fine, but I wasn't sure if she could protect everyone from this thing. I was also unsure on how DaTa had escaped. He had refused to comment on it. I figured it must be something relating to a past life, but he would neither confirm nor deny it. Speaking of Sakura, she sat on my shoulders as I stood in front of everyone. The little girl had taken a liking to doing things like that and acting like my daughter. It was kind of cute in a way. Still, the thought of God being my daughter was starting to grow a bit weird to me.

Beside me stood DaTa, who had a relaxed expression on his face. Well, more like a glow around him. I smirked, knowing exactly why. To my left, opposite of DaTa, was Noire, who DaTa had told me would be crucial in this [Raid]. I trusted him, so specifically added her and the [Shadow Clan] to the [Raid Party]. As the final players gathered in front of the [KoB] headquarters, I cleared my voice. Heathcliff was absent once more, I noticed. I would have to question him the next time I saw him.

"Thank you all for coming," I told everyone, gritting my teeth with anticipation. "As for any rumors flying around about yesterday's [Search Parties]…" I sighed. "Let me put them to rest. They are all true. Almost every member was killed by the [Floor Boss]." Worried murmurs began among the ranks. "However! DaTa was able to return in relatively good heath, and was able to inform us about the [Boss]." I smiled. "So let's hear a cheer for DaTa!" Soft cheers came from everyone. I chuckled bitterly.

"Hey," someone spoke up. "The little girl isn't coming with us, is she?" I grunted as Sakura pulled herself off of my shoulders.

"I'll have you know that I can kick all of your butts!" she shouted, pointing at the guy who had spoken up. I couldn't hide my amusement. "So you better watch your back, ok!?" I chuckled.

"Yes, she will be joining us," I told them. "Rest assured, Sakura is more than capable of fighting alongside of us. Just trust me." The ones I could see looked a bit skeptical, but they relented. "Now, where was I…? Ah, right! Well, we saved up a lot of [Col], and managed to get some of these!" I held up a [Corridor Crystal]. "We've gotten ten of them, so the next few [Floors] we'll have a way straight to the [Boss Room]. Now then." I used the [Crystal], a portal opening behind me. I turned, seeing the ornate [Boss Doors]. I walked through the portal and turned back to everyone once more, waiting for all of the players to enter through the portal before I let it close. I sighed, opening the doors before entering. "Eyes all around, even the ceiling!" I called out. I scanned the room, rearing the rattling of bones. Thinker walked up beside me, a two-handed sword in his hands.

"Above us!" a few people shouted. I looked up, seeing the massive, centipede-like [Boss] above us. I grimaced as it leapt down.

"Back up!" I shouted, forcing everyone to back up as the [Boss] slammed into the ground. It let loose a wail that sounded like a dying man who was stabbed. It was a haunting sound. I raised my blade, letting my own hatred and stress that I'd been letting build up since October fill me. I hated this thing. I was going to murder it. Yet… even as I let my anger grow… Sakura took my hand, and I felt it all slip away. I looked down at her, and she shook her head slowly, giving me a stern look. I let out a sigh, glaring down [The Skull Reaper]. "Attack!" I shouted, watching the other players rush past me. The [Tanks] took up their usual stances, creating a wall in front of the [Support]. [DPS] flanked both sides, trapping the [Boss] in the middle, keeping it from escaping. I squeezed Sakura's hand and looked down at her again. "Let's kick some ass…" She nodded, smiling at me before grinning and staring down the [Boss]. We both [Sprinted] towards [The Gleam Eyes], leaping over the heads of the [Tanks]. I swung my sword back, poised to strike, as Sakura summoned a great sword twice the size of her, opposite side of mine. It was a shining golden leaf shaped blade, with a triangular pommel and a guard in the shape of wings. She let out a yell of fighting spirit, and I could feel myself feeling stronger, more energized. It must have affected the rest of the players as well.

The others had been fighting hard, but they all looked incredibly tired. The attacks of [The Skull Reaper] were strong, even able to knock out a chunk of [HP] from [Tanks], even after being blocked. But after Sakura's shout, they all seemed to move at a faster pace, fighting valiantly with battle cries of their own.

As one, Sakura and I sliced through [The Skull Reaper], instantly knocking it ouf of its first [Health Bar]. We landed on its left side, and I glanced at her. Sakura seemed to be radiating strength and warmth, almost glowing with a fierceness in her eyes, and a gentle smile on her face. She stood tall, and for a split second, I saw a tall woman dressed in full golden plate armor, staring down her enemy with grace and power. Her long hair flowed in the wind, and her eyes were shining gold. However, just as soon as the vision appeared, it was gone, replaced by little Sakura, grinning widely as she prepared for another strike. I looked at her weapon and held back a gasp.

[The Sword of the Spirit +50] was its name. Was this… the weapon of God!?

"It's health keeps falling!" someone exclaimed. I looked at the [HP] on [The Skull Reaper], and true enough, its [HP] kept falling at a rate faster than it had before, almost three times the speed.

"Holy weapons are poisonous against demonic entities," Sakura told me, holding her sword to her side. "Even in video games, this is a fact." She giggled, bouncing on her toes. "Ok! Let's keep going!" I chuckled, drawing my sword back as we [Sprinted] at the [Boss] again. Sakura seemed excited and eager. I couldn't help but admire the determination in her eyes as we danced around the [Boss'] many legs, slicing them as we weaved between them. I could hear Sakura laughing with glee. [The Skull Reaper] screamed loudly, but I could barely hear it as I focused on Sakura's laughter; the laughter of a happy child playing with their father. It made me smile. Before I knew it, the [Boss] was gone, exploding into polygons.

I chuckled as I stood in the center with Sakura, the rain of colors surrounding her. She looked enchanted by the colors, truly something special. I smiled and looked around us, feeling relaxed and happy for the first time in months. Everyone else, however, seemed less than thrilled.

"We lost four people…" DaTa sighed as he walked up to us. "Not as bad as usual… but it's still four more people dead…" He looked down at Sakura. "Thanks, kiddo… You did well…" He seemed unsure of how to talk to her, which I found kind of amusing. DaTa's eyes, though, rested on the staircase. "I guess we should go on to the next floor," he said. "Good luck. I'll see you later." With that, DaTa sauntered over to Asuna and took her hand, and they made their way to the stairs together.

XXXXX

[Floor Eighty] [Learson Town, Black Flags Inn] [February 14th, 2025] [8:27 AM] [TheKaiSenpai]

I yawned, stretching as I shifted in bed, the covers all over the bed. I was dressed down in a long-sleeved shirt and sweat pants, my usual sleepwear when I was sharing a room with someone. I blinked, opening my eyes just slightly. The light kind of hurt, so I kept them squinted. I sighed, noticing that Sakura was once more in the same bed as me. She'd been doing that more often, switching beds during the middle of the night. It was fine at first, but now it was just getting a bit annoying.

"Sakura…" I mumbled. "Go back to your own bed… You're taking up space…" I heard a deeper giggling than I was used to, and my eyes shot open. Instead of the young girl I'd been fighting alongside for the last four months, I was met with the smiling face of a young woman. Her eyes were a bright bronze, now, and her hair now had an almost sandy blonde tint to it. She was just a little bit taller than me, and was… we'll say well endowed. "Well…" I spoke curtly, trying to get a grasp on what I was seeing. "This is a thing."

"So it is," the woman replied. "How did you sleep, Kai?" She seemed pretty unperturbed by this, as if she'd always been like this. I could tell, though, she was trying not to laugh at my reaction.

"Um… fine," I replied, still trying to think of why she'd shifted her form so suddenly. I decided I might as well swallow my pride and ask her. "So… why the sudden switch?"

"Well, do you know what day it is?" she asked me simply. I tried to think, before my eyes wandered over to the date on my [HUD].

"Ah, ah, ah," she chided before I could take a look. "No peeking. Now, guess." I sighed, playing along with her game. Every-so-often she would play a memory game with me. At first it seemed silly, but I eventually came to learn its meaning. My memory with names and dates had always been rather bad, but when Sakura forced me to remember such things, I'd found myself improving in my own memory. "I'll give you a hint. Oregon became a state in the US today, one-hundred and sixty-six years ago." I stared at her blankly, making her sigh. "Um… Arizona also became a state today, one-hundred and thirteen years ago." She pressed on. "It's a major holiday."

"Oh fuck, it's Valentine's day already?" I asked, making her give me an amused smirk. She giggled, though, and shook her head.

"Haaaah… still hopeless," she teased me. "Oh well, that's why we're practicing." I pouted, making her laugh. It sounded as beautiful as the chiming of church bells on a wedding day.

"So today's Valentine's Day, what's that got to do with your sudden switch?" I asked. She rolled her eyes and smirked, sitting up. She was in a pure white nightgown. It was simple, but somehow it added to her beauty. I sat up alongside her. I couldn't help but stare at her.

"Don't be silly, Kai," she spoke in a soft voice. "You already know, why…" I closed my eyes, not sure if this was right. "It's not wrong. It's not bad to love, Kai. Don't ever think it's a bad thing to love."

"Yeah, but… you're you," I tried to explain it. "You're a deity! God! Lord of everything, ya know? I mean… I'm just… me. Even if I'm a hero among these players, to the rest of the world I'm just… some guy in a coma, stuck in a game that means nothing to the rest of the world." I sighed, looking down at the rather nice sheets on the bed. "There's no way I could-" Sakura turned my head, making me look at her.

"Don't you ever doubt yourself!" she shouted at me, tears pooling in her eyes. "Kai… I created you! I made you with my own two hands…" Said hands caressed my cheek, and held my own hand. "I know absolutely everything about you, even things you don't know about yourself. I crafted the way you are, the way you were, and the way you will be…" Her soft, sad gaze hardened. "So don't ever doubt or belittle yourself. Because I created you, not to be perfect as someone else, but to be perfect as you." She smiled softly. "Yet you… You constantly defy my expectations. You constantly surprise me, becoming something that… I never though you could be capable of, to be honest."

"Wha… really…?" I managed to rasp out. Sakura nodded.

"I gave you so much when I made you…" she told me. "I gave you the ability to know your own feelings. I gave you the ability to truly feel. The ability to love unconditionally." She paused. "But… It also comes with the curse to hate unconditionally as well…" She looked back at me. "Anyone else would have gone off the deep end if they had this ability. They would hate everything around them, consumed by the emotions raging inside of them." She paused. "The last person I gave this gift to was Adolf Hitler."

"Wait, what!?" I shouted, making her give me a sharp look. I stayed quiet.

"But you…" she continued. "You kept hope. You kept onto your love, and never hesitated to spread it." She paused. "You had a few road bumps, but humans are still an imperfect race." She sighed. "What I'm trying to say is this; I… I love everybody in the world. I love them like a mother loves her children, but you… I've spent four months with you. I've shared a room with you. I've had dinner with you. I've fought alongside you. I've even sung beside you!" She blushed, blinking a few times. "I love everyone as my children… But I've never been… like this with them… I've never really explored their lives and lived here, physically with them. My Son did, but He was on a mission. He didn't have the time to be specifically intimate with anyone." She took a deep breath. "I've been more intimate with you than anyone else I've ever come across. I'd like to… be more than what we are right now."

I was at a loss for words, trying to take in everything she'd said. She… was in love with me because she'd spent time with me. As simple as it sounded, it kind of made sense. I think. "So…" I spoke slowly. "You… God… basically want to be my girlfriend?" She nodded. "Do you know how… weird this sounds?"

"I guess…" she mumbled. It was so weird seeing God flustered. Was this really the same God as the one in the bible? The 'sacrifice your son for me' God? The same God that drowned the entire Egyptian legion? The same God that had every firstborn son in Egypt killed? This was that God!? "Well?" she asked me. "Do you accept my feelings or not? You don't even have to question them! You already know I love you with all of my heart!" I grimaced.

"Like… everyone else," I mumbled. Sakura's face hardened.

"It's not the same," she growled, grabbing me by my collar and shoving her face in front of mine, looking me in the eyes. "I love everyone the exact same amount, that's true," she admitted. "But I already told you, I love them like a mother loves their children. I love you like… like a wife loves her husband…" Her eyes softened once more. "So… do you accept my feelings…? I already know the answer, but I want you to say it…" I felt my breathing hitch, taking in her scent. She smelled sweet, like fragrant flowers, as well as a bit musky, like the air after a rainstorm. Somehow the two smells complimented one another.

"I-I do…" I told her finally, feeling my own mind softening at her presence. I felt soft, full lips press against mine. My mind exploded with emotions. Joy. Surprise. Lust. But first and foremost, love. It was an incredible feeling, and never in my life would I ever be able to truly describe it. It was… intoxicating. I finally felt myself kissing her in return, holding her close to me. I wanted more! More!

"Ah, ah, ah," Sakura teased me, pulling her lips away from me. Her eyes were half lidded and sultry, yet at the same time powerful and commanding. "First, we're going on a date," she told me. "Secondly, we're going to go to dinner." She continued, "Then… then I'll let you kiss me, more." She giggled and stood up, twirling as she landed on her feet. "Let's go, lazy bones! I want to spend quality time with you!" Oh man… just what did I get myself in to?

XXXXX

A/N: Believe it or not, this little twist had been planned from the start. Ever since I'd introduced Iaweh as an existing figure, I had meant for her having some sort of relationship with Kai. My challenge was actually making it happen. I've mentioned a few times in the past that Kai has bad luck with women, and I knew the pattern had to continue. Well, Aya had the perfect excuse. While Kai was busy being a hero to [Aincrad], he still doesn't have much time with her. Plus, complacence is a thing. He might have been good about spending time with her some time ago, but old habits die hard.

In regards to God being a girl, I think it matches Her pretty well. The biblical God tends to be pretty laid back and loving for the most part, caring for Her people and guiding them as best as She can. She is fair, however, and has the wrath of a woman. If She's been wronged, Her punishments are swift and brutal. The Hebrew's slavery into Babylon for worshipping false idols. The plagues upon Egypt. The complete wiping of the Earth via flooding for the wickedness in the world. Yeah, She's loving and kind, but She's also commanding and powerful, and has the temperament of a woman. What She says is law, and expects to be obeyed. Anyway, she's now a permanent character in this story, and will be appearing more often than Aya ever did. So far only Kai and Keito know she's actually God.

I hope you enjoyed it! Ta-ta!