A/N: Sorry to keep you all waiting, but here it is! As you can likely tell from the title, some pretty heavy stuff is about to go down. Enjoy and be sure to leave a review!

Death of a Samurai

The Shepherds were on the move, hoping to find shelter at a town that they had left in the care of the Ylissean forces instead of the Resistance. As they moved through the forests, Robin and Kazuto kept trying to come up with reasons that the former rebels would have suddenly united and joined the empire.

They asked Lucina if something like that had happened in the future, but her response was that she had never learned anything but the bare minimum about the war against Valm. What she did remember was that things had proceeded much more slowly back in her timeline, with the current war not taking place for another ten years when she was a child.

So they continued to theorize until Robin finally hit on an idea. "Blackmail," he said aloud as they rose over a hill.

"What?" Kazuto asked.

"Bribery is out, because that hasn't worked in the past," Robin explained. "It didn't matter how rich the reward, because the rebels never trusted the empire. So now Walhart must have something on the rebels that they don't want getting out."

"Or maybe he's finally stolen something that they all want as individuals," Kazuto said with a slight frown. "And he's sayin' that they can't have it back until they do as he says."

"What could that be?" Robin said, his own brow bending downwards. "What could he have that every single person in Valm would bend the knee to him?"

That night, Asuna was on her way to her and Kirito's tent when she heard soft groans of distress coming from Yui's tent. Concerned, the young mother walked in as quietly as she could. Looking down at the little girl in the dim light, she was surprised to see Yui's brow bent downwards fiercely, and that she was muttering something in her sleep.

Touching the child's head tentatively, she instantly became more worried when her fingers encountered sweat and a blazing forehead. She rushed out the tent, and made a mad dash for Lissa's own shelter. When she got there, she rapped on the tent pole incessantly until Lon'qu emerged, looking disgruntled.

"What is it?" he said gruffly.

"I think my daughter might be sick," Asuna said breathlessly. "She's burning up and sweating like crazy. And it seems like she's having a nightmare of some kind, because she's talking in her sleep."

"I will get Lissa," Lon'qu nodded. He disappeared for several moments, but to Asuna, it seemed like an eternity for Lissa to emerge wearing her night gown with her staff in hand.

"Is this something that's happened before?" she asked as they began to walk quickly to the little girl's tent. "Did she maybe eat something she was allergic to for dinner?"

"As far as I know, this has never happened before," Asuna said with a shake of her head. "And all we ate today was bread and water, and she's never had a problem with that before."

When they got inside the tent, they were shocked to see that Yui was not the sole occupant. "Henry, what're you doing in here?!" Lissa demanded. "Did you do something to poor Yui?!"

Henry turned to them for the first time without a smile on his face. Much to the women's fear, he looked afraid for Yui. "I didn't do this," he said. "But I'll tell you this- this is the most complicated hex I've ever seen in my life."

"H-How bad is it?" Asuna asked, paling.

"Bad enough that I don't know if I can remove it," Henry admitted. "To sum it up, she's trapped in some kind of nightmare, and if she dies in the dream, her mind will shut down and she'll fall asleep for the rest of her life. That, or she'll just die."

"D-D-Die?" Asuna squeaked out.

"Henry, is there any way for you to lift the curse?" Lissa said. "Any way at all?"

"Lift it? No," he shook his head. "But I have two other options. I can either attempt to send it back at the caster, or I can transfer the curse to another person. A willing victim."

"What are the risks on both sides?" Lissa asked as Asuna began to tremble violently.

"If I send it back at the caster successfully, no harm done," Henry said. "The problem is, if I don't manage to do it correctly, my own magic power will only worsen her condition. On the other hand, the only reason she's not deteriorating faster is because of her divine magic. If the magic goes into someone without any divine magic abilities."

"But the only other one that has that ability in the Shepherds…" Lissa paused.

"You would have to take the magic inside of you," Henry nodded.

"No, she won't," said a new voice. They all turned to see Kazuto standing at the entrance to the tent. "I'll do it. I'll take the curse on."

"Kirito!" Asuna cried in relief. She held on to him, and he returned the embrace tightly, but he kept his obsidian eyes on Henry's.

"You do realize that you might die, right?" Henry warned as he stood up.

"I might," Kirito nodded. "But I'm not letting any more risk fall on my daughter. And I'm sure as hell not letting Lissa take the fall, either. So let's do this."

"But… Kirito…" Asuna sobbed. "What if you…"

"Then I'll at least have been able to save Yui's life," the Black Swordsman said as he cupped his wife's chin so that she'd look at him. "That's what being a parent is about- putting your child's needs before your own, and nothing less than that."

"Maybe I can-"

"If you're about to suggest that I let you take on the curse, you're out of your mind," Kazuto said sharply. "I'm not letting you put yourself in harm's way if I can help it."

"But-"

"No buts," he said as he kissed her on the forehead. Then he released his grip on Asuna and said to Lissa, "Hold her back in case she tries to do anything stupid."

"You got it," the princess nodded.

To their surprise though, Asuna made no move to stop him. "I have faith in my husband," she said. "And I know that his mind is made up, so there's nothing I can do to change his mind, especially when it concerns Yui."

The others nodded as Henry motioned for Kazuto to lie down on the ground. "This won't hurt you physically until you're asleep," he said. "It'll be just like going to bed."

"I understand," Kazuto replied. Then he closed his eyes as Henry placed one hand on his head, and the other on Yui's. Then he smiled as the dark magic began to flow into him, and he murmured, "Link, start."

"This was probably a bad idea," Klein muttered to Flavia just before he cast an Elfire spell to incinerate an oncoming axe man. Back in Alfheim, he wouldn't have been caught dead using magic. But he wasn't so stubborn as to give up such a potent weapon when facing death in real life.

"Hey, nobody asked you to come along," Flavia said as she wiped rain from her brow. "If you didn't want to get caught it such a risky situation, you should have stayed back with the other fairies."

"Heh, and miss out on the chance to live up to the title of 'samurai'? Not on your life!" He cast an Arcfire spell this time, lighting up three foot soldiers, who rolled on the ground in an attempt to put out the flames. Unfortunately for them, this left them wide open for Flavia to finish them off with her axe.

Just as they had finished dealing with the grunt squad, a familiar figure approached them quickly. "We're in a fine fix now!" he shouted to be heard above the rain. "Their cavalry is riding right over us!"

Klein scowled, but he knew what needed to happen. "Time to cut our losses," he said. "We oughta retreat. I think we've bought the other Shepherds enough time to press ahead."

"Enough time isn't enough," Basilio said as he shook his head. "Go on if you want, but I'm not leaving until we've given them every opportunity to get away from this part of the army."

"Well, staying here is suicide!" Klein shouted. Memories flashed through his mind, of the day when he had seen a man foolishly lead his men into what surely would have been their deaths if not for the combined efforts of Asuna, Kirito, and his guild. "There's no point to this if they kill all of us now!"

"Enough, both of you!" Flavia shouted. "We need to- Wait, what's that?!" She pointed with her axe to indicate a squad of Feroxi soldiers being knocked aside with brutal force. "Is it some kind of elite cavalry?!"

"No," Basilio said, the awe clear in his voice. "Gods of darkness, it's just one man!"

"YOU THERE!" the man's voice boomed as thunder illuminated his powerful red armor. "DO YOU COMMAND THESE FORCES?!" Walhart the Conqueror had arrived.

Before either of the khans could speak, Klein stepped forward and shouted, "That's right, ya bastard! And if you don't wanna end up on the wrong end of Lord Klein's katana, you'll turn around right now!"

"INSOLENT FOOL!" Walhart bellowed. He began directing his horse to ride at a slow canter to engage Klein, who drew his sword and prepared to fly.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Basilio demanded. "You heard the lass! I'm supposed to fight him!"

"And die trying," Klein snapped. "I think it's time for fate to have a crash course in history! The others and I can change things because we were never meant to be here, so that's what we're gonna do! Now get your ass moving!"

"We're not leaving you!" Flavia shouted back. "This isn't your fight!"

"Like hell it isn't!" Klein grinned. "A samurai fights for his friends and family, no matter how bad things look! So that's what I'm gonna do! Now go! Get your people out of here and I'll join you guys later!"

His declaration fooled no one. But Flavia and Basilio could see that his mind was made up. And he did have a point- the current course of time needed to be changed. As they turned to go, Basilio paused for one last second. "Is there anything you want me to tell the red-haired lass?"

Klein smirked but kept his gaze fixed on Walhart. "Tell her that when we meet again, drinks are on me," he said. "And that I'll miss her until then."

"Take care, Klein," Basilio said. The he ran off, shouting orders at the surviving Feroxi.

Klein ignored him and spread his wings. "I've heard people call you a demon," he taunted the ruby-armored ruler. "Too bad for you, I've faced bigger demons!"

"FOOL!" Walhart bellowed. It seemed to be a favorite word of his, Klein thought. "I have negated the need for any ethereal beings, divine or demonic! I have transcended the gods!"

"Yeah?!" Klein shouted as he leapt high into the air, his sword ablaze with fire. "There's one god you'll never be able to surpass! Can you guess which one?!" As he came down, his sword swung in a murderous arc towards the man's head.

"You fancy yourself a god, little man?" Walhart snorted. As soon as Klein was within reach, he smacked him aside with the flat of his axe at an impossible speed. "It is as I said- I have transcended the gods."

"I wasn't… talking… about me…" Klein groaned as he got up off the ground, holding his ribs. "But… when Kirito… finds you… you'll know… what I'm talking about." He glared up at Walhart, who seemed rather amused.

"Kirito?" Walhart said. "Another amusing insect for me to swat? I look forward to it." He raised his axe, only to see Klein smile. Then next instant, a ball of fire enveloped the Conqueror, burning him badly.

The instant after that, his axe fell on Klein's chest. And this time, it wasn't the flat part. When the fire faded, Walhart looked down at the body of his former opponent with satisfaction. "Truly, that was entertaining. A man that survived a single blow of my axe… I have not seen such resolve since I dueled Yen'fay. Truly, it is a shame that he was a foolish servant of Naga." Then he rode away without a backward glance.

Suguha: Whoa, wait! Did you just kill Klein?!

Mataras: Not telling.

Robin: Klein?! Forget him, what'd you do to my assistant?!

Mataras: Hey! He volunteered!

Robin: Only because you made him!

Suguha: Wait, what happened to Big Brother?

Mataras: Nothing of serious consequence...

Robin: Mataras!

Mataras: Okay, I'm going to get out of here before-

Robin: Get back here! Thoron!