Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online

A/N: This is going to be about the death game SAO, but I am beginning with the beta test. It will probably only be a few chapters about it. I am doing this because I am going to involve the beta testers more in the death game. It is going to be about Kirito, but he is going to interact more with the beta testers after becoming a beater in the death game.

As this is obviously an AU, I will taking a few liberties. Those liberties involve Kirito's backstory and some of the things with SAO. One of which you will see in the next chapter about SAO players being able to communicate with each other whether in the game or not.

The Path of a Beater

Prologue

Kazuto Kirigaya, a thirteen year old teenager, stared at the café in front of him then looked back at his mother's car. In the backseat sat his cousin who was younger than him by a year. His mother sat in the driver's seat, smiling at Kazuto with her window down. "What are we doing?" He asked confused.

"I am taking Suguha shopping and you are going in there." Midori replied as she pointed at the café.

"Huh? Can't I go to the game store instead?" Kazuto whined as he sent a distasteful look towards the café.

Midori chuckled. "You could, but you will regret it." At her words, Kazuto looked back at her in confusion. "An old friend wants to meet you and give you something."

"Old friend?" Kazuto asked, feeling even more confused. He had very few friends, and even then, they were more like acquaintances than friends.

"Well, not one of yours." Midori replied before she looked down at her watch. "If he's not here yet, he will be here soon. Go in and sit down. He'll find you. Do you have your cell phone on you?"

Kazuto grumbled and pulled his dark blue phone out of his pocket. Though Midori worked a lot and wasn't around often, when she was around, she always made sure her kids were careful. She drilled it into their heads to never leave the house without their cell phone and if they were leaving to send her a text so she knew where and what they were doing. Kazuto guessed it was a precautionary method since they were still young and she wanted to know they were okay.

But to Kazuto, who was thirteen already, it felt a bit suffocating. It felt like she was still trying to hold his hand with everything he did. While he loved his mother greatly, he wanted the independence that let him leave the house without always having to let her know what he was doing.

"Good," Midori nodded her head. "Call me when you're done, kay?"

Kazuto nodded. "Kay, Mom."

Without a word to Suguha, Kazuto turned around and headed into the small café. His eyes scanned over the interior in boredom as he walked over to a random booth and sat down. There was not a slightest bit of interest in him about the café. All he wanted was to go to the game store or even the computer store. A café was extremely boring to him, but he came in here because he was curious as to what his mother meant by him regretting it if he didn't. What could be so interesting about who he was meeting?

Unlocking his phone, Kazuto saw it was 1:27 and sighed. He hit the power button on the side to put it in sleep mode and slid it on the table and looked out the window. Whoever was coming to meet him better not take long. Because of this person his mother made him leave his room today. He could be playing a game right now or researching about Sword Art Online.

Sword Art Online was a new game in production to be the first ever VRMMORPG. The idea of virtual playing sounded absolute amazing to him. It meant he would get to move around in the game and swing a weapon. He would get to experience the sensation of the fight. It was something never before done and it was getting hyped up a lot already, even though only the Alpha test had been done so far.

A beta test was starting soon for it and because of that, Kazuto applied online for the chance to be one of one thousand people to be a beta for it. He was sure a lot of people applied for this chance, but he was still hoping he got one of the spots.

To be able to dive into an actual game sounded completely thrilling and he would kill for this chance. Having never dived into a game before, he didn't know what to expect from a VRMMORPG, but he was sure it would be incredible. Argus, the company that created the Nervegear which allowed people to dive into virtual reality, was a powerful company so he was sure they were pulling out no stops to create the world of SAO. To be able to roam through it like it was real would be an unforgettable experience.

But from what he read, about 200,000 people actually owned a Nervegear and half of those people applied to be a beta tester for the first virtual reality game. It would be nearly impossible to get a spot in the beta test, especially when no one knew how they were choosing who the beta testers would be. The only thing he knew for sure was that it was publicized a lot in the gaming sites he frequent and the magazines he read that people could apply to be a beta tester for it. He really hope he got chosen to be one.

"Kazuto?"

At hearing his first name, which he found to be way too informal and impolite, Kazuto looked up and immediately did a double take. Standing right next to his booth was a man he absolutely admired: Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of Nervegear and Sword Art Online. He looked just like he did in the pictures that Kazuto saw of him in the articles he read about the man. Having created the Nervegear and being the development director for the Sword Art Online project, he was featured a lot and was interviewed quite frequently to give news and updates about his projects.

Kayaba gave Kazuto a small smile as the teen seemed to have trouble finding any words to speak. "May I sit down, Kazuto?"

There was his first name again, but this time, Kazuto just blinked and nodded. "Y-yes." He nodded quickly. "Sure."

As Kazuto watched him take the seat opposite him, he noticed for the first time the wrapped package in his hands and blinked again. What did he bring with him that he needed to wrap up?

"Uh," Kazuto looked up at Kayaba's face, trying to decipher what it was he should do and what was going on.

"Can I take your orders?"

Kazuto jumped in surprise and looked up to see a waitress standing by their table. She was either very quiet or Kazuto was more dazed about seeing Kayaba seating across from him than he realized.

"I'll have a coffee." Kayaba told her before looking Kazuto. "And you? What would you like? Order anything you like. I am paying today."

"What?" Kazuto asked surprised. "Oh, uh, no, you don't need to do that."

"I insist, Kazuto." Kayaba replied firmly.

Kazuto blinked and nodded. He wasn't used to hearing such firm tones from adults. Maybe it was cause his parents were rarely home and he was so quiet and antisocial at school so his teachers didn't really take notice him. "Eh, then I'll have an iced tea."

The waitress nodded and excused herself.

A chuckle brought Kazuto's attention back to the older man. "You don't have to be so nervous, Kazuto. I don't bite."

A faint blush spread across Kazuto's cheeks. He took a moment to compose himself by closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing to calm his racing heart. This was not the time to freak out. The man he admired was seating right here. He could talk to him in person about everything he wanted to discuss. "Are you the old friend that my mom was telling me about?"

"That I am. By your reaction, I see you already know who I am, but I will say it anyway. I am Kayaba Akihiko." Kayaba introduced.

"And I'm Kirigaya Kazuto, though you seem to know that already." Kazuto replied. "You weren't even on the list of people I was expecting to show up when my mom dropped me off here."

Kayaba nodded with a smirk. "I imagine. I met you a few times when you were young, but I guess you don't remember them."

Kazuto looked up at him with eyes wide in shock. "What? How?"

"It was actually your father. Did you know that Hiroki was a game designer for Argus?" Kayaba asked, but he paused in explaining as the waitress returned with their drinks. He grabbed some creamer and sugar and mixed both into his coffee. "We attended the same school, but he was a few years ahead of me. Still, we were both interested in video games and ended up joining the same computer club which is where we met. We became fast friends and it turns out we both became game designers for Argus."

"Dad worked for Argus?" Kazuto said surprised before pausing and thinking back to what he just said. "Wait, you two were friends?!"

At Kazuto's excited tone, Kayaba couldn't help but laugh. When he spoke to Midori about meeting Kazuto, she had told him that he was a big fan of him, but he didn't think he would be this excited to meet him.

"Yes, Kazuto, quite close. We worked on the Nervegear together. It's a shame he couldn't live to see its completion." A sad look entered Kayaba's eyes as he turned them to stare out the window of the café.

At his solemn state, Kazuto lost his excitement and looked down at the table where he was clenching his hands. Sitting in front of him was a man that knew his father well. The only other people to know him were his adoptive parents. No one else seemed to realize he was adopted, or were too kind to say anything to him about it.

"I have been working on Sword Art Online for years to perfect it. Even while I was working on creating the Nervegear, I was designing SAO. It has been a dream of mine since I was a child." Kayaba continued as he broke out of his depressing thoughts of his deceased friend. He looked at the young boy across from him with a smile. "I told your dad of my dream of a floating castle. He laughed for a second then screamed he loved the idea."

"Did he help you with the game at all?" Kazuto asked curiously and a bit excited. If his dad helped on SAO…

Kayaba nodded. "We didn't do a lot of creating for the game before he died since we were still in the early designs of the game, but he did design a few floors, bosses, items, quests, and all that himself. I altered a few of them a bit, but essentially they are his ideas and in honor of him, I put each of his ideas in the game." He paused to take a sip of his coffee which was also to hide his amused smirk behind his cup as he said, "Maybe you will come across them."

"Huh?" Kazuto said confused as his mind processed that last sentence. With each passing second, his eyes got wider and wider and a huge grin split across his face. "Seriously?!"

The game developer slid the wrapped package across the table. Like a vulture, Kazuto snatched it up and eagerly ripped the wrapping paper away to see the case for Sword Art Online. Of course under those words it said 'beta version.' He was going to be a beta tester! As soon as he plugged this game in and started, he felt that his life would be complete.

Seeing Kazuto look like a child on Christmas as he ran his fingers over the case and the words on it, Kayaba chuckled and lowered his cup to the table. "Kazuto, let's be serious for a moment."

Against his desire, Kazuto drew his eyes away from the case of Sword Art Online to look at Kayaba. When he saw his lips drawn down into a frown and his eyes narrowed in concentration, Kazuto gingerly put the case down to give him his full attention. "What is it, Kayaba-san?"

"I met you quite a bit when you were younger, but perhaps you are too young to remember. But I remember. Even back then, you were so into technology and video games. It must be your parents' and Midori's fault." Kayaba said.

Kazuto laughed. "If I met you as a child, doesn't that mean it is also your fault?"

Kayaba raised a brow. "Cheeky kid, aren't you?"

Kazuto grinned for a second before falling serious. "What is this about?"

"Midori was named your godmother when you were born by Keiko's choice. Hiroki chose the godfather and that is me." Kayaba continued and with his words, he saw Kazuto go stiff in shock, though his eyes widened. "When your parents died, Midori and I had to decide which one of us would take you in. We both wanted to, but I work so much and so does Midori's husband. Midori was also getting back on the career track so we were all busy. In the end, it came down to the fact that Midori is your aunt and has a child of her own. We wanted you to be with family and with Suguha-chan so you had someone to grow up and play with, especially when your parents are gone with their long hours at work."

"I fell out of your life then. I got so busy with work that I never had time to come visit my own godson." Kayaba said before he frowned deeply. "But in all honestly, that was a lie I told myself."

Kazuto, whose eyes had fallen to the table, lifted them once more to stare at his godfather. "A lie?" He murmured. "What does that mean?"

"Bluntly, I was avoiding you, Kazuto." Kayaba said directly.

At those words, Kazuto looked out the window. Avoiding him, huh? Was he that troublesome to be around? When he first found out he was an orphan, it opened up so many questions to him. Who were the people that he was living with? Was he interfering with their family? Was he a burden? Why was he living with them? So many questions and no answers. Sure, he could get the answers by asking them, but he was too scared to. He didn't want to know the truth. The truth was what he wanted to escape from.

"It's not because I don't care about you, because I do, Kazuto. Seven years ago your parents were killed and to lose my best friend like that hurt so much. When Midori and I were discussing who was going to take you, and I saw you there, all I could see was Hiroki." Kayaba stopped and gave a dry laugh. "It's laughable. You look more like your mother than Hiroki, but the expression you were wearing at the time reminded me so much of him that it destroyed me inside. I was never going to see him again and when it was decided you would go with Midori, I was so relieved."

"Because you didn't have to deal with the burden of seeing your best friend all the time?" Kazuto asked softly.

"No!" Kayaba replied sharply, surprising Kazuto. "Because…when the applications to be a beta tester for Sword Art Online started to come in, I was so shocked to see one of the names to be yours. I was shocked, but I really should have expected it. You are Hiroki's son." A wistful looked crossed his face as he looked closely at Kazuto. "I say that, but I don't know anything about you because I stayed out of your life for seven years. It gives me the chance to learn who my godson has become. If I saw you constantly growing up, I would probably compare you to your parents and not see who you were growing up to be. But now, I think you're old enough to start to understand who you are and I want to see it."

"I see." Kazuto looked down at the game and tapped it with his fingers. "Is this a bribe so I will accept you more easily, Kayaba-san? Isn't it unfair to make me a beta tester just because I'm your godson?"

Kayaba laughed. "Perhaps, but you were also chosen because my team liked your experience in gaming. I didn't even tell them you were my godson and I wanted to give you the game personally until after they made the decision to pick you. So, no worries, Kazuto, you didn't get any special treatment there." His laugh disappeared as he smiled sadly at his godson. "If you don't want me in your life after I disappeared for seven years, I understand and I won't bother you again, Kazuto. I just wanted this one chance to see you once more."

The black haired teenager looked down with a frown. He moved his hand to the side to look at the cover of the game case. He saw a forest and in the distance in the background was the floating castle. Through his reading online, he thinks it is called Aincrad. This was the world Kayaba created. It was the world that his real father did a bit of work on before he was killed. His dad and Kayaba were friends in the past. Close enough friends that Hiroki would adopt the dream of Kayaba's to have a floating castle.

Despite that, his godfather ran from him because he didn't want to feel the pain of seeing Hiroki and Keiko in him. But could Kazuto really blame him for that? He was running as well. He has always loved video games, but when he found out he was an orphan, he quit kendo and dove into becoming an intense gamer who didn't like to socialize outside of games because he didn't want to face the truth of it.

They were both trying to escape the past, but now Kayaba found himself ready to face it by making the first move and meeting Kazuto.

Kazuto turned his hand over onto the game case and curled it into a fist. "Okay, I think I can understand why you did what you did, Kayaba-san." He nodded, mostly to himself. "Besides, I am a huge fan of yours so why shouldn't I accept you?"

Kayaba smiled. "Thank you, Kazuto. And stop calling me Kayaba-san. It makes me feel old."

"You are old." Kazuto said blankly.

"Cheeky brat." Kayaba teased. "No, call me what you did when you were younger."

Kazuto raised a brow. "And what was that?"

"Aki-nii-san." Kayaba replied easily.

"What?" Kazuto shouted in a whisper. "No way. I am never calling you that. You're my godfather. Shouldn't it be more like Uncle?"

Kayaba chuckled. "Perhaps, but a three year old doesn't care and will call me what he wants."

Kazuto blushed and shook his head. "No way am I calling you that."

"Something so simple can embarrass you?" Kayaba teased as he reached across the table and snagged the game from Kazuto and started to tug it away. "Then I guess you don't really want this."

"Ah!" Kazuto shouted as he snatched the case back. "Fine, Aki-nii-san!" When he noticed some of the other patrons of the café looking at them, Kazuto blushed deeper and bowed his head to avoid eye contact with them all. "Aki-nii-san is so cruel."

"No, it's just that you are a complete game addict, Kazuto." Kayaba replied amused.

"Says the one who spent years working on Nervegear and SAO." Kazuto retorted easily as he forced the blush away. He would not let this man get the best of him. Kazuto Kirigaya was the one who teased and embarrassed people, along with purposely getting them angry over the most trivial things because he thought it was hilarious. No one did it to him.

Kayaba chuckled. "True. I hope you enjoy SAO, Kazuto. The beta test starts in one week. Have fun with it."

A/N: To make it work with Hiroki being friends with Akihiko, the ages of them have been played with. Akihiko is a couple of years older than he is in the anime and Kirito's parents were made a bit younger. Let's just say when Kirito was born, they were 20 and died around 26. It will be explained in a later chapter, but Kirito was six when they died, instead of being an infant. I am simply changing the backstory of him a bit. And I liked the idea of Kirito having a connection to Akihiko which is why I made him Kirito's godfather.

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