Screaming in agony as the claw pierced my shoulder I was taken aback at the sheer force of the beast. Glowing red eyes fangs a foot long and tall as the beast on floor 71. There was no doubt about it I had made a mistake.

(24 Hours prior)

I smiled and sighed out as I lay down in the tall grass in the shade under a tree. The wind was slightly blowing passed me as I smiled again and shut my eyes. I felt myself slipping into another world not these realities or even my own. It's hard to believe that I have had time to find time to myself after fighting for as long as we have. Not just me but all the troops on the front lines. It's all we can do to keep up. I shift to the side as I stick out my arm and lean against it and grunt trying to get into a more comfortable position. By this time tomorrow we would be pushing for end of this floor. And from what we heard the scouts that were sent out didn't have anything promising on the boss room that lay ahead of us. A small gust of wind ruffles through the trees overhead as I curl up and sigh out deeply again.

"Kirito… come on, ive been looking for you all day!"

Feeling a soft flick on the forehead finally broke me from my slumber as I was met with a smile and a soft poking. I smiled softly rubbing my eyes as yawned and sat up as I tilted my head to the side looking at the person who knelt before me. Before I knew it she had thrown herself into my arms nestling her head into my shoulder.

"Iditot!... I've been looking for you forever now!"

Asuna softly punches my shoulders with small fists as I sigh out and lean back and smile.

"I'm sorry, I just kind of dozed off for a little bit."

Asuna puffs out her cheeks as she folds her arms and sighs out her cheeks a soft pink as the wind blows rippling through her hair.

"I was worried about you, you know! We've made it this far and the floors have just gotten tougher and then you go and disappear on me?!"

All I could do was apologize. I had no excuse. But I couldn't help but smile as I stood up and shrugged playfully. And the response I got was a huff and more folded arms.

"I'll make it up to you…?" I took a step closer to her, her cheeks still puffed out of frustration as she slowly nodded.

"You better…"

I smiled and tilted my head as I wrapped her up into my arms as I softly lifted her up off of the ground, I felt her shift as she squealed and wrap her arms around my neck as I softly spun her around in small circles in the tall grass. Her eyes glistened in the sun as I gazed into them. She was right though. Even if we are both key members of the front line troops we shouldn't be worrying each other when we have so much to worry about.

"I'm sorry." I nod apologetically. "I promise I won't go wondering off again."

Asuna's cheeks irrupt into a soft pink as she burry's her head into my chest. " It isn't that I don't trust you, or that I don't think that you cant take care of yourself. Its just…that I just want to know where you are ya know?"

I can hear her voice quiver slightly as I nod in reply promising and acknowledging.

"I worry about you reguar-…" she cuts herself off mid sentence as she reaches up extending herself chin raised upwards eyes closed as I feel her lips softly touch mine. I lean to the side as I tilt my head softly kissing Asuna back as I softly bring my hand up to her cheek. Cheeks pink skin warm I smile softly as she retracts back down to the flats of her feet as she gazes up at me. I softly rub her head in affection as I hug her drawing her near once more.

"I promise."

She smiles back as she takes my hand in hers and draws me further into the tall grass as the sun starts to set the brilliant colors of the sky mixed with the soft giggles from Asuna and tall grass that went on as far as the eye could see it's like I could be trapped in this world for the rest of my life and I wouldn't care. Just as long as I was with her.