Asuna had woken up, her father there at her side, and everyone was happy.

"Kirito-I need to see him-" She murmured, managing to sit up. A memory of Kirito waving at her and smiling flashed in her mind. She gasped, and tears came to her eyes.
"Kirito I need to see him!" She said louder, getting out of the bed, not caring for the machines and stickers with wires that kept her in shape.

"Asuna! Stay in bed you've barely woken up!" Her father yelled, and she continued to get up.
"Kirito-Kun! I need to see him! He's the one that-" She didn't continue, when she saw Sugou glare at her.

Asuna sighed, remembering her first day that she woke up; she had been hysterical, calling for Kirito and then demanding Sugou to leave.

She didn't cooaperate with the nurses until her father agreed to get the information to where was Kirito located.
Asuna had been relieved, thinking she'd be with Kirito soon. But she didn't expect it-

Kirito hadn't woken up. Yet.

So she visited him everyday, taking the bus or her bike, and always bought flowers for him.
She had already met Sugouh, Kirito's cousin and the mom. They were both nice to her, but it took time to make Sugouh be nice about Asuna visiting Kirito.

"Hey Kirito, I bet you're bored out of your mind laying there."She said, walking beside his bed and placing new flowers in the vase, taking the old ones out.
"I got you tulips." She said, and pulled a chair up beside him.
She noticed how his bangs perfectly framed his pale skin, and he looked so delicate. When Asuna first saw him, she hugged him and he was bony, too skinny, so she got the nurses to give him treatment the way she had gotten; of course she paid for it.

She grabbed his hand carefully, and squeezed it.
"Why won't you wake up?" She murmured, and put his hand to her cheek. She had heard that some SAO survivors hadn't woken up, but she didn't expect Kirito to be one of them.

Just then, a man entered the room, someone she knew all too well-

"Shame he isn't waking up." Sugou said, walking to the other bedside of Kirito. She glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" She said lowly, not taking her eyes off of him. He grinned, and his hand slipped out of his dress pants, and a finger came to Kirito's cheek, and caressed him.

"Shame he isn't waking up," He repeated, "He would've been nice." His finger trailed Kirito's lips, and Asuna stood up, slapping his hand away.
"Don't touch him!" She yelled, and he laughed.

"Oh Asuna if only you knew. Maybe he's awake in his mind and he's somewhere far away." His voice trailed off, and she gritted her teeth.

"I'll tell you something-what if I told you I can bring him back, but of course you'd have to marry me." The last sentence made Asuna shiver.

"Never! Kirito will wake up on his own!" She said, and he reached down to touch Kirito again but Asuna growled, "Don't you dare."

He chuckled, and sighed.

"Such a waste. And he's adorable looking too."

"Get out!" Asuna said, and he grinned.

"My pleasure. Just think about what I said Asuna." He walked away, and she glared at him until he left. She turned to Kirito, and she hugged him.

"You'll show him right Kirito? You'll wake up won't you?" She kissed his hand and a tear slipped.

"You just have to."

XXX

"Oi Kirito how is my prince doing?" A voice said.

In another place, blue skies and large trees, on one tree hung a large birdcage, and inside the birdcage was a bed, flowers, a table and a chair. Sitting on the chair was a young boy, his hair black and his bangs parted three ways. He had a strip of cloth pinned to the back of his head, and wore a single white band on each of his arms. His shirt was white, but it only had one sleeve that didn't even reach his shoulder, and it was short, his stomach showing. He wore a bundle of cloth that reached just an inch below his legs, as if it was only meant to cover his manhood.

The boy only looked away.

"Ah Kirito you look lovely today. I saw you today in the real world." Sugou said. Kirito opened his eyes, and looked at him. He didn't say anything.

"Asuna was there you know; she probably visits you everyday." He made his way to where Kirito was sitting, and he touched Kirito's bare shoulder. Kirito moved out of his touch.

"Oh aren't you adorable?" Kirito didn't respond.

"I told Asuna that if she wanted to see you, to make you wake up, she'd have to marry me." Kirito glared at Sugou, and said, "You're disgusting! You can't keep me in here forever!"

"On the contrary my little prince, I can keep here and no one will suspect a thing. Asuna is too scared to put on a nerve gear I bet you, and so you'll stay here unless of course she says yes." Kirito started to breathe heavily, his body trembling.

"In the meantime why won't we. . ." Sugou gestures to the bed, and Kirito got up abruptly and walked away as far as he could.

Kirito grabbed onto the golden bars, looking up at the sky miserably.

"I'll get out. I know I can." He whispered, and Suguo laughed.