My Fault

~In a hotel room, right after Moon Lit Black Cats died~

"It's my fault!" Kirito cried out in his hotel room. 'My fault they're dead. All of them,' he thought. Images of the Moon Lit Black Cats were flashing in front of eyes. He relived all their deaths over and over.

"Sachi," he whispered. "I failed you."

He picked his head up off his arms and noticed he had a message waiting for him. It was from Sachi. He opened it and listened to it. When she started humming 'Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer' he lost control and let the tears flow freely.

~Next Day~

Kirito decided that he wasn't up for his usual routine of battling the front lines today, so he decided to take a nap under a shade tree on floor 59.

"What are doing?" A female voice commanded.

Kirito snapped his eyes open but relaxed when he saw it was Asuna and said "Oh, it's only you."

"Everyone else is heading towards the dungeon, and where do I find you? Out here taking a nap." She scolded.

"I bet you didn't know that is Aincrad's nicest season, and today's weather is at its optimal setting?"

"Huh?"

"It'd be a waste to spend a day like this in a dungeon."

"Whatever, do you not underst…" she started to say but the breeze started to blow and was interrupted.

"See? The sun feels great and it's just beautiful out here." Kirito said and tried to stifle a yawn. "If you lay down on the grass for little bit…maybe you'd understand."

And with that Kirito dozed off.

~Couple Hours Later~

Kirito sat up groggily and stretched. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he noticed Asuna was asleep next to him. He laughed to himself and got up to go sit on the wall, deciding to let her sleep as he took watch. His thoughts kept going to dark places as he sat there. 'If I told them real level, would they have let me join the guild? Would they still be alive? It's all my fault….I was selfish. I killed them.' A single tear rolled down his cheek.

~A Few Hours Later~

Asuna woke up, looked around, and jumped up unsheathing her Rapier half way once she got her bearings and saw Kirito sitting there.

"Good morning," he said with a smile.

As soon Asuna jumped up reaching for rapier, Kirito jumped down from the wall and crouched on the other side. Uncertain of what Asuna was going to do.

"One meal," was all she said.

"Huh?" he asked confused.

"One meal, that's my treat. Then we'll be even. I'll even cook it for you…" she said in response.

~Asuna's House~

Asuna opened the door to her apartment and went inside. Kirito followed right on her heels. Kirito stopped dead in his tracks with his jaw hanging open as he took her apartment in. Everything was nice neat and all tidy. It was very spacious too. The décor was very simple and the furniture looked very expensive and was made out of bamboo.

"The kitchen is through here," she said as she walked through a doorway on the left.

Kirito followed her through the doorway and took a seat on one the stools near the counter. "Your apartment is really nice, Asuna."

"Thanks, it's not much but its home. Anyways, what would like to eat?" She asked while putting an apron on from her inventory.

"Uh, I don't know…I'll let you decide." He responded.

Asuna started taking out ingredients and placing them on the counter, when they both heard the door open and close with a female voice saying "Asuna? I'm home!"

"In here!" Asuna yelled at the newcomer.

A pink haired girl walked in the door stopped when she saw Kirito. "Who is this? I didn't know you had a boyfriend, Asuna." She said with a smirk on her face. Both Asuna and Kirito's face flushed red with embarrassment.

"This is Kirito, and he's not boyfriend, Liz." Asuna said, still blushing, with a hint of disappointment that made Kirito slightly confused. "Kirito this is Lisbeth, my best friend and temporary roommate."

"Nice to meet you," they said in unison and shook hands.

Asuna put the mixed up ingredients in the oven and set the time for 7 minutes. They told them she'd be right back and left to go change. Kirito went through his menu and removed his coat and other armor until he only had on his black t-shirt and slacks.

"I'm going to go change, too. I'll be right back." Liz said and left the kitchen.

Kirito slumped a little in his chair and exhaled a huge breath. 'I don't know how much longer I can keep this acting up.' He thought to himself. 'I just want to be alone for a while. I don't deserve this kindness shown to me just because I stood watch while she slept.'

Ding! Asuna and Liz came into the kitchen just as the oven went off.

"Perfect timing," she said with a smile. Kirito sat up straighter as he smelled the aroma of the cooked food as Asuna pulled it out of the oven.

"That smells delicious. What did you make?" Kirito asked.

"Beef and vegetable stew," she answered.

They all sat down at the table and dug into the food. When all their plates were practically licked clean, they began conversing.

"Liz, if you don't mind my asking, why are you rooming with Asuna?" Kirito asked.

"Uh, well I'm trying to save up money to buy a blacksmith shop and I was having trouble doing that when I had to pay for hotel rooms every night. Asuna offered for me to stay here a while after we became really good friends." Liz explained.

"Cool, good luck with the money saving and shopping for a place to set up your blacksmith shop." He replied, making a mental note to go to her for any new weapons.

They talked for about thirty more minutes until Asuna said, "Crap! It's that late already. I have to get up early. Kirito, I believe it's time for you to go."

"Ok, yeah, I have to get early too. I understand. Where's the nearest hotel?" he asked.

"Hotel?" Asuna asked with a confused expression on her face. "Don't you have a place to live?"

Asuna noticed a hint of hurt and sadness in eyes that wasn't there before as he turned to look away from her before he answered, "I did, but I sold my house when I joined a guild a couple months back. The guild I joined…went separate ways and I haven't gotten around to buying a house."

"Well, I'm not letting you stay in a hotel. You can stay here until you find a house. Liz, is that ok with you?"

"Sure, but he sleeps in your room since you invited him." Liz said matter of factly and with that she went to bed, leaving the other two with red faces.

"Well, my bed is big enough for two people, so I guess that's ok." Asuna said once she returned back normal color.

"Alright, do you mind if use your shower?" Kirito asked.

"Sure go ahead. I'll be in bed once you get out." Asuna said. She then turned and walked to her room as Kirito went into the bathroom.

Kirito let the tears fall as he hung his head in the shower. 'I can't take this pain anymore…' he thought. He decided to hurry up and shower so Asuna wouldn't become suspicious on what was taking him so long. He turned the water off and quickly dried himself. He got dressed in a black t-shirt and some shorts. Asuna was already asleep by the time he laid down next her starring at the ceiling.