DUDES, I am back for another story, and hopefully I keep this one going on longer than I was holding my head above water with the other story. I'm still working on that, by the way, but I was getting back into SAO and so I decided I'd write something of that nature because I really love that show! ANYWAYS, let's get to it then?

Kirito jumped back from his slash, getting into position to strike with his Dark Repulsor, the sword glowing with the familiar color of the sword skill he was about to use. He lunged forward, crashing the tip into the shield that was moved in the way just in time.

"Goodbye, Kirito," Heathcliff said, smirking. His sword started glowing red, with the use of his sword skill, and he brought it down on Kirito. Or, what would have been Kirito.

Had Asuna not jumped in the way.

She fell, and Kirito caught her, watching her health bar drain from it's near full green stage, to yellow, down to red, and finally it was gone.

And so was she.

Kazuto sat up in bed quickly, tears flooding down his face and his breath was heavy. He was sobbing, he knew it was just a dream and he had them often, but they still got to him. He rolled off his bed, falling to his hands and knees, vomiting on the floor in front of him. He stared at the ground, tears rolling off his cheeks into the small pile of vomit on the floor.

"Damn it," He mumbled, gritting his teeth. He got to his feet, walking out of the room and going to the kitchen to get supplies to clean up the mess he'd made. After he was done cleaning his room, he grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom to take a much needed shower.

Steam rolled out of the open door as Kazuto walked out of the bathroom, wearing nothing but black pajama bottoms with his towel wrapped around his neck. He smiled lightly, running a hand through his thick black hair, and closed his eyes.

Images of her death flashed before his eyes, as they always did, and he shot his eyes open. He groaned, his eyes becoming dull and the bags under them becoming much more apparent as the pink hue from the hot shower he had just taken went away. He went back into his room, sitting on his bed and grabbing his cell phone from the bedside table.

'Hey Asuna, I don't mean to wake you, but I could really use the company if you're already awake.' He shot a quick text to his strawberry blonde haired love.

'I was already awake, do you want to meet me at the house in ALO?' she responded after a few minutes. Kazuto responded with a quick affirmation and then lay down in bed, putting his nervegear on and starting it up.

"Link start!"

In complete honesty, Asuna hadn't been awake. She awoke to the familiar ding of the ring tone she had set specifically to Kazuto, and knew that something had to have been wrong. After getting her nervegear on and starting the game, she found that she was already in the house. She sat up in the bed she was in in the game, and waited for Kirito.

Asuna heard the sound of him signing in, and shortly afterward saw the door to their bedroom open. He walked in, wearing his casual house atire instead of his full combat gear. He looked at her, his eyes dull, and she smiled at him trying to cheer him up. It didn't seem to be working.

Kirito walked to her side of the bed, reaching out to take her hands in his, and pulled her to her feet. Before she could ask what was going on he wrapped his arms around her, almost falling to his knees, his face falling to her neck and tears already flowing down his face. Asuna wrapped her arms around him tight, neither of them talking, but just holding each other. She knew what was wrong.

Kirito had been having horrible nightmares and anxiety/panic attacks ever since the whole SAO crisis had ended. She couldn't be there for him that much because as much as she had made up with her mother, she still wasn't entirely understanding of their situation. Sometimes, even the strong needed to cry.

"I almost lost you, SO many times!" Kirito sobbed into her, she sighed, holding him tighter. "I couldn't live with it..."

"I know Kirito-kun. I know..." She whispered gently to him, "I love you." She moved her right hand up from his back to the back of his head, rubbing gently and running her hands through his hair. He pulled her tight to him, his fingers pulling on the fabric of her shirt.

"I love you too Asuna... So much.." He whispered betweens pants and sobs. She kissed the side of his head, before leaning back and pulling him into the bed with her. They both unequipped their shoes and most of their top layer of clothing, which they normally didn't wear while sleeping, and she pulled his head onto her chest, the reverse of how they used to sleep.

"Sleep now, Kirito-kun. You don't need to protect me now, I'll protect you. You'll never lose me. I promise.." She whispered to him, kissing the top of his head. Kirito looked up at her, before pressing his lips to hers gently then setting his head back to it's resting place. Asuna went back to petting and running her hand through his hair. Kirito fell asleep soon afterward, and Asuna sighed, half in contentment, and half in worry.

The crisis had ended, but they still had a long way to go before they were out of it.

Okay guys, I know this chapter is pretty short, but it was really just to get a precursor of what it would be like to write this. Let me know how I'm doing. What would you like to see different in what I've written? Please review, and if you really liked it follow and favorite it, it really helps me gather the motivation to write! See you next time!