She lay sound asleep. It was 2am and he sat next to the hospital bed watching her. No-one knew that he was there; he had snuck in not long before visiting hours ended and hid until the time was right. If anyone found out he was there he'd be in deep trouble but he was no stranger to living on the edge, and in comparison to the past few years of his life, sneaking into a hospital to see someone was fairly tame.

She had woken up from her near three year slumber only a week ago. They were finally together in the real world; no monsters, no-one stopping them, nothing in their way. He touched the scab on his cheek. The doctor's said it wouldn't scar but he half wished that it would; it was a physical representation of the past three years of his life, it wasn't virtual, it wasn't fake, it was real, something he could be sure of; that those few years actually happened and that Asuna was actually his.

She lay in front of him, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took. He had a constant smile on his face. He'd have to go to school tomorrow but he couldn't bring himself to sleep when such a beautiful sight lay before him. He wanted to make sure that she wouldn't disappear or fade back to the realm of the virtual world.

"How can I be sure it's real unless I see her with my own eyes, touch her with my own hands, hear her with my own ears" he whispered.

She stirred slightly.

He held his breath, in an attempt to eradicate the room of sound. She turned on her side, facing him and slowly opened her eyes.

"Kir….ito-kun" she smiled with her eyes half open.

"uh" he wasn't sure if he should engage in a conversation, she was still half asleep

She closed her eyes again, keeping the smile on her face "Kirito-kun" she repeated. She yawned and opened her eyes again, this time she was more awake. Her eyes shot up to him.

"Uh, Hi" he whispered.

Her brow knitted together and her eyes squinted in confusion. It was near pitch black in the room yet she had a visitor "What time is it?" she asked as she tried to sit up. She had hardly any muscle after her stint in virtual reality. He held out his hand and helped her

"2am" he answered as he plumped the pillows behind her back and set her to rest against them.

"2am!? What are you doing here!?" her voice was a little panicked

He smiled at her "What else would I be here for? To be with you"

She blushed "Stop it" she smiled innocently.

"I just need to make sure that you're real, that this is reality"

She raised a hand to his cut cheek and stroked the scab with the back of her index finger. She was still smiling "This is reality and I'm 100% real"

He held her hand against his face "I know but, I still worry, life hasn't quite kicked in yet" he kissed the palm of her hand before letting it go. He watched as her hand fell back against her side.

She pulled back the covers and patted the spot on the bed next to her inviting him in "I'm real. Now if you don't mind, I'm sleepy. Get in here so I can sleep next to you" she was smiling.

"Uh, Asuna, are you sure…"

"Yes. Anyway, you need your sleep too, you have school in the morning" There was no point in arguing with her. Whether in cyber space or reality, she always seemed to get her way.

He sighed "Alright" He gently slid into the bed next to her and lay down.

She placed her head on his chest and took a deep breath filled with her joy of having him here with her. The way he fitted around her body was nothing new, they had often slept together in the same bed in SAO, but something about having him with her in reality made it feel so new.

He kissed the top of her head before she snuggled in. He couldn't believe his luck; that he found someone so beautiful in every way in such a place as virtual reality.

She closed her eyes and began to fall back asleep.

"I've kept my promise" she whispered breathlessly

"Huh?"

"I found you… and I've fallen in love with you all over again"

He couldn't see her face, but he knew she was smiling. He smiled as well before kissing her head again.

"I love you too, Asuna, my life belongs to you"


Seriously the cutest couple I've ever seen! How can you not just want then to cuddle constantly! They're as sweet as candy-floss!