Chapter 2: Moving in
Asuna awoke to find herself wrapped up in arms. She opened her eyes and looked up to see Kazuto, still sleeping. It was Saturday, so Asuna decided to just lay there and think about recent events, "I obviously can't go back home. Not after what my mother said. Hm…Perhaps…Rika?" She then shook her head, "No…she'd just tease me non-stop about Kirito." She then felt Kazuto shift slightly, signifying that he's awake. She looked up to his eyes, "Good morning." She whispered as she leaned up to kiss him.
This was a routine they adopted after getting married in SAO. Asuna would wake up first, then Kirito would begin to wake up, and she would get him fully awake with a quick kiss. Kazuto smiled, "Good morning Asuna."
They then got up and attempted to get dressed. It was then that Asuna realized she had a problem, "Um…Kirito…" She said, gaining the boys attention. He looked at her.
"Yeah?" "I…uh…don't have anything to change into…" She said shyly.
Kazuto mulled over the options for a moment before handing her a shirt and one of his sweats that have laces to adjust the waist size, "Wear these for now, I'll talk to Sugu about finding you some new clothes later." Asuna, though embarrassed to wear her boyfriend's clothes, nodded and hurried to the bathroom.
While she got changed, Kazuto went downstairs to see Suguha sitting on the couch, watching TV, "Morning big brother. You slept later than I expected." She said.
Kazuto sat down beside her, "Hey Sugu. I need two favors." He said seriously.
Sugu looked at him curiously, "Sure. What can I do?" She asks.
Kazuto took a deep breath, "First, don't freak out at the fact that Asuna is here and spent the night with me."
Sugu couldn't help but flash a cheeky grin, "Oh! You slept together did you~?" She asked with a wink.
Kazuto blushed madly, "I-I-It's not like that! We just slept! Nothing else! I swear!" Sugu, unable to contain herself at his reaction, was laughing hard, clenching her stomach. Just then, Asuna, wearing Kazuto's black T-shirt and matching sweats, walked downstairs to see Sugu doubled over in laughter. She looked at Kazuto, "What's going on with her?" She asked.
Kazuto, still blushing, just shook his head, "Don't ask." He said simply. Asuna simply shrugged and sat down, waiting for Suguha to calm back down.
After a few more minutes, Sugu returned to normal, "Hah. Sorry, but your reaction was just the best." She said with a final chuckle, "Anyways, what's the second favor?" Asuna looked away, still slightly embarrassed to be wearing Kazuto's clothes, "Well, Asuna didn't bring a change of clothes with her last night. Do you think you might have something that can fit her?"
He asked. Suguha eyed the other girl from top to bottom before nodding, "I think I have some things that should work just fine. Come on, let's get you changed before my Mom comes down and gets suspicious." She said with a wink as she grabbed Asuna by the hand and guided her upstairs.
Kazuto simply sighed, "I'm not gonna hear the end of this for a long time." He said to himself.
The girls reached Sugu's room without being seen by her mom. Sugu then gestured to her bed, "Just make yourself comfortable, I'll find you something."
Asuna nodded and sat down on the bed as she examined the room. She then noticed a portrait of a Sylph from ALO on the roof, "Hey Suguha? Isn't that your avatar on that poster?" She asked curiously.
Sugu stopped for a minute to look at the portrait, "Oh yeah, Recon took a screen shot of me when I first figured out flying. He gave it to me as a portrait a few days later." She explained as she continued to search, "Wow. He must really like you a lot." Asuna commented. Sugu sighed in contentment, "Yeah…" She said. Asuna noticed a chance to tease her, but decided against it, in fear of a follow up comment about her and Kazuto, "Any luck?" She asked.
Sugu hummed before tossing a pair of leggings towards the other girl, "Well…to tell the truth…I'm not sure I have a top that will fit." She said awkwardly. Asuna tilted her head, "What do you mean? We're almost the same height." Sugu nodded, "Yeah, but not the same size…if you know what I mean." Said the black haired girl with a blush of embarrassment.
After a moment, Asuna looked down at her chest and realized what she said, causing her to blush as well, "I-I'm sure you can find something." She said, desperate to not talk about that. After a moment, Sugu finally found a blouse that would fit Asuna, "Here we are!" She said triumphantly as she handed the article to Asuna, "Here ya go. This should do, for now anyways." Asuna gratefully accepted the shirt, "Thanks a bunch Suguha. I owe ya one." Sugu smiled, "My pleasure! And please, just call me Sugu." She said as she headed towards the door, "I'll go downstairs and distract your boyfriend/husband while you get changed." She said with a mischievous tone before closing the door.
Asuna blushed, but began to remove the clothes Kazuto let her borrow and began to put on the clothes that Sugu gave her. Once dressed, she looked at herself in the mirror. The leggings went to halfway down her shins, and were big enough to look more like light-pink sweats, and she wore the white blouse with all the buttons done.
She walked downstairs to see Kazuto watching TV, "Where's Sugu?" She asked, Kazuto picked up the remote and muted the TV, "She went to Kendo practice. She'll be gone for a few hours." He said as he looked at her and smiled, "You look nice." He said, making Asuna smile as she sat down next to him and they proceeded to cuddle.
After a few minutes of silence, Asuna spoke up, "Hey, we need to talk." She said, causing Kazuto to sit up, "Ok, what about?" He asked.
Asuna did the same, except her eyes were at her lap, "The reason I showed up last night, was because I got into a fight with my mom." She noticed Kazuto made a fist with one of his hands, she told him about her mom's standards, and that she wasn't thrilled about her daughter dating someone who wasn't rich. "And then she said….that the…..best guy…..for me….was, originally,…..Sugou." She said as she began to cry, the memories of what he did to her still fresh in her mind.
Upon hearing his name, Kazuto wrapped up Asuna in his arms, as if to protect her from an invisible enemy, "I can't believe she'd think that." He mumbled.
Asuna placed her hands on his chest as she looked up at him, "So anyways, I need a new place to stay…and…I was…uh…wondering…" Her words kept getting quieter and quieter, until there was no sound coming from her at all.
Fortunately, Kazuto knew what she was trying to say, "Well, I'll need to make sure it's ok with Aunt Midori, but yeah, of course you can move in." He said softly to her. Asuna could feel tears of joy pouring from her face as she kissed Kazuto lovingly. The boy gladly accepted, as he used his right hand to cradle the back of her head, and his left hand went to her upper back to support her better.
As they continued to kiss, they didn't realize that Midori had walked downstairs just a few seconds ago, and was watching her nephew kiss his girlfriend, with a fierce blush on her face. "I'd stop them, but something tells me Sugu's embarrassed them a few times today already." She thought as she noticed that Asuna was wearing things from Sugu's closet, "I think I'll just go back to the top of the stairs and wait for them to finish." She then slowly walked backwards, up the stairs, so as to give the two some privacy.
After about 5 minutes, Asuna and Kazuto had finished their make out session and were now cuddling on the couch. Midori then walked downstairs again, faking a yawn, "Ah good morning Kazuto." She said, waiting a moment to acknowledge the third party, "Oh, hello. You must be Asuna." She said as she bowed to the girl.
Asuna stood up and did the same, "Nice to meet you, ma'am." She said as the two shook hands, "You know, Kazuto told me and Sugu a lot about you. He went to your hospital room every day after that dreaded death game incident." Midori said, making Asuna blush and turn to the boy, "E-every day?" She asked.
Kazuto, blushing even deeper, nodded, "Sometimes twice a day…if time allowed it." He answered shyly. Asuna was now grinning ear to ear, "Well then, I think the Black Swordsman has earned a special treat." She said playfully.
Kazuto's ears perked as he stood straight up, "Really?! You mean it?" He asked desperately, making Asuna giggle and nodded.
Midori, not aware of what they are talking about, stepped in between them, "Hold on! I will not allow such intimacies in my household! Especially not for two as young as yourselves!" She said. Asuna and Kazuto looked at each other before bursting into laughter, leaving Midori completely confused.
Asuna was the first to recover from the laughing fit, "I was talking about me cooking breakfast for him! Kirito loves my cooking!" She said, still trying to hold back some giggles.
Midori gaped at her statement and looked at Kazuto, "So, that's what you got so excited about?" She asked, still shocked. He nodded, "Yeah! Asuna is the best." Midori felt like face palming, "Why? What did you think she meant?" He asked curiously. This time, Midori did face palm, as well as Asuna, "Nothing Kazuto…nothing at all." She said as she turned to Asuna, "Don't suppose you'd mind my help, would you?" She asked. Asuna smiled, "Not at all, let's go." The two then walked into the kitchen while Kazuto returned to the couch, "This day is turning out pretty good so far." He said to himself.
Asuna and Midori were hard at work preparing breakfast, "It's amazing how clueless Kirito can be sometimes." Asuna stated with a laugh.
Midori nodded, "Indeed," she said, "by the way, why do you call him 'Kirito?'" Asuna blushed, "Well…That's his name on ALO, and it's the name he used in SAO. It's the name he had when I fell in love with him." She said as she stopped what she was working on, "I know his real name is Kazuto Kirigaya, but…" She turned to Midori with a smile, "To me, he'll always be my Kirito."
Midori smiled warmly, happy that the boy she worked so hard to raise had found someone like her, "Well, if you ever want to know things about Kazuto that you can use against him, I'm happy to help." She said with hint of mischief in her voice.
Asuna giggled, "Well actually, I was wondering, has Kirito ever had a girlfriend before?" She asked.
Midori glanced at her, "Why do you ask?" She wondered.
Asuna shrugged, "Just wondering mainly," She answered, "although, I know two girls who claim to have had little moments with him." Midori chuckled when she heard this, she knew how he often would give a girl the wrong idea, "Well, as far as he's told me or Sugu, you're the only girl he's ever dated." Asuna couldn't help but smile, "Good to know. Now then, let's wrap this up!"
About fifteen minutes later, Asuna and Midori were setting the table, "Kirito! Breakfast is ready!" Asuna called. In absolutely no time at all, Kazuto had reached the table and was helping set up the table.
This caused Midori to blink, "Wow. I've never seen you move that fast." She said, causing Kazuto to blush and Asuna to giggle.
Asuna and Midori had served Omelets, with bacon on the side, Asuna walked behind Kazuto, who was sitting at his seat, and whispered into his ear, "I put some extra spice in your omelet, Kirito." She then pecked his cheek and proceeded to a chair next to him.
Kazuto looked into her eyes, "Have I ever told you that you're amazing?" He asked playfully, Asuna blushed, "K-Kirito! N-not in front of your mom!" She said, making Kazuto chuckle. Asuna never was all that comfortable with PDA, Kazuto thinks it might have something to do with the floor 74 incident, but was too afraid to ask. Midori laughed as well, "Actually, I'm his aunt. But I've raised him like he was my son." She said. Asuna nodded, feeling no-less embarrassed, "W-well anyways, let's dig in!" She stated.
As they ate, Midori was amazed at how the omelet tasted. It was perfectly fluffy, and was practically bursting with flavor, "Asuna, you really are an amazing cook!" She complimented, "Did you attend a culinary school?" Asuna shook her head, "No actually, I learned at home. It was my mom who-." She stopped, remembering the last conversation she had with her mother. Tears began welling up in her eyes, "Excuse me." She said as she rose from the table and rushed upstairs to Kazuto's room. Kazuto got up soon after, "Asuna, wait!" He said as he chased after her. He entered his room to find her crying into his pillow.
He walked over to her and placed her head on his chest, above his heart, "It's ok, Asuna. It's ok." He said soothingly. "Why?! Why does she have to be against you? Against us!? Why can't she see how much I love you!?" She continued to rant as she gripped his shoulders tightly, her whole body shaking.
Kazuto started to soothingly rub her back, and began rocking her from side to side, "She will. Maybe not now, but she'll see one day. It may not be easy, but we'll show her. Together." He then placed his forehead against hers, "I love you Asuna." He said softly. Asuna's tears of sorrow were replaced with tears of joy. He said those words in the exact same tone and volume that he used when he said "We get married." She wrapped her arms around his neck, "I love you too Kirito." She then pecked his lips. As soon as she did, however, she began to cough, "Woah! Maybe I *cough* made your omelet a bi-*cough* a bit too spicy." She said jokingly. The two shared a laugh and returned downstairs.
When they returned, Kazuto took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to Midori, she opened it up and read it.
Aunt Midori,
This is a sensitive subject for Asuna, and I don't want to see her cry any more than she already has. She and her mom had a big fight last night and she ran away. You remember the guy that got arrested after the 30 SAO players finally woke up? Well…he tried to take advantage of Asuna. Her mom brought his name up and that's what caused her to storm off. She needs a place to stay and I was hoping you'd let her stay here. Please?
Kazuto
Midori grinned and hid the note in her pocket, "Are you ok, Asuna?" She asked worriedly. The young girl smiled and nodded, "Yes. I'm fine now. Thank you." They then finished their meal in piece.
As they were all working on the dishes, Midori looked over to Asuna, "So tell me, where do you live right now?" She asked, leading up to what Kazuto asked for on the note.
Asuna looked out the window, "Well…I actually just…moved out of my old place…I haven't really decided where I'm gonna stay now." She answered, Kazuto placed a hand on her shoulder, smiling at her affectionately.
Midori nodded, "Well then, why not move in here?"
As soon as those words left Midori's lips, any sadness that Asuna had were thrown out the window, "R-Really?! Y-you don't mind?" She asked excitedly.
Midori smiled, "Of course. Anyone who means so much to Kazuto is always welcome here." Asuna cheered in joy as she hugged her boyfriend with vice grip strength, which he returned in equal strength.
Elsewhere, two men were searching ARGO for any remaining traces of the death game, "Hey! Get over here!" One of the men said from across the room. The other man approached his partner to see a pod, "This look familiar to you?" The first man asked. The second man studied the contents and gasped, "A perfect match." He said, "We better make sure we know what all this means." The first man nodded, "Agreed. They'll want to see this."