AN: Chapter two of three of this fan fiction. Enjoy! (Warning: Slight Spoilers)
Genjitsu Sekai
Kirigaya Asuna walked happily with her recently married husband, Kirigaya Kazuto. They had just finished their one month honeymoon and were back in Tokyo. She hummed softly as she held onto Kazuto's hand, looking around at the familiar landscape of Tokyo.
"You know Kazuto-kun? As much as I liked America, I kind of want to go to Okinawa next time." She murmured, leaning her head onto his shoulder. He chuckled and pat her head with his hand.
"Sorry Asuna, I'll make sure we go to Okinawa next time." He replied smiling, still patting her head. Asuna softly laughed and nudged her shoulder to Kirito's.
"We're here Kazuto-kun, everyone should be waiting for us." Kirito opened the door for Asuna.
"Well Kirigaya-hime," he said bowing dramatically, "You should enter first, your highness." This didn't fail to embarrass Asuna who blushed and scurried in, a laughing Kazuto following her.
"Hey! The main couple is back!" Klein shouted. Immediately, a crowd of their friends surrounded them. Kirito was dragged away by the guys to the right. And Asuna was dragged away to the left with the girls.
Kirito talked to Klein, Agil, and a new friend they recently met called Kifuya. Kifuya was the carbon copy of Kazuto, or a bit younger and smaller version of him. Recently, Kazuto found out his real parents had one more child when he was 5 which was Kifuya. However the records were lost and Kifuya was adopted by the Arita family. Kazuto's younger brother's ingame name was Graphite Edge, and he proved to hold one of the fastest reaction speed next to Kazuto. He also was a tester for Kazuto's new development, the "Neurolinker".
Asuna distinctly heard Kifuya talk about how he was going to have a younger brother or sister, and that his adopted mother and father were going to name him Haruyuki.
"Mama!" she heard a loud cry behind her. Asuna froze, did Kikouka and Rinko-san finally do it? Did they…. Asuna slowly turned around. A sight to behold greeted her. A young girl with tender brown eyes with long and sleek black hair looked cutely at her. She was dressed in a yellow sweater and red pants fitting her figure.
"Yui-chan!" Asuna cried and rushed up to her daughter, embracing her daughter with soft welcoming arms. The cry made Kirito turn around from his table and look at Asuna, his eyes widening when he saw his daughter being hugged by Asuna.
"Yui…." he muttered as he slowly got off his seat.
"Papa!" His daughter shouted, her eyes filling up with tears.
"Yui!" he cried back and rushed forward, embracing both Asuna and Yui in one hug. Soon all three of them were in tears, crying happily.
The door opened up behind them and Kikouka and Rinko stepped inside, "It took us quite a bit of time Kirigaya-kun, however since we owe you two a lot, we figured this would be the most ideal wedding present for the wedding we couldn't make it to."
"Kikouka….Rinko-san….Thank you so much." Kazuto whispered.
"No….you deserved this much Kirigaya-kun. This is the least we can do." Kikouka replied.
"Well you know what this calls for, CELEBRATION!" Klein yelled holding his cup up. Everybody yelled in agreement, and Kazuto, Asuna and Yui just held hands not willing to let each other go.
"I'm very happy to be with mama and papa." Yui said softly, "However I wish that sometime in the future to have a younger brother or sister." Asuna smiled softly, lightly stroking Yui's hair with her free hand.
"Yui-chan, let's grant that wish in a few years ok? Right, now lets just enjoy our time with the three of us." Asuna brushed Kirito's hand and smiled at him.
-A few hours later-
Kazuto, Yui, Asuna, Sinon, Lizbeth, Silica, Klein and Alice were all going to the park to have a small walk in it. It was still seven and cool winter air with the small warmth of spring fluttered past. Everyone was chatting lively and Kirito was giving Yui a piggy back ride. Making the little girl squeal with delight whenever he picked up speed and ran ahead.
Deciding to head back to the Cafe after an half hour of walking in the park, the group waited at the street, silently waiting for the light to turn green to cross. Asuna adjusted the loose orange ribbon on her shirt, taking it off to readjust it later at the cafe. The traffic light turned green and the group of eight started to cross the street.
While they crossed, Asuna could only think of how perfect her life was. A perfect husband, a perfect daughter, loving friends, and a bright future. She smiled faintly, failing to hear the sound of screeching tires. She heard cries of panic and whirled around. Her heart froze in fear as she saw a silver truck speeding towards her. She could only stay frozen as it came closer to her. Then in less then a second, she was sent flying. Her body tumbled on the ground. The orange ribbon was lying in front of her. Lying in a pool of blood with shattered glass and a smoking truck impaled in the wall near her. Her whole body was blossoming with pain, she heard a crackle of fire. And she turned just in time to see the engine of the truck explode and Kazuto's face looking at her.
Silence. An eerie atmosphere was enveloping the silence like a mist.
Asuna was alone, standing alone in a quiet, deserted city. The time was almost impossible to tell. A dark shade of gray overlapped the city, giving it a dull colour, the street lights were giving a dim lighting to the streets but the thin mist made it close to nothing.
The city was devoid of life, no one or nothing was in plain sight and not a single sound could be heard. She took a light step forward and sound echoed through the city. She shivered and kept walking, her footsteps seemingly loud in the mute city. She moved slowly, her body having the feeling of moving underwater. At one point she stopped to look at a glass case. Her reflection was staring back at her, and she was momentarily startled at that gaunt, pale looking figure staring back at her. "Hmm", she thought. She looked away for just a moment, but then realized she was back in her KoB outfit. Although a bit startled at the sudden change of costume, she sighed with a sense of nostalgia. "I remember that day really well...the day Heathcliff defeated Kazuto in a duel. Then he had to wear the colors of my guild. He looked pretty good in a non-black attire…", she thought to herself. She reminisced about that day...the day her world changed forever. The day she truly realized she loved Kazuto, tears began to well in her eyes. She violently punched the glass case, shattering it. Shards of glass cut into her hand, but the pain was numb in comparison to the true pain she felt deep in her heart.
"Kirito-kun..."
Her mind began to race through her memories, the stores acting like screens for her memories.
The nights on floor 22. The murder mystery they solved together. When they met their beloved daughter. The memories kept racing...and racing...through her mind.
After what seemed like hours of walking and reminiscing in memories, Asuna ended up on a familiar looking street. It was the same street that they were crossing when the truck came rushing to them. A large tent was set up on the street, yellow "DO NOT ENTER" tape surrounding it. She merely stepped over the tape, her red and white KoB uniform fluttering. She slowly pushed aside the flaps of the tent.
This was it….. the truth could be revealed here. She stepped inside and almost retched. Blood…..too much blood was lying on the ground. The metal remains of the truck scattered on the floor. A street lamp had fallen and Asuna saw something out of the corner of her eye. She walked over to the lamp and picked up a blood covered orange ribbon.
The truth hit her like a dozen bricks. With trembling hands she clutched the orange ribbon to her chest. She wanted to cry….she wanted to be comforted. However in this desolate place, a place of pure despair, she didn't have anyone. There was no one to comfort her.
'So this is what happened…..'
Her knees were trembling, wanting nothing more than to just collapse.
'This….this is the truth, it was me making the loops…..it was me making everyone get stuck in my memories. How….how many times have I lived this dream. How many times did I loop before it all came apart?'
She couldn't believe it, but the truth was in front of her. Her brain was telling her that. However she just couldn't accept it. How could one simply accept their own death?
She turned around to leave when a sudden scraping noise came from the back of the tent. She slowly turned around. A black clad figure with a green ethereal form slowly appeared from the darkness in the tent. It held a green lantern with screaming souls inside and the figure slowly started to spin a sickle handing on a chain.
Asuna bolted, her natural instinct of fear overtaking her. She ran, and ran, and ran, not stopping, not looking back.
"Asuna over here!" she heard an all too familiar voice cry out. Yuuki was standing there with her hand stretched out. Asuna jumped, feeling the adrenaline of flying. Her hand was reaching for Yuuki's smaller hands, and slowly but surely she grasped it.
And everything went black again.
"Asuna…..asuna!" Asuna was shaken awake by Shino. She bolted up, her heart still racing in adrenaline, her fear making her flinch at the concerned look. "You okay Asuna? We are almost at the hot springs. Kazuto asked me to wake you up while he went to wake up Yui."
'Was it all a dream? Was it all just a silly nightmare?' Asuna shook her head mentally, 'No...she remembered.' the look in Shino's eyes told her the truth.
However….she really had the closest incident with Death himself. The extent of the realization and truth was revealed. However this time….she had a shoulder to lean on.
She embraced Shino desperately and seeked warmth, the warmth that her cold corpse-like body shouldn't hold. And she began sobbing into the slightly younger girl's shoulder.
"Asuna?" she questioned.
"..."
Giving out a small sigh, Shino's eyes turned grieved as she slowly stroked the chestnut-haired girl's back. Her eyes reflecting the misery of the unforgivable truth.
"Shhh Asuna, it's going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine."
_
"Uwahhh." Asuna gave out a soft cry as she stepped inside the large room they rented for the hot springs. Even as she knew deep down, that she was gone from this world. She knew that this would be the final time they could ever talk together as a group. A final time they could stay and have fun. Asuna was going to make it as memorable as possible.
"Hahaha you like it Asuna?" Kazuto laughed, "It took me Klein and the efforts of Yui to find this place."
"Oh, Yui-chan helped too?" Asuna asked, kneeling down to her daughter, she ruffled her hair, "You did a good job Yui-chan."
Her daughter smiled happily, "Yes!"
They had an absolutely great time at the hot springs. While Agil couldn't come, Klein, Lisbeth, Silica, Alice, Sinon and the Kirigaya family all attended. Visiting the ski resort and having a full on snow fight. The light February weather brought out a warm atmosphere. They all visited the small amusement park, however none of the rides besides the Ferris wheel were working.
"Lets all get on one car!" Asuna cried out and with nods of agreement, the group clambered into the Ferris wheel car. They all gasped at the landscape when they got to the very top of the Ferris wheel.
The snow white mountains overlooked the distinct outline of Tokyo, its powdered trees slowly shivering in the slight wind.
"It's beautiful." Silica murmured and the other members silently agreed. Asuna clasped onto Kazuto's hand and leaned onto his shoulder - one of her favourite things to do. Yui closed her eyes and leaned into Kazuto's other shoulder.
"It's going to end soon." Yui muttered.
"I know Yui, but good things always have to come to an end." Kazuto muttered back, not realizing the impact of his words on Asuna. She leaned more into Kazuto's shoulder. This is how it should be, she with the love of her life, the daughter of her dreams, and the friends that she always wanted. Spending their eternity in this place. Just enjoying each others company.
However no matter how much she wanted that. It couldn't happen. They were supposed to be having fun. This was potentially their final moments together.
"Hey guys, after this ride ends. Let's head back. And maybe take a bath in the hot springs and eat dinner?" She asked them.
The hot springs was refreshing, each of them relaxing into the natural warmth of the water and coming out renewed.
Dinner was served in a traditional Japanese manner. The girls and boys both dressed in yukata and ate dinner on a low table with mats as seats.
Amazingly Yui was able to put on her yukata perfectly despite the sheer difficulty of putting it on. Everyone was sitting down chatting animatedly with the person next to them. Asuna herself was in a conversation with Kazuto, however she noticed that something seemed…..off about everyone.
After dinner was served, a special announcement was made by the people working in the hot springs that they will have a fireworks show outside. Everyone crowded near the entrance gazing into the night sky. The first boom issued and a show of lights lit up the sky.
Yui gasped and her eyes twinkled in delight.
A second boom echoed across the mountain and another shower of lights lit up the sky. Kazuto wrapped his arms around her shoulder bringing her close to his chest. Tears started to well up in her eyes.
Surrounded by the people she loved and held on dearly, Asuna couldn't help but feel warm and comfortable, even as precious memories flashed through her mind,
When she first met Kirito, his concerned eyes offering help to her.
How hard they struggled to beat the game.
Meeting Lisbeth the first time and giving her encouragement to continue being an blacksmith.
Meeting her daughter Yui for the first time.
The hardships they all went through in what she liked to call the tale of the Mother's Rosario.
The horrors that the world of the Underworld held. However, also remembering the good times that came out of it.
She had come far with everyone. She had come this far because of everyone. And now….her journeys….her adventures...her life was over. They could only continue on without her.
Her tears began to fall and she began to cry loudly. Not caring about holding it back in anymore.
"I...I don't want to die!"
The truth….these five words changed the atmosphere of the group in an instant. Gone was the warm feeling. It was replaced with the cool winter breeze between the group.
"I don't want to go! I don't want to leave everyone behind! I've just started a good relationship with everyone here! We just started this life….how can it come to an end like this? My life just began! I….I…." Asuna trailed off….the reality of her words kicking into herself. She was going to die. She desperately wanted to have one more day….one more day to spend her time with her loved ones. But even then….it wouldn't be enough. It would never be enough.
She wanted to live….she wanted to continue living with everyone else.
Confusion was in mostly everyone's faces. Only Shino and Klein looked grim.
'Confusion? Did they not know? Or is it...' her thoughts trailed off, the sudden confusion giving her a slight hope.
However Shino yanked her away from Kirito, held onto Asuna's shoulders and stared at Asuna's eyes. Asuna quickly averted her eyes.
"Asuna...look at me" Shino said and Asuna met the steely hazel eyes of Shino. She didn't like that look, she wanted to look away. She slowly trailed down Shino's figure and stared at her yukata.
Wait a second…..she finally noticed the unusual thing she felt from dinner. She hurriedly looked around at everyone else, it was the same.
Asuna wore her yukata left to right, the correct way to wear one. This was the way the yukata should be worn. It should never be worn the other way, right to left, unless in one situation. It should only be worn right to left on bodies of dead people. On someone who passed away, just before they were cremated. The yukata on the body should be worn right to left.
Kazuto, Yui, Klein, Shino, Lisbeth, Alice and Silica. All of them wore their yukata right to left. Shino's fingers were digging into Asuna's shoulders now.
"Asuna!" Asuna turned her horrified eyes to her best friend.
"Asuna please…..you need to remember."
Part 2 of 3 END
Constructive criticism and nice reviews will be appreciated.