Sword Art Online: Forever After
Chapter 04: Proclamation of Love
~ Inside Kazuto's Hose | Kitchen | Time: 3:15 p.m. ~
Faced down by Asuna's parents sudden arrival, Asuna and Kazuto took a seat at the kitchen table with Midori and Suguha. They all sat on one side as they faced Shouzou and Kyouko. Under the table, Asuna and Kazuto held each other's hand.
"Asuna, just what nonsense is going through your head? Dating this boy, spending so much time with him than your own family? And even more so now, spending a night at his home without our permission and behind my back? I want an answer to this young lady!" Kyouko said. Asuna looked away, not wanting to see her mother's face.
"P-Please Kyouko, I'm sure Asuna has a reason for this. And I just hope you can forgive her." Midori said "If she was my girl, I certainly would." Kyouku huffed.
"Except she is not YOUR daughter. She is mine. And as her mother, I'll be the one to decide whether I believe her excuse or not." she said. Midori and Suguha gasped.
"W-Wow. Is this what Asuna has to deal with at her house? No wonder she stayed with us last night." Sugu thought. Kyouko then looked back to Asuna, still not trying to look at her.
"Asuna..." Kazuto muttered. Kyouku crossed her arms, awaiting Asuna's explanation.
"Asuna, I know you heard me. Just what do you have to say for yourself?" Kyouku asked. Asuna looked over at Kazuto, seeing him lightly nod, before lightly sniffing.
"M-Mom? I...I love Kazuto. I love him with everything I have. A-And..." she began to say, stopped by her mother.
"But that does not explain why you'd go behind our backs and stay a night with him. Explain that!" she interrupted. She suddenly felt her husband's hand on her shoulder.
"Come now Kyouko dear. Let Asuna finish herself." he said. As all eyes looked back to Asuna, she took a deep breath before secretly tightening her grip on Kazuto's hand.
"M-Mom? Dad? I didn't want to tell you this because I was afraid of how you'd react. B-But...Kazuto proposed to me yesterday while we were having lunch. A-And...I said "yes"." she said. Her parents both gasped.
"Y-You said what?! N-No! You will NOT young lady! As I said before, this...t-this BOY cannot guarantee you a better future! Look at him! He's nothing but a code playing monkey to that virtual world of yours!" Kyouko shouted. Suguha eyes narrowed as she lightly growled.
"E-Excuse me Kyouko! But I do not appreciate the way you're talking about my Kazuto!" Midori yelled.
"Yeah! Also, don't tell me you forgot about the ALO fiasco that Sugou caused! He risked everything for Asuna when he went in there to free her! Also, after he awoke after the SAO trauma, all he could think of was Asuna. He couldn't get her out of his mind! My brother loves Asuna a lot more than anything else in this world! If that's not proof that he's a great person for your daughter, I dunno WHAT is!" Suguha added. Kyouko huffed.
"My daughter is my responsibility. And I'll see to it that she gets the best suitor that will make sure she has a successful future ahead of her. Kazuto simply doesn't suffice." she said. Suguha growled.
"W-Why you heartless...!" she yelled, stopped by Midori. She began to groan, clenching one hand into a fist.
"You have no idea what my brother was like before he met Asuna. He always would seclude himself, never wanting to interact with anyone! B-But, after he came back from SAO, I got to meet all of the friends he made from then and it all began with Asuna. If it wasn't for her, I doubt Kazuto would ever have changed." Sugu sniffled. Asuna lightly gasped as she glanced at her.
"S-Suguha..." she muttered. Kyouko crossed her arms.
"I didn't come here to hear about this sob story. I came to get my daughter back. She and Kazuto are NOT getting married. End of discussion." she said. Suguha gasped, growling again as Midori tried to calm her.
"Dear...please re-consider. Surely you must've seen how much more vibrant Asuna became after she and Kazuto started going to school together. And, like his sister said, if it weren't for Kazuto, we probably wouldn't have had our daughter back." Shouzou said. Kyouko lightly sighed, glanced to Asuna.
"Asuna? Tell me. What made you think you could go ahead and get married without telling me? What about the other suitors you and I were talking about?" she asked. Asuna looked at her.
"Mom...none of those other suitors could make me happier than I am when I was with Kazuto. While we were in SAO together, I made it clear to Kazuto that I wanted us to eventually wed in real life, as we did in the game." she said. Kyouko gasped.
"Y-You did what?!" she shouted. Midori and Suguha glanced to Kazuto and Asuna.
"Yeah. It happened during the second year we were in the game. I worked up the nerve to propose and we became husband and wife in SAO. If you want any proof, ask any of our other friends. They know that too." Kazuto explained. Kyouko's eyes remained wide open from shock before she began to growl.
"A-Asuna! Y-Y-You...! I...Words cannot begin to explain how FURIOUS I am with you!" she yelled. Asuna gasped as her mother suddenly grabbed hold of one of her hands.
"You are not to see this boy again! We're leaving! Now!" she yelled. Everyone gasped before Kazuto suddenly grabbed hold of her arm, stopping Kyouko.
"You know something Miss Yuuki? I've been listening to the way that everyone has stood up for me and Asuna throughout this talk. And...I have something I want to say after listening to you the most." Kazuto said. Kyouko glared to him, asking what that was. Asuna looked on as Kazuto took a calming deep breath.
"I think I realize now why Asuna was always so happy and cheerful when we were together in SAO or even in ALO. I think its because...she knew, in that world, she was free of the wicked witch that was her mother!" Kazuto shouted, narrowing his gaze on her. Kyouko gasped, as did Asuna.
~ [SAO] ~
~ In the Kitchen | Time: 3:30 p.m. ~
Kyouko glared at Kazuto, still grasping onto her hand which was holding Asuna's. Her eye began to twitch slightly.
"Wh-What did you call me young man?!" she growled. Kazuto continued to stare at her.
"That's right. You heard me. Isn't it a mother's duty to be supportive of her daughter's decisions and let them live how they want to? Not to keep them under their thumb and sell them off to someone else they think is "PERFECT"? In that way, you're no better than Sugou!" Kazuto shouted. Kyouko glared on as her anger began to boil over.
"Kazuto..." Sugu and Asuna muttered. Kyouko growled before breaking her grip from them both.
"How DARE you! What makes you think you can talk to me that way Kazuto Kirigaya?! Do you know how hard I worked to make sure Asuna gets the very best in life?! I know what's best for my daughter and she deserves someone with a good financial background that can support and care for her!" Kyouko shouted. Kazuto huffed.
"Is that why you picked a guy like Sugou? Oh gee. Great choice there miss Yuuki. May I remind you that, behind that facade smile of his, Sugou was a lying, cheating bastard that tried to sexually abuse your daughter?! Or did you forget what happened in ALO because of it?! Face it! You're the same as he was! Thinking you could manipulate Asuna's heart so she'd be your obedient puppet!" he exclaimed. Kyouko growled.
"Y-You l-little...!" Kyouko growled. Kazuto continued glaring on at her.
"How do I know that YOU picked Sugou for Asuna? Simple. Its because she told me. She even told me that you tried to pin the blame on your husband when Sugou was tried for his crimes. Asuna tells me these things because she trust me more than she does you! Maybe if you took the time to understand her feelings rather than try to control her, you two wouldn't be like this." he finished. Kyouko's face began turning red as she was nearing the boiling point.
"K-Kazuto...please. Stop this...before you make my mother's head explode. If you keep this up..." Asuna pleaded, stopped by Kazuto.
"No. I have to get this off my chest. It may sound harsh, I know. But if I don't, I can't say that I'm ready to marry you Asuna. She has to realize that she can't manipulate your happiness." he said. Asuna lightly gasped.
"Kazuto..." she muttered.
"Y-You...!" Kyouko growled "That's it! I've heard enough! You are NOT to go anywhere near my daughter again! Is that understood?! If you do, so help me, I'll put a restraining order down on you and your whole family!" Midori tried to calm her down, apologizing for the way Kazuto was speaking to her. But she wouldn't have it before rising from her seat and grabbed Asuna again, stopped once more by Kazuto.
"What did I just say to you?! Let go of me!" she shouted. Kazuto looked up to her, giving her an uneasy feeling. She groaned as her temper seemed to subside.
"Well? You look like you want to say something. Spit it out already!" she groaned. Kazuto nodded.
"I'm sorry for what I said before, but that has been something I've wanted to say. If I didn't, I couldn't bring myself to face either of you, even if we got married or not. I was just angry with the way people seem to try and control Asuna. You can't just control her life and expect her to follow. She was born into this world to make her own choices and decisions, something she got to do freely in SAO. And without that kind of restriction, she was happy...enjoying everything the virtual world had to its fullest." Kazuto explained. He began having flashbacks to the times he was with Asuna in Aincrad and all the adventures and fun they had together, especially their honeymoon on floor 22.
"Kazuto?" Asuna asked. Letting go of Kyouko's hand, Kazuto turned to Asuna before suddenly drooping his head.
"A-Also, if anything, Asuna became the world to me in SAO. I felt so relaxed and comfortable with her that I haven't been with anyone else before in a long time. In some way, I suppose her cheerful attitude and strong will drew me to her, causing me to abandon my loner ways and think solely of her. Before I knew it, she was all I could think of and I couldn't bear the thought of losing her. I wanted to be with her for the rest of time." Kazuto said. Asuna lightly smiled, shedding small tears as she patted his head.
"And...I felt the same about you Kazuto. You opened my eyes to so many things and, in a way, you gave me the strength I was lacking, allowing me to become who I am now. So, in a way, we changed each other for the better without realizing it." she said. Kazuto rose back and looked to Asuna's eyes, the two holding their hands before turning back to Kyouko.
"Mom. I know that I went into SAO for my brother, but, now, I know the real reason fate brought me there. It was...It was so I could meet Kazuto." she said, wiping tears from her eyes "My time with him...was the happiest I had ever been in a long time." Midori and Suguha lightly smiled.
"Asuna..." Sugu muttered. Kyouko remained quiet as she looked at the two.
"If you still have doubts that I can care for Asuna, like you wanted her to be, I have someone that can vouch for our union." Kazuto said. Next to Kyouko, Shouzou lightly glanced to her.
"Please dear. Hear Kazuto out. I think he's an excellent young man for our daughter. Let's meet this person, okay?" he asked. Kyouku glanced to him before giving seating back in her seat.
"V-Very well." she said. Kazuto nodded and suddenly left the room. He went quickly into his bedroom and, when he came back, he was carrying a laptop computer under his arm.
"A-A computer?" Midori and Asuna's parents asked. Asuna had a feeling she knew what was happening, as did Suguha. Kazuto set the computer down on the table, seated where everyone could see it. He was then joined by Asuna, pulling her seat close to him. They looked to each other and nodded.
"Mom? Mister and Miss Yuuki? We'd like you to meet our "daughter", Yui." he said, opening up the laptop screen. When he did, a screen popped up on the computer. It showed the inside of what appeared to be a log house, the same as Asuna and Kazuto's house in SAO. And inside, lightly sleeping in a bed under white sheets, was Yui. The room was filled with several stuffed animals and toys. Kazuto lightly tapped the computer screen.
"A little girl?" Midori asked. Suguha smiled.
"Yui? Wake up. There's some people we'd like you to meet." Kazuto said. Inside the virtual world, almost as if responding by his voice, Yui began to awaken and looked over to a large screen on the far side of the room, seeing Kazuto and Asuna's faces.
"Mama! Papa!" she cheered. She rushed over to the screen, seen dressed in her white dress, and waved to them. Kazuto smiled and waved as Asuna did the same.
"Yui! Its so good to see you!" Asuna giggled. Yui smiled as she pressed herself against the screen, trying to "hug" her parents. Kyouko seemed lightly surprised.
"I-Is this for real? Just who is this girl?" she thought. Kazuto directed Yui's attention to everyone in front of them, starting with Suguha.
"Yui? I'm sure you remember Leafa from ALO? This is her, my sister Suguha." he said. Suguha lightly waved, receiving a wave back, before Yui looked at Midori.
"Who is she papa?" Yui asked. Kazuto chuckled.
"This is your "grandmother" Yui, my mother. This is grandma Midori." he teased. Midori gently smiled and waved to her. Yui then saw Kyouko and Shouzou.
"And these are your other grandparents Yui. This is my mother and father." Asuna said, directing Yui's attention. Yui looked at everyone and giggled.
"Nice to meet all of you! Grandma Midori! Grandma and Grandpa Yuuki! Aunt Suguha!" she giggled. Kyouko lightly gasped.
"Asuna? Who is this little girl? Kazuto called her your "daughter"." Shouzou asked. Asuna nodded.
"Well, in a way, she is. We met in SAO after Kirito, I mean, Kazuto and I were married. We adopted her as our own and we lived together in a house within the game. Though she's an AI character, we both treasure her as if she was real. Kazuto's been hard at work these past years, trying to bring Yui into the real world. He's already had several colleges invite him because of his accomplishments in SAO." she explained. Kyouko remained quiet as Yui nodded.
"Papa and Mama always come to visit me as well. Momma makes the best food in the world and papa always shares stories with me about all of you. I'm so happy I got to meet my family!" Yui explained. Midori lightly smiled.
"Same here Yui. Its nice to finally meet my grandaughter. Kazuto always mentioned a "Yui" and I thought he meant another girl at school. But I'm happy to find out I have a grandaughter." she said. Suguha chuckled.
"Believe me mom. I felt the same way when Kazuto told me about her too. But, surprising at it is, Yui's part of our family." she said. Yui giggled. Nearby, Kyouko continued to look on at the happy smile on Yui's face. She partially seemed to blush, thinking back to the days of Asuna as a baby girl. She then began remembering all the happy moments she had with Asuna while she was an infant.
"Asuna...you grew up while you were gone. You already have a little girl you call your "daughter"..." Kyouko thought. She looked at the vibrant smile Asuna had as she was talking to Kazuto and Yui. Their words from earlier seemed to ring in her head as she thought of how happy and tearful they were when they heard the other announce their love.
"I see now...Asuna. I really am a wicked witch. To think, you met someone so important to you during those two years. And, together, you already became a family." she thought "I tried my best to make you as happy as I could, to give you the things I couldn't have when I was your age. But...looking at you now, I was a fool to forget that you were your own person." Just then, Kyouko rose from her seat and began walking out of the room.
"Hmm? Honey? Where are you going?" Shouzou asked. Everyone watched as Kyouko stopped at the doorway and looked back.
"Asuna? We're going home." she said. Asuna gasped.
"M-Mom!" she yelled. But just then, she saw her mother turn back with a smile on her face, causing her to gasp.
"What? Don't you need to gather your things Asuna? If you're planning to stay with Kazuto, even before your wedding, you'll need more than what you have here to start a life together. And, I'll make sure...you have a wonderful wedding." she said. Asuna lightly gasped, her eyes lighting up.
"M-Mom! You mean...?" Asuna asked. Kyouko lightly nodded.
"Shoukou? We'd better go home. We have to get things planned for our daughter's wedding." she said. Shouzou nodded.
"Yes. We do." he said. Asuna and Kazuto looked to each other and lightly laughed together, joined afterwards by Yui.
~ [SAO] ~
~ Kazuto's House | Bedroom | Time: 10:21 p.m. ~
With her mother's approval, Asuna quickly returned home and gathered most of her material belongings, including a fresh set of clothes and such. When she returned later that day, she and Kazuto met with open arms. We now come to Kazuto's bedroom late at night as the two lay next to one another in bed. The only difference now was that, like in SAO, Asuna and Kazuto were seen wearing silver rings around their fingers. They were gifts from Midori, the wedding rings of Kazuto's parents. Like before, the only light on was Kazuto's nearby desk lamp.
"Well, all we have to do now is prepare for the wedding. I still can't believe we convinced your mom to let us go through with this." Kazuto said. Asuna smiled.
"I know. I was still shocked as my mom helped me bring my belongings here. But...to know that we have both of our family's support...it makes me so happy." she said, shedding a small tear. Kazuto noticed it and gently wiped it from her face.
"Asuna? I promise I'll always be there for you. I'll work my hardest to support us both and to make sure that our life together is a happy one." Kazuto said, gently putting his hand on her waist. Asuna smiled before she overlapped his hand with hers.
"And I promise that I'll work extra hard to be the best wife I can be...Kazuto." she said. As Kazuto reached to turn out the lights, he then crawled back into bed and looked to Asuna. The two smiled as they looked on before slowly embracing in a good night kiss, the first as future newlyweds.
TO BE CONTINUED...
