DAT FILLER CHAPTER

Chapter 10: Constant

When Kazuto returned from his encounter with Rika and closed the door behind him, he could tell that the atmosphere of the home he'd come back to was something to be wary of. There was the scent of food, but it wasn't a fresh one, meaning the meal had been made and served for a while now, giving it time to cool. Something that would displease his sister to no end. A general sense of stillness around him, as if the single remaining resident of the home hadn't moved around during his absence, instead opting to sit at the table with her arms crossed, waiting expectantly.

"I'm back," Kazuto said needlessly as he entered the kitchen that held the small table where they held their meals. Suguha just glanced at him in a cursory manner before returning to the devouring of her meal, as if it was the most singularly important thing at the moment. Perhaps it was. Kazuto wouldn't be the one to attest otherwise.

"What did Rika-san need?" Suguha asked through a mouthful of fish at last, just as her brother was easing himself into a chair opposite. Kazuto blinked at her and picked up his chopsticks, clacking them once against the surface of the table to even them out before reaching for a morsel of fish himself. Suguha just flicked her wrist and slapped the utensils away though, staring at him with questioning eyes that demanded answers fervently enough to drill holes through him. Sighing, the man set down this chopsticks and leaned back in his chair.

"Nothing really," Kazuto said diplomatically, too tired to take up the challenge of a potential argument with his little sister. "She just wanted to say goodbye, you know, before we all part ways."

Suguha's slanted, searching gaze almost seemed to probe him like a microscope, and a wave of goosebumps rose on Kazuto's flesh. What was she getting at?

"I see," The girl finally murmured, reaching up to flip her hair behind her shoulder. The movement caught Kazuto's attention; her hair had grown as well, just reaching the shoulders like Rika's.

"Then why do you smell like perfume?"

His goosebumps joined the ridged hairs standing up like lightningrods on the back of his neck when Suguha made the ridiculously offhand comment. Picking up the chopsticks again to make a second attempt at retrieving a bite of the fish, Kazuto ventured, "Well, don't girls wear perfume? And perfume clings."

"Well yes, brother, but you simply reek of the stuff," The in-game Sylph quipped back at him in a manner that suggested that she wasn't feeling as dubious as she sounded. "And judging from my varied experiences, I can safely say that you'd have to be awfully close to someone to smell so strongly of it."

"I-" Kazuto gulped, his arguments crumbling under the force of his sister's accusing glare. "It's not what you think, Suguha. She just wanted to say goodbye."

"Seems like an awfully intimate farewell."

"Well...yeah. It was. But it doesn't mean anything."

"Did she kiss you?"

"I...yes."

"And how do you intend to justify that?"

"Do I have to?"

"YES!" Suguha shouted, standing up and slamming her hand on the wooden surface of the table for emphasis, coming dangerously close to throwing her palm into the flesh of the recently cooked fish. "How are you going to stay faithful to Asuna if you keep allowing things like this to happen? People have tried left and right to separate the two of you. Girls at school pursue you and guys bother Asuna. Takashi happened. Keiko and Rika had their antics. Asuna's mother has already tried to marry her off and she'll probably try again. You need to stop these kinds of things from happening. I've stood aside and watched it all play out all this time, hoping you'd be able to fix things, but I'm tired of waiting!"

Kazuto didn't respond to his sister's outburst immediately, instead choosing to sit there and absorb her words to analyze them carefully. While the younger girl had always admired his ability to look deeply into any situation, now she hated it because she knew her brother would come up with an argument sound enough to trump hers.

Surprisingly enough, however, Kazuto just sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose in defeat.

"You're right," He conceded. "It's just that...it's hard to disappoint people on purpose, you know?"

"Kazuto," Suguha murmured solemnly as she reclaimed her seat, "Just remember that when you and Asuna head off to university, it's just going to be the two of you. She'll be more dependent on you than ever, and that mean's you'll be that much more dependent on her, whether you like it or not. So just...don't screw up, okay?"

Her older brother smiled crookedly at her over the fingers covering his face, the expressing seeming like an odd mix of gratefulness and regret. But he's still my brother, Suguha thought. Biologically cousins, but siblings by nature. It was going to be her job to worry about Kazuto for the rest of her life, and that was a job she did not mind having.

Standing up, Suguha walked around the length of the table and bent down to ruffle her brother's hair affectionately in a manner reminiscent of their mother.

"You know, I'll miss you too," She said softly to him before leaving the man's hair alone. "Everyone will, but they support you. And like you said, it'd be shameful for you to disappoint them."

Laughing drily, Kazuto drew his hand away from his face and asked, "I'd never realized you'd become so wise."

Suguha returned her brother's crooked smile.

"To live with you, I have to be."

Since then, the days seemed to pass a big more sluggishly, for once. To Kazuto, it felt like the appearance of a milestone in the foreseeable future was the result of this slowdown in time. Whether it would bring fortune or ruin, he was on the precipice of attending a four year university with the girl of his dreams. Now, if that were you, wouldn't you be a bit mentally preoccupied?

At least his workload from high school wasn't so great nowadays, seeing as the year was drawing to a close in order to give way to summer vacation. This gave Kazuto enough time to think not only about Asuna, but also about the classes he would take in college, as well as where he was to live. After an extensive discussion with his aunt, Kazuto had decided that he would live alone during his university life rather than stay home. Aside from the commuting advantages of a move (it was a forty-five minute drive to Tokyo from his home), his aunt had also encouraged him to go and experience the world and its challenges himself without the aid of an adult figure.

"You're your own parent now," She had told him earnestly. "And that, obviously, means taking complete care of yourself. Although I hate to admit it, you're not a child anymore. You'll have to leave the house someday, and this is a good opportunity for you, Kazu-kun. Go and make a name for yourself."

Asuna had also decided to leave her household and live alone, something that Kazuto was shamefully grateful for. He had spent many a day lying on his bed and wondering, entertaining thoughts about what could take place with no one around to interrupt them, more than some of the fantasies rather inappropriate.

The slow passage of time did not, however, mean that Kazuto would have time to be as sluggish. No, there were things he had to follow up on. Namely, his internship at Complexity.

Asuna went with him on the subway ride there, claiming that she had nothing to do with herself. As the lights lining the sides of the carbon-fiber reinforced tracks of the subterranean train flickered past through the flexiglass of the windows, Kazuto twined his fingers through Asuna's and held her close, content to keep the conversation at a minimum. They were in a subway anyways, and the steady strumming of the train's tires against the rails made for a soothing rhythm, perfect for allowing the young couple to enjoy each other's warmth in silence.

As the subway made its journey through the tunnels, Kazuto let his mind wander. He had decided, after much debate, not to mention Rika's confession of sorts to his girlfriend. Besides the obvious issues with jealousy and a potential conflict between best friends, he'd felt that what Rika had said and done to him that night was meant to stay between the two of them. She had shown a weaker side to herself to him without reserve, and such a measure of trust was something Kazuto would treasure forever. Not to mention the words she'd whispered to him before taking flight:

Take care of Asuna for me, okay?

Almost like the girl was passing on some sort of ownership or responsibility. A task they may have shared in the past, but was now to be solely laid to rest on Kazuto's shoulders.

Entrusting him.

"Sometimes you just have to cut people off, and let go."

Perhaps a bit too brutal with the word choice there, Keiko, but you seem to have the right idea, Kazuto thought as he moved to press his nose against the bewitching scent of Asuna's tresses. Then, dimly, Suguha's words returned as well: "You need to stop these kinds of things from happening."

Kazuto huffed lightly under his breath. All these small children running around spouting proverbs.

Asuna blinked her eyes open at his aggressive exhalation, and Kazuto saw her golden irises dilate for a moment before flitting in his direction. "Something wrong?" She murmured quietly. From the sound of her voice, she'd been asleep.

Kazuto kissed her ear and nuzzled it. "Nothing," He assured her. Then he added, "I love you."

The girl immediately blushed profusely at the three magic words, bringing a smile to her face. Her boyfriend's verbal proclamations of love were few and far between, as the man believed that such things shouldn't be uttered frivolously. He understood that good things were often best administered in small doses, to keep them special.

Humming in content, she replied, "I love you, too."

The Complexity building stood tall among the structures of the downtown city that sprawled across a narrow valley, a bustling metropolis that was as magnificent as it was confusing. Even among its fellow brethren, the crystal-like skyscraper reared upwards like a giant. From what Kazuto could see, the exterior was constructed entirely out of plexiglass, a variant of flexiglass which reflected light back in a way that made the entire structure shine like a light. The glass had been tinted black, however, most likely to preserve the privacy of the workers, and the darkening of color resulted in a deep and ominous shine that made it look all the more looming.

Well, they certainly aren't short on money, Kazuto thought as he pushed open the rotating doors into the building.

Hideki had sent him a message through their phones earlier in the day, asking if Kazuto had the time to come and finalize his internship at Complexity. He had complied readily, eager now to take on this new career opportunity. The older businessman had told him that he would be in a meeting, so Kazuto would have to wait in the lobby until he was fetched. This brought to Kazuto's attention just how busy a man Hideki must be, and it made him feel guilty to eat away further at the man's schedule, but what's done is done.

He'd dressed in semi-formal attire for the occasion, still unsure what his age demanded when it came to important meetings for a potential job. So he'd forgone something totally strict for a more crisp look, just not...Kyouko style.

While he waited, Kazuto stared at an oil painting hanging innocently from the wall opposite. It depicted nothing he personally could make sense of; the artwork consisted simply of several lashes of paint thrown onto the canvas at seemingly random angles, in differing colors. Blinking in exasperation at it, Kazuto shook his head and sighed.

"Tired already, Kazuto-san?"

Blinking, he looked up to see Hideki standing at the end of the lobby, smiling his usual smile. Grinning back, he stood up and walked over to the man. "Just a bit nervous," He conceded, falling into step with the businessman as he led the boy deeper into the building.

"Well, that is only natural," Hideki assured him. "I must tell you, though, that I'm surprised my boss approved you to work in my division. He's not usually the generous type, and I've been kept on a strict schedule of business abroad for years now. I don't know for sure what changed the President's mind, but it benefits you, eh?"

"Mmm," Kazuto murmured absentmindedly as they entered a working floor on the lower levels of the building. He could see some of the men and women peeking over the edges of their cubicles in curiosity, wondering who this skinny kid was walking elbow to elbow with the acclaimed Yuuki Hideki. He tried his best to ignore the stares, but could already hear the whispers snaking across the room.

"Come, now," Hideki ushered softly, pushing Kazuto gently into a nearby elevator and pushing the door closed without waiting for anyone else to get in. Once the bell had dinged and the floor beneath them began to elevate, Hideki said,

"Don't let them bother you, Kazuto. It's very true that no one your age has ever managed to come close to the position you are being offered, but I'm sure you'll do fine."

Alarms went off in his head. "Nobody?"

A shake of the head. "No. All interns are usually around twenty or older. While this may seem a bit old to be applying for an internship, Complexity is very selective in its recruiting, which is why it has managed to stay on top for all these years. Or namely, President Fuzen's strict orders have kept us afloat."

"Fuzen?"

"President of Complexity and one of the most powerful men in Japan. He has a dark and shrouded past he does not mention, but I believe that he is a good man. He works for an honest company and makes honest money. He seemed quite interested to hear your name, Kazuto. Perhaps he's heard of you."

Kazuto frowned and tapped at the outside of his thigh with his fingers in deep thought. "Doesn't sound likely. He's probably much too busy to have heard of me. Did you ask?"

Hideki smiled wryly. "One does not question the President too closely."

The elevator completed its ascent, and the doors hissed open on well-oiled hinges. Hideki stepped out and led his young charge through a winding series of hallways before showing Kazuto into a small room that contained nothing more than a circular table and some cabinets. A short, balding man was waiting for them inside, and when Kazuto made eye contact with him, he saw nothing welcoming.

"Doctor Fletcher," Hideki greeted, "This is Kazuto Kirigaya. He will be our newest intern here, if the two of you should agree to certain terms."

The Doctor and Kazuto both gave each other a stern look over. Fletcher. An American name for an obviously American man. A pair of wiry spectacles stood perched on the man's nose, something that felt almost unacceptably clich'e. His hair was balding from the center, the gray hairs curling only at the back edges. Lines dug deeply into the skin of Fletcher's forehead, a sign of many hours spent furrowing it in deep and complex thought.

Finally, Fletcher hmphed and adjusted himself in his seat. "I don't understand all the hype you've made about this boy, Yuuki. He looks like he's just made it out of the bird's nest."

"He may but young, but I trust that he has exceptional skill and potential with computers and software," Hideki returned promptly.

Fletcher scrutinized Kazuto a little longer before shrugging. "Please, have a seat."

Kazuto took a chair opposite Fletcher, as far as he could get from the man without actually leaving the room. The doctor did not seem to notice, too preoccupied studying a sheaf of papers that Kazuto was sure concerned himself. Most likely a general outline of his life and a brief background check.

"Well," Fletcher grunted, "Should you accept the terms, Kirigaya-san, you will be accepted as an intern into the World Advancement Software Programming division, or the WASP group, if you will. You will be mentored first by minor workers who have been around longer than you, and if you show promise you may be able to work side by side with our more prestigious scientists. Now, if you would..."

What followed was a flurry of papers to sign and contracts to read that Kazuto did not even bother trying to comprehend. Otherwise he'd be there for a year. After scrawling his signature onto a final blank line, Fletcher nodded in satisfaction and shuffled up all the papers before putting them away. Leaning back in his chair, Kazuto sighed in relief; so the worst was nearly over.

Or just about to begin, when he looked out the window, and his blood ran ice cold.

He'd seen him just out of the corner of his eye, a slight figure dressed darkly walking by the transparent windows of the meeting room. Turning his head, Kazuto made it just in time to see a man dressed in a black suit walk purposefully past. But it was not the fact that this man was the President of Complexity that caught him off guard (he did not even know the man's face), but rather the structure of the lower half of his face.

Kazuto knew that face. He knew it very well, or at least that part of it. He'd first seen it on a day where death had been rather prevalent, only to be revealed that it had all been a plot to capture the true evildoer. A face half-hidden by the reach of a dark cloak, wiry hands reaching out to wield a butcher knife of a weapon, and a reputation to fear with your life.

In Aincrad, that face had been responsible for the deaths of many, many people.

Fuzen's head turned a fraction then, and for one terrifying moment their eyes met. Black on unfathomable black. And then he was gone, around the corner and away, but leaving Kazuto branded with the image of the smirk he'd allowed before disappearing.

But then he thought about it.

Nah. I'm seeing things, Kazuto thought as he reached out to numbly shake Fletcher's hand.

That couldn't possibly be him.

Kazuto could not have been more wrong.

Meanwhile, in an empty office belonging to a certain President, the computer monitor had been left on and running, casting a sick white glow across the room.

What was displayed on the screen, however, was by far more important.

The first thing one would notice was the picture. At the top right, a photo of a young girl with long, wild hair, black as night as framing an innocent and happy face. The girl's personal information was displayed alongside the photo, and it read:

NAME: Yui

FUNCTION: Inanimate Object (AI)

AFFILIATIONS: Kirito (The Black Swordsman) Asuna (The Lightning Flash)

NOTES: Exterminate.

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