A/N: Hey guys, sorry this one is late... I suck, I know. Just finished reading tap's finished translation of Sao vol 13 and what do we get? ANOTHER FREAKIN CLIFFHANGER! Gotta wait for vol 14 now... :(. Hope you guys enjoy! Big 1-0! Thanks for all the support, 10 weeks have past already! It's all thanks to you guys that this fic is still alive and kicking.

Chapter 9. Three magic words.

Date night. Friday night and become date night for the young couple and tonight was a special evening. Dante's parents had decided they want to get to know Yui's parents, so, they had arranged to eat with her and her family. Presently, Yui sat in the back seat of the black family car driving towards Dante's house.

"This is going to be unbearable."

"Why?" Kazuto inquired.

"Because me and Dante will sit together and all of the parents will be 'awwwing' and being... Well, parents. Also, his parents don't know I'm A.I. That's gonna be tough to explain."

"You're not an A.I." Kazuto and Asuna said sternly, a cold glare coming from Asuna as she turned in her seat.

"Right right. I am, but I get what you are saying."

"Ok. So, to switch topics, I fixed Paradise again. That glitch with the rock in the lake is no longer there, feel free to go swimming again."

"Aw, great Hun! Me and Yui have missed snorkeling in there." Asuna pecked his cheek quickly.

"Haha, Thanks Dad!"

"You're welcome."

A short while later the black Mercedes pulled up.

"Why do we still have this Mercedes? It's thirteen years old!"

"It was a brilliant sports car back in the day!"

"And now we have cars that go 0-60 in less than 1.5 seconds!"

"I appreciate the classics." Kazuto seemed smug with himself and his threw and catches the car keys in his hand, Yui hurried to catch up with her parents.

She exhaled sharply. "Here we go."

~Later on, during the meal.

"So, what do you work as now Mr Kirigaya?"

"I'm in the virtual reality games industry, working with the company that made 'From ashes.'"

"Wow, I work as scientist, finally closing in on finished the Neuro linker, it's like the Brain implant chip that was made illegal a while back. This one straps around your collar, so you can take it off and on."

"Incredible... Will it be able to do full dives?"

"Yup, plus you can dive at any time, although it is rather power draining."

The men carried on chatting about the latest in Vr technology while the women talked about the younger couple's relationship. Yui and Dante sat quietly at the back, holding hands under the table.

"This is kinda awkward isn't it."

"Yeah..." Yui replied, squeezing his hand gently.

"You should come with me, let's just quickly finish our meals." They did just that, Dante, when the couple had finished, turned to his Dad and requested permission to leave the table and head upstairs with Yui.

"Hmm, Sure. As long as Mr and Mrs Kirigaya say it's ok."

"You can just call us Kiri-Kazuto and Asuna..." Asuna replied, "And yeah, it's fine by us."

Dante led Yui to his bedroom. She entered a spacious room with all the walls including the ceiling painted an ocean blue. She twirled around looking at the space before her, a double bed was slightly off centre, a window near the foot of the bed.

"Wow, your room is huge!"

"It's only about as big as yours, but thanks!" He wrapped his arms around the small of Yui's back and Leaned to the right, toppling on to his bed. He rolled onto his back with Yui at his side and traced this fingers through her hair while she moved to lay her head on his chest. The rhythmic beating of his heart calmed Yui and soon she found herself falling into a deep slumber.

"I'll love you forevermore Yui... I promise." Dante swore he heard Yui's breath hitch slightly at his words, but she was sound asleep.

Dante slowly put Yui down on his bed as he ran his finger over his DVD collection, stopping at his only romantic comedy, it was an anime... And he wasn't quite sure if he would be branded a pervert for owning such a feature, but the romantic theme was worth it. He sat down as the digital film booted on his TV.

He paused it at the opening sequence for when Yui woke up. He then lay back on his bed, Yui clutching his heart as she subconsciously wrapped her free arm around his left.

Hours passed, Kazuto and Asuna notified Dante that his parents had offered for Yui to stay over and that they would be there to pick her up in the morning. Dante nodded and thanked them enthusiastically.

Soon after, Yui stirred. "Neh... Dante? What time is it!? I was supposed to go home at 8:pm!"

"Hey now, calm down. Your parents said you could stay over, if that's ok with you."

"...Ok? Of course it's ok! I've always wanted to ask- I mean. Yeah, cool."

"Haha, I have a couple romantic DVDs if you wanna watch?"

"A couple?"

"Ok...One."

"And it isn't... You know."

"Of course not! It's pure romance no...Actions... Take place other than kissing."

"Good." Yui leaned up and lowered his head so he was looking down into her eyes, she cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips against his. "Thanks. For everything... I love you."

"I love you too." It felt natural to say the three magic words.

"Hey...Can we go to the library later? Maybe about nine?"

"Sure, why?"

"I want to, um. I want to lay in your arms again, in front of the log fire."

Dante widened his eyes with shock, before wholeheartedly agreeing.

"Of course, little princess."

Yui leaned closer to his face, now only mere centimetres apart.

"I thought I told you not to call me princess."

"My sexy goddess?"

"That's worse pervert." Their lips touched, both pouring passion from the depths of their heart into the kiss, yet, it was gentle.

~Soon after, both parties had got up, got dressed and were presently warming themselves by Mindy's log fire.

The steam from the hot chocolate brushed past Yui's red lips, she blew and the steam mixed with the smoke of the fire. She wrapped her hands around the mug and let the heat of the liquid help circulate the blood in her fingers. Yui leaned back ever so slightly, allowing Dante's arms to wrap around her torso, his empty mug no longer steaming on the table beside them.

"I love this." He said, "I love you, the burning of the wood and the warmth of our love." Again, the words of their mutual love felt natural, like they had always loved on another from the dawn of time.

"I love you too Dante...And Secy goddess is... a lot... better than little princess...In fact. I like it. It makes me sound sexy." Yui said, timidly.

"You are-"

"Stop there."

"Right. Shy..."

"Pardon?"

"Nothing Ma'am!"

"Remember, I control your future sex life. I'd be careful."

"Yes Ma'am."

"God, that makes me sound like an old woman."

Dante sighed. "I can't win."

He snuggled closer to her, pulling her in by her chest, he moved his lips close to her ear.

"Put your hot chocolate down."

"Why?"

"It's very serious."

"Ok." Yui turned so she was kneeling on his thighs, she tilted her head curiously.

"TICKLE FIGHT!" He attacked Yui catching her off guard, she was picked up off the chair and dropped onto her reading beanbag. Dante began relentlessly attacking her sides, to which she reacted with uncontrollable laughter.

"Hahah -Stop!- Haha, I can't breath!"

"How could I stop when my reward is such beautiful laughter." Yui cheeks turned redder, though not from lack of air.

"I'll-Hahaaha- I'll get you back for this!

"Haha, isn't this what girls normally do at sleepovers?" He continued to attack her sides, poking and brushing his fingers over her ribs.

"You're not a girl... are you?" She said in between giggles.

"Of course not! What, does this hairstyle look girly to you?"

He flicked his fringe to one side and stopped tickling. Small tears from the laughter trailed down Yui's cheek.

"Umm."

"Really? I thought it was cute."

"It is. But it could be considered girly."

"Humph." He pivoted in his heel. Yui used the opportunity while his back was turned and jumped on him.

"Piggy back ride!"

"Wha-Wha?!" Dante stumbled forward as Yui cheered, she pecked his cheek encouraging him to carry her around.

Dante began to run back and forth, Yui bouncing with joy on his back. It reminded her of her short time in Aincrad, on the 22nd floor.

"Ok, I'm gonna have to put you down." He said, panting.

"Are you saying I'm heavy?" Yui said, half joking.

"No! But I was running around with you on my back and-"

Yui jumped down.

"Are you gonna let me finish my hot chocolate now?"

"Yes, of course. I just wanted to do something... Childish. I don't know why, just some kind of urge."

"Well," Yui flicked her hair to the side. "We are in a very serious relationship, maybe you just needed something less...Mature?"

"Hmm, come here." He patted his lap, Yui hurried over and they returned to their previous position, Yui finished her hot chocolate.

"I wish things could always be like this... With no hardships... No school... No bullies. Not to say we've had hardships but they're inevitable...I just wish I could stay with you like this, snuggling in front of a warm fire, forever."

"I wish for that too, you've changed my life for the better Dante. Before I was the shy timid girl at the back of the class, but now I'm much more open with my friends and you... Thank you, For being you."

"Anytime. Thank you Yui, for being you." Dante's lips edged closer to Yui's, he stared into her eyes, Yui stared back, they felt as if they were looking into the depths of line another's souls, every feeling could be reached, every emotion. Their lips touched subconsciously and the contact instantly formed Into a passionate kiss. The flame flickered on the log, the smoke rose Into the star filled night sky.

A/N: Sorry I'm late again. I must be getting on your nerves. I normally write at night, in the morning and on the way back home. The day serves as my Idea generator. But having new years and such, I've had from 11pmto about 1am to write, which isn't a lot of time when you're shattered. I'll do a special next chapter of a new life in honour of the recently announced second season! Sinon and GGO here we come! (P.s, sorry this chapter is slightly shorter.)