So rereading my last chapter, I realized I don't like it very much. It felt too,,, meh. Rushed, amateurish, and where I wrote simple words I should have shoved meaning and expression and detail but I just used the simple words. Ug.

Snowbunny-Glad you like it. That's why I'm writing it, I agreed that there weren't enough SuguXKirito stories that weren't straight smut. So yea.

SER- WHERE?! I CAN'T FIND THEM! I mean, I know what happens in the story, I read quite a bit ahead. But online there are only the first 11 episodes, with every other website having a timer countdown to episode 12. You got a website you hacked or something? XD

Anyway, hopefully this chapter will help make up for the last one. RETURN OF THE CANON

Enjoy

Sugu's POV

*BEEEEP BEEEEP BEEEEP*

Rising from my bed groggily, I stared at my alarm blaring at me. Sighing and turning it off, I cursed the early morning. Usually I enjoyed the crisp early air and the tranquility one could only get from being up at the crack of dawn, but after last night, I wish I stayed asleep.

I recalled the last few hours. Me, tossing and turning, creating uncomfortable knots out of my bedding, sweating profusely, all the while dreaming. I saw Kazuto, always from a distance, mountaintops apart. He would stare at me across the gorge, eyes piercing me far too much for the distance between us. Then, he turned and walked away. Of course, I instinctively cried out to him and reached my hand towards him, only to find myself falling in to the valley below, endless falling in to the blackness. Looking up from my fall, I didn't even get a view of him looking down at me, he had simply left, not caring.

Shaking myself into This reality, I got out of bed and got changed, looking forward to one of the only things I knew could ease my mind. Wearing my practice uniform, I grabbed my shinai and headed downstairs and outside into the yard.

Getting in to my starting stance, I took a deep breath and began to swing, performing the basics without much conscious effort. Taking in the early morning chill, my lungs filled with an icy breath, calming my uptight nerves, or at least, I was hoping it would. Continuing my warmup, waves of memories began to crash down on me. Kazuto waking up, smiling and holding me. Swing. Harder! Kazuto spending days with me, holding hands on the train. Swing. Faster! Kazuto talking to me about more delicate things, his love and relations with Asuna. SWING. HARDER! Kazuto holding me and telling me he loved me last night.. Swing… DAMMIT! I took my shinai in one hand and chucked it at the ground, my frustration boiling over a bit.

Collapsing to the ground, I pulled my knees up to my chest, burying my face into my legs, and wept. Why do you do this to me Kazuto… Why do you have to play with my heart…

From my side I felt an encompassing embrace, a hug from nowhere, and a soft, "hey," in my ear. Kazuto. I froze momentarily, then let it go, no longer caring. He already saw me break down, might as well let my tears flow.

I released my legs and clenched the shirt of my brother, grasping at him. Hiding my face in his chest, I poured out my insides, not through words, but through nonsensical muffles that he surely couldn't understand. "Shhh….." He wrapped his arms tighter around my body, stroking my back lightly, trying to calm me with his cooing. "It's okay. You're okay."

Continuing to bawl, I couldn't help notice the irony screaming in my face, the one who caused all the tears was holding me lovingly. Breaths breaking, I coughed a few times, calming my sobs into small whimpers. Kazuto continued to rub me affectionately, waiting until I was able to speak.

Hesitant, I pulled back, staring at the ground, hiding my eyes under my bangs. Folding my hands in my lap, I clenched them slightly, ashamed. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…"

Suddenly, I felt something brush my face, his palm pushing my bangs back and lifting my head, forcing me to look at him. Smiling he leaned his face in to mine.

Is he… me… kiss me… My eyes bulged in shock at his incoming face. Instinctively I leaned my face forward, lips slightly out. Onii-chan…

Lightly, his lips brushed my cheek and he pulled back, smiling again. His smile faded and was replaced by confusion, his eyes tightening. "Um, Sugu?" I reeled my head back quickly and wiped my face of any emotion, aside from the scorching heat the invaded my skin, threatening to burn me alive.

"Huh!? What?! Nothing. Nevermind." I waved my arms frantically. Trying to dispel any memory of what just happened, hoping to distract him.

Becoming concerned, I saw Kazuto purse his lips and hold out a hand to me. Taking it softly, he helped me up. Reaching down, he grabbed my discarded shinai and walked, hand in hand, to the porch, sitting down. Awaiting us was a bottle of water, partially drunk.

Sitting tense, I let go of his hand and took the water and began to drink it, not realizing how parched I was.

Feet hanging off the edge, Kazuto's eyes perused the ground below us. "You want to talk about it?"

Caught mid sip, I slowly lowered the bottle, resting it in my lap lazily, "Not…really." It would be… too painful.

Nodding to himself, he lifted the sword and held it upright. "Hm, really light." Light?

"Actually, it's timber bamboo. Supposed to be decently heavy."

"Oh, I meant, compared to what I'm used to." What he's used to…? "Want to have a match? It could help relieve whatever is bothering you, you know, if you want." Actually that's what I thought the kiss was for… what I preferred anyway… Wait, What did I just say?!

"Hm? A match?" I asked, taking a drink, face trying desperately to hide the confusing tempest ripping my internal structure apart. A match would help distract me at least.

"Sure. We have grandpa's old gear. Let's do it."

"You sure? You've only been in rehab for two months." I looked over his body, most of him still decently thin and frail looking, though he had been thin his whole life. I wouldn't want to hurt him.

He nodded confidently, taking the now empty water bottle and crushed it in his hand. Sure it was plastic, but he used to barely be able to hold his arms up at all, let alone a water bottle.

Bowing, I looked up at Kazuto, now in full gear. As expected, the padding hung a bit loosely on his skinny frame, but he appeared unbothered by it.

Getting in to my regular stance, the tip of my shinai meeting eye level, I paused, unable to contain my laughter. "What kind of silly stance is that exactly?" His sword in one hand, head and left side of his body wide open.

"Mine," he stated simply, mouth curling into a smile. He appears confident, almost threatening. Just what exactly…

My thought was cut off, him suddenly charging towards me, swinging. Surprised, I blocked his attack on pure instinct, followed up with a counter thrust, which he dodged.

Several times, I swung, slowly building in to the more complex attacks. Still, he continued to evade them, sometimes by mere inches. His ability surprised me. When did he get so good?

Attacking simultaneously, we ended up in a battle of sheer force. Quickly adding a second hand, I saw Kazuto falter, unable to hold me off. Seizing the opportunity, I shoved him back and swung straight down. *Crack*

His head jolted a bit, receiving the full force of my blow. Stumbling, he leaned on his shinai. "Ow…"

"Oh, god! Are you okay Onii-chan?" I closed the gap between us and studied his face concerned. Sure he caused my problems, but I never wanted to actually hurt him…

Waving me off, he stood up straighter, breathing heavily. "So I'm guessing that means you're feeling better?" Better? Was I? The match did help clear my head, but my heart was still in chains, not sure what to do. Nodding slightly, I saw him break out a grin. "Well then, totally worth the bump on the head. If you ever need someone to beat up again, I'm always here for you. Okay?" I nodded again stupidly, unable to form words.

Swinging his sword behind him, Kazuto held it over his shoulder for a second. Then, as if realizing what he was doing, he chuckled and brought it forward again. "Whoops." What in the world?

Washing up by the fountain, I thought back to his skill during the match. Unbelievable for someone who quit kendo, not to mention he was stuck in a game for two years… "Have you been practicing?"

"Oh, you know. Swordplay is fun. I might end up doing it again. Feel like teaching me, Sugu-sempai?"

"R…Really? Sure! I'd lo… It'd be a lot of fun." Too close. My face darkened a bit. "By the way Onii-chan, I have a surprise for you." He looking at me curiously, waiting for me to explain. Considering quickly, I remembered what I thought would be a kiss today and decided to tease him. "Nah, I'll keep it a secret a bit longer." Curiosity turning to quizzical, he stared at me like I was insane.

Kirito's POV

"Say your final goodbye, Hero-kun, then get out." [Man that was short]

Sugu's POV

"Onii-chan? You can use the bath now" I raised my voice through his door. My answer was silence. Is he asleep already? Knocking lightly, I slowly opened the door, careful not to wake him. I was blasted in the face with chilling air. Shivering, still wet from the bath, I walked in, seeing Kazuto awake and sitting on his bed. "God Onii-chan, it's freezing in here. You'll catch your death in this cold." Making my way to the heater, I turned it on, surprised that it wasn't covered in ice from the way I felt.

"Sugu, please…just... go away." Go away? What did I… Still shivering, I turned to face the voice. !

It was only then did I notice my brother's behavior. His face was downcast, staring at the floor, not noticing the freezing cold. The frightening part was his expression, as if all hope and joy in the world was utterly gone. As if the world crumbled where he sat, simple things like comfort, heat, life, didn't matter.

Instantly I was on my knees, face level with his, though his eyes refused to move from the spot on the floor. "What's wrong Kazuto? What happened?" What could make him this way? He's usually so carefree.

He continued his lost gaze, slipping out a low, "…nothing." Nothing?! There was no way that nothing would drive him to act this way.

"Tell me! What happened?! Was it… her?" He spent the better part of the day at the hospital, what else could have happened? "Please… Onii-chan…"

Shakily, he raised a hand to his face, wiping away tears I couldn't see under his hair. "She's... leaving… forever. I can't do anything to stop it." More tears streamed down his face as he began to sob lightly.

Lifting his face, I wiped off some off the dampness and pulled it to mine, holding my lips to his cheek. Releasing his face, I held it to my chest, listening to his muffled cries of anguish. Feeling him wet my shirt with his crying, I found it to be my turn to coo him softly. "Shhh… it's okay Onii-chan." As I spoke I couldn't help but be acutely aware of his face being buried in my soaked breasts, especially since the cold was,,, affecting them. I can't think of things like this when I'm trying to comfort him. It's selfish and wrong.

"You can't give up if you truly love someone. You just have to fight for it. I know you can." Who was I kidding. I'm having the same problem, and I can't deny it any longer. This boy, this man. My cousin. I'm desperately in love with him. I don't care if it's wrong. My heart has already betrayed me, now owned by the weeping one in my arms.

I didn't bother to try to verbally calm him anymore. I knew the more I talked about love and him going after her, more my own heart would chip and crack, until I myself would break down. So I sat there, him relenting into my shirt while I held him as close as I could,, stroking his hair and letting out the occasional 'shh...' My own pain was reflected in his torment, knowing that I would never get anything more from him. I would never be the one he thought of at the end of the day. I would never be… his.

Slowly, his cries died down and his labored breathing rested, slowing to a more peaceful rate. Delicately, I laid his head down and covered him with the blanket. He looks so peaceful now…

Laying down next to him, I allowed myself to cry, reliving the memories of him being lost to that world, him waking and holding me, his constant kindness to me… All my thoughts adding fuel to the fire, my tears added to the dampness of the night as I trembled, no longer from the cold. Opening my eyes painfully, I looked at his serene face. Once… I just need… one.

Before I could stop myself, I raised my palm and held his cheek and planted my lips firmly on his, uncaring of whether he woke up. I poured all of my love, my desire, and most of all, my torture, into kissing his unflinching lips. It didn't last nearly long enough, but I let him go, resting my forehead against his, continuing to weep quietly.

Kirito's POV

The edge of a cliff. I was holding Asuna in my arms on the edge of a cliff, afraid to let her go. "Asuna, I love you." She hugged me affectionately, and mimicked my words back to me. I closed my eyes, relishing the moment, similar to when I would hold her at our home on floor 22.

Loud clanking metal. The sound of clashing steel filled my ears, different from the sounds of crossing swords I was so used to. "Asuna?" I then realized she was no longer in my arms, being torn out by large chains, binding her and holding her in the air. "Asuna!" The chains extended to the sky, where they connected to a puppeteer's handle. Holding that handle was a colossal figure, thin in shape and insanity dancing in his eyes. His other hand came down to the significantly smaller Asuna and put her in his palm. Then, in one fluid motion, he crushed her in his palm. "ASUNA!"

I reached my hand out, only to grab air, the sound of maniacal laughter consuming me. Below me, the Cliffside gave out. And I plunged, falling through space, passing the outside of Aincrad, passing our house on floor 22, falling past his floating feet as he watched from above. Finally, I hit… water? I plunged into the inviting ocean, sinking at a rate not possible. I was... alone.

My eyes snapped open, body paralyzed and unmoving.

So. I took a lot more from the canon than I wanted too. I haven't been looking forward to this because I don't want to copy paste. I'm going to (as you can tell) try my best to make it my own without ruining the story. Tell me what you think so far of the story and me dipping back in to the canon. You like it, hate it, want to request a specific scene or moment, anything, review or message me. I love reviews and messages. :D Hope to quicken my update speed. Hang in there. Should be no longer than a week though. Love you all

00Furr