Sorry for the lack of updates in this, irl problems and other works kind of getting more complicated than I was thinking they would but, here we go with more deviation from canon and some interpersonal development. Please r and r if you like it or pm me if you spot a typo ^.^

I had barely slid the NerveGear off my head when my phone started to ring. I picked it up and while the number looked familiar, it wasn't in my contacts list. I tapped the ringer button and answered it.

"Hello, this is Rika," I said cheerily, hoping it wasn't a telemarketer.

"Rika," a voice said, hesitantly. "It's Suguha Kirigaya."

"Oh," I responded in surprise. "Hey, Suguha. What's the matter? We both saw each other just a moment ago."

"I wanted to ask you something but my brother got back faster than I thought he would," she whispered. "He also set out some food for me, so I have spare time."

"Ok," I spoke hesitantly as I headed for my own kitchen. My apartment wasn't all that large, but it was enough for me and Keiko on the occasions when she would come for a sleep-over. My parent's lived far enough away that to attend the SAO school, I had gotten a small flat about an hour's walk from the building. I missed my folks, but they couldn't uproot themselves to move for what may be only a year or three. I wouldn't ask them to, either. "What's up?"

"Do you love my brother?" she whispered, and I caught a tone in her voice, a hint of fear.

"With all my heart," I said into the mouthpiece. "But that's not what you wanted to know, is it?"

The line was silent for a moment, and I glanced at my phone to see if the call had dropped.

"I do, too," Suguha said softly.

"Of course," I said. "He's your brother."

"No, he isn't," she replied. "Not really. We're cousins. But that's not really what I mean. I love him because I'm in love with him."

Oh dear…I hope that doesn't complicate things.

"Sugu," I started.

"Don't worry," she said quickly. "I'm not going to compete with you or declare you a rival for his affections. You got there first and I only recently managed to get a firm grasp of what I felt. I just…felt you should know."

I felt a small smile tug at my lips. "Thank you," I said. "But about Kazuto, I think when we log back in, if you feel up to it, we should come clean to him."

"Why?"

"Because honestly," I said. "I don't want to play at being just good friends when the three of us are together and it may be easier for us to do this little trek if we all dive together at your place."

I heard a rustling of cloth on her end, the sound of someone shifting on a bed. "I'm not sure if I'm ready yet," she mumbled. "What if he hates me or something?"

I smiled and giggled. "Trust me," I said. "He could never hate you. And if he gets mad, I'll clobber him."

I heard her giggle at that. "Won't that upset Yui?"

I shrugged in reflex. "She may be Daddy's little girl," I admitted. "But she tends to side with me when he does something silly. You should have heard her when we first logged in, when he couldn't get a grip on flying."

Suguha was laughing full out at the thought. "Ok, ok," she said when she caught her breath. "When we get back in, we'll talk on the way. How long will you be?"

I glanced at the clock as I pulled a bit of leftover pasta from my refrigerator. "Maybe fifteen minutes?"

"Ok," she said. "I'm going to grab a quick bath while I wait then. See you back inside!"

And I leaned against the counter, looking at the phone after she hung up, a curious feeling inside.

It felt like how I felt when Keiko would come by or when the two of us and Asuna would sit together on nights when it was just us girls. Keiko was like a little sister to me, and Asuna was my best friend next to Kazuto.

I smiled.

"I guess I just got myself another sister," I whispered as I quickly heated the pasta, rummaging for a fork.