I realized that in previous chapters I had Yui call Kirito and Asuna "mommy" and "daddy," while I'd much prefer 'mama' and 'papa,' so… that's going to change from here on out.

We stepped out of the elevator and into an open space close to the sky, Kirito apologies still berating my pointed ears. "Look, you don't have to make a big deal out of it. Okay? This was my decision and I-"

"Leafa-chaaaan!" I was cut off by a not so manly voice behind me. Ah crap. Stopping short of the ledge, Kirito and I spun around to meet the owner of said voice.

"Hey, Recon. I didn't realize you were online yet. What's up?" I tried to play off my attempt to leave the city in hope that he hadn't heard what had transpired downstairs.

"What's up!? You got in a fight with Sigurd and now you're leaving!?"No dice…

"Uh. Well things just kind of happened this way. I didn't mean to run off without telling you, but we needed to head out." I turned to leave, but wouldn't get off that easily.

"But Su-" I snapped my head back and clenched my jaw at the short boy. *Cough* "Leafa-chan. I thought we were good friends. You can't just leave! If anything, I go where you go. I will fight by your side always."

Slightly blushing at such an outward declaration, I waved it off slightly. "Thank you, but no thanks. I'm just going to Arun to drop off this newbie and then I'll be back… probably." I finished, hinting at my possible exile status.

Looking dejected, the boy slumped over and then turned to Kirito, as if noticing him for the first time. "Right! You again. I heard how skilled you were when facing off our party leader. I'm trusting you to protect her at all costs, got it? I can't let something happen to-" *shove* I patted his head with more force than necessary, preventing any sort of embarrassing comments that might slip out of his crazy lips.

Kirito, on the other hand, shrugged it off like it was nothing and gave him a confident thumbs up. "Don't you fret. She won't even have to draw her sword with me around. That's a promise!" I turned my head away from both idiots, hiding my enflamed face.

Stepping off the edge of the building, I began to float up lightly before turning towards the two teens behind me, the one in green whispering something I knew I'd have to make him regret later into the one in black. In a higher pitched and falsely sweet voice, I interrupted them. "Oh, and tell party leader douche-face that I don't want to see his perverted old-man face again. Thanks." Recon looked aghast at my outright insult while Kirito hid a smirk, rising to meet me in the air.

After a few minutes of silent flying, I asked the boy I knew was behind me what had been bugging me. "So, what was he telling you anyway?" Something embarrassing. I know it…

"Hm. That's what puzzles me. He said that you leaving is the start to solving the 'Sigurd problem.' Not sure how though." He finished with a thoughtful 'hm.'

Hm indeed.

"You humans are weird." Commented a tiny voice I had forgotten about.

Turning my head, I saw the small pixie sticking her tiny head out of the boy's breast pocket. Oh Crap! "YUI-CHAN! Um… can private pixies be influenced by others? No, probably not. Just forget the name I called that man if you don't mind. Okay?" I laughed lightly, not sure why I was telling an AI to forget something. She's just a program anyway. I couldn't help it though, knowing how human she acted the night before.

"Hai!" She replied happily.

"What do you mean by that Yui?" The boy turned his head down and queried.

"Well Leafa-san's boyfiend-"

"He's not my boyfriend!" I yelled by instinct before I remembered I was shouting at an AI, and a cute little girl at that. *Sigh*

Said AI and her owner shared a small laugh with each other before she continued. " Leafa-san's friend-boy likes her, but I can't tell how she feels about him. I don't hide from Papa that I love him." She flew out and hugged the size of Kirito's face as she spoke, him leaning into the hug and brushing her hair with a finger. "But why don't you say how you feel about Recon?"

I pursed my lips in thought. "You're a very interesting AI, you know that?" I replied, trying to brush off the question.

I wasn't going to get away with it apparently as the tiny pixie went into scolding mode, holding up a finger towards me. "You should be honest with how you feel to him. Is it that you like someone else?" She asked, innocently but much too personally. I don't think she knows better than to ask that…

Onii-chan's face popped into my head smiling softly. "Eh… It's something like that. But I need to get away from it anyway. Maybe Recon IS the right choice…"

My hidden meanings only seemed to confuse the tiny girl even further. I didn't expect her to keep up this far as it is. "Maybe the other choice is the 'right' choice. There can't be a right choice if you run away from the person you love right?"

Her offhanded comment hit home harder than I thought it would as I resumed flying, my face forward and a stiff look on my face.

"Leafa-san?" The cute voice encouraged.

"That's enough Yui. It's impolite to pry when you don't know the full story."

"…Hai, Papa." There was a pause and I thought she was back in his pocket. "Gomenasai, Leafa-san." She added in probably the most pitiful voice I had ever heard. I couldn't help but feel bad, even if my mind was stuck somewhere else… on someone else.

Yes. I know. Short short short. I wanted to get at least to the shower scene, but eh. It's 5am and id rather get this out then feel unfinished, go to bed, and have it sit on my computer for another week waiting.