Asuna and the others, logged off of SG and noticed that Kazuto wasn't around, AGAIN!
"KAZUTO! WHERE ARE YOU?!" They called out.
Keiko came from the bushes. "I found this. I think it might be Kazuto's."
Vari inspected the Augma, that Keiko picked up. "That's his alright. But where is he?"
Sugu heard a text on her phone. She quickly inspected it. 'Kazuto's here.' She looked at everyone. "My brother is at home."
"He could have said something." Rika retorted. Rika saw the downcast expression on Asuna's face. "Are you going to be okay?" It wasn't like she didn't know what was bothering Asuna. Kirito almost killed Yui, that was nothing short of disturbing.
"I don't… know what to do… I've tried to be strong… but I can't… do this anymore… They're using Kirito to kill Yui…" Asuna wiped away her newly shed tears. "How can I hope to ever see the real Kazuto again…? Will I ever be able to look at him the same way…? Will I be able to even trust him… again…?"
"I was always the one, who thought it was over and gave into my fears… but you showed me true strength, when I needed it." Suguha placed her hand tenderly on Asuna's shoulder. "You taught me to never give up and to hope for something, that seemed like it was lost. I don't know what will happen, but we wouldn't have made it this far, without you and Kazuto wouldn't even be alive. I know why you want to, but don't give up now! We have come too far, to lose him now. We need you to stay strong too, Asuna. We can't give up."
"Okay…" Asuna smiled. "I won't give up."
Sugu stood in front of Kazuto's room and knocked, after she found that it was locked. "Kazuto! Let me in! Open this door or I will-"
Midori grabbed her arm, which took her attention away from the door. "I don't think he wants to talk right now." She led her daughter to the kitchen.
"What's up with him?"
"I don't know, but he looked pretty depressed about it. He walked right past me, without saying a word either. I have never seen him like this before. I think he just needs time."
"I think I know… He almost deleted Yui from the system. Maybe he has come to realize the truth…"
"Kazuto…" Tears slid down Midori's face. "I'm sorry…" She wiped them away, but they didn't stop. "How long will this go on?"
Sugu gave her mother a big hug and they shared in their tears.
Asuna and the others visited Kazuto's house but had no success getting Kazuto to talk to them either. Asuna realized that he probably came to terms with reality and is angry with himself over the ordeal. Not to mention, how violated, he must be feeling. Asuna couldn't blame him for closing up. She hoped that he would come to grips over time, but as time dragged on, they didn't see any progress. He didn't even let them in his room.
She had talked to Yui briefly, from time to time, not wanting to risk her being taken again. She wanted to make sure that Yui didn't blame Kirito for it, or that she would fear him. Even now, she still couldn't believe that Yui was actually Kayaba's daughter. All this time, she had wondered why Yui was so human. Now she knows that Yui has always been human… not a program. Not completely anyway. Something about that knowledge only made Asuna more protective over her and her desire to raise her as her own, only grew. She was a human! Not just an AI. It made Asuna wonder just how young Yui was, when she first got trapped in codes. Kayaba still had no right to do those things, but a part of her understood, how he felt. Losing his only child would be devastating, to say the least. Yui wasn't even technically, Asuna's daughter and Asuna felt that she would die for her, if she had to. She was sure that even now, Kazuto felt the same way. Which is why he has barricaded himself in his room. But Asuna didn't think her heart could survive his seclusion, much longer.
"Is Daddy going to be alright?" Yui asked sadly.
"He really just needs time. You'll see. It won't keep him down, for long." Asuna chose to be positive, for Yui, if no one else. "Don't ever forget, daddy loves you. He would never hurt you, okay?"
"I know… but I wish… I could…"
"Yui. It isn't your fault. The corporation is doing this, but they won't win,. 'Cause we are going to stop them!" Asuna pepped herself up.
"Right!" Yui cheered.
"I've missed you, Yui." Asuna pulled her into her arms.
"I missed you, mommy."
"Asuna! Come quick!" A voice pulled her attention.
"Yui! Hide!" Asuna ran towards the panic, after her daughter disappeared from view.
"What is-" Asuna found the others standing there, in great shock.
"It's war!" Klein pointed towards the sky.
Asuna turned on SG and saw just what was getting everyone upset. There were hundreds of starships in the sky. Only one starship was required for all the damage the city sustained, the last time. Now there were hundreds! "No… this can't be happening… Kirito…"
"Don't falter! We need to protect the princess!" The crowd shouted in despair.
Divinity and Valour stood in front of the crowd, in fear. They had to lead these people and they weren't even sure, what they could do. In times like this, she always found herself relying on Kirito. But she didn't have that luxury, anymore.
Many minions flooded the streets and were targeting the princess. It wasn't fair, because in this particular location, the players had to watch out for traffic, but the monsters could phase right through it.
"For your honour! Protect the city! That is your number one priority!" Valour ordered.
Valour and Divinity showed off their intense sword skills and magic skills too. These magic skills weren't spells, nor were they activated by enchantments. No one knew just how to acquire them. Some thought that the player had to be destined to have it. The prince and princess only acquired one each, but if they could recall, Kirito possessed two. Many of the minions, fell to their blades.
Klein ran in towards the fight and attacked the posey of monsters. "You don't need to worry about traffic! They are setting up roadblocks! This whole area has been designated, a battle zone!" Klein had checked on the real world activities, to see if there was cause for concern.
"This isn't a game anymore! This is war!" The players shouted.
As the fights continued, commanders had been put in place. People were enlisted to join the fight and were given over to a sector of command, based on their skills and abilities. Anyone who was 16 or younger, was denied the privilege of playing, for the threat on their lives, were real.
Asuna and her friends would have been split up into different chains of command. Given their experiences. Asuna was given chain of command, over her own sector. She agreed, only under the condition, her friends were enlisted under her command. She didn't know how much she could entrust the other players with.
The prince and princess, did not have to join any command, which everyone thought was a little unfair, since they were just players too. But the royal's couldn't join, even if they wanted to, because the system, wouldn't let them. Essentially, the sectors worked similar to the guild system, when it came to the game limitations. As time progressed through these wars, people under each sector, started to follow orders more like drones. The leaders could order them, and they would do it, no matter what it cost. Many people would die in vain, if they were ordered to.
Asuna could see what was happening. She encouraged her friends to remain free thinkers, but over time, they all started to do the same. Asuna had mindless robots for her army. She couldn't believe it.
Divinity still remained the top target of the enemy starships.
No one knew why, but given the circumstances, they couldn't allow them to have her, out of fear, of what that reason was.
The SAO victims were no better off than any of the players, either. Only, they couldn't log out. This really wore on Klein.
When they weren't logged out, they learned from Asuna what was happening to them, but they trusted that Asuna wouldn't abuse her dictation, so they would log on, in her confidence.
When Klein saw Griselda, she didn't seem to harbour any emotions at all. Klein knew it wasn't her doing, but she didn't seem to care about him at all.
Until this was over, Asuna would not let Yui come to this world, till it came to an end.
More buildings were destroyed, despite their best efforts. People were starting to lose hope, that this would ever end. Pretty soon, there wasn't a soul that was older than 16, that had not joined the fight.
Except for Kazuto, who managed to stay barricaded in his room and didn't know what was going on in the world.
They couldn't afford to let Kazuto stay that way for long, because every sword counts. He has a weapon in his possession that would provide a devastating blow against their enemy and he had system admin privileges, which could give him control.
Asuna pounded on Kazuto's door. "Kazuto! You better let me in! This has gone on long enough! We need you out there!"
But nothing. No response.
"Kazuto! Are you even listening! I know you are upset! Believe me, I am too! I need you right now!"
Kazuto couldn't help her, he knew that. He would only get in the way and cause more problems. He might kill the very people, he was trying to save.
"Kazuto! Open this door, OR I WILL BREAK IT DOWN!" After a moment, the door unlocked.
She entered inside and noticed it was extremely cold in his room, with the light off. She turned on the light and noticed his room, was built up to keep him in. The door had several locks on it, that were activated by his computer programs. No one was getting in, without his consent! Her eyes landed on a boy, who could barely sit up, paralyzed by fear and guilt. He was starving himself and wasn't sleeping either.
"Kazuto…" She knew he was upset, but this was way too far. She sat next to him, trying her best to make him look at her. "It isn't your fault… you can't blame yourself…" The silence was frustrating, for she feared he wouldn't speak to her. "Kazuto, please talk to me! Don't shut me out!"
"... Yu-i…"
She barely heard him, but she knew what he said. "You didn't hurt her. You wouldn't have done it. I know you wouldn't."
"How could I… show my face to her… after what I did…" Kazuto's voice was weak and withholding.
She held his face to look at her. "Yui doesn't blame you. She knows the person, you are."
"And w-hat is that…" His eyes met hers and there was an empty lifelessness in them, that she would have prayed to never see. "I don't know… w-who that is… anymore…"
Her heart tied in knots. She couldn't bare to see him like this. She would almost rather see him hovering around Vari, like before. What could she say to him? She knew the gravity of what he must have felt. She could imagine, anyway. It was no small thing, to think you could very well, have been responsible for the death of your own child.
"My thoughts… can't be trusted… you are better off without me…"
"NO WAY! You aren't just going to give up! People are counting on you! I am counting on you!"
Kazuto snapped. "Yeah! Then what happens if I tried to kill you, next?! I could never live with myself!"
"You can't even do that now." Asuna's tone was gentle. "You are beating yourself up, for doing what was necessary. We are in this together and I won't give you a chance to hurt Yui. You can-"
"So you admit it?! You don't trust me around her either!" He cried through the pain in his throat and chest. His voice was coarse.
"I didn't say that!" Asuna quickly defended.
"I am not the same person. I may never be again." He held a knife in his hands and then dropped it. He wanted to end his misery, but he also wanted to spare the rest of them, from the pain of his issues. But knew that these actions would probably bring them even more pain and couldn't bring himself to do it.
"I can't believe you would think of that!" Asuna grabbed the knife away from him, not sure if he was planning to end himself, or try to end her. Asuna grabbed him and pulled him into her arms and cried desperately. "I hate 'em! I hate… 'm for what they did to you!"
Kazuto eyes watered and pretty soon, he could no longer hold them back. He trembled. He wanted to hold her, but the fear of what he might do, held him at bay.
"They aren't going to get away… with this… I'll kill 'm! I'll.. ill 'm!"
Kazuto grabbed her. "No! You can't! Taking a life… it's… no small thing…"
"Tell me what to do! I want things to be the way they were… When we were a family… in our cabin in the woods…"
Kazuto felt his heart ripping apart, seeing her like this and he wanted it too. But the hopelessness, that they would never have that again, didn't help to take away the bitter taste, that lingered in his mouth. "I don't know… but… I can't let you… ruin your life… because of me…" He choked on his tears and could feel the scratching at his throat, wondering why he was still talking. The sores in his throat made every tear he shed, cause him great agony, but he couldn't bring himself to stop.
"When.. was the last time… you ate anything?"
Kazuto turned his face away and pulled his legs into his chest. There was no denying, his stomach hated him, for allowing it to stay empty, this whole time. He covered his face with his legs and refused to speak another word of it.
"I am going to make something and I won't leave until you eat it!" Asuna stood up and wiped away her tears.
Kazuto didn't budge, as she left the room.
She returned after awhile, with a sandwich in hand. She placed the plate on the floor, next to him. "If you want me to leave you alone, you are just going to have to eat this." Asuna slid the plate, even closer.
Kazuto stared at it lazily. But rested his face on his knee, still not allowing himself the pleasure of one of Asuna's best sandwich creations.
Asuna couldn't believe he was rejecting it. He never rejected her food! It was even worse than she thought.
The inner battle in Kazuto's mind, raged on. His mind fought itself over and over, as many different courses of action, played in his head. To combat these feelings and emotions, the only thing he could do, was stay as still as possible. No course of action, was the only option he opted for. He couldn't hurt anyone, if he did nothing, he concluded.
She stared at the food and then back at Kazuto. Eventually, she fell asleep next to him.
Kazuto's eyes continued to migrate to her sleeping form and a longing to be with her, rekindled in his heart. He couldn't even imagine, how Asuna had been feeling through it all. She never once abandoned him, even when he treated her like crap. When he ignored her warnings and unknowingly chose to believe and follow a monster over his significant other. As he watched her closely, he started to remember the good times they shared and how he couldn't wait to see her, each day. It wasn't just her cooking that drew him to her, it was the person, she was. He couldn't even imagine life without her. Maybe that is what drew him to the suicide option, in the first place… if he couldn't be with her and Yui and the others, then what would be the point in living? Is it wrong to hope for things, to be the way, they were? Could he really believe that could even be possible? Why would Asuna stick by him, after everything that has happened? He realized that what she must feel for him, was stronger than their problems. Does he feel that way about her? He doesn't know for sure, but he doubt that his mind would be manipulated, in her favor. So, the feelings he has, must be real. He would do anything for her, if he could. But that is the problem here, he doesn't know if he could…
He stared back at the sandwich. 'If I take even one bite, I can't go back…' He shifted his gaze back to Asuna again. 'She believes it is possible. I owe it to her to try my best, to do the same.' Kazuto picked up the sandwich and held it close to his mouth for a long while, before he finally accepted it. The pain and the anger, took away the flavors, that he would usually enjoy. Even after everything, he still hated the person, he became. He leaned his head against her shoulder and finally allowed the sleep to consume him.
