A/N: Hey guys, I'm back with the 9th chapter of Mother's Reconciliation. I'm sorry I haven't updated for a month, but it's better than have you waiting for 3 months like last time, no?
Right now, I have 6300 views for this story! That's a 1000+ within a month! If I haven't said so already, thank you so much for your supports, likes, and comments! Keep it going guys!
Just a bit of warning before reading this chapter: I had quite a lot of trouble writing this one because of the drama this one represented. Not to mention getting used to my new work environment. And this chapter may be a bit unpleasant. Just so you know.
Now, without further ado, here's the chapter. And don't forget to leave a review when you're finished! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own SAO, its characters or the OSTs! They belong to Kawahara Reki-sensei and Kajiura Yuki-san respectively!
Chapter 9 – The Devil's Whisper
March 31, 2026, Tuesday, Yuuki manor, 6:30 PM
Asuna lay on her bed, thinking. It had been two days since Yuuki passed away, and also two days since her mother had taken a step in opening up to her, and that fact alone was comfort enough for her to start feeling better from the grief… and from the emptiness.
She thought back to what her mother had said to her before she went to sleep, and also her actions during the previous day. From what she could see, her mother really was making an honest effort to understand her again. She remembered what Yuuki said to her during her visit to her home.
"You hit me with everything you had. So I decided to trust you with everything." "Try talking with your mother. If you can share how you feel, she'd definitely be able to understand. Ignore everything else and just focus on understanding her feelings and let her understand yours."
Those were the very words that Yuuki had said to her that gave her the courage to make an attempt to open her mother's mind. And thanks to that, she had made progress. But all that progress would be all for nothing if she didn't finish what she'd started.
Her mother was open for listening to her words right now. She had said it herself on the night Yuuki passed on. This was an opportunity to take another step to improve on her relationship with her mother, and her family. Besides, she felt like she needed to do something other than mope and cry about how her friend had passed away. She knew that if Yuuki saw that, it would only sadden her. Besides, she would be doing something to keep her mind off the pain.
With this determination in mind, she got up from her bed and headed to her brother's room. She knocked on the door to his room.
"Come in." Hearing her brother's response, she opened the door.
"Hey Asuna… what is it? Do you have something you want to talk about?" Kouichirou, who was reading an article on the internet, turned to greet his sister.
"Later, nii-san… I'll talk to you later about what I have in mind right now… but for now, I need to borrow your Amusphere… again." Kouichirou cocked an eyebrow, obviously not expecting her request.
"My Amusphere? Why?" Kouichirou asked. Then, he remembered what Asuna had told him on January; about how she had convinced her mother to let her stay at her current school.
"Oh… wait, I see. You're going to talk to Kaa-san again, aren't you? In ALO, I mean." Kouichirou deduced correctly.
"Mmhm. There's something else that I want to talk to her about. I'll tell you about it later… so please let me borrow it." Asuna requested.
"Okay, but on the condition that you tell me what exactly you two talked about afterwards. Deal?" Kouichirou asked.
"Deal. Arigatou, nii-san!" Asuna thanked her brother gratefully. She took her brother's Amusphere and rushed back to her room. She quickly set up her brother's Amusphere to login to ALO and then lied down on her bed.
"Link Start!" Asuna chanted the magic word that would lead her into ALO. When she did login, she didn't use her usual Undine avatar, but instead logged into her Sylph sub-character. She then proceeded to temporarily log out. When she woke up back in her room, Asuna took the Amusphere off her head and headed to her mother's room where she usually worked, bringing her brother's Amusphere with her.
She knocked on the door to her mother's office, expecting her to tell her to come in. However, no response came from inside the room. She knocked again and waited, but the response was the same.
"Kaa-san, are you in there?" Asuna asked and opened the door softly. The room was empty and her mother's computer screen was still on. She must have stepped out just temporarily. So, she decided to wait for her outside.
But just as she was about to step outside, something caught her eye; something that was on the screen of her mother's computer.
Focusing on the screen, she could see that there was an email on the screen. The email was scrolled down all the way to the end, so all she could see was who had written it. But when her brain registered the sender's name, Asuna paused.
She had seen the name before; the name was the president of one of Recto's close business partners. Recto, being her father's company, Asuna couldn't help but be curious why they would send her mother an email. Hoping that her mother wouldn't be back too soon, she decided to read the email, even though she knew she was being intrusive. So, letting her curiosity get the better of her, she scrolled up the email to read it from the beginning.
Dear Yuuki Shouzou and Kyouko-san,
I believe it has been a few months since we last met and talked with you.
As you may know, we have had an excellent relationship with Recto Inc. as business partners for years and both of our businesses have been expanding significantly. Also, please allow me to remind you that during the ALO crisis, we have voluntarily supported Recto during and after the crisis. Therefore, I believe it's time to solidify the partnership between our corporations even further. Furthermore, as we have discussed approximately two months ago, I would like to discuss the matter further when we meet.
I would like our family to meet up on Saturday, April 4th to meet up and discuss the specifics if possible. Also, I wish for our children to meet up with yours as a means to strengthen the partnership between our respective corporations.
We eagerly await your response.
Sincerely, Murayama Tairou and Yoshino of the Murayama Group.
(A/N: Play the OST: "Her Tragic Memory")
Asuna's eyes widened, horrified when she read the letter to the end. Appalled, Asuna read the letter from the start again, praying that she had completely misread its contents. Then she read the letter again a third time in desperation, but the content of what she read remained the same.
'What is this? Kaa-san was planning to have me meet another suitor? I thought… I thought she promised to stop this after I talked with her in ALO!' Asuna thought.
But then an unknown voice whispered a thought into her mind: 'Was this the only suitor she was planning to have you meet up?'
Asuna in response clicked on the inbox of her mother's email and searched for more emails between now and January. When she saw the history of the emails that her mother had sent and received for the past few months, Asuna started to shake, her face contorting in fury.
The result of the search of the email history in the last few; quite a large number of the email's titles had something to do with marriage arrangements from other rich families; some of which she had dealt with before. Asuna didn't have to proceed any further. Just by looking at the titles, she could tell that the emails were all discussions about meeting arrangements for more suitors for her. Her worst suspicion was confirmed.
At this, the unknown voice whispered to her again: 'Well, what do you know… She WAS planning to have you meet more of those pompous suitors that you hate so much… Even after she promised that she would respect your decision for your life.'
Was that really it? Had her mother really been doing this from behind her back since January? The agreements they made after visiting ALO together… to give her the opportunity to choose her life… were they all just lies?
She was so lost in her own thoughts and emotions that she didn't notice the sound of footsteps until the door to her mother's room clicked open. Asuna, who didn't realize this until it was too late, almost jumped at the sound of the door opening. She faced the door to confront her mother.
When Kyouko stepped into the room with a cup of coffee in her hands, she almost dropped the cup in surprise at seeing Asuna in her workshop.
"A… Asuna!? What… what are you doing in here? Haven't I told you not to come in to other peoples' room without permission?" Kyouko scolded. But instead of being intimidated by her tone, Asuna just glared at her angrily. At this Kyouko was caught off-guard. Why was she glaring at her like that? But then, she remembered that she had left the room to get coffee; without closing the email that she had read moments before getting her coffee. When that thought registered in her mind, Kyouko realized what was going on: Asuna had come in to her room, only to discover the email that she had only just read.
"Asuna… Did you…" Kyouko started, but Asuna cut her off.
"Read that email you got from the Murayama family? Yes, I did; along with all those other mails that you've been sending behind my back for the past few months!" Asuna declared furiously.
"You've read through my emails!?" Kyouko asked sharply.
"Yes, I did; now I want some answers! You promised that you'd let me choose my path in life back in January! I thought that meant that you'll stop with all this suitor nonsense! Yet, here I find you of all people breaking your promise!" Asuna yelled, not breaking her eye-contact with her mother.
Kyouko paused at this; still surprised that Asuna was daring to use her temper like this. But after she put the cup of coffee down on her desk, she answered her daughter's question nonetheless.
"What I said back then was that you'll be allowed to stay in your current school as long as you keep your grades up and go to University. No more than that. Frankly, even though your grades are in good shape, I'm still worried about your future." Kyouko answered.
"Just what exactly do you mean by that?" Asuna asked, trying to control her temper.
"Even though your grades are high as of now, I'm still concerned about your little group of friends." Kyouko stated.
"What about them?" Asuna asked, not liking where this was going. Then, the voice whispered another thought into her mind: "'You're associating with those kids who spent two years killing each other.' Is that what she's trying to tell you?"
"Wait, don't tell me, let me guess: 'You're associating with those kids who spent two years killing each other.' Is that what you're trying to say?" Asuna questioned, praying that what the voice was telling her was wrong.
Kyouko paused, surprised at this statement.
"Well… yes, to an extent. But I…" Kyouko answered, but this turned out to be a big mistake.
"Urusai… (Shut up…)" Asuna cut her mother off. Kyouko stopped dead in the middle of her sentence, dumbfounded.
"What… what did you just say to me?" Kyouko asked pointedly.
"I told you to shut up about my friends!" Asuna yelled, her voice had risen so loud during the 'shut up' part that even her mother flinched a bit in surprise.
"How dare you… You dare compare my friends; the SAO survivors with murderers!?" Asuna said, her voice rising with every word.
"Yes, it's true that some of the survivors were killers; there were people among the survivors that killed for fun, but don't you dare compare the other SAO survivors and my friends with those psychopaths! For the two years I was trapped in SAO, they've been my friends, my family, even. Even more so than you and Tou-san combined have ever been in my whole life!
And if you put it that way, in case you've been so thick to notice, I'm one of those 'kids who spent two years killing each other'! So you might as well disown me, calling me a murderer!" Asuna yelled at her mother. Kyouko stood where she was in shock, which was quickly being replaced by fury. She couldn't believe the ungrateful words that were coming out of her daughter's mouth. But at the same time, she tried to keep in mind that Asuna's emotional state was not in the best of condition right now.
"Watch what you say, Asuna! Don't use the fact that your friend died as an excuse to use your temper on me! And what was that? More of a family than me and your father were combined? How dare you! Do you have any idea how much your father and I sacrificed for you and your brother throughout your entire lives!?" Kyouko shouted, with a look that would have usually made Asuna, and even other men cower. But quite surprisingly, Asuna wasn't wavering or showing any signs of being intimidated, but rather, Asuna had a look of utmost fury on her face that she had never seen before.
"Like arranging me to marry Sugou Nobuyuki, for example?" Asuna scoffed. Hearing the name of the man that disgusted her to no end, Kyouko really started to lose her temper.
"I thought I told you to never bring him up again!" Kyouko shouted at Asuna.
"Oh, I'll bring him up as much as I have to; to get my point across!" Asuna yelled back, not relenting.
Kyouko and Asuna just glared at each other for a few seconds, until Kyouko took a frustrated sigh and started again in a calmer tone.
"I know that you don't really trust my judgment after everything that's happened, but I can say the same for you, Asuna. Especially with that boy you keep insisting on seeing. He may seem appealing now, but he won't be able to financially support you the way the men I've chosen for you in the future, and…" Kyouko said, but she was cut off by Asuna.
"Don't you dare speak of Kirito-kun that way! And do you honestly think that those pompous aristocrats you call suitors really give an ounce of care about my happiness or my future?
I've sat through every single one of them and watched them all play coy with me; all of them declaring that they love me and care for me… all the while boasting off about how great they are and the wealth they possess and not give me a chance to talk at all… But those are all just noise… nothing but honeyed and false words." Asuna said, not breaking eye contact with her mother. At this, Kyouko gave another defeated sigh.
"Asuna, I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I chose them because they seemed capable of taking care of you, both financially and romantically. And if you'd just…" Kyouko went on, but was once again cut off by Asuna.
"Take care of me?" Asuna asked incredulously. "They're all nothing but a bunch of privileged cowards seeking only to enrich themselves! They made the decision to marry me because it's what would benefit THEM! They see me as nothing but a fancy trophy and a stepping stone to boost their own social status and reputation! And they expect me to be an obedient little puppet and to submit to them without question! Oh, they might have dressed it up with pretty words, but that doesn't make it true! The only difference, mother…" Asuna emphasized the word 'mother' with pure venom.
"The only difference between myself and you and all those you aid, is that I don't feign affection!" Asuna finished, glaring hell at Kyouko.
"Look here, young lady…" Kyouko started, her anger starting to reach its boiling point. But just as Kyouko was about to lecture her daughter, someone knocked on the door.
"Kyouko? Asuna? We know you're there! What's going on!?" Shouzou asked from the other side of the door, with a tone of urgency. Not hearing a response after waiting for a few minutes, he decided to come into the room. When the door opened, Shouzou came in with Kouichirou. Apparently, both of them had heard the quarreling that was going on between them and rushed to the room. What they saw was the mother and daughter looking at each other with looks that could kill.
"Will someone please explain to us what this is about!?" Kouichirou demanded to both his mother and sister. At this, Asuna shouted at her mother: "Go on, tell them! Tell them about that email!"
"What email?" Kouichirou asked, as he approached his mother's computer and reading the email that was displayed on the screen. He took a few seconds to skim through it, but after he did, he was starting to see the picture as to why Asuna was so angry.
"Kaa-san, what is this? You've been contacting other rich families for arranging suitors behind our backs? And… this email mentions your name too, Tou-san! Did you know about this?!" Kouichirou rounded up at both of his parents.
Asuna froze when her brother directed that question at their father. For some reason, that had never occurred to her. At this, the voice whispered to her again: "You know, your brother has a point… Even your father, who always seemed so supportive of you… was he in this as well? You can't trust anyone in your family it seems." Asuna looked intently at her father, anticipating the answer, and also praying that he would say no.
But to her horror, instead of responding, her father only avoided eye contact with the both of them with an expression riddled with guilt. That act alone was as good as confirming that he did know about this arrangement.
"I can't believe you two! I thought you left this suitor nonsense behind since January! Especially you, Tou-san! You know very much that I love Kazuto-kun and you even approve of him! So why?!" Asuna questioned her father. After pausing for a few seconds to gather his thoughts, he answered.
"While it's true when you say that I do approve of the boy and that he is a promising young man; not to mention us owing him a debt for saving your life on multiple occasions, he's not the only one with promise. I wanted to give everyone else that's asked to meet with you a fair chance. I know you like him, but I had to consider the possibility that your relationship didn't end up well; to have a backup plan just in case that happened… The thing is, we were going to sit down and have a talk with the both of you about this on Sunday when you came home. But, because of you telling us Yuuki's story, we just couldn't bring ourselves to talk about it. So, I was hoping we could delay bringing it up as much as possible, with you grieving for Yuuki… but, we just didn't expect you to find out about this so soon…" Shouzou said regretfully.
Asuna had heard enough. There may have been reason behind her father's intentions, but right now, in her emotionally wrecked state, she just didn't feel like listening to reason. The voice then asked in a mocking tone: "So? What will you do now? Cry like the baby you are? Or will you retaliate for everything they've done?" Asuna gave a hollow and emotionless laugh that was so uncharacteristic that it was almost frightening. When Asuna finished, she continued in a cynical tone.
"So that's it, then? That's the best excuse you could come up with? You just said that you were going to delay the subject, but then what? After I got over the fact that Yuuki was so cruelly taken away from us all, were you going to bring it up then?! What, were you expecting me to say "Thank you for being so considerate" then? And then I would go ahead and just do as you tell me like a servant obeying her master? You've always done this to me! The both of you! You always keep secrets from me saying that it's for my best interest and make the decisions that I should be making for me without my consent, and do I need to remind you that the two of you chose Sugou of all people to become my husband? And before you say anything, Kaa-san, don't you put all the blame on Tou-san because as far as I'm concerned, you're just as responsible!" Asuna exclaimed, her voice becoming louder and bitterer.
Her family just listened on, dumbstruck at Asuna's words. But Asuna wasn't finished yet. She still had so much frustration that had built up over her life that needed to be released.
"Ever since I can remember, you've always told me that you want us to succeed and have a 'good' career (Asuna emphasized the word 'good' in a mocking and sarcastic manner) for our sake and our happiness, but you know what I'm starting to think? It's not mine or nii-san's career you care about; it's yours! You don't care if we live or die; just as long as you can use us for your precious reputation!" Asuna directed this statement at her mother. Kyouko just stood where she was, absolutely thunderstruck. Shouzou decided to step in to lecture his daughter at this point.
"Asuna! Don't you talk like that to us! You know that's not true!" He said sternly. Then giving a sigh, he asked: "What is wrong with you Asuna? Are you taking your anger out on us for losing Yuuki? Is that it?" Asuna just sighed, seriously frustrated. They just didn't get it…
"For your information, this has nothing to do with Yuuki! You want to know what's really wrong? I'm sick of being treated like I'm not even here! Asuna, do nothing but study; Asuna, don't have fun, especially with those lower class children; Asuna, you better choose some pompous rich boy we've chosen for you to marry because that's the only way we can define your life as a success. And I know that I gave you a lot of grief during SAO, but actually I'm just an underdog that you were planning on selling off to someone I loathe, and yes, I would have loved very much to have been sold off to a sadistic psychopath, so that he can turn me into his personal sex slave!" Asuna raved furiously without pausing.
"So, does that answer your question?! I'm sick of you meddling with my life! I thought it would be different with you two, I mean, you are my parents; but it turns out that you're no better than that Sugou Nobuyuki!" Asuna yelled. But as soon as she finished that sentence, she gave a yelp as she felt her face jerk to the side with such a force that she staggered backwards until she was caught by her brother. A burning and stinging sensation was building on her cheek. Her mother had slapped her, hard.
When Asuna realized what had just happened, she attempted to spring at her mother with a clear intention of striking back.
At this point, Shouzou and Kouichirou decided to step in, seeing that the atmosphere between the mother and daughter was becoming more and more volatile.
"Alright, that's enough, you two! Stop this, now!" Shouzou said to them both while facing and restraining his wife.
"Asuna! Calm down!" Kouichirou said, also restraining his sister, who was struggling to free herself from his grip with surprising strength.
"Don't…" Kyouko started, livid. "Don't you dare equate me or your father to that wretched man, do you hear me?! Everything we do, EVERYTHING we've done, were all for you two! We may have made some mistakes, or even pressured you too hard from time to time, but stop being so naïve! Do you really think that the outside world would even try to understand you if you had no talent or a bad reputation? You said it yourself on Sunday! That society isn't as kind or understanding as they should be! If you know that fact, then at least try to understand why we're doing all of this! And if you're part of the Yuuki family, then as a child who know nothing about how the world works, you have the obligation to listen from us, your parents who's had successful careers! And look at how much your brother has succeeded because he listened! So stop wasting your time and ours, and just do as I say!" Kyouko yelled, completely forgetting that currently Asuna was at her most vulnerable state emotionally. She would soon learn that she had just made a huge mistake.
At hearing this, Asuna stopped struggling because she felt all of her strength in her body betraying her. Kouichirou, who felt this, glared at his mother. He hated it when she compared him with Asuna because he feared that her doing so would eventually plant seeds of resentment towards him in Asuna's heart if it happened continuously. Shouzou, who also realized that Kyouko had gone too far this time, looked at her right in the eye.
"Kyouko! That's enough! You know that Asuna isn't in the right state of mind right now! And don't bring Kouichirou into this either! Come on; don't be so harsh on her." Shouzou said in his attempt to defuse the situation. But the damage was already done.
Kouichirou felt his sister starting to shake in his arms. When he looked at her face, he saw that she wasn't shaking because she was crying. Yes, tears were threatening to spill from her eyes, but what was startling was that Asuna's face now contained not just fury, but also pure hatred.
"Ah… So that's what this was about… she never cared for you because you'll never be as good as your precious brother… In her eyes, you'll be nothing… NOTHING… compared to your brother…" The voice whispered to her again. Then, Asuna finally spoke.
"Well, then… I think there's a very simple solution to that, don't you think?" Asuna began, shaking in cold fury. Her family waited to hear what her 'solution' would be. But what she spoke next, none of them, not even she herself, expected.
"If that's what it means to be a part of this family, then I just have to leave for good!" Asuna declared. At this, her family just stood there, shocked and thunderstruck.
"Wha…"
"Asuna…"
"What… what did you just say? Asuna…?" Shouzou, Kouichirou, and Kyouko said respectively, still shocked at her answer.
"You heard me! I've had enough! I've had enough of all of you, the suitors, and the rest of this God-forsaken family!" Asuna shrieked at the three of them. Then, she exited her mother's room and headed to her room, ignoring her mother's shouts to come back.
When she reached her room, she locked the door behind her. She then grabbed the largest suitcase in her room and proceeded to throw her clothes, books, spare cash, as well as other necessities she could think of into the suitcase and lastly, she threw in her Amusphere, which was still logged into ALO moments before she forcefully pulled the power plug on it.
As she finished up packing the bag and readied to exit her room, something caught her eye. It was a picture frame of her family on her desk with her 5 or 6 year old self in it. Before now, the picture used to be a symbol of hope that her family still cared for her despite them being rarely together at home. But now, that hope was non-existent. Unable to stand looking at the photo anymore, she threw the frame against the wall, where its glass shattered and hit the ground with a loud clatter.
She dragged the suitcase behind her. When she reached the stairs, she just descended it with the wheels of the suitcase banging on them with every step she took. When her family heard the noise, they came out to the front door to see that Asuna was almost at the door with her suitcase right behind her. Apparently, they had done nothing but just argue when she stormed out of her mother's room and only just realized what she was trying to do. Kyouko quickly grabbed her daughter's arm to stop her.
"Asuna! Where do you think you're going?!" She asked sharply, but Asuna could hear a hint of panic in her voice.
"I don't know! Somewhere! Anywhere! Away from here!" Asuna declared, refusing to look back at her.
"Asuna… Asuna, please don't do this!" Her father's voice pleaded with her. "We're sorry that we kept this a secret from you but running away like this isn't going to solve anything!"
"Asuna, please! I don't agree with Kaa-san and Tou-san on this whole suitor mess either, but please don't leave us like this! We almost lost you to SAO, so please don't make us go through that again!" Kouichirou begged desperately.
"And you're saying that if I stay, things are just going to solve themselves?" Asuna scoffed at her parents.
(A/N: Play the OST: "Despaired")
"And that you're going to stop hounding me about choosing a suitor to marry? Please, I think we all know the answer to that! Besides, you already have your perfect son who's the very definition of success itself! So why don't you stop wasting your time on a failure like me and focus all your attention to him?!" Asuna shouted in a fit of rage. At hearing this, Kyouko and Kouichirou's faces turned white. Kyouko, because she realized only now that by comparing her and Kouichirou's accomplishments in spite of herself, she had only added fuel to the fire and Kouichirou, because his fear of his beloved sister resenting him had become a reality.
"Asuna… no, you misunderstood! I wasn't trying to say that you were a failure! I just wanted you to follow your brother's footsteps and…" Kyouko desperately tried to explain to her, but Asuna, who was in no mood to understand pleadings or excuses, cut her off for the last time.
"No! Spare me the excuses! From now on, my last name is no longer Yuuki! I hate you!" Asuna yelled at Kyouko; her eyes and voice full of malice and hatred. At this, Kyouko froze and felt her strength draining from her body. With this, her grip loosened on Asuna's arm. Asuna, sensing this momentary weakness, shook off her mother's hand.
"Hate them… Sever all ties with them…" The voice said, cackling.
"I hate you! I hate you all and I never want to see your faces again, ever!" Asuna shouted at them, tears streaming down her face.
"Asuna…! Asuna!"
"Asuna! Come back!" Shouzou and Kouichirou called out to her, but she ignored their calls and left the house, nearly splintering the door to pieces on her way out.
Kyouko collapse onto her knees, unable to believe what had just happened while her husband and son stood staring at where Asuna had been moments ago, horrorstruck. No one said anything for a few seconds, until Kouichirou broke the silence.
"What did you do?!" Kouichirou shouted at his mother. "What did you say to her to make her run away from home like this?!"
"Watashi… watashi (I… I…)" Kyouko just stammered.
"You know what? On second thought, don't tell me. I don't want to hear it!" Kouichirou said before pursuing Asuna, slamming the door shut behind him.
As soon as he exited the manor, Kouichirou looked around desperately to see where Asuna had gone. He couldn't see her in the immediate vicinity; but she couldn't have gotten far; not with that big suitcase behind her. He took off towards the left side of the street as that was Asuna's usual routine to school. Then, he spotted a familiar silhouette sprinting downhill on the slope of the street and turning a corner which lead to the larger streets of Setagaya. Asuna had about a few dozen seconds of head start; 30 or 40 seconds at best. But for such a short time, Asuna had managed to cover quite a distance from the house, even with that big suitcase she was dragging behind her. Not taking the time to appreciate just how fast his sister was, Kouichirou began his hot pursuit.
When Kouichirou reached the corner Asuna had turned, he had narrowed the distance between him and his sister considerably, he stopped to catch his breath a little and called out to her. "Asuna! I know you can hear me! Come back home with me! Please!" But Asuna did not falter or even pause. If anything, it only seemed like she was running faster after she realized that her brother was chasing her down. She turned another corner that lead to an open district.
Then Kouichirou remembered that the street where Asuna was most likely headed had lots of transportation like bus or taxi passing by in minutes' interval. If she manages to catch a transportation there would be no way to catch up to her as currently he had no money or cellphone in his pockets as both of them were in his room back at the house. Keeping that in mind, Kouichirou double timed in catching up to her. He turned the corner but as soon as the main street came to view, he saw her stopping a taxi, which stopped right in front of her, much to his horror. He saw her quickly loading her luggage to the back seat and herself right along with it and shut the door hastily and by the time Kouichirou caught up to her, the taxi had already left. He looked around for another taxi to come by, but none came and within seconds, the taxi that Asuna got in had gotten out of sight.
Realizing that he had failed to catch up to her and bring her home, Kouichirou fell to his knees and punched the ground in frustration.
"Kusou… (Dammit…) Kusou… Asuna…" Kouichirou lamented in despair. Not just at his inability to catch up to her in time, but also the fact that his beloved sister resented him now.
A/N: That it for the 9th chapter… I'm sorry if the drama was too much and too sudden, but this needed to happen at some point in the story. Believe me, I'm kind of hating myself to have to have you guys read such an unpleasant scene. And was the "Devil's voice" thing too much? Let me know if you agree or disagree with me adding that voice whisper to Asuna's mind.
Also, some of the dialogues in this chapter had a reference to a certain game in a popular series. Try and guess as to which game I used for some of the dialogues in the comments or PM.
As usual, thank you so much for your support and I'll see you next time.
Yours truly, KiritoIRL.
