Sword Art Online

After The Incident

Christmas Special 2 – An Invitation

~Sinon's POV~

It was snowing outside my window that day as I began rolling out of my bed. A quick glance out of the window made my lips curl up in a small smile. I had always liked snow. The way the small snowflakes danced across the grey sky, and the way they painted the otherwise colorful canopy outside to a shining bright white as far as the eyes could see.

I might be living in the city, but that didn't stop the snow from painting everything a brilliant beautiful white.

I rolled out of bed with a smile and put on my glasses, pulling on a pj shirt as I walked up to my window, gazing outside. My memories flooded back to when I was a kid, when I would love to run around and play in the snow. And afterwards, it was a tradition for my mom to make me a hot mug of cocoa with marshmallows. It was one of my most precious memories.

My smile widened a bit as I went to my small kitchen and quickly boiled up some water, feeling like a warm cup of either coffee or cocoa, before I heard my phone buzz on my night table. Having my phone buzz all the time was something I had gotten more accustomed to since I had met Kirito and the others, but still, letting it buzz around Christmas time was still a new thing.

I smiled though as I picked up the phone and saw that I had received a text from Kyouji.

"Hey Shino. Since I'm leaving town tomorrow to be with my family, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today? Maybe go to that café you like so much? We have to swap presents after all.

If you can't, I understand of course. But if you want to meet up, meet me at the café at around 12."

I smiled and giggled a bit at the text. As usual, he was overly excited with everything. I quickly gave the buttons a few quick taps to send her reply.

"I would love to. Are we gonna go to that Christmas market too?"

Not long before I had sent my reply, his answer came back.

"Haha, if you want to. I know you like those trinkets at one of the stands every year"

"Yeah, but they're cute you know? I might just buy some for the girls this year"

"You mean Kirito's friends right? Yeah, that's a good idea"

"Anyway, I'll just get ready and I'll meet you at the café, okay?"

"Sounds good. See you there"

I smiled once I had read the message and moved to the kitchen to quickly make some breakfast. I had completely forgotten about the now boiled water on the stove, patiently waiting for me on the stove. After breakfast I quickly walked to the small almost closet sized bathroom I had, before taking a quick bath and combing down my hair.

Going back to the kitchen, I took the kettle off the stove quickly before any accidents happened, and walked over to the mirror in my hall to put on some make-up. It had never been something I had practiced, but Kyouji almost deserved it, after everything he had been through.

I put on a bit of eyeliner and lipstick, before looking over myself in the mirror.

"I look dumb…" I mumbled, rubbing my arm in insecurity "Will Kyouji even like me in make-up?"

A sudden thought struck me. Since when did I care about what Kyouji thought of me? When had I become aware of myself around him? We had always been friends, but it was that kind of friendship where I knew I could be myself entirely, but suddenly, I had become cautious of myself. I felt an urge to please him suddenly, and I didn't know when this started, or where it came from.

I shook my head free of thoughts and sighed before looking away from the mirror.

"No, it's fine. I look fine" I reassured myself.

I sighed softly as I looked down at my phone to check the time. 11.25. If I hurried up, I could catch the bullet train and get to the café just in time. I pulled on my grey jacket and green scarf, along with my beige snow boots, and headed out the door, closing and locking it behind me.

It was the 23rd of December that day. The streets and the bullet train, was both crowded with people, all probably in a panic to get out and buy the last amounts of Christmas presents. I had already gotten that taken care of, since I couldn't see much sense within waiting until the day before Christmas to buy all the presents.

And with Kyouji's present secured under my arm, I was now pressed between the other passengers, on the unpleasant ride on the bullet train. Not that this was something completely new to the train system of Tokyo. In fact, it was like this every day of the year. But because of the season we were currently in, it almost felt like double the amount of people were on the train than normal.

When I finally got off the train and could breathe normally again, I didn't hesitate and hurried up the underground metro stairs and up into the chill air of Tokyo's December streets. Everywhere around me, people were chatting, phones were going off, a few couples were walking around arm in arm, chatting happily as they snuggled up to each other.

I blushed quietly as my thoughts ran to Kyouji and I. Would we be in a similar situation at some point in my lives?

I widened my eyes and blushed deeper before slapping my cheek before hurrying down the street. Before long, the café Kyouji and I enjoyed to visit came into view, and I rubbed my boots free of snow a little, before stepping inside reluctantly.

I glanced around the café a few times, wondering where Kyouji was sitting. The place was not particularly crowded, despite the Christmas rush. So why was it so tough to spot him in there?

As if on cue, my phone began buzzing in my pocket, and I took a look at the screen. The text message I had received had me furrow my brow.

"Hey Shino. Sorry, but I stepped off on the wrong station. I'll be there in 20 minutes okay? Please wait for me"

I sighed silently and put my phone back in my pocket without even answering. I was surprisingly disappointed by Kyouji's sudden lateness, and I sighed again as I found a couple of empty seats in the back of the café.

I looked out of the window reluctantly. I was already bored to hell, not really wanting to go on my phone and waste its battery. It was always a comfort to watch the snowflakes fall outside the window playfully, so as much as I was bored, time luckily passed quickly. Before I even realized, Kyouji was standing right beside me with a comfortable smile.

"Hey Shino. I'm sorry I'm late"

He sat down beside me and immediately took my hand under the table, which I didn't object to. We had already agreed that we were going out on dates and whatnot, so holding hands had become a common thing over the last couple of weeks. Though it hadn't evolved much further than that.

I smiled and squeezed his hand a little as I leaned my upper body against his.

"it's okay Kyouji, you just made a mistake" I said with a smile, trying to hide how annoyed I had felt earlier "Besides, we're talking twenty minutes. They quickly went by"

"It's good you're not mad about it" he said with a smile "have you ordered anything yet?"

"No, I wanted to wait for you" I said with a small smile "I was thinking we should go walk through the streets once we're done here"

"Awesome idea" He said with a pleased smirk "But first, let's go get you some hot cocoa"

"H-How did you know I like that?" I mumbled in surprise. I had mentioned nothing about hot cocoa around him.

"Call it a hunch" He said with a smirk "Come on, we've got a Christmas market to explore"

I nodded meekly and smiled as I followed him up to the counter and ordered a couple of mugs of cocoa.

"Funny, I was about to make one of these when you texted me this morning" I told him, holding his hand in my own as we walked back to our table.

"Really? What a coincidence" he said with a chuckle "I knew you liked these!"

"I'm still curious how you know" I said with a smile.

"Well, you remember that time we had cleared that winter area in GGO?" he asked with a smirk "You didn't talk about anything else, than getting a mug of cocoa when we were done"

"Oh yeah, I do remember that" I mumbled, blushing quietly as I remembered my own bantering "Well, to my defense, I was almost freezing to death. I had a status effect and everything"

"Well, with those clothes on your avatar, why are you surprised!?" He said with a wink and a smirk.

I blushed dark red and glared at him.

"Hey, have you been staring at me like that!?" I mumbled as I looked at him suspiciously.

"No, no. I swear I haven't" he said in an unconvincing monotone voice.

I punched his arm and huffed before taking a swig of my cocoa. It was just the right mix of cream and chocolate, making it all the more enjoyable.

"I forgive you, since you were willing to pay for this for me" I mumbled as I glanced up at him "I might have to change outfits in-game though"

"Please don't" he said with a snicker "I know some people who would be very upset if you do"

I blushed dark red and glared up at him, trying not to choke on my cocoa.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean!?"

"Come on, ever since the tournament, you've been one of the game's most popular sniper players!" He said with a smirk "You can't deny, part of that is because of sex appeal"

I blushed dark red and let my gaze fall to my knees. I played nervously with my skirt. I indeed had noticed that several advertisements in-game had been made with me as lead, and that people did give me a few glances wherever I went, so I had noticed my rising popularity ever since the tournament.

But I wanted to believe that it was because of my skills, and not just my bodily image.

I was broken from my train of thought by a gentle hand on my shoulder by Kyouji, who looked me dead in the eye with a gentle smile.

"Hey, don't obsess over such things" he said calmly as he squeezed my shoulder "You're a bit like a pop-idol, but in GGO. People might notice your curves, but they like you because of what you can do with your weapons, and how badass you are. Don't forget that, okay?"

I felt the uncertainty in my chest disappear completely and I nodded quietly, before my head once again returned to Kyouji's shoulder.

"Thanks… You've always been good at comforting me"

He smiled and nodded a little as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder in a protective embrace.

"You're more powerful and stronger than you think" he whispered, letting me feel his body warmth "Don't ever think negatively about yourself"

After that short ordeal, we finished our hot cocoa and continued down the street, to begin finding and exploring the Christmas market that was supposed to come to Tokyo every year around this time. It was highly convenient for the many panicking people that had pushed buying gifts to the very last minute.

As we exited the café, Kyouji once again took my hand, and I blushed a little as we continued down the street. For once, I was the one leading him in excitement, knowing exactly where we had to go to get to the market. I had been there for so many years now after all.

When we finally got there, I looked around in excitement. It seemed the number of booths had only increased from last year, and the noise was booming from every direction. I noticed a certain guy take a glance at us, and chuckle and smile softly. Was he happy that such young people were a couple? That didn't matter to me. Just the fact that people was noticing us like this, made my cheeks flare like never before.

All of that afternoon, we spend together, hand in hand, exploring one booth after another. At the far back end was a costume/clothing store, and somehow, Kyouji managed to convince me to go in and try a couple of them.

Once I saw myself in the mirror, I felt so stupid. My cheeks flared up for the millionth time that day, as I saw the surprise costume pieces Kyouji had put on my face. He had put a red clown nose on me, and outfitted me with brown reindeer antlers, as well as a set of golden earrings shaped like a Christmas tree, and a few stickers with various shapes and colors on my left cheek.

As I stood there and gazed over the horror he had turned my face into, Kyouji was standing somewhere behind me in a big elk costume, complete with antlers, a red collar with a bell, and big soft boots, and tried not to laugh out loud, which he of course failed tremendously at. At last he couldn't take it anymore, and laughed loudly as he slapped his own leg.

I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest in a childish banter, that I at some point had realized only Kyouji could bring out of me.

"You're not much better off, mister!" I yelled as I pointed a finger at him.

He just laughed louder and wiped the tears off of his cheeks.

"I'm sorry Shino! You just look so goofy!" He walked over and planted a kiss on my free cheek "Better?"

I blushed dark red and glared up at him childishly.

"You just love embarrassing me, don't you?"

"Yup, pretty much. Feel like trying any other costumes?"

"NO! NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS!"

"Alright, alright. Come on then, there's more places to see!"

That evening, we went to the center of the market. They were going to light a big Christmas tree in about 20 minutes, and the two of us didn't want to miss it.

Hand in hand, we walked back to the center of the market, with each our presents under the other arm. I had grown much more used to it during the day, so right now, I no longer cared about the smiles and glances we earned from the people around us, and behind the counters of the small food joints and item booths.

Kyouji had explained how he knew some of them personally, and that was the reason that so many people seemed to care about the two of us holding hands.

"But aren't you worried your parents are going to find out?" I mumbled softly, as we settled down on a bench near the big tree "I mean, being with me would seem like a big distraction from your medical studies, would it not?"

He nodded softly and sighed.

"First of all, my parents don't get to control my love life" He said with a serious and stern expression "Second, I believe I can balance study time and time with you. Maybe not to a degree that my parents will like, but that is simply how things are going to be"

"I don't want to be a split in your family though" I mumbled, a guilty feeling running over me "I don't want you to fight your parents or anything like that for my sake"

I knew him as a very affectionate guy. He would do anything for the people he cared about, even more so after what happened with his brother in SAO. So battling with his parents to be with me, might cause him to make a decision that couldn't bring things back to the way they were before.

Before I could finish that thought though, Kyouji had taken my hand, and put it on his chest.

"Shino, everything will be fine" He mumbled with a smile, his heart beating against my fingers "Do you sense any insecurity in my heartbeat?"

He was right. The rhythm of his heart was steady and gentle, slow and certain. I couldn't even sense any second thoughts when I looked into his eyes. This was a battle he was willing to take, no matter the possible consequenses.

"No… No doubt at all" I mumbled finally, letting him pull me closer.

"Good. Now, let's open our presents and forget about that" He smiled as he handed me a big square box.

I looked down at in wonder. What could it possibly be?

"No, mine first, please!" I said with a smile. I handed him a much smaller box, though if I knew him right, he would be just as ecstatic about the contents as I would later be.

It was a small box, the size you would expect trinkets or other jewelry to lie within, but the contents actually wasn't anything as girly as that. When Kyouji opened the small box, his face lit up in excitement.

I had been on a lucky streak at one point in GGO and won a few very rare and powerful weapons from one of the gambling machines in the main city, which the card I had now given him, let the ownership of said weapons now go to Kyouji. In essence, I had given him a few very rare weapons for GGO for his Christmas present, so now he could become even stronger.

He immediately wrapped me in a tight hug and laughed.

"This is amazing Shino!" His eyes was glued to the card, the weapons shining up at his face "These weapons would have costed millions if I had to get them myself!"

I smiled and let my body lean into his embrace.

"I know you love GGO, so I literally had no idea what to give you" I said with a small smile "I was lucky enough to get these in the gambling district"

"You are awesome!" he hugged me once again and surprised me, possibly even himself, with a kiss to my cheek "This is the best Christmas present someone could give me!"

"I'm glad you like it. Now, what about my gift?" I smiled in excitement as he brought the box up to my hands.

"I hope you like it. It wasn't cheap" He said with a smirk.

I looked down at the box with a wondering expression. If it was that expensive, then…

The lid came off flawlessly, and I almost teared up at the sight. At the bottom of the box was a beautiful dark green off-shoulder dress with strings covering the open back. The arms ended out in gloves covering the palms and ending in free fingers, resulting in a graceful look. I looked up at Kyouji for a moment before reading the card:

"To Sinon

Merry christmas. I know I've been busy these last few months, and for that, I apologise. You've met my parents.

Anyway, I wanted to wish you a merry Christmas, and an even better new year. Now that we've finally managed to come together as a couple, I cannot wait for what crazy insane adventures the future will bring.

I truly love you. Shino or Sinon, it doesn't matter. I've always admired the person you are. You are admirably strong. To have the want to become stronger like you do, is truly admirable.

The fact that we've finally managed to come together, is something I've been hoping and striving for, for years now. And now that we finally did it, I couldn't be happier.

To celebrate our newfound relationship, and partly to see you in your new dress, I hope you will accept my invitation to the Christmas ball in the neighboring town over, on New Years Eve. I want my very first seconds in the new year, to be with you.

Can't wait.

Yours truly, and forever

Shinkawa Kyouji."

A/N

Hey guys! Alright, so listen to this.

I know I'm a little late with this Christmas special but meh, what can you really do?

Anyway, this is the first part of a two part chapter, the next part being released either on January 1st after new years, or next month, depending on how much time I have these next few days, so look forward to the next one.

Anyway, thank you guys once again for reading, and see you next time!