A/N:
Posting this early since I'm not going to have much time to post this come tomorrow morning, so enjoy an early post! Before we jump into the big day, time to address some reviews!
Singingtheblues: Ashley is 100% inspired by Edna Mode; there are some minor differences but I wanted her to be as Edna as possible without being a complete rip-off.
Deathzealot: The bachelor rodeo was very much inspired by Mystic Knight Online's dragon shenanigans. It was a little nod towards that amazing scene and I'm glad someone drew parallels.
tom476ty18: There are a few "live-stream" fanfics out there, all of which inspired this story's iteration of the live stream. The Amusphere was the natural evolution of that story point here.
Otaku of Anime: Glad you enjoyed it! I think you'll like this chapter even more.
tl34lt12: The Kirigayas and the Yuuki's aren't actually diving into SAO, necessarily. It's more an extension of the private live streams they have access to already. They're simply spectating from a different point of view. They're not actually "in" Aincrad, but rather a live recreation of it. Probably should have made that more clear.
RandomDSdevel: Can't say I'm familiar with that character, but it's interesting to see that designer characters in media all tend to be eccentric like that!
Lord Destroyer: Boys will be boys, and bachelor parties have an unspoken obligation to be half-cocked, not fully thought out, and reckless. Regarding the bosses, Silica's made it a habit of latching onto larger monsters if she can get away with it, and while it's never been explicitly stated, Yuna had a similar skill set to Silica before the Unique Skills dropped and she became a full-time healer and support.
felipe potter medrado: I think you'll like Alicization. I certainly did! (As evidenced by the fact that I have two of the main leads in this story when they didn't even exist at this point in the canon timeline…)
DeathRanger: Thanks!
Morte Cacciatore: Your wait is over, my friend! Here comes the bride!
Kazuto had never been to a wedding before, and now his first would be his own.
Somehow, facing down a floor boss seemed preferable right now.
He paced back and forth in his room, every so often glancing at the mirror to check if everything looked okay. Rather than a traditional tuxedo, he was dressed in something akin to light ceremonial armor. It wasn't big or clunky in any sense, but it wasn't something he would wear into battle. Of course it was black, something that Ashley, Asuna, and he all agreed on since that was his style. It was sleek and nicely formed to his shoulders and arms. He wore only one sword, and this time had it strapped to his waist. He'd originally wanted to wear both blades on his back, but the presence of the small cape fluttering behind him would have made that difficult.
"Dude, would you stop pacing?" Klein asked from his seat on the windowsill nearby. "You're making me nervous, and I'm not the one getting married!"
Fortunately, Kirito wasn't alone. While he was the only one nervously pacing to and fro, the others looked composed for the most part. Leonn, Geeou, Nautilus, and Klein had chosen to keep him company while they waited for the ceremony to start, and each of them had their own versions of ceremonial armor. Klein's was very samurai-like in appearance, to no one's surprise, but then again that was just his style. Geeou's more or less resembled Kirito's, except with blue and silver being the prominent colors. Nautilus's was mostly the same, but with armor that looked more knightley and dyed in dark grays and purples. Leonn wore noticeably heavier armor as befit a tank of his caliber, wearing large pauldrons that Kirito knew would only get in the way of his vision in real combat.
"He can't help it, give him a break." Leonn chuckled from his seat on the bed. "I'm sure any of us would be the same way."
"I feel fine." Nautilus shrugged as he leaned against a nearby wall.
"I'm going to hold you to that once we get to your wedding." Leonn retorted with a very Argo-like grin.
Nautilus seemed to flush and momentarily lose his balance, but quickly recovered. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
"You have been getting close to Yuna lately." Geeou chimed in from his seat at a small table nearby. "Sure seems that way, at least."
"You know, Silica mentioned she saw the two of you holding hands the other day…" Klein snarked.
Nautilus flushed again but gave no reply. Klein's eyes grew wide as saucers.
"Wait, really?!" Klein spluttered, noticing the lack of a response from the Intrepid Knight.
"What of it?" Nautilus retorted even as his cheeks grew slightly more red.
Klein laughed, wandering over and clapping the knight on the back. "That's great, dude! I'm happy for you both!"
"Guess we will have another wedding on our hands at some point." Geeou said with a gentle smile.
Kirito smiled, his pre-wedding nervousness melting away at the news about his two friends. Those two had danced around one another for as long as he knew them, so it was about time they'd made it official. Something must have happened or changed during the 25th. That bout of bravery, not to mention Naut's victory over his FNC, was probably the straw that broke the camel's back.
"L-let's not get too hasty." Nautilus spluttered. "It's still a new thing, you know."
"Well it's still good to hear you two are together now. Way to go, dude." Leonn said with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Kirito blinked. He knew his officer well enough to know when he had something on his mind.
"Hey guys…" Klein said, looking over his shoulder and tapping on the window. "I think they're about ready to start."
Kirito wandered over to the window and, sure enough, everything seemed to be set up. All of the guests were in attendance and were seated. The KoB had taken the left section of seating, while the DKB dominated the right-hand side. Interspersed were the few smaller guilds and solo players who were known regular Clearers. Off to the side were two individuals, a man with brown hair and a silver-haired woman, both dressed in formal green attire. Both had what appeared to be a recording crystal out and were ready to begin filming, which told him that this was Thinker and Yulier from ((MMO Today)).
Why Asuna let Argo convince her to let the media in, he'd never know.
The Moonlit Black Cats looked to be seated just in front of the KoB and seemed to be excitedly talking amongst themselves. He also spotted Argo sitting next to and making friendly conversation with Lokuss and Kuroi, who could not be any more different right now. Where Lokuss was loose and easygoing, easily making conversation with the Rat, Kuroi was markedly more reserved and the image of propriety. The ninja was undoubtedly on her best behavior in accordance with her lord and lady's special day.
Still felt a little weird any time she called him "Milord," but he was slowly getting used to it. Maybe one day they'd see the real woman behind the facade.
He also noted that on the outside edges of the ceremony area were a number of Forest and Dark Elves, who stood at attention, blades drawn but held in a resting position, sword tips touching the ground directly in front and center of each of them. Kizmel had mentioned bringing in some help, but she'd been remarkably tight-lipped about how extensive this elven help would be.
Guess he'd find out soon enough.
Leonn pulled up his menu. "Lemme check with Agil, see if they're ready for us."
"You ready for this, Kirito?" Geeou said as he stood up and adjusted his armor.
"About as ready as I can be." Kirito responded, nervously fidgeting with his own armor.
"I'd better get seated, then." Nautilus said, pushing himself off the wall and hurrying downstairs. "See you guys in a bit!"
While Nautilus wasn't a part of the entourage that would escort him down the aisle, Geeou, Klein, and Leonn were. It was supposed to look ceremonial or something like that. Kirito initially had his reservations but it was Kizmel's idea and Asuna approved of it, so that's what he was going to do.
"Alright gents." Leonn said, closing his menu. "It's showtime."
The four men, with Kirito in the lead, made their way downstairs and ultimately to the door that led to the area out back where the ceremony would be held. Leonn stepped forward and opened the door a smidge, peeking through. After a moment, someone came up to the door from the other side and exchanged a few hushed words with him. Kirito couldn't tell what they were saying, but they were probably coordinating Kirito's entrance. The person on the other side closed the door and Leonn walked back.
"Once the music starts, we go." Leonn told them.
"Better not be Here Comes the Bride…" Kirito grumbled while the others had a good chuckle.
Geeou placed a hand on Kirito's shoulder. "We can request that just for you, if you'd like."
Kirito glared at Geeou but ultimately smiled, but not before giving his brother-in-arms a playful punch to the shoulder. He gave an appreciative nod to the others while they waited.
After about a minute, he heard Yuna start playing a soft song on her lute. He breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that it was not Here Comes the Bride, but rather a piece Yuna had once called A Tender Feeling. It was quaint and beautiful; Yuna had mentioned that it was meant to be played with several instruments, including a piano, instead of just a lute. She had enlisted some help from two other musicians to aid her, so they covered for the lack of a piano with some more acoustic instruments. Though he was no musician, he felt that the harmonies were expertly blended.
Kirito opened the door and led the way, slowly walking down the aisle with his entourage in tow. Geeou was walking along his left side, Klein his right. Leonn clanked from behind, the sound of his heavy armored footsteps marking the pace at which they marched down towards the altar. Whether it was through happenstance or intention, the rhythm matched well with Yuna's lute. As he approached the altar, Agil stood in the center and gave him a warm smile and a nod of his head, which Kirito returned as he and his party took their places at the altar.
"Lookin' good, man." Agil whispered, giving him a covert fist bump as they waited.
Kirito smiled as he tried to push down his nerves. "Thanks."
"Hey, relax man." Agil assured him. "There's nothing to worry about. She already said yes, so take some time to enjoy the day."
"How did you do it?" Kirito asked, knowing full well that Agil was married in real life.
"Oh, I was nervous too." Agil admitted before flashing a smile. "But then I realized that she was just as nervous as I was, possibly more so. You're not alone, and from now on you never will be."
Kirito took a deep breath and took the man's advice to heart. It made sense; Asuna would undoubtedly be the center of attention once she made her debut. He had the easy job, really. He almost chuckled at the idea that this could be a sort of rehearsal if he and Asuna ever got married in real life. Now that he wasn't as much a bundle of nerves, he took a moment to appreciate the care put into the presentation of the area for the ceremony.
They'd set up on a grassy field behind the guild hall. To his left, he could see the cliff overlooking the valley of Nelluon Arael, the massive elven tree looming like a protective guardian over their home. A gentle breeze occasionally swept through the area, and the day was nearing sunset, casting the area in a soft orange glow that seemed to deepen the peaceful, romantic atmosphere.
Then the bridesmaids arrived.
First out was Kizmel, who wore a pastel pink dress not too dissimilar to the one she wore to the elven ball. It typified the elegance and beauty indicative of elven culture. Kirito had to hold back a laugh at the looks she was getting from some of the male (and female) members of the audience. Like the groom and his party, she and the other bridesmaids would be arriving with their weapon of choice strapped to their waist.
Next was Liz, who emerged in a dress similar to Kizmel's. It was a far cry from the cocktail dress she'd worn to the elven ball, but was still a sight to behold. The warhammer strapped to her side looked a little clunky, but she seemed to pull it off anyway. Kirito stole a glance over at Leonn, whose mouth was gaping open like a fish. Klein snickered before he reached over and, with a single finger, closed Leonn's mouth. He looked back at Liz only to see her blushing at the attention she was getting before joining the rest at the altar.
Sinon, being the maid of honor, was the last of the bridesmaids to enter. Like the two who preceded her, she too wore a beautiful pastel pink dress, but this one showed significantly less leg compared to her ball dress. Since her bow wasn't exactly easily stowed while wearing a dress, she settled for an ornate dagger strapped to her waist. Somehow, the weaponry didn't distract from their dresses, Kirito noted. Ashley definitely outdid herself on these dresses.
Speaking of the illustrious tailor, Kirito glanced to the side and spotted her wiping away tears, probably more emotional about the dresses than the ladies wearing them. She would definitely be getting more business now, with her work now on display at an event like this.
There was a pause before Silica and Pina came down the aisle, the girl dressed in a cute floral dress that was similar but still different and more youthful compared to that of the bridesmaids. It was decided that the young dragon tamer would act as the ring bearer and flower girl. Normally this would be a difficult task, but she had help from her familiar. While Silica held the pillow holding the rings in her hands, Pina was flying about with a basket of petals clutched tightly in her paws. The lack of opposable thumbs didn't stop the small dragon, however, as a quick shake and flick of the tail was sufficient to scatter the petals about. On top of that, the feathered dragon would complement the petals with bursts of bubbles, which floated about and scattered light in a way that was mesmerizing to behold.
He didn't remember that being part of the rehearsal, but it was working.
Once Silica took her place alongside the bridesmaids, Yuna and her backup seamlessly transitioned from A Tender Feeling to Here Comes the Bride. If he hadn't been paying attention, Kirito would have missed the change, it had been so flawless.
Then she arrived.
Wow.
Kirito felt his breath hitch as Asuna came down the aisle. Her wedding dress was adorned with golden highlights and trim while her arms were covered in long filigree gloves. Her waist was dressed with an elaborate pink sash, and to the side was her rapier, its golden hilt gleaming in the evening light. He would admit he was definitely biased, but the beauty and elegance of those that came before paled in comparison to Asuna's.
Then again, based on the expressions of the audience, Kirito suspected he was not alone in that opinion.
A part of him felt bad that there was no one to walk her down the aisle. The only people who could have feasibly walked her down the aisle were either already officiating or were a part of Kirito's entourage. Her father certainly couldn't be here, nor could her brother.
There was no way Kirito could have possibly known that her father and brother were here, walking Asuna down the aisle.
He met her eyes and found himself beaming. She looked happy, and so was he. She joined him up at the altar and the music softly came to a close.
Agil cleared his throat.
"Thank you all for coming." He began, sweeping his gaze across the assembled guests. "We are gathered here today to wed Kirito and Asuna; two of our own who have fought tirelessly for the freedom of those assembled here today, as well as those who could not be."
It was a subtle homage not only to those people who couldn't be in attendance due to limited space, but a tribute to those who had fallen. While many might have argued such a topic would sour an otherwise joyous occasion, both he and Asuna felt it necessary. If anything, it helped show just how important happy moments like this were, a reminder of what life still had to offer in this game of death.
"We are here to not only commemorate, but also to celebrate the joining of two warriors whose dance upon the battlefield is rivaled only by how they danced around one another for months - ever since they met, really. Many of us wondered how long it would take, but here we are."
A chorus of chuckles and laughs murmured from the audience, and Kirito found himself smiling in spite of his embarrassment. Looking at his bride to be, he could see Asuna felt the same way.
"Let this union serve as a reminder to you both, and to all of us here, what happens when we come together. As they have since the beginning, I have no doubt that they will continue to be an inspiration to us all, and to each other through whatever hardships may come their way. I, for one, have no doubt that so long as they have each other, they will always come out victorious."
Kirito and Asuna both gave Agil an appreciative smile. That wasn't part of the script, and it was clearly a personal note from their friend, but both were grateful for it nonetheless.
Agil then turned to Kirito. "Do you, Kirito the Black Swordsman, pledge your mind, body, and soul to your bride? To remain faithful and true to her in any and all circumstances? No matter what obstacles may come your way?"
Kirito looked Asuna right in the eyes and smiled. "I do."
Agil turned to Asuna. "And do you, Asuna the Lightning Flash, pledge your mind, body, and soul to your groom? To remain faithful and true to him in any and all circumstances? No matter what obstacles may come your way?"
Asuna gave Kirito a radiant smile. "I do."
Agil smiled and then turned to the audience.
"And if anyone should have reason why these two shall not be wed, speak now or forever hold your peace."
It was like a light switch, really.
The romantic and peaceful atmosphere turned downright hostile then as every member of the wedding party, as well as many in the audience, narrowed their eyes and glared at no one in particular. Kirito gulped nervously; he had no doubt that if anyone were foolish enough to object to the wedding that - safe zone or not - there would be violence. He was pretty sure he heard Liz crack her knuckles and a number of the wedding party rested their hands on the hilts of their weapons. After a very intense minute of silence, Agil let out a breath.
"Oh, thank god."
And just like that, the audience laughed and the atmosphere relaxed once more. Kirito let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding, as did Asuna. He chuckled softly and looked at Asuna, who was likewise giggling under her breath nervously.
"Liz." Agil said, confusing many in attendance, Kirito and Asuna included.
The blacksmith stepped out of line and positioned herself in front and between the two. With a few flicks of her wrist and taps of her fingers, she manifested two sheathed blades and held them out. Kirito glanced at Asuna, who merely shrugged in confusion, before looking back at Liz.
"We had these made for you. Sort of early wedding presents, but we figured it would be best included in the ceremony itself." Liz explained, pushing the blades into their hands. "Go on. Equip them."
Kirito shared another glance with Asuna before equipping the new longsword, while she equipped her new rapier. Without needing further prompting, the couple unsheathed the blades and held them aloft.
Asuna's rapier was a work of art, the guard a delicate weave that shaped a sun. The white blade itself had some sort of design inlaid in the thin blade that Kirito could swear looked like Elven runes. When she held the blade aloft next to Kirito's, the blade took on an orange glow with faint blue hues that reminded him of a sunrise.
His own blade was black as night, and the guard was shaped to resemble a crescent moon. Much like Asuna's rapier, there appeared to be runes inlaid into the blade itself, and once it was held up to Asuna's blade, his sword took on an orange hue with faint hints of purple. It reminded him of a sunset.
"Asuna's rapier is called ((Dawn)), while Kirito's sword is called ((Dusk))." Liz explained, beaming from ear to ear. "It took some creative smithing, my Unique Skill, and more than a lot of elven research, but we gave them a cosmetic effect that makes them glow when they're near each other."
"They're beautiful." Asuna whispered, tears filling her eyes. "Why ((Dawn)) and ((Dusk)), though?"
Liz grinned. "Because dawn and dusk are the two times when the day meets the night. You're the day, Asuna, and Kirito is the night. Whenever day meets night, something beautiful and precious is created."
Kirito felt himself getting misty-eyed after that explanation. That was incredibly poetic and profound. This was one blade he would never sell or throw away. When the day eventually came that he had to replace it, he swore to mount it in their room right alongside Asuna's. A reminder of the bond they had.
"We love them, Liz." Asuna said, raising her blade higher.
"Thanks, Liz." Kirito said, smiling gently as he raised his blade to meet Asuna's.
The two blades made contact and the resulting light show was dazzling, but not overwhelming. It was mesmerizing like a sunset or sunrise was, warming and comforting to any fortunate enough to see it. After several moments of emotional silence, the duo sheathed their blades once more and turned to Agil.
The axeman wiped away a stray tear before clearing his throat and continuing. "Silica, the rings please."
The young dragon tamer practically skipped over as she presented the rings and held them aloft.
"If you will both present to each other your rings, speak your vows, and complete the act through your menus." Agil said, nodding to both bride and groom.
"I, Kirito, do ask you, Asuna, to become my wife. From this day until the end of my days." He said, taking ahold of her hand and sliding the ring on her finger.
"I, Asuna, do ask you, Kirito, to become my husband. From this day until the end of my days." She said in kind, sliding a ring onto his finger.
Kirito then opened up his menu, as did Asuna, and both spoke the final part of their vows as they each selected "yes" to the marriage request.
"For I am hers/his, and she/he is mine." They said in unison.
Every member of the audience waited with bated breath as Agil spoke once more, his grin threatening to take over his face. "With that, you two are wed."
There was a momentary pause, during which Kirito found himself just staring into Asuna's eyes. Agil cleared his throat.
"Well go on, man. Kiss her already!"
Kirito closed the distance and did just that, as cheers and whistling erupted from all around. While his attention was on his new wife and his eyes were closed during the kiss, he knew there were a multitude of items and effects being thrown into the air in celebration. They finally broke off from the kiss and looked out towards their guests, who were all jubilant and cheering wildly.
"Emar akhrua!" Kizmel shouted.
Immediately, the elves who had been standing at the ready on the outskirts of the ceremony marched around the seats and positioned themselves along the aisle before turning inward to face one another.
"Yn vianen vael nae!"
The elves then drew their swords and held them aloft, creating an arching tunnel of blades over the center aisle. Taking that as their cue to leave, Kirito and Asuna walked back up the aisle. The tunnel of swords was a nice touch, and so indicative of Aincrad culture. As they walked underneath and towards the guild hall, it was only then that reality really sunk in.
He was a married man now…
Not that he was complaining.
Suguha thought the ceremony was strange, as it closely resembled Western weddings but was something she'd expect to see in a fantasy movie or television series.
It was no less beautiful for it, though.
While she, her parents, and the Yuuki's - Mrs. Yuuki actually showed up, surprisingly - weren't necessarily invited to the ceremony or reception, she doubted that Kazuto and Asuna would have any objections. Since they were in "spectator mode" through their Amuspheres, they couldn't necessarily interact with any of the other guests, but Mr. Yuuki had brought in a table and chairs that they could interact with and had it set to the side, near where the newlyweds were seated. The Yuuki patriarch had even generated some copies of the food that was being served to the guests that they could actually eat, and Suguha was surprised at how real and lifelike this virtual food was.
"I must admit, having now experienced this firsthand, I can see the appeal." Her mother said.
Mrs. Yuuki arched an eyebrow. "What of, Midori?"
"Virtual reality." Her mother explained as she picked up her drink glass and held it at eye level. "The possibilities for this technology are practically limitless. Even outside of recreational purposes, the commercial applications alone would be incredible."
Mrs. Yuuki hummed thoughtfully as she carefully inspected the food on her plate. "Hmm. It does have its merits, I suppose."
Suguha found herself agreeing wholeheartedly. If she didn't know any better, she would have mistaken this for real life. The only indicator that she was in a virtual setting was the presence of her HUD and menu, should she choose to open it. Other than that, everything was just so real, and not just in a visual sense. As she glanced around at the festivities, it was just like real life in how people behaved.
Then again, for these people, this was real life in a sense. It would be until they eventually reached freedom.
She spotted a few familiar faces across the tables. Klein and Kuroi, oddly enough, were having a deep conversation by the looks of it, the rest of what remained of Fuurinkazan shooting intrigued looks at the crimson samurai and the vigilante. Nearby, Agil and Lokuss were having a good time with the Moonlit Black Cats. Sachi wasn't among them, however, choosing instead to mingle some distance away with Yuna, Nautilus, and Nezha.
The clinking of a fork on glass brought the side conversations to a steady close as all eyes looked up towards the wedding party. Eugeo stood in front and cleared his throat, drink glass in hand.
"I think this is the part where I give an embarrassing best man speech, right?"
The audience cheered and laughed at that while Eugeo flashed a smile. Meanwhile, Kirito took a deep breath and sighed, rolling his eyes. He had a smile on his face, though, so at least Suguha knew he wasn't taking this too seriously.
"Where do I begin?" Eugeo started, scanning over the crowd. "There comes a moment in every man's life where he meets the most important person in his life. The person who'll be there for him no matter what, who changes his life in such a major way that he can never imagine it to be any different. For Kirito…"
He looked back at the man of the hour before flashing a smile at the crowd.
"... That moment came several months ago when he met me."
The audience erupted in hysterics, and Suguha almost spit out her drink when she had a giggling fit of her own. Kirito took a fairly hefty gulp of his own drink in embarrassment while Asuna laughed openly at his expense. A quick glance at those who came to the occasion with her found that they had amused smiles on their faces as well. Even Mrs. Yuuki, oddly enough, had a smirk on her face.
So she did have a sense of humor.
Eugeo chuckled. "Seriously, though. I couldn't be more proud to be Kirito's best man. To me, Kirito's many things. He's my guild leader, obviously, but he's more than that. I know I'm not the only one who noticed this, since Asuna ended up marrying him."
Suguha spotted Asuna grab Kirito's hand and give him a warm smile.
"When I first met Kirito and Asuna, my first thought was "These two could not be any more different". Ignoring the obvious difference in style and color palette…" Eugeo continued as the audience chuckled. "Asuna was headstrong, driven, maybe a little temperamental if someone even hinted at the possibility that she and Kirito made a good match…"
Asuna flushed red but laughed as Kirito laughed alongside her.
"...while Kirito was introverted, a bit of a know-it-all, and incredibly reckless. Still is, actually, so I guess not much has changed."
Kirito shot him a betrayed look, which Eugeo waved off.
"Don't give me that look. You know I'm right." Eugeo chuckled alongside the guests before pointing back at the man in question. "This guy rode the Bullbous Bow into Urbus the other day, which should be proof in and of itself!"
Kirito laughed but still held a look of mock indignation. "Hey, you were there too!"
"Yeah, but I wasn't the one getting married to Asuna within a week." Eugeo shot back good-naturedly. "But for all his faults, and hers, they complement each other perfectly. I'm reminded of a concept common in Chinese philosophy, that of Yin and Yang. Opposite, contrary forces that complement and complete one another. It's just a coincidence that they're represented by black and white, too."
Some more chuckles from the audience.
"I'm not saying that Kirito and Asuna are opposing forces. No, I'm saying they balance each other out; they complete each other." Eugeo continued. "Over time, as I got to know them, it dawned on me that these two were changing each other, and for the better. Asuna helped Kirito's confidence, she inspired him to be better. She helped him embrace his role as a leader and in doing so, helped herself in her own ability as a leader. I'm sure many of you know how scary and intelligent she can be during a strategy meeting."
Suguha could see a few members of the audience visibly shudder. She'd seen Asuna's ability to strategize during those meetings, and it was more than abundantly obvious that the fencer was a strategic force to be reckoned with. Where Kirito was a political figurehead, Asuna was the field commander, not to say that both couldn't do either job with terrifying efficiency.
"And Kirito helped Asuna, too. What little she's told me of her old life, it sounds like she was pretty passive and dependent on others." Eugeo said, much to the surprise of the crowd. "Hard to believe, right? Kirito was the one to draw that independence, that inner strength out from her in a way that no one else was able to. Where many saw only her outward beauty, he drew forth her inner beauty."
He looked back at Kirito and smiled warmly.
"Kirito, you're like a brother to me, and I couldn't be more happy for you and Asuna. I know you'll both have a long and prosperous future ahead of you, and there's no doubt in my mind that once we break free of this game, you'll find each other once again."
Asuna looked misty eyed while Kirito seemed to be fighting back a tear or two of his own.
Eugeo picked up his glass and raised it up high, prompting everyone to do the same. "So I hope you'll all join me in a toast to the newly married couple. To Kirito and Asuna!"
"To Kirito and Asuna!" Suguha found herself echoing the crowd as glasses clinked against one another.
Despite her initial reservations, seeing firsthand the effect Asuna had on her brother dispelled those doubts. Eugeo was right. Watching them enjoy themselves, surrounded by their friends on their night, almost made Suguha forget they were trapped in a game. Actually, this terrible game was the only reason these two ever met, now that she thought about it. Looking back on her meetings with the Yuuki's, it was clear that under normal circumstances those two would never have known the other even existed. It was nice to know that something good came out of this game, at least.
She looked back at the table where she, her parents, and the Yuuki's sat. To say there were a variety of reactions present at the table would be an understatement. Both of her parents looked overjoyed, beaming from ear to ear. Kouchirou looked just as pleased and ecstatic as she had been, if his grin was anything to go off of. Mr. Yuuki looked pleased, but it was evident that his mind was elsewhere. Mrs. Yuuki looked outright contemplative. Not displeased, necessarily. Just deep in thought, as if considering something for the first time.
Turning her attention away from the adults at the table, she saw the frivolities begin to escalate as the drink began to flow. Everyone was having a good time, and she even saw a few people off to the side participate in friendly duels and spars. Suguha idly wondered how she'd measure up against such battle-hardened players, and her mind drifted towards the new game RECT was making. She turned to Mr. Yuuki, who was finishing off his drink when he met her gaze.
"Something the matter?" He asked.
Suguha smiled and shook her head. "Not at all, Mr. Yuuki. I wanted to ask you about something."
"How can I help you?" The Yuuki patriarch inquired.
Suguha continued to smile politely, yet the inner kendoka within burned bright with the possibility of a challenge.
"I wanted to know more about ALfheim Online."
Asuna couldn't be happier.
She opened her eyes and stared at Kirito as he softly slept beside her. She still couldn't believe it.
Married.
It had been a week since they'd gotten married and while the duo were eager to help their guild get back to their clearing efforts on the 26th Floor, their guild officers had been adamant that the recently married couple take a week off to enjoy their honeymoon. It wasn't that she and Kirito didn't trust them to lead the guild in their absence, it was more the fact that she and her husband weren't the kind of people to let others do the work for them.
Husband. That felt good.
Normally she and Kirito would be able to pull rank on them and have their way, but now that there were four guild officers - Klein and Agil had joined Geeou and Leonn as guild officers - they had been decidedly outvoted. Much to her and Kirito's surprise, the guild had pooled together some funds to rent out a small cabin elsewhere on the 22nd Floor so that the newlyweds could enjoy a week to themselves. It was a thoughtful gesture, really. While Nelluon Arael was their home, it was lacking in the way of privacy given that their guild was 21 members strong at this point.
Alas, they'd been forced to take a week off, not that she was really complaining. As she gazed at the sleeping form of her husband, she realized she had nothing to complain about at all. Not really, at least. Sure, her husband could be brash and impulsive, but he could be so naive too. She smiled. He could be just like a little kid sometimes, but she even loved that part about him, too.
She froze.
Oh my god, is he younger than me?!
Her momentary panic soon faded away, though. So what if he might have been younger than she was. That didn't matter. She carefully draped herself over his sleeping form into a gentle hug.
"I love you." She whispered. "Let's stay together forever."
She felt him stir beneath her, so she withdrew herself a little so she wouldn't be smothering him if he woke up. As she pulled away, she found herself gazing into a pair of onyx eyes. It would have been romantic if she'd been expecting it. Instead, it startled her and she reflexively lurched back, clumsily bumping and skidding down the length of the bed. Kirito lazily sat up in bed.
Well, that was embarrassing. Way to wake up your husband and look like a bumbling fool at the same time. She flushed in the face as she struggled to make eye contact. "G-good morning, Kirito."
"Morning." He replied groggily.
"Did… did you hear what I said?" She asked hesitantly.
He smiled, though his eyes were still half-closed in his stupor. "Yeah. I love you too, Asuna. Of course we'll stay together forever. I didn't marry you for nothing, you know."
She playfully threw a pillow at him and he chuckled. She clapped her hands together with sudden excitement as plans began to form in her head for the day. That sudden clap had the side effect of instantly waking her husband up fully as his eyes shot awake.
"Anyway, you wanna go have some fun today?" She inquired, the possibilities already rushing through her head.
They could spend the day climbing trees like they had yesterday. That picnic they'd set up in that grove was fun, too, so maybe they could do something like that again. Ooh, maybe they could combine the two and set up a picnic in the branches of one of the bigger trees! Then again, that seemed dangerous. They could go fishing; Kirito mentioned he wanted to give that skill a try while they were here. There were so many possibilities that didn't involve fighting. Ooh, maybe they could -
"Didn't we have fun yesterday? And the day before, too?"
Then again, Kirito could also just be a lazy ass sometimes.
She pouted and looked him in the eye. "So, you're saying you don't want to go and have fun today."
It seemed to take a second for that statement to process for Kirito before his expression became much more devious. Oh, he was planning something, no doubt, but at least it might prove to be interesting.
"Wait. I know a place we can go." Kirito said, his expression softening but that gleam in his eye still holding strong. "Come on."
After taking a few minutes to get dressed and have a light breakfast, the married couple soon departed their rented cabin and casually made their way down the road, hand in hand. She'd decided to wear a yellow and white sweater and brown skirt, since the 22nd Floor was known to carry a chill in the air occasionally. Not enough to warrant a full coat, but just cold enough to catch you off guard if you happened to be in the shade when it hit. Kirito lived up to his title of the Black Swordsman and was dressed in a long sleeved black shirt and black pants.
Despite her earlier suspicions, she could at least admit that the walk to wherever they were going was romantic enough. Still, serene silence was interrupted only by the sounds of running water as they passed by a stream or singing birds as they neared the trees.
"Where are we going?" She asked, though she was in no rush for the walk to end.
He chuckled. "You'll just have to wait until we get there to find out."
That was fair, she supposed. No sense in spoiling the surprise until they got there. The walk was enjoyable, anyway. The click-clack of their boots on the wooden walkway was soothing and rhythmic. Looking further down, the walkway almost reminded her of a runway or a racetrack, in a sense, due to the lack of obstructions and the scenic views. Then an idea popped into her head.
"Hey." She stopped in her tracks, catching his attention as he turned to face her. "Carry me on your shoulders."
"Seriously?"
"Oh, please." She mock-pouted. "It's no fun seeing the world from the same height all the time. I know that's why you like to use your ((Meteor Fall)) skill, so you don't get to judge. Besides, with your STR stat, you won't break a sweat."
"Well, yeah…" Kirito trailed, looking to and fro, obviously looking to see if anyone was watching. "Aren't you a little old for that, though?"
Asuna casually placed her hands behind her head. "Oh come on, it doesn't matter how old I am. It's not like anyone's going to see us or recognize us out of our combat gear."
Kirito seemed to resign himself to his fate as he crouched down, presented his back to her, and reluctantly prepared to receive his passenger. "Okay, get on…"
She started to hike up her skirt in order to better sit on his shoulders before she realized just how that looked. She grinned as she looked at him. "If you turn around, I'm gonna slap you…"
He scoffed and muttered under his breath. "Nothing I haven't already seen before…"
"What was that?"
His posture stiffened. "N-nothing! You gonna get on, or what?"
Briefly giving him a suspecting look, she shrugged it off before straddling his neck and sitting on his shoulders. She could already see him flushing in the cheeks a little. Cute.
"Giddy up!" She playfully exclaimed, patting him on the head. With her new vantage point, she gasped in awe and excitement. "This is so cool! You can already see the lake from here!"
"No, you can see the lake. I - "
"If you want, you can ride on my shoulders later, okay?" Asuna interrupted, giving him another pat on the head. "Let's get a move on! We're heading north-northeast!"
Begrudgingly - though Asuna knew he was secretly enjoying his current position - Kirito trudged onward down the path towards the lake. Given her newfound height, she was able to pluck some fruit and berries when they passed under some low-hanging branches. At one point, they may have made a scene when an insect almost flew up her nose and they attracted the attention of some local fishermen.
That was another thing about the 22nd Floor. Since the floor was so lacking in monsters and dangers, many of the more peaceful players had relocated to this floor to live out their days. Over the course of the week, they'd seen a number of player anglers and even farmers, believe it or not, as they peacefully did what they enjoyed.
She would've stayed longer to chat with their neighbors, but Kirito - in his typical antisocial way - zoomed off with her still perched on her shoulder. It was a little jarring and scary at first, but that quickly gave way to joy and exhilaration as she felt the wind blow through her hair, Kirito's frontline stats giving them the speed of a small automobile.
"I heard this weird rumor in the village the other day." Kirito said after they'd slowed down and reached a rather dense portion of the forest. "They say if you go deep enough into the forest, you'll see… them."
Asuna felt a shiver go down - and up - her spine. "Huh? See who?"
Kirito stopped. "Ghosts."
"Y-you mean those in-game astral type monsters, right?" She meekly asked. She was no fan of those either, but specter monsters were preferable to the real thing.
"Nope, not those. Real ghosts."
Damn it, Kirito.
She would've been angry at Kirito if she wasn't so unnerved right now. He knew she hated ghosts. She should've known he'd try to pull something like this.
"They say the tortured souls of the monsters hunted here come back to wander the forest at night." Kirito ominously explained.
The sound of wood splintering in the distance did not help with her growing sense of dread. If she later found out he'd gotten one of their guildmates to help play a prank on her, there'd be hell to pay. This sounded like something Klein or Lokuss would do. Hell, Ducker might even be in on this. Ooh, they'd better hope she didn't find them!
"We're almost there…"
Please don't say it. Please don't say it.
"The place the rumor mentions…"
He said it. She was going to kill Kirito after this. The subsequent harrowing tale of a carpenter in this part of the woods after dark did not help things. She was half listening, half freaking out at this point as Kirito mentioned something about something white standing menacingly in the woods.
Then she saw it.
Something white.
Standing there… menacingly.
"AAAAHH!" Asuna screamed, unable to take it anymore. "I wanna get down! I wanna get down! Let me down, Kirito!"
WIth surprising grace, she bent backwards and performed a cartwheel until she was standing back up again, this time on solid ground instead of her husband's shoulders.
"Huh? What's wrong with you?" Kirito asked as she hid behind him.
He had the nerve to ask what was wrong with her? As if he didn't know what was in these woods! That… that figure in white was plain to see! She was not going to become the victim of another ghost story. Spotting the white-clad figure again in the distance, she roughly grabbed his shoulders and pointed him towards it.
"What are you… uhh…" Kirito began to ask before he, too, spotted it. "You gotta be kidding!"
Then it collapsed.
"Hold on!" Kirito said, determination in his voice. "That's not a ghost!"
It was at this point Asuna realized she'd crouched in fear, but she soon stood up now that her curiosity was piqued.
"W-wait, Kirito!" She cried out as he jumped through some bushes. After a moment, she gave chase. "Oh, geez!"
As she barreled through the brush after him, she realized that this was a skirt not meant for running. It was rather form fitting and didn't allow for much leg movement, unlike her battle skirt. After a few moments later than she would've cared for, Asuna eventually caught up to her husband, who was crouching down on the ground and holding something in his arms. It was a little girl, she realized.
A little girl in a white dress.
A/N:
There we have it! They're married! Fifty entire floors early, too!
I will freely admit that the lead up to, as well as the ceremony itself, was heavily inspired by jgkitarel's Mystic Knight Online. I'm not usually one to read Harry Potter fics, but this particular crossover with SAO is fantastic and expertly written. If you haven't already done so, I highly recommend giving it a read. It is so choice.
The lead-up to Yui's discovery was ripped mostly from canon, with a few minor details and inner thoughts reflecting this new timeline, so apologies if it seemed like a rehashing of what we've already watched in the anime. Next chapter will have some similarities to canon as well, but I promise I'll give it that good ol' Unyielding spin to it.
I'll go ahead and say it now; Yui's story will be drastically different here compared to canon. I'm actually planning on fleshing out her character, so I have no intention of introducing and then just killing her off. She's here for the long run.
Anyhoo, I'll see you all next week as we see how the introduction of a suspicious bundle of joy impacts the Renegades!
'Til next time!