She's Mine Kirito 2
Trying to describe how awkward it was driving with Shino since Rika was holding Kirito back to give the girl a bit of space, was impossible.
Because Asuna was the best friend of the boy that hadn't bothered to tell her that their daughter had been abducted and kidnapped and apparently had royally fucked up with this girl.
Which was why the only sounds were of the soft panting of the dog in the back area of the K-9 vehicle, the rumbling of the engine, and… that was about it.
Shino didn't seem really interested in talking or interacting with Asuna. The fancy shades she was wearing hid her eyes, her expression was very impassive and flat, and she hadn't made a noise since she had confirmed the last known location with her father before they started driving to the close location.
If there was one thing Asuna could decide about the girl, she'd say that she knew what she was doing and that she was highly skilled. Since she wore a kevlar vest under her jacket, had a pistol at her hip, and her dog had a bag of equipment sitting at Asuna's feet. Equipment both for the dog and according to Rika, also for Shino.
Other than that though, she couldn't really say anything about the cool seeming but very quiet dog handler.
"So you're the girl Rika's following around like a puppy," Shino suddenly snorted and Asuna blushed and also relaxed at the calm and almost lighthearted jab.
"You say that like it's a special thing or something," Asuna admitted sheepishly and tried not to blush at the silent notion that Rika was chasing after her. This was an odd topic to be discussing in a situation this serious, but… it was a welcome distraction and a way to settle her nerves.
"Rika doesn't crush easily," Shino replied simply, "just on you and I." At the look of surprise and mild disappointment on Asuna's face, Shino clarified. "I'm not dating her, if that's what you're worried about. Even if I was dating her, which I'm not," she added as she took a turn and glanced over at the woods at the edge of the park a bit ahead of them, "she's not limited to one partner anyway."
Huh, so Rika was like Asuna's sister Argo. Who had two partners, a boy Kuroshiro and a girl named Caylee. The tendency ran in family with Asuna as well, but unlike her sister, Asuna hadn't actually met anyone she'd want to date seriously in a trio, well, besides Rika anyway.
Though if she dated Rika, then… Asuna glanced over at the other girl, she'd probably end up dating this girl too. Which felt… odd with her having a past with Kirito and being Yui's mother plus with how distant she was, but it wouldn't be impossible at the very least.
Shino sighed as she slowed the car to a stop and looked over at Asuna behind those orange tinted shades and picked up the bag at Asuna's feet. "Look, if you're silently asking if I have any feelings Rika, the answer's none of your business, alright? I don't care what Rika does," she popped open her door, "she's my best friend, not my romantic partner," and she was leaving the car.
God, this girl was the queen of mystery, wasn't she?
Asuna could see the slight look of hurt on Kirito's face at the way Yui refused to remove her arms from around her mother's neck as Shino walked away from the cabin toward them, despite the very flat and mildly uncomfortable expression on said woman's face even though she was currently holding her child who was now safe and sound. Thanks to her own intervention.
Clearly Shino cared about the girl but she had no idea what to do with the six-year-old, at least in front of other people anyway. Since she seemed to have been fine comforting the hiccuping child wrapped up in her jacket as she had originally come back into their view.
Now though she was simply giving Kirito a flat glare as they walked, "calm down. She's scared and I'm the one with self-defense training and a gun whereas you're unarmed, Kirito." At his refusal to look at her, she grunted before going a length to reassure him. "Yui," she addressed the hiccuping seven-year-old, "who's your father?"
"Daddy," Yui sniffled, her voice muffled by her face snuggled into her mother's neck.
"Kirito, right?" At Yui's nod, she continued a bit dully, "do you want to go to him right now?"
"No, cause Mama scares the bad guys away," Yui replied with a hiccup and Shino mindlessly tightened the snugness of the jacket around her small form.
"Told you, Kirito," Shino deadpanned while to her left, Rika was unzipping her fluffy jacket, "I'm not taking her from you or anything."
Kirito didn't comment, but Asuna thanked the girl for him, seeing how he didn't seem to want to talk to her. "Thank you Shino, all of this."
Shino shrugged a bit, "it's fine, it's part of my job," she settled on saying, almost as if avoiding saying that Yui was hers for some unknown reason.
"Mama?" Yui asked quietly and Shino hummed vaguely in response, which seemed to be enough of a response for the young child to continue, "will you and Ri-Ri stay with me and daddy tonight?" she asked quietly and Shino instantly frowned and set her jaw, obviously uncomfortable with the idea of being in the same place as Kirito for longer than just picking up Yui for the two weekends a month that Asuna knew the girl spent with her mother.
Her silver gaze flickered to Rika, who looked startled herself, but the latter, who had just finished taking her jacket off, likely to give to Shino since the K-9 handler was shivering lightly, tilted her head a little. Almost as though she was communicating with the silent Shino.
Asuna honestly had no idea how all of this was going to play out, but she was definitely going to try and be there for everyone, including Kirito, regardless of how much of an idiot he was being right now.
However, Yui's next words broke her head. "I don't want you to go…"
"Okay," Shino promptly responded, likely struck by the words herself, but also likely because of how much the little girl had gone through today. "Just tonight, and Rika's coming with me."
"Hey, I'm always down to have a sleep over with my favorite girl," Rika grinned to Yui and ruffled the girl's hair. "Though your mom's gonna freeze if you don't come here for a sec so she can put on a jacket, Yui~"
"Feel free to stay too, Asuna," Kirito quietly extended the offer and Asuna gave him a nod to show she heard while she was busy watching Rika coax the now smiling Yui to let Shino go enough that she could put on the jacket that Rika aided in helping her shrug on.
"It'll be okay, Kirito," Asuna pulled her attention from the brunette cheekily blowing a raspberry over Yui's cheek, "you both know that Yui needs her right now, and Rika and I will be there."
"I know," Kirito murmured, "it's just that there's a reason Shino and I don't get along."
"How come?"
"She hates me."
