Hey guys MT here!

I. Am. So. Extremely. Sorry!

I got SO backed up with crap to do because of all my procrastination. I waited until the last minute to do FOUR projects for my classes AND I had to do make-up work AND I had some tests and it's just been a bloody nightmare.

Good thing, though, is that you'll be getting a double chapter today to make-up for the last two weeks!

Anyways, ENJOY!

UPDATED 8/5/15

Chapter 35

The next day…

"Are you sure you don't wanna use a wheelchair, Toriyama? I don't need you collapsing while we're walking around," said Saito, facing Toriyama who was standing up but wobbling a bit.

"I'm alright, Saito. I can walk around fine, my legs are just a bit wobbly from laying down for so long," said Toriyama.

"Alright. Louise, can you open a gate?" said Saito. Louise nodded and she cast World Door, opening a large portal for the three of them. They walked through it and appeared in front of Saito's house.

The day before, Saito had called Sakura and Hikaru to come to his house and Agnes found Asuna and had Louise send Asuna and Gwen.

"Hello, dear," called Aki who had been waiting outside for the three.

"Hey, Mom," said Saito as the three walked towards her.

"Hello, mother," said Louise, eliciting a smile from Aki and short bow.

"Mrs. Hiraga," said Toriyama, bringing attention to himself. Aki turned to him and wore an unreadable expression. She gave a quick bow and turned around to lead them into the house.

"I hope you will be able to enjoy dinner with us, tonight, Toriyama," said Aki, causing Toriyama's mood to pick up a bit.

As they entered, Saito could see everyone was there. Sakura and Hikaru were seated on one of the sofas, Shana was standing up and leaning on the back of a sofa, Kurata was sitting on the sofa Shana was leaning on, and Asuna and Gwen were standing off to the side. When the three teenagers entered the house, Kurata stood and turned towards the door, watching them enter. When Toriyama came into view, Hikaru got up and stood in front of Sakura, putting his arm out in front of her protectively and Gwen held on to Asuna's arm to calm her.

"H-Hey," said Toriyama, sheepishly, obviously feeling the animosity in the room. The room remained silent for a few moments, before Asuna pushed Gwen off of her and walked across the room to Toriyama. The slap she gave him echoed through the room and Saito reached out towards Toriyama, actually feeling bad for him.

"Don't 'Hey' us like you can just waltz back into our lives," spat Asuna, obviously furious with him. "After the things you did and said I can't believe Saito hasn't killed you yet."

"Asuna!" shouted Aki, horrified at the girl's words.

"She's right, dear," began Kurata after moving towards them. "Toriyama has betrayed his friends and both tried to kill one and threatened to do so to the others. He even threatened to rape Asuna. He has to pay for his actions prior to being allowed back."

"I-I didn't really mean that last part…" said Toriyama, bringing attention to himself.

"What?" asked Asuna, still angry.

"I didn't mean that…I only said it to anger Saito during our fights. I know that he cares about you and I thought I could have irritated if I said something like that. You know, mind tricks," said Toriyama, not daring to look anyone in the eye. Asuna stared at him blankly before stepping away from the man, leaving him to the rest. "I know that I have to pay for what I did…but I wanted to say I'm sorry for all that I've done…to all of you, to Asuna and Gwen, to Hikaru and Sakura for suddenly leaving, to Saito and Louise for threatening their lives…"

Tears streamed down Toriyama's face as he spoke, relaxing the tension in the room as people realized that he really felt bad about what he had done.

Kurata walked towards Toriyama and put his hands on his shoulders, causing Toriyama to look up at him through tear filled eyes, and with tear-stained cheeks.

"You will have to be punished for what you did, but…it's good to see you come back to your family and friends, Toriyama," said Kurata, cracking a small grin. Toriyama's bottom lip quivered from the pang in his heart caused by those words and leaned his face into Kurata's chest before sobbing, violently. The room remained silent, other than Toriyama's cries.

After Toriyama's sobs halted, Kurata had invited him to sit down on the couch and explain everything that he had gone through and how he had even ended up interacting with Ivarod. Asuna couldn't stand to be in the same room with him and left to sit in the backyard, Gwen following behind with a worried expression. Louise had made herself comfortable next to Sakura, Hikaru still standing next to her, protectively, and Aki had moved to the kitchen. It was currently 4:30 and Aki had explicitly said that dinner would be at 6 sharp.

The conversations between them were relatively calm, not really anywhere near having the animosity as prior. But that isn't important right now. I mean, you all have heard these stories before, soooo…we're moving to Asuna and Gwen.

Asuna made her way out the back door of Saito's house, annoyed. She dodged the scorch marks on the pavement of the porch, which Saito caused when he first tested out Derf's new abilities, and sat down on the ledge of the raised porch. She sighed in annoyance as she hugged one leg to her chest and looked off to the sun which was already lowering itself in the sky.

She could hear Gwen walking across the pavement towards her, dropping down next her.

"What?" said Asuna, grouchily, causing Gwen to sigh. She had spent enough time with Asuna to know that the girl didn't like to talk when she was upset.

"I came to make sure my familiar is alright," said Gwen, beaming her bright smile at Asuna. Asuna couldn't help but smirk, though it quickly disappeared and she remained silent. This annoyed Gwen, but she was a patient girl, and, though not as timid as she had been, was still calm and collected. "Come on, nee-chan, you can talk to me. I know you really want to, but are just being stubborn."

Asuna glanced over at Gwen and rolled her eyes, unable to restrain the smile that overtook her lips at the teasing. She glanced back out at the sun and sighed, her smile fading to a frown.

"I just…I just don't think I want Toriyama back in my life, in my friends' lives. Not as a friend at least. I just don't think I can forgive him for what he's done to all of us. I don't want to, not after what he almost took from me twice," said Asuna in a low voice, not taking her eyes off the sun which was even lower than before.

"Take what?" asked Gwen, a bit confused by her adopted sister's words.

"Saito! He almost killed Saito! One of which he tried in front of me!" shouted Asuna, frustrated.

"Saito-san? I mean, I understand you two are good friends, but everyone else, even his family, are giving him a chance," said Gwen, even more confused than prior.

"Because I love him!" shouted Asuna, glaring at her adopted sister. Gwen's cheeks flushed a bright red and her eyes widened. She couldn't believe that Asuna could yell out her feelings so easily with no hesitation. Gwen herself had difficulty even acknowledging her own feelings for the hero in question, let alone being able to confess them to another person.

Gwen was at a loss of what to say and Asuna turned around, frustrated. After several moments of silence, Gwen managed to collect herself and speak.

"Asuna-nee, could you tell me about your relationship with Saito-san?" asked Gwen, hoping it would be a good way to calm her adopted sister down. Asuna's head spun around at these words and she wore a confused expression.

"W-What does that have to do with this?" asked Asuna, surprised by her sister's sudden request.

"W-Well, I mean, you said you loved Saito-san, right? I also heard that you two had dated a very long time ago, so…I was curious as to what had happened," said Gwen, curiously. Asuna stared at her sister, confused as to why she had wanted to know such a thing, but sighed when she noticed that the curiosity from her sister's eyes was not dying down.

"Fine," began Asuna. "It all started fifteen years ago, when Saito and I were four years old…"

So? What did you guys think?

Did everyone seem too forgiving? I feel like Saito's parents would be similar to him in forgiveness since he would have learned it from them, otherwise I tried to make the rest seem a bit defensive.

Also, w00t! Asuna and Saito back story time! Granted, it's not going to be as long as you guys might hope. Since this is a double chapter, I'll tell you now that if I had kept pouring ideas into it, I might have made it wayyyyy too long.

Anyways, enough spoilers, go ahead and check out the second chapter and Review!