Chapter 4: Thank You

Hello fans and welcome to the next chapter! Wow for my first story this seems to be going really well and I can't put off writing another chapter anymore. But seriously people I am sorry it took so long for an update been really busy with a lot of family problems but it is all over now so I should have a lot of free time to write. Now on with the story!

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"Kirito-kun…" Asuna almost whispered as she leaned close to him "thank you." She finished leaning into his shoulder her eyes began to water letting out the tears she had held inside the past two days.

"Asuna," Kirito said almost as quietly as she had "why are you crying?"

"Because… because…" she began crying even more "I'm so scared, Kirito-kun. I don't want to die here. I just want to go home, for all of this to be a bad dream and to go back to my old life." Her tears had gotten worse drenching Kirito's shirt but she couldn't stop herself from crying.

"Asuna don't worry," Kirito said in a reassuring voice "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise, I will beat this game so we can both go home and go back to our lives."

Asuna lifted her head and gazed at Kirito. At that moment she had realized what the feeling she had felt towards Kirito was. It was trust an emotion she was not used to feeling and as a result had no clue what it felt like.

Kirito smiled and gently brushed her tears away with his hand. When he was done he looked out of the window and began to wonder what his future would hold for him inside this death game. He then felt a light gentle pressure on his body when he turned his head around Asuna was hugging him again.

"No," Kirito said in as light of a voice as he could "please don't cry again."

"I'm not," Asuna said smiling into his shoulder "I'm just happy that I have someone to protect me."

"From what I've seen you can do that pretty well on your own"

"I mean more than from monsters," Asuna chuckled "from myself mostly. Before I met you I thought my life was doomed and everyone here was only worrying about themselves. But when I realized why you did what you did after the boss fight it gave me hope and what you said just now I feel much safer."

"Asuna," Kirito said in a slightly stern voice "about after the boss fight."

"What about it?" She asked as she pulled herself back. When she did Kirito grabbed hold of her hand, not hard but not the softest either.

"Please, never do anything like what you did back then you could've died." He said with his head lowered and gripping her hand tighter by the moment.

"But… but if I hadn't Kirito-kun may have died"

"But when you came if they had just been a little faster we both would've died and after becoming closer with you I'm not sure I could deal with you being hurt."

"Okay," Asuna said in a low voice "I will be careful from now on."

"Good, now it's getting late you should be getting to sleep." He said as he stood up equipping his coat.

"What about you?" She questioned also standing up.

"I'm going hunting. I will need to be a lot stronger to beat this game, right?" He said with a slight smile as he made his way to the door.

As he walked out Asuna sat back down on his bed why is he so distant from everyone? She began thinking to herself. Was he bullied in the real world, did he have family problems? Ideas began floating around in her head making her begin to grow tired. As she kept thinking of possibilities her eyes began to grow heavy and slowly fell closed.

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Kirito returned several hours later tired and ready to throw himself on his bed and sleep. However before he could do that he looked at his bed and saw a certain person with her head on his pillow and her legs off of the bed. Kirito had never thought about it but Asuna was quite beautiful. Even with the slight amount of drool she had hanging from her mouth.

Kirito smiled and moved her legs onto the bed and placed a blanket on top of her. He then went to remove his armor and sleep on the floor next to the bed.

"Thank you Asuna." He whispered as he fell asleep.

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So what did you guys think? I think this one went pretty well and I plan to do a time skip soon so be ready for that. Also thank you guys for reading this it really means a lot I am going to try to get another chapter up in a few days for you guys. It is going to be my way of apologizing for the long wait. So look forward to that and as always please R&R it helps me know what you guys like.