A/N: Well, here goes the secon chapter. I sure hope you like it and I'm sorry that it took a little bit longer than I had planned. I somehow lost my physical script (yes, I tend to write the initial draft on real paper) and managed to forget my computer on the train...

Curry for two

~ The next day 4 pm

Kirito was standing in the sales room of a certain shop on the 48th floor Lindus, waiting for the owner to come down. Having nothing to do, other than waiting or talking to the NPC-girl taking care of the sales room, he started looking at the weapons and armor on display.

Just a few seconds later the shop owner, wearing a light blue dress similar to her normal outfit (although the skirt isn't as flared up) walked into the room through the door leading to the actual workshop and the staircase.

"Sorry for the wait!" Lizbeth exclaimed cheerfully as she closed the door behind her.

"Should we head out then?" Kirito asked while turning towards the source of the voice.

"Sure, just let me close the shop and we're good to go." Lizbeth answered with a pout.

In a speed that was unlike her in many ways, Lizbeth sent the NPC-girl home and flipped the sign from 'open' to 'closed'.

As the two walked down the streets of Lindus many players turned around and their eyes followed them with their gazes fixed on the almost non-existent space between them. Since the front line was currently at the 63rd floor there were still a few players of the Clearing Group on the 48th floor, which was the reason why they, or more specifically Kirito, received a lot of surprised looks.

As they finally reached the Teleport Gate Kirito took hold of her left hand with his right before they both called the words,

"Teleport: Aquaria!"

Once the blue light of the teleport faded they were standing in the middle of a plaza that was probably modeled after Venice, since everything in this city was built floating on the water. With its wooden floors and the completely wooden houses, although some were painted differently than others, and with the trees planted down the lanes spreading in all four directions it was a sight to behold. Although this was quite a beautiful place there were almost no other players around.

As both of them stepped down from the Teleport Gate, still holding hands, they were very cheerfully greeted by a few passing NPCs.

"I don't remember the NPCs being so lively when I was here last time…" Lizbeth said in amazement.

"They started acting like that last month after I helped someone finish a quest that involved defeating a giant reptile that terrorized the sea around here." Kirito explained as he started heading down the eastward lane.

"I didn't think you were the type of person to just go out and help people when I first saw you."

Just now Lizbeth realized she was still holding hands with Kirito and couldn't help but blush a bit.

"Well, I did get promised three months worth of curry as a reward." Kirito, who seemingly still hadn't noticed the fact that they were still holding hands, said with a grin on his face.

"That seems like a pretty stupid quest-reward."

"No, that was what the owner of the café promised me."

"Since when are NPCs doing that?" Lizbeth asked, a bit confused.

"It's a player owned restaurant." Kirito stated blatantly.

"We're here."

In front of the couple was a simple house painted with a light green that had a big sign saying "Silber's Café 'n Curry" in bright blue letters. The five round tables outside the café were all fully crowded with four players each, all of them chatting away happily while enjoying various drinks and dishes. The most prominent dish being the curry with a rich scent that almost made Lizbeth drool. Behind the two big windows, the café was almost as full with only one table being vacant.

Upon entering they were immediately greeted by a guy with grayish hair and deep blue eyes who seemed to be just a little bit below his twenties.

"Bringing your girlfriend along today?"

While Lizbeth just deepened her blush Kirito let go of her hand, raising both of his hands in defense.

"What gave you that idea?" Kirito countered, answering a question with a question.

"That aside, it's probably the usual for you, but how about your company?" the bartender changed the topic smoothly… with a raised eyebrow.

"I-I'll take the same." Lizbeth answered, managing to regain her composure.

"Two extra spicy coming right up." The bartender answered with a smile before disappearing into the kitchen.

After they sat down the two started talking a little bit about their Aincrad-lives. Kirito being reluctant at first quickly started to relax and started telling a few stories of his own, leaving out the more uncomfortable ones. Lizbeth, unknowingly, inched closer to Kirito and was just about to take hold of his folded hands on the table as the bartender set their plates onto the table, swiftly followed by the drinks.

"Well, time to eat." Kirito stated blatantly after he took off his gloves.

As she saw Kirito happily shoving the curry into his mouth, Lizbeth decided that she wouldn't be able to talk to him until he finished. Not to mention that the smell of the food in front of her made her stomach grumble, so she decided to eat as well.

"You eat this regularly?" Lizbeth asked after she had taken the first spoonful.

Kirito just looked up questioningly.

Ignoring the smirk on his face she decided to resume eating. Wait, did he really have a smirk on his face? She looked up to double-check it but couldn't make out any facial expression similar to a smirk at all.

After they had finished and the bartender came to pick up the empty dishes, Lizbeth ordered the sweetest drink she knew that was on the menu. The batender just took it with a smile and Kirito shook his head… again with that smirk that only seemed to be there for a moment.

After talking a little bit more Kirito suddenly whipped his head around and looked outside the window. With a quite worried expression on his face.

"What happened?" Lizbeth asked, concern evident.

"I thought I finally managed to lose her." Kirito said, looking back at Lizbeth.

"Who?" she asked confused.

"Asuna." Kirito stated straight out.

"What the hell did you do to have the sub leader of the KoB following you around?" the bartender asked with a concerned smile on his face, having approached their table as he saw Kirito whip his head around.

"Nothing." Kirito replied truthfully.

"Why would she follow you?" it was Lizbeth asking the question now.

"How should I-" Kirito broke of mid-sentence, "… oh!"

"What?" the barkeeper and Lizbeth asked almost in unison.

"Is there a place where we can hide here, Silber?" Kirito asked, turning to look at the bartender.

"If her skill level is high enough she will find you anyway, so why hide?" Silber answered with a half question.

"I just need a few minutes."

Lizbeth was looking very confused as she listened to the two talking. She would soon know what Kirito was up to.

"Alright, alright…" Silber leaned in closer so the other customers wouldn't hear, "Upstairs, first door on the right is the living room."

"Where is he?" Asuna asked as she leaned on the counter, clearly unnerved.

"If the one you're looking for isn't here you must have missed him."

"Don't make me angrier than I already am!" she was now clearly shouting.

Needless to say, the whole café turned to look at her.

"Then why does his track lead upstairs in your house but not down again?" her voice was dripping with anger as she said that.

The customers shrunk into their seats to appear as small as possible, in the hope that the rage of the female warrior would pass over them without hurting them.

Silber entered into a staring contest with Asuna and managed to keep it up for a few minutes before he sighed and leaned back into the wall.

"I think I know who you're talking about." he said with an obviously amused expression on his face. "Follow me."

With that he led her upstairs.

As soon as Kirito heard that two sets of footsteps arrived at the first floor he captured Lizbeth in a position that, seen from the door, would look like he kissed her.

What he didn't expect was that, as soon as the door opened, Lizbeth put her arms around his neck and pulled him into the kiss he was just going to pretend. After his initial surprise he found himself enjoying the unexpected outcome.

A few seconds later they heard a very hasty set of footsteps run back down the stairs and sigh coming from the doorway.

Parting their kiss, both of them looked at the source of the sigh.

"Kids, if you are intending to take this any further I have to ask you to do so at your own home." Silber said with a hard to read expression.

"I thought we agreed on the 'pretending' part?" Kirito asked, with a blush on his face.

"I… I just had the feeling that it w-would be alright." Lizbeth responded, her face an even darker shade of pink than her hair.

After spending a few seconds in silence, they both decided to leave the café.

"The next time something like this happens I will charge you a fee." Silber called after them.

Kirito just nodded absentmindedly as if he didn't really hear that. On the way back to her workshop, both of them didn't say anything except for the transport command.

Back at Lizbeth's back door they looked into each others eyes.

"I should head home now." Kirito said as he pulled Lizbeth in for a hug.

"Won't you stay with me just a little bit longer?" Lizbeth asked as she pressed her body against his, resting her head on his shoulder.

Let's just say that they didn't get much sleep this night…