Asuna and Harry had arrived back to the inn and took a seat at a table. Asuna smiled at Harry warmly, and he looked back bashfully.

They stared at each other for a few more moments before Asuna broke the silence, "I want you to order anything you want tonight, you've earned it." Asuna told him.

Harry looked back at her. "A-Are you sure?" He asked softly. "I don't wanna be a burden or anything..."

Asuna's smile became more sad looking as she patted his head. "Don't worry, I've earned enough money from killing hostile monsters to pay for the meal." Asuna explained to him.

"Okay..." Harry conceded as he looked over his menu. Harry looked down the menu and saw a delicious looking steak that was made from something called a Dire Cow. "Um...Miss Asuna...?" Asuna smiled and looked as he pointed at his menu. "C-Can I try that...? It's okay if you don't want me to, I understand..."

Asuna looked at the item and drooled a little bit from how good it looked. "Of course you can have it, like I said, you can have anything you want. In fact, I think I'll get it also." Asuna told him as Harry placed the menu down with a smile.

"Thank you, Miss Asuna." He said gratefully, eagerly awaiting the waitress's arrival.

Minutes later, the same waitress from before walked up to them and bowed. "How may I help you this evening?" The waitress asked them.

Asuna smiled. "We would like to order the steak, please." She requested, pointing at their order.

The waitress looked at the item in question and nodded. "That's a very good choice miss, it's a really tender and juicy steak." She commented as she wrote down the order. Asuna and Harry exchanged a smile. "The steak comes with a side of sweet potato fries and Cole slaw. Is there anything else you would like?" The waitress asked.

Asuna thought for a moment. "Actually, I was wondering why the cow the steak was made from was called a Dire Cow." Asuna told her. The waitress nodded in understanding and explained. "Yeah, I asked that on my first day working here, its because the animal in question is like a cow, but dire." She explained.

Asuna sweatdropped. "Great explanation there..." She said.

The waitress blushed in embarrassment. "Sorry, that's the only thing they told me." She admitted as she straightened up. "Anyway, your steaks should be done within twenty minutes."

Asuna sighed and nodded with a smile. "I guess it can't be helped. Thank you very much for your service." The waitress bowed again and went to the kitchen to tell the chefs the order. Asuna ruffled Harry's hair. "Hang in there, sweetie, the food will be ready soon." She said gently. Harry giggled at the playful ruffling. Asuna's heart dissolved at the sound. She couldn't help but think about how adorable he was and how much he made the whole horrible experience a little bit more brighter. She gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. He felt the spot she kissed and smiled.

"...No one's ever done that for me before...That thing you did with your lips, I mean..."

Asuna tilted her head in confusion. "You mean a kiss?"

"Yeah..." Harry nodded. "I...I never had one before..." Looking at him sadly, she kissed him again.

'What is his life outside the game like...?' Asuna thought to herself. She thought about it for a while until the waitress returned with their smiled as the plate of food was placed in front of her. She looked as a plate was placed in front of Harry, she could see that the sight of the food was making Harry drool a little. She giggled softly. "Go for it, sweetheart." She encouraged. "Eat up." Harry nodded and started to eat the food with gusto. The food was so delicious, they couldn't help themselves. It was gone within ten minutes. "Mmm... that was good." Asuna stated as she rubbed her full belly, while Harry nodded in agreement.

"It was..." He yawned. "...Yummy..."

Asuna giggled. "It looks like it's time for someone to go to bed." Asuna said as she got up from the table and picked Harry up. Harry nodded and rested his head on her chest. She sat some money on the table to cover the meal and a tip for the waitress and headed towards the stairs. She was softly cooing at how cute he looked when he was all cuddly in her arms. Before long, they were at the door to their room and she used her free hand to open the room and carried Harry in. She gently set him into the bed and climbed in next to him, holding him close. Before long, they were fast asleep.

Harry found himself in the land of dreams... He was standing over the dead boar he had slain earlier. He felt pride surge through his body, and looked back to see Asuna's reaction...But she wasn't there.

He looked around and noticed that the once beautiful field was now a barren wasteland filled with dead trees and rocks. He then felt something horribly wrong.

Harry quickly turned around to see something truly disturbing. The boar's body was fitting and blood was pouring from its wounds and made a pool. The little boy whimpered and stumbled back as the blood began to morph and compact together to form a familiar shape...

"There you are you little freak!" The now fully formed Vernon yelled as he lunged at Harry and grabbed him by the throat and lifted him up with ease. Harry let out a choked gasp as his uncle grabbed his tiny throat. He stared at the man in terror as he felt himself being viciously strangled. "I'll teach you to be happy you little freak. Time to kill you like I should have a long time ago." Vernon said as Harry felt his life drain his body as he was close to dying.

Before he died, he woke up. His tiny body shot up, and he was sweating and breathing heavily. The vibration from him shorting up and his heavy breathing woke Asuna up.

The young woman looked over at him, eyes wide. "Harry! are you okay?!" Asuna asked with worry. Harry threw himself against her, buried his face into her bosom and whimpered in fear. Asuna was shocked and wrapped an arm around him while using the other to hold the back of his head. "Sweetie...What's wrong...?" Harry didn't answer, instead, he started to sob. Asuna looked at him sadly and hugged him tighter, holding him against her chest. Harry, for the most part, didn't know what to do. He wanted to tell Asuna about his dream, but he was afraid that his uncle would find out and strangle him just like in his nightmare. "Harry...Was it a bad dream?" Asuna asked tenderly. Harry nodded his head as he continued to sob.

"It was so scary..." He cried.

Asuna looked at him sadly. "Do you want to talk about it?" Asuna asked, causing Harry to stiffen.

"I...I can't..." He said softly.

Asuna was silent for a few moments then sighed. "Alright, if you don't want to tell me know then you don't have to." Asuna told him as she continued to hold him in her embrace. Before long, Harry was only sniffling. "There...Feel better?" Asuna asked sweetly.

Harry managed a smile. "Y-Yes."

Asuna smiled. "Good..." She pressed his head against her chest. "Now try to go back sleep, sweetie...I'm right here to protect you..." Harry nodded his had as he attempted to fall back to sleep. Asuna ran her fingers through his hair and began to hum softly. Her tune was able to sooth Harry and before long, he felt his eyes growing heavy. Asuna planted a kiss atop his head. "Night Harry" Asuna said with a sleepy smile as Harry was lost to sleep. She spent a few more minutes rocking him back and forth to ensure his dreams were pleasant.

After ten more minutes, she too, fell asleep.