Life - Chapter 2

Surprise Part II

Just in case if you wanted, here is a slightly longer chapter. I just wanted to let you guys know that I do not have a proper agenda all the time, so I am not sure if my process will be either bi-weekly, or weekly. I sincerely apologize for any drawback. I hope you all will understand that. Thank you for taking some time to read my story. Your support is greatly appreciated. Please review if you wish for future chapters. I am sorry for any grammatical or spelling error.

I do not own «Sword Art Online», just my OCs.

7:34 PM

"Sh-sh-she's!" Silica wanted to complete her statement but couldn't mange over her excited tone. The four females faces were turning a bright red as the were nearly being consumed by their uncontrollable giggling. "P-pr-pregnant!" Sugu was able to bring out her vocal chords and the quartet started to regain their composure.

"See, I told you it was gonna make you happy." The only male high schooler laughed.

"Wait a minute. You knew she was pregnant, and we found out now?" Asuna growled stepped in of her boyfriend. If this was in the game she would have a butterknife shine a purple glow and charge at his forehead with great speed, just like she did once before when they had dinner for the first time in «Aincrad». Oh shit, she's pissed. Those words immediately entered his mind as the hair on Kazuto's body began to stand up all at once. "Uh...uh, well...I uh. S-s-ssensei h-h-help mm-me!" The terrified 16-year-old quickly crouched down behind the woman nearly a foot away from him.

"Yuuki... Asuna-san correct?" Rinko asked.

"Yes, Sensei?" Asuna chirpped like a bird on a spring morning.

Rinko smirked after hearing the honorific again. "Please don't be mad at Kirigaya-kun. Yes he kept this from you, but it was a request from me. When we met we started talking and he said, how he had met all of you wonderful people. Then he mentioned most of you were girls, and I... well couldn't resist the temptation... And truth be told, I didn't tell him about my condition until we met face-to-face. He doesn't even know the gender."

The glowing woman put her hand on the younger's head "and it's Rinrin, not Sensei." She corrected. "I'm not that old, you know." She chuckled lightly.

"If you don't mind me asking, but how far long are you?" Lizabeth asked trying not to offend the elder's feelings.

"Its alright to ask. I am currently 21 weeks and 5 days." She answered placing her hand on her swollen abdomen. "Your name is... Shino...zaki... Rika." Rinko then pointed to Silica. "I'm certain that your name is... Ay..ano... Keiko." She then shifted her body slightly to the left. "and you are... Kirigaya... Suguha." Hearing this new person say thier names just by guessing correctly made the «Blacksmith», «Beast Tamer» and the «ALO Sylph Warrior» eyes twinkle like stars. "I must say the pictures didn't really do you girls much justice. You're all very pretty." She smiled making the girls cheeks flush red. "And that unconscious man over there... must be..." she pointed to the man with the red bandanna on the floor but lowered her arm at the sight.

"What the?!" Agil came from behind his counter and went to observe what had happened. "Hey how come you didn't come to help me when a was almost attacked?" Kirito added. "I was preparing myself for cleaning the possible blood splatter everywhere," Agil put his ear on Klein's back. "oh he's still breathing. Thank goodness I don't have to fill out the paperwork." Agil said with relief, picking up Klein's body with the help of Kirito and sitting him down at a table. "Does anyone in here have a magic marker?" Kirito joked. "Kirito-kun." Asuna scowled her boyfriend. "Fine, then who has lipstick?" He continued to taunt his fainted friend. "I have some, but it doesn't seem to be his colour." Rika jested.

There was a gagging noise coming from behind, as everyone turned their heads and saw the expectant mother close her eyes tight and covering her mouth with one hand. She put one arm on the table for support, a tear nearly spilled from her left eye. Asuna and Sugu quickly emerged from their standing position and helped her get to the bathroom and closed the door.

"Kirito-san, why is Sensei here with us right now? What she a part of the game as well... but differently?" Silica asked him.

"Huh? What do mean by that Keiko?" Rika added sitting down next to her.

"Sensei said that she is right now at 21 weeks and 5 days, and she wouldn't be here if she wasn't involved in it in some way." The lighter brunette began to answer.

"What does her current gestation have to do with the game?" The darker brunette added.

"I checked on my phone and it said that is 152 days in total." The «Dragon Master» continued. "The game was prematurely cleared on November 7th, 2024." That happened only 148 days ago."

"She wasn't player." Rika interjected as the other girl nodded.

"That's correct," Keiko and Rika both turned her heads to Kazuto, he grabbed the seat opposite of his friends. "She does has something to do with it, but she wasn't in the game with us. In a way, she was in a tougher situation then the rest of us..." His hands on the wooden table became fists as he tried to complete his sentence. "The child that she is carrying inside of her is also... the child of Kayaba Akihiko." He left out a hard breathe like a big weight has been carried off his shoulders.

7:59 PM

Rinko walked out the cafe restroom, looking a little pale. Asuna and Suguha came out about three minutes before her and Kazuto told them the truth. She put her head up only to be staring at a cool glass of ginger ale with two ice cubes floating in the coloured liquid, beside it was a small plate of salted soda crackers and a thornless red rose. Looking confused, she turned to the trio of students and noticed someone missing, then a young man from the corner of the bar counter came out.

"I bought those just for you." A little startled she slowly turned around to see his face. The demeanor of his face turned from calm to hesitant in the blink of an eye. His body seemed to froze up as well.

Here we go again, the former solo player sighed shaking his head, elevated himself from his comfortable seat and repeated a past action on the same person.

"Oi, are you lagging? Do I seriously need to punch you again?" He waved his hand around the hopeless romantic's face. After hearing that, the older man somehow snapped out of it.

"My name is Tsuboi Ryoutarou, but my friends call me Klein. I was the leader of the guild «Fuurinkazan» It's nice to meet you Rinko-san." The red head shook her hand lightly. As he finished his greeting he noticed the temperature of the woman's palm was lower than his, Klein rised his other hand and began to rub hers in between both of his. As Rinko realized what he was doing she gently took her hand back and placed in at her side. "I used cold water on face, but I'm fine now..." Klein then layed one hand sideways her forehead, making her blush.

"Sensei, didn't you say have preclampsia? You should be more careful, you were already in bed-rest for three days." Kazuto said like he was a doting parent giving a young child a lecture.

"Oh, Rinrin-san you didn't tell us Aka-chan's gender or anything about yourself." Suguha was trying to change the subject.

"But before that, you should cut the cake." Asuna joined in walking the woman to the seat in front of the cold drink and crackers. Agil came along and placed a stack of small plates with forks and big knife beside the box. Rinko lifted off the top but closed it again. "But I start cutting, would anyone like to place a bet?"

"It's a boy, called it." Klein and Kazuto spoke out in unison. "What about you Agil-san?" Rinko turned to the bartender. "No bet for me thank you, I'm not much of a gambler. Congratulations on your coming joy." Rinko thanked him and then turned to the girls. "We're fine either way, and congratulations." Keiko stood up and gave her the knife.

The woman took a deep breath and opened the box again. The cake was medium and was covered in white fondant. The top was covered in red glazed icing, the words Pink or Blue? were written in kanji displayed on top. However, pink was written in the colour blue and vice versa. The border was whipped cream frosting with strawberries on the right and blueberries on the left. It turned out better than I imagined. She thought as the steel blade was cutting into the pastry. The first small slice of cake was already on the plate. The layer of frosting between the two tiers of cake revealed that it was indeed a light blue.

"Yes, its a boy! Where's the champagne and cigars?" Klein and Kazuto were starting to celebrate.

"Hold on, a minute you two. Look closer." Silica warned them. The two came closer to the table and looked at the colours. "There written in the opposite colours..." Kazuto observed closer than before. "So that means..." Klein and Kazuto looked at each other with beads of sweat started to appear on their foreheads. They both got back up and stepped back a little behind Rinko. "We're sorry!" The two males were on their own knees and hands joined together, there bodies slightly trembling asking for forgiveness. The woman who they were begging began to chuckle "You should have seen your faces. Get up before someone takes a picture." With that said the two sighed with instant relief.

"To late, I already did. Say hello to my new laptop wallpaper." It was Asuna with her cell phone terminal in front of her face. I should show Yui this when we get back to her again. The girl smiled at the thought.

"Hey guys, we should eat the cake before it melts." Suguha requested and they agreed. Kazuto and Klein went back to their bar stools, the five girls managed to fit at one table. "Itadakimasu." They whispered to themselves before entering the cake. "Hey, this isn't half bad." Rika was swallowing her first bite. "Sensei, did you make this?" Silica pondered. "I had some help from a certain someone." Rinko sipped her cold ginger ale. "Oh I have to grab somethings from my car, I'll be right back." She got up and quickly left the building.

"Can you believe in just a few more months there's gonna be a new little girl in our lives?" Sugu nearly sounded like a hyperactive chipmunk. "I know right? I'm so excited!"

Silica screeched. "We should think of nicknames, for when she's born." Rika suggested. "Totally, but we should think of ones that going with her name." Asuna said to her friend. "True, we don't want her to get confused when she's older." Rika took into consideration.

The girls stopped talking when their new 'onee-san' opened the door once again, with a purse hanging on the right shoulder and sat back down at the designated table.

She took out a black leather bound book with a silver pen. "Is that a pregnancy journal?" The light brunette questioned. Rinko nodded, "you see I haven't really had the most smoothest pregnancy. My obstetrician... who is also a dear friend of mine from high school, told me to document whatever I do that involves food, movement or other things." The girls nodded sensibly.

"Uh Rinrin-san, can we please touch her?" Asuna asked quietly almost shy. "She's usually active in the daytime, but I don't see why not." She slowly rose from her seat and stepped sideways and took out a camera from her bag. The younger ones did the same. Asuna slowly and carefully placed her hand on the other woman's abdomen then she delicately pressed her ear on Rinko's dress in awe. The «Blacksmith» whispered the word 'wonderful' and repeated Asuna's actions. Silica was the third one and placed a hand on the Rinko's stomach, "I felt a kick." The «Beast Tamer» exclaimed. "She must be waking up." Rinko patted Silica's head. "She's a bit of a heavy sleeper." Rinko was scribbling in her black book and looking at the time. "Hm, sounds like someone else I know, isn't that right Onii-chan?" Suguha went on her knees. "Don't say things like." Kazuto muttered under his breath. Ignoring him, Suguha lightly pressured her hand on the belly, "what is Aka-chan's name?" The «Sylph Warrior» acensed from her current stance. "Her name is Yumeko... Koujiro Yumeko." Rinko patted Suguha's head.

"Do you guys want to try?" Asuna looked over at the seemingly jealous fellow gamers. "Thanks but I have to prepare for tonight's closing and tomorrow morning's opening." Agil denied the request. Kazuto and Klein's faces lit up as if they had gotten the two toys out of a cereal box. "I'll go first." Klein called out, "In your dreams." Kazuto pulled on the former leader's collar and pulled him back. Klein stepped on his foot. If this was in a manga, there would be a bunch of random arm and leg movements, partially covered by a a dirt cloud.

"Unbelievable. There acting like total morons." Asuna shook her head.

"Its a bromance Asuna-san. There a little different from the female equivalent, expect funnier." Agil explained. Asuna reasonably agreed.

The was laughter coming from behind, it was Rinko. "Oh wow, I can't remember the last time I laughed his much. You guys really made my night." She extended her snickering while wiping a tear from the corner of her right eye this time.

"Rinrin-san do you have a picture of Yumeko-chan?" Silica quietly asked the happy woman. "As a matter of fact I do, but it was taken after I met Kirigaya-kun, so its about ten days old." She reached for her purse and took out a small squared photograph, and showed it in front of the girls, who gasped as they layed their viewpoints on the transparent snapshot.

After their short meaningless tussle, both Klein and Kirito called it a tie. "You go first." Kazuto rolled his eyes and stretched his words. "Thanks pal." Klein patted his buddy's back and got down his his knees before the suspecting Rinko. "Klein-kun, I have to say. The female to male ratio around her has been quite off I'm afraid, and it seems to me that she prefers a feminine touch. I'm not really sure how she's going to react." She informed him. "Its okay if she does, I know she's a good girl." The red head placed his hand on the gestating body and then his ear. "See there's nothing to worry about..." The next he knew Klein entire body jerked and had his hand on his ear. "Wow... that was a hard kick..." he winced. "You're telling me." Rinko cringed. "Yumeko-chan, that was very bad what you did." Rinko waved her index finger looking down at her stomach and wrote into her notebook.

"I know it doesn't seem that way, but she is quite protective you, Rinko-san." Klein laughed off as he stroked her stomach.

"Please tell me someone got that camera." Agil let out a little laugh. Kazuto came up to him trying to hold in his left, "oh bet I did its in HD too."

"Rinrin-san can I have my turn now." Kazuto silently dropped to his knees in front of her placing his left hand and ear on the centre. "She's sounds a little different than the last time I heard her. To be fair it was twelve days ago." A few more months and she'll be here with us, he smiled at the sudden thought.

"Rinrin-san," she felt a tap of her elbow and twisted to Asuna who was holding a folded peice of paper. "These are our email address' and cell phone numbers. If you ever need to talk to someone, we'll be here for you." She folded the paper into Rinko's hand and whispered something into her ear for a couple of moments and pulled away, the older woman nodded.

"Uh, Rinko-san. I hope I am not being to forward but, I was wondering..." Klein's body started to freeze up again this time staring at the same red rose with the small pink ribbon attached to it. "Are you asking me out on a date?" Rinko tilted her head a little bit, like a puppy. "If you are I would love too." Her eyes smiled. "You may have a face of a thug, but you are quite a wonderful person, and may I add a very soft heart." Hearing those nice things made him blush. "Thank you very much and I'm free on Sunday." His face was turning red. "That's good, I'll pick you up at 11 am. Here's my phone number." He handed her a small slip of paper.

"I'll be waiting." She winked playfully and looked at the time on her phone. "Oh no look at the time. I promised I would be back by 10." She took her purse and made her way to the cafe door but turned around. "It was very nice to meet all of you, I hope we can do this again sometime." She bowed her head, smiled and left.

"What just happened?" Klein blinked in confusion.

"Klein's got a girlfriend. Na naa naa naa naa!" The rest of cafe's dwellers sang.

"Oh grow up." Klein muttered , blushing a little.

So what do you guys think about this story so far. In the anime and light novels, I wanted Klein to have a girlfriend. Why not, he is a great character (and may I add attractive). So when I got up to a certain point in the novel, I decided to make this story. I PROMISE I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON THIS LIKE I DID TO MY OTHERS. Once again, thank you for reading this story. I hope you all have a good morning/evening/night. Please review if you want to read some more!Thank you for supporting me! =3