Disclaimer: Don't own Sword Art Online (I or II), including characters.

Rating: T

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RL

November 28th, 2030

"Haa, haa, ahhh!"

"Yui, you okay?" he quickly asked, hand raised to keep the stinging wind out of his face.

She leaned against her shovel, still breathing heavily. "Yeah, I'm fine, daddy" she said over the wind, "It's just my body; it's still not as strong as I'd like."

Mmh, yeah... he understood that fully. Still, the fact that she'd assisted them in clearing the driveway twice, this second time about three-quarters done, plus the usual training - well, she'd soon experienced that lingering muscle 'burn' when muscles were repeatedly subjected to intense work overtime.

He put a hand on her shoulder. "It'll be okay" he assured. "Just don't push yourself too far."

She nodded, smiling, though her 'Mmh-hmm' was nearly lost in the wind.

Just as he returned to his shovelful, he saw Asuna across the driveway, curiously confused if something had happened. He shook his head a little with a thumbs up and a smile, then went back to shoveling, heh. The work was tedious, but no worse than any amount of grinding you'd find in an MMO (regular or virtual), so things just went by like normal.

Until-

"Ah!"

He whirled around; Yui had dropped her shovel with a crunch, holding her arm. "What is it!?"

"My muscle just twitched! All by itself!"

He quickly got over, but though he was closer, he was still behind Asuna's arrival. "It looks like..." she breathed quickly. "The muscle spasmed. Very low-key, and not serious."

"Oh good" he breathed, relieved. "Well, bad good, but you know."

"Huh?" Yui breathed, curiously confused - however, she seemed relieved that she wasn't in any danger, going on their tones/words.

"Either way, she's done for today, period" she said to him, and he didn't bother to argue. "I'm gonna take her inside, so wrap this up, Kazuto."

Gah... now he'd wished he'd argued... actually, scratch that; that wouldn't have made this go away. Still, he supposed he could be sorta-glad this happened with less than a tenth of the driveway left to shovel, though that happened to include the bottom-packed stuff.

/

Ten minutes later, he stepped inside, wiping his feet against the rug several times... but even before he finished, he smelled something good.

"Oh yes" he thought, already feeling better; lunch was to be their reward for finishing early, so he tried to get unequipped as quickly as possible.

"You're sure I'm okay, mommy?" he heard from the kitchen.

"Yes, you'll be okay, Yui, trust me" he also heard, along with the sounds of something sizzling. "The muscle is just overworked and needs rest; that's all."

"Oh."

Seconds after that, he entered the kitchen, leaning a hand against the wall. "So, what's cooking?" he asked mildly.

Asuna made a sound, but otherwise didn't answer - Yui just giggled at his usual food question. "Well, according to mommy, she's making something unusual called 'grilled cheese'" she breathed, excited. "I've tasted cheese before, but not like this. It still goes great with milk though!"

He chuckled, glad to hear that, for several reasons - ever since Yui had heard that milk, cheese and other such foods helped build strong bones, she'd wanted to make sure she had plenty of them. Her muscles she could train, but the bones themselves were harder to do so with, and she didn't want to get left behind in the strength area. He just stepped closer, though not before sneaking a big whiff (he could tell Asuna was rolling her eyes, even from behind), standing beside Yui. "Well, the small bits of cheese you had were the usual servings" he said softly. "In grilled cheese, they're much warmer, and thus a bit melted."

"Melted?" she questioned, but curious. "Is that good?"

"Depends on the food, but for grilled cheese? With the heat, it just sorta gives your mouth a hot, full feeling with each bite."

"Hehehe!" she breathed, excited. "That sounds so great! Just like the mac & cheese!"

"And it will be" Asuna assured, turning toward them for a little. "But it'll take awhile to cook properly, so go ahead and sit down; I've already put your glass of milk down."

Yui smiled, already moving to sit down, he following after a moment. He crossed his arms, smiling as he saw her drinking (he still remembered the first time, where she'd accidentally gotten a milk mustache due to liking how good it tasted).

"You know, with your mom's excellent cooking, it's gonna be hard to tell what foods you hate and/or don't like over others" he said mildly, sitting down.

Yui slowly giggled, sheepish. "Well, I hope I won't hate any foods at all" she said, completely sincere. "Everything is just so yummy!"

He chuckled, looking between Yui and Asuna (the latter of whom had a soft expression over the conversation), before he looked outside at the lake.

Hmm, that reminded him...

"Daddy?"

He looked back. "Sorry, Yui" he said sincerely, "Just had the thought that maybe the lake has frozen over enough."

She made a sound, curious. "For what?"

"So you and mommy could go skating" he said, glancing over. "She's been meaning to introduce you to that-"

"-thanks for ruining the surprise, Kazuto."

"No problem" he said cheerfully, to her little grunt, even as Yui remained curious.

His wife just rolled her eyes, starting to come over with their food. "And besides, it's still a little early" she told him, "The lake's only recently frozen over, so the ice is thin - and I have yet to get skates that fit Yui. And while I'm at it, are you sure you don't want some?"

"Nah, I can keep up on boots" he said with a little grin. "It's a challenge that way. But if skating won't work for awhile, what about sledding?"

"Name a hill big enough around here that'll work, and that you remember where it is" she lightly challenged, giving him his grilled cheese (oh, that smelled good), along with Yui ("Ahaha!").

"There isn't" he said, a little sheepish, but still chuckling. "Don't you want to show Yui though?" he continued, taking a bite, then groaning at the taste (even better).

"Of course I do, but practicality first" she teased.

He chuckled back, smiling, though soon they were distracted by Yui's first experience with melted hot cheese: "Ah! That's really hot, but it's so good!" she breathed, fanning her mouth a little. "And you were right daddy; it does give a full effect! Mmh, delicious!"

"Glad I could help" he said mildly.

"And the crust, Yui?"

She made a sound, looking at it. "Mmh, it's a little hard, but crunchy is still good" she said sincerely. "I just prefer the softer parts."

"Good to know" she said, giving him a sideways glance. "And I thought I might have overdone it by a second or two..."

"Hey, live and learn" he teased, getting a little look; ah, the fun of it all.

/

Dinner finished itself quickly of course, though it only seemed that way because everything was so good; they never seemed to last as a result.

"What you two said earlier, what are they daddy?" Yui asked from her seat, even as he'd remained; Asuna was still in the kitchen, taking care of the plates and such, as it was her turn.

"You mean, sledding and skating?" he asked, to which she nodded, then he smiled. "Well, sledding is going to the top of a big hill when it's full of snow out there, riding this board thing big enough to hold you... then, you go down, feeling the rush of gravity and wind."

"A rush?" she breathed, then got excited. "You mean like when I'm riding on your back?"

"Mostly, except much faster, and it's a bit of a drag to walk all the back up" he said mildly. "However, skating is more like being on my back; you smoothly glide across the ice, turning, spinning and slowing yourself all with practice."

At that, she was interested. "Practice?" she asked eagerly. "Does it take a lot to learn?"

"Depends on each person" Asuna called over softly from the kitchen. "Ice is pretty slippery, and skates are tricky to get used to - but once you get it, you glide as daddy said, and you feel free and in control."

"Ahaha, hehe" Yui breathed, excited and wriggling her hands at it all.

"But of course, we still got time" he added gently. "First we gotta find a hill, or wait for the ice to thicken (plus skates), then you gotta start learning. And skating involves a bunch of falling down."

"I-Is that painful?" she asked, fingers unconsciously twitching toward her arm, which he caught.

"Nah" he said easily, genuinely. "It's more like this really subdued jolt, or a smack maybe - and unless it's a really, really hard fall, even that won't be painful so much as mildly distracting."

She was relieved. "Okay, but daddy, what about- HIC!"

He slowly just smiled, even as Yui blinked several times ("Hic!"), she getting worried. "What is this!? What's happen-Hic!-ing to me?"

"They're just hiccups, Yui" Asuna said gently, already there with a drink. "It means part of your breathing muscles are stuck, and they're trying to get unstuck - try this."

She did so quickly, with some relief this wasn't serious... but after downing it and waiting a little, she still went "Hic!", with a little 'Ohh'.

"No need to worry" he said mildly. "Just take a number of deep, deep breaths, and that can clear it-" he continued, which she started almost immediately... except they were the quick, wide-open-mouthed type. "No, no, not like that, like this" he said, demonstrating by breathing in, keeping his mouth open in a small circle. "You get more air better that way."

She made a sheepish little sound, but did as he said several times... and twenty seconds later, nothing happened.

"It worked!" she breathed, relieved. "Hic!"

He just laughed a little. "Or maybe you had one last one in you" he teased, Yui giving him a little pout.

That night

She adjusted the fabric against her, hummed a little, then turned around - however, when she did, all she saw was Kazuto laying on the bed (above covers), hands over his head and staring at the ceiling. And even in the faint light, she could tell he was shirtless, much as he did half the time when they went to bed.

Making a soft sound, she smiled, having a few ideas about where this might go. "Are you thinking at all there?" she breathed, half-teasing.

He smiled a bit, showing he'd understood, but otherwise kept his gaze on the ceiling. "In a way" he said lightly. "I'm trying to decide how I'm feeling right now, and exactly what I want, if I want anything."

This late at night, she had no illusions as to what he was referring to - affections, anywhere from mild to very intimate. She touched a hand to her heart, already feeling it beat faster. "A-And your decision?"

"Not completely there yet, but..." he breathed, soft, glancing at her. "I might want some of this (he gestured a bit near his lips), and maybe a little more than that (she blushed a little), but that's all."

Despite her shyness, she was surprised. "That's all?" she whispered, stepping closer. "Why?"

He truly looked at her now, keeping the smile, but there were subtle hints of more in his expression. "Anything after that" he said faintly. "It's too soon."

For a few moments, she just stared at him, perplexed. "Too... soon?"

"I know, I know" he continued, a little trace of mild in there. "'But we've already done it a few times' (she jolted, face turning red), yes, we have. But I feel that I get that close to you now, I wouldn't be able to stop myself. And today's not safe at all, is it."

At that, her confusion slowly cleared. "You- you don't feel ready yet, do you?" she asked, increasingly soft.

He slowly shook his head, before he sat up, looking at her. "No" he breathed, entirely soft, slowly taking her hands (she squeezed them back). "Asuna, we've been the adoptive parents of Yui for years, and we've learned a good deal, even more so after your father brought her into the real world. But she wasn't born the usual way, or grown that way either. That's a lot of responsibility, a lot to prepare for... and right now, I just don't feel it's the right time."

She hugged him, a few tears in her eyes. "Oh, Kazuto" she breathed, feeling his strong arms instinctively holding her back. "You idiot."

"Huh?"

"Feeling that you're not ready is pretty honest of you, and sweet" she told him, touching her hand to the back of his head. "But that doesn't mean you have to stop showing... i-intimate affection."

His grip tightened slightly. "But what if I-"

"Then stop" she said simply. "And if you don't have the guts to do it, then I'll make sure it happens."

He slowly drew back, only enough to look at her, very close. "Don't have the guts?" he breathed, just smiling. "That's kinda low, Asuna."

She got closer. "Maybe" she breathed, half-closing her eyes.

The kiss was intense to start with, but she held him even closer, making it better - in time, their little motions and sounds made it so that they slowly fell onto their sides against the bed. It must have lasted a good five minutes, if not more, but soon they had to break it to breathe. When she looked at him again, he was full of soft love, or at least his brand of it... and maybe a little taste for more affection, but had no pressing need right then. She merely smiled, content to hold him as well, full of warmth the entire time.

Then something subtly creaked.

Kazuto moved slightly before she did; was that Yui's door opening?

The very faint sound of feet crunching carpet gave her that answer, even as they slowly sat up, looking at the door.

"Mommy? Daddy?"

"Yui?" she breathed, worried from her nervous tone. "What's wrong?"

A moment, then the door slowly opened, and Yui poked her head in - it was hard to see at first, but she was holding her whale plushie. "I-Is it possible to control dreams?" she breathed, glancing down.

Kazuto slowly got up beside her. "You had a bad one, didn't you" he said, entirely soft and gentle, going toward her.

"Mmph... mmm-hmm" she breathed, a little weak, clutching her plushie. "They were like my memories, and I saw the players in SAO..."

She quickly sat up, even as Kazuto gently held Yui close to him. "You're more than welcome to sleep with us again" she said gently. "But you'll have to leave that on the floor for tonight, okay?"

"Okay."

While Kazuto attended to her plushie, Yui was quick to come into her arms, and then she slipped herself under the covers to the middle - just after this, she (and Kazuto on the other side) also got themselves in, Yui making sure to snuggle in close to both of them.

Even with Yui being a little shaken, having her this close made her feel so happy, and the warmth remained even as she closed her eyes, making sure Yui was comfy against her.

/

When she felt the heaviness of her eyes, she knew she should still be asleep, and yet was not. She did her best to try and get back to it, but the more she tried, the more the heaviness set in like a weight, rather than a comfort.

Ugh... great...

Slowly, reluctantly, she opened her eyes, hoping to at least get a glass of water or something and walk this off.

However, when her sight stopped being fuzzy, she paused; Kazuto lay on one side, facing away from her at this time, but Yui was no where to be seen. And when she slowly sat up, her whale plushie was gone from it's place on the floor... however, the door was ajar, and she could juuust make out a light downstairs. Making a sound, she got out of bed as gently as she could, doing her best not to wake her husband. She had to stretch a little first, seeing that the time was a little before 6 in the morning as she did so, but eventually she got moving down the hallway then the stairs.

"Yui?"

The little girl jolted, nearly dropping her glass of water, but she quickly recovered. "Mommy!" she breathed, worried. "I-I know it's early, but-"

She merely smiled. "Couldn't sleep?" she asked, to Yui's surprise. "Well, apparently, neither could I; it happens sometimes."

A moment where she looked at her. "It's okay?"

She walked closer, getting her own glass. "Well, we hope it doesn't happen too often, but yes" she assured her. "It's okay, Yui."

Yui was relieved at that, before slowly taking another sip of her water. "Will I not sleep well tonight though?" she asked, a little worried again.

She shook her head, still smiling. "It might take a little longer, but overall, you'll be fine."

"Hmm."

After that, it was a friendly silence between them, just sipping at their water. At the same time though, kinda randomly, she remembered that today she was going to get skates for Yui, which made her smile at the imagery of them doing so. A little later, her gaze happened to go to the floor, faintly lit as it was right now. But as she looked at it, she slowly got an idea-

"Yui?"

"Huh?" the little girl breathed, surprised.

She smiled at her again. "It may not be skating, but I know something that's kinda like it, and may even help you practice" she said gently.

She brightened at that. "Aha! Really, what is it?"

"Put on some socks, and we'll come right back here" she breathed, and expected Yui's confusion. "Trust me, you'll like it."

One sock hunt later for both of them, Yui tapped her foot on the fabric, looking up at her now.

She smiled. "Skating is all about gliding, Yui" she said, stepping back a little, judging how much effort to put in and the distance she could safely cross. "Sorta like... this" she continued, moving forward two steps then sliding across the floor. Almost overshot it, and had to grab onto the chair to steady herself, but she made it well enough.

Yui was just plain excited, especially after she nodded that it was okay - her first attempt only skidded out halfway though, to her little sound.

"It's okay, we've got plenty of time before breakfast" she assured, taking Yui's hand. "The key is the running start, but don't overdo it; try again."

"Okay!"

Only later did she learn that Kazuto was there the whole time, up the stairs, listening with a little smile as the two of them practiced their sock-skating.

Well, she's progressing with the experiences, good and bad - and yet, she's still the cutest thing ever XD