Disclaimer: Don't own SAO (I or II), or any of the characters.

Rating: T

Continuing the fluff, but also beginning to subtly connect to 'Learning', last chapter included

February 28th, 2031

Nighttime

"Shouldn't you be done by now?"

At his computer, Shouzou hid a small smile - onscreen was a picture of Yui, standing with Suguha, Kirito's cousin, among others. "I probably should" he admitted, rubbing at his eyes, "But guess I got sidetracked."

Behind him, Kyouko said nothing- still, even that told him everything he needed to know.

"I'll get a glass of water, and then I'm done. I leave the computer to you, dear."

Normally, she'd have said he could do it himself, but not this time- she just remained impassive as he got up, walking away. But after he was gone, Kyouko's usual gaze remained on the pictures, particularly of Yui and her big smile... seconds passed, she slowly easing herself into the chair...

Click

The images Shouzou had left onscreen changed, showing yet more images of the family, almost all invariably with smiles/grins, though quite a few 'other' reactions were involved.

Click... click... click...

Secretly, without making the slightest sound, Shouzou himself glanced in on this- he smiled a little, eyes closed. If he said anything, she'd deny it, and if he said he'd seen the whole thing she'd glare at him for snooping- even acknowledging what she's doing now would get only the briefest of mentions.

But overall, he knew Asuna would appreciate it, as would her family - it might not change how she presented herself, but it'd be appreciated.

/

Home

Same time-frame

"You must've been really distracted, daddy" Yui breathed, a little sheepish, on her knees. "You don't usually drop anything."

He smiled a little, if rueful about it. "Well, accidents still happen" daddy breathed, rubbing at the spill in the carpet- very carefully too.

She worried about that; she didn't really want it to stain, but she also didn't see how cleaning it up would do that; after all, this wasn't water that spilled over, it was milk. As far as Yui knew, rubbing just forced more of the it into the carpet, making it worse... sure, leaving it alone wouldn't help either, but it'd still leave a spot there.

"If it's going to stain anyway, why not rub harder, daddy?"

He chuckled. "It's not gonna stain, not if I can help it" he said easily, "Just gotta apply a little trick to it, and it should be barely noticeable."

Curious, Yui wondered what he meant, even as she watched him- he seemed to be using increasing pressure with each wipe. "Wait... the stain's disappearing" she realized.

Daddy just smiled.

"Annnd... done, more-or-less."

Oh wow, it's true; after about a dozen such wipes, she could barely tell any color difference in the carpet. Cool!

"How'd you do that, daddy?" Yui asked, happier now.

Daddy looked like he was about to answer automatically, then paused as he thought a bit, before smiling and ruffling her hair (she made a sound, smoothing it back afterward). "A little trick I learned from Asuna" he admitted gently. "Instead of pushing while you wipe, you just kinda 'press' slightly, letting it absorb what it can before pulling back. Then the next one, use a little more force but same act, and repeat until you've done what you can... but even if it had stained, there are a few cleaners that help in that, though they do have a limit of course."

She giggled, thinking that's so interesting. "I wanna learn how to myself, just in case I ever spill anything" Yui breathed, curious.

Daddy got a little playful smirk. "Just make sure it's not on purpose, Yui-"

"Like I would!"

He laughed a little, even as she wasn't surprised- had seen that one coming a mile away.

Seconds into his laughter however, the lights flickered and then suddenly went out - they both made sounds at being put into near-complete darkness. From downstairs came several sounds, ones of distress and frustration; mommy, who'd been doing something on the computer, which had been thoroughly interrupted now.

"A blackout?" Yui whispered, worried; she hated these, instinctive memories surfacing - as a former AI, she'd always been able to essentially be active on daddy's Nervegear/Amursphere. Blackouts however made it seem like she'd missed periods of time, and she'd been fearful of any memory loss on her program, literally or physically regarding her own memory!

And that's probably why it took her some time to adjust to sleeping's 'blackouts'.

Daddy sighed. "Just what we needed" he breathed, slightly dour but mostly exasperated. "And it isn't even during a storm either... just a random one."

"How long with it last, daddy?"

In the limited light, he made a motion that might've been throwing up his hands, but she wasn't sure; her eyes were still adjusting. "Sometimes they last a moment, and sometimes they last hours" daddy explained. "At worst it can go on for awhile longer, but those are rare."

"I hope so..."

Just then, they looked up as mommy came toward them, slightly-audibly feeling her way toward them. "Kazuto, can you get the candles?"

"Yeah, sure."

Even as daddy got up, Yui moved over to mommy, hugging her side- her arms easily slipped over her back. "Is this scary for you at all, Yui?" mommy whispered, soft and assuring, which made her smile.

"No, but I do remember other blackouts... it was more scary losing track of time, but even then I wasn't really afraid. Just worried."

Mommy hummed, kissing the top of her head. "Well you don't have to be; we're here" she continued easily, "This is your first real-world blackout, and it's quite different, isn't it?"

"Mmh-hmm!"

They stayed like that for a little, even as daddy came back- Yui jolted at a sudden snick, but when she looked it was only daddy using a lighter. It took several tries before it ignited, creating a small flame, the light making it easier to see... hehe, even for a small one, it's always like the flames are dancing! Daddy carefully held the flame to the tip of the candle wick, just long enough for it to create it's own flame, and then he extinguished the lighter- mommy took the candle itself from him, but he wasn't surprised. "There" he breathed gently. "Now we can see properly."

"Hehe" Yui breathed, happy just to watch the flickering flame; the shadows it cast were really interesting. "So we can. If only our eyes could adjust faster though."

Mommy moved a bit, smiling. "Well, if only" she breathed, gentle even as Yui looked at her, before sighing. "But really, that's the least of our worries; I wish this blackout had waited another minute, because I've lost all my current progress."

"Anything bad?" daddy asked.

"No, but... it's just frustrating that I've lost all that work."

"Mmh" he breathed, thinking a bit. "If this were in the middle of the day, we could prove leave home and do something else" daddy admitted, before smiling a bit, in that little way he did. "That'd probably turn it back on by the time we got back. But instead it's fairly close to Yui's bedtime, and ours, so we have to wait a little."

Yui held onto mommy's arm. "But without the ability to tell, it'll be harder to know time" she worried.

"That is true" mommy whispered, assuring. "But Yui, we have our own perception of time passing, which will do in a pinch. And once you start to feel tired, that'll be another sign, Yui."

"The body's 'internal clock', you mean?"

Both of them just smiled, which made her return the favor, glad to know she guessed right hehe.

...

"Mmh, so soft."

Daddy chuckled a little, watching her sit in his work-computer chair - one of several ways to pass the time. "Well it has to be, since sometimes I sit there for hours" he said easily, she nodding- he placed his hands on either side of it. "I thought you'd like sitting here."

Yui smiled, moving herself so that the chair would rotate, a feature she liked. "If only I could see more, then it'd be even better" she admitted; though her eyes have adjusted as much as needed, it's still quite dark, even with the flickering shadows/lights of the candles.

"I know that feeling" daddy breathed, her looking up- he briefly showed a bit of exasperation, probably at the blackout. "Still, whether it's light or dark, the eyes can sometimes play tricks on you."

Pouting, she looked away from daddy, because she's not gonna listen to his verbal teases right now!

Unnoticed by her, daddy raised an eyebrow but soon grinned a little-

-then hard-but-not-too-hard, he spun the chair round-and-round.

"Waah! Daddy!" Yui cried without thinking, instinctively clutching at the arms- even when he 'helped' spin it a second time, it didn't actually go faster, but this wasn't funny! Thankful that the floor underneath wasn't carpeted, she dug her feet against the floor, with the friction just enough to abruptly bring her to a halt.

She quickly stood up: "Really-!"

She never finished the 'accusation', for as soon as she got out of the chair, the world started spinning.

"-wah!"

Yui barely noticed with her vision spinning, but mommy had heard the commotion and quickly came over- when she saw what'd happened, it resulted in a slow sigh of exasperation. Meanwhile, Yui clutched at her head, but that didn't help her body trying to turn with the spinning world- daddy made up for this by holding her shoulders, but still her vision had that weird effect.

Luckily it went away after some seconds.

She let out a breath, then looked up. "Daddy!" she cried, pouting, "That's foul play!"

He was half-sheepish, rubbing at his head/hair. "Well, I was trying to give you a new experience, like we've all been trying since you came to the real world" he said, not exactly apologetic but with a softer tone, which despite her pouting she did like hearing. "Sure it's the most fun on toddlers, or so I've read, but I thought you should experience it at least once."

Behind him, mommy slowly shook her head in a knowing fashion- behind daddy's back, she gave her a look that said 'I swear, right Yui?', little smirk and all. Yui tried to keep up the pouting, but daddy's 'explanation', her being used to his antics and how they're ultimately playful - even if they sometimes go a little far - plus mommy's silent humor of the situation, it was becoming difficult to stay mad at him.

"Well... just don't try it again, daddy, without my permission anyway" Yui breathed, softening a bit. "Here, pinky-promise it."

He was a bit surprised by that. "I'll promise it, sure, but why like this?" daddy asked.

She grinned a little. "Because if you're gonna treat me like a toddler, then that's exactly how I'm gonna act!"

Daddy gained this weirded-out expression, not helped when mommy started uncontrollably giggling behind him. Yui just kept grinning big, giggling herself; ah daddy, maybe they can't stop his teases, but getting back at him is sometimes one of the best parts of such - if teases are gonna be an occupational hazard when he's your family, might as well make the best of it heheh!

"Seriously?"

"Well, you kinda asked for that" mommy spoke up, clearly enjoying this; she was smiling a bunch. "Seriously Kazuto, I'm surprised Yui doesn't get back at you more often, as sometimes I'd like to have done."

Daddy half-turned, an eyebrow raised, but for the most part his expression was light. "Well, I think it's because my teases aside" he said, looking at her - Yui smiled, but briefly stuck her tongue out; he chuckled - "Yui loves how nice I am, plus how strong I can be. Both of us in fact."

"Mmh" mommy breathed, her smile softening (if still enjoying this).

He returned the favor, then looked back at her, reaching down and intertwining his pinky with hers. "Okay, pinky promise, Yui" daddy said easily. "I won't do that again without your permission. Now please don't start acting like a rebellious toddler."

"Do it, Yui" mommy stage-whispered to her. "He deserves a little chaos for that."

"Hey-"

She and mommy laughed, but daddy was quick to join in, having recognized that much.

...

The blackout continued for a good while, enough that by mommy and daddy's estimate, they'd have to go to bed soon anyway... and thanks to the heating system being off, it had gotten colder inside as well. Even if the power came back on in the next five minutes, it wouldn't change that much - Yui still hoped it wouldn't be one of those 'worst' cases herself, where it'd still be out by tomorrow, or worse.

She shook her head then; no, can't start thinking like that.

After flushing, Yui made sure to wash her hands; mmh it's always so gross, even if it's a natural body function. She wasn't sure she'd ever used to it, considering she hadn't grown up with this reality... but thankfully mommy and daddy did sympathize, even without saying anything about the subject. Afterward, she then exited the bathroom, just in time to catch her parents coming up the stairs- they paused with little smiles, which she easily returned. In that moment, Yui had an idea that would help get what just happened out of her head, and be a little tease too.

"Well Yui, it's about time for bed" daddy said, in that easy way he did. "If I remember correctly, it was my turn tonight."

"No!"

Startled, both of them jolted.

It took all she had not to break out in giggles. "I don't want you, daddy" Yui continued, very toddler-like. "You've been bad today, and I want mommy!"

Seconds passed as this registered, and then finally they both blinked, each realizing exactly what she's doing. Mommy started to shake with barely-suppressed laughter, hands to her mouth even - daddy got a priceless 'Oh god, please no' expression, realizing she's threatening to do exactly what she'd said earlier to get back at him.

"Y-Yui" daddy tried to plead, eyebrow twitching. "I said I was sorry, didn't I?"

A full minute passed like this, she in-character, mommy barely avoiding laughter and daddy sweating... then Yui couldn't hold it anymore; she burst out laughing! When that happened, mommy gave up her restrain and soon joined her in laughing, coming over and hugging her tightly; neither of them minded at all. Daddy just 'slumped' against the wall, simultaneously exasperated and relieved, brushing a hand through his bangs - for awhile, all he could do was look at the two of them. Eventually he gave a crooked little smile at their laughter, saying a lot of things but he managed to chuckle too... by that point, mommy and her were grinning.

"Thanks for actually scaring him, Yui" mommy whispered to her. "Sometimes he needs that."

"Hehe, well daddy's a good person" Yui breathed back, happy. "He just has occupational hazards."

"You do realize I can hear every word, right?"

"Yes" they spoke in unison, nearly giggling again.

Daddy slowly let out a breath, if no longer quite as exasperated- just shaking his head, probably at their giving him a taste of his own medicine. "What did I do to deserve this?" he asked, but it seemed rhetorical due to his little smile.

They didn't answer of course; he knows exactly why he deserves it sometimes hehe!

"Come on, Yui" mommy breathed gently, still smiling big- Yui easily went with her, opening up her bedroom door.

"Hey, I said it was my turn-" daddy tried to say.

"Too late, Kazuto" mommy called back, cheerful. "Yui's spoken, so you lost your chance."

Daddy's grumbling was priceless hehe; it took all she had not to laugh again! Of course they're messing with him and he knew this, yet she felt like breaking into giggles at his expression, which lingered as he 'hung' in the doorway. It helped that mommy felt the same, though making more of an effort to conceal it - after all, she and daddy still had to go to bed themselves, probably to talk about this in their own way. But for now, Yui smoothed her hair underneath her body- by the time she finished getting comfortable in bed, mommy brushed her fingers against the bangs.

"Goodnight, Yui" she whispered gently, leaning down and kissing her forehead (she was really happy). "Good work there."

Yui smiled back, more content - "Goodnight, mommy" she breathed back, just as soft as she did with daddy in ALO. Mommy softened at hearing that, eyes sparkling a little, while further back daddy managed a little smile, even through the grumbling demeanor. In the end, mommy kissed her forehead a second time before pulling away, giving a little wave before gently closing the door. Feeling really warm, physically and emotionally, Yui just kept up the smile as she snuggled into her bed, making sure the covers stayed close to her body.

Always so soft.

Like I said, I'm back after taking a break :) Here's hoping loss-of-interest won't happen again at all, or at least for a long time - and with that being said, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, among all that good stuff.

Still, it feels weird for this to be the second-to-last chapter, having been awhile since I started it XD