Greetings, so I was rather stunned at the number of reviews this little story has garnered, most of which asking for more. I've been a bit hesitant about writing more as I'm not sure it measures up to the first chapter or if my ideas for a plot would be popular. Also I've never tried changing viewpoint in a story before but this chapter will be from Kazuto's point of view.

Still I do hope you enjoy it anyway! Either way I'm pleased at how the first chapter was received.

Breathing. The sensation of the living. Maybe the fact that it was so hard to take in enough air showed how much he wanted to be alive. Asuna's breath had been almost silent, he recalled. Was she only trapped because she wasn't trying hard enough? Didn't she wasn't to be alive too?

Kazuto was still save for the rise and fall of his chest. The game hadn't emulated breathing perfectly and the real thing felt very good. He was still trying to get used to it. Maybe that's why he was able to simply lie on his bed as if waiting for something to happen and just listen to the sound of his breathing.

Still, it was easier being in his room rather than trying to face the outside world. It was a maelstrom of different feelings and sensations that he'd previously taken for granted but were now so refreshing after being starved of them for so long. Well they were overwhelming too. Aincrad did have these artificial sensations and for a while it had felt like a second world but it simply couldn't succeed in grasping the vividness of reality.

Not that anything seemed all that vivid in terms of colour. Aincrad had been a bright world, filled with grass and flowers that would simply seem striking here where everything was just a little duller, not created to look bright and alive. Still, it was far from unpleasant and he wondered just when the bright colours of Aincrad had begun to grate on him.

Kazuto lifted his right arm high above his head, staring at it. It felt stiff and within seconds it started to ache a bit but he didn't let it drop. His hand looked ever so frail, especially when he recalled his strong virtual hands that could be almost impossibly deft. He twitched his fingers and they were stiff too, like everything he'd attempted to move. It was ever so jarring when compared to his virtual reflexes, which were officially the best in the game.

His eyes shifted to his plain walls of his room which had always been unremarkable. An idea formed in his mind and he let his arm drop to his side, before grabbing a pencil from his side table. He hadn't had much reason to hold stationary in Sword Art Online but the grip on it was very familiar anyway. He leant towards the wall and drew a line on it.

Sure enough, the pencil left its mark. That hadn't been possible in Aincrad, with walls classed as 'immortal objects'. For a world that was supposed to mimic reality, it was so perfectly designed that there were many limitations. Something as easy as drawing on the wall had been utterly impossible and everyone's favoured way of playing had always been to exploit the system. There was many, many flaws that could be picked up if you were in the game long enough. And everyone had been.

Kazuto allowed himself to drop the pencil and relaxed his head against his pillow once again. Even just lying here, it was impossible to mistake this for a game. The real question was whether he actually preferred it.

Living in a game was not sustainable seeing as you couldn't produce food or anything to care for yourself, nor were you contributing to society in anyway but regardless of that, it had been fun. The dying part had been ridiculous and made everyone feel bitter in there but the game had been exciting.

Then again, as much as he loved playing games, he did want to stop every so often or maybe try different genres after being in one for a while. Sword Art Online had eliminated any choice and killed quite a lot of the fun very effectively. Even trying to relax couldn't be done all the time if they wanted to ever get out.

Overall Kazuto was certain that he didn't want to have been stuck in that game. Only now that he was out though he wasn't sure if he could endure living in such a slow and clumsy body. He wasn't planning on going back in a Virtual reality any time soon, given that it had been just six days since getting out of the first one. Even so, he wanted to do something very much, but his limits were scaring him.

He sighed, sitting up with only a small amount of effort. He shakily tried to stand up, grabbing his sturdy cane for some extra support. He was getting to the stage where he was balanced even without it but moving effectively was still a chore. Shrugging on a jacket that had been hanging by the door, he left his room.

He hardly taken a step out of his own room before Suguha walked (with great ease) out of hers. Kazuto was almost certain that this was no coincidence and that she was just there to offer help, like she was obliged to.

"May I help?" She asked timidly, not looking at his face. Suguha seemed so nervous about being insensitive that she was acting almost like he was as fragile as glass.

Of course, they'd been distant before Sword Art Online and he recalled talking to Silica - Reiko – about how he wanted to mend their relationship. Still, Suguha had changed a great deal from the smaller and chirpier girl who had been so eager to please that she hadn't been able to understand it when Kirito had stopped being so caring. Now she was calmer and more quiet but also far more sensitive at reading moods.

This Suguha was cautious around him, like she understood him better now except she didn't. Two years was a long time and both of them had changed. Suguha hadn't grasped that he'd had a life and did change while stuck in the game. He had nothing to show for it however, all she could see was that he was weaker.

He allowed her to take him downstairs though and he quietly informed her that he just wanted to sit outside for a while. She gave a single nod in reply. She led him outside in silence and he couldn't find any words to say to her. Fixing the broken bonds was far harder than Silica –Reiko- had made it sound when they'd talked.

They sat down on a low garden wall, Suguha immediately awkwardly shifting away from him but not actually leaving. It was slightly chilly but breathing felt better outside for some reason. The air was remarkably refreshing and in his warm jacket, the cold was hardly a concern. Being outside felt healthier than being in his room, alone.

He experimented with opening and closing his fingers, trying to get used to the stiff sensation of moving them. He could see that Suguha was watching him, probably bored. As he tilted his head towards her though, she immediately looked away. Were they attempting to keep each other at arms' length?

Kazuto yawned, recalling seeing Asuna just yesterday. This morning, his mother (his father had left early as normal) she had advised him to only go to the hospital every three days and focus more on recovering. Asuna's recovery was important too though, recalling her just lying on the hospital bed was a chilling thought. He didn't know what he could do for aside from lend support by sitting next to her.

Absently he put his hands into the pocket of his jacket, feeling a note he'd scrawled down last night. With Suguha looking at him he didn't get it out as her reaction would likely not be a pleasant one. In three weeks' time there would be multiple stadiums hosting preliminaries for the National Kendo tournament and that would be the perfect place to prove he had skills that mattered somewhere.

Despite everything, Kazuto was proud to have beaten Sword Art Online. It was such a unique experience and he had made friends and worked hard. Sadly, most of what he learned wouldn't apply to the real world and he was two years behind in terms of education. It wouldn't be amazing if his little sister was past his level by now. She was now far fitter too with all that Kendo she'd worked hard on in real life.

While Kazuto wasn't that tough, he at least thought that he could fight well. He'd carried a pair of swords every day for two years and there was never a day in which he hadn't been fighting. He knew how to keep fluid, deliver devastating strikes and read his opponents. The main drawback was that he wasn't sure just how well he could lift a kendo blade or if he fight for very long. If he was to fight, the battles would need to be quick and decisive. It was a crazy idea.

"Kazuto?" Suguha was looking at him.

He turned to her robotically. "Yes?"

"Oh - it's nothing really. You've been dealing with this admirably, that's all," she replied swiftly, blushing for some reason.

Suguha sounded like she'd wanted to say something else. He wondered why she might have changed her mind. She could act ever so strangely.

"Thank you. You can go inside if you're bored though. I'm not going anywhere," he replied softly. Strangely, even his mouth seemed slightly stiff, making him talk slowly, giving the impression of great care with his words. It was easier to say very little.

Suguha hesitated, looking conflicted. Something had to be troubling her but he couldn't begin to guess at what it might be. After a moment, she stood up however, giving him a cautious smile. "Do call if you…" she began before trailing off.

Kazuto could tell that she'd meant 'call if you need me' and that was apparently too awkward for her to say audibly. She really did think he would throw a fit at the wrong string of words, didn't she? "Don't worry." He answered her simply.

She scampered off, giving him side glances until she'd retreated through the doorway. She was probably going to be in her room for the next few hours; Kirito had noticed that she spent a lot more time in there than she used to but supposed that it was fairly normal behaviour as a teenager. Or perhaps she'd finally gotten used to living without him there to entertain her. Not that he had ever been particularly engaging.

He focussed on moving his arms again, looking for some improvement after this practice but he was only getting tired of exerting such work on arms and legs that hadn't had to move in over two years. It was no wonder that his family hadn't quite grasped that he had been fighting for his life almost daily in Sword Art Online when all they could see was his physical body deteriorating.

He wondered if there was some way to tell them about what he had experienced though he couldn't imagine himself initiating that sort of conversation. How could he explain the thrills of creeping through dungeons or the close relationship he had nurtured with Asuna? Maybe that's why the idea of secretly going to a preliminary kendo round was so lucrative, even if it was stupid. Even if he wouldn't get very far in any tournament despite the amount of skills he'd picked up.

Kazuto sighed, wishing yet again for all his strength to return.

Thanks for reading! I'm not sure if Kazuto sounds in character or not, nor if there should've been more interaction with over characters.

To be clear, if I did continue this, I'd like to think it'd be slowly diverging from canon though I know there hasn't been any changes to initiate that. Once again, thanks for all your lovely reviews and I'll see if I can draw up enough inspiration for more.

Please do leave a review - I appreciate them.