WARNING: This story includes mature and sexual elements. Also, Yuuki finally gets her spotlight in this chapter. Readers, proceed at your own discretion.

Chapter 12: A Date with a Goddess

Going on a date with someone that wasn't Asuna should have felt wrong to him. It was almost akin to cheating on her—and if there was one thing anyone knew about him, was the fact that he was the last person on the planet who would even think of cheating on her. And yet, knowing who it was that he would be spending his day with, there was no bad feeling in his gut. If anything, he was… excited.

It was odd. He knew it had something to do with who it was, but the added validation from Asuna herself made it clear that this was all intended. In essence, he would be getting into no trouble for this, and he was free to enjoy it all he wanted.

Kirito swallowed that feeling, looking himself over once, then twice in the mirror to make sure nothing was out of place. No vegetables stuck in his teeth; no weird smell coming from him; no hair sticking out in random directions. He looked as presentable as he could be.

Someone patted him on the shoulder, making him jump. "Eugeo!" He scolded, turning his gaze backwards with a sneer. "Don't do that. You try'na kill me or something?"

"If you died just from me touching you, Asuna would have my head—and probably yours in the afterlife for dying so easily," the fact that it actually sounded plausible left him to shudder. "Seriously, calm down. You're panicking. Things'll be okay."

"You say that, but this is… well…"

"I know, I know. You're going on a date with Yuuki, and it'll be just the two of you out together. I can imagine how nervous you must be feeling."

He was certainly more than just nervous. But beyond that, he was surprised by how calm Eugeo was taking all of this, what with him supposedly going out on a date with Yuuki despite all the fuss about him and Asuna being a thing. Maybe he just didn't know about their relationship? Or, perhaps, he thought he was planning on dating the two of them?

…Nah. There's no way he would know that he'd been talking about himself when he spoke to Eugeo the day before. There was no way.

…Right?

Feeling more than a little worried by that train of thought, Kirito shook it off and looked himself in the mirror again. For a special occasion such as this, Asuna had dragged him downtown to a store to look for some nice outfits, practically over the moon when he told her that he planned to go on a date with Yuuki—subtly hinting that he was willing to give their relationship a shot while they were at it.

But, as with every trip to the store for clothes, this one had lasted hours. He almost lost all feeling in his legs from standing for so long as she took shirt and pants after shirt and pants to try out on him, deciding which set was suitable for a date.

Eventually, she settled for the combination that he was wearing now; a collared purple shirt that reminded him of what typical businessmen wore, minus the obvious colour change. He also wore a black leather belt with a thin golden buckle around his dark black trousers, which were a little tight—that was the point, she said, since baggy things were usually meant for comfort. The only thing to finish off the set was the short purple scarf hung around his neck, fuzzy and warm.

It wasn't something he would have typically gone for—hell, he would have never bought this sort of things in real life—but damn, Asuna's sense of fashion was just as good as always. It felt fitting.

And then he looked at the price. And he thought he needed to sell his kidneys just to afford just the pants.

'Don't be silly,' Asuna told him. 'I've asked Yuuki for some funds. We'll be able to pay for all of this.'

Was that the right move? Asking his date to cover for his clothes? It felt oddly wrong, but it wasn't like any of them were well-off financially. Even Medina, for being a noblewoman, didn't boast of riches like Yuuki did.

In the end, he opted to accept the clothes, if only to spare himself the need to stand around even longer. Plus, the clothes actually looked great on him, and he hoped Yuuki would feel the same.

Combing his fingers through his hair once more, he gave himself one final look over before turning to Eugeo. "So, how do I look?"

"Dashing," Eugeo said, grinning. "Asuna sure is good at picking out clothes. Though, I suppose it's a double-edged sword when you ended up coming back hours later looking haggard as you did."

"Urgh. Tell me about it."

"Well, it's time you get out there and show Yuuki a good time. Do us proud, Kirito."

"Shush, you," despite it all, he found himself laughing. "Be seeing you later. Wish me luck."

"Knowing you, I don't think you need luck."

Pfft, who did he think he was talking about? He had shit luck like, almost eighty percent of the time. If that somehow extended to their date, he was personally going to cave his skull in on some wall. He did not need his first date with Yuuki to be a flunk. The girl deserved better than that.

Stepping out of his room, he passed through the corridors and did his very best to ignore the stares he was receiving from the older guards. All this time, he'd never even once dressed this nicely, and to see such a drastic change in wardrobe was enough to make him stand out like a sore thumb.

It only got worse when, as one, everyone broke into cheers and whistling, people yelling 'Good luck, Kirito!' and 'Go get her, tiger!'. Somehow, everyone seemed to know what was going to happen. It only served to paint his whole face red from all the attention he was getting, and he was chased by their laughter as he speedwalked his way out of the barracks.

It didn't get any better when he arrived at Yuuki's residence. Her security detail noticed him right away, even from afar. They saluted at him, smiling.

"You look wonderful on this fine morning, milord. We believe you are here to pick up Lady Yuuki, correct?"

"Y-Yeah, that's the plan. Is she ready? If she needs more time, I can wait for her."

"She needs just a little longer. She will be with you in a short while. In the meantime, would you like to wait inside?"

"Nah, I can just stand out here. It isn't too hot."

The guards nodded, then proceeded to wish him luck. He took it all with a nervous chuckle, really hoping that their well wishes would actually come in clutch and help him out.

His wait didn't take too long, though. Five minutes or so later, he heard a collection of steps, akin to multiple people walking together. He quirked a brow, looking over to the entrance, where a maid held the door open for her lady to walk out. And she…

Whoa.

"Hi, Kirito," the lady of House Asuka greeted him bashfully, smiling as she waved at him. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Oh, no, it's fine," he gulped, waiting until she was near him to speak again. "You… look cute, Yuuki."

"Eep! D-Don't say that out loud!"

All around them, her servants shared a chuckle, amused at how flustered their master was. From the tip of her ears to her cheeks, red bled into her skin—and he swore he could see the steam wafting out of her ears. It was cute.

And the choice of clothes she'd gone for (or, more likely, her servants had picked for her) only served to heighten her charm; it felt a little more modern than what he'd expected, almost in-line with his own outfit. It was a white-collared shirt that more closely resembled a high school student's design, with a blue suspender skirt that reached down to her knees. A red ribbon was tied around her collar, where something like a tie would be, fastened with a gold pin in the centre. Her legs disappeared into pure white stockings and two purple ballet flats. A red headband pulled her bangs upwards, giving off that familiar image that Yuuki was typically associated with.

But right now, there was none of the Absolute Sword or some rich noblewoman. It felt like she'd become a teenage highschooler, somehow, yet she benefited from the neat and prim look she had going for her.

Kirito knew how powerful fashion was at changing a person's entire vibe and aura, but seeing it up close now, especially with the juxtaposition of Yuuki's normal self with what she was now… he was genuinely amazed.

Mind running through all of that in just seconds, he finally cleared his throat, trying to regain some composure. It was clear to him that the both of them were anxious, but if he could help find some calm in him once more, then maybe she could too.

"I-In any case, I suppose we should get going. Ready to head out?"

"Y-Yeah! I'm ready as I'll ever be!"

Nodding, Kirito offered his hand to Yuuki.

She stared at it like it was the strangest thing in the world.

"Um. What is this?"

"I'm offering you my hand, and hoping to have yours, Yuuki."

"…Ehhh?!" She reeled backwards, blushing full force again. "We're holding hands?!"

"That's what couples do on dates..!" He whined, powerless to make their spectators stop laughing. This isn't easy, people! "Come on. It'll get easier with time."

"Aaaah… O-Okay."

Timidly, she reached out her left hand for his right, creeping forwards as her fingers flexed and spread out to take his. She was slow, however, and he made no move to rush her for fear of scaring her off.

Eventually, her hand finally found its way into his, and he revelled at how soft her hold was. He'd always known how soft her hands were, but in this context, he was focused on the littlest of details; the warmth, her soft skin, the way he enjoyed the little squeezes she gave him.

"A-Alright then. Let's get going."

"Mmkay…"

Not trusting his own voice anymore, he moved away from the mansion, Yuuki in tow. Everyone bade them farewell, and not for the first time, he wished he could just throw himself over the edge of the world. Freaking pricks.

This was going to be a disaster.

He'd thought that all the dates he'd gone on with Asuna back in the real world would have been enough to prepare him for something like this. Granted, it would be far more difficult today, seeing that they were in a medieval world and there wasn't any festive event going on for the two of them to enjoy, but they could probably make something happen.

And yet, here he was, feeling like an idiotic schoolboy going on their very first date sweaty-palmed and panicky.

'It must be because this is a first time for the both of us. I've gone on trips with just one girl from time to time, even with Yuuki, but acknowledging this as a date now is definitely doing something to our nerves.'

Even now, holding her hand felt like holding hot iron. He'd held her hand plenty of times before this. Asuna had said so! But all the familiar acts of intimacy felt so unnerving in this context, and he had to wonder if he was going to pass out before they got to do their first thing together.

But he couldn't let himself be a wimp. Not when this was Yuuki's first date, and she was likely looking forward to this for a while now. If he continued being nervous, she would too, and then none of them would ever get things done.

Clearing his throat, he smiled down at the girl, hoping to inspire both of them out of this funk of theirs. "So Yuuki," he began. "Have you eaten breakfast already?"

"O-Oh, naw, I didn't get the chance to. I completely forgot about breakfast because I maaay have been a little distracted by this date."

'You and me both,' he thought. "Well, since we both missed breakfast, wanna' see if we could find someplace to grab a bite?"

"Sure!" She chirped. "Lead the way!"

Okay, this was safe territory. While he wasn't a connoisseur in food, he had more than enough time to acclimatize himself to Zakkaria's food scene, pinpointing which shops were good and those he hadn't tried yet but sounded promising. He listed a few to Yuuki, knowing that it would be troubling to bother her with the options, but preferring to listen to her opinion rather than take them both to a shop and regret it later.

"Hmm. I'm kind of interested in that bakery store. You said it opened recently?"

"Yeah. Apparently, the owner of that shop came from Westadarth, and he chose to open his shop here because his wife's nephew lives here—and they had to move here as well to take care of him because he got sick. His parents aren't around to do that, since they're officials in the church working in Centoria."

"Wooow… You sure know a lot, Kirito."

"Ah, well, I guess I've learnt to be a little more observant about my surroundings," he chuckled, scratching at his cheek. "Now that I've worked on patrol, I'm often encountering all sorts of people. And some of them like to talk or share stories. I just hear 'em out if they need someone to talk to, and I end up learning a little more about Zakkaria's goings-on and the people's lives."

"That sounds neat. Getting to learn more about people like that is such a cool thing," she smiled prettily at him, and he swore he felt his heart beat faster. "You got put on such a social-based job, I think it's fair to worry about how you'd do. But you've been great! Guess it's worked out in the end, huh?"

"Ah, well, I wouldn't say I've improved by bounds. I'm still the same, awkward teen that you know."

"Pfft. Awkward, he says. I've seen the way you play with those kids."

"They're kids, Yuuki. Kids are fine. Adults are the real stinker; grubby, scheming devils."

"Gasp!" She both gasped and said the word. "Kirito calling adults evil people? The audacity!"

He stuck his tongue out at her, and she did the same, turning it into a game of one-upping one another in terms of who could make funny faces at the other person and 'win' (the definition behind that was obscure, and he preferred leaving it up in the air). Their banter lasted all the way until they reached the bakery store, which had a pastel pink front and a large frosted window, showcasing the interior of which was that of a typical bakery, with displays of bread, cakes and pies. Outside of the store, several round tables and seats were arranged for customers, allowing them to make their purchases and eat outside right away.

Judging by the stars in her eyes, he made the right choice. Yuuki was a sucker for sweets, something that she shared with most of their female friends. Even Sinon, for how cool she may play herself off to be at times, was a girl at heart, and she melted at the first touch of chocolate on her tongue.

Naturally, both he and Yuuki showing up out of the blue was bound to send the owner into a heart attack. The 'saviour' of Zakkaria and Lady Asuka, in the flesh. It was all that he could do to calm the man and tell him that they just wanted to get some food in them—and then had to stop him from going into the kitchen to make something overly fancy.

In the end, they settled for a pot of freshly brewed tea, smelling of peppermint. Yuuki ordered pancakes—because while this was a bakery, it differed in the sense that the chef could also whip up some meals if requested, which was neat in his opinion—and he got himself some mushroom soup and garlic bread. A tried-and-true combination, if he would say so himself.

"Mmm!" Moaning in content, Yuuki swallowed her food because cutting into her pancakes once again, having lathered a fair amount of syrup on it. "This is so good! I never even knew there was a place like this! I would have come here sooner if I knew!"

"Well, it did open just recently, so it's not entirely unexpected that it slipped your notice," chuckled the boy. "But yeah, it's great. I only got to come here with Eugeo once after our patrols were over, and the menu differs just a little; you'd still have all the baked options, but rather than tea, he makes chilled drinks."

"Ooh, sounds nice."

"Yeah. Granted, it only opens until three in the afternoon, but it's worthwhile of a visit," right before he bit into his bread, he paused, staring at Yuuki enjoying her food before an idea popped into his head. "Hol'up. I wanna' go get something."

"Huh? Oh, sure thing."

That something turned out to be a freshly baked cheesecake that he recognized as a Biscoff cheesecake; the smooth cheese layer and the fine crumble base more than enough of an indication. How did he know that? Well, with how much baking Asuna liked to do in her free time, he had all the opportunity to be exposed to the wonders of the world of sweets, which might probably kill him somewhere in his lifetime.

But hey? They tasted amazing, and he was never going to regret that in the slightest.

The moment the plate hit the table, Yuuki's eyes were on it almost immediately, looking like a snare ready to devour a prey whole. She was practically salivating, and Kirito had to hold back a chuckle at the sight. She really was a kid at heart.

Cutting a fork into the end of the cake and delicately picking up the piece, he then presented it towards Yuuki, who blinked at the offered piece. "Go on," he said. "Say 'ahh'."

"W-What?" She looked at him. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure. Go on. The cake won't eat itself."

It was amazing how they barely batted an eye at this sort of thing before, save for the occasional blushes and whatnot. But with the mood that they were going for, Yuuki took an excruciatingly long time before she finally leaned forwards, parting her cherry lips and closing them around the fork, taking in the cake before pulling back. Little crumbs remained on the fork, and his mind betrayed him in reminding him that her lips had been on the fork mere moments ago.

…Fuck, he really was down bad. Why was she so cute?

The sound she made was a mix between a whine and a hum, caught between feeling embarrassed and enjoying the cake. In the end, she went for the latter, vocalizing her thoughts with a faint, shy tone. "It's really nice…"

"Good to hear," he smiled, cutting again into the cake before offering it to her once more. "Want a second one to go?"

"Um… Yes, please."

The cheesecake tasted great (once he finally got over the embarrassment of sharing a fork with Yuuki), and so did her pancakes (when she offered him some as well), and he was pretty sure the owner was having a field day watching them from behind his counter.

"Okay! So, where to next?"

"Sightseeing. We'll probably find plenty of places to go and do stuff. Might as well put our feet to work and walk around a fair bit."

In truth, he, Asuna and Eugeo had brainstormed a couple of things they could do, though he would shelf them for a little longer. Fishing was a good option though not with the clothes they were wearing. Fighting was strictly out of the question. Dancing… ehh, there weren't any shows going on, and he had a feeling Yuuki might not appreciate it that much.

Overall, today was going to be a relatively uneventful day, but they had to make the most out of it. And that gave him the idea of what he wanted to do next.

But first, they opted to walk around town and take in the streets and the people busying their days away. Yuuki may have gone around town frequently because of her job, but it was also good of her to be out and about for non-business reasons, ergo right now.

The people of Zakkaria were receptive of her, of course, giving her flowers and wishing her a good day whenever they passed them by. And Yuuki, sweet as she was, returned their kindness with smiles of her own, thanking them and promising to do better on her family's name. It was a sentiment he knew many appreciated, and would fully believe regardless of everything else.

A couple of the children that he'd met occasionally came by to greet them as well, though their constant barrage of questions as to whether or not they were on a date was more than enough to leave the both of them a little flustered.

"But aren't you dating Lady Asuna alright?"

"You boob! He's obviously dating them both!"

"That's..!" Not particularly untrue, but she didn't need to point that out! "…undecided."

"For now," the children chorused, giggling as they ran away, leaving him to sigh while Yuuki giggled at his despair.

"Remember what I said a couple of minutes ago? I take it all back. Kids are the worst."

"You act like you've never been a kid before. Heck, you're not even that old to think that it's long past."

"Yuuki, you turn into a seventeen-year-old and you realize that life is a whole world of exhaustion. And back pain. Heavens know that I'm starting to get just a few episodes of those from time to time."

"Urgh. Okay, old man, you can calm down with the complaints—Oh! Kirito, look!" She suddenly pointed in a direction. He followed her trajectory, and spotted a couple of people dancing in the town square, music being played in the background. "Looks like something's going on! Let's go check it out!"

"Sure thing—Whoa! No need to pull, Yuuki, I'm coming with!"

She didn't listen to him, of course, leaving him to keep up with her as she dragged him by the hand. The music was typical of the medieval, cheery music they often played for festivals. It was a travelling troupe, it seems, and the performers were playing drums and guitars as the townsfolk, curious, came to participate in the dancing.

Was there an event today? Judging by the lack of advertisement, probably not, so this must have been a sudden show. Not like he was going to complain, though. This felt like a godsend.

"Greetings, sir and little miss! Would you like to join us? All are welcome to come and partake in the music if they so wish!"

"I don't mind," he shrugged, turning to his date. "How about you, Yuuki?"

"I'm down for it too," she grinned. "Seems like fun."

"A'ight. Well, best we get to enjoying ourselves, eh?"

"Yup! Follow my lead!"

While Yuuki wasn't the greatest dancer, she made up for it with infectious cheer, and soon enough her energy had spread out to the others nearby. Inspired, they partook in the dancing as well, people linking arms and skipping in circles as they cheered and whooped.

Kirito definitely knew this wasn't his kind of thing, but it helped that he was in the company of a friend. Otherwise, he might have avoided this event like the plague. But as it was, he found himself joining the hurrah that was the dance, laughing to his heart's content as Yuuki twirled with him on the stone pavements.

"You're not so bad!" He shouted over everyone's cheering. "Took lessons?"

"I wish! I'm just copying everyone else!"

It wasn't so much of just the two of them dancing as they were dancing with a group—which they were, which took off some of the edge that might have been there if it were just the two of them. The fun of the moment was great.

Deep down, however, he knew that they needed to find a time when it was just the two of them. Away from everyone's eyes to enjoy each other's presence without being bothered whatsoever, lost in their own little world and free to do their own thing.

Call him a sappy for that, but he knew how much those quiet moments mattered to Asuna just as much as they did to him.

He put that out of his mind, however, losing himself to Yuuki's laughter and finding himself loving every moment of it.

"Wow, today has been busy, huh?"

"You… could say that… again…"

Feeling a little more breathless than he would have liked, Kirito dropped himself on a bench, head hanging low as he took that moment to give his lungs some much needed rest. Yuuki snickered, sitting beside him.

"For the Black Swordsman to be rendered to this, people are gonna' imagine all sorts of terrible things that happened to you."

"And the reality was just as terrible, Yuuki! That horse would not chill out no matter how much I pulled on his reins!"

And of course, playing up to the gender indiscrimination, all the horses had been utterly polite when Yuuki rode them down the street. Almost docile, even, which was what he'd been hoping for when he went after Yuuki.

The moment he got on the horse's back, it proceeded to do a flip and throw him off.

Okay, maybe not do a flip, per se, but it certainly did its damnedest to buck him off. And it did! His ass still hurt from that fall on the pavement!

And then, he tried a few more times again, resisting the stallion's attempts to get rid of him. And just when he thought he finally managed it in the end; when he finally had a taste of victory, seated upon its saddle, overlooking the street—

It suddenly charged down the road, sending him into one of the most panicked car rides (or horse rides) of a lifetime.

"Don't worry about it. I guess some people just don't do well with certain animals," Yuuki's consolation didn't really help much when his throat was still sore from all the terrified screaming. Pantsy.

"Maybe," but he agreed nevertheless, just because it was easier that way. He looked up to the sky, then hummed. "Looks like it's getting late."

Yuuki looked up as well, the evening sky a molten hue of oranges and blues that looked nothing less than a work of art. The streetlights lit up as well, and with the people beginning to get back to their homes, the streets were growing quieter by the minute, and it finally felt like it was just the two of them that remained.

Just as Yuuki said, today had been a long day. After the dancing, they'd gone around sampling foods from various shops, visiting the local arena to watch a couple of fights at Yuuki's request, checking out a little bookstore and marvelling at the antiquity of it all, going on one more sweets escapade and finally the equine disaster. Or should he say, Equidisaster.

Okay, he'll see himself out now.

But for real, the planning he'd done ahead of time really saved them. And at the end of it all, he liked to think that they were satisfied and more than happy.

But it wasn't over. Not yet.

"Say, Yuuki. Do you have a curfew of sorts?"

"Hmm? Oh, no, I'm free all day," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "What's up?"

"There's this place I know, and I want to take you there. Do you mind?"

"Oh, sure! Lead the way."

It wasn't too long of a walk, though it was beyond Zakkaria's walls, meaning he had to explain to the guards stationed at the gates why they were heading out. One look at them, however, told the older man everything he needed to know, and he let them through with a stern warning to be careful for any wild animals, and a subtle wink his way.

Kirito refused to rise to that, though he felt his face grow a little hot at the implication. He'd make sure it wouldn't go too far, both because he doubted his sanity would even be able to handle it, and because he wanted to take things slow for Yuuki's sake.

Everything they had done thus far were already things they'd been doing for a while now, though with a romantic touch on top of it all. Nothing that either of them couldn't handle. Just a little more frequent, a little more touching. All within the safe zone.

Kirito guided her along the eastern wall, the girl looking around as they trudged on a path with trees on either side. They made their way up a little cliff, then continued climbing some steps that were made by a resident of Zakkaria.

"Uhh, we're heading in pretty deep. You sure this is safe?"

"It's fine. I came here with Asuna before, so it should be fine," it took him a second to realize what he said. He winced. "Ack. I mean, that's..!"

"Oooh, so this is some kind of dating spot, I see," snickered the girl. "Cunning. And a little bit cheating, don't you think? I'll have to tell Asuna that you're taking me someplace you two visited."

The response was one he didn't expect, though it served to calm him regardless. He expected anger. "It's fine, I'm sure she'll understand. Just a little more."

Careful to avoid thorned bushes or puddles, they continued upwards until they finally reached a plateau of sorts. The trees came to an end, save for one lonely tree that sat close to the edge, and when they got close enough, he heard a soft breath being expelled.

Underworld was beautiful. Aincrad would always take first place for being a world of beauty, but Underworld wasn't far behind, boasting natural landscapes and a sense of wilderness that tickled his adventurer's heart. It lacked the hecticness or pollution of the modern world, and getting to see it all was breathtaking.

Beyond them, the fields stretched out far, countless trees scattered about. Moonlight dressed the area in a gentle light, a cold breeze beckoning the grass to a wordless dance. In the distance, the river streamed and sang a tune that was mesmerizing, hills in the distance blurring together like blotches of greens and browns. And stars dotted the sky, millions of lights that both of them found themselves relishing.

His hand, wrapped around Yuuki's, tightened just a little as he took it all in. It was a beautiful world, and one that left him to wonder why Kikuoka bothered to make all of this in the first place. These people in this world, with their own stories and aspirations, and the animals running across the plains as they hunted food or sought shelter. Everything was incredible, he had no words for it.

And he knew he had to do his part in protecting this world. Even if he was just one guy, he had to try something. Otherwise, he could never live with himself.

"It was a few weeks ago. I came up here after I heard whispers of a quiet little spot, so when Asuna and I were done with our night shift, I brought her up here almost immediately."

"I see… This place is nice."

"It is," he hummed. "And the company makes it even better."

"Ehehe. Flattery won't get you nowhere."

Despite her words, he could tell she appreciated it, judging by the wide smile on her face. It was something he focused on for much too long, taking note of her long eyelashes, or her lips, or her crimson eyes. Even the smell of irises coming off of her.

He took a deep breath, looking away for a moment—whispering a quiet prayer to deities for strength—before looking to Yuuki once more. She noticed his attention at last, turning her gaze towards him with curiosity.

"Kirito?"

"I just… wanted to say that I really enjoyed today," he told her. "This ended up being a lot more fun than I would have ever expected, I almost couldn't believe it. I really enjoyed the time we spent together."

"Me too," she smiled, sounding relieved. "I wasn't sure what to do for today's date, and I really thought I'd end up ruining it or something. I'm glad that didn't happen."

"Hey now, don't say that. You're a great girl. There was no way things would have been ruined because of you."

"Uhh, you're talking to the girl who's never gone on dates before, Mister I-Have-a-Girlfriend."

"Touché," he snorted. "But I stand what I said. Today has been a lot of fun, and I'm glad I got to go on this date with you."

"Me too. I'm glad you invited me for today."

"And… I think I've realized something," the girl perked up at her words. He bit the inside of his cheek, feeling a well of embarrassment coming to the fore. "The feelings I had before… they were real. I've liked you, Yuuki, and I like you even more now. Going on this date made me aware of all that and more, and seeing you happy feels like one of the greatest things in my world," he looked her in the eyes, noting her surprise. "And I want to keep making you happy, Yuuki. If you'll let me."

"K-Kirito…"

Standing in front of each other as they were now, his hands intertwined with hers as they spoke, he felt so many things; excitement, nervousness, affection, hope, fear. All the things that Yuuki must have felt when he came to her to give her his response, not knowing what would come out of it.

And it seemed like she felt the same, staring at him with so much love that he couldn't even begin to believe just how lucky he was that someone as amazing as her could even think to look at him and think he was the one she wanted in her life. It was the greatest feeling in the world.

Softly disentangling one hand, he slowly raised it up to cup her cheek. It was so soft. He felt her tense, face going warm as she subconsciously leaned into his touch, her breath against the heel of his wrist causing his own breath to be caught in his throat.

This went beyond anything they had ever done. Beyond the handholding and leaning against one another and the occasional cheek poking. And he planned to take it even further.

"Can I?" He asked quietly.

The implication was there, and she knew it. Yuuki struggled for words, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. Failing to say a single thing, she ended up nodding softly, almost unnoticeable were it not for the fact that he was caressing her face.

Taking that as his cue, he leaned his face closer, absorbing every details even more before focusing on her parted lips. An inch away, and her eyes screwed shut, her breath hitched as the panic of the moment finally hit them both.

Her lips tasted like syrup.

Whether that was the lingering taste of her pancakes from this morning or it was just his brain coming up with the most ridiculous of notions, he found himself not caring in the slightest when all he wanted was to kiss her.

And he did so, relishing in the little mewls she produced when his lips pressed into hers. He used his height advantage to push a little more into her, his heart beating and his blood pumping in excitement.

Eventually, he pulled back, almost wanting to chase her lips for a second time but holding himself back to save her the pressure. Her face was positively basking in warmth and roses, her lips still ajar and making him want more.

She touched a finger to her lips, almost curling it, and she shuddered. "That was… wow," she breathed out. "So that's what kissing is like…"

"Yeah, it is," it shocked him by how much he enjoyed it, even though it shouldn't have. Something about being her first kiss was making it even more exciting for him. "Do you… want to kiss again?"

"C-Can we?"

"As many times as you want, Yuuki."

He could see the elation in her gaze when he promised that, bringing a smile to his face that melted away as he leaned in once again, lips pressed into hers as they kissed again.

His body flared. Yuuki was so new to all of this that he couldn't help but enjoy every passing moment, proving his promise to love her was not mere words, and to show just how much his heart flared with every piece of affection she gave him.

She was so welcoming, so warm. She felt so wonderful. Kissing her was wonderful, and he knew he'd fallen in love with the girl. Or, perhaps, he already had fallen in love with her a long time ago, and he'd come to terms with it.

That would have been the end of it, but at some point, his mind became a haze. All that he knew was that they kept kissing, deepening each one and making it last even longer than the last to the point that they were almost breathless at the end of it. But they were never away for long, his lips on hers and his tongue in her mouth somewhere along the way that left her moaning in want.

At some point, she had her hand looped around to grasp him by the back of his head, and he had his hand on the small of her back. At some point, he'd pushed her against the tree, far more aggressive than he should have been. Her little sounds had become louder, more wrought with want, as he kept his hands on her waist and rolled his tongue against hers, relishing in the sensation.

When he pulled back, a bridge of spit was all that remained between their lips, both teenagers panting as they stared into one another's eyes. Kirito couldn't tell when he'd stopped, but he wanted her again.

That was, until she forced him to stop with her next request.

"What you and Asuna did that night… I want it too," she whispered, chest heaving with every breath she took. "Can we..?"

The words were so powerful. He swallowed, feeling the electric in his skin. She wanted what he had with Asuna, his treacherous mind whispered to him. Give it to her.

But he pushed it down, relying on what little bits of courtesy that remained. "Are you sure about this? Once we do, there's no going back."

"I do," Yuuki nodded, taking his hand and resting it against her face. Her eyes, half-lidded, stared at him with want. "You're the man I want to give all of myself to. No one else."

And by tonight, she'll be having all of him, it seemed.

Their first time couldn't possibly be on some hill in the middle of the night. Not only was it improper, but it also risked the chance of someone discovering them on a patrol. He already had a heart attack when Yuuki walked in on him and Asuna post-sex. He didn't need a repeat of that.

That was why the couple, as impatient and out of their minds as they were, hastened to return to her mansion. The guards let them in with little question, though he feared that they might have some inkling as to what was going to happen behind closed doors.

At that point, though, with how hot his entire body was and how much he was trembling from excitement at the moment, he couldn't bother to care.

They didn't even reach her bedroom before he dragged her into another kiss, pushing her against the wall. Yuuki relinquished all control to him, moaning and bucking her hips against him that made him fully aware of how tight his pants were. He had half a mind to complain to Asuna, though he wasn't going to considering the direction of tonight's date.

When they finally broke into her room, his foot shutting it behind him, Yuuki threw herself at him and wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms around his neck and her face in his. He was becoming accustomed to her, and he was wanting more and more, carrying her to the bed and dropping her onto the mattress.

"Kirito…" She breathed out.

"Things will be scary," he said, popping the buttons loose and revealing his body. The girl below him visibly stiffened, her eyes tracing every curve and taking him in hungrily. It left him shuddering. "But I promise you, I won't hurt you. I'll be gentle."

"I know you will," she said, smiling. "Take care of me, okay?"

"I will, Yuuki. Now… pull your skirt up for me."

She hooked her fingers under her skirt, faltered for a moment, only to drag it up until it hiked over her stomach. A snow white panty with a little pink ribbon revealed itself to him, and there was no masking the visible stain at her crotch.

He lowered himself, inhaling the scent of femininity from her. She may have only been fifteen, but in his eyes, she was more than a woman, wanting for something beyond mere kisses and touches. Her body was honest in that regard.

Touching a finger against her soaked panties—"Eep!" A sharp cry was elicited. "That feels weird!"

"It does for now, but trust me when I say it'll feel good."

Not waiting any longer, he pressed his fingers against her clothed lips, stroking up and down and in circles, tracing the outer labia. Yuuki hissed and whined, biting down on her arm as she struggled to decide between pulling away or pushing herself into his touch.

More liquid ran free, soaking her panties until, eventually, he peeled it to the side to reveal her soaking cunt. The smell was intoxicating, his invigorated being taking every detail in with intense focus, and his mind had already pushed him into his next action with ease.

And that was to throw his very face right at her pussy.

"Eeeyah!" She cried out again, waist rising off of the bed almost entirely. "K-Kirito..! Stop—aaanh..! T-That feels weird..!"

Even if she told him to stop, he wouldn't have. Not with his tongue deep in her pussy walls, lapping up her fluids as he moved sideways. His lips, pressed on the outer labia, moved rhythmically to apply pressure, throwing the girl into disarray, her howls rising in volume with every passing second.

Her hips bucked against his face, her perineum thrust against his chin as he continued to eat her out. Her voice, so beautiful, was a song of a high tempo, her breathing growing faster as he dug deeper into her crevice. With the angle he had taken to, it was far too easy to go deep within her, tasting her insides in a way he was certain would be leaving her with stars.

A minute passes, and the rolling constrictions she was beginning to give off was as good of an indication as any other. She was about to hit her peak.

"Something's..! Something's happening, Kirito! It's coming! Kirito! Kirito!"

Her body shook as a tremor rippled from head to toe, her pussy gushing as he drank it all in. He kept himself buried in her, hands on her waist to keep her pinned down as she rode through her climax, screaming all the while.

It lasted for almost another minute before she finally calmed down and finished orgasming, her back dropping on the bed as she took in heavy breaths. He pulled back, watching how her lovely chest rose in an unsteady rhythm.

"How was it? Did you like it?"

"I-I… I told you to stop…"

"If I did, you would have been unprepared for the real thing," he chuckled, stepping away to unbuckle his pants. He pulled it off of him and threw it at a chair in the corner. And then, he peeled down his underwear, his cock finally free to reveal itself to the world, twitching and completely erect. It had been torturous trying to get here when their frisky kissing had gotten him so bothered even back on the hill, but it had finally come to this.

He moved towards her, climbing the bed and looming over her. Yuuki's eyes, focused on him once more, were glimmering with uncertainty. But more than that, she was excited. She wanted so much more, and her body was ready to give itself to him.

Still, there was at least one concern that he needed to let her know, and he did so, cupping her cheek gently. "I know that felt good, but what comes next might be painful. It's… It's something every girl has to deal with at first."

"Is… Is it bad?"

"Maybe? Asuna told me it hurt," he paused. "A lot," he winced at the fear on her expression. "B-But it gets better after a while! Like, the pain goes away soon! I promise!"

"I-If you say so."

"Yeah. It'll be fine. Just leave it to me."

Yuuki certainly planned on doing that, spreading her legs as best as she could and making sure her skirt wasn't obstructing her lower lips. He would have asked her to strip, but seeing her in this way was strangely erotic. It painted the image of a young schoolgirl whoring herself out, which was legally questionable and morally disgusting.

Personally, he liked it. And his dick seemed to agree.

He really hated himself, though. He and his freaking boner would find anything and everything sexy in this sort of situation. Damned hormones.

He grabbed his shaft, positioning the tip of his dick against her clit, stroking it lightly to get some feeling. Precum had already begun leaking, and he lathered it over the head, hissing at the sensitivity. Once he was done, he poked the head against her lips, making her yelp.

"I'm going in."

"O-Okay. Gently, okay?"

He nodded wordlessly, one hand manoeuvring his dick into her while the other gripped her by the thigh, keeping her spread open. He pushed forwards but found himself slipping loose, missing the mark. He tried once more, and veered to the side. He adjusted himself one final time, and slowly moved into her.

Her lips parted, and Yuuki groaned underneath him, feeling her cavern walls spread open to receive him. Kirito couldn't believe how tight her virgin canal was, bearing down on him in a delicious vice grip that, coupled with how wet she was, was a strange combination of ease of entering and delightful squeezing. It was the best of both worlds, and he pushed deeper.

He groaned, pushing until he felt the tip of his dick meet a resistance. Yuuki visibly stiffened, staring down at their connection.

"Yuuki," he whispered, leaning down towards her. "Come here. Kiss me."

"Kiri…mwhaawhmm…"

She didn't reject him in the slightest, accepting his tongue and moaning into him. When one of his hands cupped her breast over her shirt, she moaned even louder, bucking into him and trembling.

And, with her completely unaware and defenseless, her body slack and mind dancing on heated lust—

Kirito pulled back an inch, then speared forwards.

"AiiyAAAH!" Yuuki broke from the kiss, a guttural moan as her body convulsed from the pain lancing through her being, her walls clenching so tightly around him as her hymen was broken too. "AAAAII!"

"Yuuki..!"

He gritted his teeth through the pain, arms wrapped around her tight to support her. He could feel every visible wave of tremors coursing through her being, her nails digging deep into his back and drawing lines. Every fibre of his being was rampant now, and the sense of control was so feeble at this point.

But he held on. He promised Yuuki he'd be gentle, and he wouldn't go back on his words.

The seconds dragged on for a painstakingly long while, Yuuki trembling as wave after wave rolled across her. Her body heaved as she tensed and untensed, and with his lips on hers as she gasped into him, he could feel her pussy squeezing tightly around him. A quick look down to where they were connected showed a thin trail of blood running down her legs. "Are you okay?" He whispered, looking at her.

"K-Kirito…" She panted, tears running down her face, her lower lip bruised. Even then, she looked like the most beautiful girl in the world. "I, I don't… It fe-feels so different. I've never felt like this before."

"And I'll make it feel better," he brushed his finger across his cheek. "I, ahh… Goddesses, Yuuki, I promise you I'll make it all better. It'll feel so wonderful."

He waited for a little longer, giving her time to get used to the feeling of him inside of her. He tested the waters, pulling back a little before pushing in. Not even an inch, yet that little motion drew out sharp groans from them both, Kirito entire cock throbbing needily within her.

They kept at it that way for a little longer, Kirito drawing back even further and sheathing deeper every single time. Her voice grew in octave, whining and moaning with every motion, arms around his back and her breasts against his chest, scraping against cloth and leaving her to gasp with irritation and delight.

Silently, he tugged the ribbon free, setting it aside. He proceeded to unbutton her, then slipping it over her shoulders and baring her developing breasts to the cold, open air. Her nipples were pink, twin peaks that were perked and so ripe for the picking.

"K-KiriiaaAaAHN!" She yelped when his lips latched onto one teat. "D-Don't! Nnnooooh!"

The girl moaned helplessly as her body was subject to his whims, rolling her nipple over and under his tongue. He kissed deeply into the skin of her breast, salt of her sweat more than invigorating to him as he punched deeper and deeper into her with every thrust he gave.

There was no stopping their motions, too deep into their fucking that he would have thought them both animals. He was far too lost anyways, delighting in the sounds she made and the feel of her constriction, gradually loosening to fit him, pleasuring his cock as it coated it in even more juices, peaking his sensitivity even further.

Goddesses, there was nothing he could say to truly understand just what this felt like. Asuna was and would always be perfect for him; a snug fit that knew just the right timings to squeeze down on him and leave him wanting for more. Yuuki differed in that, since she was new, she was incredibly tight. And her constrictions seemed constant throughout, threatening to milk him dry.

It was wonderful. That was the crux of the matter.

Lifting her leg even higher, he began ramming into her faster, thrusting his hips forwards and even rougher. "Kirito! Waaah, i-it feels so good!" She screamed out, her chests bouncing up and down. She drooled as she stared at him, her face coated in crimson. "I, hoouuh..! I feel so full!"

"Me too. I love this. I love you, Yuuki," he panted, kissing her leg. "I feel so fucking good. You feel so good, Yuuki."

"Y-You too! Haah, haa..!"

With him ramming against her, Yuuki almost seemed to try to match his movements, bucking in time with his thrusts to connect them even deeper. He groaned at the sensations rolling in his core, his cock feeling fatter and far too tight.

There was a rising sensation deep down, and he knew what it was. His nerves, electrified, left him feeling wound up like a spring, so close to snapping.

"I'm getting close…" He grunted, slowing down a little to thrust even harder as deeply as he could. Yuuki's moaning turned into a banshee's howls.

"D-Do it! Fill me up! I-I'm all yours!" She screamed. "Fuck me, Kirito! J-Just use me, make me yours! I'll take it all!"

Goddesses, what was she saying? If she said these kinds of things..!

His weight dropped down on her. Yuuki claimed his lips, and they kissed deeply as her arms linked around his back, squeezing him tight. Her legs linked around his hips, flexing to buck herself against him with every thrust. She was tight, then loosened a little, then even tighter, ready to make that leap that would send the both of them over the edge.

And how badly he wanted that.

The moment hit him all at once—that he'd fallen in love with her, that he'd kissed her under the moonlit sky, that he was now fucking her so hungrily, that she was now moaning his name like prayers!

"T-Together, Yuuki! Just let yourself go! Fuck!"
"Kirito! Kirito! Aaha..! AaAAAAAH!"

Her face buried itself into the crook of his neck as her walls clenched down on him in a deathly grip. The straw was broken, and, as his vision white, he finally released, feeling his dick spasm as he shot cum into her over and over again, his own orgasm so immaculate he almost lost his entire breath.

The two screamed wordlessly as they rode out through their climaxes, their bodies flushed against one another. He could feel her twitching against him, and his own legs trembled every time his cock sprayed into her, less powerful but no less dizzying. It was a wonderful sensation that he'd feared becoming addicted to.

Well, he wasn't going to feel guilty for tonight, though. It had been utterly amazing.

Almost losing the strength in his arms and dropping his entire weight on her, he slowly pulled backwards. The girl beneath him shuddered as his cock was slowly pulled free. His own essence, her fluids, and trace amounts of blood could be seen on his dick, and he marvelled at the way her quim seemed to remain parted open, leaking his essence onto the mattress.

"Yuu… Aah… Yuuki," he whispered, laying on his side and pulling her into his arms. He kissed her on the crown of her head, then rested his head atop hers. "Are you okay, baby?"

"I… Mmmhwa…"

She was out of it. Clearly, their first time had taken a lot out of her, something which he'd expected. His soul hummed in delight at the fact that he had done this. That he'd reduced her into a slobbering, drunken mess, having more than enjoyed their fucking.

And he could have tried for even further, but he knew that doing so would have been a terrible idea, so he might as well let her get some rest. She deserved it.

Pulling the luxurious blankets over them (and mentally hoping that she knew the same spell as Asuna did to remove all traces of their sex), he hugged the girl to him, humming as he let the exhaustion take over. Gloomy darkness crept into his corner, and he submitted to it.

Just before he passed out, however, a soft voice broke the silence, weak yet filled with so much love that his heart soared. "I love you, Kirito."

Her hands around him squeezed a little tighter. And now, with the haze finally washed away and her words giving him nothing but happiness, he knew that he wanted to spend his life with both her and Asuna. Nothing would ever change that.

"Yeah… I love you too, Yuuki."

Author's Notes:

And there you go, Yuuki fans (myself included, lmao). We conquered this flag together, so hold your heads high and go forwards with pride.

You ever go to this website and hope to find a fic with Yuuki in it, then bemoan the fact that there just aren't a lot of them? In fact, here's an experiment: go to the filters, change the rating to 'All' and put Yuuki in the characters. Leave the other parameters as default, apply the filters, and you'll find a total of six tabs with fics putting Yuuki in the listed characters.

You might think that's a lot, but here's another experiment. Put Asuna in there. You get seventy-five tabs. And if you thought that was a lot, switch her name with Kirito, and you get one hundred and one tabs! That's a mindboggling gap!

Regardless, I am extremely happy that I've gotten to write this story to this point. And to all my readers thus far, I thank you for sticking with this story. It means a lot. In terms of writing style, characterization and plot progression, I think I've managed to find improvements all throughout, and this story came out a lot better than I thought it would.

Now then, to some of the reviewers' comments:

To Jpx0999, yes it is. The harem route has been activated, and we are going down that route. No brakes on this train.

Acropora, you are right on the money. They're going to turn Underworld upside down (and Kirito's head on a swivel. Poor dood will be struggling with headaches for years). Also, no, only Yuuki was watching Kirito and Asuna having sex in the previous two chapters. No one else has ever noticed.

I can tell you, SoundVenom, that all the girls of the main cast will be getting their fair share of spotlighting and moments. This is a harem story, and it's only a good harem story if all the girls get their chances, and all the girls win. That's something 100 Girlfriends taught me (in case you guys can't tell, I effin' love that manga. And the anime was a freaking masterpiece).

RedSS, buddy, you're not the only one dealing with the website's weird email issues. And I still haven't fixed mine yet, lol. Either way, thanks for all the reviews, and hopefully these past few chapters have been enjoyable for you. I myself had a lot of fun writing Yuuki, and hopefully you and everyone else reading enjoyed it too. And yes, Yuuki is tanned; I'm taking her iteration from the latest game, Last Recollection, where—rather than having creamy white skin like the anime and every other videogames—she's slightly browner in that game. It's a pretty nice look.

To everyone else who's reviewed, favourited, followed, read and what-have-you, my thanks go to you once more. And don't forget, we're just at Zakkaria, and we've only unlocked Yuuki. There's still so much more to go, so stick around if you're interested!

Also, just so everyone knows, but if I had to pick a top three girls from the entire series, it would be Yuuki - Yuna - Quinella. Sue me.