WARNING: This story includes mature and sexual elements. Readers, proceed at your own discretion.
Chapter 10: What Brand New Days The Goddess Brings
Yuuki looked different—far more different than he'd initially expected. And if he had to admit, she… looked great.
He was plentiful used to her tomboyish personality and her favouring non-girly outfits in games that they've played together, so seeing her in a proper maiden's dress was a complete one-eighty he wasn't expecting. And yet, somehow, she made it work, his eyes unwilling to look away.
Not like he would ever be saying that out loud, of course, because he knew any form of compliment given towards anyone of the opposite gender would end up with him getting teased by everyone else. No one would let him live it up down afterwards. So, for his sake, he'll just keep quiet.
Unfortunately, as if she'd somehow managed to read his mind, Yuuki's grin turned a little impish, hands on her waist. "Well then, Kirito, what'cha think? Do I look good in this, or am I a total bozo?"
"Wha—Bozo? You kidding me? You're fine."
"Just fine? Aww, so I guess doesn't work for me…"
He winced. And a quick glance at Asuna revealed the disappointment in her gaze, as if trying to say 'I expected better out of you'. Of course she'd side with Yuuki over him. They were so close with one another, almost akin to sisters. And if there was an opportunity to gang up against him, they would obviously take it.
So now, he had a dilemma; compliment Yuuki for the inevitable teasing by Asuna, or remain with his stance and get dunked on by the both of them. It was a win-lose versus a lose-lose.
…Man. To think that his biggest enemy in life was girls. Maybe that was just inevitable.
Grumbling, he crossed his arms, trying hard to keep his voice steady. "No, Yuuki. It's just… not the kind of look I would have imagined you going for in a million years, but right now?" He almost blushed. "You're beautiful."
His response predictably made her happier, her grin widening. "Gee, trying to flatter me? Guess I shouldn't have been surprised!"
"Wha—Why you..!"
"But thanks! Glad to know that I don't look half-bad in this. I didn't even plan to come in this to begin with!" The younger girl pouted, crossing her arms. "I was planning on coming in something more casual, but my maids didn't agree. A proper lady should dress up in only the finest of dresses the world has to offer," she said those words in a faux-posh tone, making him snicker. "And you, milady, are a wonderful lady who deserves just that. Geez! I didn't ask for any of this!"
Asuna chuckled. "It's fine, Yuuki. Just as Kirito-kun said, you look amazing."
"I sure hope so. Otherwise, I'll never be putting on something like this ever again."
As Asuna attempted to reassure her of her fashion, Kirito couldn't help but smile as he watched their interactions, reminded of the fact that these two girls were the best of friends unlike any other. In fact, he almost likened their relationship to his and Eugeo's, able to make banter and enjoy one another's presence without a care in the world.
…But that still didn't mean he was happy with all the teasing he got!
Clearing his throat, the two girls stopped chattering and looked at him once more, and he took the chance to speak up. "So, Lady Yuuki—"
"Lady Yuuki? Nuh-uh, no need for that, buster. Just call me Yuuki."
"…Yuuki, then," thankfully, none of the servants seemed disgruntled by his casual acknowledgement of their master, so he went ahead with it. "We need to know. The thing you said before about funding this town's reconstruction. You weren't kidding, right? That wasn't just you trying to pull our legs or anything?"
"Nope! We were being completely honest about that one."
"But… why?"
"Eh? Do I need a good reason for something like that?" Her blasé response threw plenty of them for a loop. "Hmm… Well, if there's any that I could give, I suppose it's just to return the favour."
"Return the favour? Of what?"
"Of you, silly," she giggled. "After all, you and Asuna saved my life. And seeing that you're living here now, I thought I may as well do something to help."
Interest spread within the area, everyone looking at the two of them curiously. "Saved your life?" Medina asked, eyebrows quirking. "How so?"
"Well… It was a long time ago. Like, long before Kirito even forgot his memories," Asuna must have told them about his situation, then. And they, just like her, decided to run with that story. "When I was a little younger, I was sick. Like, suuuper sick. I couldn't get out of bed, eat food normally or run outside of the house. I've had to spend almost my entire life confined to a little room, not knowing if today would be my last or not."
Everyone listening to her took on sympathetic expressions, listening to her words with rapt attention. For Kirito and Asuna, both of whom knew that she was speaking truthfully—that this was her reality outside of this world; that she was sickly girl with a body losing a fight to Acquired Immunity Deficiency Syndrome and many other diseases—it was difficult to imagine how it must be for her to tell them all of this.
He'd always known something was different about her when they first traded blows on that little island. Her skills were far and above anyone else that he'd ever fought, putting even Heathcliff to shame. With reflexes even better than him and a superior fighting sense, she must have had some kind of circumstances that allowed her to hone her skills to that level.
Finally uncovering the truth… well, it didn't make him any happier.
And yet, living with all of that, how could the girl sit there with a bright smile? How could she not be a smidge upset with the cards dealt to her?
Asuna had talked to him one night, crying over the truth that their friend was living with. And she'd spoken of how awed she was that such a young girl continue smiling regardless of her condition, wanting to live her life to the fullest. It was admirable.
"But then… one day, there was this boy. Someone who was, by all accounts, just an ordinary person," his mind returned to reality, looking back at the girl. Her smile had turned a little gentler, looking lost in memories. "He was with Asuna when she visited my family. We're really close friends, you see! And when we met each other, he—"
Called out the fact that she was living in a machine, thus capable of surpassing the limitations of a virtual reality world.
"—gave me the opportunity to run again."
"He did?" Eugeo blinked, looking at him. "How?"
"It's kind of crazy! Now that I think about it, I don't even know how he pulled it off, but he just did," she giggled. "One day after another, he'd always come by, attempting all kinds of things to try and treat my sickness. «Sacred Arts», traditional medicine, weird concoctions. Heck, he even spent all of his money to buy a doctor to look at me."
Everyone looked at him in an equal mix of exasperation and respect. He couldn't even rebuke her words because she was playing along with his story of being an amnesiac, and he wasn't supposed to know. Still, why was it that she made him seem like an idiot, even if he was?
"And then, one day, it just… worked. Like, all that pain in my body just magically went away. It was amazing!" She shot to her feet, smiling widely. "I couldn't believe it! I'd been told by all the medical professionals that my days would have been numbered. But now… now, I'm actually free—"
"—and now that I can live my life as I wish, I want to make the most out of it. And if it involves giving back to everyone for all the help that I've received my whole life, then I'd take it."
Selfless to a tee. He had a feeling that Yuuki in reality would have been this way as well, which was why he felt guilty knowing that her real body would be confined to her Medicuboid, unable to leave her sanitized confines to experience everything a girl like her should have been allowed to try.
Small mercies, then, that she would be allowed to try everything she'd always wanted in the virtual worlds. 'ALfheim Online' was where she and her guild had made a name for themselves, and where she'd met Asuna. They'd even gotten to play 'Gun Gale Online' after that, and he knew she enjoyed herself—or perhaps, she far enjoyed the time she got to spend with all the new friends she made.
And she'd been very vocal about how happy she was that she'd gotten to attend classes via the probe he'd made for her. Asuna had been grateful to him as well, and he felt that it was only right for someone to taste normalcy as much as possible. Others might have considered it mundane, but for himself, who had had that normalcy taken away from him during the SAO incident for years, he couldn't afford to take it for granted ever again.
"Therefore, I give you my word, here and now," she snapped her fist to her chest, almost like she was saluting. "I, Yuuki Asuka of House Asuka, seek to form a positive relationship with Zakkaria, and settle the entirety of your reparation fare. If you need anything more, you need only ask, and we'll do our best to support you."
"I… That is incredibly generous, Lady Yuuki. Is that truly alright?"
"Sure it is! What's the point of having money if it ain't being spent, much less so to help those who need it? Only good it can do if it's kept in a room building up into a pile is collecting cobwebs. Besides, our territory's small, so it doesn't need much for maintenance. We're getting by pretty well enough."
"It's much better than getting by," one of her guards corrected. "Since she has taken over the previously-named House Elgorn, our home, Reind Town, has gotten much-needed improvements in our infrastructure, medical facilities and security. We're far better under her lead than the previous head."
"Neat. Wait, hang on. Taken over the previous house?"
At that, Yuuki chuckled nervously, folding her arms behind her back. "That's, um, for another time. It's a long story."
He could very well imagine. If all of them had entered this world right around the same time, that meant that everyone only spent a couple of months in the Human Empire. There was feasibly no way someone would have been born in this world as an infant and grown up into a teenager. Even he, despite being here the longest, hadn't had that much of a headstart compared to the other girls.
So her being a noble makes a little more sense here, curious as her story sounded, rather than having been born into the family to begin with.
Sighing, he stood back and allowed Yuuki and Kelgam Zakkarite handle the politics of things. Things turned out well, though a little too conveniently. At this point, however, he should really start getting used to things happening like this. Saves him the headache.
Someone bumped their hand against his, prompting him to look into Asuna's eyes, those hazel orbs gentle and amused. "Told you, Kirito-kun. We prepared for everything."
"Still doesn't save me the heart attack," he grumbled back. "Still, at least you girls held onto your side of the bargain. Just don't try something like this ever again, alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Just a one-time thing."
The meeting ended in a shake of hands, a hug between Yuuki and Asuna, and him just happy that everything turned out okay. And here, he crossed his fingers and knew that he might be jinxing things, but maybe—maybe things can stay peaceful for the rest of their stay here!
As expected of a long journey from home, Yuuki and her people were allowed temporary residence in Zakkaria, receiving a warm welcome from the townsfolk after news of her support was brought to light. And Yuuki, with her chirpy attitude and ease of approach, made her everyone's favourite noble, much to his amusement.
He'd assumed that there would be trouble on the nobility side, seeing some house from another empire encroach on their territory and buttering up the people. Surprisingly, though, there was no such thing, the nobles just as relieved to be receiving help. Perhaps there'd be something later, but for now, there was no such points of concern.
And with their little group, she clicked with everyone right away; Medina respected her as a fellow noble, looking to her as a role model of sorts. Eugeo was obviously that kind of guy who liked everyone, but with Yuuki being Asuna's friend, he was more so happy with her addition. Asuna was obviously overjoyed with the younger girl's presence, so it was a good thing for everyone.
Everyone but him, though.
"The more we learn of you, the more I'm impressed," Medina said, crossing her arms. Her expression was gentle, respectful. "You're almost like a hero of the people, Kirito. Even if you don't give off that vibe."
"Hey, even I don't remember any of that. I lost my memories. This all sounds fictional."
"Perhaps, but it doesn't make it any less true," she smiled. "Hopefully you do end up getting all your memories back. You're a good guy."
He groaned but thanked her all the same. That the girls seemed insistent on painting him in such a positive light in the people's eyes was just embarrassing, but he put up with it regardless. Maybe it was payback for one thing or another. He could imagine the million ways he might have accidentally slighted them or something.
Maybe it's because of that time they played that idol game and he one-upped Asuna's team? Maybe they were upset with that, so Yuuki had been onboard with embarrassing him this way. He could imagine it being the case.
"So hey, you guys are planning to enter that Swords Mastery Academy over in Centoria, right?"
"That's right," Eugeo nodded to Yuuki's question. "I heard that those who do really well in that tournament post-graduation are allowed to become Integrity Knights. We're planning to do just that."
"Ooh. Sounds fun. Maybe I should attend as well…"
"Wait, really?" Both Eugeo and Medina blinked at her. "Lady Yuuki, are you skilled at fighting?"
"Yuuuuki. None of that 'lady' stuff with me," she scoffed, then smiled. "But yeah! You could say that fighting's my specialty. It's how I even inherited my house."
"Ah, yes. You mentioned that earlier. How did that come to be, La—" Her narrowed gaze made him pause. "…Yuuki."
"…Well, it's a long story, but I'll try to summarize it. So basically…"
As expected, Yuuki had managed to find herself in one of the single most ridiculous situations he could have ever heard of, that being she was summoned all the way in Southacroith. Of course, trying to make it seem natural, she explained that she was born there and had struck a friendship with him and Asuna, both of whom had visited her hometown a long time ago.
She recounted her sickness, her recovery, and then the things she got up to. Making friends, forming a little party, pursuing swordsmanship—nothing that stood out too much.
And then she got into the actually interesting part of her story, whereby she had met the leader of House Elgorn, who was described as a 'snobbish, self-entitled prick', which earnt a snicker from most of them. Regardless, any amusement was quickly drained when she told them that the noble was a slavedriver (in the literal sense), using any able-bodied men to work in the mines. Poor working conditions and equally poor medical facilities meant that everyone got sick very frequently, and not a single man did not suffer under his rule.
That all changed when she challenged him to the right of the house. There'd been no hesitation on his part. He must have assumed that a tiny girl like her would have been easy game. But Yuuki was a beast in a fight, and after his lost, she took over and began changing how things worked, making Reind Town a safer haven for its people.
Of course, without much knowledge in management and the like, it was no surprise that she would have had trouble trying to fix the many issues that permeated in the town. Thankfully, the old servants came around to educate her and help her through the processes, and some of the slaves signed themselves as her guards, hence the many men he had seen earlier having been ex-miners who devoted themselves to her service out of gratitude.
Ever since then, both House Elgorn, renamed to House Asuka to honour the first VR game she played with her sister and friend, and Reind Town flourished under her rule. It was as happy of a fairy tale ending as it could get.
"As to why I came here, it's 'cuz I got a letter from another friend," Yuuki told them. "So I came to visit. And when I confirmed that Kirito did indeed live here, I sent a missive back home to bring some guards, money and food, hence the carriages."
That meant that, when the girls met up that night, Yuuki had just stayed in Zakkaria. "I see. Well, thanks again for that," Kirito said.
"Ehh, it's fine."
"But there has to be something you're hoping out of this, right?" Medina asked. "I don't mean to accuse you of anything, La—I mean, Yuuki," she looked like she struggled to forego the formalities, but she pushed on regardless. "But isn't there some way this town could compensate you?"
"Hmm… Honestly, there's nothing in the world that anyone could give me that I wouldn't think I could achieve by my own efforts. We're doing pretty well in terms of money, territory and provisions. The only thing I could even think to ask for would be…"
Her eyes averted towards him. Everyone else noticed and turned to him, making him wince. Oh no. When it comes to Yuuki, there was only one thing he could imagine her wanting…
"You're thinking about fighting, aren't you?"
"Ding-ding! You got it in one!"
"You… like fighting?"
"Mmhm! Like I said. I was sick before, so I was literally stuck to my bed every single day. But after I got better, I discovered how much I enjoyed fighting people. And Asuna and Kirito are some of the strongest people I've ever duelled!"
To date, he still had more losses than wins against Yuuki in 'ALO'. It was a blow to his pride, but he sucked it up regardless because those wins were genuine; a result of her own hard work in the game. Oh, he could easily win it if he decided to pull out the Excalibur against her, but that felt like cheating, so he never did.
Doesn't mean that he couldn't sulk after every single loss, though. He deserved that much, at least.
"Yuuki turned out to be really good at fighting," Asuna giggled. "And with Kirito as skilled as he is, it's expected that they'd end up sparring a lot."
"And who's the better swordsman?"
Kirito grumbled. "Yuuki is," he admitted.
Eugeo and Medina looked surprised by that. "Really?" The blond said. "But you're so strong! I can't imagine anyone being better than you."
"Like I said, Eugeo; there's always going to be someone better than you, even if you don't know it. That's just how life works."
And while Eugeo took that to heart, perhaps thinking they were words of wisdom, Kirito's perception of that was a little saltier. Sure, he wouldn't boast of being the best, but he liked to think that he was plentiful good. He'd beaten Heathcliff and saved everyone. Even bested Eugene, Oberon and Death Gun!
And then for some girl to just kick his ass like no one's business was… urgh, it sucked.
Still, he wouldn't let that get between his and Yuuki's friendship. In a world filled with countless souls with crap personalities and hidden agendas, simply having someone as optimistic and pure as her in his life was a blessing. He would never forget that.
As they resumed talking once more, he missed the way Asuna and Yuuki shared glances—the older girl giving the younger one a reassuring look, whilst the latter seemed nervous—only for them to join the conversations once more.
"Haah… I'm exhausted… I need a break…"
Fresh from the baths and having changed into some fresh clothes, the ravenette found his way to his bed and deposited himself atop it, groaning in relief.
There was a thing where mental and physical exhaustion tended to accumulate over days, the effects lingering after the starting point. He could feel it hitting its peak now, and a good night's sleep would be the cure to everything. The only thing he would have to make sure was that he wouldn't oversleep. The chieftain wouldn't be forgiving enough to let that slide.
He sighed, turning himself around so that he could stare at the ceiling. Moonlight beamed into the room, a gentle white sheen that was calming. If it was raining right about now, it would have given the perfect mood for a warm cup of tea or just snuggling in his blankets, though he would feel bad for Eugeo, who was currently assigned for night watch. It would be a while before he gets back.
'So much has happened in such a short while. It's almost enough to make my head spin.'
Still, there were plenty of good things that came out of everything as well, and he refused to ignore that. The girls may have caused some damage, but they were taking responsibility for it all, so there was no point beating them over it. He had to accept things and let it go.
And getting to see Yuuki again reminded him of the rest of his friends, and he'd be lying if he said he didn't miss them. Sinon, Liz, Silica, Leafa… He hoped they were doing alright, wherever they are. Leafa, especially, had supposedly left Zakkaria to go somewhere else to find him. But if she'd been there in the manor during their meeting, then maybe she wasn't too far away.
Oh well. It wouldn't be much longer now before they were finally allowed to leave for Centoria. By then, maybe they could all get together and hang out again. He especially needed to calm them down for what happened to him. That must have been a shocker to learn.
Before his eyes could fall shut, Kirito heard something. Gentle footsteps padded outside of his room, making him sit up and stare at the door. He almost missed it, but with how quiet the barracks were tonight, it was akin to a pin drop in the silence.
Slowly, the knob turned, and he had half a mind to assume it was Eugeo. But it couldn't have been him. He'd left shortly earlier, and there should be some time before he—
'Oh,' he thought dumbly. 'Asuna.'
And if it wasn't just the sight of his girlfriend here in his dark room that was enticing enough, it was the babydoll she'd chosen to wear to his room that really left him speechless. Thankfully, it wasn't transparent, and coupled with the low pigtails, she looked utterly adorable.
Kirito gulped. "Asuna, hey. Um, Eugeo's out—"
"Yes, I know. I saw him earlier."
"Wha—Dressed like that?!"
Her laughter at his affronted response had him calming slightly. "Of course not! Goodness, no one saw me like this, I assure you."
"I… Alright, if you say so," that was good. She was showing off more skin than he felt appropriate for anyone's eyes to fall upon. The skirt barely covered above her thighs. "Come on in. Make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you."
Shutting the door (and locking it, which was both nerve-racking and exciting), the girl moved over to sit beside him, leaning her head against his shoulder. He took that opportunity to slide his arm around her back, relishing in her presence.
"Sorry," she whispered. "For troubling you so much these past few days. It was never our intention."
"It's fine, it's fine. I mean, maybe I overacted, but I like to think it was still in-line with everything that's transpired."
"No, you're not at fault. I assure you, your reaction is definitely reasonable."
"Right. Well, it's all over, so there's nothing left to complain about," he hummed. "I still wished I knew that you were going off to see our friends. I wanted to meet them too, you know."
"Yeah… But they thought it wasn't time. The girls said they had things to settle first before they felt comfortable with seeing you again."
"That so..? Well, I guess I can wait a little longer."
"And… that's why I came tonight," she whispered. Something in her voice made him suck a breath. Maybe it was the way her voice grew an octave deeper, or how she squeezed herself against him a little closer, helping him to a lot of feeling. "I needed to make it up to you after everything we've put you through. Would you…" She batted her eyes at him, eyelashes fluttering prettily. "Be willing?"
"Asuna…"
Without even saying a word, he pulled her in for a kiss, tongue pressed against tongue. Her hands moved up his arms, nails raking against his skin, electric racing. His own hands rested on her waist, and he stiffened upon listening to her moan into him.
When they pulled away, a bridge of spit between their lips, they immediately connected once more, unwilling to stay away from one another for too long. Kirito found himself ignited without trouble, upping the tempo and clawing at her body, hungrily devouring every part of her. And with how eager she was to accept his ministrations, he took the charge without care.
At least, until she pushed him away by the chest. Panting, and with a sign of a bruise at the corner of her lip, he couldn't find himself tearing his gaze away. But the simple act had him stopping himself immediately, noticing her intent to say something.
"Is everything okay?"
"I-I'm fine," she breathed out. She didn't look like she wanted things to stop, though something was clearly on her mind. "I just… thought about telling you something, but I don't think tonight's the right time for that."
"What do you mean?"
His question was left unanswered for a moment, her gaze drifting towards his room's door. He quirked a brow at that, but she shook her head, smiling at him afterwards. "It's nothing. Maybe I'll tell you another time."
"You sure? It's nothing important?"
"No, nothing like that. Well, I suppose it is important for us, but I'll tell you later."
Something in her words made him stiffen. "Asuna, hey. Listen, I know I was mad at you before, but don't think that I hate you or anything. I wouldn't—"
"What?" She blinked. "No! No, it's nothing like that! I promise you, it's something completely different!"
"Good," he took her hands in his, grasping them gently. "I was upset, but I couldn't bring myself to hate you for the rest of our lives. I want you in mine, after all, and what good is there to keep hating my future wife?" He brought them close to his lips, kissing the back of her hands, making her blush. "And if Agil's taught me anything worthwhile, it's that, if there ever comes a point where my anger towards you ever hits a boiling point, then I just need to remind myself of a thousand reasons why I fell for you in the first place, which makes it worthwhile in the end."
"K-Kirito-kun…"
"To reiterate, that's something Agil taught me. I couldn't come up with something that profound on my own," he scoffed. "Bastard's got the marriage advantage over all of us."
The words had the intended effect of making her laugh, which he joined with ease. "You're not wrong there. He always was a romantic. Him and Trish are so perfect for each other."
"They are. And I know that, together, the both of us can be just like that someday."
"And to think you used to call yourself dour," she teased, kissing him on the nose. He almost leant forward to chase her lips. "You've turned out to be quite the charmer."
"And a lot more than that," he growled, pushing her down to the bed. She giggled, pulling him down with him into another deep lip lock before he pulled back, staring down at her with a hungry gaze. His hands on her waist, her legs around his, and everything right with the world—he couldn't have asked for more. "You've got a lot of making up to do after all the antics you've pulled, little lady. And I promise you this… I'll leave you so sore you'll have to crawl back to your room."
"I wouldn't want it any other way…"
It didn't take long from there to get into the mood, their bed becoming victim to their rambunctious activities. He breathed into her neck, melting into her body with no hesitation. She howled his name like a banshee as he abused her body for their enjoyment, lost in their little world as they had been so many times.
If only he'd paid more attention to their surroundings. Then maybe he would have known that they'd earned themselves an unknown spectator, the person unwilling to budge, watching them with quiet focus…
Their official duties were to come to an end by the twenty-eighth of the second month. That meant, according to his calendar, there was around two more weeks left before they could leave. And just thinking that was… well, he didn't know how to put it into words.
After spending so long in this town, both through its highs and lows, Kirito knew that he'd miss Zakkaria for sure. Not as much as Rulid, though; that place held a special place in his heart. But the people here had been kind to him and his friends. He would certainly remember this place for a very long time.
At least the remainder of their days here would be going smoothly. Yuuki had stuck to her promise and seen to all the issues brought about by their antics. People were getting their homes back, a chance at a stable livelihood, and a safer environment overall.
Even the nobility weren't spared of investigations, looking to clean out any criminal activities before they could fester. Fortunately, all the houses, even if they hadn't been involved in any dirty work prior, took things seriously and reaffirmed their promise to stay true and just, promising to uphold the ideals that Yuuki represented. That was the best he could hope for. And speaking of Yuuki…
His sword was snapped out of his hold in a quick strike, making a clean arc through the air before burying in the dirt a fair distance away. Something swiped in his direction, the jet-black metal looking like a work of art. Its wielder, grinning at him, pumped a fist in the air, whooping loudly.
"And that's another victory in my book! Let's gooo!"
"Urgh. Should've seen that one coming," he groaned, no heat in his words. "And I felt like I was close to getting the one-up back there. Guess I thought wrong."
"Nah, it's fine. I think if you were a little quicker on the swing, you would have totally caught me off-guard."
That was the thing; he couldn't. If it was a battle of pure reflexes, Yuuki far outmatched him. She'd lived almost her entire life in the virtual space, so she had ample time to acclimatize herself to her physical performance in this realm. Even he with his two years in Aincrad couldn't hope to beat her.
Ah well. You just can't win everything. He'll take that loss with pride.
At least their spectators got to enjoy quite the show. Asuna clapped at the end of their match, whereas Eugeo and Medina looked supremely surprised by the display, having watched them with rapt attention.
"That was incredible," Medina ended up saying. "I assumed Kirito had been exaggerating about your skills, but nothing about that was far from the truth…" She frowned. "And even beyond swordsmanship, you have such an honourable personality and conviction as well. I suppose I, too, have much to work on if I seek to become someone like you."
"Hey, don't worry about it! I mean, everyone has their own pace at things, right? I'm sure you'll turn out great in the end."
"I certainly hope so," the redhead smiled. "Thank you, Yuuki. You're just like my father; the shining example of nobility that everyone should endeavour to be. I hope many learn to take after you."
"E-Ehehe, oh stop it…"
Smiling at the way she blushed, Kirito accepted a bun from his friend, who scooted over to let him sit down on the ground. They were out in the training grounds, having spent quite some time practising against one another. Yuuki had swung around halfway through their sessions, busy with some discussions with the nobles earlier, and no one could turn her away the moment she grew stars in her eyes, too excited to have a go at everyone.
So then, Yuuki had run off to get changed into a black tunic and sweatpants, and she proceeded to live up to her title as Zekken, beating everyone with much ease. Eugeo and Medina were unprepared for her incredibly aggressive fighting style, and though he and Asuna fared a little better against her, she swiftly beat them and claimed the crown of unbeaten swordswoman.
Coming from any other person, he might have felt annoyed. But this was Yuuki, who didn't boast of her wins like anyone with a stick up their ass. She didn't have a bone in her body capable of hurting other people's feelings. She merely enjoyed the thrill of the fight. That was why even losing to her made him feel happy, knowing that at least she got to have something to be happy for—
"Oof!" The girl fell right beside him, making him jump. She grinned his way. "Sorry, kinda' need a break. You don't mind?"
"Nah, it's cool," he grabbed his canteen and offered it to her. "Drink?"
"Sure!"
When she took it and uncapped it, Yuuki faltered temporarily when it was brought close to her lips. Face heating up, she eventually took the plunge and took a sip, to which he could only laugh at.
It was sometimes hard to remember that, for as talented of a fighter that she is, she was the same age as Silica, making her sixteen this year. It was a little jarring to think of at times. Coupled with her inability to experience the world like any normal girl, there were plenty of things she was woefully unknowledgeable in, so seeing her so flustered over sharing a drink was… well, it was cute.
'Guess that's for her to slowly learn over time. She's already so good at socializing than I ever was my whole life, so it'll turn out well for her,' he thought to himself, accepting his canteen once more and drinking from it. He ignored the slight whimper she gave off. 'I just hope no one takes advantage of her.'
Because if there was some bastard out there thinking they could get away with tricking her, then they'll have one thing or another coming at them—be it his fist or Asuna's fury. One thing was far worse than the other.
"Hmm… The weather's kind of nice, isn't it?"
"It is, yeah. A little cloudy, so it's nice for a little nap—"
"Don't," Eugeo and Asuna echoed, making him frown.
"What? I wasn't suggesting a nap."
"Kirito, you're the one person who is totally suggesting a nap when you said that," his best friend rolled his eyes, ignoring his protests. "While we don't have any more duties today, I'd really hope you can at least wait until we get back in our rooms to pass out."
"You make it sound like I turn into an unmoveable boulder the moment I close my eyes," judging by their gazes, that was exactly what they thought about him. "Phooey. Y'all are just spoilsports, you know that?"
Just before anyone else could put in a word, however, a body collides against his side, making him freeze. "Mmm… Actually, now that you said that, a nap does sound nice…" Mumbled Yuuki. This close, he could pick up on the trace of lavender wafting off of her, and the warmth of her body as she snuggled against him was soothing. "Wake me up in five…"
"Wha—Yuuki? You can't actually think about sleep aaaand she's asleep," he sighed, her little breathing already steadying out. "Welp, she's out like a light."
"And she'll stay that way until she wakes up. Don't move and bother her rest, Kirito-kun."
"Huh? Wait a minute. Yuuki gets a free pass to nap, but I don't?"
"Lady Yuuki was busy in meetings the entire day handling Zakkaria's reparations. She deserves a moment of rest. You," Medina scoffed. "Have only been patrolling Zakkaria. We should be used to that at this point."
"I'm pretty sure our job is a lot more physically-draining compared to sitting at a table and listening to old dudes drone for hours."
"Just let her sleep."
Bah. Typical for everyone to side with the cute, sleeping girl over the guy being used as a makeshift bed. Bed? Well, whatever he is right now, he doubted he'd be free from this position for a while, so he worked to find a more comfortable position to sit in.
Still, Kirito couldn't help but smile, surprised that Yuuki was comfortable with this level of proximity. They were good friends, he wouldn't deny that, but he always felt like she'd prefer doing something like this with Asuna instead.
But thinking back on it now, he realized that… yeah, Yuuki had stuck to him just as much as she did with Asuna. And there were more than a few occasions when it had been just the two of them that logged into the game together, the rest of their friends occupied with one thing or another. They'd always ended up tackling quests, going on picnics and even napping together in his log cabin. They were that comfortable with each other. When put like that… well, he felt flattered that she liked him enough to open herself up like this.
Angling his head a little to the side to take in her sleeping complexion, Kirito couldn't help but admire her features; long eyelashes, a cute little nose, her lips parting periodically as she breathed softly, her hair brushing against his face. She really was a cute little girl, and he couldn't believe that someone like her was sleeping against him so casually. Reminds him of Suguha when they were young kids. Back before he'd decided to be a prick and close her off.
"You know, I bet that she would be happier if you stroked her head."
"In her sleep?" He quirked a brow at her. "That just sounds creepy."
"Hey, she doesn't mind it. Just don't be so weird about it."
"See, that's easier said than done. I don't know how you're fine with this."
She shrugged casually. "It makes her happy, so I'm okay with it," that was the single most smooth-brained logic he had ever heard her say, yet something he'd gotten used to coming out of her mouth at times. "Go on."
Realizing that the other two were watching him now, too, he felt himself blushing a little. Still, with some reluctance, he reached out to stroke her head with his other hand, slipping his fingers through her hair and stroking her scalp gently.
As if she could sense it in her sleep, Yuuki mumbled appreciatively, stroking her cheek against his shoulder, leaning closer into his touch, smiling cutely in her sleep. It was a sight he burnt into his memory, and he opted to continue his treatment.
This moment reminds him of how often they'd had these intimate moments. She often leant against his shoulder, he'd stroked her head plenty of times, she fed him once or twice (away from everyone's eyes, and certainly embarrassed by the end of it), and he taught her how to fish before. She'd always asked him for praise after every fight, and there was no missing the way she preened every time he did. And if there was any other girl besides Yui that he felt comfortable hugging, it was her—more so than even Asuna.
That hadn't changed since she entered this world. Sharing dinner, talking over patrols, training together, and even napping together under a tree—he'd gotten flack for that from Asuna, though she'd thanked him for looking after Yuuki. He doubted she needed much protecting, but she was still a girl, and he would have been a terrible friend to leave her alone.
"If only I could memorialize this moment in a painting or something."
"Eugeo, you try something like that, and I will personal eat your arm."
"…That's actually the most terrifying threat I have ever heard so far."
It must have been around an hour or two later that Yuuki finally began to move, mumbling something before finally leaning away from him, rubbing at her eyes. Her hair was a little fuzzy, what with her having moved in her sleep somewhat.
"Mmhhwa… Asuna..?"
"Sorry. Asuna's already left. So did the others. They've got stuff to do."
Hearing him voice made her slowly turn towards him, eyes still shut. When she squinted them open to stare at him, it took her a while to get her gears jogging before she finally recognized him. Scarlet widened almost immediately, her mouth falling agape.
"K-Kirito?"
"That's me," he grinned. "Had a good sleep?"
"Wha—But what are you—But that's—Wait!" She suddenly shot to her feet. "How long have I been asleep for?!"
"Hmm. Three hours, I think," the sky had darkened considerably, and he was expecting nightfall soon enough. "Good timing, though. Any longer, and we would have been out in the cold. It's not exactly a cold season, but I'm pretty sure I speak for the both of us that we'd prefer a bed over grass, yeah?"
"Then… W-Was I sleeping here, this whole time, and you..?"
"Ehh, it's fine. It worked out for me too," he chuckled, slowly rising to his feet as well. "I got some rest too, so I don't mind. How about you? Feeling better?"
Face a dark crimson and eyes averted from him, she did eventually give him a tiny nod. Her hands clasped each other in front of her, and seeing her seem so tiny and so flustered as she was now, a stark contrast to her bubbly and confident self…
His heart beat a little faster. She really was adorable. How did someone like her exist?
"Y-Yeah. I guess I was a lot more tired than I initially thought, but I swore I got enough sleep even if it might have been some kind of jetlag from all that travelling and I'm just rambling now," she shook her head. "T-Thanks. For, um, watching out for me," her words were a soft whisper, her gaze shifting to him slowly, a tiny, shy smile aimed his way that had his breath getting caught in his throat. "I suppose it's already late. Um… Guess I'll see you later?"
"Uhh. Y-Yeah, of course. Goodnight, Yuuki."
"G-Goodnight!"
He watched her flee the scene, taking off like a speeding bullet. Kirito watched her go before staring away, taking a deep breath to calm his raging heart. Honestly… She really was amazing. And he was lucky to have someone like her to call a friend.
And just as Medina said, if more people took after her, then the world would have been a happier place. Perhaps that was one thing to look for, if nothing else.
Smiling to himself, he headed back inside the barracks, hoping to catch a good night's sleep after a nice dinner and an equally nice bath.
Knowing his luck, things never do go as planned. He had expected that, though it was a completely different thing when his luck decided not to dump a terrorist attack on his lap, but his goddess of a wife. Literally.
"A-Aaaah! K-Kirito-kun..! You're being too rooouuugh! I-I'm gonna'..! I'm cumming! Cumming!"
He would have called himself hilarious if it weren't for the fact that he was more focused on the taste of her teat between his lips, rolling it with his tongue as he bounced her atop his lap, his member squeezed tightly as his wife climaxed. His fingers dug into her arching back, feeling the convulsion of pleasure spread through her body, and he simply powered through the motions without pause, loving the way she screamed his name.
They'd gotten more frisky ever since Yuuki's arrival, finding opportunity in either Medina's or Eugeo's absence to use one or the other's room. He might have thought that firmer caution would be more preferable, but he never could say no to Asuna, so every time she pulled him onto a bed, they were straight to fucking almost right away.
Now was no different, and with her peak over, Kirito continued ramming himself up into her tunnel, relishing in the warmth surrounding him. She felt moulded to him; a perfect fit that he just couldn't get bored of no matter how many days or nights they stole from the world to kiss and fuck—and many more, though he supposed everything imaginable was what transpired.
And if he enjoyed himself, he could only imagine how it must be for her, the constriction relaxing for a moment before tightening again, making him grunt. Her fingers dug into his back, nails raking into his skin and scratching against him. The pain invigorated him, and he pulled her down harder onto him, hitting as deep as he could go.
"Y-You really are such a brute…" She whispered, falling into her usual dirty talks that never failed to make his blood pump faster. "Thinking—Aaahnn..! Thinking that you could just… t-take that dirty, fat cock and pump it into my pussy…"
"I'd do anything if it means doing it to you," he grumbled, breathing into the nape of her neck and feeling her shudder. "I'll fuck you so hard, so deep, and I'll put a baby in your womb. I'll make you fat, and you'll carry our child for everyone to see. You'll walk down the streets and everyone will see that Little Miss Perfect isn't as pure as everyone thought she was."
"Y-You wouldn't..!" She moaned. Her words contrasted with her growing tightness.
"I would. And you'd love that. I bet you'd want me to put a baby in you, wouldn't you?"
"I don't! Haah! I don't..!"
"You do. And I'll give you just that," with ease, he twisted them around and pushed her down onto her bed. Her hair was undone, splayed all around her in a mess. Sweat glimmered amongst the bruises he'd left on her skin, her scent intoxicating. "Now stay still, and take my fucking seed like the good bitch you are!"
"N-Nhooo! D-Don't!"
If she'd been genuinely resistant to his efforts, he would have stopped in a heartbeat. But again, her words contradicted with her actions, her legs wrapped around him to pull him in deeper, her hands thrown above her head to present herself as his prey. She wanted this, and he would have been a fool to deny her her wants.
Kirito dove in, claiming her lips with no shortage of eagerness. Moaning into one another, he pressed his fingers deep into her hips, slamming into the deepest reaches within her. Asuna moved to match his motions, raising her hips every time he slammed downwards, and feeling their connection left the two breathing and moaning like animals.
Her visage. Her smell. Her words. Her warmth. Her touch.
Too much sensation bloomed in his groin, pressed against hers as he tried to reach his own climax. He'd managed to hold himself back through three of her own, though he could feel it now, rapidly approaching. He was at the edge of the cliff, and just a little more would finally push him over.
"Fuck! You feel so gooood!" He buried his face into the nape of her neck. "I'm getting close! Rrgh..! Take it in, you hear me..?!"
"I..! I will! Give it to me! Haaah! So close! A little bit more! Cumming, cumming, CUMMIIIIING~!"
One stroke, then another—and the final push, with her pulled to the very base of his cock, had his balls convulsing as his release sprayed into her deepest recesses, colouring their visions white as they screamed through their climaxes. His arms were wrapped tight around him, and hers around him, and their bodies were quickly sapped of whatever strength remained.
It took long. Too long, before their crash came to an end and the two slackened, collapsing on the bed in an entanglement of arms and legs, his dick buried deep in her quim. The boy panted, still trying to fight off the wave of pleasure wracking his body.
'Bloody hell… That… was something else…'
It felt like every night always got better. Whether that was true or not was probably more psychological than anything else, but it didn't change the fact that he was always left breathless by the end of it. And he liked to think that Asuna shared that sentiment. She wouldn't be panting so hard if she wasn't.
"That… was wonderful…" She said his thoughts out loud, smiling bashfully at him. "And I'm glad you enjoyed that… You were certainly heated tonight…"
"Ah… W-Well, I guess I got into it a little too much, I suppose."
"It's fine, it's fine. I loved it as well," her hands danced down her toned abdomen, making him suck in a breath. Seeing the reddened skin, sheen of sweat and minor traces of his essence leaking out of her lower lips was a massive turn-on. "I'm just glad you're okay with all of that. I know I tend to, um, go a little too far."
Way more than a little far. There'd been a time when she'd pretended to be his freaking daughter; called him daddy, talked about cheating on her mother and proving herself to be the better fuck out of the two.
It was one of the more terrifying sex talks they ever had. And he would die before he admitted how hot that was. Asuna really was a beast in sex.
A soft hand crept up his arms, tracing little figures in his skin. It was enough to make his body vibrate with energy once more, and he was about to accept her invitation for another round.
But the look in her eyes, soft and almost uncertain, stopped him immediately.
"Asuna? You alright?"
"…I just… You know, I wanted to tell you this for a really long time, but I couldn't find the courage to do so. But leaving it unspoken for any longer would just hurt her."
"Her..?" He frowned, slowly sitting up. He sucked in a breath when he pulled out of her, feeling the cold air against his softening member, his excess fluids pouring out of her. It was all so tantalizing, but he forced himself to focus once more. "What is it? Did something happen?" Her eyes looked away from him. "Tell me. I'm not going to be mad."
"…Kirito-kun. You know that I love you, right? More than anything else in the world."
"I do. And never goes a day that I don't ask myself what I've done to deserve you."
"The answer would be obvious, wouldn't it?" She scoffed, looking his way once more with a soft expression. "I fell in love with the boy who never stopped running forwards, carrying all the burden on his shoulders like an idiot because he couldn't bear the idea that he would never be enough for the few people that cared about him," he winced at her words, unable to rebuke them in the slightest. Her hands grasped his, however, and every anxiety left his body. "I love you for you. And you are loved by so many more. Your parents, your sister, your friends. I'm sure that your family, if they were still alive, would love you just as much."
He'd told her about his situation, after everything had calmed down significantly. Hearing her reassure one of his deepest worries helped chase away those demons. "…Thanks. That means a lot to me."
"And that's why, I just want the best for you. I want you to be happy."
And like that, his initial joy plummets, a ghost of a heart left behind. "W-What? Asuna, are you suggesting that we..?"
"Huh? What? No!" She rose up as well, a little shaky at first before propping herself up on her bed with both hands. "What made you think I was considering breaking up?"
"I-I don't know. I just thought, with the way you started things off, mentioning this and that, maybe…"
"Buster, I am very determined to make sure we enter our mid-twenties with a ring on both our fingers. Yui will have her parents, her grandparents, and a little sister—or a brother, I don't mind—and nothing will change that."
That was quite the declaration. But it was enough to calm him once more, relief flooding his chest. "I see," he breathed out. "Okay. But then, what did you want to talk about?"
"That's not for me to say. It'll be a little easier if she explains," she smiled. And then, her eyes moved towards the door. "Come on in."
The door swung inwards, and Kirito's body froze, mind coming to a halt. Any thought of jumping out the window, or hiding Asuna, or throwing the blanket over themselves to cover their bodies or something just shattered like glass, the fear and disbelief rooting him to his place. Even if his thoughts ran a mile, it felt like his limbs had just locked up, keeping him still and unmoving, awaiting their fate.
Padded feet walked into the room on the cold, wooden floor. She wore a simple undyed nightgown, the hem of the skirt fluttering against the floor. Purple hair trailed behind her, long and shining beautifully from the gentle glow, highlighting her figure as if she was some kind of angel.
But she was no angel. She was something more.
"Y-Yuuki?"
The Absolute Sword, goddess of Underworld, stood in their room, blushing to the tip of her ears. The door closed behind her, and his world was about to be upturned once more.
Author's Notes:
Oh my god, oh my god! It's happening, people! It's finally happening!
Look, I hate to leave it as a cliffhanger there, but good things come to those who wait. Mind you, I'm just as bummed out because I haven't even written this chapter. So hol'up and let me cook.
Also, I peeked into the reviews and noticed more than a bit of confusion. Fair, considering how, if this story is intended to follow the canon storyline (which it does), then Yuuki should be dead. However, I'm taking liberties with her existence to satisfy her presence as Gladia, as she is portrayed in Last Recollection.
So, um, yeah. Even looking throughout this chapter, I've made plenty of references to other games; Fatal Bullet and Memory Defrag to name a few. In that essence, I'll simply say that the primary focus of this fic is Underworld alone, and it's the baseline SAO-verse from the anime and light novels that I am using. Regardless, forgive me if I do continue taking elements from other universes. It just seems more fun that way.
As for Yuuki's fate… well, that's a long ways from now, though I don't intend to ignore that particular bit.