Unpacking

Kirito and Suguha's mom had finished preparing the food awhile ago and instead of entering she listened as they discussed the beta tester shirt. When Suguha finished reminding Kirito how much he's gained from his experiences she entered with two teriyaki chicken burgers with hot sauce on the side. "You sure do have enough to make a lot of these Kirito." She smiled, purposely ignoring the tension between her two children.

Suguha got up and shoved the SAO shirt into Kirito's arms before walking out of the room with tears in the corners of her eyes. His mom put the food down on the desk before speaking. "She's so proud of you." Her hands were clasped in front of her chest. Kirito gripped the shirt and clenched his teeth at her words.

"I'm so sorry that this weight is being placed on your shoulders Kazuto. You have already been through so much and handled yourself so well. I know that the two of you are the best chance those people have."

Kirito's dam broke and he fell to his knees. She rushed to him and he sobbed on his mother's shoulder. "It's my fault those people are even going through this."

"Oh. Did you create the death game?" She asked as she patted through his hair.

"No, but I gave them the tool to." He sounded broken.

His mother pulled away and lifted his chin so he could see her eyes. "Remember when you were little and you got your first practice bamboo sword?"

"Kinda?" His eyebrows knit together.

"You took it with you to school to show your friends. You even let anyone who wanted to hold it and showed them a tree they could hit with it. One of those boys took that katana and purposely hit his friend so hard in the ribs he had to be seen by the school's nurse. You were so mad at that kid that you were given a notice for swearing." She chuckled at the memory of him coming home, head hanging low, handing her the note and saying "I'm sorry, but it was worth it." And stomping off to his room. She kissed his forehead, now wrinkled with hurt and concern. "Some people use other people's good intentions to hurt other people."

Suguha sat against the wall just outside the door and had been crying since she heard him break down and now she sat there hoping he would release himself from so much blame and pain.

At Asuna's family home she had finished packing and Sinon helped carry the three pieces of luggage down to the front door.

"Well, I guess you'll be needing a car to get these to the airport..." Sinon felt a knot forming in her throat as she smiled. "So, I guess this is where I say see you later."

Asuna hugged her friend. It took awhile for them to warm up to each other, seeing each other grow and work through their traumas had brought them closer over the years. "Thank you Sinon." She squeezed her friend hard before releasing her.

"Of course." Sinon went to leave but before exiting the Yuuki house turned. "I believe in you both. Please tell him for me?" Little tears were pooling in her eyes. Asuna nodded her head slightly. When Sinon turned to leave they trailed down her cheeks.

Asuna found her mom sitting in the living room, staring out the window holding a tea cup in her hand but not drinking the tea.

"I thought you would've gone to bed by now." Asuna said as she sat on the ottoman in front of the oversized chair her mom was sitting in.

"I'll sleep after tomorrow." The lump in her throat was evident in her words.

"Mom..." Asuna whispered. Ever since she brought her mom to the cabin on Aincrad they'd slowly groan closer, and yet it still surprised Asuna sometimes when her mom was affectionate towards her.

"I'm worried for you and Kazuto." She confessed to her daughter.

"What do you mean? We've done this before... a couple times actually." She tried her best reassuring smile.

"No you haven't." He mother finally turned to face her. "This time you're going in on the heels of disappointment. We have our differences— but I know my little girl. I know how much work you put into your wedding and say what you will about being married in your games—" her hands tightened around the cup. "You want this marriage to be real."

Asuna had squeezed her eyes shut as tears began to spill and shake her head. Her mother pulled her into a hug, laying her daughter's head on her chest while Asuna cried.

Her mother smoothed her hair after a moment. "It's still going to happen. Somehow, even with all the detours the two of you take, even I can see how unbreakable what you two have is."

"Thank you mom." Asuna sniffled as she wiped the tears from her eyes and started to try and regain her composure. The sudden hug from her mother was a second surprise from her mother that she gladly accepted.