Nightmares at 35,000 Feet in the Air

Once the plane reached cruising altitude Kirito and Asuna were free to roam around the cabin. Asuna went to the bathroom while Kirito went to the kitchen to grab drinks.

"Hey Kaori." Kirito summoned the hologram attendant while pouring some pouring the hot water into the tea pot. When she appeared she did a short bow. "How may I assist you Kirito?"

"What time do we arrive in New York?" He asked, his voice no longer able to hide how tired he was.

"Well, we took off around 2am Tokyo time. The flight takes just over twelve and half hours. So we should be landing by 2:40 pm Tokyo time which is 1:40am New York time— the day before." She smiled an oddly genuine smile for a hologram AI. "Is there anything else I can assist you with Kirito?"

"No. That's all for now. Thanks Kaori." He rubbed his eyes and yawned as the hologram ended.

When Asuna emerged from the bathroom she had changed into the robes that the airplane had for them. "It's so soft. So are the towels. They feel like clouds." She was rubbing the collar of her robe against her cheek.

Kirito followed his beloved to the bedroom, tiredly carrying a tray with the tea and cups before setting them down on a small table in the corner. Only the built in lamps on the sides of the bed lighting the room.

Asuna sat on the edge of the bed as she watched him pour the tea and bring her a cup. When he sat down next to her they sighed in unison. "Thank you for the tea." She said before bringing the cup to her lips. They drank in silence, only the hum of the jet engines filling the room.

When they finished he took her cup back to the tray "Was there another robe? I don't really want to sleep in these clothes." He said before turning around to see Asuna removing her robe revealing that she had taken all of her clothes off except her red underwear. When she crawled under the sheets she looked up to notice he was watching. "Then don't wear your clothes to bed silly." She smiled and she shuffled down into the bed.

He sleepily removed his clothes down to his boxers and climbed into the other side of the bed. He laid on his back, one hand resting behind his head, staring at the ceiling, completely aware of her tired eyes on him. "This is kinda weird to sleep on a plane." He mused.

She made her way closer to him until she was curled up at his side, his free hand making little circles between the dimples at the base of her spine, her hand resting on his chest. She could feel sleep beginning to take her over as she watched her hand rise and fall on his chest as he breathed.

It took him a few minutes longer than her to fall asleep. He kept replaying those last conversations with Suguha and his mom over and over again in his head until he finally succumbed to his body's need for rest.

It didn't take him long to begin dreaming. His mind sent him to the very start of it all: the day SAO launched and they were officially locked inside of that game. The blood pouring from the sky and creating that menacing red hooded Akihiko Kayaba and the panic that quickly set in to everyone around him. His dream skipped forward to meeting the Moonlit Black Cats. The moment that woke him up countless times before, the moment they all died. Sachi's last words "Thank you. Goodbye."

He was woken up by Asuna shaking his shoulders. "Kirito. Kirito honey. Wake up!"

He sat up with wide eyes and deep breaths. Clutching the sheets at his side, he cursed when he felt how sweaty his body was and the tension in his jaw from clenching his teeth.

Asuna wrapped her arms around him and his head fell to her chest trying to focus on her heartbeat to slow his. "Was I talking in my sleep again?" He asked after some time.

"No." She squeezed him a little tighter. "Your legs were kicking like you were trying to run— and— you screamed her name."

Kirito started shaking in her arms. "I'm sorry." He said as he twisted to hug her back and rest his forehead on her shoulder.

"It's okay. With what we are heading to, I kind of anticipated it." She stroked his hair. "I told you before, I have faith in you Kirito. I know you can do this."

He squeezed her a little tighter. "As long as I have you." He whispered.

They laid back down, still holding each other, he shifted so he could rest his head on her chest and listen to her heart. "We got out. This is real. You're real." He kept repeating it over and over again, eventually just in his head, until he fell asleep.