CHAPTER 22.1 - Christmas Gift

"You know what? we have a-" Kirito was about to speak about the gondola when Asuna covered his mouth

"Wait! Don't tell her yet" Asuna whispered to Kirito "I want to show it to her in person"

"Ohh I see" Kirito nod

"You two are so closed," Emilia said "Well let not talk here, you rowed all the way, correct? You must be hungry?" After hearing that their stomachs make a sound at the same time. They followed Emilia

"Ohh! It's like a movie set!" Asuna's eyes shine seeing the main dining hall

"There are seat backs there. Let's go" They followed Emilia guide

"Who are they?" Asuna pointed the kid's elf's playing

"The children of the castle's master. They're all bright and high spirited" Emilia said and act like she was thinking of something "You seem awfully curious about those children, Asuna. Are you about thinking about kids of your own?" Both Kirito and Asuna stiff and look at each other "That's reminds me. You two are a couple aren't you?"

"We are not a couple!!" They refused strongly

"It is only natural for the couples to desire children. They nothing to be ashamed of" Emilia doesn't believe that they are not a couple. Emilia called the attention of one servant in the hall "Excuse me may we order food?"

When the food was served Kirito and Asuna look at it remembering something "Um, is that what.."

"What's the matter? Don't you like it?" Emilia ask

"Er.. No, it looks great. It just.." Kirito hang his words

"In human culture, today is a special day called Christmas Eve" Asuna explain smiling

"It just so happens that this meal resembles the customary dinner for the holiday"

"Kris-mus? What kind of day is that?" Emilia ask them there is no such a day as that for the Elves

"What kind of a day?" Asuna said she didn't know that there is no Christmas for the dark Elves

"It's a special day of celebration that we spend with the family and loved ones" Kirito explains

"Celebration with the family.." Emilia said she doesn't have any family however loved ones she has two and that was Kirito and Asuna "Then.. How to did you greet each other?"

"Just said merry Christmas" Asuna said cheerfully

"Merry Christmas, Kirito and Asuna" She smiled at them

"Thank you for the dinner," They said after finished eating

"The Beta test never had anything like this full course meal," Kirito said

"I'm the one who ought to be thinking you. It's the first meal I've enjoyed in days" Emilia said she was always eating alone "Now let me guide you to the rooms" Emilia stood up "As it happens, there is currently one vacant" They followed her and entered her room, when they come inside they saw a living room and it is two-door on the opposite side of the room

"It's wonderful!" Asuna started to check around "Oh, but I noticed, there are only bedrooms"

"Do you need anything else? I can have prepared it for you" Emilia asks them

"Huh? N-No were fine!" Asuna said she didn't complain about the room

"Then I will be in this room. Knock if you need me" Emilia entered another room

"W-Well, it's not like we haven't been in this situation before" Asuna remembered that they shared one room many times

"Y-Yeah, it's an unavoidable scenario on our path to conquering the game so.." Kirito scratched his head "I guess.. Umm.."

"Wait let me say this first. Getting to see Emilia again was your Christmas present to me, wasn't it?" Asuna gives her a thankfully smile "Thank you. It was really wonderful"

"U,h, sure your welcome" Kirito look away avoiding Asuna's beautiful face and he didn't want Asuna to see him blushed "But that's not all. I'm glad we saw her too, I just kind of wonder why she seems different than usual, though.."

"She looked lovely wearing the dress, but I don't think she would choose it if she had a choice" She knows Emilia very well, and for her, Emilia is not the type of woman that going to were a dress "I wonder why she's not wearing her sword and armor" Usually if you are Knights you always equipped with the armor and sword

"Maybe there's some situation keeping her here at this castle against her will?" Kirito's opinion, Emilia is a type of woman who likes going around and protecting the dark elves "If we got a chance tomorrow let's ask her, but for tonight let's rest"

"I'd like to take a bath and relax" Asuna stretch her arms

"Oh, that reminds me! I'm pretty sure that this floor of the castle has an ultra huge bath area" Kirito was thinking

"Ultra huge? Bathroom?" Asuna's eyes shinning hearing that there is a huge bathroom in this castle "And is it separated into men's bathroom, right?" She remembered that in the camp there is only shared bathroom that everyone's used

"Yeah? Er, wait! I'm not sure. I didn't pay attention to that during the Beta" Kirito said

"Well, that doesn't instill confidence, but I'm willing to go check it now"

"What with me?" Kirito's face turned red again and pointed himself

"Of course with you. I don't know where to go, you have to show me"

"Alright" He sighs. They leave the room and started to find the bath

"Hey, Asuna!" Kirito called her

"Why? Are we lost?"

"No. I'm just saying if the bathing area isn't separated.." Kirito was trying to explain that he didn't say directly that there is a separate bathroom for the male and female

"Don't worry, I'm not going to blame you" They entered the changing area "Is this what I think it is?"

"If it's one big, shared changing area, I'm guessing it's a mixed bathing.." Kirito said and look away

The Castle also has a huge bathing room at the far end of the west wing on the third floor. The bathing room only has a single, huge changing room with pure white-tiled floors, a shining chandelier hanging from the ceiling, large potted plants sitting in the corner, and a glass door at the back of the room leading to the bath. The bath chamber itself had ivory-white tiles so pure that one could see through them. The bath as large as a pool was made of horizontally lined ebony basalt that surrounded the lake, but polished to a perfect sheen. Gold faucets set into the wall poured out a considerable waterfall of water. The western and southern walls of the chamber were made of glass, offering a huge vista of the lake.

"S-So it was a mixed bath?!" Asuna said

"I guess it is hehe. Well, I'll use the one in our room. You enjoy the bath here, Asuna" Kirito was about to leave however Asuna grabbed the sleeves of his clothes

"Wait! What if I'm alone, and someone else comes?!"

"Like who? Everyone's here was NPC's except us" Kirito said

"NPC's are still men" Asuna can't imagine someone seeing her taking a bath

"Well, it's not like I can stand here and block all NPC, men coming in" Kirito look at her while she was thinking deeply

"Well, you may have a point" She was thinking of letting Kirito take a bath with her so he can guard her "Oh! Hmm, let's see If I used this material.." Asuna was scanning her items "Oh! There" And released a two-piece swimsuit "Yeah, that looks pretty good!"

"W-What?! A swimsuit?!" Kirito was shocked and started sweating; he has foreseen what will happen just by looking at the swimsuit