CHAPTER 22.2 - Christmas Gift

"What? It's not like against the rules, or are you saying that wearing my swimsuit into the bath inconveniences you in some way?" Asuna raised her eyebrow and pouted

"No! Not at all" Kirito scratched his head

"Well, you already have a swimsuit of your own, don't you?" Kirito started sweating again, now he was sure that Asuna wants them to take a bath, just the two of them. So he was planning to tell that he doesn't have one to avoid the situation "Ah! By the way, I haven't given you a present yet"

"Huh? It's fine, I didn't want one.." Kirito look at Asuna who was now looking like she came up with something "Wait! No! Wait for a second!" He feels something bad

"That's right! I'll craft you a swimsuit" Asuna seems excited showing her sewing skills

"No- really! The sentiments are enough"

"Don't complain okay?" Asuna smiled at him, he was about to complain again but he stopped when Asuna show her dagger

"Y-Yes thank you" Kirito give up

"HEHE just give me a minute then" While Asuna was working on making his swimsuit Kirito spoke

"You've changed Asuna" Because of that Asuna throw a confused look "I don't know your expressions are more vivid now, compared to when I first met you, I guess that not surprised, given where you were" kirito smiled "But it feels like you're smiling a lot more lately than you used too"

"Well I'll admit it; I've kind enjoying this floor. It's a bit like Venice. Is it then very obvious?" Asuna was thinking

"Very. But I think it's good, you need to enjoy yourself as you can" Kirito become serious "We've only reached the fourth floor out of a hundred. If you're on edge the whole time, it's going to drive you crazy, eventually, you'll make a fatal mistake, and to survive you need to learn how to enjoy yourself" Kirito explains "Akihiko Kayaba might have plotted to turn sword art online into a death game but it's still a game.." Kirito smiled "And games are meant to be enjoyed, right?"

"Well, I suppose you're right," Asuna said "Look, I've finished your suit" Asuna was about to hand him the short "Here! All yours"

"Oh! It's actually normal and cool"

"Why would you say as that" Asuna pouted

"Well, you know, you look like you were plotting something hehe," Kirito said and get the short it was a simple black short with an adjustable garter on the waistline

"Whatever! Let's just get change. I'll go this way" Asuna pointed to the right side

"Okay I'll change over here"

"You do not look under any circumstances! Are we clear?" Asuna want assurance

"Y-Yeah Yeah. I know, the more she stresses that the more curious I get" Kirito whispered. When he was equipped with the swimsuit that Asuna make he heard the familiar word and started sweating again "T-That sound again, the sound that she removed her clothes and tied her hair" Kirito equipped the swimsuit "C-Calm down K-Kirito.." After that, he waits for Asuna

"Sorry it took so long, what do you think?" Asuna was wearing a pair of white bikinis, her top was a simple plain crisscross top and her bottom was a plain wait with a string on both sides and also her hair was tied up

"Huh? U-Uh I t-think it's g-good on y-you" Kirito stuttering

"Thanks" Asuna smiled. They soak on the big tub Kirito was next to her "AHH! This is the best; I wish I could use the bath like this every single day"

"You'd be bathing around men, every day," Kirito said looking outside the window where you can see the lake that surrounding the castle

"Ugh! But maybe if you.." Asuna heard something coming "Huh?!

"W-Wait a minute, is someone else here?" Kirito heard that same sound too

"Probably. Then let me hide on your back" Asuna hide on his back assuming that an elf man is coming toward them

"Y-You'd don't need to push against me like that" Kirito can feel something floppy on his arms, he knows what was that

"Is someone in here?" They heard the familiar voice but because of the steam they didn't say who that was

"Huh? That's voice was.."

"I noticed you were gone, and here I found you," Emilia said when she showed up without any clothes

"Emilia!" Kirito covered his eyes "Hey! Kirito doesn't stare!" Asuna called Emilia "Emilia come with me right now!" After a few minutes, Asuna give the swimsuit that she makes to Emilia

"Hmm? It's a little tight" Emilia was checking the red swimsuit that she wears

"Ah! If it's too small, I'll make a new one" Asuna suggested

"It's fine. I will get too used to it. This is a very strange custom you humans practice" Emilia looks at Kirito "Are you wearing a swimsuit to Kirito?"

"Yeah, this is the swimsuit for boys" Kirito explains

"You have a big bath here, I wish I could go bath here every single day" Asuna smiled enjoying the warm water "I almost wish I could live here at this castle for a while"

"It would be best if you did not stay here for too long," Emilia said

"Huh?" Kirito and Asuna was confused

"As you must know, having come this far.." Emilia imagines the castle "Yofel Castle is an impregnable fortress, surrounded by the water and sheer cliffs. It has never been conquered, not by the goblins or arcs, or even the armies of Forest Elves. But due to that, it has grown lax and lazy" Emilia suddenly remembered the day that she came into the castle from the elf camp and encounters the priests "The worst are the priests, they complain that the sound of the armor bothers them and forbade me wearing it, with their type filling the castle, it is no wonder it feels unprepared for an attack" Emilia looks stress

"And that's why you were wearing that dress?" Asuna said and Emilia nods

"Hey! Emilia, are you sure the Forest elves won't attack here?" Kirito ask

"Yes. They do not tend to make their boat" Emilia said, there is one way that they can attack the castle if they don't have boats

"Why's that?" Kirito ask

"It is taboo among elves to cut down living trees for woods"

"For all kinds of elves?" He ask and Emilia nodded "I see so that's the way.. huh?" Kirito remembered the cargo boxes in the cave that they saw yesterday "If you can't make boats since it's forbidden to cut down living trees, then what if they worked with others who didn't have that taboo" Kirito now understand everything from what he and Asuna heard and saw on the cave yesterday "That's it!"

"What's the matter Kirito-Kun.." Asuna suddenly understand what happening

"You're in danger Emilia!" He said

"What do you mean?" Emilia confused look

"I'm absolutely certain that in three days a Forest Elves army is going to attack this castle!" Kirito stood up

"What?!" Emilia's face becomes dark after hearing that "An army of Forest Elves is going to attack?! But they have no ships!"

"Do you think that what the Fallen Elves were building was?.." Asuna made her conclusion and Kirito nodded confirming that

"Yes, they're coming! That's what those ships were for" Kirito said, the reason why the cargo was empty when they hide inside of that is that the Fallen Elves was already delivered some of the ship parts to the Forest Elves

"Did you see them?! On this floor?!" Emilia ask