The Long Way Home (SAO Kirisuna AU)

Cherry blossoms

Hi guys, I know i've been gone for like a year or two, I just lost motivation. Well, I'm back at it again, with better writing (hopefully) and my cat. She seems to have gotten over her moody attack phase.

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Third Person POV

Asuna led Kirito down the street, then turned into a small back entrance to a park. The park had a path decorated with dark green shrubs and cherry blossom trees on either side, and a small hill where one could sit and relax.

"It's just the right time of year for cherry blossoms to bloom." said Asuna. Kirito started and stumbled, catching himself before he could faceplant into the sandwiches. "I can't believe I'vse lived my whole life here and not known about this. Kirito felt bad for lying to his long lost friend, as he was just relocated here three days prior.

"Well, are you going to sit down or eat standing up?" Asuna said. Having been staring at the beautiful scene in front of him, he sat down and stared at an equally beautiful sight next to him.

"It looks so nice, I can't eat this." Kirito was facing the delicious ham and cheese sandwich, stacked to about 7 inches high. Asuna, having had her sandwiches complimented on various times, just told to shut up and eat.

"Sho how dhid you fhind shis plache?" said Kirito, with his mouth full of sandwich. "Well my best friend when I was little took me here, around the same time."

"I'm going to have to blindfold you, walk a bit, then I can take it off." He said while tying a cloth around my eyes.

"No peeking!" He said while I giggled at his remark. He made everything seem like a major issue. Even outings like these, although now it would seem like a date.

"Kazuto... Is this a date?" I asked.

I could tell immediately from his movements that he was blushing. "N-n-no! Why do you ask?"

I giggled again. He was cute when he was blushing. "Ahh-nothing. Just wondering." He sighed in relief. "But are you sure?" By now, I was just teasing him.

He tensed up again, but this time it wasn't from embarrassment.

"Hey Kazuto, taking your girlfriend out on a date now, aren't you." I knew that voice.

"Eiji, she's not my girlfriend, so stop bugging us!" I heard Kazuto say. He tried to run to the left, dragging me along but stopped. " And this isn't a date!" He yelled back at him. "Sorry about that. Just ignore Eiji and he'll act nicer."

I laughed at this. "There's no way to ignore Eiji except to compliment him.""Point taken." Said Kazuto in a matter-of-fact way.

After leading me through a series of turns, we stopped, and I guessed that we had arrived at our destination.

He took off my blindfold with a flourish. "Here we are, your majesty." It was a garden with many cherry trees, all of them producing beautiful, pink, flowers. the morning dew was still on them, and the garden looked like a forest of diamonds, glittering in the sun. I was awestruck. How did he find this place?

"I was walking around, when I found this grove. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to show it to you." He said, reading my mind. "I hope you like it."

"I-it's beautiful" I stammered. "I love it!" I turned around and hugged him. He tensed up, then gave in and patted me on the head.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!" I said, squeezing him."Ahh well you're welcome."

"So what happened to him?" asked Kirito, knowing full well exactly what happened to him. "He got called out on a mission and never came back. His parents say he's still alive, but I have yet to find him." she said, looking down. "I still miss him. He gave me this necklace on the day he left. I've worn it ever since."

The necklace was a star shaped ruby inset in a pure white crossed swords. It was connected to a red and white chain, with a red clasp on the back. Kirito felt pride and sympathy, as he had intended the gift as a keepsake for her to save, but certainly didn't expect her to keep wearing it. A small part inside of him wants to tell her who he is and how much he misses her too, but he knows he has to stick to his job.

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YOOOOOO

you do not know how good this feels, getting a chapter out. so I looked back over the previous chapters and realized how many times Asuna goes: "hmm is it him, no its not, maybe it is...." and im gonna be editing those chapter by tomorrow. I should stick to 1 or 2 times a week updates. (hopefully)

*update* previous chapters should be good, next chapter maybe Wednesday.

im out