SAO drabbles ~

The extent of Asuna's love ~ chapter 5

I tightly embrace Asuna as the hospital noise behind us blurs into the background and it felt like it was just us two at that moment.

I rest my face in her shoulder, tightening my grip on her back.

I feel her slender arms wrap around my neck and rest there.

"Kirito..."

"Asuna..."

As I pull her further to my chest in my tight embrace, I hear her wince slightly in pain and instantly pull away from her as my eyes dart back and forth her body, around where she was sat.

"What's wrong?! Did I hurt you?!" I ask in a panicked tone.

I brace her shoulders lightly, as I inspect for the reason she winced, thinking I may have hugged her tightly in a place that might be bruised.

"D-did I hurt you or something?!"

"N-No! You didn't hurt me, don't worry." Asuna replies, in a calm and soft reassuring voice.

I frowned, slightly confused yet still thinking the worst.

"So, why did you wince?"

"hm?...o-oh, that's because my cannula was stuck to the bed while you were hugging me, that's all.

"A c-cannula?"

Asuna nods, holding her arm to show me the IV drip that she was connected to.

"See? I'm alright now, it was just stuck."
She smiles at me reassuringly and with love.

I bow in apology. "I-I'm sorry I caused it to get stuck!"

Asuna nervously flails her arms around at my apology and blushes.

"Eehhh K-Kirito, you don't have to apologize for anything!"

I stop bowing.

I look at her as if I want to say something but not sure how to approach what I wanted to say.

"K-Kirito?"

I continue looking away from her.

"..."

"Kirito?..." she says in a concerned and worried tone of voice.

She places her right hand over my cheek, forcing me to look her in the eyes.

"K-Kirito?"

I sigh deeply, looking up at her beautiful widened hazel eyes, which were filled with concern.

"Asuna." I say, in a quiet voice.

"Yes, Kirito?"

I try to look away from her by lifting her hand off my cheek but she keeps it there with a tight grip.

"Kirito, talk to me."

"W-what's in the drip?" I mutter.

"Oh, just basic fluids?"

"Basic fluids?"

"Mhm, like water and sugar."

"O-Oh."

" Was that all you wanted to ask?" she smiles.

God, I love her smile.

"Something's still bothering you, right?"

"Yeah..."

"Which is?"

I look away from her and keep my head downwards so she can't see my face.

"Asuna?"

"A-are you alright Kirito?"

I repeat myself once more.

"Asuna."

"Yes?"

"Why are you on the IV?"

Asuna's smile fades slightly.

"O-Oh...well...I lacked certain fluids in my body, so the hospital suggested this for me, that's all, so no need to worry about it."

"B-but why? what fluids are you lacking?"

"Kirito, it's just-"

"Come to think of it-..."

I place my hands firmly on her shoulders and look into her eyes with a serious expression.

"Come to think of what Kirito?"

"Why are you in hospital in the first place?"

Asuna sighs.

"Well, when I called you earlier-"

I interrupt her mid-sentence.

"Wait, about that call-

"What about it?"

"Asuna, earlier you ended the call while weakly saying my name..."

"Ah, y-yes, I remember..."

"...Asuna?"

"Yes?"

"Did you faint earlier?"

I try my best not to clench my teeth while asking her. After all, if she did faint, I wasn't there with her, so I would be a rather crappy boyfriend in these circumstances.

I looked deeply into her eyes, pleading for her to answer my question.

To my horror, I watch with widened eyes as she nods her head slowly and firmly.

My girlfriend fainted.

I was not there for her when she did.

No one really was beside the doctors.

She must have been so scared of calling for me.

She's on an IV drip.

Does she lack specific fluids in her body?

...but why?

What was she doing in the hospital in the first place?