The Long Way Home (SAO Kirisuna AU)

The Promise

Asuna POV

The moon. It's shining in my face as I rouse from my slumber. I feel sand under my body and I sense a person next to me. As I turn over, I realize where I am. Mahkiko beach, right next to our cabin at Noriko lake, 14th floor in Aincrad castle.

"Hey sleepyhead, you awake? You've missed the sunset." Says a voice next to me. I try to talk, but the sight of the moon leaves me speechless. It was filling up the sky, and you could see each and every crater in it.

"Looks nice right? It's a blue moon, and the biggest yet." I realize who is talking.

"Kazuto! How long have I been sleeping?" realizing that I probably missed dinner, and would face my mom's wrath once I returned. Eh, she would never find us here. Me and Kazuto found a secluded cove on the south end of the lake, where she would never go.

"Ohh just around 8 hours. You look so peaceful when you sleep"

I'm thankful for the cover of darkness so he can't see me blush. He's always commenting me on the little things, even now, in 6th grade. I shiver in the cold, covering myself so he doesn't notice.

He notices. "Here" he says, taking off his jacket. "Take it. It'll keep you warm"

I blush for the second time that night as I take his jacket. He's right, it is warmer.

"Thanks, but what about you?" I ask. "Aren't you cold?"

"No. I have a sweater on right now. It isn't that co-" He was interrupted by a ringing in the right pocket. I wonder who was calling him at this hour?

"Hello? Oh hi Sortiliena. Yes, I'm up for it. No, nobody's listening to this." He said, winking at me. "Yeah, meet you there. Bye." He hung up. "I'd better get going Asuna. I got... a job"

I could tell it was a secret. "Ok. Goodbye then." I pouted.

"Look" he said, putting his hand on my shoulder. "I'll make you a promise. I will always protect you, and I will come back when I need to." I started tearing up as what he said came into view.

"Ok!" I said, happy that he would be back. "Byeeee!" I yelled at his slowly disappearing frame outlines against the trees. That's when I noticed he had a sword strapped to his back. A sword, I thought, Why would he need a sword? Unless...

"Wait!!!!" I hollered, but it was hopeless.

He was gone.

I open my eyes to a bright and sunny room. I live in a two story house on the 27 floor, in Aincrad castle. It's been three years since he disappeared, leaving me with only his phone number, and a promise.  He hasn't made any contact with me, and hasn't even showed up on my find friends app. (Which I totally don't check every day) My thoughts are interrupted by my phone. It's Eiji.

"Asuna, you still coming to the boss fight?" he asked.

"Yeah, be there in a minute." I said as I hung up. Why was it always Eiji calling? Never Liz, Klein, or Sinon. I think he likes me. Because they were the only ones that have fought a boss before, Liz and Sinon filed the paperwork. We got the whole day, 12 hours, to kill the boss before the room reset. I smiled. The whole day to defeat the boss,  I thought. This should be fun.

12 minutes later, I run, panting, up to my friends."Wait -- for -- me." I say in-between breaths, my hands on my knees.

"Ahh, it's fine Asuna. Liz is just signing some documents." Says Sinon with a chuckle. "Also, your hair is, erm, messy? You need to comb it!" Sure enough, I feel the prongs of her brush going through my brown-blonde hair.

"Jeez Asuna, you have such a bedhead! These are the worst knots I've ever seen!" I wince as she pulls the brush though another knot. "Just hurry up."

"Guys! We need to get going! Asuna? Is that you? Did you forget to do your hair?" I hear most of the group suppressing laughter at Liz's statement.

"Yes, I may have forgotten a few things in my rush out of the house. Can we go now?" I say, exasperated. Trying to change the subject, I show them my new phone.

"Whaaaa! I didn't know you had the new model!" Says Klein. "And you've already got a text!" "Lucky...wait. Who's your text from?" Asks Liz.

"Hey! That's private!" I say, yanking my phone out of reach. As I read the message, I'm annoyed. "Someone wants us to stay away from the boss room. They said that there's a problem with the boss." A chorus of "What's!" and "Who sent it?" greets my message. As I check the sender, fully expecting it to be a scam, my eyes narrow.

"Does anyone know who Kirito is?"

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A/N Yesh I know a cliffhanger sorry peeps. It's kinda short, but they will get longer. I have the next couple chapters planned out, imma try posting twice a week, one chapter always on saturday. Trust me, this will turn out well. I have no idea what i'm doing, this is my first fanfic so give me tips plzzz. I might start a kirisuna oneshot that's less detailed but idk. c u guys sometime around wed. *winkwink* byeeeeee peeps. ; )