A/N: I'm back. Bitches.

Anyone who wants to tie me to the stake and burn me alive: go for it. Seriously guys, it's okay. Gah screw me. I'm so sorry for being this late, and to any of you reading this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know it sucks that I haven't been uploading, and I list off a multitude of reasons why, but I feel none of them can justify the time I have forced you to wait with no answers, no replies, and most importantly no updates for what... Three? No, almost four months. Simply, I've been busy. My book, work, school and other small projects took precedence over this and I apologise sincerely for it, considering the fact I could have had the decency to tell you. I'm so sorry. I can't say much more, and I understand if you know - you kinda think I suck.

Okay, so, my book. For my novel, I'm just getting the artwork polished up, then I'll format it, then it's ready to go. Should be out by May ;P

BIG news, I have a book on amazon! It's a collection of short stories. Presently it's only on kindle, but I'm bringing it in paperback soon! :D Please check it out, it's called: Paradise, Sunset and Nothingness. I'd love it if you checked it out. Link! :D

Finally, my website is going strong and I'd love it if you could visit it, and or follow me on different social media to catch all my short stories and drabbles.

Tumblr: Bashabutton ; Facebook: Basha's writings ; Website: . /

Thanks guys. Make sure to send in all of your final ideas for the big finale chapter, 104. As this rate, it very well may be my two-year anniversary XD What happened to my line thingy? (Below)

Chapter 102 – What if.

Cold bitter air drifted through rusted fencing, brushing the old metallic surface, whistling a subtle tune under the watchful sun. Verdant grass fluttered slightly, dew condensed from the cool air like reflective crystalline tears. The ashen grey sky seemed to move along with a ominous presence, the layer of clouds acting as a cover from the harsh sun. Rusted chains swung left to right slowly as a gloved hand grasped them tightly. He smiled over at his gorgeous girlfriend, her radiance something he had fought for time and time again. Now it all seemed so innocent. Even as the soft sapphire rain fell from above, splashing against his coat, everything felt calm. His other hand was intertwined with hers, as they rocked softly on the playground swings.

Slowly the roundabout turned, almost disturbing, but somehow calming.

"Ever wondered about what if situations?" Asuna smiled, looking up at the grey clouds.

"Sure. Specifically?"

"I dunno. Why don't we play a game? Come up with some."

"Alright… Hmm…" Kazuto smiled. He had a few up his sleeve.

"How about this; I have some future ones, instead of alternate situations."

"Go for it." She smiled gently.

~ The future, NYC, University, the Kirigaya-Yukki apartment.

The dark cloak of the night circled the glass windows of the Kirigaya-Yukki apartment, whispering through chilled breath the wonders of the city. Lights echoed through this cloak, in the distance, bouncing off the many skyscrapers that lined the streets. Cars beeped angrily and crawled through traffic painfully slowly.

"Are you kidding me!?" Asuna's face dropped as Kazuto dumped another pile of work onto their desk.

"Sorry honey, I gotta get through it all this weekend. I know I had promised to take you out, but I'll work fast and see if I have time tomorrow okay?" He stuck his tongue out playfully, kissing her on the cheek. Asuna pouted, she REALLY wanted to go to central park. She decided to take a different approach.

Embracing her boyfriend from behind, she whispered into his ear.

"If you take me out I'd give you a reward~" She lulled seductively, biting his earlobe as she withdrew.

Kazuto looked at his work, then back at his beautiful girlfriend, then his work, then the gorgeous angel… He grabbed the cover of his folder and violently slammed it shut, stood abruptly, and shouted…

"Central park it is!" He laughed, grabbing his coat, and his girlfriend's hand.

The night was as cold as it was dark, but that didn't matter to the young couple. The stars looked down, shining brightly over the blanket of dark blue hue that hung over them. The trees were like fingers pointing at the void above, their limbs the branches that folded out of the trunk, the emerald leaves blew softly in the wind, though their colour was concealed. The night was calm, tranquil, with nothing but the rustling of verdant nature filling their ears.

Their hands were interlinked as they strolled through the park, Asuna giggling at Kazuto's never ending, awful, puns and his terrible jokes. She didn't care, she loved that about him. They sat on a bench together, ignoring the overwhelming stress of the work they had, ignoring the daily troubles of life, simply enjoying one another's company, as they always had. Sao was but a distance memory, their lives had become so much more. Asuna rested her head on his shoulder, their hands still held tightly together, and looked up at the stars. Sighing, she nuzzled closer to the crook of his neck.

Eventually, Kazuto turned, his hand resting behind her head, and looked into her hazel eyes. He then, rather unsubtly, glanced at her lips.

"Oh come on. The romance was enough of a signal."

"What? Signal? What signal?" He chuckled awkwardly.

"You still act like we've only been going out a week. No need to be embarrassed." She giggled.

"That's only because I'm still as passionate as I was when we first met."

She smiled lightly. "Smooth." She giggled, before pressing her lips against his.

~ Kirigaya Apartment.

They burst through the door, their lips still locked in a dance. He slammed her back against the door, his hands exploring her body beneath her clothes. She gasped with delight as his lips found her neck, and her pulse. He picked her up against the door, and moved to the bedroom, tripping over the bed and onto her.

That night, his work was never once touched.

~ The park, present.

"Okay, that's a pretty good one. I like the ending." Asuna winked at her boyfriend, kissing him on the cheek. His face flushed bright red.

"You got one?"

"I might have." She stuck her tongue out playfully.

~Sometime in the future.

Asuna's golden wedding ring reflected the light that poured in through the window. Kazuto was outside, carrying Yui on his shoulders and running in circles as she pretended she was an airplane.

"Kirito-Kun!" She called out to her husband.

"Alright Yui. You've gotta play alone for a bit okay? Papa's gotta go do something." He kissed her cheek and set her down, washing his hands as he entered his house through the door in the kitchen that led to the wonderful garden.

"So how painful is this going to be."

"Depends on if you annoy me." She laughed heartily. Kazuto pouted.

"Okay. First, set the oven. You've got to preheat- no! That's the hob. Come on Kirito. No- Just let me do it!" She shoved her beloved out the way, and showed him, very meticulously, how to pre heat the oven. Kazuto simply looked at the ground, very bashfully.

"Next?" He asked with a cheesy smile.

"Honestly, thirty years old and still no idea how to cook." She shook her head.

Slowly, Asuna managed to teach Kazuto how to cook noodles. She couldn't bare anything more complex and so after they had finished the noodles, she sent him back out to Yui. After adding a few little spices and flavourings for Yui, she set the table and called her two raven haired loves in for dinner.

"Asuna, we haven't shown Yui Star Wars." Kazuto's expression seemed far too over the top for the situation, it was grave, he seemed distraught.

"Kirito-kun, the film is sixty odd years old."

"The new one is only twenty or so years old! Plus, they're classics. She would love them; we've done her a disservice as parents." He laughed. Asuna rolled her eyes in despair, he hadn't changed one bit.

They seated themselves for their meal, laughing over the distance sounds of cicadas. Asuna looked at her two beloveds, back and forth, smiling as she thought of their happy little family. She could not be happier with how her life turned out, and many days she found herself thanking Sao for giving her this, as selfish as that sounded. Were she given the choice to do it all again, to survive the death game, she'd do it. In a heartbeat. She ran through all the memories they had created together as she ate her noodles, the joy of those times they had spent at theme parks, the thrill in Yui's voice as she sped down rollercoasters, worrying her mother sick. The times they had spent together laughing with an ice cream in hand, the halloweens in which the two raven haired devils tried again and again to scare her. Years and years, filled to the brim with sheer joy.

Noodles and cicadas. Though small, she would add this memory to the bank. She smiled at Yui, who grinned back at her mother.

~Present day.

"Okay, yours is far better." Kazuto chuckled.

"W-why?" She stuttered.

"Because we're with Yui, and we're married. We're going to create all of those memories honey, I promise with all of my heart." He stood from the swing and helped her to her feet.

The cloud above cracked and released its contents upon the world, pouring down sapphire gems that splashed in beautiful crystalline ripples all around the young couple.

"Gah, better get inside."

"Good call!" She chuckled, allowing Kazuto to lead as they took off and ran for the Dicey Café.

Soon. Those dreams would be reality. Soon,

A/N: It's short, but I have no further ideas. Plus it's 12:30 and I haven't stopped working since seven o'clock this morning. I cri, ery tiem. Thanks for sticking by me guys, and I'll reply to all your reviews and pms tomorrow. You're all the best, and I look forward to writing for you again. Whenever that may be XD

If you do read my book btw, please drop a review. It'll really help. I also think it's some of my best quality writing, so if you enjoy my style you'll enjoy the book. Paradise, Sunset and Nothingness. On amazon. Thanks! :P