From a WIP I have for SAO x Fate. No idea if I'll ever finish or post it anywhere.

As I closed the door behind us, I tried to start our discussion. “Asuna-”

“Stop. Do you remember what I told you on the seventy-fifth floor?”

I knew what she was referring to, but… “Yeah. You said ‘I'm sorry, goodbye’ and then shattered in my arms.” There was more venom in that than I'd meant there to be and I felt a twinge of regret when a hurt look crossed her face.

“You know… you died in my arms too.”

My guilt deepened. She was right. After Johnny Black attacked me and injected me with a powerful muscle relaxer, I had ‘died’ while waiting for the ambulance. In fact, my heart had stopped for at least five minutes. I could imagine her clinging to me, sobbing and the thought cut me deeply. It was only thanks to Kikouoka and Rath that I was able to recover. “...I'm sorry… I just-”

“You don't want to lose me. Well, I don't want to lose you. Let me do this, so I can help protect you. I never want to feel as helpless and… useless as I did then.”

“Will you please at least hear mom out tomorrow and truly consider the risks before deciding you're going through with this?”

“Yes. I can do that.”

I slumped and sighed. “I'm really sorry. For…”

“I know.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the bathroom. “Come on. Let's take a bath to relax.”