I am so sorry for those who waited so long for this chapter to be released. A lot of things that happened and just didn't find a time to do this.

nonetheless, please enjoy!

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*Ding Dong

"Kazuto go get that!" Screamed Sugu

"Alright Alright"

Kazuto came out of his room, getting ready for his two other family members to arrive. He check for the time. '12:30. It could be Shino, but I'll have to see.'

He reaches to the entrance and looks through the peephole on his door. As expected, it was not his two family members that just arrive. Instead it was Shino. Casually looking around his front entrance, waiting for a response. Kazuto unlocks the door to let her in.

"Your a bit early don't you think?" Smiled Kazuto

"It never hurts to be early. Plus I want to help out."

Kazuto allowed her to get in. While taking off her shoes, Kazuto had a good look at the girls clothing. Along with her purse, Shino is wearing a dark blue dress with white polka dots and a green cardigan, something she didn't usually wear often. A casual style, but was enough to caught Kazuto's attention.

"I thought you didn't like cardigans."

"I only wear it for special occasions."

"Well it suits you pretty well. You should wear it more often."

"I'm flattered. But I'd rather not."

Shino placed her pairs of shoes near the door and was ready to help. Kazuto mentioned he still needs to get ready. He pointed at the direction that leads to the kitchen. They went on as usual and wait for others to come.

While Shino was helping with the tireless Sugu, Kazuto was getting ready for his two family members to arrive. He looks at his mirror, he plans to wear a plain gray sweatshirt with black jeans. Not proper as his last Thanksgiving, but was suitable for the holiday. He takes off his shirt to look at his scar on his shoulder, thinking back to the past during the attempted murder on Halloween. A couple days back, Kikuoka Seijirou replied back to Kazuto about the man who was arrested. Apparently, he was a former Laughing Coffin member. However he left the group to pursue a "beneficial" path in the real world. He only would kill if he was being payed. He also claimed that Shinkawa never requested his services and that statement was verified. They are continuing extract intel on him, but its what they have as of right now. Despite that, it had bothered the boy for a quite sometime.

'Seijirou said that the man was not hired by Shinkawa. If that is the case, who was the person that would want me or Shino killed?'

*Knock *Knock

"Kazuto? It's been an hour. Is everything alright?"

While thinking about Seijirou's report, he didn't pay attention to the curious Shino waiting for an answer. He looked at his clock, 'Shes right. I should really get ready'

"Yeah I'm fine! One sec!"

He opens his door and finds a disappointing look at Shino.

"What?"

"It took you an hour to dress like this?"

"Sorry, had emails from the doctors about my health. They had been doing that since I came out from the SAO incident." 'Quick thinking Kazuto'

"Alright. But I gotta ask you something...."

"What is it?"

"Well I-"

*Ding *Dong

"THEY ALREADY HERE?!" Sugu panicked

Kazuto head to his front door along with Shino. He checks the peephole and sees their two guess of the day. One of them is a man in his late 40s. He is taller out of the two by a hair. Having black hair and brown eyes, he also carries a pocket watch, containing the picture of his wife, son, Kazuto and Sugu. One distinct feature about him is the suit he wears. Always a blue suit and a red tie. The other is a male teen about to turn 19 and has a more energetic personality. Having similar features to his father (except the watch and blue suit), personality wise he is similar to Klein. He opens the door and started with the greetings. The two men begun to notice about Shino's presence. The 19 year old took off his shoes nonchalantly and proceeds to head towards her. He began looking at her from top to bottom.

"Are you my cousins girlfriend?"

Shino's eyes were widen by the sudden question.

"Eh?"

"No Kosuke, we're just close friends. Thats it." Kazuto replied immediately

"Close friends huh? Interesting" Mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"*ahem Pardon my son's behavior. My name is Hiromasa Kirigaya and he is Kosuke Kirigaya. A pleasure to meet you." Smiled Hiromasa

"The pleasure is mine. My name is Shino Asada."

Shino shook hands to both of them and proceed to come in. The two gentlemen head out to the kitchen to say hi at Sugu . Meanwhile, Shino goes with Kazuto.

"Some family you got here. Haha"

"Terribly sorry about Kosuke. He tends to do that ever since Asuna join with me last year."

"No problem. They are family after all."

The two teens smiled at each other and head to the kitchen to lend a hand.

-A couple hours later-

"So sorry it took so long. Its ready!" Said the excited Sugu

All four were in the living room watching old Thanksgiving cartoons from America (Raise your hand if you miss the old cartoons? Because I certainly do.). Hearing the news from Sugu, they all (Even Hiromasa) ran to the kitchen like little children in Christmas morning. They reach the dinner table to see a banquet full of food. Spreading from a 14kg turkey, mash potatoe, olives, cranberries, shrimp tempura and of course, salad.

"Kazuto, has Sugu still making you eat salad everyday?" Hiromasa wonder

"Yes. It's horrible."

"You really should get some fat in you. At least once in a while."

"SEE?! Even uncle Hiromasa agrees with me!"

"I don't care. Your still eating it."

They let go of the topic and had everyone to have a seat. They all had one of everything and enjoyed every bite of it. During this time, Kosuke's curiosity continues to grow between his cousin and girlfriend.

"So Kazuto, wheres your actual girlfriend? Whats her name again? Shana?" Said Kosuke

"No. Her name is Asuna and she is with her family this year. It's strange, lately she has been ignoring me since school started. Always saying she is busy or no replies."

Hiromasa stopped eating after his statement. He thought for a second, looks at Kazuto.

"It could be a sign that she is in stress. How has her parents treating her?"

"Somewhat better. They treat her badly because she kept getting A-'s and the fact that we are dating."

"Nothing unusual there. Well your best bet is to give her time. Try to avoid her until she is willing to talk." Said Kosuke

"I guess your right." Said Kazuto in a sad tone

"But hey at least you got Shino as your next one." Smiled Kosuke

Shades of red appeared in both of their cheeks. They both looked at each other for a second. Shino looked down at her plate in with such urgency while Kazuto asked Hiromasa for a disapproval.

"I have to agree. She seems worthy of being your girlfriend Kazuto." grinned Hiromasa.

"Please, your embarrassing me."

Shino kept turning every shade of red while Kazuto was speechless about what the two gentlemen just stated. Sugu attempted to end the topic

"Alright, Alright. Give them a little room. After all, you gotta give them some room for desert." Sugu politely smiled.

Everyone shook their heads in agreement and continue eating their delicious meal. Desert finally came in with this year an ice scream sundae. The excitement on all the 3 teens (and Hiromasa holding in the temptation to drool) was shown and it immediately disappeared within seconds by the mouths of four sweet tooths (Or sweet teeth? That doesn't sound right lol). With everyone's bellies full of magnificent food, they all help out to clean the dishes and head back to the living room with more cartoons.

On the way there, Hiromasa wanted to talk to Kazuto at the back patio of his home. The backyard was a beautiful sight to see. Full of many flowers from red to bright blue everywhere you look. In the center, a formidable fountain. Dedicated to many Koi fish they possess.

"I will never understand how you can maintain this place. so pleasant and impressive." Said Hiromasa

"Takes a lot of work, but its worth it." Kazuto smiling proudly

As they had this conversation, they threw fish food so the Koi can have food. The Koi were feisty, swimming everywhere to get the food thrown by them. Once done, they continue their conversation.

"So, what do want to talk about uncle Hiromasa?" Kazuto wondered

"Well as your guardian, I would like to know your relationship with Shino. How is it going for you?"

"Its going great. We have the same classes somehow."

"Really? Do tell."

He tells Hiromasa everything that they done in the past. Everything, except the events related to the Laughing coffin. He was amused yet happy for his nephew doing well.

"It sounds like you had an excellent time with her huh?" Grinned Hiromasa

"Its not what you think uncle. We're just close friends." Said Kazuto

The smile on Kazuto's face ended with that in mind. He thinks back to Asuna with concern and curiosity, which kept in his mind for a while.

"Hey uncle, have you ever felt so seperated by someone special to you?"

"Its about Asuna huh?"

He nod. "Yeah"

Hiromasa thought how to respond.

"Well let me ask you this: Do you still love her?"

Silence filled in the air. He was so focus on what her actions that he hasn't payed attention to his true feelings.

"A part of me still loves her. But at the same time, I just wanted to move on. We both had gone through so much in the past 2 years and just suddenly not talk to me anymore, doesn't really show much of a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship. I guess we jump the gun so soon, we haven't truly get to know each other."

The silence returns once again. Hiromasa then gave him an advice.

"Listen Kazuto, love can have many interpretations to anyone. There really isn't a direct definition of the word itself. Some of us love something and eventually move on. Others will love one thing and stick to it through their lifetime. From people to inanimate objects, its what make us human, who we truly are as an individual."

Kazuto heed his advice. Staring back at the sunset going down while understanding his philosophy. Hiromasa decides to leave and head to the living room to watch T.V with the others. However, he was stopped by Kazuto's last question.

"Uncle, if people have different ideas of it, then how would you define it?" Said Kazuto

".........Its someone who you can truly count on in a lifetime and be thankful for."

He continues to head back with smile. Allowing Kazuto to evaluate his situation. 'Someone you can truly trust and be Thankful for....thank you uncle.'

With that thought in mind, he choose to stay for a bit and head back to the living room. This time, with no sadness and sorrow, just a genuine smile from a boy who felt truly happy.

............

This is like the longest that I have written lol. Anyways once again I apologize the long wait. I hope I didn't get rusty.

There will be a part 3 to this but I'm not sure when. In the meantime, I ask you amazing readers to wait once again for it to come out.

Let me know what you guys think! I hope you guys like this, I tried to think how to make it more interesting. If anything let me know how to improve!

Until then, Stay Fancy!