Alicization Twisted

Chapter 26

<Kirito's PoV>

Once again I am unable to sleep. I just lay on my bed staring up at the ceiling while Asuna was fast asleep on my chest. Ugh... it really was annoying me, these constant nightmares or visions. I don't know what to call them because they feel so real. I tried getting up but Asuna had a tight grip on me, she probably suspected I would try to go out. And as a result she woke up as well and sat up as she saw me awake. "Kirito why aren't you asleep?" She asks rubbing her eyes. She switched on the lamp and had a shocked face.

She probably saw I was pale again and bags under my eyes. "Kirito this isn't your first time that you haven't slept! What's going on" She says but I just look away, I can't show her that I am too weak. "I've just been trying to think... how I can get my sister back." I say and then she relaxes her face, "Look Kirito you shouldn't stress over that too much, we will get her back don't worry! We have to be patient and play our game instead of the enemies" Asuna says and I guess she was right. "Ah thank you Asuna, I think I can sleep now! You always cheer me up" I say and then lay back down in bed.

Asuna switches off the lamp and then wraps her arms around me and I do the same. She rests her head on my chest, and before I know it my eyes close and I am asleep.

<Morning>

I feel the sun's rays shine on my eyes and so I open my eyes. I look to my side and there is no Asuna, which was a shock. Normally I would wake up super early on a training day. I got out of bed and saw a note on the table beside the bed, "Kirito please rest, I'll train with Ronye and Yuuki today. You just take some rest. Love Asuna" I smile at the note... gosh if there was only a way to repay her. I thought. I guess I'll try and think of something, but meanwhile I'll go check on how their training is going.

But first I headed to the washroom and got fresh before putting on my normal attire. Then I head out of the washroom and to the practice room I had been assigned by the Academy. Asuna had requested for us to use the same place and I didn't mind so they agreed to it. I guess she wants to keep an eye on me so I probably don't go AWOL as I usually do. I open the door and I see Asuna with Yuuki and Ronye in the middle doing some sword skills. I walk into to the field and they notice my presence. "Ah Kirito... I told you to rest and that I am fine with training both of them" Asuna says and she was blushing.

"I know I just came to watch... I had nothing to do anyway" I say and let out a yawn. Asuna sees this and sets the other two girls on a little duel with each other. "Kirito can I talk to you?" She says and I nod. She then walks me to the stands in the room and we sit down to watch Yuuki and Ronye spar. "So did you manage to sleep?" She asks. And I nod, "best sleep I've had in a while" I reply and she smiles. "I think we should visit the doctor... because lack of sleep can cause many things..." Asuna says and I begin to panic a little. "No, no. There will be no need, it's just a lack of sleep! Doctors won't need to be informed of this it's perfectly fine" I say as a counter argument but she wasn't budging on her opinion.

"No, Kirito. I don't feel right about this! And you have no choice. This Friday I have booked an appointment with Doctor Shinji and I'm going with you!" Asuna says. My face drops... oh no she's going to find out about it... crap. She'll kill me because I didn't tell her. "Really it's fine I'll go on my own, you can enjoy your day with the others... I'll tell you everything he says after!" I reply and I could see her think.

"No, for me you are my number 1 priority so I am coming with you regardless of any case" Asuna says and I was amazed. "What if you get called by Azurica" I say. "Then I will tell her that you are more important in my life and I will make sure to convince her!" She replies, "what if your parents call and need you?" I ask. "Kirito, I already said you are my number 1 priority. And I would never leave you for my parents who don't care about me at all!" Asuna says with a rage and I was surprised.

"But that's your family... you can't abandon them!" I reply but she holds my hand, "No they aren't... we will be a family together later and that will be the one I care about the most!" She says... I was lost for words at what she said. She let go of my hand and was blushing so much she covered her face in embarrassment. "Asuna... But" I didn't know what to say to that. "Uhhh... look Kirito what I mean is that my family have never cared for me no matter how much I tried to love them they simply didn't care so I cut them out from my life" She said quickly and I guess she's gotta do what she wants to.

"Fair enough... it's your life. I shouldn't force you to do things" I reply.

"Thank you Kirito... so this Friday I am coming now end off!" She says. "Hey but..." I began but she put her finger on my lips to stop me from talking. "You just say you won't force me to change my decisions so I am coming and that is the end of this topic!" She said with a smile. Sometimes I hate me and my big mouth. "Fine... Friday it is" I sigh and look away as she returns to the battlefield. Well I guess I am now screwed. But I can't complain... she always wants the best for me and I appreciate that.

My mind went back to what she said earlier... "we will be a family together later and that will be the one I care about the most!" Did She also have the same dream as me... to get married? Na! I shouldn't think about this yet... we still have time to develop our bond more. Then when the time is right I will consider it. I got up and drew my sword, and joined the field. I felt fired up after the thoughts. Because as my mother once said all of us in this world are holding onto something. And that there is some good in this world that is worth fighting for. And Asuna has given me that reason to be motivated.

"Thank you Asuna for taking Ronye but I can take her now. I feel way better!" I said doing a couple of stretches. "Sure but still take some precaution Kirito... your wrist may still have some pain" She says and I nod. I then lead Ronye to the opposite side of the field and I see her mood is down. I hold her shoulders and hold her head up to look at me. "What's wrong Ronye?" I ask and I see frustration in her eyes. "I'm so bad at defending! I have good attacks but my defence is exposed and I get picked apart so easily!" She says flailing her arms around. "And also my parents always pressuring me to find a husband! It's really annoying me" She said.

"Look... negative thoughts. Just get rid of them. They make you feel frustrated. I know this because I was in your same position all throughout my childhood and in fact last year as well. Sortiliena my valet also found defence as my weakness and I couldn't adapt to her style because I kept thinking it was too hard and then I had my incident with Death Gun and that was more frustrating. But over these six months I've had a chance to think. Because even in these dark times you have, happiness and success can always be found if you remember to switch on the light" I say and I see her stare at me in some shock. But she looks away.

"But what is my light? And what was yours?" She asks.

"My light? Asuna of course! I consider myself lucky and somewhat privileged to have met her. In fact I really don't deserve her in my life. I've always been a negative type of person until I met her and she opened my eyes to everything" I say and Ronye just stares at me lost for words.

"Of course you and Asuna are inseparable it's like you've known her since birth! But how do I find someone like her? It's not easy" She says.

"I know it isn't. But there's something that you must be fighting for? Something that made you want to join this academy! Because each and everyone of us is holding onto something" I say.

"What am I holding onto?"

"Why did you come to this academy?" I ask.

"Because I want to be an integrity knight and protect people from bad people!" She says.

"There you go! That's what your holding onto. That there is some good in the world! And that you want to preserve it from the darkness! Use that as your driving force and it will take you places! And then with patience and time the right person for you will come... and your dreams will be justified" I say and I can see Ronye almost tear up.

"Oh Kirito!" She says and hugs me tightly.

"It's ok! It's natural to cry but from now on show me the passion and desire to learn and you will pass with flying colours!" I say stroking her hair.

"Asuna sure is lucky! You deserve her because you are amazing so thank you so much Kirito!"

"Anytime... Ronye"