Complicated

14

<Asuna's PoV>

"I've taken a look at his wound and it was a sword wound from about a few weeks ago now. So probably around when he moved in to your house" Alice says and I stare at Kirito. I remember the first day when he came home in the morning dripping in blood and I had seen his chest in bandages. It was gruesome when I recall that memory.

Alice then picks up his sword and places it against his scar and the wound matches the sharp end of his sword. "He was stabbed with his own sword" I say. It was a shock to me. Was it those laughing coffin members.

"I can feel something locked up inside him. It's so dark and evil..." Alice says and moves her hand of his wound and I put my hand there and felt the dark mana from the scar. It gave me chills and a shiver to my very spine. "What is it?" I ask.

"Should we find out" Alice says and extends a hand for me to grab. I nod and hold her hand and she places her hand on his chest and it felt like my body was being sucked into a vaccum. I closed my eyes trying to absorb this feeling and then it stops. We were in some empty place. It was just white.

"Where are we?" I ask Alice but she shrugs. I then heard little children laughing and saw a young Kirito and a young me running around. Kirito was trying to catch me. I remember this... we were in a park and I had taken his gloves and he began to chase me.

"Wow... you two were close" Alice says smiling.

"Yeah... I think we are in his head?" I suggest.

"No. His heart" It was a deep voice and the whole place suddenly became dark and ominous. Our kid selves disappeared in thin air and the feeling became eerie. "It is my domain now..." a raspy voice said and we saw a figure with horns and sharp razor teeth floating ahead of us.

"What are you doing to Kirito kun!" Alice shouts and I stared at the figure. He was too scary and powerful and his mana was dark. "Wouldn't you like to know." It says and releases some dark energy towards us causing us to brace ourselves. It felt like we were being pushed and when I opened my eyes we were back in the real world.

"What was that?" I ask looking at Alice but she seemed petrified at what we had just seen. It was like being in the face of the devil himself. "I don't know but surely that can't be Kirito's aura? Because from that I could feel nothing but killing intent" Alice says.

I then think about the scene. It was me and him as kids and then that figure appeared and everything disappeared. It was anger and despair. Kind of like how Kirito's been acting ever since we reunited. Is that thing controlling him?

"Alice. Is it true that you can get someone's spirit and merge it with yours?" I ask.

"Yes but that requires the death of the person first then you get the spirit and then to have the spirit enter you must have a hole in your chest" She says. Hole... I then lift Kirito's shirt and point to his stab wound which was on his heart.

"Surely not... that means he has killed someone... I think we may be overlooking this!" Alice says getting a bit stressed. I wanted to believe her but there was something bugging me. I just couldn't let this slide. Sortiliena senpai knows something as well...

"Yeah I guess you're right. It's probably like that because of his parents death. Maybe it will take time to heal." I say. "Yeah that's likely. Anyways let's head back." She says.

"I'll stay here and watch over him... but could you call Sortiliena senpai please?" I say and Alice nods and leaves the room. I stare at Kirito. I want to know what's going on. I can't be left in the dark.

I wait for about five minutes and I hear the door open. Sortiliena senpai enters and looks at me with a confused look. I walked over to her and grab her collars. "Tell me what happened to Kirito kun! What did he tell you!" I say. It was meant to be out of my anger but tears started to flow out of my eyes.

"Asuna..." Senpai lowers my hand and sits me down on the spare bed. "I know how much you loved him and still do. And I wish I could tell you everything I know. But it's not my secret to share. I'm sure Kirito will tell you soon. And one thing I can say is you are very important to him. And I can't stress that enough." She says looking into my eyes. I could believe everything she said.

"But why won't he tell me? What's that thing inside of him?" I ask wiping my tears.

"It's how he has become after everything he's been through... and he will tell you I'm sure. Just make sure you're there for him when he needs it. Can you promise that?" She says looking at me in the eyes.

"I promise. I'll take care of my Kirito kun!" I say standing up and looking at Kirito's body on the bed which began to stir.

We both were now looking at him. He was shaking a lot now. I ran to his side and tried to shake him awake but nothing worked. "Kirito kun wake up!" I shout. A few seconds later he stops. His eyes open but the pupils were lit red. He sits up and stares at Sortiliena senpai.

"You must understand he chose this path himself." He says but it wasn't his voice. It was the voice that Alice and I interacted with. He then turns to me. "You're the girl he thinks about constantly. But don't worry. I'm here to protect him. So do not fear me" He says and something about that made me want to accept it.

Kirito's eyes then shut and he went and lay down again and was in a sleep once more.

I turn to senpai and she had a confused look but she sighs. "Asuna I guess we trust Kirito kun. But remember do not break your promise ever!"

"I will be by his side till the day I die" I say and clutch his hand tightly.