Ahahahaha, this one took a while.D: But it's up now! And yeah, this chapter is very not very humorous, and I'm a bit relieved to say that this is the second to the last chapter of this Short story! :D And this will be the first story I ever actually finish on FanFiction!

Thank you to InvisableTarget, and Sn0wk1tty for reviewing last chapter! You guys are really awesome. And I'm not just saying it for the heck of it. I really mean it. Thank you very much! :D And also to everyone who Favorited and Followed this story!

The Light is something we desire,
so warm like a fire.
It protects us from the Dark,
even with just one tiny spark.
Light is a promise of another day,
and Light will always lead the way.
The Light can never lie,
so when you feel lost, look to the sky.

-IronRainDrops

Dearest Older Brother

"GET THE HELL BACK HERE!" cried a stressed out teen. He scrambled through the forest to catch up to his little three (nearly four)-year-old brother that escaped him once again. In his right hand was a small tan shirt and his sheathed Elucidator was held in his left. He just finished giving Kazuto his bath at the river and he did not expect his little brother to run off into the forest the moment he took his eyes off him. "KAZUTO!"

The small child ignored his brother and headed straight for the small house in the forest. His black hair was partially dry as it bounced slightly. His skin was still covered in droplets of water but he didn't care. He just wanted to go and play. Kazuto giggled as he spotted a familiar blonde haired teenager.

"Eugeo-nii!" he exclaimed. Eugeo turned his head to his direoction and widened his eyes. Kazuto was running toward him with a bright smile on his face. One thing he couldn't help but notice, was the fact that Kazuto only had a pair of pants on.

"Oh, Goddess!" he said and immediately dropped the bundle of chopped wood in his arms. Kazuto didn't slow down as he leapt into Eugeo's expectant arms. The older teen grunted as he stumbled back into the wall of their house. Kazuto was laughing as he looked up with his innocent black eyes.

"Spin me!" he demanded. Eugeo shook his head as he placed the child back down.

"No. Where is your shirt, Kazuto?" he questioned the boy. "More importantly, where's your brother?"

Kazuto only laughed and ran inside the house, not bothering to answer the question. Eugeo sighed as he shook his head once more.

"Eugeo!"

The said boy nearly groaned as he looked up to see Kirito waving a shirt in the air as he ran toward him. Immediately, he pieced everything together in his head. Obviously, Kirito wasn't able to keep his brother in place long enough to get him dressed.

"He's inside." Eugeo said as he held the door open for Kirito. The nineteen-year-old restorer gave him a quick "Sorry, but thanks!" as he ran inside. Eugeo chuckled softly and looked at the fallen logs. "Well, I think I'll—"

"Yui-nii!"

He cut himself off as he heard a door slam shut and a loud thud. Not even a split second later he could hear Kazuto banging on a door calling out with his high-pitched voice.

"Yui-nii! You meanie!"

Eugeo sweatdropped and finally finished his sentence.

"—just stay out here and let Kirito handle this. By the Goddess, I wonder how I even tolerate that little brat…"

._._.~A Few Minutes Earlier~._._.

Yukio heard Kirito's distant yelling and internally sighed. His train of thought crashed into a wall and burned into ashes in his head. Since the day Kirito brought over his little brother nearly four years ago, there wasn't a day where absolutely nothing would happen. At first, he was completely tempted to yell at Kirito for bringing a baby in the forest, but it wasn't in his nature to say anything louder than a subdued voice. Heck, the boys themselves knew next to nothing about raising a child! But, Kirito practically had nowhere to go to hide the child since they all knew that Goddess-damn Authorities would be looking in every town. So, bringing Kazuto to Kirito's foster mother, Lady Ellonie, was completely out of the question.

He later learned, as Kazuto grew, that it wasn't all that bad. The little boy was like a bundle of curiosity and a head-splitting troublemaker at the same time. Kazuto would always bother him when Kirito or Eugeo weren't around. To shut him up, Yukio would pick him up, place him on his lap, and begin working around the child. He found it rather creepy that he actually grew to like the child.

Yukio shook his head to get it out of the clouds and got up from his work desk. He opened to door just in time to see Kazuto run into the living room, shirtless. They both shared a short stare.

"Yui-nii!" Kazuto exclaimed, pronouncing his name all wrong. Kirito had tried (and failed) to get the boy to say his name right. It did embarrass Yukio for the first few weeks to be called a girl's name, but he learned to give up. Kazuto would eventually learn at his own pace.

Yukio's eyes widened when the three-year-old stared to sprint to the workroom. He panicked and slammed the door shut. A loud thump was heard from the other side. Yukio actually felt Kazuto body slam into the door. He scowled and leaned against to door as Kazuto banged against the door with his small fists.

"Yui-nii! You meanie!"

The twenty-year-old bluenette didn't flinch as he locked the door with a latch and sat back down. Even though he loved the little boy, there were times Yukio needed to be alone. Or as alone as he could possibly get at home.

"Yeah, yeah." he muttered as he grabbed a parchment and a wooden (handmade of course) pencil. After all, winter was nearing.

._._._._._.

Kirito nearly laughed as he spotted his little brother banging on Yukio's door. Kazuto had his tiny fists high above his head as he jumped up and down in frustration. The older boy smirked as he saw his chance. Placing Elucidator gently against the wall, he silently crossed the room. Kazuto was completely unaware of his big brother with his eyes scrunched closed.

"Got you!" Kirito exclaimed as he quickly, yet expertly slipped the shirt on the small boy. Kazuto squealed in shock as Kirito picked him up with ease.

"Noo! I want down! Onii-chan!" he demanded. Kirito grinned and hefted him under arm, carrying him to the kitchen. The kitchen, over the years, had to be changed a little bit. All of the knives and anything sharp was placed in a shelf far anyway from Kazuto's reach (Scared the living crap out of all three of them when Kazuto came running into the living room with a slicing knife one day). One extra chair was added for the Restorer's brother (Kazuto used to sit on Kirito's lap during meals and such). At the fire pit of the kitchen was a boiling, steaming pot that Kirito started just before going to the river to give Kazuto his bath.

"Absolutely not. I don't need you running off again." he said as he plopped (not literally) Kazuto on a chair in front of a desk. "You're not leaving this desk until I say so."

The boy pouted and resigned to stay, slouching over the desk. "O~kaaaaay."

Kirito gently patted his brother's head with a grin. "That's my little brother."

For the next two hours, Kirito taught Kazuto the basics any child should know (all three boys forgot that normal kids go to school at five). He taught him how to write his name, read a few things, and all those simple mathematics….Although, there was a pretty weird problem: Kirito, Eugeo, and Yukio never went to school before. The twins had lived in the forest for most of their lives and they barely went to a town. In fact, they taught themselves how to read and write. Kirito, on the other hand, learned things differently. Not just differently, but very differently. To put it bluntly, he was taught the old ways. He knew the oldest of languages (courtesy of Byakko) and could speak, read, and write the ancient language of Aincrad with ease. Of course, he was taught the language people used nowadays, so he didn't have much of a language barrier.

At times, Kirito would teach Kazuto small spells and important things any Restorer would know. Kazuto never really understood, but he came to know that it was better to just learn it anyway.

During those two hours, Yukio and Eugeo barely bothered them. Eugeo just went about his own business and went through their inventory. He laid out leaves to dry and chopped up fire wood. Yukio took the time to make a fur blanket. Winter was coming and since they both had two extra mouths to feed, their work load doubled. Kirito would help out here and there, but then Yukio made it clear that the little child was more important.

"Nee, Onii-chan?" Kazuto asked as he looked up from the parchment in front of him. "Are we done yet? I'm tired of learning."

Kirito sighed and stood up from his crouch next to his brother. He was a bit sore, and he knew that if he continued any further, the boy's interest would be long gone. "Alright—"

"Yes!" Kazuto exclaimed, but his brother raised a finger with a stern look.

"But! You're not allowed to go to the forest. You stay inside. I don't want to hear any complaining." Kirito said. It didn't falter Kazuto's spirits as he leapt out of his chair and went down the hall to their shared room.

"Okay!"

Kirito sighed again and sat down on the floor. "Oh, by the Goddess… he so energetic."

"Well, what do you expect? He's just a kid, Kirito." came a voice from the nearest window. Kirito looked up to see Eugeo looking in. The sandy blonde adult was holding a stalk of parsley in his hand while he was in the middle of tying a string around them to keep them together. "I heard that it's a good thing for kids like him to be energetic."

The restorer allowed a small smile. "Yeah, you're right."

There was a short moment of silence as Eugeo tied a knot.

"Hey, Eugeo?"

"Hm?"

"How long do you think this is going to last?"

The question made Eugeo stop his movements and stare at Kirito. The teen had his knees drawn to his chest and a look of sadness appeared in his usually cheery eyes. Eugeo quietly lowered his hands and regarded Kirito with a concerned stare. He chose his next words carefully. "…a while."

Kirito huffed disbelievingly at his words. "I don't believe you."

Eugeo shrugged his shoulders. "There's always hope, Kirito."

He watched while the Restorer sat there for a moment before Kirito got up and dusted himself off. Kirito turned to look at him. "Yeah. I guess so."

._._.~Back to Kazuto Current Time!~._._.

There was something odd and Kazuto noticed it right off the bat. Heathcliff just stood there with his back facing them. He didn't turn when Kazuto opened the door earlier, and he didn't even acknowledge them when Asuna said his name. He was just…there.

Asuna shared a look with Kazuto before calling out to him once more. "Heathcliff?"

"You two shouldn't be here." He said suddenly. Kazuto stiffened at his words. For a moment, he felt like he should listen to the man and leave, but he knew there was a reason for him to be there.

"I can't leave now after coming this far." Kazuto said as he decided to stroll right in. He barely felt Asuna's hand brush against his sleeve as a warning. He placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready for any sudden attack.

"Even so. You should leave. Both of you." Heathcliff said again. He still didn't move.

"No." Kazuto answered simply. Heathcliff suddenly sighed and his broad shoulders fell.

"You are quite the stubborn one." he muttered. The teen easily heard him and shrugged.

"So are you." Kazuto turned to look at Asuna as she hurried over to him, drawing her sword. She gave him a look that easily said, "be ready". Kazuto couldn't help but feel a twinge of relief as he turned back to Heathcliff.

"I suppose, you are looking for answers." Heathcliff suddenly said as he finally turned around. Asuna froze while Kazuto gaped. The Heathcliff before them was completely different. He didn't hold himself high like the day he stormed into their hometown. There was no commanding aura, or strong front, but instead, a dark and hollow-eyed middle-aged man with no hope. What shocked them both was the fact that there was no sign of a sword on or anywhere near him.

"Wha…what happened to you…?" Asuna asked as she lowered her sword. Heathcliff offered an empty smile.

"How about a story?" he asked. The two teens shared a look of surprise and wariness, unsure of what to do.

"…you're not going to try and kill me anymore…?" Kazuto asked hesitantly. The Guild leader shook his head as he unstrapped his shield, letting it fall haphazardly to the ground.

"No. There is no reason to, nor do I desire death to fall upon you." He said with a sorrowful tone. Kazuto took a step back and relaxed slightly. Asuna slowly sheathed her sword with caution, not completely trusting her former leader. She was forced to serve him for nearly seven years and she hated every damned second of it, so there was no telling if she was really thinking of a way to kill the man. Heathcliff continued.

"For thirteen years, many had known me as a leader who hunted for a demon, when, in fact, it was just a child chosen by the Goddess of Life." He paused as he took a good look at Kazuto. A grim smile appeared on his face. "You…you have grown much like your brother. Not only do you look like him, but also your skill with two blades is just as breathtaking as him. I'm sure, if Kirito was still alive, he would be proud of you, Kazuto."

Asuna bit her lip as she looked at Kazuto. She expected him to be surprised, scrambling to ask a decent question, but she was far off. Instead, he bowed his head slightly and closed his eyes with a ghost of a smile. His hands curled into half-hearted fists. What surprised her most were his words.

"…Yes. Yes, he would be." he said softly, as if reminiscing a past only he knew. He rose his head and looked at Heathcliff with a knowing stare. "I have to thank you actually. If you had not sent Asuna to kill me, then I wouldn't have remembered something important. I wouldn't have remembered the times Onii-chan would take the time to teach me things he barely knew. Or the time Yui-nii would shoo me away. Or when Eugeo would force feed me herbs….I wouldn't have remembered Onii-chan at all."

"Kazuto…" Asuna muttered in surprise. The teen kept going.

"And you killed him. You killed Kirito. You murdered him right in front of me." Kazuto said. Heathcliff sighed.

"Heh. Ever since that night, I wanted to kill myself for having his blood on my hands…" he said wearily.

"…Heathcliff, you may have killed my brother, and his blood stains your hands—" Heathcliff flinched here, but Kazuto didn't stop. "—but, did you know that Kirito already forgave you?"

Asuna looked back and forth between the two as a heavy silence fell on them. Her head was at a standstill. Heathcliff before bragged with a sickening smile about how he murdered Kirito, but now…the man before her was just a perfectly calm, non-threatening person who held regret and sorrow with every word. She didn't know what to believe anymore. Was this really the same man who called himself Heathcliff, the Guild Leader of the Knights of the Blood Oath?

"…" Heathcliff turned away, avoiding Kazuto's piercing gaze.

"You know what?" Kazuto asked as he marched right up to Heathcliff, grabbing his arm in a grip so tight it made Kazuto's knuckles turn pasty white. A fire of determination burned behind his dark eyes as he tried to make Heathcliff to look at him. Asuna couldn't help but notice how strange and awfully weird it was to see the huge difference in height between the two. Kazuto barely reached Heathcliff's shoulders.

"I don't give a damn if you won't accept the fact that Kirito forgave you, or about to let you die pitifully over the fact that you killed my brother, but I'm gonna tell you over and over until you do." He said through gritted teeth, his grip slightly shaking. "He forgave you. He Goddess-damn forgave you! He forgave you! Kirito never resented you and there is no way he could. Even if he wanted to!"

He lifted a curled fist and moved to punch the Guild Leader in the face. Heathcliff braced himself and squeezed his eyes shut, but the blow never came. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and for a moment there he thought he saw Kirito giving him a friendly smile, but it was quickly replaced by the slightly younger face of Kazuto.

"I remember that day. I remember you standing over Onii-chan's dead body with a bloody sword." Kazuto muttered as he lowered his head. "…Why would you came back to the same exact place you murdered him?"

His words caused Asuna to look at the floor. She spotted stains of rusty color red in several places on the ground and tiny splatters of dried blood. She let her eyes linger at the horrendous large stain where the other two stood. The grass and weeds that grew through the cracks were unnaturally red. A single blood-red lily glowed eerily in the moonlight near Kazuto's ankle.

"Oh," she gasped as she placed a hand to her mouth, realizing where they were, "Oh, Goddess, no."

Kazuto's voice was barely audible as he continued when Heathcliff didn't answer. "For years, I had been sheltered by Byakko, the Spirit of the West, and my memories were sealed against my will. There was only one thing other thing I never had the chance to tell you."

Asuna blinked when she saw a shadow near her twitched. She slowly placed a hand on her hilt and took a few steps closer to the two, suddenly putting her guard up. Kazuto seemed to have noticed too as he took a step back from Heathcliff.

'I have to finish this quickly.' He thought to himself. The guild leader rose his head slightly.

"You two should go. The one who wants you dead is here." He said in a calm voice. Kazuto nodded curtly and spun on his heel, completely understanding the urgency despite the lack of it. Asuna was startled when he grabbed her arm and pulled her with him to the open door.

"Come on!"

They both ran across the room and Kazuto allowed Asuna to go before him. He halted at the doorway and turned to Heathcliff still standing there. Giving him the most sincerest smile he could manage, Kazuto spoke with conviction.

"I forgive you, too, Heathcliff!"

Kazuto turned around before he got the chance to see Heathcliff's reaction. The guild leader's eyes widened in shock as the words sank in. For several years, he thought that he would never be forgiven for the harm he had done to Kazuto. Heck, the teen was only a four-year-old child at the time, and yet, he forgave him. He was certain that he had scarred the child, but it seemed like Kazuto was strong; just like the Restorer.

Just like The Black Swordsman.

"…I never asked either of you." He muttered to himself. A huge weight suddenly lifted from his chest, and he felt lighter. He looked up at the sky and imagined that the brightest star was Kirito. Though, he knew that the Restorer wasn't there, but he couldn't help it. The guilt of killing a person as young as him weighed heavily in his mind before, and now…He shook his head and laughed quietly to himself. His body began to slowly fade as he spoke.

"Kirito, even though I have done so much to hurt you, you still forgave me. I wonder how life would've been like…" Heathcliff trailed off and reached upward. He could barely see his own hand.

"…if we were friends."

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the red grass and the lily. The flower danced in the wind, twisting and turning, lonely in the empty space.

._._._._._.

"Damn! Our horses are gone!" Kazuto cursed. Asuna rose from her knelt position from the ground with a broken piece of rope. It was perfectly sliced and not a single thread was out of place. She looked at Kazuto.

"Yeah, someone cut them free." she said. Kazuto gritted his teeth and looked around. The moonlight gave the whole area a dark and creepy feel. Several shadows seemed to dance around them. He drew a sword and heard Asuna do the same.

"You better stay close." he said to her, "come on!"

They both took off in any direction away from the ruins in hope to get away safely. But, they knew it was futile. They wouldn't get far without their horses. The shadows followed them closely, nipping at their heels. Kazuto gritted his teeth and asked himself, "What would Onii-chan do in this type of situation?!"

He could feel the shadows leaping out of the ground to catch him, but he would not let it with a slash of his sword. Asuna did the same and dared a glance back. Her eyes widened in shock and fear.

"Kazuto! Behind us!" she cried. Kazuto reached back with a free hand and grabbed her wrist, pulling her close to him as he came to a stop. He turned on his heel and nearly jumped away.

"Don't go flying on me." He muttered near her ear. Asuna couldn't help but give him a look of disbelief as he pointed a sword upwards. Kazuto kept his gaze forward as a white light began to envelope the blade and spoke in an ancient language. "Goddess of Life, I ask to renew this sword in my hand into a blade to repel darkness."

Asuna watched in shock as the sword suddenly changed from a plain, standard sword to a sword from faerie tales. The Dark Repulser gleamed beautifully as Kazuto did a downward strike. A blast of light sprung from the floor and traveled across the grassy field. The darkness dispelled the moment the light collided with it. A shockwave of the aftereffects forced the two off their feet several yards away. Asuna let out a short cry of surprise as she tumbled to the ground next to Kazuto.

Kazuto seemed unfazed as he stood up in a flash, drawing his second sword. But as he drew it, a dazzling sight of dark light swept over the sword the moment it slipped out of its sheath. Kazuto didn't spare a glance at his new, beautifully crafted, black sword as he brandished it with confidence. Elucidator gleamed in the moonlight, as if it was excited. Asuna couldn't help but look up at the two swords.

Elucidator, the blade forged by the very fires of a phoenix, and Dark Repulser, the sword that was said to dispel even the blackest of curses. The pair of swords many had believed to be a mere tale. It was only until ten years ago that those swords were forgotten. There were many rumors about it, but for it to end up in the hands of the little brother of a Restorer cleared up practically everything. Asuna gaped.

"You…you took after him..." she muttered. Kazuto gracefully slipped into a fighting stance. He placed his right foot back and leaned slightly forward. He held Dark Repulser in his right hand and gripped it horizontally. He raised his right arm slightly above his head and held Elucidator with seriousness.

"Come out, you stupid thing!" Kazuto snapped with a hardened stare. Before them, a single mass of twirling shadows floated in the air. It paused for a moment, before shaping into a form of a four legged creature. It looked as if the creature stepped out of a pit of burning purple-black fire, almost like a burning fox. Its pearly red eyes shined with amusement as it grinned mischievously and stared directly at Kazuto.

"You're sharper than you seem, Child of Byakko." the beast snarled. Kazuto had to force himself not to lose his stance as he felt a shiver rundown his back. He glared at the beast.

"What the hell are you?" he demanded. Though his voice sounded firm and sure, he was terrified. Everything in his whole body was telling him to run, scream, and never look back. Heck, even his newly acquired swords were telling him to be cautious with warning glows. But, a tiny fragment of him knew that if he went with his gut, then he would be missing a huge piece to one big fat puzzle.

"Isn't it obvious? I am a demon. A monster you humans fear." came the answer with a haunting laugh. Asuna gulped her crawling fear and slowly got up, keeping a hand on her sword by her side. Though she could tell she was shaking in her boots, she was prepared to fight at any given moment.

"Why are you here?!" she yelled, her hand gripping her sword tightly. Kazuto spared her a glance that clearly told her to calm down, but it didn't quite help with the terror behind his warning. They were both scared, and there was no way of denying it. The haunting laughter grew slightly, making their stress level rise just a bit more.

"Just here to have a little talk with the Child of a fellow Demon." The demon said quite casually. He grinned even further. "A quick and casual one, if you will."

"Byakko is nothing like you, damn thing." Kazuto snapped. The demon shrugged his shoulders.

"True. In fact, he's more of a guardian than a demon like myself. Taking in not only one, but two human children was really pushing his boundaries as Guardian Spirits." he said. Kazuto narrowed his eyes and ignored his fear.

"What do you want with me, Demon?" he asked with a dangerous note in his tone. The demon raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"I came to tell you a story, one you would want to hear, Kazuto."

Kazuto felt uneasy. "I'm starting to doubt that."

"Oh? I'm sure you'd like it, Child of Byakko."

Asuna shared an unbelieving look with Kazuto. Before they knew it, the Demon already launching into a story. A story that came like a bone-crushing grip of a Reaper.

._._._._._.

"Damn it! Get the hell out of him already!" Kirito snapped as he swung his swords horizontally. Several of his cuts burned him as fabric touched his skin. He had been at this for fifteen minutes, and he was starting to feel the start of his limit. It all started with just a normal morning with Kazuto doing his normal antics of bothering everyone, until everything took a turn for the worst. A few hours after Yukio left to hunt, and Eugeo went to the closest town, someone tried to burn the two brothers alive in the house. Although it was stupid since Kirito could easily get out with his brother. But he knew. He knew it was a Goddess-damn ploy to get them out of the house. After four years of hiding, they were finally found.

Kirito did his best to hide Kazuto in the forest, telling a sweet, believable promise that he will be back. Of course, Kirito would like to believe that it was a genuine promise, but then he would be lying to himself.

Heathcliff grinned like a maniac as he leapt back, his gleaming yellow eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Why would you go through such lengths to save a soul beyond saving?" he asked mockingly, rushing in for another attack. Kirito barely had the chance to answer as he crossed his swords to block the incoming blades. He slid back about a foot before using his might to shove his much bigger opponent back. Without a moment of hesitation, he retaliated with an attack of his own. His dual swords glowed a healthy shade of green with the last remaining magic he had.

His body moved fluently with him as he swung Elucidator across Heathcliff's chest, creating a large gap in the armor. A jab with Dark Repulser followed shortly after, missing the man as he side-stepped. Kirito used his jabbing force to bring Elucidator for an upward strike. He felt his feet leave the ground as he shot in the air for a good three feet, but he wasn't done. He twisted his body to the left, turning in a circle in midair and kicked out with his left leg. He yelled as his leg connected with Heathcliff's face and threw the older man back. He threw his swords up in seemingly pointless directions and used his free hands to touch the ground. His eyes narrowed as he pushed himself off the ground to gain momentum. He landed squarely on his feet and reached a hand toward Elucidator, knowing that it would fall faster because of its air resistance. Shifting his weight on his left foot, he pushed off the ground and sped toward the staggering Heathcliff with a battle cry. "Hyaaaah!"

Heathcliff blocked with his shield as Kirito slashed at him. The Restorer threw his left hand back, catching Dark Repulser in a fluid motion and swung at the edge of the shield. The shield flew off and landed somewhere far from them. By the look on his face, Heathcliff didn't even seem to mind as he pulled back his sword arm. "Got you."

Kirito's eyes widened in shock as Heathcliff's "Holy" Sword was coming fast to his side. He didn't have time to pull back as the sword sliced his side painfully, creating a new wound right above his scar. Kirito gave a strangled cry as he was forced to the ground. He could feel all of the injures doubling back in force from his fall. Searing pain burst from his legs as he felt Heathcliff pin them down with something. He couldn't resist the urge to scream.

He couldn't take it any longer.

"So this is what's become of the Restorer?" Heathcliff asked mockingly. Kirito glared at him through narrowed eyes with defiance.

"Go to hell!" he cursed. He tried to lift Elucidator, but Heathcliff was quick to stomp his hard leather boot down. A loud crack was audibly heard and Kirito cursed violently through clenched teeth. Heathcliff's laughter echoed in his ears as his eyes scrunched closed against the burning pain.

"I must say, you have lasted much longer than the last Restorer a hundred years ago. In fact, you're features are similar to her." he said in amusement. He reached down and held a lock of Kirito's hair, lightly caressing it. "Her black hair was as smooth as silk, but much longer than yours, and dark eyes that burned with passion to live. She was fun, and just as determined as you, but she does not share the same fierceness with you. Nearly, but not enough."

Kirito gritted his teeth, feeling disgusted. "Why the hell would you tell me this?"

The hand did not leave. "Simple. You are much different than the others. Instead of dying pitifully, why not die peacefully like her?"

A wet, sickening cough burned Kirito's throat as he opened his eyes to glare heatedly at the Demon before him. "I'd rath-er di-e f-or o-thers th-an f-or mys-elf."

Heathcliff smiled. "Last chance~!"

"Never." Kirito said as firmly as he possibly could. He stared defiantly at him. Heathcliff's face twisted into a horrendous expression that could only show anger. Kirito, for a moment, felt his heart jump to his throat.

"Then I curse you!" Heathcliff suddenly exclaimed. "Your time will never move again! Your time will be frozen! Not a second more, not a second less! To the child you hold dear will pay the price of your mere existence in the worlds! For the rest of eternity, you will suffer the chains of the Cardinal!"

He could barely move anymore. His hands refused to grasp his swords. His legs were pinned down and his numerous cut burned him. His magic was completely gone; not an ounce left. The world even seemed to fade in and out. Kirito looked up at the sky and grinned forcefully, blood staining his teeth. A sword was raised against him diagonally once more and all he could see was the sky turning into twilight and a pair of burning red eyes intent to kill him. He thought about the person trapped inside their own body. with a slow blink, he looked up at the sky. For some odd reason, there was a single star shining brightly. He wanted to reach for it, but he couldn't. It reminded him of his purpose of living. He remembered his little brother and all those who took the time to stop and scold him, watch him, care for him, and even love him like a family member. More importantly, the Promise of Another Day.

"And this curse will be the end of you, Demon." he said, smiling; forgiveness clear on his face, all for the man trapped inside that body. The sword came down.

._._._._._.

Asuna stared at demon before them with wide eyes. "No...that can't be true. You must be lying."

Kazuto gripped the side of his arms as he shook his head in denial. "You were the one who killed Onii-chan?! N-no! It was Heathcliff! Unless you..." Realization dawned on him. "You Goddess-damned monster!"

The demon grinned as its form twisted in satisfaction. "Goddess-damned? Hahaha, I am not damned by the Goddess Etra. I am treasured by the Goddess Amire, her favorite Demon."

Demon. A common word to call evil beings. A word that was associated with the Goddess of Death, Amire. The very mention of Amire sent shivers down both teens. Though, Amire was a Goddess, no one would dare to mention her much, due to her title. As her title mentioned, she ruled over death. She takes anything bright and twists it into an unrecognizable mess.

Asuna's mind reeled in the information and quickly placed the pieces together. The Heathcliff she knew was all just a fake. A demon (she didn't know from where or what the demon was) had possessed him and used him to kill Kirito, Kazuto's brother. She could understand why a demon would. Any Restorer was a threat to Amire. With the power to renew, Amire could not lay a hand on the land itself.

But then, why go through such lengths just to kill him?

Kazuto's knuckles were white with his bone crushing grip. Anger and grief overruled his common-sense as he suddenly charged at the Demon. He struck with Elucidator and followed up with Dark Repulser. The demon, however, just slipped past the blades and kept a safe distance of Kazuto, grinning wildly.

"You a coward?! Damn Demon! I'll kill you!" Kazuto swore, slashing Elucidator before him. The demon merely laughed and disappeared, only to reappear behind Asuna. The swordswoman twirled on her heel and drew her sword in a flash, blocking an incoming attack of claws. She moved to lash an attack, but the demon vanished again.

Kazuto felt the demon behind him before it reappeared. Acting on a whim, he flipped one of his swords to hold it reversely and struck the demon as he turned. He felt the tip of Elucidator graze the Demon, but he knew it wasn't much. He aimed for the demon's head with the Dark Repulser as he swung his sword upward. Unfortunately for him, the demon dug its claws into the ground and leapt forward, crashing into Kazuto to the ground and pinning his left arm down with a harsh bite.

"Gah!"

"Kazuto!"

Kazuto cringed at the searing pain in his arm and the first thought that popped in his head was, "I'm screwed." Although, he wasn't really screwed. Thinking quickly, he released his grip on Elucidator and spat out the first spell at the tip of his tongue. "Fire, become my might and IGNITE!"

He shoved his right hand into the Demon just as a burst of fire exploded from his palm. He felt the fangs of the demon slip away as it snapped its jaw open with a screech of pain. Kazuto didn't have the time to sigh in relief as he reached for Elucidator and stabbed at the Demon. He thanked the Goddess Etra when he heard a squelch of his sword cutting skin. Though it was odd for a shadow demon to be bleeding, it bled red purple mist. Kazuto couldn't help but gag on reflex as he got back up and kicked the demon as hard as he could. The demon flew into the air and landed a good twenty feet away.

Asuna rushed to his side and tensed as she looked at the injured demon. "Is it dead?"

Kazuto shook his head and sheathed Dark Repulser at his back, cringing at the pain that laced his arm. Blood flowed freely from the pierced skin. Swallowing, Kazuto grabbed Asuna's arm. "W-we should go. I can't beat that damn thing with my current strength."

"Hahaha, so you know when to stop. Wise choice, Child." the demon said as he rose from the ground and sat on its hunches with its damnable grin. Its injuries healed quickly. "Wiser than your brother."

"Shut up!" Kazuto snapped, glaring wholeheartedly. Asuna bit her lip as she placed a hand to ease her friend's temper. The Demon lowered its head and flicked its tail in amusement.

"But the temper stays the same…" he trailed off and rose its head as if it was high and might. "Kazuto, the child Kirito held dear, I do hope that your memory will retain this event. So, mark my words, you will pay the price of your brother's existence."

Kazuto had a look of complete understanding as the demon disappeared in a blink of an eye, leaving an echoing harsh laugh. Asuna, on the other hand, placed the final piece to the story. Sorrow and grief crossed her face as she quickly grabbed Kazuto's shoulder and forced him to face her.

Asuna felt a piece of her die as Kazuto looked at her with a confused expression. The sky above began to lighten up, and the moon and stars began to fade. She stood there hoping and praying to the Goddess Etra as the sun reached the horizon.

"...Kazuto?"

._._._._._.

An act. He knew he had to do it. He had to put up an act. Play the stupid card. Again. Make it believable. He knew the meaning of the Demon's last words, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Everything was planned before he could say a thing. He played right into that demon's hand. He felt his best friend grab his arm and force him to turn around. There was no time to think, just act.

Act!

Without a miss of a beat, he plastered a look of confusion on his face. He nearly faltered when he saw the grief and sadness in Asuna's eyes. For a moment, he wanted to drop the act and just hug her, but then it would ruin everything.

Just keep acting.

He hid his wince as he heard Asuna call his name with a scared and timid voice.

"...Kazuto?"

It hurt. It hurt so much, but there was no other choice. Play the idiot and no one else will die. He blinked his eyes and tilted his head with feigned sweet innocence laced with wonder. "Where are we?"

Don't cry. Don't scream. Don't break.

Asuna's eyes gleamed with tears as she forced herself to smile. "We were out on an early morning stroll. But, you got attacked by a devil's hound and got injured again."

Kazuto mentally applauded her.

Since when could she lie so well?

He looked down at his arm in fake surprise and managed a gasp of horror. "By the Goddess!"

Asuna laughed as if she was amused. "Ahahaha, it's pretty bad. We should go back home."

Kazuto gave her a smile through the wincing pain in his arm. "This reminds me of the old days."

If only we could go back to those days...

"Yeah, it certainly does." she said with a smile he knew wasn't real. Kazuto caught a glimpse at Elucidator still in his hand and held back a frown with a wince.

"Oh, no." he said as he lifted Elucidator toward the rising sun. "Did I steal this from somewhere?"

Don't show it.

His heart twisted in regret as Asuna shook her head and smiled sadly. "No, you earned it."

Act.

"Ahahaha, this day is just getting stranger and stranger." Kazuto said, his voice a little forced. A believable grin appeared on his face.

Don't Goddess-damn break.

._._._._._.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

The endless sounds of the second hand moving echoed off of the huge, spacious room. A dreary light washed the room in gray. There, in the center of the room, was a black haired teen lying on his side, using an arm as a pillow. His black over coat was flapped open around his waist, giving him a bit of a ruffled look. His pale arms were covered by the long sleeves of his coat, and his hands were loosely clutched. For a long while, he continued to sleep, partially curled into a ball. He looked as if he was dead. The only indication that he was still alive, was the faint movement in his chest and barely audible breathing.

A faint set of pattering feet echoed against the walls, mixing with the loud, ticks and tocks. If he noticed, then the teen didn't move or even twitch at the new sound. A little girl with soft, rose colored hair and upset lavender eyes approached the teen with a sense of urgency. Her pale blue summer dress fluttered gently as she knelt down next to the teen. She had a set frown in her face as she reached to touch him, but stopped herself short. She hesitated for a moment.

Did she even have a right to touch him? She never intended, wanted a human in her tower. But, then again, curses were strong. She had absolutely no power over them. A small tear gathered at the edge of her eye as she looked down at the teen. He looked so peaceful, that she didn't want to bother him. She looked at the floor and curled her delicate hands into fists. Other than the shadows of the clock face, she could see the dark shadows of chains as clear as day. They were all taut and twisted in someway. Each and every chain had at least one side connected to the teen. The girl felt a twinge of fury as she closed her eyes, hating the teen's curse.

"Kirito, forgive me." she began as she turned her head away, unable to truly face him. "I cannot do anything to help you, nor do I deserve to to even be this close to you. These chains of mine have transferred to you against my will. But, do not fear." She finally opened her eyes and looked at the teen in front of her. With a sad smile, she reached down and brushed a lock of silky black hair. "I, Cardinal, swear to protect you. I will cherish you no matter how long this curse will take. I will never let you go."

The teen never stirred.

Ahahaha...So, tell me what you guys thought! (this was unedited) I never said that this chapter was a happy one. In all honesty, this story wasn't supposed to be funny, but somehow humor just manages to get in there. (like the beginning of this chapter, I loved writing that part! XD Kazuto was just to adorable!) I just noticed how this chapter was a bit weird, so I'll do a bit of an explanation here.

Kazuto's memories about his brother were sealed because of what he had seen that day. He was only four-years-old at the time...He didn't even know that Heathcliff was just a puppet for The Demon that possessed him. That Demon is one of the mains of the Goddess Amire. Restorers are bad for them, but they also love messing with their lives and torture them before murdering them. In this case, it was possessing Heathcliff and using him to mess up Kirito's life. Kirito was trying to remove the Demon, but "dies" as a result. Kazuto pretty much remembers everything and at the end of this chapter...well that will be further explained next chapter I hope. And, officially, Kirito is now in the Cardinal's Tower.

Aaaaaaaand, that's all Imma say for now. I'll do that again to clear everything up next chapter.

Preview!

"Hey, Kazuto," Asuna began as she followed him to the edge of the cliff. "What do you want to do for your nineteenth birthday?"

Kazuto paused for a moment and gave her a small frown, "Hmmm, you know, I never thought about that." He turned away and looked up at the sky. A gentle breeze blew by them and he closed his eyes to enjoy it for a second. Although it seemed peaceful, he could sense the change in the atmosphere. Just faintly, he could hear a clock ticking in the distance. Keeping his eyes closed, he answered her question, "I'm going to send a letter."

"...To who? Yukio-san? Eugeo-san?" Asuna asked. He shook his head and turned to her, opening his eyes. A gentle, and hopeful smile appeared on his face.

"I'm going to reply to a letter that was never sent."

Later!

-CloudyLightning