Protection



So sad...

Violet eyes glazed with a lost look. A blank expression that revealed no thought. What was he thinking? Was he aware of what he did? Of anything at all? I shifted closer to the boy, who lay poised against the abandoned bed like a broken doll. I waved a paw in front of his face, part of me silently wished that I could get his attention, pull him out of this trance. The rest of me knew I had no chance, since Tsukasa lost his trust in me ages ago.

It's painful...

I have to follow orders. I have no choice. But it really hurt to see him like this. My own expression slipped just a little bit as the boy paid no heed to my hand. What was he looking at? What was he seeing in his head? Those blank violet hues seemed to be looking downward at his hand. I look over as well, and my eyes fell upon what was grasped in his fist. A simple reed, a piece of grass that was slightly wilted and brownish in color. His fingers lighted brushed along the plant, as if he were trying to get a feel for what exactly he held. My expression fell a little more as my eyes closed. I best not stay here much longer.

He did not deserve this. He was only a child, a child who lost himself in a land of make believe they enjoyed more than reality. But he didn't enjoy this world anymore, he wanted to escape. She was angry with him, oh yes, she was angry, but she did not hurt him until he brought that girl to this place. That was the last straw. Why couldn't he have just behaved? He wouldn't be in this state if he had. I begin to speak, my silent voice only he and another can hear. Surely he will respond, like he always does. My lips move, the words come out, but he still does not stir from his trance.

Crestfallen, I get ready to turn my back and move away from him. I cannot stay longer; she will question where I have been. She will be angry with me if she knew I was here. She had told me that we didn't need Tsukasa anymore.

A slight shift of his head caught my eye. My own ruby hues widened when those lost violets met level with mine. He still looked lost, but he was looking at me! I felt a guilty rush of happiness. She would defiantly be angry with me when I returned. The boy just stared. He picked up his hand and held out the piece of grass he had clasped for so long to me. I took it, my happiness replaced with a feeling of confusion. Was he trying to tell me something? I don't even think he realized whom he was handing it to.

I held the reed close as I floated a few feet away from the boy, who had gone back to his blank look that stared at nothing. I looked down at the reed and than I turned my back to him and vanished. She will surely question where I had been, and she will be angry.

But...

My duty comes to him first. I am supposed to protect him. I failed once already...

But next time I will not.

-End-

This takes place at episode 20, where Tsukasa is in his little coma. I tried to keep spoilers at a minimum. Right after I finished the series, I felt a need to write something about Maha. He was such a neat character, and you really do not learn much about him. I'm not sure if you learn more in the many other .hack series/games, since I have only seen .hack//sign. If it is inaccurate, I apologize. This was my own personal interpretation of Maha's feelings when it came to Tsukasa. I feel he cared about Tsukasa deeply, not romantically of course, just as protectiveness. I'm also sorry if this fanfic had horrible grammar/spelling/etc, I've had writer's block for six months now, and this is the first time I've written since than. ^_^ Please leave your reviews, hope you enjoyed.

Starya