Disclaimer: I don't own .hack//SIGN. Is that clear enough for you people?
*sigh of frustration* Forget it, just read the fic, okay?
"All evil is potential vitality waiting for transformation. . ."
*****************************************
The landscape was silent, everything black, dusky cliffs against dark sky. The moon peeped out from behind wisps of fog, gleaming along the deserted ridge. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional whisper of wind. The stage had been set, and the very landscape seemed tense, ready for action, waiting, waiting. . .
*****************************************
Potential
By Moonlight's Spell
******************************************
Chapter One: Duel
In the shadow of the moonlit cliffs, a lone figure waited, protected by a shroud of darkness. Her blond hair gleamed silver as a stray moonbeam grazed it. She gripped her staff tighter, every muscle tense, every nerve alert and ready. She shivered ever so slightly. She wasn't used to such complete darkness, putting her at a disadvantage already. But she was determined to be prepared for anything.
Suddenly, she heard the sound her ears had been straining for. Footsteps, running along the ridge. Their owner made no attempt to disguise his presence, and the echoes reverberated along the midnight walls. A grim smile flitted across her face. *Here we go. . . *
She waited until she could see his silhouette clearly, racing along the cliff just ahead of her, then took off, struggling to match his pace while still keeping him in sight. With his demonic speed, one blink of an eye and she'd be finished.
They were nearing the end of the cliff now. She knew he'd have to make his move soon. This was the crucial moment. She had to be ready for him when he landed, otherwise he'd have her beaten in an instant. But he'd never jump if he knew she was ready. The trick was to wait at the edge, let him think she'd lost him, stand there, wait for him to come close, until she could feel his presence right behind her. . .
There! She whirled suddenly, lashing out with the staff, blocking the blade about to close on her throat. She heard the clang as their weapons clashed, saw the surprise in his red eyes . . . and then they were engaged in an all-out battle, spinning along the plain like dust storms, their weapons flashing in the moonlight.
Her mind and body scarcely seemed to belong to her anymore; while her body automatically moved to block his strikes, her mind barked out orders: *Dodge! Parry! He's behind you! Block it, block it! Watch the other knife!* The result was total confusion, and yet somehow she managed to avoid every one of his attacks. But that was not good enough. She had to fight back.
They both knew the loser would be the one who disengaged first. If she shifted her focus to move away, she wouldn't be able to focus on his movements, but if he dropped back, she'd have time to use her lightning magic. So the only option for either of them was to wait and hope the other grew too tired to block.
They continued to fight, never slowing their relentless pace, ignoring the darkness and their fatigue. Then suddenly his hand moved away from his face, the blade aiming for her arm, and there was an opening. This was it! She had to strike now! She aimed for his face, but in the confusion hadn't seen the other knife. . . and once again found herself helpless, his knife pressed against her throat.
"That was a good fight, my dear," he smirked. "You almost had me worried, that time."
She was shaking with rage; she couldn't seem to control herself. To be beaten again, and when she was so close. . ! It was humiliating. "Save it, Sora. You beat me, okay? Now get this thing out of my face and leave me alone."
"Leaving so soon? I had hoped you'd stay and chat for a bit." He moved the knife closer, a reminder that he was the one in control here. "I assume you remember this field? It's the same as when we had our first rematch. You didn't fall for the same trick this time, though. You're a fast learner, I'll give you that."
"I don't need compliments from you," she snapped, green eyes ablaze with anger. "You're such a fool, Sora. A hopeless idiot. I don't know why I even waste my time fighting you."
He smirked, that annoying, self-satisfied grin that only served to fuel her rage. "Always the defiant one. You've got a tongue sharper than any sword. I'd watch it if I were you; an attitude like that could get you in some trouble one of these days."
"It already has. I met you, didn't I? Now let me go. I'm tired of listening to your senseless babble." She tried to break free, but he only pulled her closer, bringing the second blade up to join the first.
"Oh, come now," he purred, "how could you insult me so? You know how I love our little talks. You can humor me for just a bit, can't you, my dear?"
"Don't call me that," she spat through gritted teeth, practically dropping the staff because her hands were shaking so much. How could she let him get to her like this? Usually she could keep the full force of her anger at bay.
"Well, what kind of a name is BT, anyway?" he countered. "Just two letters, meaningless. . . or is it?" He cocked his head to one side, laughter in his red eyes. "Well?"
"Hmph. Like I would tell you. No one knows, and that's the way it'll stay." Her rage was dissolving now, leaving the usual icy resentment in its place.
"I require an answer," he whispered. "Unless you'd like me to kill you again?"
"Yeah, right," she retorted. "You know I'll just log on again. I know not to do anything important when you're around." She sighed. "I'm not going to answer you, so kill me, if that's what it takes for you to leave me alone."
He lifted the knife, then abruptly released her, sliding the blades back into their sheaths. "Nah. Been there, done that. It's a waste of my time." He grinned. "Hah! You're not even worth killing, yet you never cease to amuse me."
She scowled. "Well, you never cease to irritate me. I'm leaving." And she was gone, leaving only golden sparks to show where she'd been standing.
Sora chuckled in the silent darkness. "Ah, I do so love this game!" And then he too was gone, leaving the landscape bleak and empty once again.
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A/N: So, how was it? Sorry there were only two characters, but I'll add more in the next chapter, I promise! A quick note: this is an AU of sorts. I made up my own ideas for what the characters are like in real life. I've only seen the first five episodes, and I only know a few things about what happens, so bear with me, okay? And, please, please, PLEASE review!
"All evil is potential vitality waiting for transformation. . ."
*****************************************
The landscape was silent, everything black, dusky cliffs against dark sky. The moon peeped out from behind wisps of fog, gleaming along the deserted ridge. The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional whisper of wind. The stage had been set, and the very landscape seemed tense, ready for action, waiting, waiting. . .
*****************************************
Potential
By Moonlight's Spell
******************************************
Chapter One: Duel
In the shadow of the moonlit cliffs, a lone figure waited, protected by a shroud of darkness. Her blond hair gleamed silver as a stray moonbeam grazed it. She gripped her staff tighter, every muscle tense, every nerve alert and ready. She shivered ever so slightly. She wasn't used to such complete darkness, putting her at a disadvantage already. But she was determined to be prepared for anything.
Suddenly, she heard the sound her ears had been straining for. Footsteps, running along the ridge. Their owner made no attempt to disguise his presence, and the echoes reverberated along the midnight walls. A grim smile flitted across her face. *Here we go. . . *
She waited until she could see his silhouette clearly, racing along the cliff just ahead of her, then took off, struggling to match his pace while still keeping him in sight. With his demonic speed, one blink of an eye and she'd be finished.
They were nearing the end of the cliff now. She knew he'd have to make his move soon. This was the crucial moment. She had to be ready for him when he landed, otherwise he'd have her beaten in an instant. But he'd never jump if he knew she was ready. The trick was to wait at the edge, let him think she'd lost him, stand there, wait for him to come close, until she could feel his presence right behind her. . .
There! She whirled suddenly, lashing out with the staff, blocking the blade about to close on her throat. She heard the clang as their weapons clashed, saw the surprise in his red eyes . . . and then they were engaged in an all-out battle, spinning along the plain like dust storms, their weapons flashing in the moonlight.
Her mind and body scarcely seemed to belong to her anymore; while her body automatically moved to block his strikes, her mind barked out orders: *Dodge! Parry! He's behind you! Block it, block it! Watch the other knife!* The result was total confusion, and yet somehow she managed to avoid every one of his attacks. But that was not good enough. She had to fight back.
They both knew the loser would be the one who disengaged first. If she shifted her focus to move away, she wouldn't be able to focus on his movements, but if he dropped back, she'd have time to use her lightning magic. So the only option for either of them was to wait and hope the other grew too tired to block.
They continued to fight, never slowing their relentless pace, ignoring the darkness and their fatigue. Then suddenly his hand moved away from his face, the blade aiming for her arm, and there was an opening. This was it! She had to strike now! She aimed for his face, but in the confusion hadn't seen the other knife. . . and once again found herself helpless, his knife pressed against her throat.
"That was a good fight, my dear," he smirked. "You almost had me worried, that time."
She was shaking with rage; she couldn't seem to control herself. To be beaten again, and when she was so close. . ! It was humiliating. "Save it, Sora. You beat me, okay? Now get this thing out of my face and leave me alone."
"Leaving so soon? I had hoped you'd stay and chat for a bit." He moved the knife closer, a reminder that he was the one in control here. "I assume you remember this field? It's the same as when we had our first rematch. You didn't fall for the same trick this time, though. You're a fast learner, I'll give you that."
"I don't need compliments from you," she snapped, green eyes ablaze with anger. "You're such a fool, Sora. A hopeless idiot. I don't know why I even waste my time fighting you."
He smirked, that annoying, self-satisfied grin that only served to fuel her rage. "Always the defiant one. You've got a tongue sharper than any sword. I'd watch it if I were you; an attitude like that could get you in some trouble one of these days."
"It already has. I met you, didn't I? Now let me go. I'm tired of listening to your senseless babble." She tried to break free, but he only pulled her closer, bringing the second blade up to join the first.
"Oh, come now," he purred, "how could you insult me so? You know how I love our little talks. You can humor me for just a bit, can't you, my dear?"
"Don't call me that," she spat through gritted teeth, practically dropping the staff because her hands were shaking so much. How could she let him get to her like this? Usually she could keep the full force of her anger at bay.
"Well, what kind of a name is BT, anyway?" he countered. "Just two letters, meaningless. . . or is it?" He cocked his head to one side, laughter in his red eyes. "Well?"
"Hmph. Like I would tell you. No one knows, and that's the way it'll stay." Her rage was dissolving now, leaving the usual icy resentment in its place.
"I require an answer," he whispered. "Unless you'd like me to kill you again?"
"Yeah, right," she retorted. "You know I'll just log on again. I know not to do anything important when you're around." She sighed. "I'm not going to answer you, so kill me, if that's what it takes for you to leave me alone."
He lifted the knife, then abruptly released her, sliding the blades back into their sheaths. "Nah. Been there, done that. It's a waste of my time." He grinned. "Hah! You're not even worth killing, yet you never cease to amuse me."
She scowled. "Well, you never cease to irritate me. I'm leaving." And she was gone, leaving only golden sparks to show where she'd been standing.
Sora chuckled in the silent darkness. "Ah, I do so love this game!" And then he too was gone, leaving the landscape bleak and empty once again.
************************************************************************
A/N: So, how was it? Sorry there were only two characters, but I'll add more in the next chapter, I promise! A quick note: this is an AU of sorts. I made up my own ideas for what the characters are like in real life. I've only seen the first five episodes, and I only know a few things about what happens, so bear with me, okay? And, please, please, PLEASE review!