A/N: New edit. Removed the first paragraph, it isn't even remotely relevant.
1.) This is an AU, but there will be Easter Eggs scattered throughout.
2.) There will be genderbending. As of this typing, so far only Haseo and Silabus though. Because yuri.
3.) Yes. This has a plot. Gasp! The first chapter is a bit weird, but I have a twisted sense of humor. I apologize. Only not really, because then I wouldn't still be doing this. At any rate, thank you for giving it a chance! Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I neither own nor have any affiliation with the dotHack franchise, CC Corp, Bandai, or anyone else in there. I am but a mere fan, writing something silly for my own and other's amusement.
Far as she could tell, everything began to fall apart in order to come together when she had chosen to stop by the supermarket rather than going straight home. Silabus had been… still was a college student, she volunteered in her spare time, and enjoyed tinkering with electronics. Living in Mac Anu was temporary for her - the college she was attending was Gateway University, or simply GU to the locals, and while she was studying to become a professional journalist she was hoping to be able to take her writings abroad. The aim was to make a difference, not to dwell in a singular area and become so comfortable the impact is lost on readers. As far as the average heights of women went, she was a little taller than most standing around five feet and six inches. Her hair was also predominately short and layered, although the bottom-most layer was left long and kept within the confines of a ponytail that curled near her thighs. No, she would not disclose how she managed to do this.
Put simply, in her opinion she had the sense that she was not one to stand out amongst a crowd. This, of course, was modesty speaking as she generally wore a great deal of greens in her outfits which made her one of the easiest people to spot in a crowd. On that day, she had been wearing a white shirt with a forest green vest over it, her pea green slacks completing the monochromatic theme of her clothing. Canard, the Homeless Shelter she volunteered at, had called to inform her that a group pf juvenile delinquents were 'serving their time' by providing assistance there and while her help would not be a bother they doubted many more people could actually fit inside the building. As wonderful as Canard was, even Silabus had to admit the structure was… uncomfortably small. So she had opted to go home, and perhaps even work on her computer. Last month someone had provided her with this great graphics card, and she had not a chance to even install it.
I could do that, and then work on my project… She thought, rummaging through the night's plans. It was then, as she was walking through the bustling crowds that she felt a tight clench in her abdomen. Immediately following was a discomfort, and yet another clench. Realizing what this meant, she immediately tried to recall if she had something, ANYTHING at home for an emergency such as this. Unable to recall, she spun on her heel to head towards the local market. She could not, no… would not go to Acorn for a problem such as this - Gaspard, while her best friend, was terribly young and this would simply be awkward. "Oh, how are you today?"
"Oh, I could be better. Don't feel too well."
"Why? What's wrong? Are you sick?"
"Nah, just suffering from menstrual cramps and potentially bloodying my panties. Everyone gets days like these."
"…" After a mental conversation like that in her mind, it was final: she was not going to Acorn for tampons. There was another store, the MD she could go to instead. Once upon a time called Medic's Union, its days as functioning as merely a pharmacy had passed as the place blossomed into a drug store, followed by a regular retailer that happened to specialize in most anything. Clutching her stomach as though there was a stab wound, she berated herself for having lost track of her cycle along with the all-important supplies necessary for taking care of days like these. It only happened every month - how she managed to forget, she could not even begin to fathom. As much as the rushing hurt, there were consequences for traveling in the less painful, yet so much slower gait. Opening the wooden door, she scurried inside and headed straight for the feminine department. Heeding her surroundings no mind, she headed straight to where she saw her usual brand.
This was where, had she been paying more attention, she could have once more averted the final result. Though part of her felt that perhaps this was fate, however ridiculous and potentially stupid such a thought was. Reaching for a small box, she jolted and nearly smashed into the wall when hearing a painful yelp behind her before a man was suddenly smashed into the display next to her with a grunt. Jumping away from the sudden violence with wide, honey brown eyes stricken with fear she gazed silently at the whimpering male being held in place by a rather angry, extremely irritated woman with spiky silver hair and vibrant red eyes that screamed pissed off even more than her visage. Silabus paled, recognizing the woman just as most anyone else with any sort of sense did in Mac Anu - the Terror of Death.
"Say you're sorry." ToD hissed to the man, who simply whimpered once more. "I doubt she heard you." The woman pressed, applying more pressure to the man's head. Silabus's heard whirled - what 'she?' The brunette tore her eyes away just long enough to check the aisle, which by this point was utterly empty save for the three individuals.
"I-I'm sorry…" The man whispered hoarsely, and slowly opened his palms - a palm, Silabus's wallet fell to the floor. The brunette's eyes widened, as she began to understand what had just taken place. Shoving the man once more against the wall, ToD released her hold now that she had the last of her violence pressed upon him. Like a roach caught in the dead of night by a flashlight, the man scampered away as quickly as physically possible.
"Fucking bastard." ToD growled, and turned her gaze onto the display… and then grabbed some tampons on her own. Yet another level understanding made its way into the brunette's brain, who by now had shakily retrieved her wallet. This was the fate previously mentioned - what were the chances of both she and the Terror of Death starting their periods on at the same day, close to the same time… and both of them having run out of the essentials to prevent literal bloody messes.
"Uhm… hah, wow. Thanks. I didn't even notice." Silabus laughed nervously, while simultaneously wondering why she was attempting to make conversation with THE ToD. At the same time though, had the other not attacked the man… she involuntarily shuddered at the thought of a makeshift pad. "May I, uhm… may I pay for that for you?" Her mouth said, forming words and sentences that her brain knew for a fact to be a bad idea. A PMSing Terror of Death was more likely to inflict that 'Death' portion of her nickname than settling for the 'Terror' part. Her reply was a grunt, along with a careless shrug. This was a better answer than she initially expected, which involved sharp pointy knives and blood coming out of holes in her body that were NOT designed to do that nor exist. ToD took a few steps forever, only to stop when not hearing the echo of the brunette behind her.
"…do you need something else?" Terror of Death asked with a slight grunt, body moving into an impatient slouch while a booted left foot began to tap in time with seconds that ticked by. So, she does want me to… the brunette thought, smiling awkwardly and she began walking in her own silent response. This was… pleasant, in a way. Silabus had always imagined ToD to be this terrifying, evil woman who ran around stabbing people just because she could. Well, not just anyone… almost exclusively those considered the 'scum' of society - people who committed acts of crime knowingly and without conscious. She was, however, not viewed as a hero by all. Those who had met her in the past only seemed to idolize her for having saved them from one disaster or another, but there had been no reports of her being friendly. In fact, more people attested stories to her hitting them for 'being a nuisance' than much else. Even so, she had her silent fans amongst all of the citizens terrified of her and what she might do. Until a few seconds ago, Silabus had considered herself to be in the latter category - but she was certainly not in the former category, either.
When the two arrived at the check-out counter, a man in his white uniform tensed seeing the lethal woman set down her tampons. Surely, this was every male's worst nightmare in physical form. He stared. ToD narrowed her eyes. Silabus coughed to ease the tension, and added her own box to the lane. "So, how much?" She asked, as chipper as she could under the current circumstances. The man turned his stare to her, both brows going up. The brunette held up her wallet helpfully, wanting him to know that she was ready and willing to pay once she had the total. ToD kept her eyes narrowed, remaining threatening. Under the gaze, offset by the friendly attitude the man swayed briefly. Finally, he shook himself free and rung up both items. Women were so weird… even the scary ones. Always had to do everything together. Like going pee, eating, buying feminine products… now if only they would have sex together with him, he would be perfectly content with this set-up. But no. Seemingly, that was the ONLY thing women did not do together. Go figures.
Providing the appropriate GP to cover both items, Silabus provided one final smile to the clerk as she grabbed her own. The clicking of boots told her that ToD was already heading out, her all-important items now paid for and ready to be used. Without thinking (again, sigh), Silabus rushed after even though the ache in her abdomen in all likelihood should have stopped her dead. "Wait! If you ever… need help with something, please let me know!" She called after, receiving odd stares from several pairs of eyes - including ToD's.
"…whatever." ToD shrugged, the roll of her shoulders bearing an interesting similarity to that of waves rising and falling. The tone reactive brain functions within the brunette's brain, as she halted. This was exactly how people got beaten to a pulp. Lucky her, the beater's attention was more concentrated on more important matters and less on dealing with some chick she had probably saved in a spur of the moment. A burst of good will, if one would.
Such a brief meeting, so fleeting… yet, had the two not met this way the odds were that next time they met things would have been different. Silabus would not have known ToD's weakness.
…
…
Close to two weeks, maybe a few days more passed. As expected of a nineteen-year old who had experienced a remarkable meeting (sort of), Silabus informed her friend Gaspard the following day of that encounter while also omitting choice details. There was no need to soil that poor boy's mind and impression of her with such pieces. While her shorter friend noticed these missing bits, he was at least considerate enough to not interrogate. A small portion of his brain very strongly reminded him that there would always be aspects of the unknown he would be better off remaining oblivious to. This mention aside though, the experience had no other real affect on her daily life. If there was any major change to her usual rituals, it was that when she cruised through the Internet and caught sight of articles mentioning ToD there was a greater sense of respect. Still a little fear though.
Yet, after a silence of several hundred hours that fleeting meeting the second time the paths crossed there was no taking an alternative route. The cement in that road had dried, and everywhere was there was a jungle she had no sword to cut through to make an alternative. Naturally, she could have tried to forge another route without one… but that was a path too difficult for her to be willing to undertake. The evening sun was low, blazing the sky with reds and oranges with paintbrush strokes of pink clouds. Silabus had been at Canard, working with Gaspard (whom also assisted at the shelter when he was not busy with school or his part-time job) in trying to develop a new fundraiser for some of the families remaining inside. Too many shirts and pants had developed holes, resulting in hand-me-downs no longer being an option in preventing the homeless population from running around in the nude. Birthday suits were only acceptable on newborns.
"Oh, hey look… fireflies." A little girl had commented, smiling dreamily out of the window while holding out her hand. "Hey… Gaspy, get me a jar! I wanna catch a bunch…" She ordered in the way only five-year olds could – abrupt, whiny, but all at once still adorable and fully capable of getting away with this attitude.
"They're raining from the sky…" Another child, this one a year or two older, commented and peeked through the glass as well.
"Those aren't fireflies." A man realized, his voice constricting while his gray beard quivered. "Those are embers." His fingers tightened on the shoulder of the smaller child, and immediately pulled them away. "Everyone – we need to evacuate! That building over yonder is on fire, and it looks pretty out of control." Without a moment's hesitation, he quickly took charge of the children. None too surprising – most of them were his own. There was had been a time when he was moderately off. At least, until he decided to go on an adoption spree and spent all of his money trying to take care of more children than he or child protective services realized one lone man with minimum income could afford.
"You all heard him – please exit in a timely manner out of the back door. Take anything you need, and once the flames are under control please rendezvous back here! I doubt it'll reach all the way over here, but better safe than sorry!" Silabus continued, picking up what remained of the torch from the Super Dad. Even if the building was two blocks away, the smoke was rapidly finding its way over in their direction from the winds. That alone was enough for concern… the fact the flames had risen up that quickly without anyone noticing until just then was even more worrying. Canard's building could be rebuilt again and again… but once a life inside was lost to the mysteries of death, there was no 'again.'
Surprisingly without panic (namely due to most of the members having lived so much of his or her lives being pushed out of this door or that, combined with the fact that none of them felt there was any real danger) Canard was emptied. Silabus and Gaspard helped move everyone along, the group hustling as far from the roaring blaze that only intensified the evening sky in all of its red and orange glory. Clouds no longer held the once pink hue – now most were developing a blackened glaze from the smoke curling upwards into the atmosphere. Ash followed the embers in a heated rain, parching the air of the humidity often felt strongly in the town by the river. Rushing with the Canard members, the brunette caught sight of a flash of blue tendrils heading towards the inferno behind them.
"Kuhn…?" Silabus breathed, eyes widening in surprise as an unusually voluptuous woman followed the familiar man with pink ponytails flying behind her. Within seconds both were gone, lost to the thick air and scents of cinder. Traversing the alleyways were not especially terrifying in a group this large, with any muggers who had been hoping to take advantage of the sudden panic hiding in a sullen stupor while watching these many people pass through and tossing warning glances at any hand that wished to try his or her luck. From the hidden routes, everyone from Canard watched in quiet fascination as volunteers from Moon Tree scrambled by in cars, bicycles, and even scooters with supplies along with a readiness to assist. While not exactly the police department, the common opinion throughout all of Mac Anu was that the program was far more effective and even helped in all cases of distress – fires included, apparently.
"What do you think happened?" Gaspard inquired, his voice beginning to sound worried. When one saw that large of a portion from Moon Tree go pouring out in one direction, there was either a party of a disaster waiting in that Cardinal location.
"Maybe arsen?" A woman offered in her most helpful tone, immediately regretting her thoughts when seeing the boy's mortified expression.
"Well, whatever it is there's no reason to worry unless Zelkova gets involved directly. If he ever feels the volunteers are in any real danger, he always rushes in the help! Remember?" Silabus offered, trying to soothe the mounting anxiety rising in her friend's gut. With that said, the conversation was then effectively silenced. The brunette could only hope that had been a positive sign.
...
...
...
The group had traveled for an hour, but ultimately reached their destination – the regular homeless shelter, which provided housing only for the night and maybe a meal. There were already multiple groups of others gathered, finding comfort in a safe place on the other side of Mac Anu. Safely tucked away from the flames and smoke billowing off in the distance, now little more than a glittering threat against the backdrop of a river now running red. Once assessing that everyone was all right, and all names were counted for Silabus departed for her own home. While a considerable walk from the other shelter, the brunette could finally drag herself towards her own home. Gaspard's mother rushed to pick him up, fretting as to whether or not he was all right, if he breathed in too much spoke, had he broken anything, et cetera.
Twilight had fallen, with the first few hints of the stars twinkling in the few black velvet spots in the sky escaping the blaze. Violets mingled with blues, with reds still staining and remaining strong. Silabus's steps were slow and deliberate, as she tried to calm herself with gazing at what was not burning or threatening to burn. Her parents lived in Naval Monte, and after seeing Gaspard being worried over so heavily by one of his parents… she suddenly missed her own. Or rather, the idea of someone worrying over her. Not that her father and mother never did – simply that, they were not here to be aware they should be worried. Living alone had all kinds of perks… but much like everything else, that too had downsides.
As she dwelled on this, which was right when she noticed a misplaced blackness among all of the darkness. Silabus paused, her eyes trying to trace the outline of the unusual object on the ground a few feet shy of the lamp's reach. Muscles tensed upon recognizing this particular shape: a human body. Without another thought she was on her knees, hands tentatively shaking the form while repeatedly asking, "Holy Sol! Are you all right?" Her fright was dispelled within seconds, as a pale arm smacked her away.
"I'm fine!" A woman's voice snarled, recoiling away from the other's assistance. A sudden hiss followed, and the once fallen female stood up in order to glare down at the innocent bystander that dares to try and be nice to her. Honestly, what was this planet coming to? A person being considerate was completely nonsensical. The brunette gazed emptily up at her, her brain slowly beginning to register that not only did she recognize this voice, but that physique… horror then registered. "What are you staring at?" The woman snarled, and Silabus was immediately standing up and apologizing a bit awkwardly.
"Sorry, uhm… I just recognized you, is all." The brunette explained, now trying to be subtly away from the other without giving any real indication she had the sudden urge to run. Apparently ToD was in a bad mood even without cramps.
"Tch." ToD tolled her red eyes, and while shaking her head silver strands of hair followed the movement. The last time the two had crossed paths, her hair had been spikier and more lively. This time, however, much of it was limp and slick with sweat. ToD was wearing low-riding black pants, clinging to her body as though she had been running miles with several burn holes strewn throughout. Her top, if one could really call it that at this point, was in worse condition. The tone of her muscles was unsurprising, as someone who overpowered others so often needed the abs and biceps to continue doing so. Yet, the black fabric of what might have been anything from a t-shirt to a tanktop was reduced to little more than perhaps a strangely designed sports bra. Cuts were all up and down her arms, a few scars from past fights, and everything else she managed to accumulate was hidden beneath reddened bandages. Silabus swayed at the thought of why that might be. "Wait." The brunette snapped back to attention, her curiosity having no time to wonder about why she was dressed as such now.
"Do you need help?" Was Silabus's automatic response, especially after seeing those bandages. How were her legs, if her torso was this beaten up?
"You're that chick from the MD, right? Tampon girl." ToD's name assignment was not particularly flattering, but regardless the brunette found herself nodding assurance on this fact. Or maybe the Terror of Death had suffered a head injury of sorts, and wanted to check her memory… "Did you really mean it, when you said… something about doing a favor?"
Actually, I offered you help – just like what I'm doing now but I think you need to see a doctor so, instead of stating what she thought Silabus decided to go with, "Yes." Hopefully this would be enough to persuade ToD to allow her to call a Grunty and get the two to the nearest hospital which would probably already know this particular patient quite intimately.
"Good. Where's your house?"
"Of course right this… ah, my house?"