(A/N: I wrote this a couple years ago, but I got into a proper order to be published. I finally decided to try and organise it. So, we'll see how this goes.)

Summery: AIDA may be thought to be gone, but there is something lurking in the horizon of The World that soon threatens every being on the planet. Is it possible to stop this new "bug" or will The World crumble, along with life as we know it? (rated M, just to be safe.)

Disclaimer: I own the idea, the story, and any other little thing I came up with. Everything belongs to its respective owners.

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A year had passed since AIDA was destroyed. Although some small fractions remained in unexplored areas of The World, everything had resumed normalcy.

He thought this would be a nice break from everything, when actually he found himself very bored lately. With no impending crisis, and no reason to play other than to chat or have a 'normal' adventure… things were pretty boring for young Haseo.

All the rogue did was… well, chat and go on adventures. The breath of relief had quickly turned into a smothering blanket of boredom. As far back as he could remember, which was not very far at all, he had never liked "normal" adventuring.

Today Haseo could be found sitting in his usual place nowadays, the docks near Canard's original location for their Home. He normally sat there and just waited for a new event to be posted. Today was different, and he had a feeling it was to be very different.

"Good evening, Haseo. Why are you setting here by yourself?" the familiar hushed tone of the elegant brandier reached his ears. Haseo never knew how to feel about the man. While he was a good friend, and a very loyal one at that, sometimes Endrance just really creeped him out. However, right now was not one of those times.

"Hey Endrance. Eh, I'm just hangin out and relaxing. It's been a slow day." Even though Haseo had his back to him, he knew Endrance nodded once he had finished speaking. Then a silence fell over the both of them, as what usually followed their awkwardly short and abruptly ended conversations, if you could call them that. The most Haseo had actually spoken with Endrance was over a year ago, when he was first starting to know the man. He'd found out he liked cats, and flowers, and was a recluse that lived with his parents and had holed himself up in his room… and that the man was deeply in love with him. After all this time, it was obvious that when Endrance looked at Haseo, the feelings of passion burned ever as strongly as they did the first day they met.

Haseo began to get tingles, the bad kind, shooting down his spine. He hated it when people stood over or behind him, because he was unable to see them, "well what're you doing? If you're going to stay, then at least sit down."

He heard Endrance give a barely audible chuckle, then with his usual grace and silent footsteps, the brandier sat himself beside the rogue.

"Hm… it's beautiful, isn't it Haseo…" Endrance said after another moment. The eternally setting sun made the brandier's crimson eyes shine in a way Haseo had only seen a few times before. It was a shine that showed their true depth, and allowed you to see beyond the pixels and codes that made them such. It allowed you to see through to the person on the other side, the real being behind those eyes.

"I guess." Haseo answered once he was able to tear himself away from those dangerously endearing eyes.

"But…" the brainier muttered to himself in his delicate tone, "not anywhere as beautiful… as you…"

The silence settled again, but this time it was not as bad. The gentle lapping of the waves against the concrete and stone pier was such a relaxing noise, it would have been nothing but rude to speak overtop it. When the water began to calm from the passing ships and birds, the sound also died away.

Haseo sat with his hands a bit behind him, using them as support, and leaning his head back to look at the orange sky. He swung his legs idly, feet barely grazing the water's surface. He sighed and finally spoke, "So what's it like in Kanagawa?" After saying that sentence, Haseo realised how little he knew about the man who seemed to know most everything about him. Haseo leaned his head against one of his upraised shoulders that was supporting his neck and turned to look at Endrance, who was staring thoughtfully into the amber water.

".. I've… never really paid it much attention... I never hung out after school, and I never went out anywhere."

"I thought you said you were really popular in high school?"

"…With girls, yes... And I suppose a few boys. Besides, I'm talking about middle school." He continued to stare into the waters, "Those were the worst years of my life... but... I can see the ocean from my window, and since I've met you... I can enjoy the view that much more... I had never appreciated it…" He paused a moment, as he always did whilst speaking, "…Haseo..."

"Hm?"

"Sometimes… I imagine you're there with me… or when I'm watching the sunset... I imagine you're watching it, too..."

Haseo said nothing. Part of him had wanted to laugh... but the other part was deeply touched Endrance thought about him so often... then that part that had wanted to laugh wanted to back away slowly, turn and run, and never talk to the man again.

Endrance carried on the conversation for him, "What's it like in Tokyo...? I've never been there..."

"Are you serious? You live that close and you've never been?"

Endrance shook his head 'no'.

"It's great... well, once you figure your way around it. It's really hectic of a morning and of an evening time, when everyone gets off work and school... if you were to fall down, you'd probably get trampled."

"...I see..."

Then it would happen, Endrance would get that look in his eye, which showed his mind was drifting along with Haseo's conversation.

"Haseo, I'm... eating better... my mother made me some breakfast the other morning, and I... I actually ate most of it. I could eat it because I knew you wanted me to... and it tasted good..."

"That's great to hear, Endrance."

He smiled at Haseo, the only person he reserved genuine, true smiles for.

"I got another cat... right now it's a kitten... It's so small... it's grey... and he likes to attack my hands while I'm typing. He's very feisty... I think it's because he was the runt of the litter..."

"Really now?" Haseo chuckled.

Endrance nodded, "He follows me all around my room, and I'm training him to set on my shoulder..."

"Doesn't that hurt? You know with the claws and the digging into your skin part?"

"It doesn't bother me. It's actually sort of... enjoyable. Where ever I sleep, he sleeps curled up next to or on me."

"Sounds like you made a good choice, Endrance. What's its name, anyway.?"

"...Ryou."

Ryou... He named his cat after me... I don't know whether to be creeped out or flattered. The image of him being curled up next to Endrance made his skin crawl. Yeesh.

Haseo stood up and stretched, then looked down at the still seated Endrance, "Well, I'm gonna log off for a while. I have a paper I need to finish, and I've put it off till last minute."

"Oh… okay…"

The rogue felt bothered by Endrance's melancholy gaze at the waters, and added, "Me and Kuhn are going on a quest tomorrow. We need three people to be officially entered, how bout you come along?"

Haseo knew Endrance's hatred of quests and adventures, but he knew how much Endrance adored being invited on such quests with the rogue.

"…Alright, Haseo… I will wait for your return." Endrance finally said. Haseo took that as a 'yes'.

"Ok. Later." He was too frazzled about his essay to take the last bit to mind, too much to do. Not everyone could be a hermit and do nothing but game all day. With that, he logged out. And with that, Endrance remained seated where he was for a long while.

He was left with his thoughts, something he was used to, but something he still greatly despised. His mind was his best weapon and his own worst enemy. A short mail jogged him out of his pensive nature.

"Hrm… interesting…" He raised his eyebrows and lazily stood up, making his way to the Chaos Gate to enter the three familiar keywords that were frantically typed to him in the mail sent to him.

---------end chapter 1--------

(A/N: I have about half of chapter 2 written, so it shouldn't be too long. Oh, and sorry if there's some errors. You know, distractions and all that. :3 please review! But no flames, because those only hurt and do nothing but discourage a writer.)