A/N: Hi I'm Jikanet, actually this my first fanfic and as a beginner, but It took a time to realize my first one is complete, it took three times for editing my prologue version of my first own fanfic known as RIVES, but this will be a good start or else. But I might going to start there carefully because it's something to do on my first step as an author.
Disclaimer: the .hack/series belongs to CyberConnect2 and Bandai Namco Entertainment. (Except my OCs)
"This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental."
THE SAFEKEEPING OF PROMISE
Prologue -The Dream-
In the bizarre place, scenery and its atmosphere felt cold and dark, it was like inside the building who looks like an ancient temple, the dark and swarmed place brings a whole frightening presence and cold and gloomier atmosphere, the sky is bright at night, even if only just a half a circle building that can illuminate the dark which eye can see, even just half of it.
Have been wandering in the temple full of dust and dirty, many walls that have collapsed with the rest are still standing, and also the water drops from the rest of the rain never stop for even a second. The water is calm and quiet, now moving with the vibration and sound coming from the bottom center, the deeper and deeper the sound came as it digs deeper into the down floor.
The vibration of sound change into the sound of a clashing sword, it feels louder and louder than any object could feel to make, and the sound of roaring became even louder than before.
It's significantly the battle shown between the red-haired boy, who wears wearing head forehead protector with shape longhorn with mark shape add with orange-colored, as it kind familiar with a Knight, he wears outfits that some kind like a knight with white color, with his chest along with his sleeve to wrist hand being covered with a black sleeve, the Silver straps covered his chest to waist. Although his design chest color outfit was black, it seems more like his straps criss-cross. While his pants featured the waist trousers for the left and the right has widened almost to cover the waist of his uniform in black, the pants colored with white with the edge of the pants with a long white box to the bottom and the knees added white with a triangular shape on top While shoe pr boots colored white and on top tied with a yellow belt, some parts on his shoes colored in white color, added with silver strip color for the front of the shoe. The depth from knee to foot covered in black color while on his back featured colored black cap.
Using the two-handed sword with a double-edge cross designed blade, he tried to focus his attack toward the Giant Red Dragon, with its size bigger than any monster size, with sharper claw and two-sided horned in yellow-colored, long-tail, and two wings, he rushed toward the dragon as he focuses on attacking the dragon. But the dragon blocked his attack using claw hand to prevent his sword reached toward his neck.
"Hmph, I didn't expect you to come this far to challenge me"
"The Hero of Light, Tokio"
The dragon with his demonic voice spoke up toward the red-haired boy knight, Tokio, he's serious staring toward Dragon, as he grinned his teeth as he struggled to reach his sword to cut his neck, he's hand very strong like iron, confused toward the dragon if he's kinda a new species or some kind of new metamorphosis dragon, it's very weird for the dragon to have a power that his hand has strength like an iron.
The boy drew back from the near dragon and finally landed to the ground which far between him and dragons. "Where's the princess?" Tokio asked the dragon, but he responded boy's question, with laughed,
"Bwahahaha, you think I will give her to pathetic being like you!" he mocked the boy. He laughed manically without hesitant,
"She's right over there"
The dragon answered his question, as he looked at above and he shocked as he saw the princess with a blonde long hair, she dressed like a white princess attire filled with a blue bracelet and golden tiara, she has trapped as her two hands, including her legs been chained, she looked unconsciousness, unable to wake up, resulting his anger grew a little, but he more cautious about his next move, "and I will take her from You!" he grinned his teeth, while he prepares his sword and lock on to the dragon,
"Heh, foolish human, your death shall await you!"
"ROOOOOAAAAAARRR!
The dragon roaring his voice; it heard toward Tokio's ears and his eyes sharply focused; he clenched his sword and get ready for the position; he tries searching for the opening, and how to evade his claw and his tail, until he focused on his body, hands, neck, back, leg or even his tail, the more he serious and concentrated, he finds an opening which at his hand.
"All right! Here goes!
"Raaaaargh"
The boy screamed, he quickly ran toward his hand, to make an opportunity by weakening his strength and behind parts of his hand will deactivate his strength of the iron which powered within his claw hand, he knew it's perilous, but to save the princess he mentioned, he would risk his life to do it.
He jumps right at front of the dragon, as he targeted his back part of his hand, he tries lands his single blow, however, "It's pointless" the dragon became aware and starting to using his claw to delivering damage on that boy, "W-What the?!" he shocked when the dragon attacking him, but gladly that red-haired boy succeeded to deflecting its attack and push through much harder against the dragon and once again land the ground, but he uses his breath because of his felt exhaustion "He's fast! Is this really a dragon?", he shocked and didn't even know that the dragon's very smart and has an awareness toward his surrounding, even though Tokio gladly he can deflect his attack, he has to admit it's very impossible to survive whether he will land his attack again.
"What's the matter? Is that all you got?"
"Don't you Wanna save your Princess?"
Tokio uses his breath more, and he cannot imagine how much stronger the red giant dragon in front of him, while the dragon still tries to mock him more in heart content.
"No matter, your weaknesses become the reason that she will die today"
his tail had to point toward the princess above who still being held by the chained, unable to move as she is still unconsciousness, his tail pull out something like a sharp blade which can stab the princess when Tokio getting in his way, this angered Tokio, but he felt injured from Dragon's attack.
"Such a weakling like you, are nothing but a joke"
"BWAHAHAHAHAHHAH"
his mocking words enraged Tokio "Damn YOU!", his anger became more, he grinned his teeth with hate and rushed toward the dragon with an angered look, "Hraaaaaaaagggh!" he screamed, trying so hard to raise his blade and targeting Dragon's chest, he ran more quickly with a fuel of anger, the dragon using his fireball that came out from his mouth and strikes toward him in three times full, but Tokio succeeded to evade his fireball, but the anger took over him and he cannot overlook a situation or read his next move, he just moves forward and aggressively attacking the dragon with a full force,
"DIEE!" He screamed, and directly land-attack toward him,
However, his anger leads to his failure as the red dragon moves faster than he thought and attacking the boy using his tail, "Gaaaaaagh!" the boy screamed in pain because the damages he had given to that boy is much stronger and unable to deflect its attacked, as a result, he fell into the ground, and the ground's cracked because of that. His body felt weak and his injured became even more severe, he doesn't even realize his attack are even stronger, it took three times of his strength can deliver the damage against Tokio, he continues screaming, as the Dragon approached little close toward the boy,
"So much for a weakling like you to ruin my expectation"
"Now FACE my wrath!"
He continues the fireball from his mouth, as Tokio been down, it brings the dragon's opportunity ready to the firing against Tokio who he's so desperate, his body shaken, unable to move, and unable to run anywhere, "This is the end?" Tokio said.
"Goodbye! Tokio!"
The fireball has fully charged and launched the ball toward Tokio, his eyes fill with terror and despair, unable to move and almost accepting his loss, because of inability to save the princess or try to defeat the dragon...until "Please, My Hero, Save Me!" the sudden things he heard is someone that Tokio had to recognize, the girl whom he knows, the princess, "Princess?" Tokio responds toward the voice.
The Red Dragon's continue to firing Tokio until he saw something that leads him shocked about what kind he had witnessed there,
"W-WHAT?!"
The Red Dragon's shocked, as the boy's body glowing with a light that resonating from the princess's calling, he finally returned to stand up once more against the dragon,
"I-Impossible? HOW?"
"How could you still stand up in front of me?"
He was shocked to think he's in critical condition could still stand up on his feet, slowly he became more terrifying toward Dragon and he rising his sword once more, pointing against the dragon and he smirked with confident, stare toward the dragon as he wants to piss him off,
"Hey Dragonbullshead!"
"Wanna do another round? That nickname's fit you very well"
Listening to the boy's mocking has angered the dragon, his rage feed it to his heart with a powerful desire to slaughter him,
"YOU LITTLE PRICK!"
"I WILL CRUSH YOU AND YOUR LITTLE PUNNY PRINCESS!"
"DIEEE!"
Red Dragon starting to land his attack, using his claw iron hand to attack him, while Tokio rushing toward him once more.
When the boy starting to reach him, the dragon land the attack against him as Tokio witness once again that his attack will hit him. The blast from its attack, became a sign of his successfully to land a blow toward Tokio, he thought he had succeeded to kill Tokio, but he couldn't sense the smell of blood or seeing it after, it felt weird for his attacked could land a hit blow, when he tried to open his hand,
He wasn't there, and his attack was missed, "W-WHAT?!"
"WHERE DID HE GO?"
Unable to realize and shocked how he can evade from his attack, he could say that Tokio had become so fast to avoid the attack, but he thought he couldn't realize how fast he could attack the boy, and it should land a hit on him. But the problem is, Tokio wasn't there and his attack missed, causing him confused and shocked, he looked around and look for the boy, he couldn't understand how he can evade it, and desperately wanting to kill him more aggressive, even he had to care and increase his awareness toward surrounding, until he heard a voice,
"Hey, looking for me?"
It was already too late for a red dragon, he looked where the voice came from until he looked up to the sky, and above there he saw a boy already making his final opportunity to strike his neck, he shocked, he widened his eyes how the boy could easily come from above, "H-How did you get there?"
The moment he saw a boy raising his blade and preparing to strike against him, "Rather than ask me? How about you just DIE already!" the exclaimed voice, his eyes widened, he screamed not with the rage of hate, with his will of rage.
He continues to roar his voice in rage against him, even louder and louder sound could show his anger and hate against him, but it was already too late, as the boy getting even closer and closer than he could realize, and Tokio is about to land a hit blow to his neck with his blade, he held his sword with his two-hand and hold it tightly toward his target, he strengthened up his body and screamed with his heart content, "HRAAAAGH! TAKE THIS!"
"C-CURSEEE YOUUUU!" his death is near, the dragon only screamed in terror, he couldn't move his body, only he saw a fear of death by the hands of the boy, and by the time Tokio's approach him further, he slashed his neck, leaving the dragon's eyes were out of his consciousness, he cannot have felt his body and breathing anymore, his head separated from his body, while his blood pulse cut for separation of his head from his body, causing to felt and his body become more likely to his death.
"Huft, Huft"
"Finally, I did it"
Tokio taking his breath and his body felt exhaustion once again, but even though his body could still felt injured, he feels satisfied, finally that he could face a long hardest battle against the red giant dragon even though he didn't know if it was a princess's voice who given him power, or it is done by his desire or his power, which it is doesn't even matter for him, as long as the red giant dragon's defeated, he couldn't help it but showing a bit smile.
He sits onto the ground for a bit and adjusts his breath a little longer, he can now finally rest after a long battle, it was the hardest experience that he could ever face, but much worth but he still wondering whether the princess feels safe now, he still can't hear her voice even after defeating the giant red dragon, but thinking what will happen to her next would not help him and continue to focus on adjusting his breath.
Meanwhile, after the dragon's defeat, the princess has awake; she opens her eyes and causes the glowing light shined through the temple, Tokio gazed toward the light, it felt shined causing him to cannot see what's light he saw there, but he knew that she had awakened from her unconsciousness, she descended from the light and landed into the ground as Tokio standing up on his feet; the princess came for him and such makes him smile in happiness to see the princess safe and sound,
The boy sees the princess with a smile as his eyes gazed toward the beautiful princess's eyes with a star-shaped; she smiled as she knew that Tokio would save her from the Dragon who trapping her, but it was very satisfying for him he could see the princess's smile. "Princess, you okay?" the red-haired boy approaching her and asked the princess, and it seems like she smiles in relief because how much he cares toward her, "Thank you, I'm fine now" she answered.
"I'm glad" he smiled and felt relief, but his body soon felt tired once again and starting to fell unto the ground, the princess react his condition and catch him, "Y-You okay?" she asked Tokio, she felt worried to see Tokio who felt exhausted after the fight, he slept on her laps and stare toward a beautiful princess that he had met with his own eyes.
"Yeah, it's just, I'm very glad you're safe" he smiled toward the princess, the gentle smile that felt warm to her, "C-Can I, see you again?" the boy asked the princess because he was wondering if he could experience the same dream about princess once again, she surprised that Tokio would say the word that like she didn't hear before, she's very moved and makes her thrilled as she smiles more.
"Yes, you will", she nodded and the boy finally getting some rest, with felt exhaustion, the princess hug him tight and as he is asleep, but half sleep as he still can hear her even though he felt tired, "S-Sorry, I'm just got exhausted", he felt guilt for making her worried because of his exhaustion, he feared that if he still didn't strong enough even after defeating the red giant the dragon, however, the word satisfaction came from her, head patting Tokio with a gentle smile of happiness and relief, "You already save me, you have done enough, Thank You, Tokio, You are my hero,"
"Now, get some rest, we will meet again, someday in the place that you can reach me" the screen went black, but he can still hear her voice afterward, at the time the boy was curious about her name, but it changes as soon as the red-haired boy hearing someone who yelling at him, the voice he could know very well, someone whom very familiar and what he knew so much, or so he thought.
"Tokio"
When he hears someone's voice, and the voice slowly keeps getting louder and louder to call him.
"Tokio!"
"TOKIO KURYUU! WAKE UP YOU LITTLE!"
the voice came from the Teacher who had called him, he could hear a loud table sound
"W-What!" Tokio shockingly awake, as he found himself slept during session classes, he can see all of his classmates watching him after he awoke from his sleep and when he realized, the teacher's already in front of him, he shockingly didn't realize if the teacher can see him sleeping during a class, he didn't know if he makes sound sleep or something like that, but he saw him angry it makes Tokio look terrified for more scolding by his teacher,
"How many TIME do I have to tell you about this?!" The teacher exclaimed, "W-wait what? B-But I?!" Tokio shocked,
"YOU! do not come back here until the class's over!" the teacher exclaimed.
"WHAAT?!" Tokio exclaimed and shocked when he gave a punishment from the teacher
His classmates seem witnessed Tokio getting punishment by the teacher for slept during session class, crowds getting much busier and getting weary about Tokio, they thought he's embarrassing the situation when the teacher's around, but it's always been several times for them to see him sleeping during class session and thus become part of gossip conversation by his classmate.
"That Tokio, does he have to sleep during class all the time?" Female-Student Classmate A commented,
"This is several times he does this in front of the teacher," Female-Student Classmate B commented,
"I heard he's already given several punishments from several teachers, I didn't know he has to go so far for this" Female-Student Classmate C explains,
"Such a worst day for gamer addicted's like him" Male-Student Classmate A commented,
"Just let it be, but anyway did you guys played The World R:3?" Male-Student Classmate B asked,
While they continue making gossip conversation with Tokio, before moving into another topic, except for the boy with gray hair, his expression seems to get annoyed and weary with the situation that already happens every day, "Again?" The boy with the gray-haired sighed as he stared toward Tokio, who's getting yelled by the teacher once again. He might wonder what kind of dream he had experienced as he continues saw Tokio went outside class for punishment.
Although the boy unable to aware if the dream were actual or some kind part that came from his mind of memories, which one it is, something that he dreamed about might already wait for him someday...
TO BE CONTINUE ON CHAPTER 1...
A/N: If you all play the original .hack/LINK or even read the manga version, the opening story will always be about Tokio who having a dream about saving the princess, I think it's how much it becomes his inspiration to become a hero of his own story, so I expand the story from his dream perspective and the fight scene between Tokio against bosses (might not good, but it's worth to try), but one thing I kinda love to write is about how the interaction between Tokio and the princess (you all already know about her name, though if you all play .hack/LINK game), it's genuinely cute to write how beautiful she was :D.
As for the last scene at school and the gray-haired boy...I might going to share it with you all later because I have an exam tomorrow. I was wondering if you all like my story, but I think I'm glad to try to myself even though there are still flaws in my writing. The next chapter is already complete in development, but still needs more editing to make it easy to follow, or so I thought, but I will update it along with the information as soon as I can.
The next chapter will focus on Tokio in the real-world and he dealt about his personal problem, but I also have another prologue that I might gonna publish later, just need some polish.
As for Genre, I put on my fanfic, Actually, this is just a beginning so wait for the next chapter's coming up.
Please leave your comment, suggestion, and review here.
I hope you guys stay safe there, good luck.
P.S.: As for my writing flaws, that's the reason I need a Beta-Readers to help me, I'm still searching for it and I hope I could find it because I feared that they still inactive, so I hope if any of you willing to become my beta-readers, you can leave comment or PM Me, thank you and good luck.