I hate pop up ads. I know you don't care, but in the past 20 minutes I swear 100+ pop ads have come up on me. They keep screwing up my browser and I can't get my homework done! ~growls~ So, I decided to update!

Okay, this fic won't be on the top of my updating list. Infact, it'll be third. So don't expect updates that often. I'll try to do maybe, a chapter a month of something.

Tikira/Satori Opaque: Glad you like it! Oh, and I changed the genre. You were right.

White Nyako: I hope it doesn't become one of my unfinished fics too! If you ever get the chance, watch .hack//SIGN cuz I personally think it's awesome.

Killua Kiken na: You've seen the show? Cool! I only got to see one episode. We were watching it at Anime Club. Everyone voted not to watrch it! Those bakas! ~pouts~

darkness: Quickly, well, I can't promise that. I hope I can keep them in character! Be sure to tell me if they're getting OOC, k?

Rei, Oliver and Kai r da bomb: Let's see . . . The World is a video game. A role playing one that's done on the internet. Kai (or Tsukasa in the orginal show) is trapped inside the game. He can't logout. Basically, this story is about all the people he meets inside the game and how he escapes it.

Yami-Escaflowne-sama: I'm glad you find this cool!

Thanks to all the reviewers!

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or .hack//SIGN. However, I do own most of the plot to this story.

Warnings: Shounen ai, possible OOC-ness.



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The fake sky gleamed with imitation stars. Kai lay across the grassy field, awaiting Rei's return. He fingered Dranzer with a thoughtful expression. Perhaps, he was meant to be here and not in the real world?

A cylinder of light lit up the area. Rolling his head to the side, Kai's gaze fell on Rei. The Chinese youth gave him a faint smile before sitting down beside him.

"I thought you might not come back."

"Hn."

Rei looked upwards, sighing softly. "They're beautiful. Almost as good as the real ones, ne?" When Kai didn't respond Rei lay down on the ground. "So, want to share your story with me?"

" . . . "

Kai had slipped Dranzer back under his robes. The key in which the spirit resided pulsed against Kai's skin, like a second heart. Did he want to share with this stranger? He knew nothing about Rei, so why should he tell him anything. The Chinese boy was just another player in the game.

"I spent hours in The World everyday." murmured Kai. "I loved the freedom of the game. I loved being someone else for a few hours."

"You have a rough life?" Rei questioned.

Kai snorted and pressed his lips firmly together. Rei reached out and stroked his cheek.

"You don't have to worry, Kai."

"I don't wish to say anymore at the time." Was the Japanese boy's stiff reply.

"Come with me." Rei stood suddenly, holding out his hand to Kai. "I want to show you something." When Kai hesitated, he added "You need not be afraid."

Taking the out-stretched hand, Kai followed behind Rei. The Chinese youth took him to a small shrine tucked away in the hills. It's ancient structure was covered with vines, and it was hardly visible. In fact, Kai had never noticed it before.

Kai stopped in the doorway. Rei stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by walls filled with ancient scriptures.

"What is this place?"

"The Shrine of the Spirits." Rei replied. He ran his fingers over the walls as he looked for the text he desired. Kai stepped up behind him, peering closely at the writings.

"Can you read that?"

"Yes. In this game, I am an expert with ancient knowledge, just as you are a mage." Rei's hand stopped over a small section of text. "Here it is."

Kai took in a breath, awaiting the other's words.

"When The World was created, powerful spirits protected the inhabitants. Over time, we no longer relied on them, and trapped them deep inside the mountains. However, when one of true need appears, these spirits will leap into action." Rei paused, voice wavering as he read the next part. "These spirits warned us of obsessions. They wish to protect us, but can not if we depend on something else. Value your life and depend on the spirits. In the end, they will be the only protection strong enough."

"What else does it say?" Kai asked, breaking the silence that had settled in briefly.

"That's it. This is the last inscription." Turning to lean against the wall, Rei met Kai's eyes. "Does that mean anything to you?"

/Stop spending so much time in that game!/

/That boy is obsessed./

/Logout, denied./

/I am the phoenix spirit./

Kai's eyes went wide as he stepped backwards. He bumped into a stone table, resulting in a cloud of dust. Rei got up from the floor, running his hand over the table's surface.

"In this table rests the ancient tiger spirit. The tiger is a magnificent beast who hunts his prey with stealth moves. He fights like liquid twilight."

Rei's eyes glazed over and he wobbled on his feet as he began to whisper in another language. Kai reached out to steady him, only to have the boy pass out in his arms. Grunting, Kai lay the youth on the shrine's floor.

The floor beneath Rei glowed an eerie white. Kai didn't notice, until the light formed ribbons, which wrapped around Rei's body. The unconscious boy moaned, a shudder overtaking his slim body.

Soon, the light danced above Rei, forming the shape of a tiger. Then it sunk into the Chinese boy's body, and Rei's dark lashes flickered open.

"K-kai?"

Rei struggled to sit, using Kai's shoulder to lean his head on.

"The tiger spirit."

Golden orbs shot open wide in question. Rei looked up at Kai in disbelief. Then he noticed the white object on the table. It floated over to Rei, landing in the boy's lap.

"So, you have one too, now." Kai murmured. He pulled out Dranzer, showing it to Rei.

"What are they?"

Shrugging, Kai said absently, "I had a run in with the phoenix spirit."

"So, are they the homes of these creatures?" Understanding dawned in Rei's expression and his eyes lit up. "The writings! These are the ancient spirits sent to protect us!"

"If you believe that." The Japanese youth frowned, giving Rei a good look over. "You're not injured."

"No. It's part of the guideli- Oh, right." Rei slipped the white key around his neck.

//My name is Drigger. I am to protect you while you guide the lost phoenix.//

"Drigger?" Rei's head shot up, ambers glancing around the shrine.

Kai blinked, expressionless features cast on the Chinese boy.

"The voice, it said - I heard it -"

"This game is messing with your brain." grunted Kai. "Let's get out of here."

The two hurried for the door, Rei hesitating to look back in on the shrine.

"Drigger." He murmured. "I'll need all the help I can get."

*****

Takao stood before a blond-haired merchant, retelling his encounter with the strange mage.

"He just disappeared. I don't know how, teleportation isn't part of the game. What do you think Max?"

"I don't know either . . . It sounds like he must be loner. Are you sure he was all alone?"

"Yeah, and he didn't say anything to me."

"I'll keep a listen to the gossip. Maybe someone will know who he is."

"That'd be great, thanks."

*****

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Rei bit his bottom lip, uneasy ambers drilling into Kai.

"I've spent time in The World at night, alone, before. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure . . . "

"I'm sure."

Sighing, Rei turned away from Kai. "Then I'd best be going. Tomorrow I have school, so I won't be on until late. I'll search for you then."

"Whatever."

"Goodnight, Kai."

Then The World blackened, and Rei was falling through the transfer vortex. The boy watched the shapes flashing past him, mind lost in thought. There had to be some way to help Kai while not playing the game. Some way to find out *something* . . .

"News. Maybe, if I look hard enough, it'll be in the news?"

There had to be something about Kai in the papers. Who knew how long the boy had been trapped online.

"I'll check the papers." Rei concluded. "I have to help Kai, and Drigger knows it."

*****

The room was dark, except for the flashing lights from outside. Voices rang through the air, yells to the figure collapsed on the ground inside. Blood trickled down the pale face, dripping onto the keyboard. Yet no one could get inside. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't reach the young boy hunched over his computer. It was as if the room was guarded by a magical barrier . . .

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Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile

Tell me of a story never ever told in the past



Take me back to the land

Where my yearnings were born

The key to open the door is in your hand

Now fly me there



Fanatics find their heaven in never ending storming wind

Auguries of destruction be a lullaby for rebirth



Consolations, be there

In my dreamland to come

The key to open the door is in your hand

Now take me there



I believe in fantasies invisible to me

In the land of misery I'm searchin' for the sign

To the door of mystery and dignity

I'm wandering down, and searchin' down the secret sun



Come with me in the twilight of a summer night for awhile

Tell me of a story never ever told in the past



Take me back to the land

Where my yearnings were born

The key to open the door is in your hand

Now take me there

To the land of twilight



-Key Of Twilight

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