Disclaimer: To the person names SAYU-CHAN…did you even read my first story? Titled: Born from Darkness? If you didn't or aren't done reading it, I've already stated that Tsukasa is not a girl in the real world, and that in fact tells you that he is going to be a boy in my sequel right? No offense or anything, I just liked her better as a boy. And well in my fic's Tsukasa is going to be a boy. And now that I'm done with that on to things I don't and do own… I don't own .hack//SIGN or any of its characters. All I own is my own original character Lain Auska X and the plot.

.hack//SIGN

Episode 03: Tsukasa and Lain

Saga: Darkness and Light

"So Mimiru," Lain began as they started walking through a corridor that led to the room that the new princess was residing in. "What is this new princess like? I mean is she anything like Subaru?"

"I haven't really met her before," Mimiru replied sighing. "But I've heard that she's a little odd. Like in the hyper energetic way. Though I don't really believe all the rumors that are going around. I don't think the players like her as much as Subaru. Though I can understand why. She never comes out of the palace to go through the city with the Crimson knights or anything. In fact I dought if she is logged on half the time."

"Oh, that's too bad then," Lain said looking at the huge door that was in front of her. "Well let's just hope then that she's logged on at this point, or isn't accepting any visitors." She smiled at Mimiru and then stopped in front of the main door to the throne where the princess resided.

A guard was standing on either side of the door. They both seemed to be looking at Lain and Mimiru with annoyance.

"State your business," one of the knights said not moving an inch from where he stood.

"We want to see Lady…Auska?" Mimiru said racking her brain for the new princesses name. "Yeah. Can we see her?"

"Not at the moment," the same knight replied. "She is in a meeting with someone else. Come back latter on in this hour. By then they should be done."

"Oh," Lain said sounding a little disappointed. "But you see… This is sort of important. It's got to do with how this game is being run, and the new things that are happening, which I'm sure that she does not know about."

"New things?" The other knight asked stepping forward a little.

Lain recognized the voice. It was the Silver Knight. But why was he still playing the game when Subaru was no longer in charge?

Lain smiled at him and then stepped nearer to him also. "You recall the incident with me and Tsukasa right?"

"I recall the incident with Lain and Tsukasa, not a player such as yourself," Sliver Knight said frowning.

"I am Lain though," Lain said laughing a little. "I've just changed my character that's all. Ask me any question that only she would know."

"Alright," the Silver Knight said smiling. "What hospital was she in before she was sent into a coma?"

Lain gulped and looked at him with wide eyes. "How do you know about that? I never registered any of the information when I first started playing this game."

"What? You didn't think I wasn't going to do my own digging around did you?" the silver knight said laughing. "I mean I had to in the first place. Subaru wanted more information on you, so I of course went and looked for you in the real world. But I only found out that you had been locked away in Shinjuku Mental hospital for more than half your life."

"I've answered your question," Lain said frowning at him. "Just let me and Mimiru in so we can talk to Lady Auska. I have some important information for her. In fact I think she might be displeased with you if you hold me any longer. This is information that she needs to know about. It's got something to do with the last incident, with the virus. Though this time, the new threat hasn't shown itself. I don't know what it is though… All I can tell is that it's something bad that shouldn't be taken lightly. If we over look the problem right now and save it for latter… We might not win against it."

"I have been given specific orders that no one is aloud to see Lady Auska while she is in another meeting," the Silver Knight said looking down on Lain.

"Let her though," a new voice said. It rang through the corridors with an annoyed tone.

Lain looked at the new voice. It was of course… Lady Auska. And at her side was a new player she had never met before… And Blade.

"Lain," Blade said walking over to her smiling. "I was wondering how long it was going to take to find you again."

"As it seems not long," Lain replied laughing. "Who is he?"

"Orca. Orca of the Assure Sea," Orca replied stepping forward. "It's nice to finally meet one of the two legendary players the defeated the virus Mitski."

Lain flinched at the mention of the viruses name but smiled to cover it up. She then frowned when something in her brain snapped. Orca? Where did she hear that name before? Hadn't someone told her to give a message to Orca?

"Are you alright?" Orca asked looking at her confused.

"No I'm fine," Lain said going into a deeper train of thought. She burst out of it a minute latter with a huge smile on her face. "Now I remember! I was told to give you a message from Balmung!"

"Balmung?" Orca said looking at her confused. "Since when did Balmung start talking to other players?"

"Well actually we kind of just ran into each other and then he started asking questions, and then I asked questions…" Lain said trailing off. "But he told me to tell you that… You and him will be fighting together soon, but this time with a new band."

"Is that so?" Orca replied laughing. "Isn't that nice to know. Well at least I hope this new band is going to be good. It was always never that much fun, when it was just me and Balmung."

"Oh," Lain said looking away from him and then over to the new princess who was now gawking over her. "Hello?"

"Oh hi!" Auska shouted out sounding extremely excided and jumpy. "It's so nice to finally meet you face to face! As you already know I am Lady Auska! Princess of the game, and commander of the Crimson Knights!"

"Right. Um… Do you think maybe we could go into another room and talk? I have some important information for you."

"Okay."

Lain then entered the chamber that was in front of her. Mimiru and the two boys followed a little slowly. As soon as they were all inside the doors shut.

"So what is this important thing that you have to tell me about?" Auska asked looking at Lain a little worried.

"As you may already know from Blade… That the impossible is happening again," Lain said pausing. "It seems that you can get into the real world while you are still in this game. From what seems to be happening to me… Blade came to me all of a sudden and everything…"

"He's already told me the story. It sounds quite horrible that this has to happen to you again," Auska said frowning while nodding her head. "You have no clue what the new threat is this time… Do you?"

"Right, in fact I dought that this new threat will actually show itself at the moment, I don't know why though," Lain replied sighing. "This is all just way to confusing…"

"Well… let's just hope it gets better… right?" Mimiru asked smiling a little nervous. "Things can't get any worse can they?"

Tsukasa starred down at Lain's stiff body in horror. It had only been a few hours after he had left her to go home before he received a phone call from the hospital saying that Lain was in the hospital… But what shocked him the most was that she was sent into another coma… Something he knew he would regret for the rest of his life.

The last coma she had been in was with him. When they both were stuck in the World… Together. That was how they first met each other, though it wasn't exactly how he would have preferred to meet her in the first place…

He sighed as he looked down at the IV that was sticking out of her arm. He could hear the heart monitor beeping ever few seconds to her heart rate.

This wasn't something he wanted to happen to her again. In fact he was positive that she had gone back to the world. Why else wouldn't she have been awake? There was only one thing he could do to save her… He'd have to go back to that video game and find her himself.

Tsukasa looked around as he entered one of the most famous servers. Mac Anu. He had changed his character greatly. Since he no longer wanted people to know that the 'famous' Tsukasa was playing the game again. In fact he would have liked it if he were well hidden among everyone, though he was quite sure that his personality was going to be the same. The only problem he had now was finding out where Lain had gone…

Lain sighed as she steeped out into the sunlight that was provided by the game. She held her hand up in front of her face to shield her eyes. As soon as she steeped out under a hanger with Mimiru, Blade and Orca at her side she finally spoke up.

"So now that I've managed to find you Blade…" Lain began and then paused. Trying to think of what she should say next. "What should we do now? I don't think that it would be a very wise idea to go out and seek this new enemy, since we have no clue at all how powerful it is… But more likely, what to even look for."

"Got a good point," Blade replied sighing also. "So… Do you two have an idea? I'm fresh out at the moment."

"Don't look at me," Mimiru said frowning at him. "It's not like I've got any better impression at the situation."

"Orca?" Blade asked narrowing his eyes at his friend. "Have you any idea at what's going to happen now?"

"What would give you that impression?" Orca asked laughing. "If I had an idea I would have already told you. Considering that it most likely revolves around Lain and that bracelet she's wearing."

"What!?" Lain shouted out jumping away from him.

"What are you talking about? I don't see anything," Mimiru said shaking her head. "I think all of you are losing it."

"How can you see it!?" Lain shouted out backing further away from him. "Since when have you been in contact with Balmung! He told you didn't he! I already know you two are companions!"

"Calm down," Blade shouted out looking at Lain confused. "So what if he can see it? I think you're over reacting, considering that I can see it too!"

Lain gritted her teeth and then sighed. "I'm sorry. I guess I was over reacting, I wasn't thinking to clearly."

"It's alright," Orca said waving the subject away. "But to more important matters… What is that bracelet even for? What is its purpose besides clashing with your nice outfit?"

"Is he doing what I think he's doing?" Lain asked with a sweat drop forming. "Cause if he's trying to hit on me…"

"He's not… I hope," Blade said looking at Orca stupidly. "Cause he already knows that you're going out with Tsukasa."

At the mention of the Wave Masters name a look of grief came over Lain's face. She missed him so much… Were was he right now, more of a fact did he know that she was back in this horrible game. Or had he totally forgotten about her? She shook her head to clear away the bad thoughts that were crossing into her mind. How could he have forgotten her in the first place? What reason would he have for that? They have been so close for so very long. He wouldn't be able to forget about her now, not ever.

Lain cracked a smile and then sighed. She might as well put on a happy face for everyone, look as though she is cheering up.

She steeped forward towards the Chaos Gates. She then raised her hands to her side and sighed once more at the lack of everyone not following her. "So!? Are we going to work on this as a team or what!?"

"Oh!" Mimiru shouted out rushing forward. "I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention!"

"Great," Lain said throwing her hands up into the air. She then turned her back to the gate and frowned. "Mimiru! You have to pay attention! How else are we going to make it any where?" She steeped back and then let out a scream as she ran into someone. She spun around apologizing greatly before looking up at the character she had backed into.

The character she had ran into had short white hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to be showing all emotions at once. He was wearing a long sleeve black shirt. Pulled over the top of that was a long black coat that seemed to be loaded with pockets. His pants were also black and he had black boots on his feet. Slung over his back in an 'x' were two swords in a red sheaths. He looked down at Lain a little confused.

"Sorry," Lain muttered. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's alright," the boy said frowning at her. She looked oddly familiar. Like he had seen her some where before. "Have we met before?"

"Not that I know of…" Lain began and then paused. "I haven't played this game in a long time. So I dought we've ever met before… And I dought we'll ever met again…"

"Is that so…" the boy said sighing.

"Lain… We're are we going again?" Mimiru asked steeping forward, ignoring the boy that was in front of her. "Where do you expect to find Tsukasa at?"

"Mimiru," the boy muttered under his breath with a gasp. "Is that you?"

"What? Have we met?" Mimiru asked frowning at him. "First it was Lain… and now it's you?"

"Lain?" Tsukasa shouted out looking around wildly. "Where is she Mimiru! You have to tell me! I need to find her!"

"Right before you…" Lain said looking at the boy confused. "And you are?"

"I'm Tsukasa," Tsukasa said smiling at her. "I'm glade to have found you on my first try. I was hoping that you would be here." He smiled at her.

Yep. End. Review please!