Chapter 2
Mariko sat next to Mimiru while Ryo went to the visitor's desk to check on Tsukasa's condition. Both of the women worried over their friend's state of health. "Its not fair", Mimiru whispered while struggling to hold back angry tears. "I failed her yet again." The agony in Subaru's voice caused Mimiru to wince in sympathy. With much difficulty, words of sorrow pored forth from the handicapped woman.
"Even here in the real world Tsukasa was trying to protect me, just like that time in the caves. " Mimiru stayed quiet for once, letting Subaru continue. "Not even Crim could understand how lonely I felt. The Crimson Knight's were just another way for me to hide from my feelings. I wanted to belong somewhere, to be with someone who wanted me for myself, no expectations. Just to share experiences with. Even if its something as simple as looking at the stars."
At this point Mariko began to cry, tears rolling down her face but she continued to talk. "I joined the World to find people, just to talk with them. You'd figure that with over 20 million players that someone, anyone would be willing to converse with their fellow man."
Mimiru cringed inside when Subaru laughed mockingly at herself. Then she finally spoke, "Why did you become involved with Tsukasa in the first place? I don't mean you as the Lady of the Crimson Knights but as Subaru."
Taking off her glasses she smiled slightly at Mimiru's question. "I was caged by my responsibility you see. Granted while running the Knights I was able to accomplish many things but nothing for myself. Selfish, is it not? Everyone has a façade to maintain a role to play even in an online game. By involving myself with Tsukasa and her problems I could ignore my own troubles and put all my focus on something else."
With that she fell silent, too emotionally drained to speak more of it.
Meanwhile within Tsukasa's medical room a nurse was busy making her newest patient more comfortable. The injury to her head wasn't particularly serious but the doctors encountered something within this patient's brain pattern that troubled them deeply. Apparently something unusual was found within the cerebral cortex. Looking the unconscious woman over again the nurse nodded, satisfied with her work. She then quietly left closing the door behind her.
---Within the World---
Aura looked down at the broken body of Maha and wept silently for the brave feline. Her purple and white fur was mangled and torn in most places while her crimson eyes stared out blankly, seeing nothing. A whiskered mouth moved silently pleading with Aura to make the suffering stop. The child AI placed her small hand upon the cat's chest. "I promise, you shall suffer no more." With that a bight green light engulfed Maha, rewriting her data along with it.
In Mac Anu:
A timid wavemaster with green rune markings logged onto the World for the first time. He stepped cautiously out on to the bridge when a red haired long arm approached him, smiling sweetly at him. "Well, look what we have here now, a newbie." Elk didn't like the way the male PC said "newbie"; it sounded more like an insult then anything else. Too shy to say anything, the wavemaster backed away slowly in the hopes that this person would leave him alone. Unfortunately, the long arm followed him into the alleyway. "Awwww, be my friend wont you?" The menacing look made Elk shiver and hold up his staff in defense. "Leave me alone," he whispered. Laughing at the wavemaster's terror, he advanced with his spear pointed outwards. "Killing you will be my finest moment ever." He charged at Elk intending to impale the other with his weapon when a hiss from above caused him to gasp in surprise then shock as a long blade pierced though his helm, killing him instantly. Golden eyes gazed at the gray corpse with disgust.
"Th-thank you." That was all the poor Elk could say to the wondrous creature before him. Twitching her long ears, the cat PC smiled at him with affection in her eyes. "Are you here all by yourself then?" He nodded slightly, still overwhelmed by the whole situation. After a moment she offered him her paw, inside it was a single blade of aromatic grass. "I saved this for you, wont you take it for me?" Looking up at her golden eyes Elk thought that the World might be interesting after all. Taking it gently from her hand he noticed the pleased expression upon her face. With a flick of her tail she motioned for the wavemaster to follow. After a few minutes Elk finally asked, "What's your name?" Grinning with delight the other responded " Mia, and you?" Blushing he replied "Elk, I'm not very good yet though."
A confused look flashed on Mia's face then vanished. "Not to worry, I know a wonderful place to start." Both warp out from the chaos gate to begin their adventures. Unnoticed by all Aura sat in the alcove of a nearby building, smiling to herself. ---End World sequence---
On the TV mounted in Tsukasa's hospital room a commercial begins to play.
*A black haired announcer appears on the screen, her bright smile is really fake looking*
"Are you tired of having bugs infest your home then look no further than...*Static plays over the TV*
"FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, HELP MEEEEEEE." Lios continued to yell with fright as Piros of the Fairest Eyes brigade tried to sing Christmas carols at the unfortunate moderator.
"Jingle bells, o fairest of jingle bells, wont you ring o' merrily!"
Lios: PK ME FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!
*Before the screen cuts back to the commercial we see that Piros is trying to place a mistle toe on Lios*
(We now return to your regularly scheduled episode of. hack//sign. Happy Early Xmas greetings everyone! Wyrmwolf6)
Tossing in her sleep Tsukasa began to tremble. Her dreams were of the worst sort. It always started with her mother looking down at her.
*Come on sweetie, its just a little further. * Grey eyes so much like Tsukasa's looked at the girl with such tenderness. With a squeal of delight she launched herself into her mother's waiting arms. Then the safety of that refuge faded from memory, leaving Tsukasa alone and terrified.
"Mother, please don't leave me," wailed the young Tsukasa.
Subaru looked up at Tsukasa in surprise as the other woman started to thrash in the bed, hands clenching the sheets. A small whisper escaped the bedridden patient. "Mother." Fear for her friend's safety drove Mariko to Tsukasa's side. She held onto the struggling woman and started to murmur quietly, calming whatever demons plagued her so. Grey eyes slowly opened to see Subaru smiling wearily down at her, their noses almost touching. "I guess it was my turn to hold you." Grinning weakly Tsukasa was about to reply when a loud crash echoed outside the doorway.
*Wyrmwolf6 must apologize for this cliffhanger* ^_^ Keep reading to find out what happens next.
Mariko sat next to Mimiru while Ryo went to the visitor's desk to check on Tsukasa's condition. Both of the women worried over their friend's state of health. "Its not fair", Mimiru whispered while struggling to hold back angry tears. "I failed her yet again." The agony in Subaru's voice caused Mimiru to wince in sympathy. With much difficulty, words of sorrow pored forth from the handicapped woman.
"Even here in the real world Tsukasa was trying to protect me, just like that time in the caves. " Mimiru stayed quiet for once, letting Subaru continue. "Not even Crim could understand how lonely I felt. The Crimson Knight's were just another way for me to hide from my feelings. I wanted to belong somewhere, to be with someone who wanted me for myself, no expectations. Just to share experiences with. Even if its something as simple as looking at the stars."
At this point Mariko began to cry, tears rolling down her face but she continued to talk. "I joined the World to find people, just to talk with them. You'd figure that with over 20 million players that someone, anyone would be willing to converse with their fellow man."
Mimiru cringed inside when Subaru laughed mockingly at herself. Then she finally spoke, "Why did you become involved with Tsukasa in the first place? I don't mean you as the Lady of the Crimson Knights but as Subaru."
Taking off her glasses she smiled slightly at Mimiru's question. "I was caged by my responsibility you see. Granted while running the Knights I was able to accomplish many things but nothing for myself. Selfish, is it not? Everyone has a façade to maintain a role to play even in an online game. By involving myself with Tsukasa and her problems I could ignore my own troubles and put all my focus on something else."
With that she fell silent, too emotionally drained to speak more of it.
Meanwhile within Tsukasa's medical room a nurse was busy making her newest patient more comfortable. The injury to her head wasn't particularly serious but the doctors encountered something within this patient's brain pattern that troubled them deeply. Apparently something unusual was found within the cerebral cortex. Looking the unconscious woman over again the nurse nodded, satisfied with her work. She then quietly left closing the door behind her.
---Within the World---
Aura looked down at the broken body of Maha and wept silently for the brave feline. Her purple and white fur was mangled and torn in most places while her crimson eyes stared out blankly, seeing nothing. A whiskered mouth moved silently pleading with Aura to make the suffering stop. The child AI placed her small hand upon the cat's chest. "I promise, you shall suffer no more." With that a bight green light engulfed Maha, rewriting her data along with it.
In Mac Anu:
A timid wavemaster with green rune markings logged onto the World for the first time. He stepped cautiously out on to the bridge when a red haired long arm approached him, smiling sweetly at him. "Well, look what we have here now, a newbie." Elk didn't like the way the male PC said "newbie"; it sounded more like an insult then anything else. Too shy to say anything, the wavemaster backed away slowly in the hopes that this person would leave him alone. Unfortunately, the long arm followed him into the alleyway. "Awwww, be my friend wont you?" The menacing look made Elk shiver and hold up his staff in defense. "Leave me alone," he whispered. Laughing at the wavemaster's terror, he advanced with his spear pointed outwards. "Killing you will be my finest moment ever." He charged at Elk intending to impale the other with his weapon when a hiss from above caused him to gasp in surprise then shock as a long blade pierced though his helm, killing him instantly. Golden eyes gazed at the gray corpse with disgust.
"Th-thank you." That was all the poor Elk could say to the wondrous creature before him. Twitching her long ears, the cat PC smiled at him with affection in her eyes. "Are you here all by yourself then?" He nodded slightly, still overwhelmed by the whole situation. After a moment she offered him her paw, inside it was a single blade of aromatic grass. "I saved this for you, wont you take it for me?" Looking up at her golden eyes Elk thought that the World might be interesting after all. Taking it gently from her hand he noticed the pleased expression upon her face. With a flick of her tail she motioned for the wavemaster to follow. After a few minutes Elk finally asked, "What's your name?" Grinning with delight the other responded " Mia, and you?" Blushing he replied "Elk, I'm not very good yet though."
A confused look flashed on Mia's face then vanished. "Not to worry, I know a wonderful place to start." Both warp out from the chaos gate to begin their adventures. Unnoticed by all Aura sat in the alcove of a nearby building, smiling to herself. ---End World sequence---
On the TV mounted in Tsukasa's hospital room a commercial begins to play.
*A black haired announcer appears on the screen, her bright smile is really fake looking*
"Are you tired of having bugs infest your home then look no further than...*Static plays over the TV*
"FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY, HELP MEEEEEEE." Lios continued to yell with fright as Piros of the Fairest Eyes brigade tried to sing Christmas carols at the unfortunate moderator.
"Jingle bells, o fairest of jingle bells, wont you ring o' merrily!"
Lios: PK ME FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!!
*Before the screen cuts back to the commercial we see that Piros is trying to place a mistle toe on Lios*
(We now return to your regularly scheduled episode of. hack//sign. Happy Early Xmas greetings everyone! Wyrmwolf6)
Tossing in her sleep Tsukasa began to tremble. Her dreams were of the worst sort. It always started with her mother looking down at her.
*Come on sweetie, its just a little further. * Grey eyes so much like Tsukasa's looked at the girl with such tenderness. With a squeal of delight she launched herself into her mother's waiting arms. Then the safety of that refuge faded from memory, leaving Tsukasa alone and terrified.
"Mother, please don't leave me," wailed the young Tsukasa.
Subaru looked up at Tsukasa in surprise as the other woman started to thrash in the bed, hands clenching the sheets. A small whisper escaped the bedridden patient. "Mother." Fear for her friend's safety drove Mariko to Tsukasa's side. She held onto the struggling woman and started to murmur quietly, calming whatever demons plagued her so. Grey eyes slowly opened to see Subaru smiling wearily down at her, their noses almost touching. "I guess it was my turn to hold you." Grinning weakly Tsukasa was about to reply when a loud crash echoed outside the doorway.
*Wyrmwolf6 must apologize for this cliffhanger* ^_^ Keep reading to find out what happens next.
