Wow! I made an extremely boring chapter! It had to be done though. Just look on the bright side; the next chapter will be better! _

HitokageNoInyou: I'm glad you are happy. Thanks for the corrections.

Yoko Sereana Lita: Actually, I know nothing about .hack. So I didn't base this story off it. _ Final Fantasy 11? Maybe someday, but right now, I'm broke. *Shows everyone empty wallet*

Tragic4: Thanks! ^_^

Alright, let's continue!

*Chapter 14: Getting Ready*

Hope was shaking violently at what had happened to Draken and Darche. She wanted to run as far away as she could; only Gaston trying to comfort her kept her from sprinting out of the site of destruction. Will had a disgusted look on his face. Max was just looking on coldly. Rue seemed as if he was petrified. Then he looked down at the three Blue Eyes White Dragons he was holding. The only sign that Draken had ever been here; the fires had gone out, just as he had promised.

"I... killed him." Rue was visibly shaken at this. "I can't believe it… I killed him!"

Hope got up, leaning on Gaston for support. "No Rue, you didn't kill him. He killed himself. He set the rules for this game, and that was his downfall. He was going to die anyway Rue, someday."

"But still…"

Max's patience snapped. He stepped forward and grabbed Rue around his shirt collar, dragging him up. "Get over it! He was scum who needed to be disposed of! Just because you killed somebody doesn't mean you should commit suicide!"

Hope stared. "Max…?"

"Get over that idiot! It was him or you; who do you think has a better reason to live?! So quit moping and get back into gear! Do you understand?!" Max shouted.

Rue coughed. Max's hold was too tight. Max dropped him.

"Max… what was that about?" Hope asked. "You sound like…"

Max glared at her, and she dropped the conversation, choosing to help Rue up. "Rue, look at it this way. If you put it that way, I have killed somebody too. But I don't think I did. It is their fault for what has happened. I know it might be hard to get over for a while; I felt kind of bad too. But if we had just let them go, they would have kept killing innocents. So in the end, you might be responsible for more than just one death."

Rue thought about that for a minute, and then nodded. "Thanks Hope. I guess you have a point…"

She smiled at him. "Good! Then we can decide what to do next."

Suddenly, two official looking men ran up to them. "What are you children doing here?! It is WAY too dangerous to be here! Get out!"

They knew it would do no good to argue, and began walking away. When they had gotten out of their sight, Rue stopped them.

"Let's go back and eavesdrop on those two men."

Hope gave him a disbelieving look. "Are you nuts?"

"We need more information, and only the officials will know it! I say we go back, and hope they say something we need to know of."

Will nodded. "It would be for the best."

Hope shrugged. "All right then, I'm game."

Max just followed them as they snuck behind the remains of a house.

"There they are," Rue whispered.

"-and so many lives are lost! This is crazy! You can't die in Teknisk Wereld!" the first man yelled.

"Apparently, you can. Please keep your voice down; this is supposed to be private," the second man responded.

"Well, sorry. But I'm just shocked. Who could have done this? The only people we saw alive were those four kids…"

"Cease that kind of talk. This was the work of an expert. Some duelists with Water-Type Soul Monsters said that they had tried to put out the fire, but it only fueled it. Those kids could not have any card that could do that, and their Soul Monsters could not have done it either."

"So what now?"

The second man held up a hand for silence, and took out a cell phone that was ringing. "Yes, this is James. What?! Are you sure?!" He paused, listening. "Unbelievable! Alright, we will get there as soon as possible. Yeah, Eric is with me. Try and find out more information; we will need it!" He pressed the end button. "Bad news. The security is down!"

"No way!"

"It's true. We have to get back to the Real World and help them get it up as soon as possible! That must be how most of this town was burned down; the person who did it could easily bring in a violated item without our knowledge!"

"This is serious. What did the Chief have to say about this?"

"He says there is no way we can get in online in at least a month! Guards will have to be transported to here, and arrest people on the spot with whoever has weapons, alcohol, and etcetera."

"Alright, let's get back then!" The two men pressed the menu button on their Duel Disks, and then teleported out.

The guys got out from under the house. Rue shook his head. "Unbelievable! The security is down? I thought that was impossible!"

Hope looked around. "Security? Huh?"

"There is a "force field" that surrounds all of Teknisk Wereld. It can sense whether you brought in a violated item or not. If you do, then officials will come and haul you off to jail. Not the most pleasant experience, by the looks of things," Rue explained.

"So our enemies are armed? Great. What should we do?" Hope said.

Will had an idea. "We go to the real world and stock up."

"Stock… up?" Hope inquired.

"Yes. Get weapons, extra cards we might need, make up an excuse to be out of school, thing like that."

Hope looked stunned. "Weapons? But what if we are caught? We might get arrested!"

"I know this," Will assured. "But I doubt that that will happen. Something very strange is going on, and I get the feeling the official will be more interested in it than in trying to find some people with illegal items."

Hope still looked uneasy, but nodded. "We will need a way to defend ourselves… I suppose it would do…"

"Tell you what. Everyone, come down to my house. I live in South Carolina, at this address." He wrote it down on some paper, and then tore it apart, giving a piece of each to everyone else. "That way, we can plan on what to do next."

"How am I supposed to get to South Carolina?" Hope protested.

"I will have a hard time too…" Rue agreed.

Will handed them both an envelope. "Cash for a plane ticket and a taxi is inside of those. Max, do you need one?"

Max shook his head. "I live in South Carolina too, actually."

"Here's some money anyway. Just catch a taxi. I will hope to see you all soon. Gaston, Ruecian, Olympion, I am guessing you would like to join us? Quit looking at me like that Neo, you are coming too."

"Sure," Gaston said. "I would like to see the real world."

Ruecian just nodded.

"Olympion will join us," Max said. "So let's get ready."

They all brought up their menus, and pressed the blue button. The Soul Monsters vanished after they did.

*****

Hope opened her eyes to unfamiliar surroundings. She was on a bed in what appeared to be a bedroom that had a wardrobe, a nightstand, and a dresser. Gaston was there too.

"This is your house Hope?"

Hope shook her head. "Zenith must have brought me here. This is probably his house." She jumped off the bed. "Let's look around."

She searched the house, but there was nothing of interest until she entered a family room. She yelped in surprise when she saw Zenith lying on the couch. His body seemed to be in a weird position, his face a picture of pure agony.

Gaston walked over to Zenith. "He's dead, just as we expected. It looks like his spine had been snapped in half."

Hope shuddered, and walked over slowly. "What a horrible way to die." She then took the fiery orb off his neck.

"Why do you want that?"

"I thought it might come in handy," Hope said with a shrug. She also grabbed his long, black cloak. "We might need these some day. Gaston, what are you looking at?" She walked over, and saw he was looking at a book of some sort.

"It appears to be a journal of some sort," Gaston said, opening it.

"A diary…" Hope confirmed. "That's where people write about their life, the good and bad. As much as I hate looking into people's personal stuff, we can't turn away any kind of info." She slipped that into her back pack too. "Let's go to my house."

They arrived there in about ten minutes. Hope thanked her lucky stars Zenith lived in a neighborhood close to hers as she walked inside, Gaston following.

"Hi Hope!" her mom said. "Did you stay out late with Julia?"

"Uh… yeah, I did. Mom, this is my Soul Monster, Gaston."

"I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am."

"You too. I'm glad you got a polite monster, Hope."

Hope nodded. "Mom, I'm going to go to South Carolina."

"What?! Why on earth? South Carolina? Hope, that is utter nonsense! You have school to go to, and I'm not paying for a flight to South Carolina!"

"It's all taken care of. My friend has paid for the flight. I just need you to drive me to the airport."

"Why would you want to go?"

Drat, think fast, think fast! "Uh… um… er… A very good friend of mine… is ill! He had a disease that might kill him soon! This is my last chance to see him!" Whew, that was close.

"That's terrible! What kind of disease is it?"

"Uh… I don't remember what it is called… you know how bad I am at remembering things!"

"Wait… you have never been to South Carolina. How do you have a friend there?"

Dang it mom! "Uh… he was… a friend in Texas! Yeah! And he moved to South Carolina. We've been e-mailing each other!"

"And you never told me about him?"

"Er… I forgot to mention him… because I didn't see him very often… yeah…"

"Well, I guess it is ok. But come back when he is either better… or…"

"Yes mom, I know! So you will drive me to the airport?"

Her mom sighed. "Oh all right."

"Thanks mom!" Hope said happily. "I'll pack right now."

She walked off to her room, Gaston snickering.

"Very convincing speech."

"Oh shut up."

After packing away the stuff Hope thought she would need, her mom drove her to the airport. Gaston had gone back into his card for the ride.

"Welcome ladies. After you buy your tickets, and are scanned, you may go in."

After doing all that, Hope said goodbye and got on the airplane.

*****

Rue got up, unclasping the Envoyant Machine and his Duel Disk. He threw a few additional things into his back pack, and grabbed something from his closet. Afterwards, he immediately began looking around the house for someone, Ruecian following faithfully. He soon found her.

She wore a brown, long sleeved shirt, and brown pants. Over that she wore a long, purple robe. In addition, she had brown boots. She also had long, dark brown hair. In contrast to Rue's eyes, hers were a soft, light brown.  Her deck was an Angel Deck, as her Soul Monster showed. Heavenly Knight: Perseus-Perseus for short-was a great help to it.

"Hi Rue! Did you hear about what happened?" the girl said, sitting up from her bed.

"Claire! Thank goodness you are here. I was afraid you might have been in town when the fire had started," Rue said with relief.

"No, I was by the lake." She looked at Rue in a concerned manner. "It looks like you were there though. Are you ok?"

"How could you tell?"

"Your arm! Just look at it!"

Rue stared at it. When the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon had hit him near the fire, Ruecian must not have been able to stop his right elbow from grazing it. That part of his shirt was blackened.

"Funny… I didn't even notice," Rue said. "I'll switch clothes before leaving."

"Leaving? Where?" Claire asked.

"To go to South Carolina. A friend of mine thinks that I and my friends can help stop the people who started this fire. So we're going to his house. He gave me money for the tickets to the airplane, so don't worry about that."

"Really? You know? I want to come too! I can help!" Claire said, excited.

"NO!" Rue exclaimed. "There is NO way you are coming. It is way too dangerous!"

Claire bit her lip. "But…"

"No buts! You are not coming with me, and you are going to stay out of Teknisk Wereld until the danger is gone!"

"What?!" Claire shook her head. "There is no way I am staying out of Teknisk Wereld!"

"People are DYING, Claire, dying! I would never forgive myself if you died by the work of a maniac!" Rue argued.

Claire sighed. "All right... I'll stay out, but only as long as I have to! Promise me you won't get into trouble, ok?"

"I can't promise, but I will try my hardest," Rue assured. "You just stay out of Teknisk Wereld, and everything will be ok. Also, please be sure to tell mom and dad where I am, and stop the teachers from going after my blood, ok?"

Claire looked troubled, but nodded all the same.

"Just call me by my Duel Disk if you need to talk. Ruecian and I will be back as soon as we can. Come on Ruecian, let's catch an airplane." They walked off towards the front door.

"Wait!" Claire shouted. Rue stopped and looked at her as she ran up. "Take this card. It will help you," Claire assured him. "When you see it, think of me."

Rue smiled at her reassuringly. "Don't worry. I won't forget. Thanks for the card." Without looking at it, he stuck it into his Duel Disk. "I'll be sure to examine it later. Oh, and one other thing. I don't care about what really happened; in my heart, you are, and will always be my sister." With that, he and Ruecian left.

Claire was unable to stop a single tear from coursing down her cheek.

Rue stared at the weapon he had brought a block from the airport. "Dang! How am I going to hide this from security Ruecian?"

Ruecian simply picked up the weapon and grabbed Will's address from Rue. Before he could protest, Ruecian made a few gestures, and the weapon was gone.

"A teleportation spell? Ruecian, you own!"

Ruecian gave a small smile, and vanished into the Soul Card.

Rue got in without a hitch, and was soon on the airplane, its destination South Carolina.

*****

"OW! DANG! I need to quit doing this… OW!"

Olympion just stared at Max as he got up and walked downstairs, still complaining.

"Man… going a week without food and water can really take it out of you…"

Max spent about an hour eating various things before feeling well enough to go to Will's house. After collecting the things he thought he would need, he quickly caught a taxi, and he was on his way.

*****

Will got up slowly, and went downstairs, followed by Neo.

"When will they get here Will?"

"Max might be here in an hour or less. The others will make it in a few hours. In the meantime, I need to neaten up the house and find those weapons…"

To be continued…