Disclaimer: See first chapter. Too lazy to write it again.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but here's chapter two! I've watched the second DVD (and was amazed at how good it was), so I should be better at this now. Well, here it is!
"For those who understand you, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none is possible."
************************************************************************
Potential
By Moonlight'sSpell
************************************************************************
Chapter Two: Explanations
Mimiru paced restlessly in the town square. Bear was late again. Well, what else was new? She'd just have to wait for him like she always did.
She half smiled. It would be fun today. Bear had promised it would just be the two of them this time. She wouldn't have to put up with BT again.
That thought brought the frown back to her face. BT. . . she didn't quite know what to make of her. *Well, God knows I have cause enough to hate her!* she thought angrily. *She tricked me, used me to get to Tsukasa, and then pretended she had nothing to do with it! How. . . how could she betray us so easily? And after all that, she still gets to hang around! And Bear. . .*
She sighed. Bear always prevented her from saying anything to BT. He was taking her side, even though he'd never admit to it. . . at least that was what she had thought at first. But after she had asked him about it, she had decided that there was something more to it.
"So, are you going to question her?" he had asked.
She paused. "Question her? Oh, you mean interrogate her!" But then her face had fallen, and she had answered, "No. She'd probably just pretend she didn't know a thing about it."
She remembered the unreadable look in Bear's eyes as he said softly, "Yeah, BT would laugh, huh? No doubt about it."
She had thought about that over and over. What did Bear mean? Was lying to them when she knew they could see through it BT's way of laughing at them?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. "Hello," said Bear. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Then, looking at her face, "What's wrong?"
She scowled. "BT. I can't stop thinking about her." She looked up at Bear. "Why? Why do you let her continue to associate with us? She's already proved that we can't trust her. Besides, she has more important allies now, like Subaru and Crim. She'd pick them over us in a heartbeat. So why -"
Bear held up his hands. "Okay, okay, hold on for a minute, will you? I'll tell you why. Or at least, I'll tell you as much as I can."
He pulled her over to a bench, and they sat down. Then Bear asked, "Mimiru, did you ever wonder why I told BT what I do for a living, but wouldn't tell you?"
"Of course I have!" she retorted. Actually, it was something she thought about often. If Bear wanted to keep his personal life private, it was his own business, but then why did he tell BT? How did she have the right to know?
Bear sighed. "You see," he said, gazing at the ground, "I found out something about BT. . . something she had never wanted anyone to know about. Something terrible, but something that explains why she acts the way she does." He sighed again, sounding like the old man he claimed to be. "When BT found out what I knew, she. . . well, to say she was furious is an understatement." He closed his eyes, remembering what she had said to him that day. "Worried? You were *worried* about me? So who gave you the right to go snooping into my life?" He frowned. Come to think of it, hadn't Tsukasa said something like that as well?
"So what happened?" asked Mimiru, jolting him back to the present.
"I made a deal with her. I promised her that if she would keep in touch with me, I wouldn't tell anyone. She was unhappy, to say the least, but she agreed. At first she would barely even speak to me, but I think - I hope - that she trusts me now. And so when she asked me what my life was like, I felt that it was only fair to tell her." He looked at Mimiru. "I know there's still a lot you don't know, but can you at least try to understand?"
Mimiru smiled. "I understand, Bear, but I just don't want her taking advantage of your kindness."
Bear looked at his hands. "It's really not kindness. I forced her to stay in contact with me. And now that she's been causing trouble, it's even more important for me to keep an eye on her."
Mimiru was quiet for a moment, then she said, "Well, I guess I can live with that. But for today, let's just have a good time, okay?"
Bear grinned. "Sure." He extended his hand. "Shall we go?"
************************************************************************
Sora leaned against the wall, fidgeting uncomfortably. He glared across the room at the Long Arm, who met his gaze with a look as full of annoyance as his own. *Dammit, why does he have to be here? I can't even look at him without wanting to chop him to bits!*
When BT had mailed him asking him to come meet her here, he had agreed immediately. But he hadn't known she had asked Crim to come here as well. What could she be planning? She knew he and Crim hated each other.
BT stepped between them, interrupting their staring contest. "Okay, I know you guys don't exactly get along -"
"Hate each other's guts, more like," Crim interrupted.
"I understand that you're not happy about this, Crim, but can you please just let me finish?" BT said impatiently, tapping her staff on the floor.
Crim just folded his arms. "Fine. I'm listening."
BT took a deep breath. "I got mail from Helba yesterday. She said. . . she said she'll help us find the Key of the Twilight."
Instantly, both Crim and Sora leaped to their feet. "She knows where it is?" Sora asked eagerly.
BT sighed. "Apparently. But there's a catch. In exchange for her help, Helba wants me - that is to say, us - to get something for her. Something. . . in the real world."
Crim looked uncertain. "So what would we have to do?"
"Well," BT answered hesitantly, "it seems to be some kind of computer disk, with information that she needs stored on it. She wants us to get it and send her the files. She gave me the address. It's just some abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. But even so, I don't like the idea of going there by myself. So I wanted to know if one or both of you would be willing to come with me."
Crim looked at his shoes. "I'm not sure about this, BT. Like I told you before, I'd rather keep this matter confined to the game."
"I know that, but we have no choice. Or I should say, *you* have no choice. I'm not going to work with you if I have to do everything myself. So, here's the deal: whoever comes with me gets to share the Key of the Twilight." She folded her arms, waiting for their answer.
Sora smiled to himself. You had to admire her powers of manipulation. Crim was against meeting in the real world, but he couldn't stand having Sora know something he didn't. And Sora himself wasn't wild about joining forces with Crim, but he didn't want to be left out of something this important. He leaned against the doorframe and glanced over at Crim. He already knew what his own answer would be, but he wanted to see what the Long Arm had to say.
"I really don't like this - " Crim started to say, but then BT broke in again.
"Listen, do you think I don't have any problems with this? I'd prefer not to do things this way, but I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get the Key of the Twilight! Look, here's what I'll do. Tomorrow, we can all meet about three blocks away from the warehouse. That way, we won't know where anyone else lives. We can even call each other by our game names if you want. You won't need to give us any information at all. I just don't want to do this by myself, okay?"
Crim fiddled with his spear. "Well, I guess that sounds all right."
BT looked over at the Twin Blade. "Sora?"
He grinned. "Me, pass up an opportunity like this? You've got to be kidding."
BT smiled. "Tomorrow, then? Around ten?"
"Sure," said Crim. "But right now I've got to go. See you." And he logged out, leaving BT and Sora alone.
BT was silent, waiting for him to complain about Crim. But all Sora said was, "You'll remember my advice, won't you?"
"I haven't forgotten," she replied. "That's one of the reasons why I asked you to come too."
"What, so I'll beat up Crim if he tries to steal the information? As much as I would love to do that, we'll be in the real world. You know, the place where I don't carry knives with me."
"I know," BT said. "But two is always better than one. And you did say you'd give it to me, after all."
"I know," he echoed. "Well, tomorrow will certainly be. . . interesting. Bye." He disappeared in a shower of gold.
BT slumped into a chair, heaving a sigh of relief. "That certainly went well. Now I have to log off and get some sleep. Tomorrow the real work begins."
************************************************************************
A/N: Okay, I know that was a little too wordy, but I had to get the plot going. The next chapter will be way more exciting. I get to show them in the real world - what fun! And now, to my reviewers:
RoseRed5: Well, now I've seen ten episodes, so I can't make any more excuses. Thanks for being my first reviewer; it was a big encouragement.
Lady Death: I'll try to keep that in mind in the future. It's good to know what works well.
Shion Uzuki: And here I thought I was the only one who loves BT and hates Piros! (And Subaru on occasion) I can't wait for the next chapter of HackDOUBLE HOMICIDE!
Taltos: Glad you liked it. Sorry there wasn't too much BT and Sora in this chapter, but there will be more, I swear!
Valefor: It's great to know I did a good portrayal of BT, she being my favorite character and all. Sora's great, isn't he? He's so annoying, but you have to love him anyway. :)
Thank you all and please continue to review!
PS: The indenting on my computer got screwed up, which is why the first half is indented and the second half isn't. Sorry about that, and I hope it doesn't happen next time!
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but here's chapter two! I've watched the second DVD (and was amazed at how good it was), so I should be better at this now. Well, here it is!
"For those who understand you, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, none is possible."
************************************************************************
Potential
By Moonlight'sSpell
************************************************************************
Chapter Two: Explanations
Mimiru paced restlessly in the town square. Bear was late again. Well, what else was new? She'd just have to wait for him like she always did.
She half smiled. It would be fun today. Bear had promised it would just be the two of them this time. She wouldn't have to put up with BT again.
That thought brought the frown back to her face. BT. . . she didn't quite know what to make of her. *Well, God knows I have cause enough to hate her!* she thought angrily. *She tricked me, used me to get to Tsukasa, and then pretended she had nothing to do with it! How. . . how could she betray us so easily? And after all that, she still gets to hang around! And Bear. . .*
She sighed. Bear always prevented her from saying anything to BT. He was taking her side, even though he'd never admit to it. . . at least that was what she had thought at first. But after she had asked him about it, she had decided that there was something more to it.
"So, are you going to question her?" he had asked.
She paused. "Question her? Oh, you mean interrogate her!" But then her face had fallen, and she had answered, "No. She'd probably just pretend she didn't know a thing about it."
She remembered the unreadable look in Bear's eyes as he said softly, "Yeah, BT would laugh, huh? No doubt about it."
She had thought about that over and over. What did Bear mean? Was lying to them when she knew they could see through it BT's way of laughing at them?
Her thoughts were interrupted by a hand on her shoulder. "Hello," said Bear. "Sorry to keep you waiting." Then, looking at her face, "What's wrong?"
She scowled. "BT. I can't stop thinking about her." She looked up at Bear. "Why? Why do you let her continue to associate with us? She's already proved that we can't trust her. Besides, she has more important allies now, like Subaru and Crim. She'd pick them over us in a heartbeat. So why -"
Bear held up his hands. "Okay, okay, hold on for a minute, will you? I'll tell you why. Or at least, I'll tell you as much as I can."
He pulled her over to a bench, and they sat down. Then Bear asked, "Mimiru, did you ever wonder why I told BT what I do for a living, but wouldn't tell you?"
"Of course I have!" she retorted. Actually, it was something she thought about often. If Bear wanted to keep his personal life private, it was his own business, but then why did he tell BT? How did she have the right to know?
Bear sighed. "You see," he said, gazing at the ground, "I found out something about BT. . . something she had never wanted anyone to know about. Something terrible, but something that explains why she acts the way she does." He sighed again, sounding like the old man he claimed to be. "When BT found out what I knew, she. . . well, to say she was furious is an understatement." He closed his eyes, remembering what she had said to him that day. "Worried? You were *worried* about me? So who gave you the right to go snooping into my life?" He frowned. Come to think of it, hadn't Tsukasa said something like that as well?
"So what happened?" asked Mimiru, jolting him back to the present.
"I made a deal with her. I promised her that if she would keep in touch with me, I wouldn't tell anyone. She was unhappy, to say the least, but she agreed. At first she would barely even speak to me, but I think - I hope - that she trusts me now. And so when she asked me what my life was like, I felt that it was only fair to tell her." He looked at Mimiru. "I know there's still a lot you don't know, but can you at least try to understand?"
Mimiru smiled. "I understand, Bear, but I just don't want her taking advantage of your kindness."
Bear looked at his hands. "It's really not kindness. I forced her to stay in contact with me. And now that she's been causing trouble, it's even more important for me to keep an eye on her."
Mimiru was quiet for a moment, then she said, "Well, I guess I can live with that. But for today, let's just have a good time, okay?"
Bear grinned. "Sure." He extended his hand. "Shall we go?"
************************************************************************
Sora leaned against the wall, fidgeting uncomfortably. He glared across the room at the Long Arm, who met his gaze with a look as full of annoyance as his own. *Dammit, why does he have to be here? I can't even look at him without wanting to chop him to bits!*
When BT had mailed him asking him to come meet her here, he had agreed immediately. But he hadn't known she had asked Crim to come here as well. What could she be planning? She knew he and Crim hated each other.
BT stepped between them, interrupting their staring contest. "Okay, I know you guys don't exactly get along -"
"Hate each other's guts, more like," Crim interrupted.
"I understand that you're not happy about this, Crim, but can you please just let me finish?" BT said impatiently, tapping her staff on the floor.
Crim just folded his arms. "Fine. I'm listening."
BT took a deep breath. "I got mail from Helba yesterday. She said. . . she said she'll help us find the Key of the Twilight."
Instantly, both Crim and Sora leaped to their feet. "She knows where it is?" Sora asked eagerly.
BT sighed. "Apparently. But there's a catch. In exchange for her help, Helba wants me - that is to say, us - to get something for her. Something. . . in the real world."
Crim looked uncertain. "So what would we have to do?"
"Well," BT answered hesitantly, "it seems to be some kind of computer disk, with information that she needs stored on it. She wants us to get it and send her the files. She gave me the address. It's just some abandoned warehouse at the edge of town. But even so, I don't like the idea of going there by myself. So I wanted to know if one or both of you would be willing to come with me."
Crim looked at his shoes. "I'm not sure about this, BT. Like I told you before, I'd rather keep this matter confined to the game."
"I know that, but we have no choice. Or I should say, *you* have no choice. I'm not going to work with you if I have to do everything myself. So, here's the deal: whoever comes with me gets to share the Key of the Twilight." She folded her arms, waiting for their answer.
Sora smiled to himself. You had to admire her powers of manipulation. Crim was against meeting in the real world, but he couldn't stand having Sora know something he didn't. And Sora himself wasn't wild about joining forces with Crim, but he didn't want to be left out of something this important. He leaned against the doorframe and glanced over at Crim. He already knew what his own answer would be, but he wanted to see what the Long Arm had to say.
"I really don't like this - " Crim started to say, but then BT broke in again.
"Listen, do you think I don't have any problems with this? I'd prefer not to do things this way, but I'm prepared to do whatever it takes to get the Key of the Twilight! Look, here's what I'll do. Tomorrow, we can all meet about three blocks away from the warehouse. That way, we won't know where anyone else lives. We can even call each other by our game names if you want. You won't need to give us any information at all. I just don't want to do this by myself, okay?"
Crim fiddled with his spear. "Well, I guess that sounds all right."
BT looked over at the Twin Blade. "Sora?"
He grinned. "Me, pass up an opportunity like this? You've got to be kidding."
BT smiled. "Tomorrow, then? Around ten?"
"Sure," said Crim. "But right now I've got to go. See you." And he logged out, leaving BT and Sora alone.
BT was silent, waiting for him to complain about Crim. But all Sora said was, "You'll remember my advice, won't you?"
"I haven't forgotten," she replied. "That's one of the reasons why I asked you to come too."
"What, so I'll beat up Crim if he tries to steal the information? As much as I would love to do that, we'll be in the real world. You know, the place where I don't carry knives with me."
"I know," BT said. "But two is always better than one. And you did say you'd give it to me, after all."
"I know," he echoed. "Well, tomorrow will certainly be. . . interesting. Bye." He disappeared in a shower of gold.
BT slumped into a chair, heaving a sigh of relief. "That certainly went well. Now I have to log off and get some sleep. Tomorrow the real work begins."
************************************************************************
A/N: Okay, I know that was a little too wordy, but I had to get the plot going. The next chapter will be way more exciting. I get to show them in the real world - what fun! And now, to my reviewers:
RoseRed5: Well, now I've seen ten episodes, so I can't make any more excuses. Thanks for being my first reviewer; it was a big encouragement.
Lady Death: I'll try to keep that in mind in the future. It's good to know what works well.
Shion Uzuki: And here I thought I was the only one who loves BT and hates Piros! (And Subaru on occasion) I can't wait for the next chapter of HackDOUBLE HOMICIDE!
Taltos: Glad you liked it. Sorry there wasn't too much BT and Sora in this chapter, but there will be more, I swear!
Valefor: It's great to know I did a good portrayal of BT, she being my favorite character and all. Sora's great, isn't he? He's so annoying, but you have to love him anyway. :)
Thank you all and please continue to review!
PS: The indenting on my computer got screwed up, which is why the first half is indented and the second half isn't. Sorry about that, and I hope it doesn't happen next time!