Diclaimer: Here's the sad truth: I don't own .hack//SIGN. (Ha! You thought
I was going to say, "first chapter," didn't you?)
A/N: I got the fourth DVD, and. . . words fail me. "Conflict" was, I think, the absolute coolest thing I have ever seen. I'm still in awe, and I have watched it three times already. . . but you guys didn't come here to listen to me rant. So, here's chapter six!
"Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim." - William Feather
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Potential
By Moonlight'sSpell
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Chapter Six: Help
The day after her meeting with Helba, BT logged in feeling relatively better. The pounding in her head had stopped, and she didn't feel dazed anymore. But she still wasn't up to an interrogation, and she prayed that Mimiru and Bear would leave her alone.
It was not to be, however, for no sooner had she warped into the root town than she saw them waiting for her. Tsukasa was there too, though he looked rather uncomfortable. She groaned inwardly. *Please, let Mimiru be in a good mood today,* she thought.
But in that too she was disappointed; Mimiru was scowling in a way that was not at all comforting. Quieting the part of her that wanted to turn and run, she walked over and greeted them.
"Hey," said Bear, but Mimiru just nodded, and Tsukasa looked at her with a blank expression. BT thought she had better start talking before the other girl had a chance to say anything.
"Listen, you guys, if you're wondering where I was yesterday - "
"Oh, we know where you were," Bear interrupted. "We were there."
"What?" BT thought she had heard wrong. How could they have been there?
"You were. . . ah, not in a state to notice much," Bear said tentatively. "We left when Sora came along."
"Sora?" BT asked, confused. But then she remembered waking up to find him sitting there. She frowned. He had acted so strangely. . . well, strange for Sora, anyway. "Yeah, I remember that part."
"We did speak with Helba, though," said Bear. "And we were wondering - "
"We were wondering why Helba is so interested in *you,*" snapped Mimiru. "I mean, we know that - " But a look from Bear and she went silent.
Now BT was suspicious. They had been with Helba. They could have asked her about anything, even about. . . even about BT herself. And there was a great possibility, even though she couldn't explain it, that Helba knew some very personal things about BT. "So what exactly do you know?"
Mimiru fidgeted and looked to Bear. She'd obviously said something she shouldn't have. But what was it? What had they learned? She looked from Mimiru to Bear to Tsukasa and back to Mimiru again. Not one of them would meet her gaze.
Meanwhile, Bear was at a loss for words. He'd promised Helba that they wouldn't tell BT about her brother's promise to Harald, but he didn't want to lie to BT. "It. . . it's not important," he said finally.
"And you get to decide what's important and what isn't?"
"I get to decide what I feel like telling you."
"So now you're keeping secrets from me?"
"Well, you haven't exactly proved that you know how to keep information private."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It means I don't like you spilling what I say to whoever happens to pass by!"
"I didn't ask you give a list of my faults!"
"Well, it's time someone told you the right way to behave!"
Mimiru was stunned. These two people, who had never been anything but calm around her, were now practically screaming at each other. How had this happened? She didn't know what to do, and could only listen helplessly as the two exchanged insults. Tsukasa also seemed horrified by what was going on; he was shaking and looked as though he was trying to speak but couldn't get the words out. And then, after a particularly biting retort from BT, Mimiru sensed Bear's self-control breaking. He responded quietly, but in a voice that was icy cold, "You should at least want to do something with yourself. If you're going to be useless, maybe they should have kept you in that place. They didn't let you do whatever you wanted there!"
As soon as the words were out of Bear's mouth, he looked as though he wanted to call them back. Even Mimiru and Tsukasa, to whom the words meant nothing, could sense that Bear had trodden on forbidden ground.
BT recoiled as though he had struck her. For a moment she just stared at him, and Mimiru could see the hurt in her eyes. But then she pulled herself together, and said softly, "And what do you know about that?"
"I know enough," said Bear quietly. "Enough to tell you that you can't use that as your excuse anymore. I'm tired of it. . . I'm tired of *you* sometimes. But I won't give up because *I* am trying to do something worthwhile."
BT looked like she was about to say something, but then whirled and ran for the chaos gate. Mimiru watched her go, then turned to Bear. She tried to find the words to tell him what she felt, but she didn't even *know* what she felt. Just that yesterday she would have agreed with Bear if he had said this, but now. . . this way. . . she was just so confused. Then, unexpectedly, Tsukasa spoke.
"That was out of line, Bear, and you know it."
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BT sat despondently in the moonlit field. It was raining there, a perfect match to her mood. She didn't even care about the tears flowing silently down her cheeks.
For a moment, she had been ready to stand up for what she knew, to tell Bear that he didn't understand the whole story. But what would have been the point? Bear would not have said those things unless he was sure that he was right. So he probably wouldn't have believed her anyway. And Mimiru was only too ready to condemn her. And as for Tsukasa. . . well, who knew what he really thought?
And so she just sat there for what seemed like an eternity, not caring what was going to happen to her. She didn't notice the anyone approach until a soft voice said from behind her, "What are you doing out here?"
She turned to see Sora leaning against a tree, watching her. Great. Just what she needed right now: Sora ready to make fun of her for being an idiot. "Please. . . can't you leave me alone just this once?" Her own voice sounded strange to her, all teary and helpless, and she waited for his inevitable assault.
But nothing happened, and when she looked up she saw something that surprised her. He wasn't smirking, and there was no laughter in his crimson eyes, just sadness and something she couldn't name. He sat down next to her. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
She sighed, trying to hide her confusion. What was wrong with him? She was too tired to really care, but there was still a part of her that wondered. . . "I'd rather not go into the details. I guess it was my fault, anyway. I shouldn't be so upset about it."
He was still regarding her with utter seriousness. "It's obviously something big to have you acting like this over it." He paused, raking a hand through his hair. "You don't have to be strong all the time, you know. Everyone gets lost once in a while." He saw her puzzled gaze, and looked away. "I'll leave, if you'd like."
"No. . . that's not. . . you can do what you please." She looked at her hands. Why had she said that? Just moments ago she had wanted him to go away.
"Okay, " he replied, and sat down next to her, putting an arm around her. She, exhausted, didn't ask questions but rested her head against his shoulder. He didn't say another word, just stared up at the field's cloudy sky. And she decided it was better not to wonder about why he was acting this way and just be grateful that he was here.
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A/N: Okay, hope that was all right. I think most of the characters were OOC, but I'll let you guys be the judges of that.
MortalSora: Thanks! Exams actually were okay, and now I can focus on fun things. :)
Kyoko: Decendant of Aura: Dragon Knights rocks! I was actually thinking of doing a DK fic. . . and GO RATH!
Shion Uzuki: Well, that's as it should be: Helba is almost as cool as BT in the show as well.
PK Star: Yes, I don't think many people agree with BT/Sora, but we have to stand up for our beliefs! :)
darkraven: That's good, 'cause it's what I've decided to do. Good to know someone agrees with me.
Wyld Stallyns: Okay, thanks for the info. I knew I'd get a lot of stuff wrong, so I decided to make it an AU.
underestimated-gurl: Thanks a lot! I love getting on people's faves list!
Lady Death: Sorry, I know I'm not revealing much, but I will explain it all soon.
Taltos: My computer has a permanent grudge against me, so I very sympathetic to your problems.
Witticism: Thanks, I wasn't sure about Crim's little age thing. . . glad to know it was funny! So, was this chapter cuter than the last one?
A/N: I got the fourth DVD, and. . . words fail me. "Conflict" was, I think, the absolute coolest thing I have ever seen. I'm still in awe, and I have watched it three times already. . . but you guys didn't come here to listen to me rant. So, here's chapter six!
"Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim." - William Feather
************************************************************************
Potential
By Moonlight'sSpell
************************************************************************
Chapter Six: Help
The day after her meeting with Helba, BT logged in feeling relatively better. The pounding in her head had stopped, and she didn't feel dazed anymore. But she still wasn't up to an interrogation, and she prayed that Mimiru and Bear would leave her alone.
It was not to be, however, for no sooner had she warped into the root town than she saw them waiting for her. Tsukasa was there too, though he looked rather uncomfortable. She groaned inwardly. *Please, let Mimiru be in a good mood today,* she thought.
But in that too she was disappointed; Mimiru was scowling in a way that was not at all comforting. Quieting the part of her that wanted to turn and run, she walked over and greeted them.
"Hey," said Bear, but Mimiru just nodded, and Tsukasa looked at her with a blank expression. BT thought she had better start talking before the other girl had a chance to say anything.
"Listen, you guys, if you're wondering where I was yesterday - "
"Oh, we know where you were," Bear interrupted. "We were there."
"What?" BT thought she had heard wrong. How could they have been there?
"You were. . . ah, not in a state to notice much," Bear said tentatively. "We left when Sora came along."
"Sora?" BT asked, confused. But then she remembered waking up to find him sitting there. She frowned. He had acted so strangely. . . well, strange for Sora, anyway. "Yeah, I remember that part."
"We did speak with Helba, though," said Bear. "And we were wondering - "
"We were wondering why Helba is so interested in *you,*" snapped Mimiru. "I mean, we know that - " But a look from Bear and she went silent.
Now BT was suspicious. They had been with Helba. They could have asked her about anything, even about. . . even about BT herself. And there was a great possibility, even though she couldn't explain it, that Helba knew some very personal things about BT. "So what exactly do you know?"
Mimiru fidgeted and looked to Bear. She'd obviously said something she shouldn't have. But what was it? What had they learned? She looked from Mimiru to Bear to Tsukasa and back to Mimiru again. Not one of them would meet her gaze.
Meanwhile, Bear was at a loss for words. He'd promised Helba that they wouldn't tell BT about her brother's promise to Harald, but he didn't want to lie to BT. "It. . . it's not important," he said finally.
"And you get to decide what's important and what isn't?"
"I get to decide what I feel like telling you."
"So now you're keeping secrets from me?"
"Well, you haven't exactly proved that you know how to keep information private."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It means I don't like you spilling what I say to whoever happens to pass by!"
"I didn't ask you give a list of my faults!"
"Well, it's time someone told you the right way to behave!"
Mimiru was stunned. These two people, who had never been anything but calm around her, were now practically screaming at each other. How had this happened? She didn't know what to do, and could only listen helplessly as the two exchanged insults. Tsukasa also seemed horrified by what was going on; he was shaking and looked as though he was trying to speak but couldn't get the words out. And then, after a particularly biting retort from BT, Mimiru sensed Bear's self-control breaking. He responded quietly, but in a voice that was icy cold, "You should at least want to do something with yourself. If you're going to be useless, maybe they should have kept you in that place. They didn't let you do whatever you wanted there!"
As soon as the words were out of Bear's mouth, he looked as though he wanted to call them back. Even Mimiru and Tsukasa, to whom the words meant nothing, could sense that Bear had trodden on forbidden ground.
BT recoiled as though he had struck her. For a moment she just stared at him, and Mimiru could see the hurt in her eyes. But then she pulled herself together, and said softly, "And what do you know about that?"
"I know enough," said Bear quietly. "Enough to tell you that you can't use that as your excuse anymore. I'm tired of it. . . I'm tired of *you* sometimes. But I won't give up because *I* am trying to do something worthwhile."
BT looked like she was about to say something, but then whirled and ran for the chaos gate. Mimiru watched her go, then turned to Bear. She tried to find the words to tell him what she felt, but she didn't even *know* what she felt. Just that yesterday she would have agreed with Bear if he had said this, but now. . . this way. . . she was just so confused. Then, unexpectedly, Tsukasa spoke.
"That was out of line, Bear, and you know it."
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BT sat despondently in the moonlit field. It was raining there, a perfect match to her mood. She didn't even care about the tears flowing silently down her cheeks.
For a moment, she had been ready to stand up for what she knew, to tell Bear that he didn't understand the whole story. But what would have been the point? Bear would not have said those things unless he was sure that he was right. So he probably wouldn't have believed her anyway. And Mimiru was only too ready to condemn her. And as for Tsukasa. . . well, who knew what he really thought?
And so she just sat there for what seemed like an eternity, not caring what was going to happen to her. She didn't notice the anyone approach until a soft voice said from behind her, "What are you doing out here?"
She turned to see Sora leaning against a tree, watching her. Great. Just what she needed right now: Sora ready to make fun of her for being an idiot. "Please. . . can't you leave me alone just this once?" Her own voice sounded strange to her, all teary and helpless, and she waited for his inevitable assault.
But nothing happened, and when she looked up she saw something that surprised her. He wasn't smirking, and there was no laughter in his crimson eyes, just sadness and something she couldn't name. He sat down next to her. "Do you want to tell me what happened?"
She sighed, trying to hide her confusion. What was wrong with him? She was too tired to really care, but there was still a part of her that wondered. . . "I'd rather not go into the details. I guess it was my fault, anyway. I shouldn't be so upset about it."
He was still regarding her with utter seriousness. "It's obviously something big to have you acting like this over it." He paused, raking a hand through his hair. "You don't have to be strong all the time, you know. Everyone gets lost once in a while." He saw her puzzled gaze, and looked away. "I'll leave, if you'd like."
"No. . . that's not. . . you can do what you please." She looked at her hands. Why had she said that? Just moments ago she had wanted him to go away.
"Okay, " he replied, and sat down next to her, putting an arm around her. She, exhausted, didn't ask questions but rested her head against his shoulder. He didn't say another word, just stared up at the field's cloudy sky. And she decided it was better not to wonder about why he was acting this way and just be grateful that he was here.
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A/N: Okay, hope that was all right. I think most of the characters were OOC, but I'll let you guys be the judges of that.
MortalSora: Thanks! Exams actually were okay, and now I can focus on fun things. :)
Kyoko: Decendant of Aura: Dragon Knights rocks! I was actually thinking of doing a DK fic. . . and GO RATH!
Shion Uzuki: Well, that's as it should be: Helba is almost as cool as BT in the show as well.
PK Star: Yes, I don't think many people agree with BT/Sora, but we have to stand up for our beliefs! :)
darkraven: That's good, 'cause it's what I've decided to do. Good to know someone agrees with me.
Wyld Stallyns: Okay, thanks for the info. I knew I'd get a lot of stuff wrong, so I decided to make it an AU.
underestimated-gurl: Thanks a lot! I love getting on people's faves list!
Lady Death: Sorry, I know I'm not revealing much, but I will explain it all soon.
Taltos: My computer has a permanent grudge against me, so I very sympathetic to your problems.
Witticism: Thanks, I wasn't sure about Crim's little age thing. . . glad to know it was funny! So, was this chapter cuter than the last one?