Another Normal Day
A/N: Sage: (laughs) Ah yes, many reviews…I'm so pleased with myself!
Kaley: (sweatdrop) you're always pleased with yourself…
Bakura: Hey!! Keep on track people! The last chapter got 12 reviews, and all of them this time were good ones.
Kaley: (smiles) You guys are so nice. Thank you Burning Angemon too for the voice-over thing. I'm so happy that everyone thinks I'm doing a good job!! (giggles insanely)
Elk: Um, um, I'm happy too, it's nice to know you like the story…thank you everyone…
Bakura: (coughs) Am I the only one who feels like working today?!
Everyone else: Yes
Bakura:…grr…lazy asses…
Sage: Well then, you write the chapter…
Bakura:…no…unless…(suddenly vision of Elk in bondage) (laughs evilly)
Elk: Oh god…(hides)
Sage:…Bad Bakura! (smacks him with frying pan)
Kaley: I'll write the chapter!! It'll be cute with bunnies and sunshine and rainbows and they'll allll be singing and dancing!!!
Sage:…what was Bakura's idea again?
Kaley: Hey!!
Elk:…I-I have an idea…(whispers it to Sage)
Sage: (nods) Nothing better, we'll go with that…OK!! I'm ready to work now!! See, I got the .hack manga and got an idea from it!!! (grins) so, without further ado…
Bakura: (rubbing head) grr…start the fic…
"…and so because it has so many limiting factors, the tundra is quite the unpleasant biome." Ryoko said, as Elk's character stopped moving while he took notes.
"Oh, so then…and it's limiting factors are temperature and the permafrost?" Elk asked to reconfirm his notes.
"Yes yes, and it's not very diverse either." Ryoko smiled. "You're such a fast learner Elk!"
"Oh…I um…" Elk blushed. "I like this kind of stuff…so…I like to learn about it…"
"A passion for learning is a blessing." Ryoko said. "With a strong mind you can accomplish anything you want."
"Really?"
"Oh yes!" Ryoko nodded. "With knowledge comes power…that's why are world leaders are so intelligent."
"You're really smart Ryoko…" Elk said sighing. "Its really something…smart people are lucky, everyone wants to be friends with them…"
"…That's not…always true Elk." Ryoko smiled, lightly placing her hand on his shoulder. "Being smart doesn't mean you'll have a lot of friends."
"Are you sure?" Elk asked.
"I'm quite sure." Ryoko said seriously. "Kids might become friends with you just to get homework help or they might really hate you or be using you."
"…Oh…" Elk looked down. "So even smart people have trouble making friends…"
"Nearly everyone has trouble making friends." Ryoko said. "Look at me, I was wondering that dungeon by myself until Kite showed up."
"Yeah, I guess you're right…" Elk sighed again. "Still, everyone likes you…"
"Everyone likes you too Elk."
"No they don't…"
"Elk, look at me." Elk raised his eyes and met with Ryoko's. She gave him a reassuring smile and hugged him gently. "Balmung, Sora, Kite, Mia, me…" Ryoko said. "We all like you very much. You're such a sweet person, you have a great personality. There's no need to feel inferior to others just because they have more friends or more brains. What matters is quality."
"Ryoko…then, we're friends?" Elk smiled when Ryoko nodded. The two sat there, locked in the same position for quite an awhile. Elk had to admit, he liked Ryoko. She was really nice and made him feel special. In fact, she was kind of like Mia in that sense…
"Oh!" Ryoko cried out, jumped up from Elk. "I nearly forgot about my homework. I'm sorry, I must leave now. Do you need any more help?"
"No thanks, I get it now…thank you for helping me." Elk smiled again and Ryoko returned it with just as much joy.
"You're welcome, please don't be shy ok? Talk to me sometime soon…well, if you need anything flash me…bye…" Ryoko waved and ran off for the chaos gate. Elk sat there on the ground, thinking about his day so far.
"Oh, I don't think anything stranger could happen today…" Elk sighed. "It really couldn't…"
Balmung panted heavily, dragging his battered body forward. He'd long ago used his last healing potion and had been cursed by a monster, so he couldn't even use repth. He stumbled and leaned against his sword. He was on the last basement level and was luckily on the last portal. Just one more room, one more battle and the items would be his.
"Ugh, how long has it been? Two, three hours…" He muttered, wiping his face. He felt so weak, like a level one player in a level fifty dungeon. However, he wasn't doing this work for himself. He wasn't battling his way past hordes of ungodly strong monsters just to level up. No, this was for someone more important then himself…
"Well, might as well get this over with…" He groaned as he pushed himself up and continued to limp towards the portal. It glowed at him warming, inviting him to his death. Suddenly it made a whooshing noise and a giant appeared out of it, swaying menacingly towards him. Balmung gripped the hilt of his sword.
"Well, better do this now…" With a loud cry, Balmung charged forward, running blindly into a battle that he probably could not win…
Ten minutes later, Balmung stood, beaten and bruised, in front of the Gott Statue. It's gentle glow made him feel at ease and he allowed himself a smile. He hit it with his sword and it popped open to reveal it's wonderful treasures. He scooped them up and immediately left the dungeon.
Elk watched lazily as numerous people ran by him. Every so often, a new player would ask him if he wanted to be their wavemaster, to which he always politely declined. He was waiting for two people right then: Mia, for obvious reasons, and Balmung, to show him that Sora hadn't hurt him. Suddenly the chaos gate glowed and Balmung's shining figure appeared in it. Elk gasped, because for a spilt second, before the gate had healed him, he'd looked near dead.
"Balmung?!" Elk jumped up and ran over to him. The dents in his armor, the blood, the bruises and cuts all over him. Even his wings were matted with dirt and some feathers were missing. He raised his head when he saw Elk. The gate healed him and he stood up straight. "Balmung, what was that? What happened? Balmung?" Elk stared at him, his eyes full of concern. Balmung looked right back down into those eyes before grabbing Elk roughly and pulling him close.
"Elk, I…I'm so sorry!" Balmung cried out, taking the boy by surprise. He struggled uselessly against the man's grip.
"No, Balmung, see-"
"Elk, please don't talk, I need to tell you this." Balmung swallowed nervously. "I know it's my fault that you lost your levels and I know that you lost the Aromatic Grass we got for you. Elk, please, I am not worthy of your forgiveness but I want to make it up to you."
"Balmung…" Elk felt so strange. The way he was looking at him, it made his chest hurt. He also felt so happy when he realized that Balmung was nearly hugging him. This was something new to him, something that he had to admit he loved dearly right then. He shook his head, right then that wasn't important. He had to find out what was wrong with Balmung. "What are you talking about?"
"Elk, please, accept these…" Balmung pulled away and showed Elk the items he'd been carrying. A golden grunty, a silver grunty and a tuft of Aromatic Grass. Elk's jaw dropped at the sight of such expensive and rare items. He held them weakly in his hands.
"Balmung…wait, no, you can't give these to me…" Elk began but then Balmung pinned him against the wall. Elk's eyes widened, he was too surprised to struggle this time.
"Then tell me what I can do! Please, whatever you want just tell me!" Balmung cried out into Elk's face. "I don't care what it is, I need to prove to you that I am sorry and I'm determined to do just that! It is my fault entirely that I couldn't save you! I'm sorry for whatever that madman put you through! Please, forgive me Elk! I'll do anything that you ask of me!"
"…please let go of me…" Elk whispered quietly. Balmung stared at him blankly. Then it dawned on him and he instantly let go and backed away from the stunned boy. "Balmung…nothing bad happened to me…Sora didn't kill me or hurt me or anything…he just wanted someone to talk to…he's a really nice person actually." Elk said, wanting to tell the blademaster the truth. "So…I can't forgive you because you didn't do anything wrong."
"Elk, I…" Balmung stood there, feeling completely foolish. "Of course…I should have just checked to see if you were online…I didn't even…I never even…thought about it…I thought you had died…"
"Balmung…I'm really really sorry…" Elk said sadly. "You got hurt because of me…I was waiting here for you…I didn't want you to be worried about me…"
"Elk, please don't be sorry…" Balmung took a step closer to him. "It's my fault for being such an idiot."
"No, I should have flash mailed you…" Elk muttered.
"No, I should have checked to see if you were online…" Balmung said, growing even closer to Elk.
"Balmung…really, this is my fault…" Elk looked down. "Then I did my homework…I should have been trying to get a hold of you…"
"Elk…" Balmung smiled and gave the boy a hug. Elk froze and his mouth hung open.
"Balmung?!" Elk stared at him. Not that he really minded but he did feel very confused at that moment. All he could do was look at him.
"Elk, don't ever blame yourself again…it's not your fault. It's mine, please let me bare the weight." Balmung said seriously. "Just don't worry me again…"
"B-Balmung!" Elk cried out, pushing away from him. The two stared at each other in silence. Elk could hear his heart beating rapidly, pushing itself against his ribs. His hands were shaking. He wasn't mad, or sad or happy…so what was this then?! Why did he feel like this?!
"Oh~h Fruitypants!!" A voice sang out suddenly. The two turned and saw the green haired twin blade running up to them. He grinned happily. "Well, hey there Elk!!" Sora ran over to him and grabbed his hand. "Want to go to that dungeon now? Just you and me, it'll be fun!"
"Unhand him player killer!" Balmung shouted, grabbing Elk's other hand and jerking him away from Sora. Sora pouted and jerked Elk back towards himself.
"No, I'm sorry Fruitypants but you can't play with Elk today!" Sora beamed at him. "He's my Elk, not yours."
"What?!" Balmung pulled the frightened wavemaster back to his side. "He doesn't belong to you!!"
"Oh, so he belongs to you then?" Sora smirked. "Sorry but I have him now." Sora dragged Elk back to him.
"He's not some toy for you to play with!" Tug.
"Well, he's certainly not yours. I saw what just happened. Did you try to rape the poor innocent Elk?" Tug.
"How dare you?! Y-y-you!! I'll have you know I was giving him a gift!! You sick, demented idiot!" Harder tug.
"Yes well, you know what they say, only trained pros should handle the animals. You're not even good enough to bathe them." Harder tug.
"WHAT?! I, you, sick…LET GO OF HIM!!" Another pull.
"Why should I? What are you going to do with him?" Yet another pull.
"WHAT ARE YOU IMPLYING?!" Pull.
"Well, even I can see that you like him. You're so fruity Fruitypants." More pulling.
"YOU!! I, WELL, YOU NEED TO, IF YOU DON'T SILENCE…"
"PLEASE STOP!!!" Elk yelled as loud as he could. Both men shut their mouths and let go of him at the same time. Elk could feel that he was crying, though anyone who couldn't tell could hear it in his voice. "P-please stop!! I, I'm not…I…just leave me alone!" Elk cried out, warping away. Balmung turned slowly to Sora, glaring knives at him.
"Y-you made him cry!!" Balmung yelled.
"Actually, I think that was more your fault…"
"What?!"
Elk fell into the corner and cried. He curled up, pulling his knees to his chest and let his tears flow openly. He was back in Mac Anu, hiding in the back alley where no one went. He wasn't really sure why he was crying, he just knew that it hurt him so much to see Balmung and Sora fighting like that…over him on less. He put one hand on over his heart and gripped his robes tightly. It hurt even worse to think about it…it hurt even more to think about what they were doing without him.
"Why can't people just leave me alone?!" Elk wailed sadly. "It's all my fault, it's always my fault…people should just leave me alone! Can't they see being around me only starts trouble?!"
"…God, you and I sound alike, look alike and now you're talking like me." Elk's head snapped up from his knees and searched around until his eyes fell on another wavemaster. One with tan robes and silver hair. Elk gasped, for the boy's words were true. They did sound and look alike. He walked over to him and kneeled down. "Are you ok?"
"I-I'm sorry!" Elk blurted out. The two stared at each other for a minute.
"Sorry for what?" He asked.
"I-I don't know…it's my fault their fighting…and it hurts…" Elk muttered to his knees. The man sat down in front of him, resting his wand across his lap.
"…where does it hurt?" He asked again.
"My chest…" Elk looked up at him. "I'm Elk…"
"I'm Tsukasa." He said as he looked Elk over. "Why do you think people should leave you alone?"
"Cause all I start is trouble…"
"Really?" Tsukasa gave a short laugh. "Me too. Hell, just being here is bound to start something."
"Like a tornado…" Elk said.
"Or a server crash." Tsukasa grinned.
"Or a flood." Elk said, slowing smiling.
"Or a data bug."
"Or a explosion."
"Or then end of the world." Tsukasa and Elk shared a laugh as they then spent the rest of the day, talking about what a burden they were.
IMPORTANT!!
A/N: Bakura: Made you look!! Actually, this is kinda important…
Sage: Short chapter eh? Well, what do you guys think?
Kaley: That was cute!
Elk: That was sad!
Bakura: That had nothing at all to do with the manga!
Sage: And you have nothing to do with .hack, stop pointing these things out! Anyways, now we've reached the Tsukasa/Elk point…but wait! What's this?! A question to reviewers?! (gasp!)
Kaley: Yep yep!! So far you've seen an ounce Balmung/Elk, a bit of Sora/Elk, a dash of Ryoko/Elk, and a hint of Tsukasa/Elk!! Next chapter we'll kick it up a notch with Kite/Elk! And more of everyone else for some added spice, maybe a drop of Blackrose/Elk in the future…
Bakura: (sweatdrop) what is this a cooking show?!
Elk: S-so here's the question…just think about it until next chapter (unless you've already decided) but what pairing should get the most attention?
Sage: If you want you're a certain pairing to be the star…
Kaley: Or just want to continue the melting pot of everyone loves him…^_^
Sage: Then let us know!
Bakura: Ok, so next chapter is with the manga ideas in it…after all, the manga had some cute events to parody!!…did I say cute?!
Sage: So review, let us know what you think and we'll get back to ya later!!
Kaley: See ya next chapter!!
Elk:…Balmung can be weird can't he?