Elk's day of peace
A/N: Sage: Yes, another chapter…we had planned to release it on Valentine's Day but…
Kaley: (hands glued to her PS2 controller) I need to beat it…need to beat it…max out Ryu books…max out stats…beat everything…
Bakura: Kaley got .hack//Quarantine and has been playing it non-stop. She's not content to beat the main ending, she's gotta do all the bonus crap…
Elk: Umm, well, we got a lot of reviews again and a lot of you wondered where Mia is…I wonder that too…
Sage: Mia is missing I guess. No, really she's part of the plot so don't worry. Her time will come soon…and when it does…(laughs evilly)
Elk:…I'm scared
Bakura: Yay death!
Kaley: Yes!! Level 99!! In your face Orca!! Oh, an email from Tsukasa…
Bakura: Right…oh and glad to see that the pairing wars continue ^_^ Tsukasa/Elk, Balmung/Elk…or scarier still, Elk taking over the relationship! (snickers)
Elk: Huh? Taking over…?
Bakura: Like, if you had a spine and suddenly pushed Balmung or Tsukasa against the wall and-
Sage: (hits Bakura with her frying pan) Don't give Kaley ideas!!
Kaley: (light bulb appears over her head) Hey, I just got an idea…
Sage: (glares at Bakura) This is your fault. All your fault…
Elk: I don't get it, push them against the wall and do what?
Sage:…(coughs) Moving on. Balmung's age is never revealed in the show but we think he's early late teens. His email chains feel like they are written by someone that age.
Bakura: (rubbing his head) Yeah well to this chapter. I said there would be death and I'm not a liar, mental maybe but not a liar. So there will be a death ^_^
Kaley: Hmm, so I still need 423 items to complete the list…when is Subaru going to email me back…
Sage: Mental…
Elk: Um, right I um…on with uh…well…(takes deep breath) LET'S GET GOING!!!
Bakura: Oww, my ears…
Elk slid his visor back over his eyes as the city of Mac Anu digitalized before him. Balmung's feathered back was walking away, then paused as he heard the chaos gate hum. The knight turned and a smile spread across his face as he saw the young boy.
"Um, I saw you coming so I logged back in…" Elk said, gripping his staff. "So um, did you need something?"
"Well, not really but…if you have to go offline then it's ok." Balmung shrugged. "All I wanted to do was go for a walk actually."
"Oh well then I um, I can do that." Elk nodded. "Where do you want to walk to?"
"Well…why not the Garden of Summer's Eve?" Balmung suggested. "I hear it's very beautiful."
"The…garden of summer's eve?" The wavemaster said puzzled. "I don't think I've heard of that place."
"Well, it's new…the Gardenia Fan Club made it as a special area for new members but I'm sure they'll let us slip in." Balmung grinned. "Plus, tonight is the grand opening so it's going to be a celebration."
"Ah but…I've had a really long…well, few days…" Elk paused then sighed. "But alright I'll go…but not for too long."
"Of course, I won't let you stay up too late after all." The two then left for the Garden of Summer's Eve.
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Upon entering the area, the two were greeted by three Gardenia Fan Club members, beckoning them through a dozen archways. Each one was made of a tangled mess of vines, tree limbs and various flowers.
"Welcome to the Gardenia Fan Club's Recruiter Night!" Sang one member, dressed in a rosy outfit.
"Um, thanks…" Elk said, slightly intimidated by the cheerful girl.
"Hey, aren't you Balmung of the Azure Sky?" Another girl in pink asked. He nodded and the girl looked pale. "I, oh wow, you're the reason I started playing this game!! My big brother idolizes you so I logged on to see what was so great about you and I got lost in this upper level dungeon and you saved me!"
"Umm…" Balmung frowned, then looked closer at her. "Oh wait, aren't you Ushio's little sister?"
"Yeah!! You remember me?! Oh that's great!" The girl jumped up and down excited. "What an honor for you to join us tonight! Please, you and your guest come right this way! Down the Path of Enchanted Woods!" The three girls bowed in unison, pointing down the long trail.
"Uh, thanks…" Balmung gave her a halfhearted smile and he took Elk's hand, leading him down the path and away from the odd women. "I hope they aren't all like that." He whispered to his friend, causing Elk to grin.
"You're so famous…everyone's knows you and likes you…" Elk sighed and looked around the arches, avoiding Balmung's eyes. "You're so lucky."
"Not really, newbies and other worshipers always come up to me…acting like I'm the best thing since, since…"
"Since chocolate pie?" Elk piped in. The knight laughed and nodded.
"Yes, yes since chocolate pie. I take it you like that type of pie?"
"Um, yeah, my mom makes it for me when she has time." The blue haired boy smiled. "I like that kind with the cookies too, um, the Oreo pie? That's really good too! And lemon…and just cream pies actually…with ice cream."
"Pie isn't truly delicious without a scoop of vanilla ice cream." Balmung said, suddenly feeling hungry. "Ah, maybe we shouldn't talk about food, I haven't eaten today…"
"I wish I had some pie…ah now I'm hungry too!" They laughed as the tunnel ended, leading them into a spectacular garden. Elk's eyes lit up as they looked around the flowery oasis that on closer inspection was actually a chuck of land flying high above the ground. A silvery gate encrusted with plant-like jewels enclosed the mini park, most likely so patrons didn't fall off. Trees of gold, silver, and bronze surrounded a small area where Gardenia sat among her followers. Flowers of at least a hundred types blossomed everywhere and birds and butterflies flickered around many of the guests. The pathway Elk and Balmung stood on branched out in a few directions, though they all came back towards the center. There stood a large, elegant fountain with rainbow colored water emitting from the top.
"Oh wow, how nice!" Elk said, his crimson eyes glowing in the light of the fantastic garden.
"Yes, Gardenia's fans know how to please her don't they? Of course, I think she'd be happier if they would leave her alone…" Balmung led Elk over to a tree and bent over the base of it. "Actually, there's something here I thought you might be interested in…" The knight shuffled around the tree while Elk watched with growing curiosity.
"Something I'd be interested in? Like what?" He asked. Balmung grabbed something from the grass and stood, hiding it in his armored palm. "What is it?"
"This, is very special…" Balmung moved his hand, revealing a small lavender flower with pink and gold tipped petals. He gave it to Elk, who handled it delicately.
"It's a flower…" Elk said, looking it over.
"It's called a Amethyst Rose. I don't know why the name doesn't fit the flower but it's a rare item." Balmung said. "However, if you discard it in a forest type of field, it leaves a treasure chest filled with Aromatic Grass."
"Ah! Really?" Elk said excitedly. "Oh that's great! Then I'll have lots and lots of stuff to give to Mia when she logs back in! She'll be so happy!! Oh thank you Balmung!" The man just smiled and led him over to a more private area to talk and look over the garden. They sat under one of the trees, which reminded Elk of his time with Tsukasa. He briefly wondered if Sora was annoying them when he realized he was being stared at. "Um, is something wrong?"
"Ah, no…" Balmung said, quickly looking up into the branches. "Well…actually…I was wondering if you love Mia."
"Huh?! Love her?!" Elk recoiled in surprise from such a direct question. "Um well I…I-I-I-I…I um…" His face burned red and he became fascinated with the ground, "I…Mia is…well…I like her…"
"A lot?" Balmung asked.
"…A whole lot…" Elk replied, twirling some grass in his fingers. "But…I like her a lot but lately…" Balmung's head perked up and he tried to hide his interest as Elk continued, "Lately…I feel funny…"
"Funny…how?"
"Well…my heart I guess…" Elk put his hand on his chest. "I mean, I feel something there when I'm around Mia but lately…when I'm…when I'm around other people I feel that way too."
"Other…people?" Balmung hesitated. He wasn't sure who Elk was referring to.
"…Yeah…um…Tsukasa and you…and Mia…" Elk's face was now roughly the same color as his eyes, a deep but beautiful shade of crimson. "I feel that way…I…I…"
"Elk…" Balmung felt his own heart tighten as he stared at the wavemaster. He swallowed nervously and inched closer. "Elk…then…does that mean you like all three of us?"
"Um…" Elk slowly brought his head up until his eyes met with Balmung's. "Yes…I…I…I don't know…please don't be mad at me…"
"I could never be mad at you…there's nothing you could ever do to anger me Elk…such an odd name…but I love saying it…Elk…" The white knight said, then without a second thought he grabbed the boy's wrists and pulled him close until their lips met. For a moment, they both kissed devoid of any thoughts, only knowing their lips were sealed. Then their minds cleared. Elk's eyes grew wider than ever before as Balmung pushed away. They both held the same astonished look on their faces. Balmung swiftly stood and shook his head, shocked by his own action. "I…I'm so sorry…forgive me…" He quickly logged out, too embarrassed to face Elk again. The mage sat on the ground, too stunned to move as he sat against the tree. Finally, after a few minutes he too left the game.
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"What did I just do…" A man sat at his computer, his head on his knees as he threw aside his headset. "He'll never talk to me again…what's happening to me…is this what love is…Elk is a boy though…this isn't even right…I'm so confused…" He shut his eyes, fighting back tears. He rarely cried, the last time he cried was when he found out his friend Orca was in a coma. He pulled his legs against his chest as a few drops of water slipped from his eyes. "Elk…I'm so sorry…so…sorry…"
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Somewhere not too far away, a younger teen laid in bed, his own eyes flooded with tears. The glow of his computer shone on him as he rolled over, burying his face in a pillow. He didn't want to think about what had just happened but his mind was still reeling, going over it again and again. A kiss. A cyber kiss or not, he had felt it. He had just been kissed…his whole body was tense and his hands clutched into balls. The boy's face was red as he tried desperately to make sense of his situation.
"This whole thing is crazy…" He mumbled, "Mia…I want Mia…she'll make everything right again…Oh Mia…Tsukasa…Balmung…why is this…why…" Then the poor child broke off into sobs that lasted until he'd finally cried himself to sleep.
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"Boing! Boing!" Sora sang as he jumped around the field. "Hip hop boing bouncy whee!" Tsukasa and Subaru sat nearby, watching the twin blade bounce around in delight. It was late in the morning and the three had met up again for what Sora called 'The Grand Reunion'. The mage groaned and placed his palm against his forehead.
"Ugh, is he ever going to shut up?"
"Hm, I think not…let him be, he's not troubling anyone at least." Subaru giggled as Sora jumped on top of a mushroom and sat on it, pretending he was a ninja spy. "Besides, Bear told me Sora is just a child in real life…"
"Like no one saw that one coming…" Tsukasa said as the green haired kid threw a chuck of Grunty food at them.
"Mushroom…" It moaned as it nailed Tsukasa in the face. He fell flat on his back while Sora snickered happily.
"Tsukasa!" Subaru cried, automatically grabbing his arm. "Are you ok?!"
"Yeah I'm fine…" He grumbled, sitting up and rubbing his face.
"Hey~y, did I hit you too hard?" Sora called with a mad grin on his face. Tsukasa stood up threw his staff out in front of him.
"MeiRue Rom!" He shouted, water spouting from the sky and rushing towards Sora. The twin blade dodged them with relative ease and ran off for another part of the field. Tsukasa brought his wand back to his chest and frowned.
"It's alright Tsukasa…" Subaru said, patting his shoulder. "Just ignore him…"
"Damn…stupid…" He continued on for a while before sitting back on the ground with Subaru. "Hey…Subaru…?"
"Yes Tsukasa?"
"Do you…want to go shopping on Tuesday with me and Mimiru?"
"Oh that sounds wonderful!" Subaru nodded. "We'll make it a girl's night out then."
"Um…alright…but this time…let's invite someone else too…"
"Who?"
"I don't know yet…" Tsukasa shrugged. "But I was thinking Kite or Elk."
"Why not both?" Subaru asked.
"Well, I haven't met Elk in the outside world yet…" The wavemaster said. "Kite, I ran into him at the store…"
"Really? How odd!" Subaru's eyes rose. "Did he say anything?"
"He just stared at me and said 'Uh…wait, you're…you're Tsukasa?!'…It was pretty funny."
"Well, let's talk to Mimiru later then…hm…I wonder where Sora went off to…"
"…Who cares? To die if we're lucky…"
"Tsukasa!"
"…Sorry…"
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"Boing boing boing…ka-POW!" Sora jumped over a large rock and continued running freely through the field. He was just running past a tree when a low groan emitted from behind it. He came to halt and peeked around the trunk of the tree. There was a cat girl slumped against it, moaning softly in pain. Sora climbed skillfully up the branches, then leapt down in front of her. The cat woman lifted her head and stared up at him with a dazed expression.
"You…" She mumbled, her voice barely audible.
"Yep I'm me and who are you…wait, aren't you that Mia person?" Sora squatted down, studying her careful. "Aww, you look like you're in bad shape…poor kitty cat…"
"You…aren't Elk…" Mia said weakly. "Have you…have you seen him?"
"Elk? Why as a matter of fact I haven't. Nope, don't know what you're talking about…" Sora grinned.
"You're…you're lying…" She said, her chest heaving with the effort to breathe. "Tell me…where he is…or…"
"Oh, demanding aren't we?" Sora leaned closer, his voice growing grim. "Heh, or what will you do to me if I don't tell you?" Mia gazed up at him with her yellow eyes and feeble smile crossed her face.
"I'll kill you…that's all…" She said. "So…tell me…"
"Ha! Kill me? You can hardly talk or move let alone-" But Sora was unable to finish, for a long sword had just been shoved through his gut. He blinked and stared at Mia in amazement. "Hey…cheater…no fair…" He whispered as Mia grinned and drove the sword in deeper. Sora's body turned a dark gray color and fell limply over her weapon before disappearing. She took a deep, shaky breath and let her sword fall to the ground. Mia shut her eyes and drooped to the ground.
"Oh Elk…where are…you…I…need…"
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A young boy sighed as he looked over the snacks displayed in front of him. As usual, his mom had gone off to work and left some money on the table for him. He'd taken it and walked up to the store to buy breakfast. The boxed stuff they had didn't look too tasty, so he figured he'd just buy some chips and pop and call it good. He pushed his light colored hair from his face and grabbed some cheese chips.
"Geez, price went up…" He muttered under his breath, staring at the bag. He shrugged and went through the different aisles, getting something to drink and a few other things for his make shift meals. He gave them to the cashier, who smiled at him.
"Well hello, mom at work again?" She asked. He nodded sadly and she shook her head. "Well, you always tell me the bright side is you get to play on The World all day without her caring too much." At this, the boy suddenly became uncomfortable and the woman noticed. "What? Something happen?"
"Um…well…I don't want to play The World…right now…" He coughed, trying to hint that he didn't want to talk about it. She seemed to take no notice of this.
"What's wrong? Did someone tease you?"
"No…nothing like that…um…well…see…we were sitting alone and…and…um…our lips…well…"
"Oh! You got kissed! Cute!" She grinned and ruffled his hair. "Nice job!"
"But…I don't know…"
"Confused?" She asked, to which the boy nodded rapidly, his eyes watering up a bit. "That's what love is like. It's a pain in the ass. You can't control it or fight it or understand it. You just have to go with it. This kid who kissed you is probably just as confused as you are. But running away won't solve it."
"Umm…ok…" The boy frowned. Her words of wisdom baffled him more. "But…see, there's more than one person…that I…I mean, I thought about it last night…and I think I like…"
"Oh! Love triangle?! A Love square? A love octagon maybe?" She clapped her hands. "It's like a shoujo manga! Hee, ok, here's what you need to do. You need to relax. Kissing, hugging, it will happen but just relax and think clearly. Did you like the kiss? Do you like being with this person but it feels different then when you're with friends? Think about that stuff with an open mind."
"Uh, right…I have to go now…" He quickly gathered up his food and left. As he did he ran into a young girl with reddish hair. He mumbled an apology as he ran off, now deep in thought. The girl frowned and held the door open for another woman, this one in a wheelchair.
"Don't forget what I said!" She called after him. "Heh, what a cute kid…" The cashier waved as the two teens entered. "Hey Tsukasa, hi Subaru, what can I get you guys today?"
"Just some pop…hey, what was wrong with that kid? He seemed upset…" Tsukasa asked, jerking her thumb at the door. The cashier shrugged.
"Relationship troubles."
A/N: Sage: (is trying to pry the PS2 controller from Kaley's hands)
Bakura: Heh, we write good chapters without Kaley! I killed Sora ha ha ha ha…
Elk: Mia's dying!! (sobbing in a corner) Oh Mia!!!
Bakura: I wrote that part!! ^_^
Sage: Mass chaos…why…Kaley stop playing that game and look what your muses did to this chapter!!
Kaley: Huh…oh that's nice…System Error? What's…that…NOOOOOOO!!!
Sage: Ah screw it…Elk's going to need therapy after all this… well, you guys know the drill…review, help keep us sane…and remember, your reviews influence us…
Elk: MIA!!
Kaley: I DIED!!!
Bakura: MY EARS!!!
Sage:…correction, help keep ME sane…-_-