A/N: Another chapter on the go. I update as much as possible. Heh. Enjoy... I'm not gonna say the last two words 'cause I'm lazy and it'll sound cornier then usual.

I'm debating whether or not to have a pairing in this story. Probably not.

Hmm...well, updates on school weeks will come every other day. That'll probably be my schedule. There will almost always be at least one update on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, so...uh...okay.

Hello, new reviewers! It's cool to see you. Woot!

Disclaimer: .hack does not belong to Konyo of Dusk.

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Chapter 5: Making Minor Adjustments

I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
If you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
'Cause your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
 My Immortal - Evanescence

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"You didn't tell him about his parents beforehand!? How they left him for dead!?" Ryo Sakuma's frustration with Doctor Yadate was steadily growing; the old man knew little to nothing about his patient. Ryo usually had boundless amounts of good-natured patience, yet there were some situations in which it could be...easily tampered with. "What were you trying to pull over his eyes? What if I hadn't come to assume custody of Sora!?"

The current situation being: the doctor was an idiot. The elderly man in the white coat cleared his throat for a moment, worn gray eyes flittering helplessly to an amused Midori and a hapless Annako. "I--..." Yadate slowed down, then sighed. "Just...just sign these papers and take the boy home..." A packet of papers was passed to the man on the opposite side of the desk.

Ryo opened his mouth to debate the point some more, but Annako merely prodded her foster father with a flick of her thumb and forefinger. The 47-year-old man grumbled swears under his breath and grabbed a pen from the desk canister, scribbling furiously onto the forms. "Someone get Sora," he mumbled, scrawling his signature onto a thin line marked by an X.

"No need." From the shadowy corner of the room, the green-haired boy stepped out of the darkness, hands tucked slackly in his pockets. "Hurry up. I'm hungry," he complained.

The file cabinet room had, and always had been empty before Doctor Yadate and company entered. "How did you get in?" she asked pointedly, raising an eyebrow. "The doctor locked the door as soon as we entered."

"I picked the lock." the 10-year-old said impatiently, as if explaining how two plus two equaled four.

At the time, Midori was the only one who had the slightest suspicion about this concept. She wouldn't mention anything about it; at least, for now.

"Well, Sora, hopefully I'll never see you again, because that means you're well. I hope you have a nice time with your new family," said the doctor wearily as Ryo put down the pen. "Good night."

And Midori, Sora, Ryo, and Annako each filed out of the room. Sora was last, casting a single glance at the room before shutting the door.

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Once outside and at the duo of cars stationed by the hospital doors, Midori immediately turned to Ryo, Annako, and Sora. "I am going home. I'm not going to play 'super sleuth' in the real world as I did in the game, so you're on your own." She frowned, beginning to walk towards her car. Before she opened the door, she shrugged. "Maybe he's better off with amnesia," Midori said coldly before entering the driver's seat and pulling out of the hospital parking lot.

There was a bit of silence as a disinterested Sora watched the car speed out into the night. "She really doesn't like me, does she," he mused, hands folded behind his head.

"I hate to break it to you, but she hates you pretty badly," Annako said earnestly. Sora's eyebrow lifted smoothly, and he smirked.

"I'm afraid I've been neglecting this question, and pardon my rudeness, but I must ask--who the hell are you?"

"Uh? Me? I'm Annako Sakuma, your new...sister." Annako smiled softly and quickly bowed before heading towards the car. Sora briskly trailed along, Ryo a tad hesitant as she spoke. "I'm...16 years old. I go to Daimon High School...umm...I like writing and drawing. How's that?"

"Do you play that video game that woman talked about...The World?"

"Huh? Oh, yes...so does papa. Before you fell into a coma...I wasn't able to log out...it's hard to explain, but when you get your memories back, you'll know why you have my thanks." For a moment, Annako had been taken aback by the question; regaining her composure, she deemed it innocent enough to be answered. "Maybe...you could log in sometime..." she said slowly.

As in not on the account that's famous for causing mass genocide, Ryo thought with a small smile.

"Maybe I will--"

Not yet.

"--later." It sounds innocent enough, "mother," he thought in a "dry" tone, marching towards where Ryo indicated and plopping in the back seat. "Hey old man, when do I start school again?" he asked casually, propping his feet as high as he could on the back of Annako's chair (which wasn't very far).

"If I'm going to be some kind of guardian to you...Sora, you should at least call me by my first name. Or some kind of fatherly nickname, like Annako does."

"Gramps? Pappy? Pops? The list goes on."

Ryo sighed, pulling out of the lot and heading for the road. Annako giggled under her breath. "But yes," he said, "I do intend on enrolling you in school ASAP. Maybe your old school. Might help you..." His tone became slightly quieter. "...regain some of your memories or something..."

"The past is the past. Memories--not really among my prime concerns." Sora decided for himself with a simple wave of his wrist, dismissing it.

"You don't understand, Sora. Amnesia is a little more serious then you think."

"Amnesia is a little less serious then you think," Sora countered casually. "'Sides, mother said I didn't need my memories, so it doesn't matter anymore."

Annako smiled grimly, hugging her knees in the car seat and examining her reflection in the mirror. Heh...I knew a "mother" like that...from a game, from a long time ago.

Morganna...