Disclaimer: Ok, I don't own .hack or anything from it save the characters I have created. Bandai owns the rest.

PG-13: I could probably get away with PG, but not sure just how violent it might get later, so better to be safe.

Author's Comment: So you know, all areas mentioned can be reached in the game and are to a great degree accurate.

Warning: Again, I shouldn't need to mention it, but I will anyway. This has spoilers for those who have not played .Hack: Outbreak.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-

"Come on guys, we're almost there!"

Standing at the base of the dungeon entrance, a tall young looking Wavemaster watched as a pair of figures in the distance ran towards him. A slight breeze brushed over his robes, causing them to blow in the wind. Tapping his foot impatiently on the ground, the Wavemaster continued to wait, a frown across his lips.

As the two figures finally arrived, the young female Twin Blade bending over out of breath, the Wavemaster scoffed. "About time you guys got here, I could have already gone in and found the treasure by now."

Looking up from where she was bending over, the Twin Blade glared at him angrily. "Shut your mouth Elnon, you're the one who left us by ourselves to face all those monsters! You're a Wavemaster, you're supposed to blast monsters with magic, not run away and make us fight them for you! It's not like Guardians are easy to beat."

Turning his head away snobbishly, Elnon gave a disdainful grunt. "I had better things to do than to waste my time with monsters that I knew you and Wakizashi here could handle Kenryu. After all, I can't allow someone else to beat us into the dungeon and steal my treasure. Now come on, don't fall behind."

A low growl escaped Kenryu's lips as Elnon turned to enter the dungeon, and her grip on her Shadow Blades tightened. Every centimeter of her body ached to lash out and give him a PK, teach his scrawny Wavemaster ass a lesson. A hand touching her shoulder suddenly calmed her. Looking up, she spotted Wakizashi giving her a soft smile. "Don't do it, we'd never here the end of it. Besides, it'd only take you down to his level."

Sighing before standing upright, KenRyu nodded. "I know."

Smiling more broadly now, Wakizashi continued, "Good, how about a haiku to make you feel better.

"Life is a great trial

Violence will beget violence

Innocence is brief."

KenRyu giggled to herself, then turned to follow Elnon down the eerily throat-shaped dungeon, passing the teeth on either side. She had no idea what that had meant, or why Wakizashi liked to make up Haiku poems, but as strange as they might be, they did make her laugh. Perhaps that was good enough. If only he would stop glancing at her online ass.

Standing outside the dungeon entrance for a moment watching the female Twin Blade walk into its depths, Wakizashi gave KenRyu another short survey. Jungle green looked good on her, so the fact that her outfit was primarily colored that was a good thing. The color permeated the long leather gloves that came up to her elbows and ended in a sharp point outlined in sky blue, leaving her arms sleeveless. The high collared leather vest she wore looked quite durable, but it was the shorts that always caught his attention. Cutting off at mid thigh, the shorts clung nearly skin tight to her body, bringing great definition to her rear. Too bad it, like everything else here, was virtual. Hefting up his Nodachi in his right hand, Wakizashi trotted off into the dungeon and whatever it was that awaited them there.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-

In retrospect, Wakizashi thought as he pulled his Nodachi out of the dead body of a Flame Heads, perhaps the dungeon of ? Plenteous Unending Hog's Run wasn't as hard as he'd expected. Sure the Flame Heads, Hungry Grass, Guardians, and especially the Red Wyrms were tough, but the space for the most part was limited, and that forced Elnon to do something very out of character, he actually had to fight. What it had revealed was the truth that when he was forced to do so, Wavemasters like Elnon were potently dangerous warriors.

No, what he found more worrisome than the enemies within was the layout of the dungeon itself. It was true that he was rather experienced at the game in comparison to some others, specifically true newbies, there was always something about this particular type of dungeon design that really freaked him out. Whatever administrator or programmer or whatever that had thought up the idea of using what for all intents and purposes was a giant living worm for a dungeon layout was certainly one sick, twisted individual. The realness was the worst part, with the walls moving in and out in conjunction to a constant heartbeat, the floor squishy and moist, organic even.

The first adventure he'd experienced in one of these places had sent him running out screaming by the time the rest of the party had reached the stairs to the second floor. Back then Wakizashi had been convinced that to go down much further would have landed them nowhere but in the dungeon's digestive system. Part of him still felt that way, even though they were down to the fourth level of the dungeon.

Elnon had constantly been shouting at him to move faster than the cautious, snail-like pace he had been, and tightening his grip on his Nodachi he had complied. . . for two or three rooms. Unlike Elnon who complained at the end of each battle, Wakizashi actually looked forward and hoped for monsters. At least then his mind would get to focus on the battle rather than being worm food. Other than that though, Elnon's complaining had to be the worst thing.

Then, as they resumed their traveling and once again KenRyu began to talk in one long, unending voice, Wakizashi amended his previous thought, KenRyu's mouth was the next worst thing after the dungeon design. "Anyway, as I was saying, unlike this design earthworms don't have teeth, or much of anything else for that matter. I did read a book once by a guy named Frank Herbert, great book really about this guy Paul and his mother Jessica, she's a witch and he's a Duke's son that get betrayed and have to live in the desert and all. That would really suck, having to live in the desert with almost no water. They don't even take baths or showers! Can you IMAGINE how all those people living out there must wreak? I just couldn't fathom it, and to not be able to wash their hair, all that grease and dirt and. . . ewww!

"Getting back on track, in the book there are these giant worms much like this one that live in the desert and pop up to eat anyone that they hear walking on the surface. They're really really big, with lots and lots of teeth that just go on forever. They don't even stop to ask questions, just gulp and all gone, eating people, machines, everything that they hear. Can you just imagine having to brush and floss all those teeth though, especially with all the entrails that would get on them? Well, like I was saying. . ."

She continued to ramble on and on, the conversation turning from time to time to other books and movies, and before long she had covered the giant worm Sarlacc from Star Wars Return of the Jedi, giving extreme details on the creature, then moving onto the Tremors movies. None of this was helping Wakizashi's mindset any.

Entering the next room, a portal activated and before them stood not an enemy but a single blue treasure chest. Elnon's eyes lit up as he screamed, "TREASURE!!" and ran towards the chest, reaching to open it without hesitating.

Raising his hand in a futile attempt to stop him, Wakizashi called out, "Don't-" But it was too late, and with a bang gas poured into Elnon's face, poisoning him. Wakizashi chuckled to himself as he reached into his pouch for an antidote. He might have felt worse for the Wavemaster if this hadn't been the third time in this dungeon he'd done it.

Nodding in gratitude, Elnon grinned and said, "Thanks Wakizashi, you are truly a good and NOBLE person, a true member of the bushi no doubt. Now, lets head off to that room over there." His hand pointed out to a door down a passage that ran perpendicular to the corridor they were currently in.

"You're welcome Elnon. Now remember:

"Do not be a fool

Finding a risky treasure

Use a Fortune Wire."

Elnon's face reddened. From behind them laughter appeared. Turning, they spotted KenRyu rolling back and forth upon the ground, torrents of laughter escaping her lips. "HAHAHA Is that the hehehe only way you know hohohohahahe to give advice? With Haiku?"

Wakizashi chuckled at that a little, then replied, "Well I feel it keeps me from sounding as if I am lecturing. Besides, you seem to enjoy it."

Slowly getting to her feet, light giggling still escaping her lips, KenRyu grinned up at him broadly. The three then turned and entered the next door.

As they stepped into the next room though, Elnon froze for a moment, then screamed, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

The short young Wavemaster standing before the now crumbling Gott Statue spun around in reaction to the sudden noise, at the same time pocketing the treasure he had just found within the chest. Spotting the party, the young Wavemaster smiled, brushing a few strands of blue hair out of his sparkling red eyes. Waving his right hand towards them, he just said, "Hi."

While KenRyu and Wakizashi returned the greeting, Elnon merely stared back at the fellow Wavemaster in complete shock, finally falling to his knees. "My. . . my treasure. . . you took. . . my treasure." He then lowered his head in complete, shocking defeat.

Wakizashi looked down at Elnon with a wry grin, then back at the young Wavemaster. "Please excuse him, he's quite into treasure."

Shrugging, the Wavemaster reached into his navy blue robes saying, "Oh, well I'll trade it to you. I didn't find what I came here for."

At this Elnon's head looked up at the fellow Wavemaster and replied, "Really? That's great, what do you want for it?"

Giving a timid smile, the Wavemaster pulled out the Ice Hunter Cap he had just gained and replied, "Aromatic Grass. . . do you have any?"

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-

"So Barricade, what do you think?"

Sitting on a soft piece of ground off near the Chaos Gate of Dun Loireag, Mycinity waited for a reply. It was not long in coming as Barricade replied, "I think I'm not sure why you asked to talk to ME about this. Don't you usually talk to StarMan Slayer or KenRyu about this kind of thing, these. . . relationship things?"

"Yes," Mycinity replied, twiddling her thumbs as her arms rested over her bent knees, "but neither of them has met Kite like you have, so it's hard to explain it to them. Besides, SM hasn't replied to my Flash Mails recently."

"What about Elnon? He met Kite too that time. Talk to him."

Frowning, Mycinity's face scrunched in. "Do you even need me to reply to that one?"

Barricade opened his mouth to speak, hesitated, then closed it again. Elnon wasn't one to talk about anything he didn't want to, or even listen for that matter to things he didn't want to. "Truth My, but you know I don't like talking about relationships and all. I swore them off awhile ago, after Keiko left me. I don't even like joining parties if you're not in them."

"I know Cade, Keiko really broke your heart, and I appreciate that you're here, especially given that rough and tough attitude you put on in front of everyone else. Betcha anything that if Mom came on she would never be able to recognize you, her own son, with the way you talk here."

"Hey," Barricade shot back, "leave Mom out of this. I'm here, I'm listening."

Giggling behind her hand, Mycinity looked up at the sky as a V line of birds flew overhead, casting small shadows on the ground. She had wondered for awhile if these virtual birds took craps in flight like real birds, and if so what would happen if they landed on a Player. The thought had always been quite humorous, but looking at them as they flew off now, she just saw them as beautiful.

"Well what do you think of him Cade? Do you think I have a chance to win Kite's heart?"

Taking a deep breath, Barricade stared into Mycinity's eyes. "Look My, Kite definitely is cool, but I can't really judge what his feelings are. He's way above you in levels for sure, of course he probably isn't at the level where someone like say Balmung of the Azure Sky would find him an equal, but he still. . ."

Barricade's voice trailed off as his gaze caught sight of the most recent arrival at the Chaos Gate, and his jaw dropped. Noticing Barricade's loss of attention, Mycinity looked around behind her at what had caught his attention and barely held back a shriek with the aid of her hands. Standing there looking around for something or someone, was Kite.

As his eyes moved over to where they were, Mycinity moved to hide only to find that there was nothing to hide behind. Then her eyes met his, and it was as if a trance had come over her. He was just so cute, and wonderful. Kite smiled at the two and waved a hand in greeting. Mycinity just felt her heart swoon as her face went beet red. *He noticed me, he smiled at me *

Her body fell to the side as she lost her balance, landing her head on Barricade's shoulder and resting there, totally dazed and in her own little dream world. As a result, she didn't see Kite's gaze lift up above them, taking a step or two back as he gauged the trajectory of what he saw.

Even the large shadow that passed over her went unnoticed, as sweet dreams of Kite and her walking down the streets of Mac Anu arm in arm flowed through her head, little Kites and Mycinitys running around at their feet. They just smiled at each other so happily as they walked, the sound of the flapping of wings surrounding them as the birds took off from in front of them.

The flapping of wings? That didn't make sense, why was that in her fantasy. Suddenly an arm grabbed her shoulder and began to shake it furiously, driving away the wondrous imagery. Looking over at Barricade now, she frowned and barked, "What?"

His jaw just continued to hang open even more than before. Then something passed through Mycinity's peripheral vision and she turned her head back to see what it was. Her eyes caught sight of it, and she contorted her brow in confusion as she gazed at the long white feather that was slowly fluttering down towards the ground. Then she looked up and her jaw too dropped as she saw the source of the lone, falling feather.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-_-_-_-_-_-

Sorry to leave you guys hanging like that, but hopefully some of you got at least a little of what you were hoping to see. I'd also like to apologize for the delay in getting this out. I'm in the middle of college paper time here at my university, and on top of that I had a spout of writer's block about a third of the way through this chapter. Since aforementioned papers will be going through most of this month, I can't guarantee any more promptly written chapters. I will do my best though. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, and keep reviewing, it gives me a little push to keep going.

PS. The server the area listed in this chapter is in is Delta.