.HACK Life of Death, Death of Life

Disclaimer: Though I wish I owned the characters etc. of the .hack conglomeration, I must say that I do not. The plot is my own, though I received inspiration from a .hack role-play that I was in.

Chapter 4: The Choice

"Lord Balmung!" panted Reki, skidding to a halt in front of him. "I was just running the standard scans upon all areas of Delta server when there was a sudden surge of data, concentrated in the graveyard realm Sacred Forbidden Death. Also, two players were there, though the area was blocked off. I scanned the records for that area from the past few days and found that the barrier had vanished yesterday, but I couldn't find out why. However, something unlisted and unregistered has appeared in the graveyard, sir."

Balmung's eyes widened in surprise then narrowed. He brought a hand to his chin as he took this in. "Was one of the players within the area a wavemaster character with the username Tsukasa?"

"Yes, I believe so, sir," answered Reki. "The other player was a twin blade with the name of Keika. Have you seen either one?"

"I just met the wavemaster. She seemed terrified out of her mind by something and I believe, based on what you just told me, that she know exactly what just occurred there," said Balmung. "I have no idea what happened to the twin blade. Will you research and bring to me the player records of both players, especially the wavemaster? Also, any information you can gather on that area. I need this information as quickly as possible, if what Tsukasa said is true."

"Yes, Lord Balmung. I'll do it as quickly as possible, but I'm afraid that it might take me rather a long time, considering the fact that area and one of the characters have existed for quite a while," replied the wavemaster with a bow before disappearing.

Balmung stood for a moment, lost in thought. Then with a sigh, he too warped away.

Meanwhile, Tsukasa had warped to Hidden Forbidden Holy Ground and now lay upon the altar within the cathedral, lost in thought. She did not want to log out quite yet, for she never found peace in the real world. This place and this place alone offered a tranquil place for Tsukasa to think without any distractions. Her arms were behind her head, acting as a pillow while she gazed absently at the ceiling. Her staff lay upon the floor next to the large table upon which she reclined.

The events of the day ran through her head as she tried to come up with a way to defeat Death or at least stop him from destroying the World. She knew without a doubt that the thing was capable of wrecking havoc with the system and she knew that its attacks would not only affect the avatars of players, but also the actual players themselves. Tsukasa wasn't sure what would happen, whether they would fall into comas or, as the creature had hinted, actually die.

For quite some time she lay there, surrounded by silence. Then, her thoughts were disturbed by a slight noise by the entrance. Turning her head to face the door, she started, sitting bolt upright. There stood, or rather floated, a pink cat wearing a plain tunic, plain leggings, shoes with buckles upon them and a strange, pointed hat. It had two eyes of solid red with neither pupils nor a fleck of any other color. The cat smiled and bowed as it floated down the isle towards Tsukasa. The wavemaster was stunned, apprehensive and wary, quite understandably considering the fact that it was this cat was the one who had lead Tsukasa to the place where she had been cast into a coma.

The cat halted a few feet in front of the wavemaster and waved. The smile disappeared from its face as it began to speak to Tsukasa, not in words that could be heard, but in thoughts. Unnoticed by either, Balmung stood in the doorway watching the cat and wavemaster with wide eyes.

"What do you mean Morganna wants my help?!" exclaimed Tsukasa, loud enough for the blademaster to hear. Then her voice dropped lower, but, in the silence of the cathedral, Balmung was still able to make out the words. "I thought she had been deleted! Besides, I would think she wanted me deleted after, after the incident... What? But... No! I don't want to! Please don't make me go through that again! I want to remain in the real world! You can't make me stay here..."

The wavemaster leapt off of the altar and snatched up her staff. "If all you're going to tell me is that the only way to defeat Death is to become a part of the World again... To remain here, entwined with Aura and little of Morganna that remains once more, then you can leave," she murmured softly, turning towards the door, her eyes cast downward. "Please, Maha... I..."

The cat seemed to be pleading with Tsukasa. It came around in front of the wavemaster, forcing her to look it in the eyes. Tsukasa clenched her fists and swung her staff at the cat who quickly retreated a safe distance away.

"No! Can't you find someone else? Someone willing to be trapped with little possibility of escape? Surely there has to be another who would suit your needs?" moaned the wavemaster, leaning upon her staff and looking up at the cat through tear-filled eyes. "You of all people should understand. Please... Give me time to think."

The cat seemed satisfied for it nodded, bowed and vanished, but not before giving Balmung an odd look. Tsukasa did not see the blademaster for she had closed her eyes, letting the tears stream down her cheeks unheeded. Balmung narrowed his eyes in thought as he considered the strange conversation. Who was that cat Maha? What had it asked the wavemaster to do and why?

Again, Balmung decided that the only way to find this out would be by speaking with the wavemaster. The blademaster slowly walked forward, trying to make as little noise as possible upon the hard stone. Tsukasa looked up, hearing the click of the other's boots. She looked down again as she realized who it was.

"How long have you been there?" she asked in an emotionless tone.

"Since the cat appeared. What was it? What did it want from you?"

Tsukasa sighed. "Maha is the messenger of Morganna. It came to tell me that the only way to defeat Death would be to join myself with Morganna and Aura once more. In other words, I would have to let myself slip fully into the World, leaving my body to fall into a coma once more," she murmured, her voice devoid of any feeling. In fact, the tone of her voice could only be described as apathetic. Suddenly, her manner changed as she looked up at Balmung again. Her eyes were filled with fear, sadness and remembered pain. "But this time, there would likely be no hope of ever returning to the real world... However, if I don't, then Death will be free to destroy the World... All players, even you, would die should you be caught by him. Then, he will flow into the rest of the network to spread his destruction... At least that is what Maha said and the things Death told me confirm this. Now, please leave me alone!"

These last words she hissed, turning away from Balmung. However, that did not stop him from seeing the anguish upon her face as the wavemaster's soul twisted and turned, knowing that she should do everything in her power to stop Death, but at the same time unwilling to forsake her life, her real life for one inside a game. Balmung felt true pity for her, but he had no idea what he could do to help her. With a tired sigh, he stepped forward and placed a hand upon the younger player's shoulder.

"Though I know it isn't easy, I think you should probably do what the cat says," he murmured. "It seems you've been through hell and back, but more is at stake than simply you. Remember that. Now then, I will leave you, but know that if you need help, don't hesitate to call. Don't shut yourself off from those who would make your quest easier."

With a nod, Balmung gated out. Tsukasa stared at the space where he had been for a few moments, then turned to the statue of the chained girl, still standing at the front of the cathedral. Walking around the altar and up to the statue, Tsukasa clenched her staff tightly. She gazed up into the sad eyes of the stone figure before bowing her head and declaring, in a low voice, "I'm ready."


Author stuff!

So, what did you think this time? Umm... Reviewers would be nice... so far I only have one... And possibly another, but it would be nice to have lots of input!

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