I haven't posted in a loooong time, but I decided to start back the story! AN: I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS OR ANYTHING RELATED TO .HACK Thank you

Chapter 8: Envy is Hate's Evil Little Cousin

Katsuya's eyes opened, but he was not in his room. He was in the room where he and Valmung fought, but it was much darker. The torches' flames were absent, and the area was freezing cold. He exhaled deeply, trying to calm himself, as his exhale produced a fine mist into the air. Katsuya looked around a moment, and noticed the only source of light was a glowing dark purple sphere. That was the same sphere Kite used to record Valmung's confession. The darkness of the area seemed to be suffocating him, a cold ominous presence in the air made him shiver a bit.

Katsuya walked over to the sphere, and had just reached out his index finger to touch it when he heard Skye meow from somewhere far away. He awakened from his dream and sat up, in his bed. He was wearing only a sleeveless white t-shirt and some checkered boxers. The young man sat up and yawned a bit, stroking the cat's back that was purring next to him.

"Amy..." Katsuya muttered, his thoughts now straying to the girl that kissed him last night. He touched his lips gently, wishing he could feel hers on his now. Katsuya glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand next to his bed and it said four in the morning. He groaned and collapsed back unto his bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

Amy shifted comfortably on her stomach, her eyes closed and a smile of happiness across her face. She was very pretty. She was a blossoming flower in its prime. Her dark brown hair was shoulder length and her bangs were parted to the sides. Her eyes were a dark hazel (If they were open . ) and her small frame also matched the physical form of her character Kera. She looked very frail, wearing only her undergarments but she was covered by the silk covers. Amy's body was slightly tan from going to the beach. (She lives in California) so much, and her face was very cute and innocent looking. Her cheeks always seemed to have the most color of tan.

Amy's room was very decorative. Posters of such bands as Lost Prophets and Linkin Park were lining the walls, and her room was quite a mess with clothes, magazines, and jewelry. In the corner of her room was a large entertainment center sporting a few video game consoles such as XBOX and PS2. Her computer screen was a bright white, providing the light in the room as she was scared of the dark.

"Katsuya," Amy moaned a bit in her sleep, hugging her pillow close to her and nestling her head against it.

Meanwhile...on the World

Kite was leaning against the wall in a small tavern, his eyes closed and his arms folded across his chest. Only two lovers were in the tavern at this time of the morning, and it did not bother him one bit, even when they started making out.

Kite opened his eyes, the dark blue orbs glowing in the hanging lanterns of the tavern, "It's time," He muttered and vanished, much to the surprise of the couple.

4 hours later

Katsuya yawned and sat upright in his bed, gazing ahead a bit lazily. He climbed out of bed, mumbling about never getting enough sleep and he performed his usual morning routine of , eating some cereal, brushing his teeth, taking a shower, slipping some black sleep pants on, and plopping down in front of his computer. He turned it on and saw two messages.

The first one was from Kite, who simply wrote.

"Get ready."

He smirked a bit, and replied, "I am ready; just let me know where and when." He sent it and let out a deep sigh, leaning back in his chair.

Katsuya checked the other and it was from Jaed, who he hadn't heard from since the incident.

"You stay away from Kera, you hear me? She's mine."

Katsuya growled, "How childish, what is he ten?" He said and deleted the message.

Katsuya smiled when he saw that Kera was on the world, and so he logged in to see her.

Welcome to the World Katsuhiro

Katsuhiro noticed it wasn't very crowded this morning in Mac Anu. He had only come here to meet Kera, and to tell her where he was going with Kite. It wasn't going to be easy, he thought, thinking she would probably beg him to come. He could not allow that, however, and he would have to be stern yet gentle.

(AN: The two still call each other by their player names. I wanted to avoid confusion)

"Katsuhiro!" He heard Kera call his name and he turned to see her waving at him, a broad smile of happiness etched across her lips. Her cloak was missing, and Katsuhiro nearly fainted from the girl's beauty. He had seen female Heavy Blades before, but there was something about Kera's tanned, small yet strong body (She's been training ). Each delicate curve was perfect in Katsuhiro's eyes. Her chest armor was a dark blue with silver designs on it, which matched her eyes perfectly. Kera's leg armor trailed down slightly longer than a normal Heavy Blade's, and it was a lighter blue and the red battle scarf matched the rose in her hair.

"Hey Kera!" Katsuhiro said excitedly, and he knew he had never acted like this towards anyone else. He decided not to dwell too much on the reasons why, he already knew them far too well. Katsuhiro ran over to her and embraced her, following up with a short kiss on the lips, but the kiss was a little half-hearted, and Kera could tell.

"Katsuhiro? What's wrong?" Kera said, concern etched along her features, which pained Katsuhiro even more.

"Kera...I am going to be heading to a very dangerous area with Kite, the man that saved us from Valmung. I am going to be fighting some very powerful enemies that can harm me in the real world as in here. I want you to log off the World until I contact you and if I don't, uninstall the World and continue living a happy life," He said in almost one breath, now afraid of her reaction.

Kera stood motionless for a while, her expression changing from concern to shock and confusion with a hint of sadness, "But...Katsuya..I don't want you to go," She said, and Katsuhiro knew she was truly concerned when she said his real name.

"Amy...it is something I must do to defend the World and its players, and Kite is going to help me to save it. I am doing this for you and everyone else, please trust me, "Katsuhiro responded, looking into her eyes, his own tearing up slightly.

Kera smiled, it was difficult, yes, but she knew it had to be done and she wrapped her arms around him and kissed him for five long and passionate minutes. She broke the kiss and blushed a bit as she stepped away, "I really like you...Katsuhiro," She said and then smiled cheerfully at him, "And I will wait for you, no matter how long it takes," She added.

Katsuhiro smiled, overjoyed that she understood and wrapped his arms around her, "I'll be back before you know it, Kera," He said, kissing her neck gently as he then pulled away and smiled, "Goodbye..." He said and vanished.

"Goodbye...Katsuya," She said, wiping tears from her cheeks.

She then slowly walked away as a dark shadow lingered nearby, two familiar blood red eyes gazing at Kera as he grinned, "The Azure Sky has a weakness after all..." The shadow muttered in a deep voice and vanished as well.

Looks like someone knows about Katsuhiro and Kera, and that someone is up to no good! Xx

I still got my fan fiction writing skills, yay! R & R