Chapter 4

Disclaimer:: she doesn't own nothin', hear me?!

Allison:: uh..yeah..o.O

::Love is blind, but when it is darkest, that is when one can see the clearest::

~*~

4:00 pm ~~

Allison sat, half slumped in a short, kind of stubby khaki chair with canvas sides and back. She had her right elbow rested on the arm of the chair, her chin rested on her hand while the light from a computer screen played with the features of her face and highlighted her dark brown hair falling in front of one eye. She watched the screen carefully, and quietly, while she tapped one foot lightly. Her eyes darted from one window to another, she never typed, never moved the mouse. She just sat watching the windows. She sighed as the pace of her foot quickened. She soon gained an impatient look in her almond shaped brown eyes. She was waiting for someone, Dj.

Suddenly, her slouched figure almost jumped as a sound emerged, the sound of mail. She leaned forward pulling her chair up to the computer and began clicking and typing faster than most students in her school, even the all- out gamers had nothing on her speed. Her eyes darted to and fro as she seemed to fly over the keys.

As she read the screen, her eyes filled with the joy of happiness, but then she slumped back into her chair disappointedly. On the screen read - "Dear Allison, Sorry, won't be able to make it. Lots of chores, exam tomorrow. I'll make it up to you. Good luck with Hotaka. Dj"

She sighed and scratched the back of her head thinking. "Well.I'll be..he stood me up.." She sat for some time, then stood and went to her bed. She lay on the covers staring upward at the ceiling. Her dark, brown eyes scanned every inch of the white paper tiles, or what she liked to call the "mystery substance" as it appeared not to be ceramic nor cardboard. Many a night had she counted all the dots that were placed randomly on every tile, and had lost count at over two million, four hundred thirty eight thousand, nine hundred and twenty six. Since she had lost count, as well as her place, she just stared at them all blankly and sighed.

Her night was a storm of tossing and turnings, pulling her blankets with her with every roll. Images flew past her mind of the lab, a flash of light. The next image was that of a dead boy whose head was lying in someone's arm, another flash, and then a girl screaming with the game visor over her eyes. "Code red! Code red!" Alarms went off, flashes of red light.

Allison shot up from bed; her alarm had woken her from the dream. She sat in silence for a moment before putting her head in her hand, "Why can't I remember.." She got up from her bed and sighed walking to her kitchen in the next room. She fixed herself something that really required no cooking. She carried it on a plate back to her room and sat setting the game visor on her eyes. She logged in and found herself at Mac Anu. She looked around at the other players and sighed walking to the bridge and leaned her elbows against it looking down.

The simulated reflection of herself meant nothing to her, nothing she touched meant anything. The only thing that did to her was the consciencenesses of the people playing the game. She watched them from the corner of her eyes, and listened to their conversations. It seemed nowadays, that's all she did. She sighed again looking down, seeing a barge- like boat float out from underneath the bridge - It was Subaru, Lady of the Scarlet Knights. She "tsst"ed and followed the boat to where it docked and leaned against a pillar watching the amazement, then sudden anger appear on the Knights' faces.

"Pipe down, I'm not here to mess up your precious 'Lady' Subaru or anything. Just wanna talk, s'all," was all Yumi said waving one hand.

Subaru looked at Yumi then nodded to the Knights walking to her, the two girls walked a little away. Yumi resumed her leaning against another pillar and crossed her arms while Subaru seemed content to simply stand. Her small voice seemed to move the air, "So..what is it you wish to speak with me about?"

"What have you heard about this 'Tsukasa' character? He seems to be causing a big ruckus."

"I am unsure of his whereabouts, nor do I know about his problem. I simply know that the Silver Knight had to restart his game after being attacked by Tsukasa."

"Hmm.I may be able to find something. But note that I'm not doing this to help you, or the Knights, or anyone. This is for myself."

Subaru stared at her for a moment as if thinking then nodded, "I understand." With that, Subaru turned and went back to the Knights while Yumi watched with narrow eyes. She sighed staring downward with closed eyes ignoring the fact a player was staring at her from afar. Finally, she opened one eye looking to the bridge, a Heavy Blade with dark skin and red hair stood watching. Yumi brought herself to her feet and walked to her, "I noticed you have an unsaid interest in Lady Subaru's actions."

"N-no, I-I..I was just-" was all the Heavy Blade could stutter before silencing herself.

After much silence, Yumi watched her, "Or perhaps, just an interest in me. Is that more on the money?" The Heavy Blade nodded silently. Yumi sat herself up on the brick rail of the bridge, "So..what is it you want to know. I need someone to talk to, might as well be you."

"I..I head you say 'Tsukasa'..I was just curious how you know him.."

"Only by name. Never met the guy. All I know is he's causing a lot of problems, and it's on mine, as well as, the administrators' shoulders. Subaru's trying to find as much information as she can about the situation."

"And yourself?"

"It really isn't my business, nor do I care. I'll let people do as they please."

"Oh..Oh! I almost forgot, I'm Mimiru." The Heavy Blade held out one hand, and Yumi reluctantly shook it quickly, "Yumi."

Yumi sighed and stared upward quietly, Mimiru thinking she was in thought. Mimiru then blinked to see Yumi walking to the Chaos Gate. "Hey! Where are you going?" she called out.

"Somewhere you aren't," was all Yumi mumbled to herself. She gated to the Beta server and sighed sitting out of the way staring downward at the swirling mists and the lands beyond. She began mumbling to herself.

"Why.why can't I remember." She kicked her feet softly muttering things. After a while, she stood staring off then gated to a field. When she got to the night-infested snowfield, she sighed and sat, leaning against a tree. "Alone..no one to bother me.." She closed her eyes remembering the images from her dream, and slowed them down, examining them one by one. She couldn't piece them together, couldn't remember. It was all a blank to her. She opened one eye and looked around, and saw there was someone else nearby, just staring up at the stars. She watched him for a long time, neither moved. She had discerned him to be a young Wavemaster, with browns and dark greens, with white hair. He seemed as removed from the world as she did. She looked upward and stared at the constellations with him for what seemed like hours.

"..Tsukasa.."