Disclaimer: I do not own any more of the .hack conglomeration than copies of the games, manga and anime. This plot happens to be mine, but allusions and references are made to events within the games/anime. And I do change things about the after-game things that happen (such as a tweak with the return of the bracelet and the heading off to Hidden Darkside Holy Ground to reclaim Mia...). So, no flaming!
About reviews: I would LOVE to have at least one person who reviews every chapter and gives me feedback other than "It was wonderful" or "It sucked." Suggestions, comments, and critiques are wanted and welcome.
Chapter 1Kite – Real World
Have we done it? Have we really done it, restored the World to how it was meant to be? I don't know, not yet. There are still corrupted monsters and data pollution scattered throughout the World, though their numbers are diminishing. Hopefully, we will be able to eliminate these completely, soon...
A short, thin boy of almost fifteen lay sprawled across a bed in a small bedroom. The bedroom was his and it showed; a picture of the entire family, this boy included, rested on the bedside table and a photo of he and a couple friends rested next to it; a poster of a soccer team was tacked upon the wall, and a soccer ball was on the floor beneath it. A sweatshirt lay rumpled on the floor at the foot of the bed, across from his desk. It was a black desk made of dull metal or sturdy plastic – useful, but not decorative. Upon it rested a thin computer monitor (the bulky sort having become obsolete almost before this child was born) and the computer itself rested underneath on the right side. In front of the monitor were a wireless mouse, a controller for a video game and a headset that included a viewing screen, microphone and earphones, though the speakers were so small as to be undetectable to the casual glance. On the left side of the desk, there was a small rack containing the boy's most used software, though one jewel-case and disk lay to the side, the words "The World" easily visible in runic sort of writing.
The boy sighed and ran a hand through his black hair, which needed trimming for it hung down into his eyes, even with the glasses he wore. Then, he rolled off the bed and stood up, his feet clothed in socks and making little sound upon the blue carpet. Pushing a pair of oval glasses back up to their perch at the top of his nose, he sighed once more and began to walk towards the door to his room. However, as he passed his computer, he paused, gazing longingly at it, especially the headset and the copy of The World. Why did his mother have to insist upon no video games until after dinner? She hadn't done it two months ago and more when he, as the player Kite, had been spending hours and hours trying to save the world, so to speak. Why now?
The teenager knew why, though. He knew it was because his mother had finally decided that it was an obsession, an addiction that needed to be cured. His argument that he had been trying to help Yasuhiko was not withstanding. His mother replied with pointing out that Yasuhiko was better now and on his way to complete recovery. She went on to point out that at least she didn't force him to play only an hour a day.
As he walked out of the bedroom, down the hall, and down the stairs, he briefly entertained the thought of arguing his case once more, but he knew it would do no good. Besides, it would only remind him that Yasuhiko's family was moving in one month. Yasuhiko's father had gotten a job promotion that required him to move to a Japanese island other than the main one of Honshu. The entire family would be moving with. This thought depressed both boys for they were brothers in every way save blood. Their own parents had been friends for many years and the boys had grown up together. This would be a sore parting. But it was best not to think of such things now. The two were determined to enjoy every moment of each other's company for the entire month.
"Kite," called the boy's mother from the kitchen. "Is that you?"
His nickname had always been Kite and that is what everyone called him. He had used that as his name online because it saved him from confusion and made it easier to get into his character.
"Yes, mother," he replied, stepping into the kitchen to see his mom sifting through the freezer, picking out something for dinner that evening.
"Oh, good. Can you do me a favor?"
Kite didn't bother to answer. It wasn't as if children had a choice when their parents asked them to do something.
"Will you set the table, please? Thank you, sweetie. If you'd like, you could invite Yasuhiko over for dinner."
"O.K. But Yasuhiko can't come tonight. He said that he and his family were going out to eat with a few friends. Apparently it is the birthday of one of his dad's coworkers."
"Any other friends you'd want to invite then? You seem kind of down and it might be nice for you to have some company."
Kite shook his head as he retrieved chopsticks, napkins and bowls from the cupboards, then set them up upon the low table. He then returned to the shelves to take a few other implements and place them on the table.
"There are friends I'd want to invite, but they live too far away to come to dinner, now," he mumbled.
"All right, then, dear," replied Kite's mother, gazing at her son with a mixed expression that was difficult to read.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Finally, dinner was finished and Kite was released to return to his room. Pleased both by this and the fact that he had complete his homework during school, he all but ran upstairs. Once there, he switched on his computer and took a seat at his desk chair, twitching with impatience. Maybe his mother was right after all... Maybe it really was an addiction...
Ah well... Either way he inserted the start-up disk for The World into the disk drive and picked up the headset. After selecting the icon from his desktop with the mouse, he picked up his controller and waited for the machine to connect him with the rest of the World, but he didn't enter his name and password to log in just yet. It suddenly occurred to Kite that he ought to check his email. Therefore, still using the controller, but pushing the headset above his eyes, he opened up his email.
The first message was from Blackrose, telling how her tennis match went and asking after his soccer season. Kite replied with the usual amenities, though he had a longing to say so much more, and moved on to the next email. This one was from Yasuhiko, saying that he wouldn't be able to get on that day or the next because of things. His friend didn't specify what things, but Kite knew well enough. More preparations for the move.
The third mail, however caught the boy's attention. It specified no sender, but after reading the message, Kite felt that there could be no other sender than Aura. However, little did he know that this was incorrect. The message read as follows:
"To the one who wielded the Twilight-
Come to Delta, Bursting Passed Over Aqua Fields. I have something to give you.
Thank you."
The message puzzled the boy slightly, but so had most all of Aura's messages. With a sigh, he pulled the headset back over his eyes and selected the command to log in. Entering the username Kite and the password soccerfreak, he clicked a button and grinned as a rainbow of colors signaled the transfer of his character to whichever root town he had logged out of last. This time it happened to be Mac Anu, the root town of the Delta server.
Kite – The World
A trio of golden rings lifted up from the ground and disappeared, leaving a young red-clothed twin blade with teal hair and green eyes. An odd floppy hat with ear flaps sat atop the somewhat spiky locks and a cream turtle neck was beneath the red vest, tucked into a belt holding up a pair of red pants, which were tied just below the knees. Odd yellow-gold designs were traced across the pants, his hat and the vest.
His shoes clicking upon the stones, Kite ran turned around to face the ever spinning Chaos Gate. Looking into its blue depths for only a few moments, he activated it and warped to Bursting Passed Over Aquafield.
Materializing upon a grassy sward, the boy glanced at a small map in the corner of his vision. With a nod to himself, Kite started off towards the dungeon, the lack of portals bothering him not at all, at least outwardly. In his heart, however, he had the slightest misgivings. Entering the short dungeon, the boy hurried along the corridors and down the stairs, his foreboding growing, but remaining ignored. At last, he reached the second floor and, passing through the opposite doorway, Kite came out in a crossroads. He walked forward, but just as he passed through the middle, there was a crackle of static. Kite paused.
And then there was a second crackle of static and the twin blade cried out in alarm as the dungeon stones disappeared and a floating island surrounded him. Looking around him in horror, Kite espied a girl much like Aura, but with a black dress, black hair and gray skin.
"Come," she whispered, beckoning with an outstretched hand.
A soft glow appeared in her hand and a large book appeared, almost identical to the one Aura had given to Orca was it really only four months ago? Hesitantly, all instinct screaming against this, Kite stepped forward, coming up to the girl.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I am called by many names. You may call me Dusk," she replied, holding out the book to him. "Please take this. The power it holds has the power to bring forth either salvation or destruction at the whim of the user. You know what it is."
Kite shook his head, backing away. This Dusk frightened him, though he didn't know why. A sad pleading expression filled the girl's face for a moment and Kite paused, thinking that maybe she was related to Aura in some way. Dusk floated closer to him, still holding the shining book.
"Please? Aura wanted you to have it..." she said.
Hesitating for another moment, Kite then nodded. "All right."
The book disappeared with a gentle white glow and a polygonal bracelet formed around Kite's wrist. At the same moment, he cried out in pain, eyes widening as the boy doubled over, clutching his head. With a final groan, he slipped into unconsciousness. Dusk grinned a terrible grin, revealing a row of pointed fangs and a crimson glint in her eyes. And then she stepped over to Kite and held a hand over him.
Closing her eyes, she hissed, "Revenge will be sweet..."
Then a beam of blackness fell down from her hand, into Kite. While it lasted, the girl faded until she was nothing but the echo of a malicious cackle drifting on the zephyrs.
AN: Ok then... the prolog and first chapter... yay! Please Read and REVIEW!!! (see note about reviewing at the top of the page)
To make life easier for me, I have decided that for most of the players a nick name or their actual name is what their username for the World is based upon...
For those of you who have read others of my fictions:
Some of these other fics have their dark spots, their angsty or bloody chapters, but this story shall be much darker... Therefore, be warned! And I'd like it if you'd please reveiw this... please?
Random thing I looked up: Hotaru means Firefly...
For name referance (these are the ones I've decided so far):
Kite - Kite
Elk - Hidezki
Blackrose - Akemi
Tsukasa - Amaya
Kazu - Kazuo