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 6
I don't see why everyone gets so mad at me all the time. All I do is have some fun... Granted that people don't like having their characters killed, but they're the ones who choose not to give me what I want...
The World - Kite and Tsukasa, and later Sora (1 hour after Kite's collapse)
Tsukasa sat upon a boulder, a small island in an archipelago of windmills and wells that rose from a grassy sea. He gazed solemnly at the red-clothed twin blade lying upon the grass before the stone. The wavemaster, with Mia's aid, had brought Kite to this field in the Lambda server because it was a calm, often over-looked field and the monsters weren't particularly strong. Tsukasa had suggested it, though he didn't really know why, when Mia said that there were things that she needed to do. The cat-player didn't specify what she needed to do, but he knew well enough not to ask. It would be easy enough for Tsukasa to defend Kite and himself should the need arise, though it wasn't likely. The magic portals upon Rejecting Oblivious Wavemaster were few and far between.
As he sat there, awaiting a change in Kite's condition, Tsukasa tried to squelch the kaleidoscope of memories, stirred by this field and the nearby dungeon where many things had occurred. Memories of the cat Macha, memories of first meetings with Mimiru, Subaru, BT, Bear, Crim and Sora, memories of later encounters with those he could now call his friends, memories of the sleeping Aura and of Morganna, and random memories of wandering through the World. But the happier memories gave way to the wretched ones, the memories of pain and suffering, the memories of fear.
A shudder passed through the wavemaster's small frame and he shifted, wrapping his arms even tighter about his legs. His grey-lavender eyes shifted to the staff, lying next to him on the boulder for a moment, then turned back to Kite. The twin blade was the same as before; his face pallid, his breathing deep and slow and his body unmoving. It was if he was deep in peaceful slumber. The bracelet upon his wrist glowed softly to Tsukasa's eyes, pulsing softly with a gentle light.
"That's it!" exclaimed Tsukasa aloud and letting his legs dangle off the edge of the rock once more. "Mia is Macha, but in an altered form. Hmm..."
He then began to ponder the change, cogitating upon how it might have occurred and why. Tsukasa knew that Macha had sacrificed itself (the wavemaster had never been entirely certain whether the ethereal cat was male or female) in an effort to save him, but what had happened to the feline afterwards... Tsukasa didn't know. It made the wavemaster happy to know that at least it hadn't been deleted. Or, rather, /she/ hadn't been deleted. It seemed clear now that the cat, in all incarnations, was meant to be female.
Suddenly, Kite's fingers twitched and a slight groan escaped his lips. His eyelids fluttered and opened, blinking slowly and squinting in the warm sunlight. Tsukasa jerked to attentiveness, slipping off the boulder and taking two steps over to Kite. Then, the wavemaster knelt down next to him.
"Hey, you OK now?" Tsukasa asked.
Kite didn't answer for a moment, but his green eyes simply stared into Tsukasa's, a weary, puzzled expression upon the twin blade's face.
"I don't know," murmured the twin blade at length. "Where am I?"
"Lambda, Rejecting Oblivious Wavemaster," was the reply.
"I didn't... do anything since... since the darkness took over, did I?"
"No," said Tsukasa. "You were unconscious the entire time. Do you know what happened to you?"
"Yes... and no," muttered Kite.
"What happened, then?"
Kite was silent again. He sat up, left hand rubbing his right wrist almost subconsciously, and gazed at the ground.
"I- I'm not entirely sure," he murmured at length. "But I think something within the game is trying to control me and I don't just mean controlling my character."
Tsukasa contemplated this a moment, then said, "I see. Do you have any idea what this something is? Or why it is doing this?"
"Morganna," whispered Kite, almost to low to be heard.
"Morganna? But she's gone, or at least the twisted version of her is gone," exclaimed Tsukasa, a trace of fear in his voice.
"You know what Morganna is?!" replied Kite, turning his head to stare at the wavemaster.
"Of course," stated Tsukasa. "She is the system itself, essentially, and the mother of Aura. But why do you say her? Aura has been born and the system has been restored to how it was meant to be. That includes the deletion of Morganna."
Kite nodded. "But not all of her was deleted," he said, sighing. "Most, but not all. I think the scrap that remains is trying to take revenge. At least that's what she told me."
"She spoke to you?"
"I think so, that is, if it wasn't all a dream. But it couldn't have all been a dream... Not if that person on the message board really saw it. But I can't remember most of it."
"What do you mean? When did she talk to you?"
"Yesterday evening, I think. I don't know. It's like someone took all my memories, put them in a snow globe and then reinserted them into my mind." Kite shook his head. "Fragments of things of today, yesterday and possibly the day before come back to me at times, though never in any order..."
"I know the feeling well," murmured Tsukasa, sighing and standing up. "Too well. She does that to you, though, showing only the darkest memories, or bits and pieces here and there to suggest certain feelings or thoughts to you."
Kite gave him a strange look. "How did that ever happen to you?"
Tsukasa was silent for a long moment, then said, "While Aura was yet asleep, Morganna took me completely inside the game, bonding me to Aura so that my thoughts and feelings affected her. When I first became trapped, I couldn't really remember anything from the real world. But later, memories came back in bits and pieces, but only the worst ones..."
Kite nodded. "Why'd that happen to you, though?"
"Why to me in particular? I'm not entirely sure. But by using me, Morganna was trying to prevent Aura's birth."
Kite nodded again, then sighed. Several minutes passed, then he said, "For some reason, I remember all of the dreams, though. (he shivered) They all begin in darkness..."
Compelled for some unknown reason, though reluctant, Kite then began to relate his dreams to Tsukasa. He did not interrupt, but listened patiently, knowing that Kite just needed to talk, to let the horrid memories flow out. When the twin blade had finished, both were silent for a while, each thinking about what Kite had said, for some of it he hadn't even remembered until he spoke it.
Then, willing himself to think of other things, Kite sighed and got to his feet, gazing at Tsukasa for a moment before speaking again.
"Out of curiosity, Elk called you Amaya. Are you, by chance, the same Amaya Yamamoto who attends my school? I think I have history with you."
"Why, yes, I am. You are Kite Nakahara in the real world, too, then?" Tsukasa smiled. "You left school early today."
"Yea, I had a fever. I still do, I think," said the boy. "But how did you know? I don't have any afternoon classes with you."
"The teacher asked me to deliver a note to the nurse's office and as I was headed there, I saw you leaving with a woman I can only presume to be your mother."
"I see," said Kite, somewhat grateful for this diversion of subjects. Though he didn't know it, Tsukasa was also happy for the change. "Why do you have a male wavemaster character?"
Tsukasa shrugged. "I liked the design better. Perhaps it's some subconscious influence from my father who often shouts he wishes that he had a son when he's drunk, or high, or both."
The wavemaster said this with such an air of nonchalance that Kite almost thought he was joking. "Your father uses alcohol and drugs?" he asked at length.
Suddenly realizing what he had said, Tsukasa was at a loss for words. "Uh... I didn't mean to say that," he stuttered.
"But you did," said Kite, standing gazing sharply at the other. "Will you answer my question?"
The wavemaster gazed at the ground, fingering his staff uncomfortably. "Yea," he murmured, almost too quiet to hear. "My dad gets drunk every now and again and does drugs. Cocaine. He's not home most of the time, away on business trips. I have no idea what he does and couldn't care less. He ignores me most of the time... But... sometimes, when he remembers that I exist..."
As he went on, Tsukasa's voice became broken, as if he were trying to hold back tears. Kite took a step towards him, no, her. Amaya's true feelings, her true self was showing through the mask she wore within The World, peeping through the façade. The avatar that was Tsukasa clutched his staff tightly, as if the solid, steadiness of the object could somehow be absorbed. Kite put a hand on the wavemaster's shoulder.
"What happens?"
"You don't want to know."
"But I do. Sometimes it helps to talk. I know it helped me."
Tsukasa sighed and looked up at Kite. The twin blade could see tears trace lines down the wavemaster's face, glimmering in the sunlight.
"Maybe you're right," said Tsukasa, voice still shaky and broken. "Being ignored isn't so bad when you're used to it, but it's so lonely... And... Though I have a few friends... They don't really understand... I can't tell them... But when father gets drunk... Sometimes he yells and breaks things. He'll throw things at me, but his aim isn't very good, and he just rants. But sometimes, he's deadly quiet... He's got a mad glint in his eye... That's when it's worst... It's like a time bomb and if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time, then... Oh, Kite, it's awful... The bruises don't go away for a week or more."
( A/n : If you don't get the random emotional outburst, then you are either a) a girl who hasn't yet reached puberty or b) a guy who has no experiences with pubescent females and/or random mood swings... and/or c) have no experience or idea as to how depression affects your emotions... If you don't even know what puberty is, don't worry... You will soon enough... Ask your parents... As for depression, I'm sure you'll learn about it in health class at school...)
He trailed off into silence, shuddering. Kite, as Tsukasa had done while the twin blade told his tale, remained silent, letting the wavemaster be, though he left his hand upon Tsukasa's shoulder.
"At least when he's high, he usually doesn't realize I'm there... But when he does, he thinks I'm my mother... He acts all charming and suave... as if he was on a date with her or something, the bastard... I hate his guts."
"Then why don't you report him to the police? Not only is cocaine illegal, but so is beating you up."
"I know," Tsukasa sighed, a dejected look upon his face. "But... I don't want to go to an orphanage or something. I know Bear said that he'd help me if... But he's already helping me with things and I don't want to burden him even more... The police already came and 'investigated' after I woke up from the coma, but all they did was to send him to therapy for a couple of months. Decided that he was just distraught... Damn morons..."
"But if you had a tape recorder or something, then you could prove that he was abusive. Or you could call the police when you know he has drugs with him."
Tsukasa shook his head. "No."
Kite sighed. "But–"
"No!" repeated Tsukasa with a tone of finality that ended any further protests by the twin blade. "Not yet..."
The wavemaster turned his eyes towards the horizon. "Sometimes I wish I'd never come out of the coma... Never had to face that ludicrous world."
Kite was silent. Then he said, "Mom's coming up the steps. She'll probably make me get off..."
A few moments passed and, through the microphone of Kite's headset, the voice of his mother was audible, though barely:
"Kite! You should be in bed. Have you been playing all this time? Log off and get some sleep! You're still sick, hun. Five minutes and I want you back in bed."
"Yes mother," replied the twin blade.
"Bye, Amaya, or Tsukasa, I should say. Thanks... Oh, here's my member address. Email or flashmail me if you want..."
"Bye, Kite," replied the wavemaster. "I hope you feel better."
Three golden rings transported the twin blade from the field. Then, from the root town, he logged out. Tsukasa, however, remained, gazing off into the digital sky. No background music played in his ears, no sound but the whispering of the wind through the grasses.
A disturbance in the air and a slight whoosh announced the arrival of another player nearby. Tsukasa had just begun to turn towards this new individual when he was snatched from behind and all but lifted off his feet. The wavemaster felt two blades held to his throat and heard a gleeful cackle from behind.
"Arg! Sora, let me go!" hissed the wavemaster.
"Aw, how did you know it was me, little wavemaster?" said the twin blade.
"That stupid laugh, now, let me go. You already have my member address and I don't have any items!"
"But I just wanted to say hello! I haven't seen you in the World in a long time," remarked Sora. "Mimiru and Subaru said that you weren't playing anymore."
"I decided to try playing again," explained the twin blade. "But don't tell them. I don't know if I'll keep playing and I don't want them to pester me more than usual. Now, will you please put me down? I could do without an accidentally slit throat. I would also prefer not to be scratched either."
"But it's not as if you'd actually feel it, y'know. You aren't trapped within the game anymore."
"Be that as it may, I still want to be released!" Tsukasa didn't bother pointing out that he could still feel.
"Hmm.. no! I still have twenty minutes before mother will make me get off, so that's twenty minutes of fun!"
Tsukasa groaned. "Some of us have homework to do and would like to be let go so that they can log out and go do it."
"Why didn't you do it before logging on? I thought Amaya was the best student in her grade."
"I knew that if I didn't log on now, then I'd never work up the nerve to do it later. Now put me down!"
"Again, no!"
"Fine!" Though it was difficult to do with the vice hold Sora had upon him, Tsukasa lifted his staff and cried, "Me rai don!"
A large bolt of lightening dropped out of the sky, thwacking Sora and knocking him a good twenty feet backwards. Tsukasa fell to the ground in a heap, but managed to pick himself up before Sora had returned from where he had been thrown. The wavemaster held his staff defensively in front of him.
"That wasn't very nice," whined Sora, pouting. "You're acting like Mimiru!
"And you're acting like a retarded monkey."
"Awe... Tsukasa's having a bad day?"
"No, you just interrupted my thoughts. I was in this field specifically because it is, or rather, was quiet and I could think in peace."
"What were you thinking about so hard that you needed absolute peace?"
"Nothing that concerns you!"
"Someone at school? Ooooh! Is Tsukasa in love?"
"No," replied the wavemaster, barely containing a fit of laughter. "I was thinking about things in the World..."
"Like what? Come on, tell me! I'm all ears... Please?"
Tsukasa sighed and rolled his eyes. "No."
And then the wavemaster was gone in a trio of golden rings.
By the time Sora reached the root town, Tsukasa had logged out.
A/N:
This chapter was a bit shorter, but this was the best place to end it. The next segment is long and really belongs in another chapter.
Before you ask, yes there /is/ going to be a pairing or two, (besides the requisite Mia Elk) but whether it's Tsukasa Kite or if I throw Blackrose into the mix or whether I do something entirely different shall not here be told... muahaha
To my reviewers:
Sesuna: Sorry about not getting on AIM; I've been pretty busy... -sigh- I miss talking to you too.. anyway, thanks for reviewing.. Dialog is not my strong point...
Shar-dono: Thanks for reviewing again! The reason I didn't like that chapter as much is because my writing of it got so interrupted. Anyway, until now, there was no chapter 6... did you mean the 6th section? Sometimes it is a day or two before you can get to the most recent section from the profile or rest of the story...
Tsukasathefoaminian: -smile- yes, Mia is back! Weee! Why do I torture Kite? Hmm... because of his dorky hat?! -sarcasm- I hope you liked this chapter...
Alex Warlorn: This story takes place about two months after Kite defeats Corbannik. Morty? Who's Morty? I know Zefie is Aura's daughter... But she doesn't pop up for another 4ish years...
...... : I have played the fourth game and Macha is the sixth phase. And you're wrong. Sorry and no offense, but you are... You seem to have gotten facts messed up or misinterpreted things... First of all, the pink cat was called Maha, but Bandai changed its name to Macha. Same pronunciation, different spelling. Macha the phase is what Mia turns into. If you've played the absolute final event of the plotline of quarantine, then you would realize that Macha (pink cat) became Mia (purple cat) became Macha (6th phase) became Macha (pink cat) became Mia (purple cat) Here's how it worked: In Sign, Macha (Maha) was the creature who first contacted Tsukasa and drew the wavemaster into the whole slew of events that follow. In one of the later episodes, Macha sacrificed itself for Tsukasa. Macha was data drained, if I remember rightly. Anyway, about six months later, Infection begins and Mia is there, randomly wandering the game. At first, we know little about her, but if you play through all four games, you see that every time the servers malfunction or crash, Mia gets more and more messed up. She collects Aromatic Grass because it contains fragments of her data, the data of Macha. At long last in quarantine, when the time for the sixth phase rolls around, and this data converges within Mia and transforms her into the phase Macha. Kite defeats her and data drains her, which essentially kills Mia. Elk is sad, blah, blah. After all the phases are defeated and the system is restored, two months go by and both Kite and Elk receive and email asking them to come to omega, hidden darkside holy ground. The two go there and they see a pink cat. Elk thinks the cat is Mia (he's kind of in love with her... O.o). Anyway, down a few levels, we run into the pink cat again and it tells Kite that its name is Macha (not Maha, but Macha... see? the name was changed, though it is still pronounced the same) You go down to the bottom of the dungeon and go into a room and there is a purple jelly guardian thingy there. It is called the Dawn Wanderer. Defeat is and the bracelet drops out of it. But a new thing forms around it. This is called the Temptress Lover. Where the bracelet should be, there is Macha, the pink cat with red eyes. Kill Temptress Lover and there's a cut scene in which the monster dies and Macha is transformed into Mia. She is reborn. Thus the cycle is complete and thus I am not changing it around, but am following the story line in that regard. –gasps for breath–
Seia: Thanks for reviewing! I know that at this moment, you happen to be reading through my chapters... so –pokes you for NO REASON!– muahaha