Fragments of a Shattered Mirror

Disclaimering: I own Bandai all the .hack enterprise.. In my dreams, that is... Look, I don't technically own any more than copies of the games, manga, some of the anime (as in Liminality and 2 volumes of Dusk)... But the plot and some facets of the characters as I have chosen to portray them belong to my imagination..

Review would be nice once you've read this. If you truly hate it, tell me why... But don't expect me to fix everything that bothers you. Suggestions are always welcome, if not always followed.

Note: There is blood spilt in this chapter! Readers be warned!

This isn't the climax chapter, but the climax will be coming in the next one or two chapters. Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Twin blade and wavemaster turned to face this newcomer. To Kite's surprise, it was Orca. The blademaster all but ran over to them, looking worried and yet somewhat relieved. He looked hard at Kite for a moment, then turned his eyes to Tsukasa.

Orca murmured, "You must be Tsukasa, then." The blademaster then turned back to Kite and offered a wan smile. "We're even now… Or at least part of my debt to you is repaid… Or will be."

Kite blinked. "What? Yasu, what are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about. Besides, I found you out cold next to your desk. You want to explain what happened, Nakahara Akira? Your mom's worried sick about you and, frankly, so am I! I thought you just had the flu or something, but obviously I was wrong… So, are you going to tell me?"

Kite sighed. "Might I ask what you were doing at my home, though? And how did you know where to find me here? I'll tell you what's going on if you answer those questions."

Tsukasa just watched and listened, wondering if she was still lying limp by her computer or if Mimiru or Bear or anyone, actually, had taken her to the hospital.

"I was bringing you your homework, stupid. Hey! I could down load it, make a mod of it and make you do it anyway," said Orca, grinning as Kite hastily shook his head. "And I knew where to find you two because a girl named Mimiru told me after I stepped into your" – he looked at Tsukasa – "hospital room. So, Amaya Yamamoto, I'm Yasuhiko.. Uh.. How long have you played the World, anyway?"

Tsukasa blinked. "Wha? Oh. I have history with you, don't I? I started playing about a year ago. But you say you met Mimiru? Was there a man with her, middle aged with brown hair, glasses and a bald spot?"

"Uh, no. She was just there with her mom. Why?"

"Well, I suppose Bear'll hear about this from Mimiru and that means Subaru will find out. Sora probably already knows, the little twerp, and he'll tell BT and Crim. Lovely," murmured the wavemaster, sounding neither pleased nor exceptionally annoyed. All right, she was somewhat unhappy, but there was something comforting in knowing that you had friends who cared. "Yay for nosy friends."

She then spoke louder, looking at Orca again. "What exactly did Mimiru tell you?"

Orca thought a moment. "Other than who she was and that she was a friend of yours? Well… Um… She told me about your home life… and about your dad jumping in front of a subway. Look, Amaya! I'm really sorry!"

Tsukasa let out an irritated and yet depressed sigh. "Stupid blabbermouth. Just forget what she told you, Orca of the Azure Sea. I don't need everyone pitying me or butting in on my life."

Orca and Kite looked at her in silence for a moment or two. Then Orca spoke.

"Amaya," he said. "You can't deal with life alone. Besides, once you wake up, where will you go?"

"… I don't know. Back to my house, I suppose…"

"But how will you live? You don't have a job or anything…"

Tsukasa sighed. "I know, I know… It's just that every time someone finds out about my life, they always think they know what to do… that they know why my life ought to be like and that they must do something to rectify it. I have something worked out with a man who is my friend for boarding school or possibly college next year. I just have to finish off this year."

Orca nodded. "I see, I think…" He looked at Kite. "So, are either of you going to tell me what's going on?"

Kite smiled grimly. "I'll tell you… what I know, at least… You remember how I felt and looked like death warmed up earlier this week?"

Orca nodded.

"Well, the evening before that, I received an anonymous email. It seemed like one Aura would send and it directed me to go to Delta: Bursting Passed Over Aquafield. So, I went there and…"

Kite relayed the event to Orca - what the twin blade could remember, at any rate. "My memory goes blank after that until I woke up on my desk at, like, 2 A.M. The next day, as you know, I was pretty sick and had a fever."

The twin blade then told of his dreams and of going with Elk to rescue Mia. Kite next told of returning and meeting Tsukasa before the strange presence within him that was Morganna attempted to take control. Kite fell silent with a shiver and Tsukasa jumped in, telling of her strange connection to Aura that allowed for channeling of her power and of using it to drive Morganna away. She then spoke of, along with Elk and Mia, bringing Kite to a quiet filed like the one they were in at present, and discovering they knew each other in real life, among other things. Kite then spoke of his further dreams and of talking with Tsukasa in the cathedral realm, Blackrose's arrival and of attempting and failing to suppress Morganna.

Finally Kite, shivering and gazing at the ground, murmured, "And I fought Blackrose. I know it was Morganna controlling my movements, but they were still mine. I could feel my muscles move, see, hear and feel all that went on… And then I almost data drained her. I could stop myself! But Tsukasa did something… A flying tackle, if I remember rightly, and it stopped me, but some of the data drain got her and thus she's here… Somehow, though, with the help of Blackrose, I managed to get the better of Morganna.. for now… Then I fell unconscious and woke up here a little over an hour ago."

"I think Blackrose, Mia and Elk brought us here," said Tsukasa. "And Mimiru must've come by, or Sora, and he told her… But that's the story."

Orca was, to put it simply, stupefied. He stared at Kite and Tsukasa. "I knew it was something bad, but I didn't expect that at all. Oh my god, how can a computer program do that?"

The other two shrugged and the wavemaster said, "If Morganna can drag one's mind into the World entirely, why can't she also move out?"

Orca was silent. A few moments later, he opened his mouth to speak when he was interrupted by a cry from Kite. The twin blade lurched forward, clutching his head and groaning softly. Tsukasa looked on worriedly, seeing the bracelet pulse and feeling the "spike" of Morganna's control.

"Kite?" queried Orca.

The pain in Kite's head was gone after a moment, and, rubbing his wrist, the boy straitened, gazing morosely at the ground. He exchanged a glance with Tsukasa, then flashed a wan, false smile towards Orca. However, the blade master had no time to reply before another warped into the field. Immediately, the newcomer espied them and cried out as she ran over.

"Tsukasa! Orca! Kite!" Mimiru half tackled Tsukasa in a hug. "Amaya, you have me so worried!"

Tsukasa blinked and sighed, gazing at the ground. "Hi, Mimiru. You don't have to worry about me."

"But I do! You're my friend. Anyway, since I live closest to you, Marie and Mr. Sakuma wouldn't forgive me if I didn't know how you were doing or if I didn't check up on you and give them a report."

"Must you tell them?"

"Of course! Besides, if I didn't, Sora would."

Tsukasa made a face. "Better you than him. So… You took me to the hospital?"

Mimiru nodded. "Yeah. And I must say that it's a dreadful thing to break into someone's house only to find them unconscious in their room. For a bit, though, Mom and I almost thought Bear was wrong because your dad's car was in the driveway…"

"Ah, so that's how you found out. Mr. Sakuma."

Mimiru nodded again.

"Hm. That aside, thanks."

Orca broke in. "Now then, Kite, Tsukasa, what will you… Kite? Kite!"

The twin blade's eyes were closed, face set grimly against pain while his left hand gripped his right wrist tightly. He didn't seem to hear his friend. More disturbing, to Orca at least, was that fact that Orca and Mimiru could actually see the bracelet. It was a ring of blue polygons, each tainted by a shadow. Tsukasa, however, saw more than that; she saw a darkness clinging to Kite and she sensed the rising of Morganna. The wavemaster was about to make an attempt to help Kite when Morganna's presence abruptly faded, then vanished altogether. Only then did Kit relax and open his eyes, rubbing his wrist. He glanced down at the bracelet, then looked at Tsukasa.

"Same as before?" she questioned.

Kite nodded.

"Wh – What happened?" asked Mimiru.

Neither Kite nor Tsukasa answered. The wavemaster did shake her head and murmur, "This is not good… Not good at all. Was there any hint of what she's trying to do?"

"No." Kite shivered. "But she seems entirely too pleased."

"Who?" demanded Mimiru.

"Morganna, I think," said Orca.

Mimiru's eyes widened. "The hell? She's still here? You mean she didn't get deleted!"

However, yet again they were interrupted by one arriving. This time it was Balmung. The white knight nodded to Orca, then turned to Kite. Mimiru blinked at him in confusion and surprise, then muttered something to herself.

"Kite," said Balmung. "Orca and Blackrose emailed me that you were in a coma… yet here you are." He paused, quirking a look at Orca. "Would you mind telling me what's going on?"

"Yeah!" said Mimiru. "What is going on? You still haven't told me, Amaya!"

With weary sighs, Kite and Tsukasa exchanged a look, then told their story again. Or, at least, they told most of it. When they reached the point of waking up in the field, a sudden gasp left Kite's lips. His eyes first widened, then squeezed shut as agony ripped through his head and then his body. It felt as though he was being spliced in two. He did not hear the anxious cries of Tsukasa, Orca, Balmung or Mimiru. Instead, the boy heard the gleeful voice of Morganna.

She laughed and said, "You're in my world now, boy, and my power Is more than yours. Your shields are gone. Revenge is sweet. Watch your friends die and curse in vain."

"Kite! Fight her," shouted Tsukasa, though she was certain Kite did not hear.

Hesitantly, only after a few seconds, she and Orca moved forward towards Kite. However, an invisible barrier had formed around the twin blade, preventing them from reaching him. Tsukasa was flung back.. into Orca, as a matter of fact. He helped her to her feet. Suddenly, bright, though tainted, light enveloped Kite for a brief moment, spreading from the bracelet. Then, to the surprise and horror of those watching, two Kite's were there, similar yet very different.

One was darker in appearance, or at least his bright clothing was, and his eyes were black. The other was indeed the actual Kite, unchanged. Both bore the polygonal bracelets, which now glowed visible, although the former's was entirely black. Though Orca, Balmung and Mimiru merely saw all this, Tsukasa saw more. She saw, or rather sensed, the pure corruption emanating from the darker Kite. She also felt and almost could see a twisted thread connecting the two.

The dark one's lips were curled into a sneer as he held Kite by his throat. Kite gripped the dark one's wrist, face twisted into a grimace as the other tightened his grip. The bracelets flickered with the contest of wills.

"Pathetic," hissed the dark one in a voice that was two voices; one was a deep feminine voice, Morganna's, and the other was a twisted version of Kite's own. "To think you once caused me so much trouble."

The dark one flung the other aside with great force, propelling him into Orca and knocking the two backwards. Orca mumbled something about how he was NOT a target or a pillow and Kite mumbled an apology and quickly got up, though he swayed a little on his feet, nearly collapsing again. Orca got up and offered a steadying hand.

Morganna's eyes traveled to Tsukasa. "You, too… You've thwarted me your last time. All of you have!"

Dark glowing orbs appeared in Morganna's hands, crackling with energy. "I'll repeat myself: Pathetic. Ah well; Let the fun begin!"

The orbs vanished, leaving being two daggers. Well, one assumes they were daggers like a normal twin blade's. These, however, were unlike any other twin blade weapon. They were crimson and modeled like miniature Skeith's staves. The circle became the guard piece for the hilt and the long shaft became the blade, wickedly pointed and very sharp along the edges. Then, the dark one lunged forward, leaping towards Tsukasa. Balmung, however, stepped in between, blocking Morganna's blades with his own. In a flash, the two were dueling, and it was an amazing display of skill. Both combatants moved with grace and speed, seeming equally matched. Despite his innate greater speed, the dark one struggled to avoid being hit, although it seemed he was taunting Balmung, intentionally leaving openings in his defense.

While the two fought ( with Mimiru staring in awe ), Tsukasa spoke: "Kite, are you O.K.? What happened?"

Kite shook his head, rubbing his wrist around the bracelet and looking at the two fighting. "That should be me fighting her, not Balmung."

His own blades appeared in his hands and, with a nod at Orca – who also held his blade in readiness – Kite ran forward, ready to leap into the fray. Orca followed. Tsukasa stayed behind, staff held in the ready in case they needed healing. The need came sooner than she expected, though, for Kite never made it to his counterpart. Instead, he cried out and stumbled, half collapsing as he clutched his side. To the horror of his friends, dark, warm blood welled beneath the boy's fingers, staining his shirt, vest and gloves. Teeth clenched against the pain, Kite stumbled to his feet, glaring at his dark replica.

Speaking of which, the dark one was laughing and looking down at his own side. A tear was visible in the cloth of his shirt, and beneath it there was a long thin gash delivered by Balmung's sword. That wound seemed to cause him no pain whatsoever. Balmung was, due to his friend's pain, though, unwilling to attack again. Therefore, he healed himself. He'd sustained a few injuries. Minor ones and they couldn't be seen on his own avatar, proof he was a 'normal' player.

Tsukasa quickly cast a healing spell upon Kite. As the spell took effect, the identical wounds on both twin blades repaired themselves. The blood didn't fade, but it dried quickly in the breezy air of the field. The dark one glanced down at his own now closed wound and chuckled. And then the dark one and Balmung were dueling again. Kite picked up the blade he'd dropped and, accompanied by Orca, joined the battle. They made little headway, though, for the dark one's speed seemed to double. He chipped away (rather big chips, actually) at Orca and Balmung's health, though Tsukasa repeatedly healed them, but he avoided attacking Kite.

"Balmung, Orca," he said in between strikes, parries and counterstrikes. "Let me do this myself. This is my battle… I don't want you guys getting hurt."

Balmung gave his friend one those 'looks' through clashing blades. "I'm still not entirely clear on what is going on, but you aren't fighting alone!"

Suddenly, the dark one leapt back, away from the trio, smirking that annoying, evil smirk. "This could go on for some time, seeing as how we're matched well. So, would you prefer to get this done quickly?"

"Does it matter?" squeaked Mimiru.

The dark one quirked an eyebrow at her. He was about to reply when Orca leapt at him from the side. Given little time to parry, the twin blade was knocked off balance, and he had no time to block a thrust from Balmung, strait through the left rib cage, just below the heart. A moment later, his momentum preventing him from stopping, Orca thrust his blade through the stomach. A strangled scream sounded, but it was not the dark one's. It was Kite's.

Authoress's Corner!

Muahaha... I am pretty evil to Kite, aren't I? And I don't stop being evil to him. Actually, earlier today I had inspiration and wrote down a scene very near to the ending of the story. In fact, once finished with the scene, it may be the final one. I won't say anything about it now except this: As far as my mind's worked it out, this story's ending is balanced on a hairline edge. It could either be happy or very sad. As in tearfully sad. But, I'm not sure yet. Amaya, Akira and all the rest haven't played their parts all the way there yet. But I have a pretty good idea how this will end, regardless. Heck, if I get enough demands for it, (hint!) then I'll post two versions of the ending: One happy and one tragic.

Anyway, yes, it was a cliffie! Muahaha! But if I kept typing up the scene, this chapter would be soooo long.. and a certain reviewer would kill me. No, not because of the length, but because of.. content, shall we say. - Nothing particularly "wrong," mind...

Anyway, I use the word Anyway a lot, don't I? That aside, a warning about the next chapter: Parts of the next chapter will be rather graphic. Bloody. Violent. In fact, a bit of this chapter was, too. But the next chapter is worse as far as that goes and, as far as I can tell, the chapter after that will be similar if not more bloody. You have been warned.

REVIEWERLY PEOPLE!

Theatre-Sama: ehehe... I hope the delay wasn't too long. I've been rather unwell. Rather crummy spring break, I must say. This is the SECOND illness I've had in less than a week. Grr... Sorry. Anyway, I think I might actually get around to reading your fanfiction this evening or tomorrow. Lookie lookie lookie! Skeith's wand popped up in the chapter! I couldn't think of a better weapon for Morganna... so... Tada! Buahaha.. another cliffie!

windchaser90: The guy was Orca. Hurrah for Orca! Yes, Piros is gay, but I'm not having that.. creep in my fanfiction if I can help it. -shivers- The cast might get irked at me! Kite: Yes! I would! I mean, I already am pissed off at you because you're KILLING ME! Me? Eh? Who said anything 'bout killing you? Kite: It's a little obvious if they read this chapter! Well.. ok.. so you aren't killing me, but it feels like it! Me: Right. Tsukasa: Hey, I though you said you wouldn't be impaling anyone.. Me: I never said that. Balmung: Are you sure? Me: Positive. Now if you don't let me get back to replying to reviewers, I swear I'll sic Piros on you! Cast: Nooooooooo! Sora: Hey! Annoyer is MY job! Anyway, if you should impale anyone, it's Piros. Me: -shoves Sora off stage- Ahem.. Sorry about that. See, though? My cast doesn't want Piros. They'd kill him before Morganna got the chance.

Steeple333: Eh.. It probably can be both. Sora does have awsome Katars, though. And Kite's Crimson Raid is awesome. Three pronged claws! ahahahahah! Thanks!

dreamcaster555: Thanks for the review!

Dragon's Hitokiri: Emm... I don't see any reviewers going crazy yet.. so, I dunno. -whispers something to Sora- Sora: All right! -evil grintackles Dragon's Hitokiri and starts poking-

Reader : Thanks!

Andrius O'Conner: A magus plushie, eh? -hands one over- There ya go! I'm flattered that you like my ficiton so much. Thanks!

Twilight Memories : Thanks! I tried to keep everyone in character. Eh.. Mimiru is hard... Surprising, I think... But she is. You'll have to wait and see how I get them out of their comas... If I get the out of their comas. - Well, I got the idea for Mimiru thinking Orca would be a nerd from Legend of the Twilight Bracelet. Rena thinks Balmung is probably some fat sweaty geeky guy with big glasses. Mimiru's kind of like Rena, so having her think similar thoughts made sense. I haven't seen a KitexTsukasa pairing before, either. At first, I didn't particularly intend them to be a 'couple,' but after getting through their first real conversation, it made sense to me. Mimiru x Orca would be.. interesting, to say the least. But I don't think I'll do anything along that route.

Wind Kaze: -is in shock- Hurrah! I have the marvelous Wind Kaze as a fan! I love Paradise Sin and I'm happy you like my fiction. I know what you mean about bad .hack fanfictions. There are some, but they're few and far between. Yours is one of them and I'm glad that mine seems to be, too. -holds flamethrower, grin splayed across my face- Muahahaha! Y'know.. I've only had one real flamer, but even another reviewer pointed out that the anonymous person was sadly mistaken over the Maha/Macha/Mia thing. I know some people consider any corrections to be 'flames,' but I prefer people telling me what I did wrong. Reading through my old chapters, I've been laughing at some of my typos and grammar gaffs. When I'm done with this, I will go through my master copy and correct them. I also have noticed one or two plot inconsistancies, but I'll get around to correcting those too. Glad to have you as a reader! Please forgive my nattering. -offers you a grinning Sora plushie, complete with bloodstained katars-

angelyoshi4444: Thank you very much! I'm flattered. Good luck with your own fanfiction and let me know when you've uploaded it so I can read it.

So.. that's 10 whole reviews for this chapter! Woooooohoooo! I may have some hope of reaching 100 reviews, after all!