Fragments of a Shattered Mirror

Disclaimer: I do not own, have not owned, and will never own Bandai or the .hack franchise, including the anime, games, manga and characters, situations, items, and places therein. I do, however, own this plot. It's mine. My own. My precious! Muahaha!

Futher Disclaimering: Right. Due to violence and the chapter preceding this, I am officially bumping the rating up to "M"/"R". Umm.. This doesn't have so much Kite torture as Tsukasa torture… But… Well.. you'll see…

Chapter 15

Net Slum

There were no comments exchanged between the friends. What was there to say? What could they say? Mimiru sat on a large (and completely random) box, kicking her legs distractedly. Blackrose leaned against a different side of the cube, staring off into space. Orca sat on the ground next to Blackrose. Mia was with Helba and Aura within a building, where the rest of the group had been until a short while ago, monitoring the upside-down castle and attempting to crack the barrier around it. Elk, meanwhile, leaned against the wall of the building, expression glazed and still quite pallid as he gazed at the ground without seeing it.

Thus, they all remained for some time until an exclamation from the building in which Mia, Helba and Aura worked broke the silence. Helba materialized outside, a half smile curving he lips. It wasn't a happy smile, but it was somewhat pleased. Mia and Aura came out a few minutes later, and the others all snapped out of their dazes, turning towards the hacker.

"We'll have access in two hours," said Helba. "In two hours, the barrier will be gone."

- - - -

Upside-down castle

Tsukasa, her utter lack of energy overcoming her, had fallen into a fitful sleep. Kite, however, had not. He stared at her with a vacant expression that was somehow filled with guilt and sorrow. Shortly after the wavemaster had ceased her wracking sobs and drifted into slumber, the twin blade cast a healing spell upon her, and it seemed to have helped. A little. Strangely, her robe seemed to repair itself.

Kite's mind was now no longer filled with turmoil. It was cycling through memories of real things and dreams, and with certain memories, the twin blade's guilt and self-loathing grew. At the moment, he hated himself; he wished himself dead. And he decided Tsukasa probably wished he was dead, too. Poor Tsukasa. Poor Amaya. Ah, a fresh layer of guilt sliding through the boy's head.

Kite wrapped his arms around his knees, pulling them tight against his chest, as if, by making himself take up less space, he might find a way to disappear. A grimace twitched across his pallid features briefly as a sharp pain flashed through his skull. These short twinges had been going on since his body returned to his control. Recently, however, they had grown in intensity and frequency. Kite had an unhappy foreboding that Morganna would create her dark clone once more soon. Unfortunately, his foreboding was well merited, though it would be some time yet before the premonition would prove true.

Tsukasa's eyes flickered open, and she stirred groggily. Sitting up, she stared at nothing for long moments before curling into a ball and beginning to cry once more. She couldn't help herself, but this time, she didn't sob; she put her head in her arms and let the tears flow freely from her eyes. Kite gazed at her unhappily, then glanced around the floor. Knowing it was pointless, and probably useless, he cleared his throat.

"Amaya," he murmured.

She ignored him.

"Amaya," he murmured again. "Please…"

"Please what?" she spat. "Just say what you want to say, then shut the hell up."

"I… I can't ask you to forgive me… I… Saying I'm sorry would never be enough… And even the best excuse is no excuse… But… I… Amaya…"

"Shut up. Just shut up."

A defeated sigh escaped Kite's lips, and he whispered, "Please… Don't hate me. I couldn't stand it if you hated me… I… understand, though, if you loathe me and curse my name for eternity. It's my fault you're in this mess… Amaya…" Then, almost too softly to be heard, he added, "Please don't hate me… because I could never hate you… No… I… I think… I know… I… love you."

Her lavender eyes looked sidelong at him for a long moment, as if assessing him. A deep sadness replaced the anger, though it remained smoldering in the background. She did not trust herself to speak, however. Kite did not look up from staring at the floor. A wince passed briefly across his face.

Then, with sudden vehemence, a splitting agony filled Kite's head, and his wrist beneath the bracelet began to throb painfully. Kite could not help but cry out, gripping his wrist and making an effort to curl even tighter. It felt as though something was ripped away from his body, a third arm he never knew he had, or a leg.

Tsukasa turned in time to see light blossom from the bracelet, surrounding Kite, then expanding. It grew, stopped, and dissipated, leaving two figures behind. One, the true Kite, was gasping for breath and half collapsed against the pillar. The dark clone bent over and grasped his counterpart by the throat, lifting him up the stone. Kite kicked the dark one in the stomach, knocking him away. However, Kite was the one to double over in pain. Ah yes. He'd temporarily forgotten that lovely side effect. But, he didn't care. He was pissed as hell at Morganna.

"Bastard… Bitch... whatever you are, fiend… why?" hissed Kite, voice taut with emotion.

"Why what? Use full sentences," came the teasing reply.

Kite snarled, "You know full well what."

"Oh. That," said the dark one, tone decidedly smug. A pleased sneer twisted his lips. "You know full well why. And I'm not finished. I plan on drawing my revenge out. You don't expect me to just kill you and be done with it? Of course I have to tear away any shred of dignity, of hope, of resistance. I. Own. You. Both of you."

Tsukasa stared at the dark one with a baleful look that could have killed a whole pantry of cockroaches. (It should be noted that cockroaches are immune to practically everything, it seems, including nuclear radiation. Ok.. You can squish them, but they are still rather resistant to nearly everything. ) "You own nothing," she hissed, vehement venom in every syllable.

The wavemaster staggered to her feet and nearly collapsed again. The dark one gazed at her with annoyance, but nothing more. "You are wrong, little wavemaster," he stated. "I do own you. I've owned you since first I provided you the company of Macha, since first I drew you away from your miserable life on the other side, since I bound you to Aura. Oh yes… I've owned you for a long time."

Legs trembling beneath her, Tsukasa took a tottering step towards the dark one. "You have no power over me."

"Oh, quoting lines from old movies, are we?" (If anyone can tell me what movie that line is from, who says it (the character's name), and to whom (for this one, tell me the name of the actor, too… if you can.. bonus points for that) I'll dedicate my next chapter to you or something… Something spiffy. Like, maybe… uh… Well, it'll be a surprise.) The dark one cackled. "I'm sorry to tell you it won't work on me. I'm not Jarreth."

A queer, sickly smile flicked briefly across Tsukasa's lips; she spoke again, her voice holding more confidence that she actually felt. "No. You have no power over me. Over my digital body, yes… but not over me. Not anymore. You're truly powerless in that regard."

"Oh, really? Is that so?"

Upon the last word, Morganna lashed out with her power, jerking Tsukasa into the air, preventing any struggle on the girl's part. Leering up at the wavemaster, the dark one repeated, "Is that so, little wavemaster?"

From her position a few feet off the ground, Tsukasa glared down out at the dark clone. He responded by grinning. Morganna jerked the wavemaster to hang higher off the ground. A golden sort of glow seeped from the dark one's bracelet, gathering around his hands.

"Are you so sure, Tsukasa?"

He lifted his hand, but before he could send the energy anywhere, Kite tackled him, knocking him several feet along the ground.

"Leave. Her. Alone," hissed Kite, one of his blades held to the dark one's throat.

From his position on the ground, the dark one laughed. "Umm… No!"

Morganna then extended her power, flinging Kite back against the pillar opposite Tsukasa. Stiff vines of dark green, coated in barbed scarlet thorns, sprang from the ground, pushing up in between the floor tiles around the column. They grew with surpassing swiftness, wrapping first around Kite's feet and ankles, then quickly binding the rest of him tightly to the stone support. The curved, vermilion thorns dug into the boy's flesh, leaving behind scratches and pricks, which trickled droplets of blood, further staining the crimson protrusions. Kite grimaced and made an effort to free himself from the tendrils, but gave up for the more he struggled, the more the thorns lacerated his skin.

The dark one stood up, an irritatingly happy grin upon his face. Stepping slowly towards the two players, he held up a hand and wagged a finger at them. "Tut. Tut. Your ends would be much swifter and less painful if you wouldn't resist. Ah well… more fun for me."

The vines tightened even more about the twin blade, one even creeping across his neck, scratching the tender area and pressing uncomfortably tight against the throat. No strands sprouted beneath Tsukasa, but the power of Morganna held the girl pinned. Turning from Kite, the dark one smiled at the wavemaster. Again, the gold light began to gather around the dark one's bracelet and in his hand. Kite noticed, out of the corner of his eye, that a similar golden glow began to collect upon his own bracelet. A dark foreboding caused fear to fill his cerulean gaze, not for himself, but for Tsukasa.

The dark one lifted his wrist, holding it toward Tsukasa. The yellow light split into several curving tendrils, flying at the wavemaster, converging upon the hapless girl. Kite cried out in alarm and pain as the ochroid beams shot forth from his own bracelet, too. However, his cry was nothing compared to the scream, which tore from Tsukasa's lips. The outcry was filled with boundless suffering, not only of the body, but also of the mind.

To the wavemaster, this was more than a data drain, and worse. If the pain when Morganna tormented her, after she brought Subaru to see Aura, was the worst she had felt, this surpassed it exponentially. More than her body was being torn apart; Morganna reached into her mind, into her soul, unraveling it – or at least that's what it felt like. Amaya felt and saw any happy memories, any happy feelings torn away, and the worse ones, the ones she would do nearly anything to forget… they were pushed to the forefront. One by one, Tsukasa relived them, but it was worse than the first time; the pain was magnified, made sharper. Added to this were the constant words of Morganna flowing through her head, infusing her skull with things, true and false, meant to harm or dispirit the girl.

"Noooooooo!" she screamed, writhing amid the tearing, burning, freezing, biting light. "Let me go! Nooooo… It's… Please…. Make it stop! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Noo… Pleeeaase! Make it stop… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Kite, though he tried to at least look away, could not turn his head. He found himself forced to watch every moment of Tsukasa's agony. He stared in sickened horror as data flaked off of the wavemaster, consumed by the light. Gradually, the scream fell into a hoarse cry, then tapered off into low moans. These were followed by silence as the yellow light faded and disappeared, save for a few motes fluttering through the air. Tsukasa hung limply in the air for a few moments, then dropped onto the floor with a sickening thud. A groan escaped her lips amid her shallow gasps, but no other sound left her mouth.

Her eyes were wide, haunted, and they stared straight up, unfocused. One hand lifted up weakly, as if reaching for something. Indeed, the girl made an effort to sit up, to move, but in vain. No energy whatsoever remained, yet something would not permit her to drift into the deep sleep she longed for. A sleep from which there might be no awakening. Her hand trembled violently as she held it up. Then, it fell limply onto the rubble, her every muscle relaxing, though her eyes remained open, staring… staring… Not blinking. Her chest was barely seen to move.

"No," breathed Kite, closing his eyes and making a renewed effort to break his bonds. "Why? Why the hell can't you leave poor Amaya alone?" he demanded of the dark one.

The dark clone turned towards the other twin blade. He merely grinned in reply. Then, he said, in a conversational tone, "Please stop trying to kill yourself on those vines. Your other friends should be arriving quite soon, especially considering they've been watching all this. Of course I have a trap for them, and they know it now, if they hadn't already guessed it."

"Fucking bastard," hissed Kite, eyes burning with rage. "Leave my friends the hell alone."

"But I am. They are the ones coming to me, you know."

Kite was about to let out a long string of curses directed at Morganna and her puppet, but his words faltered as down the large hall, he espied Blackrose, Mimiru, Helba, Elk, Mia, Orca and Aura running (or floating) towards them.

"And here they are now. Right on schedule."

"Leave! Now," Kite cried, voice cracking in desperation. "Please! Don't… Don't you see it's a trap? Don't you see it's all… useless…"

"Shut up!" snapped Blackrose. "That isn't the Kite I know! He'd never give up; he'd never stop fighting."

"Amaya!" cried Mimiru, oblivious of the others and running towards her friend.

The heavy blade fell to her knees next to Tsukasa, picking up the limp wavemaster and cradling the girl in her arms. Tsukasa did not respond, but continued to stare at nothing in a catatonic manner. Mimiru stood up, holding the wavemaster in her arms. Aura actually looked… angry. The peaceful, somewhat mournful expression normally present upon her features had vanished, leaving raw anger, and, it seemed, a deeper grief. Helba seemed only mildly vexed. Elk, still ashen-faced, had a grim countenance as he stood close to Mia. The cat player, now, she was furious. Her fur stood on end, (especially on the tail), ears were back and her teeth were bared in a very cat-like display of agitation. Her sword was drawn and held in her hand, ready to be put to use.

Aura winced when she saw Tsukasa in Mimiru's arms, and hastened over. Ignoring the dark one – who had both of his queer blades drawn – the child of the World placed a hand on the wavemaster's forehead. A deep shuddering breath filled the wavemaster's lungs, then another. And then, her eyes focused for a brief moment before closing. And Tsukasa fell into a deep slumber of rest, healing, and a touch of forgetfulness. The human mind often takes steps to protect itself from trauma, pushing it into the deep recesses of memory, blocking it from thought.

Aura then spun to face the dark one, eyes blazing with anger. It was at this moment, of course, that the dark one leapt forward, but instead of striking at Aura, he struck at Mimiru (who was nearest besides the white figure ). The heavy blade, caught by surprise, cried out, all but dropping Tsukasa. Holding her friend protectively, the girl could not fight back, and the dark one scored several hits upon her before a blast of… something from Aura sent him flying.

Meanwhile, Mia and Elk were over by Kite, cutting and searing the vines away. Kite, freed from the bonds, collapsed, panting for a moment, before staggering to his feet. Stinging pain assailed every movement, and his skin was covered in red pricks and streaks, but the boy did not care. Picking one blade from where it had fallen from his grasp and drawing the other, Kite, with a nod to Mia and Elk, ran towards the dark one, leaping at him as he lay for a few seconds where Aura had flung him.

A/N

Aaaaand… this is where I'll end the chapter. Cruel, aren't I? Leaving y'all hanging like that? Methinks the final battle shall be battled and likely ended in the next chapter. By the end of next chapter, this story will surpass 100 pages on Word… Well, that includes an extra space between each paragraph.. but still! 100 pages!

Y'know… I don't much like this chapter… I don't know why… I mean, it's all right as far as chapters go, and certainly not the worst thing I've written, but…I dunno… -shrugs-

Oh.. In case you're wondering about what the yellow light is.. well.. watch episode uh… Tempest… I don't remember which number that is, but I do know it is on the 5th disc of the seiries…

Anyway… HUUUUURRRRRAAAAAAHHHHHH! I am at 100 reviews.. although the 100th is a review of me, by me. I just couldn't leave the count at 99! I'm sorry if one of you really wanted to be the 100th… But oh well…

To mah reviewers:

Twilight: Thanks. Oh. I've seen caricature spelled both ways. According to my spell checker, there isn't supposed to be an 'h', though. One or two more will be data drained…

Angel Yoshi: the next chapter will have lots of combat, I assure you.

Aeris: Thanks!

Arakasama: Hmm… Nice name! -blushes- Umm.. Just lucky, I guess? Actually, part of it is that I go to a private school and have gone there for my entire school career… Also, the school I go to tends to be ahead of most public schools in its curriculum. Thanks, though! I do try... I like school... I get bored during the summer. O.o Sometimes.

Shiner: Uh.. Thanks? Hope you like this chapter..!

Steeple333: I still am upping it to M. More for the violence than for that. I mean… I'm rather.. uh.. descriptive in my gore. And.. well… I think it's reached the point of rating upping. But I know what you mean about hugging and holding them. Muah… I feel sooo bad about what I do to the characters. ;;

Shadow Rave: Oh.. Kite gets his revenge.. well.. sort of, anyway… next chapter!

Twilight Memories: Akira can be a guy or a girl's name. I looked it up. It's also the name of a kick but manga series plus a movie. Of course I data drained Balmung! The sole reason I had him in the fic to begin with was to data drain him. Here's another evil cliffie for you!

Dragon's Hitokiri: Sorry Kite! I know I'm evil. But… if I wasn't evil to you, there'd be no story. –hugs Kite, but winds up getting a dagger thrust into my lung- oooooooooooouch! Aaaaah…. –whilest scrabbling for bandages, sics the evil version of Kite on Dragon's- -watches as the dark one cackles madly and joins Sora in poking-

Random Reviewer: Thanks! I promise I won't give up on it. I like this story a lot, so I know I won't stop writing until I'm done. As a bit of random trivia, I originally intended this story to be much longer.. and to involve a lot of the other characters' stories post-quarrentine. I started out doing that with Elk… and the short bit with Blackrose and Kazuo… But it just didn't work out that way…. O.o I also intended for the part with Kite to progress a little slower… Like, I was going to have the 'infection' spread a bit slower… Have it take longer for people to notice that Kite was slippin' under….. or something like that. Well… Oh well… I guess it's better this way.

To Me: -slaps- Why couldn't I be patient and wait for other reviewers?