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!
Epilogues…
Note: Three different possible epilogues have I, one of which was inspired by Aeris in her most recent review. Two of them hold the possibility of a sequel, and for one of those two I actually have given serious thought of what a sequel would entail. Anyway, I will post the three versions of the epilogue as I write them, and you (the reviewers) can tell me which one you like best, or whatever… After some thought and rereading of my last chapter, I must say I kind of like the ambiguous ending… the italicized part. I just like it. O.o Which is probably why I wrote it that way…
Anyway, the second epilogue is here. This one's definitely the happy one. I do hope you enjoy it. It certainly was fun to write. This one holds the possibility of an epilogue, since Amaya and Kite haven't really recovered. I don't really show or mention it too much here – I was having too much fun with character interaction – but wouldn't you think the events of this story would have a major psychological effect on both Kite and Tsukasa? I mean… look at all that happened… 0.o I know I'd change after experiencing that stuff. For instances like this, the maxim 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' probably does not hold true. Maybe 'what doesn't kill you haunts you and distracts you and makes you wonder about things and totally screws with your mind' would work better. But, that material would be for the sequel.
Nevertheless, that brings me to what I was going to say: Kite and Amaya are somewhat awkward around each other now (with good reason), even though it doesn't show in this epilogue. They have avoided really thinking about what's happened because they just don't want to. It's painful. (duh) However, at the same time, they kind of want to set it all straight, not only between them, but in their heads. So.. if I write one of my two possible sequels, then that would be what it would deal with, for the most part. Their adjustment to each other, and their trying to get over this incident. Yes, this sequel would most definitely have romance, but I assure you it would mostly take place in the real world, and it wouldn't be too long. What do you guys think?
For the other sequel idea, you guys'll have to wait until I write the third and final epilogue possibility. Oh, just a note: I won't take down any of the epilogues. I'll leave all three so that any and all readers will be able to see all three whether or not one is liked or loathed the most.
And now… our feature presentation:
Epilogue 2 (The Happy One…)
A week passed. Then another. Still, Amaya and Akira remained comatose. But then… Late one night… The one time when neither relative nor friend haunted the bedside, and when the nurses did not check quite so frequently, both adolescents opened their eyes, gazing at the ceilings of their small hospital rooms. Neither strong enough to move much, yet each finally awake, both stared at the ceilings as if they were gray-speckled tiles of heaven.
Since both were released on the same day, Kite and Amaya wound up leaving together.
"Come on, Amaya, Kite," begged Mimiru as she, Kite, Amaya and Yasuhiko sat in the hospital lobby/waiting room, waiting for Kite's parents – Mr. Sakuma, fondly called Bear by Amaya and Mimiru, was already there, but he was dealing with the last bit of paper work. "You've got to be sick of hospital food… You know you want to go out to lunch. A new restaurant opened up, some foreign food place… Either Italian or Mexian, but both are pretty good. Besides, we need to get some flesh back on your bones. You're both skinny as a rail!"
Yasuhiko sighed at Mimiru's typical hyper wheedling. "Mimiru: Chill! Let them decide. They may not want to go out to eat. They may just want to get home. Heck, when they finally released me from the hospital, I know I was pretty desperate to get back home."
Mimiru glared at Yasuhiko. "Hey, when Amaya got out of the hospital last time, she and Subaru called me, then all three of us went out to lunch at a Sushi bar."
"But maybe this time is different," argued Yasu.
"Maybe it's not! You didn't hear Amaya complaining about the bland, tasteless and nearly unidentifiable food they forced upon her."
"Kite was complaining about it, too. Mimiru, I know what that stuff tastes like. But you can't jump to the conclusion that they want to go. Besides, the doctors told them to take it easy."
The argument went on with Yasu and Mimiru being oblivious to Kite and Amaya, who exchanged looks, each laughing to see their friends having a ridiculous spat. The two actually hadn't really been alone, except when sleeping, this past week, so they hadn't really had time to think things over, or to even talk with each other. Therefore, they were still awkward around each other. That aside, they weren't really sure if they wanted to go out to lunch. Both kind of wanted to be alone, and home was probably where they'd have the best chance.
Still… it would be nice to have something to eat other than the awful hospital food. With all the improvements in technology in recent decades, it was a wonder that no one had come up with a way to make good hospital food. Amaya could have lived happily without ever having to look at hospital food again after the first time; she could live even happier after the second. Kite, meanwhile, now had a new appreciation for his school's cafeteria food – which wasn't very good, but it was better than the hospital's meals.
Finally, growing a little tired of the argument, Kite interrupted. "You know," he said. "You could always stop talking about us as if we aren't here and just ask us."
Both Mimiru and Yasu looked properly chagrined, but only for a moment.
"All right then… Do you want to go out to lunch? Please!" pleaded Mimiru as Yasuhiko rolled his eyes.
Amaya shrugged, saying, "Only if Bear wants to…"
Kite sighed. "I would rather like to go home, and it depends on my parents. Speaking of which, I wonder what's taking them? Usually mother is obsessed about being prompt…"
Yasuhiko shrugged. He'd gotten a ride over with Mimiru and Mr. Sakuma, since his family was only back for the weekend – they'd moved two weeks ago. "Maybe they got stuck in traffic."
Mimiru beamed. "Great!"
"You just want an excuse to try a new restaurant," pointed out Amaya.
"Aw." Mimiru chuckled. "You discovered my secret. Hey, have you seen Subaru at all? Her uncle works here… I think he was one of the doctors who oversaw you guys."
"Yeah. Dr. Misono," murmured Amaya. "And the last time I saw Subaru was a few days ago when she came down. She's pretty busy right now."
"Oh? Doing what?"
"That's Marie's business and not Amaya's to tell," said Mr. Sakuma from behind Mimiru.
She spun around with a cry of, "Gah! Don't do that, Bear… Anyway, why? What's up with Marie? Why is she so busy? Usually she has lots of time…"
"It's Marie's business to tell you if she has a mind," repeated Bear.
"Arg…"
Amaya laughed. Mimiru glared at her friend. And Amaya laughed more. Yasuhiko muttered something under his breath to Kite, and both burst out laughing, too. Since the comment had been about Mimiru, she directed her glare at Kite and Yasu, as well. Just as the laughter began to die down, a clear voice called from the door. They turned to look and saw three people: Kite's mother, father and another girl.
"Naomi!" cried Kite, springing to his feet.
The girl, who held resemblance to Kite – so obviously his sister – cried out, "Kite," and ran over. She stopped in front of her little brother, looking him up and down. (Mostly down, though, since she was taller. Apparently Kite had yet to obtain his teenage growth spurt.) Then, she lashed out, punching his shoulder.
"Ouch," moaned Kite, rubbing it and staring at his sister with confusion. "What the heck was that for?"
"You idiot! Do you know how much you scared me, little brother!" cried Naomi, her brown eyes (lighter than Kite's) wide and wet with suppressed tears. She then wrapped her arms around Kite, pulling him into a tight, sisterly embrace. "I'm so glad you're all right."
"I won't be if you keep cutting off my circulation," gasped Kite.
"Sorry," said Naomi, releasing him.
"Ah, now I remember why I like your sister," said Yasuhiko with a grin.
Naomi and Kite pointedly ignored him. The boy looked over his sister's shoulder at his parents. "So she's why you're late. Figures."
"Don't make me hit you again."
Kite sighed, shaking his head. He glanced over at Mimiru, Bear, Yasuhiko and Amaya. Then he looked back at his parents and his sister.
"Um… Mom, Dad, Mimiru keeps bugging Yasu and I to go out to lunch with her, Mr. Sakuma and Amaya… Can I go?"
Mr. and Mrs. Nakahara exchanged looks. Then, Emi said, "Well, I suppose, though I think Naomi will be accompanying you to make sure you don't get into trouble."
Kite interjected, "But Yasu's the one who always does things, and I always get blamed."
"I do not! And you do not!" said Yasu. "Besides, Naomi's done her fair share of trouble and then some."
Naomi put on her best I-am-an-angel expression. "I do not. How could you ever think that?"
Kite stuck his tongue out at her. She retaliated in kind.
"We have to go deal with paperwork, as usual," said Mr. Nakahara, smiling to see his children alive, well, and being kids, especially Kite. When the boy had first come out of the coma, he had not been himself. He seemed deeply disturbed by something, but he was recovering from whatever it was. Still, he wasn't quite the boy he'd been before, but…
"So you kids go on ahead," finished Emi, smiling, too. "I trust you to keep them from wrecking too much havoc, Takeshi."
"No problem, Emi," replied Bear. Since Amaya's room had been right next to Kite's, Mr. Sakuma had gotten to know Mr. and Mrs. Nakahara, and even Naomi, a little bit.
Kite's parents then disappeared to the front desk to deal with insurance, release paper work, and all that lovely stuff which everyone, except a bureaucrat, hates. Amaya stood up from her seat, adjusting her jeans and smoothing out her shirt. Mimiru turned to Yasuhiko, a wide grin playing across her features.
"See? I told you!" She jabbed Yasu with her finger.
"Oh, shut up."
"Say," said Amaya. "You two make such a cute couple!"
"Amaya!" exclaimed Mimiru in shock at her friend. "Oh my, no!"
Yasuhiko, too, stared at the girl, who was laughing at them. In fact, everyone except the 'cute couple' was laughing. Mimiru blushed crimson.
"She's right," agreed Bear, to which Mimiru let out an outraged squawk.
"Indeed," agreed Kite and Naomi at the same time.
"You know?" said Naomi to Amaya. "I think I might just like you."
Amaya arched an eyebrow at her. "How am I supposed to take that?"
Naomi shrugged. "However you want. It's just, you look kind of like this girl at my school whom I really hate. Except, she has red hair, blue eyes and freckles. But you both have similar haircuts, body shapes and glasses. In fact, I'd almost swear that's the same frame. Anyway, she's such an evil moron. I have no idea how she even managed to get into college, but she likes to play games with people. No, not like soccer, but emotional and mind games. And she's good at it, too."
"All righty," replied Amaya, laughing slightly. "I should hope I'm nothing like her, then."
"Well then," said Bear, breaking in. "While standing around talking is lovely, I'm rather hungry. I didn't get breakfast this morning."
"Why not?" asked Mimiru.
Mr. Sakuma made a face. "Too busy."
"With what?"
"Life. The Universe. Everything," said Bear. "And the number 42."
"Eh?" said Mimiru.
Amaya, and Kite, however, were laughing, as they'd read the book from which Mr. Sakuma drew his references. Naomi and Yasuhiko both looked as confused as Mimiru; they had not.
Bear smiled. "Nevermind. So… Am I the only hungry one?"
"I'm starved," said Mimiru.
"Let's eat," said Yasuhiko.
"Right then. Let's go!"
A/N :
Ok, so Japanese people might not go to an Italian or Mexican restaurant… But too bad! I can so totally picture Mimiru going to such a restaurant… -starts laughing at the thought of the others, such as Kite, ordering a taco-
Anyway, I'm working under the assumption that there are Japanese people who read British novels… And that brings me to a question:
Can any of you name the book and its author from whom I stole "Life, the universe and everything," and the number 42? If you've read this book, you, too, might get my wacked out sense of humor… X.x
Don't forget your towel… -.-
OH... For those of you who wish to see the uber-spiffy G.U. trailer, you can download it here, find links to screenshot things and whatnot, read a few theories, and yeah... at can download the trailer here: did. I've watched it like fifty times now... I have my own theories, but I won't tell them to you now. And no, I won't write them up in a story, although the idea of each of the eight phases becoming players has crossed my mind many times, and I even started to write a story about it. I'm not going to post it, since I didn't get very far in it. Ok, so I kind of wrote the first bit, but... I gave up on it. I have it saved somewhere thought, if anyone wants to read it.. I can email it to you... Not that I recomend it. I don't.
Reviewerly people:
Dreamcaster555: Thanks!
Sorry.. XD Had to do that to you. O.o Episode II really dissapointed me... It just... sucked, frankly. The special effects were cool, although I wish Ani had killed off Jar Jar Binks instead of the sand people...
Dragon's Hitokiri: Sora: Muahah! I am Immortal! -dodges sword- You suck at Kendo (the art of fighting with said wooden sword) Me: O.o Well, killing off a character is /never/ a sequel stopper. It's called ressurection and necromancy.. -shifty eyes- Hehe.. But no... no sequel for that one. Possible sequel for this one, however.. Kite: -still rubbing head- Yaaay! I'm not dead anymore! But why did you have to give me a sis who punches me? Me: Because. That's what I'd do if I were your sister... Kite: Oh, dear god save me from a sister like you! Me: -evil cackle- Unfortunately, my name is not Naomi Nakahara.. or Nakahara Naomi, if you go by the Japanese as opposed to American way... -.-
Twilight: I know! I would have posted my new story sooner, not to mention reviewed people's stuff IF F.F hadn't been messed... x.x You guys get to tell me which Epilogue you like best, and think matches best with the story. Eh.. with the last one, it wasn't that it was depressing so much as I didn't like how I wrote it... Oh well...
Kitedragon: No more violence? Oh gee... That's just so heartbreaking. Glad to see you again, though. . Eh... That's a good thing, then, if I make you say 'nice job' too much. It means I must be doing -something- right... .
angelyoshi: Nope. That one wasn't a sequel-worthy one. This one and the next one are, however. Gah.. I hated it when the server was overloaded... Couldn't upload... couldn't review...