K: Hey, people. I just read the newly released "Another Birth" graphic novels, and figured I'd fix this chapter. Toodles!
Disclaimer: I dun own it. Whatever happened to not picking on the weak and sick and helpless?!
Dedications:
- Silvermoonstar-Tenshi (Sorry it took so long to produce the next chappie. I've been busy, not to mention my whole computer mishap… --;)
- Crystal-chan Damn! I really need to get my hands on that CD… ;; The only song of theirs I've heard is "Bring Me to Life"…)
- Drgon Princess (Yeah, he was mean last chapter. Here's hoping Elk can soothe his bitter heart, ne? )
- Marduk (Threatening? No- that didn't seem threatening at all… I'm flattered that you thought the end was like a t.v. show… Hopefully, I'll be able to pull the same thing off in my original series'. I have 3 of them, 1 I'm currently working on while the other 2 are in Limbo)
- Tainted Halo (Thanks for the links! I read all of them, and they're sooo kawaii! I hope people write more… Speaking of which, have you started yours yet? You did say you were gonna write one, ne? I can't wait to read it!)
- Hikaru-Chan (Why, thank you! Yes, cliffies are evil, but when you're not on the receiving end, they're ever so much fun…)
- Yume (Glad you like it so far. Nice to see someone else who appreciates the suspense of cliffies too. XP Here's some more!)
- GreenFaith (Actually, in the series based after the 4-part game saga called ".hack: Legend of the fabled '.hackers'" Shuugo actually does feel some aspects of the game world. I'm not sure if he feels pain, though I wouldn't be surprised but when they went into the ice field, he immediately shivered and complained about being cold. They can taste things too, cuz' when Shuugo accidentally trips and ends up kissing Reki, Reki tells Balmung that it was 'bitter like a lemon'. LOL!)
- Akemi-san (The OAVs? Which ones? there's over 4 different versions of .hack: Sign, Liminality, Dusk, Legend of the fabled '.hackers'/Twilight Bracelet, and a few others… I'm so glad that you enjoy the fic so far, and sorry for being so slow on the update. ; I'll try to make up for it with this chappie, k?)
- Rika (No, Kite doesn't have the memories of Tsukasa- Tsukasa was never in possession of the bracelet. In fact, Aura, upon awakening, gave Kite the bracelet and the Book of the Twilight so that Exile AI and company couldn't get to it…. At least, I think that's it… They haven't released vol. 4 of the game yet, so I'm not sure. That's kind of what happened in the anime that's the game's sequel, .hack: Legend of the Fabled '.hackers'…)
- Jupiter Sprite (Yeah, Kite's all angsty right now… But he'll cheer up eventually, I promise!)
- Wolf Lupin (Sorry I took so long updating… I just haven't been in the mood to write and I've been really busy on top of that. Here's more anyway, so please bear with me!)
- Crystal (I'm glad you find it to your interests. I myself find this one to be one of my favorites.)
- ChibiSumeragi (Well, if you check the reviews page, you'll be able to find a list of fic links to other Kite/Elk fics, courtesy of Tainted Halo who was kind enough to hunt them down for me so go ahead and indulge your inner Kite/Elk fan.)
Notes: Has anyone noticed I've been using the original Latin/Greek words as chapter titles? I just thought they fit better, for some reason. Fifteen points to anyone who can guess what words they are now! (5 points each title) Good luck!
Gosei no Ai
Synthetic Love
Gate III: Quarere
(Elk)
It's been 6 hours since then. 6 hours of just sitting here, thinking. I've tried contacting him, but really, what is there for me to say? It's not like I can just pretend nothing happened… Besides, who ever heard of a Juumontsukai organizing a party anyway…? We just tag along when they call us- we're not leaders.
"No, we're not… That's why I'm too weak to figure this out on my own…" I murmur, then pull up my mail on the main screen.
Clicking on the 'new letter' icon, I address it to the one person I feel can help me.
(BlackRose)
"I'm home!"
Hmm… No reply. I guess Mom's visiting Fumikazu in the hospital, and took Kouta with her. It's just as well, since I needed to devote every moment I could to search for clues online in The World, and I couldn't do that with her or Kouta pestering me.
Sighing, I tossed my backpack on my bed and switched on the monitor. The computer itself had been running ever since this morning, so there was no need to wait for it to boot up. Plopping down in my chair, I double-clicked on the WORLD icon and logged in. It instantly alerted me that I had new mail- had Kite found something?
I opened the inbox and fixed my eyes on the bold print at the head of the list. No way- this can't be right! I'm sure he's never bothered mailing before, despite all the times I'd played with him and Mia.
Shaking my head in disbelief, I opened it and read.
"Umm… BlackRose? I know this is kind of a surprise, but, I need your help. Could you please meet me at Delta: Quiet, Silent, Nothingness? If it isn't too much trouble, that is… I'll be waiting there, so please come as soon as you can. It's…. about Kite.
Elk"
What on Earth? I guess I'd better go see what he wants, then…
(Elk)
Will she come? I hope she does… I don't know what to do about this whole Kite thing! I mean…
I'm worried about him. I may be jealous of the time he spends with Mia, but still…
After all, it's not like he's been trying to split us apart or anything- whenever he does need Mia's help, he makes sure to call me, too. Sometimes he just calls me and leaves her out of it. If he were trying to break us up, he probably wouldn't do something like that, right? In fact, I don't think he's ever even talked about my relationship with her.
And after spending time with him… He's not that bad of a guy. He's actually a whole lot nicer than most people I've met. So I guess… that makes him my friend. And friends are supposed to look out for each other, right? Yeah… I'm worried because he's my friend… my friend…
"I'm here." So she came after all… Thank goodness…
(Kite: Dungeon of Theta: Cursed, Despaired, Scaffold)
Why…? Why did I do that? Why did I hit him? HIM of all people?!
//Come now, you're still worried about that? It's been hours since then… You've even had time to gate in and come to this field… You hit him because you were angry… He deserved it for not bothering to truly get to know you… Isn't that right? All he does is use you to gain the power of the bracelet…//
No. That's not true. He isn't using me… is he? Mia… Helba… Sanjuro… Natsume and Mistral maybe, but him? What use is my power to him?
//He told you himself… He wants the Bracelet of Twilight for himself so he can impress that girl of his…//
He wants it to impress Mia? Demo… I thought he'd be over that, considering she wants to be with him now…
//Ah, but you said that she didn't feel the same, even though she thinks she does… Isn't that right…?//
Well, yeah, but I-
//If he comes into possession of the bracelet, there is no need for her to keep in contact with you anymore. He'll have her all to himself, and you'll be lost and forgotten by all…//
L-lost…? Forgotten…? Are they all really that fickle?
//Of course! They are only human, you know…//
Only human? Does that mean… you're not? Who are you, anyway?
//I'm someone who knows better than to take you for granted… That is all you really need to know…//
I don't… I don't trust you. You don't even bother to show yourself! Where are you, anyway?!
//Poor, naïve little boy… I am everywhere, and I am nowhere. It's as simple as that. Come now, friends don't treat others this way, now do they?//
Friends…? But I… I don't know what to do. All you say are riddles, so how am I supposed to trust you? I know absolutely nothing about you…
//I'll prove that I am to be trusted… I'll give you that which you long for most…//
Wha-what…!? You-
//Do as I tell you, and I shall lead you to Orca…//
I… I'll do it. Just please- take me to him…
//Good… Now then, come with me…//
K: Oooh- creepy unknown voice manipulating Kite! Is the voice really to be trusted? Can the owner really take him to Yasuhiko?
Y: She knows, she just won't tell you…. Yet… XP
K: What's gotten into you?
Y: Well, you bought the MUTATION game guide yesterday so I can finish playing it now…
K: Yeah, but that doesn't quite explain your… bombastic attitude…
Dai: I gave her chocolate. Oh! And I think it's time for you to take some more Tylonol, too…
K: I took some already, thanks. Wait- YOU DID WHAT?! That Hershey's milk chocolate with almonds was MINE!!!
Dai: Not like you could eat it anyway, being sick and all… It would've hurt your throat.
K: And just whose fault is it that I'm sick anyway, hmmmm?!
Dai: Not my fault you took a sip of my tea and caught the cold I originally caught from Naito. XP
K: Grr…You're lucky I'm sick, radish-boy.
Dai: It's '-KUN'!! 'Dai-KUN!!' Got it?! My name's not fricking daikon!!
K: …….. Radish-boy.
Dai: AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!