By Sargent Snarky
Disclaimer: I do not own .hack. I've said that at least forty times now. And… I'm getting pretty sick of it, truth be told.
Thank you to Twilight who beta-ed... Again!
Quote thing:
"Here comes the rain again,
Fallin' on my head like a memory,
Fallin' on my head like a new emotion,
( … )
Here comes the rain again,
Rainin' in my head like a tragedy
Tearin' me apart like a new emotion.
- Eurythmics, Here Comes the Rain Again
Kite: But… Why that song? It's mostly a love song…
Me: I know. And I'll probably wind up using more of its lyrics later.
Kite: Oh. Lovely.
Me: Indeed. I love this song! I even got to here Annie Lennox sing it live at a concert.
Kite: Isn't she, like, forty?
Me: -rolls eyes- so? Actually, she's older than forty, but her voice is still beautiful and she's still really cool.
Kite: -sigh- You're not even sixteen and you're already dating yourself.
Me: Eh? What's that supposed to mean? Just because I loathe most pop 'music' and prefer to cling to music written by people with actual talent…
Kite: Exactly!
Me: …
Kite: Hehe…
Me: By the way, I do believe this is my longest chapter to date. Without the extra stuff, this chapter happens to be eleven pages typed, extra space between each paragraph (not quite the same as double spacing, but rather like it appears on the web site), Times New Roman, 12 pt font.
Kite: Which is why you're keeping this short, right?
Me: Yeah, but…
Kite: And right now you're listening to "I'm Gonna Soak Up The Sun." Exactly, how does that song fit in with this story? Sheryl Crow doesn't really fit the picture of major angst displayed in this chapter…
Me: So what? It's not –me- doing the angst. It's you.
Kite: As usual. One of these days, I'm going to write a story of Sagent Snarky… And I will get my retribution!
Tsukasa: That'll be the day. I'd like to see you –try- to write…
Blackrose: Yeah. I bet it'd be pretty funny to see how badly he mangles the English language.
Kite: Why would it have to be in English…? And I thought you guys were supposed to support me…
Tsukasa: Because, in order for people to actually care about the story, they will have to know of Snarky, and no one who reads Japanese fanfic will have ever heard of her. Hence, the need to write in the same language she does, and send it to the same audience.
Kite: … Oh. But, I still thought you guys were supposed to support me..?
Blackrose; Umm.. Only during stories or video games. Right now, I'm on coffee break. And Tsukasa doesn't have to worry about anything until the next chapter of Antilogy… Unless, Snarky gets around to actually writing her promised sequels… -gives pointed glance in my direction… but…-
( I have snuck away… )
Warning! Lot's of angst… And Piros-bashing… XD
Part IV – Despair
( Kite's P.O.V.)
"Are you sure you can't remember anything we've described?" asks Blackrose… again.
For the past however long (at least an hour, probably several), I've been sitting in this room, and everyone's been explaining to me who I am, what I've done, and where we are. I've asked at least fifty questions, and I'm still clueless. Sure, all the names and things seem familiar, but… I just don't remember anything at all, and trying too hard to remember things makes my head ache. But, everyone seems frantic to get me to remember, so I guess I'm going to have to live with a permanent migraine.
"Yes," I snap. "I remember nothing! Will you stop asking me already? Everything is familiar in a vague sort of way, but I have no definite memory of anything! Everything before I woke up is just blank! Damn it, don't you bloody get that, yet?"
She looks hurt and somewhat shocked at my outburst, and I sigh. That really isn't like me to shout like that. But… It's just everything piled on at once. I really need some space. I still feel bleary, like I've just woken up, and I desperately wish I could just go somewhere alone to think it out. Or at least give my senses a little break. And so, despite protests from many of these people who are, according to their story, my friends, I stagger to my feet.
"I'm sorry," I murmur, mostly to Blackrose. "I just need some time alone to think…"
I glance at Helba, who seems to be the one with the most authority here, and she nods. "We understand," she says, her tone as weary as I feel. "Please don't wander far, Kite."
I sigh again and push past the cluster of people, stumbling out the door. I feel everyone's eyes upon me until I shut the door. For a moment, I merely lean against the cool metal, feeling the strange breezes of this place. As I stand there, I hear inside the voice of Helba explaining something, with occasional interjections on the parts of Balmung, Wiseman, Lios and Piros. Speaking of Piros, what the hell is up with that guy? Why does he keep calling me 'He of fair eyes'?
I sigh, shaking my head and moving away from the door. What I said is true. I do need time to think, to let my mind process everything just flung at me… Especially their story as to how I wound up… like this. I intentionally keep away from the main area of… wherever this is… the Omega server…? Or did they say that this was Net Slum? Anyway, I stick to the back alleys, hoping that no one comes to bother me. Otherwise, I pay little if any attention to where I am going.
Eventually, I wind up at the entrance of an enclosed square of some kind. The only entrance or exit is the path by which I came in, so I know no one will pop in unexpectedly. Ah, 'tis the perfect place to sit and think, since it's deserted. And so, I enter. Now that I'm standing in the center, it seems much larger than before. But, I'm sure that's just perspective differences.
For a few moments, I just stand in the center of this square, gazing around at it. I almost laugh as I realize I match the scenery. I am covered in splotches of raw data, and the ground and walls around me are too. But wait a moment… The rest of this place wasn't patched like that…
Suddenly, this area doesn't seem so good…
I turn to leave, but stop as sudden pain assails my head. At the same time, the air around me fizzles with static. I cry out, clutching at my head even as I make a stumbling attempt to run. I make it about three or four steps before the sick feeling hits me. Now, I'm doubled over, clutching at my stomach as it decides to throw a fit. Despite my best efforts to avoid it, I retch, but at least nothing comes up. I suppose that's one good thing about being trapped in a digital world. God, I'm the luckiest person in The World. (Note my sarcasm.)
After a few more dry heaves, whatever it was that was making me sick disappears, and, though my head retains a vague achy feel, I'm no longer feeling so violently ill. With a groan, I manage to push myself to my feet again. Why me? Of all the billions of people out there, why me?
Well, now that I'm standing, I feel wretchedly sick again. Not as miserably awful as before, but unpleasantly nauseous nonetheless. I wonder: why would anyone want to be bulimic? Anyway, despite the queer feelings exerted by my stomach and brain (and maybe my inner ear. I vaguely recall that the feeling of nausea sometimes has to do with your inner ear, though I have no idea why. ) I lurch towards the exit, trying to get out of this place. If I can only get out of this place… away from the data patches…
But I never make it. Another few steps are all I manage before I collapse with a groan. Lying there, I curl into a shuddering ball, and break out in a cold sweat. Inside, something is changing, rearranging itself… again, or is this the first time? Vague flashes of memory play before my eyes, but never more than a brief image or a dislocated, disembodied phrase spoken by one of a hundred voices. Gradually, these begin to connect, to form actual scenes, like clips from a movie. But… it's as if someone's filtered out all the happy parts. Everything is… unhappy. It's sad, angry, afraid, horrified, unsure, dejected…
Confusion swirls in my skull.
What is happening to me?
(Third Person P.O.V.)
"So, wait a minute, the plan is to just keep Kite here while you guys figure out a way to purge the corruption?" asked Nuke.
"Essentially," said Wiseman. "Yes."
"That plan sucks!" exclaimed Marlo. "There's got to be stuff we can do."
"There is, but not much," said Balmung.
"Well…?" demanded Rachel.
"We can stick by Kite, and keep him company," said Ryoko. "Make sure he isn't alone."
"We can check on him, and make sure he's all right," continued Blackrose. "And see if we can help bring back his memories. If what Helba says is true, then Kite will need some support. I know we all don't want to loose him…"
"Right," said Nuke. "But.. Uh.. should we all stay with him together, or would that overwhelm him?"
"I think we should hang around with him in turns," offered Natsume.
"Yeah," agreed Sanjuro.
"Speaking of him, hasn't He of Fair Eyes been gone for a while now?" said Piros.
"Maybe we should go look for him," said Ryoko.
Helba frowned. "Yes, that's a good idea. Not everyone need go, but… a few of you ought to find him. Hopefully, he heeded my advise and didn't go far."
"I'll go," chorused Blackrose, Ryoko, Moonstone, Gardenia, Natsume, Sanjuro and Nuke.
"All of you?" Lios raised his eyebrows.
"Why not?" queried Helba. "The more there are, the faster they'll find him if he's wandered."
(Blackrose's P.O.V.)
The seven of us traipse out of the small room. All of us are, I think, eager to escape the confines of that room, besides our anxiety for Kite. We also all are glad to have this chance to do something. I know I am.
Poor Kite! First Kazu.. and now Kite… Why do the people I care about – the guys, anyway, – have to be the ones to suffer? Yes, I care about Kite; he's my friend, after all, my partner in this quest. But…
Why did he wind up with that stupid bracelet? Why did that stupid bracelet have to malfunction? Why did Kite have to get entirely dragged into The World? What the hell is up with this place!
Augh. I'm just so sick of things going wrong! Why can't things go right, for once? Why the hell can't things be simple?
An exasperated sigh escapes my lips as I turn down a side passage, calling for Kite. This circle of unhappy thoughts is not doing him or me any good. He's not down this way. So, let's try another… Where is he?
After a good while of fruitless searching, I hear something, or at least I think I do. Still, it might not be Kite. After all, I've found several random players around here, a few of whom were playing hide-and-go-seek. Gah! How can they be playing mindless games when this world, The World, is at stake? When the lives of people like my brother are at stake?
Anyway, I follow the soft, inconsistent sounds, but it's hard since they keep echoing off of the walls. Presently, footsteps reach my ears, and I know those aren't Kite's. No, these clank. I sigh dejectedly. My vague hopes drop even further when, out of one of the only two open passages I can see, Piros comes bumbling. How did Kite ever manage to put up with this guy? Piros is the most annoying person I know, including Terajima Ryoko. Even just his voice is annoying. It is all I can do to not PK him here and now out of sheer frustration.
"Ah, Blackrose, Lady of–" he begins.
"Skip it," I snap, irritably. "I don't suppose you've seen any hint of Kite?"
"No, m'lady, I have not seen He of Fair Eyes anywhere, nor have I received word from the others. Perhaps we shall find him down this third way?"
Just my luck to be stuck with him going down the one passage of three neither of us has searched. And so, the two of us continue along, me trying my hardest to ignore the creep, and him doing his best to convince me that he's gay. Well, he's not actually trying to do that. His goal is the same as mine: to find Kite. Or so I think. But, the only person I can think of who would talk like that is either a drunken clown from the Renaissance Festival on LSD, or a gay guy. Now, I'm pretty sure Piros is not a inebriated jester on hallucinogens (Although, you never know…), so he must be the latter…
But he can't be! Gay guys are supposed to have fashion sense!
Anyway, as he's nattering on, I swear I can hear the occasional soft sounds I heard before. Only they're getting louder. Some of the sounds, I think, sound like someone muttering, while others sound more like soft groans. I wonder… could it be Kite? But… why would he be muttering?
I quicken my pace, but (much to my distaste) Piros actually notices and speeds up as well.
"Have you found something, m'lady?"
"Shut up!"
For once - pressed, I suppose, by the urgency in my voice - he shuts up. And I am thankful. But, I don't have much time to be thankful, for we see an opening ahead, and I sprint for it. I can see a red figure huddled near its center. Therefore, I start running. I can hear Piros' clanking behind me, but I ignore it.
That's Kite! Something's wrong… He needs help!
Those three thoughts swirl in my brain. So focused upon Kite am I that I am at least five or six feet into the square before my mind registers what exactly is wrong with this place. I come to an abrupt halt, shocked. The walls and the ground are covered in data patches, and strands of unrefined code flutter through the air here. What the - ? Not here, too… Not in Helba's own server…
Piros lets out a soft exclamation behind me. He's obviously realized the reason for my stopping.
I shake myself out of it, and I run to Kite, falling to my knees beside his shuddering form. He's curled into a ball, almost as if he's cold, but he's also clutching hard at his stomach, as if it really hurts. But why would his stomach hurt? Could a person get hungry here, too? But, if he was hungry, he wouldn't have that bad of a stomach ache… would he?
I put my hand upon his shoulder, and say, "Kite. It's all right."
His eyes are open and staring straight ahead at nothing… Just like before. Oh no! Is he… is he catatonic again? However, he can't be, because he does respond… sort of. He shakes his head, twitching away from my touch.
He calls softly, "Naomi look out!"
Naomi? Who's she…?
His eyes widen, horror filling the cerulean depths. Then, he screams out, "Naomi! Sis! NO!"
Oh… She's his sister… But, what's going on...? Is he dreaming? I am painfully reminded of my own worry over my little brother. But, Kite's never mentioned a sibling… has he?
"He of Fair Eyes," says Piros behind me, and I jump. I'd forgotten about him. However, his voice isn't like it usually is: loud, brash, gay and annoying. No, Piros' voice is mellower, touched by sadness and pity (though it is still gay). I turn my eyes to stare at him for a moment, to make sure that's actually Piros. It is. He still creeps me out. He continues: "Is lost in hallucinations, I think. He must be pretty feverish, the way he's shivering. We'd better get him back to Helba and the others. I'll send a flash mail so the others know to stop searching."
I nod mutely, then turn back to Kite. He's closed his eyes, squeezing them tightly shut as if trying to stop tears, but I can see them leaking out from beneath his eyelids. He shakes his head; it seems like he's trying to deny whatever it is he saw. I shake him, calling his name, as I try to get him to snap out of it, but nothing works.
His eyes flicker open again, but they are still gazing at what just isn't there. He seems to be only staring now, staring through tears. Then a few minutes later, he closes his eyes again, moaning softly.
What he says, however, surprises me: "Why? Why the hell do you keep showing these things to me? Why do you keep making me relive them?"
A pause as if he is listening to an answer. Then, almost too softly to be heard, he whispers, "Then, please… just… let me die…"
I am shocked to my core. Kite would never want to die! He's just too optimistic… Oh god, Kite… Tears come to my eyes. Tears for him. For me. For Kazu. For Orca, Alf and all the others who've fallen into comas and those who mourn them. Tears for Aura. But most of all, those tears are for Kite. What's happened in his mind to do this to him?
Suddenly, even as I reach out to try again to awaken Kite, he jerks. It's not merely a spasmodic twitch, but a wrench, as if someone yanked him, or shoved him or something like that. He cries out, eyes opening wide. His body is still trembling, but he remains, otherwise, perfectly still, staring… staring.
I can't take it anymore. I reach forward and smack him. (Hey! It worked on my brother once, when he was having a nightmare…) Kite twitches away from me, and he blinks, once… twice, eyes turning towards me. He then closes his eyes, bringing one hand from around his abdomen to his cheek, rubbing it.
"Thank you," he murmurs, opening his eyes again, and pushing himself into a sitting position. He keeps his arms wrapped about his stomach as he sits cross-legged, rocking back and forth a little.
"Are you all right now, He of Fair Eyes?" inquires Piros, who has finished sending messages to the others.
Kite doesn't look happy to see the creep, but, even in the state he's in, the boy has the grace to nod, with a muttered, "Yes, thank you."
But, he only glances once at Piros, then his eyes turn back to me. Those beautiful cerulean eyes… Even though they lack their usual sparkle, they still are warm and friendly, albeit weary, depressed and confused, too. Looking into those eyes, I can't help but offer him a smile. After all, he did that for me… a lot.
"Things'll get better," I say. "Just don't think about it, now, ok?"
Kite shudders, shaking his head. "How? How do you not think about things like that?" he whispers, closing his eyes.
I shrug. "I don't know. Coming up with comforting things to say has always been your job, not mine. But, that aside, you could always force yourself to think about something else."
"Like what?" he mumbles, still not opening his eyes
I am at a loss of what, at the moment, but Piros breaks in. He says, "Like a really annoying tune! Just start humming it, or singing the lyrics, concentrating solely upon that song so much that it gets stuck in your head. Then, instead of thinking about whatever is bothering you, you're thinking about the really annoying song. While, it might annoy you, you won't be cycling through the same ring of depressing thoughts as before…"
Eyes still closed, Kite nods and starts humming. It takes a few moments before I recognize the tune: The Oscar Mayer Bologna song. You know, that jingle from those old American adds for a processed meat company? My bologna has a first name. It's O-S-C-A-R… Kite even begins to sing it, but his voice trails off into a sob.
Deeply concerned, I put my arm around his shoulders. "Kite," I say, trying to soothe him kind of like I would for Kazu. "It's all right… It's all right… Everything's going to be all right, Kite."
He leans against me; I think he's just grateful for someone there to offer comfort and support. He sure needs it. What is it that's disturbed him so? Is it some memory? Or is it just something scrambled by… what all happened?
Whatever the cause, I don't want to make him go anywhere until he's ready. So, I turn my head towards Piros. He's watching us with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Piros," I call. "Can you… tell the others we'll be a while? I… don't think Kite's ready, yet…"
"Yes, of course, m'lady," he says. "Although, I think some of them are on their way here. Should I tell them to wait?"
I nod, then turn my eyes back to Kite. He's slumped against me, still crying, but not so much anymore. I barely keep myself from crying again. Oh god, this reminds me too much of how Kazu used to be sometimes… Even just a month before… well… No! I can't think about that now…
After another few moments, Kite begins to speak. Not specifically to me, or to Piros, or to anybody really. Just… whoever's listening. He begins by babbling a little incoherently, but then I piece together what he's describing.
"She gave me back a few of my memories, but she'd only let me see the bad ones," he says, and that seems to make sense in a way, but then he seems to completely switch topics, or so I think. In reality, he's just describing what 'she' (whoever this 'she' is) made him watch.
"It all started with me not wanting to leave the park, and the pretty cherry blossoms. But that wasn't bad at all. And yet, if I had just let Mom and Dad and Big Sis take me home, then it wouldn't have happened.
"And… Yasuhiko lying there in the hospital… Like he was sleeping. Only, no one who was just sleeping would look so pale, would wear the oxygen mask, or be hooked up to all those machines… he wouldn't have stuff dripping into his veins. That was my fault, too, in a way… If I hadn't agreed to play the game… or maybe if I'd agreed to play when he first started badgering me. Or would it all have played out the same..? I don't know. But… him lying there… Oh god, it was just like Naomi, though… Hanging onto life by a thread made of plastic tubes, needles, machines…
"But then I was in the park again when we were actually leaving. Mom and Dad had gone ahead, and Naomi was dragging me along. Why was I so stupid? Why the hell didn't I just leave with her? Usually I didn't make such a fuss… I wanted her to go back and look at the paper cranes at the shrine. Naomi loved paper cranes. She was really good at origami and could fold the most amazing things! Paper cranes, though.. they were her absolute favorite. I think it was because of their elegance and simplicity.
"But the cranes.. There were so many of them! And I knew she'd want to see them. A bunch of people had made a thousand each… Most of them were made of the standard origami paper squares, like the sort you can buy in large packages at the store, but there were also a few really small birds and a few larger ones. Someone had even made a few big ones out of square foot paper. And so many colors! I didn't realize one could have that many colors of paper… Even paper cranes folded from patterned paper. But there still were a lot of white ones, too.
"The entire shrine was covered in cranes. That shrine in Nagasaki always was… Nagasaki… where Aunt and Uncle lived with Grand-mama. We were going back to their home, since we were in Nagasaki for just a visit. Five years ago… Well, closer to six now… Grand-mama died two years ago… But she was still alive then, and Big Sis was trying to get me to go with promises that she'd eat all of Grand-mama's sweets if I didn't get back before her. I told her that wasn't fair, and she'd get a stomach ache if she ate all of them by herself. Grand-mama always made so many sweets… So as to last the month, she'd always say, but if my parents, Naomi and I were there with Aunt and Uncle and my cousin, then they'd be gone in a week. They were so good!
"But I wouldn't listen to Naomi. So she scolded me, and told me I was being stupid. I was being an immature dweeb. It was no wonder I was often treated like I was still two, she said, because I acted like it. I told her that wasn't true, but she had to see the cranes. She always saw the cranes, and dropped off her own at the shrine. Why? Naomi, if you'd just gone to the shrine, maybe… maybe…
"Fuming, I went with her, sulking. She always got irritated when I sulked, so she pointedly ignored me, speeding up her walk. So, I sped up my walk, determined not to get left behind, or let her catch up with Mom and Dad first, much less get to Grand-mama's first. Stupid sibling pride. So… soon it became a race. But, there were a lot of people in clumps here and there, and I, being smaller, was better able to dodge around them.
"So, I was beating her. A crosswalk was ahead, and I saw the light flashing, signaling that crossing time was almost up. I sprinted and cleared the sidewalk on the other side with a second or so to go before it changed. I knew Naomi wouldn't be able to cross it in time to beat the light. So, I stopped and turned, ready to make a face at her, then start running again.
"But… she saw the crossing light blink to say not to walk and she skidded to a halt at the curb, but something caught her foot, and she tripped into the road, stumbling forward into the middle of the lane. I shouted at her to be careful, my grin of triumph disappearing."
Kite breaks off with a shiver. I think I know what happens next, but… Kite takes a deep breath, fighting off renewed tears, I think. Then continues...
"There had been no traffic in that lane, but a car came along, not racing, but going fast enough. The driver didn't see Naomi turn and try to stumble off of the road. I think she'd twisted her ankle, so walking was hard. But then he saw her and slammed on his breaks, but it was too late… too late."
Kite breaks off again as his voice cracks. I can only stare at nothing in particular with horrified eyes. I should be trying to console Kite, but… It's not the heart-wrenching grief in his voice, but the guilt… it's the guilt that gets me. He blames himself… And the way he's feeling rings all too true to what I felt and still feel about Kazu falling into a coma. Even though I know it isn't really my fault he's in the state he's in, I still blame myself for my little brother's predicament.
I barely register when Kite gathers himself enough to continue, though his voice keeps cracking at intervals. "I couldn't do anything for her… Nothing at all. When she was lying there on the pavement, her body all mangled… blood splattered across the street, arms twisted at odd angles, and one leg absolutely crushed… The force of the car had pushed her out into the intersection, but luckily most of the other cars hadn't moved forward much, and they'd all stopped, their drivers getting out, or calling the emergency people. I didn't really care. Why didn't anyone go over to help my sister? Everyone on the sidewalks stood gawking.
"So… I went, I ran hell for leather over to her… to Naomi… She was still alive, still conscious, though I think she was in shock. But she looked up at me, and for a moment all she did was stare. I called out her name, saying really random things.. I don't even remember what I said. But she smiled… Here she was bleeding to death, her body a wreck and she smiled! Then… Then she spoke… And they were the last words she said to anybody… The last words she ever said to me…
" 'Hey, little brother. You beat me. You sure are getting fast, Kite. Don't forget to save a few of Grand-mama's sweets for me, OK little brother? I want you to promise me…' "
"And I promised. Then, she said, 'See you later, kiddo.' And then she slipped into unconsciousness. For all intents and purposes, she died… Even though the ambulance came. Even though they scraped her off of the pavement, and took her to the hospital… She never came back. She never smiled again. Or laughed. Or got angry. Or made origami. They wouldn't let me go with her. But, they let me see her the next day… when they'd cleaned her up as best they could…
"A week… Somehow, they kept her alive for a week… My beautiful older sis… lying there in the hospital bed, still broken beyond repair… hanging onto life by a thread made of tubes, and gauze, and someone else's blood, and needles, and machines… But those weren't enough…
"Why?" Kite demands, looking at me suddenly. "Why the hell does she keep making me relive that? Why does she keep reminding me that it's my fault? Why does she keep reminding me of the god-awful hospital… with its eternal scent of antiseptic.. the unnatural cleanliness…"
"Wh… who?" I ask.
"Her!" he hisses. "The voice… the one who controls the phases… Aura's mother… Her!"
I stare at him for a moment, then sigh. "I… don't know, Kite."
"Because she seeks to control you," speaks a voice behind us. Helba's voice. "And desperately unhappy people are among the easiest to control. Yet, they can also be the most stubborn. However, everyone has a braking point… A point when they loose all vestiges of resistance… Kite! You can't let yourself pass that point!"
Author's Notes:
And you thought I was going to data drain Piros! Oh! I fooled you! Booyah! -grins-
That doesn't mean I won't data drain him, however…
Well… I know that chapter was really long… and a good chunk of it was Kite recounting what Morganna made him watch. I know that in the games, nothing is ever mentioned about Kite's family. Therefore, I have all the maneuvering room I want for deciding siblings, etc. Nyah!
Anyway, I used the same name for Kite's sister from Fragments, mostly for my own sanity. As for him having a sister… and having her die like that.. Uh…
Kite: It's because you are the most sadistic bitch ever! You hate my whole family!
Me: No, I don't… Personally, I really like you sister. You're not so bad yourself. I don't really know your dad, but your mom makes good cookies. Anyway… Go back to the park… and 'study' with Tsukasa… And don't make me get the soap!
Kite: -is gone-
Me: Now then… to explain my rational:
I've always, since playing the first game, have pictured Kite as having an older sister. Not too much older. Maybe four or five or six years tops. But not nearly the same age. Why? Because I can picture them having some sibling rivalry, but also as being far enough apart that they have 'space.' I have a sister who is twelve years older than me. We have a lot of space between us, so we aren't too competitive, although we still compete to see who is the Scrabble champion (me. Last time we played, (and this was Super Scrabble), I beat her by about fifty points…), who is the Boggle champion (me. No really! I found the words goggle, oggle, boggle, goggles, oggles, and boggles in one round… and no one else even noticed them! ), who is taller (I am her height now! Muahahaha… Sometimes I'm even taller… It depends on time of day, and shoes.), and things like that, but it's not an all out competition. In fact, before and during college, my sister would actually hang out with me and stuff… She'd take me to movies, or we'd play outside and stuff…
However, between my brother (who is two years older than my sister) and my sister, when they were younger (as in before they became adults.. XD -laughs at them, then feels bad… but only a little- ), competed a LOT. Now, if Kite's sister was enough older than him, they would be able to be close by virtue of age, familial ties, and things like that, but they wouldn't be too hampered by competition.
Anyway, just the way Kite is pretty patient, understanding and knows how to gently tease without being too annoying, makes me think he has at least one sibling, probably a girl. Other things about the way he acts and whatnot contribute to this belief of mind. As for her dying off like that… Well, from the beginning of the games, Kite just seemed somewhat sad to me. Like something really bad happened a while ago, and, though he's sort of over it, it still haunts him a bit, and it makes him sad, still, though he tries really hard to be happy and optimistic. Err… Yeah…
So.. Now that I've probably lost you… And have now gone a quarter of the way onto my fourteenth page for this chapter, I do believe I ought to get on with things…
Reviewers!
Demondog17 : Thanks a lot! -blushes- I don't deserve to be anyone's idol, though….
Zero Tribal : Umm… Sorry? Suspense is good. I like suspense. Besides, that was a good place to end the chapter. Yes… -shifty eyes- they were studying… Anyway, I can promise a pretty suspenseful, or at least 'action-packed' next chapter…
Angelyoshi : Maybe. I haven't decided whether or not to describe that Kite is in the same hospital as Orca right now… I don't think I will…
Senkai-Ninja : Muahahaha… Plot twists… Kite isn't out of the woods yet, so to speak. As for Kite turning into a data bug… I'm not saying. Same with Helba fixing stuff… Although much of the long-term plotline stuff hasn't really played a big role in this story quite yet, it will… soon. And, School is out for me, so I can actually devote time to thinking up my strange and twisted stories. O.o I don't know why I write dark stuff, though. O.o I'm actually really happy… and optimistic (if a bit cynical)…
Anyway, Rambling is great! What do you think my author's notes are? -blushes- Not all of my stories are any good… Chenalai, for instance… But the only way I've gotten better is to keep writing… Hmm… I will definitely read your story whenever you start it and post it. Just let me know when you do!
Sayonara…
Monk of the Neko : I must say, that is a great pen-name. It had me cracking up when I first got the email notification of your review. Hehe… Thank you very much!
: Um.. Way to leave a name, there… Kite: Even though you have no name, thank you for actually feeling sorry for me! Me: O.o Ok then… Thanks! And here' s the next chapter…
Minako: Thanks. No, I'm not going with G.U. No, I'm not bringing the Legend of Twilight people! I'm trying to keep this canon! Shurgo and Rena don't come along untill four years after the end of Corbennik. And, well, in this story, there are still two phases to go. Anyway, you'll see what they do. O.o Patience! Hehe..
June: Maybe...
Shara: Thanks. Well, you'll see what happens...
Rayne: Thanks a lot! Heh... I'm really glad you like this... As for your questions... 1) Yes. A while ago. But I do remember his purpose. And I'm incorporating that... 2) Yes! Twice: once by accident while in the 15 floor dungeon full of data bugs to rescue Mia, and once on purpose. And... nothing happens except that 'System Error' flashes across your screen and then you get a 'Game Over'. Pretty boring.
Shiner: Thanks. As for Kite being past the worst of it? Nope. Not yet.