FD: Hi! This is the second chapter of once again.
I only saw a few episodes of .Hack/SIGN. So I have little knowledge regarding the background of the story. I would much appreciate it if you tell me about some of the items in the anime in the reviews! Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own .hack/SIGN.
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Chapter two
In the dark dungeon
"Mimiru! NOW!" a clear masculine voice echoed in the shadow filled dungeon.
"HYA!" Mimiru swung her blade forward and neatly slashed the monster into two.
Mimiru smirked triumphantly and walked back to the young Wavemaster who stood aside. The red jewel on his staff dimmed slowly into its original blankness, indicating the end of the magic that has just used seconds ago.
"Hey! We make pretty good team, don't we?" Mimiru slapped Tsukasa's shoulder casually and grinned at the boy. Her right arm rested casually on his left shoulder.
Tsukasa stiffened slightly at the familiar gesture. Technically he did not feel Mimiru's touch, but in this virtual reality, his nerves still anticipated the touch. He still knew the action was performed and understood the implication of it. It's a gesture shared between close friends. He turned his face upward and smiled warmly at the slight startled Mimiru.
Mimiru blinked slightly at the great amount of warmth in Tsukasa's smile. She had gotten used to his constant disconsolate frowns and despondent pained eyes. The Tsukasa before could only muster weak melancholy smiles. And now…
Tsukasa lightly slapped his sleeves and missed the confused expression on Mimiru's face. It's been a long time since he could actually enjoy the experience in The World. For the past half a year, he lived in constant torment for his inability to log out. He was unable to truly enjoy The World. But now…
Tsukasa straighten up abruptly, "The first one to reach the treasure gets to keep it!" with that, he dashed of to the end of the dungeon, leaving a gaping Mimiru behind his back.
Mimiru blinked for the few precious moment before Tsukasa's words caught up in her brain. All her previous contemplation disappeared as her fiery temper peaked again. Her face darkened in irritation and annoyance. She clutched her fingers and growled, "Why you little…" she muttered angrily before running after the disappearing figure. "Just wait until I get my hands on you, Tsukasa!"
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Mimiru glared at the smug face of the silver-haired boy, a pout on her face. Tsukasa, having moments of head start, had naturally won their supposed race. Now he is currently tossing the magical bracelet into the air and catches it again.
"You are doing it on purpose!" Mimiru exploded finally and stopped her steps.
Unable to resist the smirk that crossed his face, Tsukasa tossed the trinket again. To his great pleasure, Mimiru growled and attempt shoot daggers at him with her eyes. He didn't know why the sour look on Mimiru's face is so enjoyable to him. All he knows is that at that moment, he never felt more relaxed. "I don't know what you are talking about." He taunted playfully. "All I'm doing is playing with my hard-won prize.
Tapping her feet in irritation, Mimiru crossed her arms. "It's not fair. You had a head start!" Mimiru said accusingly and glanced at the glittering ornament.
Griping the said object in his hands, Tsukasa smirked teasingly, "You want it. Come and get it!" with that he turned and darted off.
"Argh! Not again." Mimiru shook her hands in frustration and set off to chase the runaway Wavemaster, again.
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As she ran, Mimiru was given the time to contemplate the thoughts that she had entertained at the cave. She had never saw Tsukasa acting like that before. Never! He had always worn that cloak of desolation around him, a dark atmosphere that never had lifted. Come to think of it, it's that strange air of misery that got her interested in him in the first place. She had never met anyone who held so much suffering in his heart.
Growing up as the only child of two parents, Mimiru had been well cared for. Though her parents were often two busy to spend time with their daughter, she knew they love her. Admittedly, she was often angry with them for their absence, that's one of the reasons she begins to play The World, to escape reality. In her heart, she had always secure in the knowledge that her parents truly love her.
As she grew up, she continues to live in that sheltered world. Surround by friends who count their bad-haired days as their only terror, she had never knew true misery, until she met him.
Tsukasa is not like anyone she had ever met. He is someone who knew despair in a way she never did. So she persistently followed him, intrigue by his dark aura. As she moves closer toward him, she begins to learn about him, about the lonely pained boy behind the cold arrogant Wavemaster. As she watched him, she had decided to protect him. She wanted to protect him from all the darkness around him and make him smile. Not one of those despondent smiles, but a real one. True, she had been afraid at the unknown darkness he reveals before. But her natural stubbornness and her protective instinct saw her through and she became his friends. But she never expected him to change this drastically.
Mimiru quickened her steps as she chased after her companion down the plains. Her eyes narrowed in confusion as she stared at the boy. She had never see Tsukasa so, so playful! He had a devilish grin on his lips as he dangled the bracelet in front of her. His eyes twinkled teasingly as lips threw taunting words at the young Heavy Blade.
"Come on, come on. You'll never get it!" Tsukasa shouted as he felt exhilaration flow his veins. He grinned at the tanned girl who is currently glaring at him; his lips formed a smile unconsciously. She had always made him want to laugh, even when he's in a dark mood, whether intentionally or not. Her antics often cleared away the depressing atmosphere that hangs above him. Unfortunately the object of his amusement is not quite amused.
Like lightening, Mimiru tackled the boy on the ground. Using his moment of immobility, Mimiru grabbed the bracelet in his hand and jumped off. "HA! There you have it. I win this round!" she said triumphantly, holding the bracelet victoriously above her head.
Tsukasa sat up and begin to laugh. Clear crisp sounds that continuing escaping his lips as his shoulder shook violently.
Mimiru stared at Tsukasa, her jaws dropped. He, he's laughing! The haunted boy she knew is now sitting on the plain and laughing loudly. "Tsukasa?" she said hesitantly as she dropped down beside him.
Tsukasa's laughter slowly resided as his breathing became more even. Shaking his head lightly, Tsukasa turned to Mimiru with an affectionate smile on his face. He chuckle slightly at the stunned expression on Mimiru's face. "Sorry about that."
Mimiru raised an eyebrow and said in confusion, "You know, not that I'm complaining, but why are you so happy?"
Tsukasa's smile dimmed a little, "What do you mean?"
Mimiru noticed the fading warmth with slight guilt, but continued. "This!" she waved her arms in attempt to express her thoughts. "You almost never smiled before. Now all of sudden you were playing chase with me, smiling and laughing." Then she scratched her head, "You were playful!" Mimiru put extra emphasis on the words.
Leaning back, Tsuakasa laid down on the grass, "I guess I'm trying to catch up."
He said simply. Ever since he's small, he was hated and despised by those around him. His father hated him for his features reminded him of his dead wife. The children around hated him for his abnormal coloring and quiet ways. No one ever befriended him. No one played with him. He spent his childhood away, wallowing in misery. "I guess now that everything is over. I just want to try to be a normal kid and catch up on the things I missed."
Mimiru raised her eyebrow, somehow she gets the feeling she's getting a shortened version of things. "Things you missed?"
Tsukasa smiled, "This. To smile, to laugh and to tease your friends. All of these. "
Then with a shy smile, Tsukasa turn to Mimiru. "It's thanks to you, you know."
"Me?" Mimiru looked at him, startled.
Tsukasa nodded, the bashful smile still on his lips, "You showed me that there's something other than pain around. You showed me that I could laugh and be happy."
Mimiru blinked for a moment, then a grin cross her lips. "Then what are you waiting for? We have a lot of catching up to do!" Mimiru quickly grabbed Tsukasa's hand as she ran toward the town they had passed, not noticing a huge content smile on the boy's face.
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FD: so ends the second chapter. What do you think? Bad, good. So-so?
I would love to hear your opinions! Please review!