Graceless Union

Chapter 2: The Mirage of Deceit

Disclaimer: .Hack shall someday be mine! Mwahahahahahahahahaha… Not really. I don't own .hack at all.

Three Years Later…

"Kite?"

It was Blackrose.

Kite turned around to face her, his sapphire eyes were full of worry, and he had taken off his hat, now twirling it on one finger distractedly, "Blackrose, something is wrong."

"What?" She didn't seem overly concerned.

"Well, it's just that the other day, I was helping a newbie with a quest…"

"Yeah? What's wrong with that?" She was starting to look annoyed.

"Well, we sort of got separated at the dungeon, and when we found each other, she had been killed—by another player, she said."

"What! But you can't P.K.!" Her annoyance disappeared and was replaced with a look of curiosity.

"Yeah, they got rid of P.K.-ing before I even started playing."

"I know… Any way," she peered at Kite, a little too close for his liking, "Who was it you were with?"

He looked away from her for a second before answering, "A wave master by the name of Wielant. She was only about level eight, so I decided to help her level up."

"It was just the two of you?" Kite didn't like the look in her eyes.

"… Yes."

"Well what are we waiting for?" She asked, the strange look vanishing from her face, "What's the field?"

He looked back at her, relieved, "Delta- Hidden Solitary Aqua Field"

"Well then let's go have a look." She said as she shouldered her humongous sword.

It was only three minutes later that the rings signaling a teleporting character appeared in Delta- Hidden Solitary Aqua Field, as Kite and Blackrose warped in. Kite looked around at the low level grassland, searching for anything suspicious.

Then he turned back to Blackrose with a frown and said, "She died in the bottom of the dungeon, so let's head over there." And he ran off towards the dungeon with Blackrose beside him.

It was not much later that they reached B-3, as they were both level 99, and wearing the strongest armor they could equip. Kite looked back at Blackrose.

"Be careful, this is where we got separated," he said. Worry was etched all over his face.

"Oh, come on," scoffed the Heavy Blade, "You know I can handle some noob killer any day."

"Yeah", Kite was grinning at her, "I know you can."

They continued onward, enjoying each other's company, when Kite suddenly stopped.

"I heard someone down that hall!" he shouted, dragging Blackrose after him.

As they entered the room, Kite's eyes went wide, "Aura?" he asked, his tone full of unbelief.

"Kite," Her tone was not the soft voice he had expected to hear, It was a deeper woman's voice, laced with anger.

"It has been a while since we last met," She said, a derisive grin curling her lips. "You thought me to be destroyed, I take it?"

Confusion was replaced with alarm and comprehension as Kite stuttered on the word, "Morganna?"

Then he frowned, "What have you done to Aura?"

"What have you done to her, you mean?" she asked, laughter shining in her eyes. "I'm afraid to say that when you stabbed her three years ago, you nearly killed me as well, for we are connected. However, I was able to find refuge in her mind. I have gained enough power to possess her as well, making Aura and I two minds in one body. However, I have my eyes set on another, to take possession of."

With that, Kite ran toward Aura/Morganna, his blades drawn, but when he saw a purple orb pull itself out of Aura's small body he recoiled in hesitation.

"Look out!" The cry was doubled as both Blackrose and Aura, her normal voice returned, shouted to Kite.

Kite looked out, but there was nothing he could do as the orb split itself into eight separate parts and quickly surrounded him. His eyes shone with desperation as he swung his dagger at the nearest orb.

He was not quick enough to even touch it, however. And suddenly, the orb directly behind him shot into his back, and disappeared.

His scream echoed through the dim hallway, as he fell to the floor writhing. Quick as a flash, the seven remaining orbs pelted into Kite's body, leaving him still and silent on the floor.

"Kite!" Blackrose ran towards the silent body. She dropped her sword as she knelt down beside him. Aura also floated down so that she knelt on his other side.

"Blackrose, it is not safe to remain with Kite at this time," she said, a look of worry on her face. "Please, we must leave before he awakens."

"What!" cried Blackrose, "You can't be serious. Are you actually suggesting that we abandon him?" Her voice was bordering hysterical as she sobbed, "What's the matter with him? Tell me!"

"He is being possessed by Morganna, just as I was when you first saw me. This is why we must leave him before he awakens, for when he does, he will not be the Kite that you know." Aura's voice then became a plea, "Please, you must leave here now, before it is too late."

Blackrose nodded, her cheeks stained with tears as she tried to come to grips with what had just happened. Then bringing a flute to her mouth, she shakily blew out a tune that sent her out of the dungeon.

Aura then proceeded to float up above Kite. As she looked down on the boy's limp body, she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else, "What is your plan, Mother?"

It was about an hour later when Blackrose returned to the dungeon, accompanied by a worried Helba, and an anxious Balmung.

"Come on!" she called out behind her, as she followed a Fairy's Orb in the direction of the stairway. Helba and Balmung glanced at each other, then hurried off after her. She had explained all that she knew to them after calling them to her at Mac Anu. Then they had hurried to the field where she had left Kite and Aura together. It was getting late in the real world, and she was desperate to see if Kite had improved or not. When they had finally gotten back to B-3 (It seemed to take forever in Blackrose's opinion), they all rushed to the room where Kite had been.

His body had not moved, but Aura's had, she was standing over him watching him intently. As all three friends gathered around their immobile friend, Aura looked at them, and seemed about to speak, when Kite let out a moan and he raised himself into a sitting position.

"Kite!" It was Blackrose who spoke first, her voice was hopeful as she neared him.

She drew away swiftly when his eyes connected with hers. No longer were they the deep cerulean, she had come to know and love; now his left eye had been replaced with a black spot, as though his skin had grown over it. His right eye was wide and emotionless; all color had been drained from it leaving nothing but the pupil staring calmly at her. She stifled a scream, as he slowly stood up. Now Blackrose could see that his eyes were not the only changes that had been made to his body. His clothes looked stitched together and darker somehow.

Kite raised his hands before his face. He stared at them for a second and then reached behind his back. As he stood there, his hands behind his back, Blackrose could see a trace of triumph in his mouth. He turned to face Aura. Then, oh so slowly, He pulled out two wicked looking blades which seemed to be made of multiple blades themselves. His mouth started moving, but no sound came out, so he shut his mouth again. Then he opened his mouth again and laughed. His laughter sent shivers up Blackrose's spine.

"Aura, my daughter," Kite spoke softly, his voice seemed metallic and dry, "come to me." Then, without warning, he rushed towards Aura, blades at the ready.

Before he could reach her, however, a blade got in his way. Kite's face was once again impassive as he stared at the blade master who had blocked him.

Balmung smiled at Kite's hesitation, then stepped forward, and swung his sword at Kite's face, shouting, "You shall not harm the child of light, Morganna!" Then as he charged towards the twin blade, he whispered "Kite, I'm sorry."

Kite's blade waited until the last second before blocking the sword with a ring of steel. His face, calm as ever, did not even flinch at the closeness of the sparks that flew from the two weapons. Undaunted, he stalked forward, seeming to ignore Balmung. His target seemed to be Aura and Aura alone. He passed Balmung without even a sideways glance.

With a yell, Balmung swung his sword at Kite's unprotected back, only to be blocked again by Kite's three tipped blade. Kite had not even turned around to face the blade master properly. He had not even glanced to see where the sword was, but had still blocked the attack successfully. Kite stared at Aura. Aura looked down at him sadly. Then he rushed at her again bringing one of his vicious blades across her stomach. Blackrose cried out in anguish, as she heard Aura's scream. Kite's arm then rose as he summoned a force from the air. As his arm lowered, he pointed his hand to face Aura. Blackrose gasped as she saw the bracelet appear, circling around his wrist. Tendrils shot out of the bracelet, shooting towards the child of light. Suddenly, Helba appeared in front of Aura. She held up her staff, trying to block the tendrils, but it was no use, as they struck her body; she gave a cry of pain, then collapsed.

"Helba!" Balmung and Blackrose both ran to where the hacker's body lay, spread out on the cold dungeon floor. Aura then went into action, grasping both Blackrose and Balmung in each hand; she disappeared, taking them with her.

Kite stared at where they had been not a second earlier. His face showed displeasure for a moment, and then reverted back to its apathetic stare. His gaze then turned downward to Helba. He kicked her prone body, and then turned away from her. As he slowly walked away, His body faded and became a purple orb, floating in the air. Then it too faded, leaving the hacker's limp, twitching body alone in the darkness of the dungeon.

A/N: Whew, what a depressing chapter. I hope your enjoying yourself, my good readers. And please, it would be so kind of you to review my story. Please, pretty please?