Dot Hack: Hating to Love You

Chapter 3 written by Vincent Noble Valentine...

I should've known I told myself as I logged on 'the World' and headed straight for the Omega Server. The email from Blackrose was an invitation to join a 'heroes welcome' or a 'welcome back' party for the recovering coma patients. From the message detail, everyone had been thinking about doing this for weeks but was never really voiced, that was until Blackrose took it upon herself as her personal duty to arrange a party for all of us. So it's from my understanding that she asked Helba about using her Omega Server to host the party and that there weren't any arguements or squabbles over it at all. Helba sure was a very understanding woman as well as being a legendary hacker, hm I wonder if Lois would turn up as well? I wonder asking myself.

I shake my head not wanting to think about it, it was more than likely everyone would be there even Orca although he was only aloud on for an hour or 2 these days, but still...it would be good to see everyone again.

I arrive at the Omega server without any hassle and sighed opening my eyes as I looked about, was it me or had Helba installed some new programs in here? The Net Slum looks...tidy? I remember Helba telling me this place was considered 'paradise' to those who loved it, even though it did look a bit garbage infested but I guess you can't always be picky about the places you love. Besides this place was a part of 'the World' so it's only natural that this place would considered a safe haven to some.

As I allowed my thoughts to drift and collect, I wondered around the net slum taking in the scenery, noticing a few ballons here and there as well as bits of confetti lying about on the ground. Even tables were brought together with various amounts of food, but like I mentioned before I saw no real use to having food or trying to eat something that wasn't really there. I guess most online players really love this place so much that they eat, drink and breathe playing the world.

Speaking of drink, there's Marlo already at the bar. From the emails we sent one another he seems pretty cool and loves to drink, I just didn't think he would take it so seriously in the world as well. But then again he did tell me whenever he had a cold one to himself that was the only time he ever felt at peace and he NEVER liked anyone buying drinks for him neither. He gets on well with the others on 'the World' but I wonder how much of his character is really like his personality in real life. He really seems to have an attitude problem, whenever anyone ever tries to get close he always pushes them away. But that's just part of his personality, he's one of us and we welcomed him as a valuable member to our team.

I find myself chuckling as I walk on noticing both Balmung and Orca, chatting idly. Those two have been around 'the World' far longer than I, but either way I respected them both. Balmung had it out for me from the start, believing that I was the true cause for Orca's acoma and in time he was convinced by Lios to decieve us. But in realizing the folly of his own mistake, that what he was doing was right in his attempts to help Orca he decided to join us in the end, asking us for help knowing he couldn't save Orca on his own. As for Orca, well he was the reason I started playing this game in the first place. If it wasn't for him, I never would have had such the adventure I've been having, I wouldn't have made as many friends as I have now and my life would probably be just as dull if Yashuhiko had never introduced me to 'the World' and for that Im truly grateful to have such a friend in both worlds.

Hm? Looking to my right things look there picking up nicely, as I observed both Nuke Usagimaru and Rachel talking also. Actually it looked more like Nuke was cowering in fear from Rachel while she was barking orders at him. Ouch, looks like that little rumour I heard about them being a couple now was actually true. Although I don't quite get how such an odd pair could've found each other. Rachel was only ever interested in money and she always had higher aspirations to land herself in some big job that would make her extremely wealthy someday, I admire her spirit and her wanting to do well but having her hang around with someone like Nuke made them seem more like the odd couple other than anything else. Besides Nuke's aspirations was to become a comedian but no offense to him, but his jokes ARE terrible. Furthermore if Rachel believed his stand up comedy was capable of making serious amounts of money then I think someone should seriously remind her that she was way off. Still that's one thing they both have in common: He fails at being a comedian and she fails at making businesses that aren't thought through properly enough.

'Oh well it takes all sorts' I say thinking to myself. Speaking of all sorts there were at least 2 people here who were completely different from everyone else, well a little similar to Marlo on wanting to stay on the loner route. Quiet and very trustworthy. The first was a twin blade character called Moonstone, who from my other gaming experience looked very similar to a character that was called 'Vincent Valentine' from a game called Final Fantasy VII. The game was immensly popular as so was Vincent's character. But between Moonstone and Vincent looking somewhat the same, there were also other things about 2 of them that seemed the same also. From his knowledge, Vincent was known for being well spoken and only speaking when spoken too, very polite but very very cold and emotionless. Moonstone's character seemingly had the same characteristics but the more he hung out with us the more we got to know him better.

The guy loves his fitness regime, he's a complete fitness fanatic and always wanting to excel higher, getting stronger. He doesn't like having his jogging route interrupted by anything, including a puppy that kept on following every now and then. If anything when it came to conversation, Moonstone hardly ever spoke and you would be lucky to get a word out of him much less a sentance. Still...behind that cold demeanor that he always puts up, a man can't hide himself from others forever. I respect the fact that he likes to keep himself to himself but lately he did show signs of change that he possibly considers a weakness. It was sometime ago before the final battle came ahead that he sent me an email wanting me to join him in Sigma Breezing Sage's Walkway. I had been to several dungeons with him in the past so at first my assumption was that there was another rare twin blade that he wanted, but when we got there there was a female long arm character on the B1 floor telling us that the monsters were dangerous there and we had to be careful.

I wasn't really all that fussed about her warning and I don't think Moonstone was either. He had been there once before after all but he just couldn't get any further without my help. After we made our way to the Gott Statue we found out that the treasure was nothing really important other than a spear for a Long Arm character like Gardenia, but before I knew it Moonstone was asking me to hand it over. It was kinda weird at first with us both knowing that it wasn't a weapon that neither he nor I could equip, but he wanted it either way so I handed it over. The next thing I know where back on the B1 floor and he's offering the Spear we just got in trade to the Long Arm that warned us once before about the dangers of this dungeon. However I quickly realized why he wanted the spear in the first place, the sly old devil. No wonder he seemed more nervous than usual and he was actually speaking to her in full sentances. Either way after she left I looked at him with a knowing smile, understanding what he meant by 'another objective' and in response he asked politely not to tell anyone about what I knew. He even gave me the rare 'Prepare to Die' twin blades as a thank you for assisting him in the dungeon AND as silent means of shutting me up and not saying anything to anyone XD.

Either way I kept my promise on keeping his little secret quiet as I got the impression that his image might be damaged a bit if anyone else knew that he actually cared about someone. Still secrets don't last forever as I'm sure he knows that too...I wonder if he'll bring that friend of his to the party? Would he do that knowing that he would be putting his image at risk? I don't think he would be the sort of person to say 'no' to someone, so if she knew about the party, I believe he'd be a gentleman and promise to invite her or maybe they would arrive together? who knows?

Anyway as for the 2nd loner I was reffering to Gardenia. Much like Moonstone she was often silent and hardly ever said anything, but when she spoke she spoke with force and authority that at times it did make me sort of jumpy when speaking to her. If I remember correctly she had gained quite the fan club much to her own dismay and all she could ever do was try to avoid them. She definetly fits the bill for being a loner in her nature and no matter how much she didn't want to interact with others, that was impossible the minute she became a character on 'the World'. If anything I'd say she became even more famous when she joined our group to stop the Phases and Cubia, that again wasn't neccessarily out of choice either .

Other than that I believe she loves flowers but is not adamant about speaking about the subject at times out loud, well that is until she felt she was ready to open up more. I can't really say I know much more about gardenia other than she likes raw food and hates cats, but she's trustworthy so she gets on well with everyone else.

I hear myself sigh as I sit down on a nearby chair away from the assorted 'foods' and couples talking. Thus far I had only noticed the above people I spoke of and remembered and still I had yet to see hide nor hair of Blackrose. It's not like her to be late for a party she herself was arranging. But then again I couldn't see many other people as well: no Helba, Moonstone, Lios, Gardenia or Terajima Ryoko. I grab my forehead in aggitation remembering that certain person. If both of them turned up then all hell was bound to break loose sooner or later, just like the last time when I was invited by both of them to go Omega Raging Facing Mirrors Virgin...

They were so adamant that I go either left or right depending on what route they both believed was best and they always constantly argued about it. I never felt so under pressure or nervous in my life but what the hell at gotten into both of them? I hated having to choose which route they wanted and I hated choosing between them both too. They were both good friends of mine even though I had known Blackrose far longer but still why did thet both seem so...aggitated with each other? Gah it's making me go crazy trying to figure either of them out but it's impossible to know or tell, woman are impossible to understand sometimes, I say to my vehemently in my head.

I just hoped to god there wouldn't be any sort of a repeat performance from like the last time. But I guess god had other plans for me tonight because as I continued to think about both of them I noticed 2 figures appearing at the Chaos Gate and as I got a better look only one word came to my mind...'shit'

Authors note: For those who have been patient and waiting for this chapter, I apologize that it's late. I've been spending most of time partying and doing other hobbies amung other things. As for the reviewers thanks for signing thus far, I appreciate it. However I am unsure of how to take the reviews as they seem mixed and I feel those that wrote down some words for me were unsure how to tell me what they thought of it so far, either way its cool. As for Red Dragon, thanks for your opinion of my descripton of the visors, glad to see you like the idea. Anyways im gonna have to take my leave of you all now, it's 3 in the morning and I have work the next day so until chapter 4 later peeps!

Signed Vincent Noble Valentine...