OH FOR THE LOVE OF JIGEN'S FREAKIN' FEDORA!! IF YOU DON'T KNOW I'LL MAKE IT EVEN MORE OBVIOUS. NOW'S THE CHAPTER I MAKE IT A CROSSOVER.

KIDS TODAY WITH THEIR 360's AND THEIR WII'S AND WHAT HAVE YOU …

Through sheer power and will alone, Lupin was able to repress any memories of the horrible nightmare he had experienced during his time in the coma. All his waking hours, Lupin put off thoughts and feelings of the dream with other thoughts, Like how he'll get out of this hospital, how he'll rescue Jigen and Goemon, where the hell Fujiko could be and what he'll do to her once he finds her … all these thoughts were enough to keep him happy and awake – but a man can stay awake for only so long. Before the master thief knew it, his body and mind was being carried off to a world only his mind could create – unfortunate enough for him, as these memories resurfaced again through his dreams. Again he was caught in the twisted, faceless form of the evil that captured him before, driving his mind to the brink of insanity.

But this time he was alone.

Searing pain flowed through his chest as the massive form draped around his small body, squeezing his air out of his lungs. Lupin tried his best to close his eyes, trying to block the view of this horrifying creature as it squeezed the very life out of him, but soon his compressing body forced him to open his eyes. The swirling mass of darkness seemed to laugh at Lupin's misfortune, lifting his 'hand' and resting it on the thief's chest. Before Lupin could comprehend what was happening, the darkness pierced its 'fingers' through Lupin's chest, having an unrealistic whale escape from his throat. Lupin's whole body erupted in pain, so much so that his mind was lost temporarily to the darkness.

There suddenly came a burst of light in a distance, followed by a child-like yell that Lupin couldn't quite define. Soon after, his body dropped to the ground, his feeble form laying there as he heard a battle ensue behind him. He found his vision blurring, his form too fatigued to get up, and his chest feeling like it was on fire. He soon realized that he felt tired, the wanting urge to rest creeping up on him like a snake. He closed his eyes – a short nap wouldn't hurt, right? It's not like he didn't deserve it …

"If you fall asleep now …" A Child's voice range, "You'll die."

Lupin's body twitched, and soon his whole form convulsed – No, even though that whatever this child said was crazy talk, he sounded right. He'll have time to rest later, whether or not it is in his dream. He coughed harshly before lifting himself with his arms, them shaking as he did. Finally, he was able to sit upright, and he turned his head towards the source of that voice …

… And found a red-capped child floating, a sort of heavenly light emanating from behind him.

The child smiled when he saw that Lupin was awake, despite his surprised look on his face, and reached out his hand towards him. "Oh good, you're awake." He said, "The name's Ness. It's nice to meet you."

Lupin blinked as the child landed softly on the ground, his pleasant smile still beaming at the thief. A moment of awkward silence ran before the child approached studying Lupin and his every detail as he circled around him.

"It seems like he got you multiple times." Ness said, still circling the thief, "And it looks like he almost had you, had I not come in on time."

Lupin blinked, then finally got up, his balance off for moment before he steadied himself. He took another good look at the child circling him before finally finding the chance to speak up. "So, you're Ness, huh?" Lupin asked, the child finally stopping, "What are you, my inner child or something?"

"No, nothing like that." Ness said, laughing, "I just happen to be in your mind, your 'magicant' if you will."

"My … what …?"

Ness laughed at looked at Lupin, his smile wider than ever. "You're 'magicant'. It's sort of like a world within your mind. Everyone has one; it's just that access to it is very limited unless you have the right key, so you normally can't get in." Ness stated, cocking his head, "It's amazing, you're the first non-PSI user I saw that got into his magicant. Place could use a light though."

"Whatever …" Lupin sighed, squeeze the space between his eyebrows. "Just tell me this. You seem to know this … thing that attacked me. Who – or what – is it, why it is here, and how the hell do I get it out of my mind?!"

Ness's smile faded, replaced with a grim look. He stared at the ground for a few moments before finally speaking up in a hushed voice.

"Giygas."

For some reason, the very word was enough to send Lupin's heart racing, his hair standing on end, and his spine shivering. Before he could ask, the Child continued on with his speech.

"He is the entity born out of misery and trauma, growing into woe and fear, then finally to anger and hatred. He has no rational thought or emotion, his might too powerful for his own good. He takess his power and uses to influence the evil in peoples' hearts to control them, doing as he commanded." Ness took a moment of silence, and then stared at the thief looking determined. "You looked to be his next victim here in this dimension."

"Dimension?" Lupin asked, "Like … what, he's not from this world?"

"Of course not!" Ness replied, sighing, "I'm not either. I'm from a world that's free from his grasp. But as soon as I saw that he was touching minds in parallel worlds, I decided I should go and stop him, hopping from one dimension to another until I finally rid of him!"

"Sounds harder than you make it." Lupin said.

Ness gave another sigh, "No, you're right. I've been chasing him for several years. 14 to be exact."

"14? You look like you could be no more than 10!" Lupin exclaimed

"I'm 13, Lupin!" Ness yelled, "I would be 27 had these laws worked with me, but no. All my friends are probably old and married by now, having kids of their own, doing god knows what."

"Hey, if it upsets you that much, kid, why not go back?" Lupin asked.

"I … can't." Ness stated, sitting down, "You've seen the monster, but you have no idea what he can do. Believe me – I still remember the fight I had with him 14 years ago. Lupin, I want to stop this monster before he does harm to anyone else. He almost destroyed the world, figure what he could do if he hopped dimensions. He'd rip apart reality as we know it."

Lupin looked to the side before glancing back at Ness, seeing his slumping form mimicking the hopeless look on his face. Lupin sighed and knelt down to the child. "What can I do?"

Ness perked up, looking at Lupin curiously. "What?"

"He attacked me. He made me shoot myself in front of my partners. He had the nerve to invade my dreams and scare the crap out of me. No one does that and gets away with it. Just tell me what I can do so I can go back to thievery and sex-play."

"You … want to help me?"

Lupin breathed hard through his lips and laughed, slapping a hand on his forehead. "Heck no, anything I do, I do it for me, see? I just want this freak-of-nature out of here before he ruins the world I love – no world means nothing to steal."

Ness blinked twice before a smile appeared on his face, laughing. "You're a big, fat liar, Lupin."

"Am not!"

"Lupin, I can read minds. How do you think I'm here?"

Lupin remained silent, pouting as he turned away from the boy.

Ness laughed and got up, jumping up before floating away. "Well, right now I'm not sure what you can do, But I'm really glad you can help. There's still much I need to explain to you, but right now, it's time for you to wake up."

"So you'll see me again?" Lupin asked, hiding hope with a false sense of annoyance.

"When I have the time, yes." Ness stated, waving, "But really, you need to wake up. Fujiko's there waiting for you, she's going to get you out of the hospital."

"What? But how-?"

"Trust me and wake up!" Ness yelled before Ness disappeared into the light.

Against his will, Lupin's body was flung from the spot he was standing from into pure darkness, his senses returning to him. Soon, the world he was in evaporated, replaced with the familiar hospital scene he was in before. Lupin's eyes flung open, and just as Ness said, Fujiko was in his visions, wearing a nurse's outfit and her dark brown spilling over her shoulders as she roughly shook Lupin awake. Before Lupin could ask what she was doing here, Fujiko smiled and laughed as soon as she found Lupin awake.

"Oh thank god you're awake!" Fujiko yelled, hugging the thief.

"F-Fujiko …?" Lupin hoarsely said, looking at the hospital room around him, "What are you …?"

"No time to explain, Lupin," Fujiko said, bringing up a stretcher beside her, "I'm getting you out of here."

OKAY DO YOU KNOW NOW?!

YOU DON'T?!

AAAARRRGH