First. In the summary it says "Skeith x Haseo, Canon Pairings." I mean that. You will be seeing Atoli x Haseo, Haseo x Shino and the likes running throughout this fiction alongside the main pairing. Fair warning; and I DO like Atoli. So I thank you in advance for keeping any or all bashing to yourselves.

The first full chapter! It's shorter than I would have liked, but it covered all the information I wanted. The plot is under weigh and I thank everyone for reading and reviewing!

The Thought

To Haseo's surprise, the email he had received had been from Antares. He wanted him to meet the members of Icolo and while that was interesting, Haseo didn't quite see what the point of it was. So a bunch of old fighters were lost in their pride? What did that have to do with him? Haseo blew his hair out of his face as he walked down the main street of Mac Anu. He wasn't worried about regular fighters; he needed to beat Endrance. And that meant having better control of his Avatar.

Haseo couldn't believe he was anxious for an e-mail from that old hag or Yata. As soon as he got word from them, he could start using his powers to their fullest extents. He hated that he'd be needing instruction on how to full maintain and use his Avatar, but he'd deal with it. All of this was for Shino, so he could bear it. Even if it did mean putting up with the old hag. Haseo breathed out a sigh as he turned into the Alchemy district to hang out near the fountain. It was nice here and he could watch other players since all he could do for now was wait.

"Haseo!"

Or not. Haseo turned around to see the bubbly blonde Harvest Cleric waving at him. She had a smile on her face and was heading in his direction rather quickly. Haseo was actually surprised to see her since her status message on the party list said she was 'busy' at the moment. When she stopped in front of him with that cute smile, he greeted her gruffly. "Atoli."

"Are you busy right now, Haseo?" Atoli chirped. The Moon Tree member of Unit 2 smiled happily at the grumpy adept rogue. But even with a scowl on his face, Atoli couldn't help but be really happy she ran into him. This couldn't have been timed any better!

Haseo crossed his arms and took Atoli in. She was smiling and actually looked energetic for once. From the constant shuffling, Haseo guessed she was about to ask him something or at the very least burst out into a chat. He lifted an eyebrow at her; he was suspicious. "Not particularly, why?"

"We're having a Moon Tree meeting and I was wondering if you wanted to come." Atoli knew it was a long shot, but it couldn't hurt to ask. She rubbed her hands anxiously along the Stave Haseo had given her last time they did a dungeon together. Even if she knew he was only powering her up for the sake of the tournament, it made Atoli happy that he was thinking about her. "It's not a big meeting, we're just going to talk to some newer players about guilds and joining."

"Why would I come?" Haseo lifted an eyebrow. If it was Moon Tree than that damn Sakaki was likely to be there and Haseo hated him. He also hated that Atoli always prattled on about the man, but that was another issue in itself. Though, even if Haseo hadn't quite figured out just yet why he hated it when Atoli talked about Sakaki, that didn't mean he had to like it. Or something. Haseo nearly shook his head to clear his thoughts, but instead decided to state the obvious. "I'm not a member of Moon Tree."

Atoli hummed to herself. She really wanted to spend more time with Haseo outside of leveling for the tournament, but she had her Moon Tree duties, too. This was a futile attempt, she knew, but there had to be some way...Atoli clasped her hands together with a grin when she remembered something important. "But you are the Guild Master of Canard." Atoli leaned over and held up her index finger at him. "Which means, it's your duty to help out New Players in The World. And since this is an introduction for guilds, wouldn't it make sense that a Guild Master should be there?"

Haseo had to lean back when the girl leant up to get into his face. Atoli did have a point with the Guild Master thing. He averted his eyes to keep from looking at her. Just because she made a good argument didn't mean he wanted to do it. He had better things to do with his time than hang out with Moon Tree and their bubbling advocates. "What about your precious Sakaki? Won't he be there?"

"Sakaki?" Atoli tilted her head. That was a rather abrupt change in topic for Haseo. Atoli hadn't even brought her Unit Leader up in conversation yet. "Actually he won't be able to make it today. That's why I wanted to ask you to come so I didn't have to do it all by myself."

"They're making you run a meeting by yourself?" Haseo had a hard time believing the timid Atoli was going to manage a whole group of newbie players by herself. Sure she could get all righteous when she wanted to, but usually defending someone was involved. Otherwise she seemed pretty shy. Haseo had one more thing to confirm though before he got too caught up in his thoughts. "Where is this meeting?"

"In a level 36 field." Atoli nodded. "And a very pretty one at that. Even if it is a rainy field, there's something nice about it. I think it's the lucky animal! He's so cute all wet and darling!"

Haseo could feel his face dropping as Atoli continued to gush about the scenery. This type of thing was dangerous. She was just asking to be PK'ed by some joker who thought it would be funny to drop in pretending to be a new player. And even if Atoli held out thanks to all her tournament training, all those newbies would be sitting ducks. Haseo nearly groaned as he realized as to just what he was going to do; sometimes he really couldn't stand how Atoli made him do stupid things. "How long is it? This isn't something that's going to go on for hours is it?"

"So you'll come?" Atoli nearly squealed. Haseo was blushing slightly in the face and had his arms crossed with a forced frown on his face. It was adorable. Atoli had been prepared for him to turn her down and he said yes! He actually said yes! That just made the cleric's day. Atoli quickly gained control of herself to calmly reply with a nod. "It won't be long. I promise."

"Is it now or later?"

"I was just on my way there. It starts in about twenty minutes."

Haseo invited Atoli to his party, before heading towards the warp point. He could hear Atoli following behind him saying something about how happy she was he was coming, too. "Well, let's go. Maybe we can clear the field before the players show up."

"That's a good idea, Haseo!" Atoli smiled as she trotted alongside the rogue. She knew Haseo wasn't nearly as scary and tough as the face he put up and she loved seeing this kinder side of him when it peaked out. Atoli squashed the urge to grab onto his arm in a tight embrace. "This'll be a lot of fun."

"Sure, fun." Haseo nodded. He just hoped he made it through the event without losing his temper on a bunch of newbies.

Skeith was watching through his monitor again. This time his human, Haseo (Skeith made sure to remember his new name), was hanging out with that blonde girl again. Skeith made note to learn her name, too. She was pretty and nice. Skeith liked her because she liked Haseo. He chuckled inwardly as Haseo fumed at the players he was talking to; the rogue had no patience. Skeith tapped a claw on the screen to switch views closer to see his face better. It was odd, in a way. Skeith remembered the time when he was born, but he also remembered being split and being given new life in this new world.

They weren't the same person anymore, but he remembered when they were one. It was a perplexing feeling. Part of him didn't feel like his data was finished without the base, but the new separate part couldn't take the thought of merging fully into one being. Skeith wanted to be one and two at the same time and it confused his Data to the core. The only thing he knew for certain was that Haseo needed to be around.

"Oh, poor little Skeith." The seductive voice chuckled in the void around him. Her First Phase wasn't the only one feeling out of place. Stripped down to her base core, even Morgana was feeling the effects. Separate from her phases, her powers, her world made her feel weak. She needed her strength back. "Feeling incomplete?"

Skeith hung his head and kept flipping through different angles while he watched Haseo. He always made Skeith feel better when his mother was angry. Morgana had been bitter as of late. Her power was next to nothing and the only thing she had left from her previous glory was Skeith. And he figured that was a fluke brought on by his Haseo being in this world. Though, he wished she'd leave him alone for just a little bit. He felt weird watching Haseo with her hovering and making comments.

"Well, we'll just have to wait. Sooner or later we'll have access to more Data." Morgana's voice echoed against the gridlines. "And then, we'll figure out how to fix this mess."

Skeith kept watching the screen, but he was listening. He did agree to some extent as his original purpose was still locked into his mind. He had Data to collect, but he had no access unless he was called. He was not complete enough of a character on his own to be in The World without his partner. Haseo flushed red and was shouting at some player on the screen while the girl giggled at his antics. For now, Skeith thought, just watching was okay.

Well, Haseo's time playing Guild Master with Atoli to newbies hadn't been a total disaster. There hadn't been any trouble, Atoli did most of the talking, and Haseo only had to say who he was. At least until the newbies started asking him questions about Canard. Haseo had to admit he might have lost his temper on a few of them at that point, but Atoli calmed him down enough to answer properly. The Black Rogue hoped that Silibus didn't mind having his short mail address passed around to so many new players. Though, that would be sort of funny seeing him answering all the requests. Granted, for all Haseo knew the Blade Brandier might be happy that Haseo was taking part in Canard.

However, he wasn't going to lie that he was thankful for the e-mail he had received towards the end of the meeting. He had bid goodbye to Atoli and the harmless players (not a PK in sight...damn!) and headed off for Raven's home to meet up with Yata. Despite the frustrations, Haseo was in a pretty good mood from all of the previous events. It'd been a while since he hung out with Atoli and not been annoyed with her. Compared to those newbie players, Atoli was a breath of fresh air. Though, he was sure this elated feeling was going to drop the moment he entered the Guild base and faced the old hag.

"You're late." Pi looked down her nose at the loose canon that walked in. Haseo may have been able to Awaken his Epitaph, but he still had no control over himself or any idea just what he was dealing with. The tribal grappler sighed to herself and shoved her glasses back up her nose. "Master Yata's been waiting."

Haseo was sad he had been right and could feel his arms crossing and hip cocking by their own volition. "Please, I just got that e-mail." Haseo huffed and looked up to the bald man behind the pedestal. "So, what'd you want?"

Yata let out a closed mouth hum in displeasure at the boy's attitude, but he knew when to pick his battles. Especially when teenagers were involved. "Aida has been spotted in a dungeon area. You and Pi will go to investigate the phenomenon."

"What about Tri-Edge? Do you have any news on him?" Haseo asked bluntly. He may have agreed to be a lackey for now, but he still wanted updates. Yata didn't seem to be volunteering that information first, so Haseo wanted to find it out. There was no way he was going through all the work just to have Yata back out. Payment came first; it was good business sense.

"You should speak to Master Yata with more respect." Pi snapped. It was bad enough that she was accompanying the boy on a training mission, but to have to sit and listen to him be disrespectful to Master Yata was too much. "Watch your tongue."

"Shut it, old hag."

"Why you little-"

"Pi."

"I'm sorry, Master Yata." Pi hung her head and blushed. To be called out by Master Yata in such a way was an embarrassment and stung much more than any insult Haseo could dish out. However, his face did not look angry and she merely looked up to listen to the new information.

Yata flipped on a switch from his monitor. "That's alright. Tri-Edge has been spotted in areas that are AIDA heavy." The screen started to show a scene of the familiar, zombie-like twin-blade data-draining a few helpless players. Haseo looked enraged, as predicted, and Yata flipped off the switch. "Those players soon woke up in a Coma much the same way that Shino did. Other than that, we don't have much information. This is why you and Pi need to collect data from AIDA so we can put together the missing pieces. Is that understood, Haseo?"

"Fine, fine." Haseo frowned and started walking out of the room. He didn't need to now much more than that. Right now, he just really wanted to beat the crap out of something. AIDA would have to do since he couldn't get his mitts around Tri-Edge. "I'll see you at the gate."

Pi turned quickly to Master Yata as soon as the boy had left. She knew he was going to be trouble from the moment she met him as Ender. "You shouldn't allow him to do as he pleases, Master Yata."

"Let it be for now." Yata waved his hand at the girl. She was far too overprotective, but there was no question she was the most loyal. He was sorry that Haseo would probably turn out to be the most useful of the bunch. "Go catch up with him. This should double as his training, anyway. Let's see what his Avatar can do. Teach him well."

"Of course, Master Yata." Pi nodded and chased after the boy. As soon as she caught up with him the laws of the land would be laid down. Pi had taught Kuhn everything he knows about his Avatar and now it was Haseo's turn. She was going to let him know who was boss and teach that boy some respect for his elders.

Not that Pi was that much older than him, of course.

Skeith was happy.

Haseo had used him for the second time and it was to obliterate some blob of odd Data. He even got to use his Data Drain for the first time in ages! It was so great and he could feel bits of his Data repairing thanks to the information he had acquired. Plus, all of the data he didn't need, Haseo was using. So, they had worked together and both gotten something out of it. Plus, it was fun and the adrenaline that pumped through Haseo's real flesh in the world seemed to be transferred through his PC into Skeith. It was like a drug.

And Skeith was addicted to it.

"Was that fun? Are you happy?" Morgana chuckled as she stared at the Data she now had access to. She had instructed Skeith to make copies of all the Data he and Haseo collected for that G.U. guild or whatever it was. She was happy with his results and her mind was already processing ways to get back to full power. "I am too, and make sure to keep close to that boy and continuing to give me such useful information."

Skeith was more than happy to comply. He wasn't collecting his Data of choice, but it made Morgana happy, and he got to feel Haseo inside of him again. In addition to the drug like high of battle, it made Skeith feel more complete when they were together with Haseo was snug inside of his Character Data moving as one. He couldn't wait to be called again to fight another one of those black masses. He was almost giddy with his anticipation.

"Ho, isn't that interesting?" Morgana chuckled as she monitored Skeith's screen. There were some very interesting things going on down there in The World. "Someone really liked my babies. First I find you, and now there's Tarvos."

Skeith looked down at his screen again. The pink woman was screaming as the black dots surrounded her and started to pull Data forcefully from some other place in this void he was from. He could recognize a form much like his own. Skeith realized quickly just who was materializing, even if Morgana had said its name. He was going to fight Tarvos. Skeith could feel it as she screamed for Haseo to leave and get that other boy. Skeith knew better. Haseo wasn't going to back down. He was the Terror of Death.

Come on!

Skeith grinned as he felt his data transferring at the boy's call. The rush of the merge was electrifying.

I'm right here!

"Well, go see him, then." Morgana laughed. "And don't come back without my Data."

SKEITH!

Skeith was more than happy to comply to both requests.

Haseo felt the rush of his Avatar coming to him and grinned. There was something so fulfilling about controlling this much power. To move your hand and see the giant hand move as one with you. First, second, third, tenth time; it didn't matter, it was always an incredible rush. It was amazing, almost as great as the feeling that Haseo was finally using this power to save someone. If he could save Pi than he could save Shino and the others!

Skeith could feel Haseo's emotions streaming into him. They were different now, more mature, more focused than they had been when they were compiled into new Data for his birth. Skeith liked being separate; it let him appreciate the two of them and how well they worked together. Together as one they shot down Tarvos, The Avenger, and slashed at her core to shred her to pieces. Ironic that the one meant to collect data on jealousy and revenge was going to be taken down by someone out for vengeance. Skeith may not have been as intelligent as he could be due to his incomplete data, but even he could appreciate the irony.

Skeith could feel his data pumping as they smashed Tarvos' defenses into nothing. If he had a heart, he was sure it would be beating furiously as a rabbit. Probably the same way that he could feel Haseo's heartbeat in his core. This was even better than fighting the blobs of malformed Data. This was a real opponent worthy of the Terror of Death. Skeith wondered if Haseo could feel his exhilaration as loudly as he could feel the boy's heart and soul pounding through his data.

Haseo nearly shouted in joy as he watched Pi's protect break shatter. All he had to do now was Data Drain AIDA out of her and she'd be fine. His arm stretched out and he could feel all the extra data forming the bracelet around his arm to complete the Data Drain. The attack was the most intoxicating thing he'd ever felt. Even better than when he drained AIDA. For some reason, right now he could feel it all the way into his soul and in his chair behind the visor. It was like he his real self didn't exist; there was only Haseo. The Adept Rogue couldn't contain the yell as he downed the data from Pi's Avatar as if he was a man dying of thirst.

The fight was over far too quickly for Skeith's tastes. But despite his desire to stay with Haseo, he let his Data fade back into the background and let the boy go to his friend. Skeith could feel the distraught emotions that took over the boy the moment he realized the pink woman was unconscious. As Skeith re-materialized in his little home he pulled up screens immediately to continue monitoring the boy. He was screaming for the girl to wake-up and Skeith hoped that she would. The goal was to collect Data from the girl to save her. Skeith didn't want to fail. Haseo would be sad.

"What are you just sitting there for?" Morgana spoke angrily. Skeith had been back for nearly a minute now and he hadn't done anything. He was just staring at those stupid screens. She'd cut him off from them if she had the power. She prayed Skeith never realized just how little she could do in this world. "Give me the Data."

Skeith turned and held out his hand with the copy of the Data. He let it float into the nothing to be snatched to where ever Morgana was storing it. He turned back to the monitor to be met with a blushing Haseo. He wished he had a face so he could pout. Skeith missed something cute.

"This is perfect." Morgana chuckled at the Data. It was even better than her original model. It was a far more capable Avenger if she'd ever seen one. It was perfect and if she restrung the original programming into it than nothing could stop her. "If there are two, than the other six must be out there. Make sure that boy Data Drains the other phases as well."

Skeith nodded. If he couldn't complete his first objective, than having a second one would be just as good for now. Haseo was talking with the small blue-haired boy now and Skeith sat back. The interesting parts were long over and now he could relax and enjoy watching his partner run around The World when he could not. Though, he was disappointed when Haseo logged out from the game shortly after. Skeith felt empty inside when the boy left The World. Like he had no purpose.

"Hmm? What's the matter with you?" Morgana huffed when she watched her creation sulk. The boy must have logged out from The World again. She'd fix that problem and just trap him here, but she didn't have the power. It was unbearable frustrating. But, this could work to her advantage. "He could stay here permanently, you know."

Skeith looked up into the infinite sky above him to where he thought the voice was echoing from. He would like it if that was so, it'd be like it was before – only now they could interact with each other as well.

"If you get more Data." Morgana suddenly smirked. This was also a good way to get her revenge. Before when she punished the boy for his disobedience, it all went for naught because he forgot. He wasn't even aware he had committed the sin of crossing her, but now she could punish him properly and truly make him suffer for his betrayal. "And that includes the Data you were programmed to collect."

Skeith paused and hesitated. Really?

"Oh, you must be interested if you'd speak." Morgana chuckled smugly. This was too perfect. "Yes, I still need Data on that subject as well."

Skeith perked up. He and Haseo could work together towards their primary goal and function. The Terror of Death could live again! How?

"Collect my data on the epitaphs."

Skeith couldn't wait for Haseo to log back into the game.