.Hack// Shadows of Rebirth

Yo! How ya been people, good? Good. Well heres the third chapter in this story. Please enjoy and remember no flames if anyone read this. Another heads up I made Tsukasa a boy in this fic it suit him a little better, anymore heads up will be announce later on..

(Show Down)

I'm so tired of fighting this, so very tired. I don't know how long I've been trapped in this forsaken place, I lost track of time a long time. And that accursed voice still keep annoying me to no end, but lately its been getting to me. I mean I've been feeling weaker and weaker which day that passes. I'm so tired.

I remember I wasn't always in this hell. I wander the world and ignored everyone that talked to me. I thought of them as nothing ore than annoying. Then one day, I don't remember when exactly, I felt extreme pain or someone did. The next thing I knew I was trapped in this place. And that annoying voice rang in my ears telling me what I am and what my fate is. I ignore it but lately its been getting to me.

My energy and stamina has been leaving me, I feel weak and tired. But I can't give in, not now. Maybe someone will help me if I wait. Who am I kidding? Who the hell would find this place, and more importantly who would help me? I mean I'm pretty strong but I can't break free. I hate it here.

Whats that I'm feeling? Its.........another presence, here? It was getting closer and closer until it stop. The funny thing is that it stop right in front of me. I had my eyes close the entire time, I was too tired to open them but this is an exception. It took all of my energy left to open them and look at the one that was in front of me. He was looking at me curiously.......I wanted out. With the last ounce of my strength

I spoke.

"H-Help.....m-me."

The next thing I knew I was out.

(Between the realms of "The World")

The happiness that Aura felt minutes ago was replace with a look of despair and horror. The Towns of the virtual world were being attack by infected monsters. Those who where slain, their bodies did no disappeared, instead their PC just lay in the ground motionless. Their eyes empty of any emotion whatsoever. Whats worse is what no one could see except for Aura, the players that died fell into a coma as their PC fell from the lack of health. The realm were the victims were sent, Aura guess, had to be full players floating into the dark abyss. Aura tried to help them by sending her knights to the towns that were being attack. Each knight took one town and evacuated th remaining PC while battling the corrupted monsters, unfortunately their efforts wasn't enough. Some towns were still unprotected and were at the mercy of their attackers. Aura, for the first time in a very long time, was at a loss, she didn't know what to do , so she did the only thing she could do right now, pray for a miracle .

" Kite, please help us" was all she could manage to do.

( Mac Anu)

Everyone of the player stared wide eye as they were seeing the beginners town burn and infected with data disorder monsters.

" What the hell happened here!" Haseo said still eying the town.

Tsukasa eye landed on the fallen players, " What the...." he went to check on them and gasp. Then he turn around with a look of disbelieve. " I can't sense the players" as he said this one thing came to their mind, the players were comatose. " Are you sure?" Subaru ask stunned. Tsukasa simply nod, ever since the incident with Morgana Tsukasa gain many ability's, such as sensing the players in the PC, which of course was able to tell if a PC was an A.I. or not.

" How did all this happened?" Shugo ask to practically no one.

"Why thats a question for the one responsible, don't you think?"

Everyone turn the head to the source of the voice. Up in a building was a figure gazing lazily and the group below him. He was wearing a black long cloak, his hair was long and white, and he was chewing what it appears to be a piece of candy on a stick (lolly-pop duh) and had a monocle on one of his eyes.

" Who are you" ask Kite glaring at the figure.

The figure simply smile a little before he remove the peace of candy in his mouth and speak.

" My name is Fluegel."

" Why have you done this you monster!?" Balmung bark, demanding an answer.

" Whoa, there wing man. Don't think ill of me because of my actions. Its simply business" Fluegel simply stated. Kite lost interest the moment he revealed his name, then his mind wonder to other thoughts he consider important, which was nothing. He was not interested in anything anymore. He simply stare in the direction of Fluegel not really focusing on him. However, he was knock out of his thought the moment Orca started shouting "Why are you doing this and what is your purpose?" Kite looked at Orca with an annoyed look and mutter " Loud much" silently that no one could hear him. However Tsukasa did and glared at him.

" Our goal is simple really, we are to gather the eight treasures of the wave and to capture the A.I, Aura for our clients motives, thats all you need to know." Fluegel said like it was the obvious thing. Kites attention was caught at the mention of Aura.

" Why do you need Aura for?" he ask suspiciously.

" And you said we... who else is involved in this?" Black Rose added.

Fluegel sighted after a few seconds he finally said" I'm Fluegel, leader of the group known has Shicksal and why our client wants Aura and the treasures we don't know."

" So your the one responsible for the damages done to "The World"" Balmung said as he summoned his sword.

"Heh!, Like I said don't think ill of me, it's only business" Fluegel snaps his fingers and all of a sudden other figures teleported by his side, seven to be exact. All of the player got into battle stands. " Your not seriously going to fight us, are you?" Ask one of the figures. Kite who was silent steps in front of the group and glare at the figures in the rooftop " Normally I would care a rat's ass of what may happened to "The World" but if you mess with Aura" at this point Kite summoned his weapons " thats when I step in" going into his battle stand. The figures simply chuckle at him.

Kite turn to face the group behind him and gave his command " Alright some of you are going to take one of the figures in group. The group are as followed: Tsukasa and Subaru" the two nodded " Shugo and Rena, Black Rose and Elk, Orca and Atoli" the mention people also nodded. "Now Haseo, Ovan , and Balmung you guys are strong enough to take one on your own, I'll go after Fluegel" with that said everyone got into battle position and charged.

Subaru summoned her Axe and jump high into the sky before slamming it into the ground splitting it into a crack that expanded to the building where the figures where standing and tore it in halve. Before the impact the figures jump out of the way, one of the figures failed to notice Tsukasa summoning a block of ice that slammed near where he landed expanding into ice spikes. Said figure narrowly escape 'Whoa, if I don't watch it my goose is cooked!' Tsukasa and Subaru quickly charge at the figure. The figure summoned what it look like cubes around him that moved in a snake way pattern. Tsukasa and Subaru stop on their tracks and watch with amazement. Taking advantage of their temporary state the figure motion his cubes toward the pair with amazing spill and grace. Tsukasa quicly summoned a fire barrier around them just in time when the attack made impact.

"Not bad! But you'll need a lot more than a barrier to stop me."

The snakelike attack wrap itself around the barrier with a lot of pressure to add. Tsukasa's barrier was beginning to crack and he himself seem to be having a hard time. But Tsukasa smirk at the attacker's direction. Said person saw this and left him confuse.

" Why are you smirking?"

" Usually at a situation like this I would grimace, but haven't you notice that in this barrier theres only one person?" Tsukasa responded, still with the smirk.

The other's eyes widen. It was true, he look around trying to find the heavy axe girl. ' Where could she be?!' he thought. Just as he finish the thought he felt a presence behind him and quickly turn around only to see Subaru bringing her axe down. He quickly made his arm wave in a direction summoning a shield of cubes. Of course by doing these the pressure the other attack had diminish a little giving Tsukasa the chance he needed. He focus his power and expanded his fire shield breaking the snake like attack.

" Crud." was what the figure said as he saw a wind base attack hurling strait at him. He repelled Subaru away from him in order to jump away from the attack. " Don't think this fight is over. I only begun to play with you guys." he said smiling at the duo.

" That's fine with us. We can kick your ass anyways. Ready Subaru" Tsukasa said looking at the heavy axe.

" Yeah, let's do this."

Wit that said the two once again began to attack the member of Shicksal.

Shugo and Rena went after another figure, he was quick and agile. Rena tighten her grip in the handle and slash at the air creating an energy slash directed strait to the figure who at the last second shielded himself to avoid real damage. He look surprise, as well as Shugo who was staring at her " Where did you learn to do that!" Shugo asked " If you read the FUCKING MANUAL, the maybe you would've learn something" Shugo simply pouted " Gees, you don't to get moody, are you in that time of the moth again" He narrowly avoided Rena's sword " DONT BE A SMART ASS, AND START FOCUSING YOU TWIT!" With that said they continue their fight.

The other groups were holding their ground pretty well. The Shicksal members were strong, but so were they. Kite and Fluegel were a little away from their teammates " What deal do you have with Aura?" Kite asked. " We don't, but our client wants her and what the client wants he gets"

"So you work for money, and your willing to destroy "The World" and these life's?" Kite said pointing at the bodies around. But his eyes betrayed his words, the held no concern whatsoever. Fluegel chuckle " Come on drop the act you obviously don't care for "The World" or these people" "True, but Aura is reason enough to step in" and with that he ran at top speed toward Shickal's leader. He was surprise at the speed Kite was running towards him and before he knew it he was hit by a 'Staccato' full force, followed by an upward kick sending Fluegel strait into the air. Kite then concentrated and shouted "Vak Don",thou a weak attack it hit the enemy full force smashing him strait to the ground, but it didn't stop there, the fire balls still kept on coming with such force the floor cracked to a great extend until the meteor shower slowed down until it stop completely.

Kite was sure that did it. He saw Fluegel planted on the floor motionless, making Kite smirk. Just then Fluegel stand up and dusted himself off like it was nothing. Kite was startled for a second but launch again hitting his opponent with an azure flame dance, follow by a much more powerful spell ' Vak Rom', finishing it up with a Triple Claw Flame Carving sending him crashing at another building. But the same thing happened.

'What's going on?' Kite thought angrily. None of his attacks had an effect on the guy.

" Your are strong Kite, but theres somethings you cannot defeat." Said Fluegel coolly.

" Oh, and what the hell might that be?!" ask Kite annoyed.

Kite never saw it coming, Fluegel was right behind him pointing a gun at his back when he spoke "Time". At that moment Kite felt a pain in his back, not only that but he was send flying to the ground. Meanwhile the fighting with the Shicksal members wasn't going to well anymore. The player were getting tired and run low on both magic and health. Fluegel looked at the battlefield then at Kite. "You see, we always get our job done" picking up Kite by his collar " and no pesky kids are going to stop us"

Suddenly Kite grab Fluegel with one arm and the other pointing at his chest. The one pointing at his chest glowed and expanded to revealed Kite's bracelet " Wanna bet" " Impossible, thats......" but before he could finish his sentence the bracelet Data Drain him. The other members were shock to see their leader being Data Drain. The effects, Fluegel's PC had completely change. One of the members rush by his side and teleported out, the others soon follow.

Everyone was exhausted to say the least. Elk rush to Kite's side and healed him. Slowly he rose from the ground, he was still a little shaky. Balmung and the other soon came to see how their friend was. "Is everyone ok, nobody's been hurt right?" Everyone nodded. Kite turn to Balmung and simply said "I'm in". Balmung knew exactly what he means and nodded. Orca ask his friend " So what made ya change your mind?" "Their after Aura and some other things, we can't let them reach Aura at any cost" with that said he turned around a walk away.

" He's doing this for Aura? What about the rest of the players, what about us?!" Black Rose said not believing her friends words.

Balmung simply sighted and said " At least we have him on our team"

Many faces were uncertain, and Tsukasa was glaring at Kite's direction. 'What the hell is your deal?'

( Between the realms of the world)

One of the knights have just watch the hole battle trough a screen that monitor the town and was tightening his fist with anger. During Kite's showdown with Fluegel he was able to see his fighting style and notice the similarities with his own. ' But of course their similar, I'm only his copy and hes the original'. He was shaking at this point and decided to do something about his little problem. "He must be deleted in order to be the original, maybe then Aura will finally acknowledge me, if not then at least ill get rid of him". With that said he walks away, not noticing two new figures watching the scene from the top of a building.

(Mac Anu)

Two figures arrived after the battle was over. They had watch the whole ordeal with out being detected by the battling warriors. One with interest while the other looked bored.

" So.......... what do you think of this?" the first said.

The other looked at the first with a bored look before looking at the battlefield again " The truth...I'm not very impressed. Both group seems to be weak, so their no threat to us. I must say I'm disappointed... I was looking forward to a real challenge."

"And what t you think of 'Him'?"

" He's like the rest of them and it appears he change for the worst which could work to our advantage. Thou we need none."

The first figure grin " Well I don't know about you, but I can't wait to fight them."

"What's the rush, theres plenty of time before that. For now lets head out, the knights will probably sense us if we stay any longer" the other answer finally tearing his gaze away from the battle field to look at the other.

" Right, lets head out then." the first replied with a sigh.

At that moment the two figures disappeared, one in black flames and the other in a small blizzard leaving no trace of them being there at all.

There you go. Not to much change are they? O well there will be a point where their will be complete change.