Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or its characters (specifically Kagome Higurashi); that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. Nor do I own .hack/ GU or its characters; that right belongs to Hiroshi Matsuyama.
Author's Notes: This snippet takes place two years after the end of the .hack/ GU storyline. It will also include spoilers for minor things concerning certain characters in the actual game series. And this story is changing the format of how I have written the previous chapters. After a lengthy conversation with a good friend, I have decided to start putting in the Male POV for these Isekai one-shots.
Blinking her eyes, Kagome frowned as gray and white lines accompanied by a static sound in her head. It left her a bit disorientated as she realized she'd been sent to a video game(again). Quickly she traced this body's lifetime memories learning this was a game called: The World R:2.
"Hey, are you okay?"
Kagome turned to look at who spoke the words to have her field of vision flash red. She'd taken a hit and the delayed effect of physical pain registered. Cursing silently, Kagome instantly swung the staff in her hand, smacking a flashing blue fish with a unicorn horn.
"Miss, behind you."
Before she could react, a blur of green and soft brown shot by her. The shout of 'Ogre Sword' rang in the air. When Kagome tried to look, the strange unicorn fish attacked again. And once more, Kagome's little Game Avatar reacted on its own, shouting 'Gan Bolg,' causing rocks to rain down on the monster.
"Haaa, nice attack, Miss," The green-clad person spoke. "But I ask again, is everything okay? You were standing there blankly in the field when I came across the bridge and saw you."
Finally getting to see the speaker, Kagome noted they were tall and of slender build. Similar to swimmers? They had soft brown hair that was short on top with a waist-length ponytail in the back. And their eyes were a similar soft brown as his hair and friendly. Letting her eyes drop, Kagome saw the long, thin sword in his hand. Her memory supplied that the sword belonged to 'Blade Brandier's' class. Kagome took a shake of her head and accessed her Horeiki and was shocked at it working. The sight of warm orange and pure, pale blue aura around the young man let her know he was an earnest type of person.
"Ah, yes, sorry, my interface glitched out for a second," Kagome said. It wasn't technically a lie. "I'm newish. My cousin recently introduced me to The World."
The broad smile the boy gave as his weapon vanished in a ball of light at his side had her relaxing.
"I'm Silabus," The boy said, introducing himself politely. "If you'd like help, I'd be happy to assist you, Miss."
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Silabus watched the female player before him. She seemed to be out of it. And after watching her stand there being attacked, he'd stepped in to help without thinking. And he was glad he did. However, Silabus wondered why a low-level 'Harvest Cleric' was in a level 20 field area.
"It's Kagome, not miss."
It took Silabus a few seconds, but he gave a soft laugh at realizing she had introduced herself.
"It's a pleasure, Miss Kagome," Silabus said. "Is your headgear interface working properly now? And would you like a bit of help with the world game mechanics?"
As Kagome thought about his offer, Silabus looked closely at Kagome's 'Game Avatar.' She had long, wavey, black hair and deep blue eyes, and her outfit resembled a traditional Miko outfit. She was making him wonder if she was one of those who won the unique skin contest? Silabus was aware Gaspard had been sad he hadn't but elated he knew one of the winners.
"Maybe next time?" Kagome replied, pulling Silabus from his musings. "My family is calling for me. Must be dinner time."
Silabus couldn't help but smile widely at her easy acceptance of his offer to help.
"Sure, here's my member address; just click accept, Kagome."
Kagome accepted his friend's request when he got the message, and Silabus felt happy. However, he wasn't too surprised when she instantly logged in. Deciding his outing to a random field dungeon was over and successful, Silabus used a 'return feather' to get back to the area gate and return to Mac Anu. With his curiosity piqued, Silabus took a look at Kagome's character information. He felt stunned at her class. She was an 'Adept Rogue' like Haseo and a level 20.
Throwing her head back, Kagome laughed loudly. She was sitting on a hill in one of the nighttime field dungeons hanging out with Silabus. He'd quickly become a good friend. After searching all her memories of this world and her life, Kagome decided to go with the flow. She was living with her younger cousin's family.
Her cousin was a bit of a shut-in but a lovable goof who was younger than her by three years. Her parents had passed away in a car accident. Not too surprising, and she keenly felt the pain from the loss. Meaning they were a close family filled with love. And due to her prior depressive state, her cousin had gotten her to enter a custom character contest, which she won and chose to look like a Miko of all things.
The irony wasn't lost on her though it suited her best.
"So, yeah, it was hectic. But Haseo finally accepted and adapted to being Canards Guild leader," Silabus explained. His face was lit up with his amusement at recalling the memory.
"Why, Canard? Isn't it the part that stabilizes the main wing of an airplane or something?"
When Silabus turned to look at her, his aura showed his shock. Meaning Kagome had guessed right.
"Yeah, it is," Silabus replied. "I originally chose it because after being a newbie and getting pked, I wanted to help other newbies feel that the game was fun and safe."
Kagome nodded and smiled in understanding and agreement with his thoughts and ideas.
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Silabus found he enjoyed spending time with Kagome. He had learned a bit about her past and how she got into The World. Though he offered, Silabus respected her need for solitude. And a part of him decided he didn't want to share her with his friends- just yet. But he knew he'd have to soon, with everyone being nosey about what he was doing a lot of the time. And with who!
Though Silabus was happy and surprised at the turn, Kagome's questions took when she asked about Canard's name. And her acceptance of why he chose it. In fact, Kagome's Adept Rogue choices. She had a long range as Harvest Cleric, up close with 'Tribal Grappler,' and mid-range with Blade Brandier. So she was an overall speed demon, which he had seen in battle more than a few times now.
After watching her combat skills, Silabus had found it hard to believe she was playing her first ever game. To have Kagome explain, she'd always watched her cousin play with her elder brother.
"Hey, Kagome, are you free this weekend?" Syllabus asked.
It wasn't the first time asking this question in the half year he'd known her. But each time, she'd turned him down. The gang did a monthly IRL (In real life) meet-up. And since he seemed (according to over half the group) to spend most of his time with Kagome, she should be included.
"Hmm? Which day?"
The soft reply had Silabus taking a deep, steadying breath before speaking.
"Saturday," he replied. "It's this month's meet-up."
"Oh!"
The familiar sinking feeling he got before she rejected him filled his stomach.
"I'm sorry, Silabus," Kagome said. Her voice is soft and sad. "If you had said Sunday, I'd have said yes. My cousin schemed with Auntie to make me hang out with him and his friends."
A wave of irritation flooded him. Yet Silabus sent a smile emoji in response. A small part of him was happy she'd been willing to go only if it had been Sunday for the meet-up.
"Hey, it's dinner time. I have to go, Silabus," Kagome said.
Silabus started to reply when he heard the ping for his short mail, giving a soft sigh into his mic. When he opened the short mail, he felt as if the game had vanished. Looking at Kagome, he saw she had already logged. With a smile, he re-read the short mail.
'I'm sorry. But if you end early and I can escape, we can try to hang out. Here's my number (xxx)xxx-0913.'
Kagome looked at her cousin Kouta (Gaspard), wondering why he dragged her from Hokkaido to Tokyo. It was her birth city, but she didn't feel ready to return.
"Come one, Kagome. We are almost there," Kouta exclaimed excitedly.
Smiling, Kagome kept pace with him. However, her mind went back to earlier in the week when she'd given Silabus, or Yuuichi, her phone number via short mail. He'd texted her the following day, explaining he'd been shocked at receiving it.
"Kagome?"
"Hm, Kouta?"
"You know, if you get uncomfortable with my group of friends, you can leave and wander around. Maybe visit some of your old friends," Kouta said. His face was coloring a little bit. "But I will say my friends are an eclectic bunch, but good people. We've been friends for over three years now."
Reaching out, Kagome wrinkled her nose as she rose on the balls of her feet to ruffle Kouta's hair. The disgruntled chuckle she got as he playfully swatted her hands away let Kagome relax.
"I believe you, Kouta. Or should I call you Gaspard in front of them?" She asked—her tone teasing.
"Either works. We all wear name tags with our real names and screen names," Kouta replied. "Ah, we're here!"
Kagome giggled as she stepped behind her cousin and hugged him. She was ignoring his playful whin of discontent. She didn't let go when he opened the door to the room, causing a slight hush to fall.
"Hey everyone, I'm here. And I brought my cousin," Kouta announced proudly. Kagome let him go as he stepped to the side and back to stand beside her, allowing those inside to see her.
"Kagome?"
Blinking her eyes as she was sure they were wide like an owl. Kagome looked at who'd called her name. Because it wasn't her cousin. No, the voice was familiar for a different reason.
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He had been fending off the more persistent people in the group. Having explained, his friend (Kagome) had wanted to come, but he couldn't due to family circumstances. What he hadn't expected was the disbelieving backlash. Or when Kouta showed up with a girl who looked like an exact copy of his friend's online avatar.
Yuuichi blurted out the screen name causing the girl to stare and blink in bewilderment. At the same time, Kouta narrowed his eyes and glared at him with suspicion.
"Silabus?"
When his screen name slipped between the girl's lips in a familiar soft alto, he felt it was ironic.
"Wait... Kouta(Gaspards) cousin is Yuuichis(Silabus') online, sweetie?"
Yuuichi smiled awkwardly at Tomonoari's(Kuhn's) comment as a soft grunt came from a now very disgruntled Kouta.
"Oh, this is something straight from a shonen manga!" Chigusa(Atoli) said.
"It is you, Silabus," Kagome said. Her face instantly brightened as she smiled happily at him.
Yuuichi felt his mind go blank at the smile he was receiving. Yet he found his mind was still focusing on how she looked exactly like her online avatar, down to the brilliant blue of her eyes.
"Kagome, why didn't you tell me you knew Silabus," Kouta whined. His arm wrapped around Kagome's shoulders protectively. "You know he is my best friend."
"I know. But a girl has to have a few secrets of her own. Besides, I didn't connect the dots that the Silabus I knew was your Silabus, Ko-chan," Kagome muttered. She was blatantly rolling her eyes in mock anger. "Besides, I enjoyed being completely anonymous. Getting to listen and observe in many regards. All skills I'll need for my studies in Public Relations once College starts in a few weeks."
"Ugh! You're such a girl!" Kouta complained while smiling widely. Only to laugh loudly when Kagome shoved him away in a good-natured manner.
"Kouta, why don't you officially introduce your cousin," Reiko(Pi) said. "Since she knows Yuuichi."
A wave of shyness washed over him, feeling his face heated up in embarrassment. Yuuichi looked at Kouta expectantly.
"Okay," Kouta said. "Everyone, this is my cousin Kagome. Her screen name is the same. Kagome, these are my good friends from The World."
Yuuichi followed along with the others when a warm welcome was given to her. He found that his excitement at meeting her in real life due to a quirk of fate was causing other emotions he didn't quite recognize to swell in his chest.
Standing on the docks of Mac Anu, Silabus and Kagome enjoyed a quiet moment their everyday lives didn't seem to afford. The World: R2 had gone under many revisions and updates in the five years since they'd first met in the game. And a lot had happened to and between them in that time.
The first being at this location a year after meeting in real life. When Silabus proposed with the in-game marriage card, he stated he wanted them to be more than friends in the game and in real life. Kouta(Gaspard), Kagome's cousin, had gone all overprotective big (though he was younger) brother complex after he was told. But Kagome had accepted. She was 20 and in her second year of college. The in-game wedding was grand, to say the least, thanks to Zelkova(Artificial Intelligence).
The next was Haseo and Atoli getting married IRL(in real life). No one knew for sure they'd even been dating though it had been expected. Which was followed by Kuhn and Pi announcing they were having a baby. That left them all in shock.
After Kagome graduated, she proposed to Yuuichi in front of the group. Of course, Kouta pouted at his best friend and cousin for this scene mainly because Yuuichi said yes.
"It began here," Kagome said. Her voice was soft as she reminisced.
"Yeah, it did," Silabus replied. His lips curled up slowly from recalling his version of the memories. "And I'd do it all the same if I had to redo it again."
"Me too," Kagome whispered. "I love you!"
"And I love you too, Kagome," Silabus replied as he reached out and wrapped her in his arms, not caring about the players who paused and watched the touching scene with the eternally setting sun of Mac Anu as the backdrop.
THE END!