Tempest are you,

wrapped up within yourself,
within darkness,
colder than ice,
of boiling blood,
from the void you look up,
this wind befalls you.

A flower of one pure color are you,
One color doth say your other half,
You are but a tulip of two faces,
deceptive,
discreet.

Pass on this baton,
Keep it and fate doth subside,
lingering on in your pain,
your screams have ever so much gone,
unheard by those censored minds.

The seventh element,
one of nay evil nor just,
what has lacked you for millennium,
or so it seems to thy,
a broken hand for saddened eyes.

You are but an actor,
upon a stage you preform,
your script is pre-written,
never once is your own,
breaking this line that binds you,
what does it mean to exist?
Without that seventh factor,
something worth saving.

Your other half doth speak once more,
The World will turn,
The World will ever, ever, turn.

His eyes wandered through the darkness. The bridge between dreaming and living seemed to have all but shattered for him. Chills crawled slowly up his arms as Sora failed to feel the presence of air, or cold, only himself, and his emotions. Nothing moved as he moved, reaching out, hating the thought of not being able to see his hand in front of him. If only he could reach light, this fear would evaporate.

His thoughts resonated with treacherous thunder, as if this realm was his mind. He brought his arms and crossed them at his chest clenching his upper arms, holding tight to feel the pressure. He was real, and there. Such emptiness around him suppressed his fading memory of what he had seen.

“Sayia…”

His voice was so small, he almost hated it. The terror building up murdered the need to call out for help. If he was quiet, if he could get by unnoticed, then he’d be safe, safe for once. Sayia’s scared face pressed into his mind. He worried why he could see her so clearly, but nothing else. Just that sad face, like a dying angel, caught up in the flames of life, a butterfly imprisoned in a furnace. Where was she now? Was she worrying about him? Could she be looking for him?

He wanted to remember the pain he had felt before the darkness closed in on him. His voice had spoken so fast but he couldn’t understand what he had said. Forgetting things always tore him to remember, but knowing you’ve forgotten was so much worse. Sora searched his mind, if only, if only, if only….

His memories began seeing that same face. That sad, scared girl, her soft hair flowing as if it was part of the breeze refusing to let go. This missing part of him left a void in his heart. He imagined that now would be the time he’d feel more cold, and more alone, than he had ever felt before.

A deep, dooming voice chuckled in the darkness.

It had no origin of sound, it seemed to come from all directions passing through Sora without hesitation. Sora felt himself sinking, a hidden gravity was setting it. He touched an unseen floor, finally getting the impression he was standing. The voice laughed again, only louder, it’s voice so dark but held the depth of a choir.

“W-who’s there…?” Sora asked, letting his arms slowly fall to his sides. The fear he had expected to dim in the change of position hadn’t left, that threatening fear. The voice didn’t come back. Instead footfalls on stone echoed with rhythm behind him. Sora turned still not understanding the difference between having his eyes closed and the lighting around him. Questions about these footfalls encased his consciousness, his fear began to spread.

A hand swept the side of his face. This hand was gloved, but the glove stopped halfway down the fingers. When the hand turned over to the backside, smooth, cold metal touched his skin. Sora pulled away, the chill having surprised him.

Sora…

That voice that had been laughing now spoke to him, though, these words felt more like thoughts slipping through his mind, being so soft and generous. Be my friend…

“Who are you?” Sora asked softly his voice resting on a whisper, exasperated.

Please, let’s be friends…

Sora reached out to find the owner of the hand and found nothing but vacant space before him. “Wait…where are you?” he asked, lightly groping through the air.

Finally light broke upon the horizon. An amber light, shimmering through the darkness a radiant purple aura. Upon Sora’s eyes it was beautiful. A wave of violet spread outward, it mustered it’s power before crashing down to the floor. Sora suddenly snapped out of the trance he had slipped into watching the light, realizing the forceful wave was not light but a mass and was heading towards him.

From the light of this wave of danger and beauty he could see his hands outstretched before him. This wave was too fast; he couldn’t run. He didn’t even know the layout of his environment, was he doomed for being here?

Sora felt himself letting go of his fear. He’d accept this wave of light, not knowing or understanding, he wouldn’t run, he’d fight it if it dared to consume him. He braced himself as the wave drew nearer. At the last moment he felt a pang of regret of his decision as the wave struck him. His eyes were closed as he left nothing but fast moving heat pass over him. What is this…? He wondered turning his head up hoping to ease the feel of the heat against his face.

His clothes pressed against his body as the wave seemed to be passing by more forcefully than ever. Sora tugged his scarf over his mouth pulling it tight. After a few moments the heat fell. Sora stood within a small sea of light. From his knees down light airy purple and orange mass fogged the floor. Looking a bit more closely it almost looked like broken data.

His gaze trailed along the floor looking for where this watery yet airy light ended. Looking up the light appeared to be unceasing. Where AM I….? He thought slightly shaking his head. This place is so weird…

“Soooooooraaaaaaaaa…!” It was the voice from before, this time it sang his name like a melody of death biting down on the last syllable of his name.

Sora blinked slowly. Once again he couldn’t tell where it was coming from. “Where are you…?” he asked in a whisper.

“Here.” the voice had now become much more distinct and was behind him. Sora calmly turned to see the speaker. He glared wide-eyed and shocked at what he saw. A splitting image of himself stood glaring back at him, only smirking. He put his fists on his hips and pitch forward slightly. “Well! What do we have here?!” he said, only instead of using that deep voice Sora had been listening to, it was a voice identical to his own.

Who- Sora began thinking, but stopped. He wouldn’t allow himself to ask such general questions. Who ever this person was had tricks up his sleeve and Sora knew it. “This is interesting, got bored and decided to play with my character design huh?” he said, trying assume this person was a hacker that had somehow found his data.

The other Sora threw his head back and laughed. “HAHAHA! No, no little boy!” was his answer. “I think that’s why I like you so much! Such a creative little pet!”

Sora’s eyes narrowed. “Got a name?” he said bluntly, shifting his weight.

“Yes! Yes, yes, yes! I do!” he responded still using Sora’s own voice. He sounded cheerful, but in the way you sound when you’ve conquered something, or someone. His brow quirked a bit exploiting the deep shadows that surrounded his eyes with the light dimly illuminating his face. Is that what I really look like…? Sora thought feeling a pang of doubt. He felt annoyed, this imitator was coming off more as a pest, a bug needing to be squished.

It was then the imitator stopped his foolish prancing. “Grown up a bit have we?” he said holding a clam grim expression, his voice having returned to the deep, nearly malicious voice that had greeted him. Sora felt a cool wave pass over him and run down his arms. His words, for a moment, reminded him just how powerful he really was. He let slip a smirk.

“I was wondering what it’d take to get one of those out of you.” he said smiling. Sora chuckled a bit, it was true that he hadn’t smiled since he had return to The World. This imposter was probably the only thing that had really made him feel any better.

Sora’s double came closer his hand lightly gripped his chin and pulled his face close to his. Sora tried to pull away but he only seized him tighter. “Welcome to MY world, Sora.” he said eating his name like a delicious snack.

Sora gazed back at his reflection wide eyed and numb. “You’re-” Sora shoved the imposter back as hard as he could and turned on his heel to put some distance in between them. Before he could take another step the imposter grabbed the back of his scarf and pulled. The cloth tugged on Sora’s neck forcing him to bend back slightly. In a reflex Sora threw back his right hand in a fist his blade unsheathing itself. He hadn’t been able to see what happened but in a quick motion his left arm was seized, and painfully twisted behind his back and his own blade put to his neck. “Don’t struggle.” the deep voice said in his ear.

Sora strained trying to free himself. The more he pulled the tighter the hold on him seemed to become, but Sora wouldn’t stop. “Don’t make me repeat myself…”

A sharp pain rained down on top of Sora’s head, and a firm shock stimulated his body. “Gynh!” He went limp. The pain in his head sunk into his skull and ran down the back of his neck, the tips of his fingers tingled as well as all of his joints.

“Sora….a true fool if I must say so myself.” The imposter began. “Come now, why won’t you learn to trust me? I can give you everything you’ve ever wanted, it’s a price you’ve already paid, so why not take it?”

“What-aare-…” Sora tried to answer. His voice choked horribly, whatever this imposter had done to him it affected his voice.

“Hmmmmh! Hehe…” The Imposter sang. “You going to answer me or what?”

The imposter’s hand reached across his face lightly digging into his skin and pulling back. Sora wanted nothing more than to pull away or attack him, a deep yearning to want to kill this cheap imitation of himself built in his chest, he had to do something.

Sora’s tensed, what did he do-? he thought frantically trying to resist his grip.

In a blinding flash of white light Sora’s data dissipated from the area of darkness and amber light. All so suddenly did the two become lost, but they were moving. Sora himself was lost for word or thought his eyes closed he felt them moving faster and faster through nothingness. The imposter held him close as they increased speed, “Listen…”

Voices echoed in and out of the background.

“No thanks, I’m already the strongest player in the game.…”

“How foolish…”

“HAHA it looks like I’m betraying you now!”

“Sora, what are you saying?!”

Vivid flashes of scenery played before his eyes like a movie. They could have been memories, or fragments of memories. “Now!” Sora felt the grip of his double completely let go of him and he began to fall. Falling through where he didn’t know, his eyes were open now and nothing but crackling purple streams surrounded him. Sora fell silently, drifting once more. His gaze looked up back where his imposter stood watching from below, a smirk on his face. A feeling of exhaust fatigued him as the other left his sight. Closing his eyes once more he let out a sigh, pity consuming him, hate protecting him. What am I….

Lambda, Stalking Betrayed Nothingness

The small stature of a wave master wandered alone through the area. Her foot steps echoed throughout the stone-wall dungeon. As she went down the steps to the lowest level of the dungeon she lingered placing her hand on the wall and leaning into it a bit. “Where…” she whispered her voice breathless, looking out upon the T-shaped room. Thunder crackled in the background of the water element field, naturally lightening only appeared in darkness elements, but a storm brewed out on the field, so violently it’s raving winds could be heard from the lowest level, B3.

Peaking her ears she strained her hearing, faintly picking up on footfalls that were approaching from the upper level. The small wave master lifted her staff and slammed the bottom of it on the ground making a loud ‘crack’. She stood holding her ground as the footfalls came closer and out of the darkness of the dungeon came a twin blade and long arm. The twin blade was dressed in a thin, pink tube dress with thorned, black strips wrapping around it; her hair long, black and braided. The long arm towered all of them dressed in long hakama-style pants shimmering yellow and blue and a matching top with two fragmented wooden red shoulder blades. Smiling at the small wave master he ran his fingers back through his tall pink hair.

“Lady Samsayai!” said the long arm tapping his spear on the ground.

“Ah Nuke Usagimaru!” she greeted him, smiling warmly. “Heh, what are you two doing here?” Unexpectedly the two players bowed respectfully to Samsayai then straightened themselves in one swift motion.

“We’ve come to aid you Milady!” announced the twin blade. Samsayai gave her a funny look glancing once between the two of them. “I didn’t ask for any aid in this area, who sent you?” she asked calmly.

“Lord Dartais Moonblade, ma’am. He said you probably wouldn’t be able to solo this dungeon, he sent us to assure your safety.” said Nuke Usagimaru. “It seems he was wrong huh?”

Samsayai crossed her arms looking frustrated. “Damn right he was wrong. Who is he to doubt me like that? And second of all…why did you two even take an order from him? He’s just an officer,”

The twin blade glanced over at Nuke frowning. Nuke held his position his arms also crossed. “Well, as members of Liberation, it would have only been respectful to accept the order of an officer, since we have no assistant guild master, among the members we’ve assumed that perhaps the duties of the assistant guild master fall upon the officers. Thus we accept Dartais’ mission.” he said explaining.

Samsayai frowned upon them, though kept calm. “I’ve explained several times what Dartais’ duties are and how he is not to overstep them. Very well, it’s not a big deal anyway.” she said her voice low and disappointed. “Nuke, Sheda, if you’re here you might as well help me with the final floor, hm?” she offered sending them each a party invitation.

“Yes Ma’am!” the two said happily in unison.

They proceeded into the final room, Samsayai leading them over to the first portal. “Milady?” asked Sheda stepping towards her.

Samsayai looked over her shoulder from where she stood in front of the portal. “Yes?”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you, how come Liberation doesn’t have an assistant guild master?” Sheda’s voice seemed almost nervous as she spoke she gripped her blades tightly, readied for Samsayai to open the portal.

Samsayai looked back towards the portal with out answering her question. Her eyes dimmed, a frown crossing her lips. “When you take a stand…” she began. Swiftly she lunged at the portal. Light exploded as the portal increased speed and opened, revealing a huge monster that stood almost as tall as the roof.

She lifted her staff bracing herself. “PHAGON DON!” she shouted; rocks rained down upon the target. In a flash Nuke took off and unleashed and attack on the monster, Sheda doing the same. Samsayai took a step back as the monster retorted, reeling back. “You must consider the consequences…” she continued as the monster used a single attack to slay both Sheda and Nuke. Standing alone her partners fallen, Samsayai used two lightening scrolls, and finished the enemy off with a summoning spell. When the smoke cleared Samsayai herself had barely been scratched.

“Whenever you take a stand someone will have a problem with it. Justice never goes without conflict. Guilds are never made without issues among them.” she finished. Looking over the two ghosts of Nuke and Sheda and gave a warm, loving smile. “I would have never gotten this far had I not been strong enough to defeat pkers alone. Players like Tihaka-san and Momi, Nonaseo and Shinji, Raine, everyone…just…”

She paused, lost for words she looked upon the two with pity, though the pity she held was more for herself than her fallen comrades. Sighing she revived Sheda and Nuke, then turned away to the next portal. They joined her at her side holding their weapons ready despite their huge level difference. “I apologize Milady, I didn’t mean to-”

Samsayai held up her hand silencing Sheda before she could finish. “It’s not a touchy subject, think nothing of it Sheda, I don’t mind answering questions.” she said eyeing the next portal. “Let’s just hurry up and complete this area, I need to log off for a bit.”

As said Samsayai lead the group through a number of portals, Sheda and Nuke Usagimaru getting slaughtered at every fight. After a long, agonizing series of fights they cleared the final level and arrived at an empty side room instead of a Gott statue. Frowning the three entered the room and looked around at the nothingness before them. Samsayai stepped ahead of the three pressing a few fingers to her chin. “Interesting…” she breathed.

“Milady?” asked Sheda looking at her guild master confused.

Without turning back to them Samsayai appeared to be eyeing something in the middle of the room. “Nuke…Sheda…You’re dismissed. Thank you for the help, I’ll be reporting back to the guild’s meeting area soon.”

“But-” began Nuke looking surprised. He sighed and let his gaze fall upon Sheda. They each shrugged at each other and gated out leaving Samsayai alone in the dungeon. As soon as they were gone Samsayai lightly tapped the bottom of her wand on the floor, the small sound resonating and bouncing on each side of the dungeon walls. “You can come out now…” she said her voice in a near whisper.

As if commanded to, a small figure faded into the area in front of the lone wave master. The figure lowered to the ground from where it had been floating and touched it on two feet. Fading in more and gaining color a PC took shape. “Now what are you doing here…” she asked approaching the PC reaching out a hand towards it’s face. “Kurimu, the Red lightening of the Crimson Knights…?”

Crim stood before Samsayai his head bowed. Samsayai fearlessly kept by his side, resting her face on his cheek. “It’s clear something’s wrong…you’re not…you’re not in there are you?” she asked her voice soft and caring as the long arm slightly lifted his gaze to meet her. His eyes weren’t the same happy-go-lucky brown eyes that should have met her gaze, they were silver, and saddened. “Crim…what have you done this time…?”

A Heavyblade and a Blademaster swiftly ran through a meat-wall dungeon. Reaching out a hand the Heavyblade shoved her partner to the side giving a small hop before turning around to face the monster that had been chasing them throughout the corridor. Lifting her great sword she put herself in a defensive mode.

“Now Bear!” shouted Mimiru.

Bear who had seemingly landed in a pile of flesh and bones gave her a funny look before getting up. “I-I-heh- didn’t think that’s what you had in mind.” he said drawing his sword. It would only be moments, but with Mimiru blocking and Bear attacking they downed the monster quickly. Once out of battle, Mimiru straightened herself, resting her blade over her shoulders. “Well! I don’t know about you Bear, but I don’t see anything special about this area.” she declared smirking.

Bear only looked on. “One more room, think we can handle one more battle.” he asked glancing back at Mimiru . He seemed a bit tired, as if he really didn’t want to be online.

Mimiru walked ahead of him going into the bosses room. Inside a huge scorpion-tank awaited them. Summoning the beast Mimiru went into battle with it head first. Foolishly she took on the beast without waiting for Bear and thus was down to half life by the time he got into the room.

“Mimiru-uh!” He gasped catching up with her. Just as before they fought with the monster for only a brief amount of time using the same tactic to take it down. Staring at the empty room the boss had failed to give any item.

“Bear…don’t tell me we really came all the way down here for nothing…” Mimiru murmured looking about. “And what was a metallic creature like a scorpion tank doing in a dungeon like this anyway?”

Bear said nothing but paced over to the back wall of the five-walled room. “Hm…” he said studying it. “Mimiru, think it’s possible for players to edit data?” he asked motioning her over to where he stood.

A message was etched upon the wall. ‘Travelers, Take this to heart….’ after that there was nothing. Running his hand over the message it seemed to glow. “I don’t think…so, no.” Mimiru said her eyes captured by the small golden light coming from the words. “That’s so weird, I wonder why that’s there.” she added. In that same moment, the golden light from the message exploded, both Bear and Mimiru gasped from surprise their voices ringing in the dungeon. By the time the light dissipated, both of them were gone.

AN- HUZAAH! AN update! AFter long last! I've made a decision, I'll finish this story, however long it takes (i mean it's already been over a year anyway) I'm going to finish this story! And as promised after a whole freaking year I have the fanart of the Oc's!!

Linking doesn't work very well, so if you'd all be kindly as to go to and look up the user 'Samsayia' you can browse my gallery the character are still on the first page. They're labeled as .hack Chronicles Isabella, .hack Chronicles Atkins and Diedi, then lastly .hack Chronicles. Hope to hear feedback for this chapter, I HAD a beta reader, this time i went through it and proofed it myself so it may not be it's best /